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Phantom Gourmet: Great 8 Brunch Spots

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then brunch has to be the most delicious meal of the week. Here are the 8 Greatest brunches Phantom has ever found.

17 State Street Café
Newburyport

Kicking off the Great 8 is the 17 State Street Café in Newburyport. Located inside an historic old building that was a cigar shop and news stand for decades, 17 State Street serves home style cooking at breakfast, lunch and dinner. So there's Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes, Hot Mess Home Fries loaded up with all the good stuff and one of the best egg sandwiches on the North Shore.

As Good As It Gets
Wilmington

As Good As It Gets in Wilmington is a friendly spot serving breakfast and lunch 7 days a week in a casual setting with smiling servers and a bustling open kitchen. From the moment you walk in the door, you'll feel at home with complimentary coffee while you wait to be served creative dishes like the Wilmington Whopper, stacked with your favorite breakfast foods, or the Comfort Omelet which brings diner staples like Mac and Cheese and Meatloaf to breakfast.

La Qchara
Melrose

Another Great 8 winner is La Qchara in Melrose. This casual, counter service spot brings Venezuelan flavors to brunch. The menu boasts everything from vitamin rich smoothies to heartier dishes like Hueveos Tapiquenos, a South American spin on steak and eggs; and caramelly Tostadas Francesas, French Toast topped with almond slivers and fresh fruit. There's even a Venezuelan version of eggs Benedict which looks nothing like the original. It's served on an Arepa, topped with chorizo and Guasacaca cream sauce.

James' Breakfast & More
Wrentham

James' Breakfast & More in Wrentham serves all of the start of the day staples with a special spin. Eggs Benedict is made with two griddled English Muffins, grilled tomato, crab cakes, a pair of over easy eggs, and homemade dill hollandaise. Something called the Cast Iron Killer combines home fries with peppers, onions, and Jamaican jerk seasoning, plus a mound of homemade corned beef hash, and a couple butter fried eggs.

75 on Liberty Wharf
Boston Waterfront

75 on Liberty Wharf on Boston's waterfront sports floor to ceiling windows for dining on the water, no matter what the weather's like outside. At brunch they serve all the good stuff like indulgent Raspberry Stuffed French Toast. But it's their do-it-yourself Bloody Mary Bar that is Phantom's fave, loaded up with great garnishes and fun flavored vodkas.

Bintliff's American Café
Portland, Maine

Another Great 8 winner is Bintliff's American Cafe in Portland, Maine. Crowds constantly fill the house for fluffy frittatas, classic Bloody Mary's, and made-from-scratch pancakes spiked with real Maine blueberries. Phantom doesn't mind taking a trip north for the Bintliff Bayou Eggs Benedict.

"We take a classic Eggs Benedict. We start with a cornbread pancake instead of an English muffin. We grill that off. We top it with fresh grilled andouille sausage, poached eggs, topped with a Cajun style hollandaise."

J & M Diner
Framingham

J&M Diner in Framingham is a bright and lively spot that offers both breakfast and lunch, with photos of all of the plates proudly displayed on the walls. The servers are all decked out in the PJs, as they deliver plates of steak and eggs, and pancakes topped with everything you can imagine, like fresh strawberries and crumbled Oreo cookies. It's the Wicked Sinful French Toast that has customers Wicked hungry. To put it simply, it's French Toast featuring a batter-dipped, grilled danish.

Kristin's
Braintree

Rounding out the Great 8 is Kristin's in Braintree. This no frills breakfast spot serves mouthwatering plates from the morning to the mid-afternoon. The house made Corned Beef Hash is some of the best Phantom has sampled. You'll have trouble deciding between the 25 varieties of pancakes. There's everything from Blueberry to German Chocolate to the Birthday Cake, topped with frosting, sprinkles and a candle. Each can be ordered as a stack or individually so you can sample a few.

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.

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