Pork tenderloin and eggs benedict, at brunch, why not? As varying as your entrée choices may be at the brunch table, so are the drinks. Standard mimosa’s and Bloody Marys’ are staple refreshments for this type of meal, but if you’re looking to venture outside the box and jazz up your hash browns and French toast, give these refreshments a whirl.
Redstone Doli
Redstone Grill
It’s like drinking fresh hand squeezed pineapple juice with a sweet kick. Pineapple slices are infused with vodka by soaking in straight vodka for five days, then shaken, juiced and poured over ice. $9. And, now that Redstone is open in Maple Grove, don’t miss a chance to sip that pineapple specialty along with their “never-ending” family style brunch which includes French toast with fruit salad, scrambled eggs with cream cheese, applewood smoked bacon, chicken sausage patties and hash browns. $17. 12109 Main St. N.; 763.420.0232; redstonegrill.com
Flying Monkey
Granite City
Head over to Granite City for a taste of this spiked strawberry lemonade made with Sobieski citron vodka, lemonade and St. Schnapps ($7). It’s a perfect partner for the prime rib Sunday brunch ($15.95). Or go for a Hungry Like a Wolf: This blueberry martini is made with blueberry rum, lemon sour and fresh blueberries. $8.50. 11909 Main St.; 763.416.0010; gcfb.net
Cherry Blossom Julep
3 Squares Restaurant
Three Squares Restaurant uses their own Four Roses bourbon to craft this sweet creation that includes cherry lemon zest, cherries, mint, tamarind soda and ginger ale ($11). If you find yourself more in the mood for a cosmo, check out the ginger peach cosmo, ginger peach vodka, white cranberry juice, peach schnapps, simple syrup and lime juice ($8.50). They are both an adept accompaniment to 3 Square’s one-o-a-kind pierogies; potato and cheddar stuffed dumplings served with onion strings and horseradish sauce. $8. cheddar stuffed dumplings, onion strings, horseradish sauce ($8). 12690 Arbor Lakes Pkwy.; 763.425.33330; 3squaresrestaurant.com
White Sangria
Don Pablo's
Sweet Moscato wine mixed with rum, mango syrup, Sprite, and garnished with fresh fruit ($3.99). You really can’t go wrong with this one. The smoothest margarita we found was the Primarita, which gives you a shot of 1800 Resposado tequila, grand marnier, sweet and sour, freshly squeezed lime juice and powedered sugar ($8.49). 7887 Elm Creek Blvd N., 763.416.6024; donpablos.com
Watermelon Margarita
Champps Americana
What’s brunch without watermelon? This sweet margarita will take you all the way to the lazy days of summer. Mixed with tequila Avion, watermelon syrup, fresh lime juice and agave nectar ($6.49). Or stay in the garden with their new cucumber smash, fresh cucumber slices, Hendrick’s gin and sour mix all smashed together and served on the rocks. Garnished with a cucumber ($6.49). 13521 80th Circle N.; 763.494.4515; champps.com
Caipirinha
Rodizio Grill
While you’re feasting on the plethora of meats Rodizio has to offer, order Brazil’s national cocktail, made with cachaça, an intensely sweet Brazilian style of rum made from sugarcane juice, stirred with sugar and lime. $7. Or, for a sweeter treat, try their Brazilian Limeade, it’s made with crème ($4.50). 12197 Elm Creek Blvd.; 763.657.1133; rodiziogrill.com
