NoDa / Elizabeth / Plaza Midwood

Showmars
It's casual and fast, and there are plenty of variations of biscuits, bagels, omelets, and waffles on the menu. Take a seat or stop in for takeout. The Seventh Street location is a popular weekday meeting spot, but there are ten locations around town serving breakfast, making it easy to find a way to grab one of its hearty meals before work.
www.showmars.com for locations

Zada Jane's Corner Café

Lulu
If you only go to one brunch in Charlotte, go to this cozy French bistro-style restaurant. Set in a Plaza Midwood bungalow with an idyllic street-side patio and sun-drenched dining room, the creative dishes served here on weekend mornings are the kind of thing you'll wait for all week. The Country Benedict ($14) — featuring poached eggs with perfectly runny bright orange yokes, Neese's sausage, sweet jalapeño relish, and crispy fried green tomatoes, all piled high on an English muffin and then topped with hollandaise sauce — will make every other Benedict seem boring.
1911 Central Ave., 704-376-2242

Zada Jane's Corner Café
There's plenty to distract you from the all-day breakfast at this quirky Plaza Midwood restaurant: the bright, funky interior, the shuffleboard on the sidewalk in front, the fantastic peo- ple watching on the patio. But focus, because here you'll find some of the flakiest biscuits in town along with breakfast favorites like omelets featuring farm-fresh ingredients. Don't let the weekend lines deter you — there's free coffee served in homey mugs while you wait.
1601 Central Ave., 704-332-3663

Amelie's French Bakery
Because some days you just want breakfast at 3 a.m., there is Amelie's, the eclectic NoDa bakery crawling with hipsters, families, and even businessmen at every hour of the day. Order a freshly baked croissant, turnover, or sticky bun with a cup of coffee. (If you go on Sundays after 11, you can find quiche by the slice.) Then settle into one of the overstuffed sofas and enjoy the twenty-four-hour hip vibe of this eccentric café. 2424 N. Davidson St., 704-376-1781

Landmark Diner
Watch the morning news on flat-screen televisions while you chow down on the pancakes, a variety of specialty omelets, or bagels (try the All-the-way Bagel ($8.95), with smoked salmon, cream cheese, onions, tomatoes, and olives). Looking for a bargain? Order the Omega Special ($5.45), which combines pancakes or French toast with two eggs any style and sausage or bacon.
4429 Central Ave., 704-532-1153

Soul Gastro Lounge
Order a mimosa. Sit on the patio. Soak in the sights of Central and Pecan avenues. This is the kind of place where brunch is meant to be lingered over and shared. There are some familiar dishes here, but the best ones are Chef Jason Pound's originals, such as the Omelet "Fettuccine" Carbonara, featuring egg strips that look like fettuccine pasta topped with a cabonara sauce studded with chunks of smoked salmon ($9). For a serious treat, try the wild mushrooms on toast. It's topped with a lightly fried egg and flavorful mustard-olive oil drizzle ($6). 1500-B Central Ave., 704-348-1848

John's Country Kitchen

John's Country Kitchen
Don't be dissuaded by the rough exterior of this Plaza Midwood spot. Inside is a cozy dive joint where chef/owner Jimmy Margiotis (who greets every customer) is manning the grill while his mom, Margaret, and friendly wait staff take your order. Order up a house- made biscuit (which you'll want grilled) to soak up eggs to-order, sausage gravy, or the creamy, buttery grits. But to really feel like a regular, choose the livermush-and-sausage sandwich ($3.80) or the pork brains ($5.65) — come on, it's a house specialty. 1518 Central Ave., 704-333-9551

Boudreaux's
Louisiana Kitchen Considering this NoDa favorite is modeled after a traditional New Orleans experience with live jazz music, Louisiana-themed décor, and Cajun dishes, it should come as no surprise that its Sunday brunch is reminiscent of the city's languorous weekend breakfasts. Forget the diet and order the croissant Florentine, a rich dish of lightly sautéed spinach, sliced tomato, and a poached egg on a flaky croissant saturated in hollandaise sauce ($9.95), or go for one of the hot, sugar-coated beignets ($1.99 each). To really get in the Big Easy's spirit, take advantage of the make-your-own Cajun Bloody Mary bar. 501 E. Thirty-sixth St., 704-331-9898

Cajun Queen
Sure, you could order the tender shrimp and perfectly cooked grits topped in a flavorful Creole sauce ($12). Or you could try one of the velvety omelets brimming with rich cheese and spicy peppers ($9). But if you go to this historic two-story home turned restaurant and don't order the eggs Benedict with Dijon hollandaise, you will regret it.
1800 E. Seventh St., 704-377-9017