June Breakfast Tour...suggestions needed.

[nicedragonboy]

I'm working on a final list of Five amongst the following for breakfast stops in the Eastbay/Berkeley/Oakland area on the weekends of June. So what would be your top 5 in this list and/or other suggestions?

- Kensington Bistro in Albany
- 900 Grayson in Berkeley.
- Jodie's in Albany.
- La Note in Berkeley.
- Cafe Fanny on Cedar and San Pablo in Berkeley.
- Chester's on Vine & Walnut in Berkeley.
- Jim's Coffeeshop in Alameda
- Sunnyside Cafe in Albany
- Otaez's in Alameda
- Venus on Shattuck in Berkeley
- Rick & Ann's by Claremont Hotel in Berkeley
- Mamas Royal Cafe, Broadway in Oakland
- Bette's Oceanview Diner in Berkeley
- DeClancey's Welcome Table in Oakland

[ML8000]

Never been to Rick & Ann's but a few friends swear by it. Might consider Meal Ticket and Tamarindo (for Sat. brunch) as well.

[Glencora]

Has anyone been to the Gilman Grill lately? I only ask because I have a coupon. I haven't been in about 10 years. The outside of the building looks rather rundown...

[rworange]

Exactly the same as ten years ago. Actually quite good. I wrote it up a year or so ago, but I've been back since. If you liked it before, you'll like it again ... and visa versa.

[anak]

I have two to add. Sam's Log Cabin in Albany (I recommed fish sticks and eggs for breakfast) and Gorilla Cafe in Berkely (killer waffles!).

[scenicrec]

I'd add Full House Cafe in Oakland to your list!

[rworange]

My 5 would be ...

1. Sea Salt or T-Rex (depends if you want mainly sea food or mainly meat with eggs. Sea Salt has the better Bloody Mary)

2. Hidden City Cafe in Pt Richmond

3. Kennsington Bistro (not Inn Kennsington as someone mentioned). Get the scones ... you must get the scones.

4. Betty's Oceanview Diner for the soufle pancakes

5. Daimo - congee & dim sum
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/40095...

Personally I would switch out Rick and Ann's for Bette's only because I've never been to Rick and Ann's yet.

Mama's I've never thought was all that and it is crowded and on the funky side.

900 Grayson is on the Hidden City level, I just think Hidden City does it better and it is in a charming little town. You can drive back by going through the tunnel and along the shore for a spectacular view.

Sunnyside I would only go to on a week day as it is just too packed.

Cafe Fanny is just too light of a breakfast, is self serve and you are eating in the parking lot for heaven's sake and dealing with the weekend hoards.

DeClancey's and Jodie's are sort of in the same league. Good food but it is a lot about atmosphere.

Haven't been to the rest.

[JasmineG]

Yes, I agree on the souffle pancakes at Bettes! Just know that they take about 30 or so minutes, so you might want to share an order of those and get an order of one of the specials to share before the pancake comes out.

[JasmineG]

On this list, I like 900 Grayson a lot (but know that it's not open on Sundays), and would add Blackberry Bistro. La Note, I like, but only their sweet items (the pancakes and french toast are great), but I usually like a more savory breakfast, and I don't really like their options for savory breakfast food. Mama's Royal Cafe makes my favorite homefries anywhere, but their coffee is awful (as is the coffee at most breakfast places, actually). Bette's is good, and their specials are usually the best things on the menu, so make sure to ask about those (but it's not worth the usually hour or so wait). Rick & Ann's is fine, but not great (and ditto on the wait). Cafe Fanny isn't particularly interesting. I would also definitely add the T-Rex brunch to your list (I really enjoyed it) and Sea Salt (I haven't been, but I like the rest of their food, and they're by the same people as T-Rex). I wasn't thrilled by the brunch at Luka's.

[milklady]

That's a great list. I really like 900 Grayson, Venus (for brunch, not for dinner), Rick & Ann's (but hate the wait) and La Note. I also really like Cafe Cacao (7th & Heinz in Berkeley) and, for a quick inexpensive breakfast, Picante at 6th & Gilman (awesome hot chocolate and coffee, and I love the chilaquiles).

[Morton the Mousse]

Definitely 900 Grayson - an absolute must. Consider adding Hidden City Cafe to your list. Fanny and Sunnyside, meh, they're fine, but nothing special. Guerilla Cafe can be fun, funky vibe, good prices, food is good but not great.

Are you open to weekend brunch recs? It would give you quite a few more possibilities. Eccolo has a brunch that bests almost every breakfast in town (I have yet to find an equal Benefict in the Bay Area). Also, good reports on the brunches at Luka's Tap Room, T-Rex BBQ, and Sea Salt.

[See Food]

Homemade Cafe on Sacramento and Dwight has the best homefries hands down. You have to upgrade to homefry heaven to experience the real deal.

Homemade Cafe Menu: http://www.sporq.com/berkeley/homemad...

[zinfanatic]

Inn Kensington is in Kensington- not Albany- on Arlington Ave. Don't forget 900 Grayson!

[chemchef]

I agree that they have awesome homefries, however, I think that the real stand-out on their menu is the Whole Wheat, Cinnamon, Pecan Waffle. It is amazing.

[See Food]

Thanks chemchef, I totally forgot about the pecan waffle. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[chompy]

DeClancy's is good, but do be prepared not to eat for a day or two afterwards.

I love Caffe 817 on Washington in Old Oakland. Polenta with gorgonzola and poached eggs, or toast with prociutto and poached eggs. Simple but perfect. Their fruit salad is also great. (They're not open Sundays, however).

[Robert Lauriston]

La Note is great.

Cafe Fanny's best on a warm, sunny day.

[myrrhine47]

The Blackberry Bistro in Glenview, Oakland, is one of my favorites. The food is classic breakfast/brunch fare such as omelets and French toast. Oh, and they make a great mocha using Scharffenberger chocolate... I don't think they take reservations, so the wait can be pretty long on weekends.

[Janet]

We haven't been to Blackberry Bistro since it changed hands. So it is still great?

The Egg Shop in Montclair is very good, any day of the week. Rick and Ann's did not wow us. It was very ordinary. The catering side is much better IMHO.