If T-bone steak and eggs are your idea of a perfect breakfast, head to the Hindquarter for their new Sunday Brunch. The restaurant, known for their smoked and grilled meats, has a fine morning menu.
We took a table in the bar by the televisions to witness a 22-year old from Northern Ireland shatter golf records at the U.S Open. Loud music from the likes of Rod Stewart, The Byrds, Beatles, and Moody Blues created a lively atmosphere.
The familiar lunch menu included salads, burgers, pasta, sandwiches and Hindquarter’s signature meats, while the brunch menu offered corned beef hash, buttermilk biscuits, and Salmon Salad Niçoise.
The small Brunch Bloody Mary ($4) was nicely spiced with pepper and horseradish and garnished with green olives and slices of citrus.
I couldn’t resist the French Toast ($10). Six thick ovals of chewy sourdough bread, dipped in egg batter and griddled until brown, were covered with a pillow of whipped cream and dotted with toasted pecans. They were plated with a beautiful arrangement of fresh fruit and a pitcher of real maple syrup, which to my surprise paired perfectly with the ripe pineapple.
Portobello Eggs Benedict with pesto and Canadian bacon ($13) sounded interesting, but we chose the Classic version ($12). Perfectly poached eggs sat atop salty Canadian bacon and toasted English muffins. The thin Hollandaise had a perfect lemony tartness.
The day’s desserts ($7) included strawberry shortcake and white chocolate cheesecake with Meyer lemon curd, but I opted for a Chocolate-covered Grasshopper ($7.25). A plump wine glass, its inside drizzled with chocolate sauce, was filled with a blended mix of Godiva Chocolate Vodka, green crème de menthe and a bit of half and half. This minty Mudslide was topped with softly whipped cream. | KP
Hindquarter Bar and Grille, 303 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 426-7770. Full bar. Serving lunch daily and dinner nightly. Sunday Brunch at 10:30 a.m. Visit thehindquarter.com
