Half & Half is a brunch spot in Clayton, St. Louis.
Mike Randolph's Clayton brunch room pairs a focused coffee programme with scratch cooking, from flat-iron hash to blueberry pancakes. The grown-up brunch.
Must order: Blueberry pancakes cooked in bacon fat.
Tip: Ask for the pancakes cooked in bacon fat, a house move. Long weekend waits, so put your name down and walk Clayton.
Address: 8135 Maryland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63105
Lassaad Jeliti's Egg plates a Tunisian and Mexican-inspired brunch in Benton Park, from shakshuka to spiced scrambles, a break from standard pancake fare.
Order: Shakshuka and the Tunisian-spiced plates.
Tip: The shakshuka and the North-African-spiced dishes set it apart. A second location runs in Midtown on Locust.
Since 2012, Southwest Diner has served New Mexican breakfast in a small Dogtown room, known for cornmeal pancakes, green-chile huevos and house biscuits.
Order: Huevos rancheros with red and green chile.
Tip: Order the chile Christmas-style, red and green. The cornmeal pancakes are the local cult order; expect a weekend wait.
A century-old house turned all-day breakfast cafe, Benton Park Cafe plates omelets, breakfast pizza and eggs Benedict in cosy south-side rooms.
Order: Breakfast pizza or eggs Benedict.
Tip: The breakfast pizza is a local quirk worth trying. Weekend mornings fill the warren of rooms, so go early.
The South Grand branch of Rooster pours the same crepe-led European brunch as downtown, a roomy spot among the international restaurants of Tower Grove South.
Order: A sweet crepe and a brunch cocktail.
Tip: It is roomier than the downtown branch and on the South Grand strip. The crepes and breakfast cocktails are the orders.
The Crow's Nest in Maplewood runs heavy-metal-themed weekend brunches with refined bar food, pinball and a back patio, a quirky alternative brunch.
Order: The brunch burger and a Bloody Mary.
Tip: The themed brunches and pinball set the mood; come for the burger and a cocktail. The patio is the prize in warm months.
A hand-painted Art Deco room in Grand Center, The Fountain on Locust pairs brunch sandwiches and salads with ice-cream martinis and big sundaes.
Order: An ice cream martini with a sandwich.
Tip: The ice cream martinis are the signature, even at brunch. A good stop before a Grand Center matinee.
