Brunch Items: What to Expect

The great thing about a brunch is there are usually more brunch items than you can possibly eat. Unless the brunch is held for a specific occasion, like Mother's Day of Valentine's Day, expect a fairly casual occasion. Since brunch combines some breakfast and lunch foods, that's a good tip for what to expect. Another tip comes from the restaurant itself: If you've eaten there before, restaurants that offer brunch, either regularly or for special occasions, tend to include items they are known for.

Breakfast Brunch Items

The price of the brunch will give you another good idea on the food to expect. If the cost is more than $15 to $20 per person, then the brunch is likely to be a fairly elaborate production with plenty of choices. If it's less than that figure, then you should expect sausage, bacon, pancakes, hash browns and eggs - all the basics. A more expensive brunch likely has someone working an omelet station, as well as someone else carving meat choices - with ham and roast beef most likely and turkey a possibility as well. The more money for the brunch, the fancier the items, such as Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine, cheese grits, crepes and French toast, along with various quiches, biscuits with gravy and plenty of fruit and cereal choices. There may also be an area for donuts and pastries.

Brunch Items Normally for Lunch

The turkey and roast beef at the carving board station can be put on rolls that usually are available to create sandwiches. There will likely be a variety of chicken and fish dishes, since they are easier to put together and represent more mainstream tastes. Look for fried chicken and mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and baked chicken. Steak may be available, as well as seafood, depending on the price of the brunch, and hamburgers and hot dogs also may be on the buffet. Other brunch items normally connected with lunch include a variety of vegetables and a salad bar. Depending on the favorites of the restaurant putting on the lunch buffet, there could be additional items that are specialties of the restaurant.

Dessert Brunch Items

Again, expect some fruit and perhaps an ice cream machine along with donuts and Danish or other traditional breakfast sweets. For more expensive buffets, expect a variety of pies and cakes, maybe some cobbler and perhaps even choices between regular pies sugar-free or sugar-reduced pies. There may be a small ice station with several choices along with toppings and perhaps a waiter cooking something like Bananas Foster for a more expensive brunch.