At Somerville's Neighborhood, this cozy Portuguese-American brunch haven serves up hearty breakfasts featuring legendary Cream of Wheat and giant portions in a charming atmosphere.
"At the Neighborhood Restaurant, the Borges family has been cooking Portuguese classics like cod cake and linguica for breakfast and lunch since 1983, long before the area became trendy. Another menu stalwart that has created generations of diehard brunch fans? Cream of wheat. Forget what the stodgy name evokes — unless it’s something simultaneously decadent and homey, with a rich, velvety texture and a fragrant finish of cinnamon. Weather-permitting, be sure to sit in the restaurant’s quaint courtyard shadowed by Concord grape vines." - Nathan Tavares, Valerie Li Stack
"Non-Somerville residents may raise a confused eyebrow to learn that one of the most iconic dishes in town is a humble bowl of Cream of Wheat, but anyone who has ever braved the line for brunch at Neighborhood — ideally under a pastel umbrella on the patio — knows the truth. Every Neighborhood breakfast comes with a choice of fruit or Cream of Wheat. Don’t make the wrong choice. (Note: Devotees also know that cozy bowls of Cream of Wheat also come a la carte.)" - Eater Staff
"Portuguese American cuisine is a family affair at this neighborhood standard in Somerville. Among various relatives working on any given day, you might spot owner Sheila Borges-Foley’s father mixing up paella. For a hearty Portuguese lunch, choose shrimp, meat, cod, or crab cake and pair it with rice and French fries." - Celina Colby
"Somerville's Union Square has long been home to The Neighborhood Restaurant, an institution in a now-gentrifying setting that offers a glimpse into the city's thriving Portuguese community with heaping plates of mouthwatering breakfast food from the Borges family. Every order starts with divine cream of wheat, a cinnamon-tinged comfort you'll crave even in the heat of summer. The French toast, made with fresh Portuguese bread, is the best in the city—and when paired with an egg or hash dish, will leave you satisfied for a day or two. Get there via a bus ride from Harvard Square or an Orange Line train ride past Charlestown. Patrons agree, though, that it's worth the journey." - Paul Rubio, Elizabeth Wellington, Nathan Tavares
"Conveniently enough, a restaurant called the Neighborhood happens to be a beloved neighborhood spot. Open for Portuguese-American breakfast and lunch daily (it closes at 4 p.m.), the Neighborhood is famous for its huge brunch portions — and the long lines they attract on weekends, especially in the summer when the lovely patio is open. The Cream of Wheat is mandatory. If you know, you know." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal
