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

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

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