Due South Brunch

Considering how much I loved my first dining experience at Due South, I knew it would not be long before I had to go back for more. So when friends suggested getting together for brunch, I knew it was time to go back.
It was a beautiful morning, a rare break from the cloudy weather that hovered over the majority of the weekend. We walked over with Ashton and met our friends Unmani, Shreyans and Shambavi (note to self, take more pictures of people in addition to food) for an al fresco brunch on the restaurant’s lovely wraparound patio.
A Due South brunch is a leisurely experience. Although there is no bottomless drink option, many of the items are meant to be shared, and with the picturesque atmosphere and great service, people tend to stick around awhile.
A such, it took us a long time to secure a table, but the food was well worth the wait. We were starving, so we started with a few appetizers.
First up, the lima bean hummus crostini, which was a light and fresh start to the meal. The lima bean hummus was herbaceous and tangy, served on toasted ciabatta and paired with sweet heirloom tomatoes and what tasted like basil-infused oil. Delicious.
We had to have the squash puppies, which we’d sampled the last time we were there. Still great, and maybe even better with a somewhat spicier rendition of the jalapeno aioli.
Our server highly recommended the baked mac and cheese, which was good but not great – a little on the bland side.
For my entrée, because of the happiness I found in the brisket off the dinner menu, I went with the brisket hash.
The eggs were perfectly runny and the salsa verde and sour cream it was served with added a great kick, but sadly the brisket got lost in the mix and wasn’t nearly as flavorful or tender as I was expecting.
Tom had a similar experience with his pulled pork eggs Benedict – good, but not great.
It kind of seemed like the brunch dishes were an afterthought, using ingredients from the dinner menu and combining them with eggs – very well cooked eggs in both iterations, but still lacking in imagination.
My friends seemed to fare slightly better in their entrée choices, one had this gorgeous shrimp and grits and said it was excellent.
They also ordered the french toast, which was raved about, and an excellent looking burger topped with a fried egg. The drink options are also solid – we particularly enjoyed the spicy bloody Marys which really packed a good kick, and the beer list didn’t disappoint either.
Although not all of the food stood out, I’m still a fan of Due South. They have yet to list their brunch menu on their website, so maybe they’re working on tweaking some of the dishes.
My suggestion would be to take the rich, complex flavors from many of the dinner entrees and incorporate them into brunch. Another sweet option probably wouldn’t hurt either, taking a page from the delicious dessert we sampled on our first visit. Not that they’re asking me, but I am kind of an expert on eating…
All in all, it was still a great meal with great company, solid food and great atmosphere. It’s safe to say I’ll be back.