Lucky #4: Escafe's brunch.

"We plan, we toil, we suffer -- in the hope of what? A camel-load of idol's eyes? The title deeds of Radio City? The empire of Asia? A trip to the moon? No, no, no, no. Simply to wake up just in time to smell coffee and bacon and eggs. And, again I cry, how rarely it happens! But when it does happen -- then what a moment, what a morning, what a delight!"
- J. B. Priestley, British author (1894-1984)

I had the opportunity two weekends ago to go to an invite-only soft opening of Sunday brunch for one of the historic Downtown Mall's bookends, Escafe. The restaurant is known for its lively nightlife scene, which include dance parties on Friday and Saturday nights that spill out into its patio in the warm months and bar dancing. Unbeknownst to me more than half a year ago it is also a solid choice for food. If you're looking for a restaurant with a great location on the mall and moderately-priced food that is "creative, yet accessible," Escafe is your place. Accessibility in cuisine cannot be stressed enough for me. I'm fairly adventurous when it comes to trying new foods but dine numerous times with people who are not. Muy importante, indeed.



Photo courtesy of The Hook
Escafe's slogan is "comfort food with a twist" and it certainly rings true at their new brunch. My boyfriend and I walked swiftly past the PRIVATE PARTY sign taped on the door and after being seated devoured the menu. Whenever I'm going to a new place and/or feeling particularly adventurous, I'll ask the server for his or her favorite dishes but this time I didn't need to; our server suggested we try the Eggs Benedict and said the potato medley was “the bomb” which frankly was all I needed to hear. I advise to listen to what the servers recommend especially if they suggest it without your asking first.

My dining partner ordered the traditional Eggs Benedict with bacon and scrapple as sides. (Let's now ignore the fact that there were three different types of pork on his plate.) I ordered the french toast with the potato medley and grits. We heard the Bloody Marys were excellent but neither he or I wanted to drink any alcohol that morning, so we stuck with the basics: coffee and oj.

I was excited when our food arrived. The Eggs Benedict was delightful -- perfectly cooked. The french toast was made with baguette which made it substantial but difficult to cut (and eat) because of the bread’s texture but otherwise the flavor was there. A little disappointing since I don't like anything to get in the way of food and my enjoyment. The potato medley was essentially home fries, cubed potatoes cooked with peppers, onions, sweet potatoes, and possibly more root vegetables. Unexpectedly delicious, it was well-seasoned and the vegetables were crispy and not the slightest bit mushy. My favorite part of the meal.

And being a self-pronounced baker I shouldn’t forget that the meal started off with complimentary scones, biscuits, and a slice of sweet bread. The scones were the clear frontrunner. Baked with dried cranberries, they were just how I like scones if they’re not hot from the oven but are still very fresh (as in baked earlier that morning): hard crust, buttery and spongey on the inside. A+

All in all, Sunday brunch should be a successful venture for Escafe. It’s located adjacent to The Omni which will be convenient and appealing to out-of-towners. Regardless, the restaurant will receive a decent amount of foot traffic from people who relish a good breakfast. Like yours truly.

High points: Eggs Benedict, potato medley, scones, friendly wait staff