Taste of Belgium (Wexner Center) | Columbus, OH

UPDATE: The Taste of Belgium location in the Wexner Center has CLOSED.

 

Taste of Belgium (Facebook / @TOBWex)
1871 N. High St. (inside the Wexner Center for the Arts)
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-2233
Open Mon-Fri, 8 am – 4 pm
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Monday, January 31, 2011 at 12:30 p.m.

IMPRESSIONS: I’ve been a fan of Taste of Belgium’s waffles for some time now, having first discovered them when they opened a stall at the North Market. If you’ve never tried one of their signatures, you’re missing an opportunity to re-define how you think about waffles. Here they serve the authentic Belgian version, which are very unlike your thin, flat toaster-made waffle. A true Belgian waffle (Liege-style, at least) is made using a thick batter infused with beet sugar. The waffle is smaller, thicker, marbled with caramelized sugars, and a wonderful hand-held snack.

The Wexner location is Taste of Belgium’s second in Columbus. The Wexner announced months ago that they were seeking a replacement for the generic Cam’s on Campus. In my opinion, ToB is the perfect fit for the Wexner: still a casual cafe and coffee shop, but with an international flair.

ATMOSPHERE: You can find the cafe by heading down the big staircase in the Wexner’s main entryway. It’s hard to miss once you get to the lower floor (where you’ll also find the entrances to the bookstore, video theatre, galleries, etc.). Line yourself up to order at the counter.

You may have to step forward to grab a menu while you wait in line. This isn’t too bad to deal with if you’re know about it, but I think it would be handy if they put more of their menu on the wall. You can help out, though: once you’re done with your menu, be a pal and pass it back to the next person.

There’s a fair amount of seating around the cafe. Once you’ve ordered, take your number and find a table. Be advised that, during peak hours, tables can fill up. You are on the campus of the largest university in America, after all.

The cafe seating is nice and bright, even though you’re partially below ground.

FOOD: Because this location of ToB is more of a traditional cafe, their menu is expanded beyond the waffles, crepes, and coffee offered in the North Market. The market is aimed more so at the walk-and-eat crowd. Here you’ll find the full coffee shop lineup of drinks: espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, all made using coffee from Coffee Emporium in Cincinnati. Other drinks include hot and cold cider, tea, or blended drinks using coffee or fruit. Food-wise, you’ve got sweet and savory crepes; soup, salad, and sandwiches; fruit, yogurt, and muesli; frittatas; and oatmeal. Really a nice mix.

Taste of Belgium’s signature piece is the waffle, so the cafe offers a couple different spins on it. I ordered the Waffles Rancheros.

The Rancheros takes one of their waffles, and adds a small souffle-like pile of scrambled eggs, topped with a spicy salsa. Comes with a side salad with a dash of vinaigrette.

Nice cross section of it. The Rancheros are a little hard to cut with a fork and knife – the eggs are fluffy but the waffle’s a little crisp. Still, the combination of sweet waffle, savory eggs, and spicy salsa comes together well. Add the salad to that, and baby, you’ve got a lunch on.

If you’re in a sweeter mood (awww…), you can order the waffle with toppings. You have a choice of fruit – that day it was blueberries or bananas – plus optional whipped cream (note: whipped cream is not really an optional thing). The fruit and sweet cream are a nice complement to the dense, sugary waffle.

SERVICE: Despite the sometimes long lines (especially in between classes), the food service is pretty quick. If you’re eating in the cafe, just take your number to your table and they’ll find you. The folks behind the counter are nice – not terribly talkative – but nice nonetheless.

OVERALL: I’m very glad to have Taste of Belgium on campus. I think the fit is perfect for the Wexner Center, and it offers an alternative to the fast food along High Street or all the campus-run cafeterias. I hope that the campus community appreciates what we have here, and that Taste of Belgium becomes a mainstay of OSU dining.

OTHER LINKS:
-> full Taste of Belgium website

Blue Sky Cafe | Bethlehem, PA

Blue Sky Cafe (Facebook)
22 W. Fourth St. (map it!)
Bethlehem, PA 18015
(610) 867-9390
Open Tues-Thurs, 7 am – 3 pm; Fri & Sat, 7 am – 5 pm; Sun, 7 am – 2 pm
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 10:15 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: I’ve been excited to share this post for a long time. We got to visit some amazing places in 2010 – across the country from New York City to Portland – but for some reason our little visit to the Blue Sky Cafe sticks in my head more than any other. I’m sure I’m idealizing the experience in my memory, but boy, was this a great little discovery.

Early November found us traveling with my wife’s family across New Jersey and Pennsylvania to visit family. Eastbound and entering Pennsylvania, we did some online searching and found a promising lead with the Blue Sky Cafe in Bethlehem. We snaked off the highway exit, winding down to the small valley that is Bethlehem. Here I recalled some high school history classes and saw the remainders of Bethlehem Steel firsthand. Now the center of Bethlehem holds the remnants of that once-great industry, part of which is converted into a casino. Blue Sky can be found in southern slope of the valley, in a small, cute little downtown street. The door is small, the restaurant space old.

ATMOSPHERE: I love love love the feel of cafes like this. It’s small but not crammed. Great feel of a reclaimed old building, with brick walls, checkered floors, bright lighting.

Very busy hum of conversation, as a steady crowd comes and goes. Work from local artists and photographers on the walls.

A skylight above the kitchen allows a lot of natural light in the back. I counted 11 tables, plus 4 booths and 8 seats at the counter.

The kitchen is right there in the open, so you can watch the 8+ workers clattering around as they make you breakfast.

Lots of kooky details in the kitchen, including the bottle of bourbon for your bourbon banana french toast.

And the creative knife holder.

FOOD: Blue Sky’s menu, too, is fun and creative. All of the dishes are at those standard “cafe” prices: maybe $1-2 more than diner food, but the increased price is made up with higher quality fair. The menu is packed with your standard egg combos, plus omelets, frittatas, stirs (made over home fries), sandwiches, sweets, and a whole load of specials. Pictured above is the Mega Breakfast Sandwich, stacked with scrambled eggs, avocados, tomatoes, onions, and pesto. Came with a side of home fries. Overall, very good, although overpowered by the onions. I think the sandwich would be tops without them, personally.

And then, behold, is the Bourbon Banana French Toast. This is kinda why Blue Sky proved itself to be such a surprising and delightful find. Seriously, I think it’s the best French toast I’ve had. The bread was nice and custardy, the bananas cooked without being mushy, and the covering is more of a reduction with the maple syrup and the bourbon. It’s thicker and almost crispy, like that thin sugary glaze on a glazed donut. Altogether, a great dish. I just wanted to keep eating it forever.

Because we’re close to Philly, there’s gotta be scrapple! My second time trying it. Not bad, soft and spicy, but I’m just not a scrapple man.

Some Pumpkin Pancakes. Fluffy and subtle, a little floury and gummy. Quite good.

Their specialty frittata of the day, with caramelized onions, pears, feta, shallots, and sausage. Really magnificent.

The Jon Solomon’s Veggie Stir. Lots of veggies served with scrambled eggs over home fries, side of toast.

Another Mega Sandwich.

More pumpkin pancakes. We had a big group.

And the Antonio Veggie Stir. Adds sausage to the veggies and feta.Notice the color in all the breakfast dishes!

SERVICE: Our server really made our experience great, too. For the life of me, I can’t remember her name, although she told us she had recently moved from St. Louis, I believe. But she was warm and smiley, she handled our large group smoothly, and you could tell she took pride in the restaurant.

The table setup, too, made the experience complete: Cholula hot sauce at the table, mini salt and pepper grinders. The coffee came in mismatched mugs, and our server automatically brought milk for it.

OVERALL: Part of me wishes I could find a way back out to Bethlehem again, just to go here. It was such a delightful find and we enjoyed some wonderful food and service. Blue Sky would be my regular joint if I lived in Bethlehem.

NOTE: From the time between when I wrote the post and the time I finished it, Blue Sky changed their website. You can still find bits of the old version, which looks cooler and fits their vibe better. The new one is simpler and clunkier. Not sure what happened, but I hope they redesign to something more like the old one.

OTHER LINKS:

Helser’s on Alberta | Portland, OR

Helser’s on Alberta
1538 NE Alberta St. (map it!)
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 281-1477
Open daily 7 am – 3 pm (bfast served all day; specials served Mon-Fri, 7-9)
Accepts cash and credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N

Date of Visit: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: Helser’s was our third formal stop on our Portland breakfast tour. While visiting friends in PDX, I had Hesler’s on my agenda after it appeared in Breakfast Special along with the Tin Shed, just down the street. The extra bonus with this visit was getting to meet Paul Gerald, author of the book Breakfast in Bridgetown and the corresponding blog. Like myself, Paul appeared in Breakfast Special as the local breakfast blogger food guide. We got to compare Portland and Columbus breakfasts and chat about all things breakfast bloggery.

Helser’s wasn’t my favorite breakfast in Portland, but comparing Portland breakfast places is like comparing Pixar films. Some are definitely better than others, but the quality is higher than most things out there.

Like the Tin Shed, Helser’s is situated along the busy and trendy Alberta Street. They’ve got a sweet corner location with big, bright windows all around. I really love the painted column in front of the door. Don’t know why; I just do.

Inside, the checkered floor, the big chalkboard with specials, the large bar with a full service coffee setup, the bright illumination – all of these things add up to a classic cafe setup. When I think cafe, I think of this.

FOOD: Again, because of Breakfast Special, we already had our eyes on some of Helser’s featured dishes. All of their food is great comfort food, but there’s lots of fun twists or unusual dishes on the menu. I don’t often see Pigs in the Blanket or Russet Potato Pancakes on breakfast menus, and I would love to return to Helser’s to sample more. Pictured above is my wife’s dish, the German Pancake, or Dutch Baby. This isn’t your traditional pancake, but more like an open pastry baked with lemon juice and powdered sugar, then served with lemon slices and syrup. You’ll have to wait a little longer for it to be prepared, but this was our favorite dish of the meal. It’s a huge pancake, sweet and flaky, but with touches of tangy lemon.

I immediately zeroed in on the Scotch Eggs and Potato Pancakes. I love a good scotch egg. Not many places in Columbus serve them. If you’ve never had one, a scotch egg (no, it has nothing to do with the distilled spirits) is a hard boiled egg, wrapped in sausage, then breaded and fried. Helser’s version is excellent: egg cooked just right, crispy breading, good seasoning. I was so-so on the potato pancakes, at least texture-wise. They taste very good, and they’re browned perfectly. I even liked the horseradish sauce (and I generally don’t like horseradish), but the internal texture of the pancakes didn’t quite work. I think the potatoes were cooked unevenly, so occasionally I had bites that were too hard.

Another good find from their menu: toasted crumpets. I can’t say I’ve ever had one. Nice soft texture, barely sweet. A good side to any of their meals.

Paul ordered the Pear and Harvati Pie, and I snapped a picture. It takes the two ingredients and bakes them into custardy tart. Again, very creative and unusual things on the menu.

And the standard side of Brioche French toast for our son. He certainly didn’t say no to it.

SERVICE: Our server was great. Fast, helpful, interactive. I was a bit predisposed to liking the service, after Breakfast Special featured one of their servers, Leah, talking about her work. We got to meet Leah and chat with her about having PBS film there.

OVERALL: Again, Helser’s wasn’t my favorite Portland breakfast, but there’s plenty to like here. The service and location are top-notch, and the menu offers a lot of hard-to-find breakfast eats. Some of them just worked better than others. And I certainly wouldn’t say no to a return visit, especially to enjoy the bright atmosphere and try more of the menu.

OTHER LINKS:
-> a taste of Helser’s from WQED Pittsburgh

Gravy | Portland, OR

Gravy
3957 N. Mississippi Ave. (map it!)
Portland, OR 97227
(503) 287-8800
Open 7 am – 3 pm daily
Accepts cash and credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N

Date of Visit: Monday, October 25, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: Stop two in our Portland breakfast tour! Our Portland friends had whispered to us about a restaurant called Gravy. One of the most appealing breakfast restaurant names I’ve heard in a while…

ATMOSPHERE: We’ve heard tell of Gravy’s long lines and packed houses on the weekends, and that can be frustrating or add to over-hype. But we found ourselves fortunate enough to visit on a slow Tuesday morning; we were ushered right to a table. Gravy’s layout is wide open, with big windows and skylights. Lots of natural lighting illuminates the browns and creams, the wood accents, and big pieces of art on the walls. You can also see right into the open-topped kitchen. Seating includes about fifteen tables, plus a few stools at the bar. Overall, a relaxing atmosphere punctuated by a fantastic music selection.

FOOD: Of all the great breakfasts we had in Portland, I am still craving Gravy’s the most. The prices are a little steeper: like $12-for-a-scramble steeper. HOWEVER, you get what you pay for. You could easily split a $12 scramble between three people. Everyone would have plenty to each, and you’d only be spending about $4 per person. Their breakfast menu isn’t extensive, but it covers all the basics: scrambles, omelets, hash, sandwiches, pancakes. I immediately eyed the list of scrambles, and settled on The Dalise: ham, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and cheddar, covered in gravy. Served with the most awesomely huge portion of done-just-right hash browns. Look at the picture above: the hash browns must have been cooked in their own pan. They come out like a giant bird’s nest. The whole breakfast was very well seasoned, cooked to the right consistency, and just a big delicious mess.

My wife is always a fan of smoked salmon, and well, we’re in the Pacific Northwest. She ordered the Smoked Salmon Hash & Eggs, which was even better than my scramble. Large chunks of fresh salmon, soooooo well seasoned, mixed with veggies and eggs on top. Probably the best dish we had in Portland, and on my list as the best hash I’ve ever had.

If I look at this picture too long, I start drooling.

We ordered their French toast for our son. He loved and devoured it. Made with challah bread. On a side note: Gravy’s coffee was also very good; their own special blend. Points to them for offering chilled cream for our coffee, without us having to ask.

Our friend ordered the Oatmeal Brulee (and my wife ordered it on a later visit). Gravy is well known for this dish, and I can see why. Along with the salmon hash, it quickly joined my list as the Best Oatmeal I’ve had.

These pictures don’t fully communicate the size of this bowl. It’s like if you cut a softball in half, hollowed it out, and filled it with oatmeal. And this is thiiiiiiick oatmeal, filled with fruit and nuts, topped with brown sugar, and torched. This probably isn’t the healthiest oatmeal ever, but a big warm bowl of cooked oats, fresh fruit, and caramelized sugars is still worth something.

It’s like an oatmeal cave! This continues Gravy’s streak of monster portions. The restaurant and neighborhood may feel a little trendy and a tiny upscale, but Gravy is pushing big, classic comfort food.

OVERALL: In our short time in Portland, we made a return visit to Gravy. That’s despite great breakfasts at The Tin Shed and Helser’s on Alberta. All of their food is big and flavorful. Great combinations of textures. You have to know how to play the prices to your advantage: if $12.75 is too much for Smoked Salmon Hash & Eggs (yeah, that’s steep for me), consider splitting it with one or two people. I think the food is worth it. They landed two dishes on my list of favorites.

OTHER LINKS:
-> official website for Mississippi Ave., Gravy’s neighborhood

The Tin Shed Garden Cafe | Portland, OR

The Tin Shed Garden Cafe
1438 NE Alberta St. (map it!)
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 288-6966
Open daily, 7:00 am – 10:00 pm (bfast served till 3)
Accepts cash and credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/Y/N

Date of Visit: Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: My wife and I have some close friends in Portland, Oregon, and take any opportunity we can afford to go visit them. It’s a super added bonus that Portland – like Columbus – is a great breakfast town, and it had two breakfast joints featured in Rick Sebak’s documentary Breakfast Special. The Tin Shed was his first stop in PDX, led there by Paul Gerald, author of Breakfast in Bridgetown.

You can find the Tin Shed on Alberta Street, a charming stretch of shops and restaurants that, I am told, has been improving in quality over the years. If you’re going to visit The Tin Shed, get familiar with this sight: the outside. Chances are you’re going to wait. A long line always speaks to the quality and popularity of the place, but a.) be prepared and don’t let the long wait make you grumpy, and b.) be careful that your expectations aren’t raised too high. Breakfast joints with long waits – whether because they are local favorites, or because they’ve been featured on national television, or both – can raise expectations unrealistically and lead to disappointed customers. With a group of six (4 adults + 2 kids), on a Sunday mid-morning, we waited about 30-40 minutes.

But the folks at Tin Shed know you might have a long wait (and there’s a good chance you’ll wait in the rain), so they’ve got a coffee stand set up out front. Coffee, tea, water: all there for you.

ATMOSPHERE: As if you couldn’t tell already, you can expect a busy atmosphere at Tin Shed. The sidewalks will be lined with hopeful customers. To join their ranks, you need to sign in when you arrive. (Fun note: if you’re sitting outside, you can bring your dog.) The seating is grouped in two areas. The first is the small inside, with about five tables and a few stools overlooking a small bar. It’s crowded, tight, and noisy. The decor is an eclectic mix of funky lighting and colorful art.

The second seating area is mostly outdoors. There you’ll find the more-charming covered patio, with a fireplace, big fans, heat lamps, and rustic tables. On a slightly chilly, damp October morning, there was something enticing about the patio. It seemed so cozy, despite the outdoor location, that I was almost disappointed we were seated inside.

FOOD: Tin Shed has the hip menu to match its layout and decor. Each section is a different variety of “goodness.” Stacked Goodness (potato pancakes). Sample Goodness (the big platters). Sweet Goodness (porridge, French toast). You get the idea. Pictured here is the Spike Lee, from their Specialty Goodness. Most of the items in this list are named after movie stars. The Spike Lee is a burrito filled with scrambled eggs, veggies, and black beans. It’s spiked with jalapenos and chipotle. Our friends let us try a bite: very nice.

Our friends also chose the Everything Nice. This is one of two options in the Sample Goodness category. Its counterpart is the Everything Naughty, loaded with all the bad but delicious stuff. The Everything Nice, however, features their signature potato cake, fruit, French toast, and a choice of meat. Our friends opted for the pork sausage. I love how it’s split and grilled.

A point for their kid-friendliness: a cheap but good-tasting children’s menu. We ordered our son the Freddy: a kid-sized portion of the French toast.

My wife and I split the Roll Over. This comes out of the Stacked Goodness, in which everything is based on the potato cakes and named for canine commands. I was drawn to this because I wanted to try the potato cakes, plus you could get it with rosemary mushroom gravy. Um, yes. The stack is rounded out with a sausage and egg scramble, and it was simply delicious. The gravy really made the dish. I keep craving it, well after our trip.

I chatted with one of the managers for a bit, connecting over the fact that we were both featured in Breakfast Special. As a little perk, they gave us a couple Bloody Marys to try. I’m not usually one for alcohol with my breakfast, but these were most certainly worth a try. This is the Cajun Bloody Mary, which had a big dash of spice around the lip of the glass. Garnished with lime, onions, celery, peppers, and olives.

We also tried the regular Bloody Mary, which was very smoky. Made with their own bacon-infused vodka.

SERVICE: We were treated very well at the Tin Shed. You could probably be soured by a long wait, but I think we were prepared. Our server (forget her name, dangit) was super nice and attentive. Despite the crazy crowd, the Tin Shed is accommodating to children. Our party included two youngins, and our server was prepared with high chairs, crayons, coloring books, and fun cups. This is a quick way to win parents’ hearts.

OVERALL: Tin Shed has a fun location, a really great vibe, and creative food. Again, the long wait could easily put you off or build your expectations too much (being featured nationally doesn’t help), but we found it to be a great community experience. Even the wait was fun with our friends there, and once in the restaurant, we felt welcomed and well cared-for. Their menu features a lot of creative options, and while it wasn’t my favorite in Portland, a couple items stand out, especially those potato cakes and that rosemary mushroom gravy.

OTHER LINKS:

Linden Cafe | Columbus, OH

Linden Cafe (Facebook)
1393 Cleveland Ave. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43211
(614) 754-1054
Open Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. (bfast served until 11 weekdays; all day Sat)
Accepts cash and credit cards
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 8:45 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: I’ve been hearing about Linden Cafe for years, but have never known anyone who’s been. They do have a Facebook page, although it’s relatively dormant. But whispers around town say they have the best chicken and waffles in Columbus, and in doing some “research” into the dish for (614) Magazine, I paid this mainstay soul food joint a visit on a quiet Tuesday morning.

You’ll find the Linden Cafe at the southwest corner of 11th and Cleveland Avenues, nestled in the heart of South Linden. This intersection, known as the Four Corners Project, has been revamped in recent years. The surrounding buildings – like the one housing the Cafe – feature new brick and gleaning glass fronts. The cafe itself is easy to to drive by. Look for the pink neon sign above the door; you’ll find parking around back.

ATMOSPHERE: Tuesday morning is clearly a calmer time for them (although I’ve seen much busier times at later visits). Inside, the space is nice and new. Recreated tin ceiling, laminate floors, a counter built of stone, 11 tables, plus a simple, open kitchen. You can see the flattop, deep fryer, and waffle iron all in action.

Bright morning sun poured in through the huge windows. Relaxing jazz played over the speakers.

FOOD: Linden Cafe serves breakfast and lunch only. The breakfast menu is a single slim sheet, so your options aren’t plentiful, but I always prefer places that only do a few things really well. The breakfast menu features omelets (Sante Fe and the Nature’s Bounty veggie are their signatures), Breakfast Sandwiches, Pancakes, Morning Traditions (2 eggs + meat; give their turkey sausage a try), plus Sides & Drinks.

The real star of the show, however, is their Chicken and Waffles. Linden Cafe serves their signature dish all day, every day, and they’re often lauded the best in Columbus. This is a notion I gladly support.

I got to chat with owner Michael Mayfield, and he spilled the beans (or batter, actually) on their famous dish. He offers the option of chicken wings or tenders with your meal. The chicken is brined twenty-four hours, then seasoned and fried to order. Michael spikes the waffles with vanilla and nutmeg, then garnishes them with a lemon and your choice of side. Served with a small pot of syrup and, yes, melted butter.

And, oh, dear reader, the chicken and waffles are delicious. It’s a big portion of solid comfort food; I can’t imagine ordering anything else there. I chose the chicken tenders (generally don’t like bones in my breakfast), and they are super tender – just so moist and well seasoned. The waffles are thick, crispy, and almost cakey. They’re not soggy in the least, although I think the syrup is necessary. You can really taste the vanilla in the batter, and the combination of the sweet waffles and savory chicken is to die for.

I chose a side of hash browns. They were good, although I’m always suspicious when food comes out in blocks. Probably pre-frozen. But I can’t complain on the taste.

SERVICE: Service was very friendly and attentive, although I was one of only a handful of customers. Michael told me a little more about the business while I ate. The Cafe itself has been around for several years; he and his wife Tamara took it over in June of 2009 and headed up much of the refurb. While they gave the restaurant a new look, they knew enough to keep up the chicken and waffles tradition.

Even though the Cafe hustles and bustles, 75% of their business comes through catering. You can also rent the Cafe space itself, either the front room or a conference room in back. They also feature wifi for anyone who wants to linger. If you’re interested in coming back for the lunch menu, take a look at their daily specials like Meatloaf Monday, Turkey Tuesday, Wednesday Wings, Thursday Soul Food, and Friday Fish.

OVERALL: I’m still craving Linden Cafe’s food, so what does that tell you? The refurbished cafe is bright and cozy, the whole crew is welcoming, and man oh man those chicken and waffles are delicious. My vote for the best in Columbus!

OTHER LINKS:
-> my (614) Magazine write-up on chicken and waffles (includes blurb on Linden Cafe)

Square Cafe | Pittsburgh, PA

Square Cafe (Facebook / @TheSquareCafe)
1137 S. Braddock Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
(419) 244-8002
Open Mon-Sat, 7 am – 3 pm; Sun, 8 am – 3 pm
Accepts cash and credit cards
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/Y/Y

Date of Visit: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: I learned about Square Cafe from the inimitable Rick Sebak of WQED Pittsburgh. Rick shot footage there for his latest documentary Breakfast Special, although Square Cafe didn’t end up in Part 1. (But Part 2 is hopefully coming soon!) While on a recent trip to Pittsburgh, we asked Rick to meet us for breakfast, and he of course recommended Square Cafe.

ATMOSPHERE: The Cafe was fairly quiet on the morning we visited; a few tables were full outside, a handful of businessmen and women in huddled various corners inside.

Always, always a plus for me to see local artists on the walls. This particular artist’s work fits the bright, bold coloring of the Cafe nicely.

FOOD: The menu was separated into four main sections: Tasty Selections (including burritos, grits, hash, and muesli), Eggs & Omelets (scrambles, Green Eggs & Ham), Crepes & Biscuits (crepes!), and From the Griddle. Square Cafe also serves a huge variety of coffee drinks, smoothies, and milkshakes. My wife ordered a Caramel Latte: delicious and made just right. I always take comfort in a breakfast place that takes its coffee seriously. Square Cafe has got the equipment for it, and clearly they know how to use it.

Got to – GOT TO – love the coffee mugs. Clearly their signature style. Like handcrafted pottery. Completely round except for the flat front. And I love it when I can fit all four fingers around my coffee mug handle. You can buy sets of these mugs at the cafe an elsewhere, although they are a little too expensive for me. I’ll settle for having to visit Square Cafe again. We also appreciated being served a mug with cold cream without having to ask. I prefer my coffee served this way; those small ultra-pasteurized half-and-halfs frighten me: they can probably withstand a nuclear blast.

Despite my long-standing obsession with Northstar Cafe’s Big Burrito, I decided to give Square Cafe’s breakfast burrito a try. Sometimes you’re just in a burrito mood. You can have the burrito here with just cheese and veggies, or you can add bacon, sausage, ham, or a special chicken apple sausage.
Q: I added _____.
A: Bacon.

It may not have knocked Northstar’s burrito off its pedestal, but Square Cafe’s is flat-out great. It’s filled with nice grilled vegetables, fluffy scrambled eggs, melty cheese, and perfectly cooked bacon. The whole deal comes with sides of sour cream and a locally-made salsa.

One of the most impressive things about the burrito is that it ALL STAYED TOGETHER! I’ve had many good burritos that fell apart under pressure. But even after I cut it in half (to make it more manageable), the ingredients didn’t come tumbling out.

You can order the same ingredients in the burrito, only in quesadilla form, too. My sister-in-law chose this option, and declared it very good. Instead of the nicely wrapped burrito, you can get the flour tortilla in these crispy wedges. Again with the dipping accoutrement.

Rick ordered the shrimp grits: sauteed shrimp and spinach on a bed of fluffy grits. He gave us all a taste of the shrimp, which were seasoned and sauteed just right. Nice bite to the seasoning; the shrimp were plump and juicy, not over-cooked at all.

My wife ordered the sun-dried tomato and goat cheese scramble, a delightful mixture of tomatoes, spinach, and goat cheese on scrambled eggs. Heaping side of their home fries, all uniformly crispy and well seasoned.

She also added a single lemon ricotta pancake. I love the use of ricotta cheese in pancakes – makes for a moist but stable flapjack. This one’s topped with butter, powdered sugar, and whipped cream on top. The tart lemon in the pancake really balances the sweetness of the batter, sugar, and cream.

SERVICE: This picture didn’t turn out too well, but here’s proof that Square Cafe’s employees are dedicated. Owner Sherree Goldstein has a very busy and accomplished crew. They offered very attentive service, filling in all the details you could want (i.e. cold cream for your coffee). Our server proudly showed us his tattoo, and kept a vigilant watch over us. And we experienced the most religious refilling of our coffee ever. It keeps the coffee hot!

OVERALL: I’ve barely scratched the surface of the Pittsburgh breakfast scene, but if Square Cafe is anything to go by, it’s going to be a tasty ride. I think Sherree and her crew have mastered the total package of the breakfast experience: fun branding and decor of the restaurant, a nice variety in seating (tables, counter, outdoor), a solid coffee shop setup, and a creative and diverse lineup of breakfast items. I would highly recommend it as a must-stop on any Pittsburgh breakfast tour!

Oh… and I just got it: it’s called Square Cafe, but all the branding is circular.

OTHER LINKS:
-> a taste of Square Cafe from WQED Pittsburgh

Cafe Hon | Baltimore, MD

Cafe Hon
1002 West 36th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 243-1230
Open Mon-Fri, 7 am – 9/10 pm (bfast served till 11a);
Sat & Sun, 9 am – 10/8 pm (bfast served all day)
Accepts cash and credit cards

Date of Visit: Friday, March 26, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: How do you find Cafe Hon? Look for the giant pink flamingo on the side of the building! Inside you’ll find one of my top picks for breakfast in Baltimore, and a surprisingly big cafe dedicated to celebrating all things Bawlmer. J’eet yet, hawn?

ATMOSPHERE: Cafe Hon is a fun little spot situated in the Hampden district of Baltimore. We made a quick stop there on our way out of town, and I wish we had had more time to explore the neighborhood. Cafe Hon’s funky sense of humor seems to fit the area well. You can find plenty of metered parking on the street, or you can find a small lot tucked down the alley next to the Cafe – just look for the sign.

The Cafe itself is a great old space with big wooden floors and old cabinets and bars. It’s bigger than it looks on the outside, with an additional dining room branching off the main one. They really cash in on the kitschy decor made popular by the original John Waters’ film Hairspray, with funky touches like leopard print booths, pink flamingos, an Elvis doll dressed in feathered boa, and lots of mismatched decor.

FOOD: Cafe Hon’s food may not have had the same fun specialties as, say, Blue Moon Cafe, but it’s a solid breakfast: simple menu, filling portions, freshly-prepared. First up was the Hon Bun, a giant, warm cinnamon bun with a slightly tangy frosting.

My wife ordered the Steelcut Oatmeal. Nice big bowl of homemade oatmeal with sides of brown sugar, blueberries, and raisins. Our son devoured the whole thing.

A breakfast sandwich with Hon potatoes. I forget exactly which one, and I can’t look it up because their menu online is incomplete.

Texas style French Toast with strawberries and bananas. Really picturesque. I’m more and more convinced that the key to good French toast is thick slices of bread.

I’m an all-around type of guy, so I chose their all-around dish: the Avenue Breakfast, with pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, and Hon potatoes (never quite figured out what those were). I like the fact that I can have it all with this meal: some proteins, some potatoes, and some sweet pancakes.

All of this gets washed down with good coffee served in huge custom mugs.

Another look around the restaurant.

SERVICE: I think our server did a very good job with our large group. She didn’t smile as much as she could have, but overall she handled all the details of a large group of adults and kids well.

OVERALL: Cafe Hon gets my vote for best breakfast in Baltimore. It’s just kooky enough to keep it interesting but maintains enough diner standards that it stands out above Broadway Diner, but it’s got more seating, cheaper prices, and better service than Blue Moon Cafe. The place certainly isn’t perfect – their website needs a serious update, for starters (their incomplete online breakfast menu is frustrating). And there is a definite touristy-gift-shop air to the restaurant and website. But if you look past those, you’ll find a comfortable little cafe serving a great breakfast in a funky neighborhood.

OTHER LINKS:
-> For you linguists out there, study the Baltimore dialect

Blue Moon Cafe | Baltimore, MD

Blue Moon Cafe (Facebook)
1621 Aliceanna Street (map it!)
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 522-3940
Open Mon-Thurs, 7 am – 3 pm; Fri-Sun, 11 am – 3 pm
Accepts cash and credit cards

Date of Visit: Thursday, March 24, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

Blue Moon Cafe the most anticipated of our Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives Baltimore breakfast tour. We saw the episode featuring Blue Moon last fall, and over Christmas attempted to replicate their Captain Crunch French toast. Needless to say, we were excited to try the real deal.

Blue Moon Cafe is tucked away in the delightful Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore, with shops, markets, beer bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and a beautiful waterfront to enjoy. (Side note: we found a great coffee shop in the neighborhood called Latte Da – very friendly, great espresso.)

The cafe is very small: only nine tables and three seats at the counter. I think we overwhelmed them when we arrived with a group of 8, but they were able to seat us quickly. I’ve heard tell of long lines, and judging by the layout, I can see why.

The decor is a country kitsch mixed with kooky details: old fireplace mantles decorated with artsy knick-knacks, Day of the Dead-like skeletons, mis-matched tables and chairs. To add to the charm, the space itself feels like an abandoned building that’s been restored. Big brick walls. A floor that slopes towards the front of the building. And tiny gaps in the wooden floor that let you see through to the basement. Overall the feel of Blue Moon is pretty low key. There’s no website, only a small mention of the DDD visit (most other places boast huge signed posters), and the menu is a basic computer-printed sheet of paper.

FOOD: However, the low-key location belies the stellar food. The menu begins with the specialties, called the Morning Moon. These include various scrambles, huevos rancheros, burritos, lots of chorizo, hobo eggs, and old fashioned potato cakes. There are also various benedicts (veggie and Maryland crab), omelets, pancakes/French toast, while chipped beef and scrapple make appearances, too.

Behold, one of the best cinnamon rolls I’ve tasted. Not the best, but certainly up in the top 5. Massive, warm, soft, and coated with a sweet-but-not-too-sweet frosting. Simply gorgeous.

Even before we visited, I knew I had to try the famous Captain Crunch French Toast. It’s not actually on the menu, but our server told us that it was available. After seeing the French toast on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, we tried making it ourselves last December, with limited success. I mean, how bad can Captain Crunch-encrusted French toast really be? Answer: not bad at all. But like any good dish, it takes refinement, and the folks at Blue Moon are famous for this dish for a reason. The plate is three thick slices of toast with fruit and homemade whipped cream. Surprisingly, it’s not as sweet as you would imagine. The use of kiwi fruit and a nice thick cream balanced the sweet Captain Crunch, syrup, and powdered sugar. And you can cut it with the side of your fork. Bingo.

Side of bacon. Very good. But overpriced at $4.00.

Excellent biscuits - very tall, served with jam and butter that’s not frozen solid (breakfast pet peeve).

The eggs benedict, as ordered by my sister-in-law. It looked perfectly delicious, and she said it was the best she’s ever had.

The hobo eggs. As expected: good and filling.

My wife ordered the special, the omelet with ham, avocado, Maryland crab, and cheese on top. She said it made a good start, but a few ingredients were off. The cheese should have been on the inside, to help hold the omelet together. And the ham overpowered everything, which is not good when working with delicate grab. It’s a Maryland crab omelet – you want to taste the crab!

SERVICE: The one real down-side to our experience was our initial reception by the servers. We walked in with a larger group – and when you walk in the door you are standing in the middle of the dining room, tables and chairs all around you – but they had room for us all. Still, the servers, particularly the woman who seemed to be heading things up, were unnecessarily surly. We got short answers, never a smile or welcome, and were hustled into our seats. She listed the specials without telling us the prices (a pet peeve of mine, especially when the special featuring a seafood omelet costs nearly TWICE as much as normal menu items). Later, I asked another server where they got their coffee. He blandly said he’d check, and then never got back to me.

I’ve read about bad service at Blue Moon on a few other review sites (Urban Spoon, Yelp, etc). I can imagine that if we had arrived on a weekend and had to wait 45+ minutes for a table and THEN ran into this service, I’d be pretty pissed off.

OVERALL: Still, the food and the fun location ultimately out-weighed the few menu-misses and the service. Our servers ultimately warmed up a little bit, and the food really was quite delicious. I recommend visiting on a week day morning – we seemed to avoid the wait that some people run into. But the menu and the location are uniquely off-kilter, with some great takes on the standard fare that make Blue Moon worth at least one visit.

OTHER LINKS:
-> Blue Moon Cafe on Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives