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Drew's Family Restaurant 2060 Ardmore Blvd.
Forest Hills
Locating ethnic breakfast fare is not as easy as you might think in a region brimming with ethnic diversity. Nor might you expect to find it at Drew's Family Restaurant in Forest Hills. It boasts a variety of "Ahhh!-Melettes," including the Ionian style, filled with fresh spinach, tomato and feta, or the Italian frittata, smothered in a tomato-based Italian sauce. Kids won't be disappointed either: Drew's Gushy Sandwich combines french toast, cheddar cheese and syrup all on the same plate.
The large dining rooms are located opposite both sides of the front counter, where there's unusually comfortable seating. This impeccably clean, family-run business that started under the name Dennis' in 1959 serves more than 1,400 breakfasts every Sunday to a standing-room-only crowd. Regulars are familiar with the quality of product that's behind every homemade pancake and impressive dish of corned-beef hash. It's not surprising that breakfast at Drew's is served all day, every day.
412/271-1556; 6 a.m.-midnight daily; breakfast all day; smoking/nonsmoking; cash/credit/debit
Eat'n Park
76 tri-state locations
You'd be hard-pressed to find a Pittsburgh native who has not passed through the doors of this locally founded institution. What started as one of the city's first car-hop restaurants along Saw Mill Run Boulevard has blossomed into a major chain.
The innovation of being served in your car was as big a hit then as Eat'n Park's signature Breakfast Smile, Grilled Stickies and Smiley Cookies are today. Each year the menu grows and changes with the times without sacrificing those original favorites. The newest breakfast selections include the Low-Carb Smile—similar to the Breakfast Smile, but minus the potatoes and toast, with 1.8 carbs. Or there's the Eat'n Smart Smile, made with Egg Beaters and served with a slice of fresh fruit and toast. The menu, offering everything from the famed Grilled Stickies (buttery little honey buns) and Eggs to french toast, oatmeal and omelets, always provides a consistent taste no matter which location you choose. Senior selections and a sure-to-please children's menu are always available.
open 24 hours daily; breakfast all day; smoking/nonsmoking; cash/credit/debit
While a plate of eggs and pancakes can be eaten any time, it is the exquisite, lavish smorgasbord furnished with assorted pastries, waffles, seafood and carved meats that creates another class of eating. Such bountiful meals were once reserved for the likes of kings and queens, who had not only the means but also the time to indulge in a leisurely afternoon of eating.
Guy Beringer, the writer credited with coining the term "brunch," discusses its benefits in an 1895 issue of Hunter's Weekly: "It is talk compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings; it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week."
Times have changed, but the desire for Sunday-afternoon brunching has not. Included here is a sampling of stately smorgasbords you'll find worthy of an unhurried hour or so spent with friends and family.
 Grand Concourse Restaurant
One Station Square
South Side
Dining in the grandeur of this vintage train station, with stained-glass-vaulted ceilings and marble and brass accents, provides for a truly elegant brunch experience. The buffet, as richly decorated as the interior, highlights salmon specialties, hand-carved prime rib, hot bar selections, made-to-order gourmet omelets and pancakes and assorted cold salads. The Kids' Corner offers PB&J alongside many other kid favorites. It is the pageantry of desserts, such as bananas Foster to apple dumplings and Key lime pie, that makes for a delicious end to this exquisite eating adventure.
412/261-1717; adults, $20.95; children 4-12, $8.95, children under 4, free; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; reservations assure timely seating Sunnyledge Boutique
Hotel & Tea Room
5124 Fifth Ave.
Shadyside
For a deliciously modish Sunday afternoon meal, take a retreat to this urban hideaway, which will make you feel miles away. Whether it's dining on the lushly hidden porch or in the romantic Victorian dining room of this restored 19th-
century mansion, this eating escape is sure to please. Sunnyledge's distinctive buffet features whitefish, couscous and tortellini salads, pâté de maison, quiche, grilled vegetable platters with feta, roasted turkey, seasonal fruits and an assortment of breads, muffins and desserts. In addition to the buffet,
brunch includes your choice of one entrée, from french toast with caramelized bananas to Maine lobster salad with caviar and avocado, or an omelet of your choosing.
412/683-5014; $24 a person; 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Iron Bridge Inn
1438 Perry Highway
Springfield
(five miles south of Grove City), Mercer County
Relax in the warm rustic atmosphere of this country inn while indulging in a banquet fit for a king. You might feel like a knight from the round table feasting next to floor-to-ceiling fireplaces and an array of mounted animals that decorates the interior. Brunch includes a buffet set with steamship round of beef and other carved meats, a breakfast hot bar with eggs Benedict, sausage and Belgian waffles until noon; thereafter featuring kielbasa, lemon pepper chicken, Shepherd's pie and Reuben casserole. Conclude your rural getaway with a trip to either one of the cocktail bars or dessert tables loaded with Boston cream pie, cinnamon rolls, cookies and fresh turnovers.
724/748-3626; adults, $13.95; children half-price; seniors, $12.95;
10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Wolf's Den Restaurant
291 Timber Wolf Run
(Interstate 80, Exit 53), near Knox, Beaver Township, Clarion County
Take a road trip with the primary stop entailing an afternoon smorgasbord amidst serene ponds and woodlands. A waterwheel welcomes you in the lobby of this impeccably renovated barn, which provides indoor and deck seating along the pond. Indulge in a selection of hot breakfast fare, made-to-order omelets, carved meats and seafood Newburg. The crepe station and bountiful selection of homemade desserts ensure that you go home satiated.
814/797-1105; adults, $12.95; children 4-10, $6.50; 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
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