Brunch: Senzala on Bernard
Senzala, 177 Bernard W (514) 274-1464

I'm back people! After a two week bout with the flu, I'm back to being out and about and indulging in my favourite meal of the day: brunch!

Depeche Mode (my friend, not the band) and I are organizing a political conference (target 2008) that is sure to knock the socks off everyone and we decided to have a little brainstorming session at her place to get the concepts down on paper. Ahem, Depeche Mode lives down the street from a lovely little Brazilian place called Senzala.

Yup, I've been to brunch and dinner at Senzala before, but not since engaging in a little mutual mastication with all of you, so here we go with the review. (Hey, I'm a poet and I don't know it!)

There are two Senzalas, by the way. There is one near Parc Lafontaine and there is the one we go to since I think it's the better one. The Senzala on Bernard is the original Senzala that is so small that there is always a line up to get in. Of course, there are plenty of small places filled with tumbleweed so it goes without saying that the food at Senzala is great.

Despite the line, we didn't have to wait very long to get seated. That's because Depeche Mode got there before me and secured our place in line. Hey, she lives down the street and I got held up at multiple points along my travel route by the Santa Claus parade that had infested Ste-Catherine Street (I kid! I loooooove Christmas, for me to poop on!)

The staff is very, very friendly at Senzala. It's a very homey place. Nobody really looks Brazilian to my eye, but I hear a lot of employees speaking Portuguese, so I guess it's authentically Brazilian. Who cares? They serve a scrumptious brunch.

The big brunch gimmick at Senzala is they offer a series of eggs benedict dishes modified to be more Brazilian. I'm sorry, but the only one I can tell you about is the Tropicana. The Tropicana features two poached eggs in a tomato and cheese sauce, each in its own avocado half. The dish comes with home potatoes, plaintain, a choice of bacon, ham or sausage and a ton of fruit - grapefruit and orange wedges along with a brochette of grilled fruit. God, I'm starving. I could really have it right now. That picture is driving me crazy. I guess I shouldn't write reviews while I'm hungry.

The juice and coffee come free with the meal. The entire thing cost me $8.95 plus tax and tip. God, I'm hungry. I have to cut this short. I've got to go eat something. 4 stars.

Kisses,
Laurelle