The Iron Bowl of Brunch: Which town provides the best options for early kickoffs?
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This is the second piece in a four-part Countdown to Kickoff series, comparing Tuscaloosa and Auburn in things outside the football field including barbecue, brunch, bars + traditions.
Both Alabama and Auburn are scheduled for at least one pre-noon kickoff at home this season with another handful of afternoon games.
That means both Tuscaloosa and Auburn will be buzzing from the early hours of the morning on gamedays. But before you start finding your favorite tailgate spots, you may want to step into one of the popular breakfast + brunch spots.
Both cities provide some great options but which one has the best? Let us know what you think.
Tuscaloosa
There’s no shortage of local joints serving up breakfast within shouting distance of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The closest, and one of the most popular, is just steps away. Rama Jama’s is known for its quick gameday bites and drinks along with having some of the best decorations around town but don’t sleep on their breakfast. Sometimes you don’t need anything more than a syrup-drenched pancake, a side of bacon and a mimosa.
Another historic breakfast spot is The Historic Waysider Restaurant. There’s not much space to walk around inside but once you’re seated, you may not want to get up. Just keep ordering food + coffee and you’ll be happy.
If you’re looking for more of a brunch menu, Avenue Pub delivers a variety of breakfast cocktails along with a food menu that includes some hefty dishes to keep you fueled all day.
Tuscaloosa is also home to several of the most popular chain restaurants including:
- Big Bad Breakfast
- Another Broken Egg Cafe
- Brick and Spoon
If you’re in town for a full weekend, you can cross the river to Northport and visit City Cafe. It’s not open on weekends but it would be wrong to keep it out of the breakfast discussion for these two towns.
Plus, don’t forget about the Waffle House on The Strip!
Auburn
While Tuscaloosa might provide more classic vibes at their breakfast spots, several spots in Auburn can still whip together a great meal.
One of the most notable is Lucy’s. They only serve brunch on the weekends but they go all out with their menu from full breakfast plates to appetizers to cocktails, they’ll have you covered for an early gameday.
The Hound might feel a little bit more upscale than many of the others mentioned on this list but they still make anyone feel like they belong. The weekend brunch menu is full of options but it’s hard to look past the bacon flight. It’s just a bunch of different kinds of bacon. What else could you possibly want?
For the earlier risers, Chappy’s Deli has become an Auburn staple. The local chain keeps things simple with breakfast but you can order any of the breakfast classics however you’d like them.
Byron’s Smokehouse, which was also mentioned in our BBQ battle, might be even more popular for its breakfast.
Some other breakfast spots around Auburn include Another Broken Egg Cafe and The Flying Biscuit
Auburn’s Waffle House may not be as close to the stadium as the one in Tuscaloosa but it’s still just off campus.
Which college town do you think has the best BBQ? Let us know by joining the conversation on Facebook!
