Brunch Bites: Doughnut French Toast, Lobster Hash, and Bottomless Mimosas

When a restaurant adds doughnut French toast and housemade Twinkies to their brunch menu, you go. And you bring your cardiologist with you. The brand new brunch menu at Public House, rolling out next weekend July 6 and July 7, is an exercise in comfort food stamina. I'm not sure if I should worship chef David Blonsky or fear him. For now, I'll go with the former. The inaugural menu features French toast dipped in doughnut batter and fried, served with vanilla bourbon creme anglaise and strawberry-banana jam. There's also homemade Twinkies, which dovetail nicely with the homemade Pop Tarts Blonsky came to be known for at sister spot Bull & Bear down the street. These bulbous treats, filled with the likes of caramel-banana or Nutella and peanut butter, tug on nostalgic heartstrings so hard they practically rip them out and leave you gasping for air. Savory selections are just as indulgent, with a Spanish eggs Benedict made with barbacoa beef and chorizo hollandaise; hash studded with potatoes, bacon, green peppers, onions, and egg; and a queso fundido egg burrito. Public House brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays.

(Public House hash. Photo: DineAmic Group)

Public House's newest sister, Siena Tavern, is also debuting its own brunch program, this one with an Italian tilt. Top Cheffer Fabio Viviani solidifies his status as a fan favorite with hearty, gourmet fare such as lobster hash with truffle hollandaise, squash blossom and prosciutto frittata, caramelized waffles with Nutella butter (!), and bombolini, darling Italian doughnut holes adjoined by a smattering of dipping sauces. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays at Siena Tavern.

(Caramelized waffle at Siena Tavern. DineAmic Group)

It's a proven fact that mimosas are best enjoyed on lush patios, and in limitless amounts. That's why you should make like a hungover royal and get yourself to The Monarch for weekend brunch. The Wicker Park barstaurant is now offering bottomless supplies of mimosas for all your groggy brunch needs. Available Saturdays and Sundays, $15 buys you all the orange juice and bubbly you can drink, which goes down extra smooth on their newly converted, tranquil patio space, complete with an herb garden. It's a nice escape from the frivolity on North Avenue, and the perfect place to nurse your body from its drowsy coma.

(Drink mimosas here. Photo: Hilary Higgins)