It's no secret breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Whether it be consumed in the morning or at 2 pm I will never turn down an opportunity to eat bacon. In my world, a perfect start to a Saturday would be strolling the Farmer's Market in downtown Hickory and then getting some tasty brunch from one of my favorite local spots. I mean what better way to start the weekend?? Yes.... we do have the local chain restaurants and though I do love the pecan pancakes from Cracker Barrel and the bottomless Cold Brews at Bob Evans - I still tend to frequent my local favorite spots more often than the chain restaurants. So where do the locals go for brunch? Here are my personal favorites..in no particular order.
The Hickory Station - Breakfast/Brunch is served everyday 7am-4pm
If I'm being honest, I will say The Hickory Station is my husband and I's go-to brunch spot. This place is really a downtown historic staple being that it is literally in the old train station. What to expect? Well you can dine inside or feel free to bring your pup if you'd like to dine outside. This is a casual spot so wear whatever you'd like! You will find a bar inside offering specialty coffee drinks, delicious pastries, bread, and desserts made in-house.
What to order? Well The Hickory Station has something on their menu for everyone whether you are watching your figure or treating yourself - you won't be disappointed with their brunch options. My personal favorites are their Hickory Hot Chicken & Waffles (warning it is spicy!), Appalachian Eggs Benedict, and my go to - their breakfast sandwich on an in-house made croissant and a side of cheddar grits of course.
Pictured below is my husband and I's brunch featuring the Hickory Hot Chicken & Waffles (substitute toast instead of waffle) and the breakfast sandwich on a croissant with eggs sunny, bacon, and cheese. Cheese grits of course.
View The Hickory Station's Menu here
Notions - Brunch is served Sat & Sun 10 am-2 pm
Notions is a relatively newer spot in Hickory but has quickly become another local favorite. With bottomless mimosas for just $15 being on their brunch menu - you can see why. Like the Hickory Station, Notions is also located right in the square of downtown Hickory - we love brunch spots within walking distance of the farmers market. I would say the brunch menu at Notions caters more to those looking for healthier options however they do have a few indulgent items as well such as the french toast with bananas foster sauce and you can't forget a North Carolina staple - Livermush sliders.
Notions also has indoor and outdoor seating - pups are welcome to sit with you outdoors. The restaurant itself is not a very big place so sometimes there is a wait but they always have hostesses out front to ensure you get seated as soon as possible.
Pro tip - if there is a bit of a wait and you haven't had your coffee yet, go right around the corner for a coffee at Tasteful Beans or Short & Sweet - both coffee shops located in downtown Hickory (Short & Sweet is closed on Sundays).
What to order? You can't go wrong with a breakfast classic like the "Smothered Open Face Biscuit" which features fried chicken, eggs, white cheddar cheese, and gravy. If you are craving something sweet I would definitely go for the French toast.
​​​​​​​View Notion's Menu here
Granny's Country Kitchen - Brunch is served all day everyday
Now if you are looking for a real country breakfast like your mammaw used to make you - Granny's kitchen is where it's at. Definitely the countriest breakfast in town (if you couldn't tell by their name). If you're on a fancy diet - this may not be your spot. But if you're looking for homemade biscuits, pancakes, waffles, crispy hashbrowns, and 10 different breakfast meats to choose from - look no further. Granny's Kitchen is such a local favorite that they have 3 locations now - Hickory, Claremont, and Icard.
What to expect? At Granny's you'll find the locals dressed casual and eating good. The building may not be the newest, the booths may be a little worn, but the food is tasty and the staff are as sweet as pie. You can definitely expect lots of southern drawls and big portions. Many mornings you will see our local law enforcement dining here because Granny's feeds them for free! What an awesome way to support our local law enforcement.
What to order? This is actually a very hard question for Granny's because you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. My favorite would be the Grandpa's Favorite which includes a country fried steak smothered in white peppered gravy with eggs and a side of grits.
View Granny's Country Kitchen's Menu here
Cafe Rule - Brunch is served Sunday 11 am - 2:30 pm
Cafe Rule is in my opinion in the top 5 prettiest restaurants in town. If you are looking for a real classy brunch spot that is photo worthy - Cafe Rule is the place to go!
What to expect? Cafe Rule is an upscale restaurant offering indoor seating and outdoor seating in their beautiful patio. Feel free to dress up a little, though its not required. You can expect a full wine menu and the last time I visited they were even offering mimosa flights! I would recommend making a reservations through Resy ahead of time if you want to guarantee a table at your desired time.
What to order? The fried chicken & sweet potato waffle is a show stopper but be warned - it is a TON of food. I was expecting a chicken breast so you can imagine my surprise when my plate came with a chicken breast, wing, thigh, and drumstick piled on top of a delicious sweet potato waffle! Two people could easily share this or one VERY hungry person would certainly leave full! The fried chicken and biscuit is also very good, I would recommend it with the hot honey. There are several other items on Cafe Rule's brunch menu that I have not tried yet but plan to try the next time I visit such as "The Local's Favorite" and the "Stuffed French Toast."
View Cafe Rule's Menu here​​​​​​​
A Brunch place I would like to try but haven't been yet? Mas Amor Cantina! Did you know they do a Sunday Brunch??
New Brunch places to be on the lookout for in 2023: Famous Toastery and the Frothy Rooster! I'm looking forward to visiting these places when they open in Hickory