The Most Flavorful Breakfast & Brunch in Boston

Cafénation

★★★★☆ 4.1 (479) • $

"We stopped in on a busy weekday morning. I had looked at menus online before our visit, but their menu has changed and they no longer offer omelettes or crepes. They do have great breakfast sandwich options.I ordered an egg sandwich and a latte. Both were served pretty quickly. The latte was perfect, it hit the spot. The sandwich was piping hot, good portions, and very filling.Great place to grab breakfast & coffee while in Brighton."

Greystone Cafe, Bakery, and Provisions

★★★★☆ 4.4 (115)

"Nice ambiance to just hang out or to be with friends. It's on the corner with lots of windows so it's bright and a good spot to people watch. The ice latte was definitely very good as was the seasonal scone."

Franny's

★★★★☆ 4 (14)

"Located in maplewood square in Malden, this place has been putting out quality breakfast for many years. In addition to breakfast they offer delicious lunches as well, along with seasonal specials each day. It's clean, affordable and the staff is nice..."

Lighthouse Cafe

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (155)

"Visited for the first time with my son, who recommended the location. We entered on a quiet Tuesday morning and it was 1/2 full. We were quickly seated and approached with menus and settings. I had the french toast with bacon and my son had the pancakes with a bagel.He had a cup of coffee and I ordered a white milk. The food was delivered quickly and it was awesome. Great breakfast! Certainly a gem!I am not sure if I would have ever went here if it weren't for my son, who told me about it. I will definitely be back. Price was fairService was excellentParking was easy...across the street at a meterFood- excellent5 stars!"

Beantown Pub

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (799) • $$

"Their website says it's the only place you can drink a cold Sam Adams by a cold Sam Adams and I think that's hilarious. Had to come, of course! It's right off the Commons so it's an easy location.Service was good. It's a seat yourself type of place.My burger was phenomenal but ironically, the Beantown beans were not good in my opinion. They tasted old for lack of a better explanation? I'm from the South so I've had my fair share of baked beans and these were not it. Just don't order them and you'll love the food here- like I said, the burger was fab.Not sure if there's AC - it's not cold but it's not as hot as outside so do with that what you will.Prices are average, maybe even better than average depending on where you are in Boston."

The Village Griddle

★★★★☆ 4.2 (83)

"We had the most outstanding breakfast today! Great food and service ! Super tasting food and my new go to"

Boston Crust

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (30)

"Recently new to the Brighton neighborhood , tuck away from the busy and main roads. Not too many pedestrians in this general area to show off their local pizzas and speciality. Came in to grab a couple of quick slices and were greeted by a the pleasant owner and his friendly cashier. The pizzas were thin crusts with the right amount of sauces and cheeses. For a quick bite it was delicious and I would come back to order their dinner plates and sandwiches next time."

B&ms Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (193) • $

A J Tomaiolos Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (43)

"I love this place. My gf found this restaurant online so we checked it out last night. The vibe is really nice and relaxing. Anthony was our bartender and a nice guy. His family owns the place. The Valpolicella red wine is to die for. I actually ordered 2 bottles to go it was so good. I wish I had taken pictures of the food but I forgot. The Bruschetta was very tasty and a large appetizer. The Shrimp Scampi was delicious and a large portion. The house salad with the homemade Cucumber Dill dressing was also delicious. If you're looking for a hearty meal, this is your spot. I couldn't dine here regularly as I'd gain 100 lbs. in no time, but I could see coming here weekly for sure."

Granite Street Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (213) • $

"First time there and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. I told her I didn't want to cook or do dishes and she smiled and told me "we got you here "And she sure did !!! The breakfast was amazing and so much that we where so Fulllll and happy .. hands down great place to have breakfast or take out"

Cafe 26

★★★★☆ 4 (333) • $$

"My goal was to find a good breakfast spot while visiting Downtown Boston that offers tasty food and coffee but that would be filling enough since I was going to do a lot of walking.I was initially deciding between Café 26 and a breakfast spot across the street but saw that this café didn't have a wait which initially worried me because the spot across the street had a long wait. I'm so glad we gave it a try because this turned out to be a great spot. So good that we ate here for breakfast both days. There was no wait, and even if there is...people usually pop in and out pretty quickly. The first day I ordered the build your own omelette with a mocha latte. The following day I ordered the French toast with strawberries, Nutella, and whipped cream, and another mocha latte since I liked it so much. So pleased with my selections.Both days we didn't have to wait and we were in and out pretty quickly to continue our day strolling around Boston. This café is small but big enough to accommodate. Seemed very clean. The only complaint I had the first day was it was warm inside the restaurant because they don't typically run their AC and we went during a warm week. Other than that I have no complaints. The service was good. The café is in the middle of downtown, so not sure on the parking, but you would typically walk here. Good breakfast spot you should def check out."

ReelHouse Boston

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (511) • $$

"To sum up our experience, it was good! Here's a breakdown and then more details to follow:Service: 4/5 Presentation of food/drinks: 5/5Ambiance: 5/5Taste of drinks: 5/5Taste of food 2/5Service: it was great! Mostly. Our server was attentive for the first 15 min then all of a sudden vanished (for example, I saw my drink sitting at the bar for awhile)Everything else is self-explanatory, so I'll go to the taste: the food looked great! However, it didn't have much flavor! To pay $25+ for a dish and want salt or more flavors is a little disappointing. For example, we ordered the Spanish Octopus for an app. Sounds great, looks amazing...tasted like...I don't even know! So weird. Same with myLobster roll: looked sooo good, the lobster was meaty, but....didn't taste like much at all! Oh well. Great views on the harbor and there's lots of outdoor seating. Highly recommend! But not worth 5 stars for a $180 bill - sorrrrrry"

Tamper

★★★★☆ 4.1 (160) • $

"Great spot to enjoy a breakfast and a tasty coffee! The design is modern and cute, and the coffee tastes strong and flavorful! The avocado feta toast was devine!"

Honeycomb Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (102) • $$

"Not bad! It's a cute spot near the Savin hill T stop. They're open for breakfast and lunch. There isn't much seating inside so it's best to take anything to go. The cashier was nice and my order came out pretty quickly. I ordered an ice coffee and the Phoenix. The coffee was alright and the sandwich was good. If you're looking for a quick bite to go and you're in the Savin hill area check it out!"

Café Rustica

★★★★★ 4.6 (349)

"I used to live right down the street from this cute little cafe and decided to finally give it a try a few days before moving away! Definitely regret not stopping by sooner, it was a nice experience!The staff were very friendly and kind upon entering. There were no other customers ( I came on a weekday in the early afternoon ) but in the mornings, I know it can be a lot busier as people are grabbing breakfast and coffee. I got a sandwich and coffee, both things were made relatively quickly. I ended up taking out, but they have seats inside and outside which I'm sure would've been a pleasant experience. The food itself was great - I highly recommend ordering in person rather than on any third party food app as the prices are noticeably more expensive if you do ( I saw that the sandwich I wanted was ~$11 on the app but only ~$9 in store ). I decided to go with prosciutto and provolone and didn't regret it! It was very cleanly made and very filling for the price. The coffee I bought as well tasted really fresh and had just the right sweetness ( they asked if I wanted to adjust it before I left as well ).Overall I loved this place and wouldn't hesitate to come back to try more of their menu. Thanks for the great food and kind service, Cafe Rustica!"

Green Haus Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (49)

"Really cute cafe! They sell a bunch of plants in addition to coffee, tea, pastries, and breakfast! The service was really quick although there was a huge line after I ordered. I really liked the strawberry matcha latte because they use a strawberry puree. It is a little on the thicker side because of the strawberries. The chai latte was good but I liked the strawberry matcha better. The cruffin was also delicious. I would definitely come back to this cafe!"

Victoria's Diner

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (496) • $$

"*** 11/2019 ***A seasonal specials sheet caught my eye.The Pumpkin Bisque with smoke gouda $5.99 bowl was savory tasty rich, but served lukewarm instead of hot.Both Victoria's Hangover Burger $13.99 (8 oz Angus beef patty topped with a fried egg, smoked bacon, American cheese, smother with black pepper maple syrup aioli) and Victoria's Breakfast Sandwich $10.99 (2 fried eggs, melted pepper jack cheese, famous turkey hash, topped with chipotle mayo) were served on a jumbo English muffin. Both were pretty good. I was just bummed that somehow I always seem to end up with the short end of the stick with my portion of french fries, which by the way, was terrific on this visit.Off the regular menu, the breakfast burrito (shaved sirloin with two scrambled eggs, peppers, onions and pepper jack cheese $10.49) was missing something. It just wasn't particularly well flavored, and the beef came out a bit tough. The portion sufficed though.*** 12/2019 ***New seasonal specials sheet, though there wasn't one on our table, so I borrowed the one I spotted at an empty table not too far away.Two of us ended up sharing two of the specials:Shashuka $14.99This famous breakfast dish from Israel is a delicious mix of 2 poached eggs, smothered with mozzarella and gouda cheese, in a homemade tomato sauce spiced with onions, garlic, cilantro and paprika... Served with a side of toast and homefries or hash browns.Huevos Rancheros $14.99This famous breakfast dish from Mexico is a delicious mix of 2 eggs any style, served with avocado, black beans, cilantro, topped with salsa and shredded cheddar on a corn tortilla.Another friend later commented that traditionally, shashuka is vegetarian, the eggs are cooked in the tomato sauce, and there is no cheese in it.Victoria's may not have been traditional, but somehow the mix with the potato cubes found beneath the gooey saucy cheese with lovely bits of onion and unannounced yet welcome basil leaves was quite tasty, rich, and filling.The other dish was enjoyed by our resident vegetarian. Visually, it was a bit deconstructed a plating, with the tortillas arriving the form of two folded tortilla shells, which we found out could be swapped out for pita upon request. I made myself a breakfast tortilla with my shell.Of the two, I preferred the Shashuka, but if recollections serve me well, I think I may revisit Victoria's Breakfast Sandwich sooner, if it continues to remain on their special roster.*** 1/2020 ***Guess the hash browns were short lived. They weren't offered on this visit when a bunch of ordered omelettes for lunch.The breakfast potatoes were quite good, and they filled the New Market Veggie $10.99 (minus the jalapenos please) quite well with crisp firm vegetables, which made it feel like a sensible healthy option. A DC however wasn't crazy about the sweetened marinade used in their fried chicken.Even though the steak tips in my Victoria's Steak Sandwich on Ciabatta $11.99 came north of the requested medium rare, the meat was still quite pleasantly tender.I've been hankering lately to give their French Toast a try, and only recently realized that their Eggs & Cakes $8.99 come with either pancakes OR french toast ($5.99 a la carte for 2 pieces) with 2 eggs, breakfast potatoes or grits, and choice of toast. Hmmm...No more Monthly Specials for now it seems."

El Jefe’s Taqueria - Symphony

★★★★☆ 4 (64)

"My friend and I stopped here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. I grabbed a salad bowl with carnitas, black beans, plantains, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, and hot salsa. The lettuce was sitting in water to keep it fresh, so a lot of it pooled at the bottom of my bowl. Otherwise, everything was pretty good. They don't charge extra for toppings, which is more than I can say for many similar casual TexMex places."

Cobblestones

★★★★☆ 3.6 (48)

"A wonderful little Cafe for breakfast, lunch, or just a snack. Stopped in for a coffee during a morning rain. Got a latte with oat milk, and it was so well prepared. Fresh ground and ever so good. It definitely hit the spot.The staff was very friendly and kind. The offerings look wonderful and highly recommend it."

Sugar Bowl Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (171) • $

"What a cute little local business! They have many many coffee flavors and have now added frozen cocktails to their menus. It was? cash only but I noticed on weekends, specifically when they have their frozen cocktails available, they accept card. Not sure if this is a regular thing now. Could be a weekend only thing? idk. Service is okay, they're not the kindest l o l. But their drinks are good enough to keep me coming!"

Ferry Street Grille

★★★★☆ 3.6 (18)

"This is actually a nice place to have breakfast. I am not sure about what everyone is talking about here, maybe that's cause it was two years ago. All the ladies working here were super nice. We were constanty offered a coffee refill. My bagel was delicous! My husband's croissant even better.It is cash only so we had to count our singles and coins hoping they would be enough. Luckily, they were, also because this place is inexpensive.Again, the people who are working seemed warm and friendly. It was overall a great breakfast experience."

Village Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (257) • $$

"This place is a hidden gem. It opened at 7:00 and filled right up. I must be the last to discover this place.I don't know how they remember everything on their menu. There was so much to choose from.As soon as I sat down I was given a menu and water. They had four people in the kitchen and three people handling the customers.I had the "ultimate omelet" with mushrooms and Swiss cheese. They gave me a choice of 5 cheeses. Then I had raisin toast. I usually don't see this option. The interior was all wood, finished wooden counter, wooden booths, pretty ritzy for a greesy spoon.I wish I had found this place sooner. I would return."

Dempsey's Breakfast and Lunch

★★★★☆ 3.8 (136) • $

"Five stars for my UberEats orders. Simple things can be rated 5 stars too! 1.) fried potatoes are absolutely BOMB! 2.) hearty portions of fries with your sandwich order 3.) the chicken noodle soup is fantastic"

Eagle Hill Cafe

★★★★★ 4.7 (43)

"First time trying this spot! I ordered the Meat lover Two eggs, extra bacon, extra ham, cheddar cheese on a croissant. The bacon was crispy and fully cooked it was great, the ham was perfect, the two eggs cooked perfectly light and tasty the cheddar cheese was melted and the croissant was lightly toasted! The sandwich was delicious it was a great choice! I also got Peanut butter banana coffee a iced large with an expresso shot it was very refreshing and excellent flavor! You have a new customer definitely will order again from here! Thank you! I am very satisfied from my first time experience at your restaurant!"

Wilson's Diner

★★★★☆ 4 (221) • $

"I visited this MA diner due to the great reviews. I am so glad I listened to yelp. Nice sized lot for the busy part of town. The staff was VERY friendly that I wished I lived closer.The retro vibe was so inviting.Food was tasty. The corn muffins were fresh. They were so good that I took one to go.I'll be back"

Blunch

★★★★☆ 4.4 (541) • $$

"This has become my go to lunch spot in the South End. Love that you can place your order online. They serve a variety of sandwiches and salads which are always delicious and fresh tasting. Be sure to order dessert as well because they make outstanding chocolate chip cookies. The staff is also very friendly and clearly care about their customers. The shop is very small but I promise it's worth the wait."

Common Ground Coffee Roasters

★★★★☆ 4.4 (187) • $

"The following review is based on experiences before the COVID-19 pandemic:I had the pleasure of eating here on my last trip to Boston and this was my final meal in the area. I'm glad that I was able to stop by this small restaurant, despite the somewhat uncomfortable seating, simple decor, and somewhat limited parking. The friendly employees were knowledgeable about the food and provided some nice suggestions for a good meal.The coffee is fairly strong and smooth, not really bitter. The everything omelette and western omelettes were both cooked well with fresh veggies. The grilled chicken panini was prepared nicely with a good crisp on the bread, and a good amount of cheese to tie the fresh tomato and flavorful chicken together. The coconut muffin is quite thick and firm almost like a macaron but not too sweet. Simple items such as scrambled eggs, sausage, and roasted potatoes were also prepared well with the expected flavors and textures.Overall, the food presentation is nice, prices very good, and portions large. I'd eat here again on my next trip out to Boston."

The Paramount

★★★★☆ 3.6 (295) • $$

"Solid brunch with a lively scene. Kid friendly and dog friendly as an added bonus. Getting there early on a Saturday is key. At 10 am we were seated immediately. 30 min later a small line started forming. Food did take a bit to come out because they had a lot of delivery and takeout orders coming in. It was surprisingly friendly - we were offered crayons and bendy sticks to play with along with a kids water without even needing to ask. Standard lunch kid food options for brunch. There is a nice outdoor seating area with a few tables where a few folks had brought their dog. The strawberry pancakes were addicting. I could have eaten 3 plates of them. Highly recommend. The heuvos rancheros was ok. Warning the salsa is very spicy."

Night Shift Brewing - Lovejoy Wharf

★★★★☆ 4.1 (239) • $$

"We came here for dinner before an event at TD Garden. Most other places were 1.5 hours wait for a table but Night Shift was able to accommodate our larger group. The food was very good especially the giant pretzel, pickle chips and without a doubt the star of the night was...... the Figgy Piggy pizza. I will totally be back here!!!!"

Winthrop Center Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (72) • $

Daddy Jones

★★★★☆ 4.1 (224) • $$

"Came here for date night and my husband asked how we haven't found this hidden gem sooner! Our waiter was so great, service was excellent, food and drinks were delicious. The ambience was nice and loved their choice of music. We ordered the spanakopita, triple dip and rice/falafel large plate. All delicious! Can't wait to visit again."

Condesa - Watertown

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (108)

"I think this restaurant should have more stars. The ambiance is great for a fun hangout with friends. Margaritas come in lots of great fresh fruit flavors, and there are tons of dishes that you can try. I'm a sucker for good refried beans- and these honestly remind me of what I've had in Mexico. Their rice is great too. & Those are just the basics! I think the steak is super flavorful- and recommend dishes with steak, if you like meat. We recently had super satisfying takeout from here, and were surprised that they added fresh chips as well. I also really liked the fresh tortillas that came with the dish, and enjoyed making tacos with steak, avocado, and the super spicy grilled jalapeño."

Mama Ana

★★★★☆ 4.1 (121) • $

"Local cafe with juice/breakfast/brunch/lunch options! Plenty of indoor and outdoor dining! Nice portions, flavorful food, and friendly staff. There's a clean bathroom as well. Gets busy in the afternoon so come early! Lots of locals come here!"

Falafel Mom

★★★★★ 4.7 (17)

"I really enjoyed my Chicken Shawarma plate, which came with a side salad, hummus, and a couple sauces. It is on the pricier side for a fast casual meal, but I'd order it again when in the mood for Middle Eastern food."

The Dubliner

★★★★☆ 4.1 (121) • $$

"When you're married to a Kennedy, you'll end up some night at an Irish place and this trip.... The Dubliner fit the bill. You walk in and immediately feel you're in Dublin. Every voice, every server and yes the Guinness pour is perfect. Started with Irish pigs in a blanket and Scotch eggs (fave) and split the Guinness beef stew. Just the right amount and great. So, great Irish atmosphere, fantastic service and true Irish food. 3 for 3!"