An Ibby’s employee plates the heirloom tomato bruschetta, one of the several appetizers offered at Ibby’s brunch. (Mac Motz | Contributing Photographer)

After a long week full of classes, activities, and late nights, Saturday mornings offer a chance to relax, recharge, and sleep in. And if your weekend reset could use some pancakes with a side of club music, look no further than Ibby’s Bistro. 

This past Saturday, Sept. 6, Ibby’s launched a brand-new brunch menu called “Saturday Morning Magic” ahead of the restaurant’s grand opening for the semester on Sept. 8. This occasion comes as part of a surge of dining changes aimed at improving the campus dining experience (including the increased hours pilot this week).

Seating was booked through the entire duration of brunch Saturday morning. (Mac Motz | Contributing Photographer)

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this event. I think many WashU students would agree that, while Ibby’s food is pretty good for campus dining, off-campus food tends to be better, so a brand new menu could have left much to be desired. On top of that, the vague advertising (an Instagram post on Thursday, a small sign outside the restaurant, and a slide on the dining services TV, all with minimal information) shrouded the event in mystery.

Despite the ambiguity, almost every table was filled on Saturday morning. Bright light streamed through the windows as the DJ played 2010s hits over boisterous conversation and clinking cutlery. Students helped themselves to a vast array of appetizers that covered the bar area. The cheery vibes were matched by the restaurant staff, who delightedly brought out the newly-created dishes that made up the multi-course feast. 

Unlike Ibby’s normal lunch and dinner menus, the brunch menu charges a flat rate of $18.95 per person. This includes the appetizers, an entree, and a dessert — a pretty good deal, if you ask me. The appetizer spread included fresh berries, sliced melons, an assortment of pastries and bagels, and some savory small plates: heirloom tomato bruschetta on crispy, garlicky bread; smoked salmon deviled eggs; and, my favorite, a roasted beet salad with cucumbers, citrus, and balsamic. It was clear that these small plates were thoughtfully curated, with impressively high-end presentation and a perfect balance of fresh ingredients and salty-savory flavors. 

The entrees were equally impressive, with options including a croque monsieur, shakshuka, tiramisu French toast, bacon and kale strata, and an Arabian grilled flank steak. Again, the attention to detail made the meal feel very high-end. The shakshuka was served in its own mini cast-iron skillet and came with a generous sprinkle of feta on top, the French toast was topped with both mascarpone mousse and coffee whipped cream, and most dishes came with a small side salad that added a nice touch of freshness. The standout dish, in my opinion, was the Arabian grilled flank steak: in addition to being cooked to a perfect medium-rare, the steak was sliced and layered on top of a slice of crusty bread, drizzled with a minced herb and garlic chimichurri, and topped with a perfectly poached egg. The dish was filling, but the portion size was suitable, even with the other courses. 

As if that wasn’t enough already, the dessert options included bread pudding, pound cake, and assorted cookies. Although the options were slim compared to the other courses, the desserts rounded out the meal with a sweet finish. My favorite was the bread pudding, made even better with baked-in berries and a velvety vanilla cream. Throughout the entire experience, my only complaints were that there wasn’t a brunch drink menu and that for those with dietary restrictions, the only vegan options were the fruit and beet salad. 

Walking into the DUC on a Saturday morning, I was definitely not expecting to be greeted with such an energetic atmosphere, complete with a DJ and an elaborate, multi-course meal. In fact, I would venture to say this experience was by far the best I’ve ever had at Ibby’s. I will certainly be fighting for a reservation when the next brunch date comes around and wishing that Ibby’s had Saturday brunch every weekend. Whether recovering from a Friday night out or fueling up for a grueling weekend of homework, the food and the vibes will certainly not disappoint. Ibby’s Bistro will be offering brunch seatings three more times this semester: Oct. 11, Nov. 1, and Dec. 6. Reservations can be made on the dining services website.