The parking lot at The Star fills up fast on weekend mornings, and if you show up to Sixty Vines without a reservation, you already know how that ends. I started going to Hive & Honey on Eldorado Parkway almost by accident — a friend suggested it after a Saturday farmer’s market run — and I’ve been back probably a dozen times since. It’s the kind of place that does brunch without turning it into a spectacle.
Hive & Honey sits in a strip of low-key retail near the intersection of Eldorado and Legacy, which means it’s easy to overlook if you’re not specifically looking for it. The dining room is smaller than you’d expect, maybe 60 seats, with warm wood tones and a bar that faces an open kitchen. It doesn’t feel curated so much as it feels considered — like someone made real decisions about what mattered and then stuck with them.
Order the chicken and waffles if you’re only going once. The chicken is brined overnight, fried to order, and served with a wildflower honey drizzle that earns the restaurant its name. The waffles themselves are a little crisp at the edges and soft in the middle — not the kind that go limp under the weight of the toppings. If you’re going savory, the smoked salmon Benedict comes on a pretzel croissant that I’m still thinking about. The hollandaise is light enough that it doesn’t bury everything underneath it.
Drinks are worth your attention. The brunch cocktail list runs about eight options; the Bee’s Knees — a riff on the classic with local honey and a lavender tincture — is easy to drink and not overly sweet. If you want something non-alcoholic, they do a surprisingly good house-made grapefruit soda that pairs well with the richer dishes.
Prices are reasonable for Frisco, which sometimes trends toward charging for the zip code as much as the food. Entrees run $14 to $22, cocktails are $12 to $15, and a couple can eat a full brunch with drinks for around $70 before tip. It’s not cheap, but it feels fair.
The service is attentive without hovering. On my last visit, a Saturday around 11 a.m., there was a short wait — maybe 20 minutes — but the host took my number and texted when the table was ready, which meant I could walk next door for a coffee instead of standing around. They don’t do reservations on weekends, which is the one thing I’d change if I could, but showing up before 10:30 usually means you’re seated quickly.
If you have kids, they’ll be comfortable here. The menu has a smaller-portion section that goes beyond the usual nuggets-and-pancakes routine — my nephew ordered a mini avocado toast with a fried egg and ate every bite. That’s not nothing.
Hive & Honey isn’t trying to be anyone’s favorite Instagram backdrop, and it’s better for it. The food is consistent, the room is comfortable, and they treat the craft of a weekend brunch with actual seriousness. In a city where new restaurants tend to arrive already shouting for your attention, this one has been quietly earning it.
