good places for brunch

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

a friend of mine is coming to visit this weekend and wants to go out for brunch on sunday or possibly saturday. (in my head it's sunday but i guess it could be saturday too.) i got as far as "well, there's a jazz brunch at johnny d's" and then drew a total blank. so i appeal to the fabulous people of the dslj for recommendations. :D where are the tasty brunch places? also, has anyone been to the jazz brunch at johnny d's, and how is it?

my friend, in her own words, likes "delicious things" and is kind of a foodie, and i don't think brunch has to be in greater davis. if that helps.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Keep in mind that this Saturday is the HONK festival, and Sunday is the HONK parade from Davis to Harvard Square. If you or your friend want to avoid all of that, you may want to brunch in Ball Square instead.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

ball sq on weekends is hell for brunch, it is way too crowded and all the servers are freaked :/ i'd recommend posto for foodie-ish sunday brunch :)

Istanbul'lu

[erlala.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend Istanbul'lu in Teele Square for brunch. It's not your standard brunch fare, but I recently went with a large group of people, some of whom were picky eaters, and everyone found something they liked. They do Saturday and Sunday breakfast/brunch starting at 10am. See website here: http://www.istanbul-lu.com/, which includes their menu.

Re: Istanbul'lu

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

they are super yummy!

Options, options! Options for fabulous people!

[myselftheliar.livejournal.com]

Anywhere you go is going to be packed, and then extra packed because of honk. Johnny D's is excellent but packed on the best of days.

If you want to flee like hell from Davis, I highly, highly recommend Upstairs on the Square. The whole place is neon pink zebra and gold and funky as hell, and it's only about $2 more per plate than in the Davis area. It's in Harvard Sq, and still gets a little crowded for Sunday brunch but I think it's a much better choice than in Davis.
Bonus: Harvard Square will be having Oktoberfest on Sunday which is super, super fun.
http://www.upstairsonthesquare.com/

If you're thinking more towards Saturday (or Sunday too!), and still want to get out of the Square and to maybe a different area all together, then I also recommend Neighborhood Restaurant and Bakery in Union Sq. It's easy to get to on the 87 bus right out of Davis proper. http://www.theneighborhoodrestaurant.com/

Finally for getting out of Davis on Sunday (but not too far out of davis!) Walk down Highland to Highland Kitchen (the very very most local of places to me, and a favorite!) and enjoy their amazing brunch (and cocktails ooooh!) It's about a 15 minute walk from Davis proper. And if you're real lazy, the 88 and 90 bus will drop you off right outside. http://www.highlandkitchen.com/

Re: Options, options! Options for fabulous people!

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

there is an outside chance you will be joining us. :D (said friend is crotalus_atrox, who i didn't know you knew.) until august 30 i lived almost around the corner from highland kitchen and never went there, so the thought of eating there now that i don't live quite so close cracks me up.

[cutieperson]

Sabur on Holland near Teele.

[veek.livejournal.com]

YES omg.

[panterka37.livejournal.com]

Brunch at T.W. Food is fit for a foodie :). It's also a jazz brunch, where the chef is playing in a trio. You need to make a reservation ahead of time.

http://www.twfoodrestaurant.com/v2food.html

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Tavern on the Square is in Central Square. Their Sunday buffet (10:30am - 2 pm?) is wonderful. http://www.taverninthesquare.com/tavcentral/

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

only if you want your foodie friend to hate you

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

I love the brunch at Gaslight (South End-ish), and they have a massive free parking lot. I am also a big fan of Bagels by Us in Arlington, because they have bacon scallion cream cheese and tasty home fries.

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

bacon scallion cream cheese

Oh my god. That sounds INCREDIBLE.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

I am a big fan of Sabur's brunch (in Teele Square)

http://www.saburrestaurant.com/menu/brunch.pdf

[lady-ceylonna.livejournal.com]

Agreed!

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

Craigie on Main (http://www.craigieonmain.com/) is the ultimate foodie destination. It's in Central. Brunch is Sunday only.

[in-water-writ.livejournal.com]

It'll be packed unless you show up really early or really late, but I still recommend Ball Square Cafe. It's my faaaaavorite. Made-in-house whipped cream. I don't even like whipped cream, and I think it's fantastic.

Especially their hot chocolate, which is topped with the stuff. And like, any of their French toast, but especially any of their stuffed French toast.

And they always have the freshest fruit in their fruit plates and topped on their waffles or pancakes...

And their egg dishes are also super delish.

Maybe answering this question when I haven't eaten lunch yet wasn't the best idea. Also I maybe heart Ball Square Cafe

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

Also they have pour-your-own coffee with free refills!

[masswich.livejournal.com]

No one has mentioned Renee's in Teele Square. One of my favorites.

If you want to travel to JP, Centre Street Cafe is great and a little unusual.

In Kendall, Friendly Toast is also yummy and a little outside the box, but last time I went there the service took forever.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I second Friendly Toast. They can occasionally be a little slow, but it won't be much worse than the lines-out-the-door places closer to Davis in terms of how long it'll take you to get food. It's delicious, too. Pancakes the size of your head. Interesting egg dishes. House-baked bread. Nom.

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

The food at Johnny D's is excellent. But my friends and I go out to brunch to talk to one-another, and having to compete with an amplified music act in order to hear one-another rather blows the point. We still go sometimes, because the food is that good, and because sometimes we get lucky and most of our meal will coincide with the musicians' break.

Both the food and the people at Renee's are fantastic.

The one time we tried Orleans for brunch, it was seriously disappointing,

Further afield, I'll second the recommendation for the Neighborhood in Union Square. The food is excellent and plentiful. A little harder to get to, and the wait for a table at brunch can seem interminable, but you really can't do better than the S&S in Inman Square.

[real-green-tea.livejournal.com]

Seconding Renee's (on Holland, near Teele) -- best brunch hands down, always something new on the menu, great place to bring out-of-towners.

Could be really tough to snag a table for weekend brunch, but that's true of anywhere in Greater Boston, HONK! or no, really...

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Pescatore has a perfectly nice brunch and seems to never be crowded at that time.

The _best_ brunch I've had around here is the pricey all you can eat one at Henrietta's Table in Harvard Square. http://www.henriettastable.com/menus/brunch.php

[majordomo.livejournal.com]

These two are in Watertown, which is probably further afield than you'd prefer, but what the heck:

Deluxe Town Diner (http://deluxetowndiner.com/). Not "foodie," per se, but awfully delicious, with yummy things like johnnycakes and sweet potato pancakes and really good corned beef hash. It's sure to be swamped, but you can hear yourself think in there.

Sofra (http://www.sofrabakery.com/). It's tiny, the food is awesome, and the variety is splendid. This from the folks who brought you the pile of delicious known as Oleana.

[majordomo.livejournal.com]

... but don't get me wrong, everyone else has posted wonderful places that are far closer to Davis. You needn't go to Watertown, but if you gotta catch 'em all, do catch these two. :)

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

The Neighborhood is awesome for the outside seating under the grape arbor, and the VAST AMOUNTS of tasty food, but my favorite place to get brunch in the area is Tu Y Yo, right off Powderhouse Square/Rotary/whatever. I love the chilaquiles /so much/.

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

i now live down broadway from tu y yo, so this is good to know! ...that rhyme was totally unintentional.

[donotforsake.livejournal.com]

brunch at True Bistro in Teele is awesome http://truebistroboston.com/
they do sat & sun brunch. it's all vegan/veg but it's fancy & delicious.

[squirrelitude]

Sound Bites and Ball Square Café must be open, yeah? Pretty good food, and you might get to see a fight between the owners!

[kmead24.livejournal.com]

Sound bites is not as bad of a wait as it looks, but is super crowded.
Magoun's has delicious brunch,and a variety of bloody mary's to taste!

[progressnerd.livejournal.com]

The Neighborhood Restaurant is the best brunch in the area. Johnny D's comes in second and boasts the cool jazz music.

[pch1.livejournal.com]

Haven't been there in a while but used to love The Blue Rooms brunch buffet down in Kendall Place.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Somehow no one has mentioned Veggie Planet at Passim's in Harvard Square! They have amazing brunches, and they offer some really unique items on their menu, which should please any foodie.

[trtls.livejournal.com]

If you're in the mood for pancakes, you should definitely go to Renee's. The best pancakes I've ever had! Other food is really good, too. Cash only.

[cnoocy]

If you're going on Sunday, you could go to Flora in east Arlington. Accessible on the 77, and definitely on the foodie end.

[yagagriswold.livejournal.com]

Temple Bar and West Side Lounge both serve a nice brunch and will often have their front windows open. If you go on Sunday and sit near the front, you can probably watch the Honk parade. That's what we're going to do.

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

i looooove temple bar. i had no idea they served brunch, tho.

[nurrynur.livejournal.com]

How come no one mentions the *other * other ball square breakfast place, Kelly's Diner? Still crowded! Still a reasonable walk from Davis. Their coffee frappucino thing is huge and delicious. They are only open til 3pm though.