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Best Orange County Brunches

From Kimberlee Morrison, former About.com Guide

On Sundays, Orange County restaurants break out the buffet tables and serve up some amazing brunches. Whether it's a meal with the family or the sweetheart, here are some the O.C.’s favorite Sunday brunch spots.

Orange County Mining Co.

Orange County Mining Co. is a rustic yet fine dining joint perched atop a hill overlooking the city of Orange. OC Mining Co. has everything you could want in a brunch: breakfast and hearty comfort foods, a seafood station with superb smoked salmon, pasta and omelet stations and a desert station with chocolate fondue and soft serve ice cream. All that, plus unlimited champagne and a great price. Reservations are recommended as this brunch is popular and fills up fast. Beat the late morning rush to get a table by the window and a early bird discount.

Hotel Huntington Beach

Excellent service, Alaskan King Crab, shrimp cocktail, carving and waffle stations, bottomless champagne, and arguably the best omelet station of the bunch, make Hotel Huntington Beach Champagne brunch an Orange County favorite. Seating is limited and fills up fast (even if you get there early), so a reservation is an absolute must if you’re serious about this decadent and delicious fine dining brunch experience.

Black Bull Chop House

This is the place to go for a casual brunch that doesn’t get overcrowded. Blackbull Chop House is nestled just off of downtown Huntington Beach’s Main St. and has a great layout and flow. Favorite dishes include seared Ahi, eggs Benedict, the prime rib and the amazing desert station. The wait staff is friendly and attentive and keeps the champagne flowing. Best of all, there’s a conversational atmosphere and you might find yourself commiserating over the brunch deliciousness with other patrons.

Duke's at the Huntington Beach Pier

A unique brunch menu and an ocean view is what Duke's on the Huntington Beach Municipal Pier has to offer. No other brunch menu includes two types of egg Benedict, fresh baked muffins and croissants, coconut French Toast, or Duke’s Hawaiian style seafood cocktail and Ginger Shoyu Chicken. This may be the one of few brunches that don’t offer endless champagne, but the food is delicious and the view spectacular. Of course, being on the beach and having great food means Duke’s is quite popular, so be sure to make a reservation.

TAPS Fish House & Brewery

This North County favorite is a gastropub with a fine dining bent, boasting a two story seafood brunch “extravaganza.” Try the chilled shrimp, oysters on the half shell, smoked salmon, artisan cheeses and the made to order banana Fosters. If champagne isn’t your thing, try out some of TAPS’ award winning house brews or sparkling wines at no extra charge. It’s a good thing too, since this happens to be one of the pricier Sunday brunches in Orange County. With the huge selection, delicious foods and excellent service, TAPS' brunch is every bit worth worth the coin.

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