Brunch at Barney’s

In the spirit of full honesty, I begin with a confession. Just by its very nature, this review is somewhat biased because of its topic. You see it’s simple: brunch is the perfect meal. Not quite breakfast and not quite lunch – brunch is the best of both worlds and is often the most sunny-side-up part of the day. Whether you have it in the late morning or decide to partake in the early afternoon, brunch has become one of the premier parts of modern-day food way-of-life.Interestingly, owners Boomie Sejdini and his wife opened Barney’s Brunch House in 2017, desiring to establish an eatery that was both warm and welcoming, giving the people of Frisco a delicious yet reasonably priced brunch-lunch eatery. It did not disappoint. Situated on FM 423 at Lebanon Road in a strip mall on The Colony and Frisco city lines, Barney’s is very popular, often requiring long waits over the weekend. Luckily, we arrived at Barney’s on a Friday mid-morning, and the storefront’s sign was large and easy to spot from the road. Following COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, round markers were easily visible and spaced on the concrete sidewalk, directing patrons to stand at least six feet from one another. My family and I entered the establishment immediately, and I noticed everything appeared clean, tidy and polished. A friendly greeter welcomed us with an amiable hello and a kind smile, then led us to an empty, waiting booth.

The décor at Barney’s Brunch House is extremely eye-catching and stylish. The space is airy, comfortable and adorably decorated, intentionally designed with a combination of modern yet rustic chic vibes. Chandeliers decorated the ceiling with a French provincial ambiance and warm wood floors contrast beautifully with the cool gray walls, each outlined in picture-framed moldings. Everything appeared crisp yet welcoming, almost like a modern tearoom. Fresh flowers adorned each table, adding a nice touch of elegance, sophistication and refinement to the space. The restaurant was accessorized with adorable, kitchen-themed art, oversized utensils and a variety of wall décor, providing a finished yet quaint aura. From the minute we walked inside, I felt enveloped by friendliness, light-heartedness and cheer.Clearly from its name, Barney’s Brunch House is no stranger to the brunch scene, offering quite a plethora of choices to please any palate. Their traditional made-from-scratch American menu centers around breakfast items, such as egg specialties, rise-n-shine dishes, breakfast bowls, omelets and eggs Benedict, a customer favorite. One of the most popular items on the menu is entitled the California Benny – an English muffin with bacon, tomato, cream cheese, a poached egg, hollandaise sauce and topped with a ripe avocado. Delish! It also features a nice selection of pancakes, including the delectable red velvet or cinnamon roll varieties in addition to the peanut butter-banana French toast. Other breakfast options include waffles, oatmeal and yogurt with granola, and they even offer a “healthy” section for those watching their waistline. If seeking more of a lunch fare, customers can find a huge selection of hearty lunch choices including various types of pita sandwiches, wraps and salads. Whatever your sweet or savory hankering, the brunch lover will not be disappointed.We settled into our seats and began reviewing the provided paper menus. Linda, our server, asked if we’d like coffee and we readily agreed. She quickly provided us steaming cups of delicious, roasted Segafredo coffee in their aptly labeled, round mugs. I had never heard of this brand but I soon discovered it is one of the most famous and most favored espresso brands in the world, according to its website. The taste was strong and versatile, featuring a nice depth of flavor, but it didn’t leave an undesirable aftertaste. I enjoyed it immensely, and thankfully, Linda often refilled our mugs. As tantalizing scents began wafting out of the kitchen, I determinedly refocused myself on deciding what to order. After oohing and aahing over the menu for a short while, we finally made a decision. Along with a nice tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, my son settled on Barney’s signature omelet with a side of pancakes and fresh fruit, and my husband chose the avocado toast with scrambled eggs and another side of fruit. Having a hankering for something on the healthier side, I picked the Cherry Harvest salad paired with a cup of minestrone. Linda confirmed our decisions and then strolled back to the kitchen to submit our order.

We sipped our beverages and chatted away, enjoying the peaceful environment, and soon thereafter our food arrived. The array of colors displayed on each entrée or side dish was absolutely incredible. Despite its hype, avocado toast may well be the perfect meal. While many a millennial exclaims how “in” the meal seems to be, once avocado and bread are placed together at the same time, it becomes obvious they were meant to be together. Served as an open-faced sandwich, the creamy avocado was spread atop two well-toasted pieces of gluten-free bread and layered with a delectable array of golden scrambled eggs, diced red onion and bits of juicy tomato. With just the first bite, we couldn’t help but begin to salivate. It truly remains one of my favorite combinations, and as one of life’s simplest pleasures, it did not disappoint. The toast was crunchy but not too firm, and the combination of hearty eggs, smooth avocado, red onion and juicy tomato so artfully mixed hit the proverbial spot. The Barney omelet was comprised of all kinds of deliciousness including three eggs, sausage, onion, hash browns and cheddar cheese, all topped with homemade sausage gravy. Talk about robust! It was monstrous in size and could easily have fed multiple individuals. The sizable protein-embodied comfort food with a satisfying combination of tastes and sturdiness. A side of fruit was paired with the omelet, balancing out the heartiness with a tangy yet light addition to the overall palette. In addition to his omelet, warm, fluffy pancakes were delivered, and let’s face it – a syrup-soaked stack of scrumptiousness is always welcome. However, it’s safe to say this particular short stack was in a league all on its own. Accented with a lovely layer of powdered sugar, the syrup trickled slightly over the cake-like creations, creating a tantalizing, mouthwatering temptation. Light and fluffy with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla, these pancakes were truly the best any of us had ever ingested.Finally, my Cherry Harvest salad combined multiple types of produce, nuts and protein to create a light yet delicious brunch. Large chunks of seasoned chicken breast sat atop a bed of arugula, romaine and other mixed greens along with tasty, dried cherries, crunchy pecans, bits of red onion and feta cheese, presenting an exquisitely festive platter. A side of raspberry vinaigrette dressing was also provided and once drizzled over the crisp salad greens, delivered a slightly sweet but bold flavor, perfectly accentuating the blend of sweet and tart cherries. The tastes and textures of the dish blended marvelously with one another, and it was a surprisingly satisfying meal.