Ruby Sunshine, a New Orleans-inspired brunch restaurant, is now open in South End. It’s located at 322 W. Bland St., across from Seoul Food and next to Lost & Found.
The restaurant, which is the first Ruby Sunshine location to open in North Carolina, is the latest concept from the Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group — the collective behind the acclaimed New Orleans-based eatery Ruby Slipper Café.
Background: In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Jennifer and Erich Weishaupt transformed an old corner store in New Orleans into Ruby Slipper Café. In the years since, the husband-and-wife duo have expanded across the U.S.
Food: Expect breakfast and brunch classics like eggs Benedict, French toast, and buttermilk pancakes. Here are the highlights:
- Benedicts ($14-$16) – Eggs Cochon, Chicken St. Charles, Bayou Shrimp
- Bananas Foster French Toast ($13)
- French Toast Bites ($10)
- Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Pancakes ($12)
- Buttermilk Biscuit Sliders ($15 for four) — hot sausage, fried chicken and gravy, Cochon, cheeseburger
- Breakfast sandwich ($8)
- Build-your-own omelet ($10+)
Drinks: It wouldn’t be brunch without a mimosa or Bloody Mary. Here’s Ruby Sunshine’s offerings:
- Big Easy mimosa ($10) – sparkling wine, orange juice, and pomegranate juice
- Peach bellini ($10)
- Bloody Mary ($10) – this uses bacon-infused vodka FYI
- Morning margarita ($10)
- Brandy milk punch ($10) – brandy, milk, cream, vanilla syrup, nutmeg
- Boozy iced coffee ($10) – vodka, cold-brewed French Truck coffee, milk and cream, vanilla syrup, and whipped cream
Here’s a closer look at the menu and the Ruby Sunshine space.
Bloody Mary (uses bacon-infused vodka btw)
French toast bites
Eggs benedict trio
Biscuit sliders ($15 for all four)
Local artist Sharon Dowell painted the “Spread Sunshine” mural
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