Cafe Hollander

A family-friendly group brunch in Tosa

I love holidays. There's almost always some out-of-town friends coming home for a visit, which almost always means gathering to eat something delicious. This Easter weekend, our friends from Minnesota came back to Wisconsin with their two Gerber-Baby-worthy kids in tow. 

Now that we're at a point in our lives where there are husbands and little ones (when did that happen?!), choosing a spot to dine isn't so easy-peasy. That new eatery on the east side? Too tiny for a party of nine. That place with the killer Eggs Benedict and an hour wait? We can't ask a three-year-old and a baby to wait that long without facing some consequences — no matter how freaking adorable they are. What to do? Where to go? Thank heavens for Cafe Hollander!

I've always enjoyed brunch at Cafe Hollander. If Bloody Marys and international beer lists a mile long are your thing, Hollander is a tough one to beat. But what I especially loved about the Tosa cafe this past weekend is that it was so family-friendly. 

Our group was able to make a reservation (something the new, hip n' trendy breakfast joints just don't do), there were coloring pages for the kids, and an Easter Bunny. Albeit, a bunny that looked like musty pink carpet — but hey, Hollander's heart was in the right place. I also like that, even if we didn't have a reservation, the cafe is so spacious that it's ideal for a larger group. Plus, the vibe is lively and just loud enough to be perfect for unpredictable kiddies. 

But lest you think I'm only praising Cafe Hollander for its family-friendly atmosphere, think again. The eats and drinks are delicious and the portions are large. I love the BELT + A, a BLT with egg and avocado, smeared with basil aioli (Hollander's sauce game is on point!). Adam got the blueberry pancakes, which are served with cinnamon butter that's a total game changer. I'm picky about restaurant pancakes, but I'm seriously daydreaming about these. 

As for the rest of our group, we had a couple of veggie omelets (everyone said they would get them again) and a Breakfast Mac n' Cheese: Macaroni and cheese with chorizo and an egg on top. I tried a bite — holy yum. Looks like I'm gonna have to go back.