Archive for the 'Breakfast Log' Category
We are here in Fresno to celebrate Mother’s Day with Tom’s folks. Pardini’s is a regular haunt for his Dad, Don, and Arlene.
At 7.30 it was relatively quiet. I expect most people will be out and about later in the morning taking their Moms to brunch.
Pardini’s is a bright, clean and cheerful restaurant with lots of booths outside, a few tables and chairs in the middle and places up at the counter. I never really noticed the decor at all, apart from the fact that there was a lot of brick, and I didn’t even visit the restoom.
The food though is worth a mention. As usual I ordered the oatmeal ($2.95) with a fruit topping ($.75). Tom ordered 3 buttermilk pancakes, Don had 2 buttermilk pancakes and Arlene had two scrambled eggs with bacon and a side of salsa. She says eggs are boring without salsa.
I was busy giving Arlene a Sudoku lesson so didn’t notice how long it took for the meal to be served but it wasn’t very long.
I was impressed with the oatmeal when it arrived. It was served in a large, round, shallow bowl on a plate. On another large plate with a doily were the accompaniments - sugar & raisins in reasonable sized plastic containers, the milk in a glass and the fruit (a fair helping of sliced strawberries and cubes of melon) in a glass bowl. It was delicious and for $3.70 it was good value.
Tom enjoyed his pancakes. They were served with a container of soft butter and lots of hot maple syrup. Don and Arlene always order the same, so they enjoyed their meal as well.
If you are ever in Fresno, pay Pardini’s a visit.
May 15 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
After a 4.30 start, we were ready for breakfast by the time we got to Lockeford. Now you are probably wondering where Lockeford is. It is east of Stockton and we were on our way to the Gold Country. This is new territory for us and we did not know what to expect in the way of breakfast, but we spotted this place with an open sign in the window so pulled in.
It was just after 6.30 but there were a few cars in the large car park. The restaurant was large so with just a couple of other customers we could sit anywhere and picked a booth. Due to the large size of the car park and the signs on all the tables saying ‘Truckers Special’ I’m guessing this is a regular stop for truckers.
Most of the seating is booths with just a few tables and chairs in the middle and 11 places at the counter.
Our server was, to put it bluntly, abrupt. She appeared rushed, which was strange seeing how empty the place was. To the other customers though she was friendly but to us, mere tourists, she was not. Tom order Portuguese scramble with linguica and English muffin and was told, in almost an accusing manner, that the muffin was 50c extra. I ordered the oatmeal, after checking that it was not instant oatmeal (’of course not, it’s made fresh every morning’) with a side of toast.
There is not a lot to say about the decor. A few bland flower pictures in gold frames and a sprig of artificial flowers on each table and that’s it. There are no quirky touches to make it memorable.
My oatmeal did not look very appetizing when it was plonked on the table in front of me. It was in a small white bowl on a small white plate but what immediately took my attention was the water it was swimming in. The best I can say about it is that it was not stodgy and overcooked and it was hot. On another plate were small plastic containers of brown sugar and raisins and a small plastic glass, a quarter full of milk. Tom’s scramble looked reasonable and he said the linguica was nice and spicy but on the negative side there was not enough egg, the cheese was not melted, the potatoes were not crispy and it as merely warm not hot. Also the coffee was weak and tasteless.
The restroom was large, clean and adequate but without a trace of ornamentation at all, it was soulless.
You can guess our verdict. It is not somewhere we would ever go to again and we certainly don’t recommend it.
April 12 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Before we headed to Palo Alto We checked where to have breakfast. We could not find anywhere on University Avenue, which is the main street of Palo Alto, but on California Avenue we found Joanie’s at 447 California Avenue. California Avenue is in a separate neighborhood and is about two miles from University and has a completely different feel about it. It used to be the main street in the town of Mayfield. Mayfield was incorporated into Palo Alto in 1925.
We have eaten here before in June of 2003 and were impressed. It is very small with just 5 tables for four and 9 for two with 3 places at the counter inside and a few tables outside. There are no booths. We arrived at 9.30, which is late for us, and the place was full so we had to wait for ten minutes. The first places to become available were at the counter so we took them. This is a first for me.
The service is quick and efficient and in no time at all we had our coffee and water and our order was taken. Tom ordered Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon ($9.50) and it was the usual oatmeal for me ($4.95). Back in 2003 the oatmeal was $4.00 so that is nearly a 25% increase in five years.
The only decoration in the place, apart from a large vase of fresh flowers on the counter, were a series of black and white photos around the walls. They were all done by the husband and wife team of Mark and Myshel Morgan and the photos were of London and San Tropez and Paris in France. Very impressive.
Our food was quick to arrive and it sure looked good. The Eggs Benedict looked really pretty and, for once, the hash browns did look extra crispy. It came with a small bowl of fruit containing sliced strawberries, cubes of melon and apple. My oatmeal came in a large, shallow bowl. On a separate plate were three toppings in stainless steel bowls - brown sugar, raisins and granola. I was asked whether I wanted full milk or reduced fat and chose the latter. It came hot and steamed in a white ceramic jug. The oatmeal looked very white so I’m guessing it was cooked in milk and not water.
A quick trip to the restroom but it wasn’t very noteworthy. It was very small with just one small picture on the wall entitled ‘Arles Flowerbox, France’.
We both loved the food and highly recommend it. It is a happy, bustling place with a very nice atmosphere and the service is great.
March 23 2008 | Breakfast Log | 1 Comment »
This is the wildest, wackiest diner in Silicon Valley. For a start it is in Woodside. Now for
those of you not from the Bay Area, who do not know Woodside, I will try to describe it. The town itself is upmarket. Built to look like an old town, it is obviously new and high class. The main businesses are investment banks and realtors. There is a gourmet market and a picture framing shop. The residents must do most of their shopping in Palo Alto. The Post Office looks like a fort. Folks like Steve Jobs (Apple) and Larry Ellison (Oracle) call Woodside home.
There is a lot of history to Buck’s (by history I’m not talking centuries here but decades). People say many Silicon Vally deals and great ideas were drawn up on a Buck’s napkin. It is claimed to be the haunt of a lot of well known faces and/or names. For more information check out their website.
It opens at 8 on a Sunday and we were there when the doors opened. There were already a few people waiting when we turned up. Inside it is large. The seating is mostly booths but there are some tables and chairs and off to the side there are 5 stools at the counter. We were told we could sit anywhere we liked. Our first choice would have been a booth in the window but the sun was directly in my eyes and I couldn’t see any blinds. (I did notice later that there were blinds but well disguised.) We chose a booth further back.
Our server was very friendly and told us the special - a stack of 2 buttermilk pancakes layered with ricotta cheese, kiwi fruit, strawberries and bananas ($12), so Tom went for that. I ordered oatmeal with strawberries. Now here is an interesting point. I wrote a review of Buck’s five years ago almost to the day and the oatmeal then was exactly the same price as today ($4.50). Back then I also had banana and strawberries for an extra $1.50 so we will find out later how much they have gone up.
Now to the interior of Buck’s and this is its most outstanding feature. I can sum it up in one word - stuffed. I don’t know where to begin, so I’ll start with the first thing you see as you walk in the door - a six foot plus replica of the Statue of Liberty with a string of mardi gras beads and a stethoscope around her neck. That should give you an inkling of what to expect.
From there my eyes wandered to the ceiling. Suspended were 13 large objects and that’s just in the front part of the diner. There is a helicopter, a blimp, a flying horse, a monkey in a sled, an old bi-plane, a copper surfboard, three large fish, a strange looking gas powered wooden go-kart, an airplane, a yellow wooden car smashing through the wall and a log cabin. Phew!
Every wall is covered not only in pictures, some huge, but an amazing range of objects. So many in fact I will only name a few - a case of harmonicas, a size 23 shoe, about a dozen brightly colored ceramic cows, an old squash racket and hundreds of miniature tools and utensils. Believe me, you just have to come here and see for yourself.
We didn’t have to wait very long for our food to be served. Tom’s buttermilk pancakes looked pretty and good and came with a small jug of warm maple syrup. My oatmeal came on a large, round, decorated plate with the oatmeal in a large shallow bowl. Also on the plate were a small plastic bowl of compacted brown sugar, a small green bowl of golden raisins and a small ceramic jug of milk. The strawberries came sliced in a side bowl.
The food was good, no question about it and Tom said the coffee was very good which, coming from Tom, is high praise indeed.
Now the restrooms. For a start allow half an hour for the trip not because of long lines but because there is an wonderful array of things to look at. There were two restrooms, one for men and one for women. Each one was a large room. In the womens there was a table in the corner with a very old child’s three wheeler. On the walls were three interesting pictures and one on the door. The facilities themselves were very basic but adequate.
Our verdict - pretty darn good. In fact, one of the best. A visit here will have you leaving feeling good. OK, the buttermilk pancakes were a little on the expensive side, but hey, this is Woodside where some of the richest people in Silicon Valley reside. We certainly recommend it as a must go to place for breakfast. By the way, the strawberries were free or at least we were not charged for them.
March 16 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Hobees used to be our favorite place for breakfast when I first came here but it’s been a while since we have eaten here. We are on our way to Sunnyvale Farmers Market and decided to revisit an old haunt.
Nothing much seems to have changed. The greeter is the same one that has always been here and one of the servers I recognized as well.
At the weekends it opens at 8 and we arrived soon after so there were lots of empty tables. We were shown to a four seater booth in the window, which pleased us as Tom likes the bigger booths so he can read the newspaper comfortably. I noticed that the upholstery on the back of the booth had been ripped which didn’t look too great. Looking around, the place needs some work done as it is looking a bit run down.
The menu hasn’t changed either but they always have about five specials. Tom had coffee and I had their orange and cinnamon house tea. I do like it but it is a bit on the sweet side. Both coffee and tea is $1.90 with free refills. Tom ordered the weekend scramble for 9.95 with coffee cake (another of their specialalities). Me, well I always have oatmeal here because it is a bit different. It’s not steel cut unfortunately but there is an oatmeal bar where you help yourself to as much as you want for $4.75. What I particularly like are the choice of toppings - brown sugar, raisins, walnuts, sliced almonds, cranberries, shredded coconut, cinnamon and nutmeg. There are small pieces of coffee cake to sample as well. I did ask the server for some blueberries on the side for 50c. She told me they were frozen, so I asked if they were still frozen but I could tell my humor was lost on her when she asked if I wanted them warmed up.
I went straight up to the oatmeal bar - with luck I will be able to get a second helping in. The oatmeal was a bit runny but I’ve seen worse. The bowls are not very big but that’s OK as there is always seconds. I added cranberries, walnuts, coconut and cinnamon. The milk is in a bit jug on the side so of course I had some of that as well.
I had nearly finished my first bowl of oatmeal before Tom got his scramble but he was quite happy reading the paper. He informed me that there may not be a King salmon fishing season this year which is a terrible blow. One of our favorite meals is BBQed salmon and we look forward with anticipation to May each year when the King salmon season starts. The experts are forecasting that the numbers of salmon returning to the Sacramento River to spawn have dropped dramatically so to safeguard the numbers the fishing season is likely to be canceled.
I did my usual review of the surroundings. As I mentioned before, the place does need to be redecorated. There are quite a few artificial plants around and they all look rather sad. Each table though does have a small , real , plant in a Hobbees mug which is a nice touch. There are no pictures as such but there are a few old framed adverts for products like Waldorf apples, Aranci oranges and Morjon apples. There are also a couple of very small photos on the far wall but it was impossible to see what they were off. They do have a Kids Corner with a small table and two chairs and a box of toys. On the wall near the restrooms is a large noticeboard with a collection of photographs taken all over the world where customers are wearing Hobees T-shirts. I saw no adverts though for the T-shirts. Maybe you can buy them online.
I did go up for seconds of oatmeal though I didn’t have a full bowl the second time around.
And of course I did pay a trip to the restroom. Like the restaurant, they are in desperate need of refurbishment. They were clean and well equipped and the water was plenty hot enough but the partitions are battered and very rusty down the bottom. There was one picture in there but it wasn’t on the wall. Maybe it had been once upon a time, now it is just leaning against the wall. A nice vase of artificial flowers does brighten the place up a bit.
Our verdict on the food was mediocre. Tom said the scramble was OK, the coffee was weak and not very hot and the coffee cake was not up to their usual standard. As I mentioned before, the oatmeal was a little runny but the toppings were great. The blueberries were awful - soggy and tasteless. The tea was good though.
All in all, our visit was a little disappointing. But our trip to the Farmers Market was great. We bought some fresh sturgeon from the fish stall and some asparagus grown in the San Joaquin Delta. We also bought a bottle of Bistro Blend made by John Spenger - the very best balsamic vinegar we have ever found. Plus we spent 20 minutes sitting, watching the world go by and listening to the lady street musician who was wearing the most fantastic hat. It was a lovely sunny day which just made everything perfect.
March 10 2008 | Breakfast Log | 1 Comment »
We are on our way to the Big Sur coast. Yesterday I looked online to see what was available for breakfast in Carmel. This place had good reviews so that is why we are here. It is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. and we rolled up just as it opened.
From the outside it looks pretty and upscale, as do most places in Carmel. Overlooking the street is a deck with tables and chairs but today is too cold to contemplate that. Later in the day I’m sure that is the place to see and be seen.
So we opted for inside. The entrance is at the side which is a bit confusing. There was a guy sweeping up and Tom asked him if there was anywhere to buy a newspaper. He pointed out a newsstand a few feet away but it was hidden from sight. Also outside are benches, magazines, noticeboards and a huge coffee dispenser which I am sure will all be needed later on when it gets busy.
Inside it is not very big and the tables are small. It seats just 50 with 6 seats at the counter plus about 20 outside. There are no booths. There were only three other customers but our server appeared rushed and was not very friendly.
The menu is huge and the choice vast. I checked out the oatmeal straight away and, guess what, they serve steel cut oatmeal. My prayers have been answered. The prices are pretty steep but, hey, this is Carmel. The oatmal was $8.50 but if comes with toast. I also ordered a side of fruit which was a hefty $2.95. Tom ordered a Joe’s Special which was $12.95. He also had coffee which was $2.95. I stayed with the water, which was free.
The decor is very good and pleasing to the eye. Lots of nice pictures on the walls. Near where we sat were some old adverts for Sunkist lemons and various other food items. The windows have well tended window boxes on the outside.
We didn’t have long to wait for the food. Mine came on a huge oval plate with a large, shallow dish filled with oatmeal. Also crammed on the plate were two small plastic pots - one with sugar and one with butter, a good sized stainless jug of low fat milk (I was asked which milk I would like), 4 half slices of unbuttered wheat toast (my request) and a fair sized ceramic bowl holding the fruit. The oatmeal was good but less nutty than what I make at home. I’m not complaining though because at least it is steel cut. The fruit was great - blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and slices of strawberries. I asked Tom what he thought of his and he said ‘OK’. He was not impressed with the coffee though.
I was not disappointed with the restroom. There were two unisex restrooms but I only checked out one. It was the best I have used for some time. Clean, bright, big, well-equipped and sweet smelling. There was a lace curtain at the window and nice prints on the walls. The water was good and hot.
Our verdict - very expensive and not really worth the extra even taking into account Carmel prices but the place is nice and well appointed.
March 02 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
If you ever find Bolinas, this is a great place for breakfast. Mind you, today it’s gone 11 so I suppose your could call it brunch.
The Coast Cafe is easy to find in the middle of town. There is seating inside and out and it has a very pleasant, laid back feeling about it.
This is not your typical diner sort of breakfast joint. As this is Bolinas, it is bound to be different. For a start, there are no booths or seats at the counter, just lots of wooden tables and chairs. There is even one very big table that seats 12. While we were there, several small groups ate at this table and, even though they didn’t know each other, they happily chatted together.
We decided to eat inside and could sit anywhere we liked. Our choice was a long table for two at the back near the counter. Our order was taken soon after we sat down. I ordered oatmeal ($4.50) with a side of wheat toast ($1.75). I asked if they served steelcut oats, this being a very organic, environmentally conscious community, but they didn’t. Tom ordered a French Omlette from the Specials List ($10) with English Muffin.
Let me tell you about one of the locals who was standing near us at the counter. She was a lady wearing a paint spattered jacket, old jeans and non matching, multicolored hiking boots. Round her neck she had a garish, wooden parrot on a rope. But the one thing that really caught our eye was her hat. Obviously her own creation as it was made out of twigs, newspaper and string. People like this are a common sight in Bolinas and nobody turned a hair. It’s a place where you can wear and do whatever you like.
Now to the decor. Definitley coastal. From the ceiling are suspended 12 surf boards, mostly old fashioned, wooden ones and some of them are huge. Glass floats in net bags and assorted floats are everywhere. There are several original paintings and framed photographs on the wall. A nice touch were the shelves attached to the walls filled with books, dolls and assorted objects. But the best feature is the old fashioned, pot bellied boiler in the corner which was lit and provided a real homely feel to the place.
We didn’t have too long to wait for our food. My oatmeal came in a big, deep green ceramic bowl on a huge red plate. The brown sugar and raisins came in small white ceramic pots. The milk in an old fashioned silver jug with a lid. The jam was home made strawberry. It was all scrumptious. Tom’s omelette had goat cheese, green onions, mushrooms and tarragon in it. The home fries had a seasoning on them which added to the taste. His verdict - excellent. We both loved the jam.
I asked for directions to the restroom and the server pointed to the floor and told me to follow the frog footsteps. How charming. They led out of the door, across the patio to the restroom. Inside was an entrance room with two doors leading to two stalls. In the entrance were two old bar stools and a blue wooden cupboard with a mirror on the front. The stalls could only be described as rustic. No decoration at all but an unusual touch was the toilet roll holder and the paper towel container which were both made out of small planks of dark brown wood.
We really enjoyed the food, the service, the ambiance of the place and it certainly is near the top of our list of places to go for a great breakfast. Needless to say, we will be back.
February 17 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Well, we should not be here at all but that’s a different story and you will have to wait for the next post!
Finding somewhere to have breakfast in San Francisco has been a hit and miss affair for us because we do not know where the good places are. We have been to the Cafe Rain Tree several times before so we headed for there before going to the De Young in Golden Gate Park.
It is on the corner of Irving and 8th Avenue. With a green awning outside, it is easy to find. Here you can get an Irish breakfast with two Irish bacon rashers, two Irish sausages, two eggs, homefries, black and white pudding, grilled tomatoes with toast and jelly for $9.95.
The place is quite small but a miror inside makes it look bigger than it really is. There are no booths, just scarred and pitted wooden tables with old fashioned, red upholstered and chrome chairs. At the counter are 10 stools. This is a bit of a dive but, heck, they serve a proper breakfast.
Tom ordered cheese omelet with hash browns and English muffin (7.50). For me it was the usual oatmeal ($3.75). I also ordered banana to go with it (50c extra). In no time at all our food was served. Tom always asks for his hash browns to be extra crispy but these didn’t look as if they were. The omelet to me looked small with just a slice of cheese inside. My oatmeal came on a plate in a small deep bowl with brown sugar, raisins and milk in small stainless steel bowls (much better than the plastic pots a lot of places use). I was expecting slices of banana on top of the oatmal but what I got was a whole, peeled banana on the plate which I had to cut up.
Tom’s verdict on the omelet and hash browns was mediocre. My oatmeal was good. Only complaint from me being there was not enough milk but there was a jug of milk on the table so I didn’t have to ask for more.
There were five paintings, or should I say canvases, on the walls and they looked original. There was no other ornamentation at all.
The unisex restroom was as you would expect. It was tucked away at the back and had cracked tiles on the floor and was grubby and old fashioned but at least the water was hot.
Verdict - OK and we will come again if we do not find something better in the vicinity.
February 09 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
On our way up to San Francisco, we stopped at Vic’s for breakfast. Tom used to live in San Carlos and he came here often.
We arrived at 7:20 AM and there were only a couple of customers there, so no problem getting a table. By 9 though it will be packed. As diners go, it is quite big. There are 18 booths, mostly seating four, just three tables and 10 places at the counter.
Coffee and water arrived almost before we took our seats and our order was taken straight away. I ordered oatmeal for $4. I asked what it came with and was told brown sugar and milk. When I asked about fruit, I was shown the choices on the menu. There was one that took my fancy - walnut, cranberries and raisins - for $1.75, so I went for that. The server pointed out that it was $1.75 for each item. Mm… sounds a bit expensive but I went with the walnuts and cranberries. Tom ordered Vic’s scramble with spinach, onions, ground beef and cheese with hash browns - extra crispy requested - with English muffin for $11.75.
Now to look round the place. This is a classy joint - hence the high prices I guess - and it’s reflected in the decor. Lots of paintings on the walls all in matching frames. Near us, high up, were two shelves with assorted bottles, jars and knick knacks. Near the front door is a big sign which says ‘Vic’s dog wall’ and underneath are posted pictures of customer’s dogs - lots of them all noting name and breed.
There was a radio playing quite loudly. It would have been fine if it was music but there was talking as well and that was quite distracting.
The food arrived at 7:30 - that was just 10 minutes after our order was taken so we were impressed. My oatmeal came in a small, deep bowl on a large plate. Also on the plate, along with the spoon, was a small stainless steel jug of milk (but there was more than enough), two stainless steel cups, one with cranberries and one with walnuts and a fairly large plastic container of brown sugar covered in cling film. The walnuts tasted good because they were coated in something. I have one complaint about the sugar - it was stuck together. I had to break it up with my spoon before I could get any out. Oatmeal was good though.
Tom cleared his plate and his verdict was good but the hash browns were nowhere crispy enough.
Now off the to restroom. I’m expecting good things here but I came back disappointed. They were at the end of a long corridor. There were more paintings on the corridor walls but they were exactly the same bland mix with matching frames as in the main restaurant. The restroom itself had no paintings or decoration of any kind on the walls. The only artistic touch was a watering can made out of wood filled with artificial flowers. There were two stalls and one handicapped stall. The place was bright and clean but boring. Also, there was no hot water. Even though I ran the tap for a couple of minutes, the hottest was just barely warm.
Verdict - food OK but every expensive. Our final bill came to $23.11 with coffee and tax.
February 03 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
What do you do on a wet weekend? Well to cheer yourself up, you go out for breakfast.
We wanted to try somewhere different without travelling very far so Tom did a search on ‘breakfast in San Jose’ and our zip code. Southern Kitchen came up and it’s pretty close. We’d passed it many times on Monterey Highway but had dismissed it as a bit of a shack. A quick check on Yelp to see if there were any reviews and we were so surprised. Lots of rave reviews, so this place we must visit.
It was 9:30 when we set out on this rainy morning. The car park at the back was nearly full. That is a good sign to start with but also meant we would probably have a wait - the reviewers had warned as much. We were lucky though and were seated straight away, even though the place was packed.
It’s not very big but its well set out with 9 two seater booths, 8 four seater booths, two larger booths, several tables and chairs and 8 places at the counter.
We were shown to a two seater booth at the side, right under a hatch through to the kitchen. We could hear them working in the kitchen but it was a cheerful background sound. There was music playing but it was lost in the general hum of conversation around us.
The menu choice is vast and exciting. Now I usually have oatmeal but today my eyes strayed to the rest of the menu and was tempted. I succumbed to that temptation - afterall it was nearly 10 now so it was more of a brunch than a breakfast. Our friendly server took the order - Country Benedict for Tom (country sausage on top of English muffins, two poached eggs, topped with hollandaise sauce) at $8.95 and California Scramble for me (eggs, broccoli, mushrooms, Jack & Cheddar cheese, topped with hollandaise sauce) at $8.95. We both had hash browns (extra crispy for Tom) and I had wheat toast as well.
Time to look around at the decor. There was the usual amount of paintings, mostly of views and flowers. Other assorted objects were hung on the walls including a collection of old tools and bizarrely a thick white rope round the ceiling line.
The food arrived 15 minutes after placing our order. The portions were big and they were steaming hot. Tom nearly cleared his plate but I struggled to get through two thirds of mine. Take my word for it, the food is good and the hash browns were just as Tom liked.
The restroom though could only be described as grubby but functional, apart from the fact that the toilet paper had almost run out and there were no new supplies in sight. One good point in its favor is the water was nice and hot. Some decoration on the wall would have cheered the place up a bit.
We have found a new place to go for breakfast and we will certainly be back here again.
January 27 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
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