Without any further ado our January picks. Licking our New Year wounds with Mediterranean comfort food, big-ass brunch fry-ups and other egg-oriented pursuits. ***

Auto Bistro

This sunny bistro is from the people behind Wagas but the cool, clean interior feels a world away from the cookie-cutter design of their coffee shops. The brunch menu is short and sweet: two variations on eggs benedict (98rmb), scrambled eggs with smoked salmon (88rmb), scrambled eggs with baked tomatoes (78rmb) plus a few fry-ups with Mediterranean touches — Italian sausages, cannellini beans, potato frittata. The execution is pretty slick with healthy portions well plated and served with a smile. Brunch runs long, from 11am-5pm, and diners can also select from the larger lunch menu of salads, panini, pasta and risottos. The appetizer of Italian San Daniele ham with shaved melon was a highlight. The dining room is neat but casual and there are two long communal tables that would be perfect for groups of eight to 10. The bistro is still very new, an early arrival to the still rather sparse Jing'an Kerry center, and on our visit it was near empty. Large groups looking for a table at busy brunch times will probably find space here, at least until the word gets out. Sat-Sun 11am–5pm For a full brunch listing click here

Kommune

Kommune’s weekend brunch is an all-day affair that spills out to their back courtyard area. There’s no set menu, but there’s a range of mostly Western fare to choose from. Their most popular is the “Big Daddy” breakfast, which is, well, big and really quite good. Served in a shallow baking dish, it includes three eggs, bacon, sautéed wild mushrooms, roasted tomato, baked beans, a German pork sausage, hash browns, three slices of toast and a mini jar of fresh fruit. It’s 98rmb, and for an added 25rmb you get a bloody Mary to go with it. The “Avocado and Tomato Smashed” (78rmb) is perhaps a little healthier, served with two eggs on sourdough and feta cheese on top. Then there’s the “Bagel” (78rmb) with salmon and two poached eggs, rocket salad, dill and a schmear of cream cheese underneath. There’s a special option for kids, too: an egg and bacon omelet mini wrap with a mini crepe filled with smashed fruit and a dollop of cream and honey. These are 48rmb, but free for kids under 8 before 10am. Helpings are generous and filling. Drinks aren’t included in the price, but their juices are fresh and brought out in huge glasses and the coffee comes in oversized mugs. Kommune has got this cozy, relaxed atmosphere that tempts you to laze around all day. A major pull is the terrace, which is busy even in the winter months, thanks, in part to the blankets and hot water bottles Kommune provides. Sat-Sun: 11am–6pm For a full brunch listing click here.

Abbey Road

Brunch at Abbey Road occupies about a page of the menu and is of average to adequate quality. It comprises mostly omelets and other egg-focused fry ups. Think Greek (85rmb) or smoked salmon (90rmb) omelets and hearty dishes like steak and eggs (120rmb) with sautéed mushrooms and occasional Swiss elements like a potato rösti on the side. They also offer variations on that brunch power couple monsieur and madame croque (80 and 85rmb). The sandwiches are stuffed with dry-cured ham, rather than the more common cooked variety, giving them a richer flavor. However, for reasons not clear to us, they 86 the cheese and bechamel sauce. So purists be warned, these sandwiches might be drier than you're used to. All the same, you'll walk out reasonably full, as every main comes with a choice of muesli, corn flakes or a fruit bowl. Long hours (10am– 4pm) and a covered patio don't hurt either. Sat–Sun: 10am-4pm For a full brunch listing, click here.

Oyster House

Oyster House's weekend offerings skew more toward the lunch end of the spectrum, but they do offer a few distinctively brunch-y bits. Eggs Pontchartrain (pictured above, 70rmb) is a highlight among them. Named after the famed lake just outside of New Orleans, it's basically a single egg Benedict with grilled artichoke a sprinkling of creole spices. It comes with a crispy, creamy deep-fried oyster. And yes, it is shucked to order. Other options include a four-egg omelet (60rmb) with hash browns and toast or an open-faced ahi tuna melt with Emmental cheese (80rmb). Supplementing that is a larger list of lunch options like mini lobster rolls (70rmb) or oyster po' boy sliders as a well as a rotating selection of fresh oysters on the half shell. Also, service lasts from 11.30am–5pm, making it an ideal option for late risers. Sat–Sun: 11.30am–5pm For a full listing click here. --- All brunch listings on SmartShanghai here.