Brunch At Piquant Is All About The Backyard

Now that outdoor dining season is upon us, we’re happy to check out as many restaurants and bars that have some kind of seating outside, whether it’s a rooftop deck, tables on the sidewalk, or a cozy back patio. And from our experience, it’s tough to beat the large, lush backyard of Piquant (259 Flatbush Avenue), which is one of the best places to sit outside for a weekend brunch in the area.

It’s really all about the backyard here. After you enter the restaurant, which has plenty of seating indoors, you’re ushered downstairs and outside into the big, open backyard, which feels miles away from the chaos of Flatbush Avenue. It’s quiet and a bit shady (though you may want to request a spot under an umbrella if the sun is beating down), and seems like a great space for a large party — while we were there recently, two groups of around 8-10 people were enjoying meals, and there was still ample seating for smaller tables of friends.

As for the brunch, it’s not going to blow your mind. The menu is a set $15 for coffee or tea and a choice of dishes that include chimichurri-marinated steak and eggs; a “Border Benedict” with poached eggs on grilled corn sopes served with chorizo and chipotle hollandaise; a three-egg omelet with your choice of three fillings; cornflake-crusted French toast; a smoked salmon bagel; the Piquant burger, which is topped with pastrami, Chihuahua cheese, and avocado; and more. And so far, what we’ve had has all been perfectly fine and filling, but it’s not something we would go out of our way for if not for the backyard.

One other draw, though, is the unlimited brunch drinks. For $10, you can choose from bloody Marys, mimosas, or sangria (red or white), and they’ll keep them coming for two hours. From what we’ve seen, even when they’re busy, they staff is good about coming back with more when you need it, so you’ll certainly get your money’s worth.

Piquant is located at 295 Flatbush Avenue, between Bergen and St Marks, 718-484-4114. They’re open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-3:30pm; and for dinner Monday-Wednesday from 2pm-11pm, Thursday from 2pm-midnight, Friday from 2pm-1am, Saturday from 4:30pm-1am, and Sunday from 4:30pm-11pm.