Rise and Dine: 10 Brunch Spots We Love
Who doesn’t fancy brunch? It’s hearty, hits the spot, and you can combine two meals into one (we’re all for that kind of efficiency). If you love brunch as much as we do, check out some of our favorite brunch spots.
Brookfields Restaurant
If you’re looking for a family-friendly atmosphere where you’re treated, quite literally, like family, then Brookfields is where you ought to be. From the smell of fresh muffins as soon as you enter the door to freshly squeezed orange juice in your mimosas, everything is on point.
Try something savory: Western Skillet (Brookfields breakfast potatoes with bacon, bell peppers and diced green onion, topped with melted cheddar and two eggs. Served with a fresh biscuit)
Try something sweet: French Toast Combination (brioche French toast, two eggs, bacon, and sausage)
Brunch hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (Sacramento); Sunday to Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Roseville); Sunday to Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Rancho Cordova)
Booze News: Bottomless mimosas
4343 Madison Avenue, Sacramento, 916-332-0108; 1817 Taylor Road, Roseville, 916-784-3399; 11135 Folsom Boulevard, Rancho Cordova, 916-638-2046, brookfest.com
Land Ocean
This warm and upscale restaurant does a delectable brunch service, with land and sea Benedicts, a variety of frittatas, and even feel-good fare like country-fried steak.
Try something savory: Italian Sausage and Bacon Frittata (three-egg skillet with sausage, bacon, potatoes, and a blend of gruyère and cheddar cheeses; served with sourdough toast)
Try something sweet: Crème Brûlée French Toast (toasted brioche bread caramelized in crème brûlée batter; served with bacon and country potatoes)
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Booze news: Bloody Marys and bottomless mimosas
1151 Galleria Boulevard, Suite 241, Roseville, 916-407-5640; 2720 East Bidwell Street, Folsom, 916-983-7000, landoceanrestaurants.com
Wally’s Pizza Bar
It’s what every childhood fantasy is made of: pizza for breakfast. In addition to pie twirling, this upscale sports bar serves up inspired takes on classic fare, craft drafts, and a selection of specialty cocktails.
Try something savory: Breakfast Pizza (signature Truckee pizza dough with house-made salsa verde, aged linguisa, four-cheese blend, red onions, Roma tomatoes, and three eggs; baked and topped with fresh cilantro and avocado slices)
Try something sweet: Caramel Pear French Toast (two thick slices of Truckee sourdough French bread topped with candied bacon bits and pears, whipped cream, caramel sauce, and boysenberry syrup)
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Booze news: Bloody Marys and mimosas by the glass
4079 Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park, 530-677-5205, wallyspizzabar.com
La Provence Restaurant & Terrace
Do yourself a favor and while away next Saturday sipping mimosas while enjoying the Mediterranean- and French-inspired flavors of La Provence. Picking just one entrée may prove difficult, so we recommend bringing along a few friends for a family-style affair.
Try something savory: Chicken & Waffles (cornbread waffles with fried chicken, jalapeño honey butter, and maple syrup)
Try something sweet: Lemon Crêpes (Meyer lemon crêpes stuffed with ricotta cheese; topped with honey, berries, and powdered sugar)
Brunch hours: Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Booze news: Bloody Marys and mimosas by the glass (or a bottle of La Marca Prosecco)
110 Diamond Creek Place, Roseville, 916-789-2002, laprovevceroseville.com
Sweetie Pie's
It started as an eclectic mix of coffee and desserts in 1991. Now, the lovingly restored 1865 house has a full brunch menu with diet-friendly finds like tofu scrambles and is as quaint and cozy as ever, decked out with funky wallpapered dining rooms, lofty wood ceilings, and Hangtown memorabilia.
Try something savory: Cheese Blintz (three crêpes filled with a blend of cottage and ricotta cheese, a hint of lemon, sweetened sour cream, and the fruit topping of the day)
Try something sweet: Olallieberry Pancakes (scratch-made buttermilk pancakes with fresh olallieberries)
Brunch hours: Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday from 7 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sunday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Booze news: Mimosas by the glass
577 Main Street, Placerville, 530-642-0128, sweetiepies.biz
The Waffle Experience
How many ways can you dress up a waffle? The limit doesn’t exist. From fresh twists on chicken and waffles to fruity bombs of sugary goodness, waffles are stacked high and hailed for the perfect food that they are when dining at this Folsom favorite.
Try something savory: Praise the Lard (house-braised pork belly, cage-free eggs, arugula, roasted tomatoes, ricotta, cracked pepper agave syrup, lardon-studded herb waffle)
Try something sweet: Smor’Tella (Nutella, fresh bananas, bananas foster sauce, toasted marshmallows, powdered sugar, Nutella rum sauce, graham cracker crumble, cacao liege waffle)
Brunch hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. daily
Booze news: Bloody Marys (with optional add-ons like house-braised pork belly, a BLT slider, or cherrywood smoked bacon) and mimosas (pitchers available)
13405 Folsom Boulevard, Suite 950, Folsom, 916-805-5938, thewaffleexperience.com
The Morning Fork
This newly opened restaurant has a vibrant menu and atmosphere, and is a feel-good place with something for everyone, bringing art, music, and good coffee to midtown Sacramento.
Try something savory: Maple Sage Fried Chicken and Waffles (option of thick Belgian waffle or original thin crispy waffle, topped with fried sage leaves, served with house-made salted maple butter and hot maple syrup)
Try something sweet: Waffle Queen (topped with salted marshmallow butter, banana, chocolate shavings, toasted coconut, Reese's crumbles and rainbow sprinkles)
Brunch Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily
Booze News: Bloody Marys and mimosas by the glass (each with their own flavored sugar rim)
1111 21st Street, Sacramento, themorningfork.com
Evan’s Kitchen and Catering
Chef Evan’s creations are as bright and creative as his personality. With various iterations on all your favorite brunch staples including some vegan fare, this is the ideal brunch spot for those looking for that mid-morning fix.
Try something savory: Classic Benedict’s (many options to choose from; two poached eggs on an English muffin with scratch-made Hollandaise sauce served with home fries or fresh fruit)
Try something sweet: Rice Krispie French toast (Texas-style toast served with pure Vermont maple syrup and whipped butter)
Brunch Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Booze News: Bloody Marys and bottomless mimosas
855 57th Street, Sacramento, California, 916-452-3896, chefevan.com
The Pilothouse Restaurant at Delta King
All aboard the historic Delta King riverboat for fine food and a spectacular view. With a setting like that and good food on your plate, you’ll want brunch to be an all-day-every-day affair.
Try something savory: Eggs Florentine (two poached eggs on grilled tomato with sautéed spinach on a toasted English muffin topped with Hollandaise sauce served with herbed country potatoes)
Try something sweet: Brioche French Toast (served with a seasonal berry compote and whipped cream)
Brunch Hours: Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Booze News: Bloody Marys and bottomless champagne
1000 Front Street, Sacramento, 916-441-4440, deltaking.com
The Porch Restaurant and Bar
Enjoy quaint settings and delectable food—all out on the porch. They’re bringing the South to Sacramento; shrimp and grits, beignets, hush puppies—you name it, they’ve got it. They’ve also got brunch cocktails to go along with the yummies.
Try something savory: Pork and Pancake (Carolina bbq, pulled pork, buttermilk pancake, sharp cheddar, applewood bacon, sunny side up fried egg, and powdered sugar)
Try something sweet: Beignets (topped with powdered sugar and served with fresh fruit and house-made jam)
Brunch Hours: Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Booze News: Mimosas and Bloody Mary punch bowl
1815 K Street, Sacramento, 916-444-2423, theporchrestaurantandbar.com
By Luna Anona
Beyond the Bloody Mary:
5 Brunch Drinks
Bellini
The Bellini is the mimosa’s slightly more sophisticated sister—the one who remembers what she learned in her art history elective but is still down for a good mid-morning buzz. Made with Prosecco and peach purée, it’s another crisp and fizzy brunch delight.
Chelada
The Chelada—or Michelada—is one of those “don’t-knock-it-’til-you-try-it” finds. It’s basically beer, preferably a Mexican style like Modelo or Corona, with a touch of lime, spices, and tomato juice. Okay, it’s basically a Bloody Mary, but with beer.
Irish Coffee
If it’s brunch, you’re probably already having a cup of coffee, which is the perfect vessel to add a shot of Irish whiskey or Baileys Irish Cream to. If you opt for whipped cream on top (and why wouldn’t you?), you have caffeine, booze, and dessert, all in one cup.
Grapefruit Rosé
Ever since the marketing and social media world realized rosé rhymes with day, it’s become socially acceptable to order it at any hour. The result? We all kind of got sick of rosé. However, add a healthy splash of grapefruit juice to your glass and you’ve got yourself a bright and low-alcohol sipper loaded with antioxidants.
Margarita
Everything else south of the border that has made its way to brunch is beloved: Tapatío, tacos, burritos, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and the list goes on. Perhaps it’s time that we adopt the margarita as a brunch staple as well. It’s refreshing, tasty, and pairs well with all of the aforementioned items. I think we have a winner.