For Sunday morning brunch, Rachel, Jaime, and I went to Dizzy’s, a Park Slope brunch institution.
Dizzy’s is located a mere five blocks from my apartment, yet I’ve somehow managed to avoid eating there for the four years that I’ve been living in this neighborhood!
Rachel and Jaime wanted to get on the road so they could get home to MA before it got too late, so I suggested Dizzy’s because I knew it opened at 9am. (Most Sunday brunches around here don’t start until much later.)
I knew we had made the right choice when this basket made its way to our table!
We had two blueberry mini-muffins, one apricot mini-muffin, a biscuit, and strawberry butter. For the most part, I have no need for butter in my life. I could have eaten this strawberry butter by the spoonful, though! It was amaaaaaaaaazing.
Rachel ordered this beautiful giant bowl of fruit, yogurt, and honey. (It came with granola, too, but she ordered extra fruit and yogurt in place of it.) It’s so refreshing to find a restaurant that realizes “fruit salad” needs to consist of more than cantaloupe and honeydew! This salad had strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, mango, banana, and pears:
Jaime ordered the amaretto French toast topped with pecans:
I had a bite and it was the most decadent-tasting thing ever … but I did not taste any amaretto?
Normally, I am all about sweet breakfasts, but I needed something salty after being out so late the night before!
I crafted my own mix-and-match breakfast because I was having a hard time deciding between huevos rancheros and the omelet special with red pepper, spinach, parsley, and feta. I decided to combine the best of each!
I ordered the omelet special made with egg whites and asked for guacamole on the side 😀 The omelet also came with super hearty whole grain seedy bread that was probably baked fresh (and the strawberry butter was a match made in heaven for it, fyi):
Ooooh that was so good. You may not normally think to combine feta and guac, but every time I do it, I remember what an excellent pair they make!
In place of the home fries (if you recall, I loathe potatoes), I asked for some of that fresh and fruity salad:
The verdict: we loooooooooved Dizzy’s! It’s a little too pricey for every weekend, though. The only brunch option is fixed price: $12.95 for the bread basket, entree, juice, and unlimited coffee/tea and $14.95 if you want to include alcoholic beverages. With all my special requests, my non-alcoholic breakfast came to $14.95, not including tax and tip. Could have been worse, though! If you have the money, the food is definitely worth the price.
What role does butter play in your life? Does flavor matter? (And I’m not talking about all-fruit butters like apple butter or pumpkin butter here!)
Tales of Expansion: Baby Butternut Edition 
Your brunch/breakfast looks delicious. I would have been pleased with just that basket and some coffee 🙂
Butter doesn’t really play a role in my life at all. For the longest time I was terrified of it and of course went waaaaay out of my way to avoid it. now I don’t buy it and I don’t use it at restaurants so it’s pretty non existant.
I find I can get the flavor I desire without resulting to butter. I use Becel spread, spray and oil and i don’t notice a difference in the flavor however i haven’t eaten butter in a long time!
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Usually I have no need for butter like you, but this one time in France they brought out the best french baguette I have ever tasted along with a pot of french butter (unbelievable there for some reason) sprinkled with sea salt on top. IT WAS UNREAL. Dizzy’s looks delish! Loved your omelet idea!
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Wow, the amaretto french toast looks amazing. Too bad you couldn’t really taste the amaretto… still sounds delicious though!
I actually never use butter anymore. I find that my food tastes good enough without it usually! Occasionally I use Smart Balance spray butter on veggies if I’m really feelin’ the buttery taste.
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Mmmm that is one delicious looking breakfast! Dizzy’s looks like a great place to try!
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omg brunch looks amazing, i love places with “real” fruit salads! also, strawberry butter needs to be in my life! i can usually pass on the butter unless there’s a really crusty baguette in my hand.
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Sarah, I’m at a loss… how can someone who so appreciates food not love butter? One of the most simply satisfying foods = butter and baguette.
Altho I cheat and use margarine in recipes. I know, I know. But who can handle all that fat in their daily diet?
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That restaurant looks great! I love the variety of fruit in the fruit salad, and it looks fresh, too! That french toast looks wonderful.
I never really use butter. Sometimes I’ll use a smart balance spray, but I find I don’t really need butter.
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Those muffins look incredible! I eat butter more than I used to – since I decided it wasn’t evil, but I still consume it in small quantities. Usually, I don’t butter bread b/c I think it tastes fine on its own. I do love honey butter on popovers and one of my favorite restaurants has a fabulous maple honey butter for its cornbread.
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what gorgeous meals! i totally agree with you on the fruit salad. i hate when i order fruit and it comes with just melon and maybe some half dried out grapes. ick! SOOO not what i was thinking LOL 🙂
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Butter only plays a role in my cookies these days cuz…they’re a necesary evil. I can’t do plain butter cuz it’s kinda gross to eat it “unflavored”, but i’ve had the beesst garlic butter ever, and in that case, butter can play a hefty role!
I think your breakfast looks the best!! Though that parfait is totally up my alley too. I love that you mixed and matched to get everything you REALLY wanted on one plate!! 🙂 I’m all about the customization too!! You’re making me wanna go there and abandon Chicago. ahhaha
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All the brunch options look delicious. I wish breakfast was every meal of the day 🙂
I can’t believe the wild night you had! Glad you had some fun and that it was worth it. Those rare nights are always memorable.
And guac and feta?? Really? Ahhh, that sounds like a heavenly marriage of my favorite things.
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Hellllo Sarah!! So that guacamole, fruit salad, the mini-muffins and french toast all looks heavenly!!! I can believe it when you say that strawberry butter was amazing, anything strawberry is typically!! ESPECIALLY strawberry cream cheese! I’ve only had it a few times at friends’ houses, yearssss ago….but you’ve just reminded me of how much I loved it!!
But I rarely used to use butter, just because I didn’t find a need for it…..but sometimes it can add a lot to a dish when you’re cooking, and only a little bit is needed!! It shouldn’t be feared! 🙂
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I’m not a huge fan of buttering bread or potatoes and the like either, unless it’s a specially flavored butter like that strawberry butter or a garlic herb butter. You said you weren’t talking about full fruit butters, but I do love those (especially pumpkin butter!)
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That looks like an awesome breakfast place!! I don’t understand why more places can’t jump on the fruit salad bandwagon. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a fruit salad full of variety…
I’ve only ever tried apple butter. I didn’t even know you could get different kind! Clearly, I must look into this…
I also didn’t know about your aversion to potatoes. You would never make it in Atlantic Canada! It’s potato country up here!
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I know what you mean about sweet breakfasts after a night out, they suck! I’m always craving salt salt salt, unless of course I decided to drink dirty martinis all night, which in that case means I crave sugar…haha.
I don’t ever use butter. I use Smart Balance, trans fat free margarine. It’s my favorite, plus it has added Omega-3!
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-Leslie
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the best butter I have eaten in my entire life is the strawberry butter they bring to the table at Popovers on the UWS…with a warm freshly baked popover. SO good! I like pumpkin butter too!
I grew up in the UK and butter is HUGE here- if you ever buy a sandwich, it’s pretty much guaranteed to have butter on it instead of mayo. Turkey, tuna, cheese, etc, even burgers- all come with butter! (people even eat peanut butter and butter together which is just gross to me).
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strawberry butter?!? that would be great on french toasted donuts, eh? 🙂
I always have butter in the house for random dishes or baking projects, but I don’t use it very often. I try to make things without it and only use when necessary. I do love it spread on fresh bread, though!
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I don’t use butter like, ever..except smart balance…although I LOVE going out to eat- and I’m prrreeettty sure it’s b/c they cook everythang in buttah!
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yay for brunch! That looks awesome. thanks for the “finer diner” review
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That looks like such a fun place for brunch. I absolutely love brunch!
I use butter so rarely but I do really enjoy it when I have some.
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Love Dizzy’s!!!
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Yay, I knew you would like Dizzy’s!
http://eatingchalk.wordpress.com
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Holy shiz, pass me the strawberry butta s’il vous plait!! I love that kinda stuff. My favorite would probably be honey butta atop of cornbread. SO GOOD
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Thanks for the review, I’ve been here once and liked it! I love that basket of muffins 🙂
Butter plays a HUGE role in my family’s life. I don’t particularly like it but my family is ALL about butter!
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Lordy I love going out for breakfast! One of my very favorite things!
I love butter and I use it on occasion for some extra umph when sauteeing things. I use way less than I used to though! There’s just no replacement for butter and I’m all about using real food so there’ s no “spreads” in this house. 😀
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Forget the butter and back up… You “loathe” potatoes?!?!?
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