When you’re sleeping in on the weekends, the last thing you want to do is make an elaborate brunch. At least, that’s what it’s like for me 99% of the time. Now, I am a serious dessert eater (see here, here and here), but second to my sweet tooth is my adoration for all things brunch. I’m a lover of the benedicts, the waffles, the crepes, the shrimp and grits and the sugary stuff, too, like cinnamon rolls or maple-drizzled french toast. Okay, maybe I’m realizing my love for brunch also stems from the option to go the sweet route even at 10 in the morning.
I don’t know about you, but brunch spots are hard to track down. After many a weekend of brunching, I’ve compiled a little breakdown of my favorite—mostly lesser known—spots as well as the important tidbits like brunch hours and recommendations.
1430 High Street in Williamsburg, Every day from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
If you’re willing to spend a pretty penny, it’s absolutely worth it at Le Yaca. Their 4-course brunch is customizable allowing you to choose a beverage, appetizer, entrée and dessert. Naturally I went with a mimosa, celery root soup, poached Maine lobster tail with potatoes and a fudgy truffle-like cake to top it all off. Brunch was heavenly from start to finish, and their complimentary chocolate croissants didn’t hurt either.
4408 Shore Drive in Virginia Beach, Saturday and Sunday 9–2:30 p.m.
Goodness, I felt like I ate straight from a garden. Aside from the entrée, their plates are chock-full of sides like fruit, a side salad or potato salad and are always made with the freshest ingredients. They especially know their benedicts. Their crab cake benedict, in particular, is layered with a homemade sweet potato biscuit (from their own bakery next door), a lovely poached egg and a hunky crab cake that’s then drizzled over by the most divine, buttery basil hollandaise. Wash it all down with one of their subtly sweet blueberry basil mojitos, and all is well for this brunch lover.
Location and hours vary. Follow them on Facebook to scout out their next location.
If you haven’t heard, Waffeltina is a dazzling waffle pop-up that whips up sweet and savory Belgian liège-style waffles. Their waffles are basically studded with sugar crystals to cradle tasty toppings like shredded corned beef, lemon cream or plum chutney. Because they are a pop-up you might have their waffles alongside a cup of coffee at Roast Rider or maybe with a beer at The Birch or O’Connor’s Brewing Company.
2917 Shore Drive in Virginia Beach, Every day from 7 a.m.–3 p.m.
You must get their Banging Balls. Cheese confettied, bacon slivered and spicy aioli smothered deep-fried crab mounds—need I say more? They also have tasty sorbet mimosas, craft beers and other delicious items, but I can’t stop dreaming of their fried chicken and waffles. The chicken is barely crispy and breaded in this wonderful light batter sitting atop a fluffy, sweet maple-glistening waffle. Whatever you do, biscuits must be ordered. Hint: they’re baked halfway then deep-fried upon ordering.
Thirty 7 North
2105 West Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach, Sundays from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
I love my Bloody Marys, which is why I appreciate Thirty 7 North because they take the extra step to infuse their own vodkas and offer a self-serve Bloody Mary bar complete with their own barrel-aged mix as well as a wide assortment of accessories. Mix-ins have included home-pickled okra, asparagus, pearl onions and green beans, candied bacon or blue cheese stuffed olives, a chive flower and of course Worcestershire, horseradish, hot sauces and Old Bay. If that’s not enough to convince you, then let me tell you about their grub—specifically their shrimp and grits. The grits alone are swoon-worthy—creamy and full, not runny or watery. Topped with a tomatillo relish and blackened shrimp, this southern favorite will likely be inhaled in a matter of minutes.
