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    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant

    4.3 (50 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant Photos

    ESMAI’S CAFE & RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Matcha cocktail
    Rachel L.

    The cocktails here are fantastic, I tried the Matchs Colado and the Upper East Side and both were executed extremely well and were worth the money. However, the smoked fried rice I felt was overpriced for such a simple dish.

    Cocktails
    Kristyn C.

    I came here for a date night as I've seen great reviews about the drinks and the food here. I made a reservation for 6 on a Friday night - it was initially quiet inside but began to fill up more once we were seated. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior was clean and modern.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was very welcoming and able to provide us with great insights into the menu. The cocktails were refreshing and tasty. I ordered a 'Spill the Tea' with gin and my husband ordered the matcha colada. I'd love to come back and try more out! As for food, we ordered the mini beef wellington, the banh mi & bone marrow, the curry chicken, and the loco moco. I loved the variety of dishes on the menu and was super impressed by the execution of all of them. They were very flavorful and cooked to perfection, with the mini beef wellington having crispy puff pastry and the bone marrow very tender. Overall, I was impressed by Esmai's creativity and would love to come back to try out more of the menu.

    Menu
    Della S.

    I came for a late weekend brunch around 1pm and did not have any problems getting a table for 2. They had a pretty big cocktail menu but I decided to try their coffee instead. I got a medium iced pandan cold foam coffee ($6). The pandan cold foam was vibrantly green, but I unfortunately didn't really taste any pandan flavor. The cold foam mostly just tasted like cream. I also noticed that the coffee was not super strong, so I would recommend getting a large if you are looking for more caffeine. I tried the OG banh mi ($12). It had crispy and fragrant bread and a thick spread of pate. I liked how it was served a little warm which helped all of the flavors mix together better. I noticed that they source their milk bread locally from Japonaise cafe down the street-- I'd love to try some of their egg sandwiches next time.

    Brooke C.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love the rooftop brunch here![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They don't take reservations for rooftop seating but they are responsive on their phones so I'd recommend calling ahead to confirm that the roof is open and whatnot. For brunch I got a green tea, soufle pancake, and milkbread sandwich. The sandwich had egg ham cheese and avocado. Everything was delightful. The pancakes were picturesque also. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is such a cute spot and I could definitely see myself coming back![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Mini Beef Wellington
    Sophia L.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Creative dishes and roomy tables make this a perfect spot for dates, double dates, and groups.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They serve good coffee and cocktails, and are open for lunch and dinner. I really enjoyed the Extra 99, which is one of the few savory cocktails I truly enjoy. The szechuan pepper infused oil is subtle, but pulls together flavors that make for a delicious drink. They have Loco Moco on the menu! I don't know of another place that serves this Hawaiian breakfast plate, but I find their mushroom gravy with rice and patty to be so addictive I kept eating more despite being full. I also like making my own banh mi, using bone marrow feels so indulgent. The smoked fried rice will surround your table with aroma, and comes through each with each bite. Everything is executed properly and the servers are nice, so it makes sense that my friends have also approved of this recommendation.

    The loco moco dish!
    Reika H.

    I've heard good things about this place and finally got a chance to check them out for brunch. They are an Asian fusion place and have options on their menu that are a blend of Vietnamese, Japanese, American, and French food. I ordered the hot coconut coffee which was very delicious but maybe a little too sweet. Would definitely order it again with reduced sweetness. My friend ordered the classic hot Vietnamese coffee which was also very good. There aren't many places in Boston that serve Japanese hamburger so I ended up ordering the loco moco and was very impressed by the dish! All the parts of the dish tasted very good and the fruit was also sweet and just the right ripeness. The hamburger steak gravy was also well made and the egg on top had the right level of doneness. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior of the restaurant was nice and cozy and very well lit.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would definitely check this place out again especially when the weather gets warmer and their roof deck is open!

    Bulgogi Empanadas
    Kaylin V.

    The food was absolutely delicious! The service was great and we were easily accommodated despite being early for our reservation. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant has a bar, second floor, and a side with booths.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was the perfect ambiance with amazing food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered two of their appetizers and split an order of the BBH. It was the perfect amount of food for us! I highly recommend Esmai's if you want to try something a little different and elevated.

    Banh Mi & Bone Marrow
    Brian W.

    I came here on a Saturday evening to specifically try the Banh Mi & Bone Marrow because it sounded interesting. We were seated right away in the upstairs portion of the restaurant, but for some reason we were sat at a table for two right in between two other occupied tables when the rest of the upstairs was entirely empty. It did seem strange to be so close to two other couples on either side of us when the rest of the floor was empty, but I was grateful that we were able to order the Banh Mi & Bone Marrow without being pressured to order other dishes since the other meals didn't seem as interesting for us. The food did come quickly and the service was good other than the seating arrangement though! Banh Mi & Bone Marrow ($18) - This was a really interesting dish - I'm used to having banh mi in a sandwich format, but this was in a plate kind of formatted like a charcuterie board. It was actually easier to eat the dish in this form rather than as a sandwich since a lot of banh mi bread ends up being overly crispy - for this dish, you could take a slice of baguette and spoon on the pate, bone marrow, and then add the cold cuts and pickled vegetables. I will say that it wasn't overly filling - it was probably the same amount of ingredients as a small banh mi and it costs $18 so I'm not sure I'd get it again, but it was definitely worth the experience of eating banh mi "deconstructed" if you will. The bone marrow was also a nice addition that added value and it added a nice fattiness to the bites. All in all, I love that this restaurant reimagined what a banh mi could be, and the price tag wasn't too out there for a version with some extra fancy ingredients. Well done!

    Some complimentary birthday macarons
    Sakurako K.

    I can only speak about my brunch experience at Esmai's but what a pleasant surprise! Located just around the corner from Coolidge, this restaurant has a big space (upstairs and downstairs!) and charming ambience throughout. The servers were literally the sweetest and even surprised us at the end of our meal with a complimentary macarons as we were celebrating 3 birthdays that day. The menu is what I was looking for in brunch place-- I was getting a bit tired of the regular old, let's be honest, elevated diner food options, but at Esmai's they have the classics with an Asian twist! With a full cocktail menu (and lots of fun mocktails too if you don't want to drink!) this is my new go-to place for group brunches.

    Croissant sandwich
    Food E.

    Enjoyed a leisurely brunch here on a weekend. It was surprisingly not difficult to get a reservation. Interesting Asian fusion menu. They have a variety of Vietnamese coffee drinks which I recommend trying if you like Vietnamese coffee. Everyone enjoyed their dishes from salads to sandwiches. Pleasant service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Spacious dining setup.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'd come again.

    Kristen K.

    Came by for brunch on Saturday. Easy to make a reservation online morning of, and they did not look remote full so probably could've walked in as well. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They do have two floors of seating so restaurant is fairly large.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Personally I thought the brunch menus looked better than the dinner menu, and there were plenty of options to accommodate different dietary preferences. The milk toast sandwiches were heavier than expected, but very tasty and the bread itself was a little sweet though the rest of the sandwich was savory. Would skip the coffee here though, tasted very watery.

    Truffle tots - delicious sauce!
    Kasey H.

    Checked out this new cafe recently for lunch on a weekday. There's plenty of street parking nearby, and we were promptly seated. We started off with the truffle tots, which were delicious! The truffle aioli was creamy and not overly heavy - would highly recommend this dish. The OG Banh Mi came with a generous portion of bread, meat and fresh veggies. Not mind-blowingly amazing but a solid banh mi. The chicken karaage milk bread was interesting and tasty, with fluffy buttered milk bread and eggs contrasting against the crispy chicken karaage. Overall, we loved the decor and ambiance of the dining room, attentive service, and generous portions of each dish.

    Croissant sandwich with fig jam, mozzarella, & prosciutto (scrambled instead of fried eggs)
    Logan D.

    We stopped by with a group for brunch and tried a Banh Mi, soufflé pancakes, croissant sandwich, and milk bread sandwiches. Everything was great! Standouts were the Vietnamese coffee and truffle fries. Our server was great and the chef's partner also kindly stopped by to introduce us to the place and the menu (the croissants are made in house and the milk bread is from neighboring Japonaise bakery).

    Banh mi

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    1 year ago

    Went there for my girlfriend's birthday and it could not have been better. The beef wellington slider thingies were great

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    Food was amazing. Great service, chill ambience and the food is well prepared and unique.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant

    Is the restaurant accessible?

    There's a downstairs and an upstairs (that's only accessible by stairs as far as I could tell), so as long as downstairs is ok, yes :)

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    Solid Ground Cafe

    Solid Ground Cafe

    4.6
    (146 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    My friend and I were visiting from CA and wandering around the area. Naturally we needed a midday…read moreboost and looked up local coffee shops in the area. We headed towards Solid Ground and ventured inward. The staff were welcoming and brought our drinks to our table. It seemed like the place to be as others came in a steady stream. It's small in regards to seating but we managed to get a spot with a good view of the street perfect for people watching. The coffee was tasty and gave us the extra fuel we needed to keep exploring the town. Definitely stop in if you're in the area!

    A great little cafe experience! This spot is bright and welcoming thanks to its quaint yet lively…read moreatmosphere and exceptionally friendly staff. This is such a fun warming place to be all around. Though there's not a ton of seating, I was lucky enough to find a table even on the weekend given that this spot is also great for grab and go. But if you get a chance to sit, it's a lovely place to have a chat with a friend or get some work done. The menu has a wide variety of drinks with some fun rotating flavors, and I'm dying to come back and try their sandwiches (they look and smell divine)! As for their matcha and pastries, I can report that they're not the most impressive I've seen anywhere, but they're certainly high quality and crave-worthy. This in addition to some great prices definitely makes a stop here worth it!!

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    Solid Ground Cafe
    Bibingka
    Bibingka
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    Phinista

    Phinista

    4.4
    (319 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    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!!

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    Interior
    Interior
    Ube bun with custard
    Ube bun with custard
    Iced Saigonese Sea Salt Phin

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    Iced Saigonese Sea Salt Phin
    Starbucks

    Starbucks

    2.4
    (65 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Loving this Starbucks lately! I happened to rediscover this location again on my way to work. They…read morehave recently redesigned the interior and it looks fantastic - a nod to the Starbucks that I fell in love with so many years ago! It's clean and has that homey yet modern feel to it. I'm so glad they kept this location in the area as it is really nice to have in the heart of the Longwood Medical area between the schools and hospitals, and it is nice to have the full store in addition to the pick-up only location at Beth Israel. Anyone who goes through this area knows it can get pretty busy in this area, especially during the mid-morning rush with the hustle and bustle of people going to work, appointments, or class. Even when it's busy, they have a good rhythm and get the drinks and food orders out efficiently, while still keeping good quality. The staff have been great, and they really do care about getting the orders done right. If I am more pressed for time, I try to order ahead extra early just to make sure when I get there my order will be ready or almost ready, and I haven't had any issues with delays. This location is up to the Starbucks standards that I expect!

    " Cranky Employees" A Dirty…read moreStarbucks So the staff in this Starbucks were not too friendly at all . They were cranky and in a bad mood during my visit today . I came in to get some cups , lids , and straws . That they sell for cold beverages. I also got a dragonfruit refresher it's in the picture. The ambience is not too friendly or welcoming. I hope it's just a bad day for them today. Because usually all Starbucks, I have been too normally have a great attitude. The bathroom was also dirty and the place was a bit dirty . This is why I didn't want to get a pastry or a food item today .

    Photos
    Iced Orange Cream Matcha
    Iced Orange Cream Matcha
    Orange Cream Cold Brew
    Orange Cream Cold Brew
    Orange Cream Frappuccino

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    Orange Cream Frappuccino

    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - modern_european - Updated August 2026

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