Quick Brunch Bites

Just a few brief notes on a couple of recent places I tried ...

Let me start by saying that I absolutely adore brunch. It is my favorite meal — partly because it really is two meals in one. You can have your sweet or your savory. And you don't have to get up early.

A few weeks ago, I went to Cafe Brioche for the first time. I had read all sorts of rave reviews about how it was supposed to serve one of the best brunches in Palo Alto. As I expected, there was a short wait for a table for two when I arrived that Saturday morning. I wish I could tell you what I ate, but it really was THAT unmemorable. Nothing special. At all. So I'm not sure why there's so much love for Cafe Brioche. (Maybe I just made a bad menu choice?) The service was friendly but oh so very s-l-o-w. Even though I can't remember what I ordered, I do remember waiting 30 minutes for the check. And asking for it TWICE.

This past weekend, I met some friends for brunch at Scott's Seafood in Town & Country Village. First of all, I probably should have known better than to pick a brunch spot that has the word "seafood" in its name AND is a sort of a mini-chain here in the Bay Area. And secondly, that strip mall is one giant mess. The parking lot is a disaster — with people and cars behaving badly. I ordered an omelet that was decent, but not better than anything I can whip up at home (and that's saying a lot since I don't even like to cook). The accompanying home fries and biscuit were horrendous. I am a firm believer that it is really hard to go wrong with potatoes, but these? These had some sort of funky taste to them that I just couldn't figure out. The service at Scott's was very good, but it didn't make up for the blah food.

I wish I had better things to report. But after these two experiences, I think I need to go back to Alana's for my next brunch outing.

St. Michael's Alley, Palo Alto

Okay, this is going to be short and sweet ... Because I'm in the middle of working on several freelance articles ... And I wanted to mention this little eatery, but don't have time for anything too detailed.

I met up with some friends for brunch at St. Michael's Alley on Saturday, and since it was the first visit for everyone, we all commented on what a cute place it is. (Note: I like that they actually offer brunch both weekend days, and not just on Sunday.) The dining room isn't very big, but there are a couple of outdoor tables and seating at the bar as well.

Dishes enjoyed at our table: cinnamon-pear pancakes (the daily special); fruit sundae (which was basically a fruit salad, served in a bowl -- not a parfait glass, as I thought it would be -- with granola and yogurt); and Blue Monkey pancakes (blueberry and banana combined). All were delicious, and not too pricey. My short stack of pancakes and a side of crispy bacon came to about $10.

The restaurant wasn't too crowded when we showed up (which was good for us, since they don't accept brunch reservations), but it started to fill up around noon. On a sunny morning, when people aren't huddled inside their warm homes underneath a pile of blankets, I imagine that St. Michael's Alley probably attracts even more diners looking for a tasty meal, as well as lovely ambiance and service.

St. Michael's Alley
806 Emerson Street
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 326 2530

Hobee's

I've been coming to Hobee's for years. When I was in college, I'd frequent the downtown Santa Cruz location for breakfast. Now that I live in the Peninsula, there are several locations to choose from. Plus, there's one right down the street from my office. I can't really tell you much about the food I've eaten here, because most of it has never been all that memorable. You see, as far as I'm concerned, the only reason to go to Hobee's is the blueberry coffeecake -- whatever follows that is just filler. Inconsequential.

But that blueberry coffeecake? It is SO damn good! (Who cares if it's not good for you. Mmm... All that butter... Sugar...)

So if you ever visit a Hobee's, whatever you do, get the coffeecake.

Oh, and the hashbrowns are pretty tasty, too.

And if you're at the one in Cupertino, try to sit outside.

Hobee's
See web site for locations.

Alana's Cafe, Redwood City

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. But on the weekends, it's tough for me to drag myself out of the house in the morning to get a bite to eat. So when we do make the effort to go out for breakfast, it had better be good.

I was having trouble sleeping in on Saturday morning, and since Jon and I were already planning to hit the driving range early, I figured we should grab food somewhere while we're out and about. Alana's came to mind because we've driven by it before and I always comment on how cute it is. The restaurant is located in a blue Victorian, broken up into several dining spaces and with a lovely garden/patio in front.

Since it was a bit chilly when we arrived, we opted to dine inside -- at the table-for-two next to the faux fireplace. I ordered a hot chocolate (not water-based -- yay!) and a small stack of the Swedish oatmeal pancakes with bananas on the side. Jon went with the Farmer's Garden plate (homefries, tomatoes, scallions, mushrooms, cheddar and provolone sauteed and topped with two poached eggs). He also got a blueberry-lemon scone, one of three fruit options they had that morning. (The other two were cherry-something and papaya-coconut. I was surprised by that last one, and wasn't sure if I even heard her right.)

The pancakes were delicious! The oats made for a nice texture, but didn't overwhelm the batter or -- what I feared -- make it too dry. It's got a good flavor to it, too, so you don't need much maple syrup. Jon's scone was awesome. It was fresh out of the oven, so it was warm with a crusty top. He approved of his Farmer's Garden dish as well, as evidenced by the clean plate he left behind. The homefries were also a hit. Ideally, I'd like them a tad crispier, but they were perfectly seasoned.

The service was just as impressive as the food and ambiance. The staff was very friendly -- a tough task at 8am on a Saturday!

Since we got to Alana's shortly after they opened, it wasn't too crowded while we were there. But I hear this place gets crazy-crowded on the weekends. While we were in the middle of our breakfast, a man walked in to meet a friend of his who was already seated. "Isn't this place great!" he exclaimed, as he made his way to the table by the window. The friend confirmed that it was. And Jon and I also looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

Alana's Cafe
1020 Main Street
Redwood City, CA
(650) 366-1498

Alice's Restaurant, Woodside

"You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant..."

Although it may not be THE Alice's that Arlo Guthrie sang about (that one is in Massachusetts), this Woodside establishment has been packing them in for over half a century. The restaurant's wooden structure -- located at the top of Skyline Boulevard -- is actually about 100 years old. But it started out as a general store, and was later turned into a restaurant in the 1950s. In the '60s, Alice Taylor purchased it and renamed the spot. It has since changed ownership a couple more times, yet maintains its homey and rustic feel.

The diners here run the gamet, from families to young college students to bikers. Jon and I recently took the in-laws here.

I ordered the Joe's Special -- scrambled eggs with ground beef, spinach, onions, mushrooms and cheese served with a biscuit and hash browns. Although it was good, after seeing everyone else's reaction to their sandwiches, I think I should have picked something from the lunch menu instead. Jon's dad had the tuna melt; his mom opted for a turkey sandwich; and Jon couldn't resist the BLT. They each raved about their food.

We also ordered some garlic fries and beer-battered onion rings. Delicious! Often, garlic fries are heavy on the garlic, but the actual texture of the fries is overlooked. Alice's, however, were nice and crispy.

The next time we make the trip here, I think I'll try the BMW burger -- bacon, sauteed mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce and jack cheese. Mmmm... Quite a few menu items make reference to motorcycles, a nod to many of Alice's loyal patrons. The curvy road leading you to the restaurant is a big draw for riders.

Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline Boulevard
Woodside, CA
(650) 851-0303

Breakers Cafe, Redwood City

After waking up and finding ourselves without any power on Saturday morning, Jon and I decided it was a good time to give Breakers Cafe a try.

Located in the Woodside Plaza, the cafe -- which is open for breakfast and lunch daily -- is easy to find, thanks to the cockatiel squawking outside of its doors. Step inside, and there's a long bar on the left. Comfortable booths line the sides of the room, while tables fill up the space in-between. I have no idea how long this place has been in business, but judging by some of the regulars, it's been around quite a while.

Aside from the giant mural covering an entire wall (with its depiction of Emerald Hills, the Stanford lands and the Woodside skyline, it's an homage of sorts to the surrounding area), there isn't much to say about the decor here. It's clear that Breakers' focus is on good, solid food and friendly service.

The menu features all of the breakfast classics: egg dishes, French toast, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, etc. Jon opted for the "early-bird special"; it included eggs, sausage links and hashed browns. I went for a half-order of French toast topped with fresh bananas. It was simple and tasty -- no fancy breads, no fancy syrups. I also couldn't resist a side of hash browns, which were super-crispy. Just the way I like 'em.

Even if there isn't another black-out any time soon, I think we'll be coming back to Breakers for more breakfast goodness.

Breakers Cafe
270 Woodside Plaza
Redwood City, CA
(650) 369-9162