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Zaftigs Delicatessen - Brookline

3.8 (1.8k reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago
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ZAFTIGS DELICATESSEN - BROOKLINE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Grilled chicken sandwich
Angelina R.

I'd heard about this spot from people all around ever since moving to Boston and I finally understand why: Zaftigs is the perfect representation of traditional Jewish home style cooking in Boston! The atmosphere is so nostalgic and warming from the moment you step inside, like a true classic neighborhood diner. The staff is incredibly kind and friendly making the experience all the more welcoming. And when it comes to the food itself, it's like a nice big hug to seal the deal. The flavors are tasty and satisfying without being anything over the top. Also, their many has a wide variety of options ranging from familiar diner foods to some unique Jewish specials that you can't find just anywhere. This place is great for a casual bite to eat for really any meal (plus they serve breakfast all day)! I'll definitely be back to try their breakfast too, but I must say their lunch/dinner foods also don't disappoint: the latkes and matzo ball soup are a must!!

Roasted Vegetable Wrap with fries
Cami C.

I loved Zaftigs! Came here upon a fantastic recommendation from a friend and it did not disappoint. First of all the ambience here is so fun. It's very chill, laid-back and lots of good vibes. Lots of tables so we didn't have to wait long to be seated but I'm sure it gets pretty packed especially during brunch time on the weekends. Menu-wise, there really is something here for everybody. They offer their brunch menu all day. They have a lot of good looking pancakes and sandwiches as well as Jewish bakery items like their bagels that are on sale in the front. The staff seem to love their job and are not only friendly with each other, but great with the customers and will give you great recommendations if you are stuck between what to order. My friends tried the Reuben sandwich, the New Yorker sandwich, and the tuna melt sandwich, which they all loved. I got the roasted vegetable wrap, which was also really good. I appreciated that the menu has quite a few vegan and vegetarian options and easily indicate that on the menu. I think the dishes are pretty fairly priced and you get a good portion which I definitely appreciate. We all love our sandwiches but I would say the Reuben sandwich was probably the favorite among my friends. The fries were also very good which I don't always find to be the case at restaurants. Next time, I definitely wanna check out the brunch menu. From what I saw all the dishes looked amazing so I can't wait to be back! Would highly recommend stopping in if you're in the area!

San Francisco Joe's Special
Eve Neider N.

The matzo ball soup is amazing and I'm used to a Jewish mother's matzo ball soup! I got the San Francisco special, which was good but it felt under seasoned. The home fries were nice and crispy. The food came out fast and they were great at refilling our coffee! The place gets busy and they don't take reservations so keep that in mind. The prices are also reasonable so I recommend for a nice breakfast in Brookline but it's not the best breakfast I've had

Sweet Noodle Kugel BYO Deli Sandwich

Not my first time trying noodle kugle but was my first time having some matzo ball soup. Overall portions and prices were not bad. The service pretty good and food came out pretty quickly. Solid place.

Zaftig Combo
Madeleine G.

Perfect Jewish deli/diner for taking family from out of town! Love the knishes, omelettes, and my friend said the pastrami sandwich was delicious.

Banana Stuffed French Toast
Brian C.

I have driven by Zaftigs so many times but never stopped in. Huge mistake. This place is fantastic. Very impressive. Tremendous breakfast. Parking is on the street. No lot. Sorry folks. You find a spot, you take the win. We walked in and they treated us very nicely. Friendly. Fast. Sat us right away. The kind of service you wish every restaurant had but almost none do. Now the food. My son had the stuffed banana French toast with berries. Enormous. Beautiful. He absolutely loved it. I had the sunny side up egg sandwich with bacon, tomato, and lettuce. Excellent flavor. Got a little messy at the end but that is perfectly fine. The potatoes were crispy and actually seasoned. Not the sad, soggy stuff you get at the weaker places. We ordered the blueberry pancake stack. Three big pancakes. Comes with syrup and a strawberry butter that was surprisingly amazing. Pancakes were a little dry, so do the smart thing and ask for extra syrup. Trust me. My wife had the eggs benedict. She said it was fantastic. Perfect eggs. Perfect sauce. No complaints. Zero. Coffee was great. Apple juice great. The bill was ninety one dollars before tip. Zaftigs is a winner. Great food. Great service. Highly recommended.

Turkey Chili
Amy Y.

I must say that I was less than impressed on my last trip to Zaftigs. I had not been in a while, and when my friend wanted to have lunch at Zaftigs, I decided to give it another try after being disappointed several years ago. Unfortunately, Zaftigs has not improved and may have slipped further. The decor is busy, with hardscape elements that echo, making conversation at a small 2-top almost impossible. The tables are quite close together, so if it were quieter, you would be part of your neighbor's conversation as well. I had the Rachel sandwich that was soggy and pretty tasteless. I upgraded to the potato pancake-a huge mistake. It was an inedible hockey puck. Our server was pleasant but not very attentive, and never questioned why the potato pancake only had a bit out of it. My friend had the turkey chili, which she indicated was decent, though it was not overly flavorful. There are so many options in Coolidge Corner; do not waste your time or money here.

Phil K.

I've been to a lot of Jewish delis over the years (grew up Jewish, so delis were basically part of everyday life), and Zaftigs definitely brought back some of that feeling. The food was good -- not quite at the level of the classic delis I grew up with, but still solid. The pickles were incredible, easily the highlight and exactly how I remember them should be. The only hiccup was with the order and service -- little things like cheese showing up when it wasn't supposed to, onions added when I hadn't asked for them, and a couple of small items missing. Nothing that ruined the meal, but it did stand out. Overall though, it's a good spot that captures some of that deli nostalgia, even if it's not perfect.

Chicken Schnitzel

SOOOO GOOD great food great service great ambience anything on the menu would probably be amazing

Food, Service, Ambiance was spectacular. I write this just because of the Empire Eggs Benedict's. So good, so good, so good...

Turkey sandwich on ciesel bread
Jay M.

First time visiting this location. We usually visit the Natick location. Ordered the bowl of Matzah ball chicken noodle soup. A turkey sandwich on ciesel bread with the potato pancake add on extra for 2 bucks . Well , my soup was absent of any chicken, no carrots or vegetables, noodles a few, the Matzah ball was good and no issues with the ball. Disappointing Issue was it had no chicken . It appears the server when ladling soup into my bowl ... said no chicken for him and no carrots either ...The same I had at Natick location was excellent and was bountiful with ingredients and chicken... this soup was what attracts me to Zatfigs. Turkey sandwich needed a bit more turkey and was good and with fresh red onion, tomato, Russian dressing , Lettuce was very good. place was crowded as a Saturday and really noisy vs. the Natick location. Parking next to impossible if driving for Brookline. The potato pancake is the star today. Anyway.... I like the Natick spot and I'll be back.

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29 days ago

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9 hours ago

Good traditional food fresh bagels , good chicken soup. Great location it gets very busy.

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Delicious sweets, nice vibe! It was a good experience in trying something new to me.Recommend!!

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Ask the Community - Zaftigs Delicatessen - Brookline

I'm going on with a group of 4 on Sunday. Is it possible to make reservations, or is it first come-first serve?

They don't take reservations, it is first come first serve and sometimes if your entire party is not with you, you may not get seated. My suggestion is to get there early, they get really busy over the weekends.

I'm supposed to meet friends here for brunch at noon on Sunday. Assuming we want to get seated as closed to noon as possible, would it behoove us to show up about 30-60 minutes early to get on the list? I don't think they take reservations, right?

I agree that you should show up earlier, especially if you're on a schedule. Coolidge Corner has… 

Aging white male here. Does anyone know if this is the former "Jack and Marions"? I used to make special trips there from PVD in the 70s. Looks like it might be worth an excursion.

It is the former 'Jack and Marion's.' Zaftigs even has a beef-and-tongue sandwich named after its former incarnation.… 

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Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Loco Moco rice plate - the gravy made the dish!

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant

4.3(52 reviews)
0.2 mi•Coolidge Corner

Came to Esmai's for an early dinner with my boyfriend and sat on the outdoor rooftop (we made a…read morereservation). 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!

Another place that I have passed in Coolidge corner a bunch of times when I'm in the area. Esmai's…read morequietly 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

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Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant
Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Shrimp Bao

Shrimp Bao

Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - BBH

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BBH

Cafe Weekend - Funnel fries with Nutella and ice cream

Cafe Weekend

4.5(357 reviews)
0.7 mi•Allston/Brighton
•$$

Ambience: small little cafe tucked in the middle of Allston that wouldn't look all that special if…read morenot for the line outside. Not somewhere I would necessarily go for "vibes" but that just shows that the food speaks for itself Food: if I had to describe cafe weekend in a sentence, it's basically "a Korean's take on an American cafe". There's a subtle touch of Korean flavor and aesthetic in each item, like how the desserts aren't too overpoweringly saccharine and the Drop the Egg brioche sandwich has that mix savory/sweet that Koreans love. I personally loooved the very berry mascarpone French toast, and I'm not even a dessert person! Nothing was too oily or under seasoned. The food is definitely the highlight of this place! Service: The waitress checked on us a couple times to make sure things were running smoothly and she made great food recommendations which I loved.

Such a cute brunch place. Plus the food & drinks were good!…read more Ordered the shakshouka -- had the right amount of spiciness, and lots of tomatoes. A bit more on the watery end, but I still enjoyed it (this might be more of a preference thing). Good portions (I was definitely full, and my friend couldn't even finish her omelette lol). Also ordered the weekend latte -- it felt too creamy, milky, and "specialty" to be a proper coffee drink (ended up needing to buy Starbucks later on in the day), but still very yummy (so it's more of a fun drink). Heard the matcha was too sweet btw. ~$30pp, so it's a bit steeper for a brunch place, but def worth it.

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Cafe Weekend - Inside

Inside

Cafe Weekend - Kimchi arancini

Kimchi arancini

Cafe Weekend - Entrance

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Entrance

The Friendly Toast

The Friendly Toast

4.2(196 reviews)
2.0 mi•Harvard Square, Riverside
•$$

If you're anywhere near Harvard Square, The Friendly Toast is absolutely worth a stop, especially…read moreif you're looking for a brunch spot that's just as fun as it is flavorful. The space is super vibrant, filled with bold colors, retro diner touches, and a bunch of quirky statement pieces that make you want to look around before you even check the menu. It feels playful and energetic without being overwhelming...definitely a place that stands out from your typical brunch spot. One of the most unique things about this place is the drink menu. I loved that you can order flights...not just for mimosas, but also spritzers/mixed drink and even coffee-inspired drinks. That's not something you see everywhere, and it made the whole experience feel a little more elevated and fun. Everything we tried was solid across the board. The drinks were well-made, balanced, and honestly just fun to try in a flight format. The menu itself keeps that same energy going with quirky, pop culture-inspired names that make ordering more entertaining than usual. But it's not just about the names, the food actually delivers. The chicken and waffles were a standout: crispy, flavorful, and perfectly paired with the sweetness of the waffle. The traditional breakfast was done right too: simple, classic, and exactly what you'd want when you're craving something familiar. The real surprise for me was the crispy pimento potato bowl with chicken. It was packed and layered with flavor: comforting, a little indulgent, and definitely filling. You can tell they're intentional about how they build their dishes, not just throwing things together. Shoutout to our waitress as well...she really made the experience better. She gave great recommendations, helped us navigate the menu (which has a lot of options), and made sure we picked dishes we'd actually enjoy. That kind of service goes a long way, especially at a busy brunch spot.

My husband and I had breakfast at The Friendly Toast in Cambridge about two weeks ago. It was our…read morefirst stop of the day and a great way to begin a day in Cambridge. The Friendly Toast was founded in 1994 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but has locations throughout New England now. It's easy to see why. This all-day brunch and bar is quirky and fun and unique. The decor of the Cambridge location is super eclectic. We arrived around 8:45am on a Saturday, and it wasn't busy yet (it's a huge restaurant). Since it was pretty quiet still, we had plenty of time to look around at the fun decor. The menu is as fun and eclectic as the decor with really fun small plates, breakfast classics, vegan options (like a tofu scramble and vegan pancakes), wild pancakes (cookie monster pancakes!?), and some healthier options. They currently have (or maybe always have?) a "Comeback Tour" menu of dishes that were popular that they brought back. My husband and I both chose from that menu. He got the Rice Baby Rice Comeback (grilled citrus chicken, seasoned rice, roasted street corn, black beans, pico de gallo and avocado topped with crispy tortilla strips, grated cotija, pickled onion, avocado cilantro sauce, and fresh cilantro), and I had the Medley Crue Comeback (two poached eggs served over a medley of home fries, tomatoes, spinach, red peppers, mushrooms, onion, zucchini and corn; topped with avocado cilantro sauce, lemon pepper sumac & fresh cilantro). Both dishes were great. They have a full drink menu, too, including flights (a mimosa flight, a coffee drink flight, and more), beer, wine, mocktails, classic cocktails, and more. I had their strawberries and cream coffee (cold brew with vanilla strawberry cold foam), while my husband stuck with a simple iced coffee. It's a really fun place for brunch, and I'd happy to return or visit another location. It's just a retro, quirky, happy place!

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The Friendly Toast - Inside

Inside

The Friendly Toast
The Friendly Toast

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Phinista - Tofu Bánh Mì

Phinista

4.4(323 reviews)
1.3 mi•Fenway
•$$

Okay, this might honestly be the BEST latte I've ever had. I loved it so much that I literally went…read moreback to buy another one on the SAME DAY. I was hooked. I got an iced latte with almond milk and black sesame cold foam, and the combination was absolutely incredible. The cold foam has the perfect salty touch, with little bits of sesame seeds that add such a unique texture and flavor. It's rich, nutty, slightly savory, and perfectly balanced without needing any extra sweetness. And just to clarify, that beautiful caramel color you see is NOT caramel! It's the espresso shot. I specifically wanted a drink that wasn't too sweet, and this was perfection. My only recommendation? PLEASE, offer bigger cup sizes I would happily buy a large or even an extra large because this drink is THAT good. Staff: incredibly nice + friendly + professional college students!!!

One of the spots that people kept recommending for good coffee & Bahn mi. overall takeaways: good…read morematcha color & flavor, drinks were not too sweet (which is an Asian compliment!), quaint spot. Would rate 5/5 on drinks, 4/5 on food. We got the customer favorite: iced pandan matcha (with oat milk for preference) -- overall: good matcha color & flavor, pandan was not too sweet, ice ratio was good. My bf really enjoyed this one! I also got the Iced Saigonese -- strong viet coffee, still yummy with the sweetness & the foam on top enhanced the creaminess of the drink. We ordered the BBQ Pork Bahn Mi + egg, I would recommend adding the egg for sure! The egg was creamy & runny, giving it extra flavor. However, Bahn mi itself was not particularly special. We actually ordered the egg after tasting the Bahn mi & it was a little dry. Nice location, seating inside & outside but construction was happening outside, so it wasn't as enjoyable. We had went around 1PM on a Wednesday & the seats were filled. Saw some people with computers, with no problem.

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Phinista - Interior

Interior

Phinista - Ube bun with custard

Ube bun with custard

Phinista - Iced Saigonese Sea Salt Phin

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Iced Saigonese Sea Salt Phin

The Friendly Toast - Side of bacon and 7-grain sour dough bread

The Friendly Toast

4.3(3.6k reviews)
2.6 mi•Back Bay
•$$

When planning our trip to Boston, I looked for a diner like place for breakfast and found this…read morespot. I thought it was a bit odd that they were taking reservations but did it anyway in case it was crazy. I'm very glad I did because even with a reservation before 9am some people were waiting outside for a table! We got seated right away with our reservation which I was very happy to have made. The place is very cool inside with interesting decor to look at. One of the reason I picked this restaurant is that they have gluten free options. It was great to be able to have a regular breakfast like anyone else. I had pancakes with potatoes, eggs and sausage. The sausage was pretty nice. The rest of my group liked their food too and the ambiance. Good spot but if you can, get a reservation!

A great brunch location! They have a wide-variety of options on the menu ranging. They have many…read moredifferent options for breakfast classics like pancakes, waffles, toasts (obviously!), breakfast burritos and sandwiches, omelettes, scrambles, and egg dishes. They have traditional versions and also a lot of fun styles with seasonal flavors, wild combos. They also have more than just breakfast with plenty of lunch or dinner options with burgers, sandwiches, salad and bowls. There is something for everyone here whether you have food allergies, are a picky eater, or down for an adventure to try something new. Everything is pretty customizable so you really can't go wrong. For those with food allergies, they have plenty of vegan and gluten free options. Some of my favorite staples are the avocado toast, the vegan scramble, the vegan breakfast burrito, or the vegan pancakes (they are gluten free too)! I like to try to make a reservation online in advance because it gets busy. You have to make the reservation on the day of so the availability can be limited depending on what might be going on but it is still worthwhile. You can also join the waitlist online if you can't make a reservation in advance which might help save a little time too. If you don't want to dine in, you can always order online for pick-up or delivery from their website as well. Staff has always been kind and helpful, especially when it comes to recommendations for what to try if you want to branch out or just get inspired. The Friendly Toast is a unique place to go. If you are inside, it feels like a diner and is pretty laidback. They have their own sense of style which adds to their character and charm. When the weather is nice, I like the outdoor seating they have.

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The Friendly Toast - Having breakfast before the MIT tour.

Having breakfast before the MIT tour.

The Friendly Toast - Cinnamon toast crunch French toast

Cinnamon toast crunch French toast

The Friendly Toast - Outside

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Outside

Zaftigs Delicatessen - Brookline - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

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