When I was making my restaurant lineup for Parents’ Weekend, one task felt particularly daunting: finding the perfect brunch spot. I wanted something cozy and classic but still interesting — somewhere I could force someone to share a sweet and a savory dish with me so that I could get the best of both worlds. After scrolling through enough Google reviews to qualify as research, I landed on Rosebud Bar & Kitchen, a Davis Square classic that’s been reborn in recent years with a new twist.
The restaurant is only a five-minute walk from the Davis Square Tufts shuttle stop — past H-Mart, Goodwill and Buffalo Exchange — and is impossible to miss. The front of the restaurant is an old-school dining car, painted glossy black with “Rosebud” written across it in swooping red-and-white script. It looks like it should serve bottomless coffee and hash browns to regulars, but step through the doorway and it’s immediately clear that this is no typical greasy spoon.
Inside, the space feels warm, with wood paneling, cozy booths, fake foliage and sunlight streaming in from the big front windows. This sense of warmth, however, was deceptive — inside the restaurant, it was freezing. To be fair, we’d arrived right when they opened, so the heat probably hadn’t caught up with the space yet. Nonetheless, my dad, typically not one to flee from the cold, ended up abandoning our table mid-meal to stand near the windows for warmth. I stayed put, clutching my mango lassi and wondering if I should’ve ordered a hot coffee instead.
The chill aside, Rosebud knows what it’s doing when it comes to food. The menu is full of American classics with Indian-inspired twists — the Railway Club Sandwich, Avocado Green Chutney Toast, Tikka Tots and Masala Chai French Toast among them. The dishes feel intentional, creative and genuinely exciting to read through. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but if you don’t make it during that time, there are still plenty of tempting options — it might be hard to choose!
My grandma and I shared the Butter Chicken Benny and the Masala Chai French Toast, while my brother — clearly the smartest at the table — ordered the Kerala Fried Chicken and Waffle.
The Butter Chicken Benny was excellent: two perfectly poached eggs perched on a fat slice of toasted brioche, smothered in velvety butter chicken that was rich and delicious. The dish felt indulgent yet balanced, full of great flavors put together in a new way.
The Masala Chai French Toast was less memorable, which was unfortunate because I was probably most excited for it. The chai flavor came through a bit too subtly for a dish that promised spice and warmth. It was still delicious, but considering all the exciting options on the menu, I would order differently next time. A little more chai and fatter slices of bread could do this dish wonders.
The real winner, though, was my brother’s Kerala Fried Chicken and Waffle: perfectly crispy chicken, tender inside, paired with a green chilli waffle that stayed fluffy despite soaking up all the coconut and maple tadka. I stole a bite, immediately regretted my order, then proceeded to steal another bite. (Sibling rivalry is alive and well at brunch.)
Between the eight of us, we ended up with what can only be described as a concerning amount of the potato home fries, which disappeared faster than our server could bring ketchup. They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and perfectly seasoned. The potatoes were so good that my aunt — after trying one off my cousin’s plate — ordered her own side before realizing most of our dishes already came with them piled high.
As mentioned earlier, I got a mango lassi to drink, which was cold, creamy and delicious. It was sweet and fresh tasting, with real mango flavor instead of syrup. It was the perfect complement to my heavier butter chicken, though it definitely didn’t help my body temperature situation while sitting in the freezing booth.
Despite the chill, the overall vibe was welcoming. Near the dining car seating, there’s a shelf stacked with board games, which I imagine would make for an incredibly fun brunch if you’re not too busy shoving your face and chatting with your companions.
Rosebud sits at an interesting crossroads; it’s familiar yet out of the box. You can sense its diner roots in the layout and straightforward plating, but the menu feels like a chef actually had fun with it. It’s comfort food that still manages to surprise you.
The prices are about what you’d expect for a Davis Square brunch. Entrées run in the $15–20 range, and with drinks the bill can quickly add up. Definitely not a ‘breakfast before class’ kind of spot, but perfect for when you have visitors or need a field trip off campus with friends.
By the end of our meal, my dad had returned to the table — thawed out and happy — and my grandmother declared we would come back next time she visits. So, is Rosebud worth going broke for? Yes. It’s a restaurant that makes breakfast feel like an occasion — a chance to sit, relax and debrief. The food has personality, the vibe is great and, even if your French toast isn’t life-changing, the chicken and waffles make up for it. If you’re tired of dining hall deja vu or just want to treat yourself to something special, Rosebud is a great option. It’s proof that even an old diner can learn new tricks.
