There is a distinct sense class that runs through all of the Columbus Hospitality Group restaurants. I love the fun and vibrato of Teatro, the sheer elegance of Sorellina and you all know what a huge fan I am of the wonderful Mistral. I honestly cannot get enough of this restaurant but I do try to limit myself so it’s always a celebration. There are still a couple of Columbus group restaurants I haven’t tried and one of them is, now was Mooo. I think I just didn’t go because I am not a red meat eater but I do hear about how wonderful it is on many occasions and it is also somewhere my company often books for private events.
This past weekend I was invited to try out Mooo for brunch. Well, how could I say no, brunch is my favorite meal of the week!
Located on Beacon Street in the beautiful XV Beacon Hotel, Mooo welcomes patrons into its sophisticated, warm and spacious dining room. Neutral tones give it an immaculately clean look that begs you sit and enjoy everything their dining space has to offer. We were escorted to a table in the far corner of the restaurant with enormous high-backed chairs that enveloped both myself and my friend Kerry and almost hid us from view. We felt very important.
Our masterful, soft-spoken waiter quietly came over to us with brunch menus for food and “makes your own Bloody Mary’s” while offering to share his wisdom and customer favorites of brunch options.
I was excited about having a Bloody Mary but didn’t really want the the twists and turns of designing my own. I ordered “traditional,” however it was with its own twist of corn vodka (recommended by our waiter), which is surprisingly smooth and easy to drink. Kerry ordered another classic, the Mimosa.
The brunch menu has the egg classics one would expect on a brunch menu, eggs benedict, omelet, frittata and then there are the classics that only a steak house can do with total perfection… beef hash, wiener schnitzel, Wagyu steak frites and steak & eggs wellington.
As we were reviewing the menu a warm pan of tempting cinnamon buns was delivered to the table.
Memories still fresh from the fabulous beignets we had at Café du Monde were on our mind so we started with the Blueberry Beignets. More of a Parisian, donut style beignet but just as sweet, warm, soft and achingly good. I saved one to take home with me for a treat later.
Blueberry Beignets – $6
The lobster and asparagus omelet was screaming my name so I had to order it. Fluffy and rich with huge chunks of juicy lobster and irresistible gruyere, it was exactly the right choice for me.
Lobster & Asparagus Omelet – gruyere cheese – $24
One cannot go to steak restaurant and not order steak so that was Kerry’s job. Torn between the beef hash and steak wellington, she took her time and eventually said steak wellington. She will just have to go back for the beef hash. As an onlooker, oh boy did Kerry’s dish look good and the smell was sensational. Kerry commented… “the steak and eggs wellington is a deconstructed brunch version of beef wellington. Two petite filet mignons, stacked with baked eggs, mushroom duxelle and foie gras, atop phyllo dough and spinach. It was delicious but so rich I could eat only one stack, but was equally as good as leftovers!”
Steak & Eggs Wellington – filet mignon, mushroom duxelle, foie gras, spinach – $28
I completely believe that even though this was a special invite from Mooo, nothing would have changed if we were regular customers. Everything about our brunch was superb from beginning to end. This is a place for a treat, a celebration and should be enjoyed over an unrushed period of time.As we enjoyed our very leisurely brunch, soft dulcet tones from a singer and music from a guitar player wafted throughout the restaurant without being imposing in any way. Our waiter checked in on us often and each time with a quiet grace.
Thank you to Mooo.
This is on my list of places to try for brunch.