Brunch at Convivial

I just can’t stay away from Shaw lately. After recent visits to Chaplin’s, Dolci Gelati and Espita Mezcaleria we were back last weekend for brunch at Convivial.
I’ve been dying to check out the new restaurant from Cedric Maupillier since it opened last year, especially after seeing their drool-inducing brunch menu.
We started off with classic bloody Marys. I was tempted by their healthy, fresh juice offerings as well, but it was Saturday and we had no plans so a drink felt right. The bloodies really hit the spot, a perfectly crafted version with a healthy dose of spice from the horseradish.
For some reason I had expected a slightly stuffier atmosphere at Convivial, but was pleasantly surprised by the bright, open concept. The bar was lively and seemed like a great place to grab a drink and a snack of an evening, or a Saturday afternoon.
We had our food orders planned before we were even seated, the perfect mix of healthy and indulgent. I chose the healthy quinoa porridge with Spring vegetable succotash, goat cheese, egg whites and pistachios.
Aside from being one of the prettiest brunch dishes I’ve eaten in awhile (edible flowers!), it was also one of the most delicious and satisfying. From the fresh vegetables to the creamy goat cheese and the crunchy pistachios it was full of texture and fresh, earthy flavors. I could eat this every single morning for breakfast and never tire of it and plan to try to recreate a version of my own, even though I’m sure it will pale in comparison to the original.
Tom’s fried chicken and waffle with sausage gravy and sunny side up egg, on the other hand, is the perfect brunch indulgence.
He loved how good each component of the dish was on its own: the chicken crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the golden waffle with its touch of sweetness, and the rich and savory sausage gravy. But with all three on one fork, each bite was true perfection. I am not always a fan of fried chicken brunch dishes, but I could easily have polished this plate off by myself. I think the game changer was the gravy, which I found I prefer over syrup in this instance.
And we weren’t quite done with the splurges. Convivial’s cinnamon buns have attained a cult following, so we obviously had to give one a taste.

Warm, flaky and sugary-sweet, these pastries are an even better than those giant ones you get at the mall, and smell just as good too. We opted for a few bites, washed down with a cappuccino, and saved the rest for dessert later that evening.
Overall, brunch at Convivial is one of the most delicious I’ve had in months. I love that it’s as easy to have a healthy, nutritious meal (that isn’t boring) as it is to indulge in stick-to-your-ribs comfort food, although I definitely recommend doing a little of both.