Brunch specials: Like many over-the-top delicious foods, the crawfish beignet, Chef Scot’s riff on Jazzfest crawfish bread, came late one night when he was “starving and kinda drunk.” Filled with loads of crawfish, gooey Mozzarella and smoky Provel cheese, peppers, onions and topped with jalapeno aioli, it is pretty unforgettable. Brunch cocktails: Bottomless Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas, and red and white sangrias are a deal for a thrifty $15.
Ruby Slipper Café
139 S. Cortez St. 2001 Burgundy St. 200 Magazine St. 1005 Canal St. 2802 Magazine Street 525-9355 RubySlipperCafe.net Just a few blocks from Katie’s the first Ruby Slipper Cafe opened on South Cortez Street in 2008 on a block still suffering from post-Katrina blight. Amid the gloom, Erich and Jennifer Weishaupp created an invigorated gathering place where weary neighbors could enjoy breakfast, lunch and brunch in a colorful atmosphere. Since its opening, the Ruby Slipper has experienced explosive growth, adding two locations downtown, another in the Marigny, and yet another most recently in the Garden District. In 2015, the beloved local joint went regional with an opening downtown Pensacola, Florida, and another in Orange Beach, Alabama, last year. A Baton Rouge location will open this summer. Brunch specials: Brunch specials at reasonable prices include local delicacies like pork or duck debris, shrimp and grits, cochon de lait, and bananas Foster. Brunch cocktails: Favorite cocktails are: the Ruby Sunrise (tequila, orange and pomegranate juice) and the award-winning housemade Bloody Mary, prepared with either vodka, tequila or baconinfused vodka.
Red Gravy Café
125 Camp St. 561-8844 RedGravyCafe.com With gorgeous food and bright, homey atmosphere it is no surprise that Red Gravy Cafe, a humble little spot in the CBD was voted the Number One Best Brunch Spot In New Orleans by Open Table for 2016. The cozy bistro serves the rustic Italian recipes the chef/owner collected from her grandmothers, aunts and mother throughout her New Jersey childhood. Brunch Specials: Ingredients are locally sourced and organic to create such daily brunch show stoppers as It’s a Jersey Thing (crostini with Jersey pork roll and Provolone); browned butter pancakes served with Italian sausage; Sicilian egg pie; Ligurian shrimp and grits; and a wealth of handmade pastas. Brunch cocktails: With a full bar, Red Gravy offers a unique Italiancentric wine list, as well as brunch favorites such as Mimosas, Bloody Mary’s and the like.
Twelve Mile Limit
500 S. Telemachus St. 488-8114 The delightfully low-key Twelve Mile Limit offers brunch all weekend. Brunch specials: The menu focuses on “build your own” breakfast burritos and biscuit sandwiches, which can be customized with pulled pork, bacon, eggs, hollandaise, Brie, gravy and caramelized onion. Brunch cocktails: For affordable day drinking, take advantage of $5 mimosas and Bloody Mary’s.
Atchafalaya
901 Louisiana Ave. 891-9626 AtachafalayaRestaurant.com Atchafalaya has become famous for its outstanding Thursday through Monday brunch menu. Brunch specials: Specials vary, but favorites include: Duck Hash (poached eggs, duck confit, blackberries, mangoes, hollandaise and bacon vinaigrette) and Crab Louis
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Josephine Estelle
600 Carondelet St. 930-3070 JosephineEstelle.com Tucked into the Ace Hotel is the melodiously named Josephine Estelle, from the daughters of chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, the kitchen kings who merge classic Italian recipes with the flavors and techniques of the American South. Here, lofty ceilings, plush seating and an open kitchen set the backdrop for the beginning of a beautiful day. Brunch specials: Weekend brunch menu includes Poutine with neckbone gravy, Caputo Brothers cheese curd and Calabrian chili oil; fried chicken biscuit with Calabrian honey; and sensational pastries and desserts from Breanne Kostyk. Brunch cocktails: Remarkable brunch cocktails include: Things Remembered (sparkling wine, cranberry, rosemary and orange), the Tailored Fit (vodka, hibiscus, lemon, sparkling Riesling) and a unique take on the Bloody Mary with hints of citrus Ponzu.