This was so refreshing and cold. The mint and cucumber tasted fresh too it was awesome. Not too…read moresweet but sweet enough to give me energy to power the day The workers were really nice. They kept my drink for me while I went to go use the bathroom lol. Speaking of bathrooms there are two single stall gender neutral ones that are super clean and well kept. Also the interior is huge, lots of people were studying in here

This is a fun cafe in Cambridge. There was a line out the door every time we came to visit. Their…read morecoffee was highly recommended so we came to check it out. Their iced Americano was very good. They were also selling little duck pastries for Easter. That was a nice treat to see in the store. The second time we came here for breakfast. There was a long line out the door again. We managed to order and find a table. We ordered the breakfast egg sandwiches. It came with bacon, cheddar, arugula, tomato, and dijonaise on a milk bun. The dijonnaise did give the sandwich a little kick which was nice. The food was delicious and tasty. I will come here again when I get a chance.

A very poor experience. We have $35 per person room credit for breakfast daily…read more Had to wait 20 mins for a table, the hostes was low energy and not very responsive. Breakfast was served at the Paperback Tavern from 6:30am until 11am (weekends). We were seated at 10:30am and took 10 mins to get a waiter and after placing our order took another 15 mins to get my coffee . The breakfast buffet had not been refreshed since we arrived at least for 45 mins. Service was slow, our waiter was inexperienced and did not refill my coffee until I asked. And they brought out our food and forgot my wife's side of bacon. She was almost done with her meal. Management needs to train staff; and staff accordingly. Not a great experience, we have three more nights here. Good luck to us, could it get any worst?

Excellent restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Boston / Cambridge with great clam chowder, truffle tater…read moretots, thin crispy pork and chocolate cake dessert with an orange slice plus ice cream. Very cool interior decor as well, and nice very stylish interior atmosphere. Great service as well - highly recommended!

GREAT FOOD! We got the brussel sprouts to share and the smashburger. Highly recommend this placeread more

Came to Esmai's for an early dinner with my boyfriend and sat on the outdoor rooftop (we made a…read morereservation). The Highlights: Blush Hour cocktail & Shrimp baos: Easily a 10/10! Absolute must-trys. Calamari: Pretty good, but the sauce really made the dish. The Misses: The Pasta (2/10): Neither of us enjoyed this. The sauce was very watery and lacked flavor--it seemed like it relied on meat juices for flavor, but it just didn't work. Smash Burger: Just an average burger. Hard to mess up, but nothing to write home about. Vibe & Service: The rooftop ambience was nice with staff playing music on a speaker. Wait-staff were very attentive! A huge plus was the owner coming out to check on tables and joke around with guests! Note on space: Upstairs indoor seating seems okay for private events (there was a bridal shower happening while we were there), and downstairs has a classic sit-down/bar feel. Verdict: Total came out to $171 (including tip) for 4 drinks, calamari, baos, pasta, and a burger. If we return, we'd definitely stick to drinks, shrimp baos, and hanging out downstairs!

Stopped in here for a brunch on a Saturday and got seated right away! Their outdoor seating is…read morewonderful. I got the homemade bourekas and loved how flaky and fresh the pastry was. I wish there was more flavor in the pastry itself, but I loved the pickles that it cane with! The tahini was very tasty as well. Overall, I had a great meal here!

A bit pricey but what isn't these days, just went for drinks and some french fries. Nutella latte…read moredidn't taste at all like Nutella and was really just milk. Ive had better matcha but the blue lagoon cocktail was the best. Didn't really have an attentive server but she did her job and that was fine. Inside is very cutesy.

Oh, we're coming back!…read more The kids loved the pancakes, the omelette was amazing and so was the prosciutto fig. The coffee is great and the employees were even better.

This place is so cute! So tiny but full of flavor. Everything seems to be made with so much…read morepatience. The best part were the pancakes and the drinks. We ordered the omelettes, and they were good but the eggs might it been a bit too well for our tasting, and the potatoes a bit too crispy. The service was slow, but it was worth it once the food came out.

If you're anywhere near Harvard Square, The Friendly Toast is absolutely worth a stop, especially…read moreif you're looking for a brunch spot that's just as fun as it is flavorful. The space is super vibrant, filled with bold colors, retro diner touches, and a bunch of quirky statement pieces that make you want to look around before you even check the menu. It feels playful and energetic without being overwhelming...definitely a place that stands out from your typical brunch spot. One of the most unique things about this place is the drink menu. I loved that you can order flights...not just for mimosas, but also spritzers/mixed drink and even coffee-inspired drinks. That's not something you see everywhere, and it made the whole experience feel a little more elevated and fun. Everything we tried was solid across the board. The drinks were well-made, balanced, and honestly just fun to try in a flight format. The menu itself keeps that same energy going with quirky, pop culture-inspired names that make ordering more entertaining than usual. But it's not just about the names, the food actually delivers. The chicken and waffles were a standout: crispy, flavorful, and perfectly paired with the sweetness of the waffle. The traditional breakfast was done right too: simple, classic, and exactly what you'd want when you're craving something familiar. The real surprise for me was the crispy pimento potato bowl with chicken. It was packed and layered with flavor: comforting, a little indulgent, and definitely filling. You can tell they're intentional about how they build their dishes, not just throwing things together. Shoutout to our waitress as well...she really made the experience better. She gave great recommendations, helped us navigate the menu (which has a lot of options), and made sure we picked dishes we'd actually enjoy. That kind of service goes a long way, especially at a busy brunch spot.

My husband and I had breakfast at The Friendly Toast in Cambridge about two weeks ago. It was our…read morefirst stop of the day and a great way to begin a day in Cambridge. The Friendly Toast was founded in 1994 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but has locations throughout New England now. It's easy to see why. This all-day brunch and bar is quirky and fun and unique. The decor of the Cambridge location is super eclectic. We arrived around 8:45am on a Saturday, and it wasn't busy yet (it's a huge restaurant). Since it was pretty quiet still, we had plenty of time to look around at the fun decor. The menu is as fun and eclectic as the decor with really fun small plates, breakfast classics, vegan options (like a tofu scramble and vegan pancakes), wild pancakes (cookie monster pancakes!?), and some healthier options. They currently have (or maybe always have?) a "Comeback Tour" menu of dishes that were popular that they brought back. My husband and I both chose from that menu. He got the Rice Baby Rice Comeback (grilled citrus chicken, seasoned rice, roasted street corn, black beans, pico de gallo and avocado topped with crispy tortilla strips, grated cotija, pickled onion, avocado cilantro sauce, and fresh cilantro), and I had the Medley Crue Comeback (two poached eggs served over a medley of home fries, tomatoes, spinach, red peppers, mushrooms, onion, zucchini and corn; topped with avocado cilantro sauce, lemon pepper sumac & fresh cilantro). Both dishes were great. They have a full drink menu, too, including flights (a mimosa flight, a coffee drink flight, and more), beer, wine, mocktails, classic cocktails, and more. I had their strawberries and cream coffee (cold brew with vanilla strawberry cold foam), while my husband stuck with a simple iced coffee. It's a really fun place for brunch, and I'd happy to return or visit another location. It's just a retro, quirky, happy place!

One of the spots that people kept recommending for good coffee & Bahn mi. overall takeaways: good…read morematcha color & flavor, drinks were not too sweet (which is an Asian compliment!), quaint spot. Would rate 5/5 on drinks, 4/5 on food. We got the customer favorite: iced pandan matcha (with oat milk for preference) -- overall: good matcha color & flavor, pandan was not too sweet, ice ratio was good. My bf really enjoyed this one! I also got the Iced Saigonese -- strong viet coffee, still yummy with the sweetness & the foam on top enhanced the creaminess of the drink. We ordered the BBQ Pork Bahn Mi + egg, I would recommend adding the egg for sure! The egg was creamy & runny, giving it extra flavor. However, Bahn mi itself was not particularly special. We actually ordered the egg after tasting the Bahn mi & it was a little dry. Nice location, seating inside & outside but construction was happening outside, so it wasn't as enjoyable. We had went around 1PM on a Wednesday & the seats were filled. Saw some people with computers, with no problem.

I tried their iced vanilla latte and really liked it! The vanilla syrup was sooo good! I also got…read morethe banana pecan muffin and that was really good too! I waited a little while for my drink but it wasn't too bad. There were a lot of students working on their laptops so it was kind of hard to get a table inside, but they have outdoor seating and it was much easier to find a spot out there. I'll definitely be back!!

What a FANTASTIC breakfast spot!…read more Came here on a Sunday for breakfast and what a treat! Started off with their fluffernutter latte and their lavender matcha latte. Both were perfect starts and very flavorful. Everything was phenomenal from their regular egg breakfast to their morning madness to their pancakes. I think their breakfast potatoes are real stars too. Perfectly crispy but soft inside. They have plenty of drink options for a boozy brunch as well. We saw everything from dates, to family breakfasts, to girlfriends boozy brunch. This place is cute and clean so it's good for any occasion. Service was fast and friendly. We came around 9:30am and it wasn't too packed which was great! I can foresee a slight wait as time progresses.

We tried the dutch baby pancake, bacon & avocado scramble, and salmon cakes, and everything was…read moresolid. Good portion sizes and a nice variety on the menu with both sweet and savory options. The only downside was definitely the wait. It took about an hour to get seated and have food ready for lunch, so I would recommend planning ahead if you are going during busy hours.

Truly kosher food offerings and a vast array of choices. Later in the day Service is excellent but…read morebreakfast and lunch not so much. Well heck folks this place is in Brookline! Parking? Forget about it!

I stop here whenever i get to Boston to visit my daughter. The matzo ball soup is delish & deli…read moresandwiches yummy as any other good deli i've visited! And they always seem to be stocked with the celery soda that is tough to get on the west coast. Go early especially on weekend when there always seems to be a line. Can't wait to get back here soon.

I love this place and the Back Bay location is special. The atmosphere is old school diner meets…read morevibrant colorful food haven. The staff at every location are friendly (shocking...I know) but these Back Bay servers don't mess around. They get you in fed and out all without ever feeling rushed. Definitely recommend the NH egg scramble - so good, but you really can't go wrong on the menu.

TL;DR: Smelled like dirty water, sat us at a dirty table, food was not impressive, drinks were…read morewatered down with odd flavors, honestly don't know why there were so many people in there. Won't go back. Wish I had pictures, sorry. I wasn't thinking about a review. After a 15/20 minute wait, in an effort to seat us quickly, they sat us at a table that was wet, with water, and sticky from what was presumably the last table's syrup. There were 2 open, used, nips of syrup on the table that they hadn't seen or bothering to pick up. The ambiance/decor was very confusing, a lot of colors and patterns. It wasn't quirky (I've been to quirky done well), it was bordering on scatterbrained? I joked that the place was meant to be visually confusing so that you wouldn't see the lack of cleanliness. We asked for napkins to wipe our table and we were given napkins to clean it ourselves. I mean sure it was what we had asked for but when I asked in the past, someone came over with a rag and cleaner and cleaned it for us so I was a little underwhelmed with that one. Also, the table was visibly not ready because my partner noticed some hesitation in the guy before he sat us and instead of saying, "wait let me get someone to clean it for you" he sat us anyway. The entire placed smelled like a mix of dirty water and wet dog. In all fairness we should've gotten up and walked out but the restaurant was packed, so we were assuming the food must be good and we were hungry. The first two appetizer plates were got were dirty and my boyfriend's silverware. We asked for new ones. The second two were also not exactly clean but not as bad as the first. We opted to eat our appetizer from the plate it came on. We ordered the Some Like it Tot. It was cool, nothing to write home about. Expected it to be more crunchy (they are tater tots after all). I ordered the mimosa flight. Only one of the drinks had any semblance of alcohol in it. They were... oddly not good? Like not bad, but not great. The flavors on the menu sounded like they should've been great together but what served me was disappointing. I got the cookie monster pancakes. Maybe 2 stars. Very mid and uninspired. Unimpressed. The pancakes were middle of the road. Not great not bed. Best thing about this place were the nips of maple syrup. My boyfriend ordered the Monster breakfast. Also mid. The home fries were not well seasoned. Will not be returning. I'm assuming they need to pay their staff better or hire ones who care or can cook. Our server was kind though.