Where to Brunch in NOLA
- fleurdeleats
- Sep 1, 2017
- 5 min read
Let's talk brunch, undoubtedly the best meal of the day. Every time a friend comes into town, I struggle to choose a brunch spot because New Orleans offers so many good options. So instead of covering one restaurant in this post, I decided to highlight several. This list hardly covers the full range of great brunch options in the city, but there were only so many I could feature in one post!
Apolline might just be my favorite brunch spot in the city. First of all, when they say bottomless, they actually mean it. You will never see the bottom of your glass, and you will lose count of how much you've had within 30 minutes. So if you plan to spend your boozy brunch at Apolline, be sure to clear your schedule.
Apolline doesn't take reservations, but I've never waited more than 40 minutes to get a table. Plus, they offer bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys as soon as you arrive, so you can get the party started at the bar or outside on the patio while you wait.
The Bloody Marys are the best I've ever had. The mix is house-made (this should go without saying, but sadly so many restaurants use store-bought Bloody Mary mixes) and has the perfect amount of spice and flavor.
The mimosas have an excellent ratio of Prosecco to juice—if I had to guess, about 4:1. (I've seen them make it).
The food is excellent. You have to start with the cinnamon bacon. It is sweet, salty, and delicious and worth every penny. I apologize for the terrible lighting in this photo, but I'm including it to give you an idea of what it looks like:
My go-to entree is the eggs apolline, the restaurant's signature dish. The dish has a biscuit (which I prefer to an English muffin) topped with crawfish, andouille, two poached eggs, hollandaise, and green onions.
Apolline's shrimp & grits dish is made with Canebrake BBQ and has mushrooms and andouille. Its depth of flavor makes it a great brunch choice.
I've never understood the avocado toast trend, and even after eating Apolline's, I still don't. This toast comprises a slice of multigrain bread topped with smashed avocado, "smoked" salmon, pickled shallots, capers, and yogurt. I've placed quotation marks around "smoked" because this house-smoked salmon tastes like your average, fully cooked salmon. I was hoping for something similar to lox, so I was disappointed. But if you like your salmon smoked this way, you'd probably enjoy this dish more than I did.
Other great options include the smoked pork enchiladas, the confit duck bowl, and the chicken thigh & waffle.
Katie's rivals Apolline in food quality and bottomless drinks. The vibe, however, is pretty different. Like Apolline, Katie's is in a house, but it feels more crowded and gets louder than Apolline.
My favorite brunch dish is the seafood omelet. The omelet is made from at least three eggs stuffed with mozzarella cheese, crawfish, and shrimp. It's topped with lump crabmeat and green onions. Delicious and generously sized!
My side of choice is the andouille and cheese grits, pictured above. Need I say more?
The last time I went to Katie's, they had a wonderful softshell crab special with grits. If you see it (and enjoy softshell crab), get it!
If you're looking for brunch-appropriate oysters—though I firmly believe all oysters are appropriate for any occasion—look no further than the oysters slessinger. These charbroiled oysters are topped with bacon, provel cheese, and a bit of spinach. (The menu also mentions shrimp, but I didn't see or taste any on these.) Delicious! And don't worry, the oysters come with plenty of bread to soak up that tasty cheese and ensure nothing goes to waste.
Did I mention that Katie's offers bottomless Bloody Marys, mimosas, and sangria for only $15? I love a good bottomless deal, especially when the place also offers incredible food, and Katie's does not disappoint. The only drawback is that the bottomless deal applies only once you're seated (unlike Apolline). The wait can sometimes be an hour or more—and Katie's doesn't take reservations for brunch—which means, if you can't wait that long without a brunch libation, you have to shell out the cash for each drink. That said, once you're seated, the servers are pretty great at refilling your drink, and they ensure you leave with a go-cup.
It's no secret that I love Cavan for dinner, but I finally tried it for brunch last weekend and really enjoyed it. First, there is a decent amount of overlap between the brunch and dinner menus. For example, the fried chicken and the burger are offered on both.
I started with raw Gulf oysters for an appetizer. Yum.
I ordered the Gulf fish sandwich per the waiter's recommendation. The sandwich of the day had lightly battered Gulf shrimp, but the fish changes daily. It was delicious!
My friend ordered the steak and eggs. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare.
I definitely want to return to try some of their other brunch options! One important note: Cavan does not offer bottomless drinks. They do, however, make a delicious sangria with brandy.
Brown Butter is located in a Mid City strip mall. It's a great go-to brunch spot because (1) the food is delicious, (2) they have parking, and (3) although they don't offer bottomless drinks, mimosas cost $3 each.
Start your meal with the crab mac & cheese. You won't regret it. This mac & cheese is made with shell pasta, tender crabmeat, and pimiento cheese, which gives it a flavor distinct from your typical mac & cheese. The crunchy flakes on top provide a terrific textural contrast.
The beef short ribs might be the most tender short ribs I've ever eaten. The ribs are slightly sweet but pair very nicely with the stone-ground grits. The arugula, carrots, onions, and peanuts add a fresh element that would otherwise be lacking. A unique and delicious dish.
Another tasty option is the chicken and waffles. The tender, juicy fried chicken thigh is coated in a batter that is crispy without being too heavy. The house-made sweet tea glaze complements the chicken and Belgian waffle well. The fried egg is lagniappe, though I honestly would've preferred a poached egg.
Brown Butter's brunch burger (not pictured) was featured on the Food Network—for good reason. The brisket & short rib eight-ounce patty is topped with Brie, arugula, an egg, and house-made bacon-onion jam. It's delicious.
The Standard is a great low-key option on Magazine Street.
It offers a delicious house-made bloody mary that is spiced with house-made hot sauce. This stuff, which is made from habanero peppers grown by the restaurant's neighbor, is incredible.
These deviled eggs are the perfect appetizer. They're made with bacon, Creole mustard, sriracha, parsley, and, of course, mayonnaise and yolk.
The croquettes are also a great option. They change daily (e.g., from carrots to broccoli casserole), and the batter is nice and crisp while the filling remains moist and soft.
The entrees are delicious, too!
-----
Other great brunch options include Atchafalaya, Basin, and Wayfare. And, of course, there's always jazz brunch at Commander's, a New Orleans staple. There just aren't enough weekends to enjoy all of the delicious brunches this city has to offer!
Did I miss your favorite? Let me know in a comment below or via Instagram!
Comments