Brunch can be a rather boring affair. Social drinking in the daytime is fun for sure, but how exciting can an omelet or a french toast be? That's why I'm so excited to find a much more unique and delicious brunch option at Fifth Group's Lure.
A fish-driven restaurant wouldn't usually be on my brunch radar, but it turns out there are plenty of tasty, morning-appropriate things you can do with seafood.
Let's start with cocktails - they are one of the best parts of brunch after all. I, of course, am off the booze at the moment, so I was very pleased that they had compelling alcohol-free options. I chose a strawberry balsamic shrub. Shrubs are all the rage at upscale bars these days. If you aren't familiar with them - they are made with vinegar, fruit and sugar, and in this case, it made for a very refreshing mocktail.
The Mr. started with a Breaking and Entering, made with bourbon, ginger, lemon juice and cassis and then moved on to a rather unusual cocktail, the Coo Coo for My Coco, which is made with unfiltered sake, creme de cacao and orange bitters. He preferred the former as it was sweet but subtle. Although the Coo Coo for My Coco was highly recommended by our waiter and was indeed tasty, it tasted predominantly of sake, which wasn't his thing for a mid-day cocktail.
Brunch at Lure is not necessarily diet-friendly, but it is really damn delicious. A fried catfish biscuit is made even better when served Frazie Style with a fried egg and cole slaw on top. The fish is perfectly crispy and well-seasoned, and just about everything is better with a fried egg on top. This dish is a mess to eat and best split if you're planning on having room for anything else, but oh so worth it!
The Hangtown Fry is composed of a fairly mild-mannered egg crepe with leek, spinach and bacon, but it's taken to the next level with the addition of fried oysters. Lure excels at fried oysters, and these meaty little suckers put typical brunch proteins to shame. Sausage, who?
And how could we resist the lobster benedict? Lure didn't skimp on the lobster either, so I couldn't even finish my half of the portion. This is rich, don't eat for the rest of the day brunch food, but it is combining two meals into one, so that's totally cool, right?
You wouldn't think we'd have room for more, but Guava & Coconut Bread Pudding sounded pretty intriguing. The tropical flavors kept things light, and I loved the crunch of the hazelnuts and the tang of the Creme Anglaise. Well worth finding room for!