Top 10 places to have brunch

Last time we discussed this, someone made the excellent point that brunch isn't breakfast. (We have done a Top 10 breakfasts.) Even if the restaurant doesn't offer both breakfast and lunch choices, some of the dishes will be too elaborate for an ordinary breakfast, like eggs Benedict.

I've tried to offer a selection of both extravagant fixed-price buffets and smaller a la carte choices. (The latter is my preference, but sometimes the buffets work best -- when you've got kids, for instance.)

Here's my list in alphabetical order: ...

* Abacrombie in Mount Vernon. A short but sweet menu of dishes like crepes with homemade applesauce and a grilled ribeye with scrambled eggs and hollandaise. $8 to $24. And served till 7 p.m.!

* b Bistro in Bolton Hill. From the folks who brought you the Helmand and Tapas Teatro. Brunch includes three kinds of omelets, two kinds of eggs Benedict and three kinds of pancakes. $7 to $19.

* B & O American Brasserie downtown. Great stylish space, nice folks, a la carte menu of both breakfast and lunch dishes running from $7 to $19.

* Brightons in the Inner Harbor. The most beautiful spot for brunch in Baltimore. Breakfast dishes, salads, sandwiches and entrees. $10 to $22.

* Carrol's Creek in Annapolis. If you like buffet-style, all-you-can-eat brunch buffets, you get all that plus a view of the water. Adults: $21.95, children: $10.95.

* Gertrude's at the BMA. A Maryland-oriented brunch on Saturday and Sunday. If you're lucky, the restaurant will be serving outside overlooking the sculpture garden. $8 to $27.

* Mari Luna Latin Grille in Pikesville. Another fixed-price brunch buffet, but the addition of Latin entrees makes it unique in the area. Adults: $22.95. Kids 12 and under: $11.95.

* Miss Shirley's in Roland Park. Strictly speaking, it's lunch and breakfast all day, but that's good enough for me. And what a breakfast! $7.95 to $21.95.

* Regi's American Bistro in Federal Hill. Brunch Saturday and Sunday offering the classics with  California and southwestern accents. $9 to $15.

* Woodberry Kitchen in Woodberry/Hampden. Baltimore's favorite farm-to-table restaurant serves everything from Hangtown fry to cherry crepes. A la carte: $7 to $24.

(Algerina Perna/Sun photographer)