Best brunch in town not served at Waveland Cafe? Americana.
When it comes to brunching in Des Moines, I have been of a single mind for more than five years: go to Waveland Cafe to order the veggie skillet or don’t bother. Baby Boomers Cafe has some major fans among my friends, but I always seem to end up with more grease than anything else. Cheesecake Factory does have some wonderful options, but it’s not exactly my cup of tea on a weekend morning.
Americana, across from the downtown sculpture park on Locust, opened its doors last year promoting an all you can eat weekend brunch buffet. Having been there several times for lunch and dinner, I recently took the opportunity to take an out of town guest there for a late morning brunch. Given my mixed experiences on previous visits, I wasn’t sure what to expect other than the eclectic menu promised on the website.
In my buffet dining experiences, it is rare to find a restaurant that prepares a wide variety of menu items well. Americana succeeds where even most Vegas buffets fail: over the top deliciousness for the Pesky Diner-style crowd.
When you go, here’s a list of kosherish items you can choose from. Keep in mind that these options are all included in your “Bombshell Brunch” fee of $14. Add $8 and you get the all you can drink bloody mary and mimosa bar.
1) Waffle bread pudding – This dish came highly recommended by a friend who happened to be dining at the same time as my group. It did not disappoint. I could make an entire meal of this.
2) Mascarpone Crepes – These mini crepes, folded in quarters and filled with mascarpone cheese, were near perfect once a dollop of sauced strawberries were added.
3) Smoked Salmon Parfait – The parfait I took contained salmon that tasted more cooked than smoked, but I can’t complain too much. Think of this as a deconstructed bagel sandwich minus the bagel. This treat included crème fraiche (I think), red onions and capers on top of some shredded salmon. A nice small treat, but feel free to go back for more.
4) Veggie Egg Muffins – Think of this an omelet shaped like a mini-muffin. These were tasty and much, much better than the tray of scrambled eggs found on most breakfast buffets.
5) Scalloped Potatoes – I feel like these would be great with dinner, but I would have rather seen hash browns or a take on potatoes O’Brien.
6) Cornbread Muffins – Filled with onions and peppers, these were a pleasant surprise.
7) Tortillas & Egg Fajitas – Take a warm flour tortilla, dump on some grilled veggie scrambled eggs and smother with fresh made pico de gallo to get a pretty great dish.
Custom Grilled Cheese – Are you serious? How does this end up on a brunch buffet? Take a bite and you will understand. After choosing from a pre-determined list of sandwiches or a custom build, write your order on a slip and hand it off to the grilled cheese cook. Return a few minutes later to find your masterpiece awaiting. My veggie version contained tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and peppers in addition to a nice square of cheese melted between thick-cut bread.
If you are unable to fill yourself on the above eight dishes, you still have more options to choose from: fruit & yogurt parfaits, mini cheesecake, mac & cheese, fresh fruit, and assorted pastries. The two most important rules when attending the Bombshell Brunch are to come hungry and leave yourself plenty of time to enjoy your downtown surroundings. If you opt for the unlimited beverage option, make sure to bring a designated driver. The accoutrement choices to deck out your bloody mary, by the way, are plentiful.
Americana’s Bombshell Brunch is a must do, and an amazing choice when entertaining out-of-town guests. Don’t show up too late, however. We arrived at 10 and had our choice of tables. By 11:30 the place was packed and a line was forming.
So does Americana beat Waveland when it comes to brunch? That’s a tough call given their substantial differences. I’m just happy to have another place to experience great morning dining.
What’s your go-to brunch spot and what makes it special?
My definition of brunch requires that I go there planning on being able to sample a number of things for one price. I love the food at the Waveland, but going there and ordering one thing doesn’t meet my definition of brunch. I’ve been to Americana a number of times this fall for brunch and I’ve enjoyed every one of them. I’ve found it’s best to get there early, and plan on staying late to let the drinks wear off.