Drag Queens and brunch go together like Champagne and OJ. One of the most popular drag brunches in the area happens every Saturday and Sunday in Wynwood…Miami’s Art District…at a restaurant called R House.
After many years of wintering in South Florida, chef Rocco Carulli left his Provincetown restaurant, Edwige At Night, to start a new endeavor in sunny Miami. R House opened in January of 2014 and has been plating up delicious Latin cuisine to trendy folks ever since.
While the entire menu looks delicious (maybe I’ll do another visit to review that), this article will concentrate on the weekly weekend brunches. This wildly successful drag brunch was launched on Sundays in 2015 and rapidly became so successful that, soon after regional drag diva took over production in 2016, it was expanded to include Saturdays too.
Always glamourous and witty, Athena emcees the show with style and panache in this indoor/outdoor space. Popular drag entertainers like T.P. Lords, Fantasia Royale GaGa, Morphine Love and Angie Ovahness (among others) sashay between tables of guests dining on delicious brunch fare while sipping bold, bottomless beverages.
Common folk and celebrities alike can all be spotted regularly at R House’s drag brunch. Gloria and Emilio Estefan have celebrated birthdays there. Lovable Republican commentator, Ana Navarro, celebrated her bachelorette party at brunch. TV host Padma Lakshi and beauty gurus Nikita Dragun and Patrick Starrr have also made appearances.
R House recently launched its brand new drag brunch experience package which is one set price for all guests – $50. The package includes of course a seat at the jaw-dropping show, bottomless drink options including unlimited mimosa, white wine sangria or mojitos, plus a family style food menu including 6 dishes that are served to all guests to share and enjoy. Miami tourists and locals alike are now feasting on chimichurri cheeseburger sliders, cinnamon French toast with guava syrup, and Cuban breakfast croissants with mojo pork to name just a few of the options. Why choose one dish when you can have everything?! It’s a darn good deal at one simple price.
Our vegan friends haven’t been forgotten and can enjoy a savory veggie paella bowl or a sweeter banana berry acai bowl, plus quinoa salad and some of the best Cuban rice and beans in town.
Still haven’t had enough? Add premium appetizers including sweet chili chicken wings ($8), truffle Parmesan hand cut fries ($9) or guacamole ($8). Further indulge in desserts like passion fruit three milk cake with caramel sauce ($10) or homemade chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce ($14).
Owners Owen Bale and Rocco Carulli mentioned that the reason for this new menu format was to make food service faster in response to social distancing practices. With a strong emphasis on providing a safe and socially-distant environment for guests, the husband-business partners wanted to speed up food service so that guests can have more time to arrive and check out at the start and end of the show at their leisure and avoid crowds.
Reservations are required for the 11:30 and 2:30 brunch seatings, because most shows do sell out at least a week in advance. You can make yours online using the reservations button on the R House website rhousewynwood.com .
Can’t make it to brunch? R House is open for dinner and a lively happy hour Wednesday and Thursday from 4pm to 10pm, and Friday and Saturday 4pm to midnight.
R House is located in the Wynwood Arts District near downtown at 2727 NW 2nd Avenue in Miami. The phone number is 305-576-0201. There is a paid parking lot directly across from the restaurant and some on street parking is also available. Be sure to feed the meter, because you won’t want to leave!
