The Brunchery: Fantastic Brunch in Tampa

Those familiar with my scribbles in these pages know that I am always interested in reasonably priced places to eat. One of the best in Tampa is The Brunchery, a venue that combines the best of breakfast and the most interesting of lunch.

Lately my wife [hereinbefore and after known as The Lovely Joan or, more succinctly, "TLJ"] and I have visited The Brunchery nestled in a strip center on North Dale Mabry Highway in the Northdale area of Hillsborough County. Walking into the restaurant, there are a few unusual touches to the décor and tables. The walls are festooned with early-American "things" which come across as, perhaps, too cute for a guy's taste. The other different decoration is an asset.

I remember as a child going to a diner with my father and being served coffee in solid and sturdy ceramic cups. I do not like coffee in Styrofoam or lightweight plastic cups nor do I want little cutesy cups. The Brunchery serves its coffee in ceramic cups, all bearing advertising from companies and businesses as varied as moving outfits to insurance agencies to a physician or two. I had assumed that the restaurant had purchased overstocked cups; in fact, we were told that the cups represented advertising and the person or company paid an annual fee for the service.

But enough of décor, the important thing is the food. Upon entering the restaurant, the server asks if one wants coffee, then. At this point, my answer is always, "Yes", in a combination sigh and shout! The Brunchery serves a variety of flavored coffees, but my own preference is the regular house blend. It is hearty, hot and wonderful.

Next, if one is so inclined, fresh orange or other fruit juice is served in frosted (directly from the freezer) mason jars. Incidentally, the entry into the kitchen is wide and open so there is no question about the cleanliness and orderliness of the food preparation area.

The Brunchery serves a variety of breakfast treats along with lunch items of sandwiches and salads. The reason we look forward to our visits, however, is that the breakfast items are all treats. First and foremost are the three-egg omelets stuffed with the ingredients of one's choice. My personal preferences vary from visit to visit, mostly ordering a Spanish omelet with onion, green peppers and tomato topped with a spicy sauce. The other day, however, I had the "Morning After" selection, peppers, onion, bacon, cheese and tomato. Generally, they offer omelets with a variety of "stuffing: veggies, bacon, sausages, three kinds of cheese, and so forth and so on. The choices are many.

Each visit, TLJ chooses her made to order selection, spinach, artichoke hearts and tomato. Her choice never varies, except for occasionally adding bacon and cheese.

With the omelet comes hash browns, cooked just right, or a dish of grits, a choice of toasts and delicious muffins, fresh and hot, and assorted jellies and jams to suit anyone. TLJ, for a northern girl, has a strange yearning for grits, either the cheese variety or plain with butter and salt and pepper. Because I am on a perpetual diet, I chose a good sized bowl of fresh fruit. I'm so good!

Besides omelets, The Brunchery has a fine and extensive choice of quiches, French toast, waffles and pancakes, all delicious and more than ample in portion size. The pancakes can be made with blueberries, walnuts, various fruits, coconut and such stuff.

The Brunchery has a limited but sufficient lunch menu, featuring deli sandwiches and hamburgers, salads and assorted crepes and quiches. I have had one of their quiches and, on one visit, a spinach and bacon crepe, but the feature of the restaurant is the breakfast.

It ranks as one of our favorites.