Brunchin' in the River Realm
There are few things more exciting than waking up on a Saturday morning and knowing you have a big brunch waiting for you. It’s even better when you’ve got a day of adventures to follow. If you’re headed out to shop, hunt for oysters, or follow the boots, start your day right with our best brunch finds in Virginia’s River Realm.
Big Oak Cafe
Come hungry to this warm and cozy cottage style restaurant. At Big Oak Cafe, you’ll find classic items with a twist. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, start with the french toast. The bread is baked fresh at the restaurant. If you are looking for something hardier, owner Dee Dee Morris was inspired to create the breakfast bowl by her football-playing son. It will hit the spot and make you feel right at home. Of course, you’ll also find traditional eggs, grits, bacon, sausage, hash browns, and other southern breakfast favorites like biscuits and gravy and chipped beef over toast. On the go? Come here to grab a breakfast sandwich before your adventure for the day. Don’t be afraid to add other classic menu items to your plate including crab soup, fried green tomatoes, and chicken salad.
Portside Grill
Get your brunch on with a view of Urbanna Creek. Bring the gang to Portside Grill to kick off the weekend right. Order up a variety of cocktails and watch the boats roll in and out of the marina. For food, start with fresh appetizers like crab tots and “Sea Sprouts,” brussels sprouts roasted with sea salt. Fill up on flavor-packed finds on the menu like the Chesapeake Burger topped with a blue crab cake. Brunch specials are coming soon!
Car Wash Cafe
Car Wash Cafe is a frequent winner in Virginia Living Magazine’s annual “Best of ” issue for breakfast and brunch. This former convenience store is now an open concept kitchen that serves fresh, locally sourced items including Huevos Rancheros and in-season seafood. The menu items are a perfect blend of breakfast and lunch for a River Realm brunch that will keep you daydreaming (or drooling!) long after you leave. Give into creative takes on classics like soft shell crab eggs benedict. Get your lunch fix with items like she-crab soup, colorful salads, crab cakes or a Cuban sandwich. Bonus: visit the car wash next door and get your car sparking before you ride through our scenic and winding roads.
Filibusters at the Kilmarnock Inn
Make sure to reserve your seats at this popular and unique brunch spot. The Kilmarnock Inn is a bed and breakfast that honors the eight United States Presidents who were born in Virginia–each of its guest cottages is named for a Virginia born president. Built in 1884, the main house was named The Wilson House for Woodrow Wilson. Here is where you can enjoy brunch inside or on the sprawling back porch at the Filibusters Restaurant. Order up brunch finds with fun names like Non-partison Breakfast Croissant and Eggs Benedict Arnold. Wash it all down with a bloody mary, mimosa, or Irish Coffee.
Willaby’s Cafe
Sippin’ cocktails by the river is one of our favorite past times. Kick off your lazy Saturday at Willaby’s. The restaurant is shaped like a boat for some extra River Realm flair. The brunch menu is chock full of hardy and fun breakfast items like Tijuana Breakfast Burrito or Eggs Rappahannock (eggs benedict topped with sauteed oysters). The extensive beer menu is worth investigating–order a flight to try more than one. While you’re waiting for your meal, take a cocktail out to walk on the restaurant’s private beach. It’s the perfect place to snap a photo for the ‘gram.
The Table At Wilton
Take your brunch game to the next level. Chef Helen Elizabeth Ward shares her passion for homemade family recipes passed down by generations at her restaurant, The Table at Wilton. While the menu stays full of traditional breakfast and brunch items, expect a creative flair and new specials every day. Ward enlists the help of some of her very own homegrown vegetables and local ingredients to create dishes that will tempt your curiosity and feed your soul. You can pull up a seat for a long, leisurely brunch, or swing into The Table To Go marketplace to pick up something to take with you on your River Realm adventures.
Merroir
Start the day on the banks of the Rappahannock River. At Merroir, the original Rappahannock River Oysters restaurant overlooks, the waters where their fresh oysters are grown. At this“tasting room,” travelers can always expect something different. On the weekends, it opens at 11:30 for lunch and brunch specials. Start off with a dozen raw oysters and then work your way through the menu. Everything is served small-plate-style and beautifully paired with craft brews and world-famous wines. After breakfast, talk a walk around the property and take in the River Realm view.
Capture & Share Your Favorite Brunch Moments!
We hope you and your pals enjoy not only the amazing food but the charm of the River Realm while you’re here. If your food looks as good as it tastes, we want to see!
Tag us using @virginiasriverrealm and we’ll share your photos.
