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| Twin Cities Breakfast Diner |
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TCB Review:
For the average Twin Cities breakfast connoisseur, Jay's Cafe will probably be “that little place just down the street from Key’s”. Fortunately for Jay, he seems to have the wherewithal to survive in such a metaphorical shadow.
I think it's been about a year since this tiny hole-in-the-wall café took over the space that once was home to an apparently unsuccessful little Italian bistro. It's humble interior and east-facing windows make this the perfect place to slowly ease into your weekend morning. And for those urban wildlife lovers, Jay’s has also maintained the sidewalk café feel by setting up a few tables outside overlooking the industrial scenery that is St. Paul‘s Midway.
As far as food goes, Jay's leans much further toward the gourmet side than it‘s competitor down the street. It's a short, but definitely unique breakfast menu including waffles of the day, huge breakfast burritos (both chorizo and veggie) and a variety of dishes appropriately topped with poached eggs. Since I'm always on the hunt for homemade hash, I was pleased to find Cuban style Pork Hash on the list, though the Eggs NOLA and the Eggs Sardou (apparent Creole variations on Eggs Benedict) will probably call me back there again some early Saturday morning this spring.
To top it off, the coffee is acceptable, the staff is friendly, the chorizo - spicy. Definitely one of my recent favorites. Well done, Jay.
Posted: 03/19/06 by MOB
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From: Northstop
01/27/2008 |  
4 of 5 Huevos | Based on the recommendations on this site, our Sunday Breakfast Club decended on Jay's to see what all the fuss was about. We were all impressed with the environment, the coffee, the nice menu selections and the wait staff. We chose three of their favorites: the pork hash, the steak and eggs and the burrito. The gal in the club stated "this burrito was the best burrito she had ever eaten" which is high praise once you meet the leggy supermodel behind that comment.
The pork hash was presented well with great flavors and the steak and eggs was equally solid although the requestor decided to forgo the hollendaise sauce amongst the bacon and steak festival. The breakfast potatoes and coffee earn an immediate 5 huevo "lift of the lid" and the whole breakfast almost tipped into the rarified air of 5 Huevos but due to its novelty, the slightly than higher prices and the odd seating configuration, we need to settle on 4. But we will be back and I am not afraid to jack it up one more huevo.
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From: Black Egg
11/15/2007 |
5 of 5 Huevos | I've been to a majority of the "best" breakfast places in the twin cities. Jay's is certainly in the top 3 and the Eggs Sardor is my favorite breakfast meal ever. Jay's can make a glummy day into rainbows and gumdrops.
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From: spygeek
09/03/2006 |
4 of 5 Huevos | Jay's has a great atmosphere and wonderful food. The servers were all friendly and attentive. Good coffee - none of that watery church-basement brew here! The menu is unique and our choices (cowboy breakfast and surfer's burrito) were both top-notch. They do serve breakfast all day on Sundays if you're a late riser like we are.
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From: Bx
09/02/2006 |
5 of 5 Huevos | A-MAY-ZING! Jay's Cafe is our secret spot for a good breakfast. A great location (smack dab betwixt Minneapolis and St. Paul). Intimate but not small. Outdoor tables. Always quietly lively but never crowded, even on weekends. The waitstaff is cheerful but not crazy. Great dark coffee, very European-tasting and *never burnt*. Low-key, unpretentious but classy decor. (It's the former Chet's Taverna space). Extremely charming. VERY romantic, especially the morning after.......the natural light and quiet ambience will only flatter your faces and make you fall further in love.
OH! The food. Surfer Burrito is a torpedo of eggs, chorizo, avacado, tomatoes and cheese. They offer 4 kinds of hot sauce and some of the best home fries I've ever had. (And I'm REALLY into taters, so that's a major compliment). Shrimp cakes. Sounds strange for breakfast, but trust me. Giant, crisp, perfectly gorgeous Belgian waffles with powdered sugar. Great toast.
Please leave the kids home!
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From: Doodles
09/02/2006 |
4 of 5 Huevos | Hmm, I want to give this 5, but I feel like 5
has to be reserved for some mind-blowing
breakfast experience (the likes of which may
be mythical). Which is not to say that I don't
love this place. I have been impressed every
time I've been there, whether it be for
breakfast or lunch. The menu is small but
unique and has some tasty choices at very
reasonable prices, served by nice people who
might live next door to you. For someone that
loves spicy food, the chorizo hits it just right. It
says spicy and get this-it's actually spicy. My
personal favorite is the "burrito as big as your
head" for breakfast. Or maybe it's the waffle of
the day, like cherry chocolate?
The other great thing about this place is the
smug feeling you get as you walk out with a
belly full of interesting and tasty food and see
all the brainwashed folks waiting 30 minutes
for the slop at the completely overrated and
mediocre Key's just down the block.
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