Astoria Cafe & Market’s Seasonal French Toast
Made with Stone Oven Bakery’s challah bread and topped with a ricotta custard, stewed apples and honey-cinnamon granola, this dish ($14) is one of the finer things on this brunch menu. “Doing a nice stewed apple to give it a little tartness to counter the sweetness of the cannoli filling on top of the French toast [works well],” says executive chef Cory Kobrinski. 5417 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-266-0834, astoriacafemarket.com
Cleveland Breakfast Club’s Stuffed French Toast
To make this decadent treat ($8.95), thick vegan brioche is dipped in an egg wash and crisped to a golden brown before chef Shawn Wynn packs in strawberries, blueberries and a rich cream that’s made in house. “It’s not an overwhelming sweetness to it,” he says. “It’s just right.” 13228 Shaker Square, Cleveland, 216-465-2053, clebreakfastclub.com
Hecks Cafe’s Baklava French Toast
This version ($12) blends comfort and sophistication thanks to thick brioche that’s coated in eggs, brown sugar and cinnamon. Once off the griddle, it gets topped with orange zest, whipped cream cheese, walnuts and honey rose water syrup. “[It has] a similar richness to cookie dough but there’s also cinnamon that hits your palate to balance out that richness,” says owner Fadi Daoud. 2927 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, 216-861-5464; 35514 Detroit Road, Avon, 440-937-3200, heckscafe.com
Wally Waffle’s Apple Pie French Toast
Loaded with grilled and glazed apples, topped with streusel and the option to add vanilla ice cream, the apple pie French toast ($7.99) brings fall flavors together for a dish that is delectable year-round. “Apple pie just has a nice cozy connotation to it and the flavor definitely entices people to order it again,” says co-owner Joshua Miletti. Various locations, wallywaffle.com
Yonder Brunch & Vibes’ Cinnamon Toast Crunch Killa French Toast
Inspired by his son, co-owner Michael Harris sears this dish ($11) to crispy perfection and then rolls each slice in Cinnamon Toast Crunch and then tops it with bananas, caramel and pecans. “The flavor of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch combined with the bread and the garnishes is just like a home run,” he says. 3859 Superior Ave., Cleveland, 216-465-3046, yonderbrunchnvibes.com
