Brunch time is the busiest period of time at any restaurant or the cafe. But if you often serve brunch at home, learning several hints of how to make this meal posh and high-style can be a great help! Besides, the basic rules regarding the branch etiquette will be handy even for those who prefer to drop in the nearest cafe.
So, meet the 14 commandments of a classy brunch!
What Is Brunch?
To be brief, brunch is a meal that is taken between breakfast and lunch. Some say it’s more like a late breakfast, others call it an early lunch, but in fact, it doesn’t matter that much.
Usually, brunch starts between 10 and 11 a.m. and ends up at around 1 or 2 p.m.
Traditionally, brunch consisted of quite heavy food like fried bacon, eggs, cheeses, bread with butter, cookies, and porridge. But today, it’s not a problem to find much lighter versions that include salads, toasts, and various sweets for the dessert.
When You Are Eating Out
Most of us are so busy that we prefer to eat brunch at the nearest cafe or a restaurant close to work.
If that’s your case, we suggest you keep in mind several useful tips regarding what to do and what to avoid when you’re dining.
Consider the coffee menu
It’s there not for decoration, it really shows what the establishment can serve. So if there’s no mocha or frappuccino on the list, don’t even ask for them since those drinks weren’t even meant to be made.
Don’t come too early
If the brunch starts at 11, it means that the establishment’s stuff will need every minute to set the tables and prepare everything. So don’t drop in at even 10.55 to make them drop everything just because you couldn’t wait for 5 more minutes.
Don’t even try to order from the dinner menu
It’s BRUNCH so there’s a specific menu for this particular meal, besides, the kitchen has to get ready for the dinner which means they can’t serve anything from the dinner menu before dinner.
Avoid special orders
If you order something that’s not on the menu or you want the existing dish to be cooked in a specific way, it will slow down the kitchen.
Don’t be the egg diva!
Most of the brunch menus have egg dishes on the list, but you’ll do a great favor to the whole stuff when ordering them as they are instead of asking to remove this and that ingredient, and replace those two with other components. Remember that you’re not the only guest here.
Don’t make the waiter constantly fetch drinks
The major brunch rule: the number of glasses on the table must be equal to the number of people. Please, don’t make a waiter fetch drinks for you every 15 minutes, otherwise, he/she will simply “disappear” until you leave.
Ask about the extra charge
Sometimes we’d like to order a side of something or ask for a substitution. In most cases, that won’t cost you a fortune, but still, ask a waiter before making an order if there’ll be any extra charge!
Be generous with tips
Yes, it’s just brunch, but it doesn’t mean we can tip less. Brunch is probably the busiest time for any restaurant, so be kind to those who served you.
Don’t camp
If you finished your meal and you see that waiter already cleaned your table, it means that it’s time for you to go. Brunch is to be eaten fast since there’re always many people waiting to eat, too.
Pay one bill with the one card
Of course, you can pay with cash, too, but when using a card, don’t split the single bill between several cards! That will slow the server.
Things to remember When Being Invited For Brunch
Brunching at someone’s home is somewhat different. Here there’ll be no hurry, no need to pay, and nobody will be waiting for you to leave. Still, certain rules must be considered when someone invited you for brunch.
- If you receive a digital invitation, answer it ASAP, even if you’re not going to visit
- If only you were invited, bringing a guest with you would be impolite. Better ask a host if you could bring one more person
- Be punctual, and bring something with you to accompany the meal – a dessert or a bottle of drink
- The plates are served on the left and removed on the right, also, if there’s a plate to share (e.g. with cake), pass it clockwise. When you finished eating, put the cutlery horizontally to show that you finished.
How to Make Brunch Look Nice. Decoration Ideas
If you’re hosting a brunch party, and especially if it will be outside, thinking of how to decorate the table is a must. Simply covering it with a tablecloth is too boring, so why not make it more creative?!
- Arrange bunches of flowers like peonies or any seasonal flowers to place them along with the table
- If you’re having the informal brunch, try to use graters instead of vases
- For the Christmas brunch, prepare a small favor gift for each guest – a nice box with a tree ornament will be just fine!
- For making a themed brunch, why not make it American style or choose a romantic look?
- To make the table look vivid and overloaded with greens, we suggest using succulents. They’re small but add a natural look
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