This is a long overdue review, because I have brunched at Plates many times and just keep coming back. For one, the location is super convenient; it’s only three blocks from my apartment. Most importantly, however, are the two most glorious words that one can read on a brunch menu: “bottomless mimosas.” What’s even more glorious is that they’re only $10 and the servers will just keep bringing carafes of mimosas to your table. (If there’s a time limit to these, we haven’t yet reached it.) That being said, brunch can get a bit silly.
Plates has an ever-changing menu, so you never really know what you’re going to get when you arrive (unless, like me, you stalk their website). It’s not a long menu, which I appreciate, and they typically have at least one kind of benedict and pancakes that utilize some type of fruit. It’s casual and there’s a large seating area outside, however, the scathing August heat and hangovers don’t mix well, so on this particular Sunday, we sat inside. Don’t worry, we were still bathed in natural light which made for good food photography. (Side note: I hate being that annoying person at the restaurant who has to pause everything and take pictures of the food, especially after reading this article). Of course, I had to chronicle the all-too-frequent occurrence that is brunch at Plates.
Charlie was out of town but we did have a token male, Boyd, join our group. Turns out Boyd has a bit of culinary knowledge. His advice for choosing something on the menu: always pick something that you couldn’t make yourself. Turns out, that’s included in one of Bon Appetit’s rules for eating out, which were just published this month. Boyd strayed from the group and got a bloody mary which looked and tasted great. I’ve never seen such a light colored bloody (Charlie hates when people call them that). It was house-made and deliciously salty. And I love a lot of garnishes, especially bacon (obviously).
Kathryn and Suzannah were sad that the Carolina benedict wasn’t on the menu this time (it’s a benedict with thick cut bacon that’s covered with sausage gravy) and rightfully so because it really is a winner. In the end, Boyd and Suz opted for the crab cake benedict, Kathryn and I chose the smoked duck benedict, and Kaitlyn got the blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon. In the eternal brunch dilemma that is “sweet or savory?” I always go savory. Pre-feast, our server brought out some banana bread for the table, a nice new touch for brunch I think.
My duck was smoky, tender, and covered in béchamel, which is always a plus. My plate was rather monochromatic and unphotogenic, but hey, it tasted good. As Kathryn said when it came out, Plates isn’t about presentation, it’s about taste. I gave Kaitlyn my grits, as the benedict itself was already so rich I really didn’t need them. I could’ve used some of the salad that came with the crab cake benedict though. The biscuit was a bit crumbly this time, but all of the yolk and béchamel remedied that.
Suz’s crab cake benedict was flavorful, but rather unique for a crab cake. To be fair, the menu did disclose that they were made with potato so they were a little reminiscent of latkes and not very crabby. They were well-seasoned and tasted lemony. As for the pancakes, well, you really can’t mess up pancakes.
Pro-Brunch Tip: It’s always appropriate etiquette to order a plate of pancakes for the table, you know, just in case you go savory and want to share a little something sweet.
Satisfaction. (In reference to the empty plates, not Boyd and Kathryn).
We had several carafes of mimosas, but many of us had post-brunch plans, so we didn’t get too boozey. Don’t worry though, Plates, we’ll be back for all of your bottles of champagne on a not-so-distant Sunday.
