In search of a new favorite breakfast and brunch spot?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top breakfast and brunch restaurants around Columbia, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture when you wake up with an appetite.
1. Renata's Tasty Bites
Topping the list is Renata's Tasty Bites. Croatia native Renata Alanovic sells her house-made cookies, cakes and pastries alongside savory tarts, quiches and pies in this cozy space.
There are a few small tables available, where you can sip coffee and eat spinach and feta quiche, for example, or beef and mushroom pie. Located at 9350-G Snowden River Parkway, it is the highest rated breakfast and brunch restaurant in Columbia, boasting 4.5 stars out of 125 reviews on Yelp.
2. Cafe Mezcla
Next up is Cafe Mezcla, situated at 6420 Freetown Road, Suite 200. Crêpes are the specialty of the house, whether sweet like the goat cheese, honey and strawberry one, or savory like the Mezcla Club with bacon, turkey, avocado, lettuce, tomato and chipotle aioli.
You can also get eggs, chicken and waffles, and pancakes. With four stars out of 177 reviews on Yelp, Cafe Mezcla has proven to be a local favorite.
3. Modern Market Eatery
Modern Market Eatery, located at 6181 Old Dobbin Lane, Suite 200, is another top choice. With locations in five states and D.C., Modern Market makes simple food from ingredients it sources directly from favored producers. Yelpers give this spot four stars out of 92 reviews.
Some recent menu items include avocado toast with smoked salmon and crème fraîche; the Brekkie bowl with scrambled pasture-raised eggs, chili roasted sweet potato, tomato, arugula, multigrain toast and choice of bacon or avocado; and toasted steel-cut oats with blueberry chia jam, blueberry hemp superfood granola and toasted coconut.
4. Lupa
Next, check out Lupa, which has earned four stars out of 65 reviews on Yelp. Its weekend brunch is served from 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m., when you'll find veggie or prosciutto frittatas, French toast with honey ricotta, lemon curd and blueberries, and over-easy eggs with mortadella.
The brunch fare is in addition to the many pasta, pizza and seafood dishes that line the menu. Head over to 10215 Wincopin Circle to try the restaurant for yourself.
5. First Watch
Last but not least, there's First Watch - Columbia, a local favorite with four stars out of 15 reviews. The relative newcomer (it opened in June) is part of a nationwide chain serving a seasonal menu and single-source coffee in its bright digs.
Recently the menu included smoked salmon Benedict and brioche toast with fresh fruit, granola, ricotta cheese and local honey. All this is in addition to a standard menu of omelets, pancakes, sandwiches and more. Stop by 6478 Dobbin Center Way the next time you're in the mood for breakfast and brunch fare.
