Laurenzo's on Washington Avenue

Eat here when you don't quite know what you want to eat. I came at noon and was amazed by the vast number of menu options. I have been here many times for dinner, but never earlier in the day (my dinner favorites are their signature prime rib and seared ahi tuna salad). At midday you can choose from the weekend brunch menu, a lunch specials menu, and the extensive dinner/anytime menu. Since breakfast is my favorite meal, I chose brunch. The brunch menu consists mainly of eggs Benedict dishes (two poached eggs atop a toasted English muffin with hollandaise sauce), served with two incredible melt-in-your-mouth folded crepes and a side order of creamy mascarpone cheese grits--think Paris, France meets Paris, Texas. Having grown up in the North, I am not accustomed to eating grits, but I tried them for the sake of research, and I have to admit, they were pretty darn good. I chose the "Lake George" eggs for two reasons: (1) it sounded tempting; and (2) it was Lake George in NY where my parents first met! Don't ask me what it's doing on a Houston menu, but, hey, it made my selection a tad easier. Layered beneath my poached eggs were crisp-tender asparagus, grilled tomato, and fresh mozzarella (hollandaise sauce on the side, as requested). It was a colorful combination of textures and flavors that worked really well together. My companions enjoyed their lunch specials, which included soup, a generously-sized half sandwich, and a side dish. While we have always had friendly, well-meaning servers, the kitchen occasionally makes mistakes, so consider yourself warned. I find Laurenzo's a convenient place for dinner before downtown theater. It is not inexpensive, so look for the occasion half-price coupon to save some bucks. Come hungry and allow enough time to study this eclectic menu.