If you’re on the hunt for a great brunch spot, don’t overlook Border Grill’s Border Brunch. Chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken brought their modern “California-inflected, Mexican-inspired” concept to the Mandalay Bay in 1999. Yes, it is yet another pricey celebrity-chef restaurant catering to tourists, but take it from this local: The food was worth squeezing through tables of Minnesota football fans grabbing a pre-game meal. One week later, I’m still thinking about the perfectly crisp diablo chicken and churro waffle.
What makes the Border Brunch warrant a trip into tourist territory are the unlimited small plates, perfect for two people to share. Priced at $44.99 per person (more like $60 with a drink plus tip), it’s worth it if you’re ready to sample the whole menu. We tried getting all 16 dishes, but the servers were clearly overwhelmed. My advice: Go straight for the spicy chicken tamale and campechana if you are looking for something closer to traditional Mexican fare. If eggs are your favorite thing at brunch, this menu might not be for you: Whether it was the steak and egg or the birria hash and egg, the meat was the star of the dish.
Still, despite the struggling servers and mediocre eggs, the bites that were good were great. The citrus-cured salmon on the salmon avocado toast has made me a full-blown smoked-salmon believer. And if you want to really indulge in the brunchness of it all, add on bottomless mimosas, micheladas, and bloody Marys for $27.99. Just go after the footballers have left for the stadium.
