11 picks for brunch in Portland

It's 11 a.m. on a Sunday and you're ravenous for breakfast. Your impromptu overnight guest is insisting on lunch - at a nice restaurant. Rather than go your separate ways, potentially killing a budding relationship that could lead to happy ever after, decide to compromise from the start and hit up one of these 11 Portland restaurants for brunch. Feel free to relive the events of the previous evening while awaiting your orders.

1. Vignola, 10 Dana St. 772-1330; www.vignolamaine/main.html

Serving brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Expect choices like horseradish potato cakes ($5.95), smoked pork T-bone and poached eggs ($13.95), ricotta pancakes with spiced walnuts and bruleed bananas ($8.95) and bacon bloody marys ($8) - just in case a little hair of the dog is required. Vignola offers online reservations.

2. The Corner Room, 110 Exchange St. 879-4747; www.thefrontroomrestaurant.com

Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu offers Italian French toast made with custard-soaked housemade bread ($14), fried-to-order doughnuts ($5), antipasti platter ($18) and duck prosciutto bruschetta ($12). Call for reservations.

3. Sonny's, 83 Exchange St. 772-7774; www.sonnysportland.com

Brunch menu offered 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Choose from plates like eggs over rice and beans ($8), huevos rancheros ($8), Johnny's tri pork Cuban sandwich ($9) and biscuits and gravy ($10). Online reservations accepted.

4. Petit Jacqueline, 190 Exchange St. 553-7044; www.petitjacqueline.com

Serving brunch 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The menu includes salade Lyonnaise, petite dejeuner Francais (eggs, meat, potatoes, toast), patisseries and quiche Lorraine. Call for reservations.

5. Bintliff's, 98 Portland St. 774-0005; http://bintliffscafe.com

Featuring a brunch menu from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Options include gingerbread pancakes ($7.99), seafood bisque ($7.99), four-item frittatas ($9.99) and homemade corned beef hash ($10.99). Reservations accepted Monday through Friday only.

6. Five Fifty-Five, 555 Congress St. 761-0555; www.fivefifty-five.com

Serving brunch 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Choose from dishes like blueberry dumplings ($4.95), steak and eggs ($16.95), Bangs Island mussels ($10.95) and apple brioche French toast ($9.95). Online reservations accepted.

7. Blue Spoon, 89 Congress St. 773-1116; www.facebook.com

Offering brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The menu includes sandwiches, egg plates, salads and more and features blood orange mimosas. Call for reservations.

8. Caiola's, 58 Pine St. 772-1110; http://caiolas.com/

Brunch served 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Offerings include Irish cut oatmeal with cinnamon toast ($6), veggie benedict ($11), bacon, egg and spinach salad ($11) and smoked salmon croque monsieur ($12). Call for reservations.

9. Local 188, 685 Congress St. 761-7909; www.local188.com

Brunch offered 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Options include Caribbean spiced corned beef hash with eggs, smoked salmon bagel plate, pink grapefruit and grilled chicken salad and mimosas and bloody marys. Make reservations online.

10. The Farmer's Table, 205 Commercial St. 347-7479; www.farmerstablemaine.com

Brunch menu available 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Diners can select items like sweet potato and corned beef hash with eggs ($13), lobster and spinach benedict ($15), mac and cheese ($9) or chop salad with free range chicken ($12). Online resevations accepted.

11. The Front Room, 73 Congress St. 773-3366; www.thefrontroomrestaurant.com

Serving a brunch menu daily from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The menu includes biscuits and gravy with eggs ($7), steak and eggs ($12), potato gnocchi ($8) and a pulled chicken sandwich on foccacia ($7). Call for reservations.