We’re calling it now – there’s a new star on the St. Pete Beach. We covered the opening of Sea Grapes Eatery + Wine Lounge in March, and they are absolutely a must-visit for dinner. Over the weekend, however, I got the first taste of their new Sunday brunch, and that 90 minutes of food and drink was one of the best culinary experiences I’ve had in some time.

More on the experience momentarily, but for now, the rundown: brunch is available every Sunday from 10 am – 2 pm, and while walk-ins are always welcomed, we do recommend getting a reservation to be safe. Sea Grapes is located at 6390 Gulf Boulevard, right next to Postcard Inn. There is parking available onsite, as well as ParkMobile spots, but it is also right down the road from a SunRunner stop, so you can combine brunch with a nice walk on the beach. If you show proof of riding the SunRunner or using a rideshare, they’ll take $10 off any bill of $50 or more.

OK, now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to the important things, like stuffed French toast. Chef Alex Rodriguez, who we know and love from Lolita’s and Sophia’s, has taken brunch standards and turned them on their heads, packed full of flavor and creative twists. The menu is small, so if you have enough people (or enough of an appetite) you can get a taste of everything.

The stuffed French toast is truly one of the best plates of breakfast food I’ve ever had, and it works very well as a shareable for the table. We got it as an appetizer and couldn’t stop taking bites, despite our best efforts to save room for entrees. The beauty is made from brioche, topped and/or filled with whipped feta, pistachio, a mango and date compote, Chantilly cream, maple syrup, and fresh fruit. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

Co-owner John Barkett passed along a recommendation for the crab cake eggs benedict, and it only took one bite to understand why. Poached eggs, delicious crab cakes, citrus hollandaise and a tomatillo-jicama pico come piled on top of brioche for a dish that both looks and tastes like a work of art.

And finally, unable to resist the urge to add potatoes to the mix, I ordered the short rib and eggs. Not only was the beef perfectly, fall-apart tender and juicy, but the combo of shishito peppers, chimichurri and a coffee-spiced mole added even more well-balanced flavor to the mix.

Meanwhile, Sea Grapes’ wine and cocktail program is, as always, one of the best around. I went for the passion fruit mai tai, though I’ll admit the presentation of the bloody mary gave me more than a little bit of order envy.

My only regret is not getting a chance to try the Cuban egg sandwich, but I’m more than happy for an excuse to go back. And for those future visits, Sea Grapes will begin valet service on May 5, offering $10 valet Friday-Sunday. The restaurant is also open for dinner Wednesday-Saturday.

What to read next:

• New restaurant from the minds behind Lolita’s and Sea Grapes debuts on St. Pete Beach
• Sunrunner will expand with new station in downtown St. Pete, and two new buses
• Lime bike rentals are now available in St. Pete, replacing Coast Bikes
• The Burg Brunch List