Brunch is no ordinary meal. It is an invitation to spend a Sunday morning slowly sipping coffee or champagne, overindulging on gourmet foods and savoring time with family or friends. You can rush through breakfast, lunch or dinner, but not brunch. Here in Connecticut, we're lucky to have many fine brunch places--restaurants, hotels and even a casino that make Sunday brunch a meal to remember. Here are some of the best places to "do brunch" in Connecticut.
Those of us who live in Connecticut might not immediately think of Mohegan Sun Casino for brunch, but one of the most elegant brunches in the state has to be the lavish spread at the casino's Pompeii & Caesar restaurant. It's pricey--$38.95 as of 2008--but sumptuous, and with the delicate strains of a harp accompanying the meal on most Sundays, you'll have the excuse you need to linger over your made-to-order frittata. 888-226-7711, ext. 2-8399
Water's Edge Resort has scored top accolades for its brunch buffet in statewide polls, and the crowds that fill the dining room, especially on holidays, are testament to the Sunday spread's enduring appeal. You won't know whether to belly up to the crepe bar or hang around the carving station. What really makes brunch fabulous here, though, is the spectacular water view. The brunch price as of 2008 is $31 for adults. Holiday prices are higher. 860-399-5901/800-222-5901
Inventive, healthy foods are a signature of the Pond House Cafe in beautiful Elizabeth Park, and brunch follows the same formula. All Sunday Brunch menu items feature organic eggs from Connecticut farms and other fresh ingredients. A la carte ordering makes this a more affordable choice than some of the state's all-you-can-eat brunch offerings. 860-231-8823
Looking for one of the state's biggest, best and most popular Sunday brunches? You can be certain of two things when you plan on brunch at Dakota restaurant in Avon, Connecticut: you'll probably wait in line for a table, and you won't leave hungry. 860-677-4311
The champagne Sunday brunch at The Silvermine Tavern has been voted Fairfield County's best for more than 25 years by readers of Connecticut Magazine. From honey buns to pancakes cooked to order, old-fashioned favorites are highlights of the all-you-can-eat buffet, priced at $22.95 including champagne as of 2008. 203-847-4558/888-693-9967
For a price of $15.95 as of 2008, Sunday Brunch at Mill on the River includes coffee or tea, one entrée, fruit, dessert and TWO cocktails. That's a pretty good deal. Add in a scenic location on the shores of the Podunk River and a kid-friendly atmosphere, and it's hard to go wrong with this brunch choice the next time your family has something to celebrate. 860-289-7929/888-344-4414
They no longer brew their own beer at The Brewhouse Restaurant in South Norwalk, but that's okay. On Sundays, it's not beer that draws crowds, anyway. The Brewhouse's all-you-can-eat brunch, priced at $25.95 as of 2008, features a carving station, pastries, egg dishes, hot entrees, a Viennese table and unlimited complimentary champagne, mimosas and poinsettias. 203-853-9110
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