FOOD: City Girl Brunch [Boston--Cambridge]

[photo from City Girl Cafe]
You might be asking yourself just now, "What's a City Girl? Is that like an Uptown Girl?" No, I'm not referencing a Billy Joel song-- City Girl here refers to City Girl Cafe, a veritable brunch beacon in Cambridge's Inman Square. While the petite restaurant has a plethora of Italian-inspired eat-in or take-out dinner options, I'm here to talk solely about brunch, because it's just that good.
Every Saturday and Sunday from 10-3, the masses line up outside of City Girl's charmingly eclectic dining room for a taste of their breakfast (slash-early-afternoon) offerings. The small eat-in space is peppered with curiosities, like a painting of a large-eyed waif (and her equally large-eyed cat), gilded flower-ringed mirrors, and an assortment of colorful vases. The air is suffused with rosemary, thanks to their delectable roasted red bliss potatoes and the coffee flows freely. Pretty much anything on the menu is sure to delight but I always go for il meglio. In Italian, it translates to "the best," and that pretty much sums it up. Chewy, fragrant rosemary focaccia comes covered in slices of salty prosciutto, two over-easy eggs, and a healthy blanket of fontina cheese on top of which rests delicate asparagus spears. Are you hungry yet?

[photo from City Girl Cafe]
Besides mouth-watering menu staples, their chalkboard displays daily food and drink specials, including beers and cocktails. A refreshing grapefruit mimosa was served in what was basically a goblet and their rosemary-lemon punch is always on the menu and always delicious (prosecco, sweet vermouth, rosemary, lemon, and simple syrup over ice. Yes, please.) The location has its quirks, like a bathroom so small that the sink is in the kitchen, but the staff is friendly and seem to love what they do. The one true downside to City Girl is that there's inevitably a wait and there's hardly any room inside to hang around, despite free coffee for those who've put their name in. To that I say, go early, go often, just go to City Girl.
City Girl Cafe
204 Hampshire Street
Cambridge MA 02139