Hangtown Fry

Crawfish Beignet

Dungeness Crab Beignet

Pork Belly with cheesy grits and a poached egg

Shrimp and cheesy grits

I fell in love with Brenda’s a few years ago after one of those much-needed morning savory meals. The space was half its current size and the wait was 4 times as long. Not sure if that math makes sense, but the wait was worth it to experience the delicious Flight of Beignets, hangtown fry, and the fried chicken benedict. The meal was exceptionally memorable and I have been yearning to come back.

During my most recent SF trip to visit family and friends, we were finally able to make it back. My excitement was like being a kid in Toys-R-Us. We went on a Friday morning right before the lunch rush and were able to be seated within 10 minutes…. Victory! I needed a few minutes to settle in, as I was overjoyed with happiness. They’ve really hooked up the space to give it an updated classic New Orleans feel.

For our order, of course we went with the Flight of Beignets that we modified to consist of 3 beignets filled with dungeness crab (special for that day), crawfish, and apple. We wanted to re-live the previous dining experience but unfortunately the benedicts are only available during the weekend (sad face emoticon). But no worries, as we got the hangtown fry, and since I was feeling special, we ordered the pork belly and cheesy grits.

The beignets were just as stellar as I remembered. They are one of San Francisco’s best sweet and savory combinations that I’ve had. The hangtown fry was good, with oysters that were plump and plentiful, and bacon that added a smoky flavor. The pork belly cheesy grits were alright. I had high expectations but the dish just fell short. I expected the dish to completely harmonize and be better refined.

In all, I’m so happy to have gotten reacquainted with Brenda’s. It’s definitely worth trying, especially for the savory brunch lovers. San Francisco is a food playground and the beignets are a must play. 

If you’re feeling city, artsy, and hungry, try a day at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). The brunch at the Taste Restaurant, located on the street level of the SAM, is as delicious as it is convenient.  Since we are dormant SAM members, we made it a priority to spend a weekend day exploring exhibits and using our membership discount for some sustainable food. 

The TASTE brunch experience was tasty. The dishes are locally sourced from the area’s best suppliers right to your table. I ordered the Croque Madame since I was feeling like something buttery and savory. It included gruyere, smoked ham, and a sunny side egg on top of a brioche bun. I savored every bite for as long as I could. My fiancée went with a festive pork belly succotash. The pork belly was very nicely executed on a bed of squash, beets, and fennels. It was an artistic display of earthy components that reminded me of confetti.

Though our dishes at the Taste were good, I regretted not ordering the chicken and waffles. Every time one passed by, I couldn’t help but stare and drool at the beautifully constructed work of art. Nevertheless, the brunch experience compliments a day at the museum very well. I consider it one of the better brunches in the Seattle downtown area.

After the museum, we visited DeLaurenti at the Pike Place Market to munch on the best cookie in Seattle….the massive chocolate chip cookie with whole hazelnuts. If you haven’t had it, check it out! 

Shoutout to food models Voss and Kirsten of Neon Nightmare Vintage, and Alicia

Chemex

Pastries

Armadillo (spinach, feta, and onions)

Omelet with fig and goat cheese

Soldier eggs with lava crystals and prosciutto wrapped toast

Eames

Arabica Lounge is definitely one of Seattle’s most fun and eclectic eating experiences. The coffee is top notch and the Arabica Lounge is creating quite a buzz with their distinctive brunch and pastries. The setting is creatively cool combining mid-modern and rustic vintage furniture with artistry decor. The owner’s passion is to provide a space for enjoyment, relaxation, and socialization along with delectable food.

With all the artistic personality bursting in the space, the innovation has also translated into their dishes. The menu is French inspired with a commitment to quality ingredients and presentation. Arabica Lounge is one of those places where I wanted to order everything on the menu and in the pastry window.

For our meal, we ordered the soldier eggs with prosciutto and the omelet with fig and goat cheese. The soldier eggs dish was visually impressive and whimsical with toy soldiers scaling egg-carton mountains. The presentation was imaginative and Instagram worthy. It was fun dipping the prosciutto wrapped strips of toast into the soft-boiled egg yolk. The deep fig with goat cheese omelet was a stand-out as well. The figs were sweet and nicely contrasted the savory goat cheese in the omelet.   

We also sampled from an assortment of pastries inspired by the chef’s worldly influences. My favorites were the cardamom shortbread cookie and the armadillo. The cardamom cookie had a nice light flavor with a bit of a bite. The armadillo was a flakey savory pastry filled with spinach, feta, and onions. Also, the Arabica Lounge provides a good selection of gluten free and vegan options to accommodate all patrons.

During our dining experience, we saw a wide variety of people coming into the Arabica Lounge. From old-time Capitol Hill residents to hipster-cool students, the experience and food appeals to everyone. We had an awesome time and the staff is super friendly and welcoming. Brunch is everyday. 

During the evening, Lola is Tom Douglas’ modern take on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. In the morning, Lola is one of Seattle’s most flavorful, well-executed brunch spots. 

At Lola, you can treat yourself to one of its many standout items on the menu. My favorite dish is the Eggs Benedict. The dill gives the hollandaise sauce nice character that compliments well with the perfectly poached eggs and tasty biscuits. It also comes with a side of garlic smashed potatoes that were cooked and seasoned with herbs very nicely. These potatoes could probably be one my favorite side dishes.  The other dishes ordered were the omelet and the pancakes with sausage and vanilla mascarpone. My other go-to item at Lola is their made-to-order donuts (not pictured) that come out nice and warm with jam and mascarpone. So good!

I liked Lola so much that I made it #2 on FH206 brunch picks in Seattle.  As a side note, you can make reservations for Lola on OpenTable to avoid the wait.

Hangtown fry

Wonder no more….. The Wandering Goose is the newest Southern inspired brunch spot where many Seattleites have been filing in, week in and week out. Located on the eastside of Capitol Hill, the Wandering Goose is a charming vintage breakfast café that serves food in a setting that is both a socially relaxed dining experience and a delectable grab-and-go spot.

After realizing we had to join the queue and order at the counter, our first thought was to quickly claim a table as the restaurant was pretty packed. For our order, we went with the recommendations of the hangtown fry and the veggie plate. The hangtown fry was an intricate combination of savory tastiness served in a skillet of fried oysters, pork belly, a poached egg, and potatoes. The veggie plate was a delicious option as well, as we got try the mac & cheese (my weakness), and have our veggie fix of collared greens and peas. To top it off, the veggie plate also came with the shop’s signature biscuit.

The Wandering Goose definitely hits its mark by serving food that is comfortable, affordable, and satisfying. The Friday Supper will be next on my list of wanders. 

Ready to plow

Plow brunch fresh pork sausage, eggs your way, potatoes, and almond pancakes

Dungeness crab scramble

I plowed through my brunch at Plow in San Francisco.  Plow is one of the most poppin’ weekday brunch spots in the city.  The food is new american that is done very well, fresh, simple, and flavorful.  Plow makes this section of Potrero Hill a foodie’s paradise.

The Plow breakfast gives you the best of both words (sweet & savory) with fresh pork sausage, almond pancakes (or lemon), eggs your way, and the crispiest flavorful potatoes you can have.  We also got the dungeness crab scramble which was delicious as well.  I’m glad I was able to plow here. 

Popovers for breakfast

Eggs San Francisco (rendition of Eggs Benedict)

French Toast with Apple and Bacon

Seafood Omelette

Viewtastic from the table

The Cliff House Bistro is one of San Francisco’s most fantastic and viewtastic brunch experiences. It provides classic old school California charm with a warm nostalgic feel. 

The brunch started off with fresh buttery popovers that were so amazing. Then for the main course we had the Eggs San Francisco (their version of Crab Eggs Benedict) and the French Toast with bacon. I must say, the Eggs SF was way too delicious with fresh meaty crab, perfectly poached eggs, and a nice sauce. I was sad to have to share half of it with my fiancee, nevertheless the French Toast with bacon was a good choice too. It’s wonderful to have a good meal and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I can live this lifestyle everyday.

The Cliff House Bistro was great recommendation from my fiancee’s uncle and aunt. It is the Nordstrom Rack version of the Cliff House Sutro, but still had first class in food, service, and views.