The Definitive Phoenix Brunch Guide

Phoenix brunch used to mean eggs Benedict and bottomless mimosas at whatever hotel had a Sunday special. The category has evolved. Several restaurants now make brunch genuinely distinctive. The standout for quality-to-experience: Essence Bakery Cafe in Tempe, which approaches pastry with French precision. The croissants are made correctly. The egg dishes use the croissant as a vehicle rather than toast as an afterthought. For the full production: Nobu Scottsdale runs a weekend brunch combining Japanese technique with brunch staples in combinations that shouldn't work as well as they do. The wagyu hash and miso soup make a morning meal unlike any other in the Valley. Hob Nob Hill on Central Avenue is the longest-running brunch institution in Phoenix. The food is the right amount of old-fashioned, and the service is experienced — efficient without rushing. Morning Squeeze in Scottsdale justifies its reputation with juice combinations that treat produce with the same seriousness a wine bar treats grapes.