Ah, brunch! Who doesn’t love that cheerful blend of breakfast and lunch that gives us a chance to sleep in, and then socialize with friends and family over decadent spreads of comfort food paired with signature morning cocktails? Whether you’re celebrating Mother’s Day or just out-and-about enjoying that perfect Spring air with your significant other, this time of year in Birmingham was made for brunching.
Old-fashioned hospitality and new-fashioned menu items.
Why scramble to figure out how mom wants her breakfast in bed prepared when you can take her to explore Birmingham’s sensational culinary hospitality. Let’s have a look at your options.
Experience a one-of-a-kind brunch at Trattoria Centrale . It’s hip; it’s Italian; and it’s about the coolest little pizza cafe you can imagine. Located on 20th Street downtown, Trattoria, as it’s locally known, serves breakfast pizzas topped with local farm eggs as well as seasonal frittatas. Trattoria is probably best known for its mascarpone stuffed french toast. With strawberries, bacon, and maple syrup is so good you’ll hate that you have to wait for the next weekend to have it again!
For some of the freshest pastries in town, visit the intimate digs of Feast & Forest. Founded by Victor King, formerly of Highlands Bar & Grill and Brick and Tin, along with Kristin Farmer Hall, the Baking Bandit, this downtown delight is dedicated to the art of sweet and savory crafted pastries. Saturday brunch features melt-in-your-mouth buttermilk biscuits with locally made spreads, flaky Nutella pop tarts, and brioche cinnamon rolls that look like blooms from a garden of out-of-this-world edible delights.
Get a taste of a number of Birmingham’s up-and-coming culinary greats all at the same time and in the same place. Venture over to The Pizitz Food Hall. Open 7 days a week at 7am, Pizitz showcases an exciting collection of small restaurant concepts from an array of accomplished restaurateurs. Try The Alabama Biscuit Company’s smattering of fluffy, sweet and savory biscuit flavors with an array of toppings. Or, if biscuits aren’t your jam, check out WaffleWorks where you’ll find chicken and waffles or the uniquely southern shrimp-and grits waffle. (Spoiler alert: they actually make the waffle out of grits!
Roots & Revelry on the second floor of the historic Thomas Jefferson Tower provides remarkable views of downtown Birmingham and gorgeous patio seating. Here, Chef Brandon Cain has created a menu that is full of intrigue and southern flavor. The chicken and waffles fashioned with house-made miso butter and ginger-lemongrass syrup are more than worth getting out of bed for!
If that perfect brunch spot where you can eat, drink, and watch weekend sports is you’re looking for, then Sky Castle located in the Lakeview District is where you need to be. Sky Castle marries comfort food and contemporary cuisine with inventive brunch cocktails from local mixologists.
Perhaps a little neighborhood spot is more your style. Pop in with the whole family to the relaxed, cheerful atmosphere of The Silvertron Cafe. In the heart of Forest Park, Silvertron has been dishing out hearty meals for more than 20 years. With 6 varieties of flavorful mimosas and pitcher options, this eclectic hub is a great place to start your Sunday!
Still haven’t found what you’re looking for, Bono? Cross the mountain to the SoHo square area of Homewood, where you’ll find the light and airy Jacksons Bar & Bistro. No brunch is complete without the perfect Bloody Mary, and Jackson’s has broken the code for how the perfect Bloody Mary is done. You see, Jackson’s provides an order pad at your table which you can use to customize your morning pick-me-up. Deviled eggs, pickled okra, and brown-sugared bacon are but a few of the ingredients you can choose to make your Bloody Mary special.
Walk off Breakfast
Nothing follows brunch like a nice walk. And, if you want to make Mothers Day special, you can’t beat a little quality time. So, after brunching, and with a full belly, take a short drive to one of the best views of Birmingham, Lover’s Leap in historic Bluff Park. Here a short stroll puts you in front of a breathtaking vista. While you’re in this exquisite neighborhood with its rolling hills and panoramic views, be sure to check out the antique shops scattered throughout.
If you need the chicken-and-waffle walk instead of the granola and yogurt walk, consider taking a stroll through Railroad Park, admiring the Birmingham skyline as you amble along the sweeping lawns & picturesque streams that grace Birmingham’s front yard.
Feeling floral? Wander amongst the butterflies in the Dunn Formal Rose Garden at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, a peaceful and idyllic oasis tucked away in the center of our hustle-and-bustle life.
Mind your biscuits
Here in this part of the country, we’re known for comfort food, warm tender hospitality and the smells of a honeysuckle and wisteria carried on the breezes of Spring. Mothers in the south have been known to declare, “Mind your biscuits and life will be gravy.” Well, here in Birmingham we’ve got your biscuits, we’ve got your gravy, and so, so much more. So, we recommend you take momma’s advice and explore all that brunching in Birmingham has to offer. And, make sure you come hungry!