best bets in brookline

[everylastcrumb]

anyone got places they would want to share that are "finds" in the brookline mass. area. looking for avg priced, good portion and flavorful selections. more casual vs fine dinning

[gator14]

Anyone ever been to Pomodoro in Brookline Village - had an amazing meal there...we had to wait 15 minutes before we were seated for our reservation, but were treated to a free appetizer and glass of wine at the bar, and then once we sat down, they brought us an additional "appetizer" pasta dish and a second dessert choice on-the-house. Everything was delicious and reasonably priced.

Also love Washington Square Tavern - menu consistently changes and great atmosphere.

For more casual takeout - LOVE Pizza Republic on Beacon St. - they'll make any of their pizzas with Whole Wheat crust, and have fresh veggies, meats and chicken toppings.

[MtVernon]

Fireplace is my favorite spot. It is very romantic and cosy.. The food is excellent too..

[teezeetoo]

all the above, particularly Washington Square Tavern, Family,and Khao Sarn - Michael's makes the best corned beef sandwiches in Boston, bar none. Not a fan of Reubens myself but it doesn't have much competition if you like kosher deli. Szechuan Garden for the rabbit appetizer which I love and the Fireplace for lunch (they make a fine hamburger and great ribs if you want a substantial lunch and darned good salads if you're eating lean. And, for very good ribs, Golden Temple's special spareribs and their clams with black bean sauce.

[limster]

Brookline Family Turkish Restaurant
La Morra
Rod Dee (esp. spicy noodle soup)
Shwarma King
Washington Sq Tavern
Zoe's
Khao Sarn
Dok Bua
Taberna de Haro

[foxy fairy]

Brookline Family Restaurant - Turkish. Take-out or eat in. The spinach "pies" are excellent - fresh, bursting with flavor. I really enjoy their eggplant dishes too.

Bottega Fiorentina is fun for cheap, casual Italian - one in Coolidge, one on Harvard St. in Brookline Village. Their gorgonzola sauce is intense and rich.

For dessert that is absolutely divine, don't forget Athan's bakery and chocolatier in Washington Square, Brookline. My favorite place in Boston for dessert - adorable, charming, wonderful desserts.

[danaf]

Shabu Village
Athan's Bakery for panninis and a coffee

[Sal Monella]

Not sure if it's over the Boston/Brookline line...Audubon Circle.

[BJK]

Love all the rec's above. Don't forget Shawarma King!

:)
BK

[chowciao]

Shanghai Gate on Harvard street is wonderful. So is Dok Bua. I agree with above post - love Family Restaurant. Very casual, great service and lots of great menu items to choose from. And Matt Murphys is indeed a great irish pub.

[Aromatherapy]

Somebody just posted that Tacqueria Mexicana (of Waltham) has opened an outpost in Coolidge Corner (where New Taste of Asia was).

[hiddenboston]

Actually, it's Taqueria Mexico (Taqueria La Mexicana is an equally good place in Union Square, Somerville).

I'm very excited about this news! I'm glad they were able to take over the NTOA spot, even though I'm still sad about their closing last year.

[Joanie]

I think it's Koo-Koo's. Or something similar. Definitely has a nicer look than King Tut's but haven't been in.

[limster]

Had a reasonably nice lunch at Koo Koo, kinda good not great, a notch below Reef Cafe.

[Luther]

Bottega Fiorentina (both locations)
Oishii is technically in the Brookline part of Chestnut Hill, if you want to count that.
O'Leary's at St. Mary's
Publick House
Washington Square Tavern
To-go food from Bazaar in Coolidge Corner
Zoe's in Brookline Village

[tomaneng]

Family Restaurant!!!! Casual Turkish in Brookline Village.

[MC Slim JB]

Good catch: how did I forget that one? I love that place.

[jcanncuk]

Thanks, tomaneng! I thought this one was going to get over-looked. It's cheap and excellent. I would also suggest La Morra (Tuscan - a block or two West of the Firehall on Boylston) - eat at the bar - share an app and have a full size plate of pasta. Delish and not too $$.
I'd also add Chef Chang's House - best Peking duck hands down.

[fenian]

The area around Brookline is easily my favorite place in the Boston area for casual dining. (I have to admit I don't know the actual boundaries of Brookline though.) Lots of my favorites:

Dok Bua (Thai)
Rod Dee (Thai)
Rami's (superb falafel sandwiches)
Publick House (best beer bar in Boston)
Sichuan Garden (pretty good Szechuan)
Shanghai Gate (excellent Chinese)
Upper Crust (pizza)
Fugakyu (kind of expensive, but very good sushi)
Anna's and Boca Grande (burritos etc.)
Kupel's (bagels)

Even many places I didn't mention, like Shawarma King and Rani (Indian), are more than decent.

[ginnyhw]

Let me add Jae's for good Korean. The bar is great for single dining and I love the tropical fish tanks in the restaurant proper.
There's a new coffee bar in the village on Station Street, where King Tut's was (sad to see it go) , that my friends are raving about- does somebody know the name of the new place?

[cindywho]

Cafe KooKoo - I haven't tried any of the sandwiches, but the pastries are from Iggy's.

[MC Slim JB]

Taberna de Haro (tapas), Khao Sarn Cuisine (fancy Thai), Dok Bua (casual Thai), Rod Dee (counter service Thai), Rami's (Israeli shwarma), Michael's (corned beef sandwiches), Marty's (diner), Busy Bee (diner), Pho Lemongrass (Viet), Washington Square Tavern (great pub food), Matt Murphy's (Irish bar with excellent food), Rubin's (kosher deli), Baja Betty (decent Mexican).

[Joanie]

Just to clarify, it's Martin's not Marty's (I'd be heading to the liquor store). I also like Savoy Bakery and Japonnaise for takeout pastries. I thought Beacon St. Tavern was fine my one time there but I know some people have a problem with it. Not big on Baja Betty or Rubin's.

[MC Slim JB]

Martin's, yes! I actually haven't been back in a little while, though it was a regular Saturday feature of my life for years. I understand they have abandoned the conical disposable coffee cups in the reusable plastic holder, which I always loved.

Beacon Street Tavern isn't bad, but the food strikes me as a big step down from parent Washington Square Tavern, better than but still closer to generic pub food.