Restaurants in Brookline
Best Restaurants
New American • $$
Cocktail Bar • $$
“Perfection! I can't say enough about the magic-potion cocktails, flavorful dishes, cool vibe, fun staff and locals 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟”
Japanese • $$$
“Decided to go out for dinner with a few friends and it was delicious. I liked the citrus dressing on the avocado salad. The filet mignon was tender and flavorful. For dessert, green tea ice cream is a must!”
Bar • $$$
“Finally posting a review after many visits, including for private events. It's a magical space where every detail is thoughtfully curated. The owners are experimenting and pushing boundaries to create something special and different. The cocktails are off-the-charts, and the bites - when offered - have always been phenomenal!”
Mediterranean • $$
“First visit today, although we live somewhat in the neighborhood and I am already kicking myself for not having got here sooner. Red tabbouleh spicing was very punchy and vivid. Allspice in the stuffed grape leaves make them worth coming back for, not something I think I've ever said about stuffed grape leaves before. Most unforgettable was the red lentil soup with its soft rich velvety texture over two or three layers of different delicious flavors. Great first impression, can't wait to go back, solid A leaning toward A+.”
Restaurants by Cuisine
American • $$
“Wonderful food and amazing service. We highly recommend the Washington Square Tavern. The best in the neighborhood!”
American • $$
“Friendly service and amazing food! My daughter had the grilled organic chicken sandwich and I had the mixed greens and arugula salad-- both were delicious. Our server was knowledgeable, and several other servers double checked on us and greeted us as they walked by. We will definitely be back.”
Mexican • $$
“Sydney gave my wife and myself the best time of our lives, man. She is the definition of a great waitress. This was our first time here, and I will definitely be back just because of her.
Plus, now we know they have all you can eat on Mondays, plus this have all you can eat brunch. $29 is not a bad idea at all.”
Restaurants with Delivery
New American • $$
“What an amazing place. In these times when we are still not comfortable dining indoors this place rocks. The chef behind these dishes knows a thing or two about bringing beer garden food to a totally new level. Thank you chef and staff in front of the house.”
Japanese • $$$
“Decided to go out for dinner with a few friends and it was delicious. I liked the citrus dressing on the avocado salad. The filet mignon was tender and flavorful. For dessert, green tea ice cream is a must!”
Bakery • $
“Thanks to google maps, this sparked our curiosity. Highly recommend. Wonderful selection of fresh made breads and pastry eats. We ordered quite a bit since we wanted to try as much as we can. Our stay was short but we'll be here again if we're in Boston.”
Bar • $$$
“Finally posting a review after many visits, including for private events. It's a magical space where every detail is thoughtfully curated. The owners are experimenting and pushing boundaries to create something special and different. The cocktails are off-the-charts, and the bites - when offered - have always been phenomenal!”
Mediterranean • $$
“First visit today, although we live somewhat in the neighborhood and I am already kicking myself for not having got here sooner. Red tabbouleh spicing was very punchy and vivid. Allspice in the stuffed grape leaves make them worth coming back for, not something I think I've ever said about stuffed grape leaves before. Most unforgettable was the red lentil soup with its soft rich velvety texture over two or three layers of different delicious flavors. Great first impression, can't wait to go back, solid A leaning toward A+.”
Cafe • $
“Unique, delicious pastry. Best croissants and sourdough bread. Nice people. Can sit inside or outside.”
Cafe • $
“Cute place and yummy baked goods as well as sandwiches and salads for lunch!”
Pizza • $
“My 1st experience was great/ friendly and delicious! I’ll be back.”
American • $$
“Wonderful food and amazing service. We highly recommend the Washington Square Tavern. The best in the neighborhood!”
American • $$
“Friendly service and amazing food! My daughter had the grilled organic chicken sandwich and I had the mixed greens and arugula salad-- both were delicious. Our server was knowledgeable, and several other servers double checked on us and greeted us as they walked by. We will definitely be back.”
Mexican • $$
“Sydney gave my wife and myself the best time of our lives, man. She is the definition of a great waitress. This was our first time here, and I will definitely be back just because of her.
Plus, now we know they have all you can eat on Mondays, plus this have all you can eat brunch. $29 is not a bad idea at all.”
Irish Pub • $$
“Bangers and mash were fabulous at this, new to me, lovely, Irish pub!”
Chinese • $$
“Best shrimp and pork dumplings. Xiao Long Bao were hot & filled perfectly. Huge meat inside good wrappers. Also the duck pancake/dumplings were excellent. (I forgot to take a picture of these)”
Online Reservation Available
Hot Pot • $$
“Absolutely love this place. The broths are so flavorful and the choices for meat and veggies are great. They are always so kind and tolerant of my two year old who can be very roudy at times.”
Pizza • $
“Great pizza an salad plus awesome non alcoholic drinks !”
Colombian • $$
“Good Food and Good Vibe more bigger with bar and 10 minutes away from my job in Brighton 😋👍”
Italian • $$
“Enjoyed a delicious brunch here today - they also serve their regular menu all day. Staff was friendly, beautiful space.”
Chinese • $$
“It was our first time here. Sushi was great. Staff was also very pleasant. The restaurant itself was a very nice environment nice seating and lighting. The presentation of the sushi was amazing! It came in a beautifully designed boat steaming with dried ice and beautiful decorations! They had a pretty decent size menu. Absolutely going back.”
Korean • $$
“My only gripe is that the food took a while to come out. Had 30 mins for lunch the person at the register said 15, took 25. Im not fired and the food was good 🤷🏽♂️ highly recommend if you have time.”
Turkish • $$
“It was our first time dining here. All were reasonably pleased with what the ordered. I ordered a lamb dish to be cooked medium. It came well done. The place appeared to do quite a bit of take out business.”
Bar • $$
“Had excellent food and service for a late lunch on Saturday. Staff were friendly and the environment was welcoming”
Japanese • $$
“Chiharu House Roll! Almost too pretty to eat. Almost.”
Indian • $$
“Wow, we are impressed. You all are fantastic. Extremely knowledgeable all home cooked super fresh Indian food. It was absolutely wonderful. They helped with all of our choices and we got to speak to them about their culture and where they were from absolutely wonderful. We will be eating there again. The place is very clean. Everyone is super super friendly I can’t say enough good things my husband and I are foodies. This is definitely a 10 out of 10.”
Takeout Restaurants
Irish Pub • $$
“Bangers and mash were fabulous at this, new to me, lovely, Irish pub!”
Chinese • $$
“Best shrimp and pork dumplings. Xiao Long Bao were hot & filled perfectly. Huge meat inside good wrappers. Also the duck pancake/dumplings were excellent. (I forgot to take a picture of these)”
Sandwich Shop • $
“The service & the food were absolutely off the hook, I saw a food review done previously by "Sal" and had to come in w/ my friend Arlene to check it out. We were greeted immediately upon entering and the food experience began.”
Cafe • $
“It was amazing! So many games to choose from and the food is fantastic! The atmosphere is wonderful as well😊”
Indian • $$
“Wow, we are impressed. You all are fantastic. Extremely knowledgeable all home cooked super fresh Indian food. It was absolutely wonderful. They helped with all of our choices and we got to speak to them about their culture and where they were from absolutely wonderful. We will be eating there again. The place is very clean. Everyone is super super friendly I can’t say enough good things my husband and I are foodies. This is definitely a 10 out of 10.”
Coffee Shops • $
“Lots of attention given to drink preparation. Downside is longer what time for service.
Chocolate eclair was ok. Chocolate caramel cake was good without blowing it out of the park.
Dietary restrictions: Some gf options such as basque cheese cake
Wheelchair accessibility: Step to access store front”
Indian • $
“stopped by when in town for work. Spice levels were just right, service was fine, and food was great. I can't wait to visit again!”
Ramen • $$
“I ordered the Pho King and it was super delicious!!! The broth was flavorful and seasoned, the beef was tender, and the vegetables and noodles were cooked perfectly. All the flavors came together to make a superb bowl of comfort. A shout out to the server, CHUCK, who answered my questions and provided thoughtful recommendations. I'm bringing family and friends next time!!!”
Mediterranean • $
“Ordered food for a home meal because we’ve been having a hard time finding good pita and hummus in Boston and it was amazing! Would highly recommend everything we had (falafel, pita, hummus, tahini sauce, green hot sauce)”
Bakery • $
“Wow! Went in on a whim and was absolutely blown away by how good the pie here was! All their treats look great, but I personally loved the peach blueberry pie, something I never tried before and was absolutely perfect!
You won’t regret coming into this small neighborhood shop for anything, don’t miss out!”
Hot Pot • $$
“Absolutely love this place. The broths are so flavorful and the choices for meat and veggies are great. They are always so kind and tolerant of my two year old who can be very roudy at times.”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
Sushi • $$
“Don’t be fooled by the somewhat outdated interior and hole in the wall feel. The focus here is on the food!
Good quality fish, creative rolls, and efficient service. The price-to-value ratio can’t be beat. Tastes that much better with the reasonable prices. Note that you can tell the fish is not top-notch quality, but it hits all the right notes for an everyday sushi craving. Some rolls are more outstanding than others. My favorite so far was one that incorporated crunchy tempura bits into the minced tuna topping (forgot the name!).
We loved our recent visits so much that we’re getting platters from here for a holiday party. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be a hit.”
Ice Cream Shop • $
“Absolutely the best ice cream I’ve ever had. I am not generally a big ice cream eater, but I have found myself having a bowl of the chocolate cherry brownie ice cream while its snowing outside!”
Japanese • $$
“The shoyu 1910 was delicious. Broth just right, pork belly tender and juicy, and the noodles tasted fresh.”
Thai • $$
“Came for lunch, we were instantly sat and greeted with water. Our server was prompt and very kind. We got Crab Rangoons and Country Padtie and both came out hot and full of flavor. The prices were inexpensive for the quality of food and service we received. Definitely check it out for lunch!”
Chinese • $$
“Seriously the best crispy tofu I’ve had ever! Every time I go to another restaurant and ask for crispy tofu, I always think of this restaurant and no other tofu even comes close! Order the tofu, it’s delicious!”
Japanese • $
“This restaurant is run by a very sweet husband and wife duo. I was the only customer there around 9:30pm on a Tuesday night so it was just the 3 of us! This wasn’t the best sushi I ever had, but it was good and I did enjoy the intimate, quiet setting, also I appreciated their great service so I’d love to return some day and try more from their menu. I’d probably go for the beef bento box next time.”
Sushi • $
“I stopped by this place on a Sunday afternoon. It was the first warm day in a while so we were the only patrons in the restaurant.
For a tiny place, it sure packs a punch. The sushi and rolls we ordered were so wonderful. The fish was so fresh and delicious. Service was kind and friendly. If you are in the neighborhood, definitely stop in.”
Fast Food • $
“Quick, easy, so yummy. Grew up in central Jersey and I’ve been looking for YEARS for a place that lives up to Tastee Subs on rt 27 and this is for sure the only place I’ve found that does”
Bakery • $
“Been thinking about Cheryl Ann's for ages -can't wait for them to reopen! Simply the best”
Asian • $
“I got take out poke bowls and they were both really delicilious. I got my partner the ahi tuna bowl on salad. He said it was really tasty, but the salad was just big chunks of lettuce and not cut up quite right. That was the only negative remark. I got a build your own bowl with tofu and shrimp tempura with corn, seaweed salad, avocado, and edamame with spicy mayo. It was SO GOOD! The person behind the counter was so nice. I will absolutely be back often.
The inside might not look super fancy and what not, but it's worth the try.”
Coffee & Tea • $
“yummy breakfast potatoes with perfect seasoning. delicious. you will leave full, happy and ready for a nap. blt sandwich was a masterpiece”
Chinese • $$
“The food is absolutely amazing, so fresh. 2nd visit and will definitely be back. The staff is so pleasant and I can’t say enough about the foods we tried. Can’t wait to go again at try a few more items on the menu.”
Vietnamese • $
“Stopped in to order pho for take out and had my order placed and ready within six minutes. Staff were very nice. Pho was excellent and carefully organized in take out containers for easy assembly at home. Absolutely recommend.”
Ramen • $$
“I ordered the Pho King and it was super delicious!!! The broth was flavorful and seasoned, the beef was tender, and the vegetables and noodles were cooked perfectly. All the flavors came together to make a superb bowl of comfort. A shout out to the server, CHUCK, who answered my questions and provided thoughtful recommendations. I'm bringing family and friends next time!!!”
Colombian • $$
“Good Food and Good Vibe more bigger with bar and 10 minutes away from my job in Brighton 😋👍”
Cheap Eats
Bubble Tea • $
“It's a small location. They are practicing social distancing with mask and take out only. We tried the new mojitos drinks which was mixed berry, mango Orange, and grapefruit citrus. They were all so favorful and sweet. There was pieces of fruit and mint in all of them . They were all carbonated. Service was good and price was reasonable”
Diner • $
“Great food, great prices, great service and bottomless great coffee at this diner-style cafe. You won’t find many of these around any more and this one is a treasure!”
Bakery • $
“Some of the best bagels in Boston. Customer service is great. They forgot to include the cream cheese we ordered for pick up so when I drove back to get it, they were kind in offering a refund of the cream cheese due to the inconvenience and messing up the initial order.”
Ramen • $
“Came for a late lunch with a friend. So many great options, ended up deciding on the Tom Yum Noodle soup. Surprised with the topping choices, but the pork and fish balls were tasty. Broth was good but not enough, noodles not fully submerged even. Could’ve had more of that familiar tang of Tom yum as well. Friend had the pho, had a taste and the broth was so nice and rich. Overall really good and looking to try the pho next time!”
Mexican • $
“Best burrito in boston area BY FAR!! Went here daily for a stretch of time and still go out of my way to hit it up when I am in town.
Go support!”
Mediterranean • $
“I got a Caesar wrap with crispy chicken and it was sooooooo delicious!! One of the best Caesar wraps I’ve ever had!!! Whoever made it deserves a big fat kiss! I will definitely be getting it again”
Cafe • $
“Cafe fixe not only serves some of the best coffee (I’ve lived in London, Paris, California, Berlin and this rates amongst the best coffee I’ve had) but they have also put their money where their mouth is and only do take out coffee in reusable cups on Tuesdays in a box to the damage our society is doing to the earth.”
Cafe • $
“Coleen will immediately make you feel part of her community. We popped in for brunch on a recommendation and we're so happy we did. Small town community feel in the heart of Brookline. Excellent food, fair pricing, owner operated; and you can see she's well loved in the community. I will always come back here if I'm in the area looking for a bite to eat and a break.”
Bakery • $
“Went here on Sourdough Wednesday. The bread was fresh and you could tell made with quality ingredients. Surprised but happy about the three dollar price tag. I highly recommend this spot. So many other breads to choose from. The young lady who runs the store I believe Jada was very knowledgeable and patient with me being I had a lot of questions lol. Would definitely recommend this place wish I was able to leave the young lady a tip on my card well deserved especially after I got home and tried the bread. She didn’t disappoint explaining the quality! Will be back!”
Pizza • $
“Nice! This pizza is so taste! I love the sauces and the cheeses! Crunchy crust to please the folks, I can taste touch hear feel see the cheeses! When BOLOCO is not on your taste pallet for the day, you go here”
Mexican • $
“Amazing food. The place to go if you want to find mouth watering tastie food.”
Sushi • $$
“Don’t be fooled by the somewhat outdated interior and hole in the wall feel. The focus here is on the food!
Good quality fish, creative rolls, and efficient service. The price-to-value ratio can’t be beat. Tastes that much better with the reasonable prices. Note that you can tell the fish is not top-notch quality, but it hits all the right notes for an everyday sushi craving. Some rolls are more outstanding than others. My favorite so far was one that incorporated crunchy tempura bits into the minced tuna topping (forgot the name!).
We loved our recent visits so much that we’re getting platters from here for a holiday party. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be a hit.”
Italian • $$
“Enjoyed a delicious brunch here today - they also serve their regular menu all day. Staff was friendly, beautiful space.”
Chinese • $$
“It was our first time here. Sushi was great. Staff was also very pleasant. The restaurant itself was a very nice environment nice seating and lighting. The presentation of the sushi was amazing! It came in a beautifully designed boat steaming with dried ice and beautiful decorations! They had a pretty decent size menu. Absolutely going back.”
Bubble Tea • $$
“My 2 girlfriends and I came to Esmai's Cafe for a girls' catchup on a Tuesday night at 6PM. Reservations were easy to make online. Meter parking was plentiful nearby. We were seated right away.
I remember this place as Hops n' Scotch and honestly, I think they really improved the space! The ambience was nicer, more posh, and the decor was super cute.
The service was quick, helpful, and very nice. We were checked in with often and made sure we were happy with the food. The menu of drinks and food were really interesting!
We got the:
- Spill the Tea mocktail - the rose tea was very subtle but tasty and aromatic, it was really pleasant and came in a pretty glass
- Hot Egg Coffee - VERY sweet (which I LOVE) it might be too sweet for some... but personally I LOVED the first sip which was sugar overload heaven XD
- Cold Egg Coffee (yes we got both!) - tasted great, almost like a bubble tea without the boba, the Vietnamese coffee is strong and sweet, which I like
- Banh Mi + Bone Marrow - a must get! this Vietnamese charcuterie board was very creative and DELISH!!! I loved the pate with the bone marrow on top of the toast - the bone marrow was melt in my mouth deliciousness, and then I made a separate toast with the pate, cold cuts and pickled veggies. this app was a winner for me
- Mini Beef Wellington - this was SO GOOD!!! Since there were 3 of us, we each got 1 mini beef wellington and the meat inside was so surprisingly tender!! And then the outside pastry was nice and flaky, and I kept wanting more and more of the sauce - this honestly was my favorite dish of the night
- Escargot - this was good and some of the pieces were nice and plump but I did prefer the other two apps above
- Grilled Octopus - I thought the octopus was very tasty and moist, the poached Asian pear salad was a nice addition
- Lemongrass Chicken Salad - the salad is pretty standard, but actually the lemongrass chicken was very juicy and flavorful
- Smoked Fried Rice - this was my friend's favorite dish, she really liked the smokiness of it, and I thought the fried shrimp egg roll was so creative
- Loco Moco - this was SO TASTY!!!! every component of this dish was good and balanced everything else, from the Japanese hamburger and its mushroom gravy sauce over the rice, the yolk oozing out of the fried egg on top, then cutting a piece of the spam on the side and then the macaroni salad and carrots and finishing with some fruit - this was my favorite entree and my 2nd fave dish after the Mini Beef Wellington
- Creme Brulee - this was so yummy and not too sweet, the right creaminess and so easy to eat, we finished it easily
- Matcha Lava Cake - SUPER DECADENT and again, I have a MAJOR sweet tooth, so I LOOOOOOVED this lava cake! It was oozing and the sauce with the cake and a bit of strawberry were PERFECT... and then you discover the matcha and it's a nice surprise! I was in chocolate heaven ^__^
Portions were really perfect for our party of 3 but we got waaayyyyyyy too much and we were STUFFED. We had to box the rest of the fried rice and loco moco. I recommend finishing the bone marrow right away though since when it cools down, it'll gel up.
Even if you're full, I'd say make room for dessert. If you're a dessert fan, both the matcha lava cake and creme brulee were worth it! But if you only had to choose one and you DO have a sweet tooth, I'd recommend getting the lava cake :)
All in all, a VERY successful and delicious night out with my friends. We were never rushed and it wasn't very crowded (albeit it was a Tuesday night), so we were able to chat for a while and really enjoy our food and drinks.
I would definitely come back and bring more friends, try out their creative cocktails next time, or maybe even come for a date night ;)
I highly recom”
Korean • $$
“My only gripe is that the food took a while to come out. Had 30 mins for lunch the person at the register said 15, took 25. Im not fired and the food was good 🤷🏽♂️ highly recommend if you have time.”
Turkish • $$
“It was our first time dining here. All were reasonably pleased with what the ordered. I ordered a lamb dish to be cooked medium. It came well done. The place appeared to do quite a bit of take out business.”
Tacos • $$
“Mr Christopher Ragland,was a breath of fresh air he was kind, intentional & paid attention to details ,our dining experience was 10stars we will return when in town from Houston.”
Latin American • $$
“This was my six-year-old’s choice for his birthday dinner! We used to frequent the South End location and since that one closed, we got delivery from Brookline. He wanted to write a review. His review is ‘they are the best cookers in the world.’ He also wants to give the meal seven stars. The food was great as usual! My go-to is the pabellon criollo, delicious and filling! Will have to come by and dine in soon.”
Japanese • $$
“The shoyu 1910 was delicious. Broth just right, pork belly tender and juicy, and the noodles tasted fresh.”
Latest Reviews
Diner • $
“Great food, great prices, great service and bottomless great coffee at this diner-style cafe. You won’t find many of these around any more and this one is a treasure!”
Grocery • $$
“I know this place since 1995 , when I was landed in Boston, my friend introduce this place. Very nice experience and iconic those days when Indian grocery was hard to find around Boston area. I remember the owner Mangala and her husband, very nice people and call you in case any missing items coming from vendor. It is become weekend ritual to visit Madras masala those days in heart of the city. We moved out to suburb and to out of Massachusetts but still visit when we get in Boston the owners remember me. No internet those days this is the place to get information about indian activities and cultural program informations etc. memorable place for us.”
Ice Cream Shop • $
“Absolutely the best ice cream I’ve ever had. I am not generally a big ice cream eater, but I have found myself having a bowl of the chocolate cherry brownie ice cream while its snowing outside!”
Italian • $
“I had a great meal at BE Pasta today for lunch, Chef Fernando was very helpful and friendly and the caprese salad with chicken cutlet that he made me was delicious. It's always nice to find a casual place with great service. Thank you Fernando!”
Most Popular Restaurants
Indian • $
“stopped by when in town for work. Spice levels were just right, service was fine, and food was great. I can't wait to visit again!”
Ramen • $$
“Food was delicious, around 15 min of a wait upon arrival. Had a little bit of a mishap when trying to order, you have to press a button for the waiter to come, which is troubling when the technology doesn’t work. When the food came, it was decent, although it was a little overpriced. We got the yingyang bowls but I would recommend getting the pork tonkatsu ramen instead. Overall, good ??”
Cafe • $
“Unique, delicious pastry. Best croissants and sourdough bread. Nice people. Can sit inside or outside.”
Cocktail Bar • $$
“Excellent staff, cold beer and stiff drinks but don’t do shots with the 22 year olds at the bar! Fun times at this place!”
Bakery • $
“Thanks to google maps, this sparked our curiosity. Highly recommend. Wonderful selection of fresh made breads and pastry eats. We ordered quite a bit since we wanted to try as much as we can. Our stay was short but we'll be here again if we're in Boston.”
Creperies • $
“Great crepes !! I got the great expectations and Nutella crepe for both sweet and savory”
“What an amazing place. In these times when we are still not comfortable dining indoors this place rocks. The chef behind these dishes knows a thing or two about bringing beer garden food to a totally new level. Thank you chef and staff in front of the house.”