Weekend brunch. Here's where.
Last-minute Saturday and Sunday brunchers have a friend in Moose & Sadie's. The casual, counter-service joint is tailored for drop-ins, who come for well-made quiches, fluffy omelets, enormous pancakes and affordable prices (which rarely exceed $8.95). Baker Susan Muskat's bargain-priced handiwork (it's hard to find anything over $2.50) is another major reason to swoon. The selection changes daily, but you could encounter a spicy pumpkin bar with an outrageously thick swipe of cream-cheese frosting, or dried blueberry-crystallized ginger scones, or fantastic cornmeal-hazelnut biscotti, or sticky caramel-pecan rolls. Show up on Saturday and the effervescent Lucy Kirihara (co-owner Peter Kirihara's mother) will probably be your unofficial hostess with the mostest.
212 3rd Av. N., Mpls., 612-371-0464, www.mooseandsadies.com
Sundays in St. Paul start at the Strip Club, where the bar knows its way around a Bloody Mary, the service staff seems to embrace their morning shift with gusto, and chef J.D. Fratzke's Midwestern modern fare -- served in truck-stop portions -- really hits the I've-got-a- hangover spot. Love the garlicky grilled shrimp tossed with tender scrambled eggs, the super-spicy Italian sausage paired with peppers and eggs and the no-nonsense steak and eggs, plus Fratzke pulls together one of the city's best fried-egg sandwiches. Ask for a table in the window, and be sure to order a side of the maple-glazed, thick-cut bacon.
378 Maria Av., St. Paul, 651-793-6247, www.domeats.com
Juan Juarez Garcia, chef and co-owner of La Chaya Bistro, really makes Sunday mornings special. The house-made corn tortillas are a splendid base for a hearty huevos rancheros. Eggs Benedict is finished with avocado and a fresh salsa verde, and a short build-your-own omelet selection allows diners to design their own breakfasts. For lunch tastes, there's a terrific quesadilla trio -- one is filled with mushrooms, another with roasted chiles and chorizo, a third with potatoes-- and a pretty mixed greens salad brimming with snappy shrimp and splashed with a bright citrus vinaigrette. Top price? $14.50. The fresh-squeezed juices (love the tangerine) are a welcome touch, and the room is cozy and warm, just what Minnesotans need to survive this endless winter.
4537 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-827-2254, www.lachaya.com
RICK NELSON
