Ham and fontina crespelle at Grato. (Photo: Liz Balmaseda)
Grato, the hottest new restaurant in the county, has added brunch to its buzzy dining experiences. Chef Clay Conley and his Buccan Group partners quietly debuted brunch at the months-old West Palm Beach trattoria on Valentine’s Day and have been serving decadent daytime fare since.
And by decadent, I mean a ham and fontina cheese “crespelle,” a neat stack of ultrathin crepes layered with ham, cheese and béchamel and topped with a poached egg and a charred scallion vinaigrette. Turns out, the dish is also Conley’s personal favorite, according to the eatery’s news release announcing brunch service.
“It’s got all the classic brunch style ingredients but comes together in a different way,” Conley says.
Grato’s orange-apricot scones.
For a nice starter dish, try the fresh-baked orange-apricot scones ($6), served with strawberry jam and whipped honey butter. (Or buy an order of them to go – they’re still delicious the next day at breakfast.)
Also on the menu: lobster Benedict ($22), brick-oven breakfast pizza topped with ham, asparagus, fontina cheese and eggs ($16), potato and fontina frittata ($11) and bourbon French toast with vanilla poached nectarines ($13).
For those who love a boozy brunch, there are blood orange mimosas, Italian sangria, frozen Bellinis and a concoction called “Bloody Caesar” – he’s Bloody Mary’s perfectly briny brother. (Brunch cocktails cost $8 each.)
All the above is served in a warm, wood-accented setting that welcomes families, couples and solo diners.
Grato chef and co-owner Clay Conley. (Photo: LibbyVision.com)
Hours and info: Brunch is served Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.
Grato: 1901 S. Dixie Hway, West Palm Beach; 561-404-1334; www.gratowpb.com.
