Uptown Brunch in Blue Jeans: The Dream Cafe

Don't let the Uptown brunch's distinctly elegant reputation fool you.

Fearings at the Ritz Carlton and Hotel ZaZa's Dragonfly, which actually states its dress code as "Uptown Chic", serve the Sunday-best crowd at a high profile.

But if you're not slipping into heels or Oxfords upon waking on the weekend, we've found a spot just down the road where imaginative brunch dishes are served with no fuss.

The Dream Cafe at the edge of the Quadrangle offers a unique blend of comfort food and adventurous, healthy fare. The dish served most like the restaurant itself: Cloud Cakes, which look like run-of-the-mill, hearty pancakes, topped with strawberries and a scoop of creme fraiche. Take a bite, though, and taste the milky ricotta cheese in the recipe.

If you can't snag a seat on the famously kid-friendly fountainside patio, The Dream Cafe's interior is made bright with Dallas artist Tamara White's paintings.

Monte Cristo enthusiasts saddened by the demise of area Bennigan's locations can get their fried sandwich fix here. Classically decadent dishes like that one are balanced with nutritious choices, like a vegetarian sausage option or a Cranberry-mango Blast smoothie, on the pricey side at $5.

Don't sleep on the omelet section. The Grady's omelet was a reasonable substitute for The New Yorker, a simple bagel plate with lox, sliced tomato, capers and red onions. The omelet includes the lox, herb cream cheese and tomato, but adds spinach to the mix and skips on the carb-heavy bagel.

Mimosas and sangria are sold by the pitcher and carafe respectively for good-timers. And there's coffee, lots of it -- our cup was topped off at least 7 times during a recent trip.
 
There are no reservations taken for weekend brunch, so don't bother calling. Just throw on some jeans and get there early.

The Dream Cafe is located at 2800 Routh St., open from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday and until 8 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. Call (214) 924-0486 for more information.

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