Wake Up for These Sunny Side Up Breakfasts

Jan 17th 2011 8:00AM / by Nanette Wiser

There are two kinds of morning people: the ones who go to Denny's at 3am for a Grand Slam, and the ones who get up with the chickens to eat their eggs. Whichever category you're in, start the day off right by heading over to these original hash-slinging spots for the real deal in comfort food that is carefully prepared and beautifully served. Other favorites includeThe Savory (Largo),Cafe Alma (downtown St. Pete for the Bloody Mary bar at Saturday brunch),Bob Evans, for the berry-stuffed cream cheese pancakes or pot roast hash, and Crabby Bill's for the Floribbean crab omelette with Bay Spice.

400 Beach Seafood & Tap House: Casual chic, overlooking Beach Drive and the Bay, you'll toast Sunday with Bloody Marys and mimosas, and stay all morning if you choose the brunch buffet ($23.95 Sunday, 10am - 3pm) and have a corner window table. You'll enjoy relaxed coastal cuisine, live aquariums on flat-screens, and after dining, the Chihuly exhibit next door (you'll see his Pepto-pink glass sculpture as you walk in). Enjoy the raw bar, applewood bacon, potato hash, roasted salmon, deviled eggs, caprese salad, carving (roast beef, spiral ham) omelette stations, and the ultimate dessert room (vanilla trifle, bread budding, and chocolate-dipped strawberries).
400 Beach Drive N.E., downtown St. Petersburg; 727-896-2400
Brunchery Restaurant: This MacDill favorite serves up Benedicts plain, or with crab or ham on croissant or traditional English, fluffy omelettes fit for Humpty Dumpty (ham, bacon, Spanish, Italian, Monte Cristo), yummy Eggs Florentine, and stuffed French toast with cream cheese, bananas and strawberries that's the best in Tampa Bay. Pancakes can be customized with blueberries, walnuts, chocolate chips, bananas, pecans, coconut, strawberries, almonds and raisins. Don't miss the corn beef hash or quiche.
3225 S. MacDill Ave.; 813-831-4694
Daily Eats: This eclectic South Howard Avenue diner delivers on its healthy eating promise with natural eggs, granola or oatmeal with fresh fruit, and multi-grain bread. I like the scrambled eggs, scallions and smoked salmon on a bagel smeared with chive cream cheese. I also like the Oreo cookie pancakes, delectable grits and the creative Benedicts, topped with thinly sliced seasoned NY Strip, caramelized onions or the turkey hash, all served with their homemade hollandaise sauce. The eatery serves breakfast at night. Best of all for me, goat cheese is an omelette stuffer option.
801 S. Howard Ave.; 813-868-3335
First Watch: First Watch , whose motto is "betcha heaven smells like breakfast," serves a brunch that has angels drooling, whether it's crepes or eggs. The restaurant's stuffed French toast adds kiwi to the mélange, pancakes come in all flavors (even cranberry and carrot cake) and it does CrepeEggs served with hash browns. The omelette collection, which belongs in a museum, includes Cajun, Greek (roasted red peppers, Feta cheese and spinach, topped with black olives and red onions) and Aculpulco Express (chorizo sausage, avocado, green chilies and onions, smothered with melted cheeses and topped with sour cream and served with salsa.) Have a taste of heaven at one its multiple Tampa Bay locations.
Frog Pond: Mom and Dad love the King Kong-size omelettes, Belgian waffles brimming with berries, lox and bagels, silky eggs Benedict at Frog Pond. Everywhere you look, toads of every size and shape from all over the world adorn the walls and shelves, gifts from grateful fans who cuddle doggie bags filled with leftovers on their way out. Here, it's home cooking the way it should be at this location and the smaller St. Pete Beach one.
16909 Gulf Blvd., North Redington Beach; 727-392-4117
Pinky's Diner: Enjoy South Tampa bohemian style with mix-and-match mugs, café con leche, oatmeal pancakes, frittatas bulging with cheese, veggies and herbs in an upscale setting. Pinky's breakfast egg sandwiches are done Cuban style, with bacon or ham, and there's a delicious sausage, egg and green onion scrambled wrap. The ethnic frittatas range from my favorite, rosemary Tuscan with prosciutto, turkey, onions, spinach, tomatoes and provolone to Italian, Greek, Mexican and more. The small outdoor patio is dog-friendly.
3203 W. Bay Blvd.; 813-831-9339