The Ultimate Guide to Boston Brunch

The Franklin Cafe has cultivated a reputation for feeding night owls and post-shift chefs, thanks to a dinner menu that’s served until 1:30 a.m. What’s lesser known is that the 25-year South End mainstay also serves a formidable Sunday brunch, where said night owls might recover over plates of chicken-fried steak and eggs or challah French toast, beside a house-recipe Bloody Mary prepared with tomato, horseradish, and tamari.

Contessa’s opulent dining room and panoramic, rooftop views makes it a shoo-in for that special occasion brunch. But with a brunch menu populated by baskets of freshly baked pastries, smoked salmon carpaccio, and spicy lobster capellini, you may be tempted to stop in on any old Saturday or Sunday. Naturally, making a Resy ahead of time will help in either scenario.

Some restaurants offer brunch as an extension of their usual service; others have built their reputations around it. Kendall’s Cafe Luna falls firmly in the second category, a claim supported by an extensive (and indulgent) brunch menu that spans everything from “surf and turf” steak and lobster Benedict to chilaquiles to lemon ricotta pancakes.

Myers + Chang serves its own take on dim sum, via a brunch overstuffed with pan-Asian flavors. Among the later-morning/early-afternoon delights are a fried egg banh mi with soy-glazed bacon, Japanese shishito home fries, and pork and chive dumplings. Such savory delights may be balanced out by a “sweet” section of the menu that promises fluffy coconut layer cake and ginger fortune cookies with lemon-ginger mousse.

1928’s cozy, antique-filled environs make it a memorable setting for a long weekend brunch — before even taking account of classic-leaning fare including steak and eggs, French toast stuffed with ricotta and cream, and the “1928” hash made from a blend of beef, veal, and pork. And if you guessed that an elegant bistro on Beacon Hill would be a fine place to receive a Bloody Mary, you’d be correct, but don’t discount the Cold Brew Martini or a Venetian Aperol Spritz.

With a menu that totes shellfish platters that serve up to six people and a caviar service that comes with warm popovers and crème fraiche, Woods Hill Pier 4’s brunch falls squarely in the “splurge” category. Continuing the theme, its entrée options include lamb merguez shakshuka, lobster popovers, and buttermilk waffles and fried chicken thighs drizzled with peach-habanero syrup. It also offers one of the more creative brunch cocktail lists in town, with such options as a Wake Up Doc made with vodka, carrot juice, and curried-honey; or the Nutty Professor that combines rye, amaro allspice dram, and maple-pecan orgeat.

Saltie Girl’s prime Back Bay location and generous patio make it an ideal spot for people-watching. But it’s possible that pedestrians may spend just as much time looking your way to peep a brunch spread that might encompass caviar omelets, smoked salmon Benedict, and fried lobster and waffles smothered in sweet corn butter and spicy maple syrup.

Every Sunday is a special occasion at Darryl’s, as the restaurant hosts a jazz band that begins playing at 11 a.m. Accompanying the live music is an all-you-can-eat soul food spread that includes turkey bacon, candied yams, barbecue ribs, cheddar grits, collard greens, and much more stick-to-your ribs goodness.

Brunch at Avenue Kitchen and Bar in Somerville is not without the neighborhood restaurant’s defining offering — Detroit-style pizza. While you’re free to enjoy said pies topped by beef barbacoa and cilantro pesto, or sautéed mushrooms and broccoli rabe, its brunch service also provides similarly hearty fare including steak and cheese Benedicts and buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches.

With 27 years of service under its belt, Metropolis manages to stand out in a neighborhood that might be considered the Brunch capitol of Boston. Metropolis delivers spot-on bistro vibes with a cozy dining room filled out by white tiles and homey booths, plus comforting brunch dishes including buttermilk pancakes topped by Belgian chocolate and caramelized banana, or cheesy grits and eggs with spicy chorizo.