A drink is just a drink, except when it's brunch. Then it's day-drinking galore: mimosas, Bloody Marys, micheladas, bellinis, and even “breakfast” beers exist. Normally a morning concoction is meant to either sip leisurely or nurse a hangover; it isn't about getting smashed while the sun is out (but we suppose sunglasses while seated on the patio is standard uniform for such activity). So when we ended up at Stacked for their brekkie, we weren't expecting a cocktail list beyond the usual suspects.
Both breakfast and breakfast cocktail menus are exclusive to the chain's Huntington Beach locale, making this branch more special than the rest. Our eyes settled on their Breakfast Shot. Served in two parts, it starts with a mix of Butterscotch Schnapps and Jameson. Throw that back, and it's on to the chaser: squeezed OJ, plus a strip of crisp bacon. Like Wonka's three-course dinner chewing gum, the first sip reminds us of pancakes and syrup. Then you get the salt and acidic hit from the next glass. It's a complete (liquid) meal, minus the silverware— simple, yet effective and delicious!
Stacked: Food Well Built, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, (657) 845-2100; www.stacked.com.
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.