Sunday Brunch in Back Bay

[phelana]

My teen and I seek an amazing Sunday brunch, menu vs buffet, something amazing.....casual dress a must...We prefer Back Bay to be able to walk from NEU.

Thanks

Mistral? Bistro du Midi??

We LOVED Aquataine.

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Bistro du Midi
272 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

[mleighn]

You must go to the Beehive. I just went for brunch last weekend and the brunch was amazing. The ambiance is really great too...live jazz.

[phelana]

We LOVED Island Creek Oyster Bar. The setting is quite interesting with an artful creative decor. The waitstaff were helpful and always present. We started with amazing Bloody Mary's, a virgin and a Grey Goose. My date asked for shrimp and voila, one arrived, fat and plump. My daughter ordered a ham and cheese croissant and cinnamon toast. My date had crispy shrimp and 3 Chatham oysters. I had 3 PEI oysters and a mussel app. Everything was delicious. The oysters were fresh and chilled to perfection. Later the waitress brought over 3 oyster sliders on the house on delicious brioche..OMG amazing.... Cannot wait to return. What a find.

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Island Creek Oyster Bar
500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

[Gabatta]

Glad you enjoyed it. Those bloodys are definitely excellent.

[bostondiner]

I love the brunch at Union Bar and Grille. It is also open for brunch on Saturdays (they do a nice price fixe) and they offer an early bird price fixe (I think it is from 10-11) on Sunday mornings. The french toast is so yummy. It is owned by the same people as Aquitaine so I'm guessing you would also enjoy it.

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Union Bar and Grille
1357 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118

[twentyoystahs]

Yes, Union is good also Masa is also excellent.they run a similar prix fixe (but even less expensive, at, I believe $7.95 for juice and coffee and 2 courses, an amazing deal)
I am not much of a fan of Masa for dinner but for brunch or Sat breakfast it can't be beat. I think it's the prix-fixe special hrs are similar --maybe all morning on Sat but only for the first early hours on Sunday, 10-11ish.

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Masa
439 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116

[Spike]

brunch as the Winchester Masa is much better than the Boston one...better cooked and better service...

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Masa
439 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116

[Blumie]

Inspired by another chowhound thread, my daughter and I had brunch at Mistral last Sunday. Probably the best brunch I've had in Boston. Casual dress is fine. Portions are huge, so don't get carried away with their delictable starters, like the sticky buns and the jelly donuts.

[Gabatta]

Island Creek Oyster Bar just started doing brunch on Sundays. It is casual and outstanding. Though not technically in the Back Bay, it will be a slightly closer walk from Northeastern University (assuming that is what you mean by NEU) depending on what part of campus you are coming from.

Mistral is certainly right up there with the best brunches in town (better than Craigie IMO). I have never had brunch at Bistro du Midi.

[Mike5966]

What were your favorites for brunch at ICOB?

[Swankalicious]

I am going to bud in here and say I have enjoyed brunch at ICOB several times. I particularly liked the lobster omelette and the oysters benedict. They are billed as "for the table," but I think they would serve one hungry person easily.

[yumyum]

Oysters benedict!!!???? Please tell me more. I'm a benny-fiend.

[Gabatta]

I can second the oysters benedict. We also enjoyed the beans, eggs & slab bacon dish as well as the house made donuts. The drip coffee is excellent as well. Of course they have a full raw bar menu and many of the regular dinner items available as well. The bloodies are great (no surprise coming from this bar), we went with the house mix (mid way between regular and hot).

Every time we are in there Schlesinger-Guidelli is roving among all parts of the restaurant and working hard. As great as he can mix drinks, it is nice to see him out from behind the bar as he is clearly capable of running the entire show.