Brunch at: Vandal

Probably the most surprising thing about brunch at Vandal is that one would not expect to have brunch at Vandal. And you definitely wouldn’t expect it to be this good.

When someone first told me about the spot, I remember thinking “sounds like a good spot to dress up and get drunk”. Allow me to add that I wasn’t entirely wrong about that, but it’s actually very good food too. The steak tartare pretzel? I mean…hello.

Chris Santos is the man behind the menu, and you may recall his other spots Stanton Social and Beauty & Essex (collective “ahhh” is heard round the interwebs). I have his cookbook Share, and it’s absolutely drool-worthy.

But I digress. Vandal is certainly great for dinner and drinks during the night hours, but during the light of day, things are more tame and equally as delicious. Chris Santos’ claim to fame (in my book) are the unique soup dumplings. This started back many years ago at Stanton Social with his ‘French Onion Soup Dumplings’. Then I tried ‘Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Dumplings’ at Beauty & Essex. Now at Vandal, he gives us ‘Broccoli + Cheddar Soup Dumplings’ as well as ‘Tortilla Soup Dumplings’. The man will stop at nothing to add girth to my hips, will he?

Other do not miss items from the menu? Skirt Steak Fried Rice, Oreo Cheesecake Waffles, and Short Rib Tacos. Honestly, this menu is so tasty and fun with just the right amount of whimsy, even kids are welcome. We were seated in between a group of bachelorettes decked out in pink feather boas toasting champagne and a family of four with two young boys eating Fluffernutter Stuffed French Toast.

Either way, definitely pop in for brunch one of these days, you will not be disappointed.