Options expand as more local eateries jump on the brunch bandwagon All of us could use a minivacation — and brunch could very well be the best way (without booking a flight) to hit the pause button after a week of the daily grind. It’s a leisurely meal shared with friends and family — there’s no 8 p.m. bedtimes to rush home to or dentist appointments to squeeze in beforehand. More and more metro Detroit restaurants are offering weekend brunches — and doing them well. From traditional and fancy to bold and unpretentious, they all have one thing in common: They’re delicious and relaxing. Here are just a few of the area’s best. With one of the most charming patios in metropolitan Detroit, the brunch experience at LA DOLCE VITA (Detroit) is not your average scrambled eggs and toast meal. Sit outside near the ivy-covered wall as you sip on a mimosa in this romantic atmosphere that also has live music. If it’s chilly out, the inside is beautiful too, with a cavern-like interior decorated with Renaissance-style art. DETROIT DIME STORE (Detroit) is a relatively new addition to the local brunch scene. Located in the Chrysler House, this is a no-fuss option for fresh fare in a beautiful setting. An airy, vintage interior makes this restaurant feel both welcoming and urban. A small menu offers all the basics you crave. Try the unique hash and breakfast sandwich options such as duck bop hash or a cheesesteak benny. OPPOSITE PAGE: Three-tier pastry tower from Marais. // THIS PAGE: Bananas Foster French toast from Beverly Hills Grill (top) and Monte Cristo from Sweet Lorraine’s. Savor a cup of Zingerman’s coffee, sip on a cocktail, and hang out. BROOKLYN STREET LOCAL (Detroit) is a great little spot to stop in if you find yourself in Corktown. There are a wide variety of locally sourced vegetarian and vegan options, and the diner feel helps fight off any note of pretentiousness. People come back again and again for the poutine, a French-Canadian classic made with fries, gravy, and cheese curds. Head to THE WHITNEY (Detroit) for an unforgettable brunch experience inside an iconic mansion built in the late 1800s. The mansion retains its historic elegance and translates that to a classic, elegant brunch. A prix fixe buffet includes a seafood bar, an expansive dessert and pastry list, and a carving station. A jazz club may not seem like the obvious choice for brunch, but CLIFF BELL’S (Detroit) offers up unexpected menu choices on. THIS PAGE: Brunch pastry selection from The Whitney (top) and homemade scones from Brooklyn Street Loca Sunday afternoons along with bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys. A former speakeasy, Cliff Bell’s has been meticulously restored to its lavish 1930s self. The Art Deco interior creates an experience that will transport you to another time entirely. A perennial crowd favorite, the HUDSON CAFE (Detroit) is well known for their large portions and inventive brunch options. Expect a bit of a wait if you come at a prime brunchgoing time, but it’s well worth it. The restaurant is spacious and modern, but a fireplace lounge and coffee bar make it feel more intimate. Every Sunday after Mother’s Day, JOE MUER SEAFOOD (Detroit) serves up brunch with a side of a spectacular view of the Detroit River. Soak up the scene while sipping on one of their signature brunch cocktails — a Crabby Mary garnished with, yes, a crab, or try The Black Orchid, a vodka and cranberry drink taken up a notch. A nice bonus, too, if you don’t have time to wait for a table — they accept reservations. Tucked inside the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit is 24 GRILLE (Detroit), an upscale restaurant that combines luxury, hotel-level service with good food. The Sunday brunch is prix fixe and includes all your favorites — a carving station, bottomless mimosas, and build-your-own omelets. THE FOUNTAIN BISTRO (Detroit) is located right in the heart of downtown and offers up ample patio seating and great views of Campus Martius Park. Bacon, peanut butter, and banana pancakes are sure to pique your interest along with classics like steak scrambles and waffles. The choices, like the location, are anything but ordinary. If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, the DETROIT INSTITUTE OF BAGELS (Detroit) offers up some of the city’s best bagels. Make sure to try one of their bagel sandwiches. Or, if you’re in Ferndale, try New York Bagel Baking Co. As their name suggests, they make a true New York style-bagel — crusty on the outside and chewy and soft on the inside. For those who prefer brunching with crisp white linen tablecloths, MARAIS (Grosse Pointe) is your new Sunday treat. As soon as you sit down, a complimentary three-tier pastry stand filled with house-made French pastries is placed on the table. The prix fixe menu includes breakfast twists on items such as lobster, filet mignon, and duck. Don’t forget to pick up a few of their homemade colorful macarons before you leave. SWEET LORRAINE’S CAFÉ & BAR (Southfield and Livonia) offers much more than just sweets. While they serve delicious house-made waffles and baked French toast, their menu also includes savory options like a farmhouse quiche and hash with chorizo and redskin potatoes. They also focus on natural, local, and organic ingredients. At BIGALORA WOOD FIRED CUCINA (Royal Oak, Southfield, and Ann Arbor), the spacious, Italian feel has a menu to match. Choose from options such as their “Italian Breakfast” including bruschetta, prosciutto di parma, a poached farm egg, imported Italian buffalo mozzarella, Kalamata olives, and arugula salad. Or choose from their long list of wood-fired pizzas. Inventive brunch cocktails round out your meal. A few blocks over is CAFÉ MUSE (Royal Oak), a European-style café and a perennial metro Detroit favorite. Breakfast is served seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., So you can get your brunch fix any day of the week. The Oprah-endorsed grilled cheese is just one of the popular items on the menu, with specials changing weekly. Brunch-goers also love the exotic mushroom scramble and stuffed French toast with mascarpone. FRITTATA (Clawson) is famous for — you guessed it — frittatas. But their moniker is much deserved. The frittata base is a combination of three eggs, shallots, herbs, and white wine but options from there are nearly endless. The restaurant is small with artsy touches; there’s extra space when the patio opens up in the spring. If you’re in the mood for brunch with a twist, TOASTED OAK GRILL & MARKET (Novi) is your new go-to. A restaurant that doubles as a market, its brunch options are just as distinct as the space. Options include hazelnut- crunch French toast and chicken and waffles. If you’re there on a Sunday, make sure to take advantage of the Bloody Mary Bar. An unpretentious eatery that somehow makes dining above a grocery store cool, BISTRO JOE’S (Birmingham) offers up elevated options such as red velvet waffles. The bright, outdoor patio has heated floors so you can even enjoy a view of Woodward Avenue in the middle of winter. And then there’s TOAST (Birmingham and Ferndale), a staple for many metro Detroiters. It has a casual, hip vibe that’s both welcoming and comfortable. There can be a wait on the weekends, but it’s well worth it. Standouts include their apple streusel French toast or any of their omelets. You can’t go wrong here. THE ROOT RESTAURANT & BAR (White Lake) is known for their creative tasting menu that highlights local cuisine, but their Sunday brunch is a different experience entirely. The feel is decidedly loosened up — servers wear band T-shirts and the offerings share a similar bold attitude — and there’s everything from bagels and lox to cinnamon rolls. BEVERLY HILLS GRILL (Beverly Hills) is a comfortable, yet sophisticated restaurant that does brunch right. Try the crab cake Benedict or the corned beef hash. Regardless of your choice, you won’t be disappointed.