More Than Just Brunch
One of the things I love about living here in Atlanta? It’s definitely all the brunch spots that I have to choose from. Living in Deer Park, NY – my only brunch option was Denny’s.
Denny’s?? Gross.
Finding a decent brunch spot that didn’t have me driving an hour and a half into Brooklyn? That was next to impossible.
Now, from Murphy’s to Garden Parc, no matter where you live in Atlanta, there’s no shortage of places to go for a delicious omelet, pancake, or, my newest favorite, grits. It is my opinion that Atlanta reigns supreme in breakfast restaurants.
New Brunch Spot Alert
So a few days ago, a friend of mine let me know about a new brunch place aptly called -“just brunch.”
The restaurant’s motto is to not overthink things – it’s just brunch. Intrigued by the fact that Just Brunch is Black owned AND it’s only a 10 minute drive from my house, I replied to my buddy, “let’s go!”
My Saturday mornings usually find me at First Watch for brunch, so I was ready to try something new. So glad I did too – the first moment I walked in, all I could think is: “This is such a vibe.”
The Just Brunch Vibe
HER. Jhene Aiko. Daniel Cesar. Summer Walker. The R&B playing in the restaurant put me in the perfect state of mind to eat, drink, and converse.
Seriously, the music is so relaxing, and when I take a look around the restaurant, you can tell Just Brunch is attracting a certain type of customer: Black, Soulful, Sexy and Grown. Another reason why I love Atlanta- it feels like our city.
Back in New York, I had to navigate through “other” spaces. This meant only Denny’s available for brunch. This means a trip to the Shop Rite is having to endure soft rock and country blaring over speakers as I make my way through aisles. Going to a school function with my son and being the only chocolate mama there screamed, you don’t belong here; this space is for us, them, and not you.
The music of Just Brunch is a reminder that, Beans, we want you here. Music may seem insignificant, but it builds an atmosphere, a vibe of inclusion. Just Brunch did that!
The mid-century decor with a splash of farmhouse is a departure from many breakfast restaurant designs. Just Brunch’s color scheme is bright and engaging, with purple as the focus point. The just brunch lit banner really brings things together
Food and Drink
Let’s get to the nitty gritty! The food at Just Brunch is so GOOD! Just Brunch definitely hits the mark on the food.
I ordered the shrimp and grits with cheese. It can be hard to plate grits because of the consistency, but the presentation is perfect.
My first thought is how creamy my grits are. The shrimp, nice and plump, were surrounded by spinach and cherry tomatoes. The biggest test though is that after taking my first bite, I didn’t have to add even a pinch of salt. In terms of flavor, the food gave what had to be given. I’m not a doggy bag type chic, but, the grits were so good, I had to take them home. Re-heated and had them the next day and they were STILL tasty!
Drinks were good too! I had the Grand Mimosa. What I like is that the Grand Mimosa isn’t your traditional cocktail. The cherry, pineapple, and orange juices makes gives this mimosa layers and complexity. The splash of Grand Marnier is the icing on the cake.
Our waitress was a freckled face beauty who was so nice to us. She made sure to check on us often. On top of that the manager came out to speak to us for feedback. It’s refreshing when an establishment cares about what their customers think. I really didn’t have anything negative to say though, we were served quickly and our breakfast cocktails didn’t take long to come out.
Just a side note though: this isn’t a cheap brunch. The great food, decor and music means that you’ll need to come out of pocket a bit. Our bill was roughly $115, which isn’t too bad considering we had a couple of drinks each plus food.
More than Just Brunch
When you take into account the savory food, potent drinks, and beautiful decor, Just Brunch is more than a meal. It really is an experience. This blissfully single mom had a great time eating, laughing, and just being out of the house enjoying time with someone my age. Now , don’t get me wrong, I love my children, but every parent needs their own adult away time. I’m grateful for Just Brunch creating a nearby space for me to reclaim my time.
Finally, I understand Just Brunch’s ideology – it’s just brunch. Don’t overthink it. However, the work this restaurant does in providing an elevated experience for us, makes it a lot more than Just Brunch.
Until next time, happy brunching!
Blissfully Single and Yours,
