TwinCitiesBreakfast.com

Mort's Delicatessen

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

After reading Rick Nelson's recent review, I was reminded that the TCB crew had stopped by Mort's some time ago. You see, we just happen to be hankering for "comfort food from Eastern Europe, Lithuania, Russia and Hungary" so the place seemed perfect.

It's taken this long to get a write-up done and my recollection isn't that good, mainly because I passed out and went comatose for several days after attempting to finish my plate of food roughly the same size of the country of Hungary.

Come to think of it, the greeting from behind the counter as we entered did sound rather ominous -- more like a warning: "Good morning: I hope you're hungry!" Indeed. I seem to recall a serving platter of eggs benedict topped with a small mountain of corned beef coming my direction.

Tasty -- and buttery. Now, I'm a Minnesota boy and not afraid of butter in the least. But so. much. butter. It wasn't all overly greasy though -- latkes, oatmeal, an omelet and pancakes were also served, all of which were pretty good and, yes . . . pretty giant.

Stabby's

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I can't help but think the name of this place is inviting trouble. Sort of a self-fulfilling deal; the cooks probably have a wager going for which server will finally grab the butter knife and go for the eyes after being asked for the last time "why are you called Stabby's?" Poor naming aside, judging by the TCB crew's first visit last Saturday, the place appears to be a decent (i.e. average) neighborhood stop.

The breakfast menu had some creativity to it with a variety of pancakes (buttermilk, banana blueberry, gingerbread, ect) and a good listing of omelets. The cornbeef hash is from a can, and though the menu lists house-made sausage gravy, I'm thinking "from a can" isn't an uncommon phrase here. Emphasis looks more to be on quantity, as our table required more than one take home container at the end of our meal. They've also had a display case full of pastries and passable coffee, so I'm thinking the spot will work well for a quick to-go stop on weekdays. (I apologize, dear readers, that I did not find out where the pastries are imported from)

The place is newly renovated by combining the floor space of two former businesses, so there's the main dining area as well as the front room with street-view counter seating and a couch for lounging. Perfectly played for catching the weekend overflow of that other tiny breakfast spot across the street.

Blackbird Cafe

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600

This little neighborhood cafe has "date spot" written all over it. Well, except for the rows upon rows of animal antlers hanging around the room -- that has some potential to throw your sweetie's appetite off. So maybe "goth date spot" is more accurate.

Yes, much has been made about the antlers; it is a bold decor move. I have to imagine that they take a bit of slack from the squeamish tofu crowd too.

But it's not enough to distract from the real draw: excellent, from scratch, very reasonably-priced food. The only real negative is that breakfast is only available on the weekends. That's okay though; goth kids don't do weekday breakfast dates anyway.

Citizen Cafe

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

I suppose Ill lose a couple style points for kicking a breakfast spot when its down or rather, altogether out. But sweet Jesus was Sweet Loraines a bad breakfast joint; even as a hole-in-the-wall greasy spoon they didnt do greasy right. So its replacement the new Citizen Café didnt really have to do much to be an improvement. But as it is, from all appearances the Powderhorn Community has scored big.

I can count on one hand the number of casual, inexpensive breakfast cafes in this town that can tell you where their eggs and meat came from other than, uh . . . the back of a Sysco truck (?) or how long ago they squeezed the oranges for the o.j. and which Wisconsin creamery the cheese came from. The Citizen Café staff can, and his means quality, fresh ingredients in the dishes whether its the very solid house made granola ($5.00), create-your-own scrambles ($6.00+), very excellent pulled-pork, potato, beet and blue cheese hash (!) ($7.00), cheddar-chive biscuits and white sausage gravy ($5.00) or the fried egg and awesome sage sausage on ciabatta sandwich ($6.00).

My gut reaction pun noted is that the portions are a bit small. But for what is being served and for the price its right on. Besides, I have to remind myself that being stuffed into submission by piles of cheap food something those other places rely on will only get me so far, like to the couch for a 10am nap.

Im not sure if theres supposed to be meaning behind the name of the Citizen Cafe, but this spot looks a lot like what the people need.

Capitol View Cafe

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

There are a few choice spots around town to get south-of-the-border breakfast fare (and no, breakfast burritos dont count). Marias has Columbian influence, Victors does Cuban, La Polbanita and Chiapas both have Mexican that does the trick.

And then theres Capitol View Café, a neighborhood diner with a mixed menu of traditional American, Cajun and Mexican fare. The three-page breakfast has quite the range: several omelets, chorizo con huevos, a Cajun benedict, biscuits and gravy, Belgium waffles with fruit, and breakfast quesadillas and thats just a small sampling. No doubt they arent worried about being 100% authentic, but its a fun and eclectic that ventures into the atypical. And it works.

So does the service: its prompt and genuine, with honed skills of finding the coffee cup in need of a refill of their (above-average) coffee. In all, this charming spot with a spiced-up menu has breakfast flavor worth a visit.