From huevos rancheros to vegan fare, the Goat near New Albany not kidding about breakfast

The Goat has gotten into the breakfast business.

The New Albany-area store and three others in the 11-unit restaurant chain have introduced Morning Ritual, where customers can get coffee and espresso drinks, smoothies and a small menu of assorted breakfast bites and pastries.

The huevos rancheros ($5) is built on an open-face tortilla using black bean hummus, hash browns, grilled tomato, one egg, avocado crema, Sriracha aioli and cilantro.

“It’s actually my personal favorite,” said Alysha Coulson, business-development manager for the company, which is part of Lifestyle Communities. “It has a little kick to it.”

Another popular item is the vegan herbivore scramble ($7), offering a plant-based egg, roasted red peppers, red onion, diced tomatoes, spinach, fresh basil and baby greens on a vegan biscuit.

Also for vegans is their own breakfast sandwich ($6): plant-based egg, cheddar cheese and sausage on a vegan muffin.

Velca Grill:Family's passion for Albanian cuisine inspires Velca Grill

“The biscuit is homemade,” Coulson said. “It’s a very nice mix, very filling.”

All beans for the coffee drinks are sourced from Frothy Monkey, a specialty coffee shop in Nashville, Tennessee, known for its high-grade products, she said.

As for the signature drinks at the Goat, there’s the Spanish mocha latte ($6 for 12 ounces; $6.50, 16 ounces; and $7, 20 ounces) blends sugar, cocoa powder, cayenne, cinnamon and salt.

The salted caramel Cuban ($6 for 12 ounces; $6.50, 16 ounces; and $7, 20 ounces) combines homemade syrup and sweet condensed milk.

“It’s a very smooth drink,” Coulson said.

The Morning Ritual is available from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, while the coffee drinks are offered until 10 p.m. daily.

The store near New Albay is the original one in the locally based chain, having opened in 2005. It relocated to its current, upgraded location in 2017.

“All of our locations are a little different but especially our New Albany location has more of a variety here,” Coulson said. “We have a little bit of everything people want.”

For appetizers, the Goat is making use of jackfruit and homemade tater tots ($14), which are scooped into a ball and topped with the barbecued tropical tree fruit — which is said to have the likeness of shredded pork — white cheddar, jicama slaw, pickled Fresno peppers, avocado crema and cilantro.

“It’s something different,” she said of the dish.

Ayy Karamba:Intriguing international flavors make Ayy Karamba food truck a Hilltop destination

The Nashvegas burger ($16) is a top seller, with two smashed aged-Angus patties, spicy pimiento cheese, bacon, onion straws and whiskey sauce on a kaiser bun.

Korean fried chicken is gaining popularity across town. The wrap-sandwich version at the Goat has spicy gochujang, crispy chicken, Sriracha aioli, white cheddar, mixed greens, jicama slaw and green onion.

“It not too spicy,” Coulson said.

For a fresh take on tacos ($12.50 for three), the Goat hand-batters and fries halloumi cheese, which is garnished with corn relish, tomato salad, garlic aioli, pecorino cheese and cilantro.

“It’s the perfect amount (of cheese,” she said. “It’s not too much at all.”

The “devil on goatback” is no ordinary flatbread ($15). It combines white cheddar, pork belly, caramelized onions and dates.

“This one’s definitely different,” Coulson said. “You get that sweet flavor from the dates mixed in with that crispy pork belly and a little spice from the Sriracha aioli that’s drizzled on top,” Coulson said.

The Goat

Where: 5704 New Albany Road W, New Albany

Kitchen hours: 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mondays through Wednesdays; 11 a.m. to midnight Thursdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays

Contact: 614-939-5065, https://www.lcgoat.com/newalbany