Stopping by for Sunday brunch was a pretty good move. Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites in Hampton offers a choice of one entrée and unlimited visits to the cold buffet for $12.95 per person. Not too shabby when the menu includes smoked salmon at the buffet and crème brulee for dessert. Atmosphere: Classical music and muted conversations. The buffet and the menu are both simple.
Hours for Sunday brunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Brunch specialties: One entrée and the cold buffet are included in one price. The buffet includes bagels, croissants, muffins, fruit, vegetables, smoked salmon, tuna salad, and an assortment of cheeses and crackers. Entrees include omelets, variations of eggs Benedict, French toast, pancakes and desserts.
Coffee anyone? My friend Kim said the coffee was dark, but didn't have much flavor. After pouring in some cream and a couple packs of Splenda, she said she had to add more coffee to give it a kick. It was good enough to end the meal with, but not for a second cup.
What I spent: Entrée items and buffet for two ($25.90); large orange juice, two hot teas and coffee ($1.50 each)
Sunday wait: no wait
Time from ordering to eating: 30 minutes. It would've been nice if our waitress, or anyone else, had offered an explanation or an apology during this long wait. That didn't happen. When we asked about the delay once our food arrived, our server said she wasn't sure why it took so long.
Serving style: The wait staff serves drinks and entrees; the buffet is self-serve.
Hang time: We took our time after our food arrived, and there were only two other tables occupied since the weather was nasty that day.
Gluttony factor: High. I had the eggs Benedict which comes with potatoes and fresh fruit. Everything was delicious. The English muffin was lightly toasted, the Canadian bacon offered just enough salt, the eggs were perfectly poached to add a bit of extra sauce to the hollandaise. The potatoes were shredded and cooked in a mini cake ring with green chiles. What a tasty combination.
Kim had the French toast injected with vanilla mascarpone and a side of potatoes, along with a bunch of items from the cold buffet. She said the French toast, which was two pieces of French bread, was crunchy on the crust and delightfully fluffy inside. The mascarpone was smooth and sweet inside the pieces of bread and the syrup was on the side so it could be lightly drizzled without drowning out the flavor of the cheese.
The bathroom: Spotless. The mirrors are free of fingerprints and water spots, the floor shines, there are plenty of stalls, a full-length mirror, faux tropical plants on the counter and artwork hanging on the wall that matches the rust/rose color scheme.
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Tell us about your favorite places to stop for breakfast. We'd like to check it out. Call Lisa Deaderick at 247-4733 or email her at ldeaderick@dailypress.com and leave the name of the restaurant, the address and your favorite thing to order. Be sure to leave your name and phone number, too.
Cyprus Grille
1700 Coliseum Drive, Hampton (Embassy Suites Hotel at the Hampton Roads Convention Center)
Additional locations: No
What else they have: Sandwiches, salads, soups, desserts, pizza and dinner entrees
All day hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day
Price range: $1.50 for juice, tea or coffee to $15-$30 range for dinner items (i.e. cannelloni, shrimp pasta or filet mignon)
Kids/senior menus: Kids
Parking: Plenty since the hotel is next to the convention center
Latest
Takeout: Yes
Smoking: No
Reservations: Yes
Phone/Web site: 213-8532, go to the Embassy Suites Hotel Web site for the Hampton location and click on "Cyprus Grille" under "Features & Highlights"
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
