Back in February I read a review of Cafe Luna on a blog I follow on Twitter, Foodies at Work. From that moment on it seemed every person I talked to about great brunch spots was recommending Cafe Luna. In fact, just a few weeks ago a close friend of mine wrote about her trip their on her blog. So earlier this week when a different friend suggested we go there this weekend (he lives just two blocks away), I jumped at the chance!
Cafe Luna is located on Mass Ave in the heart of Central Square in Cambridge. As you approach the entrance you can't help but notice the huge crowd of people both dining outside and waiting to be seated. I had checked out their website earlier in the week and learned they take reservations for brunch (a decision they just made in January) so I quickly called up and reserved our spot for four people at 11:00am on Sunday.
When we arrived every single table inside and outside was full. The host (who we also suspect is the owner) told us it would just be a minute and our table would be ready (photo below of the table where the host stands, right inside the door. Love the luna!). After waiting for what felt like fifteen seconds we were walked to a cozy table for four in the center of the restaurant.
Cafe Luna is shaped like a long, narrow, rectangle. All of the tables are against one wall and the counter is on the opposite wall. Our table was right in the middle with a great view of all the action.
As soon as we were seated we noticed crayons on the table. All of the tables are covered with white paper and you are encouraged to use the crayons to doodle while you wait. I love this! You are never too old for coloring! The boys used them to play hang man. I created a spring time masterpiece:
We waited about ten minutes for our waiter to bring us menus, but he apologized immediately for keeping us waiting. In addition to the regular menu there were two full pages of brunch specials!
We started with some specialty drinks. I ordered the mint mocha which came in a huge mug and tasted like a thin mint Girl Scout cookie! It was out-of-this-world amazing. I wish I could start every morning with that drink!
One of my brunch buddies also ordered a strawberry pineapple smoothie which he said was refreshing and delicious.
The boys decided to start with the buttermilk biscuits served with honey butter. They each took one bite and started moaning and mumbling something that sounded like, "Oh. My. God." They offered me a bite, which of course I accepted, and the biscuit was incredible. I could have stopped right there and still felt this was one of the best breakfasts of my life. Highly recommend!
For my main meal I selected the blueberry lemon french toast. I've always been a fan of blueberries on breakfast foods and this description sounded too good to pass up. The french toast arrived in a huge portion with brioche toast, fresh blueberries, the perfect amount of lemon flavor and sprinkled with confectioners sugar. I was in heaven!
Another person at the table also ordered french toast, but he picked the chocolate and strawberry variety. He said though it was delicious, it was so sweet he could only eat half.
Across from me, my friend was making his way through the fig, prosciutto and goat cheese omlette which also came with home fries. I kept sneaking home fries from the corner of his plate and they were fantastic! He said the omlette was superb and it was great to have ingredients you would never have in your house when you make your own breakfast.
We also tried the corn beef hash eggs benedict. The friend enjoying that meal said everything tasted amazing, but her dish arrived cold and she needed a steak knife to cut through the english muffin on the bottom. Please also note her gorgeous Cafe Luna crayon doodle:
Though we sampled many menu items, there are several more I want to test out! For example: the lemon ricotta pancakes served with fresh strawberries, the s'more french toast, the spicy black bean breakfast burrito and the greek omlette. And that's only breakfast! I haven't even looked at their lunch menu!
The food at Cafe Luna was some of the best I've had. Ever. Everything was fresh, bursting with flavor and came in a huge portion. The staff is incredibly friendly (our baby faced, young waiter was awesome) and I absolutely love that you can make a reservation for brunch. Even if you don't make a reservation, you can order food at the counter to go and eat it outside on the city of Cambridge's public tables and chairs that are right outside the cafe.
Thank you, Cafe Luna, for one of the best brunches of my life! I can't wait to come back!
