Monday, January 26, 2009

Greasy spoons for the morning after

A reader e-mailed me last week looking for recommendations on where to refuel after a night of bar-hopping.


Here are my favorite breakfast spots around the QC (but I find that a double quarter-pounder from McDonald's usually does the trick):
  • Zada Jane's in Plaza Midwood. This brightly colored corner cafe offers everything from omelets to amaretto french toast. My favorite? The bunny rancheros: two fried "happy" eggs, black beans, home fries, choice of chorizo, turkey sausage or soysage, then topped with white queso and pepperjack cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa verde and cilantro crema. Come hungry and bring your patience -- it's a popular place and the servers never seem to be in a hurry. (Open Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 a.m.)
  • Pewter Rose in South End. PR has the best brunch in town, hands down. I could live on the (free) butterscotch scones alone. (Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
  • Original Pancake House, various locations. Sure, it's a chain, but nothing beats a short stack of blueberry pancakes. (Breakfast served all day.)
  • Light Rail Family Restaurant on South Boulevard. First signs of a good breakfast -- the parking lot is full and the people inside are over the age of 70. Nobody knows a good breakfast like Grandma and Grandpa. (Breakfast served all day.)
  • Big Daddy's in Dilworth added a breakfast menu in July to its already popular lineup. Try the Big Daddy Benedict -- two poached eggs and two slider patties on an English muffin with Hollandaise sauce and queso. (8-11 a.m.)
What about you guys? Where's the perfect Sunday morning, post-drinking breakfast?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Waffle House!!!

Anonymous said...

Landmark Diner!!!

Anonymous said...

Landmark Diner!

Anonymous said...

If you want a drive, Punchy's Diner in Concord is worth it for breakfast. Concord Family Restaurant is ok, but the smoking section's in the front of the house so even if you ask for the non-smoking section, you still end up smelling like smoke from waiting to be seated.

both are fun places with great, cheap breakfasts.

Anonymous said...

Typical rookie...would rather pay $12 at Zada Jane's rather than walk across the street to the best breakfast in town - John's Country Kitchen...these blogs are a joke.

Anonymous said...

What about the Landmark Diner or its neighbor San Remo on Central Ave? Both great places open really late - no need to wait until the morning after!

Anonymous said...

I second the quarter pounder...with a coke.

Unknown said...

I love Zada Janes since it's here in the 'hood (Plaza Midwood), but it's food quality and service can be quite spotty, and the wait can be absurd. When their food and service are up to par, this is my fav "morning after" restaurant.

I've been going to Landmark Diner on Central Ave a lot more lately though. The food and service are predictable: good. You also get about 3 times the food as Zada Janes for the same price. Like everything in the Plaza Midwood/Central Ave/East Side corridor, the people watching is always great too... all walks of life are represented.

Anonymous said...

Where's the closest place with a bloody mary?

Anonymous said...

Zada Janes is about the last place you'd want to be if you were hungover. I mean I wouldn't go there anyway, but especially if you're tired and don't want to deal with any BS. The bright colors and annoying hipsters hurt your brain. The service sucks, the kitchen is slow, and the food is not good especially for the price.

Go to Johns, or if its Sunday go to Landmark. Or learn how to cook for yourself so you don't have to go out in public, and you can make yourself a Bloody Mary before noon.

Anonymous said...

Eddie's Place on Sharon Amity is where it's at.

Anonymous said...

Park 51 Cafe

Anonymous said...

ok- the problem here is "greasy spoon for the morning after," because pewter rose and zada janes just don't fit that. They are great for brunch, but don't really fit the title here...now EDDIE'S PLACE does both - fabulous brunch but you can also satisfy the greasy spoon need. I do have to say to the person who said "typical rookie" for mentioning Zada Jane's - what this place has that few others do is a menu that is accessible to vegetarians - something that is SORELY lacking in Charlotte. anyhoo...

Anonymous said...

No ned to eat, just keep drinking.

Anonymous said...

Johns Country Kitchen hands down. The fact that theyre only open for breakfast makes them breakfast specialists.

Anonymous said...

Le Peep or the Good Time Diner in Arboretum.

Anonymous said...

Skyland Family Restaurant and Greystone puts on the dawg for breakfast!

Leslie said...

Eddie's on Sharon Amity....and their second location (my particular haunt) Eddie's Place next to Earth Fare on Johnston. Their liver mush is not to be missed!

Have to agree that ZJ and Pewter Rose (both places are great), but they don't quite fit the bill for this list.

I've heard John's is great, but haven't made it there yet. Maybe this Sunday?

Anonymous said...

Just FYI, Good Times in the Arboretum closed for business not long ago...the new owners are victims of the dismal economy.