BEST Eggs Benedict. Veggie Omelettes. With those vegetable potato things. With some sort of jam and spice kick of Oil sauce in mini white flapped over in layers holder. The super duper mommy running around seating, wiping, serving, writing,... but never freaking out. It's a magic family. At least she sincerely asks if everything is okay and you honestly answer back OF COURSE and leave the biggest tip every time you go because the bill was only $5 or something. Wait goes long. Don't take any impatient guests here. Go in two's or at most four's. While you wait, don;t forget to make fun of the Out Of The Blue art up on the walls and look up on the ceilings.. those little drawings are worth oogling at. Those luke warm Nantucket Nectars juices. Also the warm water served in a dingy yellowish plastic cup. Empty ketchup bottles. Flat silverware. Busted up china. Church pew benches and sci-fi looking couches with tables sitting on your thigh. High five, you still love the place!
(5)
Melissa B.
Across from the Middle East, and only open for breakfast and lunch, this is hands-down one of my favorite breakfast spots. It will remind you of Berkeley, it's a bit crunch. Great quality food without being greasy. Skip the home fries (boring) but they serve wonderful grilled vegetables with all the meals. My favorite is the feta and spinach omelette. With a side of their special hot sauce (owners are from Jordan IIRC?), I'm good to go. Coffee sucks, so get one from Toscanini's on Main St. or Dunkin D's on Mass Ave before you stop in. They've never minded in the years I've been going there. Oh, and it's inexpensive, too.
(4)
Nick M.
This place feels like San Francisco, not Brookline. The egg dishes are hearty and delicious, the way breakfast should be. A great place for a morning date.
(4)
Tiffany W.
good. cheap. breakfast. awesome hole-in-the-wall type diner and one of my top go to places for breakfast/brunch... filling portions, very good omelettes and home fries, tasty home-made jams... service is a bit slow sometimes and lines can get long on weekends, but all in all, a great bang for your buck!
(4)
Yeuhi A.
This place has the best omelets. They come with fresh vegetable medleys and tangy homemade hot sauce. Coffee is good. This is my new favorite brunch spot in Central Sq. If you can't stand the crowds, try dropping by on a weekday. The food is just as good and the service is much quicker.
(4)
Kabir H.
I didn't realize how much I loved this place until it closed for the summer.. not due to re-open until August 5th, I'm left with four weekends of trucking it elsewhere to replace my favorite greasy spoon. If you're looking for breakfast or lunch in Central Sq on the cheap, you can't do any better.
(4)
Sean E.
Quite possibly the best omelet I've had from a breakfast/lunch joint. I might even give this place a five if it weren't for the lack of a proper wait staff. I'm all for keeping it in the family as Brookline Lunch does, but making the Mom be the only person to bus and wait tables had us sitting at our table reading the menu for a good 20 minutes before we got our orders out and then another long stretch before we ate. This was pretty much the story the two times I've been there and it stopped us from going back anytime soon. BUT. I gotta say, it's worth the wait. The eggs and veg are just about as perfect as you could want -- really handcrafted, homey goodness. And the price is hard, nay impossible, to beat.
(4)
R E.
This place has fantastic breakfast and is cheap. As other yelpers said, ask for jam with your toast. Vegetables instead of home fries is pretty awesome too.
(5)
Peter R.
Ask anyone about Brookline Lunch, and the first thing they'll mention is the incredibly low cost of the food, the second thing they'll mention is it's high deliciousness. The restaurant is small, and the booths, as a friend of mine pointed out, look a bit like old fashioned pews. The ceiling seems like it should be an album cover for some conceptual band, and the rotating art collection is... eclectic. That said, every meal I've had here has been great, though the cheese that comes on some of the dishes is a little Kraft-y. The breakfast fare is simple and comforting and the jelly that they serve with the toast and pancakes is amazing. Don't go if you're craving waffles though, they're not on the menu. Breakfast is almost always crowded, but the service is pretty good considering that there are never more than 4 people working (including the cook).
(4)
Jess P.
brookline lunch is the perfect mascot for central sq - dingy yet loveable. 1st place: the omelets- big and chock full of fresh veggies. you can also ask for sauteed veggies on the side in place of home fries and even carb-lovers should try it out. you get all kinds of delicious, unexpected randomness - asparagus, squash, spinach, tomatoes, etc. 2nd place: clientele- bring the sunday times, but you may not even make much progress cause the people watching is pretty good. a mix of "just-rolled-out-of-bed-still-wearing-grey-denim-Âfrom-last-night's-middle-east-show" people and mit nerdlings.
(4)
rishi h.
I haven't found a place with the same cozy family run atmopshere that has such good service. The food is _very_ reasonably priced and delicious, the staff is friendly, the service is good, and there's pretty art work all over the place (including the ceiling!!!).
(5)
Michelle R.
Shhh... I tell you this only because I feel for people who are looking for a good breakfast dive. If what you want is a cheap breakfast (under $5)which is filling and fantastic, check out Brookline lunch. They're closed until August 5, 2006 because they're out travelling. The place is small, so do us all a favor and take the brunch group elsewhere. Enjoy this place with crowds of 1-4 for the best experience.
(5)
Michael B.
this place makes breakfast feel like you are in your friends apt. cool paintings from a local gallery. nice grilled veggies with breakfast. Friendly owners. very affordable. love the hot sauce and jam with the meal. nice environment.
(4)
Eli G.
I've lived in or near Cambridge my whole life and spent many a nigh tin Central Square and I didn't even know this place existed until I went here for an art opening on Saturday. Clearly my ignorance has been my loss! The catered food was exceptional, especially the falafel (spicy dipping sauce was unlike anything I've had before) and the grape leaves. I'll add to my review after I go here for a full meal ASAP.
(4)
Clea K.
I was close to giving Brookline Lunch five stars, (decided against it because of the chaotic service), but in general I'd highly recommend it. The food is really good and cheap, and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed too. I've been to a few Cambridge brunch places now, and it was by far the cheapest option around, and I feel one gets really good value in everything. The portions are good, and I really liked the veggie omelette and the pancakes - they serve a spiced up version of strawberry jam too, and that's really good, so definitely try it. I've had to wait both times I went there, but it was on a Saturday so I guess that's to be expected... although last time we had to stand outside in the pouring rain as there wasn't enough space inside to wait - so be prepared :).
(4)
sage f.
I love this place. I love that the food is ridiculously good, not to mention inexpensive. I love that it's a family business and the kids are often the ones clearing your plates. I love the people-watching I can do here. The booths are clearly the best place to sit.
(5)
Michelle D.
While I love the omelettes and the veggies that come with it I have to wonder at how clean the kitchen is. The last time I was there, a dog was tied up behing the counter! Now, I love animals but c'mon! Service can sometimes be sketchy but I've never had to wait for a table. I guess that's saying something.....
(2)
Peter P.
Ya know, I have been here once, and I was with my ex-girlfriend and her 1yr old son. I mean, it's not the Ritz, it's not anything particularly special. I got a burger with some home fries, and you know what, the burger was kind of pre-fab, but the home fries were quite good, they mixed in grilled vegies, and the large portion left me full for the rest of the day. Like I said, nothing fancy, but the whole tab for the entire lunch for the two of us, tip included was $20, and that was with an excessive tip. All in all a very cozy experience. The waitress couldn't have been nicer, and she couldn't have been better with kids, she had a whole bunch of tricks up her sleeve to keep a 1yr old amused. If only they had a liquor license for the people like me who need that beer for breakfast to take the edge off.
(4)
Alice K.
Lovely place for an early, on-time or late weekend lunch. Most things come with a generous helping of home fries (the definition of "home fries" can include squash, carrots, bits of pepper and tomato) and are under $5- you can do the math yourself. The menu consists mostly of basic comfort food- omlettes, sandwiches, the ubiquitous BLT. The interior is decorated in someone's Fun and Funky period; examining the decor is a great way to occupy yourself and your friends while waiting for the food.
(3)
Amy D.
Brookline Lunch makes me tired, despite the fact that I'm usually dropping in for breakfast after a good night's sleep. Sadly, I end up tired -- of waiting for a table to open up, for the waitress to take my order, for the food to finally appear, to get the bill, you get the picture. I know it's a family run place, and while I can appreciate the fact that they're trying to keep costs down by only having one waitress, spending over an hour to get breakfast isn't cool. The food is great and I'd really like to make this my regular weekend breakfast spot, but I just can't. For those who want to give it a try, I suggest going early.
(3)
Eve G.
How cheap is this place for the quality? So cheap! I ordered the Eggs Florentine which is basically the vegetarian Eggs Benedict. So, instead of putting ham on your English muffins, they load your plate with roasted mixed veggies and potatoes, and they normally smash spinach between the muffin and the egg, but the E. Coli scare has temporarily removed the leaf from the dish. The hollandaise sauce was so rich and creamy, and while the eggs weren't as juicy as I would normally like, I still walked away feeling very very satisfied. The place gets very busy, but the two staff members who bus and serve tables are excellent. They work themselves into a sweat to accomodate ones needs. The most impressive thing about Brookline Lunch, which you may not know, is that they make their own jam. Yes, and this morning they had a banana nutmeg sort of jam. It was absolutely delish, and they also give you a side of sour and hot relish to go with your eggs. How original? The coffee is a little on the thin side, but it does the job, and the water is filled to the brim about five times in one sitting. The best part about the experience is that I only paid five dollars for a fresh, satisfying, and authentic breakfast. Way to go B.L! By the way, Brookline Lunch is not in Brookline, but in Cambridge on Brookline St.
(4)
Mags L.
good hearty breakfast. everytime. 'nuff said.
(4)
Juliette V.
Nice casual atmosphere for a weekend breakfast. I like that they put lots of veggies in their omelettes. And, I have never had to wait to get in.
(3)
Kristin S.
Amazingly nice and hospitable servers, however food was very underwhelming. The omelettes come in large portions, but are less about the eggs (there was about one egg total per plate) and more about the other things. If I were to ever come back, I would not order an omelette. The ultimate omelette had one piece each of bacon, sausage, ham, and chicken among mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, onions, cheese, and potatoes. Great homey vibe, but there was no air conditioning on a hot, humid day.
(2)
Tiffany C.
This place is definitely a hole-in-the wall family owned restaurant & it is hidden in between Brookline St off of Mass Ave. I found this place on yelp for cheap & tasty brunch and it's true, everything is under $10! I wanted to try their "Mediterranean" dishes but I didn't see enough photos or reviews from other yelpers who have ordered that, so I feel that this place is mostly known for their breakfast/brunch egg benedicts and sandwiches. I ordered a Florentine egg benedict (with spinach), comes with homefries. It was good & quite filling actually. But I was a little bit disappointed with the hollandaise sauce. I personally felt it was...too sour and too..much. Which is not a big deal because I can just scrape some of it off. I personally feel that Cafe Luna has the best egg benedicts in the Cambridge area and I hold their sauce to my standard. This was my first time here, I love the interior actually despite what other people have said about it because it just feels very..homey. Brick walls and photographs hanging. Random things on the walls. Not fancy, no air conditioning (fans) on a hot hot day, but I think it gives it that middle eastern flavor as if you were in a restaurant there.
(4)
John P.
What has no air conditioning, apathetic service, little ice, and fairly tasty food? Brookline Lunch! I came on a tip from a friend that this place is delicious (he regularly takes people here), so I figured it would be worth coming over. From the outset, I was assaulted by almost intolerable heat combatted by two measly fans at the front of the restaurant and a one of two ceiling fans (that's right, it felt like 90 in the restaurant and yet one of the fans wasn't on!). By the time my food arrived, I was in a crappy mood. Speaking of food, getting it required flagging down the staff, which was a chore in and of itself. Somehow, my coffee didn't automatically come with cream (and nobody bothered to ask), and asking for ice water is too much to remember. This isn't a surprise when the staff has to be cajoled into paying attention to you. The food itself was actually pretty good. Not amazing, but "worth $8.50 for huevos rancheros" good. My girlfriend had a western omelet, which was tasty but curiously lacked cheese. There were no toast choices besides wheat -- at least, we weren't offered any. I think I'd come back on a cooler day and hope it was more pleasant, but I wouldn't actively seek this place out and I would hesitate to recommend it to friends, though it beats Pour House's brunch and a lot of other brunch places I've been to in Boston. It's also noting that Brookline Lunch is cash only.
(3)
Olivia J.
This place is a hidden gem in Central Square! It's tucked away in Brookline St off of Mass Ave. Everything is under $10 - so amazed! I got the florentine eggs Benedict with tomatoes and it was really awesome. Eggs were poached perfectly and hollandaise sauce melted in my mouth. Comes with potatoes, peppers and onions. Healthy stuff! Celine got the French toast with eggs and that was really good too. The only thing I was unhappy about was the lack of a/c so it gets really hot. I want to go back to try out more things!
(5)
Tanya S.
I spoke too soon in my previous review. I've had worse and worse experiences here each time. After a bad stomach experience with ordering the eggs, I only ordered simple salads as my gluten free option. But I feel like I get no respect about my allergy, often getting treated as if I'm creating this inconvenience. (All I ask is for you to not give me bread, just a pile of leaves). Last time I was still given the gluten side. When I asked what it was, I was told to not worry about. It only has gluten on the inside b/c it's deep fried. =/ Not how it works. I've only come back b/c friends/students appreciate the cheap eats. But I will never return and do not recommend this place to anyone who has any allergies.
(2)
Addie R.
Finally made it out here for a Saturday brunch! It is a small hole in the wall place, crowded on weekends, and yes there will be at least a 10+ minute wait. That said, for two people you can get a table fairly quickly, as I did. We were seated in a small nook in the back of the restaurant, which although tight, had plenty of cute art on the walls. There is a drink waitress and a food waitress, so who you order coffee from doesn't also bring the food. I had the garlick benedict, which was an egg benedict with chicken and bacon and it was divine. I ate the whole thing, which had a very generous helping of homefries (that managed to successfully incorporate broccoli!). I was stuffed afterwards! And also very happy with the bill, as it wasn't expensive at all and the portion sizes were massive. I was a very happy bruncher. BUT -1 star for some flies buzzing around / wall&floor cleanliness
(4)
Joseluis A.
awesome brunch spot in central sq. unpretentious, modest and very good. my bennies were strong. perfectly poached eggs, hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy. when the food arrived the table no one talked much. the waitresses were sweet and attentive and the prices here are great. this is a place im coming back when im in the area again.
(5)
Damian W.
Food: 3.0/5.0 Service: 2.5/5.0 Value: 4.0/5.0 Decor: 2.0/5.0 Overall: 3.0/5.0 Brookline offers an inexpensive but mediocre brunch menu featuring several eggs benedict choices for under ten bucks. The combination of so-so food at a great value seems to work, since there can be a bit of a wait for brunch just like at many other spots in the neighborhood. I enjoy the hole in the wall vibe, but the spotty service (not enough hands), not so much. Not a terrible choice though I'd personally pay up to go to a certain spot down Mass Ave.
(3)
Erin L.
I ordered the chicken and bacon egg benedict and must say it is really tasty. The staff here is also nice and kind. The only downside of this restaurant is there is no air conditioning and I went during the summer. It was extremely hot and all I wanted to do was quickly finish eating and run out, haha. Maybe the next time I will come in the winter on my next trip to Boston :)
(4)
Ilyana E.
Saturday brunch in here. Service was quick and they are really nice. Small place so if you don't like crowed places think twice cause the food is totally worth it. We order egg Benedicts and effgwhites with veggies and they were terrific!!!! So so good. Generous portions, awesome sauce. Warm food for the soul.
(5)
Humoud A.
I tried it a couple of days ago. It is a small establishment run by a family. The atmosphere and cleaness of the place is not very appealing but the food is a different story. I tried the Salmon Benedict and the French Toast, they couldn't have been made better. The portion was extremely generous. Hands down the best breakfast place in Cambridge!
(5)
Clemens W.
We were planning on going to Cafe Luna nearby, but it was too crowded. My friend living in the area said I should come here instead and get the ultimate omelet. Since then, that friend has received extra props from me for an outstanding food suggestion. I will most likely take his advice for food recommendations more seriously as a mental note. For a foodie, that's a pretty big deal. Anyway, get the ultimate omelet if you want the whole kitchen sink. It's filled with vegetables, ham, bacon, sausage, and a few pieces of toast. It's really two meals if I weren't a fatty that doesn't know when he's full. I basically licked the plate afterwards. One complaint about sitting on the booth areas is that the backing is a bit wobbly and depending on who's sitting behind you, it could get annoying. I think both people need to lean at the same time or else the backing flimsily slaps your upper back after you've just inhaled half the omelet and want to take a rest.
(4)
Kimmi V.
Quite the cute family joint -- but doesn't live up to the hype. We got two different kinds of eggs benedict. I'm an eggs benedict FIEND -- but I really wasn't impressed at all. Underwhelmed, really. Turkish coffee was also really awful. My friend had had some authentic turkish coffee in Turkey and Dubai, etc and urged me to try it here. She and I both agreed the coffee was not potable. Maybe we just went on a bad day. Will not be returning. I'd rather head over and wait at Cafe Luna. :/
(2)
Ami P.
Wow the portions here for the PRICE are unbeatable!!! I had the Jerusalem omelette and it was ABSOLUTELY delicious and my friend DOWNED her eggs Benedict. The only reason I give it a four star was because the service was really slow (only one woman) but she was very sweet and that JAM - please tell me what you put in there!!!
(4)
Mike D.
Brookline was terrific. The food was simple, delicious, and well portioned. The atmosphere was small and charming, while the waitstaff was attentive. I had the huevos rancheros on one morning, and the eggs benedict another. Both were served with generous portions of grilled vegetable home fries, and delicious. If you're in Cambridge and looking for a tucked-away, nice spot for brunch, I strongly recommend Brookline.
(4)
Angela D.
Great place for a cheap and filling brunch! Conveniently located in Central Square, you'll get LARGE portions. The huevos rancheros are delicious.
(3)
Bonny J.
There are a few times in life when a meal is so expertly planned and crafted that it is nothing short of genius. There are even fewer when such a meal can be enjoyed without the company of those "sophisticated" diners who evaluate the meal not on its quality but on the establishment's Yelp rating. Brookline Lunch, I am pleased to say, was the paragon of such a genius meal.
(5)
Evan A.
This place rocked my balls and bounced my wife's titties off. It was that good. This was our first time there and I can't think of a single complaint. The menu is full of great looking options at affordable prices. I had the big fish breakfast and I've paid way more for less, much less. I'm pretty sure every single food group was on the plate including a good sized slab of grilled salmon. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Vegetables for breakfast? Not often, but fantastic with this dish. There was some sort of cranberry spread that came with the toast and the only way I can describe it is that it tasted like a Thanksgiving candle smells. That's a good thing. The service was pleasant. Took a bit of time to get the food, but with the amount given I can understand why. I'll definitely be stopping back for breakfast any time I'm in the area and look forward to trying the lunch options at some point in the future.
(5)
Rebecca K.
Great value, incredible very colorful omelettes with interesting spices. Only complaint is that it's cash only and there's no AC.
(5)
Lisa G.
One of my very favorite places for breakfast. Family run and owned, a well-priced eggs Benedict to die for, and their hash browns, with well prepared potatoes, also have all manor of veggies included in. Great service, cool pics on the wall, and everything I've ever had there has been scrumptious. Been coming here at least 15 years and it only gets better.
(5)
Cathy C.
Food is tasty, affordable and I love that they use a ton of veggies in everything. But the service is sloooooooooooooow. It's interesting - this place seems to have a cult-following of in-the-know customers who all seem to understand the system. There is only one waitress that is allowed to take orders and two others taking beverage orders/serving beverage orders, bussing, and bringing checks. There is a tacit understanding that if you want to eat here, you're going to have to wait your damn turn. One waitress, people. One waitress. I would happily go back a million times if they had more servers, but maybe that's how they keep their prices low? I dunno - not worth the line that goes out the door IMHO. But then again, I'm from SF where a restaurant with this type of service would die a painful and costly death.
Hearty breakfast food, but too greasy. I ordered a veggie and eggs and everything was just drenched in oil.
(3)
Ziyan C.
It's Father's Day, 11am. Every brunch place we can think of has a crowd outside and at least a 1 hour wait. Suddenly I remember my secret little brunch spot in college and I give them a call -- it's a 10-15 minute wait for a group of 4! We get there in 10 minutes and snatch a booth for 4 right as it opens up. THE WAIT: None at 11am on a Sunday! (See above.) THE SERVICE: They're busy but efficient; our group of 4 was in and out in under an hour. We ordered and got our food out quickly. A little lagging with filling waters sometimes (but there were like 3 servers and 1 busboy for at least 15 tables). They were a little slow to bring the check, and I had to ask a couple times for a takeout box. THE COST: $40 minus tip for four brunch dishes. So cheap! MUST-HAVES: Their sandwiches, their omelets!! OVERALL: The food is a solid 4 stars, if not better. But they get bumped up for the awesome value and being a well-kept secret, i.e. no wait for Sunday brunch! * The 35 (bacon eggs cheese veggie Breakfast Sandwich) - 4 stars The 35: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Homefries: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Very tasty and hearty, despite not having too much meat! A perfect ratio of bread to filling, perfect amounts of eggs/cheese/veggie, and it stayed together well under the evenly toasted whole wheat bread. I just wished the bacon were a bit more crispy (I had to open up my sandwich to make sure it was there). The homefries (for ALL dishes): a big whopping side. Potatoes on the soft side, but retains a nicely crisped outer layer. The veggies are mixed in at good ratios, but they're a tad old and soft. * Ultimate Omelet - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Tried a bite: good stuff. The chicken is a little on the hard side and was a pretty big chunk, but overall its a good meaty dish and the eggs were cooked soft. The homefries, as always, great. * Banana French Toast - 3 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Solid, but not amazing. Will satisfy your sweet tooth, but don't go out of your way to get this - I've definitely had softer, more moist french toast. Plus it's about the same cost for less food (no homefries!) though you do get eggs + ham on the side. * Salmon Benedict - 3.5 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Would have been 4 stars but there was very, very little salmon. Each piece of english muffin had a tiny little slice of salmon that was barely noticeable.
Any day that starts here is bound to be a great one. Breakfast is the most important meal, as they say, and Brookline definitely delivers. Their menu features everything you want to see on a sleepy Saturday morning. It's a small establishment, so there is often a bit of a wait, however my friend was seated in about 5 minutes. I was running a bit late, and the waitress gruffly told him that they don't hold tables, but let him stay anyway for some reason. How nice of her. Once I arrive, it takes a while for her to take our over. We're hungry! However, the place is packed (and loud!) and we can see that the cooks in the tiny kitchen working their butts off. All I want in my life right now is a breakfast sandwich! After we order, there's another waiting game. The slow, inattentive service is my biggest complaint about the experience, so don't come starving (as we had) or need to be anywhere in an hour (as we did). Once our meals arrived though, we forgot all of our troubles. It's so nice to see a full, colorful plate! A hefty sandwich cut in half surrounded by a heap of homefries and veggies. I was feeling especially classy and ordered my breakfast sandwich with salmon, which was a great decision, as the fish was tender and added a nice element. The sandwich is grilled, cheesy, eggy, and just the right amount of drippy and oozy. It's served on soft Texas toast which is charred perfectly and provides just the right absorbancy and texture to house the mm mm good fillings. Homefries were prepared well, although I've had better, and I really enjoyed the pile of veggies which provided a (somewhat) healthy balance. The homemade chili sauce on the table was just alright in my opinion, since I didn't taste much flavor and the heat hits you later. The sandwich itself has flavor for days, so I didn't find the sauce necessary. The price is also on point, as the meal cost us each under $10 buckaroos. Now I can officially conquer the day!
(4)
Teresita O.
An understated find in Cambridge and a must go-to for lunch and Sunday brunch. The service is friendly and attentive. The food fresh and lovingly prepared by the Abu-Rubieh family. Get here early to avoid the wait.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Update: 4/26 - A reply from the owner. Mushhoor A: 'Coffee tastes like meat? What kind of nonsense review are you trying to achieve? It lacks substance, is completely exaggerated, and I think I remember you being quite the ass. Glad we won't be seeing you any time soon. I believe you rushed us from the moment you sat down. We tend to ignore those kind of people. Too da loo :D' Thank you for your reply sir. However, I believe you're mistaken as to who you served because there were no men servers present when I was at this establishment. I do not aim to achieve anything but to share my experience which you clearly chose to ignore and belittle instead of address. I hope that you one day take the time to review what others are saying to you with a grain of salt and mature from there. Good luck.
(1)
Andrew K.
Unassuming diner I found on yelp while visiting the area. I had eggs Benedict which I can be a snob about. It was fantastic and came with a very nice veggie/potatoes scramble.
(5)
Sam E.
I reviewed the breakfast here in 2011, singing the praises of Jamal's work in the kitchen and the great family vibe of the place. Here, I'll focus on their lunch. As with their breakfast, lunch here is all kinds of yummy. Today I had a chicken sandwich with veg and cheese and I'm sure what else because I was too focused on the joy of getting it in my belly. I had a side of beef and barley soup, which was almost a cross between what you would think of as beef and barley, and a green curry. How does that work, you may ask? Well, I couldn't stop eating it. Brookline has been going forever here in Central Square, and there's a good reason why. You never leave hungry, and the combination of flavors and textures in their meals will tickle your yummy bones all the way down.
(5)
Cameron M.
I think I go out to brunch as often as your average city dwelling twenty something. Brookline Lunch is the best brunch place I have EVER been too. By far. I judge all new brunch places based off Brookline. And so far, every single one has been significantly worse. Here are my reasons: 1. Its family run - by a super nice family. The mother, who often waits the tables will remember your face and soon enough your favorite order. It can get crowded on the weekends, but I have never seen the staff get anywhere close to impatient, short, or even ruffled. 2. Its super cheap. Every time you see the check you will think you were undercharged. Brunch for 2 for less than $15 that will fill anyone up - you can't beat that around here. 3. The home fries are the best you will ever have. Perfectly crispy potatoes mixed with a whole bunch of charred vegetables. The vegetables change by the season, and so they never get boring - tomatoes, spinach, squash, brussels sprouts, carrots, onions, peppers, asparagus - they all rotate through. Top with their really good unique homemade hot sauce and you have the perfect plate of home fries. 4. The other food is ridiculously good as well. My favorite is 'The 35' breakfast sandwich - eggs, cheese, bacon, and more charred vegetables sandwiched between two perfectly buttered and toasted slices of bread. Its the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had. The coffee is not good. I can live with that.
(5)
Wanxin C.
Good portion for good price. Benedict is good. Turkish coffee doesn't come with prevailed sugar
(4)
Naomi F.
I absolutely loved it. And I only ordered take out! When you walk in, the set up is very simple and cozy; the kitchen and grill is open in the back of the restaurant. The menu contained breakfast items; for lunch they have your usual sandwiches but also Mediterranean/Greek dishes that comes with naan and masala; all range from $6-9. They do not serve dinner. I went right to the back to order and the lady was very, very nice. I'm not so familiar with Greek food so she was happy to explain what some of the dishes were. Unfortunately they do run out of some food items later into the afternoon (I came by at 2). But I ordered the spinach and feta and it was divine! Everything about the food was good and it came in such a large box! The minimum for card is $10 but the woman let me swipe my card through because I didn't know. Definitely coming back here for my lunch break soon! And bringing a friend!
(5)
Gitta M.
This place feels like you are eating breakfast at your friend's house: heartfelt, homey, delicious and a little chaotic. The portions are huge with a variety of veggies on every plate. The Jerusalem omelet was great: tangy goat cheese, herbs like fresh mint on top, some great olives on the side and tons of savory home fries with a variety of veggies. It just feels like the owners want to go the extra mile to provide you with a nutritious delicious breakfast that could keep you full for the whole day or soak up all that alcohol from a rough night (perfect hangover food). There is extra attention to detail with the hot sauce on every table, the homemade jam that comes with every order. The service is great as well: prompt coffee refills!! This is THE breakfast place in central!!!
(5)
Natalie D.
Nice brunch. Cash only. Chill vibe. Good options. Fine service. Convenient location. Better than a diner but diner style food.
(3)
Jibrell J.
This family run hole in the wall brunch plate is L-E-G-I-T. I highly recommend the Nutella pancakes. Warning: there can be a line outside on the weekends.
(5)
Alexandra K.
Great place, definitely will keep it in mind for my next diner outing. The food was delicious, the chicken was a bit dry but really well seasoned. The interior was a bit dated, and I was there during a really cold day, and it was so cold inside! Most of the people didn't even take their jackets of! So definitely come here when it's not cold :)
(4)
Elle W.
Wish I could give 5 and a half stars! This place is the greatest little dive ever. They use tons of fresh veggies, and the staff is very sweet! Try the homemade blueberry jam or the Turkish coffee.
(5)
Steve C.
Awful service and bad food. Really going for the bohemian look, but it's only good to see, not to eat. Portions were small, eggs over cooked, dirty glasses, bad coffee, and flavorless food. Edit: I had a cook from the restaurant contact me through Yelp about this review. He was a bit angry sounding. I stand by what I said. The place is cozy and I really used to like the food when I lived nearby around 2 years ago. I've been back twice in the last two months and both times it has been awful. The first time my dish came out okay, the meat-filled omelette was bland and just tasted like scambled eggs mixed with warmed up deli ham. My GF ordered eggs Benedict and the poached eggs were WAY overcooked (like solid hard lumps). To add to all this my coffee glass was really dirty and had a bunch of dried-up coffee crusted on the outside and some sticky syrup on the lip. The second time we went it took nearly 15 minutes to get drinks at the table. When we did both glasses were smudged with oily residue around the outside. We asked for new glasses and the waitress (who seemed rushed, but very nice prior to this) looked at us like we were demanding her wallet. We did get new glasses but she was annoyed and decided not to take our order for nearly twenty minutes more (it's easy to tell how long all this takes as they have a large clock over the entrance on the inside). My GF ordered french toast and I got huevos rancheros. The French toast was okay, soggy but sweet. That was definitely not a bad choice. The huevos rancheros were a joke. They are scrambled eggs with a slice of american cheese melted on them with a spoonful of room temperature black beans alongside a mediocre pile of potato medley. The mixed potato medley has a weird assortment of vegetables and just doesn't have a coherent flavor. It's like something I would throw together in the morning hungover with stuff lying around in my fridge; however, they serve it on every plate! I do not intend to give this place a third try.
(1)
Leigh C.
For the price, this truly is as good as it gets for me with brunch! Everything is delicious, good portion size, and mostly everything comes with a heaping side of sauteed vegetables, which I love. It's cheap and I love the vibe too. The service is usually very good (I feel like I know the hostess and wait staff because I come so often and they are always the same)! I have never had to wait to sit (which seems incomprehensible to me).. If you do have to wait, unfortunately there isn't room to wait inside so keep that in mind in winter. Overall, absolutely love this place, and not just because it is right across the street from our house.
(5)
Kerri Y.
Eclectic lunch/breakfast place located in Central Square. It took me a while to get here- whenever I tried to go for lunch during a workweek, it seemed to always be mysteriously closed--- maybe the day or the time-- who knows. Once day walking past, low and behold it was OPEN! Interesting menu of breakfast items, Mediterranean items (Hummas plate, Falafel plate) , sandwiches (hamburger, BLT, tuna) pasta dishes and main dishes (like curries and kebobs). Decent place, Decent food for lunch (I had a good eggs Benedict). I believe they are cash only but everything is so low priced, I'm sure you can scrounge up a few bucks to eat here!
(3)
Liz G.
In need of a visit from "Restaurant Impossible." There was nothing about this experience that was positive. There is no list for the line so you manage yourselves. But if someone called ahead and arrives, they go ahead of you. They are cash only but they don't make this very clear until you are practically getting seated and then they send you away to the ATM if you need it (translation=bring cash). Once seated, we waited about 10 minutes before being visited by one of the two drink waitresses. Then another 15 minutes before we were visited by the one and only food waitress. Then another 20 minutes (maybe longer) until we got our food. It was fine but nothing special. Save yourself the trip and go elsewhere if you actually want to to be out of brunch in less than 2 hours or have an even remotely positive dining experience. There is more but not related to my actual meal so I'll let my dining guests provide their own reviews.
(1)
Jim M.
Outstanding spot for breakfast or lunch. I walked around Central Square for 45 minutes looking for a decent sandwich place and stumbled upon this diamond in the rough. Amazing food! I had the chicken sandwich and homefries, which was perfectly prepared and had so many flavors combining into a great bite every time. The homemade hot sauce complimented the dish well and the service was top notch. All that said and it was under $10 with a coffee. If you are looking for a great spot for a great meal, this is it!
(5)
Cassy H.
Brookline Lunch is a great small local spot with friendly service and honest home-cooked food. I'd definitely recommend it for Central Sq residents and visitors. I ordered the Western omelet, which included ham, tomatoes, and spinach (see photo). Although it's been a while since I've been here, I do remember vividly that I loved what I ate. I was completely satisfied for not just one meal, but two. Yes, the portions are huge, so you can definitely turn your omelet dish into two meals. And you should.. b/c it's probably not a good idea to eat such a big portion. Anyway, come with cash and be prepared to get your money's worth.
(4)
Kimberly W.
A hole-in-the-wall local place in Central Square, the food here is fantastic! A bit of a strange name since the place is in Cambridge...and good for breakfast...but nevertheless, great sized portions and decent prices [especially for salmon and eggs benedict :D] Staff was pretty friendly and our food came out in a decent amount of time. We went on a Saturday morning [around 9:30 AM], but by 10:30 or so there were a couple of parties that were waiting to be seated. They also don't take card here. Hopefully I'll be back soon!
(5)
Tarun G.
This is a mom n pop shop with really delicious food. The place is cheap too compared to any other other brunch place around in Boston but just keep in mind that it's cash only. Omelettes and chocolate chip pancakes are a must try! Definitely worth a visit!
(5)
Lyndsey C.
Very good food. We had breakfast varieties here. very hot, fresh, and tasty. Def a hole in the wall... Don't expect any glitz or glamour but very pleasant owners.
(5)
Kaeo D.
I like the decor way more than Friendly Toast, but the food is so much worse! We were the first ones there and there was no wait, and yet: Undercooked vegetables, bland food, unimpressive coffee, undercooked eggs. I was really hungry and came from the gym so I ate 70%, but my friend didn't eat more than a few bites of her omelette.
(2)
Imran G.
What's all the ruckus about? Try walking up Brookline St on a Saturday or Sunday morning without getting run over. The entire side of the street is blocked off by people waiting anxiously for a table. Its extremely cut throat since its first-come first-serve and they don't exactly have a waiting list. Once you get inside and try food you'll see its not just hype that keeps this place busy. The reasonable, almost cheap, prices along some really tasty menu items can easily make you a regular. While the eggs benedict isn't as good as Cafe Luna's, its also a fraction of the price. If you don't feel like making breakfast, and don't feel like coughing up $45 for brunch for two people, then check out Brookline. That's not to say their stuff isn't tasty, it certainly is. The steak eggs benedict is solid, and so are the homefries. If you're not feeling yolky, get the breakfast chicken sandwich with hot sauce, all of which will fill you up quite well. I didn't get to try any of their sweet stuff, aside from the toast with homemade jam. If the rest of their sweets are like that, then its certainly worth a try. For the most part, if you don't want to spend $40-50 for brunch for 2 at Cafe Luna, Brookline Lunch is certainly worth a shot. Its nothing unique, but it is all solidly executed food.
(4)
Sara O.
Just moved to Cambridgeport and this was the first breakfast place we tried. I could not be happier. (and I am very opinionated!) The Greek omelette was out of this world - fresh mint, feta, olives, ... beautifully cooked... homemade jam and nice buttered toast, and homefries with carrots and onions mixed in. Good coffee. Cozy, low-key spot.... a really wonderful place and a great introduction to Cambridge. I will be back!
(5)
P H.
Good food, reasonable prices. I would happily go back- but nothing really amazing. Went for breakfast and the home fries were really the star of the show- potatoes plus a bunch of veggies. Crispy bits all mixed in. Very very good. The coffee wasn't anything special, and everything else was done well, but nothing amazing. Only ok service and the setting is a bit run down- (old tables, old booths, etc) the place is pretty small and the staff seemed a bit overwhelmed.
(3)
Tommy L.
This place for years has been my girlfriend's favorite breakfast place. The omelettes are fluffy, with generous portions of veggies or whatever you get in them. The baba ghannoush plate comes with delicious naan, and it's perfectly and delicately smoked. The staff is friendly, and the coffee cups are always refilled promptly. Not the fastest in town, but everything is consistently yummy. And not terribly pricey either! Love it!
I'm sure the food is delicious but the service was terrible!! They were rude, dismissive, and passive aggressive. It costs nothing to be nice (especially when people are ordering food) and pays off a ton to treat others nicely. Its a shame--I was looking forward to the food. I rarely write reviews, but was shocked at the service.
(1)
Ana S.
Hands down the best breakfast spot in all of Boston. I say breakfast and not brunch because this isn't the kind place where you linger over bloody marys for three hours. This is a family-owned and operated shop where the dishes are simple but hearty, the Chock Full O'Nuts coffee is bottomless, and the check is rarely more than $12 a person. Go before noon if you want to get in quickly.
(4)
M L.
Awesome hidden gem tucked away in Central Square. I'm not a homefries fan, but these came with sauteed veggies and were delicious. I had the veggie omelet and it was awesome, friend had the 35 breakfast sandwich which he loved. Homemade jam was killer too. For $9-10/pp after tax and tip, I think this is one of the best (and yummiest) brunch places around. My only complaint was that everything was a bit greasy and it took me asking two waitresses twice to get water, but I guess that's expected when you go to a diner. I'll be back without a doubt. And there will definitely be a wait on the weekends, but it usually goes pretty fast.
(5)
Markus A.
Place is great. Family-run, great service, excellent food, and really outstanding prices. They make their own hot sauce and it is amazing. Omelettes are excellent and are always out in your face fresh. Never sitting under a heat lamp for ten minutes.
(5)
John D.
Great for breakfast with a feeling that you are in your Grandma's kitchen. The breakfast plates are beautiful to look at with a colorful assortment of veggies and potatoes. But the taste, unlike any breakfast anyplace else. They have great traditional american breakfasts with a Mediterranean spin. My go to meal is the Eggs Benedict but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Make sure to bring cash because they don't take cards, but you won't have to bring much, as the prices are better than any place in Cambridge.
(5)
Hao X.
The dinning experience was a chaos. We were waiting in the dinner and no one talked to us for 15 mins. Parties that came after us got seated first. After twenty minutes wait, we finally got seated and guess what it was another twenty minutes wait before anyone took our order. Orders of four tables who got seated after us were placed before the waitress came to our table. Such a mess.
(1)
Matt P.
Ordered a falafel sandwich two days in a row. For $7 you get a mountain of delicious food. The service is fast and friendly.
(5)
Steve H.
Love this place! Great food (awesome veggie omelet) friendly service, and terrific ambiance.
(4)
Kim B.
AMAZING! Breakfast all day, specialty omlettes, homemade hot sauce and jam, quick service and the vegetable medley that comes as a side is incredible!!!! Fresh herbs make the food smell and taste heavenly. We all chose omlettes (goat cheese and herb for me, turkey sausage and cheddar for my friends) but I was eyeing up the Nutella pancakes they had on special too! They do take credit cards (another poster said they didn't) and turnaround time is fast so even if you have to wait, it's not long. Only complaint is that the coffee is typical diner coffee, I could've upgraded to a Turkish if I'd wanted though. GO! ENJOY!!
(5)
Reyes Z.
Went here this morning for breakfast based on the good reviews and pictures on here. There was only one waitress, who did not seem experienced enough to be handling the place by herself. Waited for a good 5-7 minutes before being waited on and another 15 minutes before our order was taken(2 groups walked in and we had to ask her to place our order as it seemed she was going to get them settled first). Almost about to leave when she came back to take our order. Got our food in about 15 minutes. I ordered the brendan benedict(bacon and spinach) and my husband ordered the special w/ french toast and eggs over easy. My meal looked as nice as the pictures posted on here but first cut I realized the eggs were not cooked. Poked around and tried to find parts that were cooked. There were a couple of salvageable bites so I tried it. The hollandaise sauce was awful-tasted like mayo, just colored yellow. Also, the texture of the homefries was good but they had a weird taste(dirty griddle?) and I didn't eat those either. My husband usually eats anything you put in front of him but even he couldn't finish his eggs because they too were undercooked. He said the french toast was okay and the best part of the meal was the grapefruit. Both meals were cold. I told the waitress that I wanted my meal removed from the ticket because I couldn't eat it. She was very nice about it but informed me that that's how they make their eggs. I understand cooking a certain style but poached eggs are still supposed to be cooked, not raw with "flubbery" whites. She dropped off the ticket, returned to pick it up but we didn't realize it was cash only so she left and didn't return for at 10 minutes. My husband ended up going to pay at the front. I really don't understand how this place has 4 stars and now I'm skeptical of the reviews for other places The place looked like it had never been cleaned and the bathroom was disgusting. The silverware and glasses looked unsanitary as well. I will not be returning. Should have spent the extra money and gone to Cafe Luna.
(1)
Allen W.
Loved our omlettes with veggies. Toast is great. Excellent service. A little beat-up but unpretentious, casual atmosphere. Mix of students and middle-aged customers. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)
Hanna H.
Small, family-run restaurant with way too few workers, but really great brunch. The service is slow because there's only 1 waiter and 2 cooks, but even given the circumstances, they don't skimp on quality or politeness. The menus are awful--very ugly and I feel like they are undescriptive or lack menu items--and the booths suck because they can't support your weight if you lean on them. But nonetheless, the food was really good and the prices are unbeatable, most things are $6. Got a bacon eggs benedict (~$6) and banana pancakes (~$8). My boyfriend and I came in on MLK Monday and got a seat right away. Some parties came in after us and only waited maybe 10 minutes or so. It's more difficult if you have a large party though. Definitely recommend this place, even for the cool hole-in-the-wall atmosphere.
(4)
Jason H.
Have only been here for breakfast and it is good, fast, polite, and cheap. We love it. Basically Cambridge's version of an old school, gritty diner. Some menu items come with sides (toast, potatoes, etc) and some don't, so good to ask.
(4)
Michelle P.
My partner and I visited Brookline Lunch on a Saturday morning, 10-ish, and it was pretty busy but never had to turn anyone away or make them wait for a table in the time that we were there. The waitstaff is really friendly, but that may have been the reason we were waiting for ages every step of the way--to get menus, to get drinks, to have orders taken, etc. They only had one gal working the room, and while the cheerful greeting was nice we would have preferred timely service. Food was good solid diner style fare. My guy got both breakfast and the baklava, which turned out to be a very generous portion. The best thing about this place is the atmosphere--it's packed with the work of local artists, all of which can be purchased. Interesting variety of work and cozy overall impression. I'd eat here again, but only on a weekday.
(3)
Lola O.
Great Food, Long wait: Wondered in, hungry, on a Saturday morning. The place was pretty busy but we were sat right away. And that's when the waiting game started. Had to wait 5 minutes for water, another 5 for menus. A good 15 more minutes to place our order, and then probably 20 minutes for our food. The food was great, really. the menu also looks full of good stuff, and the prices are reasonable. So this is definitely not the place if you're looking for a quick bite, but if you're a up for a slow, lazy Saturday morning, this place is perfect!
(3)
Amie M.
Haiku Review Hole-in-the-wall place Pancakes, olive plates, and more Great food and prices!
(4)
Caleb W.
Best breakfast in Cambridge. Low prices, fresh ingredients, friendly staff. There's not a ton of seating, but it's well worth the wait if you end up in line.
(5)
Brandon W.
Terrific place for a weekend brunch. The omelets are fantastic with plenty of your choice of protein (I recommend the Big Fish). You also get a nice heap of home fries and veg on the side. You will definitely be full and will probably need a to-go box. Also the Turkish coffee is worth a try, especially if you are a fan of espresso.
(5)
Joel M.
Now that I live around the corner, this is my go to breakfast/brunch spot. Super cheap prices, excellent home fries, random service. The only thing keeping this from five stars is the 'speedy service' dice you roll every time you go in. You might luck out and be in and out in 30 mins, or you might be waiting 15 before the waitress (I've only seen one, presumably the wife/owner?) even gets to you. I love that it's a small family place, but on a Saturday or Sunday morning an extra server would go a LONG way. On the flip side, I'm kind of just used to the wait now, so as long as you expect it the rest will take care of itself.
(4)
Steve A.
I used to come here a lot. Good portions, very good price, average to good tasting food. Then I had one incident with dirt and hair in my food. During the same visit, there were live bugs at my table, and I'm not just talking about the odd gnat or fly. As I looked around the place, I realized that this is not a one-off incident. Places like Sunny's may seem from the outside to be dirtier, but take a lot better care of themselves on the inside. I would have at least given this place 2 stars, but food establishments need to be clean. Sorry, my dollar deserves better treatment.
(1)
Sam B.
Probably had my best brunch ever! Was really hungry and had to wait for 15 minutes to get in, but it was worth the wait. As others have mentioned it's a family run place with the head of the family being the cook and his wife and children serve and clean the tables and dishes. I had Californian Benedict (special of the day) which came with Avocados and Tomatoes, a side of homemade fries and hot sauce. Now I love eggs, but these were one of the best I have ever had. Homemade fries are served with veggies and were good and so was the hot sauce. I also took a side of toast just for the jam people are talking about and it's delicious. The toasts were also buttered. This all came for $11. I guess I am going to be a regular here!
(5)
Enzo S.
Best breakfast/lunch restaurant in Boston. Cheap prices, home-like vibe, and the food is beyond delicious. Have never left unsatisfied
(5)
Jman S.
Great place just off Mass Ave. We went there for brunch on a Sunday and there was a line outside with about 15 people with about a 20 minute wait. If you see a line, make sure you sign in before you stand in the line. I guess its a MIT thing to both sign in and line up outside! The food was awesome and cheap! A huge brunch for two with two coffees and tips was ~20$. I wish I lived next door and would never have to cook again.
(4)
Rayan D.
I've lived about 30 seconds away from Brookline Lunch for the past 18 months and driven by it multiple times but never stopped in. This morning I was looking for a new brunch option so we headed down to try it out - the place was packed. We waited for about 5 minutes and within another 5 minutes had coffee and waters. We ordered french toast, eggs, and the greek omelet - portions were HUGE! The food was delicious and we were very impressed. When it came time to pay we found that the massive portions and coffee only set us back about $8 a person - a really good deal compared to what you might pay elsewhere in Boston. We will definitely be back again soon!
(5)
James A.
Extremely unassuming but expectation-defyingly good. I had chicken and waffles, and it was just great. The folks are friendly and the price is so reasonable for the portions that it's almost criminal.
(4)
Katarina M.
This place is a great value (meals with huge portions running in the $5-7 range) and has some pretty bomb food. Have only eaten here for brunch. They have your standard diner fare: eggs, omelets, sausage, bacon, pancakes, French toast, home fries. But they also have various eggs benedicts, and steak (which comes as an alternative to standard bacon or sausage with their eggs meals), an ethnic breakfast (I'm remembering pita and olives but there was definitely other stuff), and some good specials (they change often...last time, I overheard the owner telling someone they were out of salmon, but that they had some fresh tilapia). The thing with this place is that they put their own spin on it. Your home fries definitely didn't come out of a bag. There's always a ton of fresh grilled veggies in them and they are pretty flavorful. The whole plate is just always flavorful. And they come up with interesting specials (although I didn't like my TBM omelet...interesting in theory, just doesn't really taste great all together). Their iced coffee is great. I'm not a coffee snob, but I don't like it when my iced coffee tastes watery, and theirs doesn't. If you allow me to suggest one thing to you off their menu, it's their CRACK JAM. Homemade raspberry jam that we're pretty sure has chunks of pineapple in it. If your meal doesn't come with toast, order a side of toast (which they butter for you!) and jam because it is that good. Also, they have homemade hot sauce. I'm not a fan of spice but I am a foodie so I tried a little. It packed a nice little kick and was just so "fresh" is the word we kept throwing around. Definitely some fresh spices in there along with probably some chili paste or something. But it's pretty liquidy. Anyways, it's good. A few minor annoyances which mean I can't grant that last star: 1, the homefries aren't to die for. They're good but just that. 2, the first omelet I ordered was a Western omelet and was not supposed to have sausage in it, but it did, as did my friend's omelet that wasn't supposed to have it either. They're kind of all over the place throwing things in your plate that aren't supposed to be there, it seems. Which is fine for the homefries, there's no definition of homefries. But she told me what was in the Western, and sausage was not in her description. 3, the fans are not AC and I am always too hot in there (although it is summer). 4, the service can be off if it's too crowded (we literally spent 5 minutes staring at anyone who works there and could not get any of their attention). They're always friendly but they have to change something there. All in all, it will definitely be my spot this summer for going out to breakfast. Not perfect, but pretty damn near.
(4)
Jacob V.
For an incredibly cheap place to eat, Brookline Lunch was awesome! I had the steak egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and it was really good! The steak was just a little too chewy but it didn't distract from the great flavors. The potatoes and veggies that came with were also really good, and make sure you ask for there home-made hot sauce! The staff is very, very friendly and definitely added to the positive experience that I had.
(5)
Dessa R.
Before this past weekend, I hadn't eaten here in almost 3 years. My first experience was particularly unimpressive, and I just never got the urge to return. But in my yelping, I read that the place has really improved over time. So, I gave it another shot. Nope. Still just as bad as 3 years ago, possibly worse. My eggs benedict and veggie home fries were barely edible. My breakfast companion looked rather miserable with his French toast as well. Just not our cup of tea, I guess. I feel a little ashamed slamming a local business run by a seemingly nice family, but it was the most disappointing breakfast I have had since... the last time I was here. But I do like to support small local business-- and I'm glad they have so much support from other Yelpers, because I don't foresee myself going back. Ever. That's right, I'm a terrible person.
(1)
Josephine L.
They don't kiss your ass here. You sit your hiney down anywhere you can find a spot and wait for the menus to come to you whenever they damn well feel like it. Well, not the menus themselves but the people bringing them. The eggs benedict sandwiches are scrumptious to this non-bread lover (I am chronically thirsty!). I got the salmon 'n' cheese one and boy was it omega-3 delicious. The boyfriend got the ham 'n' cheese and the two of us were silent for a whole 4 minutes while we wolfed down our food! 4 minutes! If you're in my 'hood, this is the place to grab a breakfast bite.
(4)
Anna T.
Went here for a hangover brunch with some friends recently. A heads up, the place is cash only! Their menu is a mix of great breakfast staples and Mediterranean specialties. The service is super friendly and speedy, the food is great, and the prices are really cheap! I only wish it was closer!
(4)
Lisa H.
An incredible bang for your buck. $4.25 for a breakfast sandwich (bacon included) with homefries. And the homefries have veggies mixed in. Wish the homefries were a little crispier. Friends also got the huevos rancheros and french toast. Everything was great!
(4)
Shannon M.
This place will blow your mind. The woman who's the main waitress is the most motherly woman I've ever met in a restaurant. She smiles when she brings your water, when she takes your order, when she brings your food, when she sees if you need anything else... it's like being at your grandmother's house or something. And the food! Unreal breakfast served all day. The omelets are the perfect size-- giant, but you can finish it without feeling over-stuffed and yet be full until dinner. The home fries come with veggies (zucchini, tomato, broccoli), and are delicious. People rave about the homemade jam-- it might be an acquired taste that I don't have, so try it and don't listen to me. Yeah, Cafe Luna and Sonsie's have awesome brunch, but this place is REAL. Given the price and the fact that this is awesome, delicious food served by my favorite waitress ever, this may be one of my favorite places in Boston.
(5)
Scot M.
This is one of America's best breakfast joints. The food is awesome and always a little different, depending on what is on hand your homefries might come with extra broccoli or you might get a whole banana on the side. They always use just the right amount of butter and oil to fry up the delights served here. The coffee hits the spot, and the waitpersons are eager to bring water for those patrons parched from a night of drinking. I strongly recommend trying the sausage, egg and cheese sandwich, even now, thousands of miles away, I can picture the buttered bread collapsing around the hot cheesy links and the delicious scrambled egg inside. The eggs benedict is also real good, and sometimes I skip breakfast and go straight for the cheeseburger, which is actually a patty melt! Service is a cut above most Cambridge restaurants. They are pretty much run by one family, the children, polite and friendly serve and wash the dishes, the father, as many men now do, is in charge of cooking, and the matriarch runs the show. She is very friendly, but as the boss she has no time for shenanigans or people keeping the door open when there is a blizzard outside. They usually remember who you are too, depending on how busy it is, although that means you have to tell them you don't want 'the usual.' Location is lovely too, right in Cambridge's grit square and only steps from the red line it is easy to see why this place gets so busy on the weekends. It is across the street from the Middle East and T.T. the Bears or whatever that place is called, and it is always fun to get one of the window booths and watch the different types of musical groups getting setup for the night ahead. The clientele is a more or less inoffensive cross-section of central square's rising star. You might see more people you know than you'd expect for such a small place, but if any particularly unsavory characters from your past appears in the booth next to you, well take another bite of your sausage, egg and cheese sandwich and forget about them. There must be quite a few harvard and mit students since the place was significantly less crowded when the students were out on break. Timing is the one thing that sucks about his place. They don't open until 8:30am, so if you work, you can't eat there during the week. On the weekends you'll never have to wait if you get there before 9:30 and usually after 12pm you are safe too, otherwise I have never waited more than 15 minutes for America's best breakfast. The art on the walls comes from Out of the Blue gallery, so if you like their work then you'll like this art. My artistic friend who goes by the name "Herbert," gets very upset at what he views as the low-kitsch quality of the picture-rendered paintings and their high prices. However, you will never find high prices on the menu.
(5)
Jeremy K.
I still can't figure out why it isn't called Cambridge Lunch since it's Cambridge and not Brookline but I guess that doesn't really matter. Their food does. And their food is good. Very good actually and well priced. I went there a couple of times for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised by the value you get for what you pay. And it's also healthier than most places I've seen which is another great thing. Not a lot of guilt if you down those veggies. The food comes out quickly and service is minimal but prompt. Just spot on if you ask me. The only downside to this place is that it's cash only (at least it was when I was there).
(4)
Deanna D.
I really enjoy Brookline Lunch for breakfast/brunch. The restaurant is a hole in the wall with funky and cool artwork on the walls, a relaxed vibe and cool clientele. The staff is friendly but never fast......Who staffs only 2 servers for a super busy Sat. morning? The homefries are awesome! I love the veggies mixed with the potatoes and the hot sauce (homemade?) is lovely. The salmon eggs benedict does not disappoint...tasty hollandaise sauce, cooked salmon (not smoked--thank you!) and toasted english muffin= delicious brunch on the cheap!! The prices are amazingly low! Breakfast for 2 for well under $20 with a generous tip! The food is a bit greasy but very tasty, super slow service..you have been warned. It gets really busy during weekend brunch hours so try to get there early. Overall a great value for brunch on the cheap!
(4)
Gerardo F.
How on earth can so many people love this place??? This "restaurant" is an abomination in every sense possible. Seriously, I've been there three times, and every single time I've had a terrible experience. The waitress, first of all, seems to barely speaks English and does not seem to care much about her work. She also had a air of nonchalance towards a lot of people (I'm starting to think that she hates her job). Second, because there are only two people working there (the waitress and the cook), the service takes forever. I've once had to wait some 40 minutes for some eggs, french toast and bacon when there were only 4 people. Finally, the food. What can I say? It's without a doubt the most disgusting, most uninspiring food I have ever eaten. My last visit there, I ordered pasta with pesto sauce. Not only were the pasta poorly cooked, but there was NO pesto sauce AT ALL. I've had it with this "restaurant". I'll never ever get close to it. Good riddance Brookine Lunch.
(1)
Jack M.
Food was decent, but service was very weak. I ordered linguini with pesto sauce, 25 minutes later, I got linguini with alfredo sauce. I didn't feel like waiting another 25 minutes, so I didn't say anything. It then took 15 minutes after I finished my meal to get the check. Additionally there is no air conditioning. It was 97 degrees outside and probably close to that inside. Luckily, the food was good and inexpensive, that's why it's still 3 stars.
(3)
Amelia M.
I really love this place, but be careful -- because everybody else does too! You'll need to get there extra early on the weekends in order to get breakfast without having to wait around outside. But even if you do have to wait, it will be worth it. My favorite is the Greek omelet, with its pretty little slice of good-quality feta hanging out on top. With friendly service and a happy, neighborhood vibe, you can feel good about giving these guys your money on a regular basis.
(5)
Sam K.
I had the salmon benedict & it was Egg-cellent! Turkish coffee and bahklava are delicious too. Highly recommended by yours Truly.
(5)
Jeff W.
Lots of food, and lots of variety with ingredients in the dish (the homefries especially). The breakfast food is good, and I really like the crabmeat sandwich. Very good value. Sometimes service is a little bad, but service isn't what you should be coming here for. The hot sauce is somewhat uninspiring; I prefer tabasco. The jam is pretty cool (though really sweet).
(4)
Sarav C.
I love this place and cant get enough of it. The place is very down to earth, earthy crunchy, family run business. Easy on your wallet, very friendly service and nice place to have brunch or lunch. The veggie omelet with vegetables, toast, hot sauce and home made fruit jam is to die for. I top it off with coffee and they keep filling the cup when its empty. I support so many local businesses in Cambridge, this is the only place they make me feel at home. They even greet me with my name and treat my friends with the same respect.
(5)
Jason C.
WOW. $5.50 got me the best omelet I've ever had. I ordered the Western. It came covered in ham (real ham, cubed. not stupid deli meat), onions, red green yellow and orange bell peppers, tomato, zucchini, carrot slices, broccoli, spinach and maybe more. All the vegetables were cooked perfectly - not overdone or mushy, still retained some crisp freshness. The home fries were also delicious, especially when covered in their homemade chili sauce. I hear their breakfast sandwiches are also delicious (duh, basically the omelet on toast), but I'd say get the omelet anyway because then you'll get a side of toast and a cup of their homemade jam. It is sooooo tasty! This place is great for groups of 4 and under. Service was fast and friendly.
(5)
K F.
Great place, good food, cheap brunch and fast service. You might not want to bring your girl/boy friend for the first date but overall we are a big fun and happy that we live close by.
(4)
Molly L.
AWESOME! Great little family-run hole in the wall with unique middle eastern food. Homemade hot sauce and jam are delish. Fast and polite service and killer hash browns!
(5)
Paul S.
This is the perfect place to eat in Central Square! It's local, it's cheap and it tastes really good! Go an hour earlier than you think you should go, so that you can beat the Saturday morning brunch rush-crowd. Plus, the coffee is well worth the sit down.
(5)
Alex H.
Greasy Spoon. This place is a cheap, down and dirty diner. The portions are enormous, and the menu is a little scattered, but it's quick, cheap, and has a little bit of everything.
(4)
Brian H.
Went here for mid-week breakfast. All the traditional American breakfast items looked great, but I opted for the Felafel plate and man was it awesome. Coffee was great. Service was beautiful. Price was more than fair. Bring cash.
(4)
Philip K.
This place was awesome for brunch. I came here with a big group of freinds and we all squeezed around a tiny table in this interesting hole in the wall. This place is super informal but that is what made it awesome. The omlettes were huge and piled high with all the good stuff. I got the ultimate omlette which had all the veggies, cheese, sausage, and even a chicken breast!!! One thing that happened that made me very pleased was the events that occured after a spilling of hot sauce. Our server spilled hot sauce on my cousin, but, helped her clean up, and to make it all better comped her entire meal. Not bad! This place is awesome-- super freindly, super cheap, and super delicious!
(4)
Amir K.
Fresh, cheap and delicious
(4)
Lynette S.
This is not only a review but a big thank you to the 2 staff who attended to me nicely eventhough i blew through there when it was busy and i just wanted a breakfast sandwich to go! i got mushroom, egg and cheese on wheat bread (comes with a side of homefries and veggies!) for 4$ and change. yum. i live closer to inman but there arent too many good breakfast sandwiches in my immediate area...would come back to BL anytime for this tasty goodness. Thanks! You have one more fan!
(5)
Jenny N.
Oh, the eggs florentine are TO DIE FOR!! I have to agree with Ligaya--they are just perfection. I am so excited that I found a place where you can still have a yummy breakfast at any time of day for under $5 easy. This mom-and-pop spot is not fancy; it looks like a greasy spoon, but the food is actually not very greasy at all. I love the exposed brick and art on the walls. While the booths are spacious, the tables could use a more vigorous wipe-down. But this is just a small quibble, because between the boy and I, we demolished a stack of GINORMOUS pancakes (interesting cornmeal type batter) slathered in butter and syrup, eggs florentine, and a platter of 2 eggs, 2 sausages and veggie-ful home fries for like 12 bucks. Can you beat that with a stick!? I think not! I love a home-cooked breakfast, and Brookline Lunch certainly delivers. The parking situation can be a bit tricky as there are very limited metered spots on Brookline St., but you'll be well rewarded for the effort.
(4)
Jeffrey M.
This is a hidden gem! Maybe it's hidden because it's not really in Brookline ... it's on Brookline Street. Misleading much? It's a Lebanese-run brunch place, and while I haven't had any of the Lebanese food yet, the brunch menu is pretty standard and meets expectations =] The portion sizes are huge for $6 or 7. I ordered the French toast with ham last Saturday, and while the ham was great, the French toast and maple syrup combination tasted a little artificial. Overall, though, not bad! DO NOT get the baklava. True, it also comes in a huge portion size. But it looks as if they just bought it from a wholesaler and cut it up for you, and that's supported by how it tastes -- easily broken into a dense bottom and flaky top, and also too artificially-sweet. I'd still check it out, though!
(4)
Eszter H.
Visiting from out of town and met up with some friends here for a midweek breakfast. The tables were rather yucky. I couldn't tell if they'd been "cleaned" with something sticky or if they just had a lot of grease on them from who knows where. I could tell that they had been wiped, but I used up quite a few napkins to wipe off the yuck. This was not a good start to the experience. The space was cold. I was wearing many layers and I was still feeling chilly. Now for the more positive aspects. The food was completely reasonable breakfast/bunch food. I had the french toast, eggs, bacon dish and it was all pretty good so no complaints there. They don't have fresh-squeezed orange juice. The final payment was extremely reasonable for everything we had consumed so that was a welcomed ending to the visit. I enjoyed the art on the walls that they are selling for very reasonable prices.
(3)
Lisa R.
Lots of cheap options and made by a wonderful staff. The pancakes are standard but the hummus platter was devine! I love the cozy atmosphere and the location is cool too. p.s. The spot is off an alleyway.
(3)
stephanie t.
Worst french toast I've ever had. Seriously, worse than the terrible food they served at summer camp. Stars are only because I like the atmosphere and it's relatively inexpensive. Also, I don't eat eggs and those look much more promising. Home fries/potatoes were not terrible (i.e. inedible, not great either) -- if I ever were to come back, which sadly I might since the cheap food scene in Cambridge is so lame, I'd just get an order of those, drown them in hot sauce and add some salt, drink coffee and call it a day. I know it's obnoxious to always complain about how provincial Boston is in comparison to "real" cities, but the fact that this is actually considered a great brunch spot isn't helping! EDIT: I originally gave this two stars, but considering that almost a YEAR later I still remember vividly just how bad my french toast was (on thin, soggy white bread), I'm lowering it to keep it more in line with the way I've rated other establishments.
(1)
Tiffany Z.
Brookline Lunch is a casual breakfast/brunch/lunch spot down the street from my apartment, and I think they do an amazing job with a non-fancy, inexpensive, but tasty version of eggs benedict served with a side of diced fried potatoes mixed with lots of fresh veggies. That's the only thing I ever get here so I can't comment on the rest of the menu. If the weather's nice, expect a long wait during the weekends. Fortunately, if you're in the neighborhood, you can also order to-go for those weekend mornings you just don't feel like cooking your own breakfast :) As for the interior, it's very casual and eclectic with interesting paintings adorning the walls. And don't come in expecting polished service :) Again, it's really inexpensive compared to other brunch places and the quality of the food is high (it's just not presented in a fancy manner in a fancy environment or with nicely dressed servers). So...depends what you're looking for :)
(4)
Aboud Y.
Went back this morning for breakfast and enjoyed it even more than the first time. The Za'ater Bread and jam are amazing...truly exceptional. They make a decent pancake and eggs too. The place is cozy and the coffee is strong. Service is also excellent and welcoming. I will def. be back again.
(4)
Maxine Y.
This has been our go to spot for weekend brunch for years. Love the hummus plate, with its kalamata olives, peppers and onions, drizzled in hot sauce. The Greek omelet is really good too. For something light try the halava (sweet spread with pistachios) with tea. Recently had to move and on our last visit they gave us a goodbye gift - baklava and halava! Brookline lunch, we will really miss u!!!
(5)
Sam G.
Brookline Lunch is hands-down my favorite brunch place in Cambridge. Sure, you may have to wait a little while to be seated. And it's not the classiest place in the area. But the food is delicious, unique and plentiful; the waitress is a sweetheart; and the bill is always incredibly inexpensive. Their homemade jam and hot sauce are out of this world. Bottom line: Come here on a sunny, leisurely weekend morning, bring a mug of coffee for the wait, relax and enjoy. P.S. My favorite order is the tomato, spinach and feta omelet. Do it.
(5)
Brittany R.
Was in Boston for a weekend and ate here two days in a row. The place gets crowded and there was a wait both days, but it may be one of the best places ive ever had breakfast. Definitely go here, and definitely wait for a table.
(4)
Mark H.
Stumbled across this place while visiting Boston and staying in Cambridge. Saw some hipsters hanging outside the front of the place and remembered that hipsters live for greasy breakfast and coffee in retro-places. The special omelet or whatever it was called was a disaster of everything in the kitchen, including chicken, sausage, bacon, processed cheese, broccoli, 4 eggs, potatoes a hipster or two, whatever. It looked like a mess with over-buttered toast. Tasted quite good - a bit heavy on fake cheese tho. Anyway, the price was awesome for that much food. In Toronto this would be either $16 (or free because it was found in the dumpster of a breakfast joint). Most of the other orders that I saw looked overly generous and tasty. Think I would stick with a simpler omelet next time but value for money was great - super hangover spot. Just don't go with a large crowd or else you'll really have to squeeze yourself into the small booths. Coffee was good by American standards (i.e. was stronger than Dunkin Donuts).
(4)
Melanie H.
I went to Brookline Brunch on a Sunday morning around 11am. It was quite busy, but we were able to seat ourselves immediately and had service right away. They have a fairly extensive menu and offer everything from pancakes to baba ghanoush. Our food was great (egg and feta breakfast sandwich) and was served to us about 10-15 minutes after ordering. This was the fastest I have ever been served brunch food in the Cambridge/Boston area on a Sunday morning. Be warned though, they do not have a dishwasher so all of their dishes are washed by hand, which I felt was a bit unsanitary. Also, their juices are made from concentrate and are poured out of a plastic milk jug. Save your $2.75 and order coffee or water. Lastly, do not go here with a big group. This place is tiny and best accomodates a party of no more than four. If it is cold outside, there is no place to wait for a table- they ask all people to wait outside until they can free up space. Overall, it has its ups and downs, but is worth a try.
(3)
Dea A.
Super cheap food with a husband-wife team running this joint. The service is only spotty because it's one person out there running the show, and she is doing a damn good job at it. I was just so surprised that with my omelette I got vegetables with my homefries! In terms of cheap breakfasts, this place wins over Dunkin Dono.
(4)
K R.
I really like this place. The lady that always waits on me is awesome. She's quick and friendly. If you want a super sterile, gourmet experience then this place isn't for you. It is great home cooked food that is always a little bit different, sometimes i get fruit, other times crazy sauces. They are always great. Beware, all of the omelets come with veggies. This is a good thing as far as i'm concerned! Yum!
(4)
Tepring P.
Solid place. Three of us went to this cute little place for early (9:30) brunch. I want to tell you the time b/c on a saturday in 30 degree weather (feels like 15) I would be not happy if I had to wait especially if it were outside, but we didn't thus the good rating. So we get there, we get seated instantly, we order after flagging down our waitress - which is why the 4* - and the food comes out properly and good. This place, I said, is little and cute - MAYBE 10 seats, like 6 booths and 3 two people tables? This place has inexpensive food - my spinach florentine was $6.00, tea was $1.50 with free hot water refills. I spent $9.00 total. The place had a good variety of food - well to me it did I usually have to ask for not Canadian bacon on my benis they had like 6 varieties including real salmon, not lox or anything like that. But the only other item I usually order at a breakfast place is french toast which is why I have to come back here to try it. If the french toast holds up. I have found my brunch spot. It is like 3 blocks away from central T stop on drum roll please....BROOKLINE street. but in cambridge =) And lastly, Cash only. Which is ANNOYING but not unusual in Boston.
(4)
Ver D.
Friends insist on going there because it's cheap. The wait staff is great, and there is a nice variety of choices.. I have been here for brunch 3 times, and every single time, I have gotten egg shells on the eggs I order. It's gross. Never having that again, not coming back. Also the pancakes taste a bit like cardboard and the syrup is bad quality, pure corn syrup - zero maple. not good. also, long wait lines than I cannot comprehend...
(1)
Tim W.
This place is a gem for late breakfasts. The portions are huge and the prices are cheap. I've gotten breakfast sandwiches there a couple of times and they are $4.50. It includes a large side of home fries which are actually potato chunks with veggies. Not bad. The omelets are also really good. Generous portions of egg and toppings. Bottom line: its cheap but good diner food. Prices are good. Coffee is good. Ideal for a night after partying since they don't open up early anyway. I tried to go there once for a real breakfast (7:30AM) and it was closed. Who knows.
(4)
Cyrus W.
I was enjoying my ham benedict and looking at all the other dishes the waitress was taking to other tables thinking "I want to try that! And that!" Food was excellent. There was one waitress for the 15 or so tables and a line out the door, so service was a little harried. Will definitely be back to this place.
(4)
S K.
If ever there was a misnomer "Brookline Lunch" is it - it is neither in Brookline, nor is it specifically a lunch place - It is one of my fave breakfast places - they serve the usual greasy stuff: sandwiches, fries, omelets, toasts etc. all served with some awesome hot sauce. I have tasted most of them the items on their menu and couldn't say a bad thing about them. My only gripe - their service is glacial (especially on the overcrowded weekends). The owners are Jordanian and add some superb middle-eastern fare as well. And as other reviewers pointed out, very easy on the wallet.
(4)
Ligaya T.
It's been over three years since my last review though I've been going here eight years and running. Eight years! There's hardly a thing I've committed to that long besides breathing. And despite the hipster takeover, economic roller coaster, putting three kids through college and aporkalypse, I'm happy to report they're still serving up the same scrumptious eggs florentine piled high with grilled vegetables and doused with fresh hot sauce. In fact, I'm making a list inspired by the proprietor entitled "Awesome Owners." Yeah, yeah, kvetch about the film on the tables and dust in the cracks, keep the crowds away and leave the tables open for the folks who understand the magic of a hearty five buck breakfast with a smile.
(5)
Julio S.
Good service, price and eats. Fast and friendly.
(4)
Kay A.
In 2006, I went on a first date to this place. It was amazing. The food was cheap and mad delicious. The jam they had was mind blowing. Like it seriously changed my life. Because of that jam I married the man that took me there. No jk. but... Fast forward to now, I've been going to this place for a long time and I've noticed some changes. It's gotten way more crowded (way too many hungover hipsters), if you go there on the weekend, expect to wait, which makes it an unpopular destination in the winter. As a consequence of increased traffic, the service is slower and the staff doesn't put the same care and thought into the food. I used to get a quaint stack of french toast, with a light dusting of powder sugar, now it's just 3 slices of soggy bread thrown in a pile. With the decline of food and service they've also raised the prices. It's still cheaper than most other diner options around the city, but it's disheartening to see the slide of service and increase of price.
(2)
Matt H.
Were I you, I would stay away from the "ultimate omelet" Ordered almost out of curiosity, this monstrosity contained the following (at least): peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, carrots, celery, tomatoes, broccoli, cheese, a strip of bacon, a sausage link and a chicken breast. The vegetables were mushy and gross for the most part. The meat was solid. But hey, the coffee was good and it was an experience for sure.
(4)
Glenn F.
It's an upgrade to diner food. Delicious, quick, tasty. Delightful family runs the place. Everything was perfectly cooked.
(5)
Rick R.
I have been coming to this tucked-away diner for years, and have been telling anybody who will listen what a great place it is. The prices are cheap and the food is excellent, for starters. Every breakfast dish comes with seasonal vegetables and home fries, toast and homemade jam and hot sauce. With rich coffee, I have never managed to spend more than $10 with tax and tip. Try any of the varieties of eggs Benedict, or the large stack of pancakes. I always leave full and satisfied. The family who runs the restaurant, particularly the matriarch, is always pleasant and cheerful. It feels wonderful to be welcomed back as a regular. If you come before 10 am on a weekend you can probably avoid a wait. But even if there is a line, it moves quickly. Give Brookline Lunch a try, and I'll be surprised if you don't come back. See you there!
(5)
Shannon B.
I live right near this place, I could basically skip here if I wanted. But actually, I don't want more than I want. I've hit up this place many a time in search of cheap, fast, and slightly better than mediocre brunch, and have rather dissapointed at times. The food is CHEAP and greasy but good, and the coffee is verryyy strong. But I don't know what it is about me, but I seem to get stuck with poor waitstaff! I had to actually stand on my chair to get service. and we'd been sitting there for about 15 minutes, and it was the middle of the day on a Monday. Maybe I need to start wearing a reflector vest, or stop being so picky about having to wait 90 years to get breakfast. If you go here, be prepared for looong waits, slow service but with pleasant waitstaff, and greasy cheap food. that's all I've got!
(3)
Kiera D.
This place is the absolute best hidden gem Cambridge has to offer. Organic, authentic & incredible food. Every breakfast dish comes with a heaping pile of whatever vegetables are in season. The hot sauce and jam are made in house... to die for! Yes, it's small, family owned & run and often the service is a bit slow-- especially on the weekends-- but it's totally worth the wait.
(5)
Andrew R.
Brookline lunch is the definition of a greasy spoon brunch spot. Their pancakes are delicious, big, and covered in a slab of butter. The french toast, however, was lacking. The homefries come fried deliciously alongside whatever veggies are left over from the last person's omelet. The omelets themselves are ever changing: this week the veggie omelet had mushrooms, peppers and onions, where previous weeks I've had brussel sprouts in it. Also, GET THE JAM. If you have toast on your plate, make sure to ask for a bit of jam, it's amazing, and a different flavor everytime I've been there. Service is really slow when it's busy, which is most of the time, but I've never had an issue with my order, and the food is super cheap. Sometimes cheaper than it claims on the menu, which is kinda neat. Perfect spot for eating away your hangover on a Sunday morning.
(4)
Sara I.
I had a fantastic BLT for lunch. The home fries that came with it were unbelievable, mixed with carrots, onions, and other green veggies. The waitress was super and it only cost $5.25! What's not to like?
(5)
Adrienne T.
BROOKLINE LUNCH ROCKS BREAKFAST!! (been a few times now) I finally decided to give this dinky dive a try for breakfast. My wife had mentioned it a few times, but we never took the time to go check it out. I wonder why they don't call it Brookline Breakfast, since they seem to be more known for their breakfast than lunch. As it turns out, today was a rainy Friday morning at about 9:30am. Walked right in, picked a seat, nice young man came and took my order, and I kid you not in 7 minutes was back with my food. It was delicious and CHEAP! 2 eggs and bacon, with home fries for $3.75???! Yup! Home fries were good and greasy, bacon wasn't all crunchy (I like soft bacon), and the eggs were perfect. The place was clean, and had kinda weird paint on the walls (designs), and the enormous a/c unit hanging above the entrance looked like it was a lawsuit getting ready to happen at any moment. I don't know if I'd be so impressed if I had to wait outside in a line, or if I had experienced slow service, both of which other Yelpers have mentioned. I guess I'll only go on weekday mornings, and avoid weekends. Oh, I did meet the owner lady and her baby who was providing us with screeching and yelling child-made background music. Owner was very nice to me.
(5)
Liz B.
This used to be one of my favorite breakfast places but after this morning's experience I don't think we'll be going back. Service was slow, scattered and both of our orders came out wrong. The waiter actually walked away from the table while I was giving my order. "I'll have the veggie omelet with...." No "hold on one second I'll be right back," just left. I had to flag him down to give the rest of the order. The home-fries, which I used to love, were completely undercooked and way too greasy. At least the jam was still amazing (even though we had to walk up to the counter to get it because we couldn't get a server's attention and they forgot to put it on the plate.) I'll be sticking with Sunny's from now on.
(2)
Katie V.
I had very mixed feelings about my brunch experience here. The service was friendly, but very slow. As in, after we got our coffees, we waited about 15 minutes before the waitress took our order, and then another 40-45 min. for our food. The brunch menu is no-frills -- omelets and a few non-egg dishes (pancakes, french toast). When the food finally arrived, I was pretty pleased. The home fries are a misnomer -- the potatoes come mixed in with other veggies, like carrots, squash and brussel sprouts. It was a delicious side dish and more healthy than just your usual fried potatoes or hash browns. Also a plus: homemade jam for the toast. Possibly the best part of the meal. My sausage-and-cheese omelet was so-so; the sausage was overcooked and chewy. My boyfriend seemed to like his french toast. The prices are great; 4 of us ate for about $30. I just wish we had been able to order and get our food faster.
(3)
Lauren P.
This is, hands down, my favorite breakfast place in the Boston area. If you love veggies in breakfast, it could be yours too. From what I can tell, every dish that comes with hash browns will be covered in delicious vegetables that are a little different in composition each time I go. They have a whole section of the menu dedicated to different kinds of eggs Benedict... which - trust me - are all wonderful. The omelets are great and are my personal staple... as hollandaise sauce is not something that I feel okay consuming on a weekly basis... And the pancakes are pretty excellent if you're into that kinda thing. Going there once with a large party of people, we ordered a plate of them for the table. I really wish I could give that group decision 5 stars because it was a very good idea. Also, make sure to ask for some of their homemade jam which is always a little different but most times has a hint of anise. Only bad points are that there's no indoor waiting for tables (not a good place to go on a rainy Sunday morning), and I once got a Mushroom Salad there which was really just a tiny basic salad with extra button mushrooms... But it's still my favorite place for breakfast north of NY and South of Portland so 5 stars it gets!
(5)
reese w.
So ridiculously cheap, it's like you stepped into a time machine bound for the 50s. The place is pretty small, but the food is cheap and fast. I got a mushroom omelette, but it was stuffed with all kinds of other grilled vegetables as well, and only for $3.50! They don't have a whole lot of vegan options, but did have a falafel sandwich that my vegan friend was quite tasty. One of the bigger items on the menu is the Ultimate Omelette, which comes with bacon, sausage, ham, chicken, home fries, toast, and grilled veggies. Oh yeah, and there's even an omelette with cheese in there too. The atmosphere is a bit frenetic and busy, but very casual and easygoing. Be prepared to wait!
(5)
Lauryn Z.
When I lived in Boston a few years ago, Brookline Lunch was my go to spot for Saturday brunch- good food, inexpensive prices, cozy atmosphere, friendly service.....so when I planned my visit to Boston after 2 years, Brookline Lunch was at the top of my list to visit- My boyfriend (it was his first time here) and I arrived and were seated immediately - I was happy to see that the menu had remained the same and the same family was still running the place. However, as much as I loved this place back in the day, I must say that this time I was very disappointed with the food. Perhaps the quality has gone downhill over the years....or maybe I just didn't realize it so much before. I ordered the vegetable omelet - it was served with the eggs on the bottom, then the veggies and finally topped with American cheese (of all the cheeses to choose from- why???). I also found the choice of veggies odd- carrots and eggs....hrmmm....My boyfriend ordered the french toast which was made with white bread- with cinnamon on top - instead of mixed in with the batter. He found the dish rather tasteless and bland. Unfortunately, I spent the rest of our meal convincing my boyfriend - 'no really, it used to be good back in the day, I swear!'. Service, however, was good, and the decor just how I remembered.
(2)
Ben F.
Had the eggs florentine. Came on a bagel without warning, which was pretty bad. Veggies that came with it tasted off. A friend ordered tea and got Lipton even though decent teas were available. Service was slow and unfriendly. Certainly not expensive but not cheap enough to justify being a bad brunch place.
(2)
Hubert H.
Really neat breakfast place. The menu is simple and straightforward, but they do breakfast really well. If you can spare a weekday, the restaurant is usually really empty but you'll get your food without having to wait. The Eggs Benedict comes with different choices of addition, e.g. bacon. The egg dishes even come with a side of vegetables. The eggs are well-poached, runny in the middle, solid whites on the outside. The home potatoes are crunchy and complement the eggs well. The artwork comes from the local art gallery (Blue Heron?) on the other side of Mass. Ave. on Prospect St. The location makes it tough to find, but once you find it it's a real treat!
(5)
Omar F.
Amazing chicken curry! Sometimes all you need is one good thing to enter happy land. LIfe can be simple like that.
(4)
Morgan R.
Found this place on accident and had to wait about 10 minutes during prime breakfast time on a Sunday morning. This place seems to be family owned/operated which I already love. I ordered pancakes that were loaded with fruit and a side of hash browns. Both were AmAzInG! When my home fries came to the table I was delightfully surprised to see they were cooked with fresh veggies, so yummy. Also, my pancakes were great as well. The place was super cheap and food was great. I would definitely go here again!
(5)
Rachel C.
This place gets 4 stars for a few reasons. If you go in with a hangover wanting kinda greasy breakfast food, you're at the right place. Also, their home fries are a bunch of vegetables, which are delicious. I don't quite understand their business hours, so you might want to call them before you go to make sure they're open. If you're sober and want a nutritious meal, this might not be your place. If you want pancakes, waffles, and omelets, this is the place for you. It's also pretty cheap, and has plenty of seating.
(4)
Peter W.
Totally great breakfast and lunch spot!
(4)
James S.
Pretty meh. The prices are very cheap but I guess you get what you pay for. My fiancee had the french toast and eggs - the eggs were decent but a bit overcooked, while the french toast was super soggy and well undercooked. I had the falafel sandwich, which was full of vegetables but woefully short on tasty falafel! Service is what you'd expect out of a diner - mostly forgettable, but nothing bad. Overall, I'd probably not go back. Boston is woefully short on good breakfast joints, guess I'll have to keep looking!
(2)
Esther W.
In general, I just really like these gritty, cheap, hole-in-the-wall type places that deliver decent food for good prices. So for what it's supposed to be, Brookline Lunch is good. Breakfast choices are pretty basic, food is made QUICKLY, large portions, and best of all, it's CHEAP. The eggs benedict is okay, the omelettes are decent and hearty, and the potatoes and veggies are consistently greasy but good. I've only had breakfast foods here, not sure about their other stuff. I took off some points for hair found in my food more than once (but the truth is, I actually find hair in my food anywhere I go--seriously--and I'm convinced it's because I tend to look more than others. Good thing I don't really care that much), it's cash-only, they waiters are so busy they don't waste time trying to be friendly but that's fine, it's a little cramped so if you sit in the middle you get knocked a lot by the wait staff's elbows, and it can take a long time to get seated. This actually really sucks if you come in the winter because there is no indoor space to wait so you have to wait outside. And it gets really cold if you're eating near the door because it's such a tiny place. But as long as I live so close, I'll definitely keep coming back here for a quick CHEAP brunch with friends.
(3)
Sophie H.
This is my new favorite place to go with friends who are hungry and broke. Big portions, amazing home fries (more roasted vegetable than potato), homemade jam and hot sauce -- and you probably won't break ten bucks, even with a lavish tip. I'm subtracting a star for cleanliness, but it would probably be impossible to make it cleaner AND keep the prices so low.
(4)
Beth L.
This place is in my neighborhood and it's a great "greasy spoon" breakfast spot. The single room is rustic and funky. Wall art comes from "Out of the Blue" gallery and changes monthly. The food is good comfort food at great prices. If you want french toast go somewhere else because that is the one menu item that is simply awful! The business is family run - husband cooks, wife waits tables, sons wash dishes. The service is slow when the place is packed because one person is cooking for or waiting on 15 tables. The eggs benedict and omelets are always excellent. The home-fries are filled with all sorts of vegetables that make them tasty and much healthier than typical fried potatoes. Go with friends or the daily news and just enjoy!
(4)
Victoria C.
This is a fantastic place for a relaxed and delicious Sunday brunch. Be sure to ask for jam with your toast, it tastes homemade and is fantastic. I also recommend the spinach-mushroom-cheese omelette, this is one of the few places that gets the eggs just right - not too runny, but not rock hard either. It can be a little hard to find, but it's worth looking for. Trust me, when you've been wandering about Boston searching for breakfast, bleary eyed and hungry, Brookline Lunch is a dream.
(4)
Ryuji S.
Quality of food is like 1960s. Not that I existed in this world then, but their brunch is actually just like how I would cook myself, hearty and tasty, although you will see some disagreements as to how they make the pancake and french toast. Also, they don't use real maple syrup. Well, their eggs benedict is pretty good. Actually, I shouldn't talk about anything else served there, because every time I go there, I order different kinds of eggs benedict. The worst part is their coffee. It's about the same level as the donuts chains and convenience store quality. Well, I might be a coffee snob, btu they should at least get the quality matched to Andala, Mariposa or C3 (when the sloppy staff is not working there). Well, coffee at these three places is only passable anyway.
(4)
Julia Z.
Went there in a group of five people around Sunday noon and it was extremely busy; took a long time for food to come. Other than the long wait food was very delicious. Highly recommend their Eggs Benedict. One of the most tasty breakfast places I've been to.
(5)
Emily S.
I never write these reviews, but I had a good birthday experience at Brookline that I wanted to share. We were supposed to go to Cafe Luna for lunch but it was too busy so after looking for what was close by, we ended up at Brookline. I had the special fruit pancakes, with strawberries and blueberries. My friends had omelettes that they said were scrumptious. A great find for brunch that I didn't know about!
(4)
Tom E.
It's not just that I fell through the floor here much to every other breakfastee's amusement... there are big holes in the wooden floorboards that chair legs can easily fall into... it's not my fault... get some new floorboards... buy chairs with really wide legs... whatever. So why only 2 stars? You'd think the local brunch-outpost a few blocks from home would be manna from heaven for this oft-hungover lunatic. But no, it's always just been a pain in the bum in the many times I've been dragged along. * The long line pains the feet like bad acupuncture * The wait once seated is elf-themed-literature-epic-long * In summer it's hotter than state-illegal sin * On wet days it's more humid than in Tina Turner's car * And it's always painfully cramped - just like my style when Nadya wants to hang. All of this for some omelettes and shit? No thanks, they're not stellar enough to justify getting me all grumpy and cursing all these hipster do-gooders. Nice artwork though, and those aforementioned holes in the floor at least provide amusement to those who aren't made to look silly.
(2)
Emily M.
"Ehhhh" is the word to use here. My boyfriend got traditional Mediterranean food, while I got a bagel. It was ok. Nothing special. Very loud and a little overwhelming, though. Prices are low but higher than other diners in the area.
(3)
Abbey B.
I used to live around the corner from this place. Went here a couple of times for breakfast/brunch on a weekend. Service is usually pretty slow, though the waitress is clearly handling a lot. No biggie. Just don't be in a rush. I'd usually go here when I was feeling too hungover to make breakfast/lunch. When you're hungover, you want greasy food to sop up all the liquor in your system. This place generally fits the bill, though I always left feeling sicker than when I went in. Hungover or not. The food's pretty mediocre. I'm not a fan of breakfast (though I've been won over by some places in the area), but this place just turns me off completely. I know people love it, but I just can't buy into it. Tastes like the kind of breakfast someone would make at home and you'd politely eat, but would try to avoid their cooking in the future. Oh, never order anything but breakfast. It's crap.
(2)
Jessica A.
I understand that popular breakfast places mean long waits on the weekend, inattentive service, the kitchen getting half your order wrong, your coffee finally arriving after you've called for the bill, & c. That's not why the one star. No, the one star is entirely due to getting boiled carrots in my vegetable omelette. Even if you're screwing up *which* vegetables I asked for in my omelette, which is expected, who on earth would think that combination palatable? It's scary to think that even a remotely seasoned cook would make this mistake. Also, who keeps boiled carrots on hand anyway?
(1)
Liza N.
I hate writing reviews in theory about little holes-in-the-wall restaurants I think are supremely good. Mainly for the reason I absolutely hate waiting in lines. The line is generally not tooo bad for Brookline Lunch, but in the cold winter chill of a raw Sunday as you wait outside for brunch, it can get chilly. Other than my hatred of waiting aside, this tiny little 12 or so odd table-d lunch place is THE BEST. Things I love about it: you can get a buttload of food for less than $5. all the main breakfast items come WITH toast, homefries, and vegetables. it's local and earthy without being too trendy. it's family run. it has an abundance of delightful plants outside the entrance. DID I MENTION HOW CHEAP IT IS?
(5)
Robot N.
Totally yummers! Cheap, delicious, unique. Cool vibe, great homemade hot sauce and strawberry jam. Go...right...now!
(4)
Chris H.
This place is great--I love the food and the family that runs it. I probably end up going here 2-3 times a month for brunch. Most of the breakfast items come with a giant pile of mixed vegetables on the side. The homemade hot sauce is incredible.
(5)
Chris Y.
Goodbye hangover I'm replete, wallet intact Thank you Brookline Lunch
(5)
Julia F.
My dad tells me stories about how he used to come here and get brunch/lunch while at work back in the good old days... Dad: ... when food didn't cost as much, ya know? Me: Well, it's still fairly inexpensive to eat there... Dad: When I was going there it cost two-fifty for all eight of us to stuff ourselves! (or something equally outrageous) I pity anybody who has to listen to this conversation every time we pass this place. But with him, it's like one of those 'fishing stories' the food gets cheaper and cheaper every time we talk about it. This is, however the same man who tried to only give my sister and I fifty-cent allowances FOREVER. Thrifty doesn't even cut it. The food is average. The place is kinda tight quarters. It's also weird if you are from Cambridge cause then you are somehow obligated to interrupt your eating or somebody else's by saying hi and asking how everybody is, ecc. It's a greasy spoon, a cramped, often too warm spoon that is definitely historically significant, yet most of the time when I think of where to eat ... this place doesn't jump out at me.
(3)
Cecilia L.
I have such mixed feelings about this place, so I'll just give it to you straight. Good: The amazing house jam, the 1950s prices, the sauteed veggies with every breakfast, the art on the walls. Bad: The long lines on weekends, the extended droughts of service for 20 minutes or more, the general dirtiness of the restaurant, the greasy spoon odor that permeates your clothes. But any cute, independent place that will make me a delicious eggs benedict for $5 has a place in my heart.
(3)
Kate T.
If you are looking for a hip, unique brunch experience with HUGE portions on the CHEAP, look no further. My favorite breakfast place in Boston. Try the Mediterranean omelet--NYO med omelet, it boasts spinach, tomato, peppers, onions, mushroom, olives, and more and is topped with a lump of homemade feta cheese that is to die for. The service is always friendly and fast and I've never paid over $18 for two breakfasts and two coffees. Come early because it does fill up in my experience.
(5)
Trevor B.
A good place for a casual breakfast between Central Square and MIT. The veggie omelette comes with a generous heap of roasted vegetables, and the coffee is pretty good (for a diner); you can enjoy both for a little over $8 plus tip. Cash only, so come prepared.
(4)
Logan W.
Awesome experience. The food was delicious, the service top-notch, and venue was nicely adorned with local art. The matriarch was truly masterful.
(5)
Raphie B.
Hard to find (or easy to miss) but worth a visit for sure. The food is great, the service is quick, and the prices are very reasonable. Brookline Lunch (located across the street from the downstairs entrance to The Middle East) is a total gem!
(4)
rewan a.
Both times I've been here the food has been awesome. Getting seated is a little awkward, especially if you with a few people, or if there are other people waiting for a table as well. I felt weird hovering behind someone sitting trying to enjoy their meal, but this place is so tiny that it's hard to not be in the way. Last time I went next door to that funky shop and looked around until our table was ready, but today it was storming outside and so I had to awkwardly stand in the way for about 10 minutes. There seems to be only one waitress here, but I must say she does an excellent job serving every table alone. We ordered the Baba Ghanoug for appetizers and were very impressed. It was very similar to what it tastes like in the Middle East (area, not the restaurant across the street..). I had the tuna melt which comes with homefries. The homefries are NOT fried, and are actually boiled with other veggies. Very yummy. Although you may smell like restaurant when you leave, this place is DEFINITELY worth checking out. The damage? 20 bucks for two people including tip. Good stuff!
(4)
Elaine M.
A heaping plateful of homemade steak and eggs with home fries for around $6?!?! That's unheard of... unless you're at Brookline Lunch. It's a charming hole-in-the-wall type joint with photography of the surrounding neighborhood hanging on the walls, and it's known for its extremely cheap breakfast/brunch dishes. Though they look good, I'm not a big fan of how their french toast or pancakes taste. On the other hand, their egg platters are fresh, yummy, and unbeatable. You'd be hard-pressed to find a comparably filling and hearty breakfast for a measly few dollars at any other place that does not have golden arches.
I went to this brunch spot after a few people recommended it to me. My friend Nick and I heard the homefries were great, so our expectations were high, and for him, the homefries hit the mark. I like my homefries a little less busy (these came with peppers, zucchini, tomatoes) but they were still nice and crispy. He had the Mediterranean omelette while I settled on 2 eggs over easy which were cooked nicely. The best part of this meal was the jam and hot sauce they gave us. We were so curious as to what was in the jam that we asked what was in it... they told us it was a combination of pineapple and banana. Now let me tell you something, this jam was red and had some interesting flavors, so obviously their chef was not giving away any secrets. We were really just curious! So overall, definitely a good breakfast, curious jam, but filling and scrumptious all around.
(3)
Josh F.
I used to go to this place for lunch when I was working from home. The hummus and baba ghanoush are delicious and the prices can't be beat. This is a great place.
(5)
Rana A.
Great hole-in-the-wall breakfast place!! Very affordable the average price for all breakfast items ranged between $4-$8. I had the feta, egg and tomato sammie for $4.50. It came with home style potatoes, veggies, an orange slice and a piece of banana. The rest of my family got omelets and most of them couldn't finish their meals. Service was a little slow as there was only one waitress and when we got there the tables weren't cleaned off or set up with silverware (which is why it's not 5 stars).
(4)
Dara C.
Sick of curry-scented Central Sq? Me, too. Thank god for Brookline Lunch, the miniature breakfast mecca off Mass Ave. My roommates and I love this place. Where else can you get a mammoth omelette for $4? You can't even buy eggs that cheap. The hash brown potatoes here are to die for. They're neither hashed nor brown, and they're barely potatoes. The cook makes them chock full of colorful vegetables, and I don't think it's ever the same melange twice. My most recent serving included spinach, carrots, asparagus, onions, broccoli, mushrooms, and what may or may not have been Brussel sprouts. They're pretty much the best thing since sliced ... potatoes. Also, the pancakes are above-average, the French toast is quite tasty but unremarkable, and I'm told they always do their meat right. As for lunch and dinner foods, well, I've never had them but I'm sure they do a fine job of it, too. But seriously. Just get breakfast. Service is spotty, natch. The waitress/owner is the hardest working woman in the restaurant business and usually does it alone. So it's not the fastest service in the world, but that's fine. Linger over your eggs and a good cup of coffee, and watch the skinny hipsters gather around Middle East across the street. Revel in your full tummy of delicious food. Curl up in the fetal position. Love life, for your bill will never be above $10.
(4)
Dika K.
I find myself going Brookline Lunch almost every weekend. The food is wonderfully cheap and the home fries are served with plenty of sauted vegetables. At fast food prices you can get a finger-licking goood cheeseburger. I'm not saying its the best cheeseburger in the world, but ... you can has cheeseburger for cheap. Get a seat facing the back and you get to watch some impressive egg cracking. Or get a seat facing the street and zone out with a hangover, but bring sunglasses - its really bright on Brookline in the morning.
(4)
Joshua S.
This is my favorite place for breakfast in all of Cambridge, maybe even Boston. First, the food is awesome! Generous portions, best omelette's I've ever had, but I usually get the Eggs Benedict. Homefries are great and done the right way. And they usually give you some vegetables (think spinach) along with your food to make the whole thing taste really healthy. Second, the prices are so uncommonly low. This makes me happy. Third, it's family run and there is art on the wall from local artists. So you can order away knowing you aren't supporting some soulless conglomerate chain. The only thing people might take issue with are the (sometimes) long lines and the (usually) slow service. I say, deal with it. Take the opportunity to actually talk and enjoy the time with the person you came with, we really don't get to do this very much anymore.
(5)
Malena L.
I think I've lost count of the number of times I have harrassed the lady owner for her hot sauce. I have even suggested she bottles that shit and sells it (I expect a cut of the profit). It's seriously a taste sensation! I love Brookline Lunch: it's dirt cheap, delicious and 3 blocks away from my place. My 2 personal favorites are the feta and tomato omelette and the Benedict eggs, and if you don't like their breakfast potatoes (specially with that hot sauce), you can come throw stones at my car. If you are doing brunch, make sure you come in early or you'll stand in line for a while...in the sun...hangover...not kosher.
(4)
Gracie B.
It's very heart warming for me to see a place that isn't another new "concept" place. Brookline Lunch has been there a loooooong time. And it is now, what it was then plus some serious wear and tear. It's the middle eastern corner lunch spot that could. It's simple and seemingly healthy. It's warm and inviting in the completely honest way it doesn't hide it's years and it's hard working family run goodness. Don't go if unmatched lumpy booth seats and slightly less than clean tables bother you. Do go if you are the kind of person who trys to find alternatives to Starbucks and CVS whenever you can - you will get it!
(4)
Danielle B.
this place is family owned and has excellent service. the food is good and hearty. great for breakfast and brunch. it is small though so expect a wait.
(4)
Stefanie G.
The menu here is really nice - good pancakes, decent eggs, my mom liked the middle eastern breakfast with hummus and falafel. I think the eggs are a little dry, but there is something in the homey feel that I really enjoy. They also left the stems on the spinach for the eggs florentine. The coffee and OJ are really good. Avoid the bathroom! All in all, the food isn't incredible, but this is a great little hole in the wall to enjoy Sunday morning, the paper, and conversation. Extra points if you were across the street at the Middle East the night before.
(4)
Ed H.
I really don't see why Brookline Lunch has 4 stars. I don't find much about this to enjoy. I've heard it's because of the prices, but that doesn't equally two (or possibly even three - I almost wanted give them one) extra stars in my book. Maybe it's not the breakfast that this place is getting credit for. I hope not, because if it is, I missed something. Something big.
(2)
Alex G.
The best breakfast place in Central Square hands down. And their lunch ain't bad either. It has the feel of an old mom and pop diner, cozy booths, quaint. The sign is elusive, for months I just knew it as "the place by the corner." They have just about every breakfast variation imaginable (you can get eggs benedict with literally anything slipped between the toast and the egg--I recommend the salmon), and each dish has a pleasant Mediterranean slant. The home fries are served with a heaping pile of vegetables on top (asparagus on the weekends), hot sauce comes standard, and during the week you can linger a little over bottomless coffee. For lunch, a sandwich and a soup is gonna run you $4.75. Things are priced like it's 1975. Complain all you want, but it didn't break the bank. I find Central Sq to be notorious for bad service in general, yet Brookline Lunch manages to prove me wrong everytime--staff is swift, friendly, and on point with the coffee refills. Not the "indie rock" help (kids who could care less) that dominates the area. The wait on the weekends is no more than 5-10 minutes. Compared to other breakfast spots like the Friendly Toast (a most unfriendly experience if you ask me, wait time 30min-1hr), Brookline Lunch kicks it into last week. May the staff's tips overflow because of it. Downside is they're not open for dinner... hence the name.
(5)
Rachel S.
This eatery is one of the reasons why I love Central Square. The food is amazing for the price. Yeh, service is a little slow and there's no air conditioning (at least not when I've been there), but why are you rushing through the most important meal of the day? I'm always pleasantly amazed when I get my spinach and feta omelets and it's a delicious work of art! Fresh veggies in a multitude of colors. This is a hidden gem. You will almost never run into a tourist in this spot. I'm big on supporting Mom and Pop local industry and this is in my top five. Saturdays and Sundays are huge brunch days everywhere. If you can get there early, or have off on a weekday, give this place a go. It can get pretty hot in there in the summer; I have memories of peeling my bare skin from their old school booths. ** Two enthusiastic thumbs up. **{edit: bare skin from wearing shorts... yeh... }
(5)
Norah D.
Easy to love - service is slow but food worth the wait- weird little sides of nontraditional breakfast foods from middle eastern cuisine very delicious and charming. We ate breakfast there on the morning of our wedding. * sigh* nostalgia and food ...
(5)
Irene F.
When walking up to Brookline Lunch, I noticed the door proclaiming "American Take-out" (mostly true) and "French Gourmet Take-out"...woah, what? They definitely took a few literary liberties there. What this place really is: a greasy diner with "eclectic" decor and the cheapest prices ever. Wait, did I mention cheap? Only 4 items on the breakfast side of the menu cost more than $5. Mmm yeah, you can have your most important meal of the day -and- leave with enough cash to get through the rest of it. The food is alright, but it boggles my mind that there can be a long wait for it on the weekends. Thankfully, this time it was a Monday. I usually get an omelet, and the Western omelet ($4.25) was no let-down. It came with toast (none of that crazy jam, though) and home fries that, as usual, included a random selection of the veggies they happened to have around in the kitchen. One lady handles the waitressing for the entire place, so don't expect much in terms of service. While you're waiting, you might be able to catch a glimpse of her kids running around. It's a good time to take in the random decor and look at the crazy drawings on the ceiling, too. This place is so random. By the way, Brookline Lunch also serves Middle Eastern fare. Too bad I've never gotten to that side of the menu. (3 star food at 5 star prices = 4 stars.)
(4)
Nick C.
Okay - I have no real dislike for this place, but one complaint that's kept me away. The food is decent, the wait staff is usually friendly, the atmosphere is good, but this I DON'T like: I'm single. I like to eat out in diners and restaurants once in a while, and it never fails that I get treated like a second class citizen, seated near a stinking bathroom, or near a banging door to the kitchen. I didn't have this experience at Brookline Lunch, but I WAS asked to move. I came in, the place wasn't busy, I sat at a booth, placed my order, and before it arrived I was asked by a waitress to move to a small table in the center of the room so that three people could have the booth. Know what? The center of the room is lousy. People constantly walk by you on both sides and there's no sense of personal space at all. I felt like I was dining between two freaking escalators. The impression is, possibly wrong, that this place originally only had booths along the walls, and then crammed small tables and chairs into the center. Nowhere did it say, or was I told when ordering, that booths were reserved for parties of three or more, so it should be first come first serve. I don't care if I AM a party of one, I'm a paying customer. Having to give up a seat after ordering for someone who came in AFTER I did is wrong. The waitress could have pulled two small tables together in the enter of the room (they were empty) and had them sit THERE. I haven't been back in years.
(2)
Lesley P.
The service was pleasant and the dollar value was good. The Greek omelettes were served as an odd jumble- almost as if they intentionally layered the home fried potatoes on the bottom, then a plain egg omelette and then the assorted vegetables on the top outside of the omelette. It wasn't inedible but it wasn't great either. Many of the vegetables were actually undercooked. The compote they brought out for the toast was interesting and good. Coffee was strong and the OJ regular diner quality.
(3)
S H.
It was an average experience. We went here because other brunch places had long waits. Cramped seating area, but good food. Cash only.
(3)
Dustin S.
Quant set up open floor plan and kitchen. Family run business great for friends gathering and family meeting place. Seats fill up fast so be prepared. The steak Benedict that I had a good and the pancakes and French toast or what I recommend. Portion sizes pretty big so if you need to split it you'll know ahead of time. I also highly recommend the Turkish coffee if you've never had it before it's excellent and you have had it before it reminds me of my time in Istanbul. Great time worth the wait.
(4)
Li P.
Food was very mediocre and not great. Came here for breakfast on a Sunday and it was pretty packed. I got the special omlette and my friend got the French toast. The food was not very flavorful and just bland, lacking seasoning and depth. My omlette was supposed to have chicken, sausage and bacon with vegetables, but they just put a piece of each meat on top of a vegetable omlette instead inside it. My friend didn't eat more than one bite of the French Toast before stopping. Overall not impressed for a place that has 4 star current rating.
(2)
Michael B.
This is a great hole-in-the-wall breakfast diner spot. Middle-Eastern influenced. If you get there right when they open, they put Cardamom in their coffee pot (you know, 'cause that's how they like it themselves). It's small, so there's only two waitstaff, and one or two cooks, so if you're looking for snappy service, probably not the best place to go (especially if it's crowded). Order fast, get some coffee, and then kick back and shoot the breeze with a friend. Huevos Rancheros is a favorite of mine. Their omelettes are pretty stellar, too. I haven't gotten the pancakes or the french toast so much but those are decent. And it's all for a decent price. Overall, a great neighborhood establishment that I hope will stay for many years to come!
(4)
Alison L.
The atmosphere is what makes this hole in the wall so great. Brick walls with art and travel souvenirs hanging everywhere, comfortable old booths, warm, friendly service, and a full family behind the counter preparing food together. I could spend an afternoon here just drinking coffee and people watching- very relaxing and comforting. The food is nothing spectacular, although the hash is good because of the variety of vegetables and herbs and the prices are very reasonable. Overall it's just a great diner experience.
(4)
Elif Ece A.
I've just recommended this amazing cafe to a friend of mine !! wish I were there , so that I could have fully enjoyed amazing breakfast
(5)
Emily G.
Best kept secret doesn't even begin to describe how amazing Brookline Lunch is. The menu is a wonderful combination of breakfast favorites (eggs, pancakes, french toast) and Middle Eastern classics (falafel, baba ganoush). But the BEST part is the amazing and yummy sauteed veggies that come on the side of nearly every dish. The staff is super friendly and it is very inexpensive. Probably my favorite breakfast and lunch place in Central Square.
(5)
Andrew H.
Service is bad. Food is gross. And to be honest I'm a little concerned about the cleanliness. Lettuce was wilted, strawberries tasted a little strange. I would probably avoid this place if there were other options.
(1)
Melinda M.
Went here with friends since we couldn't get a reservation at Cafe Luna. Getting seated was a little confusing because we didn't know at first to wait outside in a line (there wasn't a line until after we got there), and the hostess was busy running around, serving people, etc. It still didn't take that long though; we waited maybe 20 minutes. I got the Jerusalem Omelette, which was delicious. It was great to have a plate packed with veggies and fresh herbs for breakfast, plus goat cheese, my favorite. Only complaints - A few things (whole green onion?) seemed to be there more as a garnish than for eating, and the home fries were not anything special (not crispy, not super flavorful).
(4)
Bashar A.
Let me start off by saying I know it is hard to work in the restaurant industry. Now having said that, it's not that hard. The food was mediocre at best. Now starting from the very beginning, when we walked in and asked to be placed on the waiting list they said we don't have a list but assured us we were next because of our small party size. We had to wait outside in the rain and about five minutes into our wait another customer walks up to the front says she has a party of three like I did and gets seated immediately. I had to go up to the hostess and remind her that we have been waiting her response was oh I went outside to ask who was next and you guys were gone. That was a clear lie because we were right outside of the door watching the whole thing go down. Eventually we were seated after they made the other customer that took our table move. We sat down, placed our order and the waitress didn't write anything down so we assumed she would get it right. WRONG! She forgot half of my order and when I asked for the missing items they were never brought over to the table. Our server never came back to check on us not once....At the end of our experience we had to ask for the bill 3 times...This was just an overall bad experience and I won't be returning. They really need to reevaluate how they run their business and implement the small changes that can make a big difference starting with; keep a wait list so you can manage the line of hungry customers, then also write down every order so they don't forget items from customers order. Making just those small changes would have totally changed the experience.
(1)
Mike B.
I went there for lunch wand had the falafel sandwich. Very tasty, and the side potato homefry salad was delicious and was a good amount of food for the price. Wait person was very friendly as well. I will definitely be going back.
(4)
Steve H.
Charming little greasy spoon with a middle eastern flare. This family run place makes you feel at home and the prices are comforting too. The food, however, was hit and miss for me. I was excited for the chicken kabob lunch, but got more of a less than fresh oily chicken stir fry with some white rice that was passable, at best. Worth a shot to cure your hangover or for cheap eats.
(3)
Judith C.
I wasn't amazed by the food, but this is a good brunch restaurant for the cheap price. I ordered the french toast special ($8.50) and my bf ordered the buttermilk pancake special ($8.50), both came with two eggs any style and choice of meat. We both chose sunnyside up eggs and I chose bacon while he chose sausage. The eggs and meat were as expected and the french toast was average. There was a saltiness that I didn't expect it to have, which may have been from the added butter, and I wish it was a little more custardy. I think I would prefer to order one of the savory dishes instead if I came here again.
(3)
Sarah K.
I absolutely love all the veggies in the potatoes that come with breakfast plates! I had spinach/tomato benedict and it was probably the best I've ever had! As others point out, the house hot sauce is definitely worth trying. This cozy family-owned eatery is a gem :)
(5)
Kristine M.
When we walked in, it was mostly empty, but half the tables were filthy, with old dishes, leftover food, etc leftover from previous customers. It was a bit of a turn-off to me. I was also disappointed that they didn't have lunch...I went there on a Saturday at 1:30 PM and I was totally in the mood for lunch (and since it was called Brookline LUNCH, I figured my desire would be fulfilled) but they only served breakfast. I got a breakfast sandwich with sausage and the sausage with chewy and over-cooked. They forgot to bring my drink, too!! I guess I'd give it a second chance but I was not impressed. Frankly, the rave reviews shock me.
(2)
Stephanie M.
I almost hesitate to review Brookline Lunch, because it's already so crowded so often - but I almost owe them the businees, considering how often I'd go if I still lived in Cambridge. This place serves a phenomenal omelette with a sweet chili sauce, I must say - but I've not gotten one since I tried their lamb kabob. Tons of tender lamb, fresh vegetables cooked to perfection (still slightly crunchy!), and mind-blowing sauce over rice - nothing else like it. Oh, and did I mention - it's less than six bucks for more than I can eat in one sitting.
(5)
Juston P.
This place almost contradicted itself to a 3 star rating. The food is satisfying, but greasy. The atmosphere is cute, but the service is awful. Normally, that'd be 2 stars, but the low prices place it back in the 3 star camp. ... and then the holes in the floor, long wait, sour owner, and sauna-like climate yank it back to ** land.
(2)
rachael b.
i love this place. huge portions, lots of veggies in the omelets and homefries, homemade hot sauce and jam, and cheap prices. it's family-run and they're really kind. i love when their kids are there and they excitedly run to show me to my table. you don't find places like this in cambridge these days and it's really sad!
(5)
mickey l.
Keep this place in your back pocket. Show it to those who you trust. Don't expect miracles, like you might find at EGG (see next review) But be happy you can afford to tip well the meals are that cheap. (Two people, 10$, no joke) Yes. Dirty. Greasy. Even sticky table top. But they are so nice. They took care of our large and baby studded brunch with charm.
(4)
Mr. X.
I come from a city with a proud diner tradition, and this place could stand squarely in the middle of the pack in my hometown. This is praise, not criticism. The food is fair, but comes in big portions, and has a few nice touches (I'm thinking specifically hot sauce with the home fries, and how magically nothing is greasy). Far as I can tell, it is literally a Mom and Pop place, with Pop manning the grill and Mom waiting tables. Mom is just about the nicest waitress I have ever met, and tends to have her little daughter trailing her around, which adds to the cozy, friendly atmosphere. I went here for breakfast today just off a redeye from California. I went in drastically sleep deprived and literally weak from hunger. Half an hour later I had my will to live back. (Incidentally, for those wondering why it's called Brookline Lunch when it's in Cambridge, look at the street address.)
(4)
Chris W.
I've walked by this place so many times and seen the wait and the crowd and thought to myself I have to swing through and grab a bite. So last weekend I did just that with my trusty female breakfast companion and we were utterly shocked and disappointed. When we arrived there was a brief wait, sure no sweat. Then we were seated, and from here on out things just went down hill. We waited and waited until we finally put in our drink order. We had to wait even longer to place our food order because there was only one waitress for the entire place. When our drinks arrived the rim of my coffee cup looked as though it had been used to polish the floor. Now after placing our order we thought we were all set. Our food arrived and it was meh,.. My friend had ordered a an omelet, which had some very oily/greasy vegetables in it alongside her salmon. I also got salmon even though I didn't order it. Funny I didn't think that salmon and sausage sounded so similar. And my scrambled eggs looked like they had barely been cooked. We were so disappointed with our meals we took care of our bill asap and left.
(1)
Esther Z.
If you are looking for inexpensive, delicious, diner-style brunch items this is your go-to. I come here for the egg benedicts over and over again. Service can be a bit rushed and the wait can be a bit long if you come after 10:30AM. Every time I get grumpy about the wait though, I always find myself happily satisfied at the end of the meal.
(5)
Jessica R.
Not really into it. The menu prices are cheap and the taste is definitely commensurate with the price. Out of the eggs, sausage, home fries and french toast I ordered, the only thing that tasted above the level of cafeteria food was the french toast. Service was great and everyone was really friendly, but the food didn't do it for me at all. Doubt I will ever go back when there are a bunch of better options in the same area.
(3)
Julia L.
Oh Brookline Lunch, I want to love you so much. I do! I love your coffee and those cherry preserves, but today you were off your game. Even the owner who is usually kind, hard-working and friendly was not herself. I was ignored for 15 minutes after a party of 6 and a party of 4 came in, ordered and were served. I had to ask to have my order taken. I still waited for a long time for my coffee to arrive and when my order finally came, it was all wrong. I ordered a mushroom, zucchini and bacon omelette, my usual, and it came out all wrong. The bacon was on the side not in the omelette, there were tomatoes in the omelette (yuck!), and the cheese was hastily slapped on top and not melted. Most heartbreaking was the lack of preserves or hot sauce on my plate. That is why I come. I left without eating but not without paying $14. :( Brookline Lunch, you are the boyfriend I want to love, but he just treats me so bad, that I have to leave him. I will miss you, your tempting cherry preserves and cup lickingly good coffee!!!
(2)
liz c.
Great deal for lunch. best homefries. Pretty greasy, sometimes the smell of the place remains on your clothes for hours after, but the family that runs it are super nice, it's a pleasant place. I don't recommend the coffee, but I do recommend becoming a regular.
(4)
Julia W.
The falafel sandwich is officially the best falafel I have ever eaten. EVER. Not a place for the self-important, impatient or the snobbish eater. This is more like the Cheers of diners, with an awesome family running it and devoted customers. The dad cooks, and he makes all the jams and the hot sauce himself!
(5)
Sarah G.
Good sized portions of great, fresh food for very little money. Yummy salad, very good falafel, great eggs. Very veggie friendly, but good for meat eaters too - boyfriend loves any chicken dish on the menu. Wait can be long, they've got weird hours and they often run out of stuff. Usually only one waitress working the entire room, so be patient - it's worth it. I haven't noticed any sanitation issues and I've been to the bathroom - it's tiny but absolutely fine. Update - we sat for such a long time on our last visit before the waitress was able to get over to us that I almost wrote the place off for good, but when she returned with our food (always great) and some amazing jam with star anise and some other incredibly yummy but unidentifiable stuff in it, I had to say I was hooked for life. I wobbled my way home one handed on my bike just so I could carry some leftover jam. MMMM.
(4)
Cooper M.
I want to give halfs! So think 3.5 A tasty brunch place (haven't had lunch or anything here) with a funky family feel. It is small and usually crowded and quite slow. Go there and be patient and all will work out well. You can even feel less guilty about the bacon and hollandaise because of the extra greens they add to the potatoes.
(4)
Bodhi F.
I needed a new place for brunch and low and behold, yelp to the rescue. Thus, Brookline lunch. AMAZING. I couldn't believe I had never been here before. (it's a bit hidden) Fresh Vegetables in the home fries Great Eggs benedict Awesome Lamb dish Just about everything is under $6! I couldn't believe how great quality lots of love in this food match the Family ownership ambiance and homey decor My new favorite Breakfast and Lunch in Central squire.
(5)
Brian C.
This is a solid lazy-weekend brunch place. Great service, good coffee (and refills), and a good variety of your typical brunch foods.
(5)
Sisi Z.
Um, did I walk into the right place? I can't believe people say this is their favorite place to eat--dingy space, spotty service, marginally acceptable food, the only reason I'd go back is if I'm really short on cash. I got the Western omelette, it was basically a pile of veggies stir-fried with egg on the bottom, my friend's Eggs Benedict was just plain bad. Not even the home fries were good. I think the highlight of the meal was the buttered toast, and they also ran out of OJ when I went. All in all, I'd rather go to Sunny's Diner than this place!
(2)
Emeen Z.
Cheap and really delicious food with a super friendly staff, what more could you ask for? I guess I do wish they were open at night but it's all part of the charm mannnn.
(5)
David D.
This place is cheaper than the Boston Mission! Some lazy friends from Somerville, had me drag my ass across the river for brunch ... and I'm glad. I think the breakfast menu topped out at about $4.95, and not $800.00, like the Centre Street Cafe (boo- hiss!) I had a delightful omelet with toast and home-fries. It was great, but I would have liked a heads up on the menu, saying it would be covered in some GROSS grilled vegetable medley. I fucking HATE Mushrooms! After picking those off, it was super. One of my friends ordered her eggs "over easy", and they were near raw. It looked like someone cracked an egg on a hot plate, and folded it over. I told her to take it home, because I was going to make cookies later ... :( **** Plz cook them longer, thankiez. There wasn't a long wait to to be seated (at 2:00 pm on a Sunday). I think there was one waitress, though. After about 10 minutes, she asked what we wanted for drinks... we wanted to fucking ORDER! We were STARVING at that point. The menu also has a variety of salads and sandwiches that are double cheap! I'd totez go here again! Our total was $16 for 3 people + beverages... oh, shit... I don't think they had ANY kind of liquor (mimosas or bloody marys) ... :( don't forget to flask it!
(4)
Emily O.
This place had closed for the owner's family to go on summer vacation and recently re-opened. I had awaited this with anticipation as I walk by this place nearly every day and envisioned it being a mecca for the Middle East/T.T.'s crowd. I guess a little part of that was also an assumption that it would be.... good?! Nah. I don't think they have any ice and maybe no a refrigeration system either. My partner and I ordered waters and I also ordered a soda. The soda came in a barely chilled CAN (no cup, no ice, no straw) and the waters were room temperature with no ice either. The food was home-cooked, but not worth paying for. Greasy and burned, dried out. I did like their spicy condiment to go with the homefries. In fact, that was a better meal than the meal. Service was great (yes, all two of them, but it was 4pm). They only take cash, which I find a big pain. Essentially this experience reminded of eating in the basement in "The Goonies" with those villians with the blender making my dinner and about the same resources. P.S. Another reviewer mentioned a bathroom, but I couldn't see one!
(2)
Robert L.
Good place. They made a terrific grilled cheese sandwich for me. The home fries are really good as well.
(3)
Jackie S.
It's a Sunday morning. You're hung over and you spent all your money on drinks and cabfare last night. You're a Central Square dweller and you realize you have two choices: Grab a greasy burger at Wendy's to soothe your headache and woozy-ness, or head over to Brookline Lunch for an equally cheap and greasy meal, but with the option of sitting down and getting waiter service. Well, if you pick Brookline Lunch - you've made the right decision. This place is dirty and cramped, no doubt about that. But the food is good! And it's cheap as hell! If you don't mind a little bit of a wait, then definitely head over here for a hearty breakfast that won't cost you more than $5 - and that's usually including tip! Note: I would stick to breakfast foods and only breakfast foods at Brookline Lunch - who trusts six dollar lamb anyway?
(4)
Elizabeth F.
Vegetables instead of home fries, and my zucchini and feta omelet came with extra veggies and a huge slab of seasoned feta across the top. The waitress kept refilling mine and my companion's coffee mugs without being asked. And the toast was wheat, and we hadn't even had to ask for it. I'll definitely be returning here.
(4)
molly f.
Happy to get to know this no-frills neighborhood spot. The decor is a miss, but the food (and the roasted veggies on the side) are a hit. The portions are really generous & you walk away feeling happy and your wallet stays fat...whats not to like about that?
(4)
Gaelle D.
This place could be twice as expensive and still totally worth it!! I can't believe how cheap it is considering the quality of the food. I've had their Eggs Benedict at least 20 times and I'm not over them! They come with pan-fried potatoes and vegetables that seem to differ every time. They serve breakfast all day, which is really neat. The rest of the menu is classic lunch stuff (sandwiches etc) with a Middle Eastern twist. Everything is good but I keep coming back to the Eggs Benedict (who said addict??). The staff is always over-busy but still really nice. Considering the low prices I usually over-tip them, hoping that they'll stay in business for years to come:) Other nice features: Unlimited coffee refill. Great decor. Did I mention the Eggs Benedict?
(5)
Gail L.
For an extremely inexpensive lunch or brunch, Brookline Lunch is the place to go. Mostly Middle Eastern fare, but with an amazing assortment of fresh vegetables on the side of almost everything. Home fries are good, fish is good, Turkish coffee is good, hamburgers (real, not a pre-formed patty) with a side of potatoes and vegetables, Falafel with hummus and a side of homemade soup $3.75. Salads are really good. Just don't go on Tuesdays (they're closed) And say hi to Yasmine.
(4)
Nadja O.
Brookline Lunch is my go-to on Sunday mornings. Their grilled cheese sandwiches are amazing, and the prices are pretty fantastic (cheap!). They used to have a strangely awesome mystery-fruit jam that they served with eggs and toast, which you should ask for if it isn't served. The only weird thing about this place is the art, which is utterly horrific and hilarious. Because it's so uniformly bad, whether it's photography or painting, it's kind of awesome to look at and ponder over eggs...
(5)
John W.
eating my cambridge breakfast at brookline lunch, it occurred to me that there are few places like this in the city: cheap and yummy comfort food located a mere block away from the central square t stop. the service is slow, but friendly. came here with friends that i hadnt seen in months, so we didnt notice that it took at least 15 minutes for our waitress to bring the check after we asked for it. and they get extra credit for displaying paintings from out of the blue gallery.
(4)
Stephanie ..
Ahh, Brookline Lunch. On a nice day, the line is usually out the door, but it moves quick. And so does the waitress. One woman waits on the entire restaurant--power walks to one table, drops off menus, power walks to the next table, takes an order, power walks over another tables coffee, goes back to the first table...takes their orders... Cardio pump. Cheap and filling. Strong turkish coffee. So close to MIT that it was perfect for a weekend brunch back in those days. Cute, kinda scrubby/shabby place. They always rotate the art from the Out of the Blue Gallery. Yum.
(4)
S W.
The good- it is very very very cheap homefries that have veggies like carrots and broccoli in them The bad- always understaffed and the staff is really curt and unhelpful NO AC Pancakes are flavorless Syrup does not taste even a little like maple (not even the Aunt Jemima stuff) Rest of the food is pretty eh In short, if you are hungry and short on your dough, this place will fit the bill but as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for."
(2)
Pete S.
Simply put, the most delicious, overflowing omlettes I've had. The eggs seem almost like a distraction next to the prodigious quantity of vegetables. The home fries are great, too. An exceptional breakfast/brunch. That said, the service is notoriously unpredictable. I've had some long waits both to sit and to order, and the staff seems different every time (hilariously, I've had some children who happened to be hanging around bring me my silverware). But all is forgiven when the food comes. Oh, man, I'm hungry just thinking about it.
(4)
Jeremy L.
You will not be disappointed by the incredibly cheap and tasty breakfasts here. Omlettes are large and home fries come with grilled fresh veggies. Weekends are busy so be prepared to wait if you come toward noon. The hollandaise on the eggs benedict is surprisingly delicious given that this doesn't seem like the kind of place you order that dish (especially for its price). Service is quick but harried, so grab the server's attention if you are in a hurry.
(5)
Nick B.
An unassuming little breakfast joint. So unassuming that I've been biking past it every day for two years now, and didn't even realize it was there until last week. Incredibly cheap (you can get a nice filling breakfast for 5 bucks no problem) and very good as well. Now a few words about what makes Brookline Lunch unique: 1) They serve grilled vegetables as a side with most orders, making you proud for at least giving a token nod to good health as you add another dollop of maple syrup to your bacon. 2) The toast comes with some kind of smoked jelly, the likes of which I have never seen anywhere else. 3) The tables and furniture have a nice dinged up charm. Kind of like the picnic bench by the archery shed at summer camp, only you don't feel sketchy eating off it. A nice compliment to the crayola doodlings of dogs on the ceiling.
(4)
Ani G.
The food is okay, but nothing stellar (with the exception of the home fries, which are really good), but my biggest issue with the place is how dirty, cramped, and uncomfortable it was. The tables were sticky and the floors were filthy. Go to Z Square instead. The food is at least as good as Brookline Lunch, but they take reservations and the place is spotless.
(2)
Laura L.
I absolutely love this place! Whenever feeling like a nice home cooked breakfast which is incredibly cheap, good and close I always think of this place. I myself LOVE the eggs florentine with the sauce on the side with the potatoes and veggies for like 6 bucks! The place itself is kinda tiny but comfortable.... on the weekends you might have to wait for a table but totally worth it. As for the service it always seems to be the same woman every single time by herself but she is amazing. For how many people she definitely provides as much service the make the meal enjoyable!
(4)
kevin d.
This is my favorite restaurant in the world. I love everyone that works here and I love waiting in line on the weekends to dine here. Eggs florentine for life.
(5)
Molly F.
It's a shame when the highlight of your dining experience is crapping the food back out--finally ridding yourself of it. One of my spuds tasted like genitals and all of my spuds were soggy. My iced coffee was even worse. It was wicked hot and the waitstaff and some dingleberries at the next table kept bumpin into my chair. I felt nauseous the rest of the day and then made what seemed like a furious pee from my butthole.
(1)
matt k.
Alas! I went here for lunch today full of high expectations of tastiness after reading all these wonderful reviews and other recommendations. Indeed, the Eggs Florentine were really awesome, and the melange that composes their homefries (mushrooms! broccoli! whoa!!) is awesome except for the one unexpected ingredient! A HAIR :( My dish was whisked away and a replacement was offered and accepted, but now I am wary.
(3)
Yui K.
So easy on the wallet it makes me happy. A line outside a door often indicates a pretty damn decent place. The inside is rustic, laidback, and borderline dirty. Hearty portion of eggs benedict with homefries that are more than just potatoes.. onions, cucumbers, peppers mushed in between. Only one waitress so bring good company to chat with, relax... it's brunchtime.
(3)
Mike D.
Wicked cheap decent breakfast, followed a few weeks later by wicked cheap undecent breakfast.
(3)
Shikha B.
In this bizarro city where good brunch places are about as hard to find as a bar open past midnight, nice people, and a warm day, Brookline Lunch was definitely a breath of fresh air. Delicious BRUNCH food, good service, and cheap. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was that I don't think they serve bloody marys, which are essential for the perfect brunch. :)
(4)
Stacy B.
Great restaurant, Cheap food, Great Artwork. My Fave: Feta Omelette. Just a great little dive!
(5)
JP D.
I love this place, their breakfast comes with homefries and a mix of veggies! Great olives and feta cheese, you can't go wrong here for your money!
(5)
Kim L.
I LOVE Brookline Lunch! I find myself agreeing with many of the other reviews, but want to add my take. The place IS rather dirty. However... I don't mind that. In fact some of my favorite breakfast places seem to have a thin layer of grease and grime (not sure what this says about me). I do like the decor and the ever-changing artwork on the walls. The vegetable selection in the omelettes IS rather odd. Yes, indeed there are carrots, and broccoli, and the chicken(!) that comes in the Ultimate Omelette is flavored with dill (of all things). Again, I don't mind that. In fact, I think it's great! I also agree the lines are long, the place is cramped, and the service is slow, but this place is cheap and well worth the wait. When I go there, I always get the aforementioned Ultimate Omelette and it is packed FULL of veggies and meats of all kinds - including carrots and chicken and other things not normally put in omelettes. They don't skimp on the portions here! I also want to rave about the home-made jam that they serve. It's not always the same kind, and if you ask what it's made of, the answer(s) might surprise you (eggplant jam, anyone?), but the flavor is always top notch. In summary, Brookline Lunch ranks among my VERY FAVORITE breakfast places in all of Metro Boston. I'm just sad that I no longer live close enough to walk there.
(5)
Nick L.
Brookline is a little neighborhood joint tucked around the corner from the Middle East. Breakfasts are extraordinarily filling, and well worth the affordable price: coffee, huge omelet, toast, and homefries for $6.50 with tax; $1.50 less without coffee, mind you, but who gets a real diner breakfast without coffee? The homefries were extra homey, where the chef took every vegetable from his home fridge and mixed it in. Spuds, spinach, green peppers, red peppers, maybe some onions, a few carrots, mushrooms, and a few unidentified chunks made them a full serving of flavors. The atmosphere at Brookline is itself a mix of everything. Walls and tables don't match from one side to the other, but you quickly realize that nobody in the place cares--the charm is in having a comfortable meal with friends. Sunday morning had a quiet energy with every booth conversing about something else. Bottom line: the quantity of food for the price is impossible to beat in this city, and I would go back again. Bike parking is available around the corner in front of the Middle East; not much available along the narrow side street in front of the restaurant itself.
(4)
Keith A.
If you won't cook bacon to your customers' liking, you fail at breakfast. Sorry, restaurants of greater Boston, I'm not budging on this fundamental principle. Your regular customers may be willing to make a virtue of mediocrity; I won't.
(2)
thomas k.
hand down the best omelettes i've ever had. i don't know how this guy does it but the super thin layers of egg and cheese like a millefeuille with the home fries and toast is the best deal in boston. the place is dirty and run down. and the underage servers don't always have the quickest feet. but hey, it's a family run business. what do you want? the coffee is quick, the couple works hard and the prices are ridiculous. one could hope for more and get less in any place.
(5)
Katy T.
What can I say about this place. It's dirty. It's REALLY dirty. You can see cobwebs hanging from the corners of the room. The dust on the walls is so thick that you could write in it, but then you'd have to go to the bathroom to wash your hands and that would be another experience that would scare you. The diner is very small. The tables are very close together, and if you aren't very skinny, you are going to feel squished. In the winter, please note that they don't have a heat curtain in front of the door, so when someone comes into the restaurant, you get hit with a blast of cold air, and your dinner becomes cold instantly. We sat in the window at one of the yellow tables that looks like it was cut out with a chainsaw in a very jagged fashion. There were lots of electrical extensions and such and the sign in the window had Christmas lights piled up on it, kind of like some surly man just threw them there, while the other window had the lights "lovingly" draped and hanging there. The interesting things are the art. Lots of very interesting art is in this little diner, if they bothered to clean and dust, the place would be REALLY appealing. There is only one waitress working the whole room, and everyone can watch the cook in the back as he works. Frankly, after arriving and sitting down and taking note of this place, I was scared to eat the food that came out of the kitchen, but it was jammed to the gills with people of all ages. So, we ordered, and waited a good long time. They want to make sure you are very hungry by the time you get your food there. I got an egg dish that came with a side of Home Fries. The home fries here are AMAZING. It's worth a trip to get the home fries. They had potatoes and onions, natch, but they also had asparagus tips, and tomatoes and other delicious veggies in them. The prices were low, the food was surprisingly good, but the dirt! Augh! The dirt! I'm giving this a low rating because of the cleanliness of the place, not because of the food.
(2)
Will E.
I walked by this place dozens of time and wasn't really too excited about eating here because it looks a little gross. However, it does get very crowded and so I tried it out one day. A great diner experience! Standard diner fare (eggs, sandwiches, etc), good people watching, and unbelievably cheap prices. Gets very packed on weekends.
(4)
mara s.
My favorite place in Cambridge. Always delicious! Sometimes service is slow, but the food is worth it. The price is great!
(4)
Ja H.
Great breakfast, brunch, Middle Eastern and French dishes! Nice art displays on rotation. A sort of dingy environment - but don't go for the interior decor, go for the great food!
(5)
chungo m.
kind of dirty. kind of greasy, kind of not so hot. cheap though, and good soups!
(2)
stephanie t.
Worst french toast I've ever had. Seriously, worse than the terrible food they served at summer camp. Stars are only because I like the atmosphere and it's relatively inexpensive. Also, I don't eat eggs and those look much more promising. Home fries/potatoes were not terrible (i.e. inedible, not great either) -- if I ever were to come back, which sadly I might since the cheap food scene in Cambridge is so lame, I'd just get an order of those, drown them in hot sauce and add some salt, drink coffee and call it a day. I know it's obnoxious to always complain about how provincial Boston is in comparison to "real" cities, but the fact that this is actually considered a great brunch spot isn't helping! EDIT: I originally gave this two stars, but considering that almost a YEAR later I still remember vividly just how bad my french toast was (on thin, soggy white bread), I'm lowering it to keep it more in line with the way I've rated other establishments.
(1)
Tiffany Z.
Brookline Lunch is a casual breakfast/brunch/lunch spot down the street from my apartment, and I think they do an amazing job with a non-fancy, inexpensive, but tasty version of eggs benedict served with a side of diced fried potatoes mixed with lots of fresh veggies. That's the only thing I ever get here so I can't comment on the rest of the menu. If the weather's nice, expect a long wait during the weekends. Fortunately, if you're in the neighborhood, you can also order to-go for those weekend mornings you just don't feel like cooking your own breakfast :) As for the interior, it's very casual and eclectic with interesting paintings adorning the walls. And don't come in expecting polished service :) Again, it's really inexpensive compared to other brunch places and the quality of the food is high (it's just not presented in a fancy manner in a fancy environment or with nicely dressed servers). So...depends what you're looking for :)
(4)
Aboud Y.
Went back this morning for breakfast and enjoyed it even more than the first time. The Za'ater Bread and jam are amazing...truly exceptional. They make a decent pancake and eggs too. The place is cozy and the coffee is strong. Service is also excellent and welcoming. I will def. be back again.
(4)
Maxine Y.
This has been our go to spot for weekend brunch for years. Love the hummus plate, with its kalamata olives, peppers and onions, drizzled in hot sauce. The Greek omelet is really good too. For something light try the halava (sweet spread with pistachios) with tea. Recently had to move and on our last visit they gave us a goodbye gift - baklava and halava! Brookline lunch, we will really miss u!!!
(5)
Sam G.
Brookline Lunch is hands-down my favorite brunch place in Cambridge. Sure, you may have to wait a little while to be seated. And it's not the classiest place in the area. But the food is delicious, unique and plentiful; the waitress is a sweetheart; and the bill is always incredibly inexpensive. Their homemade jam and hot sauce are out of this world. Bottom line: Come here on a sunny, leisurely weekend morning, bring a mug of coffee for the wait, relax and enjoy. P.S. My favorite order is the tomato, spinach and feta omelet. Do it.
(5)
Brittany R.
Was in Boston for a weekend and ate here two days in a row. The place gets crowded and there was a wait both days, but it may be one of the best places ive ever had breakfast. Definitely go here, and definitely wait for a table.
(4)
Mark H.
Stumbled across this place while visiting Boston and staying in Cambridge. Saw some hipsters hanging outside the front of the place and remembered that hipsters live for greasy breakfast and coffee in retro-places. The special omelet or whatever it was called was a disaster of everything in the kitchen, including chicken, sausage, bacon, processed cheese, broccoli, 4 eggs, potatoes a hipster or two, whatever. It looked like a mess with over-buttered toast. Tasted quite good - a bit heavy on fake cheese tho. Anyway, the price was awesome for that much food. In Toronto this would be either $16 (or free because it was found in the dumpster of a breakfast joint). Most of the other orders that I saw looked overly generous and tasty. Think I would stick with a simpler omelet next time but value for money was great - super hangover spot. Just don't go with a large crowd or else you'll really have to squeeze yourself into the small booths. Coffee was good by American standards (i.e. was stronger than Dunkin Donuts).
(4)
Melanie H.
I went to Brookline Brunch on a Sunday morning around 11am. It was quite busy, but we were able to seat ourselves immediately and had service right away. They have a fairly extensive menu and offer everything from pancakes to baba ghanoush. Our food was great (egg and feta breakfast sandwich) and was served to us about 10-15 minutes after ordering. This was the fastest I have ever been served brunch food in the Cambridge/Boston area on a Sunday morning. Be warned though, they do not have a dishwasher so all of their dishes are washed by hand, which I felt was a bit unsanitary. Also, their juices are made from concentrate and are poured out of a plastic milk jug. Save your $2.75 and order coffee or water. Lastly, do not go here with a big group. This place is tiny and best accomodates a party of no more than four. If it is cold outside, there is no place to wait for a table- they ask all people to wait outside until they can free up space. Overall, it has its ups and downs, but is worth a try.
(3)
Dea A.
Super cheap food with a husband-wife team running this joint. The service is only spotty because it's one person out there running the show, and she is doing a damn good job at it. I was just so surprised that with my omelette I got vegetables with my homefries! In terms of cheap breakfasts, this place wins over Dunkin Dono.
(4)
K R.
I really like this place. The lady that always waits on me is awesome. She's quick and friendly. If you want a super sterile, gourmet experience then this place isn't for you. It is great home cooked food that is always a little bit different, sometimes i get fruit, other times crazy sauces. They are always great. Beware, all of the omelets come with veggies. This is a good thing as far as i'm concerned! Yum!
(4)
Tepring P.
Solid place. Three of us went to this cute little place for early (9:30) brunch. I want to tell you the time b/c on a saturday in 30 degree weather (feels like 15) I would be not happy if I had to wait especially if it were outside, but we didn't thus the good rating. So we get there, we get seated instantly, we order after flagging down our waitress - which is why the 4* - and the food comes out properly and good. This place, I said, is little and cute - MAYBE 10 seats, like 6 booths and 3 two people tables? This place has inexpensive food - my spinach florentine was $6.00, tea was $1.50 with free hot water refills. I spent $9.00 total. The place had a good variety of food - well to me it did I usually have to ask for not Canadian bacon on my benis they had like 6 varieties including real salmon, not lox or anything like that. But the only other item I usually order at a breakfast place is french toast which is why I have to come back here to try it. If the french toast holds up. I have found my brunch spot. It is like 3 blocks away from central T stop on drum roll please....BROOKLINE street. but in cambridge =) And lastly, Cash only. Which is ANNOYING but not unusual in Boston.
(4)
Ver D.
Friends insist on going there because it's cheap. The wait staff is great, and there is a nice variety of choices.. I have been here for brunch 3 times, and every single time, I have gotten egg shells on the eggs I order. It's gross. Never having that again, not coming back. Also the pancakes taste a bit like cardboard and the syrup is bad quality, pure corn syrup - zero maple. not good. also, long wait lines than I cannot comprehend...
(1)
Tim W.
This place is a gem for late breakfasts. The portions are huge and the prices are cheap. I've gotten breakfast sandwiches there a couple of times and they are $4.50. It includes a large side of home fries which are actually potato chunks with veggies. Not bad. The omelets are also really good. Generous portions of egg and toppings. Bottom line: its cheap but good diner food. Prices are good. Coffee is good. Ideal for a night after partying since they don't open up early anyway. I tried to go there once for a real breakfast (7:30AM) and it was closed. Who knows.
(4)
Cyrus W.
I was enjoying my ham benedict and looking at all the other dishes the waitress was taking to other tables thinking "I want to try that! And that!" Food was excellent. There was one waitress for the 15 or so tables and a line out the door, so service was a little harried. Will definitely be back to this place.
(4)
S K.
If ever there was a misnomer "Brookline Lunch" is it - it is neither in Brookline, nor is it specifically a lunch place - It is one of my fave breakfast places - they serve the usual greasy stuff: sandwiches, fries, omelets, toasts etc. all served with some awesome hot sauce. I have tasted most of them the items on their menu and couldn't say a bad thing about them. My only gripe - their service is glacial (especially on the overcrowded weekends). The owners are Jordanian and add some superb middle-eastern fare as well. And as other reviewers pointed out, very easy on the wallet.
(4)
Ligaya T.
It's been over three years since my last review though I've been going here eight years and running. Eight years! There's hardly a thing I've committed to that long besides breathing. And despite the hipster takeover, economic roller coaster, putting three kids through college and aporkalypse, I'm happy to report they're still serving up the same scrumptious eggs florentine piled high with grilled vegetables and doused with fresh hot sauce. In fact, I'm making a list inspired by the proprietor entitled "Awesome Owners." Yeah, yeah, kvetch about the film on the tables and dust in the cracks, keep the crowds away and leave the tables open for the folks who understand the magic of a hearty five buck breakfast with a smile.
(5)
Julio S.
Good service, price and eats. Fast and friendly.
(4)
Kay A.
In 2006, I went on a first date to this place. It was amazing. The food was cheap and mad delicious. The jam they had was mind blowing. Like it seriously changed my life. Because of that jam I married the man that took me there. No jk. but... Fast forward to now, I've been going to this place for a long time and I've noticed some changes. It's gotten way more crowded (way too many hungover hipsters), if you go there on the weekend, expect to wait, which makes it an unpopular destination in the winter. As a consequence of increased traffic, the service is slower and the staff doesn't put the same care and thought into the food. I used to get a quaint stack of french toast, with a light dusting of powder sugar, now it's just 3 slices of soggy bread thrown in a pile. With the decline of food and service they've also raised the prices. It's still cheaper than most other diner options around the city, but it's disheartening to see the slide of service and increase of price.
(2)
Matt H.
Were I you, I would stay away from the "ultimate omelet" Ordered almost out of curiosity, this monstrosity contained the following (at least): peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, carrots, celery, tomatoes, broccoli, cheese, a strip of bacon, a sausage link and a chicken breast. The vegetables were mushy and gross for the most part. The meat was solid. But hey, the coffee was good and it was an experience for sure.
(4)
Glenn F.
It's an upgrade to diner food. Delicious, quick, tasty. Delightful family runs the place. Everything was perfectly cooked.
(5)
Rick R.
I have been coming to this tucked-away diner for years, and have been telling anybody who will listen what a great place it is. The prices are cheap and the food is excellent, for starters. Every breakfast dish comes with seasonal vegetables and home fries, toast and homemade jam and hot sauce. With rich coffee, I have never managed to spend more than $10 with tax and tip. Try any of the varieties of eggs Benedict, or the large stack of pancakes. I always leave full and satisfied. The family who runs the restaurant, particularly the matriarch, is always pleasant and cheerful. It feels wonderful to be welcomed back as a regular. If you come before 10 am on a weekend you can probably avoid a wait. But even if there is a line, it moves quickly. Give Brookline Lunch a try, and I'll be surprised if you don't come back. See you there!
(5)
Shannon B.
I live right near this place, I could basically skip here if I wanted. But actually, I don't want more than I want. I've hit up this place many a time in search of cheap, fast, and slightly better than mediocre brunch, and have rather dissapointed at times. The food is CHEAP and greasy but good, and the coffee is verryyy strong. But I don't know what it is about me, but I seem to get stuck with poor waitstaff! I had to actually stand on my chair to get service. and we'd been sitting there for about 15 minutes, and it was the middle of the day on a Monday. Maybe I need to start wearing a reflector vest, or stop being so picky about having to wait 90 years to get breakfast. If you go here, be prepared for looong waits, slow service but with pleasant waitstaff, and greasy cheap food. that's all I've got!
(3)
Kiera D.
This place is the absolute best hidden gem Cambridge has to offer. Organic, authentic & incredible food. Every breakfast dish comes with a heaping pile of whatever vegetables are in season. The hot sauce and jam are made in house... to die for! Yes, it's small, family owned & run and often the service is a bit slow-- especially on the weekends-- but it's totally worth the wait.
(5)
Andrew R.
Brookline lunch is the definition of a greasy spoon brunch spot. Their pancakes are delicious, big, and covered in a slab of butter. The french toast, however, was lacking. The homefries come fried deliciously alongside whatever veggies are left over from the last person's omelet. The omelets themselves are ever changing: this week the veggie omelet had mushrooms, peppers and onions, where previous weeks I've had brussel sprouts in it. Also, GET THE JAM. If you have toast on your plate, make sure to ask for a bit of jam, it's amazing, and a different flavor everytime I've been there. Service is really slow when it's busy, which is most of the time, but I've never had an issue with my order, and the food is super cheap. Sometimes cheaper than it claims on the menu, which is kinda neat. Perfect spot for eating away your hangover on a Sunday morning.
(4)
Sara I.
I had a fantastic BLT for lunch. The home fries that came with it were unbelievable, mixed with carrots, onions, and other green veggies. The waitress was super and it only cost $5.25! What's not to like?
(5)
Ben F.
Had the eggs florentine. Came on a bagel without warning, which was pretty bad. Veggies that came with it tasted off. A friend ordered tea and got Lipton even though decent teas were available. Service was slow and unfriendly. Certainly not expensive but not cheap enough to justify being a bad brunch place.
(2)
Hubert H.
Really neat breakfast place. The menu is simple and straightforward, but they do breakfast really well. If you can spare a weekday, the restaurant is usually really empty but you'll get your food without having to wait. The Eggs Benedict comes with different choices of addition, e.g. bacon. The egg dishes even come with a side of vegetables. The eggs are well-poached, runny in the middle, solid whites on the outside. The home potatoes are crunchy and complement the eggs well. The artwork comes from the local art gallery (Blue Heron?) on the other side of Mass. Ave. on Prospect St. The location makes it tough to find, but once you find it it's a real treat!
(5)
Adrienne T.
BROOKLINE LUNCH ROCKS BREAKFAST!! (been a few times now) I finally decided to give this dinky dive a try for breakfast. My wife had mentioned it a few times, but we never took the time to go check it out. I wonder why they don't call it Brookline Breakfast, since they seem to be more known for their breakfast than lunch. As it turns out, today was a rainy Friday morning at about 9:30am. Walked right in, picked a seat, nice young man came and took my order, and I kid you not in 7 minutes was back with my food. It was delicious and CHEAP! 2 eggs and bacon, with home fries for $3.75???! Yup! Home fries were good and greasy, bacon wasn't all crunchy (I like soft bacon), and the eggs were perfect. The place was clean, and had kinda weird paint on the walls (designs), and the enormous a/c unit hanging above the entrance looked like it was a lawsuit getting ready to happen at any moment. I don't know if I'd be so impressed if I had to wait outside in a line, or if I had experienced slow service, both of which other Yelpers have mentioned. I guess I'll only go on weekday mornings, and avoid weekends. Oh, I did meet the owner lady and her baby who was providing us with screeching and yelling child-made background music. Owner was very nice to me.
(5)
Liz B.
This used to be one of my favorite breakfast places but after this morning's experience I don't think we'll be going back. Service was slow, scattered and both of our orders came out wrong. The waiter actually walked away from the table while I was giving my order. "I'll have the veggie omelet with...." No "hold on one second I'll be right back," just left. I had to flag him down to give the rest of the order. The home-fries, which I used to love, were completely undercooked and way too greasy. At least the jam was still amazing (even though we had to walk up to the counter to get it because we couldn't get a server's attention and they forgot to put it on the plate.) I'll be sticking with Sunny's from now on.
(2)
Katie V.
I had very mixed feelings about my brunch experience here. The service was friendly, but very slow. As in, after we got our coffees, we waited about 15 minutes before the waitress took our order, and then another 40-45 min. for our food. The brunch menu is no-frills -- omelets and a few non-egg dishes (pancakes, french toast). When the food finally arrived, I was pretty pleased. The home fries are a misnomer -- the potatoes come mixed in with other veggies, like carrots, squash and brussel sprouts. It was a delicious side dish and more healthy than just your usual fried potatoes or hash browns. Also a plus: homemade jam for the toast. Possibly the best part of the meal. My sausage-and-cheese omelet was so-so; the sausage was overcooked and chewy. My boyfriend seemed to like his french toast. The prices are great; 4 of us ate for about $30. I just wish we had been able to order and get our food faster.
(3)
Lauren P.
This is, hands down, my favorite breakfast place in the Boston area. If you love veggies in breakfast, it could be yours too. From what I can tell, every dish that comes with hash browns will be covered in delicious vegetables that are a little different in composition each time I go. They have a whole section of the menu dedicated to different kinds of eggs Benedict... which - trust me - are all wonderful. The omelets are great and are my personal staple... as hollandaise sauce is not something that I feel okay consuming on a weekly basis... And the pancakes are pretty excellent if you're into that kinda thing. Going there once with a large party of people, we ordered a plate of them for the table. I really wish I could give that group decision 5 stars because it was a very good idea. Also, make sure to ask for some of their homemade jam which is always a little different but most times has a hint of anise. Only bad points are that there's no indoor waiting for tables (not a good place to go on a rainy Sunday morning), and I once got a Mushroom Salad there which was really just a tiny basic salad with extra button mushrooms... But it's still my favorite place for breakfast north of NY and South of Portland so 5 stars it gets!
(5)
reese w.
So ridiculously cheap, it's like you stepped into a time machine bound for the 50s. The place is pretty small, but the food is cheap and fast. I got a mushroom omelette, but it was stuffed with all kinds of other grilled vegetables as well, and only for $3.50! They don't have a whole lot of vegan options, but did have a falafel sandwich that my vegan friend was quite tasty. One of the bigger items on the menu is the Ultimate Omelette, which comes with bacon, sausage, ham, chicken, home fries, toast, and grilled veggies. Oh yeah, and there's even an omelette with cheese in there too. The atmosphere is a bit frenetic and busy, but very casual and easygoing. Be prepared to wait!
(5)
Lauryn Z.
When I lived in Boston a few years ago, Brookline Lunch was my go to spot for Saturday brunch- good food, inexpensive prices, cozy atmosphere, friendly service.....so when I planned my visit to Boston after 2 years, Brookline Lunch was at the top of my list to visit- My boyfriend (it was his first time here) and I arrived and were seated immediately - I was happy to see that the menu had remained the same and the same family was still running the place. However, as much as I loved this place back in the day, I must say that this time I was very disappointed with the food. Perhaps the quality has gone downhill over the years....or maybe I just didn't realize it so much before. I ordered the vegetable omelet - it was served with the eggs on the bottom, then the veggies and finally topped with American cheese (of all the cheeses to choose from- why???). I also found the choice of veggies odd- carrots and eggs....hrmmm....My boyfriend ordered the french toast which was made with white bread- with cinnamon on top - instead of mixed in with the batter. He found the dish rather tasteless and bland. Unfortunately, I spent the rest of our meal convincing my boyfriend - 'no really, it used to be good back in the day, I swear!'. Service, however, was good, and the decor just how I remembered.
(2)
Omar F.
Amazing chicken curry! Sometimes all you need is one good thing to enter happy land. LIfe can be simple like that.
(4)
Morgan R.
Found this place on accident and had to wait about 10 minutes during prime breakfast time on a Sunday morning. This place seems to be family owned/operated which I already love. I ordered pancakes that were loaded with fruit and a side of hash browns. Both were AmAzInG! When my home fries came to the table I was delightfully surprised to see they were cooked with fresh veggies, so yummy. Also, my pancakes were great as well. The place was super cheap and food was great. I would definitely go here again!
(5)
Rachel C.
This place gets 4 stars for a few reasons. If you go in with a hangover wanting kinda greasy breakfast food, you're at the right place. Also, their home fries are a bunch of vegetables, which are delicious. I don't quite understand their business hours, so you might want to call them before you go to make sure they're open. If you're sober and want a nutritious meal, this might not be your place. If you want pancakes, waffles, and omelets, this is the place for you. It's also pretty cheap, and has plenty of seating.
(4)
Peter W.
Totally great breakfast and lunch spot!
(4)
Esther W.
In general, I just really like these gritty, cheap, hole-in-the-wall type places that deliver decent food for good prices. So for what it's supposed to be, Brookline Lunch is good. Breakfast choices are pretty basic, food is made QUICKLY, large portions, and best of all, it's CHEAP. The eggs benedict is okay, the omelettes are decent and hearty, and the potatoes and veggies are consistently greasy but good. I've only had breakfast foods here, not sure about their other stuff. I took off some points for hair found in my food more than once (but the truth is, I actually find hair in my food anywhere I go--seriously--and I'm convinced it's because I tend to look more than others. Good thing I don't really care that much), it's cash-only, they waiters are so busy they don't waste time trying to be friendly but that's fine, it's a little cramped so if you sit in the middle you get knocked a lot by the wait staff's elbows, and it can take a long time to get seated. This actually really sucks if you come in the winter because there is no indoor space to wait so you have to wait outside. And it gets really cold if you're eating near the door because it's such a tiny place. But as long as I live so close, I'll definitely keep coming back here for a quick CHEAP brunch with friends.
(3)
Sophie H.
This is my new favorite place to go with friends who are hungry and broke. Big portions, amazing home fries (more roasted vegetable than potato), homemade jam and hot sauce -- and you probably won't break ten bucks, even with a lavish tip. I'm subtracting a star for cleanliness, but it would probably be impossible to make it cleaner AND keep the prices so low.
(4)
Beth L.
This place is in my neighborhood and it's a great "greasy spoon" breakfast spot. The single room is rustic and funky. Wall art comes from "Out of the Blue" gallery and changes monthly. The food is good comfort food at great prices. If you want french toast go somewhere else because that is the one menu item that is simply awful! The business is family run - husband cooks, wife waits tables, sons wash dishes. The service is slow when the place is packed because one person is cooking for or waiting on 15 tables. The eggs benedict and omelets are always excellent. The home-fries are filled with all sorts of vegetables that make them tasty and much healthier than typical fried potatoes. Go with friends or the daily news and just enjoy!
(4)
Victoria C.
This is a fantastic place for a relaxed and delicious Sunday brunch. Be sure to ask for jam with your toast, it tastes homemade and is fantastic. I also recommend the spinach-mushroom-cheese omelette, this is one of the few places that gets the eggs just right - not too runny, but not rock hard either. It can be a little hard to find, but it's worth looking for. Trust me, when you've been wandering about Boston searching for breakfast, bleary eyed and hungry, Brookline Lunch is a dream.
(4)
James S.
Pretty meh. The prices are very cheap but I guess you get what you pay for. My fiancee had the french toast and eggs - the eggs were decent but a bit overcooked, while the french toast was super soggy and well undercooked. I had the falafel sandwich, which was full of vegetables but woefully short on tasty falafel! Service is what you'd expect out of a diner - mostly forgettable, but nothing bad. Overall, I'd probably not go back. Boston is woefully short on good breakfast joints, guess I'll have to keep looking!
(2)
Ryuji S.
Quality of food is like 1960s. Not that I existed in this world then, but their brunch is actually just like how I would cook myself, hearty and tasty, although you will see some disagreements as to how they make the pancake and french toast. Also, they don't use real maple syrup. Well, their eggs benedict is pretty good. Actually, I shouldn't talk about anything else served there, because every time I go there, I order different kinds of eggs benedict. The worst part is their coffee. It's about the same level as the donuts chains and convenience store quality. Well, I might be a coffee snob, btu they should at least get the quality matched to Andala, Mariposa or C3 (when the sloppy staff is not working there). Well, coffee at these three places is only passable anyway.
(4)
Julia Z.
Went there in a group of five people around Sunday noon and it was extremely busy; took a long time for food to come. Other than the long wait food was very delicious. Highly recommend their Eggs Benedict. One of the most tasty breakfast places I've been to.
(5)
Emily S.
I never write these reviews, but I had a good birthday experience at Brookline that I wanted to share. We were supposed to go to Cafe Luna for lunch but it was too busy so after looking for what was close by, we ended up at Brookline. I had the special fruit pancakes, with strawberries and blueberries. My friends had omelettes that they said were scrumptious. A great find for brunch that I didn't know about!
(4)
Tom E.
It's not just that I fell through the floor here much to every other breakfastee's amusement... there are big holes in the wooden floorboards that chair legs can easily fall into... it's not my fault... get some new floorboards... buy chairs with really wide legs... whatever. So why only 2 stars? You'd think the local brunch-outpost a few blocks from home would be manna from heaven for this oft-hungover lunatic. But no, it's always just been a pain in the bum in the many times I've been dragged along. * The long line pains the feet like bad acupuncture * The wait once seated is elf-themed-literature-epic-long * In summer it's hotter than state-illegal sin * On wet days it's more humid than in Tina Turner's car * And it's always painfully cramped - just like my style when Nadya wants to hang. All of this for some omelettes and shit? No thanks, they're not stellar enough to justify getting me all grumpy and cursing all these hipster do-gooders. Nice artwork though, and those aforementioned holes in the floor at least provide amusement to those who aren't made to look silly.
(2)
Emily M.
"Ehhhh" is the word to use here. My boyfriend got traditional Mediterranean food, while I got a bagel. It was ok. Nothing special. Very loud and a little overwhelming, though. Prices are low but higher than other diners in the area.
(3)
Abbey B.
I used to live around the corner from this place. Went here a couple of times for breakfast/brunch on a weekend. Service is usually pretty slow, though the waitress is clearly handling a lot. No biggie. Just don't be in a rush. I'd usually go here when I was feeling too hungover to make breakfast/lunch. When you're hungover, you want greasy food to sop up all the liquor in your system. This place generally fits the bill, though I always left feeling sicker than when I went in. Hungover or not. The food's pretty mediocre. I'm not a fan of breakfast (though I've been won over by some places in the area), but this place just turns me off completely. I know people love it, but I just can't buy into it. Tastes like the kind of breakfast someone would make at home and you'd politely eat, but would try to avoid their cooking in the future. Oh, never order anything but breakfast. It's crap.
(2)
Jessica A.
I understand that popular breakfast places mean long waits on the weekend, inattentive service, the kitchen getting half your order wrong, your coffee finally arriving after you've called for the bill, & c. That's not why the one star. No, the one star is entirely due to getting boiled carrots in my vegetable omelette. Even if you're screwing up *which* vegetables I asked for in my omelette, which is expected, who on earth would think that combination palatable? It's scary to think that even a remotely seasoned cook would make this mistake. Also, who keeps boiled carrots on hand anyway?
(1)
Liza N.
I hate writing reviews in theory about little holes-in-the-wall restaurants I think are supremely good. Mainly for the reason I absolutely hate waiting in lines. The line is generally not tooo bad for Brookline Lunch, but in the cold winter chill of a raw Sunday as you wait outside for brunch, it can get chilly. Other than my hatred of waiting aside, this tiny little 12 or so odd table-d lunch place is THE BEST. Things I love about it: you can get a buttload of food for less than $5. all the main breakfast items come WITH toast, homefries, and vegetables. it's local and earthy without being too trendy. it's family run. it has an abundance of delightful plants outside the entrance. DID I MENTION HOW CHEAP IT IS?
(5)
Robot N.
Totally yummers! Cheap, delicious, unique. Cool vibe, great homemade hot sauce and strawberry jam. Go...right...now!
(4)
Julia F.
My dad tells me stories about how he used to come here and get brunch/lunch while at work back in the good old days... Dad: ... when food didn't cost as much, ya know? Me: Well, it's still fairly inexpensive to eat there... Dad: When I was going there it cost two-fifty for all eight of us to stuff ourselves! (or something equally outrageous) I pity anybody who has to listen to this conversation every time we pass this place. But with him, it's like one of those 'fishing stories' the food gets cheaper and cheaper every time we talk about it. This is, however the same man who tried to only give my sister and I fifty-cent allowances FOREVER. Thrifty doesn't even cut it. The food is average. The place is kinda tight quarters. It's also weird if you are from Cambridge cause then you are somehow obligated to interrupt your eating or somebody else's by saying hi and asking how everybody is, ecc. It's a greasy spoon, a cramped, often too warm spoon that is definitely historically significant, yet most of the time when I think of where to eat ... this place doesn't jump out at me.
(3)
Cecilia L.
I have such mixed feelings about this place, so I'll just give it to you straight. Good: The amazing house jam, the 1950s prices, the sauteed veggies with every breakfast, the art on the walls. Bad: The long lines on weekends, the extended droughts of service for 20 minutes or more, the general dirtiness of the restaurant, the greasy spoon odor that permeates your clothes. But any cute, independent place that will make me a delicious eggs benedict for $5 has a place in my heart.
(3)
Kate T.
If you are looking for a hip, unique brunch experience with HUGE portions on the CHEAP, look no further. My favorite breakfast place in Boston. Try the Mediterranean omelet--NYO med omelet, it boasts spinach, tomato, peppers, onions, mushroom, olives, and more and is topped with a lump of homemade feta cheese that is to die for. The service is always friendly and fast and I've never paid over $18 for two breakfasts and two coffees. Come early because it does fill up in my experience.
(5)
Trevor B.
A good place for a casual breakfast between Central Square and MIT. The veggie omelette comes with a generous heap of roasted vegetables, and the coffee is pretty good (for a diner); you can enjoy both for a little over $8 plus tip. Cash only, so come prepared.
(4)
Logan W.
Awesome experience. The food was delicious, the service top-notch, and venue was nicely adorned with local art. The matriarch was truly masterful.
(5)
Raphie B.
Hard to find (or easy to miss) but worth a visit for sure. The food is great, the service is quick, and the prices are very reasonable. Brookline Lunch (located across the street from the downstairs entrance to The Middle East) is a total gem!
(4)
rewan a.
Both times I've been here the food has been awesome. Getting seated is a little awkward, especially if you with a few people, or if there are other people waiting for a table as well. I felt weird hovering behind someone sitting trying to enjoy their meal, but this place is so tiny that it's hard to not be in the way. Last time I went next door to that funky shop and looked around until our table was ready, but today it was storming outside and so I had to awkwardly stand in the way for about 10 minutes. There seems to be only one waitress here, but I must say she does an excellent job serving every table alone. We ordered the Baba Ghanoug for appetizers and were very impressed. It was very similar to what it tastes like in the Middle East (area, not the restaurant across the street..). I had the tuna melt which comes with homefries. The homefries are NOT fried, and are actually boiled with other veggies. Very yummy. Although you may smell like restaurant when you leave, this place is DEFINITELY worth checking out. The damage? 20 bucks for two people including tip. Good stuff!
(4)
Elaine M.
A heaping plateful of homemade steak and eggs with home fries for around $6?!?! That's unheard of... unless you're at Brookline Lunch. It's a charming hole-in-the-wall type joint with photography of the surrounding neighborhood hanging on the walls, and it's known for its extremely cheap breakfast/brunch dishes. Though they look good, I'm not a big fan of how their french toast or pancakes taste. On the other hand, their egg platters are fresh, yummy, and unbeatable. You'd be hard-pressed to find a comparably filling and hearty breakfast for a measly few dollars at any other place that does not have golden arches.
(4)
Rana A.
Great hole-in-the-wall breakfast place!! Very affordable the average price for all breakfast items ranged between $4-$8. I had the feta, egg and tomato sammie for $4.50. It came with home style potatoes, veggies, an orange slice and a piece of banana. The rest of my family got omelets and most of them couldn't finish their meals. Service was a little slow as there was only one waitress and when we got there the tables weren't cleaned off or set up with silverware (which is why it's not 5 stars).
This place is great--I love the food and the family that runs it. I probably end up going here 2-3 times a month for brunch. Most of the breakfast items come with a giant pile of mixed vegetables on the side. The homemade hot sauce is incredible.
(5)
Chris Y.
Goodbye hangover I'm replete, wallet intact Thank you Brookline Lunch
(5)
Jess C.
I went to this brunch spot after a few people recommended it to me. My friend Nick and I heard the homefries were great, so our expectations were high, and for him, the homefries hit the mark. I like my homefries a little less busy (these came with peppers, zucchini, tomatoes) but they were still nice and crispy. He had the Mediterranean omelette while I settled on 2 eggs over easy which were cooked nicely. The best part of this meal was the jam and hot sauce they gave us. We were so curious as to what was in the jam that we asked what was in it... they told us it was a combination of pineapple and banana. Now let me tell you something, this jam was red and had some interesting flavors, so obviously their chef was not giving away any secrets. We were really just curious! So overall, definitely a good breakfast, curious jam, but filling and scrumptious all around.
(3)
Josh F.
I used to go to this place for lunch when I was working from home. The hummus and baba ghanoush are delicious and the prices can't be beat. This is a great place.
(5)
Dara C.
Sick of curry-scented Central Sq? Me, too. Thank god for Brookline Lunch, the miniature breakfast mecca off Mass Ave. My roommates and I love this place. Where else can you get a mammoth omelette for $4? You can't even buy eggs that cheap. The hash brown potatoes here are to die for. They're neither hashed nor brown, and they're barely potatoes. The cook makes them chock full of colorful vegetables, and I don't think it's ever the same melange twice. My most recent serving included spinach, carrots, asparagus, onions, broccoli, mushrooms, and what may or may not have been Brussel sprouts. They're pretty much the best thing since sliced ... potatoes. Also, the pancakes are above-average, the French toast is quite tasty but unremarkable, and I'm told they always do their meat right. As for lunch and dinner foods, well, I've never had them but I'm sure they do a fine job of it, too. But seriously. Just get breakfast. Service is spotty, natch. The waitress/owner is the hardest working woman in the restaurant business and usually does it alone. So it's not the fastest service in the world, but that's fine. Linger over your eggs and a good cup of coffee, and watch the skinny hipsters gather around Middle East across the street. Revel in your full tummy of delicious food. Curl up in the fetal position. Love life, for your bill will never be above $10.
(4)
Dika K.
I find myself going Brookline Lunch almost every weekend. The food is wonderfully cheap and the home fries are served with plenty of sauted vegetables. At fast food prices you can get a finger-licking goood cheeseburger. I'm not saying its the best cheeseburger in the world, but ... you can has cheeseburger for cheap. Get a seat facing the back and you get to watch some impressive egg cracking. Or get a seat facing the street and zone out with a hangover, but bring sunglasses - its really bright on Brookline in the morning.
(4)
Joshua S.
This is my favorite place for breakfast in all of Cambridge, maybe even Boston. First, the food is awesome! Generous portions, best omelette's I've ever had, but I usually get the Eggs Benedict. Homefries are great and done the right way. And they usually give you some vegetables (think spinach) along with your food to make the whole thing taste really healthy. Second, the prices are so uncommonly low. This makes me happy. Third, it's family run and there is art on the wall from local artists. So you can order away knowing you aren't supporting some soulless conglomerate chain. The only thing people might take issue with are the (sometimes) long lines and the (usually) slow service. I say, deal with it. Take the opportunity to actually talk and enjoy the time with the person you came with, we really don't get to do this very much anymore.
(5)
Malena L.
I think I've lost count of the number of times I have harrassed the lady owner for her hot sauce. I have even suggested she bottles that shit and sells it (I expect a cut of the profit). It's seriously a taste sensation! I love Brookline Lunch: it's dirt cheap, delicious and 3 blocks away from my place. My 2 personal favorites are the feta and tomato omelette and the Benedict eggs, and if you don't like their breakfast potatoes (specially with that hot sauce), you can come throw stones at my car. If you are doing brunch, make sure you come in early or you'll stand in line for a while...in the sun...hangover...not kosher.
(4)
Gracie B.
It's very heart warming for me to see a place that isn't another new "concept" place. Brookline Lunch has been there a loooooong time. And it is now, what it was then plus some serious wear and tear. It's the middle eastern corner lunch spot that could. It's simple and seemingly healthy. It's warm and inviting in the completely honest way it doesn't hide it's years and it's hard working family run goodness. Don't go if unmatched lumpy booth seats and slightly less than clean tables bother you. Do go if you are the kind of person who trys to find alternatives to Starbucks and CVS whenever you can - you will get it!
(4)
Danielle B.
this place is family owned and has excellent service. the food is good and hearty. great for breakfast and brunch. it is small though so expect a wait.
(4)
Stefanie G.
The menu here is really nice - good pancakes, decent eggs, my mom liked the middle eastern breakfast with hummus and falafel. I think the eggs are a little dry, but there is something in the homey feel that I really enjoy. They also left the stems on the spinach for the eggs florentine. The coffee and OJ are really good. Avoid the bathroom! All in all, the food isn't incredible, but this is a great little hole in the wall to enjoy Sunday morning, the paper, and conversation. Extra points if you were across the street at the Middle East the night before.
(4)
Ed H.
I really don't see why Brookline Lunch has 4 stars. I don't find much about this to enjoy. I've heard it's because of the prices, but that doesn't equally two (or possibly even three - I almost wanted give them one) extra stars in my book. Maybe it's not the breakfast that this place is getting credit for. I hope not, because if it is, I missed something. Something big.
(2)
Alex G.
The best breakfast place in Central Square hands down. And their lunch ain't bad either. It has the feel of an old mom and pop diner, cozy booths, quaint. The sign is elusive, for months I just knew it as "the place by the corner." They have just about every breakfast variation imaginable (you can get eggs benedict with literally anything slipped between the toast and the egg--I recommend the salmon), and each dish has a pleasant Mediterranean slant. The home fries are served with a heaping pile of vegetables on top (asparagus on the weekends), hot sauce comes standard, and during the week you can linger a little over bottomless coffee. For lunch, a sandwich and a soup is gonna run you $4.75. Things are priced like it's 1975. Complain all you want, but it didn't break the bank. I find Central Sq to be notorious for bad service in general, yet Brookline Lunch manages to prove me wrong everytime--staff is swift, friendly, and on point with the coffee refills. Not the "indie rock" help (kids who could care less) that dominates the area. The wait on the weekends is no more than 5-10 minutes. Compared to other breakfast spots like the Friendly Toast (a most unfriendly experience if you ask me, wait time 30min-1hr), Brookline Lunch kicks it into last week. May the staff's tips overflow because of it. Downside is they're not open for dinner... hence the name.
(5)
Rachel S.
This eatery is one of the reasons why I love Central Square. The food is amazing for the price. Yeh, service is a little slow and there's no air conditioning (at least not when I've been there), but why are you rushing through the most important meal of the day? I'm always pleasantly amazed when I get my spinach and feta omelets and it's a delicious work of art! Fresh veggies in a multitude of colors. This is a hidden gem. You will almost never run into a tourist in this spot. I'm big on supporting Mom and Pop local industry and this is in my top five. Saturdays and Sundays are huge brunch days everywhere. If you can get there early, or have off on a weekday, give this place a go. It can get pretty hot in there in the summer; I have memories of peeling my bare skin from their old school booths. ** Two enthusiastic thumbs up. **{edit: bare skin from wearing shorts... yeh... }
(5)
Norah D.
Easy to love - service is slow but food worth the wait- weird little sides of nontraditional breakfast foods from middle eastern cuisine very delicious and charming. We ate breakfast there on the morning of our wedding. * sigh* nostalgia and food ...
(5)
Irene F.
When walking up to Brookline Lunch, I noticed the door proclaiming "American Take-out" (mostly true) and "French Gourmet Take-out"...woah, what? They definitely took a few literary liberties there. What this place really is: a greasy diner with "eclectic" decor and the cheapest prices ever. Wait, did I mention cheap? Only 4 items on the breakfast side of the menu cost more than $5. Mmm yeah, you can have your most important meal of the day -and- leave with enough cash to get through the rest of it. The food is alright, but it boggles my mind that there can be a long wait for it on the weekends. Thankfully, this time it was a Monday. I usually get an omelet, and the Western omelet ($4.25) was no let-down. It came with toast (none of that crazy jam, though) and home fries that, as usual, included a random selection of the veggies they happened to have around in the kitchen. One lady handles the waitressing for the entire place, so don't expect much in terms of service. While you're waiting, you might be able to catch a glimpse of her kids running around. It's a good time to take in the random decor and look at the crazy drawings on the ceiling, too. This place is so random. By the way, Brookline Lunch also serves Middle Eastern fare. Too bad I've never gotten to that side of the menu. (3 star food at 5 star prices = 4 stars.)
(4)
Shikha B.
In this bizarro city where good brunch places are about as hard to find as a bar open past midnight, nice people, and a warm day, Brookline Lunch was definitely a breath of fresh air. Delicious BRUNCH food, good service, and cheap. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was that I don't think they serve bloody marys, which are essential for the perfect brunch. :)
(4)
Stacy B.
Great restaurant, Cheap food, Great Artwork. My Fave: Feta Omelette. Just a great little dive!
(5)
JP D.
I love this place, their breakfast comes with homefries and a mix of veggies! Great olives and feta cheese, you can't go wrong here for your money!
(5)
Kim L.
I LOVE Brookline Lunch! I find myself agreeing with many of the other reviews, but want to add my take. The place IS rather dirty. However... I don't mind that. In fact some of my favorite breakfast places seem to have a thin layer of grease and grime (not sure what this says about me). I do like the decor and the ever-changing artwork on the walls. The vegetable selection in the omelettes IS rather odd. Yes, indeed there are carrots, and broccoli, and the chicken(!) that comes in the Ultimate Omelette is flavored with dill (of all things). Again, I don't mind that. In fact, I think it's great! I also agree the lines are long, the place is cramped, and the service is slow, but this place is cheap and well worth the wait. When I go there, I always get the aforementioned Ultimate Omelette and it is packed FULL of veggies and meats of all kinds - including carrots and chicken and other things not normally put in omelettes. They don't skimp on the portions here! I also want to rave about the home-made jam that they serve. It's not always the same kind, and if you ask what it's made of, the answer(s) might surprise you (eggplant jam, anyone?), but the flavor is always top notch. In summary, Brookline Lunch ranks among my VERY FAVORITE breakfast places in all of Metro Boston. I'm just sad that I no longer live close enough to walk there.
(5)
Nick L.
Brookline is a little neighborhood joint tucked around the corner from the Middle East. Breakfasts are extraordinarily filling, and well worth the affordable price: coffee, huge omelet, toast, and homefries for $6.50 with tax; $1.50 less without coffee, mind you, but who gets a real diner breakfast without coffee? The homefries were extra homey, where the chef took every vegetable from his home fridge and mixed it in. Spuds, spinach, green peppers, red peppers, maybe some onions, a few carrots, mushrooms, and a few unidentified chunks made them a full serving of flavors. The atmosphere at Brookline is itself a mix of everything. Walls and tables don't match from one side to the other, but you quickly realize that nobody in the place cares--the charm is in having a comfortable meal with friends. Sunday morning had a quiet energy with every booth conversing about something else. Bottom line: the quantity of food for the price is impossible to beat in this city, and I would go back again. Bike parking is available around the corner in front of the Middle East; not much available along the narrow side street in front of the restaurant itself.
(4)
Keith A.
If you won't cook bacon to your customers' liking, you fail at breakfast. Sorry, restaurants of greater Boston, I'm not budging on this fundamental principle. Your regular customers may be willing to make a virtue of mediocrity; I won't.
(2)
thomas k.
hand down the best omelettes i've ever had. i don't know how this guy does it but the super thin layers of egg and cheese like a millefeuille with the home fries and toast is the best deal in boston. the place is dirty and run down. and the underage servers don't always have the quickest feet. but hey, it's a family run business. what do you want? the coffee is quick, the couple works hard and the prices are ridiculous. one could hope for more and get less in any place.
(5)
Katy T.
What can I say about this place. It's dirty. It's REALLY dirty. You can see cobwebs hanging from the corners of the room. The dust on the walls is so thick that you could write in it, but then you'd have to go to the bathroom to wash your hands and that would be another experience that would scare you. The diner is very small. The tables are very close together, and if you aren't very skinny, you are going to feel squished. In the winter, please note that they don't have a heat curtain in front of the door, so when someone comes into the restaurant, you get hit with a blast of cold air, and your dinner becomes cold instantly. We sat in the window at one of the yellow tables that looks like it was cut out with a chainsaw in a very jagged fashion. There were lots of electrical extensions and such and the sign in the window had Christmas lights piled up on it, kind of like some surly man just threw them there, while the other window had the lights "lovingly" draped and hanging there. The interesting things are the art. Lots of very interesting art is in this little diner, if they bothered to clean and dust, the place would be REALLY appealing. There is only one waitress working the whole room, and everyone can watch the cook in the back as he works. Frankly, after arriving and sitting down and taking note of this place, I was scared to eat the food that came out of the kitchen, but it was jammed to the gills with people of all ages. So, we ordered, and waited a good long time. They want to make sure you are very hungry by the time you get your food there. I got an egg dish that came with a side of Home Fries. The home fries here are AMAZING. It's worth a trip to get the home fries. They had potatoes and onions, natch, but they also had asparagus tips, and tomatoes and other delicious veggies in them. The prices were low, the food was surprisingly good, but the dirt! Augh! The dirt! I'm giving this a low rating because of the cleanliness of the place, not because of the food.
(2)
Will E.
I walked by this place dozens of time and wasn't really too excited about eating here because it looks a little gross. However, it does get very crowded and so I tried it out one day. A great diner experience! Standard diner fare (eggs, sandwiches, etc), good people watching, and unbelievably cheap prices. Gets very packed on weekends.
(4)
mara s.
My favorite place in Cambridge. Always delicious! Sometimes service is slow, but the food is worth it. The price is great!
(4)
Ja H.
Great breakfast, brunch, Middle Eastern and French dishes! Nice art displays on rotation. A sort of dingy environment - but don't go for the interior decor, go for the great food!
(5)
chungo m.
kind of dirty. kind of greasy, kind of not so hot. cheap though, and good soups!
(2)
Annie P.
BEST Eggs Benedict. Veggie Omelettes. With those vegetable potato things. With some sort of jam and spice kick of Oil sauce in mini white flapped over in layers holder. The super duper mommy running around seating, wiping, serving, writing,... but never freaking out. It's a magic family. At least she sincerely asks if everything is okay and you honestly answer back OF COURSE and leave the biggest tip every time you go because the bill was only $5 or something. Wait goes long. Don't take any impatient guests here. Go in two's or at most four's. While you wait, don;t forget to make fun of the Out Of The Blue art up on the walls and look up on the ceilings.. those little drawings are worth oogling at. Those luke warm Nantucket Nectars juices. Also the warm water served in a dingy yellowish plastic cup. Empty ketchup bottles. Flat silverware. Busted up china. Church pew benches and sci-fi looking couches with tables sitting on your thigh. High five, you still love the place!
(5)
Melissa B.
Across from the Middle East, and only open for breakfast and lunch, this is hands-down one of my favorite breakfast spots. It will remind you of Berkeley, it's a bit crunch. Great quality food without being greasy. Skip the home fries (boring) but they serve wonderful grilled vegetables with all the meals. My favorite is the feta and spinach omelette. With a side of their special hot sauce (owners are from Jordan IIRC?), I'm good to go. Coffee sucks, so get one from Toscanini's on Main St. or Dunkin D's on Mass Ave before you stop in. They've never minded in the years I've been going there. Oh, and it's inexpensive, too.
(4)
Nick M.
This place feels like San Francisco, not Brookline. The egg dishes are hearty and delicious, the way breakfast should be. A great place for a morning date.
(4)
Tiffany W.
good. cheap. breakfast. awesome hole-in-the-wall type diner and one of my top go to places for breakfast/brunch... filling portions, very good omelettes and home fries, tasty home-made jams... service is a bit slow sometimes and lines can get long on weekends, but all in all, a great bang for your buck!
(4)
Yeuhi A.
This place has the best omelets. They come with fresh vegetable medleys and tangy homemade hot sauce. Coffee is good. This is my new favorite brunch spot in Central Sq. If you can't stand the crowds, try dropping by on a weekday. The food is just as good and the service is much quicker.
(4)
Kabir H.
I didn't realize how much I loved this place until it closed for the summer.. not due to re-open until August 5th, I'm left with four weekends of trucking it elsewhere to replace my favorite greasy spoon. If you're looking for breakfast or lunch in Central Sq on the cheap, you can't do any better.
(4)
Sean E.
Quite possibly the best omelet I've had from a breakfast/lunch joint. I might even give this place a five if it weren't for the lack of a proper wait staff. I'm all for keeping it in the family as Brookline Lunch does, but making the Mom be the only person to bus and wait tables had us sitting at our table reading the menu for a good 20 minutes before we got our orders out and then another long stretch before we ate. This was pretty much the story the two times I've been there and it stopped us from going back anytime soon. BUT. I gotta say, it's worth the wait. The eggs and veg are just about as perfect as you could want -- really handcrafted, homey goodness. And the price is hard, nay impossible, to beat.
(4)
R E.
This place has fantastic breakfast and is cheap. As other yelpers said, ask for jam with your toast. Vegetables instead of home fries is pretty awesome too.
(5)
Peter R.
Ask anyone about Brookline Lunch, and the first thing they'll mention is the incredibly low cost of the food, the second thing they'll mention is it's high deliciousness. The restaurant is small, and the booths, as a friend of mine pointed out, look a bit like old fashioned pews. The ceiling seems like it should be an album cover for some conceptual band, and the rotating art collection is... eclectic. That said, every meal I've had here has been great, though the cheese that comes on some of the dishes is a little Kraft-y. The breakfast fare is simple and comforting and the jelly that they serve with the toast and pancakes is amazing. Don't go if you're craving waffles though, they're not on the menu. Breakfast is almost always crowded, but the service is pretty good considering that there are never more than 4 people working (including the cook).
(4)
Jess P.
brookline lunch is the perfect mascot for central sq - dingy yet loveable. 1st place: the omelets- big and chock full of fresh veggies. you can also ask for sauteed veggies on the side in place of home fries and even carb-lovers should try it out. you get all kinds of delicious, unexpected randomness - asparagus, squash, spinach, tomatoes, etc. 2nd place: clientele- bring the sunday times, but you may not even make much progress cause the people watching is pretty good. a mix of "just-rolled-out-of-bed-still-wearing-grey-denim-Âfrom-last-night's-middle-east-show" people and mit nerdlings.
(4)
rishi h.
I haven't found a place with the same cozy family run atmopshere that has such good service. The food is _very_ reasonably priced and delicious, the staff is friendly, the service is good, and there's pretty art work all over the place (including the ceiling!!!).
(5)
Michelle R.
Shhh... I tell you this only because I feel for people who are looking for a good breakfast dive. If what you want is a cheap breakfast (under $5)which is filling and fantastic, check out Brookline lunch. They're closed until August 5, 2006 because they're out travelling. The place is small, so do us all a favor and take the brunch group elsewhere. Enjoy this place with crowds of 1-4 for the best experience.
(5)
Michael B.
this place makes breakfast feel like you are in your friends apt. cool paintings from a local gallery. nice grilled veggies with breakfast. Friendly owners. very affordable. love the hot sauce and jam with the meal. nice environment.
(4)
Eli G.
I've lived in or near Cambridge my whole life and spent many a nigh tin Central Square and I didn't even know this place existed until I went here for an art opening on Saturday. Clearly my ignorance has been my loss! The catered food was exceptional, especially the falafel (spicy dipping sauce was unlike anything I've had before) and the grape leaves. I'll add to my review after I go here for a full meal ASAP.
(4)
Clea K.
I was close to giving Brookline Lunch five stars, (decided against it because of the chaotic service), but in general I'd highly recommend it. The food is really good and cheap, and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed too. I've been to a few Cambridge brunch places now, and it was by far the cheapest option around, and I feel one gets really good value in everything. The portions are good, and I really liked the veggie omelette and the pancakes - they serve a spiced up version of strawberry jam too, and that's really good, so definitely try it. I've had to wait both times I went there, but it was on a Saturday so I guess that's to be expected... although last time we had to stand outside in the pouring rain as there wasn't enough space inside to wait - so be prepared :).
(4)
sage f.
I love this place. I love that the food is ridiculously good, not to mention inexpensive. I love that it's a family business and the kids are often the ones clearing your plates. I love the people-watching I can do here. The booths are clearly the best place to sit.
(5)
Michelle D.
While I love the omelettes and the veggies that come with it I have to wonder at how clean the kitchen is. The last time I was there, a dog was tied up behing the counter! Now, I love animals but c'mon! Service can sometimes be sketchy but I've never had to wait for a table. I guess that's saying something.....
(2)
Peter P.
Ya know, I have been here once, and I was with my ex-girlfriend and her 1yr old son. I mean, it's not the Ritz, it's not anything particularly special. I got a burger with some home fries, and you know what, the burger was kind of pre-fab, but the home fries were quite good, they mixed in grilled vegies, and the large portion left me full for the rest of the day. Like I said, nothing fancy, but the whole tab for the entire lunch for the two of us, tip included was $20, and that was with an excessive tip. All in all a very cozy experience. The waitress couldn't have been nicer, and she couldn't have been better with kids, she had a whole bunch of tricks up her sleeve to keep a 1yr old amused. If only they had a liquor license for the people like me who need that beer for breakfast to take the edge off.
(4)
Alice K.
Lovely place for an early, on-time or late weekend lunch. Most things come with a generous helping of home fries (the definition of "home fries" can include squash, carrots, bits of pepper and tomato) and are under $5- you can do the math yourself. The menu consists mostly of basic comfort food- omlettes, sandwiches, the ubiquitous BLT. The interior is decorated in someone's Fun and Funky period; examining the decor is a great way to occupy yourself and your friends while waiting for the food.
(3)
Amy D.
Brookline Lunch makes me tired, despite the fact that I'm usually dropping in for breakfast after a good night's sleep. Sadly, I end up tired -- of waiting for a table to open up, for the waitress to take my order, for the food to finally appear, to get the bill, you get the picture. I know it's a family run place, and while I can appreciate the fact that they're trying to keep costs down by only having one waitress, spending over an hour to get breakfast isn't cool. The food is great and I'd really like to make this my regular weekend breakfast spot, but I just can't. For those who want to give it a try, I suggest going early.
(3)
Eve G.
How cheap is this place for the quality? So cheap! I ordered the Eggs Florentine which is basically the vegetarian Eggs Benedict. So, instead of putting ham on your English muffins, they load your plate with roasted mixed veggies and potatoes, and they normally smash spinach between the muffin and the egg, but the E. Coli scare has temporarily removed the leaf from the dish. The hollandaise sauce was so rich and creamy, and while the eggs weren't as juicy as I would normally like, I still walked away feeling very very satisfied. The place gets very busy, but the two staff members who bus and serve tables are excellent. They work themselves into a sweat to accomodate ones needs. The most impressive thing about Brookline Lunch, which you may not know, is that they make their own jam. Yes, and this morning they had a banana nutmeg sort of jam. It was absolutely delish, and they also give you a side of sour and hot relish to go with your eggs. How original? The coffee is a little on the thin side, but it does the job, and the water is filled to the brim about five times in one sitting. The best part about the experience is that I only paid five dollars for a fresh, satisfying, and authentic breakfast. Way to go B.L! By the way, Brookline Lunch is not in Brookline, but in Cambridge on Brookline St.
(4)
Mags L.
good hearty breakfast. everytime. 'nuff said.
(4)
Juliette V.
Nice casual atmosphere for a weekend breakfast. I like that they put lots of veggies in their omelettes. And, I have never had to wait to get in.
(3)
Kristine M.
When we walked in, it was mostly empty, but half the tables were filthy, with old dishes, leftover food, etc leftover from previous customers. It was a bit of a turn-off to me. I was also disappointed that they didn't have lunch...I went there on a Saturday at 1:30 PM and I was totally in the mood for lunch (and since it was called Brookline LUNCH, I figured my desire would be fulfilled) but they only served breakfast. I got a breakfast sandwich with sausage and the sausage with chewy and over-cooked. They forgot to bring my drink, too!! I guess I'd give it a second chance but I was not impressed. Frankly, the rave reviews shock me.
(2)
Stephanie M.
I almost hesitate to review Brookline Lunch, because it's already so crowded so often - but I almost owe them the businees, considering how often I'd go if I still lived in Cambridge. This place serves a phenomenal omelette with a sweet chili sauce, I must say - but I've not gotten one since I tried their lamb kabob. Tons of tender lamb, fresh vegetables cooked to perfection (still slightly crunchy!), and mind-blowing sauce over rice - nothing else like it. Oh, and did I mention - it's less than six bucks for more than I can eat in one sitting.
(5)
Juston P.
This place almost contradicted itself to a 3 star rating. The food is satisfying, but greasy. The atmosphere is cute, but the service is awful. Normally, that'd be 2 stars, but the low prices place it back in the 3 star camp. ... and then the holes in the floor, long wait, sour owner, and sauna-like climate yank it back to ** land.
(2)
rachael b.
i love this place. huge portions, lots of veggies in the omelets and homefries, homemade hot sauce and jam, and cheap prices. it's family-run and they're really kind. i love when their kids are there and they excitedly run to show me to my table. you don't find places like this in cambridge these days and it's really sad!
(5)
mickey l.
Keep this place in your back pocket. Show it to those who you trust. Don't expect miracles, like you might find at EGG (see next review) But be happy you can afford to tip well the meals are that cheap. (Two people, 10$, no joke) Yes. Dirty. Greasy. Even sticky table top. But they are so nice. They took care of our large and baby studded brunch with charm.
(4)
Mr. X.
I come from a city with a proud diner tradition, and this place could stand squarely in the middle of the pack in my hometown. This is praise, not criticism. The food is fair, but comes in big portions, and has a few nice touches (I'm thinking specifically hot sauce with the home fries, and how magically nothing is greasy). Far as I can tell, it is literally a Mom and Pop place, with Pop manning the grill and Mom waiting tables. Mom is just about the nicest waitress I have ever met, and tends to have her little daughter trailing her around, which adds to the cozy, friendly atmosphere. I went here for breakfast today just off a redeye from California. I went in drastically sleep deprived and literally weak from hunger. Half an hour later I had my will to live back. (Incidentally, for those wondering why it's called Brookline Lunch when it's in Cambridge, look at the street address.)
(4)
Chris W.
I've walked by this place so many times and seen the wait and the crowd and thought to myself I have to swing through and grab a bite. So last weekend I did just that with my trusty female breakfast companion and we were utterly shocked and disappointed. When we arrived there was a brief wait, sure no sweat. Then we were seated, and from here on out things just went down hill. We waited and waited until we finally put in our drink order. We had to wait even longer to place our food order because there was only one waitress for the entire place. When our drinks arrived the rim of my coffee cup looked as though it had been used to polish the floor. Now after placing our order we thought we were all set. Our food arrived and it was meh,.. My friend had ordered a an omelet, which had some very oily/greasy vegetables in it alongside her salmon. I also got salmon even though I didn't order it. Funny I didn't think that salmon and sausage sounded so similar. And my scrambled eggs looked like they had barely been cooked. We were so disappointed with our meals we took care of our bill asap and left.
(1)
Esther Z.
If you are looking for inexpensive, delicious, diner-style brunch items this is your go-to. I come here for the egg benedicts over and over again. Service can be a bit rushed and the wait can be a bit long if you come after 10:30AM. Every time I get grumpy about the wait though, I always find myself happily satisfied at the end of the meal.
(5)
Jessica R.
Not really into it. The menu prices are cheap and the taste is definitely commensurate with the price. Out of the eggs, sausage, home fries and french toast I ordered, the only thing that tasted above the level of cafeteria food was the french toast. Service was great and everyone was really friendly, but the food didn't do it for me at all. Doubt I will ever go back when there are a bunch of better options in the same area.
(3)
Julia L.
Oh Brookline Lunch, I want to love you so much. I do! I love your coffee and those cherry preserves, but today you were off your game. Even the owner who is usually kind, hard-working and friendly was not herself. I was ignored for 15 minutes after a party of 6 and a party of 4 came in, ordered and were served. I had to ask to have my order taken. I still waited for a long time for my coffee to arrive and when my order finally came, it was all wrong. I ordered a mushroom, zucchini and bacon omelette, my usual, and it came out all wrong. The bacon was on the side not in the omelette, there were tomatoes in the omelette (yuck!), and the cheese was hastily slapped on top and not melted. Most heartbreaking was the lack of preserves or hot sauce on my plate. That is why I come. I left without eating but not without paying $14. :( Brookline Lunch, you are the boyfriend I want to love, but he just treats me so bad, that I have to leave him. I will miss you, your tempting cherry preserves and cup lickingly good coffee!!!
(2)
liz c.
Great deal for lunch. best homefries. Pretty greasy, sometimes the smell of the place remains on your clothes for hours after, but the family that runs it are super nice, it's a pleasant place. I don't recommend the coffee, but I do recommend becoming a regular.
(4)
Humoud A.
I tried it a couple of days ago. It is a small establishment run by a family. The atmosphere and cleaness of the place is not very appealing but the food is a different story. I tried the Salmon Benedict and the French Toast, they couldn't have been made better. The portion was extremely generous. Hands down the best breakfast place in Cambridge!
(5)
Kristin S.
Amazingly nice and hospitable servers, however food was very underwhelming. The omelettes come in large portions, but are less about the eggs (there was about one egg total per plate) and more about the other things. If I were to ever come back, I would not order an omelette. The ultimate omelette had one piece each of bacon, sausage, ham, and chicken among mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, onions, cheese, and potatoes. Great homey vibe, but there was no air conditioning on a hot, humid day.
(2)
Tiffany C.
This place is definitely a hole-in-the wall family owned restaurant & it is hidden in between Brookline St off of Mass Ave. I found this place on yelp for cheap & tasty brunch and it's true, everything is under $10! I wanted to try their "Mediterranean" dishes but I didn't see enough photos or reviews from other yelpers who have ordered that, so I feel that this place is mostly known for their breakfast/brunch egg benedicts and sandwiches. I ordered a Florentine egg benedict (with spinach), comes with homefries. It was good & quite filling actually. But I was a little bit disappointed with the hollandaise sauce. I personally felt it was...too sour and too..much. Which is not a big deal because I can just scrape some of it off. I personally feel that Cafe Luna has the best egg benedicts in the Cambridge area and I hold their sauce to my standard. This was my first time here, I love the interior actually despite what other people have said about it because it just feels very..homey. Brick walls and photographs hanging. Random things on the walls. Not fancy, no air conditioning (fans) on a hot hot day, but I think it gives it that middle eastern flavor as if you were in a restaurant there.
(4)
John P.
What has no air conditioning, apathetic service, little ice, and fairly tasty food? Brookline Lunch! I came on a tip from a friend that this place is delicious (he regularly takes people here), so I figured it would be worth coming over. From the outset, I was assaulted by almost intolerable heat combatted by two measly fans at the front of the restaurant and a one of two ceiling fans (that's right, it felt like 90 in the restaurant and yet one of the fans wasn't on!). By the time my food arrived, I was in a crappy mood. Speaking of food, getting it required flagging down the staff, which was a chore in and of itself. Somehow, my coffee didn't automatically come with cream (and nobody bothered to ask), and asking for ice water is too much to remember. This isn't a surprise when the staff has to be cajoled into paying attention to you. The food itself was actually pretty good. Not amazing, but "worth $8.50 for huevos rancheros" good. My girlfriend had a western omelet, which was tasty but curiously lacked cheese. There were no toast choices besides wheat -- at least, we weren't offered any. I think I'd come back on a cooler day and hope it was more pleasant, but I wouldn't actively seek this place out and I would hesitate to recommend it to friends, though it beats Pour House's brunch and a lot of other brunch places I've been to in Boston. It's also noting that Brookline Lunch is cash only.
(3)
Olivia J.
This place is a hidden gem in Central Square! It's tucked away in Brookline St off of Mass Ave. Everything is under $10 - so amazed! I got the florentine eggs Benedict with tomatoes and it was really awesome. Eggs were poached perfectly and hollandaise sauce melted in my mouth. Comes with potatoes, peppers and onions. Healthy stuff! Celine got the French toast with eggs and that was really good too. The only thing I was unhappy about was the lack of a/c so it gets really hot. I want to go back to try out more things!
(5)
Tanya S.
I spoke too soon in my previous review. I've had worse and worse experiences here each time. After a bad stomach experience with ordering the eggs, I only ordered simple salads as my gluten free option. But I feel like I get no respect about my allergy, often getting treated as if I'm creating this inconvenience. (All I ask is for you to not give me bread, just a pile of leaves). Last time I was still given the gluten side. When I asked what it was, I was told to not worry about. It only has gluten on the inside b/c it's deep fried. =/ Not how it works. I've only come back b/c friends/students appreciate the cheap eats. But I will never return and do not recommend this place to anyone who has any allergies.
(2)
Addie R.
Finally made it out here for a Saturday brunch! It is a small hole in the wall place, crowded on weekends, and yes there will be at least a 10+ minute wait. That said, for two people you can get a table fairly quickly, as I did. We were seated in a small nook in the back of the restaurant, which although tight, had plenty of cute art on the walls. There is a drink waitress and a food waitress, so who you order coffee from doesn't also bring the food. I had the garlick benedict, which was an egg benedict with chicken and bacon and it was divine. I ate the whole thing, which had a very generous helping of homefries (that managed to successfully incorporate broccoli!). I was stuffed afterwards! And also very happy with the bill, as it wasn't expensive at all and the portion sizes were massive. I was a very happy bruncher. BUT -1 star for some flies buzzing around / wall&floor cleanliness
(4)
Joseluis A.
awesome brunch spot in central sq. unpretentious, modest and very good. my bennies were strong. perfectly poached eggs, hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy. when the food arrived the table no one talked much. the waitresses were sweet and attentive and the prices here are great. this is a place im coming back when im in the area again.
(5)
Damian W.
Food: 3.0/5.0 Service: 2.5/5.0 Value: 4.0/5.0 Decor: 2.0/5.0 Overall: 3.0/5.0 Brookline offers an inexpensive but mediocre brunch menu featuring several eggs benedict choices for under ten bucks. The combination of so-so food at a great value seems to work, since there can be a bit of a wait for brunch just like at many other spots in the neighborhood. I enjoy the hole in the wall vibe, but the spotty service (not enough hands), not so much. Not a terrible choice though I'd personally pay up to go to a certain spot down Mass Ave.
(3)
Erin L.
I ordered the chicken and bacon egg benedict and must say it is really tasty. The staff here is also nice and kind. The only downside of this restaurant is there is no air conditioning and I went during the summer. It was extremely hot and all I wanted to do was quickly finish eating and run out, haha. Maybe the next time I will come in the winter on my next trip to Boston :)
(4)
Ilyana E.
Saturday brunch in here. Service was quick and they are really nice. Small place so if you don't like crowed places think twice cause the food is totally worth it. We order egg Benedicts and effgwhites with veggies and they were terrific!!!! So so good. Generous portions, awesome sauce. Warm food for the soul.
(5)
Clemens W.
We were planning on going to Cafe Luna nearby, but it was too crowded. My friend living in the area said I should come here instead and get the ultimate omelet. Since then, that friend has received extra props from me for an outstanding food suggestion. I will most likely take his advice for food recommendations more seriously as a mental note. For a foodie, that's a pretty big deal. Anyway, get the ultimate omelet if you want the whole kitchen sink. It's filled with vegetables, ham, bacon, sausage, and a few pieces of toast. It's really two meals if I weren't a fatty that doesn't know when he's full. I basically licked the plate afterwards. One complaint about sitting on the booth areas is that the backing is a bit wobbly and depending on who's sitting behind you, it could get annoying. I think both people need to lean at the same time or else the backing flimsily slaps your upper back after you've just inhaled half the omelet and want to take a rest.
(4)
Kimmi V.
Quite the cute family joint -- but doesn't live up to the hype. We got two different kinds of eggs benedict. I'm an eggs benedict FIEND -- but I really wasn't impressed at all. Underwhelmed, really. Turkish coffee was also really awful. My friend had had some authentic turkish coffee in Turkey and Dubai, etc and urged me to try it here. She and I both agreed the coffee was not potable. Maybe we just went on a bad day. Will not be returning. I'd rather head over and wait at Cafe Luna. :/
(2)
Ami P.
Wow the portions here for the PRICE are unbeatable!!! I had the Jerusalem omelette and it was ABSOLUTELY delicious and my friend DOWNED her eggs Benedict. The only reason I give it a four star was because the service was really slow (only one woman) but she was very sweet and that JAM - please tell me what you put in there!!!
(4)
Mike D.
Brookline was terrific. The food was simple, delicious, and well portioned. The atmosphere was small and charming, while the waitstaff was attentive. I had the huevos rancheros on one morning, and the eggs benedict another. Both were served with generous portions of grilled vegetable home fries, and delicious. If you're in Cambridge and looking for a tucked-away, nice spot for brunch, I strongly recommend Brookline.
(4)
Evan A.
This place rocked my balls and bounced my wife's titties off. It was that good. This was our first time there and I can't think of a single complaint. The menu is full of great looking options at affordable prices. I had the big fish breakfast and I've paid way more for less, much less. I'm pretty sure every single food group was on the plate including a good sized slab of grilled salmon. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Vegetables for breakfast? Not often, but fantastic with this dish. There was some sort of cranberry spread that came with the toast and the only way I can describe it is that it tasted like a Thanksgiving candle smells. That's a good thing. The service was pleasant. Took a bit of time to get the food, but with the amount given I can understand why. I'll definitely be stopping back for breakfast any time I'm in the area and look forward to trying the lunch options at some point in the future.
(5)
Rebecca K.
Great value, incredible very colorful omelettes with interesting spices. Only complaint is that it's cash only and there's no AC.
(5)
Lisa G.
One of my very favorite places for breakfast. Family run and owned, a well-priced eggs Benedict to die for, and their hash browns, with well prepared potatoes, also have all manor of veggies included in. Great service, cool pics on the wall, and everything I've ever had there has been scrumptious. Been coming here at least 15 years and it only gets better.
(5)
Ziyan C.
It's Father's Day, 11am. Every brunch place we can think of has a crowd outside and at least a 1 hour wait. Suddenly I remember my secret little brunch spot in college and I give them a call -- it's a 10-15 minute wait for a group of 4! We get there in 10 minutes and snatch a booth for 4 right as it opens up. THE WAIT: None at 11am on a Sunday! (See above.) THE SERVICE: They're busy but efficient; our group of 4 was in and out in under an hour. We ordered and got our food out quickly. A little lagging with filling waters sometimes (but there were like 3 servers and 1 busboy for at least 15 tables). They were a little slow to bring the check, and I had to ask a couple times for a takeout box. THE COST: $40 minus tip for four brunch dishes. So cheap! MUST-HAVES: Their sandwiches, their omelets!! OVERALL: The food is a solid 4 stars, if not better. But they get bumped up for the awesome value and being a well-kept secret, i.e. no wait for Sunday brunch! * The 35 (bacon eggs cheese veggie Breakfast Sandwich) - 4 stars The 35: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Homefries: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Very tasty and hearty, despite not having too much meat! A perfect ratio of bread to filling, perfect amounts of eggs/cheese/veggie, and it stayed together well under the evenly toasted whole wheat bread. I just wished the bacon were a bit more crispy (I had to open up my sandwich to make sure it was there). The homefries (for ALL dishes): a big whopping side. Potatoes on the soft side, but retains a nicely crisped outer layer. The veggies are mixed in at good ratios, but they're a tad old and soft. * Ultimate Omelet - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Tried a bite: good stuff. The chicken is a little on the hard side and was a pretty big chunk, but overall its a good meaty dish and the eggs were cooked soft. The homefries, as always, great. * Banana French Toast - 3 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Solid, but not amazing. Will satisfy your sweet tooth, but don't go out of your way to get this - I've definitely had softer, more moist french toast. Plus it's about the same cost for less food (no homefries!) though you do get eggs + ham on the side. * Salmon Benedict - 3.5 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Would have been 4 stars but there was very, very little salmon. Each piece of english muffin had a tiny little slice of salmon that was barely noticeable.
Any day that starts here is bound to be a great one. Breakfast is the most important meal, as they say, and Brookline definitely delivers. Their menu features everything you want to see on a sleepy Saturday morning. It's a small establishment, so there is often a bit of a wait, however my friend was seated in about 5 minutes. I was running a bit late, and the waitress gruffly told him that they don't hold tables, but let him stay anyway for some reason. How nice of her. Once I arrive, it takes a while for her to take our over. We're hungry! However, the place is packed (and loud!) and we can see that the cooks in the tiny kitchen working their butts off. All I want in my life right now is a breakfast sandwich! After we order, there's another waiting game. The slow, inattentive service is my biggest complaint about the experience, so don't come starving (as we had) or need to be anywhere in an hour (as we did). Once our meals arrived though, we forgot all of our troubles. It's so nice to see a full, colorful plate! A hefty sandwich cut in half surrounded by a heap of homefries and veggies. I was feeling especially classy and ordered my breakfast sandwich with salmon, which was a great decision, as the fish was tender and added a nice element. The sandwich is grilled, cheesy, eggy, and just the right amount of drippy and oozy. It's served on soft Texas toast which is charred perfectly and provides just the right absorbancy and texture to house the mm mm good fillings. Homefries were prepared well, although I've had better, and I really enjoyed the pile of veggies which provided a (somewhat) healthy balance. The homemade chili sauce on the table was just alright in my opinion, since I didn't taste much flavor and the heat hits you later. The sandwich itself has flavor for days, so I didn't find the sauce necessary. The price is also on point, as the meal cost us each under $10 buckaroos. Now I can officially conquer the day!
(4)
Teresita O.
An understated find in Cambridge and a must go-to for lunch and Sunday brunch. The service is friendly and attentive. The food fresh and lovingly prepared by the Abu-Rubieh family. Get here early to avoid the wait.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Update: 4/26 - A reply from the owner. Mushhoor A: 'Coffee tastes like meat? What kind of nonsense review are you trying to achieve? It lacks substance, is completely exaggerated, and I think I remember you being quite the ass. Glad we won't be seeing you any time soon. I believe you rushed us from the moment you sat down. We tend to ignore those kind of people. Too da loo :D' Thank you for your reply sir. However, I believe you're mistaken as to who you served because there were no men servers present when I was at this establishment. I do not aim to achieve anything but to share my experience which you clearly chose to ignore and belittle instead of address. I hope that you one day take the time to review what others are saying to you with a grain of salt and mature from there. Good luck.
(1)
Andrew K.
Unassuming diner I found on yelp while visiting the area. I had eggs Benedict which I can be a snob about. It was fantastic and came with a very nice veggie/potatoes scramble.
(5)
Cathy C.
Food is tasty, affordable and I love that they use a ton of veggies in everything. But the service is sloooooooooooooow. It's interesting - this place seems to have a cult-following of in-the-know customers who all seem to understand the system. There is only one waitress that is allowed to take orders and two others taking beverage orders/serving beverage orders, bussing, and bringing checks. There is a tacit understanding that if you want to eat here, you're going to have to wait your damn turn. One waitress, people. One waitress. I would happily go back a million times if they had more servers, but maybe that's how they keep their prices low? I dunno - not worth the line that goes out the door IMHO. But then again, I'm from SF where a restaurant with this type of service would die a painful and costly death.
Hearty breakfast food, but too greasy. I ordered a veggie and eggs and everything was just drenched in oil.
(3)
Sam E.
I reviewed the breakfast here in 2011, singing the praises of Jamal's work in the kitchen and the great family vibe of the place. Here, I'll focus on their lunch. As with their breakfast, lunch here is all kinds of yummy. Today I had a chicken sandwich with veg and cheese and I'm sure what else because I was too focused on the joy of getting it in my belly. I had a side of beef and barley soup, which was almost a cross between what you would think of as beef and barley, and a green curry. How does that work, you may ask? Well, I couldn't stop eating it. Brookline has been going forever here in Central Square, and there's a good reason why. You never leave hungry, and the combination of flavors and textures in their meals will tickle your yummy bones all the way down.
(5)
Leigh C.
For the price, this truly is as good as it gets for me with brunch! Everything is delicious, good portion size, and mostly everything comes with a heaping side of sauteed vegetables, which I love. It's cheap and I love the vibe too. The service is usually very good (I feel like I know the hostess and wait staff because I come so often and they are always the same)! I have never had to wait to sit (which seems incomprehensible to me).. If you do have to wait, unfortunately there isn't room to wait inside so keep that in mind in winter. Overall, absolutely love this place, and not just because it is right across the street from our house.
(5)
Cameron M.
I think I go out to brunch as often as your average city dwelling twenty something. Brookline Lunch is the best brunch place I have EVER been too. By far. I judge all new brunch places based off Brookline. And so far, every single one has been significantly worse. Here are my reasons: 1. Its family run - by a super nice family. The mother, who often waits the tables will remember your face and soon enough your favorite order. It can get crowded on the weekends, but I have never seen the staff get anywhere close to impatient, short, or even ruffled. 2. Its super cheap. Every time you see the check you will think you were undercharged. Brunch for 2 for less than $15 that will fill anyone up - you can't beat that around here. 3. The home fries are the best you will ever have. Perfectly crispy potatoes mixed with a whole bunch of charred vegetables. The vegetables change by the season, and so they never get boring - tomatoes, spinach, squash, brussels sprouts, carrots, onions, peppers, asparagus - they all rotate through. Top with their really good unique homemade hot sauce and you have the perfect plate of home fries. 4. The other food is ridiculously good as well. My favorite is 'The 35' breakfast sandwich - eggs, cheese, bacon, and more charred vegetables sandwiched between two perfectly buttered and toasted slices of bread. Its the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had. The coffee is not good. I can live with that.
(5)
Wanxin C.
Good portion for good price. Benedict is good. Turkish coffee doesn't come with prevailed sugar
(4)
Naomi F.
I absolutely loved it. And I only ordered take out! When you walk in, the set up is very simple and cozy; the kitchen and grill is open in the back of the restaurant. The menu contained breakfast items; for lunch they have your usual sandwiches but also Mediterranean/Greek dishes that comes with naan and masala; all range from $6-9. They do not serve dinner. I went right to the back to order and the lady was very, very nice. I'm not so familiar with Greek food so she was happy to explain what some of the dishes were. Unfortunately they do run out of some food items later into the afternoon (I came by at 2). But I ordered the spinach and feta and it was divine! Everything about the food was good and it came in such a large box! The minimum for card is $10 but the woman let me swipe my card through because I didn't know. Definitely coming back here for my lunch break soon! And bringing a friend!
(5)
Angela D.
Great place for a cheap and filling brunch! Conveniently located in Central Square, you'll get LARGE portions. The huevos rancheros are delicious.
(3)
Bonny J.
There are a few times in life when a meal is so expertly planned and crafted that it is nothing short of genius. There are even fewer when such a meal can be enjoyed without the company of those "sophisticated" diners who evaluate the meal not on its quality but on the establishment's Yelp rating. Brookline Lunch, I am pleased to say, was the paragon of such a genius meal.
(5)
Nick C.
Okay - I have no real dislike for this place, but one complaint that's kept me away. The food is decent, the wait staff is usually friendly, the atmosphere is good, but this I DON'T like: I'm single. I like to eat out in diners and restaurants once in a while, and it never fails that I get treated like a second class citizen, seated near a stinking bathroom, or near a banging door to the kitchen. I didn't have this experience at Brookline Lunch, but I WAS asked to move. I came in, the place wasn't busy, I sat at a booth, placed my order, and before it arrived I was asked by a waitress to move to a small table in the center of the room so that three people could have the booth. Know what? The center of the room is lousy. People constantly walk by you on both sides and there's no sense of personal space at all. I felt like I was dining between two freaking escalators. The impression is, possibly wrong, that this place originally only had booths along the walls, and then crammed small tables and chairs into the center. Nowhere did it say, or was I told when ordering, that booths were reserved for parties of three or more, so it should be first come first serve. I don't care if I AM a party of one, I'm a paying customer. Having to give up a seat after ordering for someone who came in AFTER I did is wrong. The waitress could have pulled two small tables together in the enter of the room (they were empty) and had them sit THERE. I haven't been back in years.
(2)
Lesley P.
The service was pleasant and the dollar value was good. The Greek omelettes were served as an odd jumble- almost as if they intentionally layered the home fried potatoes on the bottom, then a plain egg omelette and then the assorted vegetables on the top outside of the omelette. It wasn't inedible but it wasn't great either. Many of the vegetables were actually undercooked. The compote they brought out for the toast was interesting and good. Coffee was strong and the OJ regular diner quality.
(3)
S H.
It was an average experience. We went here because other brunch places had long waits. Cramped seating area, but good food. Cash only.
(3)
Dustin S.
Quant set up open floor plan and kitchen. Family run business great for friends gathering and family meeting place. Seats fill up fast so be prepared. The steak Benedict that I had a good and the pancakes and French toast or what I recommend. Portion sizes pretty big so if you need to split it you'll know ahead of time. I also highly recommend the Turkish coffee if you've never had it before it's excellent and you have had it before it reminds me of my time in Istanbul. Great time worth the wait.
(4)
Li P.
Food was very mediocre and not great. Came here for breakfast on a Sunday and it was pretty packed. I got the special omlette and my friend got the French toast. The food was not very flavorful and just bland, lacking seasoning and depth. My omlette was supposed to have chicken, sausage and bacon with vegetables, but they just put a piece of each meat on top of a vegetable omlette instead inside it. My friend didn't eat more than one bite of the French Toast before stopping. Overall not impressed for a place that has 4 star current rating.
(2)
Michael B.
This is a great hole-in-the-wall breakfast diner spot. Middle-Eastern influenced. If you get there right when they open, they put Cardamom in their coffee pot (you know, 'cause that's how they like it themselves). It's small, so there's only two waitstaff, and one or two cooks, so if you're looking for snappy service, probably not the best place to go (especially if it's crowded). Order fast, get some coffee, and then kick back and shoot the breeze with a friend. Huevos Rancheros is a favorite of mine. Their omelettes are pretty stellar, too. I haven't gotten the pancakes or the french toast so much but those are decent. And it's all for a decent price. Overall, a great neighborhood establishment that I hope will stay for many years to come!
(4)
Alison L.
The atmosphere is what makes this hole in the wall so great. Brick walls with art and travel souvenirs hanging everywhere, comfortable old booths, warm, friendly service, and a full family behind the counter preparing food together. I could spend an afternoon here just drinking coffee and people watching- very relaxing and comforting. The food is nothing spectacular, although the hash is good because of the variety of vegetables and herbs and the prices are very reasonable. Overall it's just a great diner experience.
(4)
Elif Ece A.
I've just recommended this amazing cafe to a friend of mine !! wish I were there , so that I could have fully enjoyed amazing breakfast
(5)
Emily G.
Best kept secret doesn't even begin to describe how amazing Brookline Lunch is. The menu is a wonderful combination of breakfast favorites (eggs, pancakes, french toast) and Middle Eastern classics (falafel, baba ganoush). But the BEST part is the amazing and yummy sauteed veggies that come on the side of nearly every dish. The staff is super friendly and it is very inexpensive. Probably my favorite breakfast and lunch place in Central Square.
(5)
Andrew H.
Service is bad. Food is gross. And to be honest I'm a little concerned about the cleanliness. Lettuce was wilted, strawberries tasted a little strange. I would probably avoid this place if there were other options.
(1)
Melinda M.
Went here with friends since we couldn't get a reservation at Cafe Luna. Getting seated was a little confusing because we didn't know at first to wait outside in a line (there wasn't a line until after we got there), and the hostess was busy running around, serving people, etc. It still didn't take that long though; we waited maybe 20 minutes. I got the Jerusalem Omelette, which was delicious. It was great to have a plate packed with veggies and fresh herbs for breakfast, plus goat cheese, my favorite. Only complaints - A few things (whole green onion?) seemed to be there more as a garnish than for eating, and the home fries were not anything special (not crispy, not super flavorful).
(4)
Bashar A.
Let me start off by saying I know it is hard to work in the restaurant industry. Now having said that, it's not that hard. The food was mediocre at best. Now starting from the very beginning, when we walked in and asked to be placed on the waiting list they said we don't have a list but assured us we were next because of our small party size. We had to wait outside in the rain and about five minutes into our wait another customer walks up to the front says she has a party of three like I did and gets seated immediately. I had to go up to the hostess and remind her that we have been waiting her response was oh I went outside to ask who was next and you guys were gone. That was a clear lie because we were right outside of the door watching the whole thing go down. Eventually we were seated after they made the other customer that took our table move. We sat down, placed our order and the waitress didn't write anything down so we assumed she would get it right. WRONG! She forgot half of my order and when I asked for the missing items they were never brought over to the table. Our server never came back to check on us not once....At the end of our experience we had to ask for the bill 3 times...This was just an overall bad experience and I won't be returning. They really need to reevaluate how they run their business and implement the small changes that can make a big difference starting with; keep a wait list so you can manage the line of hungry customers, then also write down every order so they don't forget items from customers order. Making just those small changes would have totally changed the experience.
(1)
Mike B.
I went there for lunch wand had the falafel sandwich. Very tasty, and the side potato homefry salad was delicious and was a good amount of food for the price. Wait person was very friendly as well. I will definitely be going back.
(4)
Steve H.
Charming little greasy spoon with a middle eastern flare. This family run place makes you feel at home and the prices are comforting too. The food, however, was hit and miss for me. I was excited for the chicken kabob lunch, but got more of a less than fresh oily chicken stir fry with some white rice that was passable, at best. Worth a shot to cure your hangover or for cheap eats.
(3)
Judith C.
I wasn't amazed by the food, but this is a good brunch restaurant for the cheap price. I ordered the french toast special ($8.50) and my bf ordered the buttermilk pancake special ($8.50), both came with two eggs any style and choice of meat. We both chose sunnyside up eggs and I chose bacon while he chose sausage. The eggs and meat were as expected and the french toast was average. There was a saltiness that I didn't expect it to have, which may have been from the added butter, and I wish it was a little more custardy. I think I would prefer to order one of the savory dishes instead if I came here again.
(3)
Sarah K.
I absolutely love all the veggies in the potatoes that come with breakfast plates! I had spinach/tomato benedict and it was probably the best I've ever had! As others point out, the house hot sauce is definitely worth trying. This cozy family-owned eatery is a gem :)
(5)
Gitta M.
This place feels like you are eating breakfast at your friend's house: heartfelt, homey, delicious and a little chaotic. The portions are huge with a variety of veggies on every plate. The Jerusalem omelet was great: tangy goat cheese, herbs like fresh mint on top, some great olives on the side and tons of savory home fries with a variety of veggies. It just feels like the owners want to go the extra mile to provide you with a nutritious delicious breakfast that could keep you full for the whole day or soak up all that alcohol from a rough night (perfect hangover food). There is extra attention to detail with the hot sauce on every table, the homemade jam that comes with every order. The service is great as well: prompt coffee refills!! This is THE breakfast place in central!!!
(5)
Natalie D.
Nice brunch. Cash only. Chill vibe. Good options. Fine service. Convenient location. Better than a diner but diner style food.
(3)
Jibrell J.
This family run hole in the wall brunch plate is L-E-G-I-T. I highly recommend the Nutella pancakes. Warning: there can be a line outside on the weekends.
(5)
Steve C.
Awful service and bad food. Really going for the bohemian look, but it's only good to see, not to eat. Portions were small, eggs over cooked, dirty glasses, bad coffee, and flavorless food. Edit: I had a cook from the restaurant contact me through Yelp about this review. He was a bit angry sounding. I stand by what I said. The place is cozy and I really used to like the food when I lived nearby around 2 years ago. I've been back twice in the last two months and both times it has been awful. The first time my dish came out okay, the meat-filled omelette was bland and just tasted like scambled eggs mixed with warmed up deli ham. My GF ordered eggs Benedict and the poached eggs were WAY overcooked (like solid hard lumps). To add to all this my coffee glass was really dirty and had a bunch of dried-up coffee crusted on the outside and some sticky syrup on the lip. The second time we went it took nearly 15 minutes to get drinks at the table. When we did both glasses were smudged with oily residue around the outside. We asked for new glasses and the waitress (who seemed rushed, but very nice prior to this) looked at us like we were demanding her wallet. We did get new glasses but she was annoyed and decided not to take our order for nearly twenty minutes more (it's easy to tell how long all this takes as they have a large clock over the entrance on the inside). My GF ordered french toast and I got huevos rancheros. The French toast was okay, soggy but sweet. That was definitely not a bad choice. The huevos rancheros were a joke. They are scrambled eggs with a slice of american cheese melted on them with a spoonful of room temperature black beans alongside a mediocre pile of potato medley. The mixed potato medley has a weird assortment of vegetables and just doesn't have a coherent flavor. It's like something I would throw together in the morning hungover with stuff lying around in my fridge; however, they serve it on every plate! I do not intend to give this place a third try.
(1)
Kerri Y.
Eclectic lunch/breakfast place located in Central Square. It took me a while to get here- whenever I tried to go for lunch during a workweek, it seemed to always be mysteriously closed--- maybe the day or the time-- who knows. Once day walking past, low and behold it was OPEN! Interesting menu of breakfast items, Mediterranean items (Hummas plate, Falafel plate) , sandwiches (hamburger, BLT, tuna) pasta dishes and main dishes (like curries and kebobs). Decent place, Decent food for lunch (I had a good eggs Benedict). I believe they are cash only but everything is so low priced, I'm sure you can scrounge up a few bucks to eat here!
(3)
Alexandra K.
Great place, definitely will keep it in mind for my next diner outing. The food was delicious, the chicken was a bit dry but really well seasoned. The interior was a bit dated, and I was there during a really cold day, and it was so cold inside! Most of the people didn't even take their jackets of! So definitely come here when it's not cold :)
(4)
Elle W.
Wish I could give 5 and a half stars! This place is the greatest little dive ever. They use tons of fresh veggies, and the staff is very sweet! Try the homemade blueberry jam or the Turkish coffee.
(5)
Liz G.
In need of a visit from "Restaurant Impossible." There was nothing about this experience that was positive. There is no list for the line so you manage yourselves. But if someone called ahead and arrives, they go ahead of you. They are cash only but they don't make this very clear until you are practically getting seated and then they send you away to the ATM if you need it (translation=bring cash). Once seated, we waited about 10 minutes before being visited by one of the two drink waitresses. Then another 15 minutes before we were visited by the one and only food waitress. Then another 20 minutes (maybe longer) until we got our food. It was fine but nothing special. Save yourself the trip and go elsewhere if you actually want to to be out of brunch in less than 2 hours or have an even remotely positive dining experience. There is more but not related to my actual meal so I'll let my dining guests provide their own reviews.
(1)
Jim M.
Outstanding spot for breakfast or lunch. I walked around Central Square for 45 minutes looking for a decent sandwich place and stumbled upon this diamond in the rough. Amazing food! I had the chicken sandwich and homefries, which was perfectly prepared and had so many flavors combining into a great bite every time. The homemade hot sauce complimented the dish well and the service was top notch. All that said and it was under $10 with a coffee. If you are looking for a great spot for a great meal, this is it!
(5)
Cassy H.
Brookline Lunch is a great small local spot with friendly service and honest home-cooked food. I'd definitely recommend it for Central Sq residents and visitors. I ordered the Western omelet, which included ham, tomatoes, and spinach (see photo). Although it's been a while since I've been here, I do remember vividly that I loved what I ate. I was completely satisfied for not just one meal, but two. Yes, the portions are huge, so you can definitely turn your omelet dish into two meals. And you should.. b/c it's probably not a good idea to eat such a big portion. Anyway, come with cash and be prepared to get your money's worth.
(4)
Kimberly W.
A hole-in-the-wall local place in Central Square, the food here is fantastic! A bit of a strange name since the place is in Cambridge...and good for breakfast...but nevertheless, great sized portions and decent prices [especially for salmon and eggs benedict :D] Staff was pretty friendly and our food came out in a decent amount of time. We went on a Saturday morning [around 9:30 AM], but by 10:30 or so there were a couple of parties that were waiting to be seated. They also don't take card here. Hopefully I'll be back soon!
(5)
Tarun G.
This is a mom n pop shop with really delicious food. The place is cheap too compared to any other other brunch place around in Boston but just keep in mind that it's cash only. Omelettes and chocolate chip pancakes are a must try! Definitely worth a visit!
(5)
Lyndsey C.
Very good food. We had breakfast varieties here. very hot, fresh, and tasty. Def a hole in the wall... Don't expect any glitz or glamour but very pleasant owners.
(5)
Kaeo D.
I like the decor way more than Friendly Toast, but the food is so much worse! We were the first ones there and there was no wait, and yet: Undercooked vegetables, bland food, unimpressive coffee, undercooked eggs. I was really hungry and came from the gym so I ate 70%, but my friend didn't eat more than a few bites of her omelette.
(2)
Imran G.
What's all the ruckus about? Try walking up Brookline St on a Saturday or Sunday morning without getting run over. The entire side of the street is blocked off by people waiting anxiously for a table. Its extremely cut throat since its first-come first-serve and they don't exactly have a waiting list. Once you get inside and try food you'll see its not just hype that keeps this place busy. The reasonable, almost cheap, prices along some really tasty menu items can easily make you a regular. While the eggs benedict isn't as good as Cafe Luna's, its also a fraction of the price. If you don't feel like making breakfast, and don't feel like coughing up $45 for brunch for two people, then check out Brookline. That's not to say their stuff isn't tasty, it certainly is. The steak eggs benedict is solid, and so are the homefries. If you're not feeling yolky, get the breakfast chicken sandwich with hot sauce, all of which will fill you up quite well. I didn't get to try any of their sweet stuff, aside from the toast with homemade jam. If the rest of their sweets are like that, then its certainly worth a try. For the most part, if you don't want to spend $40-50 for brunch for 2 at Cafe Luna, Brookline Lunch is certainly worth a shot. Its nothing unique, but it is all solidly executed food.
(4)
Sara O.
Just moved to Cambridgeport and this was the first breakfast place we tried. I could not be happier. (and I am very opinionated!) The Greek omelette was out of this world - fresh mint, feta, olives, ... beautifully cooked... homemade jam and nice buttered toast, and homefries with carrots and onions mixed in. Good coffee. Cozy, low-key spot.... a really wonderful place and a great introduction to Cambridge. I will be back!
(5)
P H.
Good food, reasonable prices. I would happily go back- but nothing really amazing. Went for breakfast and the home fries were really the star of the show- potatoes plus a bunch of veggies. Crispy bits all mixed in. Very very good. The coffee wasn't anything special, and everything else was done well, but nothing amazing. Only ok service and the setting is a bit run down- (old tables, old booths, etc) the place is pretty small and the staff seemed a bit overwhelmed.
(3)
Tommy L.
This place for years has been my girlfriend's favorite breakfast place. The omelettes are fluffy, with generous portions of veggies or whatever you get in them. The baba ghannoush plate comes with delicious naan, and it's perfectly and delicately smoked. The staff is friendly, and the coffee cups are always refilled promptly. Not the fastest in town, but everything is consistently yummy. And not terribly pricey either! Love it!
I'm sure the food is delicious but the service was terrible!! They were rude, dismissive, and passive aggressive. It costs nothing to be nice (especially when people are ordering food) and pays off a ton to treat others nicely. Its a shame--I was looking forward to the food. I rarely write reviews, but was shocked at the service.
(1)
Ana S.
Hands down the best breakfast spot in all of Boston. I say breakfast and not brunch because this isn't the kind place where you linger over bloody marys for three hours. This is a family-owned and operated shop where the dishes are simple but hearty, the Chock Full O'Nuts coffee is bottomless, and the check is rarely more than $12 a person. Go before noon if you want to get in quickly.
(4)
M L.
Awesome hidden gem tucked away in Central Square. I'm not a homefries fan, but these came with sauteed veggies and were delicious. I had the veggie omelet and it was awesome, friend had the 35 breakfast sandwich which he loved. Homemade jam was killer too. For $9-10/pp after tax and tip, I think this is one of the best (and yummiest) brunch places around. My only complaint was that everything was a bit greasy and it took me asking two waitresses twice to get water, but I guess that's expected when you go to a diner. I'll be back without a doubt. And there will definitely be a wait on the weekends, but it usually goes pretty fast.
(5)
Markus A.
Place is great. Family-run, great service, excellent food, and really outstanding prices. They make their own hot sauce and it is amazing. Omelettes are excellent and are always out in your face fresh. Never sitting under a heat lamp for ten minutes.
(5)
John D.
Great for breakfast with a feeling that you are in your Grandma's kitchen. The breakfast plates are beautiful to look at with a colorful assortment of veggies and potatoes. But the taste, unlike any breakfast anyplace else. They have great traditional american breakfasts with a Mediterranean spin. My go to meal is the Eggs Benedict but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Make sure to bring cash because they don't take cards, but you won't have to bring much, as the prices are better than any place in Cambridge.
(5)
Hao X.
The dinning experience was a chaos. We were waiting in the dinner and no one talked to us for 15 mins. Parties that came after us got seated first. After twenty minutes wait, we finally got seated and guess what it was another twenty minutes wait before anyone took our order. Orders of four tables who got seated after us were placed before the waitress came to our table. Such a mess.
(1)
Matt P.
Ordered a falafel sandwich two days in a row. For $7 you get a mountain of delicious food. The service is fast and friendly.
(5)
Steve H.
Love this place! Great food (awesome veggie omelet) friendly service, and terrific ambiance.
(4)
Kim B.
AMAZING! Breakfast all day, specialty omlettes, homemade hot sauce and jam, quick service and the vegetable medley that comes as a side is incredible!!!! Fresh herbs make the food smell and taste heavenly. We all chose omlettes (goat cheese and herb for me, turkey sausage and cheddar for my friends) but I was eyeing up the Nutella pancakes they had on special too! They do take credit cards (another poster said they didn't) and turnaround time is fast so even if you have to wait, it's not long. Only complaint is that the coffee is typical diner coffee, I could've upgraded to a Turkish if I'd wanted though. GO! ENJOY!!
(5)
Steve A.
I used to come here a lot. Good portions, very good price, average to good tasting food. Then I had one incident with dirt and hair in my food. During the same visit, there were live bugs at my table, and I'm not just talking about the odd gnat or fly. As I looked around the place, I realized that this is not a one-off incident. Places like Sunny's may seem from the outside to be dirtier, but take a lot better care of themselves on the inside. I would have at least given this place 2 stars, but food establishments need to be clean. Sorry, my dollar deserves better treatment.
(1)
Reyes Z.
Went here this morning for breakfast based on the good reviews and pictures on here. There was only one waitress, who did not seem experienced enough to be handling the place by herself. Waited for a good 5-7 minutes before being waited on and another 15 minutes before our order was taken(2 groups walked in and we had to ask her to place our order as it seemed she was going to get them settled first). Almost about to leave when she came back to take our order. Got our food in about 15 minutes. I ordered the brendan benedict(bacon and spinach) and my husband ordered the special w/ french toast and eggs over easy. My meal looked as nice as the pictures posted on here but first cut I realized the eggs were not cooked. Poked around and tried to find parts that were cooked. There were a couple of salvageable bites so I tried it. The hollandaise sauce was awful-tasted like mayo, just colored yellow. Also, the texture of the homefries was good but they had a weird taste(dirty griddle?) and I didn't eat those either. My husband usually eats anything you put in front of him but even he couldn't finish his eggs because they too were undercooked. He said the french toast was okay and the best part of the meal was the grapefruit. Both meals were cold. I told the waitress that I wanted my meal removed from the ticket because I couldn't eat it. She was very nice about it but informed me that that's how they make their eggs. I understand cooking a certain style but poached eggs are still supposed to be cooked, not raw with "flubbery" whites. She dropped off the ticket, returned to pick it up but we didn't realize it was cash only so she left and didn't return for at 10 minutes. My husband ended up going to pay at the front. I really don't understand how this place has 4 stars and now I'm skeptical of the reviews for other places The place looked like it had never been cleaned and the bathroom was disgusting. The silverware and glasses looked unsanitary as well. I will not be returning. Should have spent the extra money and gone to Cafe Luna.
(1)
Allen W.
Loved our omlettes with veggies. Toast is great. Excellent service. A little beat-up but unpretentious, casual atmosphere. Mix of students and middle-aged customers. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)
Hanna H.
Small, family-run restaurant with way too few workers, but really great brunch. The service is slow because there's only 1 waiter and 2 cooks, but even given the circumstances, they don't skimp on quality or politeness. The menus are awful--very ugly and I feel like they are undescriptive or lack menu items--and the booths suck because they can't support your weight if you lean on them. But nonetheless, the food was really good and the prices are unbeatable, most things are $6. Got a bacon eggs benedict (~$6) and banana pancakes (~$8). My boyfriend and I came in on MLK Monday and got a seat right away. Some parties came in after us and only waited maybe 10 minutes or so. It's more difficult if you have a large party though. Definitely recommend this place, even for the cool hole-in-the-wall atmosphere.
(4)
Jason H.
Have only been here for breakfast and it is good, fast, polite, and cheap. We love it. Basically Cambridge's version of an old school, gritty diner. Some menu items come with sides (toast, potatoes, etc) and some don't, so good to ask.
(4)
Michelle P.
My partner and I visited Brookline Lunch on a Saturday morning, 10-ish, and it was pretty busy but never had to turn anyone away or make them wait for a table in the time that we were there. The waitstaff is really friendly, but that may have been the reason we were waiting for ages every step of the way--to get menus, to get drinks, to have orders taken, etc. They only had one gal working the room, and while the cheerful greeting was nice we would have preferred timely service. Food was good solid diner style fare. My guy got both breakfast and the baklava, which turned out to be a very generous portion. The best thing about this place is the atmosphere--it's packed with the work of local artists, all of which can be purchased. Interesting variety of work and cozy overall impression. I'd eat here again, but only on a weekday.
(3)
Lola O.
Great Food, Long wait: Wondered in, hungry, on a Saturday morning. The place was pretty busy but we were sat right away. And that's when the waiting game started. Had to wait 5 minutes for water, another 5 for menus. A good 15 more minutes to place our order, and then probably 20 minutes for our food. The food was great, really. the menu also looks full of good stuff, and the prices are reasonable. So this is definitely not the place if you're looking for a quick bite, but if you're a up for a slow, lazy Saturday morning, this place is perfect!
(3)
Amie M.
Haiku Review Hole-in-the-wall place Pancakes, olive plates, and more Great food and prices!
(4)
Caleb W.
Best breakfast in Cambridge. Low prices, fresh ingredients, friendly staff. There's not a ton of seating, but it's well worth the wait if you end up in line.
(5)
Brandon W.
Terrific place for a weekend brunch. The omelets are fantastic with plenty of your choice of protein (I recommend the Big Fish). You also get a nice heap of home fries and veg on the side. You will definitely be full and will probably need a to-go box. Also the Turkish coffee is worth a try, especially if you are a fan of espresso.
(5)
Joel M.
Now that I live around the corner, this is my go to breakfast/brunch spot. Super cheap prices, excellent home fries, random service. The only thing keeping this from five stars is the 'speedy service' dice you roll every time you go in. You might luck out and be in and out in 30 mins, or you might be waiting 15 before the waitress (I've only seen one, presumably the wife/owner?) even gets to you. I love that it's a small family place, but on a Saturday or Sunday morning an extra server would go a LONG way. On the flip side, I'm kind of just used to the wait now, so as long as you expect it the rest will take care of itself.
(4)
Sam B.
Probably had my best brunch ever! Was really hungry and had to wait for 15 minutes to get in, but it was worth the wait. As others have mentioned it's a family run place with the head of the family being the cook and his wife and children serve and clean the tables and dishes. I had Californian Benedict (special of the day) which came with Avocados and Tomatoes, a side of homemade fries and hot sauce. Now I love eggs, but these were one of the best I have ever had. Homemade fries are served with veggies and were good and so was the hot sauce. I also took a side of toast just for the jam people are talking about and it's delicious. The toasts were also buttered. This all came for $11. I guess I am going to be a regular here!
(5)
Enzo S.
Best breakfast/lunch restaurant in Boston. Cheap prices, home-like vibe, and the food is beyond delicious. Have never left unsatisfied
(5)
Jman S.
Great place just off Mass Ave. We went there for brunch on a Sunday and there was a line outside with about 15 people with about a 20 minute wait. If you see a line, make sure you sign in before you stand in the line. I guess its a MIT thing to both sign in and line up outside! The food was awesome and cheap! A huge brunch for two with two coffees and tips was ~20$. I wish I lived next door and would never have to cook again.
(4)
Rayan D.
I've lived about 30 seconds away from Brookline Lunch for the past 18 months and driven by it multiple times but never stopped in. This morning I was looking for a new brunch option so we headed down to try it out - the place was packed. We waited for about 5 minutes and within another 5 minutes had coffee and waters. We ordered french toast, eggs, and the greek omelet - portions were HUGE! The food was delicious and we were very impressed. When it came time to pay we found that the massive portions and coffee only set us back about $8 a person - a really good deal compared to what you might pay elsewhere in Boston. We will definitely be back again soon!
(5)
James A.
Extremely unassuming but expectation-defyingly good. I had chicken and waffles, and it was just great. The folks are friendly and the price is so reasonable for the portions that it's almost criminal.
(4)
Josephine L.
They don't kiss your ass here. You sit your hiney down anywhere you can find a spot and wait for the menus to come to you whenever they damn well feel like it. Well, not the menus themselves but the people bringing them. The eggs benedict sandwiches are scrumptious to this non-bread lover (I am chronically thirsty!). I got the salmon 'n' cheese one and boy was it omega-3 delicious. The boyfriend got the ham 'n' cheese and the two of us were silent for a whole 4 minutes while we wolfed down our food! 4 minutes! If you're in my 'hood, this is the place to grab a breakfast bite.
(4)
Anna T.
Went here for a hangover brunch with some friends recently. A heads up, the place is cash only! Their menu is a mix of great breakfast staples and Mediterranean specialties. The service is super friendly and speedy, the food is great, and the prices are really cheap! I only wish it was closer!
(4)
Katarina M.
This place is a great value (meals with huge portions running in the $5-7 range) and has some pretty bomb food. Have only eaten here for brunch. They have your standard diner fare: eggs, omelets, sausage, bacon, pancakes, French toast, home fries. But they also have various eggs benedicts, and steak (which comes as an alternative to standard bacon or sausage with their eggs meals), an ethnic breakfast (I'm remembering pita and olives but there was definitely other stuff), and some good specials (they change often...last time, I overheard the owner telling someone they were out of salmon, but that they had some fresh tilapia). The thing with this place is that they put their own spin on it. Your home fries definitely didn't come out of a bag. There's always a ton of fresh grilled veggies in them and they are pretty flavorful. The whole plate is just always flavorful. And they come up with interesting specials (although I didn't like my TBM omelet...interesting in theory, just doesn't really taste great all together). Their iced coffee is great. I'm not a coffee snob, but I don't like it when my iced coffee tastes watery, and theirs doesn't. If you allow me to suggest one thing to you off their menu, it's their CRACK JAM. Homemade raspberry jam that we're pretty sure has chunks of pineapple in it. If your meal doesn't come with toast, order a side of toast (which they butter for you!) and jam because it is that good. Also, they have homemade hot sauce. I'm not a fan of spice but I am a foodie so I tried a little. It packed a nice little kick and was just so "fresh" is the word we kept throwing around. Definitely some fresh spices in there along with probably some chili paste or something. But it's pretty liquidy. Anyways, it's good. A few minor annoyances which mean I can't grant that last star: 1, the homefries aren't to die for. They're good but just that. 2, the first omelet I ordered was a Western omelet and was not supposed to have sausage in it, but it did, as did my friend's omelet that wasn't supposed to have it either. They're kind of all over the place throwing things in your plate that aren't supposed to be there, it seems. Which is fine for the homefries, there's no definition of homefries. But she told me what was in the Western, and sausage was not in her description. 3, the fans are not AC and I am always too hot in there (although it is summer). 4, the service can be off if it's too crowded (we literally spent 5 minutes staring at anyone who works there and could not get any of their attention). They're always friendly but they have to change something there. All in all, it will definitely be my spot this summer for going out to breakfast. Not perfect, but pretty damn near.
(4)
Dessa R.
Before this past weekend, I hadn't eaten here in almost 3 years. My first experience was particularly unimpressive, and I just never got the urge to return. But in my yelping, I read that the place has really improved over time. So, I gave it another shot. Nope. Still just as bad as 3 years ago, possibly worse. My eggs benedict and veggie home fries were barely edible. My breakfast companion looked rather miserable with his French toast as well. Just not our cup of tea, I guess. I feel a little ashamed slamming a local business run by a seemingly nice family, but it was the most disappointing breakfast I have had since... the last time I was here. But I do like to support small local business-- and I'm glad they have so much support from other Yelpers, because I don't foresee myself going back. Ever. That's right, I'm a terrible person.
(1)
Scot M.
This is one of America's best breakfast joints. The food is awesome and always a little different, depending on what is on hand your homefries might come with extra broccoli or you might get a whole banana on the side. They always use just the right amount of butter and oil to fry up the delights served here. The coffee hits the spot, and the waitpersons are eager to bring water for those patrons parched from a night of drinking. I strongly recommend trying the sausage, egg and cheese sandwich, even now, thousands of miles away, I can picture the buttered bread collapsing around the hot cheesy links and the delicious scrambled egg inside. The eggs benedict is also real good, and sometimes I skip breakfast and go straight for the cheeseburger, which is actually a patty melt! Service is a cut above most Cambridge restaurants. They are pretty much run by one family, the children, polite and friendly serve and wash the dishes, the father, as many men now do, is in charge of cooking, and the matriarch runs the show. She is very friendly, but as the boss she has no time for shenanigans or people keeping the door open when there is a blizzard outside. They usually remember who you are too, depending on how busy it is, although that means you have to tell them you don't want 'the usual.' Location is lovely too, right in Cambridge's grit square and only steps from the red line it is easy to see why this place gets so busy on the weekends. It is across the street from the Middle East and T.T. the Bears or whatever that place is called, and it is always fun to get one of the window booths and watch the different types of musical groups getting setup for the night ahead. The clientele is a more or less inoffensive cross-section of central square's rising star. You might see more people you know than you'd expect for such a small place, but if any particularly unsavory characters from your past appears in the booth next to you, well take another bite of your sausage, egg and cheese sandwich and forget about them. There must be quite a few harvard and mit students since the place was significantly less crowded when the students were out on break. Timing is the one thing that sucks about his place. They don't open until 8:30am, so if you work, you can't eat there during the week. On the weekends you'll never have to wait if you get there before 9:30 and usually after 12pm you are safe too, otherwise I have never waited more than 15 minutes for America's best breakfast. The art on the walls comes from Out of the Blue gallery, so if you like their work then you'll like this art. My artistic friend who goes by the name "Herbert," gets very upset at what he views as the low-kitsch quality of the picture-rendered paintings and their high prices. However, you will never find high prices on the menu.
(5)
Jeremy K.
I still can't figure out why it isn't called Cambridge Lunch since it's Cambridge and not Brookline but I guess that doesn't really matter. Their food does. And their food is good. Very good actually and well priced. I went there a couple of times for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised by the value you get for what you pay. And it's also healthier than most places I've seen which is another great thing. Not a lot of guilt if you down those veggies. The food comes out quickly and service is minimal but prompt. Just spot on if you ask me. The only downside to this place is that it's cash only (at least it was when I was there).
(4)
Lisa H.
An incredible bang for your buck. $4.25 for a breakfast sandwich (bacon included) with homefries. And the homefries have veggies mixed in. Wish the homefries were a little crispier. Friends also got the huevos rancheros and french toast. Everything was great!
(4)
Shannon M.
This place will blow your mind. The woman who's the main waitress is the most motherly woman I've ever met in a restaurant. She smiles when she brings your water, when she takes your order, when she brings your food, when she sees if you need anything else... it's like being at your grandmother's house or something. And the food! Unreal breakfast served all day. The omelets are the perfect size-- giant, but you can finish it without feeling over-stuffed and yet be full until dinner. The home fries come with veggies (zucchini, tomato, broccoli), and are delicious. People rave about the homemade jam-- it might be an acquired taste that I don't have, so try it and don't listen to me. Yeah, Cafe Luna and Sonsie's have awesome brunch, but this place is REAL. Given the price and the fact that this is awesome, delicious food served by my favorite waitress ever, this may be one of my favorite places in Boston.
(5)
Deanna D.
I really enjoy Brookline Lunch for breakfast/brunch. The restaurant is a hole in the wall with funky and cool artwork on the walls, a relaxed vibe and cool clientele. The staff is friendly but never fast......Who staffs only 2 servers for a super busy Sat. morning? The homefries are awesome! I love the veggies mixed with the potatoes and the hot sauce (homemade?) is lovely. The salmon eggs benedict does not disappoint...tasty hollandaise sauce, cooked salmon (not smoked--thank you!) and toasted english muffin= delicious brunch on the cheap!! The prices are amazingly low! Breakfast for 2 for well under $20 with a generous tip! The food is a bit greasy but very tasty, super slow service..you have been warned. It gets really busy during weekend brunch hours so try to get there early. Overall a great value for brunch on the cheap!
(4)
Gerardo F.
How on earth can so many people love this place??? This "restaurant" is an abomination in every sense possible. Seriously, I've been there three times, and every single time I've had a terrible experience. The waitress, first of all, seems to barely speaks English and does not seem to care much about her work. She also had a air of nonchalance towards a lot of people (I'm starting to think that she hates her job). Second, because there are only two people working there (the waitress and the cook), the service takes forever. I've once had to wait some 40 minutes for some eggs, french toast and bacon when there were only 4 people. Finally, the food. What can I say? It's without a doubt the most disgusting, most uninspiring food I have ever eaten. My last visit there, I ordered pasta with pesto sauce. Not only were the pasta poorly cooked, but there was NO pesto sauce AT ALL. I've had it with this "restaurant". I'll never ever get close to it. Good riddance Brookine Lunch.
(1)
Jack M.
Food was decent, but service was very weak. I ordered linguini with pesto sauce, 25 minutes later, I got linguini with alfredo sauce. I didn't feel like waiting another 25 minutes, so I didn't say anything. It then took 15 minutes after I finished my meal to get the check. Additionally there is no air conditioning. It was 97 degrees outside and probably close to that inside. Luckily, the food was good and inexpensive, that's why it's still 3 stars.
(3)
Amelia M.
I really love this place, but be careful -- because everybody else does too! You'll need to get there extra early on the weekends in order to get breakfast without having to wait around outside. But even if you do have to wait, it will be worth it. My favorite is the Greek omelet, with its pretty little slice of good-quality feta hanging out on top. With friendly service and a happy, neighborhood vibe, you can feel good about giving these guys your money on a regular basis.
(5)
Sam K.
I had the salmon benedict & it was Egg-cellent! Turkish coffee and bahklava are delicious too. Highly recommended by yours Truly.
(5)
Jacob V.
For an incredibly cheap place to eat, Brookline Lunch was awesome! I had the steak egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and it was really good! The steak was just a little too chewy but it didn't distract from the great flavors. The potatoes and veggies that came with were also really good, and make sure you ask for there home-made hot sauce! The staff is very, very friendly and definitely added to the positive experience that I had.
(5)
Jeff W.
Lots of food, and lots of variety with ingredients in the dish (the homefries especially). The breakfast food is good, and I really like the crabmeat sandwich. Very good value. Sometimes service is a little bad, but service isn't what you should be coming here for. The hot sauce is somewhat uninspiring; I prefer tabasco. The jam is pretty cool (though really sweet).
(4)
Sarav C.
I love this place and cant get enough of it. The place is very down to earth, earthy crunchy, family run business. Easy on your wallet, very friendly service and nice place to have brunch or lunch. The veggie omelet with vegetables, toast, hot sauce and home made fruit jam is to die for. I top it off with coffee and they keep filling the cup when its empty. I support so many local businesses in Cambridge, this is the only place they make me feel at home. They even greet me with my name and treat my friends with the same respect.
(5)
Lynette S.
This is not only a review but a big thank you to the 2 staff who attended to me nicely eventhough i blew through there when it was busy and i just wanted a breakfast sandwich to go! i got mushroom, egg and cheese on wheat bread (comes with a side of homefries and veggies!) for 4$ and change. yum. i live closer to inman but there arent too many good breakfast sandwiches in my immediate area...would come back to BL anytime for this tasty goodness. Thanks! You have one more fan!
(5)
Jason C.
WOW. $5.50 got me the best omelet I've ever had. I ordered the Western. It came covered in ham (real ham, cubed. not stupid deli meat), onions, red green yellow and orange bell peppers, tomato, zucchini, carrot slices, broccoli, spinach and maybe more. All the vegetables were cooked perfectly - not overdone or mushy, still retained some crisp freshness. The home fries were also delicious, especially when covered in their homemade chili sauce. I hear their breakfast sandwiches are also delicious (duh, basically the omelet on toast), but I'd say get the omelet anyway because then you'll get a side of toast and a cup of their homemade jam. It is sooooo tasty! This place is great for groups of 4 and under. Service was fast and friendly.
(5)
K F.
Great place, good food, cheap brunch and fast service. You might not want to bring your girl/boy friend for the first date but overall we are a big fun and happy that we live close by.
(4)
Molly L.
AWESOME! Great little family-run hole in the wall with unique middle eastern food. Homemade hot sauce and jam are delish. Fast and polite service and killer hash browns!
(5)
Paul S.
This is the perfect place to eat in Central Square! It's local, it's cheap and it tastes really good! Go an hour earlier than you think you should go, so that you can beat the Saturday morning brunch rush-crowd. Plus, the coffee is well worth the sit down.
(5)
Alex H.
Greasy Spoon. This place is a cheap, down and dirty diner. The portions are enormous, and the menu is a little scattered, but it's quick, cheap, and has a little bit of everything.
(4)
Brian H.
Went here for mid-week breakfast. All the traditional American breakfast items looked great, but I opted for the Felafel plate and man was it awesome. Coffee was great. Service was beautiful. Price was more than fair. Bring cash.
(4)
Philip K.
This place was awesome for brunch. I came here with a big group of freinds and we all squeezed around a tiny table in this interesting hole in the wall. This place is super informal but that is what made it awesome. The omlettes were huge and piled high with all the good stuff. I got the ultimate omlette which had all the veggies, cheese, sausage, and even a chicken breast!!! One thing that happened that made me very pleased was the events that occured after a spilling of hot sauce. Our server spilled hot sauce on my cousin, but, helped her clean up, and to make it all better comped her entire meal. Not bad! This place is awesome-- super freindly, super cheap, and super delicious!
(4)
Amir K.
Fresh, cheap and delicious
(4)
Jenny N.
Oh, the eggs florentine are TO DIE FOR!! I have to agree with Ligaya--they are just perfection. I am so excited that I found a place where you can still have a yummy breakfast at any time of day for under $5 easy. This mom-and-pop spot is not fancy; it looks like a greasy spoon, but the food is actually not very greasy at all. I love the exposed brick and art on the walls. While the booths are spacious, the tables could use a more vigorous wipe-down. But this is just a small quibble, because between the boy and I, we demolished a stack of GINORMOUS pancakes (interesting cornmeal type batter) slathered in butter and syrup, eggs florentine, and a platter of 2 eggs, 2 sausages and veggie-ful home fries for like 12 bucks. Can you beat that with a stick!? I think not! I love a home-cooked breakfast, and Brookline Lunch certainly delivers. The parking situation can be a bit tricky as there are very limited metered spots on Brookline St., but you'll be well rewarded for the effort.
(4)
Jeffrey M.
This is a hidden gem! Maybe it's hidden because it's not really in Brookline ... it's on Brookline Street. Misleading much? It's a Lebanese-run brunch place, and while I haven't had any of the Lebanese food yet, the brunch menu is pretty standard and meets expectations =] The portion sizes are huge for $6 or 7. I ordered the French toast with ham last Saturday, and while the ham was great, the French toast and maple syrup combination tasted a little artificial. Overall, though, not bad! DO NOT get the baklava. True, it also comes in a huge portion size. But it looks as if they just bought it from a wholesaler and cut it up for you, and that's supported by how it tastes -- easily broken into a dense bottom and flaky top, and also too artificially-sweet. I'd still check it out, though!
(4)
Eszter H.
Visiting from out of town and met up with some friends here for a midweek breakfast. The tables were rather yucky. I couldn't tell if they'd been "cleaned" with something sticky or if they just had a lot of grease on them from who knows where. I could tell that they had been wiped, but I used up quite a few napkins to wipe off the yuck. This was not a good start to the experience. The space was cold. I was wearing many layers and I was still feeling chilly. Now for the more positive aspects. The food was completely reasonable breakfast/bunch food. I had the french toast, eggs, bacon dish and it was all pretty good so no complaints there. They don't have fresh-squeezed orange juice. The final payment was extremely reasonable for everything we had consumed so that was a welcomed ending to the visit. I enjoyed the art on the walls that they are selling for very reasonable prices.
(3)
Lisa R.
Lots of cheap options and made by a wonderful staff. The pancakes are standard but the hummus platter was devine! I love the cozy atmosphere and the location is cool too. p.s. The spot is off an alleyway.
(3)
Julia W.
The falafel sandwich is officially the best falafel I have ever eaten. EVER. Not a place for the self-important, impatient or the snobbish eater. This is more like the Cheers of diners, with an awesome family running it and devoted customers. The dad cooks, and he makes all the jams and the hot sauce himself!
(5)
Sarah G.
Good sized portions of great, fresh food for very little money. Yummy salad, very good falafel, great eggs. Very veggie friendly, but good for meat eaters too - boyfriend loves any chicken dish on the menu. Wait can be long, they've got weird hours and they often run out of stuff. Usually only one waitress working the entire room, so be patient - it's worth it. I haven't noticed any sanitation issues and I've been to the bathroom - it's tiny but absolutely fine. Update - we sat for such a long time on our last visit before the waitress was able to get over to us that I almost wrote the place off for good, but when she returned with our food (always great) and some amazing jam with star anise and some other incredibly yummy but unidentifiable stuff in it, I had to say I was hooked for life. I wobbled my way home one handed on my bike just so I could carry some leftover jam. MMMM.
(4)
Cooper M.
I want to give halfs! So think 3.5 A tasty brunch place (haven't had lunch or anything here) with a funky family feel. It is small and usually crowded and quite slow. Go there and be patient and all will work out well. You can even feel less guilty about the bacon and hollandaise because of the extra greens they add to the potatoes.
(4)
Bodhi F.
I needed a new place for brunch and low and behold, yelp to the rescue. Thus, Brookline lunch. AMAZING. I couldn't believe I had never been here before. (it's a bit hidden) Fresh Vegetables in the home fries Great Eggs benedict Awesome Lamb dish Just about everything is under $6! I couldn't believe how great quality lots of love in this food match the Family ownership ambiance and homey decor My new favorite Breakfast and Lunch in Central squire.
(5)
Brian C.
This is a solid lazy-weekend brunch place. Great service, good coffee (and refills), and a good variety of your typical brunch foods.
(5)
Sisi Z.
Um, did I walk into the right place? I can't believe people say this is their favorite place to eat--dingy space, spotty service, marginally acceptable food, the only reason I'd go back is if I'm really short on cash. I got the Western omelette, it was basically a pile of veggies stir-fried with egg on the bottom, my friend's Eggs Benedict was just plain bad. Not even the home fries were good. I think the highlight of the meal was the buttered toast, and they also ran out of OJ when I went. All in all, I'd rather go to Sunny's Diner than this place!
(2)
Emeen Z.
Cheap and really delicious food with a super friendly staff, what more could you ask for? I guess I do wish they were open at night but it's all part of the charm mannnn.
(5)
David D.
This place is cheaper than the Boston Mission! Some lazy friends from Somerville, had me drag my ass across the river for brunch ... and I'm glad. I think the breakfast menu topped out at about $4.95, and not $800.00, like the Centre Street Cafe (boo- hiss!) I had a delightful omelet with toast and home-fries. It was great, but I would have liked a heads up on the menu, saying it would be covered in some GROSS grilled vegetable medley. I fucking HATE Mushrooms! After picking those off, it was super. One of my friends ordered her eggs "over easy", and they were near raw. It looked like someone cracked an egg on a hot plate, and folded it over. I told her to take it home, because I was going to make cookies later ... :( **** Plz cook them longer, thankiez. There wasn't a long wait to to be seated (at 2:00 pm on a Sunday). I think there was one waitress, though. After about 10 minutes, she asked what we wanted for drinks... we wanted to fucking ORDER! We were STARVING at that point. The menu also has a variety of salads and sandwiches that are double cheap! I'd totez go here again! Our total was $16 for 3 people + beverages... oh, shit... I don't think they had ANY kind of liquor (mimosas or bloody marys) ... :( don't forget to flask it!
(4)
Emily O.
This place had closed for the owner's family to go on summer vacation and recently re-opened. I had awaited this with anticipation as I walk by this place nearly every day and envisioned it being a mecca for the Middle East/T.T.'s crowd. I guess a little part of that was also an assumption that it would be.... good?! Nah. I don't think they have any ice and maybe no a refrigeration system either. My partner and I ordered waters and I also ordered a soda. The soda came in a barely chilled CAN (no cup, no ice, no straw) and the waters were room temperature with no ice either. The food was home-cooked, but not worth paying for. Greasy and burned, dried out. I did like their spicy condiment to go with the homefries. In fact, that was a better meal than the meal. Service was great (yes, all two of them, but it was 4pm). They only take cash, which I find a big pain. Essentially this experience reminded of eating in the basement in "The Goonies" with those villians with the blender making my dinner and about the same resources. P.S. Another reviewer mentioned a bathroom, but I couldn't see one!
(2)
Robert L.
Good place. They made a terrific grilled cheese sandwich for me. The home fries are really good as well.
(3)
Jackie S.
It's a Sunday morning. You're hung over and you spent all your money on drinks and cabfare last night. You're a Central Square dweller and you realize you have two choices: Grab a greasy burger at Wendy's to soothe your headache and woozy-ness, or head over to Brookline Lunch for an equally cheap and greasy meal, but with the option of sitting down and getting waiter service. Well, if you pick Brookline Lunch - you've made the right decision. This place is dirty and cramped, no doubt about that. But the food is good! And it's cheap as hell! If you don't mind a little bit of a wait, then definitely head over here for a hearty breakfast that won't cost you more than $5 - and that's usually including tip! Note: I would stick to breakfast foods and only breakfast foods at Brookline Lunch - who trusts six dollar lamb anyway?
(4)
Elizabeth F.
Vegetables instead of home fries, and my zucchini and feta omelet came with extra veggies and a huge slab of seasoned feta across the top. The waitress kept refilling mine and my companion's coffee mugs without being asked. And the toast was wheat, and we hadn't even had to ask for it. I'll definitely be returning here.
(4)
molly f.
Happy to get to know this no-frills neighborhood spot. The decor is a miss, but the food (and the roasted veggies on the side) are a hit. The portions are really generous & you walk away feeling happy and your wallet stays fat...whats not to like about that?
(4)
Gaelle D.
This place could be twice as expensive and still totally worth it!! I can't believe how cheap it is considering the quality of the food. I've had their Eggs Benedict at least 20 times and I'm not over them! They come with pan-fried potatoes and vegetables that seem to differ every time. They serve breakfast all day, which is really neat. The rest of the menu is classic lunch stuff (sandwiches etc) with a Middle Eastern twist. Everything is good but I keep coming back to the Eggs Benedict (who said addict??). The staff is always over-busy but still really nice. Considering the low prices I usually over-tip them, hoping that they'll stay in business for years to come:) Other nice features: Unlimited coffee refill. Great decor. Did I mention the Eggs Benedict?
(5)
Gail L.
For an extremely inexpensive lunch or brunch, Brookline Lunch is the place to go. Mostly Middle Eastern fare, but with an amazing assortment of fresh vegetables on the side of almost everything. Home fries are good, fish is good, Turkish coffee is good, hamburgers (real, not a pre-formed patty) with a side of potatoes and vegetables, Falafel with hummus and a side of homemade soup $3.75. Salads are really good. Just don't go on Tuesdays (they're closed) And say hi to Yasmine.
(4)
Nadja O.
Brookline Lunch is my go-to on Sunday mornings. Their grilled cheese sandwiches are amazing, and the prices are pretty fantastic (cheap!). They used to have a strangely awesome mystery-fruit jam that they served with eggs and toast, which you should ask for if it isn't served. The only weird thing about this place is the art, which is utterly horrific and hilarious. Because it's so uniformly bad, whether it's photography or painting, it's kind of awesome to look at and ponder over eggs...
(5)
John W.
eating my cambridge breakfast at brookline lunch, it occurred to me that there are few places like this in the city: cheap and yummy comfort food located a mere block away from the central square t stop. the service is slow, but friendly. came here with friends that i hadnt seen in months, so we didnt notice that it took at least 15 minutes for our waitress to bring the check after we asked for it. and they get extra credit for displaying paintings from out of the blue gallery.
(4)
Stephanie ..
Ahh, Brookline Lunch. On a nice day, the line is usually out the door, but it moves quick. And so does the waitress. One woman waits on the entire restaurant--power walks to one table, drops off menus, power walks to the next table, takes an order, power walks over another tables coffee, goes back to the first table...takes their orders... Cardio pump. Cheap and filling. Strong turkish coffee. So close to MIT that it was perfect for a weekend brunch back in those days. Cute, kinda scrubby/shabby place. They always rotate the art from the Out of the Blue Gallery. Yum.
(4)
S W.
The good- it is very very very cheap homefries that have veggies like carrots and broccoli in them The bad- always understaffed and the staff is really curt and unhelpful NO AC Pancakes are flavorless Syrup does not taste even a little like maple (not even the Aunt Jemima stuff) Rest of the food is pretty eh In short, if you are hungry and short on your dough, this place will fit the bill but as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for."
(2)
Pete S.
Simply put, the most delicious, overflowing omlettes I've had. The eggs seem almost like a distraction next to the prodigious quantity of vegetables. The home fries are great, too. An exceptional breakfast/brunch. That said, the service is notoriously unpredictable. I've had some long waits both to sit and to order, and the staff seems different every time (hilariously, I've had some children who happened to be hanging around bring me my silverware). But all is forgiven when the food comes. Oh, man, I'm hungry just thinking about it.
(4)
Jeremy L.
You will not be disappointed by the incredibly cheap and tasty breakfasts here. Omlettes are large and home fries come with grilled fresh veggies. Weekends are busy so be prepared to wait if you come toward noon. The hollandaise on the eggs benedict is surprisingly delicious given that this doesn't seem like the kind of place you order that dish (especially for its price). Service is quick but harried, so grab the server's attention if you are in a hurry.
(5)
Nick B.
An unassuming little breakfast joint. So unassuming that I've been biking past it every day for two years now, and didn't even realize it was there until last week. Incredibly cheap (you can get a nice filling breakfast for 5 bucks no problem) and very good as well. Now a few words about what makes Brookline Lunch unique: 1) They serve grilled vegetables as a side with most orders, making you proud for at least giving a token nod to good health as you add another dollop of maple syrup to your bacon. 2) The toast comes with some kind of smoked jelly, the likes of which I have never seen anywhere else. 3) The tables and furniture have a nice dinged up charm. Kind of like the picnic bench by the archery shed at summer camp, only you don't feel sketchy eating off it. A nice compliment to the crayola doodlings of dogs on the ceiling.
(4)
Ani G.
The food is okay, but nothing stellar (with the exception of the home fries, which are really good), but my biggest issue with the place is how dirty, cramped, and uncomfortable it was. The tables were sticky and the floors were filthy. Go to Z Square instead. The food is at least as good as Brookline Lunch, but they take reservations and the place is spotless.
(2)
Laura L.
I absolutely love this place! Whenever feeling like a nice home cooked breakfast which is incredibly cheap, good and close I always think of this place. I myself LOVE the eggs florentine with the sauce on the side with the potatoes and veggies for like 6 bucks! The place itself is kinda tiny but comfortable.... on the weekends you might have to wait for a table but totally worth it. As for the service it always seems to be the same woman every single time by herself but she is amazing. For how many people she definitely provides as much service the make the meal enjoyable!
(4)
kevin d.
This is my favorite restaurant in the world. I love everyone that works here and I love waiting in line on the weekends to dine here. Eggs florentine for life.
(5)
Molly F.
It's a shame when the highlight of your dining experience is crapping the food back out--finally ridding yourself of it. One of my spuds tasted like genitals and all of my spuds were soggy. My iced coffee was even worse. It was wicked hot and the waitstaff and some dingleberries at the next table kept bumpin into my chair. I felt nauseous the rest of the day and then made what seemed like a furious pee from my butthole.
(1)
matt k.
Alas! I went here for lunch today full of high expectations of tastiness after reading all these wonderful reviews and other recommendations. Indeed, the Eggs Florentine were really awesome, and the melange that composes their homefries (mushrooms! broccoli! whoa!!) is awesome except for the one unexpected ingredient! A HAIR :( My dish was whisked away and a replacement was offered and accepted, but now I am wary.
(3)
Yui K.
So easy on the wallet it makes me happy. A line outside a door often indicates a pretty damn decent place. The inside is rustic, laidback, and borderline dirty. Hearty portion of eggs benedict with homefries that are more than just potatoes.. onions, cucumbers, peppers mushed in between. Only one waitress so bring good company to chat with, relax... it's brunchtime.
(3)
Mike D.
Wicked cheap decent breakfast, followed a few weeks later by wicked cheap undecent breakfast.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Annie P.
BEST Eggs Benedict. Veggie Omelettes. With those vegetable potato things. With some sort of jam and spice kick of Oil sauce in mini white flapped over in layers holder. The super duper mommy running around seating, wiping, serving, writing,... but never freaking out. It's a magic family. At least she sincerely asks if everything is okay and you honestly answer back OF COURSE and leave the biggest tip every time you go because the bill was only $5 or something. Wait goes long. Don't take any impatient guests here. Go in two's or at most four's. While you wait, don;t forget to make fun of the Out Of The Blue art up on the walls and look up on the ceilings.. those little drawings are worth oogling at. Those luke warm Nantucket Nectars juices. Also the warm water served in a dingy yellowish plastic cup. Empty ketchup bottles. Flat silverware. Busted up china. Church pew benches and sci-fi looking couches with tables sitting on your thigh. High five, you still love the place!
(5)Melissa B.
Across from the Middle East, and only open for breakfast and lunch, this is hands-down one of my favorite breakfast spots. It will remind you of Berkeley, it's a bit crunch. Great quality food without being greasy. Skip the home fries (boring) but they serve wonderful grilled vegetables with all the meals. My favorite is the feta and spinach omelette. With a side of their special hot sauce (owners are from Jordan IIRC?), I'm good to go. Coffee sucks, so get one from Toscanini's on Main St. or Dunkin D's on Mass Ave before you stop in. They've never minded in the years I've been going there. Oh, and it's inexpensive, too.
(4)Nick M.
This place feels like San Francisco, not Brookline. The egg dishes are hearty and delicious, the way breakfast should be. A great place for a morning date.
(4)Tiffany W.
good. cheap. breakfast. awesome hole-in-the-wall type diner and one of my top go to places for breakfast/brunch... filling portions, very good omelettes and home fries, tasty home-made jams... service is a bit slow sometimes and lines can get long on weekends, but all in all, a great bang for your buck!
(4)Yeuhi A.
This place has the best omelets. They come with fresh vegetable medleys and tangy homemade hot sauce. Coffee is good. This is my new favorite brunch spot in Central Sq. If you can't stand the crowds, try dropping by on a weekday. The food is just as good and the service is much quicker.
(4)Kabir H.
I didn't realize how much I loved this place until it closed for the summer.. not due to re-open until August 5th, I'm left with four weekends of trucking it elsewhere to replace my favorite greasy spoon. If you're looking for breakfast or lunch in Central Sq on the cheap, you can't do any better.
(4)Sean E.
Quite possibly the best omelet I've had from a breakfast/lunch joint. I might even give this place a five if it weren't for the lack of a proper wait staff. I'm all for keeping it in the family as Brookline Lunch does, but making the Mom be the only person to bus and wait tables had us sitting at our table reading the menu for a good 20 minutes before we got our orders out and then another long stretch before we ate. This was pretty much the story the two times I've been there and it stopped us from going back anytime soon. BUT. I gotta say, it's worth the wait. The eggs and veg are just about as perfect as you could want -- really handcrafted, homey goodness. And the price is hard, nay impossible, to beat.
(4)R E.
This place has fantastic breakfast and is cheap. As other yelpers said, ask for jam with your toast. Vegetables instead of home fries is pretty awesome too.
(5)Peter R.
Ask anyone about Brookline Lunch, and the first thing they'll mention is the incredibly low cost of the food, the second thing they'll mention is it's high deliciousness. The restaurant is small, and the booths, as a friend of mine pointed out, look a bit like old fashioned pews. The ceiling seems like it should be an album cover for some conceptual band, and the rotating art collection is... eclectic. That said, every meal I've had here has been great, though the cheese that comes on some of the dishes is a little Kraft-y. The breakfast fare is simple and comforting and the jelly that they serve with the toast and pancakes is amazing. Don't go if you're craving waffles though, they're not on the menu. Breakfast is almost always crowded, but the service is pretty good considering that there are never more than 4 people working (including the cook).
(4)Jess P.
brookline lunch is the perfect mascot for central sq - dingy yet loveable. 1st place: the omelets- big and chock full of fresh veggies. you can also ask for sauteed veggies on the side in place of home fries and even carb-lovers should try it out. you get all kinds of delicious, unexpected randomness - asparagus, squash, spinach, tomatoes, etc. 2nd place: clientele- bring the sunday times, but you may not even make much progress cause the people watching is pretty good. a mix of "just-rolled-out-of-bed-still-wearing-grey-denim-Âfrom-last-night's-middle-east-show" people and mit nerdlings.
(4)rishi h.
I haven't found a place with the same cozy family run atmopshere that has such good service. The food is _very_ reasonably priced and delicious, the staff is friendly, the service is good, and there's pretty art work all over the place (including the ceiling!!!).
(5)Michelle R.
Shhh... I tell you this only because I feel for people who are looking for a good breakfast dive. If what you want is a cheap breakfast (under $5)which is filling and fantastic, check out Brookline lunch. They're closed until August 5, 2006 because they're out travelling. The place is small, so do us all a favor and take the brunch group elsewhere. Enjoy this place with crowds of 1-4 for the best experience.
(5)Michael B.
this place makes breakfast feel like you are in your friends apt. cool paintings from a local gallery. nice grilled veggies with breakfast. Friendly owners. very affordable. love the hot sauce and jam with the meal. nice environment.
(4)Eli G.
I've lived in or near Cambridge my whole life and spent many a nigh tin Central Square and I didn't even know this place existed until I went here for an art opening on Saturday. Clearly my ignorance has been my loss! The catered food was exceptional, especially the falafel (spicy dipping sauce was unlike anything I've had before) and the grape leaves. I'll add to my review after I go here for a full meal ASAP.
(4)Clea K.
I was close to giving Brookline Lunch five stars, (decided against it because of the chaotic service), but in general I'd highly recommend it. The food is really good and cheap, and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed too. I've been to a few Cambridge brunch places now, and it was by far the cheapest option around, and I feel one gets really good value in everything. The portions are good, and I really liked the veggie omelette and the pancakes - they serve a spiced up version of strawberry jam too, and that's really good, so definitely try it. I've had to wait both times I went there, but it was on a Saturday so I guess that's to be expected... although last time we had to stand outside in the pouring rain as there wasn't enough space inside to wait - so be prepared :).
(4)sage f.
I love this place. I love that the food is ridiculously good, not to mention inexpensive. I love that it's a family business and the kids are often the ones clearing your plates. I love the people-watching I can do here. The booths are clearly the best place to sit.
(5)Michelle D.
While I love the omelettes and the veggies that come with it I have to wonder at how clean the kitchen is. The last time I was there, a dog was tied up behing the counter! Now, I love animals but c'mon! Service can sometimes be sketchy but I've never had to wait for a table. I guess that's saying something.....
(2)Peter P.
Ya know, I have been here once, and I was with my ex-girlfriend and her 1yr old son. I mean, it's not the Ritz, it's not anything particularly special. I got a burger with some home fries, and you know what, the burger was kind of pre-fab, but the home fries were quite good, they mixed in grilled vegies, and the large portion left me full for the rest of the day. Like I said, nothing fancy, but the whole tab for the entire lunch for the two of us, tip included was $20, and that was with an excessive tip. All in all a very cozy experience. The waitress couldn't have been nicer, and she couldn't have been better with kids, she had a whole bunch of tricks up her sleeve to keep a 1yr old amused. If only they had a liquor license for the people like me who need that beer for breakfast to take the edge off.
(4)Alice K.
Lovely place for an early, on-time or late weekend lunch. Most things come with a generous helping of home fries (the definition of "home fries" can include squash, carrots, bits of pepper and tomato) and are under $5- you can do the math yourself. The menu consists mostly of basic comfort food- omlettes, sandwiches, the ubiquitous BLT. The interior is decorated in someone's Fun and Funky period; examining the decor is a great way to occupy yourself and your friends while waiting for the food.
(3)Amy D.
Brookline Lunch makes me tired, despite the fact that I'm usually dropping in for breakfast after a good night's sleep. Sadly, I end up tired -- of waiting for a table to open up, for the waitress to take my order, for the food to finally appear, to get the bill, you get the picture. I know it's a family run place, and while I can appreciate the fact that they're trying to keep costs down by only having one waitress, spending over an hour to get breakfast isn't cool. The food is great and I'd really like to make this my regular weekend breakfast spot, but I just can't. For those who want to give it a try, I suggest going early.
(3)Eve G.
How cheap is this place for the quality? So cheap! I ordered the Eggs Florentine which is basically the vegetarian Eggs Benedict. So, instead of putting ham on your English muffins, they load your plate with roasted mixed veggies and potatoes, and they normally smash spinach between the muffin and the egg, but the E. Coli scare has temporarily removed the leaf from the dish. The hollandaise sauce was so rich and creamy, and while the eggs weren't as juicy as I would normally like, I still walked away feeling very very satisfied. The place gets very busy, but the two staff members who bus and serve tables are excellent. They work themselves into a sweat to accomodate ones needs. The most impressive thing about Brookline Lunch, which you may not know, is that they make their own jam. Yes, and this morning they had a banana nutmeg sort of jam. It was absolutely delish, and they also give you a side of sour and hot relish to go with your eggs. How original? The coffee is a little on the thin side, but it does the job, and the water is filled to the brim about five times in one sitting. The best part about the experience is that I only paid five dollars for a fresh, satisfying, and authentic breakfast. Way to go B.L! By the way, Brookline Lunch is not in Brookline, but in Cambridge on Brookline St.
(4)Mags L.
good hearty breakfast. everytime. 'nuff said.
(4)Juliette V.
Nice casual atmosphere for a weekend breakfast. I like that they put lots of veggies in their omelettes. And, I have never had to wait to get in.
(3)Kristin S.
Amazingly nice and hospitable servers, however food was very underwhelming. The omelettes come in large portions, but are less about the eggs (there was about one egg total per plate) and more about the other things. If I were to ever come back, I would not order an omelette. The ultimate omelette had one piece each of bacon, sausage, ham, and chicken among mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, onions, cheese, and potatoes. Great homey vibe, but there was no air conditioning on a hot, humid day.
(2)Tiffany C.
This place is definitely a hole-in-the wall family owned restaurant & it is hidden in between Brookline St off of Mass Ave. I found this place on yelp for cheap & tasty brunch and it's true, everything is under $10! I wanted to try their "Mediterranean" dishes but I didn't see enough photos or reviews from other yelpers who have ordered that, so I feel that this place is mostly known for their breakfast/brunch egg benedicts and sandwiches. I ordered a Florentine egg benedict (with spinach), comes with homefries. It was good & quite filling actually. But I was a little bit disappointed with the hollandaise sauce. I personally felt it was...too sour and too..much. Which is not a big deal because I can just scrape some of it off. I personally feel that Cafe Luna has the best egg benedicts in the Cambridge area and I hold their sauce to my standard. This was my first time here, I love the interior actually despite what other people have said about it because it just feels very..homey. Brick walls and photographs hanging. Random things on the walls. Not fancy, no air conditioning (fans) on a hot hot day, but I think it gives it that middle eastern flavor as if you were in a restaurant there.
(4)John P.
What has no air conditioning, apathetic service, little ice, and fairly tasty food? Brookline Lunch! I came on a tip from a friend that this place is delicious (he regularly takes people here), so I figured it would be worth coming over. From the outset, I was assaulted by almost intolerable heat combatted by two measly fans at the front of the restaurant and a one of two ceiling fans (that's right, it felt like 90 in the restaurant and yet one of the fans wasn't on!). By the time my food arrived, I was in a crappy mood. Speaking of food, getting it required flagging down the staff, which was a chore in and of itself. Somehow, my coffee didn't automatically come with cream (and nobody bothered to ask), and asking for ice water is too much to remember. This isn't a surprise when the staff has to be cajoled into paying attention to you. The food itself was actually pretty good. Not amazing, but "worth $8.50 for huevos rancheros" good. My girlfriend had a western omelet, which was tasty but curiously lacked cheese. There were no toast choices besides wheat -- at least, we weren't offered any. I think I'd come back on a cooler day and hope it was more pleasant, but I wouldn't actively seek this place out and I would hesitate to recommend it to friends, though it beats Pour House's brunch and a lot of other brunch places I've been to in Boston. It's also noting that Brookline Lunch is cash only.
(3)Olivia J.
This place is a hidden gem in Central Square! It's tucked away in Brookline St off of Mass Ave. Everything is under $10 - so amazed! I got the florentine eggs Benedict with tomatoes and it was really awesome. Eggs were poached perfectly and hollandaise sauce melted in my mouth. Comes with potatoes, peppers and onions. Healthy stuff! Celine got the French toast with eggs and that was really good too. The only thing I was unhappy about was the lack of a/c so it gets really hot. I want to go back to try out more things!
(5)Tanya S.
I spoke too soon in my previous review. I've had worse and worse experiences here each time. After a bad stomach experience with ordering the eggs, I only ordered simple salads as my gluten free option. But I feel like I get no respect about my allergy, often getting treated as if I'm creating this inconvenience. (All I ask is for you to not give me bread, just a pile of leaves). Last time I was still given the gluten side. When I asked what it was, I was told to not worry about. It only has gluten on the inside b/c it's deep fried. =/ Not how it works. I've only come back b/c friends/students appreciate the cheap eats. But I will never return and do not recommend this place to anyone who has any allergies.
(2)Addie R.
Finally made it out here for a Saturday brunch! It is a small hole in the wall place, crowded on weekends, and yes there will be at least a 10+ minute wait. That said, for two people you can get a table fairly quickly, as I did. We were seated in a small nook in the back of the restaurant, which although tight, had plenty of cute art on the walls. There is a drink waitress and a food waitress, so who you order coffee from doesn't also bring the food. I had the garlick benedict, which was an egg benedict with chicken and bacon and it was divine. I ate the whole thing, which had a very generous helping of homefries (that managed to successfully incorporate broccoli!). I was stuffed afterwards! And also very happy with the bill, as it wasn't expensive at all and the portion sizes were massive. I was a very happy bruncher. BUT -1 star for some flies buzzing around / wall&floor cleanliness
(4)Joseluis A.
awesome brunch spot in central sq. unpretentious, modest and very good. my bennies were strong. perfectly poached eggs, hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy. when the food arrived the table no one talked much. the waitresses were sweet and attentive and the prices here are great. this is a place im coming back when im in the area again.
(5)Damian W.
Food: 3.0/5.0 Service: 2.5/5.0 Value: 4.0/5.0 Decor: 2.0/5.0 Overall: 3.0/5.0 Brookline offers an inexpensive but mediocre brunch menu featuring several eggs benedict choices for under ten bucks. The combination of so-so food at a great value seems to work, since there can be a bit of a wait for brunch just like at many other spots in the neighborhood. I enjoy the hole in the wall vibe, but the spotty service (not enough hands), not so much. Not a terrible choice though I'd personally pay up to go to a certain spot down Mass Ave.
(3)Erin L.
I ordered the chicken and bacon egg benedict and must say it is really tasty. The staff here is also nice and kind. The only downside of this restaurant is there is no air conditioning and I went during the summer. It was extremely hot and all I wanted to do was quickly finish eating and run out, haha. Maybe the next time I will come in the winter on my next trip to Boston :)
(4)Ilyana E.
Saturday brunch in here. Service was quick and they are really nice. Small place so if you don't like crowed places think twice cause the food is totally worth it. We order egg Benedicts and effgwhites with veggies and they were terrific!!!! So so good. Generous portions, awesome sauce. Warm food for the soul.
(5)Humoud A.
I tried it a couple of days ago. It is a small establishment run by a family. The atmosphere and cleaness of the place is not very appealing but the food is a different story. I tried the Salmon Benedict and the French Toast, they couldn't have been made better. The portion was extremely generous. Hands down the best breakfast place in Cambridge!
(5)Clemens W.
We were planning on going to Cafe Luna nearby, but it was too crowded. My friend living in the area said I should come here instead and get the ultimate omelet. Since then, that friend has received extra props from me for an outstanding food suggestion. I will most likely take his advice for food recommendations more seriously as a mental note. For a foodie, that's a pretty big deal. Anyway, get the ultimate omelet if you want the whole kitchen sink. It's filled with vegetables, ham, bacon, sausage, and a few pieces of toast. It's really two meals if I weren't a fatty that doesn't know when he's full. I basically licked the plate afterwards. One complaint about sitting on the booth areas is that the backing is a bit wobbly and depending on who's sitting behind you, it could get annoying. I think both people need to lean at the same time or else the backing flimsily slaps your upper back after you've just inhaled half the omelet and want to take a rest.
(4)Kimmi V.
Quite the cute family joint -- but doesn't live up to the hype. We got two different kinds of eggs benedict. I'm an eggs benedict FIEND -- but I really wasn't impressed at all. Underwhelmed, really. Turkish coffee was also really awful. My friend had had some authentic turkish coffee in Turkey and Dubai, etc and urged me to try it here. She and I both agreed the coffee was not potable. Maybe we just went on a bad day. Will not be returning. I'd rather head over and wait at Cafe Luna. :/
(2)Ami P.
Wow the portions here for the PRICE are unbeatable!!! I had the Jerusalem omelette and it was ABSOLUTELY delicious and my friend DOWNED her eggs Benedict. The only reason I give it a four star was because the service was really slow (only one woman) but she was very sweet and that JAM - please tell me what you put in there!!!
(4)Mike D.
Brookline was terrific. The food was simple, delicious, and well portioned. The atmosphere was small and charming, while the waitstaff was attentive. I had the huevos rancheros on one morning, and the eggs benedict another. Both were served with generous portions of grilled vegetable home fries, and delicious. If you're in Cambridge and looking for a tucked-away, nice spot for brunch, I strongly recommend Brookline.
(4)Angela D.
Great place for a cheap and filling brunch! Conveniently located in Central Square, you'll get LARGE portions. The huevos rancheros are delicious.
(3)Bonny J.
There are a few times in life when a meal is so expertly planned and crafted that it is nothing short of genius. There are even fewer when such a meal can be enjoyed without the company of those "sophisticated" diners who evaluate the meal not on its quality but on the establishment's Yelp rating. Brookline Lunch, I am pleased to say, was the paragon of such a genius meal.
(5)Evan A.
This place rocked my balls and bounced my wife's titties off. It was that good. This was our first time there and I can't think of a single complaint. The menu is full of great looking options at affordable prices. I had the big fish breakfast and I've paid way more for less, much less. I'm pretty sure every single food group was on the plate including a good sized slab of grilled salmon. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Vegetables for breakfast? Not often, but fantastic with this dish. There was some sort of cranberry spread that came with the toast and the only way I can describe it is that it tasted like a Thanksgiving candle smells. That's a good thing. The service was pleasant. Took a bit of time to get the food, but with the amount given I can understand why. I'll definitely be stopping back for breakfast any time I'm in the area and look forward to trying the lunch options at some point in the future.
(5)Rebecca K.
Great value, incredible very colorful omelettes with interesting spices. Only complaint is that it's cash only and there's no AC.
(5)Lisa G.
One of my very favorite places for breakfast. Family run and owned, a well-priced eggs Benedict to die for, and their hash browns, with well prepared potatoes, also have all manor of veggies included in. Great service, cool pics on the wall, and everything I've ever had there has been scrumptious. Been coming here at least 15 years and it only gets better.
(5)Cathy C.
Food is tasty, affordable and I love that they use a ton of veggies in everything. But the service is sloooooooooooooow. It's interesting - this place seems to have a cult-following of in-the-know customers who all seem to understand the system. There is only one waitress that is allowed to take orders and two others taking beverage orders/serving beverage orders, bussing, and bringing checks. There is a tacit understanding that if you want to eat here, you're going to have to wait your damn turn. One waitress, people. One waitress. I would happily go back a million times if they had more servers, but maybe that's how they keep their prices low? I dunno - not worth the line that goes out the door IMHO. But then again, I'm from SF where a restaurant with this type of service would die a painful and costly death.
(3)Chris P.
Brookline dinner is the best breakfast and brunch place. The staff is friendly. They put such great attention into their food. You order a simple cheese omelette and its delivered with an amazing assortment of perfectly sautéed vegetables. And their prices are the best in town. There is a reason there is a line.
(5)Winnie Z.
Hearty breakfast food, but too greasy. I ordered a veggie and eggs and everything was just drenched in oil.
(3)Ziyan C.
It's Father's Day, 11am. Every brunch place we can think of has a crowd outside and at least a 1 hour wait. Suddenly I remember my secret little brunch spot in college and I give them a call -- it's a 10-15 minute wait for a group of 4! We get there in 10 minutes and snatch a booth for 4 right as it opens up. THE WAIT: None at 11am on a Sunday! (See above.) THE SERVICE: They're busy but efficient; our group of 4 was in and out in under an hour. We ordered and got our food out quickly. A little lagging with filling waters sometimes (but there were like 3 servers and 1 busboy for at least 15 tables). They were a little slow to bring the check, and I had to ask a couple times for a takeout box. THE COST: $40 minus tip for four brunch dishes. So cheap! MUST-HAVES: Their sandwiches, their omelets!! OVERALL: The food is a solid 4 stars, if not better. But they get bumped up for the awesome value and being a well-kept secret, i.e. no wait for Sunday brunch! * The 35 (bacon eggs cheese veggie Breakfast Sandwich) - 4 stars The 35: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Homefries: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Very tasty and hearty, despite not having too much meat! A perfect ratio of bread to filling, perfect amounts of eggs/cheese/veggie, and it stayed together well under the evenly toasted whole wheat bread. I just wished the bacon were a bit more crispy (I had to open up my sandwich to make sure it was there). The homefries (for ALL dishes): a big whopping side. Potatoes on the soft side, but retains a nicely crisped outer layer. The veggies are mixed in at good ratios, but they're a tad old and soft. * Ultimate Omelet - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Tried a bite: good stuff. The chicken is a little on the hard side and was a pretty big chunk, but overall its a good meaty dish and the eggs were cooked soft. The homefries, as always, great. * Banana French Toast - 3 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Solid, but not amazing. Will satisfy your sweet tooth, but don't go out of your way to get this - I've definitely had softer, more moist french toast. Plus it's about the same cost for less food (no homefries!) though you do get eggs + ham on the side. * Salmon Benedict - 3.5 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Would have been 4 stars but there was very, very little salmon. Each piece of english muffin had a tiny little slice of salmon that was barely noticeable.
(5)Jessica C.
Great little breakfast spot! I had the spinach/bacon eggs Benedict with extra crispy potatoes. I was thrilled to see that each plate comes with sautéed seasonal veggies..yum!! The food was some of the best I have had in a longggg time; however, service was lacking. We weren't checked on, waters never refilled, and my hubs ordered a side of bacon with his meal that never made it to the table. Maybe a waitress called in sick and they were understaffed? For the great prices and excellent cuisine- really, quite possibly the best hollandaise I have ever had in my life- I think I will have to give them another shot.
(3)Cristina R.
Any day that starts here is bound to be a great one. Breakfast is the most important meal, as they say, and Brookline definitely delivers. Their menu features everything you want to see on a sleepy Saturday morning. It's a small establishment, so there is often a bit of a wait, however my friend was seated in about 5 minutes. I was running a bit late, and the waitress gruffly told him that they don't hold tables, but let him stay anyway for some reason. How nice of her. Once I arrive, it takes a while for her to take our over. We're hungry! However, the place is packed (and loud!) and we can see that the cooks in the tiny kitchen working their butts off. All I want in my life right now is a breakfast sandwich! After we order, there's another waiting game. The slow, inattentive service is my biggest complaint about the experience, so don't come starving (as we had) or need to be anywhere in an hour (as we did). Once our meals arrived though, we forgot all of our troubles. It's so nice to see a full, colorful plate! A hefty sandwich cut in half surrounded by a heap of homefries and veggies. I was feeling especially classy and ordered my breakfast sandwich with salmon, which was a great decision, as the fish was tender and added a nice element. The sandwich is grilled, cheesy, eggy, and just the right amount of drippy and oozy. It's served on soft Texas toast which is charred perfectly and provides just the right absorbancy and texture to house the mm mm good fillings. Homefries were prepared well, although I've had better, and I really enjoyed the pile of veggies which provided a (somewhat) healthy balance. The homemade chili sauce on the table was just alright in my opinion, since I didn't taste much flavor and the heat hits you later. The sandwich itself has flavor for days, so I didn't find the sauce necessary. The price is also on point, as the meal cost us each under $10 buckaroos. Now I can officially conquer the day!
(4)Teresita O.
An understated find in Cambridge and a must go-to for lunch and Sunday brunch. The service is friendly and attentive. The food fresh and lovingly prepared by the Abu-Rubieh family. Get here early to avoid the wait.
(5)Jennifer K.
Update: 4/26 - A reply from the owner. Mushhoor A: 'Coffee tastes like meat? What kind of nonsense review are you trying to achieve? It lacks substance, is completely exaggerated, and I think I remember you being quite the ass. Glad we won't be seeing you any time soon. I believe you rushed us from the moment you sat down. We tend to ignore those kind of people. Too da loo :D' Thank you for your reply sir. However, I believe you're mistaken as to who you served because there were no men servers present when I was at this establishment. I do not aim to achieve anything but to share my experience which you clearly chose to ignore and belittle instead of address. I hope that you one day take the time to review what others are saying to you with a grain of salt and mature from there. Good luck.
(1)Andrew K.
Unassuming diner I found on yelp while visiting the area. I had eggs Benedict which I can be a snob about. It was fantastic and came with a very nice veggie/potatoes scramble.
(5)Sam E.
I reviewed the breakfast here in 2011, singing the praises of Jamal's work in the kitchen and the great family vibe of the place. Here, I'll focus on their lunch. As with their breakfast, lunch here is all kinds of yummy. Today I had a chicken sandwich with veg and cheese and I'm sure what else because I was too focused on the joy of getting it in my belly. I had a side of beef and barley soup, which was almost a cross between what you would think of as beef and barley, and a green curry. How does that work, you may ask? Well, I couldn't stop eating it. Brookline has been going forever here in Central Square, and there's a good reason why. You never leave hungry, and the combination of flavors and textures in their meals will tickle your yummy bones all the way down.
(5)Cameron M.
I think I go out to brunch as often as your average city dwelling twenty something. Brookline Lunch is the best brunch place I have EVER been too. By far. I judge all new brunch places based off Brookline. And so far, every single one has been significantly worse. Here are my reasons: 1. Its family run - by a super nice family. The mother, who often waits the tables will remember your face and soon enough your favorite order. It can get crowded on the weekends, but I have never seen the staff get anywhere close to impatient, short, or even ruffled. 2. Its super cheap. Every time you see the check you will think you were undercharged. Brunch for 2 for less than $15 that will fill anyone up - you can't beat that around here. 3. The home fries are the best you will ever have. Perfectly crispy potatoes mixed with a whole bunch of charred vegetables. The vegetables change by the season, and so they never get boring - tomatoes, spinach, squash, brussels sprouts, carrots, onions, peppers, asparagus - they all rotate through. Top with their really good unique homemade hot sauce and you have the perfect plate of home fries. 4. The other food is ridiculously good as well. My favorite is 'The 35' breakfast sandwich - eggs, cheese, bacon, and more charred vegetables sandwiched between two perfectly buttered and toasted slices of bread. Its the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had. The coffee is not good. I can live with that.
(5)Wanxin C.
Good portion for good price. Benedict is good. Turkish coffee doesn't come with prevailed sugar
(4)Naomi F.
I absolutely loved it. And I only ordered take out! When you walk in, the set up is very simple and cozy; the kitchen and grill is open in the back of the restaurant. The menu contained breakfast items; for lunch they have your usual sandwiches but also Mediterranean/Greek dishes that comes with naan and masala; all range from $6-9. They do not serve dinner. I went right to the back to order and the lady was very, very nice. I'm not so familiar with Greek food so she was happy to explain what some of the dishes were. Unfortunately they do run out of some food items later into the afternoon (I came by at 2). But I ordered the spinach and feta and it was divine! Everything about the food was good and it came in such a large box! The minimum for card is $10 but the woman let me swipe my card through because I didn't know. Definitely coming back here for my lunch break soon! And bringing a friend!
(5)Gitta M.
This place feels like you are eating breakfast at your friend's house: heartfelt, homey, delicious and a little chaotic. The portions are huge with a variety of veggies on every plate. The Jerusalem omelet was great: tangy goat cheese, herbs like fresh mint on top, some great olives on the side and tons of savory home fries with a variety of veggies. It just feels like the owners want to go the extra mile to provide you with a nutritious delicious breakfast that could keep you full for the whole day or soak up all that alcohol from a rough night (perfect hangover food). There is extra attention to detail with the hot sauce on every table, the homemade jam that comes with every order. The service is great as well: prompt coffee refills!! This is THE breakfast place in central!!!
(5)Natalie D.
Nice brunch. Cash only. Chill vibe. Good options. Fine service. Convenient location. Better than a diner but diner style food.
(3)Jibrell J.
This family run hole in the wall brunch plate is L-E-G-I-T. I highly recommend the Nutella pancakes. Warning: there can be a line outside on the weekends.
(5)Alexandra K.
Great place, definitely will keep it in mind for my next diner outing. The food was delicious, the chicken was a bit dry but really well seasoned. The interior was a bit dated, and I was there during a really cold day, and it was so cold inside! Most of the people didn't even take their jackets of! So definitely come here when it's not cold :)
(4)Elle W.
Wish I could give 5 and a half stars! This place is the greatest little dive ever. They use tons of fresh veggies, and the staff is very sweet! Try the homemade blueberry jam or the Turkish coffee.
(5)Steve C.
Awful service and bad food. Really going for the bohemian look, but it's only good to see, not to eat. Portions were small, eggs over cooked, dirty glasses, bad coffee, and flavorless food. Edit: I had a cook from the restaurant contact me through Yelp about this review. He was a bit angry sounding. I stand by what I said. The place is cozy and I really used to like the food when I lived nearby around 2 years ago. I've been back twice in the last two months and both times it has been awful. The first time my dish came out okay, the meat-filled omelette was bland and just tasted like scambled eggs mixed with warmed up deli ham. My GF ordered eggs Benedict and the poached eggs were WAY overcooked (like solid hard lumps). To add to all this my coffee glass was really dirty and had a bunch of dried-up coffee crusted on the outside and some sticky syrup on the lip. The second time we went it took nearly 15 minutes to get drinks at the table. When we did both glasses were smudged with oily residue around the outside. We asked for new glasses and the waitress (who seemed rushed, but very nice prior to this) looked at us like we were demanding her wallet. We did get new glasses but she was annoyed and decided not to take our order for nearly twenty minutes more (it's easy to tell how long all this takes as they have a large clock over the entrance on the inside). My GF ordered french toast and I got huevos rancheros. The French toast was okay, soggy but sweet. That was definitely not a bad choice. The huevos rancheros were a joke. They are scrambled eggs with a slice of american cheese melted on them with a spoonful of room temperature black beans alongside a mediocre pile of potato medley. The mixed potato medley has a weird assortment of vegetables and just doesn't have a coherent flavor. It's like something I would throw together in the morning hungover with stuff lying around in my fridge; however, they serve it on every plate! I do not intend to give this place a third try.
(1)Leigh C.
For the price, this truly is as good as it gets for me with brunch! Everything is delicious, good portion size, and mostly everything comes with a heaping side of sauteed vegetables, which I love. It's cheap and I love the vibe too. The service is usually very good (I feel like I know the hostess and wait staff because I come so often and they are always the same)! I have never had to wait to sit (which seems incomprehensible to me).. If you do have to wait, unfortunately there isn't room to wait inside so keep that in mind in winter. Overall, absolutely love this place, and not just because it is right across the street from our house.
(5)Kerri Y.
Eclectic lunch/breakfast place located in Central Square. It took me a while to get here- whenever I tried to go for lunch during a workweek, it seemed to always be mysteriously closed--- maybe the day or the time-- who knows. Once day walking past, low and behold it was OPEN! Interesting menu of breakfast items, Mediterranean items (Hummas plate, Falafel plate) , sandwiches (hamburger, BLT, tuna) pasta dishes and main dishes (like curries and kebobs). Decent place, Decent food for lunch (I had a good eggs Benedict). I believe they are cash only but everything is so low priced, I'm sure you can scrounge up a few bucks to eat here!
(3)Liz G.
In need of a visit from "Restaurant Impossible." There was nothing about this experience that was positive. There is no list for the line so you manage yourselves. But if someone called ahead and arrives, they go ahead of you. They are cash only but they don't make this very clear until you are practically getting seated and then they send you away to the ATM if you need it (translation=bring cash). Once seated, we waited about 10 minutes before being visited by one of the two drink waitresses. Then another 15 minutes before we were visited by the one and only food waitress. Then another 20 minutes (maybe longer) until we got our food. It was fine but nothing special. Save yourself the trip and go elsewhere if you actually want to to be out of brunch in less than 2 hours or have an even remotely positive dining experience. There is more but not related to my actual meal so I'll let my dining guests provide their own reviews.
(1)Jim M.
Outstanding spot for breakfast or lunch. I walked around Central Square for 45 minutes looking for a decent sandwich place and stumbled upon this diamond in the rough. Amazing food! I had the chicken sandwich and homefries, which was perfectly prepared and had so many flavors combining into a great bite every time. The homemade hot sauce complimented the dish well and the service was top notch. All that said and it was under $10 with a coffee. If you are looking for a great spot for a great meal, this is it!
(5)Cassy H.
Brookline Lunch is a great small local spot with friendly service and honest home-cooked food. I'd definitely recommend it for Central Sq residents and visitors. I ordered the Western omelet, which included ham, tomatoes, and spinach (see photo). Although it's been a while since I've been here, I do remember vividly that I loved what I ate. I was completely satisfied for not just one meal, but two. Yes, the portions are huge, so you can definitely turn your omelet dish into two meals. And you should.. b/c it's probably not a good idea to eat such a big portion. Anyway, come with cash and be prepared to get your money's worth.
(4)Kimberly W.
A hole-in-the-wall local place in Central Square, the food here is fantastic! A bit of a strange name since the place is in Cambridge...and good for breakfast...but nevertheless, great sized portions and decent prices [especially for salmon and eggs benedict :D] Staff was pretty friendly and our food came out in a decent amount of time. We went on a Saturday morning [around 9:30 AM], but by 10:30 or so there were a couple of parties that were waiting to be seated. They also don't take card here. Hopefully I'll be back soon!
(5)Tarun G.
This is a mom n pop shop with really delicious food. The place is cheap too compared to any other other brunch place around in Boston but just keep in mind that it's cash only. Omelettes and chocolate chip pancakes are a must try! Definitely worth a visit!
(5)Lyndsey C.
Very good food. We had breakfast varieties here. very hot, fresh, and tasty. Def a hole in the wall... Don't expect any glitz or glamour but very pleasant owners.
(5)Kaeo D.
I like the decor way more than Friendly Toast, but the food is so much worse! We were the first ones there and there was no wait, and yet: Undercooked vegetables, bland food, unimpressive coffee, undercooked eggs. I was really hungry and came from the gym so I ate 70%, but my friend didn't eat more than a few bites of her omelette.
(2)Imran G.
What's all the ruckus about? Try walking up Brookline St on a Saturday or Sunday morning without getting run over. The entire side of the street is blocked off by people waiting anxiously for a table. Its extremely cut throat since its first-come first-serve and they don't exactly have a waiting list. Once you get inside and try food you'll see its not just hype that keeps this place busy. The reasonable, almost cheap, prices along some really tasty menu items can easily make you a regular. While the eggs benedict isn't as good as Cafe Luna's, its also a fraction of the price. If you don't feel like making breakfast, and don't feel like coughing up $45 for brunch for two people, then check out Brookline. That's not to say their stuff isn't tasty, it certainly is. The steak eggs benedict is solid, and so are the homefries. If you're not feeling yolky, get the breakfast chicken sandwich with hot sauce, all of which will fill you up quite well. I didn't get to try any of their sweet stuff, aside from the toast with homemade jam. If the rest of their sweets are like that, then its certainly worth a try. For the most part, if you don't want to spend $40-50 for brunch for 2 at Cafe Luna, Brookline Lunch is certainly worth a shot. Its nothing unique, but it is all solidly executed food.
(4)Sara O.
Just moved to Cambridgeport and this was the first breakfast place we tried. I could not be happier. (and I am very opinionated!) The Greek omelette was out of this world - fresh mint, feta, olives, ... beautifully cooked... homemade jam and nice buttered toast, and homefries with carrots and onions mixed in. Good coffee. Cozy, low-key spot.... a really wonderful place and a great introduction to Cambridge. I will be back!
(5)P H.
Good food, reasonable prices. I would happily go back- but nothing really amazing. Went for breakfast and the home fries were really the star of the show- potatoes plus a bunch of veggies. Crispy bits all mixed in. Very very good. The coffee wasn't anything special, and everything else was done well, but nothing amazing. Only ok service and the setting is a bit run down- (old tables, old booths, etc) the place is pretty small and the staff seemed a bit overwhelmed.
(3)Tommy L.
This place for years has been my girlfriend's favorite breakfast place. The omelettes are fluffy, with generous portions of veggies or whatever you get in them. The baba ghannoush plate comes with delicious naan, and it's perfectly and delicately smoked. The staff is friendly, and the coffee cups are always refilled promptly. Not the fastest in town, but everything is consistently yummy. And not terribly pricey either! Love it!
(5)Athan M.
We were there this past Saturday and had a phenomenal breakfast. The Greek omelette is excellent, with not just feta, Kalamata olives and spinach but fresh spinach sautéed with garlic and lots of fresh basil, oregano and other herbs. Our son's chocolate pancakes and our daughter's egg sandwich were equally good. Coffee was solid, service friendly and efficient, and prices incredibly reasonable (especially in Boston).
(5)Cam M.
I'm sure the food is delicious but the service was terrible!! They were rude, dismissive, and passive aggressive. It costs nothing to be nice (especially when people are ordering food) and pays off a ton to treat others nicely. Its a shame--I was looking forward to the food. I rarely write reviews, but was shocked at the service.
(1)Ana S.
Hands down the best breakfast spot in all of Boston. I say breakfast and not brunch because this isn't the kind place where you linger over bloody marys for three hours. This is a family-owned and operated shop where the dishes are simple but hearty, the Chock Full O'Nuts coffee is bottomless, and the check is rarely more than $12 a person. Go before noon if you want to get in quickly.
(4)M L.
Awesome hidden gem tucked away in Central Square. I'm not a homefries fan, but these came with sauteed veggies and were delicious. I had the veggie omelet and it was awesome, friend had the 35 breakfast sandwich which he loved. Homemade jam was killer too. For $9-10/pp after tax and tip, I think this is one of the best (and yummiest) brunch places around. My only complaint was that everything was a bit greasy and it took me asking two waitresses twice to get water, but I guess that's expected when you go to a diner. I'll be back without a doubt. And there will definitely be a wait on the weekends, but it usually goes pretty fast.
(5)Markus A.
Place is great. Family-run, great service, excellent food, and really outstanding prices. They make their own hot sauce and it is amazing. Omelettes are excellent and are always out in your face fresh. Never sitting under a heat lamp for ten minutes.
(5)John D.
Great for breakfast with a feeling that you are in your Grandma's kitchen. The breakfast plates are beautiful to look at with a colorful assortment of veggies and potatoes. But the taste, unlike any breakfast anyplace else. They have great traditional american breakfasts with a Mediterranean spin. My go to meal is the Eggs Benedict but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Make sure to bring cash because they don't take cards, but you won't have to bring much, as the prices are better than any place in Cambridge.
(5)Hao X.
The dinning experience was a chaos. We were waiting in the dinner and no one talked to us for 15 mins. Parties that came after us got seated first. After twenty minutes wait, we finally got seated and guess what it was another twenty minutes wait before anyone took our order. Orders of four tables who got seated after us were placed before the waitress came to our table. Such a mess.
(1)Matt P.
Ordered a falafel sandwich two days in a row. For $7 you get a mountain of delicious food. The service is fast and friendly.
(5)Steve H.
Love this place! Great food (awesome veggie omelet) friendly service, and terrific ambiance.
(4)Kim B.
AMAZING! Breakfast all day, specialty omlettes, homemade hot sauce and jam, quick service and the vegetable medley that comes as a side is incredible!!!! Fresh herbs make the food smell and taste heavenly. We all chose omlettes (goat cheese and herb for me, turkey sausage and cheddar for my friends) but I was eyeing up the Nutella pancakes they had on special too! They do take credit cards (another poster said they didn't) and turnaround time is fast so even if you have to wait, it's not long. Only complaint is that the coffee is typical diner coffee, I could've upgraded to a Turkish if I'd wanted though. GO! ENJOY!!
(5)Reyes Z.
Went here this morning for breakfast based on the good reviews and pictures on here. There was only one waitress, who did not seem experienced enough to be handling the place by herself. Waited for a good 5-7 minutes before being waited on and another 15 minutes before our order was taken(2 groups walked in and we had to ask her to place our order as it seemed she was going to get them settled first). Almost about to leave when she came back to take our order. Got our food in about 15 minutes. I ordered the brendan benedict(bacon and spinach) and my husband ordered the special w/ french toast and eggs over easy. My meal looked as nice as the pictures posted on here but first cut I realized the eggs were not cooked. Poked around and tried to find parts that were cooked. There were a couple of salvageable bites so I tried it. The hollandaise sauce was awful-tasted like mayo, just colored yellow. Also, the texture of the homefries was good but they had a weird taste(dirty griddle?) and I didn't eat those either. My husband usually eats anything you put in front of him but even he couldn't finish his eggs because they too were undercooked. He said the french toast was okay and the best part of the meal was the grapefruit. Both meals were cold. I told the waitress that I wanted my meal removed from the ticket because I couldn't eat it. She was very nice about it but informed me that that's how they make their eggs. I understand cooking a certain style but poached eggs are still supposed to be cooked, not raw with "flubbery" whites. She dropped off the ticket, returned to pick it up but we didn't realize it was cash only so she left and didn't return for at 10 minutes. My husband ended up going to pay at the front. I really don't understand how this place has 4 stars and now I'm skeptical of the reviews for other places The place looked like it had never been cleaned and the bathroom was disgusting. The silverware and glasses looked unsanitary as well. I will not be returning. Should have spent the extra money and gone to Cafe Luna.
(1)Allen W.
Loved our omlettes with veggies. Toast is great. Excellent service. A little beat-up but unpretentious, casual atmosphere. Mix of students and middle-aged customers. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Hanna H.
Small, family-run restaurant with way too few workers, but really great brunch. The service is slow because there's only 1 waiter and 2 cooks, but even given the circumstances, they don't skimp on quality or politeness. The menus are awful--very ugly and I feel like they are undescriptive or lack menu items--and the booths suck because they can't support your weight if you lean on them. But nonetheless, the food was really good and the prices are unbeatable, most things are $6. Got a bacon eggs benedict (~$6) and banana pancakes (~$8). My boyfriend and I came in on MLK Monday and got a seat right away. Some parties came in after us and only waited maybe 10 minutes or so. It's more difficult if you have a large party though. Definitely recommend this place, even for the cool hole-in-the-wall atmosphere.
(4)Jason H.
Have only been here for breakfast and it is good, fast, polite, and cheap. We love it. Basically Cambridge's version of an old school, gritty diner. Some menu items come with sides (toast, potatoes, etc) and some don't, so good to ask.
(4)Michelle P.
My partner and I visited Brookline Lunch on a Saturday morning, 10-ish, and it was pretty busy but never had to turn anyone away or make them wait for a table in the time that we were there. The waitstaff is really friendly, but that may have been the reason we were waiting for ages every step of the way--to get menus, to get drinks, to have orders taken, etc. They only had one gal working the room, and while the cheerful greeting was nice we would have preferred timely service. Food was good solid diner style fare. My guy got both breakfast and the baklava, which turned out to be a very generous portion. The best thing about this place is the atmosphere--it's packed with the work of local artists, all of which can be purchased. Interesting variety of work and cozy overall impression. I'd eat here again, but only on a weekday.
(3)Lola O.
Great Food, Long wait: Wondered in, hungry, on a Saturday morning. The place was pretty busy but we were sat right away. And that's when the waiting game started. Had to wait 5 minutes for water, another 5 for menus. A good 15 more minutes to place our order, and then probably 20 minutes for our food. The food was great, really. the menu also looks full of good stuff, and the prices are reasonable. So this is definitely not the place if you're looking for a quick bite, but if you're a up for a slow, lazy Saturday morning, this place is perfect!
(3)Amie M.
Haiku Review Hole-in-the-wall place Pancakes, olive plates, and more Great food and prices!
(4)Caleb W.
Best breakfast in Cambridge. Low prices, fresh ingredients, friendly staff. There's not a ton of seating, but it's well worth the wait if you end up in line.
(5)Brandon W.
Terrific place for a weekend brunch. The omelets are fantastic with plenty of your choice of protein (I recommend the Big Fish). You also get a nice heap of home fries and veg on the side. You will definitely be full and will probably need a to-go box. Also the Turkish coffee is worth a try, especially if you are a fan of espresso.
(5)Joel M.
Now that I live around the corner, this is my go to breakfast/brunch spot. Super cheap prices, excellent home fries, random service. The only thing keeping this from five stars is the 'speedy service' dice you roll every time you go in. You might luck out and be in and out in 30 mins, or you might be waiting 15 before the waitress (I've only seen one, presumably the wife/owner?) even gets to you. I love that it's a small family place, but on a Saturday or Sunday morning an extra server would go a LONG way. On the flip side, I'm kind of just used to the wait now, so as long as you expect it the rest will take care of itself.
(4)Steve A.
I used to come here a lot. Good portions, very good price, average to good tasting food. Then I had one incident with dirt and hair in my food. During the same visit, there were live bugs at my table, and I'm not just talking about the odd gnat or fly. As I looked around the place, I realized that this is not a one-off incident. Places like Sunny's may seem from the outside to be dirtier, but take a lot better care of themselves on the inside. I would have at least given this place 2 stars, but food establishments need to be clean. Sorry, my dollar deserves better treatment.
(1)Sam B.
Probably had my best brunch ever! Was really hungry and had to wait for 15 minutes to get in, but it was worth the wait. As others have mentioned it's a family run place with the head of the family being the cook and his wife and children serve and clean the tables and dishes. I had Californian Benedict (special of the day) which came with Avocados and Tomatoes, a side of homemade fries and hot sauce. Now I love eggs, but these were one of the best I have ever had. Homemade fries are served with veggies and were good and so was the hot sauce. I also took a side of toast just for the jam people are talking about and it's delicious. The toasts were also buttered. This all came for $11. I guess I am going to be a regular here!
(5)Enzo S.
Best breakfast/lunch restaurant in Boston. Cheap prices, home-like vibe, and the food is beyond delicious. Have never left unsatisfied
(5)Jman S.
Great place just off Mass Ave. We went there for brunch on a Sunday and there was a line outside with about 15 people with about a 20 minute wait. If you see a line, make sure you sign in before you stand in the line. I guess its a MIT thing to both sign in and line up outside! The food was awesome and cheap! A huge brunch for two with two coffees and tips was ~20$. I wish I lived next door and would never have to cook again.
(4)Rayan D.
I've lived about 30 seconds away from Brookline Lunch for the past 18 months and driven by it multiple times but never stopped in. This morning I was looking for a new brunch option so we headed down to try it out - the place was packed. We waited for about 5 minutes and within another 5 minutes had coffee and waters. We ordered french toast, eggs, and the greek omelet - portions were HUGE! The food was delicious and we were very impressed. When it came time to pay we found that the massive portions and coffee only set us back about $8 a person - a really good deal compared to what you might pay elsewhere in Boston. We will definitely be back again soon!
(5)James A.
Extremely unassuming but expectation-defyingly good. I had chicken and waffles, and it was just great. The folks are friendly and the price is so reasonable for the portions that it's almost criminal.
(4)Katarina M.
This place is a great value (meals with huge portions running in the $5-7 range) and has some pretty bomb food. Have only eaten here for brunch. They have your standard diner fare: eggs, omelets, sausage, bacon, pancakes, French toast, home fries. But they also have various eggs benedicts, and steak (which comes as an alternative to standard bacon or sausage with their eggs meals), an ethnic breakfast (I'm remembering pita and olives but there was definitely other stuff), and some good specials (they change often...last time, I overheard the owner telling someone they were out of salmon, but that they had some fresh tilapia). The thing with this place is that they put their own spin on it. Your home fries definitely didn't come out of a bag. There's always a ton of fresh grilled veggies in them and they are pretty flavorful. The whole plate is just always flavorful. And they come up with interesting specials (although I didn't like my TBM omelet...interesting in theory, just doesn't really taste great all together). Their iced coffee is great. I'm not a coffee snob, but I don't like it when my iced coffee tastes watery, and theirs doesn't. If you allow me to suggest one thing to you off their menu, it's their CRACK JAM. Homemade raspberry jam that we're pretty sure has chunks of pineapple in it. If your meal doesn't come with toast, order a side of toast (which they butter for you!) and jam because it is that good. Also, they have homemade hot sauce. I'm not a fan of spice but I am a foodie so I tried a little. It packed a nice little kick and was just so "fresh" is the word we kept throwing around. Definitely some fresh spices in there along with probably some chili paste or something. But it's pretty liquidy. Anyways, it's good. A few minor annoyances which mean I can't grant that last star: 1, the homefries aren't to die for. They're good but just that. 2, the first omelet I ordered was a Western omelet and was not supposed to have sausage in it, but it did, as did my friend's omelet that wasn't supposed to have it either. They're kind of all over the place throwing things in your plate that aren't supposed to be there, it seems. Which is fine for the homefries, there's no definition of homefries. But she told me what was in the Western, and sausage was not in her description. 3, the fans are not AC and I am always too hot in there (although it is summer). 4, the service can be off if it's too crowded (we literally spent 5 minutes staring at anyone who works there and could not get any of their attention). They're always friendly but they have to change something there. All in all, it will definitely be my spot this summer for going out to breakfast. Not perfect, but pretty damn near.
(4)Jacob V.
For an incredibly cheap place to eat, Brookline Lunch was awesome! I had the steak egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and it was really good! The steak was just a little too chewy but it didn't distract from the great flavors. The potatoes and veggies that came with were also really good, and make sure you ask for there home-made hot sauce! The staff is very, very friendly and definitely added to the positive experience that I had.
(5)Dessa R.
Before this past weekend, I hadn't eaten here in almost 3 years. My first experience was particularly unimpressive, and I just never got the urge to return. But in my yelping, I read that the place has really improved over time. So, I gave it another shot. Nope. Still just as bad as 3 years ago, possibly worse. My eggs benedict and veggie home fries were barely edible. My breakfast companion looked rather miserable with his French toast as well. Just not our cup of tea, I guess. I feel a little ashamed slamming a local business run by a seemingly nice family, but it was the most disappointing breakfast I have had since... the last time I was here. But I do like to support small local business-- and I'm glad they have so much support from other Yelpers, because I don't foresee myself going back. Ever. That's right, I'm a terrible person.
(1)Josephine L.
They don't kiss your ass here. You sit your hiney down anywhere you can find a spot and wait for the menus to come to you whenever they damn well feel like it. Well, not the menus themselves but the people bringing them. The eggs benedict sandwiches are scrumptious to this non-bread lover (I am chronically thirsty!). I got the salmon 'n' cheese one and boy was it omega-3 delicious. The boyfriend got the ham 'n' cheese and the two of us were silent for a whole 4 minutes while we wolfed down our food! 4 minutes! If you're in my 'hood, this is the place to grab a breakfast bite.
(4)Anna T.
Went here for a hangover brunch with some friends recently. A heads up, the place is cash only! Their menu is a mix of great breakfast staples and Mediterranean specialties. The service is super friendly and speedy, the food is great, and the prices are really cheap! I only wish it was closer!
(4)Lisa H.
An incredible bang for your buck. $4.25 for a breakfast sandwich (bacon included) with homefries. And the homefries have veggies mixed in. Wish the homefries were a little crispier. Friends also got the huevos rancheros and french toast. Everything was great!
(4)Shannon M.
This place will blow your mind. The woman who's the main waitress is the most motherly woman I've ever met in a restaurant. She smiles when she brings your water, when she takes your order, when she brings your food, when she sees if you need anything else... it's like being at your grandmother's house or something. And the food! Unreal breakfast served all day. The omelets are the perfect size-- giant, but you can finish it without feeling over-stuffed and yet be full until dinner. The home fries come with veggies (zucchini, tomato, broccoli), and are delicious. People rave about the homemade jam-- it might be an acquired taste that I don't have, so try it and don't listen to me. Yeah, Cafe Luna and Sonsie's have awesome brunch, but this place is REAL. Given the price and the fact that this is awesome, delicious food served by my favorite waitress ever, this may be one of my favorite places in Boston.
(5)Scot M.
This is one of America's best breakfast joints. The food is awesome and always a little different, depending on what is on hand your homefries might come with extra broccoli or you might get a whole banana on the side. They always use just the right amount of butter and oil to fry up the delights served here. The coffee hits the spot, and the waitpersons are eager to bring water for those patrons parched from a night of drinking. I strongly recommend trying the sausage, egg and cheese sandwich, even now, thousands of miles away, I can picture the buttered bread collapsing around the hot cheesy links and the delicious scrambled egg inside. The eggs benedict is also real good, and sometimes I skip breakfast and go straight for the cheeseburger, which is actually a patty melt! Service is a cut above most Cambridge restaurants. They are pretty much run by one family, the children, polite and friendly serve and wash the dishes, the father, as many men now do, is in charge of cooking, and the matriarch runs the show. She is very friendly, but as the boss she has no time for shenanigans or people keeping the door open when there is a blizzard outside. They usually remember who you are too, depending on how busy it is, although that means you have to tell them you don't want 'the usual.' Location is lovely too, right in Cambridge's grit square and only steps from the red line it is easy to see why this place gets so busy on the weekends. It is across the street from the Middle East and T.T. the Bears or whatever that place is called, and it is always fun to get one of the window booths and watch the different types of musical groups getting setup for the night ahead. The clientele is a more or less inoffensive cross-section of central square's rising star. You might see more people you know than you'd expect for such a small place, but if any particularly unsavory characters from your past appears in the booth next to you, well take another bite of your sausage, egg and cheese sandwich and forget about them. There must be quite a few harvard and mit students since the place was significantly less crowded when the students were out on break. Timing is the one thing that sucks about his place. They don't open until 8:30am, so if you work, you can't eat there during the week. On the weekends you'll never have to wait if you get there before 9:30 and usually after 12pm you are safe too, otherwise I have never waited more than 15 minutes for America's best breakfast. The art on the walls comes from Out of the Blue gallery, so if you like their work then you'll like this art. My artistic friend who goes by the name "Herbert," gets very upset at what he views as the low-kitsch quality of the picture-rendered paintings and their high prices. However, you will never find high prices on the menu.
(5)Jeremy K.
I still can't figure out why it isn't called Cambridge Lunch since it's Cambridge and not Brookline but I guess that doesn't really matter. Their food does. And their food is good. Very good actually and well priced. I went there a couple of times for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised by the value you get for what you pay. And it's also healthier than most places I've seen which is another great thing. Not a lot of guilt if you down those veggies. The food comes out quickly and service is minimal but prompt. Just spot on if you ask me. The only downside to this place is that it's cash only (at least it was when I was there).
(4)Deanna D.
I really enjoy Brookline Lunch for breakfast/brunch. The restaurant is a hole in the wall with funky and cool artwork on the walls, a relaxed vibe and cool clientele. The staff is friendly but never fast......Who staffs only 2 servers for a super busy Sat. morning? The homefries are awesome! I love the veggies mixed with the potatoes and the hot sauce (homemade?) is lovely. The salmon eggs benedict does not disappoint...tasty hollandaise sauce, cooked salmon (not smoked--thank you!) and toasted english muffin= delicious brunch on the cheap!! The prices are amazingly low! Breakfast for 2 for well under $20 with a generous tip! The food is a bit greasy but very tasty, super slow service..you have been warned. It gets really busy during weekend brunch hours so try to get there early. Overall a great value for brunch on the cheap!
(4)Gerardo F.
How on earth can so many people love this place??? This "restaurant" is an abomination in every sense possible. Seriously, I've been there three times, and every single time I've had a terrible experience. The waitress, first of all, seems to barely speaks English and does not seem to care much about her work. She also had a air of nonchalance towards a lot of people (I'm starting to think that she hates her job). Second, because there are only two people working there (the waitress and the cook), the service takes forever. I've once had to wait some 40 minutes for some eggs, french toast and bacon when there were only 4 people. Finally, the food. What can I say? It's without a doubt the most disgusting, most uninspiring food I have ever eaten. My last visit there, I ordered pasta with pesto sauce. Not only were the pasta poorly cooked, but there was NO pesto sauce AT ALL. I've had it with this "restaurant". I'll never ever get close to it. Good riddance Brookine Lunch.
(1)Jack M.
Food was decent, but service was very weak. I ordered linguini with pesto sauce, 25 minutes later, I got linguini with alfredo sauce. I didn't feel like waiting another 25 minutes, so I didn't say anything. It then took 15 minutes after I finished my meal to get the check. Additionally there is no air conditioning. It was 97 degrees outside and probably close to that inside. Luckily, the food was good and inexpensive, that's why it's still 3 stars.
(3)Amelia M.
I really love this place, but be careful -- because everybody else does too! You'll need to get there extra early on the weekends in order to get breakfast without having to wait around outside. But even if you do have to wait, it will be worth it. My favorite is the Greek omelet, with its pretty little slice of good-quality feta hanging out on top. With friendly service and a happy, neighborhood vibe, you can feel good about giving these guys your money on a regular basis.
(5)Sam K.
I had the salmon benedict & it was Egg-cellent! Turkish coffee and bahklava are delicious too. Highly recommended by yours Truly.
(5)Jeff W.
Lots of food, and lots of variety with ingredients in the dish (the homefries especially). The breakfast food is good, and I really like the crabmeat sandwich. Very good value. Sometimes service is a little bad, but service isn't what you should be coming here for. The hot sauce is somewhat uninspiring; I prefer tabasco. The jam is pretty cool (though really sweet).
(4)Sarav C.
I love this place and cant get enough of it. The place is very down to earth, earthy crunchy, family run business. Easy on your wallet, very friendly service and nice place to have brunch or lunch. The veggie omelet with vegetables, toast, hot sauce and home made fruit jam is to die for. I top it off with coffee and they keep filling the cup when its empty. I support so many local businesses in Cambridge, this is the only place they make me feel at home. They even greet me with my name and treat my friends with the same respect.
(5)Jason C.
WOW. $5.50 got me the best omelet I've ever had. I ordered the Western. It came covered in ham (real ham, cubed. not stupid deli meat), onions, red green yellow and orange bell peppers, tomato, zucchini, carrot slices, broccoli, spinach and maybe more. All the vegetables were cooked perfectly - not overdone or mushy, still retained some crisp freshness. The home fries were also delicious, especially when covered in their homemade chili sauce. I hear their breakfast sandwiches are also delicious (duh, basically the omelet on toast), but I'd say get the omelet anyway because then you'll get a side of toast and a cup of their homemade jam. It is sooooo tasty! This place is great for groups of 4 and under. Service was fast and friendly.
(5)K F.
Great place, good food, cheap brunch and fast service. You might not want to bring your girl/boy friend for the first date but overall we are a big fun and happy that we live close by.
(4)Molly L.
AWESOME! Great little family-run hole in the wall with unique middle eastern food. Homemade hot sauce and jam are delish. Fast and polite service and killer hash browns!
(5)Paul S.
This is the perfect place to eat in Central Square! It's local, it's cheap and it tastes really good! Go an hour earlier than you think you should go, so that you can beat the Saturday morning brunch rush-crowd. Plus, the coffee is well worth the sit down.
(5)Alex H.
Greasy Spoon. This place is a cheap, down and dirty diner. The portions are enormous, and the menu is a little scattered, but it's quick, cheap, and has a little bit of everything.
(4)Brian H.
Went here for mid-week breakfast. All the traditional American breakfast items looked great, but I opted for the Felafel plate and man was it awesome. Coffee was great. Service was beautiful. Price was more than fair. Bring cash.
(4)Philip K.
This place was awesome for brunch. I came here with a big group of freinds and we all squeezed around a tiny table in this interesting hole in the wall. This place is super informal but that is what made it awesome. The omlettes were huge and piled high with all the good stuff. I got the ultimate omlette which had all the veggies, cheese, sausage, and even a chicken breast!!! One thing that happened that made me very pleased was the events that occured after a spilling of hot sauce. Our server spilled hot sauce on my cousin, but, helped her clean up, and to make it all better comped her entire meal. Not bad! This place is awesome-- super freindly, super cheap, and super delicious!
(4)Amir K.
Fresh, cheap and delicious
(4)Lynette S.
This is not only a review but a big thank you to the 2 staff who attended to me nicely eventhough i blew through there when it was busy and i just wanted a breakfast sandwich to go! i got mushroom, egg and cheese on wheat bread (comes with a side of homefries and veggies!) for 4$ and change. yum. i live closer to inman but there arent too many good breakfast sandwiches in my immediate area...would come back to BL anytime for this tasty goodness. Thanks! You have one more fan!
(5)Jenny N.
Oh, the eggs florentine are TO DIE FOR!! I have to agree with Ligaya--they are just perfection. I am so excited that I found a place where you can still have a yummy breakfast at any time of day for under $5 easy. This mom-and-pop spot is not fancy; it looks like a greasy spoon, but the food is actually not very greasy at all. I love the exposed brick and art on the walls. While the booths are spacious, the tables could use a more vigorous wipe-down. But this is just a small quibble, because between the boy and I, we demolished a stack of GINORMOUS pancakes (interesting cornmeal type batter) slathered in butter and syrup, eggs florentine, and a platter of 2 eggs, 2 sausages and veggie-ful home fries for like 12 bucks. Can you beat that with a stick!? I think not! I love a home-cooked breakfast, and Brookline Lunch certainly delivers. The parking situation can be a bit tricky as there are very limited metered spots on Brookline St., but you'll be well rewarded for the effort.
(4)Jeffrey M.
This is a hidden gem! Maybe it's hidden because it's not really in Brookline ... it's on Brookline Street. Misleading much? It's a Lebanese-run brunch place, and while I haven't had any of the Lebanese food yet, the brunch menu is pretty standard and meets expectations =] The portion sizes are huge for $6 or 7. I ordered the French toast with ham last Saturday, and while the ham was great, the French toast and maple syrup combination tasted a little artificial. Overall, though, not bad! DO NOT get the baklava. True, it also comes in a huge portion size. But it looks as if they just bought it from a wholesaler and cut it up for you, and that's supported by how it tastes -- easily broken into a dense bottom and flaky top, and also too artificially-sweet. I'd still check it out, though!
(4)Eszter H.
Visiting from out of town and met up with some friends here for a midweek breakfast. The tables were rather yucky. I couldn't tell if they'd been "cleaned" with something sticky or if they just had a lot of grease on them from who knows where. I could tell that they had been wiped, but I used up quite a few napkins to wipe off the yuck. This was not a good start to the experience. The space was cold. I was wearing many layers and I was still feeling chilly. Now for the more positive aspects. The food was completely reasonable breakfast/bunch food. I had the french toast, eggs, bacon dish and it was all pretty good so no complaints there. They don't have fresh-squeezed orange juice. The final payment was extremely reasonable for everything we had consumed so that was a welcomed ending to the visit. I enjoyed the art on the walls that they are selling for very reasonable prices.
(3)Lisa R.
Lots of cheap options and made by a wonderful staff. The pancakes are standard but the hummus platter was devine! I love the cozy atmosphere and the location is cool too. p.s. The spot is off an alleyway.
(3)stephanie t.
Worst french toast I've ever had. Seriously, worse than the terrible food they served at summer camp. Stars are only because I like the atmosphere and it's relatively inexpensive. Also, I don't eat eggs and those look much more promising. Home fries/potatoes were not terrible (i.e. inedible, not great either) -- if I ever were to come back, which sadly I might since the cheap food scene in Cambridge is so lame, I'd just get an order of those, drown them in hot sauce and add some salt, drink coffee and call it a day. I know it's obnoxious to always complain about how provincial Boston is in comparison to "real" cities, but the fact that this is actually considered a great brunch spot isn't helping! EDIT: I originally gave this two stars, but considering that almost a YEAR later I still remember vividly just how bad my french toast was (on thin, soggy white bread), I'm lowering it to keep it more in line with the way I've rated other establishments.
(1)Tiffany Z.
Brookline Lunch is a casual breakfast/brunch/lunch spot down the street from my apartment, and I think they do an amazing job with a non-fancy, inexpensive, but tasty version of eggs benedict served with a side of diced fried potatoes mixed with lots of fresh veggies. That's the only thing I ever get here so I can't comment on the rest of the menu. If the weather's nice, expect a long wait during the weekends. Fortunately, if you're in the neighborhood, you can also order to-go for those weekend mornings you just don't feel like cooking your own breakfast :) As for the interior, it's very casual and eclectic with interesting paintings adorning the walls. And don't come in expecting polished service :) Again, it's really inexpensive compared to other brunch places and the quality of the food is high (it's just not presented in a fancy manner in a fancy environment or with nicely dressed servers). So...depends what you're looking for :)
(4)Aboud Y.
Went back this morning for breakfast and enjoyed it even more than the first time. The Za'ater Bread and jam are amazing...truly exceptional. They make a decent pancake and eggs too. The place is cozy and the coffee is strong. Service is also excellent and welcoming. I will def. be back again.
(4)Maxine Y.
This has been our go to spot for weekend brunch for years. Love the hummus plate, with its kalamata olives, peppers and onions, drizzled in hot sauce. The Greek omelet is really good too. For something light try the halava (sweet spread with pistachios) with tea. Recently had to move and on our last visit they gave us a goodbye gift - baklava and halava! Brookline lunch, we will really miss u!!!
(5)Sam G.
Brookline Lunch is hands-down my favorite brunch place in Cambridge. Sure, you may have to wait a little while to be seated. And it's not the classiest place in the area. But the food is delicious, unique and plentiful; the waitress is a sweetheart; and the bill is always incredibly inexpensive. Their homemade jam and hot sauce are out of this world. Bottom line: Come here on a sunny, leisurely weekend morning, bring a mug of coffee for the wait, relax and enjoy. P.S. My favorite order is the tomato, spinach and feta omelet. Do it.
(5)Brittany R.
Was in Boston for a weekend and ate here two days in a row. The place gets crowded and there was a wait both days, but it may be one of the best places ive ever had breakfast. Definitely go here, and definitely wait for a table.
(4)Mark H.
Stumbled across this place while visiting Boston and staying in Cambridge. Saw some hipsters hanging outside the front of the place and remembered that hipsters live for greasy breakfast and coffee in retro-places. The special omelet or whatever it was called was a disaster of everything in the kitchen, including chicken, sausage, bacon, processed cheese, broccoli, 4 eggs, potatoes a hipster or two, whatever. It looked like a mess with over-buttered toast. Tasted quite good - a bit heavy on fake cheese tho. Anyway, the price was awesome for that much food. In Toronto this would be either $16 (or free because it was found in the dumpster of a breakfast joint). Most of the other orders that I saw looked overly generous and tasty. Think I would stick with a simpler omelet next time but value for money was great - super hangover spot. Just don't go with a large crowd or else you'll really have to squeeze yourself into the small booths. Coffee was good by American standards (i.e. was stronger than Dunkin Donuts).
(4)Melanie H.
I went to Brookline Brunch on a Sunday morning around 11am. It was quite busy, but we were able to seat ourselves immediately and had service right away. They have a fairly extensive menu and offer everything from pancakes to baba ghanoush. Our food was great (egg and feta breakfast sandwich) and was served to us about 10-15 minutes after ordering. This was the fastest I have ever been served brunch food in the Cambridge/Boston area on a Sunday morning. Be warned though, they do not have a dishwasher so all of their dishes are washed by hand, which I felt was a bit unsanitary. Also, their juices are made from concentrate and are poured out of a plastic milk jug. Save your $2.75 and order coffee or water. Lastly, do not go here with a big group. This place is tiny and best accomodates a party of no more than four. If it is cold outside, there is no place to wait for a table- they ask all people to wait outside until they can free up space. Overall, it has its ups and downs, but is worth a try.
(3)Dea A.
Super cheap food with a husband-wife team running this joint. The service is only spotty because it's one person out there running the show, and she is doing a damn good job at it. I was just so surprised that with my omelette I got vegetables with my homefries! In terms of cheap breakfasts, this place wins over Dunkin Dono.
(4)K R.
I really like this place. The lady that always waits on me is awesome. She's quick and friendly. If you want a super sterile, gourmet experience then this place isn't for you. It is great home cooked food that is always a little bit different, sometimes i get fruit, other times crazy sauces. They are always great. Beware, all of the omelets come with veggies. This is a good thing as far as i'm concerned! Yum!
(4)Tepring P.
Solid place. Three of us went to this cute little place for early (9:30) brunch. I want to tell you the time b/c on a saturday in 30 degree weather (feels like 15) I would be not happy if I had to wait especially if it were outside, but we didn't thus the good rating. So we get there, we get seated instantly, we order after flagging down our waitress - which is why the 4* - and the food comes out properly and good. This place, I said, is little and cute - MAYBE 10 seats, like 6 booths and 3 two people tables? This place has inexpensive food - my spinach florentine was $6.00, tea was $1.50 with free hot water refills. I spent $9.00 total. The place had a good variety of food - well to me it did I usually have to ask for not Canadian bacon on my benis they had like 6 varieties including real salmon, not lox or anything like that. But the only other item I usually order at a breakfast place is french toast which is why I have to come back here to try it. If the french toast holds up. I have found my brunch spot. It is like 3 blocks away from central T stop on drum roll please....BROOKLINE street. but in cambridge =) And lastly, Cash only. Which is ANNOYING but not unusual in Boston.
(4)Ver D.
Friends insist on going there because it's cheap. The wait staff is great, and there is a nice variety of choices.. I have been here for brunch 3 times, and every single time, I have gotten egg shells on the eggs I order. It's gross. Never having that again, not coming back. Also the pancakes taste a bit like cardboard and the syrup is bad quality, pure corn syrup - zero maple. not good. also, long wait lines than I cannot comprehend...
(1)Tim W.
This place is a gem for late breakfasts. The portions are huge and the prices are cheap. I've gotten breakfast sandwiches there a couple of times and they are $4.50. It includes a large side of home fries which are actually potato chunks with veggies. Not bad. The omelets are also really good. Generous portions of egg and toppings. Bottom line: its cheap but good diner food. Prices are good. Coffee is good. Ideal for a night after partying since they don't open up early anyway. I tried to go there once for a real breakfast (7:30AM) and it was closed. Who knows.
(4)Cyrus W.
I was enjoying my ham benedict and looking at all the other dishes the waitress was taking to other tables thinking "I want to try that! And that!" Food was excellent. There was one waitress for the 15 or so tables and a line out the door, so service was a little harried. Will definitely be back to this place.
(4)S K.
If ever there was a misnomer "Brookline Lunch" is it - it is neither in Brookline, nor is it specifically a lunch place - It is one of my fave breakfast places - they serve the usual greasy stuff: sandwiches, fries, omelets, toasts etc. all served with some awesome hot sauce. I have tasted most of them the items on their menu and couldn't say a bad thing about them. My only gripe - their service is glacial (especially on the overcrowded weekends). The owners are Jordanian and add some superb middle-eastern fare as well. And as other reviewers pointed out, very easy on the wallet.
(4)Ligaya T.
It's been over three years since my last review though I've been going here eight years and running. Eight years! There's hardly a thing I've committed to that long besides breathing. And despite the hipster takeover, economic roller coaster, putting three kids through college and aporkalypse, I'm happy to report they're still serving up the same scrumptious eggs florentine piled high with grilled vegetables and doused with fresh hot sauce. In fact, I'm making a list inspired by the proprietor entitled "Awesome Owners." Yeah, yeah, kvetch about the film on the tables and dust in the cracks, keep the crowds away and leave the tables open for the folks who understand the magic of a hearty five buck breakfast with a smile.
(5)Julio S.
Good service, price and eats. Fast and friendly.
(4)Kay A.
In 2006, I went on a first date to this place. It was amazing. The food was cheap and mad delicious. The jam they had was mind blowing. Like it seriously changed my life. Because of that jam I married the man that took me there. No jk. but... Fast forward to now, I've been going to this place for a long time and I've noticed some changes. It's gotten way more crowded (way too many hungover hipsters), if you go there on the weekend, expect to wait, which makes it an unpopular destination in the winter. As a consequence of increased traffic, the service is slower and the staff doesn't put the same care and thought into the food. I used to get a quaint stack of french toast, with a light dusting of powder sugar, now it's just 3 slices of soggy bread thrown in a pile. With the decline of food and service they've also raised the prices. It's still cheaper than most other diner options around the city, but it's disheartening to see the slide of service and increase of price.
(2)Matt H.
Were I you, I would stay away from the "ultimate omelet" Ordered almost out of curiosity, this monstrosity contained the following (at least): peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, carrots, celery, tomatoes, broccoli, cheese, a strip of bacon, a sausage link and a chicken breast. The vegetables were mushy and gross for the most part. The meat was solid. But hey, the coffee was good and it was an experience for sure.
(4)Glenn F.
It's an upgrade to diner food. Delicious, quick, tasty. Delightful family runs the place. Everything was perfectly cooked.
(5)Rick R.
I have been coming to this tucked-away diner for years, and have been telling anybody who will listen what a great place it is. The prices are cheap and the food is excellent, for starters. Every breakfast dish comes with seasonal vegetables and home fries, toast and homemade jam and hot sauce. With rich coffee, I have never managed to spend more than $10 with tax and tip. Try any of the varieties of eggs Benedict, or the large stack of pancakes. I always leave full and satisfied. The family who runs the restaurant, particularly the matriarch, is always pleasant and cheerful. It feels wonderful to be welcomed back as a regular. If you come before 10 am on a weekend you can probably avoid a wait. But even if there is a line, it moves quickly. Give Brookline Lunch a try, and I'll be surprised if you don't come back. See you there!
(5)Shannon B.
I live right near this place, I could basically skip here if I wanted. But actually, I don't want more than I want. I've hit up this place many a time in search of cheap, fast, and slightly better than mediocre brunch, and have rather dissapointed at times. The food is CHEAP and greasy but good, and the coffee is verryyy strong. But I don't know what it is about me, but I seem to get stuck with poor waitstaff! I had to actually stand on my chair to get service. and we'd been sitting there for about 15 minutes, and it was the middle of the day on a Monday. Maybe I need to start wearing a reflector vest, or stop being so picky about having to wait 90 years to get breakfast. If you go here, be prepared for looong waits, slow service but with pleasant waitstaff, and greasy cheap food. that's all I've got!
(3)Kiera D.
This place is the absolute best hidden gem Cambridge has to offer. Organic, authentic & incredible food. Every breakfast dish comes with a heaping pile of whatever vegetables are in season. The hot sauce and jam are made in house... to die for! Yes, it's small, family owned & run and often the service is a bit slow-- especially on the weekends-- but it's totally worth the wait.
(5)Andrew R.
Brookline lunch is the definition of a greasy spoon brunch spot. Their pancakes are delicious, big, and covered in a slab of butter. The french toast, however, was lacking. The homefries come fried deliciously alongside whatever veggies are left over from the last person's omelet. The omelets themselves are ever changing: this week the veggie omelet had mushrooms, peppers and onions, where previous weeks I've had brussel sprouts in it. Also, GET THE JAM. If you have toast on your plate, make sure to ask for a bit of jam, it's amazing, and a different flavor everytime I've been there. Service is really slow when it's busy, which is most of the time, but I've never had an issue with my order, and the food is super cheap. Sometimes cheaper than it claims on the menu, which is kinda neat. Perfect spot for eating away your hangover on a Sunday morning.
(4)Sara I.
I had a fantastic BLT for lunch. The home fries that came with it were unbelievable, mixed with carrots, onions, and other green veggies. The waitress was super and it only cost $5.25! What's not to like?
(5)Adrienne T.
BROOKLINE LUNCH ROCKS BREAKFAST!! (been a few times now) I finally decided to give this dinky dive a try for breakfast. My wife had mentioned it a few times, but we never took the time to go check it out. I wonder why they don't call it Brookline Breakfast, since they seem to be more known for their breakfast than lunch. As it turns out, today was a rainy Friday morning at about 9:30am. Walked right in, picked a seat, nice young man came and took my order, and I kid you not in 7 minutes was back with my food. It was delicious and CHEAP! 2 eggs and bacon, with home fries for $3.75???! Yup! Home fries were good and greasy, bacon wasn't all crunchy (I like soft bacon), and the eggs were perfect. The place was clean, and had kinda weird paint on the walls (designs), and the enormous a/c unit hanging above the entrance looked like it was a lawsuit getting ready to happen at any moment. I don't know if I'd be so impressed if I had to wait outside in a line, or if I had experienced slow service, both of which other Yelpers have mentioned. I guess I'll only go on weekday mornings, and avoid weekends. Oh, I did meet the owner lady and her baby who was providing us with screeching and yelling child-made background music. Owner was very nice to me.
(5)Liz B.
This used to be one of my favorite breakfast places but after this morning's experience I don't think we'll be going back. Service was slow, scattered and both of our orders came out wrong. The waiter actually walked away from the table while I was giving my order. "I'll have the veggie omelet with...." No "hold on one second I'll be right back," just left. I had to flag him down to give the rest of the order. The home-fries, which I used to love, were completely undercooked and way too greasy. At least the jam was still amazing (even though we had to walk up to the counter to get it because we couldn't get a server's attention and they forgot to put it on the plate.) I'll be sticking with Sunny's from now on.
(2)Katie V.
I had very mixed feelings about my brunch experience here. The service was friendly, but very slow. As in, after we got our coffees, we waited about 15 minutes before the waitress took our order, and then another 40-45 min. for our food. The brunch menu is no-frills -- omelets and a few non-egg dishes (pancakes, french toast). When the food finally arrived, I was pretty pleased. The home fries are a misnomer -- the potatoes come mixed in with other veggies, like carrots, squash and brussel sprouts. It was a delicious side dish and more healthy than just your usual fried potatoes or hash browns. Also a plus: homemade jam for the toast. Possibly the best part of the meal. My sausage-and-cheese omelet was so-so; the sausage was overcooked and chewy. My boyfriend seemed to like his french toast. The prices are great; 4 of us ate for about $30. I just wish we had been able to order and get our food faster.
(3)Lauren P.
This is, hands down, my favorite breakfast place in the Boston area. If you love veggies in breakfast, it could be yours too. From what I can tell, every dish that comes with hash browns will be covered in delicious vegetables that are a little different in composition each time I go. They have a whole section of the menu dedicated to different kinds of eggs Benedict... which - trust me - are all wonderful. The omelets are great and are my personal staple... as hollandaise sauce is not something that I feel okay consuming on a weekly basis... And the pancakes are pretty excellent if you're into that kinda thing. Going there once with a large party of people, we ordered a plate of them for the table. I really wish I could give that group decision 5 stars because it was a very good idea. Also, make sure to ask for some of their homemade jam which is always a little different but most times has a hint of anise. Only bad points are that there's no indoor waiting for tables (not a good place to go on a rainy Sunday morning), and I once got a Mushroom Salad there which was really just a tiny basic salad with extra button mushrooms... But it's still my favorite place for breakfast north of NY and South of Portland so 5 stars it gets!
(5)reese w.
So ridiculously cheap, it's like you stepped into a time machine bound for the 50s. The place is pretty small, but the food is cheap and fast. I got a mushroom omelette, but it was stuffed with all kinds of other grilled vegetables as well, and only for $3.50! They don't have a whole lot of vegan options, but did have a falafel sandwich that my vegan friend was quite tasty. One of the bigger items on the menu is the Ultimate Omelette, which comes with bacon, sausage, ham, chicken, home fries, toast, and grilled veggies. Oh yeah, and there's even an omelette with cheese in there too. The atmosphere is a bit frenetic and busy, but very casual and easygoing. Be prepared to wait!
(5)Lauryn Z.
When I lived in Boston a few years ago, Brookline Lunch was my go to spot for Saturday brunch- good food, inexpensive prices, cozy atmosphere, friendly service.....so when I planned my visit to Boston after 2 years, Brookline Lunch was at the top of my list to visit- My boyfriend (it was his first time here) and I arrived and were seated immediately - I was happy to see that the menu had remained the same and the same family was still running the place. However, as much as I loved this place back in the day, I must say that this time I was very disappointed with the food. Perhaps the quality has gone downhill over the years....or maybe I just didn't realize it so much before. I ordered the vegetable omelet - it was served with the eggs on the bottom, then the veggies and finally topped with American cheese (of all the cheeses to choose from- why???). I also found the choice of veggies odd- carrots and eggs....hrmmm....My boyfriend ordered the french toast which was made with white bread- with cinnamon on top - instead of mixed in with the batter. He found the dish rather tasteless and bland. Unfortunately, I spent the rest of our meal convincing my boyfriend - 'no really, it used to be good back in the day, I swear!'. Service, however, was good, and the decor just how I remembered.
(2)Ben F.
Had the eggs florentine. Came on a bagel without warning, which was pretty bad. Veggies that came with it tasted off. A friend ordered tea and got Lipton even though decent teas were available. Service was slow and unfriendly. Certainly not expensive but not cheap enough to justify being a bad brunch place.
(2)Hubert H.
Really neat breakfast place. The menu is simple and straightforward, but they do breakfast really well. If you can spare a weekday, the restaurant is usually really empty but you'll get your food without having to wait. The Eggs Benedict comes with different choices of addition, e.g. bacon. The egg dishes even come with a side of vegetables. The eggs are well-poached, runny in the middle, solid whites on the outside. The home potatoes are crunchy and complement the eggs well. The artwork comes from the local art gallery (Blue Heron?) on the other side of Mass. Ave. on Prospect St. The location makes it tough to find, but once you find it it's a real treat!
(5)Omar F.
Amazing chicken curry! Sometimes all you need is one good thing to enter happy land. LIfe can be simple like that.
(4)Morgan R.
Found this place on accident and had to wait about 10 minutes during prime breakfast time on a Sunday morning. This place seems to be family owned/operated which I already love. I ordered pancakes that were loaded with fruit and a side of hash browns. Both were AmAzInG! When my home fries came to the table I was delightfully surprised to see they were cooked with fresh veggies, so yummy. Also, my pancakes were great as well. The place was super cheap and food was great. I would definitely go here again!
(5)Rachel C.
This place gets 4 stars for a few reasons. If you go in with a hangover wanting kinda greasy breakfast food, you're at the right place. Also, their home fries are a bunch of vegetables, which are delicious. I don't quite understand their business hours, so you might want to call them before you go to make sure they're open. If you're sober and want a nutritious meal, this might not be your place. If you want pancakes, waffles, and omelets, this is the place for you. It's also pretty cheap, and has plenty of seating.
(4)Peter W.
Totally great breakfast and lunch spot!
(4)James S.
Pretty meh. The prices are very cheap but I guess you get what you pay for. My fiancee had the french toast and eggs - the eggs were decent but a bit overcooked, while the french toast was super soggy and well undercooked. I had the falafel sandwich, which was full of vegetables but woefully short on tasty falafel! Service is what you'd expect out of a diner - mostly forgettable, but nothing bad. Overall, I'd probably not go back. Boston is woefully short on good breakfast joints, guess I'll have to keep looking!
(2)Esther W.
In general, I just really like these gritty, cheap, hole-in-the-wall type places that deliver decent food for good prices. So for what it's supposed to be, Brookline Lunch is good. Breakfast choices are pretty basic, food is made QUICKLY, large portions, and best of all, it's CHEAP. The eggs benedict is okay, the omelettes are decent and hearty, and the potatoes and veggies are consistently greasy but good. I've only had breakfast foods here, not sure about their other stuff. I took off some points for hair found in my food more than once (but the truth is, I actually find hair in my food anywhere I go--seriously--and I'm convinced it's because I tend to look more than others. Good thing I don't really care that much), it's cash-only, they waiters are so busy they don't waste time trying to be friendly but that's fine, it's a little cramped so if you sit in the middle you get knocked a lot by the wait staff's elbows, and it can take a long time to get seated. This actually really sucks if you come in the winter because there is no indoor space to wait so you have to wait outside. And it gets really cold if you're eating near the door because it's such a tiny place. But as long as I live so close, I'll definitely keep coming back here for a quick CHEAP brunch with friends.
(3)Sophie H.
This is my new favorite place to go with friends who are hungry and broke. Big portions, amazing home fries (more roasted vegetable than potato), homemade jam and hot sauce -- and you probably won't break ten bucks, even with a lavish tip. I'm subtracting a star for cleanliness, but it would probably be impossible to make it cleaner AND keep the prices so low.
(4)Beth L.
This place is in my neighborhood and it's a great "greasy spoon" breakfast spot. The single room is rustic and funky. Wall art comes from "Out of the Blue" gallery and changes monthly. The food is good comfort food at great prices. If you want french toast go somewhere else because that is the one menu item that is simply awful! The business is family run - husband cooks, wife waits tables, sons wash dishes. The service is slow when the place is packed because one person is cooking for or waiting on 15 tables. The eggs benedict and omelets are always excellent. The home-fries are filled with all sorts of vegetables that make them tasty and much healthier than typical fried potatoes. Go with friends or the daily news and just enjoy!
(4)Victoria C.
This is a fantastic place for a relaxed and delicious Sunday brunch. Be sure to ask for jam with your toast, it tastes homemade and is fantastic. I also recommend the spinach-mushroom-cheese omelette, this is one of the few places that gets the eggs just right - not too runny, but not rock hard either. It can be a little hard to find, but it's worth looking for. Trust me, when you've been wandering about Boston searching for breakfast, bleary eyed and hungry, Brookline Lunch is a dream.
(4)Ryuji S.
Quality of food is like 1960s. Not that I existed in this world then, but their brunch is actually just like how I would cook myself, hearty and tasty, although you will see some disagreements as to how they make the pancake and french toast. Also, they don't use real maple syrup. Well, their eggs benedict is pretty good. Actually, I shouldn't talk about anything else served there, because every time I go there, I order different kinds of eggs benedict. The worst part is their coffee. It's about the same level as the donuts chains and convenience store quality. Well, I might be a coffee snob, btu they should at least get the quality matched to Andala, Mariposa or C3 (when the sloppy staff is not working there). Well, coffee at these three places is only passable anyway.
(4)Julia Z.
Went there in a group of five people around Sunday noon and it was extremely busy; took a long time for food to come. Other than the long wait food was very delicious. Highly recommend their Eggs Benedict. One of the most tasty breakfast places I've been to.
(5)Emily S.
I never write these reviews, but I had a good birthday experience at Brookline that I wanted to share. We were supposed to go to Cafe Luna for lunch but it was too busy so after looking for what was close by, we ended up at Brookline. I had the special fruit pancakes, with strawberries and blueberries. My friends had omelettes that they said were scrumptious. A great find for brunch that I didn't know about!
(4)Tom E.
It's not just that I fell through the floor here much to every other breakfastee's amusement... there are big holes in the wooden floorboards that chair legs can easily fall into... it's not my fault... get some new floorboards... buy chairs with really wide legs... whatever. So why only 2 stars? You'd think the local brunch-outpost a few blocks from home would be manna from heaven for this oft-hungover lunatic. But no, it's always just been a pain in the bum in the many times I've been dragged along. * The long line pains the feet like bad acupuncture * The wait once seated is elf-themed-literature-epic-long * In summer it's hotter than state-illegal sin * On wet days it's more humid than in Tina Turner's car * And it's always painfully cramped - just like my style when Nadya wants to hang. All of this for some omelettes and shit? No thanks, they're not stellar enough to justify getting me all grumpy and cursing all these hipster do-gooders. Nice artwork though, and those aforementioned holes in the floor at least provide amusement to those who aren't made to look silly.
(2)Emily M.
"Ehhhh" is the word to use here. My boyfriend got traditional Mediterranean food, while I got a bagel. It was ok. Nothing special. Very loud and a little overwhelming, though. Prices are low but higher than other diners in the area.
(3)Abbey B.
I used to live around the corner from this place. Went here a couple of times for breakfast/brunch on a weekend. Service is usually pretty slow, though the waitress is clearly handling a lot. No biggie. Just don't be in a rush. I'd usually go here when I was feeling too hungover to make breakfast/lunch. When you're hungover, you want greasy food to sop up all the liquor in your system. This place generally fits the bill, though I always left feeling sicker than when I went in. Hungover or not. The food's pretty mediocre. I'm not a fan of breakfast (though I've been won over by some places in the area), but this place just turns me off completely. I know people love it, but I just can't buy into it. Tastes like the kind of breakfast someone would make at home and you'd politely eat, but would try to avoid their cooking in the future. Oh, never order anything but breakfast. It's crap.
(2)Jessica A.
I understand that popular breakfast places mean long waits on the weekend, inattentive service, the kitchen getting half your order wrong, your coffee finally arriving after you've called for the bill, & c. That's not why the one star. No, the one star is entirely due to getting boiled carrots in my vegetable omelette. Even if you're screwing up *which* vegetables I asked for in my omelette, which is expected, who on earth would think that combination palatable? It's scary to think that even a remotely seasoned cook would make this mistake. Also, who keeps boiled carrots on hand anyway?
(1)Liza N.
I hate writing reviews in theory about little holes-in-the-wall restaurants I think are supremely good. Mainly for the reason I absolutely hate waiting in lines. The line is generally not tooo bad for Brookline Lunch, but in the cold winter chill of a raw Sunday as you wait outside for brunch, it can get chilly. Other than my hatred of waiting aside, this tiny little 12 or so odd table-d lunch place is THE BEST. Things I love about it: you can get a buttload of food for less than $5. all the main breakfast items come WITH toast, homefries, and vegetables. it's local and earthy without being too trendy. it's family run. it has an abundance of delightful plants outside the entrance. DID I MENTION HOW CHEAP IT IS?
(5)Robot N.
Totally yummers! Cheap, delicious, unique. Cool vibe, great homemade hot sauce and strawberry jam. Go...right...now!
(4)Chris H.
This place is great--I love the food and the family that runs it. I probably end up going here 2-3 times a month for brunch. Most of the breakfast items come with a giant pile of mixed vegetables on the side. The homemade hot sauce is incredible.
(5)Chris Y.
Goodbye hangover I'm replete, wallet intact Thank you Brookline Lunch
(5)Julia F.
My dad tells me stories about how he used to come here and get brunch/lunch while at work back in the good old days... Dad: ... when food didn't cost as much, ya know? Me: Well, it's still fairly inexpensive to eat there... Dad: When I was going there it cost two-fifty for all eight of us to stuff ourselves! (or something equally outrageous) I pity anybody who has to listen to this conversation every time we pass this place. But with him, it's like one of those 'fishing stories' the food gets cheaper and cheaper every time we talk about it. This is, however the same man who tried to only give my sister and I fifty-cent allowances FOREVER. Thrifty doesn't even cut it. The food is average. The place is kinda tight quarters. It's also weird if you are from Cambridge cause then you are somehow obligated to interrupt your eating or somebody else's by saying hi and asking how everybody is, ecc. It's a greasy spoon, a cramped, often too warm spoon that is definitely historically significant, yet most of the time when I think of where to eat ... this place doesn't jump out at me.
(3)Cecilia L.
I have such mixed feelings about this place, so I'll just give it to you straight. Good: The amazing house jam, the 1950s prices, the sauteed veggies with every breakfast, the art on the walls. Bad: The long lines on weekends, the extended droughts of service for 20 minutes or more, the general dirtiness of the restaurant, the greasy spoon odor that permeates your clothes. But any cute, independent place that will make me a delicious eggs benedict for $5 has a place in my heart.
(3)Kate T.
If you are looking for a hip, unique brunch experience with HUGE portions on the CHEAP, look no further. My favorite breakfast place in Boston. Try the Mediterranean omelet--NYO med omelet, it boasts spinach, tomato, peppers, onions, mushroom, olives, and more and is topped with a lump of homemade feta cheese that is to die for. The service is always friendly and fast and I've never paid over $18 for two breakfasts and two coffees. Come early because it does fill up in my experience.
(5)Trevor B.
A good place for a casual breakfast between Central Square and MIT. The veggie omelette comes with a generous heap of roasted vegetables, and the coffee is pretty good (for a diner); you can enjoy both for a little over $8 plus tip. Cash only, so come prepared.
(4)Logan W.
Awesome experience. The food was delicious, the service top-notch, and venue was nicely adorned with local art. The matriarch was truly masterful.
(5)Raphie B.
Hard to find (or easy to miss) but worth a visit for sure. The food is great, the service is quick, and the prices are very reasonable. Brookline Lunch (located across the street from the downstairs entrance to The Middle East) is a total gem!
(4)rewan a.
Both times I've been here the food has been awesome. Getting seated is a little awkward, especially if you with a few people, or if there are other people waiting for a table as well. I felt weird hovering behind someone sitting trying to enjoy their meal, but this place is so tiny that it's hard to not be in the way. Last time I went next door to that funky shop and looked around until our table was ready, but today it was storming outside and so I had to awkwardly stand in the way for about 10 minutes. There seems to be only one waitress here, but I must say she does an excellent job serving every table alone. We ordered the Baba Ghanoug for appetizers and were very impressed. It was very similar to what it tastes like in the Middle East (area, not the restaurant across the street..). I had the tuna melt which comes with homefries. The homefries are NOT fried, and are actually boiled with other veggies. Very yummy. Although you may smell like restaurant when you leave, this place is DEFINITELY worth checking out. The damage? 20 bucks for two people including tip. Good stuff!
(4)Elaine M.
A heaping plateful of homemade steak and eggs with home fries for around $6?!?! That's unheard of... unless you're at Brookline Lunch. It's a charming hole-in-the-wall type joint with photography of the surrounding neighborhood hanging on the walls, and it's known for its extremely cheap breakfast/brunch dishes. Though they look good, I'm not a big fan of how their french toast or pancakes taste. On the other hand, their egg platters are fresh, yummy, and unbeatable. You'd be hard-pressed to find a comparably filling and hearty breakfast for a measly few dollars at any other place that does not have golden arches.
(4)Alyssa K.
I went in here for a quick to- go brunch. The restaurant itself had a very pleasant, almost homey decor. I ordered the Ultimate Omelet for brunch and the Pancakes with eggs and sausage for the next morning. I thought the Ultimate Omelet would have the varying meats (chicken, ham, sausage) IN the omelet, but they were piled on top of it. The omelet itself was delicious and had a ton of sautéed spinach and other fresh veggies. They gave A LOT of food for a very low price. Even though I was starving when I went in, I couldn't finish my meal at once and had to save it for later. I was curious about the pancakes and tried them- they weren't that great. Definitely NOT something I would get again or recommend. I felt they just covered them with butter and was a little sickened by the thought. If you're going to coat something in butter, then at least make it taste good enough to not let the patron think about how unhealthy it is. I know they were busy when I went in, but I distinctly said sausage for the meat. I ended up with bacon. I'm not a big fan of bacon, but it wasn't that big of a mix up for me to never go back there again. The sole waitress that I ordered from was clearly frazzled by all the customers, but did not snap at me or rush me out the door. I give her credit for handling decently well under the pressure with many customers waiting. I will say that a deterring factor in coming to the Brookline Lunch is that they do NOT accept credit or debit cards. I just so happened to have exactly the right amount of cash on me, otherwise I would have had to rush over to an ATM. I know plenty of people who do not carry cash with them. Keep this in mind beforehand if you decide to go here. Total time from ordering to paying and walking out the door had to be anywhere from 10- 15 minutes (20 mins max). I was pleased with the speedy service.
(4)Jess C.
I went to this brunch spot after a few people recommended it to me. My friend Nick and I heard the homefries were great, so our expectations were high, and for him, the homefries hit the mark. I like my homefries a little less busy (these came with peppers, zucchini, tomatoes) but they were still nice and crispy. He had the Mediterranean omelette while I settled on 2 eggs over easy which were cooked nicely. The best part of this meal was the jam and hot sauce they gave us. We were so curious as to what was in the jam that we asked what was in it... they told us it was a combination of pineapple and banana. Now let me tell you something, this jam was red and had some interesting flavors, so obviously their chef was not giving away any secrets. We were really just curious! So overall, definitely a good breakfast, curious jam, but filling and scrumptious all around.
(3)Josh F.
I used to go to this place for lunch when I was working from home. The hummus and baba ghanoush are delicious and the prices can't be beat. This is a great place.
(5)Rana A.
Great hole-in-the-wall breakfast place!! Very affordable the average price for all breakfast items ranged between $4-$8. I had the feta, egg and tomato sammie for $4.50. It came with home style potatoes, veggies, an orange slice and a piece of banana. The rest of my family got omelets and most of them couldn't finish their meals. Service was a little slow as there was only one waitress and when we got there the tables weren't cleaned off or set up with silverware (which is why it's not 5 stars).
(4)Dara C.
Sick of curry-scented Central Sq? Me, too. Thank god for Brookline Lunch, the miniature breakfast mecca off Mass Ave. My roommates and I love this place. Where else can you get a mammoth omelette for $4? You can't even buy eggs that cheap. The hash brown potatoes here are to die for. They're neither hashed nor brown, and they're barely potatoes. The cook makes them chock full of colorful vegetables, and I don't think it's ever the same melange twice. My most recent serving included spinach, carrots, asparagus, onions, broccoli, mushrooms, and what may or may not have been Brussel sprouts. They're pretty much the best thing since sliced ... potatoes. Also, the pancakes are above-average, the French toast is quite tasty but unremarkable, and I'm told they always do their meat right. As for lunch and dinner foods, well, I've never had them but I'm sure they do a fine job of it, too. But seriously. Just get breakfast. Service is spotty, natch. The waitress/owner is the hardest working woman in the restaurant business and usually does it alone. So it's not the fastest service in the world, but that's fine. Linger over your eggs and a good cup of coffee, and watch the skinny hipsters gather around Middle East across the street. Revel in your full tummy of delicious food. Curl up in the fetal position. Love life, for your bill will never be above $10.
(4)Dika K.
I find myself going Brookline Lunch almost every weekend. The food is wonderfully cheap and the home fries are served with plenty of sauted vegetables. At fast food prices you can get a finger-licking goood cheeseburger. I'm not saying its the best cheeseburger in the world, but ... you can has cheeseburger for cheap. Get a seat facing the back and you get to watch some impressive egg cracking. Or get a seat facing the street and zone out with a hangover, but bring sunglasses - its really bright on Brookline in the morning.
(4)Joshua S.
This is my favorite place for breakfast in all of Cambridge, maybe even Boston. First, the food is awesome! Generous portions, best omelette's I've ever had, but I usually get the Eggs Benedict. Homefries are great and done the right way. And they usually give you some vegetables (think spinach) along with your food to make the whole thing taste really healthy. Second, the prices are so uncommonly low. This makes me happy. Third, it's family run and there is art on the wall from local artists. So you can order away knowing you aren't supporting some soulless conglomerate chain. The only thing people might take issue with are the (sometimes) long lines and the (usually) slow service. I say, deal with it. Take the opportunity to actually talk and enjoy the time with the person you came with, we really don't get to do this very much anymore.
(5)Malena L.
I think I've lost count of the number of times I have harrassed the lady owner for her hot sauce. I have even suggested she bottles that shit and sells it (I expect a cut of the profit). It's seriously a taste sensation! I love Brookline Lunch: it's dirt cheap, delicious and 3 blocks away from my place. My 2 personal favorites are the feta and tomato omelette and the Benedict eggs, and if you don't like their breakfast potatoes (specially with that hot sauce), you can come throw stones at my car. If you are doing brunch, make sure you come in early or you'll stand in line for a while...in the sun...hangover...not kosher.
(4)Gracie B.
It's very heart warming for me to see a place that isn't another new "concept" place. Brookline Lunch has been there a loooooong time. And it is now, what it was then plus some serious wear and tear. It's the middle eastern corner lunch spot that could. It's simple and seemingly healthy. It's warm and inviting in the completely honest way it doesn't hide it's years and it's hard working family run goodness. Don't go if unmatched lumpy booth seats and slightly less than clean tables bother you. Do go if you are the kind of person who trys to find alternatives to Starbucks and CVS whenever you can - you will get it!
(4)Danielle B.
this place is family owned and has excellent service. the food is good and hearty. great for breakfast and brunch. it is small though so expect a wait.
(4)Stefanie G.
The menu here is really nice - good pancakes, decent eggs, my mom liked the middle eastern breakfast with hummus and falafel. I think the eggs are a little dry, but there is something in the homey feel that I really enjoy. They also left the stems on the spinach for the eggs florentine. The coffee and OJ are really good. Avoid the bathroom! All in all, the food isn't incredible, but this is a great little hole in the wall to enjoy Sunday morning, the paper, and conversation. Extra points if you were across the street at the Middle East the night before.
(4)Ed H.
I really don't see why Brookline Lunch has 4 stars. I don't find much about this to enjoy. I've heard it's because of the prices, but that doesn't equally two (or possibly even three - I almost wanted give them one) extra stars in my book. Maybe it's not the breakfast that this place is getting credit for. I hope not, because if it is, I missed something. Something big.
(2)Alex G.
The best breakfast place in Central Square hands down. And their lunch ain't bad either. It has the feel of an old mom and pop diner, cozy booths, quaint. The sign is elusive, for months I just knew it as "the place by the corner." They have just about every breakfast variation imaginable (you can get eggs benedict with literally anything slipped between the toast and the egg--I recommend the salmon), and each dish has a pleasant Mediterranean slant. The home fries are served with a heaping pile of vegetables on top (asparagus on the weekends), hot sauce comes standard, and during the week you can linger a little over bottomless coffee. For lunch, a sandwich and a soup is gonna run you $4.75. Things are priced like it's 1975. Complain all you want, but it didn't break the bank. I find Central Sq to be notorious for bad service in general, yet Brookline Lunch manages to prove me wrong everytime--staff is swift, friendly, and on point with the coffee refills. Not the "indie rock" help (kids who could care less) that dominates the area. The wait on the weekends is no more than 5-10 minutes. Compared to other breakfast spots like the Friendly Toast (a most unfriendly experience if you ask me, wait time 30min-1hr), Brookline Lunch kicks it into last week. May the staff's tips overflow because of it. Downside is they're not open for dinner... hence the name.
(5)Rachel S.
This eatery is one of the reasons why I love Central Square. The food is amazing for the price. Yeh, service is a little slow and there's no air conditioning (at least not when I've been there), but why are you rushing through the most important meal of the day? I'm always pleasantly amazed when I get my spinach and feta omelets and it's a delicious work of art! Fresh veggies in a multitude of colors. This is a hidden gem. You will almost never run into a tourist in this spot. I'm big on supporting Mom and Pop local industry and this is in my top five. Saturdays and Sundays are huge brunch days everywhere. If you can get there early, or have off on a weekday, give this place a go. It can get pretty hot in there in the summer; I have memories of peeling my bare skin from their old school booths. ** Two enthusiastic thumbs up. **{edit: bare skin from wearing shorts... yeh... }
(5)Norah D.
Easy to love - service is slow but food worth the wait- weird little sides of nontraditional breakfast foods from middle eastern cuisine very delicious and charming. We ate breakfast there on the morning of our wedding. * sigh* nostalgia and food ...
(5)Irene F.
When walking up to Brookline Lunch, I noticed the door proclaiming "American Take-out" (mostly true) and "French Gourmet Take-out"...woah, what? They definitely took a few literary liberties there. What this place really is: a greasy diner with "eclectic" decor and the cheapest prices ever. Wait, did I mention cheap? Only 4 items on the breakfast side of the menu cost more than $5. Mmm yeah, you can have your most important meal of the day -and- leave with enough cash to get through the rest of it. The food is alright, but it boggles my mind that there can be a long wait for it on the weekends. Thankfully, this time it was a Monday. I usually get an omelet, and the Western omelet ($4.25) was no let-down. It came with toast (none of that crazy jam, though) and home fries that, as usual, included a random selection of the veggies they happened to have around in the kitchen. One lady handles the waitressing for the entire place, so don't expect much in terms of service. While you're waiting, you might be able to catch a glimpse of her kids running around. It's a good time to take in the random decor and look at the crazy drawings on the ceiling, too. This place is so random. By the way, Brookline Lunch also serves Middle Eastern fare. Too bad I've never gotten to that side of the menu. (3 star food at 5 star prices = 4 stars.)
(4)Nick C.
Okay - I have no real dislike for this place, but one complaint that's kept me away. The food is decent, the wait staff is usually friendly, the atmosphere is good, but this I DON'T like: I'm single. I like to eat out in diners and restaurants once in a while, and it never fails that I get treated like a second class citizen, seated near a stinking bathroom, or near a banging door to the kitchen. I didn't have this experience at Brookline Lunch, but I WAS asked to move. I came in, the place wasn't busy, I sat at a booth, placed my order, and before it arrived I was asked by a waitress to move to a small table in the center of the room so that three people could have the booth. Know what? The center of the room is lousy. People constantly walk by you on both sides and there's no sense of personal space at all. I felt like I was dining between two freaking escalators. The impression is, possibly wrong, that this place originally only had booths along the walls, and then crammed small tables and chairs into the center. Nowhere did it say, or was I told when ordering, that booths were reserved for parties of three or more, so it should be first come first serve. I don't care if I AM a party of one, I'm a paying customer. Having to give up a seat after ordering for someone who came in AFTER I did is wrong. The waitress could have pulled two small tables together in the enter of the room (they were empty) and had them sit THERE. I haven't been back in years.
(2)Lesley P.
The service was pleasant and the dollar value was good. The Greek omelettes were served as an odd jumble- almost as if they intentionally layered the home fried potatoes on the bottom, then a plain egg omelette and then the assorted vegetables on the top outside of the omelette. It wasn't inedible but it wasn't great either. Many of the vegetables were actually undercooked. The compote they brought out for the toast was interesting and good. Coffee was strong and the OJ regular diner quality.
(3)S H.
It was an average experience. We went here because other brunch places had long waits. Cramped seating area, but good food. Cash only.
(3)Dustin S.
Quant set up open floor plan and kitchen. Family run business great for friends gathering and family meeting place. Seats fill up fast so be prepared. The steak Benedict that I had a good and the pancakes and French toast or what I recommend. Portion sizes pretty big so if you need to split it you'll know ahead of time. I also highly recommend the Turkish coffee if you've never had it before it's excellent and you have had it before it reminds me of my time in Istanbul. Great time worth the wait.
(4)Li P.
Food was very mediocre and not great. Came here for breakfast on a Sunday and it was pretty packed. I got the special omlette and my friend got the French toast. The food was not very flavorful and just bland, lacking seasoning and depth. My omlette was supposed to have chicken, sausage and bacon with vegetables, but they just put a piece of each meat on top of a vegetable omlette instead inside it. My friend didn't eat more than one bite of the French Toast before stopping. Overall not impressed for a place that has 4 star current rating.
(2)Michael B.
This is a great hole-in-the-wall breakfast diner spot. Middle-Eastern influenced. If you get there right when they open, they put Cardamom in their coffee pot (you know, 'cause that's how they like it themselves). It's small, so there's only two waitstaff, and one or two cooks, so if you're looking for snappy service, probably not the best place to go (especially if it's crowded). Order fast, get some coffee, and then kick back and shoot the breeze with a friend. Huevos Rancheros is a favorite of mine. Their omelettes are pretty stellar, too. I haven't gotten the pancakes or the french toast so much but those are decent. And it's all for a decent price. Overall, a great neighborhood establishment that I hope will stay for many years to come!
(4)Alison L.
The atmosphere is what makes this hole in the wall so great. Brick walls with art and travel souvenirs hanging everywhere, comfortable old booths, warm, friendly service, and a full family behind the counter preparing food together. I could spend an afternoon here just drinking coffee and people watching- very relaxing and comforting. The food is nothing spectacular, although the hash is good because of the variety of vegetables and herbs and the prices are very reasonable. Overall it's just a great diner experience.
(4)Elif Ece A.
I've just recommended this amazing cafe to a friend of mine !! wish I were there , so that I could have fully enjoyed amazing breakfast
(5)Emily G.
Best kept secret doesn't even begin to describe how amazing Brookline Lunch is. The menu is a wonderful combination of breakfast favorites (eggs, pancakes, french toast) and Middle Eastern classics (falafel, baba ganoush). But the BEST part is the amazing and yummy sauteed veggies that come on the side of nearly every dish. The staff is super friendly and it is very inexpensive. Probably my favorite breakfast and lunch place in Central Square.
(5)Andrew H.
Service is bad. Food is gross. And to be honest I'm a little concerned about the cleanliness. Lettuce was wilted, strawberries tasted a little strange. I would probably avoid this place if there were other options.
(1)Melinda M.
Went here with friends since we couldn't get a reservation at Cafe Luna. Getting seated was a little confusing because we didn't know at first to wait outside in a line (there wasn't a line until after we got there), and the hostess was busy running around, serving people, etc. It still didn't take that long though; we waited maybe 20 minutes. I got the Jerusalem Omelette, which was delicious. It was great to have a plate packed with veggies and fresh herbs for breakfast, plus goat cheese, my favorite. Only complaints - A few things (whole green onion?) seemed to be there more as a garnish than for eating, and the home fries were not anything special (not crispy, not super flavorful).
(4)Bashar A.
Let me start off by saying I know it is hard to work in the restaurant industry. Now having said that, it's not that hard. The food was mediocre at best. Now starting from the very beginning, when we walked in and asked to be placed on the waiting list they said we don't have a list but assured us we were next because of our small party size. We had to wait outside in the rain and about five minutes into our wait another customer walks up to the front says she has a party of three like I did and gets seated immediately. I had to go up to the hostess and remind her that we have been waiting her response was oh I went outside to ask who was next and you guys were gone. That was a clear lie because we were right outside of the door watching the whole thing go down. Eventually we were seated after they made the other customer that took our table move. We sat down, placed our order and the waitress didn't write anything down so we assumed she would get it right. WRONG! She forgot half of my order and when I asked for the missing items they were never brought over to the table. Our server never came back to check on us not once....At the end of our experience we had to ask for the bill 3 times...This was just an overall bad experience and I won't be returning. They really need to reevaluate how they run their business and implement the small changes that can make a big difference starting with; keep a wait list so you can manage the line of hungry customers, then also write down every order so they don't forget items from customers order. Making just those small changes would have totally changed the experience.
(1)Mike B.
I went there for lunch wand had the falafel sandwich. Very tasty, and the side potato homefry salad was delicious and was a good amount of food for the price. Wait person was very friendly as well. I will definitely be going back.
(4)Steve H.
Charming little greasy spoon with a middle eastern flare. This family run place makes you feel at home and the prices are comforting too. The food, however, was hit and miss for me. I was excited for the chicken kabob lunch, but got more of a less than fresh oily chicken stir fry with some white rice that was passable, at best. Worth a shot to cure your hangover or for cheap eats.
(3)Judith C.
I wasn't amazed by the food, but this is a good brunch restaurant for the cheap price. I ordered the french toast special ($8.50) and my bf ordered the buttermilk pancake special ($8.50), both came with two eggs any style and choice of meat. We both chose sunnyside up eggs and I chose bacon while he chose sausage. The eggs and meat were as expected and the french toast was average. There was a saltiness that I didn't expect it to have, which may have been from the added butter, and I wish it was a little more custardy. I think I would prefer to order one of the savory dishes instead if I came here again.
(3)Sarah K.
I absolutely love all the veggies in the potatoes that come with breakfast plates! I had spinach/tomato benedict and it was probably the best I've ever had! As others point out, the house hot sauce is definitely worth trying. This cozy family-owned eatery is a gem :)
(5)Kristine M.
When we walked in, it was mostly empty, but half the tables were filthy, with old dishes, leftover food, etc leftover from previous customers. It was a bit of a turn-off to me. I was also disappointed that they didn't have lunch...I went there on a Saturday at 1:30 PM and I was totally in the mood for lunch (and since it was called Brookline LUNCH, I figured my desire would be fulfilled) but they only served breakfast. I got a breakfast sandwich with sausage and the sausage with chewy and over-cooked. They forgot to bring my drink, too!! I guess I'd give it a second chance but I was not impressed. Frankly, the rave reviews shock me.
(2)Stephanie M.
I almost hesitate to review Brookline Lunch, because it's already so crowded so often - but I almost owe them the businees, considering how often I'd go if I still lived in Cambridge. This place serves a phenomenal omelette with a sweet chili sauce, I must say - but I've not gotten one since I tried their lamb kabob. Tons of tender lamb, fresh vegetables cooked to perfection (still slightly crunchy!), and mind-blowing sauce over rice - nothing else like it. Oh, and did I mention - it's less than six bucks for more than I can eat in one sitting.
(5)Juston P.
This place almost contradicted itself to a 3 star rating. The food is satisfying, but greasy. The atmosphere is cute, but the service is awful. Normally, that'd be 2 stars, but the low prices place it back in the 3 star camp. ... and then the holes in the floor, long wait, sour owner, and sauna-like climate yank it back to ** land.
(2)rachael b.
i love this place. huge portions, lots of veggies in the omelets and homefries, homemade hot sauce and jam, and cheap prices. it's family-run and they're really kind. i love when their kids are there and they excitedly run to show me to my table. you don't find places like this in cambridge these days and it's really sad!
(5)mickey l.
Keep this place in your back pocket. Show it to those who you trust. Don't expect miracles, like you might find at EGG (see next review) But be happy you can afford to tip well the meals are that cheap. (Two people, 10$, no joke) Yes. Dirty. Greasy. Even sticky table top. But they are so nice. They took care of our large and baby studded brunch with charm.
(4)Mr. X.
I come from a city with a proud diner tradition, and this place could stand squarely in the middle of the pack in my hometown. This is praise, not criticism. The food is fair, but comes in big portions, and has a few nice touches (I'm thinking specifically hot sauce with the home fries, and how magically nothing is greasy). Far as I can tell, it is literally a Mom and Pop place, with Pop manning the grill and Mom waiting tables. Mom is just about the nicest waitress I have ever met, and tends to have her little daughter trailing her around, which adds to the cozy, friendly atmosphere. I went here for breakfast today just off a redeye from California. I went in drastically sleep deprived and literally weak from hunger. Half an hour later I had my will to live back. (Incidentally, for those wondering why it's called Brookline Lunch when it's in Cambridge, look at the street address.)
(4)Chris W.
I've walked by this place so many times and seen the wait and the crowd and thought to myself I have to swing through and grab a bite. So last weekend I did just that with my trusty female breakfast companion and we were utterly shocked and disappointed. When we arrived there was a brief wait, sure no sweat. Then we were seated, and from here on out things just went down hill. We waited and waited until we finally put in our drink order. We had to wait even longer to place our food order because there was only one waitress for the entire place. When our drinks arrived the rim of my coffee cup looked as though it had been used to polish the floor. Now after placing our order we thought we were all set. Our food arrived and it was meh,.. My friend had ordered a an omelet, which had some very oily/greasy vegetables in it alongside her salmon. I also got salmon even though I didn't order it. Funny I didn't think that salmon and sausage sounded so similar. And my scrambled eggs looked like they had barely been cooked. We were so disappointed with our meals we took care of our bill asap and left.
(1)Esther Z.
If you are looking for inexpensive, delicious, diner-style brunch items this is your go-to. I come here for the egg benedicts over and over again. Service can be a bit rushed and the wait can be a bit long if you come after 10:30AM. Every time I get grumpy about the wait though, I always find myself happily satisfied at the end of the meal.
(5)Jessica R.
Not really into it. The menu prices are cheap and the taste is definitely commensurate with the price. Out of the eggs, sausage, home fries and french toast I ordered, the only thing that tasted above the level of cafeteria food was the french toast. Service was great and everyone was really friendly, but the food didn't do it for me at all. Doubt I will ever go back when there are a bunch of better options in the same area.
(3)Julia L.
Oh Brookline Lunch, I want to love you so much. I do! I love your coffee and those cherry preserves, but today you were off your game. Even the owner who is usually kind, hard-working and friendly was not herself. I was ignored for 15 minutes after a party of 6 and a party of 4 came in, ordered and were served. I had to ask to have my order taken. I still waited for a long time for my coffee to arrive and when my order finally came, it was all wrong. I ordered a mushroom, zucchini and bacon omelette, my usual, and it came out all wrong. The bacon was on the side not in the omelette, there were tomatoes in the omelette (yuck!), and the cheese was hastily slapped on top and not melted. Most heartbreaking was the lack of preserves or hot sauce on my plate. That is why I come. I left without eating but not without paying $14. :( Brookline Lunch, you are the boyfriend I want to love, but he just treats me so bad, that I have to leave him. I will miss you, your tempting cherry preserves and cup lickingly good coffee!!!
(2)liz c.
Great deal for lunch. best homefries. Pretty greasy, sometimes the smell of the place remains on your clothes for hours after, but the family that runs it are super nice, it's a pleasant place. I don't recommend the coffee, but I do recommend becoming a regular.
(4)Julia W.
The falafel sandwich is officially the best falafel I have ever eaten. EVER. Not a place for the self-important, impatient or the snobbish eater. This is more like the Cheers of diners, with an awesome family running it and devoted customers. The dad cooks, and he makes all the jams and the hot sauce himself!
(5)Sarah G.
Good sized portions of great, fresh food for very little money. Yummy salad, very good falafel, great eggs. Very veggie friendly, but good for meat eaters too - boyfriend loves any chicken dish on the menu. Wait can be long, they've got weird hours and they often run out of stuff. Usually only one waitress working the entire room, so be patient - it's worth it. I haven't noticed any sanitation issues and I've been to the bathroom - it's tiny but absolutely fine. Update - we sat for such a long time on our last visit before the waitress was able to get over to us that I almost wrote the place off for good, but when she returned with our food (always great) and some amazing jam with star anise and some other incredibly yummy but unidentifiable stuff in it, I had to say I was hooked for life. I wobbled my way home one handed on my bike just so I could carry some leftover jam. MMMM.
(4)Cooper M.
I want to give halfs! So think 3.5 A tasty brunch place (haven't had lunch or anything here) with a funky family feel. It is small and usually crowded and quite slow. Go there and be patient and all will work out well. You can even feel less guilty about the bacon and hollandaise because of the extra greens they add to the potatoes.
(4)Bodhi F.
I needed a new place for brunch and low and behold, yelp to the rescue. Thus, Brookline lunch. AMAZING. I couldn't believe I had never been here before. (it's a bit hidden) Fresh Vegetables in the home fries Great Eggs benedict Awesome Lamb dish Just about everything is under $6! I couldn't believe how great quality lots of love in this food match the Family ownership ambiance and homey decor My new favorite Breakfast and Lunch in Central squire.
(5)Brian C.
This is a solid lazy-weekend brunch place. Great service, good coffee (and refills), and a good variety of your typical brunch foods.
(5)Sisi Z.
Um, did I walk into the right place? I can't believe people say this is their favorite place to eat--dingy space, spotty service, marginally acceptable food, the only reason I'd go back is if I'm really short on cash. I got the Western omelette, it was basically a pile of veggies stir-fried with egg on the bottom, my friend's Eggs Benedict was just plain bad. Not even the home fries were good. I think the highlight of the meal was the buttered toast, and they also ran out of OJ when I went. All in all, I'd rather go to Sunny's Diner than this place!
(2)Emeen Z.
Cheap and really delicious food with a super friendly staff, what more could you ask for? I guess I do wish they were open at night but it's all part of the charm mannnn.
(5)David D.
This place is cheaper than the Boston Mission! Some lazy friends from Somerville, had me drag my ass across the river for brunch ... and I'm glad. I think the breakfast menu topped out at about $4.95, and not $800.00, like the Centre Street Cafe (boo- hiss!) I had a delightful omelet with toast and home-fries. It was great, but I would have liked a heads up on the menu, saying it would be covered in some GROSS grilled vegetable medley. I fucking HATE Mushrooms! After picking those off, it was super. One of my friends ordered her eggs "over easy", and they were near raw. It looked like someone cracked an egg on a hot plate, and folded it over. I told her to take it home, because I was going to make cookies later ... :( **** Plz cook them longer, thankiez. There wasn't a long wait to to be seated (at 2:00 pm on a Sunday). I think there was one waitress, though. After about 10 minutes, she asked what we wanted for drinks... we wanted to fucking ORDER! We were STARVING at that point. The menu also has a variety of salads and sandwiches that are double cheap! I'd totez go here again! Our total was $16 for 3 people + beverages... oh, shit... I don't think they had ANY kind of liquor (mimosas or bloody marys) ... :( don't forget to flask it!
(4)Emily O.
This place had closed for the owner's family to go on summer vacation and recently re-opened. I had awaited this with anticipation as I walk by this place nearly every day and envisioned it being a mecca for the Middle East/T.T.'s crowd. I guess a little part of that was also an assumption that it would be.... good?! Nah. I don't think they have any ice and maybe no a refrigeration system either. My partner and I ordered waters and I also ordered a soda. The soda came in a barely chilled CAN (no cup, no ice, no straw) and the waters were room temperature with no ice either. The food was home-cooked, but not worth paying for. Greasy and burned, dried out. I did like their spicy condiment to go with the homefries. In fact, that was a better meal than the meal. Service was great (yes, all two of them, but it was 4pm). They only take cash, which I find a big pain. Essentially this experience reminded of eating in the basement in "The Goonies" with those villians with the blender making my dinner and about the same resources. P.S. Another reviewer mentioned a bathroom, but I couldn't see one!
(2)Robert L.
Good place. They made a terrific grilled cheese sandwich for me. The home fries are really good as well.
(3)Jackie S.
It's a Sunday morning. You're hung over and you spent all your money on drinks and cabfare last night. You're a Central Square dweller and you realize you have two choices: Grab a greasy burger at Wendy's to soothe your headache and woozy-ness, or head over to Brookline Lunch for an equally cheap and greasy meal, but with the option of sitting down and getting waiter service. Well, if you pick Brookline Lunch - you've made the right decision. This place is dirty and cramped, no doubt about that. But the food is good! And it's cheap as hell! If you don't mind a little bit of a wait, then definitely head over here for a hearty breakfast that won't cost you more than $5 - and that's usually including tip! Note: I would stick to breakfast foods and only breakfast foods at Brookline Lunch - who trusts six dollar lamb anyway?
(4)Elizabeth F.
Vegetables instead of home fries, and my zucchini and feta omelet came with extra veggies and a huge slab of seasoned feta across the top. The waitress kept refilling mine and my companion's coffee mugs without being asked. And the toast was wheat, and we hadn't even had to ask for it. I'll definitely be returning here.
(4)molly f.
Happy to get to know this no-frills neighborhood spot. The decor is a miss, but the food (and the roasted veggies on the side) are a hit. The portions are really generous & you walk away feeling happy and your wallet stays fat...whats not to like about that?
(4)Gaelle D.
This place could be twice as expensive and still totally worth it!! I can't believe how cheap it is considering the quality of the food. I've had their Eggs Benedict at least 20 times and I'm not over them! They come with pan-fried potatoes and vegetables that seem to differ every time. They serve breakfast all day, which is really neat. The rest of the menu is classic lunch stuff (sandwiches etc) with a Middle Eastern twist. Everything is good but I keep coming back to the Eggs Benedict (who said addict??). The staff is always over-busy but still really nice. Considering the low prices I usually over-tip them, hoping that they'll stay in business for years to come:) Other nice features: Unlimited coffee refill. Great decor. Did I mention the Eggs Benedict?
(5)Gail L.
For an extremely inexpensive lunch or brunch, Brookline Lunch is the place to go. Mostly Middle Eastern fare, but with an amazing assortment of fresh vegetables on the side of almost everything. Home fries are good, fish is good, Turkish coffee is good, hamburgers (real, not a pre-formed patty) with a side of potatoes and vegetables, Falafel with hummus and a side of homemade soup $3.75. Salads are really good. Just don't go on Tuesdays (they're closed) And say hi to Yasmine.
(4)Nadja O.
Brookline Lunch is my go-to on Sunday mornings. Their grilled cheese sandwiches are amazing, and the prices are pretty fantastic (cheap!). They used to have a strangely awesome mystery-fruit jam that they served with eggs and toast, which you should ask for if it isn't served. The only weird thing about this place is the art, which is utterly horrific and hilarious. Because it's so uniformly bad, whether it's photography or painting, it's kind of awesome to look at and ponder over eggs...
(5)John W.
eating my cambridge breakfast at brookline lunch, it occurred to me that there are few places like this in the city: cheap and yummy comfort food located a mere block away from the central square t stop. the service is slow, but friendly. came here with friends that i hadnt seen in months, so we didnt notice that it took at least 15 minutes for our waitress to bring the check after we asked for it. and they get extra credit for displaying paintings from out of the blue gallery.
(4)Stephanie ..
Ahh, Brookline Lunch. On a nice day, the line is usually out the door, but it moves quick. And so does the waitress. One woman waits on the entire restaurant--power walks to one table, drops off menus, power walks to the next table, takes an order, power walks over another tables coffee, goes back to the first table...takes their orders... Cardio pump. Cheap and filling. Strong turkish coffee. So close to MIT that it was perfect for a weekend brunch back in those days. Cute, kinda scrubby/shabby place. They always rotate the art from the Out of the Blue Gallery. Yum.
(4)S W.
The good- it is very very very cheap homefries that have veggies like carrots and broccoli in them The bad- always understaffed and the staff is really curt and unhelpful NO AC Pancakes are flavorless Syrup does not taste even a little like maple (not even the Aunt Jemima stuff) Rest of the food is pretty eh In short, if you are hungry and short on your dough, this place will fit the bill but as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for."
(2)Pete S.
Simply put, the most delicious, overflowing omlettes I've had. The eggs seem almost like a distraction next to the prodigious quantity of vegetables. The home fries are great, too. An exceptional breakfast/brunch. That said, the service is notoriously unpredictable. I've had some long waits both to sit and to order, and the staff seems different every time (hilariously, I've had some children who happened to be hanging around bring me my silverware). But all is forgiven when the food comes. Oh, man, I'm hungry just thinking about it.
(4)Jeremy L.
You will not be disappointed by the incredibly cheap and tasty breakfasts here. Omlettes are large and home fries come with grilled fresh veggies. Weekends are busy so be prepared to wait if you come toward noon. The hollandaise on the eggs benedict is surprisingly delicious given that this doesn't seem like the kind of place you order that dish (especially for its price). Service is quick but harried, so grab the server's attention if you are in a hurry.
(5)Nick B.
An unassuming little breakfast joint. So unassuming that I've been biking past it every day for two years now, and didn't even realize it was there until last week. Incredibly cheap (you can get a nice filling breakfast for 5 bucks no problem) and very good as well. Now a few words about what makes Brookline Lunch unique: 1) They serve grilled vegetables as a side with most orders, making you proud for at least giving a token nod to good health as you add another dollop of maple syrup to your bacon. 2) The toast comes with some kind of smoked jelly, the likes of which I have never seen anywhere else. 3) The tables and furniture have a nice dinged up charm. Kind of like the picnic bench by the archery shed at summer camp, only you don't feel sketchy eating off it. A nice compliment to the crayola doodlings of dogs on the ceiling.
(4)Ani G.
The food is okay, but nothing stellar (with the exception of the home fries, which are really good), but my biggest issue with the place is how dirty, cramped, and uncomfortable it was. The tables were sticky and the floors were filthy. Go to Z Square instead. The food is at least as good as Brookline Lunch, but they take reservations and the place is spotless.
(2)Laura L.
I absolutely love this place! Whenever feeling like a nice home cooked breakfast which is incredibly cheap, good and close I always think of this place. I myself LOVE the eggs florentine with the sauce on the side with the potatoes and veggies for like 6 bucks! The place itself is kinda tiny but comfortable.... on the weekends you might have to wait for a table but totally worth it. As for the service it always seems to be the same woman every single time by herself but she is amazing. For how many people she definitely provides as much service the make the meal enjoyable!
(4)kevin d.
This is my favorite restaurant in the world. I love everyone that works here and I love waiting in line on the weekends to dine here. Eggs florentine for life.
(5)Molly F.
It's a shame when the highlight of your dining experience is crapping the food back out--finally ridding yourself of it. One of my spuds tasted like genitals and all of my spuds were soggy. My iced coffee was even worse. It was wicked hot and the waitstaff and some dingleberries at the next table kept bumpin into my chair. I felt nauseous the rest of the day and then made what seemed like a furious pee from my butthole.
(1)matt k.
Alas! I went here for lunch today full of high expectations of tastiness after reading all these wonderful reviews and other recommendations. Indeed, the Eggs Florentine were really awesome, and the melange that composes their homefries (mushrooms! broccoli! whoa!!) is awesome except for the one unexpected ingredient! A HAIR :( My dish was whisked away and a replacement was offered and accepted, but now I am wary.
(3)Yui K.
So easy on the wallet it makes me happy. A line outside a door often indicates a pretty damn decent place. The inside is rustic, laidback, and borderline dirty. Hearty portion of eggs benedict with homefries that are more than just potatoes.. onions, cucumbers, peppers mushed in between. Only one waitress so bring good company to chat with, relax... it's brunchtime.
(3)Mike D.
Wicked cheap decent breakfast, followed a few weeks later by wicked cheap undecent breakfast.
(3)Shikha B.
In this bizarro city where good brunch places are about as hard to find as a bar open past midnight, nice people, and a warm day, Brookline Lunch was definitely a breath of fresh air. Delicious BRUNCH food, good service, and cheap. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was that I don't think they serve bloody marys, which are essential for the perfect brunch. :)
(4)Stacy B.
Great restaurant, Cheap food, Great Artwork. My Fave: Feta Omelette. Just a great little dive!
(5)JP D.
I love this place, their breakfast comes with homefries and a mix of veggies! Great olives and feta cheese, you can't go wrong here for your money!
(5)Kim L.
I LOVE Brookline Lunch! I find myself agreeing with many of the other reviews, but want to add my take. The place IS rather dirty. However... I don't mind that. In fact some of my favorite breakfast places seem to have a thin layer of grease and grime (not sure what this says about me). I do like the decor and the ever-changing artwork on the walls. The vegetable selection in the omelettes IS rather odd. Yes, indeed there are carrots, and broccoli, and the chicken(!) that comes in the Ultimate Omelette is flavored with dill (of all things). Again, I don't mind that. In fact, I think it's great! I also agree the lines are long, the place is cramped, and the service is slow, but this place is cheap and well worth the wait. When I go there, I always get the aforementioned Ultimate Omelette and it is packed FULL of veggies and meats of all kinds - including carrots and chicken and other things not normally put in omelettes. They don't skimp on the portions here! I also want to rave about the home-made jam that they serve. It's not always the same kind, and if you ask what it's made of, the answer(s) might surprise you (eggplant jam, anyone?), but the flavor is always top notch. In summary, Brookline Lunch ranks among my VERY FAVORITE breakfast places in all of Metro Boston. I'm just sad that I no longer live close enough to walk there.
(5)Nick L.
Brookline is a little neighborhood joint tucked around the corner from the Middle East. Breakfasts are extraordinarily filling, and well worth the affordable price: coffee, huge omelet, toast, and homefries for $6.50 with tax; $1.50 less without coffee, mind you, but who gets a real diner breakfast without coffee? The homefries were extra homey, where the chef took every vegetable from his home fridge and mixed it in. Spuds, spinach, green peppers, red peppers, maybe some onions, a few carrots, mushrooms, and a few unidentified chunks made them a full serving of flavors. The atmosphere at Brookline is itself a mix of everything. Walls and tables don't match from one side to the other, but you quickly realize that nobody in the place cares--the charm is in having a comfortable meal with friends. Sunday morning had a quiet energy with every booth conversing about something else. Bottom line: the quantity of food for the price is impossible to beat in this city, and I would go back again. Bike parking is available around the corner in front of the Middle East; not much available along the narrow side street in front of the restaurant itself.
(4)Keith A.
If you won't cook bacon to your customers' liking, you fail at breakfast. Sorry, restaurants of greater Boston, I'm not budging on this fundamental principle. Your regular customers may be willing to make a virtue of mediocrity; I won't.
(2)thomas k.
hand down the best omelettes i've ever had. i don't know how this guy does it but the super thin layers of egg and cheese like a millefeuille with the home fries and toast is the best deal in boston. the place is dirty and run down. and the underage servers don't always have the quickest feet. but hey, it's a family run business. what do you want? the coffee is quick, the couple works hard and the prices are ridiculous. one could hope for more and get less in any place.
(5)Katy T.
What can I say about this place. It's dirty. It's REALLY dirty. You can see cobwebs hanging from the corners of the room. The dust on the walls is so thick that you could write in it, but then you'd have to go to the bathroom to wash your hands and that would be another experience that would scare you. The diner is very small. The tables are very close together, and if you aren't very skinny, you are going to feel squished. In the winter, please note that they don't have a heat curtain in front of the door, so when someone comes into the restaurant, you get hit with a blast of cold air, and your dinner becomes cold instantly. We sat in the window at one of the yellow tables that looks like it was cut out with a chainsaw in a very jagged fashion. There were lots of electrical extensions and such and the sign in the window had Christmas lights piled up on it, kind of like some surly man just threw them there, while the other window had the lights "lovingly" draped and hanging there. The interesting things are the art. Lots of very interesting art is in this little diner, if they bothered to clean and dust, the place would be REALLY appealing. There is only one waitress working the whole room, and everyone can watch the cook in the back as he works. Frankly, after arriving and sitting down and taking note of this place, I was scared to eat the food that came out of the kitchen, but it was jammed to the gills with people of all ages. So, we ordered, and waited a good long time. They want to make sure you are very hungry by the time you get your food there. I got an egg dish that came with a side of Home Fries. The home fries here are AMAZING. It's worth a trip to get the home fries. They had potatoes and onions, natch, but they also had asparagus tips, and tomatoes and other delicious veggies in them. The prices were low, the food was surprisingly good, but the dirt! Augh! The dirt! I'm giving this a low rating because of the cleanliness of the place, not because of the food.
(2)Will E.
I walked by this place dozens of time and wasn't really too excited about eating here because it looks a little gross. However, it does get very crowded and so I tried it out one day. A great diner experience! Standard diner fare (eggs, sandwiches, etc), good people watching, and unbelievably cheap prices. Gets very packed on weekends.
(4)mara s.
My favorite place in Cambridge. Always delicious! Sometimes service is slow, but the food is worth it. The price is great!
(4)Ja H.
Great breakfast, brunch, Middle Eastern and French dishes! Nice art displays on rotation. A sort of dingy environment - but don't go for the interior decor, go for the great food!
(5)chungo m.
kind of dirty. kind of greasy, kind of not so hot. cheap though, and good soups!
(2)stephanie t.
Worst french toast I've ever had. Seriously, worse than the terrible food they served at summer camp. Stars are only because I like the atmosphere and it's relatively inexpensive. Also, I don't eat eggs and those look much more promising. Home fries/potatoes were not terrible (i.e. inedible, not great either) -- if I ever were to come back, which sadly I might since the cheap food scene in Cambridge is so lame, I'd just get an order of those, drown them in hot sauce and add some salt, drink coffee and call it a day. I know it's obnoxious to always complain about how provincial Boston is in comparison to "real" cities, but the fact that this is actually considered a great brunch spot isn't helping! EDIT: I originally gave this two stars, but considering that almost a YEAR later I still remember vividly just how bad my french toast was (on thin, soggy white bread), I'm lowering it to keep it more in line with the way I've rated other establishments.
(1)Tiffany Z.
Brookline Lunch is a casual breakfast/brunch/lunch spot down the street from my apartment, and I think they do an amazing job with a non-fancy, inexpensive, but tasty version of eggs benedict served with a side of diced fried potatoes mixed with lots of fresh veggies. That's the only thing I ever get here so I can't comment on the rest of the menu. If the weather's nice, expect a long wait during the weekends. Fortunately, if you're in the neighborhood, you can also order to-go for those weekend mornings you just don't feel like cooking your own breakfast :) As for the interior, it's very casual and eclectic with interesting paintings adorning the walls. And don't come in expecting polished service :) Again, it's really inexpensive compared to other brunch places and the quality of the food is high (it's just not presented in a fancy manner in a fancy environment or with nicely dressed servers). So...depends what you're looking for :)
(4)Aboud Y.
Went back this morning for breakfast and enjoyed it even more than the first time. The Za'ater Bread and jam are amazing...truly exceptional. They make a decent pancake and eggs too. The place is cozy and the coffee is strong. Service is also excellent and welcoming. I will def. be back again.
(4)Maxine Y.
This has been our go to spot for weekend brunch for years. Love the hummus plate, with its kalamata olives, peppers and onions, drizzled in hot sauce. The Greek omelet is really good too. For something light try the halava (sweet spread with pistachios) with tea. Recently had to move and on our last visit they gave us a goodbye gift - baklava and halava! Brookline lunch, we will really miss u!!!
(5)Sam G.
Brookline Lunch is hands-down my favorite brunch place in Cambridge. Sure, you may have to wait a little while to be seated. And it's not the classiest place in the area. But the food is delicious, unique and plentiful; the waitress is a sweetheart; and the bill is always incredibly inexpensive. Their homemade jam and hot sauce are out of this world. Bottom line: Come here on a sunny, leisurely weekend morning, bring a mug of coffee for the wait, relax and enjoy. P.S. My favorite order is the tomato, spinach and feta omelet. Do it.
(5)Brittany R.
Was in Boston for a weekend and ate here two days in a row. The place gets crowded and there was a wait both days, but it may be one of the best places ive ever had breakfast. Definitely go here, and definitely wait for a table.
(4)Mark H.
Stumbled across this place while visiting Boston and staying in Cambridge. Saw some hipsters hanging outside the front of the place and remembered that hipsters live for greasy breakfast and coffee in retro-places. The special omelet or whatever it was called was a disaster of everything in the kitchen, including chicken, sausage, bacon, processed cheese, broccoli, 4 eggs, potatoes a hipster or two, whatever. It looked like a mess with over-buttered toast. Tasted quite good - a bit heavy on fake cheese tho. Anyway, the price was awesome for that much food. In Toronto this would be either $16 (or free because it was found in the dumpster of a breakfast joint). Most of the other orders that I saw looked overly generous and tasty. Think I would stick with a simpler omelet next time but value for money was great - super hangover spot. Just don't go with a large crowd or else you'll really have to squeeze yourself into the small booths. Coffee was good by American standards (i.e. was stronger than Dunkin Donuts).
(4)Melanie H.
I went to Brookline Brunch on a Sunday morning around 11am. It was quite busy, but we were able to seat ourselves immediately and had service right away. They have a fairly extensive menu and offer everything from pancakes to baba ghanoush. Our food was great (egg and feta breakfast sandwich) and was served to us about 10-15 minutes after ordering. This was the fastest I have ever been served brunch food in the Cambridge/Boston area on a Sunday morning. Be warned though, they do not have a dishwasher so all of their dishes are washed by hand, which I felt was a bit unsanitary. Also, their juices are made from concentrate and are poured out of a plastic milk jug. Save your $2.75 and order coffee or water. Lastly, do not go here with a big group. This place is tiny and best accomodates a party of no more than four. If it is cold outside, there is no place to wait for a table- they ask all people to wait outside until they can free up space. Overall, it has its ups and downs, but is worth a try.
(3)Dea A.
Super cheap food with a husband-wife team running this joint. The service is only spotty because it's one person out there running the show, and she is doing a damn good job at it. I was just so surprised that with my omelette I got vegetables with my homefries! In terms of cheap breakfasts, this place wins over Dunkin Dono.
(4)K R.
I really like this place. The lady that always waits on me is awesome. She's quick and friendly. If you want a super sterile, gourmet experience then this place isn't for you. It is great home cooked food that is always a little bit different, sometimes i get fruit, other times crazy sauces. They are always great. Beware, all of the omelets come with veggies. This is a good thing as far as i'm concerned! Yum!
(4)Tepring P.
Solid place. Three of us went to this cute little place for early (9:30) brunch. I want to tell you the time b/c on a saturday in 30 degree weather (feels like 15) I would be not happy if I had to wait especially if it were outside, but we didn't thus the good rating. So we get there, we get seated instantly, we order after flagging down our waitress - which is why the 4* - and the food comes out properly and good. This place, I said, is little and cute - MAYBE 10 seats, like 6 booths and 3 two people tables? This place has inexpensive food - my spinach florentine was $6.00, tea was $1.50 with free hot water refills. I spent $9.00 total. The place had a good variety of food - well to me it did I usually have to ask for not Canadian bacon on my benis they had like 6 varieties including real salmon, not lox or anything like that. But the only other item I usually order at a breakfast place is french toast which is why I have to come back here to try it. If the french toast holds up. I have found my brunch spot. It is like 3 blocks away from central T stop on drum roll please....BROOKLINE street. but in cambridge =) And lastly, Cash only. Which is ANNOYING but not unusual in Boston.
(4)Ver D.
Friends insist on going there because it's cheap. The wait staff is great, and there is a nice variety of choices.. I have been here for brunch 3 times, and every single time, I have gotten egg shells on the eggs I order. It's gross. Never having that again, not coming back. Also the pancakes taste a bit like cardboard and the syrup is bad quality, pure corn syrup - zero maple. not good. also, long wait lines than I cannot comprehend...
(1)Tim W.
This place is a gem for late breakfasts. The portions are huge and the prices are cheap. I've gotten breakfast sandwiches there a couple of times and they are $4.50. It includes a large side of home fries which are actually potato chunks with veggies. Not bad. The omelets are also really good. Generous portions of egg and toppings. Bottom line: its cheap but good diner food. Prices are good. Coffee is good. Ideal for a night after partying since they don't open up early anyway. I tried to go there once for a real breakfast (7:30AM) and it was closed. Who knows.
(4)Cyrus W.
I was enjoying my ham benedict and looking at all the other dishes the waitress was taking to other tables thinking "I want to try that! And that!" Food was excellent. There was one waitress for the 15 or so tables and a line out the door, so service was a little harried. Will definitely be back to this place.
(4)S K.
If ever there was a misnomer "Brookline Lunch" is it - it is neither in Brookline, nor is it specifically a lunch place - It is one of my fave breakfast places - they serve the usual greasy stuff: sandwiches, fries, omelets, toasts etc. all served with some awesome hot sauce. I have tasted most of them the items on their menu and couldn't say a bad thing about them. My only gripe - their service is glacial (especially on the overcrowded weekends). The owners are Jordanian and add some superb middle-eastern fare as well. And as other reviewers pointed out, very easy on the wallet.
(4)Ligaya T.
It's been over three years since my last review though I've been going here eight years and running. Eight years! There's hardly a thing I've committed to that long besides breathing. And despite the hipster takeover, economic roller coaster, putting three kids through college and aporkalypse, I'm happy to report they're still serving up the same scrumptious eggs florentine piled high with grilled vegetables and doused with fresh hot sauce. In fact, I'm making a list inspired by the proprietor entitled "Awesome Owners." Yeah, yeah, kvetch about the film on the tables and dust in the cracks, keep the crowds away and leave the tables open for the folks who understand the magic of a hearty five buck breakfast with a smile.
(5)Julio S.
Good service, price and eats. Fast and friendly.
(4)Kay A.
In 2006, I went on a first date to this place. It was amazing. The food was cheap and mad delicious. The jam they had was mind blowing. Like it seriously changed my life. Because of that jam I married the man that took me there. No jk. but... Fast forward to now, I've been going to this place for a long time and I've noticed some changes. It's gotten way more crowded (way too many hungover hipsters), if you go there on the weekend, expect to wait, which makes it an unpopular destination in the winter. As a consequence of increased traffic, the service is slower and the staff doesn't put the same care and thought into the food. I used to get a quaint stack of french toast, with a light dusting of powder sugar, now it's just 3 slices of soggy bread thrown in a pile. With the decline of food and service they've also raised the prices. It's still cheaper than most other diner options around the city, but it's disheartening to see the slide of service and increase of price.
(2)Matt H.
Were I you, I would stay away from the "ultimate omelet" Ordered almost out of curiosity, this monstrosity contained the following (at least): peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, carrots, celery, tomatoes, broccoli, cheese, a strip of bacon, a sausage link and a chicken breast. The vegetables were mushy and gross for the most part. The meat was solid. But hey, the coffee was good and it was an experience for sure.
(4)Glenn F.
It's an upgrade to diner food. Delicious, quick, tasty. Delightful family runs the place. Everything was perfectly cooked.
(5)Rick R.
I have been coming to this tucked-away diner for years, and have been telling anybody who will listen what a great place it is. The prices are cheap and the food is excellent, for starters. Every breakfast dish comes with seasonal vegetables and home fries, toast and homemade jam and hot sauce. With rich coffee, I have never managed to spend more than $10 with tax and tip. Try any of the varieties of eggs Benedict, or the large stack of pancakes. I always leave full and satisfied. The family who runs the restaurant, particularly the matriarch, is always pleasant and cheerful. It feels wonderful to be welcomed back as a regular. If you come before 10 am on a weekend you can probably avoid a wait. But even if there is a line, it moves quickly. Give Brookline Lunch a try, and I'll be surprised if you don't come back. See you there!
(5)Shannon B.
I live right near this place, I could basically skip here if I wanted. But actually, I don't want more than I want. I've hit up this place many a time in search of cheap, fast, and slightly better than mediocre brunch, and have rather dissapointed at times. The food is CHEAP and greasy but good, and the coffee is verryyy strong. But I don't know what it is about me, but I seem to get stuck with poor waitstaff! I had to actually stand on my chair to get service. and we'd been sitting there for about 15 minutes, and it was the middle of the day on a Monday. Maybe I need to start wearing a reflector vest, or stop being so picky about having to wait 90 years to get breakfast. If you go here, be prepared for looong waits, slow service but with pleasant waitstaff, and greasy cheap food. that's all I've got!
(3)Kiera D.
This place is the absolute best hidden gem Cambridge has to offer. Organic, authentic & incredible food. Every breakfast dish comes with a heaping pile of whatever vegetables are in season. The hot sauce and jam are made in house... to die for! Yes, it's small, family owned & run and often the service is a bit slow-- especially on the weekends-- but it's totally worth the wait.
(5)Andrew R.
Brookline lunch is the definition of a greasy spoon brunch spot. Their pancakes are delicious, big, and covered in a slab of butter. The french toast, however, was lacking. The homefries come fried deliciously alongside whatever veggies are left over from the last person's omelet. The omelets themselves are ever changing: this week the veggie omelet had mushrooms, peppers and onions, where previous weeks I've had brussel sprouts in it. Also, GET THE JAM. If you have toast on your plate, make sure to ask for a bit of jam, it's amazing, and a different flavor everytime I've been there. Service is really slow when it's busy, which is most of the time, but I've never had an issue with my order, and the food is super cheap. Sometimes cheaper than it claims on the menu, which is kinda neat. Perfect spot for eating away your hangover on a Sunday morning.
(4)Sara I.
I had a fantastic BLT for lunch. The home fries that came with it were unbelievable, mixed with carrots, onions, and other green veggies. The waitress was super and it only cost $5.25! What's not to like?
(5)Ben F.
Had the eggs florentine. Came on a bagel without warning, which was pretty bad. Veggies that came with it tasted off. A friend ordered tea and got Lipton even though decent teas were available. Service was slow and unfriendly. Certainly not expensive but not cheap enough to justify being a bad brunch place.
(2)Hubert H.
Really neat breakfast place. The menu is simple and straightforward, but they do breakfast really well. If you can spare a weekday, the restaurant is usually really empty but you'll get your food without having to wait. The Eggs Benedict comes with different choices of addition, e.g. bacon. The egg dishes even come with a side of vegetables. The eggs are well-poached, runny in the middle, solid whites on the outside. The home potatoes are crunchy and complement the eggs well. The artwork comes from the local art gallery (Blue Heron?) on the other side of Mass. Ave. on Prospect St. The location makes it tough to find, but once you find it it's a real treat!
(5)Adrienne T.
BROOKLINE LUNCH ROCKS BREAKFAST!! (been a few times now) I finally decided to give this dinky dive a try for breakfast. My wife had mentioned it a few times, but we never took the time to go check it out. I wonder why they don't call it Brookline Breakfast, since they seem to be more known for their breakfast than lunch. As it turns out, today was a rainy Friday morning at about 9:30am. Walked right in, picked a seat, nice young man came and took my order, and I kid you not in 7 minutes was back with my food. It was delicious and CHEAP! 2 eggs and bacon, with home fries for $3.75???! Yup! Home fries were good and greasy, bacon wasn't all crunchy (I like soft bacon), and the eggs were perfect. The place was clean, and had kinda weird paint on the walls (designs), and the enormous a/c unit hanging above the entrance looked like it was a lawsuit getting ready to happen at any moment. I don't know if I'd be so impressed if I had to wait outside in a line, or if I had experienced slow service, both of which other Yelpers have mentioned. I guess I'll only go on weekday mornings, and avoid weekends. Oh, I did meet the owner lady and her baby who was providing us with screeching and yelling child-made background music. Owner was very nice to me.
(5)Liz B.
This used to be one of my favorite breakfast places but after this morning's experience I don't think we'll be going back. Service was slow, scattered and both of our orders came out wrong. The waiter actually walked away from the table while I was giving my order. "I'll have the veggie omelet with...." No "hold on one second I'll be right back," just left. I had to flag him down to give the rest of the order. The home-fries, which I used to love, were completely undercooked and way too greasy. At least the jam was still amazing (even though we had to walk up to the counter to get it because we couldn't get a server's attention and they forgot to put it on the plate.) I'll be sticking with Sunny's from now on.
(2)Katie V.
I had very mixed feelings about my brunch experience here. The service was friendly, but very slow. As in, after we got our coffees, we waited about 15 minutes before the waitress took our order, and then another 40-45 min. for our food. The brunch menu is no-frills -- omelets and a few non-egg dishes (pancakes, french toast). When the food finally arrived, I was pretty pleased. The home fries are a misnomer -- the potatoes come mixed in with other veggies, like carrots, squash and brussel sprouts. It was a delicious side dish and more healthy than just your usual fried potatoes or hash browns. Also a plus: homemade jam for the toast. Possibly the best part of the meal. My sausage-and-cheese omelet was so-so; the sausage was overcooked and chewy. My boyfriend seemed to like his french toast. The prices are great; 4 of us ate for about $30. I just wish we had been able to order and get our food faster.
(3)Lauren P.
This is, hands down, my favorite breakfast place in the Boston area. If you love veggies in breakfast, it could be yours too. From what I can tell, every dish that comes with hash browns will be covered in delicious vegetables that are a little different in composition each time I go. They have a whole section of the menu dedicated to different kinds of eggs Benedict... which - trust me - are all wonderful. The omelets are great and are my personal staple... as hollandaise sauce is not something that I feel okay consuming on a weekly basis... And the pancakes are pretty excellent if you're into that kinda thing. Going there once with a large party of people, we ordered a plate of them for the table. I really wish I could give that group decision 5 stars because it was a very good idea. Also, make sure to ask for some of their homemade jam which is always a little different but most times has a hint of anise. Only bad points are that there's no indoor waiting for tables (not a good place to go on a rainy Sunday morning), and I once got a Mushroom Salad there which was really just a tiny basic salad with extra button mushrooms... But it's still my favorite place for breakfast north of NY and South of Portland so 5 stars it gets!
(5)reese w.
So ridiculously cheap, it's like you stepped into a time machine bound for the 50s. The place is pretty small, but the food is cheap and fast. I got a mushroom omelette, but it was stuffed with all kinds of other grilled vegetables as well, and only for $3.50! They don't have a whole lot of vegan options, but did have a falafel sandwich that my vegan friend was quite tasty. One of the bigger items on the menu is the Ultimate Omelette, which comes with bacon, sausage, ham, chicken, home fries, toast, and grilled veggies. Oh yeah, and there's even an omelette with cheese in there too. The atmosphere is a bit frenetic and busy, but very casual and easygoing. Be prepared to wait!
(5)Lauryn Z.
When I lived in Boston a few years ago, Brookline Lunch was my go to spot for Saturday brunch- good food, inexpensive prices, cozy atmosphere, friendly service.....so when I planned my visit to Boston after 2 years, Brookline Lunch was at the top of my list to visit- My boyfriend (it was his first time here) and I arrived and were seated immediately - I was happy to see that the menu had remained the same and the same family was still running the place. However, as much as I loved this place back in the day, I must say that this time I was very disappointed with the food. Perhaps the quality has gone downhill over the years....or maybe I just didn't realize it so much before. I ordered the vegetable omelet - it was served with the eggs on the bottom, then the veggies and finally topped with American cheese (of all the cheeses to choose from- why???). I also found the choice of veggies odd- carrots and eggs....hrmmm....My boyfriend ordered the french toast which was made with white bread- with cinnamon on top - instead of mixed in with the batter. He found the dish rather tasteless and bland. Unfortunately, I spent the rest of our meal convincing my boyfriend - 'no really, it used to be good back in the day, I swear!'. Service, however, was good, and the decor just how I remembered.
(2)Omar F.
Amazing chicken curry! Sometimes all you need is one good thing to enter happy land. LIfe can be simple like that.
(4)Morgan R.
Found this place on accident and had to wait about 10 minutes during prime breakfast time on a Sunday morning. This place seems to be family owned/operated which I already love. I ordered pancakes that were loaded with fruit and a side of hash browns. Both were AmAzInG! When my home fries came to the table I was delightfully surprised to see they were cooked with fresh veggies, so yummy. Also, my pancakes were great as well. The place was super cheap and food was great. I would definitely go here again!
(5)Rachel C.
This place gets 4 stars for a few reasons. If you go in with a hangover wanting kinda greasy breakfast food, you're at the right place. Also, their home fries are a bunch of vegetables, which are delicious. I don't quite understand their business hours, so you might want to call them before you go to make sure they're open. If you're sober and want a nutritious meal, this might not be your place. If you want pancakes, waffles, and omelets, this is the place for you. It's also pretty cheap, and has plenty of seating.
(4)Peter W.
Totally great breakfast and lunch spot!
(4)Esther W.
In general, I just really like these gritty, cheap, hole-in-the-wall type places that deliver decent food for good prices. So for what it's supposed to be, Brookline Lunch is good. Breakfast choices are pretty basic, food is made QUICKLY, large portions, and best of all, it's CHEAP. The eggs benedict is okay, the omelettes are decent and hearty, and the potatoes and veggies are consistently greasy but good. I've only had breakfast foods here, not sure about their other stuff. I took off some points for hair found in my food more than once (but the truth is, I actually find hair in my food anywhere I go--seriously--and I'm convinced it's because I tend to look more than others. Good thing I don't really care that much), it's cash-only, they waiters are so busy they don't waste time trying to be friendly but that's fine, it's a little cramped so if you sit in the middle you get knocked a lot by the wait staff's elbows, and it can take a long time to get seated. This actually really sucks if you come in the winter because there is no indoor space to wait so you have to wait outside. And it gets really cold if you're eating near the door because it's such a tiny place. But as long as I live so close, I'll definitely keep coming back here for a quick CHEAP brunch with friends.
(3)Sophie H.
This is my new favorite place to go with friends who are hungry and broke. Big portions, amazing home fries (more roasted vegetable than potato), homemade jam and hot sauce -- and you probably won't break ten bucks, even with a lavish tip. I'm subtracting a star for cleanliness, but it would probably be impossible to make it cleaner AND keep the prices so low.
(4)Beth L.
This place is in my neighborhood and it's a great "greasy spoon" breakfast spot. The single room is rustic and funky. Wall art comes from "Out of the Blue" gallery and changes monthly. The food is good comfort food at great prices. If you want french toast go somewhere else because that is the one menu item that is simply awful! The business is family run - husband cooks, wife waits tables, sons wash dishes. The service is slow when the place is packed because one person is cooking for or waiting on 15 tables. The eggs benedict and omelets are always excellent. The home-fries are filled with all sorts of vegetables that make them tasty and much healthier than typical fried potatoes. Go with friends or the daily news and just enjoy!
(4)Victoria C.
This is a fantastic place for a relaxed and delicious Sunday brunch. Be sure to ask for jam with your toast, it tastes homemade and is fantastic. I also recommend the spinach-mushroom-cheese omelette, this is one of the few places that gets the eggs just right - not too runny, but not rock hard either. It can be a little hard to find, but it's worth looking for. Trust me, when you've been wandering about Boston searching for breakfast, bleary eyed and hungry, Brookline Lunch is a dream.
(4)James S.
Pretty meh. The prices are very cheap but I guess you get what you pay for. My fiancee had the french toast and eggs - the eggs were decent but a bit overcooked, while the french toast was super soggy and well undercooked. I had the falafel sandwich, which was full of vegetables but woefully short on tasty falafel! Service is what you'd expect out of a diner - mostly forgettable, but nothing bad. Overall, I'd probably not go back. Boston is woefully short on good breakfast joints, guess I'll have to keep looking!
(2)Ryuji S.
Quality of food is like 1960s. Not that I existed in this world then, but their brunch is actually just like how I would cook myself, hearty and tasty, although you will see some disagreements as to how they make the pancake and french toast. Also, they don't use real maple syrup. Well, their eggs benedict is pretty good. Actually, I shouldn't talk about anything else served there, because every time I go there, I order different kinds of eggs benedict. The worst part is their coffee. It's about the same level as the donuts chains and convenience store quality. Well, I might be a coffee snob, btu they should at least get the quality matched to Andala, Mariposa or C3 (when the sloppy staff is not working there). Well, coffee at these three places is only passable anyway.
(4)Julia Z.
Went there in a group of five people around Sunday noon and it was extremely busy; took a long time for food to come. Other than the long wait food was very delicious. Highly recommend their Eggs Benedict. One of the most tasty breakfast places I've been to.
(5)Emily S.
I never write these reviews, but I had a good birthday experience at Brookline that I wanted to share. We were supposed to go to Cafe Luna for lunch but it was too busy so after looking for what was close by, we ended up at Brookline. I had the special fruit pancakes, with strawberries and blueberries. My friends had omelettes that they said were scrumptious. A great find for brunch that I didn't know about!
(4)Tom E.
It's not just that I fell through the floor here much to every other breakfastee's amusement... there are big holes in the wooden floorboards that chair legs can easily fall into... it's not my fault... get some new floorboards... buy chairs with really wide legs... whatever. So why only 2 stars? You'd think the local brunch-outpost a few blocks from home would be manna from heaven for this oft-hungover lunatic. But no, it's always just been a pain in the bum in the many times I've been dragged along. * The long line pains the feet like bad acupuncture * The wait once seated is elf-themed-literature-epic-long * In summer it's hotter than state-illegal sin * On wet days it's more humid than in Tina Turner's car * And it's always painfully cramped - just like my style when Nadya wants to hang. All of this for some omelettes and shit? No thanks, they're not stellar enough to justify getting me all grumpy and cursing all these hipster do-gooders. Nice artwork though, and those aforementioned holes in the floor at least provide amusement to those who aren't made to look silly.
(2)Emily M.
"Ehhhh" is the word to use here. My boyfriend got traditional Mediterranean food, while I got a bagel. It was ok. Nothing special. Very loud and a little overwhelming, though. Prices are low but higher than other diners in the area.
(3)Abbey B.
I used to live around the corner from this place. Went here a couple of times for breakfast/brunch on a weekend. Service is usually pretty slow, though the waitress is clearly handling a lot. No biggie. Just don't be in a rush. I'd usually go here when I was feeling too hungover to make breakfast/lunch. When you're hungover, you want greasy food to sop up all the liquor in your system. This place generally fits the bill, though I always left feeling sicker than when I went in. Hungover or not. The food's pretty mediocre. I'm not a fan of breakfast (though I've been won over by some places in the area), but this place just turns me off completely. I know people love it, but I just can't buy into it. Tastes like the kind of breakfast someone would make at home and you'd politely eat, but would try to avoid their cooking in the future. Oh, never order anything but breakfast. It's crap.
(2)Jessica A.
I understand that popular breakfast places mean long waits on the weekend, inattentive service, the kitchen getting half your order wrong, your coffee finally arriving after you've called for the bill, & c. That's not why the one star. No, the one star is entirely due to getting boiled carrots in my vegetable omelette. Even if you're screwing up *which* vegetables I asked for in my omelette, which is expected, who on earth would think that combination palatable? It's scary to think that even a remotely seasoned cook would make this mistake. Also, who keeps boiled carrots on hand anyway?
(1)Liza N.
I hate writing reviews in theory about little holes-in-the-wall restaurants I think are supremely good. Mainly for the reason I absolutely hate waiting in lines. The line is generally not tooo bad for Brookline Lunch, but in the cold winter chill of a raw Sunday as you wait outside for brunch, it can get chilly. Other than my hatred of waiting aside, this tiny little 12 or so odd table-d lunch place is THE BEST. Things I love about it: you can get a buttload of food for less than $5. all the main breakfast items come WITH toast, homefries, and vegetables. it's local and earthy without being too trendy. it's family run. it has an abundance of delightful plants outside the entrance. DID I MENTION HOW CHEAP IT IS?
(5)Robot N.
Totally yummers! Cheap, delicious, unique. Cool vibe, great homemade hot sauce and strawberry jam. Go...right...now!
(4)Julia F.
My dad tells me stories about how he used to come here and get brunch/lunch while at work back in the good old days... Dad: ... when food didn't cost as much, ya know? Me: Well, it's still fairly inexpensive to eat there... Dad: When I was going there it cost two-fifty for all eight of us to stuff ourselves! (or something equally outrageous) I pity anybody who has to listen to this conversation every time we pass this place. But with him, it's like one of those 'fishing stories' the food gets cheaper and cheaper every time we talk about it. This is, however the same man who tried to only give my sister and I fifty-cent allowances FOREVER. Thrifty doesn't even cut it. The food is average. The place is kinda tight quarters. It's also weird if you are from Cambridge cause then you are somehow obligated to interrupt your eating or somebody else's by saying hi and asking how everybody is, ecc. It's a greasy spoon, a cramped, often too warm spoon that is definitely historically significant, yet most of the time when I think of where to eat ... this place doesn't jump out at me.
(3)Cecilia L.
I have such mixed feelings about this place, so I'll just give it to you straight. Good: The amazing house jam, the 1950s prices, the sauteed veggies with every breakfast, the art on the walls. Bad: The long lines on weekends, the extended droughts of service for 20 minutes or more, the general dirtiness of the restaurant, the greasy spoon odor that permeates your clothes. But any cute, independent place that will make me a delicious eggs benedict for $5 has a place in my heart.
(3)Kate T.
If you are looking for a hip, unique brunch experience with HUGE portions on the CHEAP, look no further. My favorite breakfast place in Boston. Try the Mediterranean omelet--NYO med omelet, it boasts spinach, tomato, peppers, onions, mushroom, olives, and more and is topped with a lump of homemade feta cheese that is to die for. The service is always friendly and fast and I've never paid over $18 for two breakfasts and two coffees. Come early because it does fill up in my experience.
(5)Trevor B.
A good place for a casual breakfast between Central Square and MIT. The veggie omelette comes with a generous heap of roasted vegetables, and the coffee is pretty good (for a diner); you can enjoy both for a little over $8 plus tip. Cash only, so come prepared.
(4)Logan W.
Awesome experience. The food was delicious, the service top-notch, and venue was nicely adorned with local art. The matriarch was truly masterful.
(5)Raphie B.
Hard to find (or easy to miss) but worth a visit for sure. The food is great, the service is quick, and the prices are very reasonable. Brookline Lunch (located across the street from the downstairs entrance to The Middle East) is a total gem!
(4)rewan a.
Both times I've been here the food has been awesome. Getting seated is a little awkward, especially if you with a few people, or if there are other people waiting for a table as well. I felt weird hovering behind someone sitting trying to enjoy their meal, but this place is so tiny that it's hard to not be in the way. Last time I went next door to that funky shop and looked around until our table was ready, but today it was storming outside and so I had to awkwardly stand in the way for about 10 minutes. There seems to be only one waitress here, but I must say she does an excellent job serving every table alone. We ordered the Baba Ghanoug for appetizers and were very impressed. It was very similar to what it tastes like in the Middle East (area, not the restaurant across the street..). I had the tuna melt which comes with homefries. The homefries are NOT fried, and are actually boiled with other veggies. Very yummy. Although you may smell like restaurant when you leave, this place is DEFINITELY worth checking out. The damage? 20 bucks for two people including tip. Good stuff!
(4)Elaine M.
A heaping plateful of homemade steak and eggs with home fries for around $6?!?! That's unheard of... unless you're at Brookline Lunch. It's a charming hole-in-the-wall type joint with photography of the surrounding neighborhood hanging on the walls, and it's known for its extremely cheap breakfast/brunch dishes. Though they look good, I'm not a big fan of how their french toast or pancakes taste. On the other hand, their egg platters are fresh, yummy, and unbeatable. You'd be hard-pressed to find a comparably filling and hearty breakfast for a measly few dollars at any other place that does not have golden arches.
(4)Rana A.
Great hole-in-the-wall breakfast place!! Very affordable the average price for all breakfast items ranged between $4-$8. I had the feta, egg and tomato sammie for $4.50. It came with home style potatoes, veggies, an orange slice and a piece of banana. The rest of my family got omelets and most of them couldn't finish their meals. Service was a little slow as there was only one waitress and when we got there the tables weren't cleaned off or set up with silverware (which is why it's not 5 stars).
(4)Alyssa K.
I went in here for a quick to- go brunch. The restaurant itself had a very pleasant, almost homey decor. I ordered the Ultimate Omelet for brunch and the Pancakes with eggs and sausage for the next morning. I thought the Ultimate Omelet would have the varying meats (chicken, ham, sausage) IN the omelet, but they were piled on top of it. The omelet itself was delicious and had a ton of sautéed spinach and other fresh veggies. They gave A LOT of food for a very low price. Even though I was starving when I went in, I couldn't finish my meal at once and had to save it for later. I was curious about the pancakes and tried them- they weren't that great. Definitely NOT something I would get again or recommend. I felt they just covered them with butter and was a little sickened by the thought. If you're going to coat something in butter, then at least make it taste good enough to not let the patron think about how unhealthy it is. I know they were busy when I went in, but I distinctly said sausage for the meat. I ended up with bacon. I'm not a big fan of bacon, but it wasn't that big of a mix up for me to never go back there again. The sole waitress that I ordered from was clearly frazzled by all the customers, but did not snap at me or rush me out the door. I give her credit for handling decently well under the pressure with many customers waiting. I will say that a deterring factor in coming to the Brookline Lunch is that they do NOT accept credit or debit cards. I just so happened to have exactly the right amount of cash on me, otherwise I would have had to rush over to an ATM. I know plenty of people who do not carry cash with them. Keep this in mind beforehand if you decide to go here. Total time from ordering to paying and walking out the door had to be anywhere from 10- 15 minutes (20 mins max). I was pleased with the speedy service.
(4)Chris H.
This place is great--I love the food and the family that runs it. I probably end up going here 2-3 times a month for brunch. Most of the breakfast items come with a giant pile of mixed vegetables on the side. The homemade hot sauce is incredible.
(5)Chris Y.
Goodbye hangover I'm replete, wallet intact Thank you Brookline Lunch
(5)Jess C.
I went to this brunch spot after a few people recommended it to me. My friend Nick and I heard the homefries were great, so our expectations were high, and for him, the homefries hit the mark. I like my homefries a little less busy (these came with peppers, zucchini, tomatoes) but they were still nice and crispy. He had the Mediterranean omelette while I settled on 2 eggs over easy which were cooked nicely. The best part of this meal was the jam and hot sauce they gave us. We were so curious as to what was in the jam that we asked what was in it... they told us it was a combination of pineapple and banana. Now let me tell you something, this jam was red and had some interesting flavors, so obviously their chef was not giving away any secrets. We were really just curious! So overall, definitely a good breakfast, curious jam, but filling and scrumptious all around.
(3)Josh F.
I used to go to this place for lunch when I was working from home. The hummus and baba ghanoush are delicious and the prices can't be beat. This is a great place.
(5)Dara C.
Sick of curry-scented Central Sq? Me, too. Thank god for Brookline Lunch, the miniature breakfast mecca off Mass Ave. My roommates and I love this place. Where else can you get a mammoth omelette for $4? You can't even buy eggs that cheap. The hash brown potatoes here are to die for. They're neither hashed nor brown, and they're barely potatoes. The cook makes them chock full of colorful vegetables, and I don't think it's ever the same melange twice. My most recent serving included spinach, carrots, asparagus, onions, broccoli, mushrooms, and what may or may not have been Brussel sprouts. They're pretty much the best thing since sliced ... potatoes. Also, the pancakes are above-average, the French toast is quite tasty but unremarkable, and I'm told they always do their meat right. As for lunch and dinner foods, well, I've never had them but I'm sure they do a fine job of it, too. But seriously. Just get breakfast. Service is spotty, natch. The waitress/owner is the hardest working woman in the restaurant business and usually does it alone. So it's not the fastest service in the world, but that's fine. Linger over your eggs and a good cup of coffee, and watch the skinny hipsters gather around Middle East across the street. Revel in your full tummy of delicious food. Curl up in the fetal position. Love life, for your bill will never be above $10.
(4)Dika K.
I find myself going Brookline Lunch almost every weekend. The food is wonderfully cheap and the home fries are served with plenty of sauted vegetables. At fast food prices you can get a finger-licking goood cheeseburger. I'm not saying its the best cheeseburger in the world, but ... you can has cheeseburger for cheap. Get a seat facing the back and you get to watch some impressive egg cracking. Or get a seat facing the street and zone out with a hangover, but bring sunglasses - its really bright on Brookline in the morning.
(4)Joshua S.
This is my favorite place for breakfast in all of Cambridge, maybe even Boston. First, the food is awesome! Generous portions, best omelette's I've ever had, but I usually get the Eggs Benedict. Homefries are great and done the right way. And they usually give you some vegetables (think spinach) along with your food to make the whole thing taste really healthy. Second, the prices are so uncommonly low. This makes me happy. Third, it's family run and there is art on the wall from local artists. So you can order away knowing you aren't supporting some soulless conglomerate chain. The only thing people might take issue with are the (sometimes) long lines and the (usually) slow service. I say, deal with it. Take the opportunity to actually talk and enjoy the time with the person you came with, we really don't get to do this very much anymore.
(5)Malena L.
I think I've lost count of the number of times I have harrassed the lady owner for her hot sauce. I have even suggested she bottles that shit and sells it (I expect a cut of the profit). It's seriously a taste sensation! I love Brookline Lunch: it's dirt cheap, delicious and 3 blocks away from my place. My 2 personal favorites are the feta and tomato omelette and the Benedict eggs, and if you don't like their breakfast potatoes (specially with that hot sauce), you can come throw stones at my car. If you are doing brunch, make sure you come in early or you'll stand in line for a while...in the sun...hangover...not kosher.
(4)Gracie B.
It's very heart warming for me to see a place that isn't another new "concept" place. Brookline Lunch has been there a loooooong time. And it is now, what it was then plus some serious wear and tear. It's the middle eastern corner lunch spot that could. It's simple and seemingly healthy. It's warm and inviting in the completely honest way it doesn't hide it's years and it's hard working family run goodness. Don't go if unmatched lumpy booth seats and slightly less than clean tables bother you. Do go if you are the kind of person who trys to find alternatives to Starbucks and CVS whenever you can - you will get it!
(4)Danielle B.
this place is family owned and has excellent service. the food is good and hearty. great for breakfast and brunch. it is small though so expect a wait.
(4)Stefanie G.
The menu here is really nice - good pancakes, decent eggs, my mom liked the middle eastern breakfast with hummus and falafel. I think the eggs are a little dry, but there is something in the homey feel that I really enjoy. They also left the stems on the spinach for the eggs florentine. The coffee and OJ are really good. Avoid the bathroom! All in all, the food isn't incredible, but this is a great little hole in the wall to enjoy Sunday morning, the paper, and conversation. Extra points if you were across the street at the Middle East the night before.
(4)Ed H.
I really don't see why Brookline Lunch has 4 stars. I don't find much about this to enjoy. I've heard it's because of the prices, but that doesn't equally two (or possibly even three - I almost wanted give them one) extra stars in my book. Maybe it's not the breakfast that this place is getting credit for. I hope not, because if it is, I missed something. Something big.
(2)Alex G.
The best breakfast place in Central Square hands down. And their lunch ain't bad either. It has the feel of an old mom and pop diner, cozy booths, quaint. The sign is elusive, for months I just knew it as "the place by the corner." They have just about every breakfast variation imaginable (you can get eggs benedict with literally anything slipped between the toast and the egg--I recommend the salmon), and each dish has a pleasant Mediterranean slant. The home fries are served with a heaping pile of vegetables on top (asparagus on the weekends), hot sauce comes standard, and during the week you can linger a little over bottomless coffee. For lunch, a sandwich and a soup is gonna run you $4.75. Things are priced like it's 1975. Complain all you want, but it didn't break the bank. I find Central Sq to be notorious for bad service in general, yet Brookline Lunch manages to prove me wrong everytime--staff is swift, friendly, and on point with the coffee refills. Not the "indie rock" help (kids who could care less) that dominates the area. The wait on the weekends is no more than 5-10 minutes. Compared to other breakfast spots like the Friendly Toast (a most unfriendly experience if you ask me, wait time 30min-1hr), Brookline Lunch kicks it into last week. May the staff's tips overflow because of it. Downside is they're not open for dinner... hence the name.
(5)Rachel S.
This eatery is one of the reasons why I love Central Square. The food is amazing for the price. Yeh, service is a little slow and there's no air conditioning (at least not when I've been there), but why are you rushing through the most important meal of the day? I'm always pleasantly amazed when I get my spinach and feta omelets and it's a delicious work of art! Fresh veggies in a multitude of colors. This is a hidden gem. You will almost never run into a tourist in this spot. I'm big on supporting Mom and Pop local industry and this is in my top five. Saturdays and Sundays are huge brunch days everywhere. If you can get there early, or have off on a weekday, give this place a go. It can get pretty hot in there in the summer; I have memories of peeling my bare skin from their old school booths. ** Two enthusiastic thumbs up. **{edit: bare skin from wearing shorts... yeh... }
(5)Norah D.
Easy to love - service is slow but food worth the wait- weird little sides of nontraditional breakfast foods from middle eastern cuisine very delicious and charming. We ate breakfast there on the morning of our wedding. * sigh* nostalgia and food ...
(5)Irene F.
When walking up to Brookline Lunch, I noticed the door proclaiming "American Take-out" (mostly true) and "French Gourmet Take-out"...woah, what? They definitely took a few literary liberties there. What this place really is: a greasy diner with "eclectic" decor and the cheapest prices ever. Wait, did I mention cheap? Only 4 items on the breakfast side of the menu cost more than $5. Mmm yeah, you can have your most important meal of the day -and- leave with enough cash to get through the rest of it. The food is alright, but it boggles my mind that there can be a long wait for it on the weekends. Thankfully, this time it was a Monday. I usually get an omelet, and the Western omelet ($4.25) was no let-down. It came with toast (none of that crazy jam, though) and home fries that, as usual, included a random selection of the veggies they happened to have around in the kitchen. One lady handles the waitressing for the entire place, so don't expect much in terms of service. While you're waiting, you might be able to catch a glimpse of her kids running around. It's a good time to take in the random decor and look at the crazy drawings on the ceiling, too. This place is so random. By the way, Brookline Lunch also serves Middle Eastern fare. Too bad I've never gotten to that side of the menu. (3 star food at 5 star prices = 4 stars.)
(4)Shikha B.
In this bizarro city where good brunch places are about as hard to find as a bar open past midnight, nice people, and a warm day, Brookline Lunch was definitely a breath of fresh air. Delicious BRUNCH food, good service, and cheap. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was that I don't think they serve bloody marys, which are essential for the perfect brunch. :)
(4)Stacy B.
Great restaurant, Cheap food, Great Artwork. My Fave: Feta Omelette. Just a great little dive!
(5)JP D.
I love this place, their breakfast comes with homefries and a mix of veggies! Great olives and feta cheese, you can't go wrong here for your money!
(5)Kim L.
I LOVE Brookline Lunch! I find myself agreeing with many of the other reviews, but want to add my take. The place IS rather dirty. However... I don't mind that. In fact some of my favorite breakfast places seem to have a thin layer of grease and grime (not sure what this says about me). I do like the decor and the ever-changing artwork on the walls. The vegetable selection in the omelettes IS rather odd. Yes, indeed there are carrots, and broccoli, and the chicken(!) that comes in the Ultimate Omelette is flavored with dill (of all things). Again, I don't mind that. In fact, I think it's great! I also agree the lines are long, the place is cramped, and the service is slow, but this place is cheap and well worth the wait. When I go there, I always get the aforementioned Ultimate Omelette and it is packed FULL of veggies and meats of all kinds - including carrots and chicken and other things not normally put in omelettes. They don't skimp on the portions here! I also want to rave about the home-made jam that they serve. It's not always the same kind, and if you ask what it's made of, the answer(s) might surprise you (eggplant jam, anyone?), but the flavor is always top notch. In summary, Brookline Lunch ranks among my VERY FAVORITE breakfast places in all of Metro Boston. I'm just sad that I no longer live close enough to walk there.
(5)Nick L.
Brookline is a little neighborhood joint tucked around the corner from the Middle East. Breakfasts are extraordinarily filling, and well worth the affordable price: coffee, huge omelet, toast, and homefries for $6.50 with tax; $1.50 less without coffee, mind you, but who gets a real diner breakfast without coffee? The homefries were extra homey, where the chef took every vegetable from his home fridge and mixed it in. Spuds, spinach, green peppers, red peppers, maybe some onions, a few carrots, mushrooms, and a few unidentified chunks made them a full serving of flavors. The atmosphere at Brookline is itself a mix of everything. Walls and tables don't match from one side to the other, but you quickly realize that nobody in the place cares--the charm is in having a comfortable meal with friends. Sunday morning had a quiet energy with every booth conversing about something else. Bottom line: the quantity of food for the price is impossible to beat in this city, and I would go back again. Bike parking is available around the corner in front of the Middle East; not much available along the narrow side street in front of the restaurant itself.
(4)Keith A.
If you won't cook bacon to your customers' liking, you fail at breakfast. Sorry, restaurants of greater Boston, I'm not budging on this fundamental principle. Your regular customers may be willing to make a virtue of mediocrity; I won't.
(2)thomas k.
hand down the best omelettes i've ever had. i don't know how this guy does it but the super thin layers of egg and cheese like a millefeuille with the home fries and toast is the best deal in boston. the place is dirty and run down. and the underage servers don't always have the quickest feet. but hey, it's a family run business. what do you want? the coffee is quick, the couple works hard and the prices are ridiculous. one could hope for more and get less in any place.
(5)Katy T.
What can I say about this place. It's dirty. It's REALLY dirty. You can see cobwebs hanging from the corners of the room. The dust on the walls is so thick that you could write in it, but then you'd have to go to the bathroom to wash your hands and that would be another experience that would scare you. The diner is very small. The tables are very close together, and if you aren't very skinny, you are going to feel squished. In the winter, please note that they don't have a heat curtain in front of the door, so when someone comes into the restaurant, you get hit with a blast of cold air, and your dinner becomes cold instantly. We sat in the window at one of the yellow tables that looks like it was cut out with a chainsaw in a very jagged fashion. There were lots of electrical extensions and such and the sign in the window had Christmas lights piled up on it, kind of like some surly man just threw them there, while the other window had the lights "lovingly" draped and hanging there. The interesting things are the art. Lots of very interesting art is in this little diner, if they bothered to clean and dust, the place would be REALLY appealing. There is only one waitress working the whole room, and everyone can watch the cook in the back as he works. Frankly, after arriving and sitting down and taking note of this place, I was scared to eat the food that came out of the kitchen, but it was jammed to the gills with people of all ages. So, we ordered, and waited a good long time. They want to make sure you are very hungry by the time you get your food there. I got an egg dish that came with a side of Home Fries. The home fries here are AMAZING. It's worth a trip to get the home fries. They had potatoes and onions, natch, but they also had asparagus tips, and tomatoes and other delicious veggies in them. The prices were low, the food was surprisingly good, but the dirt! Augh! The dirt! I'm giving this a low rating because of the cleanliness of the place, not because of the food.
(2)Will E.
I walked by this place dozens of time and wasn't really too excited about eating here because it looks a little gross. However, it does get very crowded and so I tried it out one day. A great diner experience! Standard diner fare (eggs, sandwiches, etc), good people watching, and unbelievably cheap prices. Gets very packed on weekends.
(4)mara s.
My favorite place in Cambridge. Always delicious! Sometimes service is slow, but the food is worth it. The price is great!
(4)Ja H.
Great breakfast, brunch, Middle Eastern and French dishes! Nice art displays on rotation. A sort of dingy environment - but don't go for the interior decor, go for the great food!
(5)chungo m.
kind of dirty. kind of greasy, kind of not so hot. cheap though, and good soups!
(2)Annie P.
BEST Eggs Benedict. Veggie Omelettes. With those vegetable potato things. With some sort of jam and spice kick of Oil sauce in mini white flapped over in layers holder. The super duper mommy running around seating, wiping, serving, writing,... but never freaking out. It's a magic family. At least she sincerely asks if everything is okay and you honestly answer back OF COURSE and leave the biggest tip every time you go because the bill was only $5 or something. Wait goes long. Don't take any impatient guests here. Go in two's or at most four's. While you wait, don;t forget to make fun of the Out Of The Blue art up on the walls and look up on the ceilings.. those little drawings are worth oogling at. Those luke warm Nantucket Nectars juices. Also the warm water served in a dingy yellowish plastic cup. Empty ketchup bottles. Flat silverware. Busted up china. Church pew benches and sci-fi looking couches with tables sitting on your thigh. High five, you still love the place!
(5)Melissa B.
Across from the Middle East, and only open for breakfast and lunch, this is hands-down one of my favorite breakfast spots. It will remind you of Berkeley, it's a bit crunch. Great quality food without being greasy. Skip the home fries (boring) but they serve wonderful grilled vegetables with all the meals. My favorite is the feta and spinach omelette. With a side of their special hot sauce (owners are from Jordan IIRC?), I'm good to go. Coffee sucks, so get one from Toscanini's on Main St. or Dunkin D's on Mass Ave before you stop in. They've never minded in the years I've been going there. Oh, and it's inexpensive, too.
(4)Nick M.
This place feels like San Francisco, not Brookline. The egg dishes are hearty and delicious, the way breakfast should be. A great place for a morning date.
(4)Tiffany W.
good. cheap. breakfast. awesome hole-in-the-wall type diner and one of my top go to places for breakfast/brunch... filling portions, very good omelettes and home fries, tasty home-made jams... service is a bit slow sometimes and lines can get long on weekends, but all in all, a great bang for your buck!
(4)Yeuhi A.
This place has the best omelets. They come with fresh vegetable medleys and tangy homemade hot sauce. Coffee is good. This is my new favorite brunch spot in Central Sq. If you can't stand the crowds, try dropping by on a weekday. The food is just as good and the service is much quicker.
(4)Kabir H.
I didn't realize how much I loved this place until it closed for the summer.. not due to re-open until August 5th, I'm left with four weekends of trucking it elsewhere to replace my favorite greasy spoon. If you're looking for breakfast or lunch in Central Sq on the cheap, you can't do any better.
(4)Sean E.
Quite possibly the best omelet I've had from a breakfast/lunch joint. I might even give this place a five if it weren't for the lack of a proper wait staff. I'm all for keeping it in the family as Brookline Lunch does, but making the Mom be the only person to bus and wait tables had us sitting at our table reading the menu for a good 20 minutes before we got our orders out and then another long stretch before we ate. This was pretty much the story the two times I've been there and it stopped us from going back anytime soon. BUT. I gotta say, it's worth the wait. The eggs and veg are just about as perfect as you could want -- really handcrafted, homey goodness. And the price is hard, nay impossible, to beat.
(4)R E.
This place has fantastic breakfast and is cheap. As other yelpers said, ask for jam with your toast. Vegetables instead of home fries is pretty awesome too.
(5)Peter R.
Ask anyone about Brookline Lunch, and the first thing they'll mention is the incredibly low cost of the food, the second thing they'll mention is it's high deliciousness. The restaurant is small, and the booths, as a friend of mine pointed out, look a bit like old fashioned pews. The ceiling seems like it should be an album cover for some conceptual band, and the rotating art collection is... eclectic. That said, every meal I've had here has been great, though the cheese that comes on some of the dishes is a little Kraft-y. The breakfast fare is simple and comforting and the jelly that they serve with the toast and pancakes is amazing. Don't go if you're craving waffles though, they're not on the menu. Breakfast is almost always crowded, but the service is pretty good considering that there are never more than 4 people working (including the cook).
(4)Jess P.
brookline lunch is the perfect mascot for central sq - dingy yet loveable. 1st place: the omelets- big and chock full of fresh veggies. you can also ask for sauteed veggies on the side in place of home fries and even carb-lovers should try it out. you get all kinds of delicious, unexpected randomness - asparagus, squash, spinach, tomatoes, etc. 2nd place: clientele- bring the sunday times, but you may not even make much progress cause the people watching is pretty good. a mix of "just-rolled-out-of-bed-still-wearing-grey-denim-Âfrom-last-night's-middle-east-show" people and mit nerdlings.
(4)rishi h.
I haven't found a place with the same cozy family run atmopshere that has such good service. The food is _very_ reasonably priced and delicious, the staff is friendly, the service is good, and there's pretty art work all over the place (including the ceiling!!!).
(5)Michelle R.
Shhh... I tell you this only because I feel for people who are looking for a good breakfast dive. If what you want is a cheap breakfast (under $5)which is filling and fantastic, check out Brookline lunch. They're closed until August 5, 2006 because they're out travelling. The place is small, so do us all a favor and take the brunch group elsewhere. Enjoy this place with crowds of 1-4 for the best experience.
(5)Michael B.
this place makes breakfast feel like you are in your friends apt. cool paintings from a local gallery. nice grilled veggies with breakfast. Friendly owners. very affordable. love the hot sauce and jam with the meal. nice environment.
(4)Eli G.
I've lived in or near Cambridge my whole life and spent many a nigh tin Central Square and I didn't even know this place existed until I went here for an art opening on Saturday. Clearly my ignorance has been my loss! The catered food was exceptional, especially the falafel (spicy dipping sauce was unlike anything I've had before) and the grape leaves. I'll add to my review after I go here for a full meal ASAP.
(4)Clea K.
I was close to giving Brookline Lunch five stars, (decided against it because of the chaotic service), but in general I'd highly recommend it. The food is really good and cheap, and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed too. I've been to a few Cambridge brunch places now, and it was by far the cheapest option around, and I feel one gets really good value in everything. The portions are good, and I really liked the veggie omelette and the pancakes - they serve a spiced up version of strawberry jam too, and that's really good, so definitely try it. I've had to wait both times I went there, but it was on a Saturday so I guess that's to be expected... although last time we had to stand outside in the pouring rain as there wasn't enough space inside to wait - so be prepared :).
(4)sage f.
I love this place. I love that the food is ridiculously good, not to mention inexpensive. I love that it's a family business and the kids are often the ones clearing your plates. I love the people-watching I can do here. The booths are clearly the best place to sit.
(5)Michelle D.
While I love the omelettes and the veggies that come with it I have to wonder at how clean the kitchen is. The last time I was there, a dog was tied up behing the counter! Now, I love animals but c'mon! Service can sometimes be sketchy but I've never had to wait for a table. I guess that's saying something.....
(2)Peter P.
Ya know, I have been here once, and I was with my ex-girlfriend and her 1yr old son. I mean, it's not the Ritz, it's not anything particularly special. I got a burger with some home fries, and you know what, the burger was kind of pre-fab, but the home fries were quite good, they mixed in grilled vegies, and the large portion left me full for the rest of the day. Like I said, nothing fancy, but the whole tab for the entire lunch for the two of us, tip included was $20, and that was with an excessive tip. All in all a very cozy experience. The waitress couldn't have been nicer, and she couldn't have been better with kids, she had a whole bunch of tricks up her sleeve to keep a 1yr old amused. If only they had a liquor license for the people like me who need that beer for breakfast to take the edge off.
(4)Alice K.
Lovely place for an early, on-time or late weekend lunch. Most things come with a generous helping of home fries (the definition of "home fries" can include squash, carrots, bits of pepper and tomato) and are under $5- you can do the math yourself. The menu consists mostly of basic comfort food- omlettes, sandwiches, the ubiquitous BLT. The interior is decorated in someone's Fun and Funky period; examining the decor is a great way to occupy yourself and your friends while waiting for the food.
(3)Amy D.
Brookline Lunch makes me tired, despite the fact that I'm usually dropping in for breakfast after a good night's sleep. Sadly, I end up tired -- of waiting for a table to open up, for the waitress to take my order, for the food to finally appear, to get the bill, you get the picture. I know it's a family run place, and while I can appreciate the fact that they're trying to keep costs down by only having one waitress, spending over an hour to get breakfast isn't cool. The food is great and I'd really like to make this my regular weekend breakfast spot, but I just can't. For those who want to give it a try, I suggest going early.
(3)Eve G.
How cheap is this place for the quality? So cheap! I ordered the Eggs Florentine which is basically the vegetarian Eggs Benedict. So, instead of putting ham on your English muffins, they load your plate with roasted mixed veggies and potatoes, and they normally smash spinach between the muffin and the egg, but the E. Coli scare has temporarily removed the leaf from the dish. The hollandaise sauce was so rich and creamy, and while the eggs weren't as juicy as I would normally like, I still walked away feeling very very satisfied. The place gets very busy, but the two staff members who bus and serve tables are excellent. They work themselves into a sweat to accomodate ones needs. The most impressive thing about Brookline Lunch, which you may not know, is that they make their own jam. Yes, and this morning they had a banana nutmeg sort of jam. It was absolutely delish, and they also give you a side of sour and hot relish to go with your eggs. How original? The coffee is a little on the thin side, but it does the job, and the water is filled to the brim about five times in one sitting. The best part about the experience is that I only paid five dollars for a fresh, satisfying, and authentic breakfast. Way to go B.L! By the way, Brookline Lunch is not in Brookline, but in Cambridge on Brookline St.
(4)Mags L.
good hearty breakfast. everytime. 'nuff said.
(4)Juliette V.
Nice casual atmosphere for a weekend breakfast. I like that they put lots of veggies in their omelettes. And, I have never had to wait to get in.
(3)Kristine M.
When we walked in, it was mostly empty, but half the tables were filthy, with old dishes, leftover food, etc leftover from previous customers. It was a bit of a turn-off to me. I was also disappointed that they didn't have lunch...I went there on a Saturday at 1:30 PM and I was totally in the mood for lunch (and since it was called Brookline LUNCH, I figured my desire would be fulfilled) but they only served breakfast. I got a breakfast sandwich with sausage and the sausage with chewy and over-cooked. They forgot to bring my drink, too!! I guess I'd give it a second chance but I was not impressed. Frankly, the rave reviews shock me.
(2)Stephanie M.
I almost hesitate to review Brookline Lunch, because it's already so crowded so often - but I almost owe them the businees, considering how often I'd go if I still lived in Cambridge. This place serves a phenomenal omelette with a sweet chili sauce, I must say - but I've not gotten one since I tried their lamb kabob. Tons of tender lamb, fresh vegetables cooked to perfection (still slightly crunchy!), and mind-blowing sauce over rice - nothing else like it. Oh, and did I mention - it's less than six bucks for more than I can eat in one sitting.
(5)Juston P.
This place almost contradicted itself to a 3 star rating. The food is satisfying, but greasy. The atmosphere is cute, but the service is awful. Normally, that'd be 2 stars, but the low prices place it back in the 3 star camp. ... and then the holes in the floor, long wait, sour owner, and sauna-like climate yank it back to ** land.
(2)rachael b.
i love this place. huge portions, lots of veggies in the omelets and homefries, homemade hot sauce and jam, and cheap prices. it's family-run and they're really kind. i love when their kids are there and they excitedly run to show me to my table. you don't find places like this in cambridge these days and it's really sad!
(5)mickey l.
Keep this place in your back pocket. Show it to those who you trust. Don't expect miracles, like you might find at EGG (see next review) But be happy you can afford to tip well the meals are that cheap. (Two people, 10$, no joke) Yes. Dirty. Greasy. Even sticky table top. But they are so nice. They took care of our large and baby studded brunch with charm.
(4)Mr. X.
I come from a city with a proud diner tradition, and this place could stand squarely in the middle of the pack in my hometown. This is praise, not criticism. The food is fair, but comes in big portions, and has a few nice touches (I'm thinking specifically hot sauce with the home fries, and how magically nothing is greasy). Far as I can tell, it is literally a Mom and Pop place, with Pop manning the grill and Mom waiting tables. Mom is just about the nicest waitress I have ever met, and tends to have her little daughter trailing her around, which adds to the cozy, friendly atmosphere. I went here for breakfast today just off a redeye from California. I went in drastically sleep deprived and literally weak from hunger. Half an hour later I had my will to live back. (Incidentally, for those wondering why it's called Brookline Lunch when it's in Cambridge, look at the street address.)
(4)Chris W.
I've walked by this place so many times and seen the wait and the crowd and thought to myself I have to swing through and grab a bite. So last weekend I did just that with my trusty female breakfast companion and we were utterly shocked and disappointed. When we arrived there was a brief wait, sure no sweat. Then we were seated, and from here on out things just went down hill. We waited and waited until we finally put in our drink order. We had to wait even longer to place our food order because there was only one waitress for the entire place. When our drinks arrived the rim of my coffee cup looked as though it had been used to polish the floor. Now after placing our order we thought we were all set. Our food arrived and it was meh,.. My friend had ordered a an omelet, which had some very oily/greasy vegetables in it alongside her salmon. I also got salmon even though I didn't order it. Funny I didn't think that salmon and sausage sounded so similar. And my scrambled eggs looked like they had barely been cooked. We were so disappointed with our meals we took care of our bill asap and left.
(1)Esther Z.
If you are looking for inexpensive, delicious, diner-style brunch items this is your go-to. I come here for the egg benedicts over and over again. Service can be a bit rushed and the wait can be a bit long if you come after 10:30AM. Every time I get grumpy about the wait though, I always find myself happily satisfied at the end of the meal.
(5)Jessica R.
Not really into it. The menu prices are cheap and the taste is definitely commensurate with the price. Out of the eggs, sausage, home fries and french toast I ordered, the only thing that tasted above the level of cafeteria food was the french toast. Service was great and everyone was really friendly, but the food didn't do it for me at all. Doubt I will ever go back when there are a bunch of better options in the same area.
(3)Julia L.
Oh Brookline Lunch, I want to love you so much. I do! I love your coffee and those cherry preserves, but today you were off your game. Even the owner who is usually kind, hard-working and friendly was not herself. I was ignored for 15 minutes after a party of 6 and a party of 4 came in, ordered and were served. I had to ask to have my order taken. I still waited for a long time for my coffee to arrive and when my order finally came, it was all wrong. I ordered a mushroom, zucchini and bacon omelette, my usual, and it came out all wrong. The bacon was on the side not in the omelette, there were tomatoes in the omelette (yuck!), and the cheese was hastily slapped on top and not melted. Most heartbreaking was the lack of preserves or hot sauce on my plate. That is why I come. I left without eating but not without paying $14. :( Brookline Lunch, you are the boyfriend I want to love, but he just treats me so bad, that I have to leave him. I will miss you, your tempting cherry preserves and cup lickingly good coffee!!!
(2)liz c.
Great deal for lunch. best homefries. Pretty greasy, sometimes the smell of the place remains on your clothes for hours after, but the family that runs it are super nice, it's a pleasant place. I don't recommend the coffee, but I do recommend becoming a regular.
(4)Humoud A.
I tried it a couple of days ago. It is a small establishment run by a family. The atmosphere and cleaness of the place is not very appealing but the food is a different story. I tried the Salmon Benedict and the French Toast, they couldn't have been made better. The portion was extremely generous. Hands down the best breakfast place in Cambridge!
(5)Kristin S.
Amazingly nice and hospitable servers, however food was very underwhelming. The omelettes come in large portions, but are less about the eggs (there was about one egg total per plate) and more about the other things. If I were to ever come back, I would not order an omelette. The ultimate omelette had one piece each of bacon, sausage, ham, and chicken among mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, onions, cheese, and potatoes. Great homey vibe, but there was no air conditioning on a hot, humid day.
(2)Tiffany C.
This place is definitely a hole-in-the wall family owned restaurant & it is hidden in between Brookline St off of Mass Ave. I found this place on yelp for cheap & tasty brunch and it's true, everything is under $10! I wanted to try their "Mediterranean" dishes but I didn't see enough photos or reviews from other yelpers who have ordered that, so I feel that this place is mostly known for their breakfast/brunch egg benedicts and sandwiches. I ordered a Florentine egg benedict (with spinach), comes with homefries. It was good & quite filling actually. But I was a little bit disappointed with the hollandaise sauce. I personally felt it was...too sour and too..much. Which is not a big deal because I can just scrape some of it off. I personally feel that Cafe Luna has the best egg benedicts in the Cambridge area and I hold their sauce to my standard. This was my first time here, I love the interior actually despite what other people have said about it because it just feels very..homey. Brick walls and photographs hanging. Random things on the walls. Not fancy, no air conditioning (fans) on a hot hot day, but I think it gives it that middle eastern flavor as if you were in a restaurant there.
(4)John P.
What has no air conditioning, apathetic service, little ice, and fairly tasty food? Brookline Lunch! I came on a tip from a friend that this place is delicious (he regularly takes people here), so I figured it would be worth coming over. From the outset, I was assaulted by almost intolerable heat combatted by two measly fans at the front of the restaurant and a one of two ceiling fans (that's right, it felt like 90 in the restaurant and yet one of the fans wasn't on!). By the time my food arrived, I was in a crappy mood. Speaking of food, getting it required flagging down the staff, which was a chore in and of itself. Somehow, my coffee didn't automatically come with cream (and nobody bothered to ask), and asking for ice water is too much to remember. This isn't a surprise when the staff has to be cajoled into paying attention to you. The food itself was actually pretty good. Not amazing, but "worth $8.50 for huevos rancheros" good. My girlfriend had a western omelet, which was tasty but curiously lacked cheese. There were no toast choices besides wheat -- at least, we weren't offered any. I think I'd come back on a cooler day and hope it was more pleasant, but I wouldn't actively seek this place out and I would hesitate to recommend it to friends, though it beats Pour House's brunch and a lot of other brunch places I've been to in Boston. It's also noting that Brookline Lunch is cash only.
(3)Olivia J.
This place is a hidden gem in Central Square! It's tucked away in Brookline St off of Mass Ave. Everything is under $10 - so amazed! I got the florentine eggs Benedict with tomatoes and it was really awesome. Eggs were poached perfectly and hollandaise sauce melted in my mouth. Comes with potatoes, peppers and onions. Healthy stuff! Celine got the French toast with eggs and that was really good too. The only thing I was unhappy about was the lack of a/c so it gets really hot. I want to go back to try out more things!
(5)Tanya S.
I spoke too soon in my previous review. I've had worse and worse experiences here each time. After a bad stomach experience with ordering the eggs, I only ordered simple salads as my gluten free option. But I feel like I get no respect about my allergy, often getting treated as if I'm creating this inconvenience. (All I ask is for you to not give me bread, just a pile of leaves). Last time I was still given the gluten side. When I asked what it was, I was told to not worry about. It only has gluten on the inside b/c it's deep fried. =/ Not how it works. I've only come back b/c friends/students appreciate the cheap eats. But I will never return and do not recommend this place to anyone who has any allergies.
(2)Addie R.
Finally made it out here for a Saturday brunch! It is a small hole in the wall place, crowded on weekends, and yes there will be at least a 10+ minute wait. That said, for two people you can get a table fairly quickly, as I did. We were seated in a small nook in the back of the restaurant, which although tight, had plenty of cute art on the walls. There is a drink waitress and a food waitress, so who you order coffee from doesn't also bring the food. I had the garlick benedict, which was an egg benedict with chicken and bacon and it was divine. I ate the whole thing, which had a very generous helping of homefries (that managed to successfully incorporate broccoli!). I was stuffed afterwards! And also very happy with the bill, as it wasn't expensive at all and the portion sizes were massive. I was a very happy bruncher. BUT -1 star for some flies buzzing around / wall&floor cleanliness
(4)Joseluis A.
awesome brunch spot in central sq. unpretentious, modest and very good. my bennies were strong. perfectly poached eggs, hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy. when the food arrived the table no one talked much. the waitresses were sweet and attentive and the prices here are great. this is a place im coming back when im in the area again.
(5)Damian W.
Food: 3.0/5.0 Service: 2.5/5.0 Value: 4.0/5.0 Decor: 2.0/5.0 Overall: 3.0/5.0 Brookline offers an inexpensive but mediocre brunch menu featuring several eggs benedict choices for under ten bucks. The combination of so-so food at a great value seems to work, since there can be a bit of a wait for brunch just like at many other spots in the neighborhood. I enjoy the hole in the wall vibe, but the spotty service (not enough hands), not so much. Not a terrible choice though I'd personally pay up to go to a certain spot down Mass Ave.
(3)Erin L.
I ordered the chicken and bacon egg benedict and must say it is really tasty. The staff here is also nice and kind. The only downside of this restaurant is there is no air conditioning and I went during the summer. It was extremely hot and all I wanted to do was quickly finish eating and run out, haha. Maybe the next time I will come in the winter on my next trip to Boston :)
(4)Ilyana E.
Saturday brunch in here. Service was quick and they are really nice. Small place so if you don't like crowed places think twice cause the food is totally worth it. We order egg Benedicts and effgwhites with veggies and they were terrific!!!! So so good. Generous portions, awesome sauce. Warm food for the soul.
(5)Clemens W.
We were planning on going to Cafe Luna nearby, but it was too crowded. My friend living in the area said I should come here instead and get the ultimate omelet. Since then, that friend has received extra props from me for an outstanding food suggestion. I will most likely take his advice for food recommendations more seriously as a mental note. For a foodie, that's a pretty big deal. Anyway, get the ultimate omelet if you want the whole kitchen sink. It's filled with vegetables, ham, bacon, sausage, and a few pieces of toast. It's really two meals if I weren't a fatty that doesn't know when he's full. I basically licked the plate afterwards. One complaint about sitting on the booth areas is that the backing is a bit wobbly and depending on who's sitting behind you, it could get annoying. I think both people need to lean at the same time or else the backing flimsily slaps your upper back after you've just inhaled half the omelet and want to take a rest.
(4)Kimmi V.
Quite the cute family joint -- but doesn't live up to the hype. We got two different kinds of eggs benedict. I'm an eggs benedict FIEND -- but I really wasn't impressed at all. Underwhelmed, really. Turkish coffee was also really awful. My friend had had some authentic turkish coffee in Turkey and Dubai, etc and urged me to try it here. She and I both agreed the coffee was not potable. Maybe we just went on a bad day. Will not be returning. I'd rather head over and wait at Cafe Luna. :/
(2)Ami P.
Wow the portions here for the PRICE are unbeatable!!! I had the Jerusalem omelette and it was ABSOLUTELY delicious and my friend DOWNED her eggs Benedict. The only reason I give it a four star was because the service was really slow (only one woman) but she was very sweet and that JAM - please tell me what you put in there!!!
(4)Mike D.
Brookline was terrific. The food was simple, delicious, and well portioned. The atmosphere was small and charming, while the waitstaff was attentive. I had the huevos rancheros on one morning, and the eggs benedict another. Both were served with generous portions of grilled vegetable home fries, and delicious. If you're in Cambridge and looking for a tucked-away, nice spot for brunch, I strongly recommend Brookline.
(4)Evan A.
This place rocked my balls and bounced my wife's titties off. It was that good. This was our first time there and I can't think of a single complaint. The menu is full of great looking options at affordable prices. I had the big fish breakfast and I've paid way more for less, much less. I'm pretty sure every single food group was on the plate including a good sized slab of grilled salmon. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Vegetables for breakfast? Not often, but fantastic with this dish. There was some sort of cranberry spread that came with the toast and the only way I can describe it is that it tasted like a Thanksgiving candle smells. That's a good thing. The service was pleasant. Took a bit of time to get the food, but with the amount given I can understand why. I'll definitely be stopping back for breakfast any time I'm in the area and look forward to trying the lunch options at some point in the future.
(5)Rebecca K.
Great value, incredible very colorful omelettes with interesting spices. Only complaint is that it's cash only and there's no AC.
(5)Lisa G.
One of my very favorite places for breakfast. Family run and owned, a well-priced eggs Benedict to die for, and their hash browns, with well prepared potatoes, also have all manor of veggies included in. Great service, cool pics on the wall, and everything I've ever had there has been scrumptious. Been coming here at least 15 years and it only gets better.
(5)Ziyan C.
It's Father's Day, 11am. Every brunch place we can think of has a crowd outside and at least a 1 hour wait. Suddenly I remember my secret little brunch spot in college and I give them a call -- it's a 10-15 minute wait for a group of 4! We get there in 10 minutes and snatch a booth for 4 right as it opens up. THE WAIT: None at 11am on a Sunday! (See above.) THE SERVICE: They're busy but efficient; our group of 4 was in and out in under an hour. We ordered and got our food out quickly. A little lagging with filling waters sometimes (but there were like 3 servers and 1 busboy for at least 15 tables). They were a little slow to bring the check, and I had to ask a couple times for a takeout box. THE COST: $40 minus tip for four brunch dishes. So cheap! MUST-HAVES: Their sandwiches, their omelets!! OVERALL: The food is a solid 4 stars, if not better. But they get bumped up for the awesome value and being a well-kept secret, i.e. no wait for Sunday brunch! * The 35 (bacon eggs cheese veggie Breakfast Sandwich) - 4 stars The 35: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Homefries: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Very tasty and hearty, despite not having too much meat! A perfect ratio of bread to filling, perfect amounts of eggs/cheese/veggie, and it stayed together well under the evenly toasted whole wheat bread. I just wished the bacon were a bit more crispy (I had to open up my sandwich to make sure it was there). The homefries (for ALL dishes): a big whopping side. Potatoes on the soft side, but retains a nicely crisped outer layer. The veggies are mixed in at good ratios, but they're a tad old and soft. * Ultimate Omelet - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Tried a bite: good stuff. The chicken is a little on the hard side and was a pretty big chunk, but overall its a good meaty dish and the eggs were cooked soft. The homefries, as always, great. * Banana French Toast - 3 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Solid, but not amazing. Will satisfy your sweet tooth, but don't go out of your way to get this - I've definitely had softer, more moist french toast. Plus it's about the same cost for less food (no homefries!) though you do get eggs + ham on the side. * Salmon Benedict - 3.5 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/broo… Would have been 4 stars but there was very, very little salmon. Each piece of english muffin had a tiny little slice of salmon that was barely noticeable.
(5)Jessica C.
Great little breakfast spot! I had the spinach/bacon eggs Benedict with extra crispy potatoes. I was thrilled to see that each plate comes with sautéed seasonal veggies..yum!! The food was some of the best I have had in a longggg time; however, service was lacking. We weren't checked on, waters never refilled, and my hubs ordered a side of bacon with his meal that never made it to the table. Maybe a waitress called in sick and they were understaffed? For the great prices and excellent cuisine- really, quite possibly the best hollandaise I have ever had in my life- I think I will have to give them another shot.
(3)Cristina R.
Any day that starts here is bound to be a great one. Breakfast is the most important meal, as they say, and Brookline definitely delivers. Their menu features everything you want to see on a sleepy Saturday morning. It's a small establishment, so there is often a bit of a wait, however my friend was seated in about 5 minutes. I was running a bit late, and the waitress gruffly told him that they don't hold tables, but let him stay anyway for some reason. How nice of her. Once I arrive, it takes a while for her to take our over. We're hungry! However, the place is packed (and loud!) and we can see that the cooks in the tiny kitchen working their butts off. All I want in my life right now is a breakfast sandwich! After we order, there's another waiting game. The slow, inattentive service is my biggest complaint about the experience, so don't come starving (as we had) or need to be anywhere in an hour (as we did). Once our meals arrived though, we forgot all of our troubles. It's so nice to see a full, colorful plate! A hefty sandwich cut in half surrounded by a heap of homefries and veggies. I was feeling especially classy and ordered my breakfast sandwich with salmon, which was a great decision, as the fish was tender and added a nice element. The sandwich is grilled, cheesy, eggy, and just the right amount of drippy and oozy. It's served on soft Texas toast which is charred perfectly and provides just the right absorbancy and texture to house the mm mm good fillings. Homefries were prepared well, although I've had better, and I really enjoyed the pile of veggies which provided a (somewhat) healthy balance. The homemade chili sauce on the table was just alright in my opinion, since I didn't taste much flavor and the heat hits you later. The sandwich itself has flavor for days, so I didn't find the sauce necessary. The price is also on point, as the meal cost us each under $10 buckaroos. Now I can officially conquer the day!
(4)Teresita O.
An understated find in Cambridge and a must go-to for lunch and Sunday brunch. The service is friendly and attentive. The food fresh and lovingly prepared by the Abu-Rubieh family. Get here early to avoid the wait.
(5)Jennifer K.
Update: 4/26 - A reply from the owner. Mushhoor A: 'Coffee tastes like meat? What kind of nonsense review are you trying to achieve? It lacks substance, is completely exaggerated, and I think I remember you being quite the ass. Glad we won't be seeing you any time soon. I believe you rushed us from the moment you sat down. We tend to ignore those kind of people. Too da loo :D' Thank you for your reply sir. However, I believe you're mistaken as to who you served because there were no men servers present when I was at this establishment. I do not aim to achieve anything but to share my experience which you clearly chose to ignore and belittle instead of address. I hope that you one day take the time to review what others are saying to you with a grain of salt and mature from there. Good luck.
(1)Andrew K.
Unassuming diner I found on yelp while visiting the area. I had eggs Benedict which I can be a snob about. It was fantastic and came with a very nice veggie/potatoes scramble.
(5)Cathy C.
Food is tasty, affordable and I love that they use a ton of veggies in everything. But the service is sloooooooooooooow. It's interesting - this place seems to have a cult-following of in-the-know customers who all seem to understand the system. There is only one waitress that is allowed to take orders and two others taking beverage orders/serving beverage orders, bussing, and bringing checks. There is a tacit understanding that if you want to eat here, you're going to have to wait your damn turn. One waitress, people. One waitress. I would happily go back a million times if they had more servers, but maybe that's how they keep their prices low? I dunno - not worth the line that goes out the door IMHO. But then again, I'm from SF where a restaurant with this type of service would die a painful and costly death.
(3)Chris P.
Brookline dinner is the best breakfast and brunch place. The staff is friendly. They put such great attention into their food. You order a simple cheese omelette and its delivered with an amazing assortment of perfectly sautéed vegetables. And their prices are the best in town. There is a reason there is a line.
(5)Winnie Z.
Hearty breakfast food, but too greasy. I ordered a veggie and eggs and everything was just drenched in oil.
(3)Sam E.
I reviewed the breakfast here in 2011, singing the praises of Jamal's work in the kitchen and the great family vibe of the place. Here, I'll focus on their lunch. As with their breakfast, lunch here is all kinds of yummy. Today I had a chicken sandwich with veg and cheese and I'm sure what else because I was too focused on the joy of getting it in my belly. I had a side of beef and barley soup, which was almost a cross between what you would think of as beef and barley, and a green curry. How does that work, you may ask? Well, I couldn't stop eating it. Brookline has been going forever here in Central Square, and there's a good reason why. You never leave hungry, and the combination of flavors and textures in their meals will tickle your yummy bones all the way down.
(5)Leigh C.
For the price, this truly is as good as it gets for me with brunch! Everything is delicious, good portion size, and mostly everything comes with a heaping side of sauteed vegetables, which I love. It's cheap and I love the vibe too. The service is usually very good (I feel like I know the hostess and wait staff because I come so often and they are always the same)! I have never had to wait to sit (which seems incomprehensible to me).. If you do have to wait, unfortunately there isn't room to wait inside so keep that in mind in winter. Overall, absolutely love this place, and not just because it is right across the street from our house.
(5)Cameron M.
I think I go out to brunch as often as your average city dwelling twenty something. Brookline Lunch is the best brunch place I have EVER been too. By far. I judge all new brunch places based off Brookline. And so far, every single one has been significantly worse. Here are my reasons: 1. Its family run - by a super nice family. The mother, who often waits the tables will remember your face and soon enough your favorite order. It can get crowded on the weekends, but I have never seen the staff get anywhere close to impatient, short, or even ruffled. 2. Its super cheap. Every time you see the check you will think you were undercharged. Brunch for 2 for less than $15 that will fill anyone up - you can't beat that around here. 3. The home fries are the best you will ever have. Perfectly crispy potatoes mixed with a whole bunch of charred vegetables. The vegetables change by the season, and so they never get boring - tomatoes, spinach, squash, brussels sprouts, carrots, onions, peppers, asparagus - they all rotate through. Top with their really good unique homemade hot sauce and you have the perfect plate of home fries. 4. The other food is ridiculously good as well. My favorite is 'The 35' breakfast sandwich - eggs, cheese, bacon, and more charred vegetables sandwiched between two perfectly buttered and toasted slices of bread. Its the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had. The coffee is not good. I can live with that.
(5)Wanxin C.
Good portion for good price. Benedict is good. Turkish coffee doesn't come with prevailed sugar
(4)Naomi F.
I absolutely loved it. And I only ordered take out! When you walk in, the set up is very simple and cozy; the kitchen and grill is open in the back of the restaurant. The menu contained breakfast items; for lunch they have your usual sandwiches but also Mediterranean/Greek dishes that comes with naan and masala; all range from $6-9. They do not serve dinner. I went right to the back to order and the lady was very, very nice. I'm not so familiar with Greek food so she was happy to explain what some of the dishes were. Unfortunately they do run out of some food items later into the afternoon (I came by at 2). But I ordered the spinach and feta and it was divine! Everything about the food was good and it came in such a large box! The minimum for card is $10 but the woman let me swipe my card through because I didn't know. Definitely coming back here for my lunch break soon! And bringing a friend!
(5)Angela D.
Great place for a cheap and filling brunch! Conveniently located in Central Square, you'll get LARGE portions. The huevos rancheros are delicious.
(3)Bonny J.
There are a few times in life when a meal is so expertly planned and crafted that it is nothing short of genius. There are even fewer when such a meal can be enjoyed without the company of those "sophisticated" diners who evaluate the meal not on its quality but on the establishment's Yelp rating. Brookline Lunch, I am pleased to say, was the paragon of such a genius meal.
(5)Nick C.
Okay - I have no real dislike for this place, but one complaint that's kept me away. The food is decent, the wait staff is usually friendly, the atmosphere is good, but this I DON'T like: I'm single. I like to eat out in diners and restaurants once in a while, and it never fails that I get treated like a second class citizen, seated near a stinking bathroom, or near a banging door to the kitchen. I didn't have this experience at Brookline Lunch, but I WAS asked to move. I came in, the place wasn't busy, I sat at a booth, placed my order, and before it arrived I was asked by a waitress to move to a small table in the center of the room so that three people could have the booth. Know what? The center of the room is lousy. People constantly walk by you on both sides and there's no sense of personal space at all. I felt like I was dining between two freaking escalators. The impression is, possibly wrong, that this place originally only had booths along the walls, and then crammed small tables and chairs into the center. Nowhere did it say, or was I told when ordering, that booths were reserved for parties of three or more, so it should be first come first serve. I don't care if I AM a party of one, I'm a paying customer. Having to give up a seat after ordering for someone who came in AFTER I did is wrong. The waitress could have pulled two small tables together in the enter of the room (they were empty) and had them sit THERE. I haven't been back in years.
(2)Lesley P.
The service was pleasant and the dollar value was good. The Greek omelettes were served as an odd jumble- almost as if they intentionally layered the home fried potatoes on the bottom, then a plain egg omelette and then the assorted vegetables on the top outside of the omelette. It wasn't inedible but it wasn't great either. Many of the vegetables were actually undercooked. The compote they brought out for the toast was interesting and good. Coffee was strong and the OJ regular diner quality.
(3)S H.
It was an average experience. We went here because other brunch places had long waits. Cramped seating area, but good food. Cash only.
(3)Dustin S.
Quant set up open floor plan and kitchen. Family run business great for friends gathering and family meeting place. Seats fill up fast so be prepared. The steak Benedict that I had a good and the pancakes and French toast or what I recommend. Portion sizes pretty big so if you need to split it you'll know ahead of time. I also highly recommend the Turkish coffee if you've never had it before it's excellent and you have had it before it reminds me of my time in Istanbul. Great time worth the wait.
(4)Li P.
Food was very mediocre and not great. Came here for breakfast on a Sunday and it was pretty packed. I got the special omlette and my friend got the French toast. The food was not very flavorful and just bland, lacking seasoning and depth. My omlette was supposed to have chicken, sausage and bacon with vegetables, but they just put a piece of each meat on top of a vegetable omlette instead inside it. My friend didn't eat more than one bite of the French Toast before stopping. Overall not impressed for a place that has 4 star current rating.
(2)Michael B.
This is a great hole-in-the-wall breakfast diner spot. Middle-Eastern influenced. If you get there right when they open, they put Cardamom in their coffee pot (you know, 'cause that's how they like it themselves). It's small, so there's only two waitstaff, and one or two cooks, so if you're looking for snappy service, probably not the best place to go (especially if it's crowded). Order fast, get some coffee, and then kick back and shoot the breeze with a friend. Huevos Rancheros is a favorite of mine. Their omelettes are pretty stellar, too. I haven't gotten the pancakes or the french toast so much but those are decent. And it's all for a decent price. Overall, a great neighborhood establishment that I hope will stay for many years to come!
(4)Alison L.
The atmosphere is what makes this hole in the wall so great. Brick walls with art and travel souvenirs hanging everywhere, comfortable old booths, warm, friendly service, and a full family behind the counter preparing food together. I could spend an afternoon here just drinking coffee and people watching- very relaxing and comforting. The food is nothing spectacular, although the hash is good because of the variety of vegetables and herbs and the prices are very reasonable. Overall it's just a great diner experience.
(4)Elif Ece A.
I've just recommended this amazing cafe to a friend of mine !! wish I were there , so that I could have fully enjoyed amazing breakfast
(5)Emily G.
Best kept secret doesn't even begin to describe how amazing Brookline Lunch is. The menu is a wonderful combination of breakfast favorites (eggs, pancakes, french toast) and Middle Eastern classics (falafel, baba ganoush). But the BEST part is the amazing and yummy sauteed veggies that come on the side of nearly every dish. The staff is super friendly and it is very inexpensive. Probably my favorite breakfast and lunch place in Central Square.
(5)Andrew H.
Service is bad. Food is gross. And to be honest I'm a little concerned about the cleanliness. Lettuce was wilted, strawberries tasted a little strange. I would probably avoid this place if there were other options.
(1)Melinda M.
Went here with friends since we couldn't get a reservation at Cafe Luna. Getting seated was a little confusing because we didn't know at first to wait outside in a line (there wasn't a line until after we got there), and the hostess was busy running around, serving people, etc. It still didn't take that long though; we waited maybe 20 minutes. I got the Jerusalem Omelette, which was delicious. It was great to have a plate packed with veggies and fresh herbs for breakfast, plus goat cheese, my favorite. Only complaints - A few things (whole green onion?) seemed to be there more as a garnish than for eating, and the home fries were not anything special (not crispy, not super flavorful).
(4)Bashar A.
Let me start off by saying I know it is hard to work in the restaurant industry. Now having said that, it's not that hard. The food was mediocre at best. Now starting from the very beginning, when we walked in and asked to be placed on the waiting list they said we don't have a list but assured us we were next because of our small party size. We had to wait outside in the rain and about five minutes into our wait another customer walks up to the front says she has a party of three like I did and gets seated immediately. I had to go up to the hostess and remind her that we have been waiting her response was oh I went outside to ask who was next and you guys were gone. That was a clear lie because we were right outside of the door watching the whole thing go down. Eventually we were seated after they made the other customer that took our table move. We sat down, placed our order and the waitress didn't write anything down so we assumed she would get it right. WRONG! She forgot half of my order and when I asked for the missing items they were never brought over to the table. Our server never came back to check on us not once....At the end of our experience we had to ask for the bill 3 times...This was just an overall bad experience and I won't be returning. They really need to reevaluate how they run their business and implement the small changes that can make a big difference starting with; keep a wait list so you can manage the line of hungry customers, then also write down every order so they don't forget items from customers order. Making just those small changes would have totally changed the experience.
(1)Mike B.
I went there for lunch wand had the falafel sandwich. Very tasty, and the side potato homefry salad was delicious and was a good amount of food for the price. Wait person was very friendly as well. I will definitely be going back.
(4)Steve H.
Charming little greasy spoon with a middle eastern flare. This family run place makes you feel at home and the prices are comforting too. The food, however, was hit and miss for me. I was excited for the chicken kabob lunch, but got more of a less than fresh oily chicken stir fry with some white rice that was passable, at best. Worth a shot to cure your hangover or for cheap eats.
(3)Judith C.
I wasn't amazed by the food, but this is a good brunch restaurant for the cheap price. I ordered the french toast special ($8.50) and my bf ordered the buttermilk pancake special ($8.50), both came with two eggs any style and choice of meat. We both chose sunnyside up eggs and I chose bacon while he chose sausage. The eggs and meat were as expected and the french toast was average. There was a saltiness that I didn't expect it to have, which may have been from the added butter, and I wish it was a little more custardy. I think I would prefer to order one of the savory dishes instead if I came here again.
(3)Sarah K.
I absolutely love all the veggies in the potatoes that come with breakfast plates! I had spinach/tomato benedict and it was probably the best I've ever had! As others point out, the house hot sauce is definitely worth trying. This cozy family-owned eatery is a gem :)
(5)Gitta M.
This place feels like you are eating breakfast at your friend's house: heartfelt, homey, delicious and a little chaotic. The portions are huge with a variety of veggies on every plate. The Jerusalem omelet was great: tangy goat cheese, herbs like fresh mint on top, some great olives on the side and tons of savory home fries with a variety of veggies. It just feels like the owners want to go the extra mile to provide you with a nutritious delicious breakfast that could keep you full for the whole day or soak up all that alcohol from a rough night (perfect hangover food). There is extra attention to detail with the hot sauce on every table, the homemade jam that comes with every order. The service is great as well: prompt coffee refills!! This is THE breakfast place in central!!!
(5)Natalie D.
Nice brunch. Cash only. Chill vibe. Good options. Fine service. Convenient location. Better than a diner but diner style food.
(3)Jibrell J.
This family run hole in the wall brunch plate is L-E-G-I-T. I highly recommend the Nutella pancakes. Warning: there can be a line outside on the weekends.
(5)Steve C.
Awful service and bad food. Really going for the bohemian look, but it's only good to see, not to eat. Portions were small, eggs over cooked, dirty glasses, bad coffee, and flavorless food. Edit: I had a cook from the restaurant contact me through Yelp about this review. He was a bit angry sounding. I stand by what I said. The place is cozy and I really used to like the food when I lived nearby around 2 years ago. I've been back twice in the last two months and both times it has been awful. The first time my dish came out okay, the meat-filled omelette was bland and just tasted like scambled eggs mixed with warmed up deli ham. My GF ordered eggs Benedict and the poached eggs were WAY overcooked (like solid hard lumps). To add to all this my coffee glass was really dirty and had a bunch of dried-up coffee crusted on the outside and some sticky syrup on the lip. The second time we went it took nearly 15 minutes to get drinks at the table. When we did both glasses were smudged with oily residue around the outside. We asked for new glasses and the waitress (who seemed rushed, but very nice prior to this) looked at us like we were demanding her wallet. We did get new glasses but she was annoyed and decided not to take our order for nearly twenty minutes more (it's easy to tell how long all this takes as they have a large clock over the entrance on the inside). My GF ordered french toast and I got huevos rancheros. The French toast was okay, soggy but sweet. That was definitely not a bad choice. The huevos rancheros were a joke. They are scrambled eggs with a slice of american cheese melted on them with a spoonful of room temperature black beans alongside a mediocre pile of potato medley. The mixed potato medley has a weird assortment of vegetables and just doesn't have a coherent flavor. It's like something I would throw together in the morning hungover with stuff lying around in my fridge; however, they serve it on every plate! I do not intend to give this place a third try.
(1)Kerri Y.
Eclectic lunch/breakfast place located in Central Square. It took me a while to get here- whenever I tried to go for lunch during a workweek, it seemed to always be mysteriously closed--- maybe the day or the time-- who knows. Once day walking past, low and behold it was OPEN! Interesting menu of breakfast items, Mediterranean items (Hummas plate, Falafel plate) , sandwiches (hamburger, BLT, tuna) pasta dishes and main dishes (like curries and kebobs). Decent place, Decent food for lunch (I had a good eggs Benedict). I believe they are cash only but everything is so low priced, I'm sure you can scrounge up a few bucks to eat here!
(3)Alexandra K.
Great place, definitely will keep it in mind for my next diner outing. The food was delicious, the chicken was a bit dry but really well seasoned. The interior was a bit dated, and I was there during a really cold day, and it was so cold inside! Most of the people didn't even take their jackets of! So definitely come here when it's not cold :)
(4)Elle W.
Wish I could give 5 and a half stars! This place is the greatest little dive ever. They use tons of fresh veggies, and the staff is very sweet! Try the homemade blueberry jam or the Turkish coffee.
(5)Liz G.
In need of a visit from "Restaurant Impossible." There was nothing about this experience that was positive. There is no list for the line so you manage yourselves. But if someone called ahead and arrives, they go ahead of you. They are cash only but they don't make this very clear until you are practically getting seated and then they send you away to the ATM if you need it (translation=bring cash). Once seated, we waited about 10 minutes before being visited by one of the two drink waitresses. Then another 15 minutes before we were visited by the one and only food waitress. Then another 20 minutes (maybe longer) until we got our food. It was fine but nothing special. Save yourself the trip and go elsewhere if you actually want to to be out of brunch in less than 2 hours or have an even remotely positive dining experience. There is more but not related to my actual meal so I'll let my dining guests provide their own reviews.
(1)Jim M.
Outstanding spot for breakfast or lunch. I walked around Central Square for 45 minutes looking for a decent sandwich place and stumbled upon this diamond in the rough. Amazing food! I had the chicken sandwich and homefries, which was perfectly prepared and had so many flavors combining into a great bite every time. The homemade hot sauce complimented the dish well and the service was top notch. All that said and it was under $10 with a coffee. If you are looking for a great spot for a great meal, this is it!
(5)Cassy H.
Brookline Lunch is a great small local spot with friendly service and honest home-cooked food. I'd definitely recommend it for Central Sq residents and visitors. I ordered the Western omelet, which included ham, tomatoes, and spinach (see photo). Although it's been a while since I've been here, I do remember vividly that I loved what I ate. I was completely satisfied for not just one meal, but two. Yes, the portions are huge, so you can definitely turn your omelet dish into two meals. And you should.. b/c it's probably not a good idea to eat such a big portion. Anyway, come with cash and be prepared to get your money's worth.
(4)Kimberly W.
A hole-in-the-wall local place in Central Square, the food here is fantastic! A bit of a strange name since the place is in Cambridge...and good for breakfast...but nevertheless, great sized portions and decent prices [especially for salmon and eggs benedict :D] Staff was pretty friendly and our food came out in a decent amount of time. We went on a Saturday morning [around 9:30 AM], but by 10:30 or so there were a couple of parties that were waiting to be seated. They also don't take card here. Hopefully I'll be back soon!
(5)Tarun G.
This is a mom n pop shop with really delicious food. The place is cheap too compared to any other other brunch place around in Boston but just keep in mind that it's cash only. Omelettes and chocolate chip pancakes are a must try! Definitely worth a visit!
(5)Lyndsey C.
Very good food. We had breakfast varieties here. very hot, fresh, and tasty. Def a hole in the wall... Don't expect any glitz or glamour but very pleasant owners.
(5)Kaeo D.
I like the decor way more than Friendly Toast, but the food is so much worse! We were the first ones there and there was no wait, and yet: Undercooked vegetables, bland food, unimpressive coffee, undercooked eggs. I was really hungry and came from the gym so I ate 70%, but my friend didn't eat more than a few bites of her omelette.
(2)Imran G.
What's all the ruckus about? Try walking up Brookline St on a Saturday or Sunday morning without getting run over. The entire side of the street is blocked off by people waiting anxiously for a table. Its extremely cut throat since its first-come first-serve and they don't exactly have a waiting list. Once you get inside and try food you'll see its not just hype that keeps this place busy. The reasonable, almost cheap, prices along some really tasty menu items can easily make you a regular. While the eggs benedict isn't as good as Cafe Luna's, its also a fraction of the price. If you don't feel like making breakfast, and don't feel like coughing up $45 for brunch for two people, then check out Brookline. That's not to say their stuff isn't tasty, it certainly is. The steak eggs benedict is solid, and so are the homefries. If you're not feeling yolky, get the breakfast chicken sandwich with hot sauce, all of which will fill you up quite well. I didn't get to try any of their sweet stuff, aside from the toast with homemade jam. If the rest of their sweets are like that, then its certainly worth a try. For the most part, if you don't want to spend $40-50 for brunch for 2 at Cafe Luna, Brookline Lunch is certainly worth a shot. Its nothing unique, but it is all solidly executed food.
(4)Sara O.
Just moved to Cambridgeport and this was the first breakfast place we tried. I could not be happier. (and I am very opinionated!) The Greek omelette was out of this world - fresh mint, feta, olives, ... beautifully cooked... homemade jam and nice buttered toast, and homefries with carrots and onions mixed in. Good coffee. Cozy, low-key spot.... a really wonderful place and a great introduction to Cambridge. I will be back!
(5)P H.
Good food, reasonable prices. I would happily go back- but nothing really amazing. Went for breakfast and the home fries were really the star of the show- potatoes plus a bunch of veggies. Crispy bits all mixed in. Very very good. The coffee wasn't anything special, and everything else was done well, but nothing amazing. Only ok service and the setting is a bit run down- (old tables, old booths, etc) the place is pretty small and the staff seemed a bit overwhelmed.
(3)Tommy L.
This place for years has been my girlfriend's favorite breakfast place. The omelettes are fluffy, with generous portions of veggies or whatever you get in them. The baba ghannoush plate comes with delicious naan, and it's perfectly and delicately smoked. The staff is friendly, and the coffee cups are always refilled promptly. Not the fastest in town, but everything is consistently yummy. And not terribly pricey either! Love it!
(5)Athan M.
We were there this past Saturday and had a phenomenal breakfast. The Greek omelette is excellent, with not just feta, Kalamata olives and spinach but fresh spinach sautéed with garlic and lots of fresh basil, oregano and other herbs. Our son's chocolate pancakes and our daughter's egg sandwich were equally good. Coffee was solid, service friendly and efficient, and prices incredibly reasonable (especially in Boston).
(5)Cam M.
I'm sure the food is delicious but the service was terrible!! They were rude, dismissive, and passive aggressive. It costs nothing to be nice (especially when people are ordering food) and pays off a ton to treat others nicely. Its a shame--I was looking forward to the food. I rarely write reviews, but was shocked at the service.
(1)Ana S.
Hands down the best breakfast spot in all of Boston. I say breakfast and not brunch because this isn't the kind place where you linger over bloody marys for three hours. This is a family-owned and operated shop where the dishes are simple but hearty, the Chock Full O'Nuts coffee is bottomless, and the check is rarely more than $12 a person. Go before noon if you want to get in quickly.
(4)M L.
Awesome hidden gem tucked away in Central Square. I'm not a homefries fan, but these came with sauteed veggies and were delicious. I had the veggie omelet and it was awesome, friend had the 35 breakfast sandwich which he loved. Homemade jam was killer too. For $9-10/pp after tax and tip, I think this is one of the best (and yummiest) brunch places around. My only complaint was that everything was a bit greasy and it took me asking two waitresses twice to get water, but I guess that's expected when you go to a diner. I'll be back without a doubt. And there will definitely be a wait on the weekends, but it usually goes pretty fast.
(5)Markus A.
Place is great. Family-run, great service, excellent food, and really outstanding prices. They make their own hot sauce and it is amazing. Omelettes are excellent and are always out in your face fresh. Never sitting under a heat lamp for ten minutes.
(5)John D.
Great for breakfast with a feeling that you are in your Grandma's kitchen. The breakfast plates are beautiful to look at with a colorful assortment of veggies and potatoes. But the taste, unlike any breakfast anyplace else. They have great traditional american breakfasts with a Mediterranean spin. My go to meal is the Eggs Benedict but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Make sure to bring cash because they don't take cards, but you won't have to bring much, as the prices are better than any place in Cambridge.
(5)Hao X.
The dinning experience was a chaos. We were waiting in the dinner and no one talked to us for 15 mins. Parties that came after us got seated first. After twenty minutes wait, we finally got seated and guess what it was another twenty minutes wait before anyone took our order. Orders of four tables who got seated after us were placed before the waitress came to our table. Such a mess.
(1)Matt P.
Ordered a falafel sandwich two days in a row. For $7 you get a mountain of delicious food. The service is fast and friendly.
(5)Steve H.
Love this place! Great food (awesome veggie omelet) friendly service, and terrific ambiance.
(4)Kim B.
AMAZING! Breakfast all day, specialty omlettes, homemade hot sauce and jam, quick service and the vegetable medley that comes as a side is incredible!!!! Fresh herbs make the food smell and taste heavenly. We all chose omlettes (goat cheese and herb for me, turkey sausage and cheddar for my friends) but I was eyeing up the Nutella pancakes they had on special too! They do take credit cards (another poster said they didn't) and turnaround time is fast so even if you have to wait, it's not long. Only complaint is that the coffee is typical diner coffee, I could've upgraded to a Turkish if I'd wanted though. GO! ENJOY!!
(5)Steve A.
I used to come here a lot. Good portions, very good price, average to good tasting food. Then I had one incident with dirt and hair in my food. During the same visit, there were live bugs at my table, and I'm not just talking about the odd gnat or fly. As I looked around the place, I realized that this is not a one-off incident. Places like Sunny's may seem from the outside to be dirtier, but take a lot better care of themselves on the inside. I would have at least given this place 2 stars, but food establishments need to be clean. Sorry, my dollar deserves better treatment.
(1)Reyes Z.
Went here this morning for breakfast based on the good reviews and pictures on here. There was only one waitress, who did not seem experienced enough to be handling the place by herself. Waited for a good 5-7 minutes before being waited on and another 15 minutes before our order was taken(2 groups walked in and we had to ask her to place our order as it seemed she was going to get them settled first). Almost about to leave when she came back to take our order. Got our food in about 15 minutes. I ordered the brendan benedict(bacon and spinach) and my husband ordered the special w/ french toast and eggs over easy. My meal looked as nice as the pictures posted on here but first cut I realized the eggs were not cooked. Poked around and tried to find parts that were cooked. There were a couple of salvageable bites so I tried it. The hollandaise sauce was awful-tasted like mayo, just colored yellow. Also, the texture of the homefries was good but they had a weird taste(dirty griddle?) and I didn't eat those either. My husband usually eats anything you put in front of him but even he couldn't finish his eggs because they too were undercooked. He said the french toast was okay and the best part of the meal was the grapefruit. Both meals were cold. I told the waitress that I wanted my meal removed from the ticket because I couldn't eat it. She was very nice about it but informed me that that's how they make their eggs. I understand cooking a certain style but poached eggs are still supposed to be cooked, not raw with "flubbery" whites. She dropped off the ticket, returned to pick it up but we didn't realize it was cash only so she left and didn't return for at 10 minutes. My husband ended up going to pay at the front. I really don't understand how this place has 4 stars and now I'm skeptical of the reviews for other places The place looked like it had never been cleaned and the bathroom was disgusting. The silverware and glasses looked unsanitary as well. I will not be returning. Should have spent the extra money and gone to Cafe Luna.
(1)Allen W.
Loved our omlettes with veggies. Toast is great. Excellent service. A little beat-up but unpretentious, casual atmosphere. Mix of students and middle-aged customers. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Hanna H.
Small, family-run restaurant with way too few workers, but really great brunch. The service is slow because there's only 1 waiter and 2 cooks, but even given the circumstances, they don't skimp on quality or politeness. The menus are awful--very ugly and I feel like they are undescriptive or lack menu items--and the booths suck because they can't support your weight if you lean on them. But nonetheless, the food was really good and the prices are unbeatable, most things are $6. Got a bacon eggs benedict (~$6) and banana pancakes (~$8). My boyfriend and I came in on MLK Monday and got a seat right away. Some parties came in after us and only waited maybe 10 minutes or so. It's more difficult if you have a large party though. Definitely recommend this place, even for the cool hole-in-the-wall atmosphere.
(4)Jason H.
Have only been here for breakfast and it is good, fast, polite, and cheap. We love it. Basically Cambridge's version of an old school, gritty diner. Some menu items come with sides (toast, potatoes, etc) and some don't, so good to ask.
(4)Michelle P.
My partner and I visited Brookline Lunch on a Saturday morning, 10-ish, and it was pretty busy but never had to turn anyone away or make them wait for a table in the time that we were there. The waitstaff is really friendly, but that may have been the reason we were waiting for ages every step of the way--to get menus, to get drinks, to have orders taken, etc. They only had one gal working the room, and while the cheerful greeting was nice we would have preferred timely service. Food was good solid diner style fare. My guy got both breakfast and the baklava, which turned out to be a very generous portion. The best thing about this place is the atmosphere--it's packed with the work of local artists, all of which can be purchased. Interesting variety of work and cozy overall impression. I'd eat here again, but only on a weekday.
(3)Lola O.
Great Food, Long wait: Wondered in, hungry, on a Saturday morning. The place was pretty busy but we were sat right away. And that's when the waiting game started. Had to wait 5 minutes for water, another 5 for menus. A good 15 more minutes to place our order, and then probably 20 minutes for our food. The food was great, really. the menu also looks full of good stuff, and the prices are reasonable. So this is definitely not the place if you're looking for a quick bite, but if you're a up for a slow, lazy Saturday morning, this place is perfect!
(3)Amie M.
Haiku Review Hole-in-the-wall place Pancakes, olive plates, and more Great food and prices!
(4)Caleb W.
Best breakfast in Cambridge. Low prices, fresh ingredients, friendly staff. There's not a ton of seating, but it's well worth the wait if you end up in line.
(5)Brandon W.
Terrific place for a weekend brunch. The omelets are fantastic with plenty of your choice of protein (I recommend the Big Fish). You also get a nice heap of home fries and veg on the side. You will definitely be full and will probably need a to-go box. Also the Turkish coffee is worth a try, especially if you are a fan of espresso.
(5)Joel M.
Now that I live around the corner, this is my go to breakfast/brunch spot. Super cheap prices, excellent home fries, random service. The only thing keeping this from five stars is the 'speedy service' dice you roll every time you go in. You might luck out and be in and out in 30 mins, or you might be waiting 15 before the waitress (I've only seen one, presumably the wife/owner?) even gets to you. I love that it's a small family place, but on a Saturday or Sunday morning an extra server would go a LONG way. On the flip side, I'm kind of just used to the wait now, so as long as you expect it the rest will take care of itself.
(4)Sam B.
Probably had my best brunch ever! Was really hungry and had to wait for 15 minutes to get in, but it was worth the wait. As others have mentioned it's a family run place with the head of the family being the cook and his wife and children serve and clean the tables and dishes. I had Californian Benedict (special of the day) which came with Avocados and Tomatoes, a side of homemade fries and hot sauce. Now I love eggs, but these were one of the best I have ever had. Homemade fries are served with veggies and were good and so was the hot sauce. I also took a side of toast just for the jam people are talking about and it's delicious. The toasts were also buttered. This all came for $11. I guess I am going to be a regular here!
(5)Enzo S.
Best breakfast/lunch restaurant in Boston. Cheap prices, home-like vibe, and the food is beyond delicious. Have never left unsatisfied
(5)Jman S.
Great place just off Mass Ave. We went there for brunch on a Sunday and there was a line outside with about 15 people with about a 20 minute wait. If you see a line, make sure you sign in before you stand in the line. I guess its a MIT thing to both sign in and line up outside! The food was awesome and cheap! A huge brunch for two with two coffees and tips was ~20$. I wish I lived next door and would never have to cook again.
(4)Rayan D.
I've lived about 30 seconds away from Brookline Lunch for the past 18 months and driven by it multiple times but never stopped in. This morning I was looking for a new brunch option so we headed down to try it out - the place was packed. We waited for about 5 minutes and within another 5 minutes had coffee and waters. We ordered french toast, eggs, and the greek omelet - portions were HUGE! The food was delicious and we were very impressed. When it came time to pay we found that the massive portions and coffee only set us back about $8 a person - a really good deal compared to what you might pay elsewhere in Boston. We will definitely be back again soon!
(5)James A.
Extremely unassuming but expectation-defyingly good. I had chicken and waffles, and it was just great. The folks are friendly and the price is so reasonable for the portions that it's almost criminal.
(4)Josephine L.
They don't kiss your ass here. You sit your hiney down anywhere you can find a spot and wait for the menus to come to you whenever they damn well feel like it. Well, not the menus themselves but the people bringing them. The eggs benedict sandwiches are scrumptious to this non-bread lover (I am chronically thirsty!). I got the salmon 'n' cheese one and boy was it omega-3 delicious. The boyfriend got the ham 'n' cheese and the two of us were silent for a whole 4 minutes while we wolfed down our food! 4 minutes! If you're in my 'hood, this is the place to grab a breakfast bite.
(4)Anna T.
Went here for a hangover brunch with some friends recently. A heads up, the place is cash only! Their menu is a mix of great breakfast staples and Mediterranean specialties. The service is super friendly and speedy, the food is great, and the prices are really cheap! I only wish it was closer!
(4)Katarina M.
This place is a great value (meals with huge portions running in the $5-7 range) and has some pretty bomb food. Have only eaten here for brunch. They have your standard diner fare: eggs, omelets, sausage, bacon, pancakes, French toast, home fries. But they also have various eggs benedicts, and steak (which comes as an alternative to standard bacon or sausage with their eggs meals), an ethnic breakfast (I'm remembering pita and olives but there was definitely other stuff), and some good specials (they change often...last time, I overheard the owner telling someone they were out of salmon, but that they had some fresh tilapia). The thing with this place is that they put their own spin on it. Your home fries definitely didn't come out of a bag. There's always a ton of fresh grilled veggies in them and they are pretty flavorful. The whole plate is just always flavorful. And they come up with interesting specials (although I didn't like my TBM omelet...interesting in theory, just doesn't really taste great all together). Their iced coffee is great. I'm not a coffee snob, but I don't like it when my iced coffee tastes watery, and theirs doesn't. If you allow me to suggest one thing to you off their menu, it's their CRACK JAM. Homemade raspberry jam that we're pretty sure has chunks of pineapple in it. If your meal doesn't come with toast, order a side of toast (which they butter for you!) and jam because it is that good. Also, they have homemade hot sauce. I'm not a fan of spice but I am a foodie so I tried a little. It packed a nice little kick and was just so "fresh" is the word we kept throwing around. Definitely some fresh spices in there along with probably some chili paste or something. But it's pretty liquidy. Anyways, it's good. A few minor annoyances which mean I can't grant that last star: 1, the homefries aren't to die for. They're good but just that. 2, the first omelet I ordered was a Western omelet and was not supposed to have sausage in it, but it did, as did my friend's omelet that wasn't supposed to have it either. They're kind of all over the place throwing things in your plate that aren't supposed to be there, it seems. Which is fine for the homefries, there's no definition of homefries. But she told me what was in the Western, and sausage was not in her description. 3, the fans are not AC and I am always too hot in there (although it is summer). 4, the service can be off if it's too crowded (we literally spent 5 minutes staring at anyone who works there and could not get any of their attention). They're always friendly but they have to change something there. All in all, it will definitely be my spot this summer for going out to breakfast. Not perfect, but pretty damn near.
(4)Dessa R.
Before this past weekend, I hadn't eaten here in almost 3 years. My first experience was particularly unimpressive, and I just never got the urge to return. But in my yelping, I read that the place has really improved over time. So, I gave it another shot. Nope. Still just as bad as 3 years ago, possibly worse. My eggs benedict and veggie home fries were barely edible. My breakfast companion looked rather miserable with his French toast as well. Just not our cup of tea, I guess. I feel a little ashamed slamming a local business run by a seemingly nice family, but it was the most disappointing breakfast I have had since... the last time I was here. But I do like to support small local business-- and I'm glad they have so much support from other Yelpers, because I don't foresee myself going back. Ever. That's right, I'm a terrible person.
(1)Scot M.
This is one of America's best breakfast joints. The food is awesome and always a little different, depending on what is on hand your homefries might come with extra broccoli or you might get a whole banana on the side. They always use just the right amount of butter and oil to fry up the delights served here. The coffee hits the spot, and the waitpersons are eager to bring water for those patrons parched from a night of drinking. I strongly recommend trying the sausage, egg and cheese sandwich, even now, thousands of miles away, I can picture the buttered bread collapsing around the hot cheesy links and the delicious scrambled egg inside. The eggs benedict is also real good, and sometimes I skip breakfast and go straight for the cheeseburger, which is actually a patty melt! Service is a cut above most Cambridge restaurants. They are pretty much run by one family, the children, polite and friendly serve and wash the dishes, the father, as many men now do, is in charge of cooking, and the matriarch runs the show. She is very friendly, but as the boss she has no time for shenanigans or people keeping the door open when there is a blizzard outside. They usually remember who you are too, depending on how busy it is, although that means you have to tell them you don't want 'the usual.' Location is lovely too, right in Cambridge's grit square and only steps from the red line it is easy to see why this place gets so busy on the weekends. It is across the street from the Middle East and T.T. the Bears or whatever that place is called, and it is always fun to get one of the window booths and watch the different types of musical groups getting setup for the night ahead. The clientele is a more or less inoffensive cross-section of central square's rising star. You might see more people you know than you'd expect for such a small place, but if any particularly unsavory characters from your past appears in the booth next to you, well take another bite of your sausage, egg and cheese sandwich and forget about them. There must be quite a few harvard and mit students since the place was significantly less crowded when the students were out on break. Timing is the one thing that sucks about his place. They don't open until 8:30am, so if you work, you can't eat there during the week. On the weekends you'll never have to wait if you get there before 9:30 and usually after 12pm you are safe too, otherwise I have never waited more than 15 minutes for America's best breakfast. The art on the walls comes from Out of the Blue gallery, so if you like their work then you'll like this art. My artistic friend who goes by the name "Herbert," gets very upset at what he views as the low-kitsch quality of the picture-rendered paintings and their high prices. However, you will never find high prices on the menu.
(5)Jeremy K.
I still can't figure out why it isn't called Cambridge Lunch since it's Cambridge and not Brookline but I guess that doesn't really matter. Their food does. And their food is good. Very good actually and well priced. I went there a couple of times for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised by the value you get for what you pay. And it's also healthier than most places I've seen which is another great thing. Not a lot of guilt if you down those veggies. The food comes out quickly and service is minimal but prompt. Just spot on if you ask me. The only downside to this place is that it's cash only (at least it was when I was there).
(4)Lisa H.
An incredible bang for your buck. $4.25 for a breakfast sandwich (bacon included) with homefries. And the homefries have veggies mixed in. Wish the homefries were a little crispier. Friends also got the huevos rancheros and french toast. Everything was great!
(4)Shannon M.
This place will blow your mind. The woman who's the main waitress is the most motherly woman I've ever met in a restaurant. She smiles when she brings your water, when she takes your order, when she brings your food, when she sees if you need anything else... it's like being at your grandmother's house or something. And the food! Unreal breakfast served all day. The omelets are the perfect size-- giant, but you can finish it without feeling over-stuffed and yet be full until dinner. The home fries come with veggies (zucchini, tomato, broccoli), and are delicious. People rave about the homemade jam-- it might be an acquired taste that I don't have, so try it and don't listen to me. Yeah, Cafe Luna and Sonsie's have awesome brunch, but this place is REAL. Given the price and the fact that this is awesome, delicious food served by my favorite waitress ever, this may be one of my favorite places in Boston.
(5)Deanna D.
I really enjoy Brookline Lunch for breakfast/brunch. The restaurant is a hole in the wall with funky and cool artwork on the walls, a relaxed vibe and cool clientele. The staff is friendly but never fast......Who staffs only 2 servers for a super busy Sat. morning? The homefries are awesome! I love the veggies mixed with the potatoes and the hot sauce (homemade?) is lovely. The salmon eggs benedict does not disappoint...tasty hollandaise sauce, cooked salmon (not smoked--thank you!) and toasted english muffin= delicious brunch on the cheap!! The prices are amazingly low! Breakfast for 2 for well under $20 with a generous tip! The food is a bit greasy but very tasty, super slow service..you have been warned. It gets really busy during weekend brunch hours so try to get there early. Overall a great value for brunch on the cheap!
(4)Gerardo F.
How on earth can so many people love this place??? This "restaurant" is an abomination in every sense possible. Seriously, I've been there three times, and every single time I've had a terrible experience. The waitress, first of all, seems to barely speaks English and does not seem to care much about her work. She also had a air of nonchalance towards a lot of people (I'm starting to think that she hates her job). Second, because there are only two people working there (the waitress and the cook), the service takes forever. I've once had to wait some 40 minutes for some eggs, french toast and bacon when there were only 4 people. Finally, the food. What can I say? It's without a doubt the most disgusting, most uninspiring food I have ever eaten. My last visit there, I ordered pasta with pesto sauce. Not only were the pasta poorly cooked, but there was NO pesto sauce AT ALL. I've had it with this "restaurant". I'll never ever get close to it. Good riddance Brookine Lunch.
(1)Jack M.
Food was decent, but service was very weak. I ordered linguini with pesto sauce, 25 minutes later, I got linguini with alfredo sauce. I didn't feel like waiting another 25 minutes, so I didn't say anything. It then took 15 minutes after I finished my meal to get the check. Additionally there is no air conditioning. It was 97 degrees outside and probably close to that inside. Luckily, the food was good and inexpensive, that's why it's still 3 stars.
(3)Amelia M.
I really love this place, but be careful -- because everybody else does too! You'll need to get there extra early on the weekends in order to get breakfast without having to wait around outside. But even if you do have to wait, it will be worth it. My favorite is the Greek omelet, with its pretty little slice of good-quality feta hanging out on top. With friendly service and a happy, neighborhood vibe, you can feel good about giving these guys your money on a regular basis.
(5)Sam K.
I had the salmon benedict & it was Egg-cellent! Turkish coffee and bahklava are delicious too. Highly recommended by yours Truly.
(5)Jacob V.
For an incredibly cheap place to eat, Brookline Lunch was awesome! I had the steak egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and it was really good! The steak was just a little too chewy but it didn't distract from the great flavors. The potatoes and veggies that came with were also really good, and make sure you ask for there home-made hot sauce! The staff is very, very friendly and definitely added to the positive experience that I had.
(5)Jeff W.
Lots of food, and lots of variety with ingredients in the dish (the homefries especially). The breakfast food is good, and I really like the crabmeat sandwich. Very good value. Sometimes service is a little bad, but service isn't what you should be coming here for. The hot sauce is somewhat uninspiring; I prefer tabasco. The jam is pretty cool (though really sweet).
(4)Sarav C.
I love this place and cant get enough of it. The place is very down to earth, earthy crunchy, family run business. Easy on your wallet, very friendly service and nice place to have brunch or lunch. The veggie omelet with vegetables, toast, hot sauce and home made fruit jam is to die for. I top it off with coffee and they keep filling the cup when its empty. I support so many local businesses in Cambridge, this is the only place they make me feel at home. They even greet me with my name and treat my friends with the same respect.
(5)Lynette S.
This is not only a review but a big thank you to the 2 staff who attended to me nicely eventhough i blew through there when it was busy and i just wanted a breakfast sandwich to go! i got mushroom, egg and cheese on wheat bread (comes with a side of homefries and veggies!) for 4$ and change. yum. i live closer to inman but there arent too many good breakfast sandwiches in my immediate area...would come back to BL anytime for this tasty goodness. Thanks! You have one more fan!
(5)Jason C.
WOW. $5.50 got me the best omelet I've ever had. I ordered the Western. It came covered in ham (real ham, cubed. not stupid deli meat), onions, red green yellow and orange bell peppers, tomato, zucchini, carrot slices, broccoli, spinach and maybe more. All the vegetables were cooked perfectly - not overdone or mushy, still retained some crisp freshness. The home fries were also delicious, especially when covered in their homemade chili sauce. I hear their breakfast sandwiches are also delicious (duh, basically the omelet on toast), but I'd say get the omelet anyway because then you'll get a side of toast and a cup of their homemade jam. It is sooooo tasty! This place is great for groups of 4 and under. Service was fast and friendly.
(5)K F.
Great place, good food, cheap brunch and fast service. You might not want to bring your girl/boy friend for the first date but overall we are a big fun and happy that we live close by.
(4)Molly L.
AWESOME! Great little family-run hole in the wall with unique middle eastern food. Homemade hot sauce and jam are delish. Fast and polite service and killer hash browns!
(5)Paul S.
This is the perfect place to eat in Central Square! It's local, it's cheap and it tastes really good! Go an hour earlier than you think you should go, so that you can beat the Saturday morning brunch rush-crowd. Plus, the coffee is well worth the sit down.
(5)Alex H.
Greasy Spoon. This place is a cheap, down and dirty diner. The portions are enormous, and the menu is a little scattered, but it's quick, cheap, and has a little bit of everything.
(4)Brian H.
Went here for mid-week breakfast. All the traditional American breakfast items looked great, but I opted for the Felafel plate and man was it awesome. Coffee was great. Service was beautiful. Price was more than fair. Bring cash.
(4)Philip K.
This place was awesome for brunch. I came here with a big group of freinds and we all squeezed around a tiny table in this interesting hole in the wall. This place is super informal but that is what made it awesome. The omlettes were huge and piled high with all the good stuff. I got the ultimate omlette which had all the veggies, cheese, sausage, and even a chicken breast!!! One thing that happened that made me very pleased was the events that occured after a spilling of hot sauce. Our server spilled hot sauce on my cousin, but, helped her clean up, and to make it all better comped her entire meal. Not bad! This place is awesome-- super freindly, super cheap, and super delicious!
(4)Amir K.
Fresh, cheap and delicious
(4)Jenny N.
Oh, the eggs florentine are TO DIE FOR!! I have to agree with Ligaya--they are just perfection. I am so excited that I found a place where you can still have a yummy breakfast at any time of day for under $5 easy. This mom-and-pop spot is not fancy; it looks like a greasy spoon, but the food is actually not very greasy at all. I love the exposed brick and art on the walls. While the booths are spacious, the tables could use a more vigorous wipe-down. But this is just a small quibble, because between the boy and I, we demolished a stack of GINORMOUS pancakes (interesting cornmeal type batter) slathered in butter and syrup, eggs florentine, and a platter of 2 eggs, 2 sausages and veggie-ful home fries for like 12 bucks. Can you beat that with a stick!? I think not! I love a home-cooked breakfast, and Brookline Lunch certainly delivers. The parking situation can be a bit tricky as there are very limited metered spots on Brookline St., but you'll be well rewarded for the effort.
(4)Jeffrey M.
This is a hidden gem! Maybe it's hidden because it's not really in Brookline ... it's on Brookline Street. Misleading much? It's a Lebanese-run brunch place, and while I haven't had any of the Lebanese food yet, the brunch menu is pretty standard and meets expectations =] The portion sizes are huge for $6 or 7. I ordered the French toast with ham last Saturday, and while the ham was great, the French toast and maple syrup combination tasted a little artificial. Overall, though, not bad! DO NOT get the baklava. True, it also comes in a huge portion size. But it looks as if they just bought it from a wholesaler and cut it up for you, and that's supported by how it tastes -- easily broken into a dense bottom and flaky top, and also too artificially-sweet. I'd still check it out, though!
(4)Eszter H.
Visiting from out of town and met up with some friends here for a midweek breakfast. The tables were rather yucky. I couldn't tell if they'd been "cleaned" with something sticky or if they just had a lot of grease on them from who knows where. I could tell that they had been wiped, but I used up quite a few napkins to wipe off the yuck. This was not a good start to the experience. The space was cold. I was wearing many layers and I was still feeling chilly. Now for the more positive aspects. The food was completely reasonable breakfast/bunch food. I had the french toast, eggs, bacon dish and it was all pretty good so no complaints there. They don't have fresh-squeezed orange juice. The final payment was extremely reasonable for everything we had consumed so that was a welcomed ending to the visit. I enjoyed the art on the walls that they are selling for very reasonable prices.
(3)Lisa R.
Lots of cheap options and made by a wonderful staff. The pancakes are standard but the hummus platter was devine! I love the cozy atmosphere and the location is cool too. p.s. The spot is off an alleyway.
(3)Julia W.
The falafel sandwich is officially the best falafel I have ever eaten. EVER. Not a place for the self-important, impatient or the snobbish eater. This is more like the Cheers of diners, with an awesome family running it and devoted customers. The dad cooks, and he makes all the jams and the hot sauce himself!
(5)Sarah G.
Good sized portions of great, fresh food for very little money. Yummy salad, very good falafel, great eggs. Very veggie friendly, but good for meat eaters too - boyfriend loves any chicken dish on the menu. Wait can be long, they've got weird hours and they often run out of stuff. Usually only one waitress working the entire room, so be patient - it's worth it. I haven't noticed any sanitation issues and I've been to the bathroom - it's tiny but absolutely fine. Update - we sat for such a long time on our last visit before the waitress was able to get over to us that I almost wrote the place off for good, but when she returned with our food (always great) and some amazing jam with star anise and some other incredibly yummy but unidentifiable stuff in it, I had to say I was hooked for life. I wobbled my way home one handed on my bike just so I could carry some leftover jam. MMMM.
(4)Cooper M.
I want to give halfs! So think 3.5 A tasty brunch place (haven't had lunch or anything here) with a funky family feel. It is small and usually crowded and quite slow. Go there and be patient and all will work out well. You can even feel less guilty about the bacon and hollandaise because of the extra greens they add to the potatoes.
(4)Bodhi F.
I needed a new place for brunch and low and behold, yelp to the rescue. Thus, Brookline lunch. AMAZING. I couldn't believe I had never been here before. (it's a bit hidden) Fresh Vegetables in the home fries Great Eggs benedict Awesome Lamb dish Just about everything is under $6! I couldn't believe how great quality lots of love in this food match the Family ownership ambiance and homey decor My new favorite Breakfast and Lunch in Central squire.
(5)Brian C.
This is a solid lazy-weekend brunch place. Great service, good coffee (and refills), and a good variety of your typical brunch foods.
(5)Sisi Z.
Um, did I walk into the right place? I can't believe people say this is their favorite place to eat--dingy space, spotty service, marginally acceptable food, the only reason I'd go back is if I'm really short on cash. I got the Western omelette, it was basically a pile of veggies stir-fried with egg on the bottom, my friend's Eggs Benedict was just plain bad. Not even the home fries were good. I think the highlight of the meal was the buttered toast, and they also ran out of OJ when I went. All in all, I'd rather go to Sunny's Diner than this place!
(2)Emeen Z.
Cheap and really delicious food with a super friendly staff, what more could you ask for? I guess I do wish they were open at night but it's all part of the charm mannnn.
(5)David D.
This place is cheaper than the Boston Mission! Some lazy friends from Somerville, had me drag my ass across the river for brunch ... and I'm glad. I think the breakfast menu topped out at about $4.95, and not $800.00, like the Centre Street Cafe (boo- hiss!) I had a delightful omelet with toast and home-fries. It was great, but I would have liked a heads up on the menu, saying it would be covered in some GROSS grilled vegetable medley. I fucking HATE Mushrooms! After picking those off, it was super. One of my friends ordered her eggs "over easy", and they were near raw. It looked like someone cracked an egg on a hot plate, and folded it over. I told her to take it home, because I was going to make cookies later ... :( **** Plz cook them longer, thankiez. There wasn't a long wait to to be seated (at 2:00 pm on a Sunday). I think there was one waitress, though. After about 10 minutes, she asked what we wanted for drinks... we wanted to fucking ORDER! We were STARVING at that point. The menu also has a variety of salads and sandwiches that are double cheap! I'd totez go here again! Our total was $16 for 3 people + beverages... oh, shit... I don't think they had ANY kind of liquor (mimosas or bloody marys) ... :( don't forget to flask it!
(4)Emily O.
This place had closed for the owner's family to go on summer vacation and recently re-opened. I had awaited this with anticipation as I walk by this place nearly every day and envisioned it being a mecca for the Middle East/T.T.'s crowd. I guess a little part of that was also an assumption that it would be.... good?! Nah. I don't think they have any ice and maybe no a refrigeration system either. My partner and I ordered waters and I also ordered a soda. The soda came in a barely chilled CAN (no cup, no ice, no straw) and the waters were room temperature with no ice either. The food was home-cooked, but not worth paying for. Greasy and burned, dried out. I did like their spicy condiment to go with the homefries. In fact, that was a better meal than the meal. Service was great (yes, all two of them, but it was 4pm). They only take cash, which I find a big pain. Essentially this experience reminded of eating in the basement in "The Goonies" with those villians with the blender making my dinner and about the same resources. P.S. Another reviewer mentioned a bathroom, but I couldn't see one!
(2)Robert L.
Good place. They made a terrific grilled cheese sandwich for me. The home fries are really good as well.
(3)Jackie S.
It's a Sunday morning. You're hung over and you spent all your money on drinks and cabfare last night. You're a Central Square dweller and you realize you have two choices: Grab a greasy burger at Wendy's to soothe your headache and woozy-ness, or head over to Brookline Lunch for an equally cheap and greasy meal, but with the option of sitting down and getting waiter service. Well, if you pick Brookline Lunch - you've made the right decision. This place is dirty and cramped, no doubt about that. But the food is good! And it's cheap as hell! If you don't mind a little bit of a wait, then definitely head over here for a hearty breakfast that won't cost you more than $5 - and that's usually including tip! Note: I would stick to breakfast foods and only breakfast foods at Brookline Lunch - who trusts six dollar lamb anyway?
(4)Elizabeth F.
Vegetables instead of home fries, and my zucchini and feta omelet came with extra veggies and a huge slab of seasoned feta across the top. The waitress kept refilling mine and my companion's coffee mugs without being asked. And the toast was wheat, and we hadn't even had to ask for it. I'll definitely be returning here.
(4)molly f.
Happy to get to know this no-frills neighborhood spot. The decor is a miss, but the food (and the roasted veggies on the side) are a hit. The portions are really generous & you walk away feeling happy and your wallet stays fat...whats not to like about that?
(4)Gaelle D.
This place could be twice as expensive and still totally worth it!! I can't believe how cheap it is considering the quality of the food. I've had their Eggs Benedict at least 20 times and I'm not over them! They come with pan-fried potatoes and vegetables that seem to differ every time. They serve breakfast all day, which is really neat. The rest of the menu is classic lunch stuff (sandwiches etc) with a Middle Eastern twist. Everything is good but I keep coming back to the Eggs Benedict (who said addict??). The staff is always over-busy but still really nice. Considering the low prices I usually over-tip them, hoping that they'll stay in business for years to come:) Other nice features: Unlimited coffee refill. Great decor. Did I mention the Eggs Benedict?
(5)Gail L.
For an extremely inexpensive lunch or brunch, Brookline Lunch is the place to go. Mostly Middle Eastern fare, but with an amazing assortment of fresh vegetables on the side of almost everything. Home fries are good, fish is good, Turkish coffee is good, hamburgers (real, not a pre-formed patty) with a side of potatoes and vegetables, Falafel with hummus and a side of homemade soup $3.75. Salads are really good. Just don't go on Tuesdays (they're closed) And say hi to Yasmine.
(4)Nadja O.
Brookline Lunch is my go-to on Sunday mornings. Their grilled cheese sandwiches are amazing, and the prices are pretty fantastic (cheap!). They used to have a strangely awesome mystery-fruit jam that they served with eggs and toast, which you should ask for if it isn't served. The only weird thing about this place is the art, which is utterly horrific and hilarious. Because it's so uniformly bad, whether it's photography or painting, it's kind of awesome to look at and ponder over eggs...
(5)John W.
eating my cambridge breakfast at brookline lunch, it occurred to me that there are few places like this in the city: cheap and yummy comfort food located a mere block away from the central square t stop. the service is slow, but friendly. came here with friends that i hadnt seen in months, so we didnt notice that it took at least 15 minutes for our waitress to bring the check after we asked for it. and they get extra credit for displaying paintings from out of the blue gallery.
(4)Stephanie ..
Ahh, Brookline Lunch. On a nice day, the line is usually out the door, but it moves quick. And so does the waitress. One woman waits on the entire restaurant--power walks to one table, drops off menus, power walks to the next table, takes an order, power walks over another tables coffee, goes back to the first table...takes their orders... Cardio pump. Cheap and filling. Strong turkish coffee. So close to MIT that it was perfect for a weekend brunch back in those days. Cute, kinda scrubby/shabby place. They always rotate the art from the Out of the Blue Gallery. Yum.
(4)S W.
The good- it is very very very cheap homefries that have veggies like carrots and broccoli in them The bad- always understaffed and the staff is really curt and unhelpful NO AC Pancakes are flavorless Syrup does not taste even a little like maple (not even the Aunt Jemima stuff) Rest of the food is pretty eh In short, if you are hungry and short on your dough, this place will fit the bill but as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for."
(2)Pete S.
Simply put, the most delicious, overflowing omlettes I've had. The eggs seem almost like a distraction next to the prodigious quantity of vegetables. The home fries are great, too. An exceptional breakfast/brunch. That said, the service is notoriously unpredictable. I've had some long waits both to sit and to order, and the staff seems different every time (hilariously, I've had some children who happened to be hanging around bring me my silverware). But all is forgiven when the food comes. Oh, man, I'm hungry just thinking about it.
(4)Jeremy L.
You will not be disappointed by the incredibly cheap and tasty breakfasts here. Omlettes are large and home fries come with grilled fresh veggies. Weekends are busy so be prepared to wait if you come toward noon. The hollandaise on the eggs benedict is surprisingly delicious given that this doesn't seem like the kind of place you order that dish (especially for its price). Service is quick but harried, so grab the server's attention if you are in a hurry.
(5)Nick B.
An unassuming little breakfast joint. So unassuming that I've been biking past it every day for two years now, and didn't even realize it was there until last week. Incredibly cheap (you can get a nice filling breakfast for 5 bucks no problem) and very good as well. Now a few words about what makes Brookline Lunch unique: 1) They serve grilled vegetables as a side with most orders, making you proud for at least giving a token nod to good health as you add another dollop of maple syrup to your bacon. 2) The toast comes with some kind of smoked jelly, the likes of which I have never seen anywhere else. 3) The tables and furniture have a nice dinged up charm. Kind of like the picnic bench by the archery shed at summer camp, only you don't feel sketchy eating off it. A nice compliment to the crayola doodlings of dogs on the ceiling.
(4)Ani G.
The food is okay, but nothing stellar (with the exception of the home fries, which are really good), but my biggest issue with the place is how dirty, cramped, and uncomfortable it was. The tables were sticky and the floors were filthy. Go to Z Square instead. The food is at least as good as Brookline Lunch, but they take reservations and the place is spotless.
(2)Laura L.
I absolutely love this place! Whenever feeling like a nice home cooked breakfast which is incredibly cheap, good and close I always think of this place. I myself LOVE the eggs florentine with the sauce on the side with the potatoes and veggies for like 6 bucks! The place itself is kinda tiny but comfortable.... on the weekends you might have to wait for a table but totally worth it. As for the service it always seems to be the same woman every single time by herself but she is amazing. For how many people she definitely provides as much service the make the meal enjoyable!
(4)kevin d.
This is my favorite restaurant in the world. I love everyone that works here and I love waiting in line on the weekends to dine here. Eggs florentine for life.
(5)Molly F.
It's a shame when the highlight of your dining experience is crapping the food back out--finally ridding yourself of it. One of my spuds tasted like genitals and all of my spuds were soggy. My iced coffee was even worse. It was wicked hot and the waitstaff and some dingleberries at the next table kept bumpin into my chair. I felt nauseous the rest of the day and then made what seemed like a furious pee from my butthole.
(1)matt k.
Alas! I went here for lunch today full of high expectations of tastiness after reading all these wonderful reviews and other recommendations. Indeed, the Eggs Florentine were really awesome, and the melange that composes their homefries (mushrooms! broccoli! whoa!!) is awesome except for the one unexpected ingredient! A HAIR :( My dish was whisked away and a replacement was offered and accepted, but now I am wary.
(3)Yui K.
So easy on the wallet it makes me happy. A line outside a door often indicates a pretty damn decent place. The inside is rustic, laidback, and borderline dirty. Hearty portion of eggs benedict with homefries that are more than just potatoes.. onions, cucumbers, peppers mushed in between. Only one waitress so bring good company to chat with, relax... it's brunchtime.
(3)Mike D.
Wicked cheap decent breakfast, followed a few weeks later by wicked cheap undecent breakfast.
(3)