Brunch Basics Atlanta-Style

Kick off the day with a hearty brunch.

by Jane F. Garvey

December 1, 2005

S ometimes, business has to be done on weekends - whether for a convention, emergency meeting, or wrapping up some business that didn't get done. So next time that happens, treat your client to brunch at one of Atlanta's best brunch spots. Here, some favorites:

Off the beaten path but worth the trip, Douceur de France is a superb Marietta bakery that does breakfast all week, including Saturday. Most French don't dote on breakfast, but Danielle and Luc Beaudet supply perfect croissants, serious coffee and a good omelet.

For heftier fare, Java Jive is a breakfast specialist. Coffee is hair-on-the-chest stuff, and the egg dishes and pancakes are all-day-satisfying. Crescent Moon also does mega breakfast, including omelets and pancakes. Flying Biscuit dishes up great biscuits and inventive egg dishes. All these spots deal in superb whole-wheat pancakes. Their popularity requires either very early or very late arrival; otherwise, you'll linger longer than you may have planned.

For a bagel-focused brunch, hit the Bagel Palace in Toco Hills Shopping Center. The awesome spreads - great white fish salad, baked salmon, olive and cream cheese, chopped liver, egg salad - make the visit.

Ever get a craving for exotic tastes? Canton House, recently renovated, is every Atlanta Chinese family's weekend mecca. Servers deftly wheel carts among the tables, and deposit thereon what you select, marking a paper with your choice tally.

The dress-up super feast is at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. Groaning boards come laden with more food than anyone can taste. But I really prefer the tiny nibbles tasting brunch at Park 75 in the Four Seasons Hotel. The fresh orange juice Mimosas are absolutely awesome.

Want to close the night out with brunch? Au Pied de Cochon in the Intercontinental Hotel Buckhead is open 24 hours. Or if you prefer more casual digs, go for R. Thomas Deluxe Grill, with good omelets and a raft of vegetarian dishes until 4 a.m.

Bloody Marys are the best at Einstein's, where they provide a tasty foundation with the shrimp on stone-ground grits. I also like the brunch drinks at South City Kitchen in Midtown.

Southern brunch at Agnes & Muriel's is another of those long-time Atlanta favorites, especially thanks to the superb salmon croquettes. And at Watershed in Decatur, the nod goes to any dish with those superb grits. Babette's makes a most delectable Benedict with steak, and best-ever hash browns.

Unique-for-brunch flavors make Southwestern-flavored Asada an interesting destination that serves zingy dishes and zesty margaritas.

Irish breakfasts are another option. Fado Irish Pub and James Joyce both serve traditional black pudding on weekends, and both offer other brunch dishes that will keep you going all day.

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Details
Agnes & Muriel's: 1514 Monroe Dr., (404) 885-1000

Asada: 1238 DeKalb Ave., (404) 522-8666

Au Pied de Cochon: Hotel InterContinental, (404) 946-9070

Babette's: 573 N. Highland Ave., (404) 523-9121

Bagel Palace: 2869 N. Druid Hills Rd., (404) 315-9016

Canton House: 4835 Buford Hwy., NE, (770) 936-9030

The Café, Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead: 3434 Peachtree Rd., (404) 237-2700

Crescent Moon: 174 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, (404) 377-5623; Northlake Mall, 4800 Briarcliff Rd., NE, (678) 937-9020

Douceur de France: 467 Glover St., Marietta, (770) 425-5060

Einstein's: 1077 Juniper St., NE, (404) 876-7925

Fado Irish Pub: 3035 Peachtree Rd., NE, (404) 841-0066

Flying Biscuit Café: 1655 McLendon Ave., NE, (404) 687-8888; 1001 Piedmont Ave., (404) 874-8887

James Joyce Irish Pub: 22 N. Avondale Rd., (404) 296-5097

Java Jive Coffee House & Café: 790 Ponce deLeon Ave., (404) 876-6161 (no credit cards)

Park 75, Four Seasons Hotel: 75 14th St., NE, (404) 881-9898

R. Thomas Deluxe Grill: 1812 Peachtree Rd., (404) 872-2942

South City Kitchen: 1144 Crescent Ave., NE, (404) 873-7358

Watershed: 406 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., (404) 378-4900