Good Morning, Sunshine
Where to find a great breakfast
PULL UP a cracked red vinyl topped stool at the well-worn counter, unfurl that paper napkin twirled round the (slightly) greasy spoons, sip a steaming cuppa joe, and listen up. Nothing is more all-American than those breakfast dinettes of years past. You know, the type of cozy, sunny place where they flip a short stack of fresh blueberry pancakes and dish out sizzlin’ chicken-apple sausages and warm homemade biscuits, with lashings of strong, hot coffee to wash it all down. Where they bring it all to you in a plastic booth, or slide it over the silvery counter. Whether it’s gourmet-inspired fare like pan-fried trout glistening fresh from Idaho, or crab-cake Benedict with herb-flecked hash browns, or simply two over-easy eggs fresh from the barnyard, followed by a slice of homemade apple cobbler, breakfast is big. Everyone goes for it. From the frenzied folks kick-starting their day with a power breakfast to the drowsy-eyed mellow ones kicking back to linger over the morning newspaper. Homey neighborhood breakfast rooms continue to pack ’em in. And no wonder–just look at some of the goods on offer: puffy French toast drenched in warm maple syrup, steaming bowls of love (a.k.a. oatmeal with brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins), short stacks of pancakes and crispy bacon, and egg yolks and orange juice as bright and cheerful as morning sunlight.
Let’s face it, a good breakfast can make the even the most pessimistic become a little more upbeat. Hey, the coffee mug is never allowed to get more than half empty. Below is a partial list of informal, North Bay best breakfasts bets.–P.H.
Sonoma County
Mac’s Delicatessen
630 Fourth St.
Santa Rosa
707/545-3785
Center City Diner
107 Petaluma Blvd. N.
Petaluma
707/766-9232
Eggs & Company
108 Calistoga Road
Santa Rosa
707/538-7937
Hallie’s Diner
125 Keller St.
Petaluma
707/733-1143
Hank’s Creekside
2800 Fourth St.
Santa Rosa
707/575-8839
Howard Station Cafe
3611 Bohemian Hwy.
Occidental
707/874-2838
Marvin’s on the Boulevard
317 Petaluma Blvd. S.
Petaluma
707/765-2808
New Marvin’s Restaurant
145 Kentucky St.
Petaluma
707/765-2371
Omelette Express
112 Fourth St.
Santa Rosa
707/525-1690
Owl Cafe
465 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale
707/894-8967
Pearl’s Homestyle Cooking
561 Fifth St.
Sonoma
707/996-1783
Tea Room Cafe
316 Western Ave.
Petaluma
707/765-0199
Three Cook’s Cafe
841 Petaluma Blvd. N.
Petaluma
707/762-9886
Two Niner Diner
Petaluma Airport,
561-Sky Ranch Drive
Petaluma
707/765-2900
Marin County
Bridgeway Cafe
633 Bridgeway
Sausalito
415/332-3426
Bubba’s Diner
566 San Anselmo Ave.
San Anselmo
415/459-6862
Golden Egg
Omelet House
807 Grant Ave.
Novato
415/897-7707
Mama’s Royal Cafe
393 Miller Ave.
Mill Valley
415/388-3261
Pine Cone Diner
60 Fourth St.
Point Reyes Station
415/663-1536
Station House Cafe
11180 State Route 1
Point Reyes Station
415/663-1515
Napa County
The Diner
6476 Washington St.,
Yountville
707/944-2626
Gail’s Cafe
1347 Main St.
St. Helena
707/963-3332
The Spot Restaurant
587 S. St. Helena Hwy.
St. Helena
707/963-2844
[ Insider’s Guide Index | ]
From the July 19-25, 2001 issue of the Northern California Bohemian.
