Came to Esmai's for an early dinner with my boyfriend and sat on the outdoor rooftop (we made a reservation). The Highlights: Blush Hour cocktail & Shrimp baos: Easily a 10/10! Absolute must-trys. Calamari: Pretty good, but the sauce really made the dish. The Misses: The Pasta (2/10): Neither of us enjoyed this. The sauce was very watery and lacked flavor--it seemed like it relied on meat juices for flavor, but it just didn't work. Smash Burger: Just an average burger. Hard to mess up, but nothing to write home about. Vibe & Service: The rooftop ambience was nice with staff playing music on a speaker. Wait-staff were very attentive! A huge plus was the owner coming out to check on tables and joke around with guests! Note on space: Upstairs indoor seating seems okay for private events (there was a bridal shower happening while we were there), and downstairs has a classic sit-down/bar feel. Verdict: Total came out to $171 (including tip) for 4 drinks, calamari, baos, pasta, and a burger. If we return, we'd definitely stick to drinks, shrimp baos, and hanging out downstairs! read more

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Another place that I have passed in Coolidge corner a bunch of times when I'm in the area. Esmai's quietly opened up a year or two ago and I was always wondering what was inside. From just looking inside it looks like a very nice American bar and restaurant. For a space in Coolidge corner, it is definitely one of the biggest restaurants in the area since FuGakyu is closed (The OG ). It has two floors as well as a patio space they recently opened. This is an asian fusion restaurant with more emphasis on the americanized side if that makes sense? The patio area was so nice especially once it cools down in the evening with a nice view of brookline. The staff were great at bringing everything and making the food and drinks the focus rather than themselves. The menu is kind of small but mighty with a lot of delicious options. You can choose from salad to a ban mih to pasta to curry to a Hawaiian dish,loco moco! The drinks, though pretty small in size, are all really interesting combos. I got the extra 99 which had scallion, oolong and szechuan pepper infused oil. It was such an interesting savory taste.. One of my friends said it reminded her of the smell of ramen.The Loco moco was delicious. I'm not sure why I thought it would be a burger but it essentially was but just swap the buns for rice. I'm not a fan of egg but it was perfectly balanced with the egg and beef patty. They do have a couple of GF options YAY but apart from the two entree items on their brunch menu it's essentially veggies, fruit and salad. The brunch menu looks delicious so I would definitely come back to try it out. $$ Food 8 Atmosphere 8 Service 7 Loco Moco Extra 99 Blush hour Chateau spritz Summer thyme You can sip with is read more

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The brunch here is so good. We sat on their rooftop for Saturday brunch and were surprised it wasn't packed. We walked right in with no wait. The Pandan Cold Foam was beautiful and rich. The classic Vietnamese coffee was beautifully presented and so tasty. We had a soufflé pancake with berry compote, summer salad and lemongrass banh mi. All were incredibly tasty and felt so fresh. If this place was in my NYC neighborhood, you'd never be able to get in. So lucky to have happened upon it. read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Devoured soufflé pancakes with berry compote - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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I came here for a date night as I've seen great reviews about the drinks and the food here. I made a reservation for 6 on a Friday night - it was initially quiet inside but began to fill up more once we were seated. The interior was clean and modern. Our server was very welcoming and able to provide us with great insights into the menu. The cocktails were refreshing and tasty. I ordered a 'Spill the Tea' with gin and my husband ordered the matcha colada. I'd love to come back and try more out! As for food, we ordered the mini beef wellington, the banh mi & bone marrow, the curry chicken, and the loco moco. I loved the variety of dishes on the menu and was super impressed by the execution of all of them. They were very flavorful and cooked to perfection, with the mini beef wellington having crispy puff pastry and the bone marrow very tender. Overall, I was impressed by Esmai's creativity and would love to come back to try out more of the menu. read more

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The cocktails here are fantastic, I tried the Matchs Colado and the Upper East Side and both were executed extremely well and were worth the money. However, the smoked fried rice I felt was overpriced for such a simple dish. read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Matcha cocktail - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Ate here Friday night, just beating the rush. Nice table with an open window to the street. Great food we shared included the Bahn Mi, Shrimp Bao, garlic steak tips and Vietnamese egg rolls. Our server was super! Would definitely be back when in the area! read more

GREAT FOOD! We got the brussel sprouts to share and the smashburger. Highly recommend this place read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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I came for a late weekend brunch around 1pm and did not have any problems getting a table for 2. They had a pretty big cocktail menu but I decided to try their coffee instead. I got a medium iced pandan cold foam coffee ($6). The pandan cold foam was vibrantly green, but I unfortunately didn't really taste any pandan flavor. The cold foam mostly just tasted like cream. I also noticed that the coffee was not super strong, so I would recommend getting a large if you are looking for more caffeine. I tried the OG banh mi ($12). It had crispy and fragrant bread and a thick spread of pate. I liked how it was served a little warm which helped all of the flavors mix together better. I noticed that they source their milk bread locally from Japonaise cafe down the street-- I'd love to try some of their egg sandwiches next time. read more

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I love the rooftop brunch here! They don't take reservations for rooftop seating but they are responsive on their phones so I'd recommend calling ahead to confirm that the roof is open and whatnot. For brunch I got a green tea, soufle pancake, and milkbread sandwich. The sandwich had egg ham cheese and avocado. Everything was delightful. The pancakes were picturesque also. This is such a cute spot and I could definitely see myself coming back! read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Creative dishes and roomy tables make this a perfect spot for dates, double dates, and groups. They serve good coffee and cocktails, and are open for lunch and dinner. I really enjoyed the Extra 99, which is one of the few savory cocktails I truly enjoy. The szechuan pepper infused oil is subtle, but pulls together flavors that make for a delicious drink. They have Loco Moco on the menu! I don't know of another place that serves this Hawaiian breakfast plate, but I find their mushroom gravy with rice and patty to be so addictive I kept eating more despite being full. I also like making my own banh mi, using bone marrow feels so indulgent. The smoked fried rice will surround your table with aroma, and comes through each with each bite. Everything is executed properly and the servers are nice, so it makes sense that my friends have also approved of this recommendation. read more

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I've heard good things about this place and finally got a chance to check them out for brunch. They are an Asian fusion place and have options on their menu that are a blend of Vietnamese, Japanese, American, and French food. I ordered the hot coconut coffee which was very delicious but maybe a little too sweet. Would definitely order it again with reduced sweetness. My friend ordered the classic hot Vietnamese coffee which was also very good. There aren't many places in Boston that serve Japanese hamburger so I ended up ordering the loco moco and was very impressed by the dish! All the parts of the dish tasted very good and the fruit was also sweet and just the right ripeness. The hamburger steak gravy was also well made and the egg on top had the right level of doneness. The interior of the restaurant was nice and cozy and very well lit. I would definitely check this place out again especially when the weather gets warmer and their roof deck is open! read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - The loco moco dish! - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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The food was absolutely delicious! The service was great and we were easily accommodated despite being early for our reservation. The restaurant has a bar, second floor, and a side with booths. It was the perfect ambiance with amazing food. We ordered two of their appetizers and split an order of the BBH. It was the perfect amount of food for us! I highly recommend Esmai's if you want to try something a little different and elevated. read more

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I came here on a Saturday evening to specifically try the Banh Mi & Bone Marrow because it sounded interesting. We were seated right away in the upstairs portion of the restaurant, but for some reason we were sat at a table for two right in between two other occupied tables when the rest of the upstairs was entirely empty. It did seem strange to be so close to two other couples on either side of us when the rest of the floor was empty, but I was grateful that we were able to order the Banh Mi & Bone Marrow without being pressured to order other dishes since the other meals didn't seem as interesting for us. The food did come quickly and the service was good other than the seating arrangement though! Banh Mi & Bone Marrow ($18) - This was a really interesting dish - I'm used to having banh mi in a sandwich format, but this was in a plate kind of formatted like a charcuterie board. It was actually easier to eat the dish in this form rather than as a sandwich since a lot of banh mi bread ends up being overly crispy - for this dish, you could take a slice of baguette and spoon on the pate, bone marrow, and then add the cold cuts and pickled vegetables. I will say that it wasn't overly filling - it was probably the same amount of ingredients as a small banh mi and it costs $18 so I'm not sure I'd get it again, but it was definitely worth the experience of eating banh mi "deconstructed" if you will. The bone marrow was also a nice addition that added value and it added a nice fattiness to the bites. All in all, I love that this restaurant reimagined what a banh mi could be, and the price tag wasn't too out there for a version with some extra fancy ingredients. Well done! read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Banh Mi & Bone Marrow - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

I can only speak about my brunch experience at Esmai's but what a pleasant surprise! Located just around the corner from Coolidge, this restaurant has a big space (upstairs and downstairs!) and charming ambience throughout. The servers were literally the sweetest and even surprised us at the end of our meal with a complimentary macarons as we were celebrating 3 birthdays that day. The menu is what I was looking for in brunch place-- I was getting a bit tired of the regular old, let's be honest, elevated diner food options, but at Esmai's they have the classics with an Asian twist! With a full cocktail menu (and lots of fun mocktails too if you don't want to drink!) this is my new go-to place for group brunches. read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Some complimentary birthday macarons - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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Enjoyed a leisurely brunch here on a weekend. It was surprisingly not difficult to get a reservation. Interesting Asian fusion menu. They have a variety of Vietnamese coffee drinks which I recommend trying if you like Vietnamese coffee. Everyone enjoyed their dishes from salads to sandwiches. Pleasant service. Spacious dining setup. I'd come again. read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Croissant sandwich - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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Came by for brunch on Saturday. Easy to make a reservation online morning of, and they did not look remote full so probably could've walked in as well. They do have two floors of seating so restaurant is fairly large. Personally I thought the brunch menus looked better than the dinner menu, and there were plenty of options to accommodate different dietary preferences. The milk toast sandwiches were heavier than expected, but very tasty and the bread itself was a little sweet though the rest of the sandwich was savory. Would skip the coffee here though, tasted very watery. read more

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Checked out this new cafe recently for lunch on a weekday. There's plenty of street parking nearby, and we were promptly seated. We started off with the truffle tots, which were delicious! The truffle aioli was creamy and not overly heavy - would highly recommend this dish. The OG Banh Mi came with a generous portion of bread, meat and fresh veggies. Not mind-blowingly amazing but a solid banh mi. The chicken karaage milk bread was interesting and tasty, with fluffy buttered milk bread and eggs contrasting against the crispy chicken karaage. Overall, we loved the decor and ambiance of the dining room, attentive service, and generous portions of each dish. read more

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We stopped by with a group for brunch and tried a Banh Mi, soufflé pancakes, croissant sandwich, and milk bread sandwiches. Everything was great! Standouts were the Vietnamese coffee and truffle fries. Our server was great and the chef's partner also kindly stopped by to introduce us to the place and the menu (the croissants are made in house and the milk bread is from neighboring Japonaise bakery). read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Croissant sandwich with fig jam, mozzarella, & prosciutto (scrambled instead of fried eggs) - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Yummy! I had high expectations before dining at Esmai's and my expectations were met! I think they describe their cuisine as Vietnamese and French fusion, but they include several other Asian cuisines so it's a mash of many worlds! I was also pleasantly surprised that they had an upstairs dining area that had a different vibe than the lower floor. The Banh Mi and the katsu bao were delicious! What a great decision! The pampanelle pasta was quite filling and hearty with generous a serving of braised beef. All in all, everything ordered was a success! read more

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The restaurant is really nice inside and they just opened a rooftop bar which I'm excited about! I got the burger and it was alright, definitely could've been bigger given the price but the fries were good! Some reason they use really tiny cups for the water but the service was really good. I think the restaurant has a really interesting menu and would go again but order something different! read more

Nothing is really special about this place.. the food is so so and the service is really slow. read more

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What a cute restaurant with delicious food at great prices. I went for weekend lunch and got the OG bahn mi, which was a generously sized sandwich for $10. The flavors were savory, well-balanced, and just so delicious! The service was also pretty attentive, as there only seemed to be four tables in our area. I would definitely come back to get the OG bahn mi again or to try their other bahn mi or weekend lunch options! read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - OG bahn mi - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Esmai's cafe will now be one of my top brunch recommendations! This cute restaurant has the sweetest staff and delicious Asian fusion brunch dishes. To my surprise, it was easy to make a Sunday brunch res online. I loved the Ioco moco - deliciously savory and flavorful. The milkbread toast was fantastic - both sweet and savory with the chicken karage (was yummy but a bit heavy) and I loved that bread was from another local bakery Japonaise. I can't wait to come back to try for dinner and cocktails sometime! read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Loco moco and chicken karage milkbread - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Recently opened in the former Hops and Scotch. Menu consisted of some small bites along with some entrees. Mixed menu of Euro-Asian items with some good cocktails and nice selection of beer on tap. Food and service was excellent since they weren't that crowded on Mother's Day. Servers quite attentive and food came pretty quickly. Started off with some Wagyu sliders that was med rare; Brussels sprouts that was nicely charred with some leaves extra crispy with bacon bits; followed by lobsters in a Chinese "milk bread". All of the above delicious but the lobster roll really tasty. We ordered some entrees as well with beef Wellington with a side of slightly spicy Viet stew that had just the right kick. The beef NOT overcooked despite wrapped in pastry. The server recommended the curry chicken and that, too, was delicious in its coconut creamy sauce served with some baguette slices. All in all, a great welcome to Coolidge Corner with this excellent addition. Staff told me the upstairs will be used for tea service on weekends so definitely have to come back and try that. read more

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While the wait staff was very good, the food was tasteless. Perhaps we ordered the wrong items (two pasta dishes and one fried rice), but all three plates had no flavor. The smoked rice dish tasted only of smoke and nothing else. We really wanted to like this place as the menu is very interesting, but alas we will not return. read more

The food was good, but my friend and I felt rushed, even tho we made a reservation. They brought the two appetizers and the two main meals at the same time. When I asked them to take the main meals back so that we could eat the appetizers, they did. I mean, there was no room on the table to put all the dishes! We were not done with the apps when the manager came over to us to say that she thought we should take the main meal " now " as they were " about to get a rush " and didn't want us to have to wait " another half hour for the main meal. "  What? In all of my dining experience, no one at any restaurant has ever said that to me. I will go back at some point, as the food was good, but I'm going to go as a last resort. This place won't ever be a first choice for me. read more

Came here for brunch a few weeks ago and can't wait to go back! Esmai's is not your ordinary American brunch place, it has so many unique Asian brunch dishes. Karage chicken milk bread sandwich- Absolutely delicious! The chicken was juicy and hot with a nice light crispy outside. The flavor was super yummy. The egg was light and fluffy. The milk bread was also yummy. I would definitely get this again! Fries- crispy and hot with the perfect fry and seasoning. Even when the fries for cold at the end of the they were still crispy and yummy Soufflé pancakes- they were small and weren't as fluffy as other soufflé pancakes I've had before. They were okay. We tried the pandan and plain with fruit. The pancakes were the same but they came with different syrups. Lavender Vietnamese coffee- yummy!! Nice strong flavors. There are many other unique drink flavors and other food items like loco moco that I would want to try next. read more

The puff cakes are smooth and delicious. Other entrees for brunch were very good. Corn beef hash homemade. Eggs delicately cooked. Coffee outstanding. Noisy atmosphere read more

I'm not much of a brunch person but I was intrigued by the interesting menu items at Esmai's. I'm so glad I tried it -- everything was delicious and executed very well. This is my new favorite brunch spot in the area. The brick toast ($12, weekend only) was the best version of brick toast I've ever had. Perfectly crunchy and caramelized exterior, pillowy interior, and bursting with flavor. It comes with syrup but it's not necessary. I would absolutely get this again. The karaage on milk toast ($14) was very interesting -- fluffy scrambled eggs, cheese, and fried chicken in a lightly caramelized fluffy milk toast sandwich. I wish there was less cheese and more savory flavor on the chicken, but otherwise it was quite tasty. The OG banh mi ($10) was delicious -- lots of fresh crunchy vegetables, tasty sauce, and plenty of Vietnamese cold cuts. The bread also had great texture. Good deal, too! I also got the salted toffee latte ($6) which was very yummy and sweet. The prices here are very reasonable and the food is delicious and unique. What's not to love? Overall this was a very pleasant brunch experience and I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. Would recommend making a reservation -- while there were a lot of openings for Sunday brunch a couple of days prior, when we got there all of the tables seemed reserved. read more

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The food was just incredibly mediocre. The drinks were boring and overpriced. They have a nice location and set up but we had the mushrooms which were over breaded and you could only taste the breading. And we had two kinds of fried rice and it was basically rice with frozen things in it. read more

My 2 girlfriends and I came to Esmai's Cafe for a girls' night / catchup on a Tuesday night at 6PM. Reservations were easy to make online in advance. Meter parking was plentiful nearby and meters stopped at 8PM. We were seated right away. I remember this place as Hops n' Scotch and honestly, I think they really improved the space! The ambience was nicer, more posh, and the decor was super cute - I loved the pretty trees and cute booths and chairs. The service was quick, helpful, and very nice. We were checked in with often and made sure we were happy with the food and service. The menu was neat and the offerings of drinks and food were really interesting! We got the: - Spill the Tea mocktail - the rose tea was very subtle but tasty and aromatic, it was really pleasant and came in a pretty glass - Hot Egg Coffee - VERY sweet (which I LOVE) but might be too sweet for some, be sure to mix it well and then it's not as sweet... but personally I LOVED the first sip which was sugar overload heaven XD - Cold Egg Coffee (yes we got both!) - tasted great, almost like a bubble tea without the boba, the Vietnamese coffee is strong and it is very sweet, which I like - Banh Mi + Bone Marrow - a must get! this Vietnamese charcuterie board was very creative and DELISH!!! I loved the chicken pate with the bone marrow on top of the toast - the bone marrow was melt in my mouth deliciousness, and then I made a separate toast with the pate, cold cuts and pickled veggies. I love banh mi and bone marrow and pate, so this app was a winner for me - Mini Beef Wellington - this was SO GOOD!!! Since there were 3 of us, we each got 1 mini beef wellington and the meat inside was so surprisingly tender!! And then the outside pastry was nice and flaky, and I kept wanting more and more of the sauce - this honestly was my favorite dish of the night, would have happily ordered another one - Escargot - this was good and some of the pieces were nice and plump but I did prefer the other two apps above, if you had to prioritize and only get 2 apps - Grilled Octopus - I thought the octopus was very tasty and moist, the poached Asian pear salad was a nice addition - Lemongrass Chicken Salad - the salad is pretty standard, but actually the lemongrass chicken was very juicy and flavorful - Smoked Fried Rice - this was my friend's favorite dish, she really liked the smokiness of it, and I thought the fried shrimp egg roll was so creative and fun - Loco Moco - this was SO TASTY!!!! we were glad that we ended up getting it even though we thought we were too full... every component of this dish was good and balanced everything else, from the Japanese hamburger and its mushroom gravy sauce over the rice, the yolk oozing out of the fried egg on top, then cutting a piece of the spam on the side and then the macaroni salad and carrots and finishing with some fruit - this was my favorite entree and my 2nd fave dish after the Mini Beef Wellington - Creme Brulee - this was so yummy and not too sweet, the right creaminess and so easy to eat, we finished it easily - Matcha Lava Cake - SUPER DECADENT and again, I have a MAJOR sweet tooth, so I LOOOOOOVED this lava cake! It was oozing and the sauce with the cake and a bit of strawberry were PERFECT... and then you discover the matcha and it's a nice surprise! We weren't actually able to finish this at dinner, but I took it home and a little while later, I added more fruit and devoured it all, savoring each chocolate-y heavenly bite ^__^ Portions were really perfect for our party of 3 but we got waaayyyyyyy too much and we were STUFFED. We had to box the rest of the fried rice and loco moco. I recommend finishing the bone marrow right away though since when it cools down, it'll gel up. Even if you're full, I'd say make room for dessert. If you're a dessert fan, both the matcha lava cake and creme brulee were worth it! But if you only had to choose one and you DO have a sweet tooth, I'd recommend getting the lava cake :) All in all, a VERY successful and delicious night out with my friends. We were never rushed and it wasn't very crowded (albeit it was a Tuesday night), so we were able to chat for a while and really enjoy our food and drinks. I would definitely come back and bring more friends, try out their creative cocktails next time, or maybe even come for a date night ;) I highly recommend trying Esmai's! I also love that the owner chef is a woman and brings her culture in to the food and menu. You can feel the love and care that was put in to designing everything, from the decor to food. Please support them! read more

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We came in around 6 it wasn't busy and we were seated quickly! Really nice ambiance and super filling meal! I got the loco moco never tried which is a rice topped with a hamburger gravy and egg! I also got shishito peppers but was tok full from the main meal to eat many! read more

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Loco Moco - Modern European Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Such a luxurious culinary experience. Everything is delicious and creative. The escargot has a dash of pesto flavor, the noodles range from Italian to Vietnamese - and all taste so fresh. The owner came out to greet us and his passion for his craft was really endearing. You can taste/feel how much effort they put into the place, and how much of a global influence they (literally) bring to the table. Must visit! read more

A delightful surprise. Wandered in on a whim and had a lovely dinner. Their green papaya salad was a treat. Nice quiet spot at Coolidge Corner. Will be back. read more

We had an enjoyable lunch/brunch there. My souffle was great. My husband's loco moco was middling- the meat party was tough. Two ban mi sandwiches our guests preferred were reported to be great. Service was great! Overall, a pretty good experience. read more

Went there for my girlfriend's birthday and it could not have been better. The beef wellington slider thingies were great

Food was amazing. Great service, chill ambience and the food is well prepared and unique.

Good food and cocktails, apparently has a roof deck that is opening soon. The lobster Rangoon and mini beef Wellington is my favorite.

Tucked inside a small corner, Esmai's is unsuspecting on the outside but calm, cozy, and warm on the inside. Their Asian-inspired brunch menu has everything from bahn mi to rice bowls to French toast, each with a small twist. We ordered the souffle pancakes, french toast stuffed with ube cheese ganache, and loco moco--a japanese hamburger with mushroom gravy, fried egg, and spam. The souffle pancakes were light, but slightly overpriced IMO, and the loco moco was savory, filling, and delicious. The French toast though was the star of the show, with a crispy cornflake outer coating and a silky smooth ube filling. My only complaint was the drinks, which were watered down and didn't hold a candle to the food. Wish I lived in Boston so I could come here and try the rest of the menu. read more

We've been here a couple times now and the food, service, and overall experience has been fantastic! The food was absolutely delicious and we are looking forward to coming again so we can try some other items on the menu. We did tea time with our daughters and they had so much fun and enjoyed the food too. Glad to have them in the neighborhood! read more