Eating in restaurants typically includes some manner of personal interaction, but brunch is the social meal out.
WILLIAM DESHAZER/DMN
The Grape's diverse brunch menu includes pan-fried trout topped with eggs, bacon and a frisée salad.
We meet friends to catch up. We reconvene with fellow revelers after a long night of partying. We treat relatives. And because it's the weekend, we allow ourselves to chow down on a daunting stack of pancakes, or indulge in a plate of French toast loaded with all sorts of rich ingredients, or ask for extra cheese in our scrambled eggs.
Critics from The Dallas Morning News made a diverse lot of brunch picks, from classic affordable spots with lines trailing out the door to more refined destinations featuring chef-driven offerings.
Blue Mesa Grill: An enormously popular brunch destination that serves well-crafted Tex-Mex and Southwestern dishes en masse (not an easy task) and at a reasonable price. Buffet served on Sundays. Locations in Dallas, Addison, Plano, Fort Worth and Southlake. bluemesagrill.com. $16.95, $6.95 for ages 6 to 11, free for ages 5 and under.
Bread Winners: The archetypal brunch place, with the long waits to match. Favorites: Normandy French toast (sourdough bread layered with cream cheese and raspberry jam) and a scramble with andouille sausage, onions, peppers and cheeses. Brunch menu offered on Saturdays and Sundays, though many of the items are available weekdays.
Locations in Uptown, Inwood Village and Plano. breadwinnerscafe.com. Most entrees $5.95 to $16.95.
Fearing's: The airy Sendero room at Fearing's is gorgeous at night, but its huge windows and wicker furniture make it the ultimate brunch locale. Though the three-course brunch menu (available on Sundays) changes frequently, you can count on Granny Fearing's fried chicken and "Jaxson and Campbell style pancakes," Dean Fearing's tribute to his sons.
Ritz-Carlton Dallas, 2121 McKinney Ave. 214-922-4848. fearingsrestaurant.com. Three courses for $42.
The Grape: Chef-owner Brian Luscher throws out some different but delicious ideas for brunch, such as light blueberry cornmeal griddle cakes with a hint of crunch, and a mean bacon cheeseburger. The covered patio suits the mood perfectly. Brunch menu available on Sundays.
2808 Greenville Ave. 214-828-1981. thegraperestaurant.com. Entrees $9 to $18.
Kirin Court: Yes, this is a Chinese restaurant with no true brunch offerings. But Kirin Court in Richardson does what we consider the best dim sum service in the area. Lovely dumplings and great jook (rice porridge) with pieces of Chinese crullers.
221 W. Polk St., Richardson. 214-575-8888. Dim sum items $2.90 to $5.50 on weekends, $2.50 weekdays.
La Duni: Tough choices: the pecan sticky roll French toast or the migas cuatro quesos? The chile relleno or the rum banana nut waffles? And which location (the third opens in NorthPark this fall) to choose? Brunch menu offered on weekends.
La Duni Latin Cafe, 4620 McKinney Ave. 214-520-7300. La Duni Latin Kitchen and Baking Studio, 4264 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-520-6888. laduni.com. Entrees $7.95 to $17.95.
Reata: The Western art makes this a choice destination for people who want to feel like they're in Texas while they fuel up on huevos rancheros or chicken-fried steak. Brunch menu offered on Sundays.
310 Houston St., Fort Worth. 817-336-1009. reata.net. Entrees $8.95 to $24.95.
