Hello hello, welcome back to the blog! The weather here in Amherst has ACTUALLY finally warmed up (like, for real this time), and I have been taking full advantage of the lovely spring warmth by spending a lot of time on our campus’s various quads. Spring is also a time of year that really screams “brunch” to me (but then again, I’m sort of a year-round brunch kinda gal), so it felt fitting to update my brunch series! There’s not really anything in common among these three spots, so I guess in some ways, the theme of this week’s edition is places that really emphasize the wide range of brunch spots that we have in the area. Enjoy!
The Boltwood Inn
As you may recall from previous posts, the Boltwood Inn is a favorite study spot of mine as a cozy escape from campus. However, while the inn’s restaurant is undoubtedly yummy, it’s actually not among my favorite spots in the area. Don’t get me wrong, the Boltwood is an ideal place to bring parents or guests; it’s a beautiful restaurant with a lovely outdoor space by a fire pit, and it’s definitely one of the fancier eating options in town. This photo on the left is their “Turkish Eggs”, and it was definitely very yummy. However, in my personal opinion, the food at the Boltwood can actually be a little bit hit or miss, and nothing that i’ve had there has ever really stood out to me. So, while it’s absolutely a great brunch option in town if you’re really looking for a sit-down meal, I also think there is better food in the area. Overall, i’ll give Boltwood an 8/10.
The Works
On what is essentially the opposite end of the spectrum from the Boltwood Inn, The Works is a chain cafe with locations across New England that offers a less expensive brunch option in town. While it’s honestly not a place that I frequent due to the fact that I think there are better options (and I like supporting small businesses!), I have recently discovered a menu item that I really really like. Their “Sunrise grilled burrito” is a breakfast burrito with egg, quinoa, avocado, cajun-rubbed bacon, sweet potato, cheddar, and pico de gallo, and it is truly so delicious. I’m personally not the biggest fan of the Works’ drinks, but I’ve heard that a lot of people really love their chai latte. This is definitely the biggest cafe in town, so its a perfect spot to do work with friends or bring a bigger group. As of right now i’d give The Works a 7.5/10, but this rating might improve if I keep finding menu items I really enjoy.
The Book Mill
To finish this brunch blog strong, we have the Book Mill. This bookstore with a cafe is in Montague MA, so it’s definitely the farthest brunch spot in this series so far, but it is absolutely worth the trip. Their cafe is technically called the Lady Killgrew, and while its menu is relatively small, their No.1 grilled sandwich with brie cheese, apricot jam, and marinated apples (pictured to the left) was so so good. And, aside from the food, this bookstore is absolutely adorable, and the cafe part of the building has some really gorgeous views of the surrounding nature. This spot is truly the definition of feeling like a complete escape from college life, and when I visited the Book Mill, I had an extremely productive writing session that was definitely inspired by my lovely surroundings. Overall, i’d give this place a 9/10.
Well, I hope you all enjoyed hearing about these three very different brunch spots. In case you can’t tell, coming to Amherst College means that you will have access to an abundance of diverse, quirky cafes and hidden gems, and what’s not to love about that. If you have any questions about life here at Amherst, please don’t hesitate to email me! My email is eknauer27@amherst.edu. Bye for now!!