When it comes to making brunch plans, Wildcats tend to stick to the tried-and-true. Clarke’s and Le Peep are go-tos, and Dixie Kitchen or Bat 17 might come up if someone is feeling adventurous. Next time you set out for a Sunday morning meal, forget the familiar and try The Cellar – you’ll be glad you did.
The Cellar is the more affordable sister restaurant of Chef Victor Hernandez’s The Stained Glass, but the lower prices are no reflection of the quality. Its simple interior of wooden furniture and warm lighting gives off a refined yet cozy feel, making it a perfect place for anything from a casual meal with friends to a fancy date. This simplicity of decor also works well to highlight The Cellar’s true star: its food.
Photo by Emma Danbury
Throughout the week, The Cellar is known for its stellar dinner menu of globally-inspired shared plates such as sweet potato latkes and spicy Asian BBQ baby back ribs. But don’t let those dishes distract you from the brunch menu, which launched this past November. This menu may not be the extensive novel you get at other restaurants, but each item on it sounds so enticing that choosing just one thing will be a serious challenge. (Pro tip: the solution is to order, and subsequently eat, everything.)
Brunchers in the savory camp certainly have a multitude of options. The Sunday omelette is a foodie’s dream, served with hash brown potatoes and packed with organic mushrooms, sautéed kale, goat cheese, heirloom tomatoes and optional smoked salmon.
Meat-lovers can find bliss in the bacon sampler, which includes tequila-jalapeño, maple-bourbon and Chinese five-spice house-cured slices. The huevos rancheros are another standout: two basted eggs are beautifully plated atop an Oaxaca cheese quesadilla and served with juicy chorizo sausage, ranchero salsa and frijoles charros (a.k.a. stewed pinto beans).
Photo by Emma Danbury
If you have more of a sweet tooth when it comes to brunch, you’ll lose your mind over some of the items this menu has to offer. The doughnut French toast, topped with cream cheese frosting and served with fresh berry gazpacho, is rich enough to be a dessert, but you won’t hear us complaining.
If you don’t think you can indulge in a full platter of these babies, you can opt for a side of donuts with maple glaze and bacon bits. Or, you can satisfy your sugar craving with the healthier, but extremely flavorful, fresh fruit and yogurt parfait with granola and wild flower honey.
Photo by Emma Danbury
Brunch at The Cellar may be slightly more expensive than your usual spot, with entrées ranging from $10 to $14, but it definitely won’t break the bank. So treat yourself this weekend – your stomach will thank you.
Bad case of the brunchies? We’ve got you covered with these reviews and recipes: