You know I love brunch. The late morning start, the ambiance, the deliciousness; but, as I confided earlier this year, finding a brunch place that really sings to me is a challenge.
Here are a few of the challenges, aka things I’m scrutinizing in deciding if a place is brunch worthy:
-Is there a long wait*?
-Can I make a reservation?
-Do they have funky food options and not just basic overplayed brunch items**?
-Do they have cocktails***?
-Do they charge $3 for a plain slice of sourdough****?
-Is the coffee good?
-Is there a brunch vibe*****?
*And, if I’ve waited long for a table, is there then a long wait for service?
**I’m looking at you, avocado toast and quiche.
***See above point about basic overplayed items—Hello, mimosas!
****Yes, this has happened to me, and yes, I was a little annoyed.
*****I hate to write this, but…IYKYK
All items do not need to be met, but most should be.
This year I’ve 1.) Found a Jersey brunch place that met most of the requirements and 2.) began finding restaurants boasting brunch all day.
Brunch all day?! Brunch ALL day?! What kind of madness is this? It’s taking the specialness of Saturday and Sundays ONLY and making every single day Brunch Christmas.
I think I love it.
Earlier this year, we stumbled* on Blossoms Brunch Bar in Rahway. Though they were very busy, we were seated right away—luckily, because they don’t take reservations**.
*I say stumbled as if Lance did not search the area and give me three places to choose from.
**Again, not a make or break, especially considering most breakfast places do not take reservations.
The front and back menu was anything but basic. While they didn’t have a brunch cocktail list, they did have flavored mimosas which, if you’ve been following along, changes the game where basicness and mimosas are concerned.
We shared crabcake egg rolls that were divine. My coffee was perfect. Our waiter was friendly. And…
…they had a “mini” pancake flight on the menu which, naturally, I ordered.
The pancakes were hardly mini, and they were delicious. My favorite were the lemon blueberry.
In a word, finding the perfect brunch place, for me, is magical—because brunch should be a step outside of ordinary life or, at the very least, ordinary breakfast.
Rahway, NJ
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