Bite Club: Marion’s Brunch, Please! experience brings people together through food, music and joy

MARION — “If you’ve ever been to a nightclub and thought, You know what this place needs? French toast and bacon, then this is the place for you.”

That was the text I got from Delaware Source editor Brittany Schock after her visit to Brunch, Please! a few weeks ago.

The spot, which has sold out over 90 events, draws visitors from all over the country and has been on my bucket list for a while.

My first thought upon seeing one of their videos was, That looks like a lot of fun. Women danced on chairs and sang at the top of their lungs, all before noon. 

I wondered if it was actually like that in person. And then, almost immediately after, I wondered if the food was good; I am a food columnist after all. 

Brunch, Please! transforms the historic Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen dining room into a high-energy experience unlike anything else in the building’s history. Thumping music fills the space while a disco ball turns overhead, and the DJ booth is cast in the warm glow of a neon bear.

It didn’t take long to realize what I’d seen online was real, and somehow even more powerful in person.

The experience raised a simple question: How did this all start? Owner Alex Sheridan provided the answer.

The story behind the experience

When Bucci’s first began offering brunch, business was slow. Alex decided to try something different, bringing his years of experience as a DJ into the restaurant.

“I have been a D.J. for about 20 years now, and I have always just really enjoyed music and what it can do for people and energy,” Alex said.

In the summer of 2025, Alex tested the idea by hosting a brunch that combined food and music. The response was immediate.

“It was packed, like completely packed, and all of the feedback that we got from everybody was like, ‘Holy crap, this was just so much fun,’” he said. 

What began as an idea to combine brunch and music quickly became something much bigger: a place where anyone could let their guard down and simply enjoy themselves without feeling judged.

“It’s not about the food, it’s not about the music. Those are just a vessel for the real product, which is collective joy,” Alex said. “That’s why people are coming, to be happy with other people.”

What’s for brunch?

Alex is the first to admit the menu isn’t designed to steal the spotlight.

“Changes that we’ve made have been for speed and ease of service,” Alex said. “There’s 130 people coming in within 20 minutes of each other, all ordering around the same time. That’s really difficult to execute within the kitchen in a timely manner.”

That’s not to say the food isn’t good. The menu focuses on familiar brunch favorites that can be served consistently while keeping pace with the energy in the room.

Our table sampled a mix of sweet and savory items. A breakfast burrito, hash bowl, and French toast bake offered something for everyone.

The hash bowl was my favorite: a hearty mix of crispy potatoes, bacon, sausage, Asiago, and eggs that combined the savory flavors and textures I enjoy in a breakfast bowl. 

The breakfast burrito carried many of the same elements. Scrambled eggs, sausage, and cheese wrapped up and finished with vodka sauce and banana peppers that added a bit of brightness and acidity.

The French toast bake was inspired by crème brûlée, with rich, creamy custard-soaked brioche balanced by strawberry, granola, and a side of bacon for some savory contrast.

To drink, we started with the DIY mimosa kit, which was light and refreshing. But my favorite was the Tipsy Coffee, a dangerously good blend of espresso, vodka, cold brew liqueur, and vanilla that was creamy and well-balanced. 

From the plate to the party

But as much as I wanted to focus on my meal, I kept being drawn back to the party. 

At this point, a man had stepped up onto a chair and was singing “You’re Welcome” from Moana, while the crowd leaned in, laughing, singing, and cheering him on. The food was still in front of me, but it was no longer the center of the experience.

I think what I loved most about Brunch, Please is that everyone gets to experience it their own way. The staff was fun and full of energy, moving through the crowd with a bubble machine, encouraging the room, and fully participating in the experience, but nothing ever felt forced. 

I was just as comfortable swaying in my booth as others were dancing around the room or singing along at the top of their lungs. There’s room for all of it, and you’re accepted no matter how you choose to engage with the moment.

Alex described it as collective joy, and it is easy to see why people keep coming back. Some arrive to celebrate birthdays, milestones, and life’s big moments. Others come because they need a few hours to step away from the heavier things in life, let loose, and feel like themselves again.

When I first saw the videos, I wondered if Brunch, Please! was really as great as it looked online. After experiencing it for myself, I can say the videos weren’t exaggerating. 

The joy was real, found in the moments when a room full of strangers came together and felt free to share genuine happiness with one another.

The future of Brunch, Please!

That feeling is part of what Alex hopes to continue building with his next project. He recently shared a sneak peek of The Brunch House, a building just down the street that he plans to transform into a short-term rental exclusively for Brunch, Please! guests. 

A newly-painted mural by Goodboy Creative Solutions hints that the experience won’t stop when brunch ends.