Archive for the 'Breakfast Log' Category
Holly's Lighthouse Cafe in Pacific Grove, California
Whenever we go on our travels I always do a search for somewhere to get breakfast on the way. Our destination on this trip is Big Sur so I started my search in Monterey. One thing I check is the reviews and one place place really caught my attention – Holly’s Lighthouse Cafe in Pacific Grove. The reason being their oatmeal is made with steel-cut oats. We just had to investigate.
Pacific Grove is a nice little town. It is on the coast between Monterey and Carmel but a lot less touristy than either. Holly’s Lighthouse Cafe is on Lighthouse Avenue, which is the main street. There are a lot of interesting shops along the way but they are all closed at 7 am.
Holly’s Lighthouse Cafe is a charming place with huge plant pots outside the door. We were the first customers so had the pick of all the tables. We chose the one in the window.
It is not your typical diner – no booths at all but two, four and one eight seater tables plus four seats at the counter. All the tables have blue checked plastic tablecloths. Every table has a small vase with fresh flowers.
The menu is extensive and there are two boards showing specials. Of course I had the steel-cut oatmeal with toast ($5.99). As usual I asked for wheat toast and was offered a choice. They have a walnut wholewheat toast so I had to try that. Tom went for one of the specials, an Eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon ($11.25). The coffee by the way was very good ($1.75).
With ‘lighthouse’ in the name of the cafe, that was the obvious theme for the decor. A couple of large pictures depicted lighthouses and a shelf, which ran the length of one wall, was crammed with all manner of model lighthouses. Right next to us was a 4 foot high wooden lighthouse with shelves cut into it. Of course each shelf sported a model of a lighthouse. There were several other photos, including an old one showing the Winston Hotel which originally stood on the site. Also a large photo of Holly’s and a black and white photo of a surfer.
A local radio station played softly in the background. It is amazing how fast the cafe filled up and muted chatter was going on all around. Along with the cheerful server, it all created pleasant ambience.
My oatmeal came in a round bowl and it looked the real deal. The brown sugar and raisins were served in small white ceramic bowls and the milk in a small white ceramic jug. The walnut toast came on a plate with the oatmeal. Tom’s Eggs Benedict looked very attractive. Such a pity one of the eggs was a little undercooked and Tom found a hair in it halfway through his meal. My oatmeal was good but it could have been a little warmer. The toast though was crispy and delicious.
The restroom (directions, turn left at the lighthouse) was different. It was small and narrow but it had been artistically painted. One wall depicted ivy. The wall by the sink had a geometric donut and coffee cup and saucer pattern. On another wall a small portrait in a frame had been painted and the end wall had a window painted on it with a beach view. Almost unnoticed at the top of the painting was a small plane advertising Holly’s Cafe.
Would we go there again? Probably. I guess we were unlucky to have a hair show up in our food and we probably should have mentioned it at the time.
Holly’s Lighthouse Cafe
602 Lighthouse Ave
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
August 29 2010 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Java House Restaurant, San Francisco
The Java House Restaurant is somewhere not to miss if you are ever near AT&T Park in San Francisco. For one thing, according to the plaque outside, it has been around since 1912 and is the oldest eatery on the Embarcadero. Constructed entirely of wood, it is more like a shack. The outside is covered in posters, mostly to do with baseball, but also a poster for the movie ‘I Love You Man’. If it is good enough for Herb Caen and Willie Mays, then it is good enough for me.
Inside you order at the counter. The menu is very basic and I warn you in advance, it is a greasy spoon. All the egg dishes have three eggs so high doses of the wrong kind of cholesterol. Obviously no oatmeal. There were some specials on the board but they didn’t appeal to us. We both ordered the cheese omelet with hash browns and toast ($7.50).
Seating is in three areas, a couple of tables near the counter, a side room and six tables outside on the sidewalk. We chose the side room where there were three sorts of chairs. All the furniture was a bit tacky to say the least. One thing I noticed was the sticky floor (and the table top was almost as sticky). Can’t complain about the view though, as we looked out over a marina with a collection of desirable small boats.
What about the decor? It can only be called a hodgepodge. Beer adverts were everywhere including a Coors frieze going round the walls and across the ceiling. Lots of signed photos of Giants baseball players. One outstanding feature in the side room was a large cut out sculpture on the wall of a cartoon couple jiving, dressed in clothes of the fifties. I wonder if it has been there since then?
After a false alarm when we thought Tom’s name was called, we collected our food from the counter. It came on a pink plastic oval plate. The hash browns were more like country potatoes and the omelet didn’t look like it was big enough to have three eggs in it but what do I know? The toast was buttered and placed on the same plate. We had to go get some jam from a side counter. The selection was not great.
My omelet was a tad undercooked but it tasted fine. Tom really liked the potatoes and the coffee was OK. We cleared our plates though, with just a greasy film remaining.
I made the trip to the restroom with great trepidation, which turned out to be fully justified. It was not the worst but, in the recent past, I can only think of one other which was worse. Would we go there again? Not to eat I don’t think but maybe for the coffee.
Java House Restaurant
Pier 40, The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA 94107
August 13 2010 | Breakfast Log | 2 Comments »
Daybreak Cafe in Penn Valley, California
We had our day planned out but first we needed breakfast. Somebody had been told us that the Wildwood Center on Pleasant Valley Road had a cafe so, as it was just down the road from where we were staying, we pulled in to have a look. Sure enough, there was a cafe which served breakfast but it is only open Monday to Fridays and this was a Saturday. Next door there was a market so we went in to buy a bottle of water and asked the cashier where else we could find breakfast in Penn Valley. She gave us directions to one where Pleasant Valley joins with Highway 20 but, when we arrived at the location there was no cafe in sight. We followed signs into the town of Penn Valley and stumbled across the Daybreak Cafe.
It was a very welcome sight and we were greeted warmly as we walked in the door and told we could sit anywhere. This must be the only place to eat in the area because it was nearly full. Coffee was served straight away.
Oatmeal was on the menu, served with toast ($4.60), so that was my obvious choice. Tom went for the sourdough pancakes with two eggs and two strips of bacon ($7.95). The coffee was $1.50.
Inside it is very pleasant and almost as if you were sitting in somebody’s house because of the net curtains at the window. There were about 20 tables but no booths or seating at the counter. Ceramics is definitely the decorative theme. On the wall behind counter were about 50 mugs hanging on hooks. Displayed on shelves were utensils, plates, teapots and even a clock. On the walls were a couple of photographs. On each table were silk flowers.
My oatmeal was very tasty. Tom enjoyed the sourdough pancakes but buttermilk pancakes are still his favorite. The coffee was good.
For a change, Tom reviewed the restroom. It was outside and the key, which was attached to a huge wooden spoon, was hanging on the side of the counter. He said it was unisex, clean and basic. There were a couple of stenciled sayings on the wall but he couldn’t remember what they said.
This is definitely a place we would come for breakfast when we visit the area again.
Daybreak Cafe
17464 Penn Valley Drive
Penn Valley, CA 95946
July 17 2010 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Old Town Cafe in Grass Valley, California
Old Town Cafe is in the historic downtown area of Grass Valley. After our late night we woke up at 8.30 so we didn’t set out for breakfast until 10am. For us, that is very nearly lunch time! Neither of us was very hungry after our gorgeous meal last night but Tom needed coffee.
Grass Valley is the nearest fair sized town so that’s where we headed. We found a car park which gave us three hours of free parking and headed for the historic district. One of the first places I noticed on the way there was a shop selling pasties – could they be Cornish pasties I wonder? Decided to check on that later.
The historic downtown area in Grass Valley is charming. There is a long street, with a slight kink in the middle, lined with old buildings which have been turned into cute shops selling antiques, clothes, books, furniture and, most important of all, breakfast.
Inside the Old Town Cafe it was not large but very roomy. We were seated at one of the tables in the window. The padded seats were wide and comfortable and the table was just the right height, plus, being in the window, we had a good view of the street outside. There was only one booth, seven tables for four people and thirteen stools at the counter.
As they also serve lunch, the menu had burgers and sandwiches on offer. The breakfast selection spread over two pages but mainly consisted of egg dishes and a few pancakes. They did have oatmeal ($4.29) so that was my choice. Tom ordered chorizo and eggs ($7.00) with corn tortillas and salsa. There was a note on the front of the menu which stated that the Old Town Cafe was the oldest continuous operating eatery in Grass Valley.
There were lots of photos on the walls, mostly of Grass Valley in the gold rush days. On the wall next to me were three color photos of old custom-built cars. Apart from that, I saw nothing else unusual, quirky or off the wall which caught my eye.
My oatmeal was served in a small, deep, round, bowl on a tea plate. The milk came in a stainless steel lidded jug and the brown sugar and raisins in small ceramic bowls. The oatmeal was OK but could have been hotter. Maybe it had been sitting a while before being served. Tom’s chorizo and eggs was not bad at all. He asked for extra crispy hash browns and that is exactly what he got.
The restroom was through the kitchen and up some stairs. It was OK. The water did not get hot at all so that was definitely a minus point. There was a wooden shelf with three coat pegs. Fake ivy was draped over it and was wound round exposed pipes. You know I like quirky but on the shelf were some rather odd items – a roll on deodorant, an old carton of dental floss and a table knife. Umm.
The Old Town Cafe had some commendable attractions – location, good chorizo and eggs. On the minus side – lukewarm oatmeal and the cold water in the restroom. Would we go again? Definitely.
Old Town Cafe
110 Mill Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
July 01 2010 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Now for a completely different experience. The Samba Rock Acai Cafe on Water Street looks unimpressive from outside, apart from the bright green and yellow mural on the wall.
At first glance the inside appears extremely basic. The floor is unpainted concrete and the walls and ceiling are painted bright red and are covered in large, unpainted plywood in a mutlitude of shapes and sizes. Just inside is a large area to park your bicycle. Along one wall there was an uncushioned wooden bench. The tables were attached to the floor on a concrete block. Do you get the picture? But there is a great sense of happy-go-lucky, take us as you find us ambience about the place and before long we could see the beauty of our surroundings.
We were the very first customers and were warmly welcomed. The first question we were asked was whether we had ever had acai before. Of course neither of us had and I had never heard the word before and had no idea what it was. It was explained to us that acai is a berry which looks like a large blueberry but with a big pit inside and is found only in South America, especially in the swamps and floodplains along the Amazon. At Samba Rock Acai Cafe they buy frozen acai pulp as the base for their acai bowls.
Up on the wall was a list of the various combinations of acai bowls they serve, along with smoothies and yerba mate (what ever that is). Tom chose the Pele (after the Brazilian soccer player) in a regular size bowl for $8.22 whilst I went for the Mutantes (crazy Brazilian band from the 60′s and 70′s) regular bowl for $7.76. The coffee came in a very large mug.
We sat at a table and while I waited I checked the place out. Up above Tom’s head was the name of the cafe and underneath the phonetic pronounciation of acai (ah-sigh-ee). Several green potted plants were suspended from the ceiling and two vases of flowers and a potted orchid were on the counter. There were four photos on the walls and the only other adornment were a variety of posters advertising events and services which summed up the whole essence of Santa Cruz.
Our food was served in large bowls and it did look very attractive. On the bottom was the acai pulp, then came a layer of granola and on top of that the fruit we had requested. Pele was blueberries, bananas and strawberries and the Mutantes had pineapple, banana and coconut flakes. It was wonderful. The acai itself was very cold and had an interesting taste. The combination worked very well together.
By the time we had finished there were quite a few customers and they were very cheerful and friendly. One guy stopped and asked what we thought of acai and we chatted for several minutes. He is a real fan of acai. Apart from the portion he had eaten, he was taking another bowl with him and would eat it as he rode his bike hands free.
When I went to the restroom it was locked and waited outside for a few minutes. Then I thought that maybe one had to ask for a key to use the restroom and this turned out to be the case. The key is fixed to a hula hoop on the wall by the counter. Inside the restroom the walls were bare but as one wall was green, one blue, one yellow and the other neutral it didn’t seem to water. The facilities were OK and the water was hot.
Tom and I will certainly come back here again and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. We want to try all the different combinations of acai bowls.
Of course when I got home I checked online to get more information about acai. There is no doubt that it has a lot of good qualities but there are some wild claims out there that amongst other things, this is a superfood which can reverse diabeties and help you lose weight. I’ll wait for the scientific reports until I decide one way or the other. I also found out that yerba mate is a species of holly found in South America. The dry leaves and twigs are steeped in hot water and it tastes a bit like green tea.
Samba Rock Acai Cafe
291 Water St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
June 04 2010 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
The Lighthouse Cafe in Sausalito
The Lighthouse Cafe is just beyond the downtown section of Sausalito on Bridgeway and almost next to where I did my weekend course in February. We parked at a meter in the front where, fortunately, 47 minutes remained on the clock.
The cafe is tiny but bright and cheerful. A model of the top of a lighthouse is on the second floor balcony with two blue chairs beside it so it is easy to spot as you are driving past.
Inside it was full but as there are only 5 four seater booths and 9 stools at the counter, it was not surprising. You have to wait to be seated. The tiny spot just inside the door is the waiting area. We were second in line but the wait was not long at all. It gave me time enough to look around the place.
There was a specials board and Tom had already chosen what he wanted – hot link sausage scrambled with bell peppers, onions, spinach, eggs and cheddar cheese ($5.95).
A couple of posters were displayed on the wall but I couldn’t read the writing and wondered in what language it was written. I surmised it was a Scandinavian language but decided to ask when we ordered. There were a couple of black and white photos of lighthouses over the door and a panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge with the Point Bonita lighthouse,which we will be visiting later this morning, in the foreground. A colorful geometric painting of a lighthouse hung next to the photographs. The numbers of a clock on the far wall were different pictures of lighthouses.
When I looked at the menu it became obvious which Scandinavian language it was because several of the dishes had Danish in the title. Tom ordered the special but there was no oatmeal for me. So what did I go for instead? Would you believe a large mixed fruit pancake? The server said they were awesome so I thought I would try one ($4.50). The coffee was $2.15.
The restroom was unisex, very small and basic, with a small wooden framed mirror. There was a large cupboard set in the wall and, being nosy, I had to check it out. Inside was just a meter. Serves you right Margaret.
Tom really enjoyed his scramble. There was lot of hot spicy sausage plus they had his favorite Pepper Plant hot sauce (much better than Tabasco Tom informs me). My pancake was large and scrummy. Inside were banana, blueberries and raspberries. A pat of butter was slowly melting on top so I slathered it over the pancake and poured a generous portion of syrup on top. All those calories but who cares. After that long hike to Kirby Cove and back I deserved it.
We both heartily recommend the Lighthouse Cafe and will definitely come again.
The Lighthouse Cafe
1311 Bridgeway Avenue
Sausalito, CA 94965
May 19 2010 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
The Longhouse Restaurant in Gilroy
We were surprised that there were no breakfast places in Morgan Hill. I’m sure there are some, but either they were not open or they are on back streets.
The Longhouse is not quite in downtown Gilroy but right on Monterey Street. It looks as though it has been around for a few years. There were quite a few vehicles outside, mostly trucks and one old Dodge Charger.
Inside it is big and dimly lit. On the left hand side it was full of customers. A server told us to sit where we liked so we found a table on the right hand side, next to the window. We were the only people in that section. At the end, there was a partly opened door to another section. Being curious, we peeped through. It was a large room with a bar and smelt of stale beer. We took a guess that the place must really rock at night.
The menu is large – they open for breakfast, lunch and dinner – but the breakfast section is not very extensive. Oatmeal was there at $4.25. I did not hold out any hope that it would be steel cut oats as this is not the sort of place which would serve it. I asked the server if it was cooked in the microwave and she said the cook made a fresh batch every time. Umm – sounds as though at best it is quick cook oats but as there was not anything else I fancied on the menu, I went ahead and ordered it. Tom ordered chorizo and eggs with hash browns and served with corn tortillas ($7.95).
It won’t take me long to describe the decor as there was not one picture, poster, photo or any form of knick knacks anywhere. There were lots of fake potted green plants on the dividers between rows of booths and hanging from the ceiling. A few bottles of wine were displayed as well. The only break in the monotony was a vase of Calla lilies. I could not see from where I sat whether they were real or not but will give them the benefit of the doubt because they are in season at the moment.
When the food arrived I was disappointed with the presentation. OK, there was no garnish on our plates, which is not unusual, but it was more than that. My oatmeal was in a large shallow white bowl on a white plate and it looked as though it had been sloppped in the plate. On a separate plate were small plastic containers with butter and brown sugar, a small stainless steel jug without a handle containing milk and a larger plastic container with chopped up prices of banana. Tom’s chorizo and eggs also looked messy.
My oatmeal was very runny but at least it was hot. Tom said the Chorizo was plain but OK and he had had better tortillas.
The restroom was better than expected. It was large, bright and clean but once again no pictures or any sort of decoration at all.
Our verdict, it can be summed up in one word – bland. Doubt whether we would ever come again.
The Longhouse Restaurant
8195 Monterey Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
May 05 2010 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
3-Zero Cafe at the Half Moon Bay Airport
Tom found a new place for breakfast today. We have passed it many times and never noticed it. It is at Half Moon Bay Airport, right off Highway 1 and used to be the terminal building for San Mateo Airport. Lots of parking outside and lots of room inside.
The first thing that strikes you as you walk towards the door are the airplanes suspended from the ceiling. They come in all sizes from large down to the size my brother used to build from kits many moons ago.
We could sit anywhere we wanted and chose a table in the window looking over the airfield. The place has so many windows that by turning our heads we could also see traffic passing on Highway 1.
The menu is very impressive and yes, there was oatmeal. It was in the Lite section and comes with sugar, raisins, fruit and a dry English muffin for $5.75. Tom’s choice was an asparagus omelet for $9.45. The coffee was $1.95.
It is certainly a bright and cheerful place with colorful plastic tablecloths and the sun slanting through the windows. Apart from the aforementioned airplanes hanging from the ceiling, the walls are covered with pictures, photos, maps and assorted aviation memorabilia. The entrance to the airport office is inside the cafe as well.
We did not have long to wait for our food, which pleased Tom as he was hungry. His omelet looked scrumptious. The plate was not very big and the omelet and home fried potatoes filled it completely. So much so he did not know quite where to put his English muffin so he laid it on a napkin. There was a creamy hollandaise sauce on top of the omelet which was garnished with chives. My oatmeal came in a deep round bowl on a blue oval plate. Also on the plate, a small ceramic jug of milk and three small ceramic bowls containing brown sugar, raisins and chopped up strawberries. The muffin, which did not look all that dry, was sitting on the plate along with a sprig of parsley.
I enjoyed my oatmeal. It was hot and there was a lot of it. Tom said the omelet was good. The asparagus were just right – not soggy at all – and the home fried potatoes were both tasty and crispy. The coffee though was only so-so.
Real nice restroom. Big, clean, bright and with hot water. Lots of pictures on the wall but surprisingly the main themes here are paddle steamers and old cable cars. The biggest and brightest attractions are two large and colorful completed and framed jig saw puzzles, one of hot air balloons and the other of an airport scene in a bygone era.
This has been a real good find. Everything about it was great – location, food, service and surroundings. We thoroughly recommend it.
3-Zero Cafe
Half Moon Bay Airport
9850 Cabrillo Hwy N
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
April 23 2010 | Breakfast Log | 2 Comments »
A late start today. We plan to hit some wineries around Gilroy and they don’t open until later in the morning.
OD's Kitchen in downtown Gilroy
OD’s is in central Gilroy. According to another review, this place gets crowded. We were expecting to have difficulty parking and to wait for a table. Neither happened. OD’s has it’s own car park across the road and there were several spots empty. There is also parking available right outside the cafe.
From the outside the place looked full with people waiting inside but we got a table straight away. The place was buzzing with lively chatter and there were lots of servers bustling around. Our table was a two seater right next to an unused front door – at least we hoped it was unused. The letterbox, which I found unusual as I have never seen one in a door over here, was blocked by a dish cloth. Very artistic!
Our very nice server handed us the menus and poured coffee for Tom. There was oatmeal listed on the menu but only available on weekdays. We both ordered the Eggs Benedict – $6.95.
The main theme of the decor was horses from the pictures and sculptures on the walls to the logo on the servers; T-shirts. One painting on wood caught my eye because it did not feature horses. It was of four fishes, ranging in size from the very large to the very small. The three bigger fishes have their mouths open. The caption read – ‘There is no such thing as a free lunch’.
Our food took a little time to come but we weren’t complaining as they were very busy. When we ordered Tom asked for the has browns to be extra crispy and they were. The server even came back to check that they were OK.
Tom had one comment about the silverware – the fork tasted metallic and I had to agree with him.
The restroom was large but not impressive. There was no hot water at all and there was only a big roll of kitchen paper to dry your hands on. The only decoration was a very dusty artificial green plant in a wicker basket on top of a cupboard.
Our conclusion was that the food was OK but were not very impressed with the whole package. Doubt whether we would pay another visit.
OD’s Kitchen
28 Martin St
Gilroy, CA 95020
April 04 2010 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Mama's Royal Cafe, Mill Valley
This weekend I am on a course in Sausalito and Tom came along for the ride. Of course he brought his camera along but so far has not been able to use it because of the rain. I do not know how he is going to entertain himself today while I am working.
Once again, I checked out Anna’s Cool Finds to see where to eat and she came up trumps. Mama’s Royal Cafe is an absolute treasure but how to best describe it is going to be a challenge, but I’ll do my best.
The cafe is set back from the road but look out for the brightly colored sandwich board on the sidewalk. Parking is minimal so get there early (they open at 7.30 am.) Outside are few tables under cover and on a sunny day or even a dry one, it would be nice to sit outside but the inside is not to be missed.
There is just one booth and no stools at the counter so not your normal diner. All the tables are covered with a thick, plastic cover which sounds dreadful but every one is different and patterned with vibrantly colored fruit. The chairs are a complete mishmash – Tom and I sat on garden benches.
But the biggest impact to the eye is the walls, which are literally covered with a huge assortment of paintings, photos, posters and curios. For instance, within touching distance of where we sat were a photo of an old boat; paintings of a mermaid, an ocean liner, James Dean, a huge swan with a woman on its back, an elephant and a green plant. At the end of the table is a mural of an idyllic sandy beach with palm trees. There is more! A huge wooden mask, a wooden parrot on a swing and an oversize white cup and saucer.
One wall on the other side of the cafe is dedicated to Marilyn Monroe. Nearby is a cutout of a nun with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and a sign which says ‘Nun Smoking Area’. Other curious objects which caught my eye – a four foot giraffe with a lei around its neck and above our booth, fixed to the ceiling, four place settings decorated with pineapples and flowers complete with knives and forks.
Must mention the pillars – each one is painted differently - palm tree, pencil, Egyptian hieroglyphics (plus Charlie Brown) and a red, white and blue striped one which I thought represented a stick of rock (you’ve got to be English to understand that) or a barber’s pole but probably meant to be patriotic.
I could go on and on but the primary reason we are here is for the food. The menu is an art form all of its own. The Benedicts looked tempting but I asked about oatmeal – which was not on the menu. The server, who was the only person we saw, though I’m sure there must have been someone in the kitchen cooking, said they did have oatmeal. I asked for it with raisins and banana ($6.95). Tom ordered a bacon and cheddar omelet (8.25).
It didn’t take long before the food arrived but that was probably because I was so fascinated at looking at my surroundings. The oatmeal came in a large, deep, round bowl on a decorated plate. The sliced bananas and raisins were on top. Milk was already on the table. Tom said his omelet was good with lots of bacon and my oatmeal was great and hot into the bargain. The oatmeal was coarse cut, so nice and hearty.
Now my trip to the restroom. On the way there I passed a very nice secluded booth. The thee walls were covered with a mural depicting Rick’s Café Américain from the movie, “Casablanca”.
The bathrooms are down a rather gloomy passage. I had high expectations that it would be as richly decorated as the restaurant but was hugely disappointed. The room was large and rather tatty and it was completely bereft of any adornment whatsoever. Even the pillar in the center of the room was painted a stark white.
For a real funky experience, we would highly recommend Mama’s Royal Cafe.
Mama’s Royal Café
393 Miller Ave
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 388-3261
February 25 2010 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Next »
