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    Zaftigs Delicatessen - Brookline

    3.8 (1.8k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Zaftigs Delicatessen - Brookline Photos

    ZAFTIGS DELICATESSEN - BROOKLINE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Zaftigs Delicatessen - Brookline

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    Zaftig Combo
    Madeleine G.

    Perfect Jewish deli/diner for taking family from out of town! Love the knishes, omelettes, and my friend said the pastrami sandwich was delicious.

    Roasted Vegetable Wrap with fries
    Cami C.

    I loved Zaftigs! Came here upon a fantastic recommendation from a friend and it did not disappoint. First of all the ambience here is so fun. It's very chill, laid-back and lots of good vibes. Lots of tables so we didn't have to wait long to be seated but I'm sure it gets pretty packed especially during brunch time on the weekends. Menu-wise, there really is something here for everybody. They offer their brunch menu all day. They have a lot of good looking pancakes and sandwiches as well as Jewish bakery items like their bagels that are on sale in the front. The staff seem to love their job and are not only friendly with each other, but great with the customers and will give you great recommendations if you are stuck between what to order. My friends tried the Reuben sandwich, the New Yorker sandwich, and the tuna melt sandwich, which they all loved. I got the roasted vegetable wrap, which was also really good. I appreciated that the menu has quite a few vegan and vegetarian options and easily indicate that on the menu. I think the dishes are pretty fairly priced and you get a good portion which I definitely appreciate. We all love our sandwiches but I would say the Reuben sandwich was probably the favorite among my friends. The fries were also very good which I don't always find to be the case at restaurants. Next time, I definitely wanna check out the brunch menu. From what I saw all the dishes looked amazing so I can't wait to be back! Would highly recommend stopping in if you're in the area!

    Turkey Chili
    Amy Y.

    I must say that I was less than impressed on my last trip to Zaftigs. I had not been in a while, and when my friend wanted to have lunch at Zaftigs, I decided to give it another try after being disappointed several years ago. Unfortunately, Zaftigs has not improved and may have slipped further. The decor is busy, with hardscape elements that echo, making conversation at a small 2-top almost impossible. The tables are quite close together, so if it were quieter, you would be part of your neighbor's conversation as well. I had the Rachel sandwich that was soggy and pretty tasteless. I upgraded to the potato pancake-a huge mistake. It was an inedible hockey puck. Our server was pleasant but not very attentive, and never questioned why the potato pancake only had a bit out of it. My friend had the turkey chili, which she indicated was decent, though it was not overly flavorful. There are so many options in Coolidge Corner; do not waste your time or money here.

    Banana Stuffed French Toast
    Brian C.

    I have driven by Zaftigs so many times but never stopped in. Huge mistake. This place is fantastic. Very impressive. Tremendous breakfast. Parking is on the street. No lot. Sorry folks. You find a spot, you take the win. We walked in and they treated us very nicely. Friendly. Fast. Sat us right away. The kind of service you wish every restaurant had but almost none do. Now the food. My son had the stuffed banana French toast with berries. Enormous. Beautiful. He absolutely loved it. I had the sunny side up egg sandwich with bacon, tomato, and lettuce. Excellent flavor. Got a little messy at the end but that is perfectly fine. The potatoes were crispy and actually seasoned. Not the sad, soggy stuff you get at the weaker places. We ordered the blueberry pancake stack. Three big pancakes. Comes with syrup and a strawberry butter that was surprisingly amazing. Pancakes were a little dry, so do the smart thing and ask for extra syrup. Trust me. My wife had the eggs benedict. She said it was fantastic. Perfect eggs. Perfect sauce. No complaints. Zero. Coffee was great. Apple juice great. The bill was ninety one dollars before tip. Zaftigs is a winner. Great food. Great service. Highly recommended.

    Phil K.

    I've been to a lot of Jewish delis over the years (grew up Jewish, so delis were basically part of everyday life), and Zaftigs definitely brought back some of that feeling. The food was good -- not quite at the level of the classic delis I grew up with, but still solid. The pickles were incredible, easily the highlight and exactly how I remember them should be. The only hiccup was with the order and service -- little things like cheese showing up when it wasn't supposed to, onions added when I hadn't asked for them, and a couple of small items missing. Nothing that ruined the meal, but it did stand out. Overall though, it's a good spot that captures some of that deli nostalgia, even if it's not perfect.

    Turkey sandwich on ciesel bread
    Jay M.

    First time visiting this location. We usually visit the Natick location. Ordered the bowl of Matzah ball chicken noodle soup. A turkey sandwich on ciesel bread with the potato pancake add on extra for 2 bucks . Well , my soup was absent of any chicken, no carrots or vegetables, noodles a few, the Matzah ball was good and no issues with the ball. Disappointing Issue was it had no chicken . It appears the server when ladling soup into my bowl ... said no chicken for him and no carrots either ...The same I had at Natick location was excellent and was bountiful with ingredients and chicken... this soup was what attracts me to Zatfigs. Turkey sandwich needed a bit more turkey and was good and with fresh red onion, tomato, Russian dressing , Lettuce was very good. place was crowded as a Saturday and really noisy vs. the Natick location. Parking next to impossible if driving for Brookline. The potato pancake is the star today. Anyway.... I like the Natick spot and I'll be back.

    Food E.

    Another great brunch. Enjoyed the monte cristo sandwich with fries today. The sandwich is the perfect combination of sweet and savory made with french toast. Perfectly crispy French fries.

    David K.

    I just had my best Corned Beef sandwich that I've had in years. My New York background i haven't had such a fantastic warm sandwich with mustard and coke slaw. They even have sour pickles. Mmmmmm

    Build your own omelette with salad.
    Allegra C.

    Zaftigs is a wonderful Brookline neighborhood traditional diner. Gorgeous dining room, bar and walk up pastries counter. I had the egg white build your own omelette w salad. Excellent. Staff are abundant and friendly.

    Everything bagel toasted with cream cheese

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    9 months ago

    Delicious sweets, nice vibe! It was a good experience in trying something new to me.Recommend!!

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    10 months ago

    Food was great. Services was excellent. Ambiance can feel a little busy and crowded for Sunday brunch.

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    5 months ago

    Such a wonderful place--seriously the best bagel I have ever eaten. Latkes were tasty.

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    Zaftigs Delicatessen - Brookline Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Zaftigs Delicatessen - Brookline

    I'm going on with a group of 4 on Sunday. Is it possible to make reservations, or is it first come-first serve?

    They don't take reservations, it is first come first serve and sometimes if your entire party is not with you, you may not get seated. My suggestion is to get there early, they get really busy over the weekends.

    I'm supposed to meet friends here for brunch at noon on Sunday. Assuming we want to get seated as closed to noon as possible, would it behoove us to show up about 30-60 minutes early to get on the list? I don't think they take reservations, right?

    I agree that you should show up earlier, especially if you're on a schedule. Coolidge Corner has… Read more

    Aging white male here. Does anyone know if this is the former "Jack and Marions"? I used to make special trips there from PVD in the 70s. Looks like it might be worth an excursion.

    It is the former 'Jack and Marion's.' Zaftigs even has a beef-and-tongue sandwich named after its former incarnation.… Read more

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    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Loco Moco rice plate - the gravy made the dish!

    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant

    4.4(44 reviews)
    0.2 miCoolidge Corner

    I came here for a date night as I've seen great reviews about the drinks and the food here. I made…read morea reservation for 6 on a Friday night - it was initially quiet inside but began to fill up more once we were seated. The interior was clean and modern. 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.

    I came for a late weekend brunch around 1pm and did not have any problems getting a table for 2…read more 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.

    Photos
    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant
    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - Shrimp Bao

    Shrimp Bao

    Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant - BBH

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    BBH

    Cafe Weekend - Funnel fries with Nutella and ice cream

    Cafe Weekend

    4.5(344 reviews)
    0.7 miAllston/Brighton
    $$

    This was our first time coming here, and upon entering both the waiter and waitress were very…read morefriendly, attentive and gave great recommendations. There were a lot of options for food and it was hard to decide! They have everything from Shakshuka to their "croffle"! ( croffle- croissant waffle with different toppings) We shared a Nutella and hazelnut croffle, and had omelets. The croffle was incredible- very decadent- and the omelets were very generous with their portions and had toast and home fried potatoes! It's a small spot, but doesn't feel crowded at all overall great experience and would come back!

    Came with friends for breakfast. I'm from out of town, but my friends are the regulars, so they…read morewere bantering with the waiter. Folks are very friendly and helpful here! There's tables mostly for smaller groups, but they easily accommodated us and another large group. I ordered the fig prosciutto panini, which was admittedly smaller than what I was expecting but delicious for breakfast. Coffee saved me from my early morning flight too-- effective and tasty. I think my only knock was that I'd have hoped my particular dish was a bit more generous in portioning, but given a look at the other things my friends ordered, this looks like it's not necessarily the norm across dishes. Great quick bite-- parking is pretty easy on this street in the morning too, so I'd recommend!

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    Cafe Weekend - Inside

    Inside

    Cafe Weekend - Kimchi arancini

    Kimchi arancini

    Cafe Weekend - Einspaner, really on the "weak end" of coffee

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    Einspaner, really on the "weak end" of coffee

    The Friendly Toast - Cocktail Flights

    The Friendly Toast

    4.2(188 reviews)
    2.0 miHarvard Square
    $$

    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.

    So yesterday my mom and I went to The Friendly Toast in Harvard Sq for breakfast. Since my birthday…read moreis coming up my mother treats and leaves a 20% tip. The server, while clearing the table, glances at the receipt and mutters under his breath "cheap a$$." He didn't think I heard him but I did. I ask him "what did you say?" He's like "oh do you go to school around here?" I flatly said no. The his fake a$$ says "okay well hope to see you around." You won't. His name in the receipt said Tony N. I called the restaurant afterwards to talk to a manager and no answer. I sent them a message on their FB and no answer. For a place to be called "The Friendly Toast" that's not friendly behavior at all. The food was good, the decor was very cute, everything went well until that experience. The server's friendliness was clearly fake af! Smh.

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    The Friendly Toast - Spicy Salmon Roll Toast

    Spicy Salmon Roll Toast

    The Friendly Toast - Medley Crüe

    Medley Crüe

    The Friendly Toast

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    Zaftigs Delicatessen - Brookline - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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