OMG! Mamnoon starts brunch service

It’s a fine day when one of our favorite restaurants announces it is finally launching a brunch program. Effective June 18 — just in time for Father’s Day — Mamnoon on Capitol Hill is rolling out a Middle Eastern-inspired brunch menu that will make it way easier to get over the fact that they recently stopped serving lunch. It all makes sense now.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, chef de cuisine David Gurewitz will offer an array of egg dishes–and it’s not just trendy shakshuka. Look for sujuk hash, beef brisket dish with potato, onion, sumac, allspice, fenugreek and two fried eggs. I’m particularly excited that I don’t have to go to Westwood anymore – yes, in Los Angeles – for barbari, the Iranian flatbread flecked with sesame seeds. Mamnoon will make their own.

Other interesting items: Harees, a savory, wheat porridge with chicken, cumin, cinnamon and butter. Sides will include: Harra fries, Salatat al fawaakih (fruit salad), Arnabeit Makli (fried cauliflower with tarator sauce) and bagels, which will be made in house. Speaking of baking, pastry chef Carrie Mashaney will be rolling out some fantastic pastries and sweets, such as Halawet, a Lebanese sweet cheese with rose jelly and pistachio; Kaak, or slipper bread, stuffed with knafeh (toasted vermicelli, fresh cheese and orange blossom syrup) and her epic baklava.

Executive chef Jason Stratton will start offering brunch cocktails that match the Middle Eastern flavor profile, including pistachio sours and mimosas using the juices from Mamnoon’s sibling juice bar, anar. And in case you missed the news in May, Mamnoon now offers happy hour as well, from 4 to 6 p.m. daily, with specials like Mini Man’aeesh (lahm or zaatar) for $4; half Arnabeit Makli (deep fried cauliflower, tarrator, parsley) for $6; Harra Frites for $5; plus special prices on white, red, and pink wines by the glass and bottle, canned beer and cocktails.

Hooray. Carry on, Thursday.

Executive chef Jason Stratton will start offering brunch cocktails that match the Middle Eastern flavor profile, including pistachio sours and mimosas using the juices from Mamnoon’s sibling juice bar, anar. And in case you missed the news in May, Mamnoon now offers happy hour as well, from 4 to 6 p.m. daily, with specials like Mini Man’aeesh (lahm or zaatar) for $4; half Arnabeit Makli (deep fried cauliflower, tarrator, parsley) for $6; Harra Frites for $5; plus special prices on white, red, and pink wines by the glass and bottle, canned beer and cocktails.

Hooray. Carry on, Thursday.