Love Eggs Benedict? Lexington restaurants give this brunch classic delicious twists

Along with mimosas, French toast and waffles, Eggs Benedict is a menu staple of most every serious brunch offering.

The exact origin of this iconic breakfast dish remains in dispute however, with rival narratives and roots dating back well more than a century.

Delmonico’s legendary restaurant in New York lays claim to its invention, circa the 1860s reportedly for a frequent guest, Mrs. LeGrand Benedict, wife of a New York financier. She was said to be bored with the restaurant’s menu offering and collaborated with the chef, Charles Ranhofer to create the concoction.

In 1942, a New Yorker magazine feature, “Talk of the Town” related the claim of retired stockbroker Lemuel Benedict who reportedly stumbled into the famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1894, seeking a cure for his hangover and ordered “buttered toast, poached eggs, crisp bacon and a hooker of hollandaise.”

Maître d’ Oscar Tschirky was said to have been so impressed with the idea that he put it on the menu, after swapping ham and a toasted English muffin for the bacon and toast.

A third, and less plausible. story is that the dish was created by Commodore E.C. Benedict, a New York city yachtsman, banker, and close friend of President Grover Cleveland, who died in 1920.

No one can say for sure which tale is true, but if your last name is Benedict, you may be a descendant of the inventor of Eggs Benedict.

It does not really matter who invented the dish.

It only matters that it is still widely available today — and in various versions.

For Eggs Benedict aficionados here in Lexington, the good news is that there are quite a few delicious options available to satisfy most any breakfast or brunch Benedict craving.

The even better news is that there is a select group of noteworthy eateries taking it up a notch beyond the classic Eggs Benedict and offering an array of decadent, expertly crafted, unconventional and standout Eggs Benedict dishes that will tantalize your taste buds.

Here are seven places worth mentioning and their respective appetizing offerings, listed alphabetically:

Bella Café and Grille

bellacafeandgrille.com, Chevy Chase, 890 E. High St., 859-785-1922, and Palomar, 3901 Fountain Blue Ln. #130, 859-303-8706

Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kentucky Benedict. Made with Newsom’s smoked breakfast sausage, one poached egg, a half Wolferman English muffin, espresso hollandaise and breakfast potatoes or vegetable potato hash. $25. Includes trips to the European Brunch Table. The sausage is nicely flavorsome and savory.

Bonefish Grill

Bonefishgrill.com, 2341 Sir Barton Way, 859-233-3474

Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bang Bang Shrimp Eggs Benedict. Crispy shrimp on a toasted English muffin, topped with poached eggs coated in creamy spicy Hollandaise sauce finished with green onions. Served with bacon and seasoned breakfast potatoes. $16.50. Bonefish Grill’s Bang Bang Shrimp is legendary. It also pairs great for a memorable breakfast Benedict!

Also available Traditional Eggs Benedict. Smoked ham on a toasted English muffin with poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce. $15.90.

Carson’s Food & Drink

Carsonsfoodanddrink.com, downtown at 362 East Main St. and in Andover at 3450 Todds Rd., 859-309-3039. Brunch hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Three Little Pigs Benedict. Served on buttermilk biscuits with shaved ham, pork belly, and cherrywood smoked bacon topped with over-easy eggs and pork belly sage gravy, $16. A meat lover’s dream. Hearty. Heavenly. You won’t leave hungry.

Also available: Fried Soft Shell Crab Benedict on buttermilk biscuits with grilled tomatoes and spinach, topped with over-easy eggs, béarnaise and truffle buttered crab. $20.

Grilled Salmon Benedict on buttermilk biscuits with grilled tomatoes and spinach, topped with over-easy eggs, béarnaise and truffle buttered crab. $20.

Cheesecake Factory

thecheesecakefactory.com, 3545 Nicholasville Rd., 859-245-1519

Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Chicken & Waffles Benedict. Belgian waffle topped with crispy fried chicken strips, poached eggs and hollandaise. Served with maple-butter syrup. They had me at chicken and waffles. Outstanding! Don’t be a chain snob. Don’t sleep on this one.

J. Render’s Southern Table & Bar

jrenders.com, 3191 Beaumont Centre Circle, 859-533-9777

Brunch hours: Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Render’s Benny. Southern biscuit topped with your choice of smoked brisket or ham, poached eggs with hollandaise sauce and smoked paprika. Served with choice of potatoes. $13.

Go for the brisket. It’s J. Render’s after all. You have to go for the brisket. ‘nuff said!

OBC Kitchen

obckitchen.com, 3373 Tates Creek Rd., 859-710-6680

Brunch hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Crab Cake Benedict. Crab cakes, toasted English muffins, arugula, fried green tomatoes, soft poached eggs, hollandaise sauce. Served with choice of breakfast potatoes, cheese grits, or honey balsamic greens. Includes complimentary biscuits and jellies. $22. A crab cake adds a feeling of a luxurious twist to a basic Benedict and the fried green tomato is ostensibly Southern for that homegrown touch.

Zim’s Café

ZimsCafe.com, 215 W. Main St., Suite 25 (Inside the Old Courthouse), 859-785-3690

Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bluegrass Benedict. Toasted Midway Bakery biscuit, pimento cheese, country ham, poached eggs, hollandaise with cheese grits and a half side salad. $15.

Chef Ouita Michel explains what makes the dish so popular. “Our Bluegrass Benedict is a variation on one that we originally served at Holly Hill Inn. The country ham and pimento cheese are what put the ‘Bluegrass’ into the Benedict — and we subbed a biscuit for the English muffin just for fun.”

“We want Zim’s to be a family-friendly place, where folks can enjoy an affordable meal that includes local ingredients like fresh farm eggs, biscuits made with Weisenberger Mill flour, and little luxuries like handmade hollandaise. We whisk every batch of hollandaise by hand, following a recipe that was developed at Holly Hill Inn many years ago. That recipe is on our website, and Holly Hill executive chef Tyler McNabb takes you through the process step-by-step. But don’t skimp on the fresh lemon juice! Along with all that handiwork, it’s what makes hollandaise so special.”

Other options to check out in Lexington:

33 Staves, Bluegrass Bendict. Two eggs, country ham, collard greens, biscuit, hollandaise, sliced tomato. $16.

Barn Door Grill & Bar, Eggs Benedict. Two halves of an English muffin topped with Canadian bacon, poached egg, and hollandaise sauce. $11.95.

Brontë Bistro inside Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Eggs Benedict. Two poached eggs on fresh tomato slices, grilled ham, and a toasted English muffin, topped with hollandaise and served with a side of fruit and hash brown casserole. $17.50.

Veggie Benedict. Two poached eggs on fried green tomatoes, avocado slices, and a toasted English muffin, topped with hollandaise and served with a side of fruit and hash brown casserole. $17.

Dudley’s on Short, Classic. English muffin, country ham, slow roasted tomato, hollandaise. $17.

Gravlox. Cured salmon, trout dip, maltaise, pickled red onion, everything seasoning. $16.

Crab Cake. Arugula, tomato, remoulade. $23.

DV8 Kitchen, Southern Eggs Benedict. Poached eggs, smoked ham, fried green tomato, hollandaise sauce and scallions, on a Southern biscuit. $8.95.

Epping’s on Eastside, Eggs Benedict. Polenta cakes, crispy Prosciutto de Parma, poached eggs, provolone mornay, mixed greens. $15.

Fiddletree, Eggs Benedict. English muffin, poached egg, red eye hollandaise, small salad. $18.

First Watch, Choice of Classic Benedict, $13.99; Florentine Benedict, $13,79; BLT Benedict, $13.79; or Smoked Salmon Benedict; $15.79.

Granddam at The Manchester Hotel, Lump Crab Benedict. Jumbo lump crab, panko, heirloom tomato, poached egg, brown butter hollandaise, English muffin, home fries. $36.

Honeywood, Eggs Benedict. House English muffin, two poached eggs, shaved country ham, pimento cheese & hollandaise with a simple green salad and crispy breakfast potatoes. $16.

Josie’s, Traditional Eggs Benedict. Two poached eggs on a toasted English muffin with Virginia ham and hollandaise. $17.50.

Florentine Eggs Benedict. Sauteed spinach, poached eggs, roasted red peppers, smoked cheddar on an English muffin and hollandaise. $17.50.

Lockbox at 21C Hotel, Eggs Benedict. Buttermilk biscuit, city ham, hollandaise, mixed greens salad. $16.

Merrick Inn, Classic Benedict. Two poached eggs atop two toasted English muffin halves, with thick-sliced country ham steaks, topped with house made hollandaise, and fresh herbs. Served with choice of Merrick’s arugula salad or red skin breakfast potatoes. $19.

Filet Benedict. Two poached eggs atop two toasted English muffin halves, with 4-ounce of hand-cut filet, topped with house made hollandaise, and fresh herbs. Served with choice of Merrick’s arugula salad or red skin breakfast potatoes. $25.

Crab Cake Benedict. Two poached eggs atop two toasted English muffin halves, with two of Merrick’s crab cake medallions, topped with house made creole hollandaise. Served with choice of Merrick’s arugula salad or red skin breakfast potatoes. $25.

Palmers Fresh Grill, Country Benedict. Smoked ham, pan seared smoked gouda grits, buttermilk biscuit, tomato, poached eggs, hollandaise, brunch potatoes or fresh fruit. $15.90.

Crab Benedict. Pan seared crab cakes, poached eggs, hollandaise, chipotle aioli, brunch potatoes or fresh fruit. $18.90.

Sedona Taphouse, Chesapeake Crab Benedict Organic poached eggs, crab meat, fresh hollandaise, fresh baked buttermilk biscuit. Breakfast potatoes and grilled asparagus. $18.90.

Sausage Benedict Organic poached eggs, sage sausage patties, fresh hollandaise, fresh baked buttermilk biscuit. Breakfast potatoes and grilled asparagus. $13.90.

Bacon Eggs Benedict Organic poached eggs, cherry-wood smoked bacon, fresh hollandaise, fresh baked buttermilk biscuit. Breakfast potatoes and grilled asparagus. $13.90.

Florentine Benedict Organic poached eggs, grilled tomato, steamed spinach, fresh hollandaise, fresh baked buttermilk biscuit. Breakfast potatoes and grilled asparagus. $11.90.

Stella’s Kentucky Deli, Eggs Benedict special changes weekly. $13.95.

Wild Eggs, Eggs Bennie. Grilled English muffin, Canadian bacon, poached eggs, fresh hollandaise and smoked paprika. $13.49.

Corned Beef Hash Bennie. Ironed hash-brown casserole, seasoned lean corned beef, sautéed onions, bell peppers. Topped with poached eggs and Russian hollandaise sauce. $13.99.

Veggie Bennie. English muffin, sautéed spinach, tomatoes, garlic poached eggs, fresh hollandaise and smoked paprika. $13.49.

California Bennie. Grilled English muffin, avocado, smoked turkey, grilled tomato, topped with poached eggs, fresh hollandaise, chopped bacon and smoked paprika. $13.99.

Steak Bennie. Seared sliced steak, poached eggs on an grilled English muffin topped with fresh hollandaise. $19.99.

Each served with choice of side.

Winchell’s Restaurant & Bar, Hot Brown Benedict. Two English muffins with turkey, sliced tomato and two eggs any style. Topped with mornay cheese sauce, bacon and parmesan cheese. $17.99.