As football season warms up and summer weather cools down, tailgaters can squeeze in a hearty, pre-game meal (translation: mimosas and bellinis) and Dallasites can savor the simple pleasure of patio dining while it’s nice outside.
Brunch is undoubtedly my favorite meal of the week, and probably the same for most Dallas denizens. Most restaurants near campus offer special brunch selections different from their usual menu, and some of these items are the sole reason to look forward to the weekend.
Some of the following items are only served during brunch and some that are available whenever you need your fix (cloud cakes, I love you). Make it a point to visit a different one each week, and your stomach will no longer hate you for heating up sad, frozen waffles in the morning.
At Original Pancake House on Lemmon, the pancakes aren’t “international” but they’re darn good anyway. Open until 2 p.m. daily, this place specializes in morning and midday meals. Almost every plate comes with a side of “three delicious buttermilk pancakes.” The omelettes are massive and so are the plates of French toast. I get the “smaller appetite” dish of one scrambled egg with three blueberry pancakes, but the oven-baked Dutch Baby pancake served with lemon, whipped butter and powdered sugar is always tempting.
Dream Café, however, takes the (pan)cake. Serious breakfast lovers must order the Cloud Cakes made of fluffy ricotta flapjacks with strawberries and crème fraiche. The omelettes are delicious too, especially the Santa Fe, which comes with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and pesto.
For prime time huevos, go to La Duni. If you haven’t tried the Huevos Finos – poached eggs with Gruyere cheese and Hollandaise sauce in a piping hot popover – prepare to be enlightened. Purists should go for the huevos rancheros, and dainty eaters will enjoy the pretty homemade yogurt & granola. The granola is perfectly packaged, accompanied by a shot of honey and bananas and strawberries. Get a latte and popover to complete the experience.
Bread Winners Café in Uptown and Inwood Village almost needs no mention; its accolades are widely known and the zucchini bread is to-die-for (as are the rest of the baked goods). I really like the sandwiches and salads here, but the San Antonio tacos hit the spot when I need a taste of home.
The Grape on Greenville, whose cheeseburger was voted No. 1 on Texas Monthly’s list of best burgers in the state, also boasts a chicken fried biscuit that is indescribably good. Ditto with The Grape’s fried polenta cheese fritters.
The Lombardi family of restaurants – La Cubanita, Toulouse, Taverna and Sangria – are within walking distance of one another and have great brunch menus and drink specials (bottomless rum punch, anyone?). Vanilla French toast with fresh fruit and mascarpone, puffy French beignets, sweet plantains and steak and eggs are filling, elegant and tasty. The Lombardi-owned Penne Pomodoro in Snider Plaza features flavorful frittatas and eggs Benedict – not to mention its $1 mimosas, bellinis and bloody marys.
Those who have been saving their calories for a ridiculous weekend feast, head to Blue Mesa on Northwest Highway or Mattito’s in Uptown for an all-you-can-eat brunch and all-you-can-drink mimosas. There is nothing better than unlimited Tex-Mex after a long night of painting the town.
