Erin Callier  Whoever first concocted the idea of combining breakfast and lunch into one glorious hodgepodge of a meal deserves an award, or at least a big plate of home fries. Without a doubt, Sunday brunch puts a delicious spin on the most important meal of the day, and turns it into the most indulgent meal of the week. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply taking advantage of having a socially acceptable cocktail before noon, many St. Louis eateries offer mouth-watering Sunday brunches that simultaneously satisfy any hollandaise or Bloody Mary cravings. It stands to reason that where there is a revolving restaurant, there is also a magnificent view. The Top of the Riverfront at the Millenium Hotel Downtown (314-241-3191, 200 S. 4 th St.) sits nearly thirty stories above St. Louis and offers a stunning panorama of “The Gateway to the West.” However, sight is not the only sense indulged at this rotating buffet. With over 100 items to choose from, including meat carving, seafood, omelet, and dessert stations, an experience at the Top is sure to leave you spinning. Reservations are highly recommended. Located in the charmingly antiquated Lafayette Square neighborhood SqWires Restaurant and Market ( 314-865-3522, 1415 S. 18th St) serves American dishes in a wonderfully renovated Victorian factory. The large off-the-menu brunch coupled with its cool architectural elements keep St. Louis foodies coming back for more. Situated in the Grand South Grand neighborhood, adjacent to Tower Grove Park, is the small and eclectic vegetarian eatery, Mokabe’s (314-865-2009, 3606 Arsenal St.). The all-you-can-eat buffet offers a wide variety of baked goods, egg-based and egg-substitute dishes, and fresh, seasonal selections like vegetable polenta. At Mokabe’s they understand that a meal is not complete without the proper libations, and offer seasonal beverages and a great range of coffees and teas. Owned and operated by a couple from the neighborhood, Al Smith’s Feasting Fox (314-352-3500, 4200 South Grand Boulevard) could very well be set on a warm street in the heart of Bavaria. Feast on traditional German dishes like potato pancakes and hearty sausages and apple strudel you don’t often find west of the Danube. For those hungry for good food and culture, Puck’s at the Saint Louis Art Museum (314-721-0072, One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park) is a feast for the eyes and palette. Part of culinary celebrity Wolfgang Puck’s empire, Puck’s dining room overlooks the museum’s Sculpture Terrace, enhancing the restaurant’s serene elegance. The pricey yet artful buffet includes hand-carved roast beef, chinois chicken salad, Belgian waffles, made-to-order omelets, and a mouthwatering assortment of fresh, homemade desserts. For a quintessentially laidback St. Louis dining experience, partake in the buffet at Duff's Restaurant, (314-361-0522, 392 N Euclid Ave.) located in the Central West End. A local favorite, reservations are needed if you want to treat yourself to Duff’s beef-tip, mushroom, onion, and Swiss omelet (essentially a Philly cheesesteak in omelet form) or their eggs Benedict with a Creole kick. Also in the heart of the Central West End is the always funky and always delicious Wild Flower Restaurant (314-367-9888, 4590 Laclede). Wild Flower meets the high standards of its neighboring CWE eateries with outdoor seating that is prime for people-gazing, a casually gourmet cuisine that promises to be a party for the palette, and a cello/keyboard duo to top off the relaxing atmosphere. If you’re interested in a bit of shopping after your meal, or a stroll down one of St. Louis’s hippest boulevards, brunch at Brandt’s Café (314-727-3663, 6525 Delmar Boulevard) in the Loop. You can usually count on some type of live music while you dive into the diverse buffet. Brandt’s promises a good time as you munch on a bit of peel-and-eat shrimp or spanakopita and observe the consummately cool community that is University City. Jimmy's Cafe on the Park (314-725-8585, 706 DeMun Avenue) is oh-so St. Louis with its understated, not overly intimidating elegance and flawless cuisine. Sophisticated takes on breakfast favorites, like a Smoked Salmon Scramble, the Crablette, and savory Chicken Crepes accompany Jimmy’s polished, yet unpretentious, service and a generous kid’s menu. Travel about twenty miles south of St. Louis and you’ll find yourself at The Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery (636-464-3128, 6166 2 nd) in delightfully quaint Kimmswick. The Blue Owl doesn’t offer “brunch”, but serves a down-home breakfast with biscuits and gravy, hotcakes, and quiches from 10-11:30, lunch all day, and a delectable selection of desserts. The Blue Owl’s charm and cuisine have even caught the attention of the Food Network, and will be featured on the new show “Two For The Road” starring Paula Deen’s two sons. Go west of the city and taste the consistently delightful fare at Yia Yia’s (636-537-9991, 15601 Olive Blvd, Chesterfield). Greek for Grandmother, Yia Yia’s atmosphere and menu provide a modern, old-world feel coupled with impeccable flavor. The buffet-style Sunday brunch has all the usual breakfast staples, as well as delicious salmon, shrimp, pasta, and Yia Yia’s inventive oven-bake pizzas. The Cheesecake Factory (Saint Louis Galleria & Chesterfield Mall) may very well be a chain restaurant, and the name might imply exactly what most people come for, but the rest of the menu at this conventional tourist destination definitely compares to its sinful cheesecake. Some offerings from their small Sunday brunch menu are three different takes on eggs Benedict and a grilled brioche with sautéed apples and an indulgent crème fraiche (served in conjunction with the entirety of the restaurant’s expansive menu). And, of course, there is always The Ritz. The Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis (314-863-6300, 100 Carondelet Plaza) provides exactly what patrons have come to expect from the famously grand hotel. Tradition. Elegance. Everything you could ever ask for. The pricey buffet includes shrimp, sushi, crab legs, prime rib, pasta, made-to-order omelets, an impressive array of desserts, and much, much more. 2007-08-11T07:07:00+00:00 <img src="/guideimages/0000/0039/brunch.jpg" border="0" width="175" height="125" align="left" />When it comes to the most important meal of the day, Sunday brunch proves that the early bird does not always get the worm. true

70 St. Louis Brunch Places

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