I had the chance to catch up with some old friends this weekend, and it was a great opportunity to grab brunch at one of my favorite spots: the City Beer Hall. The restaurant always has an interesting mix of choices, including your typical breakfast fare, a few options with Mexican flavors, and more savory sandwiches or burgers. Plus, you get a free breakfast cocktail included with your meal! A mimosa always adds some instant class to brunch.

A brussels sprouts, bacon, potato, and egg hash with sage hollandaise immediately caught my eye on the menu. It was a perfect portion size, the bacon and brussels sprouts complemented each other nicely, and the light and flavorful sauce pulled everything together.

A few others in my group chose the steak and eggs option with home fries. This dish also came with an optional side of the sage hollandaise.

Another interesting choice off the menu was Shrimp and Grits with eggs.

And lastly, one member of our group opted for the lunch portion of the menu with a chicken sandwich, topped with goat cheese, cranberries, arugula, and balsamic aioli. This sandwich is a regular on the City Beer Hall’s menu, and is a great mix of flavors. In the past I have found it to be a little heavy and somewhat greasy on the outside from the frying/grilling process. Definitely a sandwich that can get messy.

The group consensus seemed to be that everything was terrific. Our dining experience this weekend reinforced my notion that the City Beer Hall is a first rate brunch option in the Capital District. The menu always provides interesting options beyond a standard brunch, and you can’t argue with complimentary mimosas.

Final rating: 9/10. If you haven’t already given City Beer Hall’s brunch a try, I strongly recommend it.