Let’s Talk About Brunches

In honor of today being Monday, the day after Sunday, which is unofficial official Brunch Day, let’s talk about brunches.

I’ve raved about the Four Seasons’ brunch more times than I can count, and Moonshine’s too. I was on quite the brunch kick for a little while, but athletics and sleeping have gotten in the way since those erstwhile lazy Sundays. But news hit today about Max’s introducing a brunch, so I’m back on the wagon. Here we go:

If I could un-rave about a place, it’d be Lambert’s. It’s supposed to be one of the best places in town for Brunch, and it has a unique format: all-you-can-eat buffet for some more side-dish type things like breads, fruit, potatoes, mac ‘n cheese, bacon, etc., and then ribs and brisket. Then you can eat all you want of the ordering items, but you have to order them–eggs benedict, waffles, and the like. Cool, right? All for $26.95. (Not cheap.)

I’m bummed to report that the food just wasn’t that good. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, there just wasn’t anything right about it either. My friends enjoyed the ribs, and the eggs were good, but none of it was great. In short, none of it was worth a $30-brunch. If you’re gonna do that, might as well hop up to the Four Seasons, pay a little more, and get the finest experience you could ever imagine.

I’ve only been once, so we’ll leave it at a baby-sized un-rave. But I won’t be going back, not when there are two new kids on the block to try:

The Belmont‘s All-You-Can-Eat Sunday Brunch might not be new, but it’s new to me. For just $14.95, they serve you family-style fare, as much as you want. Dinners and appetizers I’ve had at Belmont have always been quite delicious, so I can’t imagine brunch being any worse. Plus $1 mimosas, $5 carafes of mimosa, and a DIY Bloody Mary Bar for $5, it seems like this is a win-win. Has anyone been? Can you report back?

Beginning this coming holiday weekend, Max’s Wine Dive will introduce an all-day Sunday brunch featuring All-You-Can-Eat Fried Chicken, Waffles and Mimosas for $25. If Southern fave chicken-n-waffles ain’t your thang, check out Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs ($15), a dish featuring a 1/4-pound chicken-fried New York Strip steak with truffled gravy, home fries and two farm fresh fried eggs; Nutella Banana French Toast ($10); or the Sunday Morning Breakfast Tacos ($9), which include two scrambled farm-fresh eggs, piquillo peppers, cotija and white cheddar cheeses packed inside warm corn tortillas and served with habanero salsa and home fries.

Looks like I’ve got some eatin’ to do …