We'll say yes to brunch any weekend day. But if our meal gets an added bit of deliciousness from Bananas Foster pancakes, Southern fried chicken, or pulled pork chilaquiles? That's a double yes. Either fresh to the scene or a familiar favorite, below are eight restaurants with new brunch menus to hit this weekend.
Ritual
From chilaquiles (with pork, corn tortilla, queso fresco, tomatillo, sour cream, and a poached egg) to Stockyard Hash (with potatoes, peppers, onion, smoked pork, brisket, a sunny-side egg, and green chile hollandaise) or the Down South burger (with bourbon pimento cheese, house-made bacon, house pickle, and barbecue sauce), the roster of delicious offerings at Ritual make deciding where to eat this weekend (Saturday and Sunday; 10 am - 3 pm) a no-brainer. (602 Studewood, 832-203-5180)
Triniti
Sundays should be lazy, and definitely include sprawling late-morning meals and a parade of cocktails. Triniti Restaurant makes the dream come alive. The restaurant celebrates hitting its five-year mark with a new Sunday Funday brunch menu (Sunday; 11 am - 3 pm) featuring Bananas Foster pancakes (with rum syrup, candied pecans, and vanilla-cinnamon butter), bangers and mash scramble (with mashed potato cake, link breakfast sausage, and onion gravy), and orange duck biscuit (duck three ways: duck confit biscuit, bacon-cured duck breast and sunny-side up duck egg, all with orange gravy).
Forget whatever errands are planned for the day and linger over cocktails including the Steamboat Joe (5-year rum, pimento-vanilla flavored spice syrup, bitters, and hot coffee) and the Porch Swing (bourbon, house-made black tea cordial, peach bitters, lemon, and soda). (2815 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston, 713-527-9090)
Pax Americana
Pax Americana in Montrose offers everything you’d want in a Sunday brunch (11 am -3 pm): a high-energy vibe, boozy sips aplenty (try the Pax-Americana Clipper with spiced pear liqueur, lime, pomegranate grenadine, and Absinthe), and stellar modern American eats like the Pax pan perdu (French toast with whipped goat ricotta, slow roasted beets, and sweet sorghum syrup) and baked yard eggs (with pomodoro, pork sausage, pickled chilies, yogurt, and parsley). (4319 Montrose Boulevard, 713-239-0228)
Upstairs at Hungry’s Cafe
Upstairs, the second floor lounge at Hungry’s in Rice Village, takes midday partying to a new level (Saturday and Sunday; 11 am -3 pm), admitting only those 21 years and up. The kitchen cranks out brunch-time favorites such as croissant French toast and a spinach omelet (with feta, tomato, and a side of herb-roasted potatoes) while the bar presents Bloody Mary’s, a mimosa flight (3-ounce glasses filled with bubbly with orange, strawberry, raspberry or grapefruit juices), and more. (2356 Rice Boulevard, 713-523-8652)
Kitchen 713
Skip humdrum scrambled eggs and toast and brunch it up at Kitchen 713 (Saturday and Sunday; 11 am - 3 pm) where you can score delectable dishes including biscuits and gravy (with housemade jalapeño, green onion breakfast sausage, tasso gravy, a fried egg, and crispy onions), Southern fried chicken, and house-cured-salmon-topped hoecake (with Greek yogurt, za'atar Middle Eastern spice blend, fried capers, preserved lemon, diced shallots, and dill). (4601 Washington Ave #130, 713- 842-7114)
Eloise Nichols Grill & Liquors
They had us at buttermilk biscuit Benedict (with pulled pork, smoked paprika hollandaise, pickled green tomato, and hash), but then they went and added chicken and waffles, pulled pork chilaquiles (sunny side up eggs with pico de gallo and queso fresco) and a Bloody Mary cart (piled high with pickled veggies, vodka, and spices) and we’re all in for brunch (Saturday and Sunday; 10 am -3 pm) at the new restaurant on Westheimer inside the loop. (2400 Mid Lane, 713-554-0136).
Holley's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar
You'll see no shortage of stellar eats and drinks on the brunch menu (Sunday; 11am - 2 pm) at Holley's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar in Midtown. A prix-fixe deal offers guests a choice of an appetizer, entree and dessert, with options along the lines of citrus-cured salmon, Cornish hen and waffles, and coconut cake. Kicks things up a notch with a cocktail (or two) like the Bow Thai (with gin, thai basil, lemon, brut champagne) and Well Latte Da (with bourbon, vanilla and cinnamon). (3201 Louisiana, 713-491-2222)
Arthur Ave
You can’t go wrong with weekend brunch at Italian-American Arthur Ave restaurant in the Heights (Saturday and Sunday; 11 am - 3 pm). Highlights include panettone French toast (cherry syrup, mascarpone, whipped cream), frittata (with pancetta, scallion, potato and mushroom), and chicken parmesan (herb crumb breaded, mozzarella, red sauce, basil) and can’t-miss New York-style pizza. (1111 Studewood, 832-582-7146)
Biscuits and gravy at Kitchen 713.
