Easy, Delicious Fall Weekend Breakfasts

 

Scrambled eggs with Mediterranean Couscous.  SO, easy to make and an impressive breakfast or brunch idea.  You know how to make the eggs, couscous takes five minutes in a pot, chop some spinach, crumble in some feta cheese, drizzle that pesto, onion, whatever you like or have in the fridge.  I added the grilled sausage from last night's barbecue.  Served with fresh bread, pita or toast.  A mimosa and you are set to go.  

Brunch At Friendly Toast

Breakfast Quesadilla at The Friendly Toast, Cambridge.

Brunch.  Where to go?  What to get?  How long is the wait?  We get asked these questions all the time.  Well, one of the places we often revisit is The Friendly Toast.  The main reason for that is the plethora of menu items, some of which will always be new, the always great service and the consistency of the quality.

The Tiki Flight.

We love the flight drink specials, allowing friends to share a sip of each of the exotic drinks.  I can guarantee that you will love each taste of these Tiki drinks and want to go for the full thing the next time you visit.

The Monte Christo Sandwich.

This time around we tried the Monte Christo Sandwich, basically thick slabs of French toast filled with ham, eggs and cheese.  Sweet and savory, this is a classic southern dish which they have adapted well by adding in an excellent condiment:  Strawberry Jalapeno Jam.

The Barbacoa Benny.

The Eggs Benedict menu is rife with several options including this Barbacoa Benny pictured above.  A fresh biscuit is layered with braised beef, two perfectly runny poached eggs, hollandaise and barbecue sauces and then topped with crispy onion straws.  Some might call this the perfect hangover meal.  We call it rich and satisfying.

The colorful Margherita Flight at Friendly Toast.

While there we also sampled the Chicken And Waffles.  Sweet potatoes, bacon and fried thighs are all included and quite the standout plate.

Strawberry Waffles.

The Strawberry Waffles ( a special limited time only item on the menu) is divine inspiration.  It's not only fresh strawberries, waffles, whipped cream, ice cream but also, are you ready, strawberry cheesecake!  We have no question that it will be making it on to the permanent menu soon.

The Friendly Toast

1 Kendall Square

Cambridge, MA  02139

Telephone:  617.621.1200

Socials:

@thebostonfoodie

@theboysoftbf

@_thefriendlytoast

@_friendlytoast

We were invited to this restaurant as members of the press/media with no promise of any editorial consideration.  We call 'em and we see 'em.

It's National Waffle Day On Saturday

It's National Waffle Day on Saturday, August 24, 2019.  What are you going to do about that?  We'd suggest that you head to Friendly Toast, our current favorite brunch spot, for these cheesecake-filled, vanilla ice cream dolloped, fresh strawberry piled, whipped cream crowned and confectioners sugar dusted masterpiece.

Although it's just on the specials menu for now we are told that it's in serious contention to be added to the regular menu.  It's a perfect excuse, with perfect weather predicted, for a brunch date.  So don't miss out, on the menu or the chance to ask her or him out.

Friendly Toast
One Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA  02139
Telephone:  617.621.1200
And many other locations

Socials:  @thebostonfoodie
                 @theboysoftbf
                 @_thefriendlytoast

We were invited to taste this waffle masterpiece as members of the press/media with no promise of any editorial consideration.

Brunch At Cliff House

We enjoyed a recent Saturday brunch at Cliff House in Cape Neddick, Maine and it was hard to fathom why after a lifetime of every summer spent along the southern Maine coast we had never been here before.

A recent refurbishment and countless redesigns and new additions over the years has resulted in a stunning destination well worth the trip up and everything looks brand spanking new.

With soaring ceilings and full wall windows the view is breathtaking and the place is airy and filled with natural light even in the winter yet the design certainly has it's cozy, comfortable inviting spots like this one near the always roaring fireplace.

 

It's also plush, elegant and luxurious with a real sense of inviting relaxation.

The Brunch menu is a la carte.  We were told that it was a buffet once in years gone by.  You can get the full breakfast with fresh Blueberry Coffee Cake and all of the traditional morning fare.

You can also get lobster rolls which was what most in our dining party opted for.  With light mayo or butter and served on a toasty grilled roll there was nothing better.

The only one, small disappointment was that although the bar seemed quite well-stocked and two bartenders were on hand to serve we couldn't get a Bellini.  We settled, of course, for Mimosas.  This was no big deal considering the plush setting and the stunning view but, as we have always held, the highest levels of service are found in the smallest details.

Cliff House
591 Shore Road
Cape Neddick, ME 03902
Telephone:  207.361.1000

Socials:
@TheBostonFoodie
@CliffHouseMaine

Friendly Toast Brunch

Pumpkin Pancakes at The Friendly Toast.

 

Part of the holiday season for us always includes at least one brunch out with friends or maybe as a stop between shopping excursions and/or city walks.  When in Cambridge we'd suggest The Friendly Toast, although they do have multiple locations now.

 



A Flight Of Mimosas.  Cute, clever and delicious.

 

The menu at The Friendly may seem overwhelming at first.  Everything is tempting.  After deliberating over which Mimosa to try (there are several options from Apricot Brandy to Elderflower) our server suggested we just try the flight and sample them all.  We'd suggest you do the same.

 



Breakfast Eggrolls.

A newer menu item, as are the Pumpkin Pancakes, we just knew we HAD to try these.  It's just such a great idea to put some typical breakfast foods in or on a roll and then make it not typical.  These egg rolls are stuffed with, well, eggs, scrambled, of course, corned beef hash, Swiss cheese and then the unusual kimchi slaw.  And it all works beautifully.

 





Salmon Ramen

 

Ramen for breakfast is not a bad thing.  Neither is salmon.  Ever.  So we went with that.  A steamy bowl of fresh ramen noodles in red curry broth, with Gochujang glazed Coho salmon, an over easy egg, kimchi slaw, scallions & mango-habanero sauce.  Not your Grandma's breakfast food but a luxurious one.

 



 

Avos To Apples at The Friendly Toast

 

Another unusual mix the Avos To Apples:  A slice of Anadama toast (an old New England bread recipe made with corn and molasses and totally satisfying) loaded with avocado, roasted caramelized apples, blue cheese crumbles, spicy pecans & a hint of cinnamon. Served with root vegetable hash & a sunny egg. And, again, satisfying, terrific breakfast fare or hangover cure, take your pick.

 



Of course you'll most likely be spending more than one day out shopping and strolling in  and around the city this holiday season and The Friendly offers so much on the menu you could visit every weekend without coming anywhere near exhausting the menu possibilities.  It's just the perfect way to brunch at any time of year.

The Friendly Toast
1 Kendall Square B3101
Cambridge, MA 02139
Telephone:  617.621.1200

Socials:
@_TheFriendlyToast (ig)
@_FriendlyToast
@TheBostonFoodie
#FriendlyToast
#TheBostonFoodie

 

We were invited to this brunch as members of the media with no promise of any editorial consideration.

Brunch At Lower Mills Tavern

 

Lower Gin Mills:  Lion's Tail Gin, elderflower, mint, lime and house made ginger beer.  It's for those who like their daytime weekend libations more on the boozy side.

 

Everyone is always asking us where to go for brunch.  There are lots of options but when we were invited to Lower Mills Tavern to try out their experience we were game. 

 

It's not an area we visit often but the traffic was fairly light on the rainy, cold Saturday we visited and we found it warm and inviting inside with a pretty good crowd at 1PM.



 



 

Three Little Birds:  Citrónge liqueur, pomegranate juice, strawberry-blood orange shrub and prosecco.  Refreshing and lighter.

 

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with blackberry compote, served with home fries.

 

We began with a couple of cocktails, tasty indeed, as we glanced over the menu.  Everything looked good but we knew we just had to begin with the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. They did not disappoint.

Steak And Eggs Hash with mushroom, red onion, breakfast potatoes, fresh mozzarella, chive and rosemary oil.

The eggs featured in this dish were perfectly poached and runny, a classic, hearty breakfast dish.

The Home Fries at Lower Mills Tavern were really some of the best we've had, perfectly seasoned with an almost creamy texture under that outside layer of crisp.

Chicken Sandwich:  Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Vermont cheddar, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and creamy ranch dressing on a seeded brioche bun.

 

The Chicken Sandwich was my favorite menu item.  I always think the buttermilk helps but, really, you either nail it or fail it.  This one was great.

 

Avocado Toast with eggplant hummus, chili-toasted chick peas and balsamic gastrique on whole wheat bread.

How can one not try the Avocado Toast?  It's such a thing now but this one was perked up with those chickpeas offering a tinge of heat we liked.

A side of Cauliflower Mash.

We also really liked the architectural details of the restaurant design which gave things an authentic mill town feel, the exposed brick and comfy leather banquettes were inviting and casual.  It was the kind of place you can just slow down and relax in for hours.

The aftermath.

 

 

The verdict:  The next time we are asked where to head for weekend brunch south of downtown Boston we'd advise anyone to try Lower Mills Tavern. 

 

 

Lower Mills Tavern

2269 Dorchester Avenue

Boston, MA  02124

Telephone:  857.267.4461

 

Socials:

@TheBostonFoodie

@LowerMillsTavern

 

 

We were invited to attend this brunch as members of the media with no promise of any editorial consideration.

 

 



The Friendly Toast

Cold, rainy weekend days in New England are just made for long, lingering brunches.  One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is:  Where to brunch?  We spent last Saturday revisiting The Friendly Toast after a long hiatus and found it to be every bit as good as we initially found.

We may not have been able to sit outside to dine alfresco but it has not lost it's charm with the funky décor, the extensive menu, the eclectic crowd and the great service. 

We began with a White Sangria, fruity and refreshing and served with a bright look on a dreary day.

Some Like It Tot:  Tater tots covered with a melted cheddar cheese, bacon, red onion, scallion and sriracha glaze.  One would fully expected the tots to be a bit soggy under all that but, surprisingly, they were not.  This clearly passed our crispy test and was a great appetizer to start with.

 

We are always working to give you the best food pics possible.  Lots of light helps and we were lucky enough to get a window seat.

 

Kiss My Grits:  homemade biscuit topped with fried chicken tenders, over easy eggs and cheddar grits, finished with a sriracha honey glaze and served with home fries.  Pretty much what one would expect a filling brunch breakfast to be.  Excellent home fries.

The Georgia Reuben:  Smoked turkey, tangy honey coleslaw, melted swiss cheese and thousand-island dressing on Anadama bread.  This was our top fave, one of the best sandwiches we've had in quite awhile.  The Anadama bread, first off, is a big contributing factor.  It shows deep New England roots in the corn and molasses ingredients.  Really good when toasted, it was the perfect foundation to a really great sandwich.  The cole slaw, also good.

The menu at The Friendly Toast is daunting.  There are just so many choices and they all sound very tempting.  One would think that it's just too much.  How can they execute so many choices and do it well?  Yet, they seem to do it consistently and the line waiting to get in is a testimony.  So, there is a simple solution.  Just keep going back.  And buy a loaf of that Anadama Bread to take home when you do.  They sell fresh loaves of their specialty breads at five bucks per loaf.

The Friendly Toast
One Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 
Telephone:  617.621.1200
Other locations include Back Bay, Burlington and the original in Portsmouth, NH

Socials:
@TheBostonFoodie
@The_Friendly_Toast
@Friendly_Toast

Brunch At Saloon

Everyone is always looking for a new brunch spot to enjoy a lazy weekend at and share some fine food and drink with friends.  We recently were invited to try out the bill of fare at Saloon in Davis Square.  A classic, large bar dominates the room in this spot with a speakeasy, Prohibition Era feel.

A jazz trio played quietly in the underground space with dark wood paneling and leather seats.  It was like stepping into the comfortable, quiet, soothing past.

After a Gin Mimosa (Ford's Gin, Orange Juice and Champagne) we began with freshly made donuts, still warm, served up with a slight spicy and salty chocolate sauce.  There is nothing quite like a well turned out donut to start off a weekend brunch with and this one certainly did not disappoint.

One Large Flapjack:  served with blueberry sauce and whipped cream, one was plenty and it was griddled absolutely correctly, fluffy in the middle with just that hint of crispness.

The Breakfast BLT was a bit more substantial.  Bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheddar and a beautifully runny, over-easy fried egg is assembled between two fresh slices of brioche bread.  Now THIS was brunch, just about everything one could want in a hearty breakfast all on one plate.

By now we had moved on to sipping a Bloody Mary made with an excellent house-made hot sauce.

The Braised Meat Hash was Pork, Diced Potatoes and Caramelized Onions served, again, with a perfectly runny egg.  Rich, salty, meaty and delicious, this was our favorite dish.

That is, until the Nutella Crepes came along.  Just a few bites of this crepe with that sweet hazelnut filling was enough but, of course, we had to finish it all.

This was also the very first event we have ever attended where all of the guest food writers were guys!  A real Gentleman's Brunch but well worth the visit for anyone.  We totally loved the ambiance and vibe at Saloon and any of the dishes are worth heading over to Davis Square for a visit.

Saloon
255 Elm Street
Davis Square
Somerville, MA  0214
Telephone:  617.628.4444

Brunch At Tryst

Rainy or cool Fall weekends are just made for brunch and we recently made the trip To Tryst In Arlington just for that purpose.  I began with the Pom 75: pomegranate, lemon & Prosecco, a very nice starter beverage with that crisp taste of pomegranate.

My dining companion Dean went with the classic Bellini: Peach Schnapps, peach, Prosecco.

Tryst is conveniently located on Mass. Ave. in Arlington, almost directly across from Town Hall and the Public Library.  There is plenty of parking in the area and it's also on the Minuteman Trail if you like to get in a little weekend exercise by biking or blading to your brunch destination on the beautiful Autumn in New England days.  Inside, the place is bright, airy and deceptively large with a full bar and a leisurely Sunday pace.  It seemed that some of the diners were relaxing and spending hours here.

Brunch begins with these fresh Apple Muffins, still warm from the oven and topped with a deliciously crispy crust that is not overly sweet.

Dean went with the Wild Mushroom Omelet: spinach, Monterey jack cheese, caramelized onions, truffle oil & crispy potatoes.  A good serving of fresh greens well-dressed in a light viaigrette accompanies all dishes.  The omelet was rich in mushroom flavor, the eggs perfectly turned out, a filling dish but not outlandish in portion size.

These truffle fries we shared were excellent.

I went with the Eggs Benedict: house-made breakfast sausage, griddled English muffin, 2 poached eggs, crispy potatoes & hollandaise.  It may not be the healthiest option but was just right for a full, country breakfast and if you're cycling in, as we plan to do next time, what's a few calories?

I liked that the sauce was not too heavy and the eggs were perfectly runny.

A side of bacon brought us these richly-flavored slabs cooked just the way we like them, a slight bite to the tooth but no loss of taste from overcooking.  Very nice.

The standout of the brunch, we both agreed, however, was the side of Lemon Ricotta Flapjacks that we ordered.  The tart flavor balanced the sweetness of the powdery confectioner's sugar and butter.  This is an absolute must-order for when we return.

Cocktails are $8.00, entrees range between $10-$15.00 and sides are $2-$5.00, making this a very affordable alternative to downtown brunches in much louder and hectic spaces.  We feel totally confident recommending Tryst to friends and family as a great destination for brunch.


Tryst
689 Massachusetts Avenue
Arlington, MA 02476
Telephone:  781.641.2227