“Honey- What do you want to eat tonight? American?… Italian?… Mexican?”
“Yes!”
“Do you want a good meal or a place with live music?”
“Okay!”
“I know the PERFECT place!”
While Brookline’s Harvard Street is known for a wide array of impressive ethnic eateries – from the Kosher Mecca of Rubin’s and the Kosher-style legend of Michael’s to the authentic Mexican flavor of Anna’s Taqueria, the savoir faire of Paris Creperie and the non-faux Vietnamese of Pho Lemon Grass to the sports bar with a BIG difference known as the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse and the upscale American class of Lineage and on and on – none combine so many flavors and tastes with so much passion as Brother’s Restaurant (www.brothers-restaurant.com)
Helmed by a trio of chef/owners with nearly 50 years of combined experience in the international industry at places like Somerville’s SoundBites, the famed Carlo’s Cucina in Allston, and Boston’s Sorellina, Rustic Kitchen, and Game On! and other award-winning venues, Brothers combines a comfortable neighborhood vibe with well-priced “upscale” options that make it the perfect place for a family brunch or a night on the town.
The restaurant’s menu is truly greater than the sum of its part(ner)s, and each item is freshly prepared to order and served with panache.
From the oaky bar topped by fresh infusers and other liquid temptations and overhung by flat screens in the front room to the comf-ily cushioned booths and colorful artwork in the back (both of which offer full service and comfy seating), there are plenty of pleasant sights to take in as you enjoy the even more alluring smells and tastes that come from the well-stocked kitchen.
In addition to the aforementioned freshly-infused imbibements, the bar also offers a raft of refreshing originals, including the Hendrick’s Gin Rickey with fresh lime juice, the Hawaiian coconut brizz with rum, Curacao, and pineapple juice, and a margarita menu that includes smoked jalapeno, ginger, and passion fruit models. There is also a respectable selection of beers that includes Kentucky Bourbon Ale, Sam Adams, Harpoon, Wachusset, Cisco, Guinness, Peroni and Angry Orchard cider, as well as gluten-free Estrella Dam Davra. International wines are available by the glass or bottle, as are ports and other after-meal drinks that make for the perfect ending to a pretty amazing meal. On weekdays from 3-6 PM, the bar also offers a $5 menu that includes all appetizers in full portions for less-than-full prices, presenting an extra special opportunity to try out all that Brothers has to offer. Another economical option is the $10 lunch special menu that is offered weekdays from 11-3 and that includes salad, soup or fries with any of 10 Brothers sandwiches, including their already famous Cuban sandwich, Caprice Panini, falafel and hummus wrap and buffalo chicken mac and cheese.
Even if you are not in time or just not in the mood for a sandwich and soup, the lunch menu is stacked with options that are great any time (which may be why many are carried over to dinner). Among the ample apps are an herbed clam chowder, cheese steak egg rolls with a spicy chipotle sauce, and a pair of short rib tacos that are lovingly encased in both hard and soft shells to minimize mess and maximize flavor. There is also a sandwich selection that ranges from the Brothers burger (ground Angus sirloin or a homemade veggie patty topped with a fried egg, lettuce, onions, cheese, and Brother’s special sauce), the Jalisco chicken club that tops buttermilk chicken with hot pepper relish and puts it on a grilled broche, and an Old Bay, powdered lobster roll that combines local fare with Southern flair.
The combined breakfast and lunch menu also offers an impressive array of traditional (and not-so-traditional) day starters, such as the Brookline Light (three eggs in a bowl with sauteed veggies, fresh avocado and cheddar cheese), homemade corned beef hash, a grilled corn muffin with eggs, ham and home fries or grilled blueberry muffin with a small cheddar cheese omelette and the house specialty – the “Midorient egg” – poached and nestled in a pan of sautéed tomatoes, peppers, and onions. There is also an entire menu of Benedicts that range from avocado and crab cake to smoked salmon, as well as a range of omelettes (including make-your-own), a special set for meat lovers, and enough pancakes, waffles ad Challah French toasts slabs (with or without fruit, chocolate, or all of the above) to fill the biggest tummy and leave diners with the biggest smiles. While many of these items include the option of peppers, hot sauce, etc. the trio truly reveal their heritage in the “Little Bit of Spice” menu, that features a trio of authentic Latin American favorites that are a great way to get your system running in the morning. And to cool you off again, Brothers offers a selection of special drinks just for the pre-dinner crowd that includes real hot cocoa, fresh-squeezed OJ, Red Bull, fruit mimosas, homemade sangria and more!
As there are already almost too many delicious options for those who cannot decide between breakfast and lunch items, dinner guests are treated to some extra special additions, such as the tuna tacos, grilled salmon, chicken marsala, and entire section for pastas and flatbread pizzas. No matter what you order, the meal is introduced by a basket of fresh breads and lavash that is accompanied by a homemade hummus and potentially followed (if belly room allows) by a classic white chocolate crème brulee, strawberry flan, a sharable pair of chocolate chip cookie sandwiches or a molten lava cake that reminds diners why this is such a popular dessert.
For those who cannot make it to Harvard Street whenever they may desire, Brothers also offers a wide array of catering packages that can be customized to fit any tastes or budget. One prominent group that makes sure to take the time to enjoy a meal at Brothers is the Brookline Rotary, which recently made it their home base for meetings and also the new home of long-time members (and local legends) the Winiker Brothers, who provide live music on weekends, as other talented folk do during the week.
So if you are having trouble deciding which great restaurant to try on Harvard Street, why not try the one that has a little bit of lots of them and a lot that is unique as well? Though the saying goes that too many chefs spoil the soup, apparently nobody told the talented trio behind Brothers!