Brunch Bets: Masa

Masa’s Brunch Fiesta menu offers a first course and main course for under $10. The caramelized plantain empanadas with Mexican cinnamon cream cheese are a chef specialty. Photos by Liz Vanderau

A South End mainstay since it opened in 1998, Masa is known for its Mexican and Southwest fusion cuisine. Its award-winning cocktails, impressive list of tequilas, and authentic tapas have earned a loyal clientele.

But Masa’s weekend brunch deserves special mention. The menu is large, innovative, and sure to delight brunch connoisseurs. Patrons can choose to start off with a brunch tapa, like breakfast tacos with creamy scrambled eggs and vine-ripe tomato salsa ($5.25), Southwestern spring rolls with poblanos, chorizo, Chihuahua cheese, and chipotle aioli ($4.95), and Baja fish tacos with pico de gallo, pickled onions, and chipotle tartar sauce ($9.95), or skip right to the main course.

A dozen main courses range from adventurous to tame and sweet to savory. For diners looking for something more exciting than the standard eggs benedict, try the tequila- and cilantro-cured salmon with a cream cheese–roasted poblano quesadilla and arugula with tomato and red onion ($12.75). Also offered are inventive versions of classic dishes. The stuffed Mexican omelet made with chili-roasted spring vegetables and Monterey jack cheese, with home fries and whole wheat toast ($10.75), or the Santa Fe–style eggs benedict atop Southwestern biscuits, with avocado cream, green chili hollandaise, and Southwest home fries ($12.25), are both popular. The crispy Texas toast, made from cornflake-crusted brioche stuffed with caramelized bananas, and jalapeño-scented whiskey maple syrup ($11.25), will please diners with a sweet tooth. And there are plenty of sides to choose from: chorizo ($3.75), cured salmon ($3.25), bacon ($2.75), steak ($5.50), or avocado ($3.50) can be added to any dish, as well as toast, black beans and rice, chili-dusted fries, and Southwest home fries.

Unsurprisingly, the popular restaurant and bar serves up a variety of innovative brunch cocktails. Classic drinks like Bloody Marys, vodka, Chef Phil’s Bloody Mary mix, and pickled jalapeño ($9.50), and mimosas, champagne and fresh-squeezed orange juice ($9), grace the menu alongside more unique offerings, like a habanero watermelon margarita, a concoction of habanero-infused tequila, watermelon puree, lime juice, and triple sec ($12), and a pomegranate tequila sunrise, white tequila, pomegranate molasses, pama liqueur, and fresh orange juice ($9.50).

Masa’s Brunch Fiesta offers diners on a budget a real bargain, great for college students short on cash: $9.95 gets you two courses and a choice of tea or coffee. While the options are limited, they’ve been carefully selected. First courses include granola with milk and caramelized plantain empanadas (a patron favorite), while among the main courses are breakfast tacos with black beans and rice and Jalisco chocolate chip pancakes with mango butter and maple syrup.

We opted to start with a Bloody Masa ($9.50), a twist on a traditional Bloody Mary. Diners select either regular or jalapeño- or habanero-infused tequila, Chef Phil’s Bloody Mary mix, and a pickled jalapeño. This spicy drink packs a lot of heat and is definitely not for the faint of heart. The generous portion lasted us through the meal.

We also decided to try two of the Brunch Fiesta options. For our first course, we ordered seasonal fruit and the caramelized plantain empanada. The fruit was unimpressive, but the empanada, served warm with Mexican cinnamon cream cheese, was delicious. The flaky pastry was fried to golden perfection, with just a hint of sweetness. The plantain filling was tender, slightly sweet, aromatic, and lightly spiced with cinnamon, enhanced by the fluffy cinnamon cream cheese.

For our main course, we selected the creamy scrambled eggs and huevos rancheros. The eggs, made with chorizo and Mexican farmer’s cheese and served with home fries and toast, were fluffy and cooked exactly right. The huevos rancheros, though, were the standout. The dish featured queso cotija and salsa melted between two crispy tortillas, served over black beans and topped with crema and pico de gallo. The flavors were delicate and the varied textures of the crisp tortillas, tender beans, and creamy crema resulted in an ideal balance of taste and texture. A note of warning: come hungry. The portions at Masa are large and we could barely finish our meals.

The quirky, laid-back, but sophisticated interior is small and the brunch menu’s popularity means the place is often packed on weekend days, so plan to make a reservation.

Masa, 439 Tremont St., Boston, is open for brunch Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the Brunch Fiesta is served Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; phone: 617-338-8884. Reservations are recommended, especially for large parties. Find the menu here. Take any MBTA Green Line trolley to Arlington and walk down Arlington Street to Tremont Street.

This is part of a weekly series featuring Boston lunch and brunch spots of interest to the BU community. If you have any suggestions for places we should feature, leave them in the Comment section below.

Liz Vanderau can be reached at vanderau@bu.edu.

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