Cozy’s Cafe & Pub | Facebook | T: @cozyscafeandpub | IG: @cozyscafeandpub)
6440 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd. (map it!)
Liberty Township, OH 45044
(513) 644-9365
Open Tues-Thurs, 4-9:30p, Fri & Sat, 4-10:30p (pub open later); brunch served Sat, 9a-3p and Sun, 9a-4p
During our weekend trip to Butler County to complete the Donut Trail, we did – believe or not – manage to fit some other meals in. We found some wonderful eateries around the county, and on our last morning there (before the obligatory trip to Ikea) we were invited to brunch at Cozy’s Cafe & Pub in Liberty Township.
Cozy’s Cafe & Pub is in a renovated house next to Cozy’s Cottage, another house that was renovated into a bar and restaurant. The two buildings form a small campus, with multiple patios, outdoor decorations, and a large parking lot out back.
We didn’t know what to expect when we arrived for brunch, but we were impressed from the moment we stepped inside the cafe and pub. The house has been renovated into a series of dining rooms, with a huge pub and patio extending out the back.
The building still retains the feel of a home, though, so the name “Cozy” is apt.
We were seated in the rear pub section, a long room ending with a bar at the back. Mrs. Breakfast w/Nick said it best, that every corner has been touched by design, from light fixtures to knick-knacks to table settings.
For the bruncher that has to have their Bloody Mary, there’s a Bloody Mary bar for assembling your own.
Plus a small menu of cocktails, like mimosas and screwdrivers.
Attention is paid to the kid’s menu as well.
We can never resist the lure of a good cinnamon roll, and splitting their Ooey Gooey Bacon Cinnamon Rolls proved to be a wise decision.
We can also attest to the quality of the Sriracha Bloody Mary. Artfully prepared, with just the right kick.
One of our favorite features was the brunch charcuterie board. Seriously, why isn’t this more of a thing?! Of course, we enjoy some great charcuterie in Columbus (The Table, North Country, Brier Hill), but I’d love to see it show up more at brunch. Served on a wooden board with handles, the dish featured meats, cheese, pickled veggies, crackers, a homemade English muffin, and the piece de resistance, a perfectly poached egg. I usually hesitate to use the word ‘perfect’ when writing, but this was probably the best poached egg we’ve encountered, especially for the charcuterie board. It was cooked to such a beautiful consistency, soft but not totally runny, so that the yolk was like a spread. We could go back just for this.
Of course, our boys weren’t turning up their noses at the Crunchy French toast. “It tastes like a donut,” said Will. (This is his photo, by the way.)
It was difficult choosing from the menu of skillets, short rib hash, omelets, salads, benedicts, quiche, sandwiches, and more, but our server helped with selections. The brunch menu is diverse but focused, and the chef has a pretty strict definition of farm-to-table, pulling ingredients from the immediate vicinity whenever available.
We narrowed it down to Cozy’s Southern Egg Benedict, layering grilled bologna and fried green tomatoes on grilled sourdough. It’s all pulled together by the expertly poached eggs and hollandaise.
We also selected the wild mushroom and spinach omelet, and we asked them to throw in some fried leaks we spotted elsewhere on the menu. It’s filled with an Ohio goat cheese, and was wonderfully creamy. The eggs were spot-on.
After we finished up brunch, we wandered the space a bit, marveling at the multiple dining rooms.
And the huge outdoor patio. It’d be great to come back and enjoy dinner outside or in the pub.
Next door we spotted the original business, Cozy’s Cottage, a separate establishment built out in an old house. The cafe and the cottage form quite the pair.
Our brunch at the cafe and pub was a wonderful finish to a busy weekend of doing the Butler County Donut Trail. If you’re exploring the area or even just passing through (the restaurants aren’t far off I-75), I’d highly suggest making a stop. I don’t know that we could resist that charcuterie plate any time we got close…
Full disclosure: the food portion of our meal was provided as part of our invited visit to Butler County. Photos and opinions are my own.
