The TL isn’t the best place to spend one’s time at any point in the day. But on a sunny Sunday afternoon with some cool kids and an empty stomach, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.
As a Louisiana-born (but not bred) girl, I believe that I have some level of authority in deciphering Southern food. Even though I call San Francisco home, I still have a hankering for hush puppies and okra that is difficult to find here.
Florentine eggs benedict with Cheddar grits – luh dat
On this particular day, my friends and I decided to withstand the 1.5-hour wait to get our hands on some Louisiana flair, and we were not disappointed.
At Brenda’s, service is quick, which is helpful given that most customers are starving by the time they sit down. There is a full brunch menu as well as a few daily specials, which are highly recommended and what we decided to order. But first, beignets.
Give me all the beignets!!
We all know the saying that beignets are a girl’s best friend (that’s how it goes, right?). Brenda’s offers up something that takes these desserts (or in our case, appetizers) to another level: a beignet flight. Yes, four beautiful beignets on a plate filled with chocolate, sugar, apples, and savory crawfish. I know. I know.
On the entrée front, everything is heavy, so don’t come here if you’re on a diet. Eggs benny come atop cream biscuits, cheddar grits, and specials like pulled pork, Florentine, and catfish. If that isn’t enough, there is a special of fried catfish po’boy with hash, which is a monstrosity of a sando and can easily be shared.
On the sweet front, bananas foster French toast comes with stacks on stacks of syrupy goodness and makes me wish I had two stomachs so I could finish everything in front of me!
This isn’t your typical Southern restaurant; it’s much better, and worth the wait, which is more than what I can say for a lot of brunch places. With a satisfied belly – I’m pretty sure that I’m still full from this meal – I can confidently say that Brenda’s French Soul Food is a winner.
Beignets for dayz.
Brenda’s French Soul Food:
652 Polk Street (@ Eddy)
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
No reservations.
415.345.8100
Bloody Mary with pickled okra – this was a little too sweet-tasting
Pulled pork eggs benny
Catfish po-boy with hash. Death.
!!!!!!!!!! I want all the hush puppies and all the beignets. And that FRENCH TOAST OMG.
RIGHT. It was so good! Do you get good hush puppies in Houston?