Best Breakfast In The Sacramento Area
Jim-Denny's
816 12th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-9655
www.jim-dennys.com
It's been around for 75 years me location – in fact you may have passed it on your way into downtown Sacramento and wondered whether it's actually still open! Yes, it is. Jim-Denny's is a Sacramento institution – and serves up some of the biggest breakfasts ever, in one of the tiniest dining rooms in town – just about a dozen seats or so – but worth waiting for. Recently featured on the Food Network's "Man vs. Food", Jim-Denny's is renowned for its pancakes and omelets, and is a must-try for any Sacramentan. The current owners recently put up the restaurant for sale – so get in while you can, so you can say you've been there.
Lido Café
7739 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Carmichael, CA 95608
(916) 944-8243
www.lidosbarandgrill.com
I remember when this Carmichael breakfast spot was home to both a restaurant, and a hair salon! Gone are the days when the odor of perm solution permeated your pancakes… and Lido Café is a tasty way to start your day. I always get the same thing: breakfast burrito with chorizo. OK, sometimes with ham. On special occasions, we'll split one of Lido's signature cinnamon rolls – hot and homemade, right out of the oven, they're hard to resist while they're sitting on the counter, so why fight it?
Ettore's European Bakery
2376 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 482-0708
www.ettores.com
This is a holiday gathering spot for a group of friends and me, and has been for years. Warm and inviting, the menu is fantastic and delicious. The three-salad sampler is a favorite, and if your arteries can handle it, go for the quiche. The pastry case is as decadent as it is tempting, and if you can get out of there without a trinket or two from the big table at the entrance, you're stronger than I am! Patio seating in the spring and summer.
Fox & Goose Public House
1001 R St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-8825
www.foxandgoose.com
This was a Good Day Sacramento regular spot for years, when the TV station was just up from downtown – now, it's more of a trek from West Sacramento but a goodbye get-together for a co-worker reminded me how tasty it is, and worth putting back on the calendar. We were there on a Tuesday, with breakfast served until 2pm, which is perfect for us morning folk. The only thing you might struggle with is what to order! The menu is huge, with something for everyone. Try a few of the more British-style specialties – you won't be sorry! Mind the gap between the old tables and your lap – they're a bit rickety, but part of the old warehouse ambiance.
33rd Street Bistro
3301 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 455-2233
www.33rdstreetbistro.com
Hard to believe owners Matt and Fred Haines opened this East Sacramento spot the same year Good Day Sacramento went on the air! They're celebrating fifteen years in Sacramento this year, and as a native Seattleite, I appreciate the Pacific Northwest touches from this pair of brothers who spent nine years in the Seattle and Portland areas, bringing back an appreciation of Washington and Oregon tastes. Delicious dishes like the Northwest Scramble, Brook Trout Hash, and even the Timberline Granola offer up something different than the usual breakfast fare, and you're bound to run into someone you know. Be careful where you park – there are lots of restrictions on the neighboring residential streets.
