Need a brunch in Cambridge recommendation

[JeriLynne4]

Hello all...I follow this board quite often and you have never led me wrong. I will be in Boston for the weekend prior to Valentines day (this was a Christmas gift from bf). We have dinner reservations at Prezza, which I am excited about. We are looking for recommendations for lunch on Saturday and brunch on Sunday. Sunday we will be in Cambridge at the Harvard Museum of Natural History and would like somwhere to eat nearby. We are staying at the Lenox but lunch can pretty much be anywhere on the Boston side of the river. Thanks!

[opinionatedchef]

As of Oct. 2012, Chez Henri has started doing Sunday brunch! (10am-2pm) Aside from their justly famous Cubano(which is normally only available at the bar) there is a duck confit hash that might just be ravishing.

http://chezhenri.com/beta/?page_id=318

[Madrid]

and I just checked the on line brunch menu at East Coast Grill yesterday and was sorry to see that the duck tortilla rellena I loved so much is now made with smoked chicken instead and the menu is much shorter.

They do have a newish Sat. lunch and on the site, the old brunch menu is posted there. I did try the lunch but that was about two months ago and then none of the "more brunch than lunch" items were offered.

[sciaccagirl]

We had a fantastic brunch at Catalyst a few weeks ago. Service, room, food all conducive to conversation and no tv's!!. IMO more interesting choices than Area 4 in the next building.

[opinionatedchef]

wow, sciacca, thanks so much for posting this! what a terrific menu. any particular dishes to rec?
because we will go soon! thx again.

[teezeetoo]

Funny, I recommended Abigail's barbecue brunch above, in January, when this was originally posted. I'm trying to figure out why this old post is "new" again?

[Gabatta]

No one had mentioned Catalyst in this thread before, so that is new and useful info. It's not like the thread is two years old. Much more efficient to add to a thread with currently relevant information so it is all in one place for searcher.

[sciaccagirl]

We were a party of four, each ordered something different and everyone was happy. I had the duck confit salad w/fried egg & pistachio vinaigrette, the burger was a big hit as was the goat cheese & mushroom omelet and the fried egg sandwich with fennel sausage patti. The drippings potato hash was rich and luscious (the drippings are from their rotisserie chickens).
No one had room for dessert.

[opinionatedchef]

Ha! Those are the same items that i starred on the menu! Thx much.

[Berheenia]

Surprised nobody has mentioned The Blue Room. When I see brunch and Cambridge it's my first thought and the price is quite a bargain for what you get.

[opinionatedchef]

we were soooo disappointed by mediocre food at the blue room brunch a few months ago(a return after many yrs of not going there.) we both agreed that we would not be returning. but we had an exc brunch at Abigail's today. i've written it up separately.

[momoftwo]

just ealked by Area4 on Main Street in Kendal Square area of Cambridge. There was a sandwich board on the sidewalk advertising that they are starting to serve Brunch on Saturday and Sundays beginning this weekend. Lots of people like it there. Maybe if someone tries it this weekend, they can report.

[Taralli]

http://areafour.squarespace.com/stora...

[opinionatedchef]

well, welcome back!
east coast grill (ECG) is absolutely unique and dynamite. 7 min drive from that museum. very very popular. we usually get there 2pm (they stop at 2:30) and don't have to wait. mexican, latin, oyster bar, bbq.

http://eastcoastgrill.net/

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/777757
----------------------------------------------------------------
A number of people have warned against the brunch buffet at Henrietta's Table(on the edge of Harv Sq).
There is a very popular Indian buffet at Kebab Factory, a 3 minute drive from the museum, going towards ECG. They include a dosa in that buffet ($13 pp i think, and quite the deal at that) and a large number of items, veggie and chicken). I have been and it is very CH popular; it's v good.
------------------------------------------------------
for sat lunch: i don't know where you're going to be, but Neptune Oyster on the Greenway edge of the north end- is fantastic and very memorable. many recent threads on it.

also, in case this is helpful:
Guide to Boston by Areas and Restaurants:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/781155

-----
East Coast Grill and Raw Bar
1271 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

The Kebab Factory
414 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

[hckybg]

Henrietta's Table brunch is quite nice, I've not had a bad experience there--but it is really, truly expensive, and other choices are more fun.

[opinionatedchef]

maybe it's cambridgedoctor, but some CH has had bad brunch there but they like the brkfst.
good that you liked it though.

[JeriLynne4]

Thank you all so much. I am going to print out the menus for East Coast Grill and Abigails and let him decide. Thanks again!

[hckybg]

The breakfast is definitely the superior choice, a much better value for the money. One simply cannot eat enough smoked salmon at the brunch to justify the 45/person price tag! I've tried though.

[emannths]

In Inman Square, I like the brunch at East Coast Grill. I've also heard good things about City Girl Cafe, though I've never been there myself. It's about a 20 minute walk or a quick ride on the 69 bus from Harvard Sq.

-----
East Coast Grill and Raw Bar
1271 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

City Girl Cafe
204 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

[libertywharf]

The Charles hotel has a good brunch and gets mentioned a lot. The Sheraton Commander flies under the radar, but also has a good brunch.

[hckybg]

East Coast Grill has a great brunch and a unique one. And while I'm biased, I think Inman Square is always worth a visit.

[teezeetoo]

I love East Coast Grill and also Abigail's barbecue brunch (go on line and check menus).

[dresnicow]

I'll third East Coast Grill, and also throw out East by Northeast, they only do brunch on Sundays. I've eaten dinner at City Girl, I was most unimpressed.

[hckybg]

I like the brunch at East by Northeast too. I've never had brunch at City Girl, only dinner, but have always thought it was a hidden gem. Sorry to hear you didn't have a good experience.

[pollystyrene]

I also like City Girl a lot, but haven't had brunch there either. It's a great value, too--1980's prices! What did you have for dinner that you didn't like?