How to choose a good brunch spot

A good brunch spot has fresh food, a room you can talk in and a kitchen that is still serving when you arrive. You can judge most of that from your phone before you leave the house, by reading recent photographs, checking the hours and looking at how the place copes at weekends. Here is how.

Look at the plates

Photographs from separate visits tell you more than a star average. Look for eggs that look the way you like them, bread that looks fresh and portions that match the menu. If every photo is the same dish, the kitchen may have one strong plate. If the photos are all years old, the menu may have changed.

On Mosey, ratings come with photographs from the people who ate there. Browse a few from the last few weeks.

Check the hours

Brunch is not a fixed meal. Some places serve it only at weekends, some stop at noon and some run it all day. Check the hours on the place's own page. If a listing has not been claimed, the hours may be wrong, so ring if it matters.

Read the not-so-good ratings

A rating that says the service was slow or the room too loud is useful. Look for patterns. One complaint is an off day. Five complaints about the same thing are a feature.

Think about the crowd

Weekend brunch is busy, and popular places have queues. Go early, or choose a weekday if you can. Book if the place takes bookings. If it does not, arrive before the rush and be ready to wait. Our guide to brunch in Dublin goes into more detail.

Match the place to the group

A couple wants a different room from a group of six. A family with a buggy needs space. Check the seating, the noise level and whether the place has a children's menu. Raters often mention these things.

Dietary needs

If you avoid meat, gluten or dairy, look at the menu in advance and ask the place how it handles your need. Do not assume a vegetarian dish is free of meat stock or cooked on a clean surface. A good kitchen will answer clearly.

Coffee and drinks

Brunch is as much about the coffee and the juice as the plates. If you care about coffee, look for places tagged for it. Our guide to finding a great coffee shop explains the signs.

Payment and bills

Brunch for a group can be awkward at the end. Ask whether the place will split the bill and how. Agreeing on this before you order saves time.

A worked example for a Saturday

Suppose four of you want brunch on a Saturday. Pick two candidates the evening before, and check the hours, the seating and whether either takes bookings. Choose the one that suits the whole group, tell it the number and any dietary needs, and book the earlier slot if you can, because the first sitting is usually calmer. Have the second candidate ready in case the first is full, and agree where you will meet.

What to do while you wait

If there is a queue, put your name down and ask for an honest estimate. Use the time to look at the menu so that you order quickly. If the wait is long, ask whether there is a counter seat. A good brunch is worth a short wait, but not an hour on the pavement with a hungry group.

After the meal

Rate the place and mention what you ordered. It helps the next person choose.