Breakfast Delights: The Most Important Meal of the Day in the East Bay
Ask just about anyone and they’ll tell you breakfast is the most important meal. Do it up right, and it has the potential to set a wonderful tone for the entire day. Here are some of my favorite options for breakfast out on the town that are suitable for the entire family.
Hideout Kitchen & Café
LAFAYETTE – Aptly named, Lafayette’s Hideout Kitchen & Café is tucked so far back from the street, you have to look hard to find it. Give it a go, though. The menu is filled with farm-fresh options that will delight you.
I enjoyed the harvest scramble, which consisted of egg whites loaded with fresh asparagus, spinach, mushrooms, shallots and bell peppers. I opted for crunchy hash browns over country-style potatoes and added a side of apple-wood bacon to make my morning complete. Hearty appetites will love the chili cheese omelet made with homemade chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream and chives.
Breakfast starts at $10. Open Tuesday-Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours vary by day. Closed Mondays. Beer and wine only. TheHideoutLafayette.com or 925.900.8861.
Norm’s Place
DANVILLE – A Danville institution for more than a decade, Norm’s Place recently added Sunday Brunch to their menu offerings. If going out for breakfast is something you get excited about, you’ll jump for joy over the prices. Every dish on the menu is $8.
I enjoyed the All-American breakfast, featuring two eggs, bacon, country-style potatoes and toast which paired perfectly with a bloody mary.
Hungrier? Try the breakfast burrito filled with potatoes, poblano peppers, onions, scrambled eggs, shredded cheddar and jack cheese. Want to go lighter? The low cal quiche lorraine weighs in at just 210 calories per serving.
Open for breakfast Sunday, 9am-noon. Lunch and dinner is served Tuesday-Sunday. Full bar. NormsGrill.com or 925.552.6676
Denica’s Real Food Kitchen
WALNUT CREEK – With dozens of options on the menu, it’s no surprise that Denica’s in Dublin remains a favorite.
I took the international route on a recent visit, choosing Roma via Paris, which features three eggs scrambled with spinach, chopped tomatoes, fresh basil, mushrooms and topped with pesto and goat cheese. One of my favorite things about Denica’s is they offer roasted vegetables as a side. If you’re tired of potatoes, opt for a savory serving of carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes instead.
Tip: Denica’s chilaquiles with tortilla chips, salsa, scrambled eggs, queso and sour cream is a great hangover cure.
Breakfast start at $5.99. No alcohol. Additional locations in Livermore and Walnut Creek. Hours vary. ILoveDenicas.com or 925.829.6200.
Country Waffles
LIVERMORE – If you can’t find something on the menu at Livermore’s Country Waffles, you aren’t looking hard enough.
Page after page of breakfast items await you, including a fabulous meat lover’s omelet filled with diced ham, bacon, sausage, onions, mushrooms and bell peppers. Beware, it’s not for the easily intimidated.
The garden omelette and All-American breakfast make good lighter choice options. Or dive into the deep end and order the peanut butter and banana waffle. Just don’t look at the calorie counts. Or remember that you have all day to work it off.
Breakfast starts at $7. Open daily 6am-3pm. No alcohol. Two locations in Livermore and additional locations in Dublin and Danville. CountryWaffles.com.
