» Benjy's Restaurant

Upscale casual favorite in the Rice Village for innovative new American cuisine, a stylish lounge and weekend brunch scene.

Open and airy, this two-story eatery is sleek throughout with ever-changing wall art, vibrant colors and minimalist decor. Neighborhood regulars and modish 30-somethings sit clustered around steel table tops and plywood chairs or along the walls in spacious booths. Waitstaff is young, fabulous and well-informed.

Brunch, lunch and dinner menus change frequently, highlighted by fresh Asian and Latin flavors and dramatic presentations. Small plates include oven-roasted Brie and portabello enchiladas and crispy tuna spring rolls. Large plates include the pecan- and pistachio-crusted chicken with mixed potato gratin; hoisin beef and tiger shrimp on rice noodles with Thai red curry sauce; and three cheese risotto torta.

Lunch features the addition of entree salads, creative sandwiches and wood-fired thin crust pizzas. Crunchy French toast with seasonal berries and the scallion scone with smoked salmon, poached egg and dill hollandaise are brunch winners. For dessert, opt for the pecan-studded fudgy chocolate cake.

The award-winning wine list is well-organized and features hard-to-find vintages and plenty of by-the-glass options.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Benjy's serves one of the best brunches in town. Savor the specialty crunchy French toast or the better-than-Eggs-Benedict smoked salmon on a scallion scone. Toast your mid-morning with a carafe of mimosas or a wasabi-spiked bloody mary.