Eggs, Waffles, and Mimosas, Oh My! Brunch in Sarasota County

Brunch oftentimes denotes a special occasion – Mother’s Day or a baby shower - but sometimes it just means getting together with friends or family (or both!) to enjoy a leisurely start of the day.  I like to call those mornings you don't have to rush somewhere “slow coffee” as I usually drink my cup of Joe slowly instead of taking it like a shot en route to an appointment. But on special weekend mornings, I get to savor my slow coffee. It’s so relaxing, simply being able to slow down, something we forget to do. And brunch incorporates that vibe into a single syllable.

So where to go to find the perfect slow Sunday starter in Sarasota?

Siesta Key

Ophelia’s on the Bay has the grown-up brunch covered. With artisan cocktails (both with and without alcohol), raw bar, and fresh, creative dishes, this upscale waterfront restaurant is the perfect place to start the week with the one you love.

Siesta Key Oyster Bar offers a delicious Sunday brunch featuring specialty mimosa and seafood benedicts. On the sweeter side, try their sweet potato and coconut pancake or the banana nut French toast, drizzled with Dark Meyer’s caramel and candied pecans.

Downtown Sarasota

One meal at Made  and you will clearly understand why their brunch is award-winning. When in doubt, go for the Chef’s Breakfast, which features not only the chef’s daily steak creation, eggs, and biscuit and gravy, but also a beer or a Bloody Mary. Because at brunch, the more the merrier and decisions are overrated.

Sitting outside of Mattison’s City Grille, people watching almost takes your eyes away from the picture-perfect plate in front of you. Classics such as quiche, omelets, and benedicts shine at this local hotspot. When you’re finished, take a stroll down Main Street to see if shopping burns calories (hint: it does!).

The brunch menu at Patrick’s 1481 on Main Street is not long, and that’s simply because what they make, they make well. Boasting themselves as “Sarasota’s version of Cheers,” the venue is laidback and friendly. Everybody may not know your name, but after a few mimosas, they may be your new best friends.

Boca is one of those restaurants where everything is delicious, hands down. So that makes it both easy and difficult to decide what to order. One bit of humor in their menu to help choose the perfect brunch are names such as The Old Man Platter, The Treehugger Flatbread, the Hangover Panini, and the Staff Meal (“Just order it…the Chef says you’ll love it!”). Well, if you say so!

Longboat Key

Harry’s Continental Kitchens has been a favorite amongst locals for over 30 years. Brunch after brunch, Sarasotans flock to savor their crab cake benedicts and bacon Bloody Marys. If available, ask for the outdoor seating.

St. Armand’s Circle

A Sunday morning spent on Lido Key, enjoying the beach and St. Armands Circle sounds like the ideal weekend day-laid back and slow. Begin that perfect meal at Shore Restaurant, located on St. Armands Circle. This uber-cool menu highlights simple ingredients that shine by creative uses. From vegans to carnivores, there’s something on the menu for each person, so perfect it’s as though they’re reading your mind. Case in point? My kids will jump all over the Banana & Nutella Sandwich with Marshmallow Fluff.

Venice

Café Evergreen is committed to being a leader in healthy foods and drinks. This doesn’t mean they sacrifice quality or great taste. They’ve got brunch favorites like omelets and benedicts but try one of their specials like Zucchini Potato pancakes. And you can’t go wrong by ordering their Bacon Candy which already sounds amazing by its name.