Cover photo by: Citrus Cafe
Weekend mornings are only made better by brunch! Whether you’re craving a stack of fluffy pancakes or a perfectly cooked omelet, these local spots serve up all the classics plus a few surprises you won’t find anywhere else.
Citrus Cafe
*Served every day*
Frequently named one of the best brunch spots in town, Citrus Cafe has been a downtown favorite for more than a decade. Serving breakfast all day, it’s a go-to on weekend mornings so don’t be surprised to see a line or groups waiting outside. But trust us, it’s worth the wait. Known for fresh ingredients and huge portions, Citrus Cafe delivers the kind of comfort food that keeps people coming back.
Menu favorites include:
– Biscuits & Gravy: country gravy ladled over homemade buttermilk biscuits
– Cafe Signature Cakes: buttermilk pancakes topped with banana slices, strawberry compote, whipped cream, and a dusting of powdered sugar
– Meat Lovers Skillet: two eggs, bacon, sausage, and ham with shredded cheddar and monterey jack cheese on a bed of hashbrowns
– Orange Juice: freshly squeezed every morning
Looking Glass
*served on Sundays*
After a late Saturday night, brunch at Looking Glass is the perfect remedy. The bar serves up crowd-pleasers like mimosas, Irish coffees, and bloody marys. Try the signature Breakfast Shot: a mix of Jameson and butterscotch schnapps, chased with orange juice and a bite of bacon. In the summer, come for brunch and stick around for live music on the patio all afternoon.
Menu favorites include:
– Cheesecake Waffles: sugary waffles stuffed with cheesecake and apple pie filling, topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle
– The 3 Pigs: sausage patty, bacon, ham, a fried egg, cheese, and garlic aioli on a pretzel bun with a side of breakfast potatoes
– Brunch Burrito: a burrito filled with corned beef hash, scrambled eggs, tater tots, onion, sausage, swiss and cheddar cheese
– Bloody Mary Burger: a burger topped with mozzarella cheese, bacon, tomato, pickle, and a bloody mary aioli with a side of french fries
Bessie’s Diner
*served every day*
Located at Janesville’s Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, Bessie’s Diner offers a brunch experience you won’t find anywhere else. Enjoy your meal with a front-row view of planes taking off and landing through a wall of windows facing the runways. This aviation-themed restaurant is named after Beloit native Bessica Raiche: the first woman in the U.S. to fly solo back in 1910.
Menu favorites include:
– Avocado Benny: poached eggs on english muffin halves with avocado mash, pico de gallo, and a balsamic glaze
– Sweet and Spicy Hash: chorizo, sweet potato cubes, two eggs, red onions, jalapeños, poblano ranch, and avocado mash
– Signature French Toast: served with fresh whipped cream and warm syrup OR choose to add first-class toppings like berry pie (triple berry blend, graham cracker crumble, raspberry sauce, and powdered sugar) or pineapple upside-down (sautéed pineapples, maple butter, cherries, graham cracker crumble, and powdered sugar)
– Flights: not the airplane kind, but the sampling kind! Try a flight of three bloody marys, four mimosas, or four seasonal coffees
Sandwich Bar
*served Saturdays*
Relatively new to the brunch scene, Sandwich Bar is a cool downtown hangout just steps from the Janesville Farmers Market, which takes place Saturdays from 8 AM to 1 PM during the summer. Inside, the space feels like a graphic novel come to life, thanks to bold murals of Anthony Bourdain and Julia Child by artist Jeff Henriquez.
Menu favorites include:
– Breakfast Poutine: a bowl of housemade fries, Decatur Dairy cheese curds, sausage gravy, and an egg cooked any way
– Hong Kong Style French Toast: two slices of French toast with peanut butter in between, deep fried, and drizzled with butter and sweetened condensed milk.
– Avocado Toast: sourdough toast topped with avocado, pico de gallo, and fried tortilla strips.
– Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Sandwich: a classic breakfast sandwich with pork sausage, fontina cheese, and an egg cooked any way you’d like.
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