"Brunch- (n.) Contraction of breakfast and lunch, usually occurring around the hour of 11 a.m. Typically reserved for snobs and biddies who like tea and jam."
Brunch. Breakfast at a more acceptable hour, with cocktails that shouldn't be, but are because hey, it's brunch. It's always been a popular idea, and unless you've been blind to social trends, you'll know that in recent years the brunch trend has taken off like wildfire. There are creations in every brunch hotspot that are unheard of. Restaurants are pushing our tastebuds to new levels we didn't think conceivable with breakfast/lunch concoctions created from anything our heart desires. Cheddar biscuits containing peppered fried chicken topped with bacon jam, chocolate bacon-bit infused Belgium waffles with bourbon whiskey maple syrup, scrambled duck eggs topped with pulled pork, roasted peppers, cotija (whatever that is) and jasmine rice grits. The list goes on and on (and on).
Brunch is one of the great gifts in life, one of the subtle things that just make it better. People say it's overrated, but they're the ones really missing out. And lucky for us TCU students, Fort Worth has some of the best brunches around.
1. Little Red Wasp (takes reservations)
Saturday and Sunday: 10am-4pm
Little Red Wasp is located in the heart of downtown Fort Worth and easily recognizable from its bright red canopy and modern styled sign out front. When you first walk in, you'll notice the sleek modern atmosphere and the largely stocked bar consisting of long lists of craft beers and cocktails. At brunch the offerings range from their classic modern American styled lunch plates to the intriquite and mouth watering breakfast creations. Snag yourself some Cheddar Biscuits as a side or starter and freshen it up with a touch of sweet in the beginning with their cinnamon covered Donut Holes. It's brunch, anything goes. You truly can't go wrong with anything on their menu, but I highly recommend chowing down on their Chicken Biscuit. Nothing's better than a little southern styled breakfast and Little Red Wasp creates the perfect modern twist on the classic southern comfort food. Another dish I highly recommend is the Short Rib Benedict. You really can't go wrong with a little BBQ mixed in your breakfast eggs all placed beautifully on one of their signature cheddar biscuits. Get there early or make a reservation, it gets pretty packed on the weekends.
2. Brewed (no reservations)
Saturday: 8:30am-2:30pm
Sunday: 9:30am-2:30pm
One of Fort Worth's most well known coffee shop/gastro pub styled restaurants knows how to whip up some of the best brunch around to complement their intriguing coffee concoctions. The environment has a eclectic appeal with the comfort of being in your own living room in a way. Brewed has one of the freshest takes on the Chicken and Waffles, flash frying their free range chicken and drizzling it with a thyme maple butter syrup and served with crisp, light and fluffy waffles; it truly melts in your mouth. Another notable dish on the menu is the unique gastro pub take on their Biscuits and Gravy with spicy pork covered in a IPA beer infused gravy. You can't pass up on their caffeine infused concoctions either. Some of the best coffee in Fort Worth, matched with an equally impressive craft and local beer list if that's how you roll at brunch. A must try for all those that will take a dive and try unique dishes is the Scotch Egg. Two soft-boiled eggs wrapped in their house sausage topped with spices. But it gets better. It's then breaded it and deep fried until perfectly crisp. A unique take on a traditional egg to give it that southern twist of frying everything we can get our hands on.
3. AF+B (takes reservations)
Saturday and Sunday: 10:30am-3pm
American Food and Beverage creates a modern, Texan twist on classic American meals and their brunch is no exception. The style of the restaurant is rustic and chic with a warm welcome. The dark toned woods and grey styled bricks, unique lighting welcomes you into a comfortable and relaxed social environment. The Smoked Brisket Hash immediately stands out with home cut roasted potatoes, roasted peppers, tomatillos, salsa verde and a perfectly cooked fried egg that oozes over the rest of the dish when cut open; and of course, all mixed with smoked brisket that falls apart its cooked so perfectly. Although this is all about brunch, you can't go wrong with their Grass-Fed Beef Burger. Tenderly prepared and topped with Venezuelan cheddar and paired with some of the best fries in the city. Feeling adventurous? Try their savory twist on the a classic dessert with their Savory Bread Pudding. Topped with house-made bacon, poached eggs, arugula, and spicy hollandaise sauce.
4. Cafe Modern (takes reservations)
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am-3:00pm
Located within the Modern Art Museum, Cafe Modern is located in the corner of the museum, overlooking the reflection pool. With a chic and smooth look, it fits right in within the Modern Art Museums walls. You'll soon lose sight of the incredible art and reflection pool surrounding you when your food is delivered. From the Modern Yogurt Parfait, to bacon loaded Homestead Grits, you really can't go wrong. Cafe Modern focuses on a "modern" (go figure) and elegant style of dining. Their perfectly stacked Caprese Benedict flaunts this, while the cinnamon and spice infused Melba Whole Wheat Pancakes topped with peaches, raspberries and whipped cream add a homey and southern feel to the slick establishment.
5. The Bearded Lady (no reservations)
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00am-3:00pm
Ever had a deep fried burrito? I doubt it. Well, you've got to try it. Loaded up with chrizo, hash browns, scrambled eggs, tomato, jalapenos, and cheese then carefully wrapped with a flour tortilla, The Bearded Lady's Bangin' Breakfast Burrito is then deep fried and drizzled with spicy ranch and served with a heaping of salsa on the side. The Bearded Lady is a brew pub located on Magnolia that prides itself on its creative dishes and endless craft beer list. From the Blueberry Corn Pancakes topped with candied pecans to The Elvis Heart Attack Sandwich smothered in peanut butter, complimented by banana slices and bacon, and topped off with a fried egg, you better be ready to eat your fill when you stroll up.
6. The Social House (takes reservations)
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00am-3:00pm
Here's where brunch gets a little more aggressive on the boozy side. Social House has a firm belief in great beer and wine being an important part of any meal, and man oh man that includes brunch. With just over 45 different beers offered and boozy drinks such as Peach Belinis, Social Punch, countless frozen concoctions or a traditional Bloody Mary, it's easy to forget it's not even noon. Their Biscuits and Gravy is a great go to, but try to it up with The Elvis: a caramelized banana waffle, perfectly infused and topped with peanut butter and finished off with crispy applewood bacon, how could you resist? Or maybe you're looking more on the savory side? Check out the Steak Benedict. A juicy 4 oz. filet placed finely on top of an English muffin then topped with a poached egg and creamy hollandaise sauce all on a bed of crisp potatoes. Then wash it all down with some Beignet Jelly Holes (either chocolate or raspberry).
7. Max's Wine Dive (no reservations)
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am-3:00pm
My personal favorite on the list. Max's is an upscale wine dive with huge portioned modern American dishes that are near impossible to stop eating once you've started. The rightfully stated slogan of the wine dive is "Fried Chicken and Champagne...Why The Hell Not?!" and I can't help but agree; with the best fried chicken and endless lists of champagne, why the hell not?! When you walk into the dimly lit restaurant, the intoxicating smell of southern home cooked food almost puts you on your back with the overwhelmingly decadent mixture of flavors. As their slogan makes clear, the Famous Southern Fried Chicken is an absolute must (available gluten free as well, which is a rare thing). This fried chicken is made by order to ensure the absolute freshest. Try the Fried Egg Sandwich. I can't stress this enough. The crisp sourdough bread topped with bacon, gruyere, lettuce, tomatoes, black truffle aoili all placed beautifully on three over easy fried eggs just rolls over each end of the giant plate and gets complemented perfectly if you throw in a fried chicken breast into your order. If you're feeling sweet, snag yourself the Texas Peach Melba French Toast, it's unlike any breakfast sweet you've ever had. (if you're not big on mimosas and more of a beer person, grab yourself a "manmosa," with Martin House's Daybreak brew, splashed with orange juice. just trust me.)
8. Woodshed Smokehouse (no reservations)
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00am-11:00am
Woodshed is an upscale and sophisticated quasai-styled BBQ with some of the best originality and innovation in Texas. The restaurant has an earthy and rustic environment and sits in a prime location along the trinity, giving it one of the best patios in Fort Worth. Woodshed is so focused on perfection that they cook by fire and with different woods depending on the beast they're roasting up. And they nail perfection. The first thing on the brunch menu to catch your eye is The Sandwich. A bold statement already calling it "The" sandwich, but it's rightfully so. This monster of a meal is half tenderloin, half brisket patty and smothered in pork chili, salsa verde, topped with house made lamb bacon, Anaheim chilies, a sunny side up egg, and smoked cheddar. Well worth a try for any meat lover. Their Tacos are out of this world as well, using the "animal of the day" as meat and topped with scrambled eggs, borracho beans, smoked chedear cheese, and chilies. If you're looking for something on the sweeter side, the Pancakes covered in a delicious vanilla smoked butter and maple syrup.
9. Tillman's Roadhouse (takes reservations)
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am-3:00pm
As you walk in the doors of Tillman's Roadhouse, you can't help but feel the overwhelming comfort of the south, topped by the stylish and upscale earthy vibe. When looking over the menu, it's near impossible to come to a conclusion. The Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs is one that immediately stands out to me. It's hard to go wrong with a great cooked chicken fried steak and man they do it right. The eggs, cooked any way you want, perfectly complement their breaded concoction of southern comfort. If you and a few buddies (or just yourself) are feeling like you could take on anything, skip straight to their Hangover Platter (pictured above..you're welcome). Consisting of their delicious banana nut puddin', chili & cheese scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, sausage, bacon, pimento cheese grits, house preserves, biscuits and gravy, and seasonal fruit (to be healthy of course...), this meal is not for the weak at heart.
10. Fixture (no reservations)
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00am-3:00pm
Located on the popular Magnolia Ave, Fixture is the place to go if you're craving some unique mash-ups of food. From the Brie and Cranberry Nacho starter to the "handheld" PB&J consisting of whiskey braised pork belly, surprisingly sweet jalapeno jelly, lettuce, tomato, red cabbage, shaved carrot, all delicately placed upon a Ciabatta bun, they have pushed our taste buds to the limit. Their cocktail list for brunch is one of their strong suits, consisting of perfectly mixed, unique creations that will match any pallet of brunch you choose. The Chicken and Waffles has to be one of the best in town. A savory waffle scented with rosemary, boneless chicken thighs fried to a perfect crisp, all smothered in butter and chipotle maple syrup.
11. Pacific Table (takes reservations)
Saturday: 11:00am-3:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am-3:00pm
Pacific Table is an elegant and upscale dining experience. The cheek design of light fixtures in conjunction with the intrucuit wood lined walls creates a comforting environment. While the brunch menu is not as large as most, it makes up for it in the mouth watering dishes they have perfected. The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes topped with powdered sugar and fresh blueberries along with the Classic French Toast with maple butter and pecans serve great for anyone looking for a sweet bite. It's hard to pass up their Steak and Eggs with the juicy prime sirloin steak and sunny side up eggs, complemented by tomatoes and with a side of toast.
12. Bird Cafe (takes reservations)
Saturday: 11:00am-3:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am-3:00pm
Badass Bacon Waffle. Do I need to say anymore? This waffle is layered with Webster's peppered bacon, warm caramel apples, brie fondue, fresh berries, and drenched in maple syrup. The Bird Cafe captures a great neighborhood sit down joint with a welcoming patio area, while still holding true to the upscale gastropub food its menu claims. This is one of my top choices for brunches with the perfect weekend brunch vibe and incredible menu with mixologists on standby at the bar. The Mother and Child Reunion flaunts southern comfort, while being made and presented with perfection; the fried chicken breast lays perfectly atop of the homestead grits, poached eggs, and jalapeno gravy with just the right amount of punch. The Iowa Hickory Ham & Texas Pecan Cheddar Biscuits create a battle of savory and sweet within your mouth that is then exemplified by the blueberry jalapeno jam. Remember the scrambled duck eggs topped with pulled pork, roasted peppers, cotija and jasmine rice grits I mentioned above? Snag it here: The Scrambled Duck Eggs. A must try brunch spot.
Happy Brunching
