Dallas, TX

I tend to get asked about brunch recommendations more than anything else that I blog about. Here is one of my recent favorites to pass along to you – Rapscallion.

This little neighborhood bistro is located on Lowest Greenville Avenue in the same strip center as Trader Joe’s. Rapscallion is the brain-child of three local chefs, one being Nathan Tate (Chef Tate is a Rockwall native and may be familiar to you from his co-ownership of Ava in downtown Rockwall). They have developed a very creative menu that I would describe as “modern Southern comfort with a Texas flair.”

Rapscallion’s decor is modern and rustic with both indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor seating is bright and open with a well-decorated bar area and open kitchen. Choose from cozy booths, high-top tables, regular tables or bar seats. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is the absence of televisions. Imagine that!! People can actually talk and visit with each other for a change. This makes for a very friendly, lively and enjoyable atmosphere.

Rapscallion’s latest brunch menu has a nice selection of drinks and cocktails. Pick your poison – I suggest a Mimosa, Peach Bellini, or Bloody Mary.  Next on the agenda…what to order? This is the most difficult part for me! Start with an order of Grammy’s Monkey Bread (cinnamon pecan sweet rolls baked in a cast iron skillet) or a Biscuit and Gravy. These are both great dishes for sharing. Let me stop here and say – Rapscallion KNOWS how to make biscuits, real Southern-style biscuits. Their square-cut biscuits are big, fluffy, and light – just the way they are supposed to be. And the gravy is thick, creamy and salty and exactly like my grandmother used to make. 

Aperol Spritz & Bloody Mary

Monkey Bread

Biscuit & Gravy

Rapscallion Bloody Mary

There are so many great entree choices on the brunch menu that it makes choosing ‘just one” very tough. Breakfast? Burger? Noodle Bowl? This is a tough decision! One of my favorite menu items is the Hot Brown, made famous at the Kentucky Derby.  This dish comes with thick slices of peppered turkey breast, crispy bacon, and sliced tomato served over toasted bread that is topped with a pimento cheese mornay sauce. Delicious! My other favorite brunch item is the Pulled Pork Benedict. This dish has an open-faced biscuit, mounds of lean pulled pork, poached eggs and a smoked peppadew hollandaise sauce. Both of the sauces on these two dishes are unique and dee-licious. I could eat the sauces, by themselves, with a spoon!

Hot Brown

Pulled Pork Benedict

I haven’t made it back to Rapscallion for dinner but plan to in the very near future. Their Nashville Hot Chicken, Collard Greens, Macaroni & Cheese, Cornbread, Pickled Shrimp, Pimento Cheese and Shrimp & Grits are now on my radar and all sound quite intriguing. I also hear the Spicy Chicken & Biscuit and Sweet Potato Hash calling my name for another brunch!

Farmhouse Breakfast

Old Soba

Chicken Fried Steak Breakfast

Spicy Chicken Biscuit

Big Biscuit

I hope you will take the time to give Rapscallion a try for brunch or dinner sooner rather than later. When you get in the mood for inventive Southern food and cocktails in a casual, laid-back setting with friendly service – this is the place to go. Rapscallion certainly checked all the boxes for me! I hope to see you there.  🙂