Virginia Kitchen

[Waffle King's] Virginia Kitchen is an old school greasy spoon and keeping it real. It is hilarious to see this type of place in a Virginia suburb strip mall. By the time you leave, you'll feel like you should be walking out into the main street of a small town.

The ladies with the hair parlor doos, fake nails, and aprons are priceless. There are pictures of friends and family on the menu. The only thing that makes you realize that you are still in Northern Virginia and not Podunk, Middle-of-Nowhere is that these pictures include almost every ethnicity!

As for food...

The home fries were shredded and crispy. The scrambled eggs were typical diner eggs. I've heard that their biscuits are not to miss (I missed them though) and they squeeze their own OJ.

One of my friends ordered the Cinnamon French Toast, a clear winner in her book. She loved them and, I have to say, they made me wish I had ordered them rather than my waffles.

The fresh fruit selection was surprisingly diverse and yummy. They do offer cereal which many places leave off the menu.

Steer clear of the regular waffles. I ate with two friends and two of us ordered the waffles. They were disappointingly thin and rubbery rather than thick and fluffy. And, worst part, the squares were small. I don't know about you but I like my squares big. And if they are going to be small, the crispy edges and fluffy insides better make up for their smallness. They didn't. They do offer a Belgian style which may be better.

Also steer clear of the turkey sausage. I didn't finish mine. It was dry and a little gross.

Seating is available at booths, tables, or the little bar. We ate on a weekday morning and had no trouble getting a seat. I've heard it gets a little packed on weekends... must be that suburban craving for that small town feel. It's here.

450 Elden St.
Herndon, VA 20170
(Be sure to note the picture at the top left. Though it is right on the road, it can be hard to see)

Anita's

Anita's is a local chain of authentic Mexican food. "Anita" was the owner's wife. Every single time I've been at Anita's, I've had a great meal and efficient service. They get it done.

Their breakfast menu is full of yummy choices. There are Mexican style favorites, some fun new Mexican options, and some American classics. I was happy with quality of something as simple as a two egg classic and equally as happy with the Santa Barbara Omelet, stuffed with guacamole. Their salsa is fresh and spicy. Listen to other options:

Machaca Burrito

Shredded beef or fresh pulled chicken and scrambled eggs wrapped in a flour tortilla. Served with refried beans, homefries and "New Mexico Style" red or green chile.

Mr. T Special

Sizzling strips of pork marinated in "New Mexico Style" red chile, grilled and served with two eggs any style, refried beans smothered with red chile, homefries and hot flour tortillas.

There is something about sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and refried beans that compliments breakfast food quite nicely. Piping hot and fast, Anita's breakfasts are just scrumptious. Their coffee is nothing to write home about but it isn't bad. They offer free chips and salsa with your meal which I declined. It was just a little too early to eat chips and salsa.

Anita's home fries are shredded potato, loose, and fried to a golden crisp. Sometimes this style of home fry lends itself to a disappointing uncooked potato under the crisp outer layer but Anita's has never failed to give a satisfyingly crisp serving through and through each time.

The Fairfax location opens at a painfully early 5 AM! Each location has different hours, so check before heading out.

The Cereal Bowl

EXTRA!! EXTRA!! Read all about it!

Ok, I am breaking some of the rules of this blog today to bring you some exciting news. "The Cereal Bowl", an all cereal cafe chain in Delaware and New Jersey, has just arrived on our door step... well, almost our doorstep. Yes, unfortunately a visit to the clever cafe requires a drive into DC, traffic and all. But it's an ALL CEREAL cafe!!

They offer crazy cold cereal mixtures (a la Cold Stone Creamery) and hot cereal mixers as well as yogurt parfaits, "Oaties", and fro-yo cereal topped treats. They also offer lactaid milk and soy milk for dietary restrictions. Their website is very funny, as you crunch your way through each tab, but I've never been to the cafe myself. If you go, PLEASE review it and let me know! I'll publish you!

3420 Connecticut Ave NW (Cleveland Park)
202.244.4492

-- S. Coffin

Amphora

Oh Amphora... such an odd mixture of Greek and well, everything else. One of the only 24 hour sit down restaurants in the area (that is not a chain), Amphora captures much of the diner spirit in an eclectic and somewhat international style. Can you call it style? Well, go there and you decide. It suffers a bit from schizophrenia, as seen in the split dinning areas (one side diner, one side restaurant), the 42 page menu (ok maybe not 42 pages, but really... it goes on and on), or the choice between Mexican, Greek, Italian, and American fare (oh wait, do they have egg rolls?). Regardless, if you have a hankering for a cheap breakfast at any time of day or night, roll on over to Amphora and you can have it.

The food will definitely be prompt and hot. Fresh? Not so sure ... But shoot, who really needs fresh when you are eating fried eggs, fried bacon, fried potatoes and the like?! My server called me "honey" and my coffee cup and water glass were never empty. If you suffer from indecision like I do, prepare yourself here. Go decadent with the Banana's Foster French Toast, satisfy your picky eaters with "create your own omelet", Hollandaise lovers will be delighted with the entire section of the menu dedicated to the sauce, or go international with the Greek Pocket, Breakfast pizza, or Huevos Rancheros.

It is not McDonalds fast food, so don't expect to find a $1 menu but the prices are pretty reasonable ($5.50 - $10 for most; steak and crab obviously jack up the prices).

I've heard there is a weekend breakfast/brunch but haven't experienced it myself so I don't know if it is much different than the usual. Have you had it? They also have an entire bakery affiliated with the restaurant that has gotten good reviews.

I went to the location in Vienna. There is a cooler looking diner version in Herndon.

-- S. Coffin

Smith and Clarkson's

When traveling through middle-of-nowhere America, dining along your way usually produces restaurants in a particular mold: American staples (usually fried) on the menu and not so modern decor. Some of these places are real gems of *ahem* unhealthy, really tasty treats! Smith and Clarkson's fits the mold perfectly ... except that it is in Northern Virginia, right near an entrance to 495.

The inside is an awkward little 'L' shape, the ceiling seems too high, the lighting is industrial, the interior "design" is drab, and the people are ... well, I'll just say that I don't think they discuss cheerfulness and hospitality at their shift meetings. Our fellow diners were mostly men, many in jumpsuits. While you won't go there for the ambiance, it is a classic if you want really good diner food.

The ordering concept threw me off a little so let me prepare you. They have it set up for herding people through the restaurant. You are directed by half walls to the counter where menus, cashiers, and guests that entered behind you are all staring at you, waiting for your order. I stepped aside and let someone go ahead of me while I chose. They give you a number with your receipt which is called out either by the short order cooks or the cashier when ready.
The food was awesome, as evidenced by the fact that it was gone before I remembered to take a picture. They have quite the variety, from burritos to eggs Benedict to omelets. I ordered a Breakfast sandwich with egg, sausage, and cheese. Each was cooked to perfection, pipping hot, and obviously real (ie. not carton liquid 'egg').

My Breakfast mate ordered "Plate #5": Corned beef hash with 2 eggs and toast. While it was far too much food to eat in one sitting, the homemade corned beef hash (something I would not have ordered) was actually quite tasty and, to the connoisseur who ordered it, it was perfect! She got her eggs scrambled and they got another thumbs up there.
We saw some homemade muffins, shoved in a glass case up front (still in the pan ... I don't think presentation is much of a concern), and decided to test their baking skills as well. The muffin was very moist but way too sweet for my Breakfast mate.

At a neighboring table we watched as one gentleman consumed one of the "Plates" as well as the French Toast Combo, quite the feat considering the size of both of those things. At other tables the pancakes and omelets were hits with the kids. I am definitely coming back here to try the french toast, waffles, and pancakes. Their waffle is a made-from-scratch malted Belgian waffle cooked to a golden perfection. Their french toast looked thick, perfectly golden, and crispy. Their pancakes took up the entire plate and again, the golden color made my mouth water. They've got that griddle in the back in good hands!
And for you coffee shop die hards, they serve "Seattle's Best" and have local art for sale on the walls.

No frills, just enough grease .. a real winner in my book. Call me if you are going.

Mon. - Fri. 6am - 4pm
Sat. 7am - 4pm
Sun. 8am - 3pm
(They also deliver/carry out. Check out online ordering for quick service!)

--S.Coffin

Belly Up to OCB Breakfast

For my family of six, breakfast is the best meal of the day. From the youngest to the oldest, everyone loves to eat breakfast. One early Saturday morning, we piled into the minivan to check out Old Country Buffet's breakfast buffet at Fair City Mall.

This was our first trip to OCB for breakfast and we were not disappointed at the vast array of breakfast items: pancakes, French toast (made from French bread), cereals, grits, biscuits, gravy, waffles, scrambled and fried eggs, bacon, sausage links and patties, fresh fruit, an entire taco/burrito bar, fried ham, muffins, and freshly made omelets.

We arrived around 8 a.m. (OCB opens at 7:30 on the weekends for breakfast), and found the restaurant uncrowded and the food hot and fresh.

The kids ate so much breakfast, that the two older ones weren't hungry at all for lunch and the two younger ones, barely at any lunch. Even my husband and I were not very hungry for lunch, either.

Here's a rundown on the children's breakfast bonanza:

N, age 7, ate three pancakes, a chocolate muffin, some scrambled eggs, bacon strip, sausage link, and a glass of chocolate milk.

L, age 5, ate two pancakes, a chocolate muffin, some scrambled eggs, bacon strip, sausage link and a glass of chocolate milk.

M, age 3, ate a biscuit, a pancake, a muffin, some scrambled eggs, bacon strip, sausage link and a glass of chocolate milk.

S, age 19 months, ate a biscuit, two pancakes, and a muffin and a half.

Overall, the food was hot and tasty. The pancakes were a bit dry, but with four or five different types of syrup to pour over them, you wouldn't really notice. The eggs tasted fresh and were not rubbery. I had a fresh omelet that was delicious. My husband said the coffee was rather tasty, too.

Consider OCB for your next breakfast out--I think you just might be pleasantly surprised.
[OCB Breakfast 7:30am - 11am Saturday and Sunday ONLY]

S. Hamaker

Arties

Artie's ... If you've never been there for a meal, put it on your list. This restaurant, part of the Great American Restaurants (a local chain), is amazing and is a must in general. But to get to the point, they do an exceptional Brunch.

Only open for Brunch from 10:30am - 3pm on Saturdays and from 10am - 3pm on Sundays, Artie's keeps incredibly high standards for service, decor, and food. It is worth the wait to the weekend hours. From the time you walk in to the time you leave, you will get more than you could ever hope for in a casual dining experience. So much so that you almost feel as though you are in an upscale restaurant.

Its great for couples, singles, friends, and families with kids. The prices are a little more than your IHOP down the street but not by too much and the quality blows IHOP clear to Timbuktu. The ambiance is so cool. Its a classy New England Boathouse inside, with a deck, classic wooden boat models, and murals of boating scenes. Your hosts and servers are so happy, its almost ridiculous. Their smiles are infectious but they won't snuggle up to you or sing to you (ie. its not TGI Fridays).

Every dish I've had there for brunch is tastey. My favorite is the French Toast, thick and crunchy, with a granola crust, fried to perfection... I never knew french toast could taste so good. I don't especially like the way they do their scrambled eggs (in terms of texture) but they sure taste good. If you go for the Brioche French Toast Grand Slam, you get to taste the exceptional French toast, the eggs, the bacon (perfectly cooked), the home fries (I didn't know I liked home fries until I had these), and the yogurt dipping sauce. My other favorites are the Bubble and Squeak and the Brunch Crab cakes, both served on unbelievably fresh, moist, and flaky biscuits. But be adventurous, you won't be disappointed. And be sure to say yes to the offer of bread to start - warm lightly fried dough balls rolled in sugar and a dense breakfast loaf. Oh, and try some of their fun brunch drinks.

Always call ahead (703-273-7600) to Artie's, as they are often on a wait. Calling ahead gets your name on the list and starts your wait before you even get there. They only take reservations at off peak hours.

-- S. Coffin

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