Tucked away in bucolic Brookline, Coolidge Corner is an intersection between a residential world and a bustling urban culture. So whether it’s home or the big city you’re looking to hide away in, you can find both in Coolidge. Not only is it jam packed with young professional who commute into the city for work every day, but some of Boston’s best restaurants are located behind the swaying trees of Harvard Street.
Boston darling Orinoco opened up a Brookline branch not too far from Coolidge this year, but there are tons of other options to choose from. One of the most well-known Brookline restaurants is Zaftigs Delicatessen, and it deserves all the cred it gets. The traditional Jewish deli sandwiches are large and delicious, but don’t neglect the novel-length brunch menu on a weekend morning. After your meal, the perfect dessert is just a walk up the street at Paris Creperie, a tiny hole in the wall where just a few bucks can buy you a delightful Nutella crepe, a chocolate-hazelnut dream. Their coffee will make you want to sit in the cafe for hours, so bring the newspaper and sit back on the leather couch.
For quick meals on the cheap that are also delicious, our favorite little Brookline joint is Cafe Nicholas. Though it’s a bit farther up Beacon Street than Coolidge Corner, the sandwiches are worth your sweat. The eggplant parmesan is just as great as the welcoming staff, and the pizza is perfect take-out for a night in front of the tube. Further up Beacon is our final stop on the tour de Brookline, so naturally we’re going out in style. The Fireplace is a cozy, New England themed grill perfect for a winter’s evening. Their butternut squash bisque with vanilla cream and toasted pumpkin seeds is some of the best in the city, and the menu specializes in grilled and wood-smoked delicacies such as salmon and pan roasted duck. Luckily, The Fireplace will be participating in the upcoming Restaurant Week 2009, so you’ll have plenty of reasons to high tail it out of the city for a little taste of suburban bliss.
[Photo: Flickr/lumierefl]
