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The 5 Best Boston Brunch Spots — Locals’ Picks

By U.S. News & World Report

Brunch can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s all about classic breakfast dishes like French toast and eggs Benedict, while for others, it’s about bloody marys and live music. Fortunately, Boston has no shortage of tasty brunch options, places where diners can indulge in all the chocolate they can handle, enjoy a Southwestern-style menu or combine New England seafood with breakfast favorites. Narrowing down a list to just five doesn’t seem fair, but these spots were universally loved by the local experts U.S. News consulted.

Stephanie’s on Newbury

Kim Weeks, guest ambassador at the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, says, ” Stephanie’s on Newbury is a classic and a great spot to people-watch during the summer from their Newbury Street patio.”

[Read: The Best Hotels in Boston.]

Nicholas MacDonald, head concierge at the Hotel Commonwealth, agrees that the Back Bay spot is more than just popular. He says, “Stephanie’s on Newbury has become a staple for brunch.”

A longtime favorite on the brunch menu is the frittered French toast, which is made with creamy mascarpone cheese and raspberry jam stuffed between battered French bread and then pan-fried. Another delicious option is the lobster Benedict, with fresh Maine lobster and two poached eggs on a toasted English muffin and topped with whole grain mustard hollandaise sauce. If it’s nice out, the patio is the place to see and be seen. Weekend brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant also serves breakfast on weekdays from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The Beehive

Located in the South End, The Beehive is well-known for its lineup of lively music, as well as for its food. Sara Flight, director of public relations at the Mandarin Oriental, Boston, says, “My favorite place is The Beehive in the South End. They always have a jazz brunch with live entertainment.”

Flight says the restaurant typically has a seasonal coffee cake with a honey butter that she loves, while her husband (and other fans) rave about the poutine topped with short ribs and poached eggs. The roasted turkey hash with scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese is another popular entree.

Julianne Boyle, concierge at The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, says, “What better way to brunch than with live music to set the tone?”

[Read: 10 Boston Bars Locals Love.]

Weekend brunch takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., but make sure you’re there between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. if you want to enjoy the live music.

Café Fleuri

Keith Loveless, head concierge at T he Langham, Boston, recommends brunch at Café Fleuri in his hotel. “They do a big Sunday jazz brunch, which is very popular.”

The all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch is impressive: There’s a multitude of buffet stations, including hand-rolled sushi, pasta, crepes, omelets and Belgium waffles made to order. You’ll also find a carvery, a selection of antipasto and a raw bar. There’s also a bloody mary and mimosa bar, and an extensive dessert selection.

If you have a sweet tooth, Café Fleuri offers its Saturday Chocolate Bar. It’s an all-out chocolate-lover’s fantasy with more than 100 creations on the all-you-can-eat buffet, featuring a wide array of cakes, puddings, cookies and brownies. Plus, there’s a chocolate fountain where you can dip fresh fruit, pretzels and marshmallows.

Both the Saturday Chocolate Bar and the Sunday City Brunch are offered September through June from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the last seating at 1:30 p.m. During the summer, the restaurant offers an expanded breakfast buffet on the weekends.

Bostonia Public House

If you can’t enjoy brunch without a bloody mary, then this Financial District restaurant should be on your list. “I love the Bostonia Public House with its custom bloody mary bar,” Loveless says, adding that it’s a “great local spot with live music.”

For its custom bloody mary, Bostonia lets you choose your favorite vodka or tequila, which the establishment mixes with its house-made mix. Then, you can finish your drink off with a visit to the enormous garnish table. If you don’t want to make your own, order Bostonia’s take on the beverage, made with Ketel One vodka, the house bloody mary mix, lemon, lime and celery. Another popular brunch cocktail is the house Bellini, made with sparkling wine and white peach puree.

[Read: The 8 Best Seafood Restaurants in Boston.]

Certainly, you’ll want to dine with your drinks, so dishes like the short rib biscuit and gravy with two poached eggs, and the Baileys cinnamon French toast are ideal choices. Brunch is served weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Masa Restaurant

” Masa Restaurant is my favorite brunch spot anywhere in the world,” Boyle says. “If you like Southwest-style food and great deals, you cannot go wrong at Masa.” Masa offers a two-course prix fixe menu for less than $10 per person, for parties of six or less. “The plantain empanada is phenomenal, and the margaritas are unique and delicious,” Boyle says.

Other outstanding dishes include the stuffed Mexican omelet with chili-roasted spring vegetables and Monterey Jack cheese, and the huevos rancheros with crisp tortillas, black beans, salsa ranchero and sunny side up eggs. One of the creative drinks is the habanero-watermelon margarita, made with habanero-infused reposado tequila, watermelon puree, lime juice and triple sec. Weekend brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The prix fixe menu is available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, excluding holiday weekends.

To experience more of what Boston has to offer, check out the U.S. News Travel guide.

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The 5 Best Boston Brunch Spots — Locals’ Picks originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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