Yellow Jacket Social Club {Brunch}
Weekend Warriors in Search of Brunch
Words by Jessica Devenyns Photos by Thamica McCook
Every Saturday and Sunday, weekend warriors in search of brunch pay homage to the al fresco patio of Yellow Jacket Social Club (YJSC). Shaded in bamboo and littered with mismatched picnic tables, the weekend is a comfortable time where for 4 hours each day, the Bloody Marys flow, and the food is always familiar.
Although YJSC is known for its perpetual rotation of daily specials, brunch is a static event. In the words of Kitchen Manager Matt Lucas, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Matt inherited YJSC’s menu from a former kitchen manager and for years has abided by his mantra. However, recently he boldly replaced one menu item. While the brunch scene’s ubiquitous frittata used to claim one of the few spots on the carte du jour, this spring it was retired in favor of a smoked trout salad. According to Matt, the salad was a serendipitous invention due to a miscommunication. Inspired by a moment of mid-morning starvation, the salad became a staff favorite before it was eventually placed on the menu permanently. Spinach leaves make up the bulk of the salad, toasted pine nuts, smoked trout, and a bacon vinaigrette punctuate each bite with a burst of flavor. There’s even a soft-boiled egg on top to appease the breakfast purists.
If a savory meal isn’t going to cut it that early in the day, French toast is also on the menu. Fantastically crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, each slice has a river of frosting and a dose of cinnamon that makes you wonder if the dish is actually a cinnamon roll in disguise.
Perhaps the best thing on their menu might be the shrimp and grits. Six succulent shrimp lay on a bed of caramelized onions that are carefully scooped onto a healthy helping of Southern-style grits. A hint of bacon ties the flavors together while a few token leaves of spinach make you feel as if you checked all the boxes for a healthy breakfast.
No matter what you order, be prepared for a crowd. “Brunch is always kind of a hectic mess,” says Matt. But that’s why they offer $5 Bloody Marys whose secret twist—a splash of Modelo—make them well worth the wait.
To read more about other brunches featured, click here.
Contact:
yellowjacketsocialclub.com
1704 E 5th St.
