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Ah, breakfast!
Whether it’s a cozy all-American breakfast dinette of years past, where they flip a short stack of fresh blueberry pancakes and dish out sizzling chicken-apple sausages and warm homemade biscuits, with lashings of strong, hot coffee to wash it all down.
Whether it’s a homey neighborhood breakfast room serving puffy French toast drenched in warm maple syrup, steaming bowls of love (a.k.a. oatmeal with brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins), crispy bacon, and fresh orange juice, bright and cheerful as morning sunlight.
Whether they bring it to you in a plastic booth, slide it over a silvery counter, or serve it at a starched linen table — breakfast is big. Everyone loves it. From the frenzied folks kick-starting their day with a power breakfast and a cup of joe, to the drowsy-eyed ones kicking back over a pastry and the morning newspaper.
Below are a few of Sonoma’s best breakfasts bets.
Pearl’s Home Style Cooking
Pearl’s Homestyle Cooking is a breakfast and lunch room that carries the kind of food that Mom used to make — well, some moms anyway. Reminiscent of a 1950s or 60s diner, the place is pleasingly retro with black and white tiles on the floor, cobalt blue walls, red leatherette seats and barstools, and a few Hawaiian knickknacks dotted around. It’s a fun place for families.
Waitresses wearing Pearl’s red and white T-shirts take orders for the popular hearty American-style breakfasts. For example, Pearl’s Country Combo includes two eggs any style with toast, golden hash browns or tomato slices for $4.80. Add bacon, sausage or ham for $6.80, or chicken-apple sausage or Polish sausage for $7.95.
Pearl’s also features “Hall of Fame” breakfast items, such as Babcia Pearl’s Big Bowl of Love (oatmeal with cinnamon, raisins and glazed walnuts) for $4.50; Sly’s Homemade Chicken-Apple Sausage Hash with two poached eggs, toast and tomatoes for $7.95. Or the intriguing Isaac’s 2x2 – two eggs, two pancakes, two pieces of french toast, two slices of bacon, two sausage links (and two Alka Seltzers!) for $9.95.
Breakfast served daily, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 561 Fifth Street West, Sonoma (707) 996-1783
Follini & Eichenbaum
You’ve probably driven past this cute buttercream-colored wooden building — that’s said to be about 70 years old and was originally part of a farm — many times as you’ve travelled along Arnold Drive. Inside is cozy eatery with a deli counter and a few tables and chairs.
During the week, this Jewish-Italian-American deli serves up an informal breakfast, including pastries from local bakeries; bagel, lox and cream cheese; and breakfast burritos, accompanied by various blends of Peet’s coffee. Lunch gives way to deli style and grilled sandwiches and salads.
But the buzz is that Follini & Eichenbaum serves up the best set-priced Sunday brunch in town. Their “Sunday Mini Brunch,” which costs $10.95, includes fresh orange juice, Peet’s coffee, potatoes, toast, a choice of either sausage links or bacon, plus a choice of one of the following: soft scrambled eggs with cream cheese, Eggs Follini (a poached egg crostini with prosciutto and parsley pesto), or quiche. Check it out!
Open Mon-Fri, 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Sun brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 19100 Arnold Drive at Grove Street, Sonoma (707) 996-3287
LaSalette
At lunch and dinner time, LaSalette morphs into one of Sonoma’s classiest restaurants, featuring modern adaptations of old-world Portuguese home cooking. But for a delicious change of pace, the restaurant is now open for breakfast and offers a variety of gourmet crêpes and pastries.
You can sit in the rustic chestnut and pumpkin-colored dining room, the woodburning oven casting a golden glow, while you listen to soulful Fado music on the sound system and enjoy a morning coffee and a pastry, such as Sonjo’s “Dream” Donuts for 50 cents, or a Molotov (baked meringue with a drizzle of vanilla) for $1.59.
The breakfast crêpes run the gamut from savory smoked salmon, cream cheese and dill ($3.99), Dungeness crab and corn with shrimp sauce ($3.99), and bacon and egg with piri piri sauce ($3.99). Sweet crêpes include fresh berries with whipped cream; apple raisin with rum sauce; and, for purists, a classic crêpes Suzette with kitchen-flambéed citrus is a delicious eye-opener (all $2.49). With modest prices and portion size, you can afford to try more than one.
Breakfast Wed-Sun, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 452-H First Street East, Sonoma (707) 938-1927
Schellville Grill
Back in business after a few recent flooding woes, the Schellville Grill is a comfortable spot, featuring a collection of mis-matched wooden tables and chairs, old photos on the walls, and chirpy waitresses who are quick to refill your empty coffee cup.
The most popular breakfast items
include the “Attapepper Frittata” ($10.95), a tasty blend of eggs, green onions, cheddar cheese, mushrooms, green chiles, and sour cream chipolte sauce); and the “Wishin’ I was Fishin’” ($10.95), which consists of eggs, hash brown potatoes, sausage patties, and pancakes.
Not for the timid is “The Swedish” ($9.50), a lumberjack-sized plate of three fried eggs, sautéed green and yellow onions and cheese stacked on whole wheat toast, which in turn sits on top of a beef patty and hash brown potatoes.
“This one’s for big boys only,” says owner Matthew Nagan with a laugh.
Open seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.22900 Broadway, Sonoma (707) 996-5151
Garden Court Cafe and Bakery
The Garden Court Cafe and Bakery in Glen Ellen is a casual, cheery and relaxing spot. The decor is cozy country style. Co-owners Rich and Stacy Treglia stress that the sausages, jams and jellies, scones, sticky buns and more are all homemade.
All egg orders include country potatoes or grits, and a choice of toast, English muffin, biscuits, or a scone. Popular choices include: Stacy’s Scramble (cheddar cheese, sautéed onions, and black olives) for $8.65; and The Hot Italian (eggs scrambled with homemade hot Italian sausage, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and jack cheese) for $10.25.
A variety of Benedicts are also available, including Eggs Sonoma (grilled chicken breast and avocado), Eggs Kenwood (Atlantic smoked salmon), and Eggs Wild (turkey chorizo, green chiles, jack cheese and Galapagos). Prices for Benedicts vary depending on how many eggs you order. Healthy alternatives, such as “no-oil potatoes” and non-fat dairy products are also available. In addition, the restaurant welcomes dogs, and even offers a canine menu.
Breakfast and lunch daily, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 13647 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen. (707) 935-1565. |
photographed by Megan Clouse/ Fine Life |
