Here’s to the Ladies Who Brunch:
4 Best Bets for a Fabulous Brunch
in the Gayborhood
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4 Best Brunch Spots in the Gayborhood
If you’re looking for a really killer Saturday or Sunday brunch in the Gayborhood, you do not have to wait in an endless line at a certain establishment named after a Dr. Seuss book, nor do you have to worry about getting wig hair in your pancakes served by a drag queen at a gay bar. We tend to forget that the ‘hood is overflowing with really great eateries that serve up unique, amazing meals. This weekend, set your alarm clock (but not too early) so you can check out some of these picks for a great way to jump start your Sunday (or Saturday) Funday.
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Talula’s Daily
“You’ve got to get here when we first first open,” the counter worker tells me. “The smell of everything coming out of the oven is amazing.” I’ll admit: Although I don’t think I’ll force myself to be knocking down the door of this amazing little spin-off of Talula’s Garden at 7 a.m., I can just imagine how great my favorite scones in the world must smell fresh from the stove. Make sure to try their house-made granola (with white chocolate and cranberry) and the Charleston latte — a hazelnut-infused jolt of caffeine that will kick off your weekend right. Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., 208 W. Washington Square.
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Garces Trading Company
If variety is the spice of brunch life, than Garces is totally the place to dine. Its Saturday and Sunday brunch menu is a spectrum of both sweet and savory goodies — you can find anything from a Spanish frittata to house-made granola to a whole assortment of flatbreads and sandwiches. The GTC french toast with blood orange is particularly tasty, and the pamplemousse mimosa with grapefruit and lavender is the perfect way to wash it all down. I love the space, too — for a few moments, it feels like you’ve been transported out of Philly into a Western European café. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 1111 Locust Street.
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Cake and the Beanstalk
If your trying to satisfy a sweet tooth, then there is no better place than this charming, quaint café that bakes all of its pastries daily in-house. (Quite a feat when you see how tiny it is.) I could eat the banana chocolate walnut cake for days, and the blueberry crumb cake is a close second. The friendly baristas can also whip up your favorite coffee beverages. An added bonus? The totally cute-as-a-pie (pun intended) outdoor community garden. Saturday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., 1112 Locust Street.
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El Vez
Yes, it’s been around forever, and, yes, I’m sure you’ve had its amazing guacamole a million times (my favorite: the “Bazooka” Limon, with goat cheese, pistachio, roasted tomato, and chile), but I can’t help but be mesmerized by a place that has Charo’s face emblazoned on all of its barstools. It also has a Sunday-only brunch that will have you singing “Cuchi-Cuchi” along with Charo — try the huevos and chorizo (a build-your-own breakfast taco tasting) or the Mexican waffle, topped with hot Mexican chocolate sauce. Of course, there are plenty of tequila-spiked Bloody Marys and guava mimosas to go around, because it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, darling. Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 121 S. 13th Street.
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