There are a lot of places where you can find waffles and mimosas for a mid-morning meal, but a truly great brunch is harder to come by. To help in the search, Yelp compiled a list of some of the most delectable, innovative brunches in its 100 Best Brunch Spots of 2024 list — and two Northern Virginia restaurants made the cut.
Matt and Tony’s All Day Kitchen and Bar in Alexandria at No. 59 and Palette 22 in Arlington at No. 89 car on the list for their impressive offerings.
Three other Virginia restaurants are on the 100 Best Brunch Spots list: The Egg Bistro in Chesapeake (No. 62), Perly’s in Richmond (No. 66), and The Rustic Spoon in Virginia Beach (No. 78).
To create the list, Yelp analyzed businesses with a large concentration of reviews that mentioned “brunch” and “Mother’s Day.” Yelp then used factors like the volume of reviews and ratings to create its rankings.
The list arrived just in time for Mother’s Day, a popular brunch occasion. In 2023, Yelp said it saw a 79 percent increase in reservations on Mother’s Day, compared to the Sunday prior. Get your reservations fast!
Matt and Tony’s All Day Kitchen and Bar
This all-day Del Ray spot opened in 2022, led by restauranteur Matt Sloan. It’s named in honor of Sloan’s grandfather, pastry chef Anton “Tony” Schabas, who worked at the Waldorf Astoria and who was known for his delectable rye bread.
Diners at Matt and Tony’s will find a menu full of variety, from cornflake-crusted French toast adorned with berries to a griddle sandwich that holds scrambled eggs, chicken chorizo, American cheese, and home fries.
And, as with any good brunch, the beverages stand out. In addition to classics like a mimosa and a bloody mary, there are three variations of spritzes, two coffee-based cocktails, a milk punch with “waffle-infused bourbon,” and more. Non-drinkers aren’t limited to plain coffee and orange juice — the “Spirit Free… But Not Soulless” section of the menu offers up three creative mocktails.
Palette 22
Art and brunch collide at this Shirlington spot, where art lines the walls and diners can even watch while artists practice their crafts in the restaurant. It’s part of Alexandria Restaurant Partners, the group of restaurateurs behind area favorites Ada’s on the River, Vola’s Dockside Grill, and more. (A second location opened in DC’s Union Market in March, too.)
Come hungry to the weekends-only bottomless brunch, where diners can sample unlimited small plates for two hours. Offerings include flatbreads, a Szechuan sausage biscuit, and shrimp and grits. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s monkey bread, churros, and French toast sticks.
You can add a drink for $4.22, with selections that include a build-your-own bloody mary, a hibiscus or blood orange mimosa, and a watermelon or passionfruit bellini. To get that price, the whole table needs to choose that option.
Feature image courtesy Palette 22
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