Eat Art Love. We visited this unassuming little cafe and art gallery for brunch. Dropping in for what I thought would be a quick photo for an Instagram story, we were impressed with the friendly staff, the coffee, the elevated cuisine, and the space for local artists to showcase their work. 🖼️ 

Coffee. Although there are lattes and specialty coffees on the menu, we ordered a couple of regular coffees, which had a nice aroma and complex flavor. St. Pete’s Hogg Batch Coffee offers small batch, experimental blends, specializing in barrel-aged roasts.  

Confit Duck Leg. The crispy confit duck leg was served with creamy white grits, whipped feta, heirloom tomatoes, and fresh chopped chives. The dish was delicious, especially topped with a sunny egg, our server’s recommendation. Another chef has described Mario’s duck confit as the best that they have ever had.  

Apple Pie Pancake. The decadent large pancake was fluffy and creamy in the middle. It was served with pieces of sweet caramel apple, cloud-like cinnamon whipped cream, and crunchy bits of salted pretzels. The chef seems to change the pancake selection on occasion, depending on what’s in season.  

Poached Egg Dip. You will savor every bite of this dish. Poached egg topped a small bowl of creamed potato with fresh chives, which all blended deliciously for scooping onto the accompanying crisp toasted sourdough bread. I loved this dish.  

For our next trip, I want to try Grandpa Larry’s Benedict, with poached egg, garlic bread, 24 hour meat ragu, Parmesan, and basil. I’m also eyeing the Baked Brie on toast, House-Made Sausage Sandwich, and Fried Chicken Sandwich. The restaurant also serves cocktails and wine. 

The Executive Chef and Owner is Mario Brugnoli, whose resume includes professional cooking at fine dining restaurants, including Michelin star Rocca in Tampa and Meliora in Sarasota. Other owners are Jose and Natalie Martinez. As the restaurant only has a few tables, do yourself a favor and make a reservation. Eat, look at the Art inside, and show this young chef and new restaurant some Love. It is open Friday to Sunday from 9-3; pop-up dinners as well. 

📍 2209 Sixth Ave South