austin: bakery lorraine

Bakery Lorraine is a cute, aesthetic brunch spot located in the Domain (it’s the first Bakery Lorraine outside of the San Antonio area). The first time, I came with one of my good friend pretty early in the morning, so it wasn’t particularly full. We got seated quickly and ordered at the front, but within the half hour, the restaurant definitely got more crowded.

Known for their pastries, Bakery Lorraine has an array of macarons and other desserts, including croissants, cinnamon rolls, kouign-amann, cheese danish, muffins and bread pudding. Pair it with a latter or cappuccino, but save some room for the main items!

• 

• 

I’d ordered the white corn grits, which may possibly be my new favorite breakfast item. With smoked sofrito, sunny egg, nori and chives, the dish reminds me both of Asian fried rice while staying true to its American southern roots through the buttery grits. Of course, I added the sausage, since that’s a staple for me in breakfast, but you could make it entirely vegetarian.

My friend had ordered the Blackberry Toast, which is a croissant loaf with ricotta, roasted blackberries, almond, maple syrup. I’d say this is a good option to go for if you’re craving something sweet for breakfast (granted, if you order some of items from the bakery, it may be a little too much).

Overall, I’d say this is a fun brunch place to visit over the weekend, since you can stop by shops afterwards to walk off the hearty meal. If you hadn’t ordered a coffee here, there are a couple ones around the Domain that you can walk to as well. Pricing is on the high end, but pretty consistent with what’s around. But I’d say — treat yourself, you deserve it.