Best Brunch in Phoenix

Vovomeena describes its menu as "craft breakfast and brunch," with an emphasis on craft. The always-changing menu of carefully composed breakfast and brunch dishes manage to be both hearty, arty, and most importantly, delicious. Everything on the menu is good, but if you're looking for a breakfast feast fit for royalty, try the "b.m.o.c.," a massive pork chop cooked to perfection topped with a waffle, two over-easy eggs, and a Portuguese donut with apple-maple syrup. Yes, it probably puts you over your calorie count for the day, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a heartier and more creative breakfast dish in town. Gourmet coffee and fresh juice round out the brunch experience at this hip Phoenix morning spot.

Rustic yet casually upscale, Dick's Hideaway is the kind of place locals take out-of-towners for an authentic taste of traditional Southwest flavors. Lunch, breakfast and dinner is served at this small local gem, where the smell of slow-roasted pork greets the steady stream of diners at all hours of day. The Southwest-inspired botanas (appetizers) menu makes a great starting point . Try the roasted garlic plate, served with roasted peppers and green chiles bubbling over with flavor, or the tomatillo toast, grilled chicken and ham served over toast and smothered in green chile peppers, tomatillo salsa and cheddar cheese. Although you can get great burgers, salads and past at Dick's, the Santa Fe Trail menu is the real star of the show. For a little taste of everything, try the New Mexican Platter, featuring a red chile pork tamale, cheese relleno, chicken burro, rice and beans�all simmered in your choice of green or red sauce. But if you want to eat like a local, try the Carne Adovada, a house favorite featuring smoked pork roast simmered in red chile and served with rice, beans and a tortilla. Not to be missed for a true taste of the southwest.

Ocotillo is a bonafide food and drink compound in central Phoenix, with a sprawling, ambitious menu of New American eats. Here, "New American" means everything from big plates of gorgeously burnished roasted chicken, enormous falafel burgers, or perhaps a small plate of roasted cauliflower that's almost as appetizing and richly flavored as a slab of steak. For dinner, the menu offers a selection of vegetable and meat small plates, house-made pasta dishes, and entrees. For lunch, feast on big, fresh gourmet salads, sandwiches, roasted chicken dishes, pasta, or put together your dream meal with various small plates. The restaurant is also home to an outdoor beer garden, a swanky indoor bar, an extensive wine list, an on-site gourmet coffee bar ("O-To-Go"), and a popular weekend brunch.

This quick casual restaurant grabbed the spotlight a few years ago, earning a reputation as one of the most popular breakfast spots around town, and even appearing on several cable television programs. In hindsight, it's plain to see what all the fuss was about: classic breakfast dishes served with contemporary panache and made using only the freshest ingredients around. For an inventive take on breakfast, try one of their Brizzas--breakfast pizzas. Quick and casual service makes this breakfast joint a perfect choice for a busy morning. All dishes are created using local ingredients from Arizona farmers and vendors whenever possible.

If you don't know where Matt's Big Breakfast is, no problem. Simply look for the long trail of chatting, slightly restless men and women lined up outside a modest brick house on First Street. This is Matt's Big Breakfast, one of the city's most popular breakfast destinations, especially on the weekends. Try the Hog and Chick, two eggs with your choice of thick-cut bacon, country sausage, or off-the-bone ham. Lunch, featuring a short menu of sandwich classics such as The Classic Reuben and BLT, is served starting at 11 am. The breakfast menu might not be the biggest in town, but the kitchen's use of farm-fresh ingredients makes this one of the tastiest.

This combination kitchen, cafe, artist studio, and working farm is also one of Phoenix's most popular morning spots for the discerning breakfast set. The Farm's Morning Glory Cafe, open seasonally, is a signature breakfast spot serving house-baked muffins and pastries, seasonal omelets, locally-made sausages, and other delights hand-picked from the farm garden. The weekend homestyle breakfast and brunch menu includes hearty, Southwestern-inspired plates such as the Cowboy Chili & Eggs and the Huevos Rancheros, made here with refried Arizona tepary beans, corn tortilla, grated cheese, Ranchero Sauce, fresh avocado, and two over easy eggs. Enjoy a stroll under the pecan groves after your meal.

Craving a dim sum brunch? Stop by Dim Sum Cafe in Mesa, a small and unassuming restaurant that offers dim sum staples like steamed buns, dumplings and braised chicken feet. You'll want to try the freshly made xiao long bao — the Shanghainese soup dumplings are made fresh in-house. Another highlight are the shumai, extra-juicy pork and shrimp dumplings wrapped in crimped wonton wrappers. Along with dim sum brunch staples like braised chicken feet, you'll also find plenty of traditional Chinese dishes, including Sichuan and Shanghainese specialties. Bring a group of friends and don't forget to order a pot of hot tea.

Homey and charming, Fame Caffe on Central Avenue is one of those destinations that seems made for a long, leisurely brunch. Come here for fresh-squeezed orange juice, or maybe a gourmet coffee drink. For brunch, the selection offers many classic French selections, including credible croque madamae and croque monsieur sandwiches. Pancakes and French toast are excellent, and come with your choice of Spanish chorizo or sausage. For something a bit heartier, there is a good steak and egg sandwich. Enjoy classic breakfast drinks like bloody mary, or even better, the house mimosa.

After a well-received stint at mid-town Phoenix's Clarendon Hotel, Gallo Blanco Cafe has moved to its own standalone spot in downtown Phoenix's historic Garfield neighborhood. Chef Doug Robson's menu features delicious tacos, tortas and classic Mexican street snacks like elote callejero and a notable fresh guacamole. A strong starter is the huarache campechana, a flat, sandal-shaped tortilla layered with marinated meats, including al pastor and longaniza. Don't miss the daily roasted chicken special, and the selection of fresh-baked goods. For brunch, you'll find strong renditions of classic Mexican desayunos (breakfasts) like huevos rancheros, an indulgent take on chilaquiles, and fresh-made flapjacks with cajeta caramel.

Duza's Kitchen is a small breakfast and lunch spot that's tucked away in a section of a repurposed home in the historic Coronado neighborhood of central Phoenix. It's a lovely spot, full of wooden tables, fresh flowers on the tables and local art on the walls. In the back, there's a sprawling patio that's become a popular destination for weekend brunch. The menu is New American, with touches of Southwestern inspiration. You'll find a range of breakfast and brunch options, including wholesome plates like apple crisp hot cereal, as well as more hearty items like the Mexican breakfast torta. Omelets, breakfast sandwiches, crepes, hashes, and an assortment of pastry items round out the eclectic menu, which offers something for just about everyone.