Ten Best Brunches in Broward County

UPDATE: Good news, brunch-lovers. We've recently published a new list of Fort Lauderdale's best brunches. Now go forth and brunch like you've never brunched before.

We all love going out to eat.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch -- doesn't matter. We're ecstatic when we can grab any meal away from the confines of our home kitchen.

Though we don't discriminate in terms of meals or times, each one has its purpose. Breakfast is a great way to start what will become a busy day; lunch is the opportune time to bond with friends (hate to break it you, but lunch dates sway toward the friend zone); dinners out are intended as a relaxing way to end the day, whether with a romantic partner, close friend, or family member.

Brunch, on the other hand, is the ultimate time to de-stress.

You don't have to rush back to work; you don't have to get home to go to bed; it's one of the few occasions in life when it's all right to just chill out with some comforting food and a daytime cocktail and totally decompress.

See also: Ten Best Places to Drink in Broward County

However, the ideal way to let it all go looks different to everyone. Whether you like to sip champagne with a sophisticated raw bar or Benedict, gorge yourself with an open buffet, or party it up with bottomless booze and live entertainment, the ideal breakfast-lunch hybrid exists, and we have more than our fair share to choose from around here.

Check are our picks for the ten best brunches in Broward County.

10. American Social Bar & Restaurant

Las Olas is not exactly known as an affordable street; however, here you'll find a brunch in a fun atmosphere that is an absolute steal. Just $19.95 gets you all-you-can-eat crab leg, fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, Belgian waffles, scrambled eggs, made-to-order omelets, and more. For another nine bucks, add unlimited mimosas; Angryosas, a combination of Sam Adams, Angry Orchid cider, and orange juice; or bloody marys from the do-it-yourself bar. Whether you're looking to start your weekend off with a bang or just cure last night's headache, Am So is here to help you on your mission; brunch is offered Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

9. Rosie's Bar & Grill

Wilton Manors is known as a town that likes to party. Obviously, crazy Saturday-night antics need a Sunday-morning cure. Here you'll find some hair of the dog and the after-party. With $4 Ketel One bloody marys, $5 mimosas, and a DJ, if you can't jump on the Sunday Funday bandwagon, the problem is you. The food is creative and filling -- that much better for soaking up the booze -- with choices ranging from pancakes (plain to decadent) and waffles, like the double-decker banana cream pie ($10.95), two waffles filled with banana cream, banana slices, and whipped cream to omelets and 'dicts (Benedicts), such as the Not Crab with a "K," blue crab cakes on top of sautéed spinach with herb hollandaise.

8. Vienna Cafe & Wine Bar

Most coastal residents tear up at the thought of venturing west of I-95, but this place is certainly worth the trip. Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Davie's favorite Austrian-inspired spot serves a brunch that could rival anything found out east. The menu includes a wide selection of creative options spanning from sweet Vienna Famous French Toast ($8) crusted with frosted cornflakes and served with warm berry compote and blueberry pancakes ($8) to savory Spanish frittata ($11) filled with ham, spinach, potatoes, onion, and cheese and topped with salsa and sour cream, as well as Cambridge Royal Smoked Salmon ($12) on potato galette with sour cream and caviar.

7. Lips

Sunday is supposed to be God's day; fortunately, no one has ever said that means you're not allowed to drink. Here you can do both at the weekly Gospel Brunch. So what if it's a bunch of drag queens singing -- or lip-synching -- the Lord's good praise? Hosted by the hilarious Nicolette, the sisters of sequin put on one of the best -- and most entertaining -- shows you'll ever find on a Sunday morning. For $18.50, plus a $5 show cover, choose from dishes like eggs Benedict, Lips cheeseburger, penne alla vodka, and Lips omelet while throwing back unlimited bloody marys, mimosas, and Champagne. You'll most certainly feel uplifted by the time you leave.

6. d.b.a./cafe

For brunch, there are times when you want to get all decked out in your finery, other days when you just want to throw on a pair of shorts, nosh on some good food, and toss back a couple of drinks with friends. When that's the case, go to d.b.a. The laid-back spot offers topnotch fare, like Parker French toast ($10) filled with cheesecake and chorizo and Gruyère omelet ($10) with home-fried potatoes, in casual digs. Pair those with sake bloody marys, sangria, or two-for-one mimosas while you're at it for a seriously relaxing day. Brunch is available to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

5. Coconuts

South Florida is a seafarer's paradise. If you're looking to boat to brunch -- or you just want to pretend -- Coconuts is your ideal spot. With plenty of outdoor seating and an open dining room, the restaurant is perfectly set up for taking in the ocean air. Fortunately, the fare matches the view, with delectable dishes like shrimp and grits ($14); Moo & Cluck ($18), steak and eggs with chimichurri; a number of Benedicts ($12 to $16) ranging from heirloom tomato to lobster; freshly fried free doughnuts; and various specials every week. Finish it off with à la carte mimosas, bloodies, bellinis, sangria, and spritzers to enhance the feelings of enjoyment. Similarly, if you feel like staying away from the big outdoors, the spot's sister restaurant, Foxy Brown, also offers a fantastic brunch.

4. S3

Most people choose to live in South Florida for the idyllic beaches. Given the option, wouldn't you prefer to incorporate the beach view into your brunch? Yeah, we thought so. Set right across from the Atlantic, with tables stacked to ensure a view, S3 serves creative fare with a fresh ocean breeze. Innovative à la carte options like chicken and sweet potato waffles, pork belly hash, and banana bread French toast will fill you up while drinks, such as passion fruit and lychee bellinis as well as bloody mary samplers, get you going on your Sunday funday. Brunch is offered on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

3. Blue Moon Fish Co.

One of the Fort Lauderdale's greatest attributes is its seemingly endless canals and waterways -- hey, it's called the Venice of America for a reason. Could there possibly be a more relaxing way to spend a Sunday than watching the boats pass by while consuming oysters and Champagne? Doubtful. If that seems like your ideal way to start off the week, you need to head over to Blue Moon Fish Co. The seafoodcentric spot offers an all-you-can-eat and drink-all-you-want (Champagne, bloody marys, and mimosas) brunch for $48.95 apiece. Choose from a wide array of options, ranging from a breakfast bar with Benedicts and Belgian waffles to a seafood table to sweets to pastas and charcuteries to a carving station and chef-prepared entrées.

2. Steak 954

Anything related to the W Hotel is associated with being trendy and cool. Obviously, that notion would have to extend to the brunch menu. Although the spot offers breakfast daily with many of its eggs and omelets, like chorizo, manchego, and roasted tomato omelet ($13); Benedicts, such as the short rib and potato pancake ($14); and breakfast favorites like the vanilla French toast ($14) with dulce de leche; the brunch is expanded with raw bar and entrée selections including burgers -- hey, sometimes you need one; don't judge us -- and salads.

1. Pelican Grand

If you're looking for a great way to relax on a Sunday, the beach is where it's at. Unfortunately, in terms of dining, it's not easy to find great food while keeping your toes in the sand. That's not the case at Pelican Grand. With a veranda that opens straight onto that golden strip of land, the brunch is about as close as you can get to the Atlantic. For $50, guests get unlimited access to a number of tables, including a seafood tower, cold display, carving station, made-to-order waffles and omelets, bloody marys, and mimosas. Plus, you don't have to deal with the stress of figuring out the check.

Follow Sara Ventiera on Twitter, @saraventiera.