7 restaurants opening their doors for Presidents' Day brunch

Montecristocapgarage
Photo by Todd Bailey
Capitol Garage's signature Monte Cristo with thick French Toast, slices of honey ham, smoked provolone and an over-easy egg

It’s not every Monday that we can sit down to a long, leisurely brunch, but this Presidents' Day several popular restaurants are swinging open their doors, dishing out sweet and savory meals that make us proud to be Americans. 

Awful Annie's

With locations in Lincoln and Auburn, this regional favorite knows how to make a mean breakfast and the long lines out the door on weekends prove it. Awful Annie's tempting flight of bacon graced the cover of our April/May 2016 issue, but that's not the only dish that will make you thankful for an extra weekend day to chow down on brunch. There are 15 variations of omelets to choose from, 11 scrambles, eight variations on eggs Benedict, and six kinds of waffles, including a banana pecan option and a bacon Belgian waffle topped with an egg. Lincoln location: Brunch served from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 490 Lincoln Blvd. 645-9766. Auburn location: Brunch served from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 13460 Lincoln Way. 530-888-9857. awfulannies.com

Cafeteria 15L

The Wong family’s hip yet low-key downtown restaurant will be serving up bottomless mimosas and classic comfort food for its Monday brunch, like brioche French toast or its signature chicken and waffles dish: a buttermilk-dunked, cornflake-coated chicken breast served atop a Belgian waffle, drizzled with country gravy and served with pecan butter and maple syrup. If you’re in the mood for something more savory, there’s also a breakfast waffle sandwich with scrambled eggs, bacon, fontina cheese and potatoes smashed between two crispy waffles. Brunch served from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 1116 15th St. 492-1960. cafeteria15l.com

Putah Creek Cafe & Bakery's country fried steak and eggs. (Photo courtsey of Putah Creek Cafe & Bakery)

Capitol Garage

If you don't have to hustle into work, saunter over to downtown’s Capitol Garage, which will be serving brunch (with bottomless mimosas) until 3 p.m. You'll find an artful blend of classic and creative breakfast dishes—everything from the signature Monte Cristo with thick French toast to a Benedict with smoked brisket, avocado and Tapatío hollandaise—accented with plenty of vegan options like the tikka masala hash with roasted sweet potatoes, chard, mushrooms, green onions, tomato and sriracha tofu. Brunch served from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 1500 K St. 444-3633. capitolgarage.com   

Limelight Bar & Cafe

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, this East Sacramento cafe will make you a VIP with plates like French toast made from thickly-sliced challah, fluffy house-made pancakes, or huevos rancheros with crispy tortillas, pinto beans, ranchero sauce, jack and cheddar cheeses, pico de gallo and eggs cooked to your liking. Wash it all down with some fresh-squeezed orange juice, or better yet, a carafe of mimosas. Brunch served from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 1014 Alhambra Blvd. 446-2236. limelightsac.com

Putah Creek Cafe & Bakery

The early bird gets the worm at Winters' Putah Creek, where brunch begins at 6 a.m. with dishes like a California omelet and griddled Texas-style French toast. Bonus points, if you’re a late riser, as after 11 a.m. the cafe serves up more hearty plates, including its homemade chili with a fresh biscuit and the Davis Farmers’ Market sandwich with tri-tip, caramelized onions and coleslaw. Everything will pair perfectly with Putah Creek’s lineup of creative drinks, like red jicama citrus sangria and a bacon bloody Mary. Brunch served 6 a.m.-3 p.m. 1 Main St. Winters. 530-795-2682. putahcreekcafe.com

Roxy's breakfast burger (Photo courtesy of Roxy Restaurant & Bar)

Roxy Restaurant & Bar

It’s no secret that Roxy is one of our favorite places to grab brunch. The Western-themed restaurant in Arden-Arcade has plenty of sweet treats (try the irresistible doughnut holes with three sweet dipping sauces) and stick-to-your-ribs plates, like a smoked beef Benedict with shaved Lucky Dog Ranch roast beef laid upon a bed of cheddar grit cakes and topped with poached eggs and spicy hollandaise, or the photogenic breakfast burger with a half-pound patty, sunny-side-up egg, smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, caramelized onions and house-made steak sauce. Brunch served 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 2381 Fair Oaks Blvd. 489-2000. roxyrestaurantandbar.com

Tower Cafe

Known for its eclectic menu and its prominent location inside the Tower Theatre building, this cafe is the place to go if you’re seeking one of Sacramento’s best French toasts (soaked in rich vanilla custard and served pillowy and warm, it made our list of “30 Things Every Sacramentan Must Eat” in our latest issue). If you don't have much of a sweet tooth, try a Denver omelet folded with sautéed onions, bell peppers and hickory-smoked ham, or the popular Greek pita scramble with sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach and feta cheese. Add some applewood-smoked bacon on the side and you’ve got yourself an all-American brunch in America's most diverse city. Brunch served 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 441-0222. 1518 Broadway. towercafe.com

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