Ah, brunch, a Sunday morning tradition that is the ultimate crowd pleaser. Spicy bloody marys or sweet mimosas will either impress your grandmother on Mother's Day or ease away your hangover after a late night.
Baltimore's brunch selection is diverse. Inner Harbor hotels and humble pubs both offer up the mid-morning meal with menus that are pre fixe, a la carte or buffet.
Brightons in the Harbor Court Hotel
Inner HarborSunday
For your main course, choose from sumptuous breakfast dishes such as vanilla French toast or a three-cheese omlette accompanied by smoked duck sausage. The prix fixe brunch includes an appetizer, Champagne, mimosas and fresh juices. Plus there's a buffet table filled with fresh fruit, baked goods and cheeses. More Inner Harbor Hotels
Hull Street Blues Cafe
Locust PointSunday
This cozy, nautical-themed pub offers a "family-style smorgasbord" brunch that has earned raves from foodies for years. Try the banana rum French toast or any of the goodies on the buffet table.
Little Havana Restaurante y Cantina Cubana
South BaltimoreSunday
Enjoy waterfront, open-air dining and a great brunch deal. For just $12.95, get one of the Cuban-style brunch entrees (think: baked eggs on sofrito or an avocado omelet) and a bottomless, bloody Mary, mimosa, coffee or juice. But don't worry. If you're not up Cuban food in the morning, there's also French toast and pancakes.
Helen's Garden
CantonSaturday and Sunday
Helen's Garden aims to please with an a la carte menu of breakfast basics done right. The applewood-smoked bacon or honey-cured ham make the perfect sides.
The Oregon Grille
TimoniumSunday
A lovely country setting and an elegant and diverse brunch menu make this a great place to celebrate an occasion. The a la carte menu is fairly evenly divided between dinner and breakfast fare.
Gertrude's at the Baltimore Museum of Art
Charles VillageSaturday and Sunday
The setting is high art, but the food is down home, if you grew up on the Bay, that is. The a la carte brunch at this Baltimore institution's eatery mixes eggs and seafood at every turn. The Tilghman Island egg sandwich layers single-fry oysters, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and tomato on an English muffin with skillet home fries on the side.
Red Star Restaurant and Bar
Fells PointRyan's Daughter Pub
Belvedere SquareSunday
Recover from the night before at this Irish pub with a big breakfast and bottomless mimosas. The buffet-style brunch also includes comfort foods like meatloaf and pasta.
J. Paul's
Inner HarborWhile the a la carte brunch menu doesn't stray from breakfast fare, the raw bar is the real draw here. Try a sampler with oysters, shrimp and clams. And if you're really in the mood for lunch you can order from the regular menu, which includes a good selection of barbecue.
Joey Chiu Greenspring Inn
LuthervilleSunday
This Chinese restaurant's weekly buffet has all the trappings of a traditional brunch. Look for smoked fish, omelette and waffle stations as well as mimosas and bloody Marys. But where else can you also get sushi and fried rice with your bagel?
Della Notte of Little Italy
Little ItalySunday
Behind the imposing neo-classical facade on President Street lies a Mediterranean villa-style setting serving contemporary and classic Italian cuisine. A Sunday jazz brunch offers American breakfast favorites and traditional Italian fare. More Little Italy Restaurants