Night Heron's The Vampiro is quite the morning drink. (Photo by Julie Soefer.)

A long weekend brunch is almost always a good idea. But when our meal gets an added hit from lobster ravioli, a brisket grilled cheese sandwich, or drop biscuits with black pepper and honey, it’s an absolute yes.

Whether new to the scene or familiar favorites, these Houston brunch restaurants know how to do the week’s most important meal right. These are the best brunches in Houston right now.

Carmelo’s Cucina Italiana

14795 Memorial

Carmelo’s Cucina Italiana near the Energy Corridor tries to make all your brunch dreams come true with its newly-launched buffet ($29.95 for adults; $11.95 for kids 12 and under). French toast, sausage and peppers, chilled shrimp, and Carmelo’s signature veal meatballs are all part of the spread.

As though that’s not enough to get our attention, there’s also a dessert table and trio of food stations: prime rib, waffle, and omelette.

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(Sundays, 10 am to 3 pm.)

UB Preserv

1609 Westheimer

The newest restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd has plenty of brunch game. The bar serves up thirst-quenching cocktails such as the Viet-Cajun Bloody Mary with lemongrass infused vodka and Viet-Cajun Spices and the Breakfast Margarita with tequila, lime, spicy Serrano and frothy egg white. The kitchen presents dim sum style offerings that rotate on a weekly basis.

Expect a variety of delicious items from boudin siu mai dumplings to smoked baloney fried rice to hanger steak and eggs to lamb tartare.

(Sundays, 11 am to 4 pm.)

Poitin’s blueberriest buttermilk pancakes with candied bacon. (Photo by Victoria Christensen.)

Alice Blue

250 West 19th

A sprawling late-morning meal at casual bistro Alice Blue in The Heights includes dishes like eggs Benedict, a double cheeseburger with aioli and side of fries, and brioche French toast with fruit, housemade jam, whipped cream and maple syrup.

Oh, and there are cocktails aplenty from the Honey Bee, featuring tequila, honey, lemon and bitters, to the No. 4 punch with gin, apple brandy, lemon juice, simple syrup, Grenadine and a splash cava.

(Saturdays and Sundays; 10 am to 3 pm.)

Alice Blue’s double cheeseburger is no half-hearted brunch options. (Photo by Kirsten Gilliam Photography.)

Night Heron

1601 West Main

Night Heron in Montrose offers everything you’d want in a weekend brunch: boozy sips (try the Vampiro with tequila, beets, carrots, grapefruit and lime), and stellar eats such as drop biscuits with black pepper and honey; taquitos rancheros with roasted peppers, queso fresco, tomatillo salsa and fried eggs; and a Monte Cristo with ham, cheese and tomato jam.

(Saturdays and Sundays; 11 am to 3:30 pm.)

Beavers – Westheimer

6025 Westheimer

The Briargrove/Tanglewood locale of laid-back barbecue gastropub Beaver’s puts its stamp on brunch with a brisket grilled cheese sandwich and the Summer Salad with smoked chicken, plus quinoa, pea shoots, strawberries and lime dressing. The Cracklin’ Fried Chicken sandwich, piled high with crackling-coated fried chicken, mayonnaise, fresh coleslaw, pickles and pickled onion is also on the menu, making a late morning meal here a no-brainer.

(Saturdays and Sundays; 10 am to 3 pm.)

Field and Tides

705 East 11th

During brunch at cozy Heights bistro Field and Tides, the menu features can’t-miss dishes like a tomato and crab stack, the Breakfast Bagel featuring a New York-style bagel from Golden Bagels in The Heights, IPA mustard, red onion, crispy porchetta, tomato, arugula, and an over-easy egg, and the Mexican Scotch Egg. A chorizo wrapped soft-boiled egg is served with potatoes, refried black beans, salsa verde, queso fresco, onions and serrano chile.

(Saturdays and Sundays; 10 am to 3 pm.)

Poitin

2313 Edwards

At Poitin, a casual restaurant and bar at Sawyer Yards, you’ll find midday favorites such as barbecue shrimp and grits, a grilled fruit salad with oatmeal crumble, blue stilton cheese and balsamic reduction, and the Blueberriest Buttermilk Pancakes made with blueberry ginger compote and sweet lemon ricotta.

Pair your food with cocktails including the Corpse Reviver No. 2 with gin, vermouth, orange liqueur, absinthe and lemon, and the Cut N’ Run with gin, elderflower liqueur, orange liqueur, lemon, muddled strawberries, basil and sage.

(Saturdays and Sundays; 11 am to 3 pm.)

Fig & Olive

5115 Westheimer

Upscale restaurant Fig & Olive, set inside the Houston Galleria, doles out signature crostini with toppings from goat cheese and caramelized onion to marinated tenderloin in the morning, alongside hearty dishes such as lobster ravioli and avocado toast with a hard-boiled quail egg, radish and spiced heirloom tomatoes.

Go big and get the Le Grande Escape for $145 if you dare. Score a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, a trio of the signature crostini and marinated olives. But that’s not all.

You’ll also get oysters, jumbo shrimp, Brazilian lobster tail, and a trio of sauces (sherry mignonette, tarragon aioli and house cocktail sauce) for your dipping pleasure.

(Saturdays and Sundays; 11 am to 3 pm).