FOOD: Brunch
Ahh, the weekend has finally arrived. Time to avenge all those half-hearted breakfasts and hurried lunches of the busy week. Forget the granola bar you choked down between stoplights on your way to the office and the frozen lunch entrées emanating from the company microwave. The restraints of the daily grind seem a million Mondays away just now. And nothing complements that laid-back weekend mood like a fantastic brunch.
Let’s face it, any time you combine two meals, something spectacular is bound to happen. Brunching is a picky eater’s paradise. Whether you opt for the hearty basics or seek some culinary flair, you’ll find Monday morning a little more palatable after indulging in these weekend feasts.
Rococo
So what if everyone you know is posting pics of their fabulous tropical getaway? Rococo’s bountiful Sunday brunch buffet from 10am-3pm at Northpark rivals all those splendid vacation meals you love.
Their inventive staff showcases a different theme each week, such as Asian, Caribbean, European or down-home country. Described as “wicked fun” by Jason Bustamante, Rococo’s Executive Chef and Managing Partner, “the whole idea behind our cruise ship style buffet is interaction—lots of sights, sounds and smells fill the air.”
A plentiful chilled station with salads, fruits and shrimp is a great place to start, while the classic breakfast bar treats you to an omelet and Belgian waffle stations, and more. Chicken, pasta and veggie dishes change weekly, along with a fresh fish item. Even exotic touches like shark and shark fried rice are found on this stellar buffet! In another room, a vast carving station boasts choice meats like beef, turkey ham and lamb. A fun, interactive staff adds to the excitement and their specialty drink list is as creative as the menu. You’ll get full long before you’re finished sampling everything!
rococo-restaurant.com, (405) 212-4577
Sophabella’s Wine Bar & Bistro
Why wait until Sunday when everything you love about brunch is also available on Saturday at this happening hangout? Sophabella’s kicked-back atmosphere and finessed food are a hit all weekend long, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. Any restaurant that brings you a cinnamon roll, blueberry muffin or biscuit drowned in gravy as an appetizer before your breakfast entrée knows how to please.
Sophabella’s exquisite brunch menu boasts everything from crab hollandaise with a poached egg and grilled asparagus, banana walnut pancakes and chicken mushroom crepes, to a superb quiche with smoky bacon and ham nestled in fluffy eggs atop a melt-in-your-mouth pastry crust. An extensive create-your-own omelet selection, Italian dishes, sandwiches and kid’s menu round out the tasty assortment. And for those who consider brunch a perfect end to their evening, the $1 mimosas and bloody mary bar hit the spot!
sophabellasrestaurant.com, (405) 879-0100
Ingrid’s Kitchen
Celebrated nationwide after its appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, this cozy neighborhood café has been a hometown hit for 38 years. Homemade authentic German foods, American selections, a unique German bakery and deli satisfy appetites round the clock. And on Sundays from 9:30am-2pm, the original Ingrid’s Kitchen at NW 36th and Penn stars as a major brunch attraction.
The diverse smorgasbord starts with a fantastic assortment of fresh salads like broccoli, bacon and cheddar salad and a German potato salad with bratwurst. Breakfast fare includes items like eggs benedict, waffles and biscuits with sausage gravy. The feast continues with roast beef, bratwurst and sauerkraut, homemade meatballs and their signature oven fried chicken seasoned to perfection. Each Sunday, a different casserole is featured—and not to be missed! “It’s such a popular item that people call ahead to ask what the casserole is that day,” says Ingrid’s Kitchen owner, Lee Burrus.
No brunch is complete without a bite or two of dessert. And Ingrid’s doesn’t disappoint! Along with pies, cakes and cookies, the warmed chocolate decadence cake and bread pudding with whiskey sauce are worth getting out of bed on a lazy Sunday.
ingridskitchen.com, (405) 946-8444
