Photography by Kathy Tran.
CUSTOMERS WILL NOTICE plenty of changes when Garden Cafe reopens later this month after closing for nearly a year and a half. But its bread-and-butter brunch menu will stay the same — with only the best additions.
“We didn’t want to mess with brunch too much because that’s what people know us for and love us for,” owner Mark Wooton says. “We never did anything very unique. It was standard breakfast items rather than fancy brunch dishes, but people liked that it was simple, good stuff.”
The Junius Heights eatery is bringing back fan favorites like fluffy pancakes and omelettes made with organic ingredients plucked from the backyard garden. Once-popular specials like the lamb bacon hash and the Monte Cristo will return to the menu as permanent items.
“We want to use the garden more than we have in the past,” Wooton says. “That’s a great place to get stuff to make drinks.”
The addition of a beer and wine license will allow Garden Cafe to serve customers fresh morning cocktails to sip while munching on brunch. The drink menu will include mimosas and so much more. Wooton is concocting a sangria with homegrown blackberries and fruit, plus cocktails utilizing mint herbs from the garden.
Customers can order drinks at new bar seating at the front of the restaurant or at their table. The eatery is switching from counter service to full service.
Brunch will be served all day during the restaurant’s new hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. If you like what you eat, come back for dinner from 5-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
“I live next door, so when I’m walking my dog, people ask when it will reopen,” Wooton says. “There’s a lot of people eager to get back in there. I’m nervous, and there’s a lot of pressure, but I’m super excited.”
Garden Cafe, 5310 Junius Ave.
Click here to see more about other East Dallas brunch spots.
