This Restaurant Will Ruin Brunch for You

I’ve always struggled with Boston’s food scene. When people ask me for restaurant recommendations, I don’t jump with excitement as I do for other cities I’ve lived in. I hesitate and say banal restaurants that everyone has already heard of, or veer toward cafes to avoid the restaurant category entirely.

Things changed when I was introduced to Brassica Kitchen + Cafe in Jamaica Plain. I made plans for brunch with some friends to catch up after moving back to Boston. One of them said he would reserve a place unless one of us had a preference for where to go. My foodie friend jumped at the chance to say “I actually do have a place in mind”! My curiosity spiked. What could possibly call for this type of excitement when usually the response to “where should we eat?” in Boston is indifference or lots of brainstorming before finally coming to a conclusion.

I knew from the exterior that Brassica was going to be special; it doesn’t scream for attention, but rather draws you in with its black-painted wood facade, piquing your curiosity to see what lies on the other side. We opened the door and were enveloped by loud chatter and warm interiors. My eyes were immediately drawn to people’s plates of crispy fried chicken, pancakes oozing with syrup, and fried rice. What did rice have to do with brunch!? And why were those pancakes unlike any I’ve ever seen? I wanted to try it all.

A couple of weeks after this incredible dining experience, I went to a classic American diner for brunch. A big, big mistake. The entire time, I was thinking of Brassica and how this brunch couldn’t even compare. So if you’re planning on going to Brassica for brunch, be ready to give up all other brunches, because nothing else will be worth your while.

Brown Butter Pancakes - salty butter & good maple

B.K. Omelette - caramelized mushrooms, fontina & milk bread

Side of Fried Chicken with Gravy

Just by looking at the food, you know you’re about to taste something extraordinary, but when I took my first bite of the omelette, I knew I was in trouble. The eggs weren’t rubbery, they weren’t overcooked, but just the right amount of runny. They melt in perfectly with the mushrooms and cheese, so your tongue tastes a beautiful explosion of everything together, rather than each ingredient separately, like in other omelettes.

What could go wrong with fried chicken? Brassica’s fried chicken doesn’t just pass the bar for good fried chicken but goes beyond with a flaky and herby batter that, when dipped into their creamy gravy, you forget about the world’s problems. Don’t get the chicken without the gravy; it’s a must. The crispiness of the chicken, combined with the velvety, rich sauce, is phenomenal.

Last but not least, the pancakes. They were marvelous. Not your typical spongy texture, but thin and soft, absorbing the salty butter and syrup for the perfect not-too-sweet bite. It’s hard to say which of these dishes was my favorite, but if I HAD to choose, it would be the pancakes.

Brassica’s culture can be felt in every bite. Their hospitality is unique. The waiters’ goal isn’t a big tip but to make you feel part of their community. This is the first restaurant I’ve been to where the tip is already included in the prices listed on the menu. You can feel the staff’s authenticity when they ask you how you are, how you heard of the restaurant, what you think of the food, and go into detail about the processes behind each dish.

They know how to win you over not only through kindness but also through their donuts, baked fresh daily. Full from brunch? Take one to go. We couldn’t resist and ordered the brown butter flavor. Our waiter surprised us and brought back two, so we didn’t have to share. Geneoristy like this doesn’t go unappreciated. My friends and I talked about our waiter for the rest of the day and were excited to return another time to say hi!

I was genuinely blown away and have already returned for brunch and dinner (just as good). Brassica is changing the dining scene in Boston one dish and one smile at a time. Be warned that when you go to eat there, you’re not going to want to eat anywhere else.

Thank you, Brassica, and until the next meal!

Grazie mille and wishing you the best food adventures.

Nadà

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