One of the greatest lessons college teaches us is the timeless appeal of a good brunch. For some, it’s a way to mix up their weekend schedule. For others, it’s a cure to a night spent out partying a little too hard. But for most, it’s just a way to enjoy an extended meal with family and friends without having to worry and fuss about the normal restrictions that come with dinner.
Whether you’re rolling out in sweatpants with your closest friends or dressing up for a swanky day spent downtown, brunch is a fun way to combine a social adventure with casual good eats. To help you sort through the dozens of choices for everyone’s favorite in-between meal, HC breaks down four popular spots sure to fit your mood, your budget and your posse.
Budget Brunch
You won’t find French toast or eggs Benedict on the menu at Mi Apá, a Cuban restaurant located off 34th Street. At this local favorite, it’s all about bold, Latin flavor.
Breakfast is served all day on Saturday and Sundays with items ranging in price from $5 to $7.
Portion sizes won’t disappoint even the largest of appetites, so don’t be ashamed if you can’t finish everything on your plate.
Dishes like Arroz a la Cubana, two fried eggs on white rice and sweet plantains and arepas stuffed with scrambled eggs, swiss cheese and ham, bring out the savory side of a meal normally dominated by sugary treats like syrup-drenched waffles.
Latin music plays in the background and conversation comes easy among friends gathered over fresh coffee. Patio seating is also available for days when the weather decides to cooperate.
Mi Apá Latin Café
114 SW 34th St.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday — Thursday; 7 a.m. – Midnight, Friday and Saturday
HC Recommends: Bistec a Caballo, Perico, Cuban Toast
www.miapalatincafe.com
Family Brunch
For a place with something for every palette, The Flying Biscuit’s extensive menu of Southern and soul food is bound to be a hit with every member of your family. The kitchen offers plenty of meat options like flatiron steak and turkey bacon as well as vegetarian options and lighter fare like the veggie scramble. The namesake biscuits alone are worth a trip out with their fluffed-up layers and generous portion sizes.
The prices are reasonable, the portions substantial and the kitchen’s attempts to put a twist on the classics is done very well. With its down-home cooking and flavor-filled atmosphere, it’s easy to see how this spot has become a weekend tradition for locals to take family and friends.
The Flying Biscuit
4150 NW 16th Blvd.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday — Thursday; 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday — Sunday
HC Recommends: Flying Biscuits, the High Flyer, the Hollywood Omelet
www.flyingbiscuit.com
Girls Day Out Brunch
Not a stranger to the weekend brunch scene, Ivey’s Grill has been dishing out some of the best brunch in town for more than 25 years.
While notorious for its wait times during peak hours, the extra time can be used to catch up with friends and make plans for your next night out. Regulars also recommend putting in an order for muffins while you wait for a satisfying, fresh-baked preview to your meal. And at Ivey’s, the food is always worth the wait.
Pancake plates are bigger than your head and will leave you wondering how the chef can even flip them on the griddle. The smoked trout scramble is also a flavorful choice and a good way to mix it up from a normal eggs Benedict (though they do that well, too).
If you aren’t feeling breakfast fare, the menu has an impressive selection of salads and unique salad dressings for a light lunch.
Ivey’s Grill
3303 W University Ave
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesday — Sunday
HC Recommends: Cheese Grits, The Hoss, Banana Bread French Toast
www.iveysgrill.com
After Party Brunch
For a speedy recovery from a night spent out on the town, Bagels Unlimited offers plenty of hearty breakfast and lunch items to help you prepare for round two.
This quintessential breakfast stop recently switched locations from University Avenue to 34th Street, bringing its impeccable selection of fresh baked bagels and heaping portions of hash browns and eggs to a new corner of campus.
The walls are covered in golf memorabilia and a window offers customers a peak into the kitchen where the owner can be seen whipping up drool-worthy omelets. The expansive plaza parking lot is also a welcoming sight after fighting for street parking downtown.
Regulars recommend trying the knish, a fluffy puff pastry filled with potatoes, onions and butter. If you like to add some extra kick to your go-to choice of an omelet and home fries, reach for one of the restaurant’s bottles of hot sauce – 100 different varieties line the wall for customers to choose from.
Bagels Unlimited
Address: 2022 SW 34 St.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday — Sunday
HC Recommends: Spinach-Asiago Knish, Chicken Salad Melt, Veggie Tofu Scramble