Think of the last holiday you celebrated. Now think about what you ate that day. There’s a definite correlation with enjoying a great meal and holidays, right? For my family, splurging on a holiday family meal and when it involves Mother’s Day we know it’s got to be special. Last Sunday we hit one of our favorite Pittsburgh restaurants, Braddock’s American Brasserie, for its brunch and the takeaways were plentiful. Between the delicious dishes, custom order bars, and fun atmosphere, we know there’s only one way to explain our day: with photos. Here’s the highlights from Braddock’s American Brasserie Mother’s Day Brunch.
Mother’s Day brunch at Braddock’s (located in the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel) was so lovely in that it offered both breakfast dishes and lunch items. There was something for everyone’s taste, sweet tooth, you name it. And its bar was open for business and was happy to give us suggestions on what to taste test.
Drink Up!
If there’s one thing we know it’s how much we adore the cocktail menu at Braddock’s. It truly has never disappointed us and it’s always fun to take suggestions from Michael behind the bar. Mr. Locke’s starter drink, the Clover Club, is a historical drink which is always fun to try. The texture was fantastic and smooth, and the flavors blended well. It was still subtle and smoothed out the rougher junipery edges of the gin. Note: even if you’re not a giant fan of gin the Clover Club may be worth trying.
Mine, on the other hand, was a twist on a traditional Texas drink, the Bearcat. While the true version includes high proof rum and Peppermint Schnapps, I was driving so I asked for a non-alcoholic version. What I got was delicious, crisp, and refreshing! Fresh berries, mint, and fizzy water was subtle enough to not overpower my meal but flavorful enough to keep sipping with ease.
Dive In!
I love ordering off the menu, don’t get me wrong, but when I’m hungry I want that instant foodie gratification and a buffet-style meal is the way to go. When it comes to Braddock’s, their buffet and brunch menus are always super creative and give guests options – including customizeable orders.
There’s always shining stars on its brunch menu and, for Mother’s Day, it’s a tie. First, the Eggs Benedict/Omelette Station was top notch. What I adored was the suggestion for a tweak on the classic Eggs Benedict recipe. Mine had fried peppers and onions wedged between the ham, poached egg, and Hollandaise sauce.
The second is purely selfish and is one of those menu items that I could eat at every visit. I had the pleasure of trying its Pot Roast Pierogi at its Easter Brunch in April and was floored by the creativity and taste. Seriously, this is a dish I’d love to recreate at home.
Very Worthy of Note
There were plenty of additional delicious dished on the brunch buffet including Shrimp Cocktail, a carving station with Garlic-Crusted Beef, Lamb, and Baked Ham, and plenty of breakfast items.
The beef, served Prime Rib style, was juicy and flavorful – especially with a side of au jus.
As for fresh and flavorful, the Strawberry Bleu Cheese Salad was a super pleasant surprise. I’ve never considered the two to be dish companions, you know, but it worked. And well. With a drizzle of tangy dressing? Perfect.
A Sweet Surprise
Ahh, ice cream. I’m happy to declare it’s my favorite food. Seriously. Take classic vanilla and you have endless possibilities to channel creativity. The ice cream sundae bar at Braddock’s was so much fun. There were just as many kids as adults, and with toppings like Swedish Fish and M&M mini’s, there was no way to resist.
And why would you want to?
Disclosure: Mr. Locke and I were, again, graciously hosted by Braddock’s to give you fine folks the scoop on what makes the restaurant so amazing! I was not asked to state a particular opinion and all are my own!
