- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Brothers Deli & Restaurant
- Nearest Transit:
-
Main St @ Water St (136, 137)
Main St @ Richardson St (136, 137)
Main St @ Galvin Middle School (136, 137)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
39 reviews for Brothers Deli & Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"...used to be breakfast, with amazing omelettes and home fries." In 4 reviews -
"Three words: Corned Beef Hash." In 2 reviews -
"The place is great in the summer, and after dinner, you can..." In 3 reviews
Loading...
39 reviews in English
-
Review from Nikki D.
Waltham, MA
3/19/2012
I love this place. I've been going to brothers since I was little. I remember the wood paneling and the ugly floor and the crazy fireplace. I remember this place when it had a bar, when it didn't, and when it got the bar back again!
Their breakfast is out of this world. Totally awesome. Served to order all day?! Even better. Omelettes, pancakes, french toast, you name it, they'll make it. I always got pancakes for dinner when I was a kid because, well, I could! And I haven't had anything that wasn't good.
Dinner wise, if you can get their lamb, go for it. It's great. Their roasted chicken is a close second too. They always have specials going on for the day so don't forget to check those out when you walk in. The menu can be overwhelming but the specials are off to the side on their own chalkboard menu (and it's huge too).
Only thing I don't like here is that drinks are expensive (can of soda is almost 2 bucks!). I'd just stick with water if you can or go down the street to CVS before you go. Buy a 2 liter of soda, it's cheaper than their drinks.
One thing that kind of freaks me out? There's one guy who works behind the counter. He's the one that shouts out all the orders. (He does all the orders by memory BTW. Go on a Sunday during the busy brunch rush and you'll see that he never writes anything down. It's amazing). I've been going ever since I can remember and he's been there just as long. The creepy part? He looks exactly the same as he did 20 years ago. He never ages! Haha!
If you're in the mood for good food (be it breakfast lunch or dinner) and don't mind a cafeteria style, then come on down to brothers! -
Review from Monique M.
North Reading, MA
4/26/2012
Love this place for breakfast. Ashamed to say I've never tried lunch or dinner. The line is always long but moves fast. They have this thing down to a science!!! Highly recommended. Great for families.
-
Review from john s.
Stoneham, MA
10/1/2011
Excellent breakfast served all day. Very good club sandwiches. Most items are cafeteria style and are quite filling.
Listen to the orders being called out, really entertaining stuff.
You get a lot of food for the buck. Skip the Italian food items on the menu (Meh would be too kind) and go Greek or any of the roasted meats (Beef, Pork, Lamb). -
Review from Dane B.
Lynnfield, MA
11/17/2011
This is my favorite local spot to eat.
The prices are very fair and the food is always fast, fresh and out of this world. Their breakfast is probably the best you can get for miles. -
Review from Felecia C.
Boston, MA
12/15/2006
Brothers is not about pretention. This family-owned eatery is cafeteria style - walk in and grab a tray, because you are carrying your own food.
This is not to say that quality of food or service is not up to par, because the guys behind the counter know what they are doing. My favorite meal here used to be breakfast, with amazing omelettes and home fries. There is a wide selection of lunch and dinner comfort foods - roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, eggplant, etc.
With so much to choose from, make sure not to dawdle in the line - if you don't know what you want, step aside, because these guys can turn into Wakefield's own soup nazis.
The major downside is that it is tough to eat here if you have food allergies or are vegan/vegetarian, since the menu is based on the meat-and-potatoes mentality. But it is possible to have your food made separately or to find something (even if it is a side dish or a roll) without meat or animal products. If that's your concern, I would suggest going at non-peak hours so that the owners have more time to cater to your specific needs.Listed in: Where 93 Meets 95
-
Review from Me B. M.
Reading, MA
2/24/2006
Cheap, fast and huge selection. A real throw back to the cafeteria style of yesteryear.
Friendly but dont expect fancy. -
Review from Debbie B.
Stoneham, MA
4/15/2010
So look, when it comes to breakfast/brunch on a Sunday- I can't have a lot of Shenanigans. I need it fast, I need it good, I need a lot of it to absorb the fact that there is more alcohol still in my system than was left at the bar last night. Ignore my leftover smeared makeup, my sweats, my missing earring, and the fact that i am speaking like I am mentally retarded- just give me the omelet.
This is exactly why I love Brothers. Cafeteria style dining means very little interfacing. And the food is made to order and awesome. This place being walking distance from my apt does not make me like it less.
Now, If I can only figure out how their bar works! -
Review from Matt J.
South Windsor, CT
8/11/2011
Food is good, but this is the place you go with the family year after year. Very good service. Cafeteria style.
-
Review from Scott F.
Brookline, MA
11/24/2008
Classy? Nope ...
Trendy? Hell no ...
It's not fancy, but it's quick and good and filling. The folks at Brothers seem to have emerged from a SNL skit, or a weird gastronomical time warp and popped up in Wakefield.
Cafeteria style service (grab a tray, and a mismatched set of utensils), and order fast. The menu is expansive and the line is usually pretty long. I've had breakfasts and dinners here, and it's all pretty good.
One huge gripe - that knocks things from 4-stars to 3, is that you get one cuppa coffee, one refill, then you gotta pay again for more. And worse, they don't travel for refills -- you gotta get up and get 'em yourself. The place is huge too. If you're not too coordinated (hi there!), then you spill more coffee on the journey than you'll ever get to drink.
Sometimes, if it's really busy, they'll come around for coffee. By sometimes, I mean once in the decade or so I've been there. -
Review from Leif H.
Rochester, NY
10/31/2005
Cafeteria style food, served in heaping portions on hefty ceramic homestyle plates. Grab your tray and tools while reading over the specials. If you're not sure what you want, I'm sure the friendly guys behind the serving bar can talk and show you something mouth watering.
Meals generaly run around $10 dollars a person. For the money you get a serving of meat or casserole and two sides, along with two slices of bread and a can of soda. If you skipped lunch or breakfast you might get away with eating the whole meal, otherwise plan to bring some home for the next day.
Once you have your meal in hand sit down at one of the many tables and enjoy! -
Review from Jeremy R.
Billerica, MA
12/28/2007
Good times, noodle salad.
I loved this place when I lived in the area. I admit, I only went here a couple times, because, most times I was traveling into the city, or somewhere else. I had no kids, what do you expect.
I'll also admit, I don't do well in lines and having to order promptly if I'm not ready, but, besides that, I'm a guy, so the meat-n-potato's kinda meal suits me.
The place is great in the summer, and after dinner, you can get some ice cream across the street, and take a stroll around the lake. What more can you ask for on a warm summer day? -
Review from Warren P. B.
Portsmouth, NH
6/6/2011
Being a guest of Brother's Deli and Restaurant, makes you feel like you are a guest at My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The only thing missing is Windex!
There's definitely a bit of a New York City Greek Diner ambiance at Brother's, and that's a good thing.
Breakfast was excellent; food quality was excellent; being a guest of Brother's was fun, and the dining experience was enjoyable.
We'd go back to Brother's in a heartbeat. -
Review from Miss T.
Salem, MA
4/21/2011
Their food is always great. Luv the pastrami sandwich & pickles. YUMMY!!!!
-
Review from Ann B.
Wakefield, MA
7/16/2011
Brothers...a Wakefield staple. Because sometimes you just wanna go where everybody knows your name.
Okay, useless Boston TV theme use aside, I'll get to my review.
Love Brothers. Love love LOVE them. Cafeteria-Greek Diner-Comfort Food kinda place. My hub and three kids come here all the time, because there's always something behind that sneeze-proof glass that will appease all of our diverse taste (I have two teens and a three-year-old that are picky as hell...not to mention my forty-one -year-old husband who's worse than they are sometimes).
We're pretty much regulars in the joint, now...so when we walk in, the staff smiles, asks what we'll be having, make it efficiently and without error, and even speak playfully with my three-year-old, which thrills him to no end. Of course, the fact that they always make him his favorite food (grilled cheese and tomato) makes him more than happy, as well.
You can't go wrong with the chicken pie here...it's the best of the best! The spinach pie, as well...(yeah, I'm a pie fan)..delish! If neither is available, I recommend the Greek roasted lamb with rice and green beans, or the roasted pork loin with mashed 'taters and corn, all smothered in a yummy pork gravy.
My teenage daughter orders the pancakes (because they have breakfast all day), and my teenage son enjoys their steak tips. My husband...well, he's a pain.
But, honestly, he's half the reason I'm only giving Brothers four stars instead of five.
He ordered a Reuben sandwich. They forgot to add the dressing. He brought it up and asked for another. They took over 15 minutes to make it. And it wasn't busy in there at the time.
BUT....they made him a whole other sandwich, rather than slap it on the first one and hand it back to him.
The other reasons for the lack of that final star is...the veggies they serve are DEFINITELY canned, not fresh, and if you get there during a breakfast, lunch, or dinner rush, parking can be quite elusive.
But MAN! Do I LOVE Brothers! -
Review from Kyle D.
Wakefield, MA
2/24/2011
One of the best places to eat in Wakefield. Great food and reasonable prices. Excellent family restaurant with a nice newly renovated bar area. I recommend anything from the breakfast menu. This place also has great roast beef, lamb, and salad.
-
Review from Nate J.
Wakefield, MA
12/16/2010
Crazy "soup Nazi"-ish service at the order counter, but always entertaining and the food's great. Kinda weird ambiance (shiny, fancy bar w/weird waterfall that I've never seen used), but great choice for weekend breakfast.
-
Review from Food C.
Salem, MA
4/26/2011
Average Quality
I recently visited Brothers for dinner and ordered the Vegetable Lasagna. I was quite taken aback when I started eating it because the noodles were hard and crispy. I later learned that the lasagna was sitting out all day. :( Anyway, I do like the renovations that the restaurant has made. It feels more modern and attracts a younger crowd. There's TVs throughout and offers free Wi-Fi. -
Review from Lydia K.
La Mirada, CA
6/18/2009
love it!! the food is down home stick to your ribs kind of food... made lovingly by this cute Greek family. the patriarch who chants "what'll you have" once you hit the cafeteria counter (and you better be quick about it).
breakfast is OH SO GOOD. the pancakes are light & fluffy. the bacon is crisp. the english muffin is grilled for you. the corned beef & hash is GOOD. the western omlette w/ cheese is comforting.
they have food prep down to an art of orderly chaos. -
Review from Amanda L.
10/3/2010
I loves me a diner, and I loves me a mom and pop spot. This hits the spot on both points. They are so fast for breakfast, too. I love that you can hit it during primetime breakfast hours and still get your food really fast. Standard diner fare, and there ain't nothin' wrong with that!
-
Review from Holly S.
10/5/2009
The line may look painful, but it moves quick... I promise. I love Brothers because I always get to see a random old classmate, or maybe my 5th grade gym teacher, or someone. You can pretty much order anything you'd like, but know what you want before getting to the front! Moving down the little food line, your food is made while you wait. Get your drinks, pay, sit down and enjoy a nice meal. Finish eating, leave your trash, and walk out to the glorious main street of Wakefield.
-
Review from Lynda M.
12/29/2006
This is a true cafeteria style eatery. Great blue plates, turkey and mashed, roast beef, gravy, etc. Cheap and plenty of seating. A great hang over cure!
-
Review from Riem K.
Melrose, MA
2/25/2008
This is the typical Brother's. Cafeteria style, walk in, grab a tray and your utensils, grab your food, pay at the end of the line and go to your table. Don't dawdle and make sure you have extra room in your pants cause you're going to need it. Actually, it's preferred that you wear elastic waisted pants instead because you will go up a pant size from eating a meal here. The portions are huge and this is not your Jenny Craig or Weight Watcher's meal. Think Paula Deen and your momma's home cooking. Butter, real spices and just that comfort home cooking that feels like that security blanket when you were little.
-
Review from Jimmy G.
Malden, MA
9/28/2011
good food but nothing to write home about, just to inconsistent. to be given a better rating. Great portions but when the food is mediocre, is more really what you want ?
-
Review from Lis L.
Dedham, MA
8/26/2009
Brothers brings back memories of the school cafeteria, elementary through high school. People line up to go down the line, expressing what they want. The food is cafeteria too, it's just satisfactory enough to be edible, and the restaurant itself feels old, dirty, and in need of a makeover. If you want to experience the cafeteria days of old, this place is for you. I'm going to be generous and give this one 2 stars.
-
Review from catherine d.
Denver, CO
6/9/2010
Loved it!
We went here for breakfast french toast to die for.
This place was great, the staff seemed Greek and it was like a SNL skit, the culture there was exciting, staff yelling orders to the cooks who had a hugh cooking surface with warm hash browns piled into the corner, serveral cooks busily served up meals, they were cooking up several breakfast items very quickly, lunch and dinner was already out and displayed behind glass sneeze gards. It was so busy and so efficient. The best part of the breakfast was the soda, they had TAB (nector of the Gods) in pink cans. I'm from Colorado and I haven't had access to a TAB soda in fifteen years. I will reccomend this mecca to anyone traveling on the East coast. It was a cultural experience that you don't get in the midwest. -
Review from Ted B.
Wakefield, MA
12/30/2010
Hands down, this is the best spot for brunch in Wakefield, in my opinion. You can't go wrong, whether you go for breakfast (french toast and sausage is incredible) or for lunch (club sandwiches are great).
A Wakefield classic. -
Review from Jim K.
Salem, MA
8/18/2010
Wow..fast...great food......clean and inexpensive. Our idea of a good breakfast. Our usual fare of 2 over easy, bacon, home fries, hash and coffee sure met our standards for a good breakfast. If we have to make one suggestion it would be to add some more taste to the home fries. The fries were perhaps one of the freshest potatoes that we have had but were on the bland side. But don't change them if it means ruining them...
All else was perfection. Decor is cafeteria style but sooooo spacious that it has a great feel. Coffee is extra and if it is a bottomless cup it is sure inconvenient. Being cafeteria line style the restaurant lacks that friendly waitstaff-customer interaction which is also part of a great dinning experience...hence a 4 rather than a 5 rating. Our advice..GO..you will not be sorry.
The Breakfast Guys. -
Review from Angela B.
Boston, MA
9/28/2009
Who cares if it is cafeteria style it's different and nice to watch people cook your food.. The crew cooking your food are fun and friendly. For me personally unless I'm eating pancakes/waffles I like my breakfast food simple and thats why Brothers is good. The egg sandwiches are exactly how my Mother made them when I was little, right down to the slightly overcooked bacon, and thats why it's my favorite. I like the plain homefries and simple baked goods . The muffins are baked on premises and honey bran and corn are both great. Chicken club is a great simple lunch. During my busy season I eat breakfast here every Sunday and have grown up coming here my whole life. For me this place is nostalgic. Its comfort food and tradition.
-
Review from Jeff W.
Boston, MA
6/22/2011
If you've never been to Brother's Deli & Restaurant, you're missing out! I've been there a number of times now and have brought many family members there as well and everyone has been extremely happy with their meal choices. Brothers has a cafeteria style atmosphere to it...everyone behind the counter has a job to do and they do it well. The gentleman who takes your order at the beginning writes nothing down and gets your order perfect every time. The homestyle cooked food is delicious and the portions are generous. My Dad is a big fan of buffets because you can eat as much as you want and he was totally satisfied with the portion of his single plate at Brothers (which is not a buffet). My wife's uncle went with us once and they put a piece of roast beef on his plate that fell over the edges...he had plenty to bring home. The turkey dinner is to die for. And the blueberry pancakes or the eggs and home fries breakfasts are always cooked perfectly and enough to share around the table at the same time (and I'm not a big fan of sharing food).
Most recently, I've started taking my 2-year old son here for breakfast, and the staff at Brothers are not only pleasant to me, but they're extremely nice to him...some of them recognize him as a "regular" now. Everytime I reach the end of the line where they register is, they always offer to take my tray to my table and get a high chair for me so I don't have a hard time carrying everything and getting my son situated at the same time. We sit, we eat, we glance at the televisions that are placed in convenient locations, the other patrons are also always just the nicest people...it's an all around inviting atmosphere that anyone in the area should enjoy and the prices are very fair as well. -
Review from Steven F.
Somerville, MA
6/21/2009
This review is in regard to the breakfast meal/atmosphere at Brothers.
So, I really wouldn't recommend going to Brothers on Father's Day if you are hungry and in need of an immediate fix of caffeine. I'm sure my experience at Brothers was skewed by this combination of events, but I thought the general setup was kind of a catastrophe. The food is hearty and a good buy at about $6 per meal, but I do believe I would rather spend a little extra for table service than have to suffer through cafeteria style/length lines on a family holiday. Once I got to the counter after an hour's worth of line, the ordering and service was incredibly fast and my bagel with lox and cream cheese was certainly delicious. The rest of the breakfast menu posts classic omelettes, egg/meat combo dishes and pancakes that looked rather tempting. The coffee was set up at the end of the line, at the register where you pay for your meal-which causes traffic jams when you have large parties trying to pay together. You get 1 free refill on your coffee, which is tragic, and a serious factor in considering whether to go to Brothers. -
Review from George L.
Wakefield, MA
6/7/2008
This place is more hype than bite. The food is average to good, pretty typical. I never leave feeling hungry or ripped off though which is a plus. I like how big it is inside. I usually go with my family and there's always plenty of room. We don't like waiting in line though, but I guess until there's a better breakfast place in the area, we'll just keep coming here. Parking can be a little challenging too sometimes, especially on the weekend.
-
Review from Stephanie C.
Somerville, MA
6/1/2010
This place is great. We went for lunch when my sister and her family came to visit. She got the fried scallops, her husband got the turkey dinner, my husband got the reuben, I got the turkey club and my sister's kids got chocolate chip pancakes, so I think we covered a pretty broad selection. Everyone raved about his or her meal. I thought my sister was making a huge mistake getting fried scallops here, but man they were some of the best I've ever tried! I'm a super big reuben snob and it was delicious - just the right amount of dressing and the bread wasn't soggy or anything. The only thing keeping it from getting 5 stars was our beer was kind of flat.
-
Review from Lori V.
Wakefield, MA
9/10/2009
Beautiful new bar here! Nice waterfall background, big screen TVs, scenic mural walls, great bartending service, excellent selection of liquor.. all around great, casual place for your happy hour in this little town of Wakefield!!! Stop on by!
-
Review from Hans R.
Wakefield, MA
9/23/2009
Take your time and look over the menu, they have a lot of selections. Also, they make daily specials so walk down the counter and peak in the case. Then get in line and grab a tray and utensils. You will get your food in line and pay at the end of the line. They remodeled the place so if you haven't been in since 2008 you will notice all the TVs , bar and new restrooms. The food is nothing to yelp about but they are very good at being a deli and you can bring the whole crew without worrying about reservations, splitting the bill or finding a seat. Good and fast breakfast for about $6. The chicken ka-bob is good at lunch.
-
Review from Liza M.
Reading, MA
8/16/2009
love this place! it is cafeteria style. so you grab your tray and get in line. you better know what you want by the time the guys ask you. the breakfast is great. I go here for the greek salads however which are outstanding. you get a huge block of delicious feta, and it has awesome dressing. I get it in a pita with turkey or chicken kabob.
-
Review from Christine S.
Reading, MA
11/11/2009
Three words: Corned Beef Hash. Did you get that? Ok there are lots and lots of wonderful breakfast items on the menu. And I can see why you would gravitate towards the plate size blueberry pancakes that are light and fluffy BUT.... this is one of the only true hold outs for home made hash. The hash is so good, its the reason for 10 years of patronage by three generations of my family. Oh guess i should talk about some other things too, like the great renovations completed about a year ago. Full bar for evening fare. Great family owned atmosphere. And yup, there's a line, but heck you wait longer for food to arrive waited on a busy day and you don't get to watch your food prepared (always a little bit of an adventure eating out in a place you can't see the kitchen). Two cup limit? Yikes didn't notice that. Though it might be something they want to reconsider. Heck just put the refill pot out on a table in the dining room. we'll all serve ourselves. On that note, think of the bus person, drop a few bucks on the table when your leaving. You know you dribbled just a little...
-
Review from Tom C.
Reading, MA
2/18/2009
Just joined an old friend for breakfast and was very impressed. Extensive menu. Good prices. Ample amount of food. Cafeteria style. Lots of seating. Great place for families, on-the-way to work breakfast, read-the-paper or watch CNN (big screen) eating. The hash was great!. Quick service. My buddy and I agreed to make this a regular breakfast spot.
-
Review from LiLi M.
Hampshire, MA
5/24/2010
no hassle, good food- fast and easy. that's all you need for a good breakfast/lunch place, right?
-
Review from m b.
Boston, MA
7/19/2011
heres the deal- this is an excellent breakfast place- bc the food is good, priced right, and ya dont have to have sumone waiting on you at the table; its cafeteria-style. my favorite thing there is the simple scrambled eggs w bacon, home fries and grilled english muffin. pancakes and french toast good too, but not exceptional. warning: all the lunch and dinner items ive had there were pretty underwhelming, so this review is really just for bfast. i like the ownership there; hes one of these guys whos ALWAYS there! he must work like 90 hours a week!! him and his staff also have a great ability to verbally take food orders & get everything right! its like a well-oiled machine! have been to this place for a number of post-drinking breakfasts, so sumtimes ive sat there very SLOWLY eating my breakfast, and bc of the cafeteria style- ya never have to worry about feeling like you gotta move or finish quickly, so that adds to the place if youre there after a big nite.
