While you might not normally think of a pizza place for brunch, maybe you should. Gen 3 Hospitality’s Flour & Barley, a pizza and beer restaurant with a great beer list and rocking food, recently revamped its menu with several new offerings, both on its brunch menu and regular menu—and its cocktail list!—and that has produced some delicious results.
You need to start with a drink—maybe a new cocktail, like the Bed, Bath and Gin, Cucumber Fresca or the Pink Bikini, all of which fit in really well for a lazy Saturday or Sunday brunch. The Cucumber Fresca combines Ketel One Cucumber & Mint vodka and prosecco for a sparkling fresh sip; the Pink Bikini pulls in Stoli Raspberry, triple sec and lemon for a frou-frou that’s not too-too; and the Bed, Bath & Gin stirs together gin, elderflower liqueur, triple sec and crème de violette for a gin-and-tonic-inspired glass with an oh-so-delicate purple color. You can also choose from bottomless mimosas or bloody Marys.
BeettheHeatSalad
Or check out what’s on tap—maybe the Flour & Barley Mexican-style lager or Ace pineapple cider, and the bar rotates in Pizza Port beers, too. There are plenty of good bottled craft choices, from Samuel Smith's organic strawberry ale and Nut Brown Ale to ones from Belching Beaver, Left Hand, Deschutes and Magic Hat. Respected local breweries Tenaya Creek, Big Dog’s and Joseph James have a dedicated spot on the menu.
The Beet the Heat salad makes a nice appetizer with mellow roasted beets, a variety of greens, candied pecans, pear and a light mustard vinaigrette. Give this puppy a good toss to make sure every ingredient is fully coated.
If you’re in for brunch, order the Spinach quiche pie (that’s an order!). This pizza, with eggs, spinach, tomato, cheese and bacon, comes out with a layer of baked eggs, and an egg cracked over the top. It manages to capture the flavors of classic over easy egg and toast in one slice, and gives it a little extra oomph. Another good brunch option is the French toast pizza, with cream cheese, honey ricotta maple syrup and berries— not new, but yummy.
Flour & Barley has plenty of pizzas, with white and red sauce selections issuing forth from its mesmerizing oven, like lasagna pizza (Bolognese, mushroom, sausage and herbed ricotta) or the Quattro (Parmesan, mozzarella, Gorgonzola, ricotta and roasted tomato), plus just-in-Vegas options like the Golden Knight (chicken, ham, onion, pepperoni and Calabrian chilies). There are other entrées as befits an Italian eatery, like the new linguini and clams, or a classic chicken Parm. The wild spaghetti sandwich is sure to appeal to the kid in you.
If you have the room, check out the Nutella calzone, a shareable sweet treat with powdered sugar and chocolate drizzle, or the chocolate raspberry cake—you might not want to share this one.
The Linq Promenade, 11 a.m.-midnight daily, brunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 702.430.4430
