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)

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

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