DINING
NEW ORLEANS
BRUNCH, NOLA STYLE The best al fresco brunches in New Orleans
By Teresa Bitler
The patio at Café Amelia
But, it’s the atmosphere that really sets New Orleans’ brunches apart. Bricked courtyards and patios shaded by oak, magnolia and cypress trees, decorated with greenery and fountains make the ideal backdrop for a leisurely meal. CAFÉ AMELIE Brunch is such a big deal at Café Amelie that it’s served Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Even with so much time devoted to it, a brunch reservation is still needed or some extra time to wait in line for an open table. While there’s no bad seat in the house, a spot in the courtyard where fountains, shade trees, potted plants and lights strung overhead lend the space a charming, Southern feel.
A delectible treat at Effervescence 44
SUNSEEKER
Café Amelie’s brunch menu celebrates the flavors of New Orleans with traditional dishes like gumbo and grits as well as breakfast interpretations of classics like the Bananas Foster Waffle. A mimosa, Sazerac or the bar’s signature cocktail, the Amelie, a mix of vodka, fresh mint and lime, make for great beverages to wash down a meal. cafeamelie.com EFFERVESCENCE Bubbles make brunch better, so it’s no surprise that this champagne lounge and restaurant ranks among the best places to brunch in New Orleans. Although the evening menu focuses on small plates, Sunday diners can reserve the rotating brunch plate until 3 p.m. or until it sells out. Reserving ahead of time is the right move, as Effervescence’s offerings, such as buttermilk fried chicken, crab cakes and caviar-topped bagels, should not be missed. Of course, sparkling wines and champagne pair well with each weekly brunch plate. The beverage menu has labels sourced from around the world, including more than 200 options by the bottle and more than 30 by the glass. Effervescence has an intimate
Relax on the patio at Effervescence
brick courtyard with fountains, tables and a couch, which makes for a comfy location to enjoy brunch and sip bubbly. nolabubbles.com CANE & TABLE This rustic restaurant in the French Quarter combines the cuisines of the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asian islands, all trading partners with New Orleans in its earliest days. Brunch kicks off with empanadas, tostones and similar appetizers, then continues with entrées like the Puerto Rican-inspired Sunnyside Sandwich made with fried plantains, ham, egg and cheese. Cane & Table’s rum-based, “proto-tiki” cocktails make for the perfect midday beverage. Or, there’s always one of the bar’s “Rare Finds” like the Rhum J.M. VSOP Ti Punch, featuring 3-year-old Habitation Bellevue Rum Agricole, 100 percent cane syrup and fresh lime. It’s perfect to sip with brunch on the patio amid the distressed plaster, tropical plants and turquoise tables reminiscent of Old Havana. caneandtablenola.com.
Photo of Cafe Amelia courtesy of Café Amelia; Effervescence photos by Effervescence
The Big Easy does brunch like no one else. Boozy and boisterous, brunch in New Orleans is often a sophisticated affair with items like oysters, soft shell crab and beignets on the menu.
