At the heart of the new Mad Donna’s menu is a fondness for heat and spice, no big surprise given that owner Rachel Fontenot originally hails from Louisiana. The new habañero mac and cheese ($12.50) has a liberal dose of the hot peppers throughout and a spicy crunch topping that’s offset nicely by the cream sauce. Then there’s the new Spicy Latina burger ($9.50), which is topped generously with hot queso and fresh jalapeños. The epitome of this new spiciness is the “Hades” hot wings ($6.25 for six, larger orders available). Where the “medium” and “hot” versions are made with a chili paste cut by butter and olive oil, the Hades version delivers that chili flavor without an editor and should satisfy even the most hardcore spiceheads. (If you’re not normally one for a mouth full of hellfire but decide to be adventurous and go the Hades route, count on a solid 20 minutes of burn from just one of these wings – they’re really hot.) While you savor the burn, take the time to enjoy the rich chili flavor that lies below all that heat.

If you’re looking for something a little different than burgers and wings, there’s still plenty to like about the new menu. The new mac and cheese roster is of particular note, sporting Pesto Chicken (pesto, spinach and chicken topped with Parmesan, $14.95), White Truffle (four-cheese bechamel sauce with white truffle oil, herb breadcrumbs and Parmesan, $12.95) and Mardi Gras (Cajun spices, Andouille sausage and mixed peppers, $13.25) offerings. Sweet potato fans will love the delicate sweet potato enchiladas ($10.95) and the light and delicious sweet potato fries ($3.95), which are served with a sweet chili sauce. The current seasonal special, a light pumpkin bread topped with cranberry sauce, will delight those who find themselves ruing the end of late fall every year.

The biggest hit of all, though, may be Mad Donna’s brunch offerings. Every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-3pm, six dollars will get you 2-for-1 Mimosas (orange, black raspberry, peach, pineapple or pomegranate) or a visit to the Made-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar. If you don’t require a strictly liquid diet before noon, you’re in luck: if the Captain’s French Toast (twice-dipped Provence Tuscan bread crusted with Cap’n Crunch cereal, drizzled with maple syrup, with a side of bacon, $8.95) doesn’t satisfy you, the variety of omelets ($7.95-$9.95), grilled turkey melt (turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, spinach and artichoke on Provence Tuscan bread, $9.50) or vegan MD Black Bean Burger ($7.95) just might.

You can download the lunch, brunch, and dinner menus as PDFs to explore further. Mad Donna’s is located at 1313 Woodland Street in the heart of East Nashville and is open Tuesday to Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday 11am-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm and Sunday 10am-10pm.

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Okay, so this auspicious portmanteau can’t really cure your springtime ailments. But it can distract you for an hour or so, which may be better than anything a doctor could prescribe. Brunch is a chance to get out of the house, take in a little piece of what the world has to offer and enjoy time with friends and family. Most importantly, though, it’s an opportunity to eat delicious foods and sometimes even drink before noon.

Here are a few of the spots in East Nashville where we’ve been known to drop in for a brunchy bite.

Marché on Gallatin Road

Marché

• Location: 1000 Main Street
• Hours: Breakfast: T-F 8am-11am, Lunch: T-F 11am-4pm, Dinner: Sat. 5-9pm; Brunch Sat. 8am-4pm and Sun. 9am-4pm
• Cost: $10-20 per person

Combining artisan foods with a relaxed atmosphere, Marché serves a variety of foods ranging from eggs and homemade sausage to roasted beet tartine. The staff is usually in good spirits, even on the weekends when they are busy – and they do get quite busy. Their coffee is strong (bless them), and they offer a variety of specialty beverages like blood orange mimosas and cucumber-sake Bloody Marys. Their menu changes regularly and never fails to impress.

Mitchell Deli at Riverside Village

Mitchell Deli

• Location: 1402 McGavock Pike
• Hours: T-Sat. 7am-7pm, Sun. 7am-4pm
• Cost: $10 per person

East Nashville’s semi-secluded delicatessen, this spot in Riverside Village is a great place for good breakfast without all the “atmosphere” which can often just mean snobbery. Mitchell’s offers a variety of delicious sandwiches as well as a breakfast bar charged by the pound. Tight quarters in the dining area are a drawback, but they do offer outdoor seating so you can enjoy a meal in the sunshine on nicer days. We first took a look at Mitchell Deli last year in A Drunkard’s Brunch.

Nashville Biscuit House on Gallatin Road

Nashville Biscuit House

• Location: 805 Gallatin Road
• Hours: Open daily 7:30am-2:30pm
• Cost: $10 per person

Our queen of greasy spoons, Nashville Biscuit House is not the kind of place you’ll want to take potential business clients or finicky eaters. What you will get at the Biscuit House is a traditional diner experience. Their coffee is a bit on the freeze-dried side, but the warm-ups keep coming. The staff members are usually chipper and not unknown to banter with patrons. If you’re more comfortable in jeans than khakis, this might be the place for you.

Pied Piper Eatery on Riverside Drive

Pied Piper Eatery

• Location: 1601 Riverside Drive
• Hours: M-Th 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., F 8 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat. 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sun. 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Cost: $10 per person

Serving dishes a notch above diner fare, many locals swear by the Pied Piper Eatery. While the food is good, it’s not going to wow anyone. Here you can get most of your classic breakfast foods: eggs, sausage, bacon, French toast (or “Freedom Toast,” as they call it), and a good cup of coffee all in an environment that’s a neat combination of hip and kitsch – let’s call it “hiptsch.” The staff is incredibly friendly, making it a good place to to take out-of-towners who are eager to find a roll-out-of-bed-and-get-some-pancakes joint with plenty of local charm.

Related posts:

1. A Drunkard’s Brunch: Mitchell’s Deli
2. Mad Donna’s New Menu Turns Up the Heat
3. Fresh Baked Tradition: Sweet 16th Bakery

Dave serves up sandwiches at Mitchell's Deli

I have to admit the decision was strongly influenced by tales about the proportions of their bacon. I was not disappointed. At Mitchell’s the bacon is cut thick. For 75 cents you get a triple-thick slice off the hot bar that is so intensely flavored that one or two slices is more than enough.   All of the other items offered on the hot bar were sold by the pound, making it a great option for getting only as much as you want at a fair price. The homemade sausage was good and I definitely will have to give their gravy a try next time. We also sampled some of their home fries, which were a mixture of regular and sweet potatoes seasoned with just enough salt and pepper to accentuate the sweet and starchy combination. The biscuits and the eggs were passable at best, but I’m extremely picky about biscuits and there isn’t much that can be expected from scrambled eggs off of a steam table.

While I was there I also had to sample something from their deli counter because it seems a bit ridiculous to go to a deli and not try their sandwiches.  I love bagels with lox to the point that I crave it once a week, so when I see it on a menu, I can’t resist putting it to the test. Served closed style, this sandwich was pretty traditional: cream cheese, red onions, capers, and tomatoes. I suspect their lox was actually smoked salmon, but it was quality, so I’m okay with that. The bagel was crusty and fairly dense; I don’t know why anybody would want it any other way. I wasn’t specific about my order, but being a full service shop, I’m sure they can customize.

The rest of the deli offerings looked appetizing and included roast lamb, sopressata, and mortadella, a wide variety of cheeses, and fresh breads. I think I even saw some olives. Overall, Mitchell’s isn’t the kind of place that makes a big show, but given the quality of food and the laid back atmosphere, which includes outdoor seating, they’ve established a strong foothold as East Nashville’s deli.

Check out the Mitchell’s Deli Myspace page here. Follow Mitchell’s deli on Twitter here.

Related posts:

1. Nashville’s Eastside Brunch Guide, Volume 1