Another Broken Egg Cafe

Another Broken Egg Cafe
65 S. Highland
(901) 623-7122

On Saturday morning, I drove to Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Collierville at 8am to watch Jiro play in a soccer tournament. After the game, he was starving. He recently got a phone with service, so on our ride back to Midtown, he started looking for places to eat breakfast. "How about Bryant's?" he asked. "No, Brother Juniper's," he said.

"Both of those places are going to be mobbed at 10am on a Saturday," I said.

"Oh," he said, in a merpy kind of way.

"We can drive by and see," I said. "I can wait if you can."

So on to Brother Juniper's we went. There weren't many people outside, so I got hopeful. We parked and then once inside I remembered that they built an entire room for people to wait in. The hostess said it would be about 45 minutes. Not terrible, but also not do-able. "Let's try that Broken Egg Cafe," I suggested to Jiro.

"How far away is it?" he asked.

"Just down the street," I said. "Where El Porton used to be."

Sold!

Now, I can't say that I was really dying to try this place despite a few people, including my mother, telling me how good it was. I just knew it wasn't my kind of place. But, they have restaurants in 12 states, so clearly there are plenty of folks who consider it their kind of place.



It was pretty crazy crowded when we got there, but we were seated right away. I'd say the interior has been opened up a bit since El Porton was there, so inside has a lot of seating. There's also still the massive patio and seats at the bar. (Yes, full bar.)

It really feels like a place in another town, if that makes any sense. Like a place you eat at on a road trip. A Howard Johnson's maybe? It just has a very generic vibe going on.

We were right by the kitchen so there was a lot of hustle and bustle, but it was ok. A waitress came right over for our drink orders and easily talked us into starting with an order of City Grits ($3.89). The description included the words garlic and gouda, but Jiro was not deterred.

The waitress also asked if we had any questions about the menu, which was huge, and explained that it was a little different than other places. "We're a California style Louisiana kitchen," she explained.

Okaaay...

"They have beignets," I noted.

"Biscuit beignets," Jiro corrected me. "It's like they took two good things and combined them into something disgusting."

Harsh!

Jiro ultimately decided on the Cinnamon French Toast ($10.59) and I went with the Southwest Scramble ($10.89.)

The grits came out and Jiro said, "Will you help me pick off the tomatoes?"

"Just push them over to my side," I said.



"These are delicious," Jiro said between bites.

I had to agree. "These are either the best grits ever or we are just starving."

We plowed through them and then I don't think either of us was really hungry anymore. (Note to self, stop ordering appetizers!)

While we waited on the rest of the food, I marveled at their drink menu.



Party at Another Broken Egg!

I hadn't had any coffee yet and I was tempted to order one of these.



Next time!

Out came the food. It was okay.

I think Jiro ate about four bites of his before declaring it too sweet. (Shocking!)



I offered him some of mine, and he did a pretty good job of polishing off my potatoes. (His original reason for wanting a sit down breakfast was so he could get some hashbrowns.)



My scramble was ok. It was definitely massive. The guac was inedible. All in all, it was fine.

Our total was $27.72 plus tip.

I can't see us ever going back, unless it's to get that frozen coffee and beignet and bacon drink (lol), but if you are in a pickle and need food fast, this is your place. They serve breakfast and lunch all day. And the service is pretty darn good.

On our ride home, Jiro let out a little gas and I said, "Another broken egg, huh?" So, yeah, at least I got a good joke out of the experience.

Eggsperience

Eggsperience
35 W Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60654

Satchel (14) really didn't want to go to Chicago. He wanted to stay in Memphis and hang out with his friends. Luckily, one of his friends (the rabbi's grandson = TRG), raved about the Tommy Boy skillet at Eggsperience. Suddenly, Satchel had a raison d'etre.



Our first order of business on Sunday was breakfast at Eggsperience. It was downtown and close to the other things we wanted to do (Cloud Gate, Sky Deck, etc.). We called an Uber and got dropped off right at the door. Despite there being a ton of people waiting, we got a table right away. Satchel was in the best mood I probably have ever seen him in since he turned 11.



Once we got our menus, Jiro got very serious. "Is this place vegan?" he asked.

Before I could answer, Satchel, now the expert, said, "Vegans don't eat eggs, you stupid wonton."

(Satchel likes to make fun of Jiro for being Asian.)

I gave him THE LOOK.

We had a brief primer on vegans versus vegetarians and then went back to the menus. Satchel already knew he wanted the Tommy Boy skillet ($11.99). (Actually Tommy Boy's skillet. That's kind of funny, right? In hindsight I regret not calling it the Pony Boy skillet just to annoy him.)

Jiro wanted the basic breakfast with eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, toast, pancake, etc. ($7.49) I went with a new menu item, the breakfast tacos ($11.49). And an ice coffee. The waitress explained that they just pour regular coffee over ice, and I said that was fine. Then when she left, I simply mentioned that I would like to find a really good coffee shop somewhere. (There was an Intellegentsia place in our hood but I found it at 9pm.)

Then Satchel said, "I don't like you complaining about the coffee at the place I really want to eat at. If I hear one more complaint I'm jumping off the Sky Deck."

He really can be funny when he isn't acting like an a-hole.

Then he started a soliloquy. "This is going to be the best meal of my life. If I am ever on death row, this is the meal I will request."

Seriously, dude?

The rabbi is influencing my life in ways I never knew he would.

Ok, the food.

Satchel happily Snapchatted his then ate every bite.



I thought it would actually come in a sizzling skillet, but whatever. THE TEEN WAS HAPPY.

Jiro's looked good AND he shared his pancake. Win.



After eating everything else, he asked, "Can I eat this orange?"

Mine was tasty as well.



I couldn't finish it, and when the waitress asked if I wanted a box, I smiled and said, "Nope." Mostly because we were going to be walking around all day and that would just be dumb to take it with. Well, Satchel thought this was rude and started lecturing me. "You need to respect all of the Eggsperience workers!"

We paid at the register and then I made a visit to the ladies room. That is when I realized how freaking huge the restaurant was. I bet it seats 300 people. They also have seven locations. So, TRG was definitely on to something.

Stak's

Stak's
4615 Poplar
509-2367

Jiro (11) is a serious pancake lover. I have been wanting to get him to Stak's for awhile now. Sunday proved to be the perfect time--it was my mom's 77th birthday. Jiro's friend, Gus, joined us, as did my niece.

Stak's is next to Chili's on Poplar & Perkins in that little strip mall. It's not much to look at from the outside, but the inside is really cute. It's decorated in Tiffany blue and is very happy feeling.



It's an order at the counter type place.



However, due to the large crowd gathered there at 10:30am with us on Sunday, we had to get on a list in order to order. You heard me. It makes sense, I mean who wants to get their food and then have no where to eat it? But you know what doesn't make sense? Why they don't have table service on busy mornings. Now, I have never worked in or owned a restaurant and I am sure there is a good reason why owners prefer counter service, but let me say that as a customer, we don't love it.

I've just noticed that the take home menu, and receipt, make a point of saying there is no tipping because they pay their staff more than other restaurants.



I totally support that. They should pay their staff to be waiters and waitresses. Ha!

Anyway, we took a seat and happily waited. I was impressed enough by the menu that I wasn't going to let a waitlist to order prevent me from trying the food. We went ahead and opened presents.



My mom's first ever hoodie!



After about 15 minutes we were asked if we minded sharing a very large table (the one my mom was already sort of sitting at) with the one man left eating at it. I replied that it would be just fine. Under my breath I said, "I am sure he will be done eating by the time we get through the line and actually sit down." He was. Their system of waiting for empty tables is definitely not perfect.



Anyway! We'd all studied the menu and were ready to order. My mom and Sutton were on one ticket and Jiro, Gus, and I were on another. I told them to get whatever they wanted. Then I ordered the "no burrito bowl" and a cold brew coffee. When the cashier told me the total was $54.84, I could not hide my shock. "Are you sure?" I asked. She ran through the order. Jiro and Gus both got a tall stak of pancakes with chocolate chips ($5.95 each), a side of two scrambled eggs ($3.25 each), a side of Porcellino's bacon ($4.95 each) and a soft drink ($2.45). Eleven year old boys can eat!

I paid the tab and joined everyone else at the table. I was a little hung up on a $5 side of bacon, but I get it. Porcellino's makes fancy ass bacon. Today I am more insulted by the $2.45 soft drink, though I know that is a pretty standard price point in restaurants.

There is a kids menu, with nice low prices for littles.



Our drinks came in reusable take home cups, and I liked my cold brew just fine. (They also have nitro coffee and Wiseacre's coffee stout. Nice!)

The food came out pretty quickly, or at least in semi rapid succession. (With all of the boys' side dishes there was a lot to carry!)

The pancakes were first.



Then the bacon.



(They also offer flavored bacon.)

By the time they got their eggs, I was working on my no burrito bowl. I had asked them to take off the cheese and add avocado. (I didn't see it because it was mixed in, which was weird. Also it was a skimpy amount.)



It came with a side of hashbrowns, which ended up being the highlight of my meal. The bowl was disappointing. Not a lot of sausage and a ton of liquid from the salsa. It was like a giant bowl of eggs swimming in sauce.



(My niece also had a no burrito bowl and felt as "meh" as I did. Though I noticed hers had a lot more sausage.)

Thankfully, the birthday girl was thrilled with her meal of corned beef hash and eggs.



The boys were pretty happy too. They ate every bite of their food. (Jiro accidentally got a blueberry pancake in his chocolate chip stak, but he didn't let it deter him.)

Our table had a hot plate where you can actually make your own pancakes. Fun, right? We had discussed the boys doing this, but they seemed worried they might burn them. When we were done eating they said they wished they had done it.

All in all, I think Stak's has potential. And I think everyone who ordered pancakes was happy, which makes sense. Sutton noted that she wished it stayed open past 2:00pm so she could walk over after school. (She goes to WSHS.) My friend commented that it would be a fun place to have a kids birthday party. I agree with all of these things.

Try it! Just beware of monkeys with big appetites and stick to the pancakes!

City & State

City & State
2625 Broad Avenue
249-2406

I am totally in love with City & State, the new coffee/retail shop on Broad Avenue. It's on the corner of Broad & Collins, and has a great parking lot in back.


(Photo courtesy of City & State)

I went in a couple of times during opening week and couldn't wait to take the monkeys (Satchel, 12, and Jiro, 10).

Yes, they drink coffee, sort of. Around the holidays, Satchel really wanted to try a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks. As a treat, I let him. Then Jiro wanted to try. Then they came out with the peppermint whatever it was. So, somehow, a weekly coffee became their go to treat of choice.

I, myself, am not much of a coffee drinker. Well, at least not a snobby one. I brew it at home and then drink it cold with flavored creamer. But I do like to meet up for a fancy coffee from time to time.

So far, City & State is the most beautiful coffee shop to ever open in Memphis. (Yes, I am throwing down the gauntlet!)


(Photo courtesy of City & State)

It even has an amazing patio. (I love patios.)


(Photo courtesy of City & State)


(Photo courtesy of City & State)

So what about the coffee, you ask? It's delicious. It's Intelligentsia coffee. I am a fan of the bon bon with steamed milk. Look how cute! It's similar to a Cuban.



You mix it all up and then combine it with the milk. So yummy.

Satchel tried the Lumberjack Latte which I believe has maple and pecan goodness in it.



He loved it.



Jiro had the cinnamon & brown sugar latte. He said it was yummmmmmmmmy.



He also tried some pain au chocolate, which they source from la Baguette.



I eventually convinced him to pick it up and eat it with his fingers.

We enjoyed having sit down coffee together and I hope that the monkeys will soon realize that sitting down and having coffee with a friend--or their mom--is one of life's great pleasures. (Cost wise, the coffee at City & State is only slightly more expensive than the boys' usual order at Starbucks.)

City & State also carries tea and has a few other edible items like oatmeal and chocolate bars! Next door, the retail space is a must visit. Lots of fun things to buy for yourself or someone you love.

Check it out!

Arcade

Arcade
540 S Main St.
901-526-5757

It's been about 8 years (!!) since the Arcade was reviewed here, so I thought I'd do a little refresh...



We had some friends in town and we wanted to take them, specifically their 3 year old, to check out the playground at Beale Street Landing. My friend's husband had never been to Memphis, so we all agreed that the Arcade would be a fun place to eat breakfast. I know that Saturdays during the Memphis Farmer's Market hours can be a little crazy, but I hoped getting there before church let out on Sunday would be safe. The monkeys (Satchel, 12 and Jiro, 10) and I arrived around 10:00am and put in our name for a 7 top. They gave us a buzzer and told us it would be about 20 minutes. (Had we had a normal size group, I think the wait would have been about 5-10 minutes.)

It took awhile for our friends and Warren to join us, so when the buzzer went off and they weren't there, I was very apologetic. The waitress was totally cool and said she's always late to everything and always lies and says she's on her way. The monkeys and I had some coffee and patiently waited. I would describe Satchel's coffee as creamer with a splash of decaf.

Warren, Amy, John & Leo did eventually arrive.




We wasted no time getting our order in and it was really a matter of minutes before everything came out. (I had breakfast with friends after a run a few months ago and experienced the same quick service.)

Most breakfast platters are in the $10 range and are very, very hearty. They include a choice of hashbrowns or grits & bacon or sausage and are automatically served with biscuits and gravy. There is also the option of getting whatever you want a la carte.

At 10 and 12, these boys can eat, so hearty is where it's at.



Satchel has been on a country ham kick for whatever reason. I am continually blown away by the ways in which it is served and in what quantities!



He only made a dent in it, but Jiro and Warren helped him finish. He finally admitted that he only ordered it because it came with grits. I told him that he should have looked closer at the menu because pretty much everything came with grits. Not only that, they were available as a side item. That is when he begged to have another order. I obliged because when he starts craving something, he won't stop until he gets it. In total, he had three orders of grits and would have had a fourth.

Jiro had the French toast; I had two eggs over hard; Warren had the country fried steak; Amy & Leo split hashbrowns and pancakes; and John had the "#4 - Eggs Redneck--Biscuits and Sausage smothered in Gravy with Eggs and Hash Browns." He couldn't resist the redneck moniker.

I was too busy eating to snap pictures of everything. There were smiles all around and everyone was happy with their food. There were no leftovers, which is amazing.

I don't remember seeing a changing table in the ladies' room, but I do remember seeing a built-in ashtray in the stall--obviously a relic from "the good old days" when ladies smoked on the john. Ha!

Overall it was a lovely breakfast and I definitely recommend braving the crowds.

Stone Soup Cafe

Stone Soup Cafe
993 S. Cooper
901-922-5314

On Sunday, I took the monkeys (Satchel 12, and Jiro, 10) plus a friend to breakfast at Stone Soup Cafe. (It was technically breakfast, not brunch, in my book because there were no mimosas and it was 10am!)



Jiro had never been, and Satchel hadn't been since they first opened. I've been a few times with my running buddy, Ashley, and wanted to give it another try with the kids, especially now that we are in walking distance. (We had a nice discussion in which I explained the difference between "We GET to walk" and "We HAVE to walk.")



When we arrived the patio area was mostly full, so we requested a table by the window inside. Our waitress took drink orders and gave us menus. Satchel and Jiro went with water, and our friend, Pavel, tried to order lemonade but was denied by me. I went with ice coffee.

Jiro was starving and wanted everything on the menu. I convinced him to just order two things--French toast and an egg on the side. Pavel quickly decided on a bacon omelet. Satchel and I were torn. "I thought they would primarily have soup here," he complained. He LOVES soup, but crawfish bisque and lentil did not appeal to him whether or not he could actually order one or the other at 10am.



He eventually decided on the Big Rex biscuit with ham and I got the Big Rex burrito with sausage. (I can't believe no one ordered crepes!) My ice coffee came and was delicious. Everyone wanted a taste and soon I had to order a second.



Jiro, who was growing hungrier by the minute, repeatedly asked me, "When are they going to bring the food?" They weren't being slow, he was being hungry.



The boys started playing chopsticks to pass the time. It involves math. I did not want to learn at 10am.



The food soon arrived and everyone was happy. The French toast looked great.



Pavel's omelet was as expected.



I don't quite understand the choice of American cheese as the standard, but ok. (In my earlier review the cheese was clearly grated.)

My burrito was a little sad and lonely on the plate, but quite filling. It was grilled and had a Taco Bell-esque crunch. (Not necessarily a bad thing.)



Satchel's biscuit was the show stopper. The Stone Soup Cafe is SERIOUS about ham. Oh my.



I am so glad I didn't order that! Ha! Satchel had quite a time trying to eat it.



He got through most of it and then traded with Jiro for a few bites of French toast. Jiro also finished off the last few bites of my burrito!

Our total was $34.88, which is pretty reasonable. I think the monkeys will want to go back.