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.

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

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