One of my favorite things in life is brunch. Going to brunch, making brunch and definitely, eating brunch. On top of that, I love oysters. Oysters are one of the lovely pleasures that I missed during the years I lived in the Midwest, and living in Boston I make sure to have them whenever a good opportunity strikes. That’s where Island Creek Oyster Bar comes in…
When this restaurant opened, I was as excited as a little kid getting a Tickle Me Elmo for Christmas. They have great location in Kenmore Square, a menu that highlights seafood and calls attention to where their food comes from. Add to that the amazing fresh, local oysters and a great selection of my beloved West Coasties… I was all in.
The décor strikes me as very industrial, while still being warm and having an ocean vibe that channels the coastal areas their oysters come from. The best part is the wall of oyster shells that everyone I have brought there always walks over to check out. I love the open area of the raw bar, as well. It’s really fun to watch them work at the raw bar plating the crazy fresh seafood there.
Their brunch menu is fantastic and has some brunch classics on it, as well as some twists on the classic. One of my favorite twists is the Doughnut Muffin; it’s a muffin that is light enough to make you think it could be a doughnut and then it’s rolled in cinnamon sugar. Yum.
For those that are trying to be a touch healthier (that would be me right now), the egg white frittata with crimini mushrooms, red peppers and parmesan is a great health brunch compromise. It’s light and fluffy and I didn’t walk away feeling guilty for eating a day’s worth of calories.
When I’m not trying to be healthy, or when I just decide that it’s completely ok to screw my diet aspirations, I go for the chorizo and sweet pepper hash with caramelized onion and a fried egg. This is everything brunch should be. The chorizo gives the whole dish a little spicy kick and the caramelized onions add a touch of sweetness. It’s a really solid brunch dish that never disappoints. Don’t forget to get a Bloody Mary with it though, otherwise brunch just won’t be complete.
I choose to end my brunch with one of their biscuits that has this savory and sweet glaze on it… it’s this buttery, honeyed, rosemary awesomeness that walks that line of dessert, making it the perfect ending to one of Boston’s best brunches.
Note: This review was entirely unsolicted. I received no financial compensation or gifts of monetary value for this review.
