Lets be honest: brunch is one of the best meals of the day.
To pull a quote from The Simpsons (Season 1, Ep. 9), “It’s not quite breakfast, it’s not quite lunch, but it comes with a slice of cantaloupe at the end. You don’t get completely what you would at breakfast, but you get a good meal.
There are so many delicious brunch options in New Orleans that it’s hard to know where to start. Do you want something casual? Is a fancy brunch more your thing?
No matter what you crave, one of these brunch spots will surely speak to you. Here’s my list of brunch spots that I enjoy in New Orleans.
Gris-Gris
1800 Magazine St.
I feel like Gris-Gris is one of the “hidden gems” on the New Orleans brunch scene. This spot is already popular for lunch and dinner, and it’s revamping its brunch menu for the summer. Chef Eric Cook doesnt hold back with his brunch menu that has a little bit of everything you would want at that perfect brunch spot.
Some menu highlights include Go with the Flo, crispy oysters, creamed spinach, boursin cheese, fried egg with hollandaise; Chicken Biscuits and Gravy, fried chicken thighs, cream biscuits, scrambled eggs with southern white gravy; and Shrimp and Gris-Gris Grits, Gulf Shrimp, smoked sausage, roasted red peppers with cherry tomatoes and stone-ground grits.
Full Blast Brunch
139 S. Cortez St.
I love Full Blast Brunch because it’s one of those neighborhood café-type spots where you can pop in and grab a coffee and a bite to eat, and the food is delicious. My secret to any good brunch place is to go during the week, and Full Blas is no different. This place gets packed on the weekends and with good reason!
Menu highlights include Full Blast Benedict- poached eggs and bacon over jalapeño cheddar grit cakes with fried chicken strips or pork chop and smoked sausage and bacon gravy; Smoked Sausage Benedict- seared smoked sausage, sautéed onion and bell pepper over breakfast potatoes, poached eggs and hollandaise; and French Bread French Toast with blueberry compote, cinnamon powdered sugar and bacon.
Broussards Restaurant & Courtyard
819 Conti St.
If you’re in the mood for a brunch that’s a bit on the fancier side, Broussard’s is the place for you. Served Friday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Broussard’s is an experience everyone should have at least once. You can enjoy your meal in the restaurant’s beautiful dining room or on the patio.
Menu highlights include Oysters Broussard- applewood smoked bacon, crispy oysters, creamed spinach, crystal aioli; Josephine Benedict- crispy blue crab and Gulf shrimp cake, creamed spinach, poached eggs, béarnaise; Southern Fried Chicken & Waffles- Vermont maple syrup, crystal glazed chicken, candied pecans, buttermilk Belgian waffle; and Croque Madame Rosalie- slow roasted cochon de lait, gruyère cheese, spiced tomato jam, sunny-side egg, petite salad. There’s also a three-course brunch prix fixe menu for $47 and bottomless rosé or mimosas, available with the purchase of entrée, for $18.
The Ruby Slipper Café
Multiple Locations
Ruby Slipper is easily my fiancé and I’s favorite place for brunch. The only problem (and it’s a good problem for any restaurant) is that it gets packed on weekends. So, to save time on your wait, pop onto the restaurant’s website and put your name on the digital waitlist! Or, better yet, stop in during the week when the crowd isnt as thick. When I eat here, I get the same thing every timeChicken St. Charles, a fried chicken breast on a biscuit topped with two poached eggs. It’s so decadent and so good.
Other menu highlights include a list of different eggs benedicts, shrimp and grits, French Toast, Pancakes, Eggs, Omelets, and much more. And yes, the cocktail menu is extensive, so youre sure to find that perfect pick me up.
Horns Eatery
2440 Chartres St.
Horn’s is another neighborhood café that doesn’t mess around regarding the local brunch scene. I like stopping in here because it’s primarily a neighborhood destination, and the staff here seems to know the regulars. On my visits, I like to get an order of the Grits and Étouffée, which is white grits topped with crawfish étouffée and served with a biscuit. This dish is so rich but worth the splurge.
Other menu highlights include Waffle Cochon- cornbread waffle with kappa cooked pulled pork, chimichurri and pickled peppers; Chicken and Waffle- sweet potato waffle with crispy chicken strips fried to perfection and barbecue sauce on the side; and Spinach Bread Pudding- fresh spinach, herbs, eggs, and Swiss cheese with lost bread cooked to make the perfect savory bread pudding.
