Picture the scene. Saturday morning rolls around. You lounge in bed, contemplating how productive you will be today just as your stomach starts to grumble. Leisurely, you stumble peacefully out of the covers and chat with your husband about which trendy new brunch spot you can head to today.
Unless you are me and have kids. Because my Saturday mornings usually start with the baby crawling over us in bed in his desperate attempt to grab the remote from the side table. Then my five-year-old daughter comes into our room and either starts complaining that she is hungry or I offend her in some way and she pouts out of the room. Before we had kids, my husband and I used to have the most leisurely meals at yummy places.
However, having kids does not mean I’m relegated to eat a Dunkin Donuts breakfast for the next 18 years, but it does mean I now look for specific criteria in my breakfast places. Here are a few we found in the East Valley that are winners.
Biscuits Cafe
This little restaurant is located on the corner of Warner and Dobson in the same plaza as LA Fitness. Originally an Oregon based chain, Biscuits serves homey food that is both delicious and kid-pleasing. Each kid gets a menu and a pack of crayons to keep them busy. We like ordering the “Keeping it Simple” and splitting it between our son and daughter. Keeping it Simple allows you to pick three a la carte items and make it a meal. The biscuits here are phenomenal by the way and the coffee is quite good. If you visit, I also recommend the cinnamon rolls. Make it here before 9 and you can usually be seated immediately.
Chompies
The bakery case that greets you as you enter the restaurant is worth the trip alone. My daughter and I spend our time ogling the various desserts as we wait for a table. Chompies has an enormous breakfast menu with everything from omelets, benedicts, pancakes and traditional jewish fare such as lox and latkes. Every kid gets a coloring sheet and crayons to keep them occupied. My daughter loves the challah bread with a small side of yogurt.
Crepe Bar
We recently discovered this small haven tucked into a strip mall at the corner of Rural and Eliot. Crepe Bar used to be a food truck but transitioned to it’s stationary dwelling a few years ago. No kids menu here, but they are willing to make half portions of most crepes. You can choose either a sweet crepe, such as vanilla custard with strawberries (pictured above), or a savory crepe, such as chorizo with smoked gouda (!). The coffee here is amazing and the vibe is very low key. Get here early on the weekend though as they only have one high chair.
P. Croissant Bakery
If Crepe Bar is too busy, you can venture over to this charming bakery merely steps away. Their claim to fame is stuffed croissants. Don’t worry, they are not oozing with jelly. Its more like someone baked a wonderfully delicious, flaky croissant and spread a thin layer of filling inside. We’ve tried Strawberry Cheese, Dulce de Leche, Chocolate Cream cheese and many others. They also have mouthwatering breakfast sandwiches.
Joe’s Fresh Farm Grill
Although Joe’s is known for burgers and pizza, they also have a fantastic breakfast menu. Fresh eggs and pancakes complimented with various produce grown from the garden behind the restaurant. Order from the counter and then let the kids run around in the giant, grassy yards until your food is ready.
What are your favorite places for breakfast on the weekend?
