These Central New Jersey Ethnic Restaurants Are Serving Brunch With Global Flavors

There’s no meal more fun than brunch, because there’s no other time of day when you’re encouraged to eat dough bathed in sugary syrup, fried pork in countless forms, and orange or tomato juice with a kick that will have you napping at 2 p.m.

But at these internationally inspired Central New Jersey restaurants serving global cuisine, brunch gets even more fun—and inventive—with thoughtful, flavorful twists on brunch classics that draw inspiration from everywhere from India to Italy.

This is where you can start your Sunday off right with a brunch with flavors from around the world.

Latin: Brunch by De Martino, Somerville

If you see a dish on the menu at Latin fusion restaurant Brunch by De Martino that you’re dying to try—like guava crepes with coconut cream or avocado toast with guava jam and bacon—don’t sleep on it.

That’s because the menu here is never the same twice thanks to executive chef and owner Martino Linares’ innovative palate, which he shares in his cozy café surrounded by hand-painted Cuban artwork.

It opens daily at 8am and serves brunch until 2:30pm on weekdays and 3pm on weekends.

It draws inspiration from Cuban paladares, the charming private in-home restaurants evoked in Brunch by De Martino, with its ornate, distressed tiles reminiscent of old-world Cuban architecture, and its frames and mirrors inspired by Havana’s famed San Cristóbal restaurant.

More: We want these central New Jersey restaurants to make USA TODAY’s Restaurant of the Year list

Go: 9 Davenport Street, Somerville; 908-722-8602, demartinolatin.com.

Espo’s, Raritan

The local crowd that fills Espo’s every night of the week no longer has to wait until dinner to get something to eat, as the nearly 50-year-old Italian staple now offers brunch on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fans of this classic restaurant and bar will be happy to know that Espo’s brunch menu is just a breakfast version of its Italian dinner menu, with dishes like a Murphy’s omelet with sausage, mushrooms, onions, cherry peppers and fried potatoes.

There’s also eggs purgatory with sautéed onions, peppers, marinara sauce, garlic and poached eggs served on toasted Italian bread. This dish is dear to owner Nick Zamora’s heart since his grandmother used to make it for him when he was young.

And there are always specials, like a steak and egg cheesesteak with shredded rib eye, scrambled eggs, caramelized onions and American cheese served on pizza bread with home fries.

Go: 10 2nd St., Raritan; 908-685-9552, esposraritannj.com.

Mexican: Meximodo, Metuchen

Brunch doesn’t get more festive than at Meximodo, Metuchen’s hot new spot that features a stunning ambiance complete with a rose-lined tunnel, a Day of the Dead mural and a Guinness World Record-breaking collection of more than 1,000 tequilas, mezcals and agave spirits.

The bustling Metuchen Town Plaza restaurant serves brunch daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with dishes such as Abuelita Mexican chocolate crepes, hot honey chicken and waffles with guajillo and honey butter, corn masa crepes with charred pineapple and dulce de leche, and barbacoa omelets.

Everything is prepared by executive chef Antonio Carballo, who grew up in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and creates his eclectic fusion dishes in the restaurant’s 8,000-square-foot open kitchen framed in colorful porcelain tiles.

More: Modern Mexican Restaurant With 1,000 Tequilas and a Tunnel of Roses Is Coming to Metuchen

Go: 5 Pearl Street, Metuchen; 732-395-7767, meximodo.com.

Osteria Morini, Bernardsville

Does the idea of eating prosciutto and parmesan give you more energy in the morning than a cup of coffee? Then head to Osteria Morini, which serves brunch every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

With cuisine inspired by the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, this cozy restaurant serves dishes like eggs Benedict with prosciutto, eggs purgatory with spicy pomodoro and fresh pasta.

The Italian restaurant, which has locations in Washington, D.C. and New York, also offers brunch cocktails like bellinis, blueberry lemonade mimosas, and Bloody Marys. 90-minute all-you-can-drink packages are also available for $25.

Go: 107 Morristown Road, Bernardsville; 908-221-0040, osteriamorini.com/bernardsville-nj/.

Latin: Pachamama, green stream

Pachamama, a Peruvian-inspired Latin fusion restaurant that recently opened on Route 22, offers both the cuisine and ambiance brunch lovers crave. The restaurant features a 16-foot-tall tree that overlooks the dining room, along with flowers, greenery, natural wood and hand-woven baskets.

It’s an Instagram-worthy space, with brunch dishes like three-milk French toast, a brunch burger with chimichurri, and avocado toast with mango pico de gallo. The full dinner menu is also served during brunch. Plus, guests can always opt for a $25 glass of unlimited champagne for two hours.

Brunch is served every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. On some Sundays, specials coincide with the meal, such as salsa lessons, 90s and 2000s music, and taco flights.

More: Peruvian Restaurant Opens in Former Tacos El Tio on Route 22 in Green Brook

Go: 215 Route 22, Green Brook; 732-200-5141, pachamamanj.com.

Indian: Spice Bazaar, Westfield

You can swap out a traditional waffle for a Belgian rose gulab waffle topped with ice cream and rose petals at Spice Bazaar, an Indian fusion restaurant in downtown Westfield that recently started offering brunch every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Diners can choose a brunch entrée, side dish and non-alcoholic beverage for $38, and also make it a Sunday Funday with the restaurant’s $15 mimosa, sangria, margarita and mojito mixers that serve four (BYOB).

Club tunes play in this newly renovated and lively space as diners tuck into dishes like chai-spiced French toast, sourdough toast with masala guacamole, truffle keema lamb sliders and Bombay masala omelettes.

Go: 39 Elm Street, Westfield; 908-389-1888, spicebazaarnj.com.

Verve, Somerville

Verve is a Somerville hangout with a speakeasy vibe and craft cocktails, but it also stays true to its French bistro roots, especially on the third Sunday of every month when it offers brunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Lit’l Frenchie Brunch, as Verve calls it, features Provençal-inspired dishes like brie and raspberry crepes and croque madame (an elegant take on a French grilled cheese sandwich with brioche bread, smoked ham, Gruyere cheese and a fried egg).

The otherwise traditional brunch menu features classic French sauces, such as hollandaise sauce on its eggs Benedict with Black Forest ham and brioche bread, and au poivre on its steak.

Additionally, each table receives a complimentary plate of freshly baked croissants with churned butter.

Go: 18 E Main St., Somerville; 908-707-8655, vervestyle.com.

Contact: [email protected]

Jenna Intersimone has been a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey staffer since 2014, though she’s a lifelong Jersey girl who considers herself an expert on everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State’s bustling downtowns. For unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.