Let's Do Brunch: International In Indy
Delicia
Brunch at Delicia offers Latin-inspired breakfast dishes like huevos rancheros and breakfast tacos alongside more unique takes such as a pork-belly-and-grits bowl, Cuban toast, and cornmeal biscuits with chorizo-thyme gravy. For a lighter brunch, consider the vodka-cured salmon tostones or a garden omelet. Brunch hours: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Sun. 5215 N. College Ave., 317-925-0677, deliciaindy.com
Open Society Public House
At this buzzy College Avenue hangout, inventive brunch cocktails like the War of Rosés Punch and the Aperol Spritz lay the proper boozy groundwork for chef Tim Brater’s inspired South American dishes. Brunch-time seafood options include the decadent croquette, a crabcake served as a Benedict dish topped with fresh arugula and chipotle hollandaise. The gluten-free waffles can be paired with either fruit or fried chicken, and gorgeous huevos y frijoles combine the standard black beans and Spanish rice with two eggs over easy and queso fresco. Most plates come with a side of chunky potatoes la luz spiked with green peppers and onions. Brunch hours: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Tues.–Sun. 4850 N. College Ave., 317-999-8706, opensocietyindy.com
Rayan Restaurant and Bakery
Among the many surprises at this recently relocated and expanded Middle Eastern restaurant on West 38th Street (which includes an in-house bakery of flatbreads and honey-drizzled desserts) is a selection of some of the city’s most unusual a.m. dishes. Technically, they don’t serve brunch, but their traditional breakfast fare like sakhshokah (eggs poached in a zesty tomato-and-chili sauce) meet the requirements for late-morning sustenance, while milky spiced tea and a variety of juices and smoothies, including banana milk and salted yogurt, are perfect midday refreshers. Breakfast hours: 9 a.m.–noon daily. 4873 W. 38th St., 317-986-7554, alrayanrestaurant.com
St. Yared Ethiopian Cuisine & Coffeehaus
The menu of morning offerings at this vibrantly decorated East African retreat may be brief, but the leisurely spirit of brunch is in the air throughout the day. Not just one but three special regional coffee blends from various corners of Ethiopia, as well as spiced tea with cardamom, come elegantly presented, allowing for soothing sipping while taking in the authentic decor and religious iconography of the owners’ homeland. A thick hunk of focaccia-like ambasha flecked with rosemary, cumin, and coriander and served with soft creamy curds of ayib could be a restorative snack on its own. But a spicy omelet filled with onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños and seasoned with the aromatic spice blend berbere is a popular takeout item that you can enjoy at your table as well. For something a bit more familiar, the coffeehouse also offers wedding-cake cookies baked in-house, yogurt muffins, and coffee cakes baked at nearby Taylor’s Bakery. Coffeehouse opens at 6:15 a.m. daily. 11210 Fall Creek Rd., 317-363-4435, styaredcuisine.com
Tlaolli
For this tiny but spirited Latin spot, warmer weather means the opening of its outdoor patio and the return of the restaurant’s tasty Sunday brunch. Mix-and-match small plates are a good way to sample the vibrant palette of flavors, in dishes that are lighter and fresher than at many nearby Mexican joints. Breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs come with a choice of pork carnitas, chicken, or vegan soy chorizo. Delicate, fluffy tamales have included a deconstructed version in the form of masa topped with chicken mole, Chihuahua cheese, and jalapeño crema. Hearty eaters will want to opt for the Englewood Torta, named for the near-eastside neighborhood, piled with black beans, avocado, pickled onions, poblano mayo, and eggs. French toast concocted from croissants dipped in cinnamon horchata satisfies the sweet tooth, especially when drizzled with a goat’s-milk caramel and topped with whipped cream and fruit. Brunch hours: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Sun. 2830 E. Washington St., 317-410-9507
