First Watch

First Watch is consistent. Every time I've been there. There is a comfort in that. They have the traditional, they have the healthy side, it is always damn good, but there are no 'shizams',nothing to wow you. Some mornings you just want to know that you can lazily walk into a place, know exactly what you are eating and order it exactly how you want it. Some mornings you don't want to be that into your meal, you just want to eat it in peace and read your paper, work on your emails (there is free wi-fi here), meet with your freinds, or have a business meeting. First Watch is your joint.

Their omelet choices are surprisingly creative and span the globe (well, the American version of global foods). Also, they use cage-free eggs if you are concerned about the chickens. Along with the delectable breakfast classics (chocolate chip pancakes made from scratch, you know, for the kids), First Watch is one of the only breakfast specific places that offers actually healthy options. If that is your cup of tea, then you definitely need to go here. They serve egg white only, plain oatmeal, fresh fruit, veggies, etc. They offer all of the nutritional information and ingredients for every menu item on their website and in the restaurant. The little page icon next to the item will bring up a page with the nutritional info. Great for special dietary needs or allergies.

For you coffee-holics they have Sunrise Select Coffee. I've never heard of it, but I'm no coffee maven.

They also have a Sunday Brunch. I've never been but hear its good. (Have you been to it? Want to be published?! Contact me and lets arrange it!)

Fair City Mall
9600 Main St.
Suite S
Fairfax, VA 22031

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

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

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