There’s no greater joy than waking up on the weekend and realizing you have nowhere important to be. For a lot of us, this brings the simple pleasure of spending all morning lounging around the house in our pajamas. However, if you do this every weekend, you’ll miss out on brunch, arguably the best meal of the week. So if you’d like to go out for brunch this weekend but you aren’t sure where to go, here are ten of Houston’s favorite destinations.
Hugo’s has two brunch traditions: on Saturday, an à la carte menu, and on Sunday, a buffet feast. This is interior Mexican fare, rather than standard Tex-Mex, so if you’re looking for something beyond the ubiquitous breakfast taco, Hugo’s will not disappoint. You’ll recognize the huevos rancheros and the chile relleno, but the caballeros pobres (a Mexican version of French toast) and the cabrito (roasted goat meat with prickly pear, guacamole, and salsa de habanero) may be less familiar.
Ok, technically, Pondicheri doesn’t have a “brunch.” But they do offer a full breakfast menu daily, including the weekends. And while you won’t find a buffet at Pondicheri, if you’re craving variety you can order their Morning Thali, which is basically a one-person Indian breakfast buffet on a platter—keema, uppma, potato curry, saffron yogurt, fresh fruit, carrot paratha, and a fried egg. Although several of their dishes contain meat, Pondicheri offers a large selection of meatless options, so it’s a perfect choice for vegetarians and omnivores alike.
Weekend brunch at Tiny Boxwoods is a Houston tradition we hope will never go out of style. The menu is elegant but unpretentious, the ingredients are always fresh, and everything is made in-house, right down to the pickles. Try the bacon and egg pizza with pancetta, goat cheese, and an egg sunny-side-up. Take advantage of the drinking-before-noon-is-ok-if-it’s-brunch rule and order the white wine mojito with fresh mint. If you prefer something non-alcoholic, you can’t miss the seasonal smoothie.
The brunch menu at Fielding’s Wood Grill reads like a foodie hipster’s take on diner breakfast fare. The hearty entrees are familiar, but each comes with a unique twist. The garlic herb sausage and buttermilk biscuits comes with mushroom gravy and Alpine cheese, and the shrimp and grits incorporates andouille sausage, scallions, and tabasco. Other classics stand out for their quality ingredients—they smoke their own bacon and grind their meat in-house. Be sure to order one of their creative Bloody Marys—the most interesting may be the Mary Caprese, with organic basil vodka, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil.
Max’s Wine Dive boasts the slogan, “Fried chicken and champagne? Why the hell not?” It’s really hard to argue with that statement. Max’s is the place to go if you’re looking for all your classic brunch favorites, and then some. Try the chicken-fried ribeye, Max’s refreshing answer to the chewy so-called steak you’ll find at lesser restaurants. The RVP—red velvet pancakes with lemon cream-cheese frosting—will make you rethink the entire concept of pancakes.
Andes Cafe may be best known for their signature ceviches, but if you don’t explore their diverse breakfast menu you’re missing out. They offer dishes from all over Central and South America. For the health-conscious, you can’t beat the Peruvian quinoa oatmeal—a mix of organic quinoa and steel-cut oats, served with soy milk, cinnamon, blackberries, pumpkin seeds, and chancaca (Peruvian raw sugar). For something richer, go with the Ecuadorian tigrillo, a platter of fried mashed green plantain, white onions, cilantro, mozzarella, and pork belly, topped with two eggs sunny-side-up.
Common Bond
This Montrose café and bakery stands out for their delectable pastries, their simple-yet-elegant café menu, and the line out their door. The food, however, is entirely worth the wait. Try the duck poutine, a duck confit with fries, duck gravy, spicy cheese curds, pickled red onions, and a perfectly-done egg. They don’t serve alcohol, but you won’t miss it when you take your first sip of one of their espresso drinks. Whatever you do, be sure to order a pastry.
Triniti delivers a brunch menu that is sophisticated yet unpretentious, with options to please every palate. Huckleberry pancakes with pumpkin spice butter will satisfy those with a sweet tooth, while those who prefer savory will enjoy the asparagus quiche with mushroom, truffle, and pecorino cheese. If you’re looking to go all out, order the foie gras “breakfast,” served with cinnamon-orange monkey bread, bacon marmalade, a quail egg, and slices of orange and apple.
Liberty Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Liberty Kitchen and Oyster Bar is a perfect place for a relaxed weekend brunch. Go when it’s nice out so you can lounge on the patio. Oysters make an excellent starter—not surprisingly, considering they’re featured in the restaurant’s name. You can order from the breakfast menu or the all-day menu. Just perusing the extensive menus is a satisfying experience, but the food is even more so. If you’re looking for something hearty, try the Dixie fried chicken sliders, served with cream gravy, American cheese, sweet jalapeños, and bacon jam.
Best known for their classic bistro fare, Brasserie delivers the same at Sunday brunch, with a menu that looks a lot like a lunch menu in France. It’s hard to recommend any one dish, because everything’s good, but one favorite is the savory crepes with a sunny-side egg, French ham, wild mushrooms, brie, roasted shallots, and hollandaise. On Saturday, you can order off their standard lunch menu starting at 11. Try the classic croque madame—the egg on top makes it feel more brunch-y.
