This cafe is small on size but big on charm. The interior can be described as friendly and the home-baked goodies as delectable. You can enjoy melt-in-your-mouth pastries and oh-so-sweet cakes and cookies. The menu also includes a nice selection of coffees and teas that accent the goodies perfectly. Heartier items can also be found at this South End favorite--roast chicken and beef sandwiches, soup and quiche. But if it's breakfast you're after dig into a chewy sweet sensation like the cinnamon cream brioche, sticky bun or coffee cake. Best when paired with a cup of their coffee and eaten without worrying about the calories.
Recommended for Breakfast because: Flour is ideal for those on the go; cases filled with breakfast pastries are filling and flavorful.
Jessica's expert tip: Seating is limited; be prepared to take your goodies to go.
Mike's is open for business for both breakfast and lunch, and it does both equally well. The early-morning pancakes are lighter than air, and the eggs and grits are perfect comfort food for whatever ails you. Turkey and mashed potatoes are served in extra large portions to eager lunchers looking for their fix of eats just like mama used to make. The black and white checkered tablecloths and red bar make for a homey environment, and the waitresses really know their stuff because they've been serving up food like this for years.When you want to eat at diner in Boston, Mike's is the place to go.
Recommended for Breakfast because: Mike's City Diner serves hearty staples like grits, and pancakes to crowds of city dwellers who make it a regular stop.
Jessica's expert tip: A South End neighborhood hot spot that you'll love as much as the locals. Order light because portions are huge!
Inside the Four Seasons Hotel you'll find this gem of a spot; Bristol Lounge is an upscale hangout in the downtown area where you can dine in the pristine dining room overlooking the Public Garden or enjoy a more casual bite in their bar area. Serving breakfast daily, you'll enjoy bites of fluffy pancakes, crisp bacon and omelettes that range from regular to extraordinary. Bite into their lobster omelet, sip a smoothie and sample a true taste of Boston. The Bristol also serves Sunday Brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert and weekend afternoon tea. Although inside the Four Seasons Hotel, the Bristol Lounge draws many Bostonians to return for a taste of their favorites.
Recommended for Breakfast because: The Bristol serves an elegant breakfast all week long, and is an excellent spot for a breakfast meeting or to catch up with friends.
Jessica's expert tip: On Wednesday nights burgers and burgundy come together within the walls on Bristol Lounge to create an unexpected union that you'll replicate at home.
Anna's Taqueria serves the best burritos in Boston. The small dining spots are set up assembly line style and often have lines curling throughout the restaurant and out the door. A bargain under $10, you'll fill up on meat, veggies, rice and beans with all the toppings you please. Whether you want a burrito filled with the works, a lightly sauced taco or a crisply grilled quesadilla you'll be pleased by what you'll find at Anna's. Larger appetites (and those who prefer to to mix their foods together) will love the Mexican plate. Add a sweet drink and a plate of chips and guacamole to the mix and you'll have a full meal for here or to go. Better yet, start your day with one of their breakfast specialities, be a it a quick burrito or a plate piled high with Mexican favorites, you'll fill up at Anna's Taqueria.
Recommended for Breakfast because: When a filling, inexpensive, quick breakfast is on your agenda pop into Anna's Taqueria for a taste of fresh made Mexican fare.
Jessica's expert tip: Move beyond you urge for a breakfast burrito and try the Mexican Plate instead.
This eclectic restaurant, located in the elegant Charles Hotel, emphasizes New England-inspired dishes, and the use of fresh local ingredients has become one of Henrietta's most enduring qualities. Farmhouse-chic decor distinguishes the interior, and sidewalk seating is available, weather permitting. Breakfast is served daily. Here you'll see power players catching a quick breakfast before heading off to the other meetings they've lined up. If you can make it, Sunday's brunch is the one meal you should not miss. Having won well deserved awards over the years, they manage to take the stigma out of the word buffet by serving fresh fare favoring local ingredients. Platters of perfectly seasoned grilled vegetables, a cheese plate that includes delectable terrines, and pates, a raw bar overflowing with jumbo shrimp and Wellfleet oysters and bagels with all the trimmings welcome you to fill your plate as often as you'd like.
Recommended for Breakfast because: Henrietta's Table serves a seated hot breakfast of New England specialities in a casual yet elegant setting.
Jessica's expert tip: Pace yourself! The food is so well prepared you may want to pile it all on your plate right away, but Henrietta's is a nice place to linger so resist the urge and enjoy more than one trip through the buffet.
Seriously Strange concoctions come out of the kitchen of the Friendly Toast. Take their King Cakes as an example, two "mini" pancakes with bananas & chocolate chips inside, peanut butter in between, topped with real whipped cream and a side of bacon. Deliciously daring items like this grace the pages of the Friendly Toast menu, making this a culinary adventure you are sure to love. Don't worry, for those who prefer to keep things simple, the Friendly Toast allows you to order basic eggs and plain pancakes. Enjoy the Friendly toast and it's eclectic, welcoming atmosphere with friends for a leisurely start to any day or settle in for lunch or dinner when you have a need for something savory.
Recommended for Breakfast because: The Friendly Toast puts together creative combinations to make your breakfast special.
Jessica's expert tip: A cult following keeps this place rocking. Be ready to wait, so don't arrive too hungry.
In the heart of Brookline's Coolidge Corner, this neighborhood eatery stands out as one of the best. If you're in the mood for good eats, breakfast (served all day) will hit the spot. Try standards like challah French toast with a side of homemade turkey sausage or a Macintosh apple and Vermont cheddar omelet. Zaftigs also serves gigantic sandwiches at lunch and more traditional fare like turkey pot pie at dinner. It's a favorite haunt of Bostonians who come enjoy their breakfast for dinner along with a drink because Zaftigs also has a limited bar. Kids are welcome at Zaftigs and the kids menu is a collection of Jewish deli favorites and kid friendly fare.
Recommended for Breakfast because: Zaftigs is a Jewish Deli that serves an excellent breakfast and does so all day.
Jessica's expert tip: The best potato pancakes ever are at Zaftigs; large and crisp, served with applesauce and sour cream, these are a must, even as a side to share.
The Breakfast club is no bigger than a train car, with counter seating on one side and booths lining the walls. This retro diner is a comfort food spot that lifts spirits with their cheerful service and great breakfast fare. You get get any breakfast item you want at the Breakfast Club where their 3 egg omelettes seem to have an endless amount of fillings to select from and pair well with their milkshakes, smoothies, coffee or tea selection. Simply prepared but filled with love, you'll enjoy heaping plates of pancakes, airy, crisp waffles, and comically named specialities that pay homage to the cult favorite film the restaurant is named for.
Recommended for Breakfast because: The Breakfast Club's simple design offers diners a sense of community while enjoying their stellar eats.
Jessica's expert tip: If you can't decide, order one of their Library Specials (their take on a combo plate).
SOFRA is a modern Mediterranean bakery and cafe that serves up some of the most spectacular dishes you'll find. Whether seeking breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack or even a dessert you'll be pleased with whatever you select. The exotic decor compliments the food and the specialty drinks are to die for. SOFRA's breakfast menu is a mix of baked goods, and hearty breakfast fare. If the pistachio pop tart, raspberry rose turnover, or sweet cheese brioche are too sweet to start your day then dig into an egg sandwich like none you've ever had; featuring haloumi cheese, feta butter this is one savory sensation. A Turkish-style breakfast consisting of soft-boiled egg, cucumber, tomato, olives, feta, yogurt & spoon sweets is a customer favorite and the Shakshuka is one of the best you'll find in Boston.
Recommended for Breakfast because: SOFRA offers a sweet and savory breakfast selection in a comfortable, casual atmosphere where counter service makes it simple to dine in or take out.
Jessica's expert tip: With a small lot, you may have to search a bit for on-street parking. If you can, take the T.
Johnny's Luncheonette has a 50's diner feel and serves breakfast all day as well as lunch and dinner. Their seriously sensational homestyle food evokes the essence of an era when meals were made from scratch and cooked with love in your kitchen. Loyal customers come to this Newton Center food shop more than once a week to get a taste of their favorites. Breakfast favorites run the gamut from basic eggs and flapjacks to uniquely Johnny's specials like their Pastrami Scramble, while lunch and diner offerings are just like mom might serve. Enjoy a hearty meatloaf, mac n cheese, burgers, sandwiches, and even borscht or chopped liver. With such a varied selection, you can be sure there will be something you crave on the menu.
Recommended for Breakfast because: Johnny's breakfast specialties draw crowds daily who anxiously await a plate of their filling breakfast items.
Jessica's expert tip: Call ahead seating is available, take advantage on the weekends when wait times can be long and space inside to wait is limited.