Zaftigs on Harvard Street in Coolidge Corner Brookline runs a kosher-style brunch in Boston since 1996. Pastrami, matzo ball soup, latkes; Sunday brunch line by 11:00.
Must order: Latkes with sour cream and applesauce.
Tip: Saturday at 09:00 is the easy walk-in. The smoked salmon eggs benedict is the under-ordered brunch order.
Address: 335 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446, Boston
Joanne Chang's Flour on Washington Street runs the South End's pastry-driven brunch in Boston since 2000. Sticky buns, breakfast sandwiches, ten Boston-area locations across Boston and Cambridge.
Order: Sticky bun with pecans and caramel and a flat white.
Tip: Sticky buns sell out by 14:00. The Washington Street original is calmest on weekday mornings.
Tzurit Or's Tatte on Charles Street has run an Israeli-style brunch room in Beacon Hill Boston since 2016. Shakshuka, pistachio croissants, the green-shakshuka brunch list; lines by 11:00.
Order: Shakshuka with feta, herbs and the side of warm pita.
Tip: Shakshuka books out by 11:00 weekends. The pastry counter at the front is the fast take-away.
South End Buttery on Shawmut Avenue runs the South End's all-day brunch room in Boston since 2005. Buttermilk pancakes, the buttery burger, line on Sundays from 10:00.
Order: Buttermilk pancakes with maple and crispy bacon.
Tip: Brunch books on Resy; walk-in line moves in 30 minutes. The bistro at the back is the brunch room.
Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers's Myers + Chang on Washington Street runs an Asian-inspired weekend brunch in Boston's South End since 2007. Bao, chia jian bing crepes, dan dan noodles.
Order: Steamed pork bao with sweet hoisin.
Tip: The weekend brunch jianbing crepe is the under-ordered breakfast. Sunday at 10:30 walks in easily.
Kathy Sidell's Saltie Girl on Dartmouth Street runs a seafood brunch in Boston's Back Bay since 2016. Lobster benedict, crudo, tinned-fish boards, the 300-bottle rose-heavy list.
Order: Lobster benedict with hollandaise on the side.
Tip: Brunch books two weeks out on Resy. Saturday at 11:00 is the walk-in seat at the bar.
Eastern Standard reopened in the Bower complex on Beacon Street in 2023 with a weekend brunch in Boston's Kenmore Square. Cocktail programme, all-day menu, brasserie classics.
Order: ESK breakfast burger with house frites.
Tip: Pre-Sox-game brunch books out by 11:00. The bar pours the same menu without the lead time.
