November 2021

Sunday Brunch is a Pensacola tradition. From families looking for a delicious treat to college students looking to recap Saturday night’s events, brunch is a weekly meeting for many people to let the mimosas flow and enjoy the last moments of the weekend before Monday morning shocks you back to reality. Here at O’Brien’s Bistro, we offer a delicious brunch. With Pensacola favorites like Shrimp and Grits and Crab Cakes Benedict. Plus, other classics like Belgian Waffles and an array of tasty omelets. While we love inviting you into O’Brien’s bistro every Sunday for brunch, recently we stopped to wonder, how did Sunday brunch become such a popular tradition? As it turns out the answer is more complicated than you might think.    Brunch’s British Origins As with many things that become immensely popular, lots of people like to take credit for being the first one to think of it. This is no different with brunch. From the Brits to the Catholics, to the Hollywood silver screen stars of the 1930s the origins of brunch are all over the place. What we do know for sure is that the first written usage of the word “brunch” does belong to the English. In 1895 author Guy Beringer wrote an article in Hunters Weekly entitled “Brunch: A Plea,”. There, he argued that the lavish meals that had become common before upper society hunts were too heavy. He suggested that the meal should be lighter fare. His words are still relevant today as he describes brunch as a meal that should be sociable and talkative. You could find this attitude in today’s brunches in Pensacola, with close-knit groups of people chatting over light sandwiches, egg dishes, and salads, as well as some delicious heavier fare too. But this English hunting breakfast wasn’t the only popularization of a midday breakfast meal enjoyed with friends and family.    The Devout Side Of Brunch  The origins of brunch as a meal could have also started with devout Catholics who practiced a custom of fasting until the end of the traditional Sunday mass. After this long fast, it was custom to gather with family and friends and have a large mid-afternoon meal.  But the Catholics aren’t the only group with a large and devout following to have possibly popularized brunch. Back in the 1930s movie stars would take trains across the country from New York to Los Angeles and would often insist on stopping in Chicago for a mid-afternoon meal. This practice then became fashionable in the big cities, with New York restaurants suggesting that they popularized it. This could be true as well given how some popular dishes, like bagels and lox, are New York specialties.   Brunch Today Though movie stars, New Yorkers, and British hunters all have a claim to the origins of brunch, it may have been something as unexpected as World War II that caused it to be such a standard in America today. As American women entered the workforce post-war, their time at home began to become more valuable. Why waste it cooking a large breakfast when they could go out and enjoy quality time with their family? Additionally, the post-war economic boom boosted most people’s bank accounts. This made this kind of regular eating out was financially possible. In that way, the simple concept of brunch becoming immensely popular serves as a kind of mark of progress in society. Today it is more popular than ever. It is a time to connect with family or friends, recap the week, and prepare for the upcoming one. Brunch is more than just a meal, it is a tradition that provides comfort. It can be a mainstay in tumultuous times, plus it is just plain delicious.  Whether it originated in the U.K. or Chicago, there’s no denying that the best brunch for your family and friends is right here in Pensacola at O’Brien’s Bistro. O’Brien’s is happy to welcome you for your first time, or welcome you back for your weekly tradition. Our Sunday brunch is from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Reserve your table today.

With September 21st marking the official start of the fall season, O’Brien’s Bistro is prepared for the season, with dishes that are sure to put you in the mood for falling leaves, pumpkins, Halloween, and all the other special moments that autumn has to offer. Take a look below at a sampling of ten dishes from our menu that are perfect for autumn. Baked Brie Autumn is a season of appetizers. From wings and mozzarella sticks served during Sunday NFL games, to the meticulously prepared thanksgiving charcuterie boards, every family has their perfect fall appetizer. We would like to share ours with you. Start your meal with creamy baked brie, topped with pecan sauce, and served with French bread. This is sure to be the perfect appetizer for autumn. Roasted Beet Salad It only makes sense that autumn is an amazing time for fresh salads. Our roasted beet salad features balsamic marinated roasted beets, crisp red onions, fresh mozzarella, pecans, and seasonal berries. This salad truly is the ideal marriage between summer and fall. Creme Brulee French Toast Brulee is the most important meal of the day, at least at O’Brien’s. A perfect fall day starts with our rich French Toast. Soaked in creme brulee egg batter and served with smoky andouille sausage or bacon, this is a dish you want again and again. Classic Southern Breakfast If you are craving an even heartier fall breakfast, start your day with our classic southern breakfast. Three eggs any style, a toasted English muffin, potatoes, and your choice of bacon or Andouille sausage, will surely help fuel you through a beautiful fall day of hiking, apple picking, or just relaxing at home. Three Cheese Eggplant There is something about fall that calls for deliciously balanced, artfully prepared food that is reminiscent of seasons past. Our traditional three-cheese eggplant combines sauteed eggplant, with marinara and a blend of feta, provolone, and parmesan, and is served over angel hair pasta. This perfect fall dish will have you feeling like you are enjoying a crisp fall day in Italy, without ever leaving Pensacola. Bistro Burger While summer barbecues may be over, you can enjoy a perfectly grilled burger in any season at O’Brien’s Bistro. With a delicious custom blend of brisket, chuck, and short rib meat, and  classic burger toppings, our bistro burger is sure to have you feeling like it’s summer on a beautiful fall day, Gnocchi Mac and Cheese Autumn almost demands comfort food, and is there any comfort food better than mac and cheese? How about mac and cheese made with pillowy potato gnocchi. This fall dish is sure to warm you up, with creamy three-cheese sauce, soft potato dumplings, and crispy panko bread crumbs on top. All you need to go with it is a mug of cider!  New Orleans Shrimp and Andouille Honoring one of the most haunted cities in the world, spend spooky season enjoying our New Orleans Shrimp and Andouille. This perfect autumn dish combines fresh Gulf shrimp with spicy Andouille sausage, tossed in a creamy sauce with veggies and penne pasta. It is frightfully delicious. Almond Crusted Mahi Mahi You’ll find the perfect light fall dinner in our almond-crusted Mahi Mahi. Fresh fish crusted with almonds and pan sauteed, then topped with our buerre blanc sauce and served with veggies and rice pilaf. If you think that seafood isn’t the right meal for autumn, this dish is sure to prove you wrong. Roasted Double Bone Pork Chop Finally, it simply does not get more autumnal than our roasted double-bone pork chop. This delicious, 12 oz piece of succulent pork is finished with a sweet potato mash, a vegetable medley, cinnamon apples, and a cider reduction sauce. After a long autumn day, this is the perfect meal to start the season off right.   Come into O’Brien’s Bistro today to enjoy these amazing fall dishes. Maybe you want to see a few other options, check out our Brunch Menu, Lunch Menu, or our Dinner Menu. If you need to contact us for any reason, call us or fill out our contact form. We look forward to meeting you and serving you a delicious meal you’ll never forget.