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Doubletree Hotel 445 S. Alvernon Way READERS' PICK: The ubiquitous Sunday brunch is no more, but the leisurely tradition has been kept alive by a few of its finest originators, most notably the Doubletree, which extends opulent charm to in-town visitors as well as hotel guests. The lavish brunch buffet runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: long tables heaped with so many different platters and pastries you might think you've walked onto the set for one of those period movies with the impossible Royal Feast Sequence. In fact, you may consider the cost a king's ransom at $19.95 per adult ($16.50 for seniors over age 55, $8.50 for children five to 12, no charge for children under five); but it's the only meal you'll need for a day...maybe two. A chef's omelet bar, shaved-ice oyster bar, and carving station with lean cuts of ham, turkey and roast beef join the endless tables of seasonal, fresh fruit, desserts and pastries. Champagne (or any other drink you prefer) is included, and the staff does an excellent job of seeing that your glass or cup is never empty. Unless you'll be arriving with a party of six or more, reservations are generally not needed. READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: El Conquistador Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Road A REAL SCREAM: You may have to spend the week sustaining yourself on nothing but nuts and berries in order to save up enough cash, but it's worth it to attend Tanque Verde Guest Ranch's Sunday buffet, which the staff insists is "not a brunch." (Yeah, but when you wake up as late as we do on Sundays, everything is a brunch.) The $16-per-person price includes gratuity, tax, and lots and lots of strawberries. Big, plump, Willy-Wonka-would-be-jealous, you'd-better-bring-a-wheelbarrow kinds of strawberries. The rest of the buffet, which includes both hot and cold entrees and a salad bar, is equally incredible; we can't imagine a place where the eyes-are-bigger-than-your-stomach adage is more apropos. But the food is only half the appeal--the real joy lies in the locale, with its high wood ceilings, large-scale mountain views, and the lonely, meditative journey to the eastern tip of Speedway to get there (14301 E. Speedway, to be exact). When you're fully sated, step outside and sun yourself in the quiet, hospitable landscaping; or give your digestive juices a hand with an old-fashioned game of horseshoes. Considering a decent meal and a good round of horseshoes once constituted therapy in the Old West, $16 to regain your sanity is a bargain.
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