If you’re looking for a boozy brunch, Ink N Ivy delivers

My wife had a baby shower on Sunday, so I did what any reasonable dad would do – I took my son to Ink N Ivy for brunch.

Ink N Ivy is about as kid friendly as an offshore oil rig. Even though the waitresses were super nice to my 2-year-old son, it was clear form the lack of kid’s water cup to the look on boozy brunch patrons’ faces that Ink N Ivy isn’t a family oriented brunch destination.

It’s a boozy brunch destination for those looking to party.

I asked my waitress if people ever come and just order food without a drink. She looked at me funny and responded, “Almost everybody orders a drink at brunch. Although there are some people that are so hungover from the night before that they won’t drink.”

I was hungover from a snow day filled with Daniel Tiger cartoons, so I didn’t grab a drink.

The Booze

Saturdays and Sundays feature $4 Bloody Mary’s and $2 mimosas.  The Bloody Mary comes with Relska Vodka, but if you’re a vodka snob, you can do Finlandia for $6 or Tito’s for $8.

Looking to go next level? Ink N Ivy has a brunch cocktail list with prices ranging from $6 – $8. Cocktails include the Pink Sparkler, Berry Bubbly and Green Eyed Monster Bloody.

The Food

Honestly, I was expecting the food to taste very mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I ordered three of the most popular brunch menu options and sampled them all:

• Chicken & Waffles – Bone-in chicken, breaded in-house and golden fried over a buttermilk waffles, served with maple sausage gravy and hot syrup ($11)
• Creole Benedict – Poached eggs, Andouille sausage on a toasted English Muffin with Creole sauce ($12)

• Steak and Eggs – Marinated and grilled steak served with two eggs any style and stone ground grits or breakfast potatoes ($12)

The Chicken & Waffles didn’t have much of a taste to it and was fairly mediocre. Loved the Creole Benedict. Perfect amount of spicy flavor mixed well with the grits, sausage and poached egg. Steak was also cooked perfectly and delicious.

I’d rank the brunch menu items as follows – Creole Benedict #1, Steak and Eggs #2 and Chicken & Waffles #3.

If you’re looking to kickstart your day Saturday – Ink N Ivy’s brunch will take your group from hungover-mode to party-mode, fast.

Are you a good Charlotte brunch without the party vibes? The Agenda recommends: littleSpoon, Heist Brewery, Terrace Cafe, Bistro La Bon, The Asbury, 300 East, Crispy Crepe, Georges Brasserie and Cafe Monte.

[Agenda story: Top 10 brunches in Charlotte, ranked]