Il Cane Rosso is My New Favorite Brunch Spot

I hate it when my favorite restaurants get all crowded. Yes, I love that they are successful and will continue to be around, but the waiting part sucks. Everyone knows about Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum. And for those other people who don't, they will after the Diners, Dive-Ins, and Drives airs this week. We're lucky to have these great places that get their time in the national spotlight, but as a pre-DDD customer, I cringe at the thought of the throngs of people toting their misbehaving children into restaurants I love. But this isn't about how happy I am to be 1/2 of a DINK couple (Dual Income, No Kids), it's about the amazing brunch the Sig-O and I had on Sunday.

Cane Rosso recently decided to change it up and  be open for Sunday brunch, which made me a happy camper. Yes, they had previously done Saturday brunch, but that just wasn't terribly convenient. Yes, I've been known to drink on patios before noon on Saturday, but I don't make it a regular practice because, too often, there's just a bunch of stuff I need to get done on Saturday so we can drink on a patio and become worthless for the rest of the day on Sunday. Fortunately, Cane Rosso is now open on Sunday and has a great patio, which just so happens to be dog-friendly. If the Sig-O would get around to training the demon in fur to stop being such a jacka$$ with other dogs, I'm sure we would have taken him and enjoyed it.

Moving on to brunch. The full menu is available, but the real reason to wake up and head over to Deep Ellum is the brunch menu. I started with a mimosa (duh) and the Sig-O opted for a Michelada, which is basically a bloody mary made with beer instead of vodka. We rationalized that this could actually be a healthier version of a bloody mary when done with light beer. With eight choices on the brunch menu, it's not the number of choices that makes you wonder what to order as much as the number of freaking amazing choices available. Everything sounded good. For real. So we asked our friendly waitress for her thoughts, which turned out to be a great call since she let us know that the hash wasn't going to be with hot sopressata and braised pork, but rather in-house smoked brisket. Sold! 1 million times sold! Seriously, the Sig-O was all over that like white on rice. Me, I was still debating several options, but I'm a believer that a good brunch must have good eggs benedict, so I went with the Cane Rosso Benedict.

After just a few minutes of enjoying the sunshine on the patio with our cocktails, our brunch arrived. The brisket hash was brisket(duh), 2 over easy eggs, fonduta and crostini. The Sig-O went for the first bite and it was like I had been completely replaced. I think I might have even heard proposals of marriage to that brisket hash from that side of the table. I had to try it. Reluctantly, the Sig-O let me take a bite, but only after repeating, "you know the fact that I'm sharing this with you at all means I love you, right?" I was like, "yea, yea, whatever. Less talking, more food sharing." And then I took that bite. OMG! That brisket hash was totally proposal worthy. The flavors came together perfectly. The smokiness of the brisket, the spiciness of the chilies in the gravy, the eggs. Seriously, this is the kind of brunch food that keeps a restaurant at the top of your brunch choices even when the suburbanites and their broods invade your brunch patio.

The Cane Rosso Benedict was not about to play second fiddle to some hash. With the over easy eggs on top of crispy pancetta and fried polenta, topped with Calabrian chile gravy and complemented by delightful oven-roasted breakfast potatoes, this benedict is a force to be reckoned with that most assuredly puts Cane Rosso on my list of best brunches in town. There was even Jimmy's crumbled sausage in that chile gravy. I get pancetta, sausage, eggs, fried polenta, and breakfast potatoes with that amazing gravy all in one dish? This isn't brunch, this is amazing. In case you're not already full from licking your brunch plate clean, they do offer dessert. Sig-O and I just couldn't manage that one for brunch, but I highly recommend the S'mores calzone as I've shared it with coworkers at lunch and we found ourselves fork sparring for the last bits of chocolate and marshmellow goodness.

It's been quite some time since the Sig-O and I found ourselves both saying Wow to a brunch, but Cane Rosso deserves it. And they deserve to be featured on Triple-D. I just hope I can still snag a patio table after it airs.

Go. Preferably tonight. www.ilcanerosso.com/

Nosh at Nosh for 50% Off

I'm a big fan of Nosh. So big, in fact, that hte Sig-O and I are thinking that's where we'll have the parental units take us for brunch on Sunday. (Crap, now the paparazzi will follow us!) Here's the deal from Living Social:

If you live in Big D, you've likely heard big talk of chef Avner Samuel and his cuisine. Now the name behind Oak Lawn's Nosh Euro Bistrois dishing up not only bold flavors but also a bold deal: For just $15, get $30 to spend on Nosh-ables and non-alcoholic drinks during lunch or Sunday brunch. Neither the OpenTable.com Diners' Choice 2010 Winner nor celebrity chef Samuel are messing around when it comes to hearty entrées like beef tenderloin Benedict or Mediterranean-style "Big Fish" for two. Consider yourself warned: Choosing is difficult, but there are no wrong orders. Even light fare is a joy on the tongue with watermelon and heirloom tomato salad and tuna tartare. And at 50% off, this deal will deliver the perfect bite without taking one out of your wallet.

Get this deal. You'll thank me. Nosh is one of the best restaurants in town and now you'll get to enjoy it for half off!

It's Monday and I'm Already Thinking About Next Sunday's Brunch at Q de Cheval

It's Monday, the worst day of the week. You need to recover from your weekend and work just isn't the funnest way to do that. Soooo, you start thinking about next weekend, and with that, where you'll eat the most civilized meal of the week - Sunday Brunch. When else can you hit the buffet multiple times without fear of judgement, an drink vodka drinks before noon? Check out this special for a great hotel brunch deal (it's commonly known that hotels do Kick-A brunches). Check it out:


Located in the InterContinental Dallas hotel in Addison,  Q de Cheval just opened in May. Two people can try out this new venue with unlimited Sunday brunch for $29, regularly $60. The extensive menu changes every week; options may include:
• Breakfast quesadillas with bacon, egg, tomato and jalapeno
• Build-your-own waffles
• Lunch items like crab claws and shrimp pasta salad with artichokes, tomatoes and citrus dressing
• A carving station with meats like herb-crusted prime rib
• Desserts such as pastries, tarts and cakes

This deal also includes bottomless Ketel One Bloody Marys and Sonoma Piper mimosas. Get it now!

Other Great Dad's Day Brunch Options - Landmark, Joule, and The Second Floor

Because Dad really just wants to sleep in or play golf, Mom decides that you should get dressed up and go out for a fancy food instead. Here are some options that are worth getting dressed up for:

The Landmark Restaurant (3015 Oak Lawn Ave.) at The Warwick Melrose Hotel Dallas is celebrating Father’s Day all week, with a three-course lunch from June 13 through June 17 for $16 per person. After taking Saturday off, Landmark picks up the celebration on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19.

Charlie Palmer at The Joule (1530 Main St.) is offering an exclusive Father’s Day dinner menu on Sunday from 5:30 until 10:30 p.m. The menu offers up everything from Shiner Bock bratwurst to lobster dogs and beef tartare. The dinner also includes a complimentary jar of steak salt for each dad.

The Second Floor Restaurant ’s 100-plus-bottle Scotch selection will be half off this Father’s Day. The selection includes Glenlivet Archive 21 for $19, Glenlivet Archive 18 for $20, Balvenie 21 Portwood for $16, Macallan 18 for $19, Chivas 25 for $32 and Johnnie Walker Gold 18 for $12. The Scotch extravaganza will run all day Sunday, June 19, from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m at 13340 Dallas Parkway, at the Westin Galleria. Sig-O and I hit this place up recently and the scotch collection is quite impressive, as are the molecular cocktails. 4 words: Molecular. Irish. Car. Bomb. Go!

Celebrate Father's Day at Buttons and You Might End Up Having to Undo a Few

Buttons (15207 Addison Road, Addison) is celebrating Father’s Day weekend by offering up the “Big Daddy Steak.” The 18-ounce rib-eye comes with a baked potato, choice of veggie and a domestic or bottled beer served in a souvenir Buttons pint glass, all for $30 per person. Also, on June 19, Buttons will host a jazz and gospel brunch. The brunch features southern cuisines of Chef Keith Buttons Hicks served in a buffet-style brunch, with a meat-carving station, fruit bar and an al a carte menu that includes Buttons’ signature steak and eggs, chicken and waffles and salmon Florentine. The Sunday brunch cost $22 per person and $10 for children 12 and under, and it’s available at all Buttons Restaurants from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

25 Cent Mimosas, $3 Bloody Marys and $10 Free to State & Allen This Saturday

It's Time for Drag Brunch at Dish!

Enough said. Make your reservations ASAP b/c it's sure to be a hit!

Getting Ready for Father's Day at Bistro Watels

With just 2 weeks to go, it's time to start thinking abotu your father's day reservations and I've heard from a fave that Bistro Watel's will serve Father's Day Brunch from 11 until 2 at the new restaurant

BISTRO Watel’s is in the former York St space, near Lakewood at Live Oak and Skillman, the actual address is 6047 Lewis Street.

Reservations are required at 214 720 0323 or by email: mail@watels.com

They will offer the full menu plus egg dishes at the special price of 2 courses for $24, or 3 courses for $31. Yum!

Thai Brunch and Cheap Mimosas at Malai Kitchen

Step one: wake up. Step two: head to the West Village Malai Kitchen. Here, you’ll grab a table on the patio, order up some Vietnamese french toast (made with banh mi bread) or eggs Benedict on a coconut biscuit, and—for this weekend only—sip on 25-cent mimosas. Those quarters have been burning a hole in your pocket.

411: Sat-Sun, 11am-3pm, Malai Kitchen, 3699 McKinney Ave, 214-599-7857

Patrizio's is Your New Brunch Spot

Well, not technically until June 4, but here's the release with details:

Dallas, Texas (May 19, 2011) - One of Dallas’s favorite eateries is opening its doors for breakfast! Diners can now enjoy traditional Italian morning offerings at the Patrizio in Highland Park Village every Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon starting June 4.

Known for their affordable Italian family fare, the new “La Mattinata Breakfast” menu will also include moderately priced items such as Frittata Del Fattore a traditional Italian folded omelet with wild mushroom, chicken, bell pepper and mozzarella; Torta Rustica a savory puff pastry quiche with asparagus, sautéed onions, mozzarella, bacon and bell pepper salsa; Crespelle Farcite A Piacere homemade vanilla crepes with your choice of filling; and Uova Colombo a baked garlic English muffin with melted provolone cheese, pancetta and two poached eggs topped with homemade basil pesto. All breakfast items range in price from $5 to $6. A special breakfast menu for children 12 and under is also available. Each table will receive a complimentary breadbasket filled with a variety of breakfast breads and pastries.

Getting started in the morning is definitely more fun when you add a Baby Bellini or Baby Mimosa, each priced at $1.88. Coffee lovers are in for a treat with the Chilled Coffe Shakerato, Espresso, Cappuccino, Mochaccino and Macchiato.

Known as having one of the best patios in Dallas, Patrizio is the perfect place to enjoy a morning breakfast with family and friends while taking in the beautiful scenery of Highland Park Village. Guests can also enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi. Get more info here.

Cheap Brunch Alert - 1st Saturdays

Your Brunch, Now for a Dollar

Starting now, LaGrange is doing this: serving you a brunch buffet every first Saturday of the month... for a buck. They’ll be laying out everything from Texas Eggs Benedict to Challah French Toast. Go ahead, get your money’s worth.

Saturdays starting May 7, 1-5pm, LaGrange, 2704 Elm St, 214-741-2008

Quick Bite: Three Sheets

Sunday morning, the Sig-O and I wake up not sure what time it is because of that pesky daylight savings time change, which is kind of irrelevant since really we were just hungry. Being in the know comes with benefits, so I say, "How about we go check out the brunch at Three Sheets?" Sig-O, "Huh, where?" Me, "On Ross, and it's free this weekend and the mimosas are $1" Ok, let's go.

So, we get over to Three Sheets, which still requires you to valet on Sundays, which I'm not crazy about, but whatever. We go in, it's kind of dark, but I'm not complaining since it's a Sunday after a certain friend's birthday party and there might have been grown up jello and grown up watermelon. We venture to the patio anyway to check and see if there's a table, no such luck. Sig-O is more than ok with returning to the indoor bar cave, so we did. A cheery waitress came up and told us it was free brunch (food only) and $1 mimosas, along with some other drink specials I didn't listen too because it was too early to think about jaeger or patron. The brunch menu covers most of your basics - eggs, toast, breakfast tacos, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast pizza, as well as the obligatory sides of bacon, sausage and home fries.

I went with the breakfast pizza, which essentially was like an omlette on a pizza crust. I'm not complaining at all. The crust on that breakfast pizza made me want to come back and try their dinner pizzas (which are free on Monday nights). It included sausage, mushrooms, broccoli and cheese. It was good. I imagine it would be particularly good at helping one get over a hangover without having all the extra-greasy food. Sig-O went with the biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon (it's free, live a little!) Not as pleased with the biscuits and gravy, which could have used another biscuit or two added to this small serving. I know, I know, our servings are too big, but this one was kind of small and the presentation was lacking. The gravy tasted good, but wasn't quite warm enough, probably due to that extra lap around the dining room that it took. But the bacon. Holy goodness, the bacon. Cooked perfectly - that not crispy, but not too soft doneness, along with the fantastic smoky flavor, I'm all about ordering the bacon every time.

And there were a few mimosas. At $1 each, what do you expect? That alone would get me to return to Three Sheets. The bacon and food are bonuses.

Oh, and sorry, your brunch won't be free because last weekend was the last one. I know, I should have told you about it, but I didn't even know until Saturday night. My apologies. But really, this place is so cool I'm hitting it up for happy hour later this week. Catch you there!