Brunson's Pub in Saint Paul runs East Side weekend brunch on Payne Avenue, with scratch biscuits, Lovejoy's Bloody Marys and a tight 19-tap beer list.
Must order: Lovejoy's Bloody Mary alongside the scratch biscuits and gravy.
Tip: The Payne Avenue patio is the spring through autumn pick; the full pub menu runs alongside brunch and the kitchen serves until 10pm weekdays.
Address: 956 Payne Ave, St. Paul, MN 55130, Minneapolis
Cafe Latte in Saint Paul runs the Grand Avenue cafeteria-and-bakery hybrid since 1985, with scratch soups, salads, the turtle cake and a wine bar upstairs.
Order: The turtle cake plus the daily soup-and-salad combo from the line.
Tip: The wine bar upstairs opens late afternoon and seats walk-ins; bakery counter is the pre-noon pick for a turtle cake or a scone.
Egg and I in Saint Paul runs the University Avenue classic-breakfast counter since 1991, with eggs Florentine, scratch hash browns and biscuits with gravy.
Order: The Eggs Florentine with hash browns and a side of biscuits and gravy.
Tip: Saturday before 9am is the only time you walk in without a wait; closes daily at 2pm sharp with no dinner service.
Cafe Latte in Saint Paul runs the Grand Avenue cafeteria-and-bakery hybrid since 1985, with scratch soups, salads, the turtle cake and a wine bar upstairs.
Order: The turtle cake plus the daily soup-and-salad combo from the line.
Tip: The wine bar upstairs opens late afternoon and seats walk-ins; bakery counter is the pre-noon pick for a turtle cake or a scone.
Moto-i in Minneapolis runs the country's first sake brewpub at Lyn-Lake, with weekend izakaya brunch, ramen and the rooftop garden in summer.
Order: The Tokyo straight ramen plus the breakfast buns with cured pork belly.
Tip: Open until midnight every night, so brunch rolls into late-afternoon ramen. The rooftop garden seats 24 in summer; first come first served.
Egg and I in Saint Paul runs the University Avenue classic-breakfast counter since 1991, with eggs Florentine, scratch hash browns and biscuits with gravy.
Order: The Eggs Florentine with hash browns and a side of biscuits and gravy.
Tip: Saturday before 9am is the only time you walk in without a wait; closes daily at 2pm sharp with no dinner service.
Animales Barbeque in Minneapolis runs the Harrison weekend brunch on Fremont with brisket hash, smoked-meat tacos and a 12,500 square foot music room.
Order: The brisket hash with poached eggs and pickled jalapenos.
Tip: The Harrison room runs barbecue brunch only on the weekend; the live music stage gets going around 6pm on Saturday evening.
Hen House Eatery in Minneapolis runs downtown's defining all-day breakfast counter on 8th Street, with scratch biscuits and a 30-cocktail Bloody Mary list.
Order: Babe's Eggs Benedict with carnitas on jalapeno cheddar cornbread.
Tip: Arrive before 9am on weekends or join the waitlist on the loudspeaker; the bakery counter sells out the maple bacon cinnamon roll by 11.
Lake and Irving in Minneapolis serves Uptown's reliable Hawaiian-American brunch on West Lake Street, with loco moco, spam musubi and weekend cocktails.
Order: Hawaiian loco moco with kalua pork and a sunny egg.
Tip: Patio seats face Lake Street; the kitchen runs a Hawaiian-Regional Cuisine angle on Sunday brunch with spam musubi and saimin.
