Clifton Cafe

A cold, cold morning a few weeks ago I met a friend for breakfast in Clifton, VA. Tucked back in the woods of Northern Virginia, Clifton has kept a its small town appeal with a few cute shops and restaurants lining a main street.

Clifton Cafe opened during the financial crisis of last year and is still going strong. They are one of very few local places I know of offering savory breakfast crepes. The restaurant is tiny. My friend and I were the only people in there at first, but that quickly changed. It was definitely a rotating door of people moving in and out. Some stayed, many got theirs to go.

The workers, both of them, were very friendly and obviously personally involved in the restaurant in some respect. Both the cooks and the decor brought a casual, down to earth element to the cafe. The ambiance was friendly; it looked as though a local artist had done murals both outside and in. Guests have a choice of hard chairs and soft chairs.

My breakfast partner ordered "Matt's Meatless Mistake". This savory crepe is filled with olives, artichokes, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese. He laughed as he ordered it, saying he couldn't believe he just ordered a 'meatless mistake' but was delighted with the outcome. I decided on a custom crepe with spinach and swiss and some mango salsa (recommended by my cook). They cooked the crepes right there and brought them to our table. They were warm and fresh and full of flavor. The crepe wasn't too thick, as some places mistakenly make them. While the crepes aren't bursting with the stuffing, they don't skimp on the insides. They serve them very simply, with nothing extra. I can't wait to try one of the sweet crepes! The ones they have on the menu range from fresh to decadent.

The parking lot is small and the place itself is quite small so if they are busy, I imagine things get a little tight. The door kept opening and the cold air comes rushing in, so if you are staying to eat and it is cold out, be ready to keep your coat on. Oh, and the bathroom was uncomfortably freezing.

Schedule your breakfast with a little bit of time to walk around Clifton or drive down the road to see the horse farms and you will not be disappointed.

HOURS:
Mon.-Fri: 6 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Sat: 7 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Sun: 8 a.m.- 6 p.m

Most things under $9.
They take credit cards.
(also on Facebook)

--S.Coffin

In Memoriam

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I want to document the death of a diner. For the briefest moment, Metro diner existed in among the colonial buildings of downtown fairfax, nestled on the corner, offering eggs and chili and french fries. Wait, I don't think they had fries. In fact, let the death of Metro diner stand as a warning to other restaurants, and a plea for help. There is a terrible shortage of short order eating to be had in this town. Having spent some time in Philadelphia, one gets rather spoiled by the abundance of Greek diners, each knowing their way around everything from Gyros, to omelettes. We just don't have the same thing here.

So, let us remember Metro diner as the light that failed, and let's remember why. The Diner is a business and eating model that needs no improvement, no cleaning, no polishing, no changing (alright...I will grant you that a lot of diners could use some cleaning). I will miss Metro because of what it represented, but what I really want is the mom and pop place that isn't on the corner here.

I want to order french fries with my omelette at 8 in the morning on Saturday.

- J.Anderson

Brooklyn Bagels, in Arlington at Courthouse

Remember the Soup Nazi? Well, if you want a bagel in Arlington County, you might relive that entire Seinfeld episode.
First you should know: they only take cash. Also, there are always lines. And you better bark off your order as quickly as possible. And no matter how perfect your order is they will still find something to ask you about, and get mad when you stammer a response. Plus, by the time I get there, they are always out of egg bagels.

But it's worth it. These are the best bagels I've have in NOVA. They use the New York cooking method, kettle boiled and then baked. That means they are crispy and blistered on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. They have lots of different cream cheeses. Smoked salmon, chive, roasted veggie, etc. When they make egg sandwiches, they cook the eggs right there. No microwaves. Everything is fresh and tasty.

The bagels are best when fresh out of the oven. As they cool they get much harder, and loose some of their flavor. Brave the Bagel Nazi, and stand in line, and order (and devour) it right there.


Brooklyn Bagels
2055 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-4442

Mon-Fri 6:30am- 5:00pm Sat-Sun 7:00am- 5:00pm
CASH ONLY

-- posted by M. Perry

Robeks

Robeks rocks. If you are looking for something to go or just something fruity for Breakfast, Robeks is the place. Everything there is fresh (or freshly "flash" frozen) and they don't use icky fake powders or sweeteners as a base for their smoothies. They are open by 6:30am on the week days (9am on Sat. and 11am on Sun.) and don't close until 8pm.

I don't eat their food (why go for the fish sticks at a pizza joint, right?!) but I love their smoothies. The two Acai smoothies are my favorites but I also dig the Bonzai Blueberry and the Pomegranate Passion. Though I have to say, I get something different almost every time I go in because I know it will be good and a great surprising taste. They are refreshing and thick and they taste REAL! Not like Smoothie King. Bleh.

The boosts that you can add are pretty cool too. The "power smoothies" come with boosts already included, if you are looking for some vitamins or protein or what not. But if you get overwhelmed with details, just ignore that.

The Robeks' that I've been to are really good about customizing your smoothie too. I usually get spinach added to mine as it gives you some green but can't overwhelm the fruits in terms of taste ... why not, right!?

You can also get some very different juices, if you are feeling adventurous. Wheat Grass is a staple for my orders. It is really sweet and comes as a shot. You definitely need a "chaser" for the wheat grass shot, as its a little ... pasture-y. The juices like G-Snap are quite the punch too.

Find locations here.

-- S.Coffin

Corner Bakery

This morning I went to Corner Bakery. My breakfast partner and I each got one of the egg dishes, the American and the Anaheim. The eggs were definitely actual eggs (rather than egg beaters, etc.), cooked well, and not too greasy. The bacon was thick and cooked perfectly. I hate it when its floppy and dripping. BLEH.

I also got the oatmeal which was tasty but nothing to rave about. The gluey texture was a little off putting but the taste and actual feel of it in your mouth wasn't bad. I'd like to try the steel cut oatmeal next. The oatmeal comes with a little cinnamon crispy toast thing that was soooo yummy.

I think Corner Bakery prides themselves on being able to accommodate healthy variations and allergies. They had Soy Milk out by the coffee, along with the half and half and milk. That's the first time I've seen that. They also mark options that are gluten free, vegetarian, and dairy free.

While I went to the Fair Oaks Mall location, there are other NOVA locations here, including Tysons, Arlington, and Sterling.

Overall I like the atmosphere of the open floor plan, casual, modern cafe. The service is a lot like a Noodles & Co. or Panera Bread (if you've ever been to either of those places). There was that "healthy feel" to the food but a warmth to the outcome. It seems as though places focusing on the "healthy" ingredients forget that it should also be yummy and HOT. Corner Bakery did a good job.

-- S.Coffin

The OPH

My favorite breakfast spot will come as no surprise to most people: The Original Pancake House. This gem of a restaurant opens at 7:00 a.m. and serves the best variety of pancakes anywhere. If you're looking for homestyle breakfast, this is the place to go.

Everything from pecan pancakes to spinach and mushroom crepes, to eggs hollandaise, to the infamous Dutch baby is available within 15 minutes. The best time to go is around 8:45 on Sunday morning before the church crowd gets there. Brimming with families and cute older couples, this restaurant reminds me of why I like breakfast in the first place - hearty food for everyday folks. For a special treat, try the shredded hash browns - mmmmm, I'm getting hungry just thinking about them.

The only downside is the more expensive (but still fresh-squeezed) orange juice, and the refusal to seat any incomplete party. The OPH won't split checks on weekends, but the waitresses are friendly and often will help you around that by printing multiple checks. They are also very kind to those of us who aren't ''cooperative'' in the mornings.

I also love that this place takes an interest in its community - every year, the OPH opens on Christmas morning in order to feed the homeless folks in Falls Church. What a great way to celebrate the season. I give 5 out of 5 stars to this comfortable breakfast spot - hope you get the chance to enjoy it!

- A. Griffith

I WANT BREAKFAST.

I start this blog in anticipation of true happiness. Now that's a tall order, you might say, but really, its the little things in life that give us those moments of joy. Breakfast can be one of them. A fresh, strong start to the day can do wonders. Or even the idea of starting the day with Breakfast but doing it at 11pm can be a real buzz. Breakfast food is like comfort food. Think back to your childhood, filled with breakfast memories ... Grandma made you the best cheesy scrambled eggs you've had, your dad used to whip up those hot Saturday morning pancakes with melty butter and thick, sweet syrup, your crazy aunt Mildred just had a way with oatmeal and brown sugar that made you fall in love ... with the oatmeal, and Christmas morning you would wake to the smell of bacon sizzling.

Not only has Breakfast (and yes, I will always capitalize it) been proven to be an incredibly important meal health-wise, it also incorporates some great dishes. These dishes, sometimes the simplest seeming dishes, with high expectations, can be horrid. HOW do cooks completely RUIN scrambled eggs??

So, fellow Northern Virginians, come with me and discover THE places to get some of the best Breakfasts NOVA has to offer. From locals dives to classy joints to international chains, there will be none left standing. Whether you like your breakfast fast and on the go at 5am or late and leisurely at 11pm, I'm going to find it for you.

-- S.Coffin