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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 | North Bay | Metroactive Central | Archives ]