For many, brunch is as much about what's in your glass as it is about what's on your plate. Here are our five favorite local brunch drinks.
Smoke, Double Barrel Bloody Mary
Smoke -- chef Tim Byers' upscale barbecue joint at the Belmont Hotel in Dallas -- is one of our favorite brunch spots, not just because of the out-of-this-world smoked brisket cornbread hash but because of what we wash it down with: the Double Barrel Bloody Mary, which gets our vote for best brunch drink in North Texas. The thick tomato mix is house-made and infused with four different peppers; yep, it stings a little. It's made with Austin-based Tito's Handmade Vodka and topped with pickled relish made from carrots, green beans and jalapeños. See, it's kinda healthy, too. $10. 901 Fort Worth Ave., Dallas, at the Belmont Hotel. 214-393-4141; www.smokerestaurant.com.
Snickerdoodle-flavored coffee with a shot of Patron XO Cafe, The Aardvark
If you're indecisive about whether you want to cure your hangover or bring on another, let fate decide with a coffee/booze concoction. Berry Street rock club The Aardvark, home to the $12, all-you-can-eat country brunch, serves a sweet-tasting monster: a cup of snickerdoodle-flavored coffee infused with a shot of Patron XO Cafe, a blend of premium tequila with added coffee flavor; it'll keep you warm and woozy. $5. 2905 W. Berry St., Fort Worth. 817-926-7814; www.the-aardvark.com.
Pineapple mimosa, Hacienda San Miguel
Mimosas are as common on brunch menus as eggs Benedict, but West 7th's Hacienda San Miguel at least offers variations of this warhorse brunch staple. You have a choice of three: orange, mango and pineapple, the last of which is our fave. Served in a champagne flute, it's made with champagne and freshly squeezed pineapple juice, and garnished with a nice, big pineapple slice, which tastes pretty good when you dunk it in HSM's salsa. Oh, just try it. $4. 2948 Crockett St., Fort Worth. 817-386-9923; www.hsmw7.com.
The Greyhound at The Tavern
Grapefruit is a brunch underdog, always overshadowed by Bloody Marys, poinsettias, mimosas and bellinis. Give it a chance, though, and it can make you proud. Best example: The Greyhound at The Tavern. A Salty Dog minus the salt, it's a mix of vodka and grapefruit juice, served over ice -- simple, cool and refreshing. Attaboy, grapefruit. $4. 2755 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth. 817-923-6200; www.thetavernftworth.com.
Raw vegan smoothie, Oddfellows
Bishop Arts hipster spot Oddfellows is well-known for its extensive coffee menu. Sprouty brunchers should take note, however, of the restaurant's raw vegan smoothie, a cold, thick blend of spinach, agave nectar, berries and other fresh veggies and fruit, depending on what's available. It's so filling, you may not have room for the duck hash. Who are we kidding -- there's always room for duck hash! $4.50. 316 W. Seventh St., Dallas. 214-944-5958; www.oddfellowsdallas.com.
