One of my favorite cafes in Brookline. Low-key, a bit out of the way, but worth the detour.

Cafe from Chef Colleen Suhanosky, the same mind behind the kitchen at Beacon Hill Books & Cafe. Location-wise, kind of far from all the other hot spots in Brookline and tucked away in a more residential part, so it’s a perfect spot to unwind or get some work done. Menu’s a bit more casual than her Beacon Hill flagship, but there’s a similar approach in how things are seasoned. Clean, thoughtful, and never heavy-handed.

I’ve mostly stuck with their plate section rather than the sandwiches. My all-time favorite was The Lox plate (sadly no longer on the menu). Just cured salmon, crispy potato cake, fried egg, and a creamy herby sauce. But it was one of those combos where every element was done right. The cured salmon especially—some of the best I’ve had from a cafe. Still miss it.

Tried the crispy salmon cake most recently. Good texture, but what I really loved was the salad on the side. Just like the farro salad I had on a previous visit, it didn’t depend on vinaigrettes or dressing for flavor. Instead, they used bright citrus (like oranges) and fresh herbs to make it pop. Subtle but clever. Just very Colleen.