Because we need a new brunch thread. Places and people have changed since the last ones.

I'm looking for somewhere new, a bit more interesting than the usual fare.

Been to buku lately, courtesy of Groupon, and we stuffed ourselves with a buffet that was really pretty damn good, with a lot of things to choose from.

Battistella's was pretty underwhelming, and the service was hungover day-after slack. I make a much better shrimp and grits, and bananas foster French toast was a poor excuse for either bananas foster or French toast.

It'd be nice to find a place that does bottomless mimosas and bloodys or other morning cocktail of choice. And I'm always looking for a good brunch that kicks ass. What sucks is that as far as I've experienced, Raleigh kind of misses the mark compared to some of the other cities I've been to.

Share with me if you know of somewhere that flat out rocks.

3/24/2013 5:26:29 PM

I, too, am interested in this

3/24/2013 5:43:09 PM

Anyone been to Coquetta or Paparazzi Raleigh? They are supposed to have bottomless mimosas, according to the internet.

3/24/2013 6:55:07 PM

Irregardless ftw


Had Brig's today in Cary. Solid choice but Irregardless is still the go-to.

3/24/2013 8:31:33 PM

Quote :

"Anyone been to Coquetta or Paparazzi Raleigh? They are supposed to have bottomless mimosas, according to the internet."

i've been to coquette...i don't recall being blown away by brunch (only once), but dinner there has been delicious every time

they had bottomless mimosas for something like $12 when i was there for brunch...i think i had 8 or 9

they weren't very strong, though

3/24/2013 9:23:19 PM

It may be a chain, but Cracker Barrel is delicious. I had brunch there for the first time today.

Pam's is my go-to brunch place, but it's closed on Sundays

[Edited on March 24, 2013 at 9:31 PM. Reason : ]

3/24/2013 9:30:01 PM

I was a bartender at 518 my senior year. I hated working the brunch service but the food was awesome. It's not a buffet though, or at least wasn't back then. The Monte Cristo contributed a lot to my weight gain that year.

Also, if you find a bottomless mimosa restaurant take full advantage while it lasts. The ALE doesn't like it and will shut down quick. I went to Cantina 18 with a (now former) manager and we were lucky to get 2 refills since they were so packed. He told us they were shutting it down the next week do to some ALE pressure.

3/24/2013 9:33:13 PM

I don't care if it's buffet or not. I want something GOOD for Easter. Seriously toying with the idea of Coquette, but maybe that's a no-go for now.

Mia Francesca looks to have some good possibilities. Anybody comment?

3/24/2013 10:39:19 PM

I had the brunch buffet at Tir Na Nog today. Food was heavy and maybe 6.5/10. Service was underwhelming. Price was good $11.99. Place was packed.

3/24/2013 11:36:02 PM

brunch at Tir Na Nog is just slightly above a continental breakfast at a hotel chain

it's damn close though

3/24/2013 11:38:18 PM

The bijou cafe in Knoxville has an amazing brunch with Bloody Mary and mimosa specials all day! Their food is gourmet! With cheap drinks! Def my favorite Brunch place

Ok bye

3/24/2013 11:44:07 PM

Doesn't Cafe Caturra have brunch on Sundays? I was there for their Mother's Day brunch 2 years ago and it was DELICIOUS.

3/24/2013 11:48:47 PM

I ate brunch at Tir Na Nog probably three years ago and was unimpressed. Very unimpressed. I swear 90% of it was thawed, heated, and served. The other 10% was thawed, deep fried, and left to get cold, then reheated.

The more I think about it the more I'm really unimpressed with most of what Raleigh has to offer

3/24/2013 11:51:15 PM

the only brunch that matters is the Beasleys brunch

that's all you'll ever need

3/24/2013 11:53:13 PM

There is this place called Rise near South Point that I've heard good things about.

3/24/2013 11:53:23 PM

^^we've eaten so much Beasley's in the last year.

I wish Poole's was doing brunch, but alas, no more.

^ I'll have to check that out.

[Edited on March 25, 2013 at 12:03 AM. Reason : Check it out now. Funk soul brotha right about now]

3/25/2013 12:02:35 AM

I've taken advantage of Coquette's bottomless brunch mimosas a few times, I usually get the better end of that deal.

Also, Nofo's brunch is excellent (better than Coquette's in my opinion) but the mimosas are only bottomless if your wallet is as well.

3/25/2013 12:09:05 AM

^^FWIW, i hear they don't have much seating and get quite crowded on weekends (like all brunch places).

3/25/2013 12:41:02 AM

As long as you beat the noon church crowd in Raleigh you should be fine at most places

3/25/2013 4:52:32 AM

you're aware you can't get alcohol before 1 pm on sunday in NC, right?

3/25/2013 7:55:16 AM

Completely. Sucks.

3/25/2013 7:59:12 AM

If you are in the chapel hill area, southern rail has a solid brunch if they are still doing things the way they did a couple of years ago when I lived there. Guy that made the omelettes was amazing, totally different than the omelettes you are used to.

3/25/2013 8:41:48 AM

^^^noon, not 1

3/25/2013 8:56:25 AM

^ Yeah I was like what? What kind of drinker are you???

3/25/2013 10:09:17 AM

Reservations at Mia Francesca for this Sunday. We love going there for dinner, so I figured we'd try it.

I can't believe that of all places, I've found some real gems in Norfolk and Va Beach. And of course Charleston, savannah, and Wilmington. Coastal FTW. Now why not here...

3/25/2013 12:49:58 PM

^ thank the blue laws for that. NC can't serve alcohol until after noon on sundays.


having moved out of NC, brunch has become another level. Brunch is way more awesome with alcohol. higher profit margins on alcohol allow brunch joints to step up their game on the food as well.

3/25/2013 1:07:15 PM

If you're willing to venture out of Raleigh, Rue Cler in Durham puts up a pretty good brunch. Or if you're willing to travel all the way to light blue country, two of my favorites in the entire area are both in Carrboro--Milltown and Acme.

Southern Rail is pretty solid too (and a stone's throw from either Milltown or Acme).

3/25/2013 4:42:38 PM

The people who crow about Rise are probably yankees. The biscuits aren't as good as a nice one from Bo's, although the choices for what goes on said biscuit are far superior. The donuts are good, too, but it's a counter service place in a strip mall. There's no "brunch."

3/25/2013 4:58:00 PM

Zydeco in City Market. Tough to find a parking place sometimes, but the food is great.

3/26/2013 9:36:29 AM

Sunday brunch is my favorite meal of the week.

3/26/2013 9:40:06 AM

^^predominantly an AA establishment. Or so I thought. Not that I care. But they might.

3/26/2013 3:38:36 PM

Quote :

"zxappeal All American 26314 Posts user info edit post ^^we've eaten so much Beasley's in the last year. I wish Poole's was doing brunch, but alas, no more. "

Seriously? When'd they stop serving brunch?!

Brunch at Bonefish Grill sucks which I guess isn't surprising but I got dragged there. I've heard the brunch at Crook's Corner is good. I like the brunch at Weathervane and Guglhupf.

3/26/2013 8:38:18 PM

^ their last brunch was this past Sunday

3/26/2013 10:11:33 PM

Well that sucks. Their brunch was so popular I'm kind of surprised.

3/27/2013 6:27:16 AM

Another great Durham brunch spot is Watts Grocery. Very, very tasty.

In the same style, while I've personally only been there for dinner, the brunch at Lucky 32 in Cary looks pretty good. I've never had a bad meal there so it seems like a good bet too.

3/27/2013 9:20:40 AM

anyone been to capital club 16 for sunday brunch? i've been meaning to try it.

3/27/2013 10:32:04 AM

I have. Sometimes it's really good and sometimes it's like, "Yeah it's pretty good I guess." All depends what they have on the menu at the time.

3/27/2013 12:59:30 PM

Nofos

/thread

3/27/2013 3:26:20 PM

Nofo ain't all that. Been there. Done that. Tiny portions that aren't stellar.

3/28/2013 1:37:23 PM

Coquette isn't worth your time. It was better when it was South.

La Farm bakery does a great brunch. Plus, it all comes on or with their bread. I always get the BLT and add avocado and fried egg. TABLE sandwiches ftw.
http://www.lafarmbakery.com/files/LaFarmBrunchMenu.pdf

We're doing Sunday brunch at Mandolin this week. Will report back.

[Edited on March 28, 2013 at 2:31 PM. Reason : .]

3/28/2013 2:31:21 PM

I went to La Farm a few weeks ago. It was good, but it was a freakin' madhouse. Had to stand around for at least 10 minutes stalking a table (that was after already stalking a table the 10 or 15 mins we were in line). V Take-out seems like it may be the way to go.



[Edited on March 28, 2013 at 2:43 PM. Reason : ]

3/28/2013 2:40:42 PM

^^La Farm is a nuthouse on Sunday though. The food is great, but we always get take-out whenever we go there. Plus it kinda sucks not having table service in a place like that. It's not bad waiting 20 minutes to order and eat, but it sucks waiting 20 minutes in line to place an order, then having to fight it out for a table, all the while knowing there's no alcohol waiting once noon hits.

^beat me to it.

[Edited on March 28, 2013 at 2:41 PM. Reason : ]

3/28/2013 2:40:43 PM

Quote :

"Nofo ain't all that. Been there. Done that. Tiny portions that aren't stellar. "

Agreed. Plus watching their hostess spray bleach into the cream and then leaving it there for the next set of customers being seated totally turned me off from that place.

One thing that annoys the shit out of me with La Farm is say it's 8:58am and you want to order one of their brunch specials which start at 9:00am for some reason. They will literally make you stand at the register for two minutes before allowing you to order the special. Not sure why they don't just start serving the brunch specials when they open on Saturday and Sunday.

3/29/2013 9:44:26 AM

what if you tried to order at 8:51?

3/31/2013 12:31:34 PM

I will offer a second vote for Watts Grocery in Durham. I've been there 3 or 4 times and it's been very good. (Almost) always a good sign when there is a line of 20 people waiting for the place to open (at noon). I think they only do brunch on Sunday

I tried Parker and Otis (also in Durham) yesterday with my mom and g/f. It was not great. I don't mind the "wait for an open table/cafeteria" style places persay, but it was packed at 10:15 am and the food was mediocre, no where near good enough to justify the wait.

Fosters (in Durham too is a much better version of the 'no waiters' brunch spot.

3/31/2013 4:05:27 PM

+1 for watts grocery, also rue cler in durham

la farm is weak

3/31/2013 10:18:56 PM

Buffet:
Urban Turban - 55 and High House - Delicious!

Dim Sum:
Neo-Asia - near Manynard and High House ... push around carts ... nice, and reasonable.

3/31/2013 10:39:35 PM

Mia Francesca was pretty damn good. Not quite the variety that buku has, but when I can start off with asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, need I say more? Or just the sheer quantity of prosciutto and capocuolo with arugula, etc. a good Caesar salad. Good stuff.

The hot buffet was reasonably good, with some decent salmon and reasonably good chicken piccata (though mine far eclipses it; I'd bet the entree would be better here as you gotta dumb down mass quantities for buffet). Shrimp and grits were so so. But there was also lamb (of which I am a huge fan) and the roast beast was lovely. French toast with blueberry compote was a score.

Desserts were also a score. Wonderful mixed berry tart. Lemon bars to die for.

All in all I'd do again.

4/1/2013 10:09:49 AM