Stealthily becoming an eclectic and noteworthy dining destination, Pittsburgh is bursting at the seams with everything from quality fine dining restaurants to economical gourmet casual eateries. The stalwart Eleven restaurant has been around the block for a few years, flaunting its tony seasonal American cooking from the heart of the Strip District. Housed in a refurbished warehouse, the interior is anything but industrial. Sky-high walls support towers of wine bottles and elegant touches like a bronze bust and classically patterned tiled floor provide a quiet sophistication. Both convivial and intimate, the place draws parties of 10 celebrating birthdays or romantic duos embarking on a date.

I joined my long-time friend Tara here for brunch and we indulged in Eleven’s $29 package of appetizer, entree and cocktail. Even before our appetizer arrived, a basket of naughty pastries landed on our table: hot-out-of-the-oven muffins, biscuits and croissants accompanied by sweet butter and chunky raspberry jam. The carb carnival continued with our matching appetizer: the “Grilled Sticky, ” a sweet and salty brioche interlaced with cinnamon and doused in icing and bacon butterscotch. Heavenly!

I guess you could say we clung to the mantra, “dessert first” that afternoon because we couldn’t wait to get our hands on our savory entrees to offset the cloyingly sweet flavors on our palates. Tara ordered a hearty cheddar omelet with fingerling potatoes and sausage, while I gobbled up a colorful plate of smoked lamb Huevos Rancheros. A crisp tortilla shell strongly supported a layer of shredded lamb, fried egg and a dose of refreshing tomatillo salsa. We topped our hedonistic brunch off with a twin-set of svelte Bloody Marys. Verdant green olives and a wedge of lime contrasted brightly against the lipstick-red spicy tomato juice. I loved the unexpected addition of pickled cauliflowers.

Spend a lovely Sunday afternoon on a quality brunch such as this, with all the trimmings. We all deserve puddles of bacon butterscotch in our lives after all!