Why Does the Wilbur Theatre Suck? Better Rock Shows in 5 Steps
Photo of the Day, November 24, 2009: Hook, Line, and Sinker
Photo of the Day, November 25, 2009: Boston as seen from the harbor
Cheap Eats: Burtons Grill
Democratic Primary Debate at WGBH: Transcript Time!
This Bostonist hates brunch. Hates it. He has no idea what would possess so many thousands of people, of otherwise sound mind, to wait in 20-person-long lines only to pony up anywhere between $12 and $20 to buy food that cost a restaurant a buck fifty in the first place and that you could totally cook at home.
A particular mystery has long been the Centre Street Cafe in Jamaica Plain. What draws such a motley array of hipsters and retired hipsters to form a phalanx a block long every Sunday, never mind the driving snow or, worse, the PIRG petitioners?
It's a mystery that was compounded in recent weeks when Bostonist discovered that local sushi joint JP Seafood Cafe, only a block away, was also in the brunch business. And that its brunch is delicious.
Consider the choices. Centre Street Cafe offers a 30-minute-long wait, cramped seating, and overpriced "home cooking"—precisely the type of food that is better cooked at home. There's no wait at JP Seafood. You can order a bento box of fresh sushi, Teriyaki salmon or chicken, or Karen's fabulous pancakes, each for a few dollars cheaper than most of the things on Centre Street's menu.
JP Seafood's brunch box comes with miso soup, a protein (sashimi, salmon or chicken), a green salad dressed with a delicious ginger sauce, gyoza (a Japanese dumpling), vegetable koroke, fruit salad, and home fries. That's a serving from every sector of the food pyramid, plus a few from the special hangover treatment extension pyramid. An actual sushi chef prepares this stuff, and the quality of the brunch boxes is generally on par with the generally very good food that the restaurant always serves. Plus, you get to eat brunch with chopsticks.
For those with friends (or parents) who are averse to Japanese cuisine, JP Seafood also offers a smattering of Western brunch options. Though we are ashamed to admit that we have never tried Karen's fabulous pancakes, we did enjoy the eggs Florentine, the beneficiary of an extremely delicate Hollandaise sauce. (One of the eggs was slightly over poached for our admittedly delicate taste; a flaw that could probably be remedied by talking with the waitstaff about our texture issues.)
In short, JP Seafood: Eat its brunch. But don't everybody go at once because Bostonist hates waiting for a table.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Dude, thanks for reviewing JP Seafood brunch. I was wondering if it was good or gross. Looks good!
And, dude. I love you, Rick, but Centre Street brunch is FREAKINGDELICIOUS. (And so is their lunch and din din)
I've heard that about Centre Street. I still don't get it.
If you like the JP Seafood lunch specials, you will like the brunch. It's basically the lunch special with home fries and fruit salad; how can you go wrong?
sushi + homefries = blowing my mind
OK, dumb question. Does the non-fish stuff taste like fish? That is my fear.
It does not. It tastes like delicious.
Endure the wait at Centre Street Cafe, it's ALWAYS worth it. Sure you may pay a little more but you will never leave hungry and the food (nearly everything on the menu) is great. Yeah, you can get this food at home, but it's a bit of work to get it done just as well - is that what your lazy ass wants to do on Sunday? Or put up with the wait to seat, order and be served promptly and enjoy a great brunch with little effort - because that is what your lazy ass wants to do on Sunday.
Fine. But have you tried the Strada at Ula Cafe in the Brewery? Forget it, go for one of their sandwiches. Best in JP
"sushi + homefries = blowing my mind"
Damn, now I miss the Marche at the Prudential Center. Sushi, BBQ chicken and linguine in one delicious crazy meal.
Great minds think alike! As soon as I walked into JP Seafood a couple of months ago I thought it'd be a great place for a large brunch gathering - no lines! no wait! opens at 11am and you sit right down.
And the home fries are amazing. The omlettes delish - and they were cool about substitutions.
The bottom line is you should definitely try it out - why not on the 21st? Socializing for Justice is hosting Brunch for Justice at JP Seafood at 11am on 12/21.
I had just posted that event when I read Rick's review. Hey Rick, I know you enjoyed yourself at SoJust before - how about joining us for brunch?
For those not familiar with SoJust check out www.SoJust.org to learn about the events we host each month so you can meet like-minded progressives.
Bon Appetit,
Robbie