Sunday brunch is a time to indulge, when you treat yourself one last time to close out the weekend and absorb any of the excess of the days prior. For the kind of Sunday brunch that’s worth every penny and comes with a side of hair of the dog, there may not be anyone doing it better than Noble Crust, and it’s become a star at their longtime location in Carrollwood (11618 N Dale Mabry Hwy).
Noble Crust is, of course, one of the area’s most popular spots for dinner, and the lunch menu has become a sneaky popular pick, as well. But every Sunday from 10 am – 3 pm, the one chance for that immaculate Southern-inspired brunch arrives, with all the biscuits, fried chicken, pancakes, and Bloody Marys you could want.
One of the best brunches in Tampa at Noble Crust
I should mention that the entire brunch isn’t Southern-inspired. There’s plenty for all palates, and several items (such as the banana French toast, lemon ricotta pancakes, or steak and eggs) are merely Southern-adjacent. Classics like avocado toast, meatballs, smash burgers, and even a breakfast pizza provide standard brunch fare, and all are done well.
However, for those like me who love rib-sticking everything, Noble Crust delivers something special. Many somethings special, in fact. At this point, I’ve ordered just about everything on the brunch menu and I’ve yet to find anything I was willing to leave a single bite of left on the plate.
My personal favorite is the F.G.B.L.T. Technically, it’s an appetizer, but you won’t be upset if you make it your whole meal. Massive slices of cornmeal-battered fried green tomato are served on top of housemade sauce and topped with a pimento cheese spread, Tabasco hot honey-glazed pork belly, and crispy lettuce. I’m not saying it will change your life, but I’m definitely not ruling out the possibility.
Elsewhere on the appetizers menu, the bacon grit fritters are an easy go-to. I could eat 12 of them and still be on the lookout for more. The crispy balls of grits, bacon and four different cheeses are served with tomato jam, candied jalapeños, and a lime sour cream. If you prefer something sweeter, the biscuit beignet is a doughy twist on the New Orleans classic, and Noble Crust does it well. The beignets come topped with strawberry puree, caramel syrup, and of course, powdered sugar.
When it comes to the main dish, the question is which protein you prefer. The Southern-style fried chicken is hard to skip, with options like chicken & waffle, chicken biscuit (save a few napkins for this one), or the fusion-style fried chicken fried rice. Steak and eggs is a brunch classic, but if you’re really feeling the lowcountry breakfast approach, the shrimp and grits is among the most unskippable dishes on the menu.
More of our brunch favorites at Noble Crust include:
Crispy fried chicken wings
Strawberry and arugula salad
Andouille sausage sandwich
Triple smashburger
Figgy Piggy pizza (mozzarella and fontina, figs, bacon, olives, goat cheese, arugula, Calabrian honey, fig and bechamel sauce)
Coconut cream pie
As always, don’t skip the drinks at Noble Crust. In addition to the Bloody Mary, sangria by the pitcher (red or white) tends to be a popular brunch pick. The lemongrass gimlet is perfect for those eating on the sweeter or lighter side. You can also stick with a coffee and leave more room for chicken.
Noble Crust is Tampa and Carrollwood’s lowkey lunch spot
Noble Crust has long been a dinnertime star, and the stellar brunch is nothing new. But their relatively recent rollout of the new lunch experience has us rethinking our midday meals. The menu has tons of our favorites from both the dinner and brunch menus, made quickly and available at a more than reasonable price.
That F.G.B.L.T. I waxed poetic about? On the lunch menu, only $14, and hits that sweet spot of being deeply satisfying without being overly filling. In other words, you’ll be happy, but you won’t need a nap.
The full lunch menu, available every weekday, makes similar sense for the middle of a Wednesday. There are plenty of Southern-style appetizers, including the crispy chicken wings. There are also a handful of light pasta dishes, tasty sandwiches, hand-tossed pizzas, and meat-forward entrees. The steak frites or the southern fried chicken earn top billing in my book.
Noble Crust has locations throughout Tampa Bay, including in Carrollwood at 11618 N Dale Mabry Hwy. You can check out the full menu here.