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    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant

    4.4 (45 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant Photos

    ESMAI’S CAFE & RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant

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    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.

    I love the rooftop brunch here! 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. This is such a cute spot and I could definitely see myself coming back!

    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. The interior of the restaurant was nice and cozy and very well lit. I would definitely check this place out again especially when the weather gets warmer and their roof deck is open!

    Mini Beef Wellington
    Sophia L.

    Creative dishes and roomy tables make this a perfect spot for dates, double dates, and groups. 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.

    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. Spacious dining setup. I'd come again.

    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.

    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. They do have two floors of seating so restaurant is fairly large. 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
    Mindy P.

    Yummy! I had high expectations before dining at Esmai's and my expectations were met! I think they describe their cuisine as Vietnamese and French fusion, but they include several other Asian cuisines so it's a mash of many worlds! I was also pleasantly surprised that they had an upstairs dining area that had a different vibe than the lower floor. The Banh Mi and the katsu bao were delicious! What a great decision! The pampanelle pasta was quite filling and hearty with generous a serving of braised beef. All in all, everything ordered was a success!

    Melanie W.

    Nothing is really special about this place.. the food is so so and the service is really slow.

    OG bahn mi
    Ellie C.

    What a cute restaurant with delicious food at great prices. I went for weekend lunch and got the OG bahn mi, which was a generously sized sandwich for $10. The flavors were savory, well-balanced, and just so delicious! The service was also pretty attentive, as there only seemed to be four tables in our area. I would definitely come back to get the OG bahn mi again or to try their other bahn mi or weekend lunch options!

    Loco moco and chicken karage milkbread

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    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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    1 year ago

    Good food and cocktails, apparently has a roof deck that is opening soon. The lobster Rangoon and mini beef Wellington is my favorite.

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    2 years ago

    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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    Celeste

    Celeste

    4.6
    (110 reviews)
    65.3 mi
    $$$

    What a fabulous dining experience! It all began with manager Ariel helping me with an existing…read morereservation. She went above & beyond with a few phone calls and for that all of our group is grateful. It was a pleasure walking into this airy and energetic restaurant. We were in for a treat as soon as Tori B. greeted us with a great attitude and extensive knowledge of the menu at Celeste. Tori did an excellent job caring for our family as we celebrated a few special occasions this particular night. They did not rush us and allowed us to visit while also providing us exceptional service. Such a true professional in the world of hospitality. The bread service of delicious focaccia was a treat right off the bat. We thoroughly enjoyed the calamari fritto misto with artichoke hearts, pepperoncini, fried lemons, and caper aioli. The spicy whipped feta is a unique preparation with the olive relish, and we raved over the house-made warm pita. Truly some of the best starters the four of us have enjoyed in a long while. It appears Celeste is well known for their pizzas and after consuming the fig & prosciutto pizza we know why. Unctuous blending of flavors with Great Hill blue cheese and so much more. We left room to continue sharing amazing food - the roasted Moroccan chicken and the grilled halibut. Both mains sported their own unique flavors. The Moroccan chicken has a perfect blending of couscous, raisins & cashews with roasted broccolini. The grilled halibut was so perfectly prepared that I dream of ever being able to grill my own back home to such a perfect consistency. Congratulations to a well-run kitchen that supports a seamless front of the house operation. Having managed restaurants for years, I appreciate the energy and passion that goes into creating such memorable dining experiences for guests.

    What a cute, cozy, delectable place. We are at a conference looking for something different for…read moredinner that we haven't tried (this our 4th year in a row for this conference side note-we love the east coast). We went on a Thursday evening and street parking was easy to find. Service was great! Here is what we had: 1. Drinks: EASY TIGER- coconut rum, overproof rum, horchata, amontillado, sherry, lime, aromatic bitters. BLOOD, SWEAT, & ROSEMARY (mocktail)- blood orange, lemon, rosemary, soda water. My boyfriend had the easy tiger and found it more tropical tasting than horchata but still liked it. I had the mocktail, which was great! Refreshing drink. Just nice they offer mocktails and tasty ones too! 2. Raw bar: gotta have oysters while in the east coast right? They were from Jamestown and of course yummy. They had a mignonette which was good but since the oysters were so good not needed but a yummy addition option 3. Shared plates/appetizers: CHARRED OCTOPUS- Castlevetrano olive & cannellini bean, frisee, shaved red onion, piri piri, EVOO. This was one of my favorite appetizers. We try octopus everywhere and have had lots of overcooked ones. This was not that! It was soft, buttery and easy to cut and not rubbery. The tail was crispy and yummy. The char was perfect and flavor was on point. PAN ROASTED SUNCHOKES- herbed ricotta, hazelnut, chervil, Calabrian compound butter. What a tasty spin on the sunchokes. I love sunchokes and appreciate a great presentation and different ways to have it. 3. Entrees/Mains: BRANDT FARM 14 OZ RIBEYE- crispy potatoes, onion jam, bravas sauce, haricot vert. My least favorite dish of the night but doesn't mean I have love everything. I still appreciate a really good restaurant and concept. I know this is not a streak house so I understand not being the best steak. It was a bit of a tough steak, but the cooking temp (medium rare) was made to perfection and flavor was simple but perfect (I love love a simple steak without all the extras). The sauce was my least favorite of the dish and could definitely do without. The potatoes and veggies were good except it was somewhat less tasty with the sauce. We made our own surf and turf and had their special for the day. HALIBUT- not sure what was all in for the specifics but this was a winner. The fish was charred yet the moisture was preserved and tasty! Loved the flavoring and sauce. All mixed harmoniously. Dessert: BASQUE CHEESECAKE-fresh whipped cream, brown butter salted caramel, strawberry. We had a hard time deciding between the pistachio tiramisu and the cheesecake. I'm sure both are tasty. I like my cheesecakes more simple and asked for this without whipped cream and strawberry. The consistency of the cheesecake was great! Taste was point on. Although I don't care for caramel with it I tried the caramel and mmmmmm. Cheesecake was a great way to end. Overall fantastic experience. Our waitress was lovely. Staff was wonderful. Food was delicious. The ambiance was cozy and cute. If you are in the area recommend coming here for a nice dinner.

    Photos
    Bar dining :)
    Bar dining :)
    Special of the day, Halibut. Sooo tasty! My fave of the night
    Special of the day, Halibut. Sooo tasty! My fave of the night
    COUSCOUS AVEC FRUIT DE MER at Celeste

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    COUSCOUS AVEC FRUIT DE MER at Celeste
    Scutra Restaurant

    Scutra Restaurant

    4.1
    (336 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$$

    As regulars, each visit we see consistency in food, drink and service. It is wonderful to be…read moregreeted and engaged with a dedicated, professional and caring team. This visit we tried butternut squash spring rolls, Caesar and beet salads, cod special, pork ossobuccu, chicken and salted caramel gelato. All are tasty and appropriately portioned. As usual my gettin figgy with it and espresso martinis were delicious. This is a special bistro and community, just go!

    Scutra is in an unassuming location in Arlington on a main road near some other businesses. Once…read moreyou step inside, you'll notice a classy but comfortable atmosphere. The staff are attentive and funny as well. Scutra's menu really impressed me with a broad cuisine consisting of italian pastas, steaks, seafood, and more. I honestly wished I could sample each entree! We started with the fried avocado hearts as an appetizer, which were wonderful and in a nice thick sauce too. We also ordered the lobster avocado tacos which were sublime. Then it was time for the main course, grilled medium rare maple hanger steak, cheddar mashed potatoes, and bacon wrapped haricot vert (green beans). It was bursting with flavor and the sauce was wonderful (maple anything will please me haha) and I got to try someone's rainbow trout with stuffing (including shrimp) which I also really enjoyed. Scutra comes highly recommended for repeat visits to try their diverse menu items, which I hope to do in the future!

    Photos
    Scutra Restaurant
    Scutra Restaurant
    Scutra Restaurant

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    Crystal

    Crystal

    2.4
    (23 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$$

    I have been to Crystal number of times before Covid . It was a fun place ( live music) and pretty…read moredecent Russian food. Not enough of parking fora such a busy place though.

    Arbat is fantastic. It's very authentic Russian- from the food, to the decor (which borders a bit…read moreon tacky but that's the style!), to the music, everything is pure Russian goodness. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was in Russia being here- it reminds me of a lot of the standard banquet halls in Russia. I went recently for a friend's birthday party and I'm considering having my next birthday celebration here. The food is served banquet style and it is delicious- especially the shashlik and the potatoes mmm. The servers are super attentive, always stopping by to clear any empty plates or fill any empty pitchers with water or soda. Plus, from what I know, they allowed my friend (the birthday girl) to bring in her own alcohol There is a dance floor and music which is really karaoke style- there were three people (two girls and a guy) singing along to random hits (both Russian and international) -- I personally thought the music was fantastic, they played a lot of my favorites. Everyone has fun- young and old- dancing! There were little girls around age 2 dancing and old dedushka guys (grandpas) dancing too. If you're in the Russian community at all you're bound to run into someone you know here ;) which can always make it even more fun. Another friend of mine is having her birthday here in a few weeks and I am looking forward to returning!

    Photos
    Crystal
    Crystal
    Crystal

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    The Silk

    The Silk

    3.9
    (23 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Ordered takeout on a rainy day from The Silk and did not regret it. I got the chicken noodles…read more(street style), chicken manchurian, and cauliflower manchurian - fantastic food! I got everything mild with sauces on the side and that was definitely the way to go. The chicken manchurian is quite hot/spicy even at the mild level so I was glad about the mild selection.

    I had really been looking forward to trying this place and was finally able to on Valentines Day…read more The decoration was adorable and I'm pretty sure they were booked out for the evening. There was a great singer, pianist, and sax player to really set the mood. They were super fun, especially when a couple got engaged! To start, I got their ginger martini and while my friend went with a Do-er neat (not a whiskey drinker myself, lol). He tried to order 2 of their beers but they were out of both. My drink came after 15 mins and then we had to remind the waiter about his whiskey. That took another 10. We started with the chicken bao buns and the samosas. Both spectacular! My only complaint is the little size for the samosa size. For our mains we got the short rib and the white butter chicken. The butter chicken could've used a bit more chicken for the price and was frankly a bit tough. The sauce was great. The short rib was flavorful and packed the perfect punch. Dipping the garlic naan in both sauces was my fav part!! Overall an ok experience. I want to give the restaurant grace because it was very packed but service was poor. I think we had 4 different staff members help us total which probably led to lots of miscommunication.

    Photos
    Dining room, featuring a live jazz band
    Dining room, featuring a live jazz band
    Tomato Basil Bisque Soup
    Tomato Basil Bisque Soup
    Turmeric Tandoori Salmon

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    Turmeric Tandoori Salmon

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

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