Southwest Diner is a brunch spot in Dogtown, St. Louis.
Since 2012, Southwest Diner has served New Mexican breakfast in a small Dogtown room, known for cornmeal pancakes, green-chile huevos and house biscuits.
Must 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.
Address: 6803 Southwest Ave, St. Louis, MO 63143
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.
Chef Cassy Vires's Washington Avenue brunch spot builds its menu around specialty crepes and European comfort plates, with a second South Grand branch.
Order: A savoury crepe and a Bloody Mary.
Tip: The savoury crepes and the breakfast cocktails are the orders. Weekend mornings draw a wait, so go early.
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.
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.
