Alden & Harlow

Alden & Harlow, a restaurant with a 40 Brattle Street address, offers honest American cuisine that has been carefully sourced in a modern, cozy setting, which is one of the best brunch spots to try in Boston. Chef Michael Scelfo is inspired by the mingling of family and friends at his kitchen table at home to create flavorful, assertive food that respects regional culture.

Enter this underground hideaway—the former location of Harvard Square landmark Casablanca—and you'll find a bustling multi-room dining and drinking venue that strikes a mix between a rustic, laid-back atmosphere and an industrial edge. The large area is made cozier by the reclaimed wood and brick walls and the honey-colored glass lanterns that hang over the bar. There are high-top tables in the bar area, a small dining room in the atrium, and a larger dining room where patrons can see into the open kitchen through cookbook-filled metal shelving. The majority of the trendy dishes on chef-owner Michael Scelfo's extensive menu cost less than $20. Morels packed with pig and snail sausage or root vegetable latkes with smoked apple honey are examples of the imaginative approach.

Location: 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, 02138
Cross street: Church Street
Website: www.aldenharlow.com
Phone: 617-864-2100
Transport: Red Line to Harvard Square
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 5pm-1am; Thu-Fri 5pm-2am; Sat 10:30am-2pm, 5pm-2am; Sun 10:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-1am
Google rating: 4.5/5.0