Written by Amy Stoltenberg
Photos by Katharine Rountree
Neon green geometric chairs, a cement courtyard painted with a hopscotch board and a large canopied patio surround the bright orange and green doors that mark the entrance to The Funky Brunch Cafe, located at 304 E. Broughton St.
Maude Hinley of Lowcountry Wallcoverings and Design and Graduate of SCAD was the interior designer in charge of the restaurant’s look.
Deanne and Trey Skinner opened The Funky Brunch Cafe a month and a half ago as an interactive, fun way to approach that interim meal between breakfast and lunch.
“We’re both foodies,” said Deanne. “We like to go out to eat. We wanted to encompass the things that we like about restaurants into one place, with a fun family atmosphere and a hands-on sort of experience. It’s fun food.”
That hands-on experience refers to the griddles in the center of the tables where guests can make their own pancakes using batter from a squeeze bottle. The tables are set up with a variety of toppings, from M&M’s and Reese’s Cups to fruit and granola so you can customize your pancake to taste—and look—however suits your fancy.
“People will come in and use the griddles to write their names or spell out words, and they take selfies of them or post them on Vine,” said Sean Jackson, a Funky Brunch employee. “It’s really cool to see.”
This eclectic energy is translated into the decoration of the revamped garage that houses the restaurant, with a retro-industrial vibe and with a green and orange color scheme. Much of the art—including the repurposed hurricane doors hanging on the walls—was done by local Savannah artist Rodney Duran, whom the Skinners connected with via Craig’s List. The hostess stand was a piece of metal they found in an alley and transformed into an eccentric, functional piece of art.
The griddle in the center of the table offers self-serve pancakes for an interactive and social breakfast.
The Skinners place a high priority on creating an atmosphere where families can come and relax, and this starts with cultivating a staff that is its own kind of family. Deanne acts as a mother hen to her employees, which consists largely of teenagers and young adults who may not have any family nearby.
“Deanne and Trey are very genuine about about wanting to treat the staff well, so I really enjoy working there because of how kind they are,” said Funky Brunch employee and SCAD student Jacquelyn Lippert, a marketing and advertising major from Stilwell, Kansas. “They also really care about the customer experience from the moment they walk into the store.”
The relaxed atmosphere is complemented by a full bar that opens with the kitchen, first thing in the morning.
“We have a full bar with bottomless mimosas, phenomenal Bloody Marys, and “lit up lemonade,” which is a hand muddled lemonade and vodka with basil,” said Deanne. “So, essentially, you can have your first drink at 7:30 in the morning.”
If flipping your own pancakes while nursing a bottomless mimosa seems too complicated a task, never fear: the Funky Brunch kitchen offers a full menu of prepared dishes, as well. Covering a full range of brunch offerings from “Mom’s Biscuit” with sausage gravy and a side of bacon to the “Zingy Chick,” a croissant filled with lemon-tarragon chicken, the menu offers both classic and specialty dishes.
Bright, galactic look with intense colors. Attracts all type of crowds daily for breakfast and lunch. Photo by Katherine Rountree.
Deanne’s personal touch to the menu is her “Funky Bread,” which she makes fresh daily: a brown-sugar-cinnamon concoction that is the Funky Brunch version of the regular restaurant bread basket.
For a DIY brunch experience with a side of family fun, head to the Funky Brunch Cafe and let the Skinners make you feel like you’re just one of the bunch.
The Funky Brunch Cafe is open from 7:30 a.m. – 2:30. p.m, Tuesday – Sunday.
