4 Best Brunch Restaurants Boston

If you’re looking for your next brunch spot in the Boston/Greater Boston area, look no further. You’re guaranteed to find something worth trying on this list:

MARIEL

Mariel, located in Boston, Ma, is an upscale Cuban restaurant. This is definitely your spot if you’re looking for a place to celebrate a birthday, girl’s night, or even just on any given Sunday for an elevated brunch vibe. The restaurant is spacious with gaudy chandeliers and Cuban-inspired wall art. It’s very picturesque, perfect for an Instagram moment. They even have a hidden lounge on the lower floor called Mariel Underground, if you decide to extend your day/night after brunch or dinner. If you go, be sure to make a reservation, especially during peak hours. Let’s get into some of…

My Brunch Favorites:

• Pressed Cubano: slow roasted pork, pressed ham, gruyère, pickle mixto, mustard marrón, cuban bread, garlic butter.
  • The first time I ever had a cuban sandwich was in Miami, which is one of the best places to find one in the States. The pressed cubano from Mariel was comparable in flavor to the ones I tried in Miami, and I would definitely get it again.
• Yucca Cheese Puffs: sofrito remoulade, bijol, salt, cilantro.
  • A savory appetizer, fried with cheese. Need I say more?
• Coffee & Doughnuts: cuban coffee cheesecake, hot rum doughnuts, lime glaze, torched fluff.
  • The “doughnuts” were similar to churros. They paired nicely with the cuban coffee. The only right way to eat them is by dipping the churro into the coffee before each bite.
• Cocktail Tree: One of the most aesthetic ways to present drinks.
  • You can customize it to your liking with your favorite cocktails, a brunch must if you ask me! It also comes garnished with limes lit on fire. Just the presentation alone is reason enough to add it to your brunch bucket list.

BOOTLEG SPECIAL

Bootleg Special, located in Boston, Ma, is a chic and urban restaurant with southern flavors and known for their seafood boils. The vibe is moody and edgy, yet, glam. This is another place to add to your list of musts. While I can’t speak to the dinner menu personally, I’ve heard great things. Let’s get into some of…

My Brunch Favorites:

• Shrimp and Grits: cheesy garlic grits, w/spinach, tomato, and corn.
  • I’m a big fan of grits as it is, so this dish is definitely my speed. The debate of the day is, sugar or salt (on your grits)? I’m sweet, so my answer to this reflects that; but if we’re specifically talking about the shrimp and grits duo, I’ll hold on the sugar.
• Borghetti Brown Sugar French Toast: crushed caramelized shortbread, berries, cream.
  • This French toast was thick and fluffy with moderate sweetness. The berries balanced it out and made for the perfect topping.
• Brunch Only Garlic Noodles: gulf shrimp, porchetta, asparagus tips, and poached egg.
  • I’m not alone when I say, Bootleg Special has some of the best garlic noodles. I’ve shared this place on my social media account a couple of times and people never fail to rave about the garlic noodles. You’ve been warned, do no skip out on these.

DONUT VILLA

Donut Villa has locations in Cambridge, Malden and Newton, Ma. It’s a cute diner that serves fresh donuts and fun margarita flights to set the mood. It’s one of those places you can either go with your family for a casual brunch over the weekend or with some friends. I visited the Cambridge location during the Summer months and sat on their private patio. If you go during patio season, I recommend you do the same. Let’s get into some of…

My Brunch Favorites:

• Boston Cream Pancakes: three fluffy buttermilk pancakes, stuffed w/Bavarian cream on each layer & topped w/homemade chocolate sauce.
• Donuts: with so many options to choose from, you can’t just have one.
  • It should be a crime to come to a restaurant with donut in the name and not get donuts. The flavors change periodically so I’ll spare you the details considering there’s a chance they’ll have new flavors by the time you go. Insert Drake quote, “If you’re reading this it’s too late.”
• Mimosa Flight: Flavors include original, strawberry, blueberry, watermelon, mango, blackberry, dragon fruit, and passion fruit.
  • This is such a fun way to spice up brunch and you can mix and match the flavors, but be careful, they can creep up on you.

YAZ’S TABLE

Yaz’s Table, located in Abington, Ma is one of those spots I’d come back to again and again like a boomerang. I’ve come here a few times, and the line is always out the door. I guess that’s a good sign, but the downside is, they don’t take reservations. That being said, I would either try going during off hours a.k.a not on the weekend or be prepared to wait 45+ minutes. Nonetheless, it is worth the wait, in my opinion. It’s a small, intimate restaurant with a very laid back, warm atmosphere. Let’s get into some of…

My Brunch Favorites:

• Nutella Stuffed Banana Foster French Toast: Crème anglaise, house whipped cream.
  • I love all of these flavors alone and I love them even more married together. It’s just a recipe made in heaven, for me.
• Birthday Cake Waffle: Fruity Pebbles, house whipped cream, crème anglaise.
  • Growing up, Fruity Pebbles was always one of my favorite cereals and Eggo® waffles was a childhood obsession of mine, so this specialty dish has the child in me screaming with excitement.
• Farm Fresh: two farm eggs, toast, bacon or kofta beef sausage, red bliss and sweet potato home fries.
  • I’m definitely more of a sweet than savory person, but I always have to get a plate like this, with a little bit of everything to balance it all out. Me: extra syrup -Also Me: a side of eggs, bacon, and potatoes, thanks.