Poste Modern Brasserie

Located on the ground floor of the luxury boutique Hotel Monaco downtown, the Poste Moderne Brasserie is a great upscale brunch spot.

Before you can eat the food, however, you have to find the entrance.

Although there is a sign for the restaurant on the corner that says, “Follow Your Nose,” my senses are apparently not up to snuff. When we found the restaurant, we thought we had walked through the back because there was no obvious waiting area.

My friend and fellow Hill coworker, Brendan Sasso, and I arrived at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday without a reservation and were promptly seated inside the spacious and modern 176-seat restaurant. The beautiful courtyard outside provides another seating option for guests.

Originally the site of the 1841 General Post Office, the room still has a few of its original characteristics — including high ceilings and skylights. The yellow, grey, black and white décor gives the restaurant a friendly-but-classy contemporary feel. Our service was outstanding — our waiter was polite, knowledgeable and professional.

Chef Robert Weland’s dedication to sustainable and organic food shows in the freshness of his dishes. He has even gone as far as maintaining his own organic garden on the restaurant’s patio so he can pick the produce the same day he prepares a meal.

I started with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice — the perfect healthy pick-me-up on a Sunday morning. As some of the servings are on the small side, it is a good idea if you’re hungry to have a starter or order a side dish. The starters include a granola parfait, a fruit plate, French onion soup, chicken liver pate bruschetta, and house-made doughnuts.

I chose the granola parfait filled with fresh berries, granola, and crème fraiche. For my main meal, I ordered the Eggs Hussarde — crisp potato skins filled with poached eggs and Holladay sauce, topped with two strips of savory bacon. On the side came a fresh salad and two grilled tomatoes. The meal was full of flavor and a great start to my day.

Brendan ordered the Farm Egg Omelet with cheddar cheese, mushrooms and herbs. He commented that although it was simple, all of the items were fresh and delicious. Other main dishes offered include French toast, quiche, grilled chicken Cobb salad, blackened steak and eggs, and seared tuna salad. The meals are on the pricey side but everything was great and well worth it.

The Brasserie serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and is open for brunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations can be made by phone or online at www.postebrasserie.com .

Brendan Sasso contributed to this article.