Amid the Thanksgiving prep work and holiday shopping sprees, sometimes it’s best to stop for brunch and order a beverage to treat yourself. Here are three great spots to visit.
Shooter McGee’s, 5239 Duke St.
A mainstay in the Foxchase area for more than three decades, Shooter McGee’s brunch is the perfect way to kick off a weekend or prep for a full afternoon of football. Shooter’s brunch stretches from late morning through mid-afternoon each Saturday and Sunday, offering plenty of time to pop in for a meal as schedules permit.
While the food itself isn’t to be missed — try the fried egg sandwich or the French toast slam — another interesting facet of Shooter McGee’s brunch lies in the bloody Mary bar, a create-your-own concoction. Your server brings you a glass with meted-out vodka and then the world is your oyster. A veritable buffet of bloody Mary offerings stands before you. Choose from various tomato juice blends and then add in any blend of a plethora of spices and hot sauces. Top everything off with some olives — or celery, or what-have-you — and you’re ready for brunch.
Taqueria Poblano, 2400-B Mount Vernon Ave.
The Sunday brunch at Del Ray’s Taqueria Poblano is legendary — from the huevos divorciados to the breakfast burrito. But before diving into the food, consider the beverage options to get your Sunday started.
You could try the sangria or a margarita – both fine options – but the tequila sunrise is where Taqueria Poblano really shines. A blend of tequila and orange juice, it’s a simple cocktail on its surface, but one that this taqueria’s bar has perfected into a perfectly mixed beverage that will launch your meal on the right foot. Don’t care much for tequila? Don’t worry. This sunrise manages to cut the tangy tequila taste while maintaining its punch, the end result being a great pairing to nearly any brunch food order.
Chadwicks, 203 Strand St.
Chadwicks’ champagne brunch is one of the worst-kept dining secrets in Alexandria. What used to be 95 cents a glass has now evolved into a several-dollar affair, but a glass of champagne is still cheap enough for frugal sensibilities, and a bottle won’t run you much more. Want to get fancy? The mimosas are heavy on the bubbly while also donning a veneer of orange juice. But the champagne is the star of Chadwicks’ weekend brunch show.
Once you’ve ordered a round of bubbly, it’s time to scope out your dining choices. Huevos rancheros are always a winner — with tortillas topped with eggs, cheese, salsa, guacamole, and more, you can’t go wrong — or try the eggs Idaho, which are scrambled with potato skins and bacon. Then lift a glass and toast to a successful holiday season.
Hope Nelson owns and operates the Kitchen Recessionista blog, located at www.kitchenrecessionista.com. Email her any time at hope@kitchenrecessionista.com.