By Mallory Burns

Is there anything more glorious than waking up slowly on a Saturday morning, putting on the closest thing to pajamas that are socially acceptable for the general public, and rolling out the door in search of the perfect way to fill your belly? I think not. Brunch is one of the greatest gifts to mankind, and I’m here to take the guesswork out of the age-old, relationship-testing conundrum: “Where should we eat?”

This Saturday, take a step away from your go-to spots and make the trek to Bryant—trust me, it’s worth the drive. Maybe even use the extra windshield time to brush up on your carpool karaoke skills. Humbly tucked away in a strip of businesses on Highway 5, you’ll find your new favorite spot: Blue House Bakery and Cafe.

A relatively new space, they opened for business in September of last year, but they clearly have had enough time to work out those new restaurant kinks. This place has curated an incredibly pleasant atmosphere and experience from start to finish. From the first step through the front door it was like a breath of fresh air. The space itself is bright and airy while still maintaining a comfort and coziness that makes you feel like you walked straight into an inspiration board from Pinterest in the very best way. Fresh, white walls are contrasted by exposed brick walls, dark finishes, and a stunning open kitchen space with a handwritten family recipe for chocolate gravy hovering over the serve-yourself-all-the-free-refills coffee station. Think farmhouse comfort meets bistro charm meets grandma’s stylish kitchen.

Aesthetics aside, probably the most captivating part of Blue House is found in the friendliness of everyone you encounter. A family-run business started by sisters Jill and Joy, it somehow feels less like good customer service and more like you’re part of the family now (but it’s a family you really want to be a part of, for those still recovering from Thanksgiving table political debates). We were warmly greeted by Jerry, Joy’s husband, and her son stood behind the counter, ready to take our order and answer any questions. You’ll always be greeted by a specials board, outlining the day’s featured baked goods and specialty latte, with a few entrees listed between.

Here’s where it really gets good. BISCUITS. AND. CHOCOLATE. GRAVY. Amen. Offered up only on Saturday mornings, this Southern staple is not for the faint of heart, but it’s always worth it. The cashier grinned as I did a few double takes from the specials board to Grandma Fern’s handwritten chocolate gravy recipe on the wall beside us. After confirming that yes, it is the same recipe, my mind was made up. I paired it with a side of hashbrown casserole for good measure, just in case I take up marathon training any time soon. Better get those carbs in now. My co-pilot went with a breakfast classic: Big Man’s Breakfast Plate, described as “our Dad’s go-to breakfast every morning.” Hard to go wrong with eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, and a biscuit. Two mugs of hot coffee and a darling wooden spoon displaying our order number in hand, we tucked into a quiet corner by the fresh flower stand and quietly observed the steady stream of customers walking through the front door, each greeted like they were an old friend.

Our food was delivered to our table quickly and matched up to standard set by the atmosphere. The Big Man’s Breakfast Plate did not survive long enough for a photo that didn’t belong in Sara’s Sh*tty Food Pics, but reports through mouthfuls of food included “mastered the art of bacon” and “eggs cooked perfectly” followed shortly by “can I try a bite of that?” The chocolate gravy was rich, velvety, and perfectly sweet. The biscuits were light, fluffy, and perfectly moist (sorry, there’s just no other word to use here…). The hashbrown casserole was just as creamy and cheesy as I wanted it to be, though admittedly I wish I would have ordered a side of bacon instead as my savory offset. That didn’t stop me from licking the bowl clean, to be clear.

I caught wind that the buttons & bowknots were worth finding the stomach real estate, so we tried a couple alongside a brown butter M&M cookie I saw on their Instagram story that actually inspired the trip. The baked goods did not disappoint. The buttons were just barely sweet, made of biscuit dough rolled in cinnamon and sugar. I could have eaten a dozen. The brown butter M&M cookie ticked all my favorite cookie boxes: warm, soft, and just a hint of salt to offset the sweetness.

On our way out, we purchased a fresh bouquet of flowers from the flower stand stocked twice a week by Nitzia’s Designs and perused the Grab-n-Go section where they sell soups, entrees, etc., making great use of excess from their daily specials. There is also a well-stocked retail corner that looks like Joanna Gaines hand-picked the items herself.

I don’t think there’s much else I need to say to convince you to give this place a visit. They’re open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m., serving breakfast until 10:30 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and Grab-n-Go selections are available until 5 p.m. Saturdays are breakfast only from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Give them a like on Facebook or Instagram if you want to stay up to date on their daily specials, or you can also browse their other menu items that are decidedly less decadent, like avocado toast and yogurt parfaits. Get ready to have a new favorite.