Creamy Eggs Benedict topped with crab meat and lobster made by chefs who know what they’re doing is an absolute treat. Top it off with a spicy Bloody Mary and you have found brunch paradise. Down in the Bay area, breakfast can be enjoyed by the lake, outside under magnificent trees or in an elegant restaurant. Below is a list of a few unique brunch and breakfast spots certain to have something for everyone.
Main Street Bistro, 615 East Main Street, League City, 281-332-8800
If you blink you might pass right by this French-inspired bistro located on a lovely tree-lined street in the historic district of Old League City. Pleasantly decorated to resemble a bistro in France, with banquette wall seating and tables scattered closely throughout, this cozy restaurant fills up fast. Daily specials are listed on the large chalkboard at the back of the restaurant. The brunch menu offers a variety of favorites, some with a twist. Bubba’s Benedict, served on creamy cheese grits with plump gulf shrimp in adobo sauce, jalapeños and Andouille sausage ($14), and Craig’s Benedict, topped with sautéed spinach, asparagus and blackened ahi tuna ($15), are two house favorites. Other menu items include stuffed crepes for $6, stuffed French toast for $8 and a wild salmon bagel and lox for $8. Plating is beautiful and photo-worthy. Bottomless mimosas are offered, but Main Street Bistro is a beer- and wine-only establishment, so if you’re looking for a Bloody Mary to go with your meal, check out the next brunch spot on this list. Main Street Bistro offers brunch three days a week. Brunch hours: Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Boondoggles, 4106 NASA Parkway, El Lago, 281-326-2739
It’s Bloody Mary time. Boondoggles Pub has been around since 1998. Drive down NASA Parkway after 5 p.m. and you’ll notice crowds of people, socializing during happy hour on the large covered patio outside the British-style pub. Nestled in a low-lying spot next to Clear Lake where boaters can dock their boats and grab a cold one, Boondoggles is known for brick-oven pizzas, craft beers and live music. Not many people are aware that it also offers a Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Brunch service includes mimosas and a stocked Bloody Mary bar featuring several vodkas and all of your favorite fixings. The brunch menu offers omelettes, chicken and waffle sliders and huevos rancheros. While Boondoggles does serve brunch on Sundays, the Bloody Mary bar and the dog-friendly patio are the real reasons you want to check this place out. The non-brunch menu is a much tastier bet, with options like fish and chips and wood-fired bruschetta pizza. Boondoggles is a pub, but is kid-friendly during daytime hours. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. until 11 p, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Red Oak Cafe, 6011 West Main Street, League City, 832-905-3150
The “taste of Texas” is how owners Kim and Ian Oravetz like to refer to their cafe. The Red Oak Cafe has a clean, industrial feel with concrete floors and exposed air ducts. But don’t let that fool you. This place is warm and welcoming, where “no one is a stranger,” according to its story written on the bottom of the menu. Red Oak Cafe does not sell alcohol but offers sweet tea, black currant tea, coffee, juices and even a refreshing strawberry lemonade served in a big Mason jar.
The breakfast menu features something for everyone, from pancakes and waffles to lighter sides. Sandwiches include a breakfast biscuit stuffed with scrambled eggs, ham or bacon, Vermont cheddar cheese, and hot sauce. If you’re craving a sweet sandwich, try the French toast panini made of thick slices of challah bread stuffed with raspberry cream cheese and a tasty pecan mixture and grilled until warm and toasty. If you’re looking for a breakfast to hold you over for several hours, skip the sandwiches and order the kitchen sink quesadilla filled with scrambled eggs, veggies, jalapeños, black bean and chipotle salsa, and your choice of meat. Whatever you decide on, you cannot forget to order Red Oak’s famous banana pudding for dessert. This pudding is known to convert all banana pudding doubters into believers. Breakfast hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 7 to 11 a.m.
Seabrook Waffle Co., 1402 5th Street, Seabrook, 281-291-8186
Talk about kid-friendly. This is the perfect spot to start getting the little ones hooked on brunch. This charming art deco-style cottage is located in Seabrook at the end of the Kemah bridge. You can sit inside, but we always opt to sit outside at one of the colorful tables underneath the grand oak tree.
The smell of burnt sugar from the Belgian waffles overloads your senses as soon as you open the hand-painted French door. These golden waffles are sweet enough on their own but are even more delectable with toppings. Try the Blue Pelican waffle spread with peach preserves, chopped bacon and crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. Kids’ go-to favorites include the Strawberry Shortcake waffle topped with a mound of whipped cream and perfectly sliced strawberries, and the Doe-Eyed waffle with Nutella, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a hefty sprinkling of chocolate chips. More savory waffle options are the Chicken and Waffle with Swiss cheese, a breaded chicken breast, chopped bacon, Hollandaise sauce and green onion; the Monte Cristo waffle; and Zac’s Mac waffle loaded with white cheddar mac and cheese, bacon and crushed red pepper. Waffles range from $6 to $7.95. No alcohol is sold, but beverages include fruit juices, cane sugar soda, bottled root beer, French press coffee and Vietnamese iced coffee. Seabrook Waffle Company offers breakfast every day except Sunday. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Habanero’s Tacos, 1908 Hialeah Drive, #2, Seabrook, 281-474-4400
If you’re just looking for a darn good breakfast and something a little different, check out Habanero’s Tacos. This is a very casual, counter-service spot where moms in flip-flops and yoga pants and dads with a five o’clock shadow will feel even more comfortable. Habanero’s Tacos serves authentic southern Mexican dishes. Unlike Tex-Mex cooking, Habanero’s Tacos offers more of a Caribbean flare using banana leaves, pineapple, sweet plantains, bitter orange and annatto, avocado and brined red onions in its dishes. After ordering, grab drinks and a bowl of the complimentary charro beans. A trio of homemade sauces is also brought to the table — extra-hot habanero, a creamy jalapeño sauce and a mild chile de arbol sauce.
Pick this spot when you’re really hungry because the food is rich and satisfying. Breakfast options range from simple breakfast tacos with your choice of add-ins to a variety of breakfast plates. Try the enchiladas campechanas, two vegetarian enchiladas topped with a sunny-side egg, salsa roja and cheese for $8. Or if you’re in the mood for a meat feast, try the deshebrada con huevo, scrambled egg and pulled brisket with onions, tomato and bell pepper, topped with pico de gallo. And a common favorite among Mexican breakfasts, the chilaquiles con huevos for only $8, is one of the best around. Hours: Monday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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This article appears in Apr 13-19, 2017.
