Best brunch restaurant in New England? 8 local gems worth the trip

Maybe you’ve got plans for a girls’ trip or want something hearty before hitting the road.

Whatever the reason, brunch is the answer.

Typically serving up something for everyone, whether they’re looking for sweet or savory, breakfast or lunch, or maybe even all of the above, brunch offers up that special dining opportunity that can allow for a little sleeping in before setting the tone for the day.

Across New England, the pancakes are getting flipped, the eggs are poaching and the mimosas are being poured all in the name of brunch. But where can you go to get the best? Our team of food and dining experts from across the region has eight places you’ve got to try.

Makmak Eatery | Cranston, RI

Details: Makmak Eatery, 650 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston, R.I., 401-944-4555; website: www.makmakeatery.com.

What an interesting name, right? It’s the initials of the two sons of the owners, chef Mike Kudzma and wife Crystal. Their Sunday brunch, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., is a true delight.

Kudzma is preparing stellar dishes in the kitchen and Crystal is running the dining room. Before opening their own restaurant in May 2024. Kudzma was the chef at Matunuck Oyster Bar. That explains a lot about the excellence of Makmak.

Their Caramelized Banana Pancakes are unlike most pancakes you’ll see. The slices of banana and walnuts are integrated into the batter and not just popped on top. Does it make them special? It sure does. The dry-aged bacon is perfectly cooked. The omelets are made in saute pans with extra virgin olive oil. They are large and fluffy and served with wonderfully seasoned, hand-cut home fries. You can have toast from Seven Stars Bakery bread or order the homemade biscuit with housemade jam.

Makmak is BYOB. They have orange juice and other mixers if you want to bring your own sparkling wine for cocktails. If you want a special single-origin coffee drink like an Iced Maple Latte, you will find it on their specials menu.

Gail Ciampa, The Providence Journal

Caleb & Broad | Newport, RI

Details: Caleb & Broad, 162 Broadway, Newport, R.I., 401-619-5955; website: www.calebandbroad.com.

Newport’s Broadway neighborhood has many breakfast options, but Caleb & Brown is a fresh choice because it is newly revamped by Heritage Hospitality. It’s not as high profile as Brick Alley or other acquisitions and perhaps that’s why it’s trying so hard.

Brunch succeeds with a winning combination of well-prepared, creative dishes paired with breakfast-themed drinks like martinis named “Coffee Cocktail” and “Blueberry Pancake.”

Cinnamon Roll French Toast is a delight with Irish cream-battered cinnamon bread paired with Nutella mousse, crushed Oreos and a cinnamon sugar glaze.

Egg dishes are hearty, with the Cuban Benny leading the way. The eggs are complemented with Cuban-style pork, spicy pickles and prosciutto crumbles. It’s served on cheesy potato waffles with a mustard hollandaise. The cornbread on the side is moist and doesn’t crumble. Other choices are a breakfast flatbread and shakshuka.

The booths are big and comfortable, and there are spots at the bar, too.

Gail Ciampa, The Providence Journal

The Pickle Jar Kitchen | Falmouth, MA

Details: 170 Main St., Falmouth, MA; 508-540-6760; website: www.picklejarkitchen.com

The Pickle Jar Kitchen in Falmouth offers a unique selection of breakfast and lunch dishes that can double as brunch. As if the name doesn’t already give it away, there is an emphasis on pickles and pickled food.

For brunch, owner Cassandra Gallant says that a popular choice is the pastrami-spiced cured salmon, an option that is offered all day. This dish has house-cured salmon on a toasted everything bagel, pickled red onions, caper cream cheese, grape tomatoes, and baby arugula.

Among breakfast items are the Breakfast Salad (greens, bacon, cucumber, pea shoots, goat cheese, two eggs, whole grain mustard vinaigrette, choice of toast) and the Classic Breakfast (two eggs, garden pickles, toast, and a choice of protein). Specialty “sammiches” make up a large portion of the lunch menu, including the Town Hall (a pastrami-spiced roast beef sandwich that includes pickled red onions) and The Firehouse (house-smoked chili rubbed boneless pork sandwich with pickled carrots).

Jason Savio, Cape Cod Times

North Street Grille | Boston

Details: 229 North St., Boston, 617-720-2010; website: www.bestbrunchboston.com

There aren’t too many small, casual restaurants in Greater Boston that serve brunch from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with a full bar. But North Street Grille, 229 North St., in Boston’s historic North End, is a charming hole in the wall that’s been satisfying hungry patrons’ appetites since 2004.

There’s usually a wait at the snug (40 seats) restaurant, which has earned a reputation as having the “best brunch in Boston,” the subtitle on its logo and wording on its website..

Owner Robin Sidell gained nationwide recognition when she competed on “Good Morning America’s United States of Breakfast Competition” in 2023, going head-to-head with her brother, Solomon Sidell, owner of South Street Diner at 178 Kneeland St.

Judges chose Robin’s signature banana-bourbon French toast, which has been on her menu for two decades. The dish can feed more multiple people with its generous portion of banana topping with a bourbon sauce and five triangle-shaped, thick pieces of French toasted brioche.

Just about everything on the menu is out of the ordinary, such as cannoli pancakes made with crushed cannoli shells and ricotta cream, chicken and waffle sliders. Or the ECBLT, which combines two classics — bacon, lettuce and tomato, paired with a fried egg and cheese on a croissant.

Joanna Tzouvelis, Wicked Local

Altea’s Eatery | Worcester, MA

Details: 259 Park Ave., Worcester, MA; website: www.alteaseatery.com

The independently owned restaurant is casual, family-friendly. Food and service are good and consistent. Regulars say, “Mimosa bar is super fun.” For breakfast lovers, it could be bananas Foster waffle or French toast with fresh fruit. Amazing omelets and “yummy” corned beef. Steak and eggs get thumbs-up from loyal fans. “Steak always seasoned properly and cooked to perfection,” said a local chef/former restaurateur, who with her husband likes sitting at the bar, where’s there’s great conversation with customers and staff.

Note: Altea’s Eatery’s sister restaurant, Livia’s Dish, 1394 Main St., Worcester, offers Italian-Mediterranean inspired brunch daily. Seasonal outside deck.

Barbara Houle, Telegram & Gazette

Cocktail Garden and Kitchen | Worcester, MA

Details: 64 Franklin St., Worcester, MA; website: www.cocktailgardenkitchen.com

At the monthly “Best Little Drag Brunch In Worcester,” the crowd begins to arrive at the Cocktail Garden at noon and socializes over breakfast food and drinks, including brunch cocktails like mimosas and Bloody Marys, for an hour and a half before the show begins at 1:30 p.m.

“It’s an expansive buffet and they change it up every time. Brunch buffet, fresh salad, fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, omelets, waffles,” said David Conner, co-founder of Queer The Scene, which runs the event. “About half the people that come are brunch regulars, so we see the same people coming back to our show, which tells us that we’re doing something fun,” Conner said. “A group of older women who comes regularly will make accessories for the drag queens and bring them fabric since a lot of the drag queens make their own garments.”

“For Mother’s Day, we’re hoping people bring their moms to drag brunch, especially if your mom has never been to a drag brunch and is curious,” Conner said. “A lot of people bring their friends, a lot of big groups come in and celebrate.”

Meg Trogolo, Telegram & Gazette

The Old Salt | Hampton, NH

Details: 490 Lafayette Road (Route 1), Hampton, 603-926-8322, oldsaltnh.com

Reservations are strongly recommended for The Old Salt’s brunch buffet, with good reason. It’s one of the most popular around.

It puts a smile on the faces of 550 people each week, according to The Old Salt co-owner and Executive Chef Mike Higgins. Served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays, it’s been voted Best Brunch in New Hampshire for many years in a row.

Higgins said he was one of the inventors of the Old Salt’s brunch back in 2002. He said the No. 1 reason it is so popular is the 3-foot-high chocolate fountain.

“You won’t find something like that anywhere else,” he said.

For brunch, Higgins said, he fills 18 chafing dishes, half with breakfast favorites, half with dinner entrees, so the choices are many. He said diners love the fresh-cut fruit and the pastries, and there are always two carving stations, and lots of salad. The waffles made to order are another fan favorite.

Jane Murphy, Seacoastonline.com

Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club | Portsmouth, NH

Details: 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, 888-603-5299; website: jimmysoncongress.com

Jimmy’s serves a Sunday brunch buffet with a healthy side of jazz every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Step into a Sunday wonderland where brunch becomes a delightful feast for the senses,” Jimmy’s website beckons. It offers “a buffet brimming with mouth-watering dishes … from sweet to savory and everything in between. The live band plays until 2 p.m.

Jane Murphy, Seacoastonline.com

Reporting by Portsmouth Herald .