Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes

Dominick’s, the neighborhood hangout on Beverly (no, not Jerry’s Famous Deli), is one of those places you can rely on for great, Italian food in a great atmosphere. Fortunately, they’ve recently also implemented a weekend brunch with some tasty options on the menu – complete with some cocktails, of course.

Now, you can enjoy brunch on their covered, pleasant patio or inside their 50′s-ish tiled, dark wooded restaurant from 9 AM – 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Try their airy blueberry ricotta pancakes and pair it with a mimosa ($12 per bottle of Prosecco!). Or, take a look at a sampling of their brunch menu below for your other options:

Polenta Waffles with Strawberries, Whipped Mascarpone & Warm Honey – $9
Biscuit & Mushroom Fontina Gravy – $8
Soft White Corn Polenta & Two Fried Eggs with Parmesan Cheese – $9
Smoked Salmon, Herb Waffles & Poached Eggs with Dill Hollandaise – $15
Wood Grilled Oysters with Oregano, Crushed Red Pepper, Garlic, Lemon & Butter – $15
Zucchini Pancakes with Cucumber Mint Yogurt – $9
Prosciutto & Warm Ricotta with Arugula on a toasted Baguette – $11
Wood Grilled Hamburger with Burrata, Roasted Tomato Mostarda & Speck – $12

Cocktails include:

Dom’s Bloody Mary – $9
Strawberry Bellini – $11
Arnold Palmer – $9
Cardamom Crisp – $12

I’d say brunch in a former Frank Sinatra Rat Pack hangout is not a bad way to start off a weekend morning. And if you were smart and got the Blackboard Eats discount recently for 30% off, I’d say your next trip to Dominick’s is a win-win.

Egg Tostadas (green onion, tomato & cheese scrambled eggs with black beans, tortillas & Oaxacan sauce)

There’s another brunch option in town – and it’s at Malo in Silver Lake. If tequila cocktails with your eggy entree and sides sound like a choice accompaniment, this brunch will be worth your trek. For one, Malo has that spicy burnt habanero salsa that always does a solid for your pre-appetizer chip indulgence. (Because I’ll be the first to admit I’m always the one at the table who eats too many chips and has to take her meal home.)

Bloody Maria

Try ordering your Bloody Maria “extra spicy” and the bar will oblige. (I did. Twice.) In between the Bloody Marias was a Medicina Latina for that smokey kick (El Jimador Reposado, fresh ginger, agave nectar & lime w/Mezcal mist) as well as a La Paloma Fizz (made with El Jimador Reposado, fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice & grapefruit bitters) for that refreshing-but-sour morning cocktail. Or if you’re feeling the wake-up coffee more, go for the Malo Cafe, with Grand Centenario Anejo, Kahlua dark creme de cacao & coffee and topped with whipped cream. Delicioso!

Tres Leches Cake

Favorite dishes of mine included the Egg Tostada – with the eggs still wet, the way I like it. I even found myself appreciating one of their Vegan Breakfast Burrito, which was simple yet delicious enough, with tofu, potatoes, spinach, pinto beans, mushrooms, avocado and pico de gallo – though maybe the trick was that I dumped a whole bunch of red-orange salsa on it. The Tres Leches cake was my favorite dessert. The slice was perfectly wet but not soggy and oh-so-milky. If you’re feeling like an all-around sweet breakfast, try the Mango & Banana French Toast, made with sweet bolillos, warm piloncillo and cinnamon syrup.

If you’re looking for a little twist on your typical ham & eggs brunch, Malo’s a good place to start. The tequila in your morning cocktail will spice things up in many different ways – so your lazy weekend day will be sure to get kicked off to a great start.