Ah, brunch. A delightfully lazy way to spend a weekend morning or afternoon. Linger over mimosas with friends. Slurp down a Bloody Mary to ease the pain of the previous night's revelry.
As for food, anything goes at brunch. Want a traditional breakfast dish like Eggs Benedict? Go right ahead. Prefer a ribeye? As long as it comes with eggs, that's totally fine.
While there's nothing wrong with Houston's present array of brunch options, variety is the spice of life. Break out of the brunch rut and check out one of these five new options.
When a restaurant is open for lunch and dinner six days a week, the last thing any of the employees want to do is come in on Sunday just to serve brunch. Thus, the newly launched brunch at Provisions is on Saturday. Huzzah! Let the traditionalists scoff at Saturday brunch, but Sunday brunch can be problematic for football fans, who don't want to miss the game just to eat. Embrace Saturday brunch! At Provisions, the brunch menu features egg dishes and baked goods while still providing the signature pizzas and meat entrees. Among the most intriguing options are toads in the hole with kim chi pain au lait, housemade kolaches and bagels, and an oversized carrot cake doughnut. Feeling really indulgent? Split the 30 oz ribeye that comes with six soft-boiled eggs. Then take a nap.
When it comes to brunch, a frequently debated topic is, where's the next La Strada? Which restaurant will turn brunch into a see and be seen occasion that's perfect for rounding up a a group of friends, acting silly and having a total blast? After two weeks of brunch service, it looks like Midtown steakhouse Mr. Peeples might be the new contender for the prestigious title. Certainly, the retro-glam, Vegas-inspired interior provides the perfect setting for a party. Then there's the menu that starts with, count 'em, four different Benedict options: crab cake, prosciutto, filet mignon and lobster. If that's not enough, there are plenty of other options. Pair it with a blood orange mimosa, sit on the expansive patio and feel content.
Starting this weekend, Eleven XI will be demonstrating how they apply their take on Southern, coastal cuisine to brunch. That means taking some of the restaurant's signature items and reinterpreting them, such as using the fried game hen for chicken and waffles. The breakfast corndog, a smoked sausage dipped in pancake batter and fried, sounds pretty great, but the breakfast burger that can be topped with everything from eggs to foie gras to lobster is the sort of no holds barred signature dish that should put Eleven XI's brunch on the map. If that's not enough, GM Joe Welborn and bar manager Joe Hausner are experts at crafting the perfect boozy accompaniments to the cuisine. As the weather begins to cool, Eleven XI's giant patio should help make it a top destination.
The craft beer destination rolled out its brunch menu last month. According to rumors around the restaurant, newly hired executive chef Dax McAnear actually likes serving brunch. The menu features a mix of traditional brunch options, along with the restaurant's Cease and Desist burger. Corned beef fried rice and enchilada shrimp toast look like some of the more appealing options that also embody the restaurant's signature take on slightly twisted comfort food. In lieu of a Bloody Mary, there are beer cocktails include shandies and a michelada.
Recently relocated from its original location to the former Roots Bistro location on Westheimer, Radical Eats has added to its previously all-vegan menu with new offerings designed to appeal to "carnivores" as well. Instead of a buffet, the restaurant serves its meals family style and will keep bringing plates of food until everyone's full. The menu varies week to week, but owner Staci Davis tells CultureMap that rice, beans and tamales will always be available. Then there are savory pancakes (recently kim chi), a tofu scramble, and, for the kids (*ahem*) chocolate pancakes. Yes, there's bacon, too. Mimosas are made with seasonal fruit. Between the serving style and diverse menu, it's a great spot for groups of friends with diverse needs.
Corned beef fried rice at The Hay Merchant.
