BRUNCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Brunching has become as much of a social part of the weekend as it is a meal. South Miami is booming with brunch options from all areas of the world. Passing by our streets you could sample Peruvian, French, Cuban, Spanish, Mexican or your well-known all-American brunch. It’s a way to end the weekend, relax, and enjoy conversations with friends. And hey, those mimosas and Bloody Mary’s don’t hurt either. It’s the perfect way to mentally prepare yourself for the work week ahead.
“Brunch is synonymous with Sundays,” says Marysol Chamoun Beaini, 33, of Miami who frequents South Miami. “What other day can it be socially acceptable to have a late breakfast and drink alcohol?”
Starting with French cuisine, George’s serves lunch from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and welcomes a family-oriented crowd. This is the place to let loose with free, unlimited mimosas with your brunch purchase. The lively, loud music makes you feel like you’re partying up, except, it’s mid-day on a Sunday. You definitely won’t be having a quiet, intimate brunch here.
“George’s has excellent service, amazing food and always a fun and positive ambiance. It’s the best place for birthdays too,” says Brickell resident Silvana Massolo, 32.
Continuing with the European flair, Barcelonetta offers brunch on both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The atmosphere is a mix of families out with their children to the younger crowd taking advantage of the unlimited mimosas and Bloody Mary’s. (Didn’t we tell you the alcohol was a big brunch draw?) The brunch special is $29 per person, including a tasting of six items from their tapas-inspired menu, coffee and dessert. If you’re in the mood for a special drink, the Valencianas made with cava, French orange and grapefruit juice is one of their specialties and the Bloody Mary here is pretty famous — it won the Miami New Times’ Best of Award for Best Bloody Mary in 2011. What makes it unique is it’s made with gazpacho instead of tomato juice.
Crossing over to Latin America, MIXT Peruvian is the perfect place for a laid back brunch, and men won’t have to miss any big sports games as there are two large screens with different sports on all afternoon. You’ll be able to enjoy the specials way into the afternoon, as brunch is served on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu gives patrons a different palette to delve into with a variety of sandwiches, homemade tamales, empanadas, and Peruvian delicacies. MIXT Peruvian doesn’t stay behind on the alcohol bandwagon, as they also provide free mimosas to all.
Taking it back to good ole American cuisine, Town Kitchen & Bar, serves up a casual, yet classy brunch with live jazz music playing on the first Sunday of each month. The themes keep going with a Reggae Brunch on the second Sunday of the month featuring a reggae DJ spinning at the bar. Brunch service runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The crowd ranges, as owner, John Janette lists the various personas you can spot here on any given Sunday as, “kids, adults, bikers, dogs, college students and people hanging in the bar enjoying our ‘Bloody Mary bar’.” With the name “bar” in their title, it’s no surprise they take their alcohol seriously here with 2-for-1 Bloody Marys, discounted sangria, mimosas, bellinis and kir royales. For the martini lovers, there is an entire brunch martini book with numerous brunch-themed alcohol-based beverages. Meal choices can get unique as the chefs have free reign to create interesting daily breakfast specials, which can border on the outrageous side with options like an enormous M&M spiked waffle sandwich or “green eggs and ham,” that any Dr. Seuss fan or child will enjoy.
Deli Lane is also a good comfort food option, and they’ve also incorporated a Fit Menu for those on a more healthful lifestyle path. The lighter menu was created by a registered nurse and a triathlete and personal trainer. Brunch is available for early birds to late risers, serving from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with live jazz playing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Don’t think it’s all healthy choices though; there are complimentary mimosas offered.
“Deli Lane is the runner and triathlete community’s place to hang out after a long run or training. The restaurant brings athletes and families together to celebrate our day’s training and the servers immediately bring us water as soon as we are seated.
They just have to see our tomato-red faces,” says Ali Lahens, 33, of Brickell and a South Miami business owner.
ROK:BRGR takes American comfort food to another level with options like bacon-wrapped kobe hot dogs, tuna tacos and lobster corn dogs, to name a few and those are just the snacks. If you partied a little too much Saturday night or are preparing for all the brunch drinking you’ll be doing, their Hangover Sandwich might hit the spot, made with an over-easy egg, maple pepper bacon, Sriracha aioli, American cheese, heirloom tomato, and avocado on an artisan multi-grain bread. Craving something a bit fancier? Maybe the shrimp and grits will do it for you. The atmosphere is lively as there is DJ spinning tunes during brunch, which is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while ladies can enjoy complimentary mimosas.
Whisk is your combination of home-style cooking with a gourmet flair, serving brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with items like the friend shrimp po’ boy, a hoagie with corn meal fried shrimp, home-made pickles and jalapeno tartar sauce. The fried green tomato stack with bacon, pimiento cheese, arugula and egg is also a unique option. More well-known items like huevos rancheros, eggs benedict, and quiche can also be found on the menu.
There is no question that the brunch cuisine in South Miami covers a spectrum of the world’s most popular grub.
“The spinach Florentine is my go-to dish at Chocolate Fashion and they’re open early so we can take the little one along,” says South Miamian Alicia Palma-Espinoza, 34.
Whether you’re headed for brunch to relax and unwind, catch up with friends, or have one last hoorah before the responsibilities of the week kick in, there’s one thing that’s for certain: there’s no wrong reason to relish a Sunday Brunch.
“Sunday brunches are ideal for a romantic break from the everyday norm. Sometimes the brunch is a great way to wake up late, get together with friends, and not have to worry,” says Oscar Grau, 33, of Miami Lakes.
So what are you waiting for? Go be one of the “people who brunch.”
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