Sunday Brunch is often just a euphemism for "expensive breakfast", where for twice the price you'd usually pay you can have access to way more food than you would ever want to eat. The last few brunch buffets I've tried have fit that mold. Kelly's is a bit different; just a down-home brunch where most of the items are $10, including coffee. The menu is very simple, with 3 standard items and 2 specials each week.
The first thing you need to know is that they only serve brunch until 2pm; their website says 3pm and the first time I tried to come here after 2 it was over. The second thing you need to know is that if you're not a regular, you may not feel particularly welcome.
I walked in at 1:45pm and sat down at the bar. There was a Red Sox game on and I secretly rooted for Oakland; this is a Red Sox bar and I know enough not to mention the Yankees or wear anything with an NY logo on it. I've been here a few times before, and they always just seem so uncomfortable serving people who aren't regulars here. There's almost a "what are you doing here" look in their eyes. I asked to see the brunch menu and there really is none; just a card on the table and a big neon sign with the specials. I asked for coffee and viewed the menu, although I already knew I was having the prime rib hash. They don't have coffee in the dining room and they have to go into the kitchen to get it, which is a little weird, because they have clam chowder in the dining room in a big pot but no coffee. So I order the hash and I settle in with the sunday paper on my phone. I'm about halfway through my coffee and some dude sits 2 seats down, obviously a regular, and he orders the hash also. Didn't think anything of it.
Just as I'm finishing my first microcup of coffee, the dude 2 seats down gets his order. Say what? I've been waiting a good 15 minutes and I ordered a good 10 minutes before him. Now if my server got upset thinking that they gave my order to the other dude I might understand; but there was none of that. There was also no checking the coffee. So as this dude is chomping away at his breakfast, I'm waiting, and waiting, with an empty cup and not a word from my server. Now realize I'm at the bar, so my "server" is standing 5 feet away chatting it up. Finally she spins into the kitchen and comes out with the other dude's order and places it in front of me. She doesn't notice the empty coffee cup, so I have to bark at her as she turns away to get another cup.
It's said that Sunday Brunch is a way of getting rid of your weekend's leftovers, and that may be the case here. Kelly's serves prime rib on Fridays and Saturdays only; so it's probably no coincidence that they have prime rib hash on Sunday. It's unique enough that it caught my interest, and its pretty good. Chopped prime rib with onions and skin-on red potatoes with 2 poached eggs. The miniature special "muffin" serves no purpose; cornbread with shrimp cooked in seems a bit odd and it didn't do anything for me. I also have no use for fruit with my meals; you really shouldn't mix fruit with meat and potatoes, but that's another article.
As I left nobody said good-bye or Thanks. It's just that kind of place.