Disclaimer: ***I was offered a complimentary dining experience in exchange for this review. Because I loved the food so much I returned a second time on my own and paid full price. As always, opinions are all my own.
This may come as a complete shock, but I had never dined at Brio Tuscan Grille until recently. It is a place that has been on my list for quite sometime and I can’t believe it took me this long to finally dine there. After hearing so many wonderful things, I headed over two weekends in a row to try both their regular brunch menu as well as their new Sunday Brunch Buffet. Located in the gorgeous International Plaza, Brio Tuscan Grille is a Tampa favorite and is certainly on the top of my list when it comes to brunch.
On my first visit, my friend and I decided to try their regular brunch menu along with some much needed cocktails. He had the Brio Bloody Mary which was beautifully built with delicious details such as pepperoni, cheese, a pepperoncini and more. I was lucky to get a sip as he didn’t want to share. After trying it, I didn’t want to give it back. The perfect blend of spice, it was a great way to kick off our fantastic meal.
Being that it was such a hot day, I decided to go with their frozen Peach Bellini. I always say, Italians do it better and this Bellini was pure evidence.
When I go to brunch, I rarely go for sweet items, I tend to order more of a Benedict-style dish or something with lots of bacon. This time I splurged and tried their Berries and Cream French Toast. Stuffed with cream cheese, topped with fresh berries and dusted with powdered sugar, it was almost too sinful to eat. Since it came with bacon, I had the both of best worlds and was a happy girl.
My dining partner in crime ordered their Shrimp & Grits. Now, I am about to let you in on a secret. Brio, hands down, has the best Shrimp & Grits. Period. Maybe its the Smoked Gouda or the egg on top, whatever they do, it is a game changer.
Aside from their fantastic regular brunch menu, Brio recently launched a new Sunday Buffet Brunch. What I love about their brunch is that you can try various dishes and they certainly feature some tasty options. The buffet is available every Sunday through September 16th from 11:30 until 2 pm. Perfect for a foodie like me, you can choose from options such as fresh fruit, signature salads like their Caesar and my personal favorite, Strawberry Balsamic, a gorgeous assorted cheese platter, muffins, croissants, danishes, and bagels with cream cheese.
Another great item is their smoked salmon platter with capers, onions and lemon wedges. I could fill up with just those items but Brio knocks it out of the park with their main dishes that include classics like scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and roasted fingerling potatoes. For those with a sweet tooth, they feature a traditional French toast served with syrup and berry compote.
Offereing something for everyone, my heart skipped a beat when I saw that the buffet includes Frittata al Forno (Italian-style quiche), a spiral ham carving station, and creamy pasta options. For those that love more seafood inspired dishes, they feature crab cakes with creamy horseradish, and grilled salmon with lemon butter.
On my next visit, I will be taking my kids as my son loves Chicken Milanese with Pomodoro and roasted vegetables, which just happen to be a part of the brunch buffet.
The perfect conclusions to a delicious meal are desserts including a choice of caramel mascarpone cheesecake or tiramisu, and fresh baked cookies and brownies. These are sure to put a smile on your face.
The cost of the Sunday Buffet Brunch is $19.95 per adult, and $9.95 per child under age 12. I can’t think of a better deal for Sunday Brunch for the family.
Guests can make reservations online for all BRIO restaurants by visiting www.BrioItalian.com. For a list of locations, please visit www.BrioItalian.com.
I am so excited to have finally dined at Brio and can’t wait to go back and dive into more of their menu selections.
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