My husband and I go out for breakfast/brunch every Sunday. One of our frequent haunts is Maggie’s, a casual, sort of hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant on Charles, east of Yonge, right across from another (fancier) favourite, Wish. I wouldn’t say that the food is all that spectacular – it’s good, but definitely not something to rave too much about, especially the restaurant’s decor (really plain). The staff’s friendly, and they often remember what you like to order (one of my “usual” dishes is Eggs Florence with salad and no sauce). From time to time, we might go somewhere much nicer in an upscale hotel or at a country club. However, that’s usually saved for special occasions and other than one chain that we might go to once a month, I wouldn’t say that any of our frequent haunts are are places that serve heavier meals – you know, diners. So the question is this: Is it still brunch if it’s greasy?
If you have breakfast food at a place like this one around 12 noon, is it still “brunch?”
I’d say that many of my friends like the greasier joints (even if they’re not cheap). You know, places that serve eggs Benny drenched with hollandaise sauce or greasy omelettes served with equally greasy home fries. Sure, these places are great, but like I said, is it really brunch? OK. I get it. Brunch is supposed to be that meal one eats later in the day on a weekend in place of breakfast and lunch. It usually involves breakfast-like foods. However, growing up (when frequent weekend brunches weren’t a “thing”), brunch was always something nice, usually at a hotel or private club (or at someone’s home), and eaten on special occasions like New Year’s Day, Mother’s Day or Easter (usually buffet style). Diners serving breakfast food after, say, 11 AM (even on a weekend) were considered places with “all day breakfasts.”
…or does it have to look more like this to qualify as “brunch?”
Maybe I’m just a snob since I’m unsure of whether “breakfast joints” really do serve what should be considered “brunch.” I really don’t typically order the heavier versions, or if I do, I ask for no sauce and would, at least half of the time, have salad rather than home fries (because it’s usually an option). As for the type of “brunch” I prefer – most definitely at nicer locations. However, I don’t think I’ve gone to brunch at a private club or an upscale hotel in ages (Drake Hotel and Thompson Diner brunches do not count)!
Poached eggs with smoked salmon on toast, no hollandaise sauce (meal at a small chain)
What are your thoughts? Do you think meals at diner type restaurants count as “brunch?” Which places do you prefer?
Image credits: Diner – Pgiam/iStockphoto; pretty brunch: jonathanfilskov-photography/iStockphoto; poached eggs: by author
