A+ brunch...head to Scups in the Harbor

Simply stated, I haven't had breakfast this good in this city...probably ever. Scups in the Harbor is a tiny hole in the wall place in East Boston just past Piers Park in the marina. But don't dis-count it just because you dont live in Eastie - there is a water taxi from the marina right to downtown Boston - easy peasy!

So there are literally 2 tables in the place - one really long bench, and a booth that could fit probably 8 people. There is also a counter with a couple stools...but that's pretty much it. Several picnic tables line the outside, and you dont get to hog a whole one if there are just two of you. J and I shared with two other couples. We made friends with some of them and they shared some of their other faves in the area, which we'll definitely be trying!

So the way this place works...is that you look up at this wall of colored sheets of paper with hand-written menu items on them, and place your order with a hostess standing in the doorframe between the tiny restaurant and the huge kitchen in the back. You wait for her to bring your drinks (lemonade+prosecco=super yummy sparkling lemonade)...then you head outside and make some friends (or not) while you wait for your food.

Everything is cooked to order so you have to be patient, because you're not going an omelet made with liquid eggs here. Though if you check the menu hard enough, you'll notice one colored sheet with a list of items you can get quickly if you're in a hurry.

I had apple cinnamon french toast and Millionaires Bacon, and J had "the Ultimate BLT." I was trying to sort out how to take some pictures on J's camera phone, and by the time I'd figured it out, half his sandwich was gone (for the record, this is an indication of how fast he ate the sandwich, not how technologically-inept I am). If you've never had pesto on a BLT, you're hardcore missing out. Everything we ate was unbelievable. Im not usually a huge fan of cooked, mushy fruit, but this was fantastic. Amazing fresh flavors, nice big dollop of whipped cream...I devoured it. Toppings change weekly apparently, but Scup's website say this dish "usually involves fruit and LOTS OF LOVE." So cute :) The website also describes the millionaire bacon as sweet and spicy, and unlike anything you've ever had...and its dead on. If you're a bacon lover (and who isnt?) this is a must-try - I honestly cant explain how delicious.

This is the kind of place other decent, trendy brunch places aspire to be. The difference is their food is flat out better. Their decorations include booeys, christmas ornaments, and pipes hanging across the ceiling. But honestly, with food like this...they could decorate with elmer's glue and I would still eat here. These people care about putting out a quality product, and it shows. Definitely worth a water taxi ride over here on a Sunday morning.

Two other things to note:

1 - If you have any extra used books around your apt - bring them over to donate...they have a bookshelf full of books you can buy one for $3 each - proceeds go to women and children's shelters in the area.

2 - Check their hours before you make the trip over to this little gem. They are open weeknights, and in the mornings on the weekend, but the hours are different every day so definitely look it up!

Im off to enjoy my food coma and the Pat's game :)

Little B