Saturday Breakfast in Jamaica Plain

[Dave MP]

It's been almost 4 years since I moved away from Boston, and I no longer know where to eat breakfast!

Some friends and I have an event at 10:30 AM tomorrow, right near JP center, so we need to be done by breakfast by then. Probably this means we'll want to arrive at a restaurant at 9 or 9:30 AM, so we're done in time.

I remember eating at Sorella's once a long time ago - I think my overall conclusion was that the pancakes were good, and the eggs often had too many ingredients. But it could work. Any sense of line length at 9 or 9:30 AM for a party of 3?

I also read about Ula and Canto 6 in this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/559801

How new is Canto 6? Is it actually the same bakery as what used to be in this spot? Or different owners? I used to live right around the corner and I would go to this bakery (what was it called back in 2004?) all the time on the way to work. I remember there not really being anywhere to sit though.

What's Ula like? From what I've read, both Canto 6 and Ula would be non-sit-down options and not really any hot choices.

We'll be driving into Boston on the Pike in the morning, so technically any breakfast spot between the Pike and JP would be acceptable, it doesn't necessarily have to be in JP. Any suggestions on what the best bet is these days?

Thanks a lot!
Dave MP

[Dave MP]

Thanks all for the replies. Unfortunately, the friends I was meeting had their car break down on the Pike near Westborough, so we had to cancel our breakfast at Centre Street Cafe (we were planning to meet there at 9).

On the bright side though, my friend chose to have her car towed to her normal auto shop in Watertown, right near Russo's. I met them there, so while she dealt with the car, I picked up some breakfast items for us there. This was my first-ever visit to Russo's and I was impressed - a great variety of produce. We shared two spinach/cheese croissants and one chocolate croissant, and I thought both were really good. And happily, we still made it to JP in time for our 10:30 commitment.

Hopefully I'll make it to Centre Street Cafe another time.

[autopi]

hands down the 2 best breakfasts in jp, and probably in all of boston--though there really isn't much competition--are centre street cafe and vee vee, which is new (relatively speaking), and down by the center.

HOWEVER there's a chance that centre street will be mobbed, and it takes especially long to get seated if you're in a group. it's a small space. and vee vee only does breakfast on sundays, which is really a shame (had a fantastic sunday brunch there recently.)

i hate sorellas.

canto 6 is indeed in the same location as the old bakery, across the street from the police station. best pastries in boston, in my opinion, but yeah, there's almost nowhere to sit.

ula cafe on the other hand is a full-on cafe, and there should be plenty of seating. they do pretty good baked goods (popovers! sometimes savory biscuits which are great), and mediocre coffee.

another option is bon savor on centre. i went for breakfast about a year ago and found it competent but completely boring, but i've been hearing better things about it recently.

my recommendation? drive by centre street and see what the line's like--9 is still on the early side, and 3 people isn't that many--but if it's mobbed, head down to ula.

[Joanie]

I think Bon Savor is pretty good and usually not crazy crowded altho it varies. Not sure what time Doyle's opens but they serve brunch and have good blueberry pancakes, certainly you could sit down right away there. As mentioned, next to no seating at Canto 6 but a nice space at Ula which shouldn't be too bad at 9:30. I don't think Vee Vee is open that early. Didn't know they did Sat. brunch.