The Standard

Gotta admit — The Standard wasn't even on wellfd when we decided to swing in for a late brunch. It wasn't on a list. It wasn't on a plan. It was one of those "let's just try it" kind of stops. And that's usually how the good ones happen. The kid is a fruit-and-basic-cheeseburger loyalist. No curveballs. No experiments. That's what she ordered — cheeseburger and fruit. She said it was fantastic, and the fruit was legitimately fresh. Not an afterthought. Not the sad, mushy filler some places toss on a plate. Bright, clean, actually good. Wifey kept it simple too and went with the CTC French Toast — cinnamon toast crunch butter and maple syrup. Not flashy, not complicated. Just comfort. She said it was filling and kept going back for another bite until there wasn't anything left. That's always the tell. I went in a different direction. Smoked Brisket Benedict. House-smoked brisket. Potato cakes. Poached eggs. Hollandaise. Grippo's BBQ dust. And I'll say this plainly — that dish changed my mind about The Standard permanently. The brisket had depth. The potato cakes added texture. The hollandaise didn't drown it. And that Grippo's dust? That's local swagger. It was creative without being gimmicky. Thoughtful without trying too hard. That was the moment I knew The Standard was going on wellfd. We topped it off with the donut waffle with fruit, which again just spoke to the creativity of the kitchen. Playful. Not precious. The kind of thing that makes you look at the table and go, "Okay, they're having fun back there." The space itself is a converted 1930s filling station and garage — and it still feels like one in all the right ways. Exposed wood beams. Chandeliers with red wrenches and crystal drops hanging off them. Tires stacked behind the bar. International flags strung from every rafter. The day we went, the Olympics were on the TV and a giant Bumble in a Team USA jersey stood guard out front. It's eclectic in a way that feels intentional, not random. Not trying to be polished fine dining. Trying to be cool — and it is. Now, I'm not saying I'd drive an hour specifically for brunch here. But I will absolutely be back. The mint espresso martini was another surprise. The server joked that he'd buy it if it wasn't better than a classic. I wasn't sold at first — mint in an espresso martini feels risky. But the twist was subtle and refreshing. Not overpowering. Not toothpaste-y. Just different enough to be interesting. It won't replace a traditional one for me, but it was a solid change-up. What really sealed it? Digging deeper afterward and realizing The Standard is owned by the same group behind Mama's on Main — the first restaurant ever to receive a "Worth the Crawl" rating on wellfd. That's not nothing. Same ownership also runs Otto's and Frida 602 — two other spots that consistently show up strong — and Larry's, which somehow isn't on wellfd yet but will absolutely be visited soon. So here's the real takeaway: Expectations were moderate. Execution was high. Creativity was real. Ownership pedigree checks out. And now I'm genuinely looking forward to going back and working through more of the smoked items on that menu. That's usually how you know.