High School friends and co-owners Chris Young and Stephen Chan opened their South End eatery Bootleg Special, a southern crawfish joint with a nod to the French Quarter. We went there to check out their dine-in only weekend brunch, available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 2:30pm.
Located at the edge of South End by Mass Pike, upon entry you see a large, deep dining room. The setup transports you into a New Orleans-like space with chandeliers and a bar off to the right with graffiti hanging off their walls that makes it feel like a speakeasy harkening from the Prohibition era.
The first dish to come out was their Special Bootleg Benedict, at $19. It is a typical eggs benedict with perfectly poached eggs over muffins covered in hollandaise sauce (an emulsion of egg yolks, lemon and better). But it’s the Special Bootleg Sauce with lobster and crab that makes this dish special from your usual standard benedict dish. The Cajun spices in the Special Bootleg Sauce were not overly spicy but added a nice light kick to this dish.
Next to come out was their Strawberry Crème Fraiche Soufflé Pancakes, which were $14. This is their version of the wildly popular Japanese soufflé pancakes that garnered international attention y in 2018. There are not many places that sell them locally in Boston, so I was excited to have them here. While they make their own version of soufflé pancakes, they still require some patience, as each order takes at least 15 minutes to cook. Similar to the original Japanese version with their light, airy and fluffy texture, it was a treat to eat. The original twist on these pancakes is the toppings. A small mound of crème fraiche, powdered sugar dusted fresh, sliced strawberries and a light strawberry sauce are plated on a dish.
Finally, the Spicy Scallops, Taco Asiatico style, came out with 2 tacos with two large scallops lightly seared over a bed of green and red cabbage, served with cotton dried shrimp and green chili lime salsa over a soft flour tortilla. Overall there is a nice flavor and the lime added a good balance of zest.
With their friendly and attentive waitstaff, this hip spot serves up Cajun Seafood Boils and Southern Comfort Food, which I want to try next. Any time if you want to try a new place to have a different kind of brunch, do check out Bootleg Special.
