Whoever invented brunch was a genius. You get to sleep in, enjoy both breakfast and lunch foods in the middle of the day and, if you’re lucky, do it while imbibing either a bloody mary, mimosa or both. But just because you’re cutting out a meal doesn’t mean you need to go hungry. We’ve rounded up several local restaurants guaranteed to leave you sated and ready for a long winter’s nap.
French Crust Café
You’ll find traditional brunch favorites like the requisite eggs Benedict and pancakes, plus French-inspired dishes like the Croque Monsieur with fried eggs at this delightful sister restaurant of Jean-Robert’s Table, but be sure to indulge in chef Jean-Philippe Solnom’s exquisite French Viennoiserie and pastries. Bonus round: French Crust is open early if your Friday night out somehow became Saturday morning. Breakfast and lunch 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. 915 Vine St., Downtown, jrtable.com/french-crust-cafe.
Grand Oriental
While it’s definitely the least traditional brunch option on the list, Grand Oriental offers plenty of fun and lots of tasty individual portions of traditional sweet and savory Chinese dumplings, buns and rolls served in steamer baskets. Choose what you like off carts that arrive at your table and pay only for what you eat. Dim Sum 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 4800 Fields Ertel Road, Deerfield Township, 513-677-3388.
Lavomatic
Chef Josh Campbell’s brunch menu is loaded with serious comfort food, making it the perfect choice for brunch after a night of serious drinking, especially since one of the dishes is actually named the Hangover Helper. That would be the fried macaroni and cheese smothered in spicy house-made chili, topped with an egg. Goetta gets even more awesome in the GBLT&E: goetta, bacon, lettuce, tomato and egg. Brunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, lavoinotr.com.
Nectar
Chef Julie Francis offers brunch classics with a seasonal flair. She’s serious about sourcing locally, featuring meats and cheeses from Eckerlin Meats at Findlay Market, Kentucky’s Kenny’s Farmhouse cheeses, locally raised pork from Ken Shelton, pastured farm-eggs from Fishback Farm and bread and English muffins from Blue Oven Bakery. All the desserts and scones are made in-house. Goetta goes international with the Goetta Banh Mi, a popular new sandwich made with Eckerlin’s goetta, Kroeger & Sons spicy Andouille, house-made pork pate, pickled vegetables and Sriracha aioli. Brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. 1000 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout, dineatnectar.com.
Orchids at Palm Court
Don your Sunday best and be sure to arrive ravenous. The menu changes weekly, but this is the real-deal, full, grand brunch buffet with carving stations, seafood, omelets to order, a variety of salads, fresh waffles, croissants, scones, coffee cakes and much, much more. Be sure to save room for desserts from pastry chef Megan Ketover, including warm, chocolate chunk bread pudding, passion fruit meringue tarts, macarons, chocolate pot de crème, salted caramel toffee tarts and petit fours. Brunch 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday. 35 W. Fifth St., Downtown, orchidsatpalmcourt.com.
Park + Vine
By now it’s no secret that P+V is completely vegan, although owner Dan Korman is quick to note that, “We’re not shoving that point down folks’ throats.” The brunch menu includes hearty, traditional fare, including biscuits and gravy, a tofu scramble, frittatas, quiche, pancakes and waffles even omnivores will love. Baked goods are from Happy Chicks Bakery and coffee is from La Terza. Brunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1202 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, parkandvine.com.
Sugar n’ Spice
This perfectly kitsch diner has been around since 1941, serving their original Whispy Thin pancakes, signature sandwiches and massive omelets to a wonderfully diverse crowd. Super family-friendly, owner Steve Frankel doles out rubber ducks and stuffed animals to the kiddies while passing out samples of decadent deep-fried mac and cheese to stave off hunger during long waits. Best of all, it’s economical enough that you can always pick up the tab. Breakfast 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. 4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills, sugar-n-spice-restaurant.com.
Taste of Belgium
Belgian waffles take center stage during brunch at Taste of Belgium, traditionally topped with fruit and cream, Nutella and the like, or in new-fangled ways by replacing the bun in the McWaffle burger or sandwiching turkey, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo in the Southwestern waffle. There is also a variety of both sweet and savory crepes. Brunch 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at the Short Vine location, 2845 Vine St., Clifton; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at the Over-the-Rhine location, 1133 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, authenticwaffle.com.
Virgil’s Café
Head over the river to picturesque Bellevue, Ky., where chef Matthew Buschle writes his brunch menu on Saturday night or Sunday morning, always featuring a mix of standard items — think eggs Benedict on house-made English muffins, Dutch apple pancakes and omelets, as well as more original items like a pulled pork and acorn squash hash. Brunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. 710 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, virgilscafe.com.
What are your favorite brunch spots in town? Hidden or classic. Leave them in the comments.
This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2013.