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Brunch: the perfect weekend meal. You sleep in, roll out, and eat the best kinds of foods at a different and superior hour than the rest of the week. Anything that involves the illicit acts of consuming loads of carbohydrates and drinking firewater before noon while not at a sporting event has our votes.
There are a number of places that one can find such a wondrous meal, ranging from holy-fuck-that's-expensive to the hey-sure-bring-your-dog. We've lovingly assembled this handy reference to make it easier to plan your weekend brunching. Missed a spot you love? Tell us in comments.
Photo by Lex in the city on Flickr
Fancy Places to Take Your Grandmother
Cafe at the Four Seasons (recently relaunched as Trio)
98 San Jacinto Blvd, (512) 478-4500
Uber-fancy hotel swank brunch with 80 kajillion brunch staples and desserts. A classic. A great excuse to drink a bunch of champagne. The kids'-height children's buffet is adorable. Sunday 10am-2pm, $48 per person.
Green Pastures
811 W Live Oak, (512) 444-4747
Genteel, old-world decadence with nibbles from the ubiquitous (pigs in blankets) to the truly unique (alligator). The milk punch is basically a heavily-spiked milkshake that gets refilled every time you bat an eye. Sunday 11am-2pm, $33 per person.
Fonda San Miguel
2330 W. North Loop, (512) 459-4121
Starters like ceviche, interior Mexican specialties like Conchita Pibil and Chicken Mole, and desserts like Tres Leches make this one of the most popular brunch spots in town. Sunday 11am-2pm, $38.95 per person.
Mid-level Brunch Spots for Couples and Visiting Friends
Chez Zee
5406 Balcones Dr, (512) 454-2666
Creme Brulee French Toast: insane goodness. Share with your friends. One of the better Bloody Marys in town. Saturday and Sunday 9am-3pm, dishes in the $10-12 range.
Starlite
407 Colorado St, (512) 374-9012
Bangkok breakfast (Thai crab cakes and sriracha butter) and Dirty Bloody Mary = spicy! A la carte goodness in a warehouse district setting. Sunday 11am-3pm, dishes from $7-13.
South Congress Cafe
1600 South Congress Ave, (512) 447-3905
We had the best eggs benedict of our life here. It included crab cakes in the middle layer and was topped with lardon. Composed but not pretentious; delicious brunch fare. Weekdays 10am-4pm weekends 9am-4pm, dishes from $8-14.
Curra's Grill
614 E. Oltorf St, (512) 444-0012
6301 W. Parmer Ln. Ste 601, (512) 257-2500
The chilaquiles are delicious and tangy and there's something so-wrong-it's-right about the avocado margaritas. Try the Oaxacan coffee; it's good. All day Saturday and Sunday (check website for specific times), dishes $4-7.
Moonshine
303 Red River St, (512) 236-9599
Reasonably-priced buffet with plenty of hearty egg and cheese dishes and decadent desserts in a beautiful setting. Sunday 10am-2:30pm, $14.95 per person.
Eastside Cafe
2113 Manor Rd, (512) 476-5858
The beautiful old house and garden make this brunch a ladies who lunch type of affair. The Smoked Salmon Benedict is really good. More than one of us saw Lady Bird there (back in the day.) Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm, dishes from $7-13.
Everyday Brunch Spots for Your Pals, Your Kids, or Just You with a Paper
Woodland
1716 S. Congress Ave, (512) 441-6800
The Morning Wood is a big platter of a little bit of everything and comes with the best berry preserves in the city. Also, the pie, sooo good — have an Agent Dale Cooper moment. 10am-3pm Sunday, dishes and a la carte from $4-10.
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S. Congress Ave, (512) 445-0000
2304 Lake Austin Blvd, (512) 478-8645
Omelettes and Texas Benedict (spicy!) and plenty of free-flowing coffee. You can always have Mag Mud if you're not feeling egg-y. 24 hours, dishes from $4-8.
Blue Dahlia
1115 E. 11th St, (512) 542-9542
Eggs, breads, and spreads and decent coffee in East Austin. The patio is killer. Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat and Sun 10am-10pm, dishes from $4-8.
Kerbey Lane
3704 Kerbey Ln, (512) 451-1436
2606 Guadalupe St, (512) 477-5717
12602 Research Blvd, (512) 258-7757
2700 South Lamar Blvd, (512) 445-4451
Migas and flavored pancakes make this a staple. Be prepared to wait a looong time if you get there after 9:30 or so on Sunday. 24 hours, dishes from $4-8.
Counter Cafe
626 N. Lamar Blvd, (512) 708-8800
Lots of meat-y goodness (try the breakfast casserole if its on special) and delicious homey biscuits in a tiny diner in Clarksville. Tues-Sat 11am-4pm, dishes from $4-10.
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You definitely can't forget about Lambert's Sunday brunch. It is $22 worth of the best brunch you will ever have. Complete with deviled eggs topped with caviar, bottomless mimosas, the best brioche french toast with bluebell ice cream on top, and personal sized eggs benedict all different ways. It is to die for.
Another everyday great breakfast/brunch is at the 1886 Bakery at the Driskill. The jalapeno corn biscuit topped with crisy bacon, poached egg and the piece de resistance is the chorizo grazy. Mmm so good.
Does Dim Sum count? The new Shanghai near Higland Mall is fabulous and very reasonably priced.
Shannon, you're doing God's work by spreading the gospel of brunch.
Lamberts sounds freaking fabulous, lisa.
Dona Emilia's has a decent brunch. And bottomless mimosas for 5 or 6 bucks.
aww, my two favorites didn't make the list!
Vespaio on South Congress - they have a bread basket that is to die for. i'm not even that big of a fan of bread. much less bread baskets. but this... i would buy by the loaf if they sold it, and they don't, i've asked.
Trudy's Brunch Buffet - chilaquiles, migas, mimosas, what else could you ask for?! (also the perfect hangover solution)