While brookline lunch is hyped quite a bit, this family operated establishment is a true hidden gem. Quite literally tucked away on a side street and extremely inconspicuous. The only thing you need to know is get the BAKLAVA PANCAKES. Words cannot describe how amazing these are. Fluffy and light, but so rich and flavorful. Other than that they're known for their Spicy Sausage Shakshuka, which is also excellent. It's more of a sausage and veggie breakfast bowl with a spicy shaksuka sauce rather than a traditional shakshuka. I ordered a Turkish coffee for the first time expecting it to be a bit sweet. Turns out it's brewed with cardamom and it was quite bitter. Turkish coffee closely resembles a shot of espresso rather than a cup of coffee. Things to know: it's cash only and they don't serve water, you'll have to pay for bottled water.

Genuinely the most gas pancakes I have ever tried. So good, fluffy yet somehow also dense and filling. The toppings were unreal - baklava flakes and sweet pistachio. I got takeout which has the potential to be worse but it was truly perfect. I had been so excited about trying these and was not disappointed. Parking can be a little tough but otherwise 100/10

My absolute favorite brunch spot in Cambridge! There is a long wait time, specially on weekend mornings, but honestly it just flies by when you're catching up with a friend. Their baklava pancakes are a must order, absolutely unique and delicious and hits the spot. The service is also very quick and the folks working there are so kind. Really great experience here!

This place is always so crowded, It located in Cambridge and really hard to find street parking, so I decide to order to go. I ordered pancake and shakshuka. Those two are the signature dishes of the restaurant. CASH ONLY IF YOU DINE IN If you don't like to consume lot of carbs in the morning, I think you should share one dish per person. Because the portion here is big. The pancake was the highlight of the order, it has nutty flavor with a little bit of sweet aftertaste. The shakshuka doesn't come with a lot of sausage and a little bit bland in flavor compare to the pancake. I love the vibes here, the restaurant is proud for their home cooking style since 1937, so dining here made me feel the close-knit community vibe.

I recently visited Brookline Lunch in Cambridge on a busy Sunday afternoon for brunch and the place was packed--there was even a line outside! To expedite the wait, I strategically left my partner holding our spot while I popped over to a nearby ATM for cash, knowing this spot is cash-only. After about 30-40 minutes, we were finally seated inside. Despite the crowd, the restaurant exuded a cozy, homely atmosphere. I started off with a Turkish coffee, which was akin to a condensed espresso but had a wonderfully aromatic effect. It was not quite my cup of tea/coffee but I'm more of a latte fan. I could still appreciate the artistry of it and enjoyed trying something different. For my main course, I opted for the spicy sausage shakshuka, and I thought it was a unique take on the dish. Unlike any shakshuka I've had elsewhere, this version felt more like a hearty breakfast bowl, with fewer tomato sauce but packed with all my favorite ingredients--potatoes, sausage, poached eggs, garbanzo, carrots, and delicious naan bread. We read a review that recommended the chili oil sauce and requested some. It added a nice kick to the bowl. We also decided to order the Baklava pancakes to share. While undeniably delicious, they were extremely sweet, with the top pancake boasting generous toppings of pistachio and baklava. It's a unique dish and a must-have for those with a sweet tooth, but personally, I preferred the savory shakshuka. Overall, I highly recommend everyone to try Brookline Lunch at least once. I'll certainly be back, but perhaps when the lines aren't as daunting!

Cute local spot serving up the best and most unique pancakes I've ever had! I ordered the baklava pancakes and they were so fluffy and were topped with just the right amount of syrup, pistachio, and baklava bits! The rose water syrup they used was mildly aromatic while adding a touch of sweetness. We waited in line outside for about an hour, starting at 9am on a sunny Saturday. Once we were seated, the service was quite fast. Would definitely recommend this place!

Came here on Sunday afternoon for a brunch. They don't take reservations and we had to wait for around 45 minutes to get a table for 4, but we all agreed that it was worth the wait. It's a cozy little restaurant with American/Middle Eastern fusion food. We ordered baklava pancakes, beef kebab and spicy sausage shakshuka. Portion size wasn't huge but given it was 4 girls who don't eat much, 3 dishes were enough for us for brunch. Food flavour was all there but spice wasn't overpowering, which we really really appreciated. It tasted healthy and tasty and every bite was enjoyable. Baklava pancakes were not overly sweet. Service wasn't the best nor the fastest, but given how they were really busy, it was understandable. They only accept cash but don't have ATM inside so make sure you bring cash! Would come back again but will probably come closer to opening hour to minimize the wait time.

Love the interior of the place, very fun and vibrant colors and posters everywhere The line is usually super long so we came a bit after it opened and didnt have to wait at all The food came quickly and was pretty tasty! We got the zaatar egg bowl and berry pancakes. The zaatar seasoning was really nice on the egg cheese and potatoes. There were many steamed veggies and that made it feel a bit too healthy for me haha. But the pancakes were great! Very flufffy and the fruit was fresh and sweet, the pancakes came w nice whipped cream too. Solid meal, left very full