By Chanda Temple
Seretha Williams had one goal today, and that was to drive nearly an hour from Sylacauga, AL to Birmingham, AL to try the new brunch menu at Encore Rouge.
Seretha and her family are big fans, and they didn’t want to miss the new roll out, which includes Creole shrimp and grits, French toast, chicken and waffles and more.
“When I used to stay in Birmingham, I would be at the (Encore Rouge) food truck all the time. So when the owner opened the restaurant (in 2022), I was like ‘OK, I’m supporting us,’ ” said Seretha, 35. “I make it a habit to come up here every couple of months.”
Encore Rouge added the Saturday brunch to its menu to help kick off the new year and see if it’s something that patrons will like. It received high praise from Seretha; her mother, Kina Kelly, 60, and their cousin, Shirley Conley, 61.
“I just moved back to Birmingham in June, and I’ve been back six or seven times since June. I love it,” Shirley said. “One thing about Encore Rouge, you can’t go wrong.”
As the women sat on the outdoor patio, talking about the restaurant and owner Antoinne Davis, inside, diners filled seats at the bar and tables. Jonathan Bryant, co-owner of K&J’s Elegant Pastries, walked in to pick up a carryout order for his staff back at the Uptown bakery he runs with his wife, Kristal.
Jonathan’s orders included two breakfast platters: cinnamon French toast; chicken and waffles; and a side order of the salmon/shrimp/onions/bell peppers croquette. “I got it because I saw it on someone’s plate, and it just looked good,” Jonathan said of the salmon/shrimp croquette.
“Looking good” seemed to be the order of the day, as servers delivered plates filled with shrimp and grits, fried fish, cabbage rolls, and Patron flights accented with a bright sparkler. Meanwhile, Hygh Energi, played familiar R&B and Neo Soul hits.
“I love discovering brunch options in Birmingham, and when you add in a great live band, it’s such a treat,” said consumer Eliza Belle, who was joined by her mother, Betty Wells. “The catfish was really good.”
In the kitchen, Antoinne stayed on the go. Just 24 hours earlier, he was worried a rain forecast would keep people away from his new brunch launch. But the rain was a no-show, and people showed up and showed out for him.
“Turn out was great,” Antoinne said.
“At first, I was feeling that I had gotten in over my head because it was a brand new menu. But sales more than tripled what we expected,” he said. “As the day went on, things started to settle a bit. We’ve received several great reviews, and I look forward to incorporating the Brunch Experience into our business model.”
Said Kina Kelly: “Every time I come here, it’s always delicious. We need them to come to Sylacauga and open one that way.”
Savor This! Encore Rouge will host its Saturday brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are located at Seventh Avenue South and Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard, next to Taco Mama and across from Arby’s.
Chanda Temple is an award-winning writer living in Birmingham, AL. She blogs at http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. If you have a food story idea, email her at chandatemple@gmail.com. Follow her food postings on Instagram at @chandatemple.
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