Drunk Brunch: Sage American Bistro [NOW CLOSED]

My husband and I tried to try Sage for drunk brunch last Saturday, because I don’t know how to read hours of operation on websites (they don’t serve brunch on Saturdays), so when we returned the following day to try, try again, we had pretty high expectations that the visit would be worth the two trips. It was.

Entering from High Street, Sage offers an appealing bright dining space with exposed brick walls adorned with chunky colorful wood blocks and a small bar in the back (or the front, if you park in that lot.)

Sage steps up the drunk brunch game by offering not just a flute of bubbly breakfast goodness, but a whole CARAFE of it. And champagne + orange juice isn’t the only champagne combo up for consumption. Get a carafe of champagne paired with pineapple juice, mango nectar, cranberry juice, grenadine, peach nectar or bitters – and a carafe (a full bottle of booze plus your flavor of choice) is only $20. We went with pineapple (YUM!), and my husband and I were able to enjoy about four flutefuls EACH for what we usually pay for two total.

The brunch menu was deliciously distinctive, and had my husband texting friends pictures of item descriptions before we even had a chance to order. The crab omelet, crème brûlée french toast and chorizo sweet potato hash will have to wait til next time.

This trip, I had the chicken and waffles: a perfectly crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside chicken breast atop a Belgian waffle drizzled with hot sauce aioli and maple syrup, with sweet, crunchy pecans and savory green onions sprinkled on. The balance of sweet, savory, spicy and salty in one bite was perfection. My husband had the equally tasty steak and eggs – spiced beef tenderloin tips atop an English muffin saturated by a perfectly poached egg and accented with smoked gouda, served with a small arugula salad.

Brunch at Sage American Bistro is served Sundays from 10am-2pm. Sage is located at 2653 North High Street.

Read about other drunk brunch spots in Columbus.