I moved in around the corner from this place 6 months ago and thought "Great! Coffee shop and cafe 30 seconds from - I'll be in there all the time!". However, I've tried and tried but it just isn't working. A number of problems. First, this is Brookline so you expect a certain level of pretentiousness in your local restaurant but this place is on another level. If the food was out of this world they could get away with it but.....it just isn't that good. You will notice many of the reviews talk about the "atmosphere" which is certainly nice but food doesn't match and it is not cheap either. Next the coffee. I'm very fussy about my coffee and my expectations weren't high but even so they wee not met. You would expect a cafe with these pretentious to know how to make good coffee but sadly no. Lots wrong including even simple things like overheating the milk. read more

Delicious breakfast in a classy, yet cozy environment. Just a bit hipster, but easily tamed by the volumes of classic English poetry spread around. Not much more I could ask fir. read more

Foods taste great and of high quality. Wonderful staff and nice atmosphere. A great found in the community!

The breakfast here is amazing! I got the heath and the cypress and both were very flavorful, well made, and unique. I bought a girl Rifrullo the morning after a first date, and I'm pretty sure it's the only reason she's my girlfriend now. 5 stars! read more

What I love about Rifrullo is that the restaurant itself is beautifully charming and inviting in a way that makes you want to order a second cup of coffee. The menu is seasonal and changes daily. The egg sandwich on brioche with avocado is divine. read more

This local cafe is perfection. Fantastic beverage selection, healthy and wholesome food, delightful treats (vegan banana bread, caramelized orange polenta, seasonal tartlet...). The store owner is lovely and the seating is so comfortable - a large pink couch makes this an intimate place to gather and a long communal table brings in lots of people doing work. Just a pure and personable place with so much charm. read more

Location and Ambiente Great Foods tasted really good, but small portions and overpriced. I ordered the Hash, the scallions were missing. After my complaint the plate was taken back to the kitchen and then returned - I could detect some green of a scallion , but my fork was missing. The service was bad, they forgot our coffee and we had to ask for it after having our food put on the counter for pick up. The waitress served soup to another customer and had her thumb in the soup. read more

What a pleaSure. great baked goods. Unusual combinations, gluten free items (not 100%). Worth the trip. read more

Super cute local spot within walking distance from our house. All of the sandwiches we have tried are delicious - not super big but great flavors. Wonderful coffee (the iced mocha is a favorite summer treat!). So happy to have them in the neighborhood! read more

This place always hits the spot! Colleen is really one of a kind. I was so impressed the first time I met her and listened to her story, I asked if she'd be willing to feature in mini-documentary. My full review is essentially the video below, however the high level points are charming vibe, delicious food, and warm staff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7xq-7QrAS0 read more

This place is a hidden treasure. Tucked away on a side street near the high school, Rifrullo prepares innovative, healthy and delicious meals for a good price. The service was great. In fact our food was delivered by the chef owner herself. If there are any negatives, it's that the place is pretty small. It seats maybe 30 at the most. I would love to see Rifrullo graduate to a larger space in a more visible location. More people need to experience the love and care that obviously goes into every aspect of this restaurant. read more

The coffee is okay--borderline truck stop, and they short filled me (ha ha!). Nice table set up including a comfy curved booth, a thick wood group table, a 4 stool wall bar thing, and a small couch--too bad about the flies. Lots of people when seem to like it here. read more

had a great experience. Only one person working the counter on a busy Sunday and wow was she impressive, so much that my 11 year old commented on her performance. the food was amazing as well. read more

I only had a banana bread but that was pretty good. The view is nice and cafe space is warm.

Needed to find a place in the area for a fast lunch with easy PARKING. A metered space right in front of Rifrullo made the choice easy. Typical local eatery with what seemed like health conscious items on the menu. I decided on a pulled pork sandwich as that is a usual favorite. The lady behind the counter was very friendly and helpful. In about 10 minutes I received what looked like a sandwich but couldn't really tell. I asked if that was my pulled pork order and it was confirmed. I hate to say this but it was by far the worst sandwich that I have ever had. Sorry. The bread on which a miniscule amount of pork and a condiment of sort applied was at least 2 days old making it next to impossible to bite into. I had no time to address this before I had to leave, so by posting this I hope that whoever is in charge there will make sure no one else will have this experience. read more

Delicious coffee and food. I love that everything is made starting from scratch. You must try the omega cookies - the most unique and delicious cookie I have ever had. read more

Rifrullo has become my goto place for a quick lunch or coffee. Live locally and glad to see it is always busy and the food has continued to be awesome. Colleen should be proud of what she built. So, what prompted the review. $10 dinners... The price point is new and hope it generates a good result. (Prior dinners, takeout for me, were more costly.) A week ago Monday the nightly special was Pork Enchiladas. Not a big fan of enchiladas, but did not plan for dinner and decided to go for it. It was great. The pork was flavorful, the rice tasty and really enjoyed. My expectation was a sauce & cheese heavy meal with bland rice but this was the opposite. read more

This charming, retro restaurant was actually recommended by a fellow a few blocks away at a house of worship who happened to be assisting folks with parking. We stopped in for lunch and were pleasantly surprised by the fresh, wholesome approach to their menu. The kale chips which were housed in an old-fashioned popcorn machine made for a delightful side order. The egg dish with avocado was superb. The seating was funky and there is only counter service, but the food and vibe are well-worth the drive-ride from Boston. read more

Intimate setting; great place to meet for coffee, to grab a bowl of soup or a sandwich...everything tasted and looked excellent, loved the edible arrangements on the table! Would definitely be five stars if they offered soy or a non-milk besides whole. Excellent well informed employees, excellent customer service. Will visit regularly! read more

This place is really cute and food/coffee are yummy. I felt bad for my husband when he so badly wanted to strike up a conversation with what seemed like the head baker/owner (?) about the dinner menu and she completely shut him down with a cold stare and a weird awkward staring contest ensued...I was eager to scurry away. We wanna give this place another shot and do dinner...hopefully next time we will see some smiles and friendlier service! read more

Some of the best takeout you can get after work. I recommend the Heritage Spatchcock Chicken, which is a beautiful rotisserie freshened up with a lemon garlic sauce. You must also try the Campbell's Chicken Salad, which is absolutely delicious, and I don't think has anything to do with the soup company. Last item I want to give a shout out to is the pulled pork sandwich. Once you've decided on your order, feel free to take a seat on the huge leather sofa and enjoy the funky decor while you wait. Keep doing what you're doing! read more

This is the best cafe in Brookline. Their chocolate cookie is so delicious.

Moved to Brookline Hills beginning of December and this is on the way to the T stop. Excellent coffee/espresso and the baristas have been super nice. Also the Crispy Pulled Pork on Brioche has been great. read more

As usual, everything is delicious. Especially their soups. Today the Vietnamese soup was wonderful! Thanks!

I really like this place and I think the food is pretty good and the ambiance is great. Most of the staff is very nice but on more than one experience, I've witnessed the owner being rude and dismissive. The location couldn't be more convenient for me but I've avoided it as of late because it ruins the atmosphere when the owner is selectively rude to customers. read more

Love this little neighborhood cafe. The food is excellent and always makes my day feel a little more special. Great pickled vegetables on the sandwiches, and very good coffee. read more

I've had breakfast, lunch , and dinner there. I've even gotten take out for my family when I've had no time to cook. Everything has been DELICIOUS! Fresh, local and inspired. I'm surprised with the negative comments about the owner. I've found her to be delightful and quite friendly. Although I've been there multiple times, I'm not exactly a "regular", yet she seems to remember me and greets me warmly. I think she's created a wonderful community vibe. Slightly overpriced. read more

This is my favorite cafe of all time! The decor is trendy and cute, and the food is always extremely fresh and delicious. Get the BLA sandwich and you won't be disappointed. I wish I could eat here every day, but I no longer live in the area. For awhile I was able to order on Uber Eats, but lately Rifrullo hasn't been showing up. Come back to Uber Eats, Rifrullo!!! read more

Elegant food, preparation, ingredients and quality! Very talented chef! Enjoy the breakfast and lunch menus very much. The quinoa taco salad is my staple. The coffee and teas are always perfect! The brownies are my downfall! read more

My favorite breackfast place! I love their "The cypress", chai latte. Best deserts: everything cookie and lemon iogurt cake!

I remember when Rifrullo opened, I was so excited to have someplace special in our neighborhood to eat at. And Rifrullo has way surpassed my expectations. Colleen totally rocks, and the food is out of this world!! I have eaten there many times, both in the cafe itself and also take out, and it never disappoints. Today I had the Local, which was a to-die-for open-faced sandwich with arugula, roasted mushrooms, and herb goat cheese. I think it's going to be one of my go-to lunches. A couple of weeks ago, I had a tuna melt, which was probably the best tuna melt I've ever had. And the baked goods?? OMG. LOVE LOVE LOVE. read more

I've had the spatchcock chicken and pasta with meat sauce, both exceptional, not the cheapest, but quality is worth the price!

Love everything I've tried here, huevos rancheros, cyprus, french toast, sweet potato hash, quinoa taco salad, chicken parm, the cuban...SO good. If they ever have the quinoa chocolate cake you MUST get it. Great coffee, cute and cozy seating, kind staff, wish I was closer so I could go more often read more

Fantastic food, but the service leaves a lot to be desired. I've come here several times over the last year and the food has been consistently high quality. But the counter staff are also consistently moody and unfriendly, typically treating me like I was burdening them simply by placing an order. I would think a place like this would be a little nicer to their customers to convince them to come back - not sure I will, despite the food. read more

RifRif (as my housemates and I have nicknamed the place), is a super cute local coffee shop. Their coffee is tasty (though on the expensive side). Their meals are very good (fresh and flavorful) though the portions are slightly too small. That omega cookie is Lit! read more

great place for having mocha but I can't say so about staff. they behaved like I was unwelcome guest in their house. seriously guys if you want to run business successfully you have to be more friendly. read more

This is my favorite place in all of Boston. As a student at Boston College, I was happy to stumble upon such a great find only a few stops away on the D Line. I often go by myself and bring a laptop to do work, because the wifi and fabulous coffee make it such a nice place to study. The bread is out of this world-- it's the type of bread that isn't exactly beautiful and golden, but that's because it's hiding a wonderful crunchiness and softness and perfect flavor. I can't get enough of whatever sample they have that day and I'll often buy it and bring it home. They do a really good job of making pastries like scones that are just right for coffee. In addition, I've been for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I can say that the menu is fabulous as well. I especially love the dinner menu. Rifrullo is not at all like its surrounding neighborhood, but that's what makes it special, it's not too mainstream and frustrating. It's a quaint place with quality food and service that I'm happy to have so nearby. read more

So good! I have been for both lunch and dinner. Everything is good but the gnocchi bolognese and bacon, lettuce, avocado sandwich are faves. The bread is ridiculously good. Take a jar of the bolognese starter home and surprise your family one night at dinner. read more

I gave this restaurant two chances. Months ago, I came in and was completely ignored by the woman at the counter. So, I walked out. But, I always give a business a second chance. So, last week I came in around 3pm on a weekday and the same thing happened. I was ignored by the woman behind the counter. Interestingly though, a few minutes later, a male customer came in and she rushed to serve him. Maybe she doesn't like fellow women. The service at this restaurant is atrocious ! read more

Great addition to the neighborhood. Food is great and interesting. Their choice of George Howell Coffee makes their espresso drinks the best in the area. They're not fast so if you're in a hurry this is definitely not the right place for you. The music choice is unusual and way too loud...but you're there for the food not the music, right? read more