Owned by the ThirstyBear people, Ron Silberstein and Ragnhild Lorentzen, Ramblas opened a few years ago to serve microbrews, decent Spanish tapas, pomegranate margaritas and cheap, fabulous wines, but they just started serving brunch. Before brunching at Ramblas, I would have recommended it more for its ambience, location, and bar offerings than for the menu. However, a recent brunch at Ramblas changed my mind. First, the daytime setting is incredibly pleasant. The dining room is sleek and peaceful, the staff and owners are friendly, flamenco music pipes in gently, and the Bloody Marys, flavored with dill, are only 3 smacks. The menu is varied and delicious, hitting the mark for the most part. Our table loved the Eggs Charles V ($9), a variation on the Benedict with jamon Serrano, spinach, lightly pimenton hollandaise, and fried onions: one of the best Benedicts of my life, no joke.

- Excerpt from Ramblas Brunch, Tapas, and $3 Bloody Marys by Tracie Broom