What’s better than relaxing on the weekend with friends, a Bloody Mary or mimosa and a delicious dish of piping hot breakfast?
Not much. That’s why brunch in Milwaukee is so brilliant. Here are a few suggestions for new spots to try out next weekend for the best meal of the weekend.
Branded
If you like the Iron Horse Hotel’s famous Route 66 brunch buffet, you’ll be excited to know that the hotel has launched a brand new Under $10 brunch menu featuring ten brunch items available in their Branded Bar.
Popular favorites include tiramisu pancakes, chicken-fried steak, green chile chilaquiles, fish tacos, crab cake benedict and brioche French toast. Top it all off with a mimosa for just $6. All items are served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at Branded. View the full menu at theironhorsehotel.com/branded.
Chic Café
If southern and soul food fare is more your style, you’ll love the brunch offered at Chic Café, 770 N. Jefferson St. (lower level). From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Sunday, indulge in all you can eat fine southern cooking including omelets and waffles to order, fried and baked chicken, roasted or fried turkey, barbecued ribs & tips, meatloaf, fried or baked fish, greens, yams, macaroni and cheese, cornbread dressing, red beans and rice and more.
For more information, visit chiccafemilwaukee.com
MOVIDA
Milwaukee’s newest Spanish tapas restaurant has been serving up brunch for about a month now. But, if you haven’t been in to check them out, you’re missing out.
Choose from items like freshly made churros (chocolate, cayenne, cinnamon, $6), handmade croissants (served with orange blossom butter and jam, $4) or delicious dishes like brunch paella , Torrijas (Spanish French Toast, $11) or tortilla espanola (Spanish omelets, $9-13). Or do as I did this past weekend and get yourself a Movida Benedict with pork belly, figs and guindilla hollandaise with poached eggs and crisp potatoes ($13). Top it off with a Bloody Maria ($10) featuring Movida's signature gazpacho base with tequila.
Brunch is served every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit MovidaMKE.com
Salotto Zarletti
If you’re hailing from a bit further north, be sure to check out the new brunch offerings at Salotto Zarletti at 1515 W. Mequon Rd. The restaurant served its first brunch service this past week, and Chef Andrew Miller is planning an ever-changing menu of delicious Italian-inspired fare.
Sunday brunch at Salotto is served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features entrees like ravioli and grassfed beef burgers along with more traditional breakfast dishes like frittata, buttermilk French toast, eggs benedict and soft scrambled eggs with Italian sausage, toast and housemade jam. If you’re craving a delicious Neopolitan style pizza, choose from Margherita, Genovese or breakfast pizza with house pancetta, egg, arugula, smoked mozzarella and maple.
Cocktails include three Bloody Mary options including the Italian ($8) and Skinny Mary ($7), along with Cacciavite (vodka, blood orange liquor, amaretto and OJ, $8), $7 mimosas and more.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
