Make the Drive: Worthy One-Offs

by Mpls.St.Paul Editors | January 1, 2013

Buttermilk Waffle

Birchwood Cafe

The buttermilk waffle topped with kumquat preserves, pomegranate, hazelnuts, and cinnamon whipped cream is as pretty as it is tasty. 3311 E. 25th St., Mpls., 612-722-4474, birchwoodcafe.com

Ham Hock Bread Pudding

The Happy Gnome

A savory, salty hunk of wonder made with house bacon, sausage gravy, and fried egg. 498 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-287-2018, thehappygnome.com

Breakfast Pizza

Call it the new breakfast burrito, the breakfast pizza at Muddy Waters throws on some eggs with tomatoes, creamy fresh mozz, and whatever else floats your boat. 2933 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., 612-872-2232, muddywatersmpls.com

Cream of Wheat

Tilia

The $2 cream of wheat is a big creamy bowl topped with plump stewed raisins, a mess of cinnamon sugar, and a generous scoop of apple compote. It's every kind of comfort gone all cheffy. 2726 W. 43rd St., Mpls., 612-354-2806, tiliampls.com

Bagles

St. Paul Bagelry

Take a bite out of a big, chewy, appropriately sweet, tender St. Paul Bagelry bagel and you'd swear you're in a Long Island bagel shop. 1702 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville, 651-488-1700, stpaulbagelry.com

Cinnamon Roll

Isles Bun & Coffee

Get in early enough to watch the bakers roll out the vast golden sheets of dough destined to become the shop's famous jack-o'-lantern sized cinnamon rolls and smaller three-bite Puppy Dog Tails. 1424 W. 28th St., Mpls., 612-870-4466, islesbun.com

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Pancakes

Whether you call them cakes or flapjacks, there’s no denying the power of the pancake to deliver a gut-filling, heart-warming morning meal. Here's nine critic's picks.

Diners

Not many people order Adam and Eve on a Raft these days when they want eggs and toast, but there are still pockets of greasy griddle-top cooking that bring you back to simpler days and simpler eggs.

Eye-Openers: Breakfast Cocktails

Morning cocktail anyone? From bloody marys to coffees, these drinks will give you a mighty wake-up call. Sip on these ten critics' picks.

Egg Sandwiches

A complete dish in your hands, the egg is the perfect food, especially when joined by some melty cheese, perhaps a little salty breakfast meat, and a bit of cheffy bravado.

Coffee Loves Pastry

If you have to grab and go, make it meaningful with both caffeine and pastry groups representing.

Family-Friendly

These places know how to make it a good morning for you while keeping the kiddos entranced.

Donuts

The humble hunk of sugary fried dough can be as simple as cake or as funky as chai these days. These five represent.

Reservations Required

Easter and Mother’s Day are the biggest brunch days of the year. Here are the classic spots if you want to call early.

Manly Mornings

Meaty and massive are perhaps the two main characteristics of a morning meal that will satisfy a manly appetite. Not that that’s necessarily a gender thing.

Ethnic

Morning is universal. You don’t have to stick with the same old eggs and cakes.

Late Night

Tucking into a mess of eggs or stack of cakes at the end of an evening just seems to cap the revelry. Plus, it will carry you through until bloody mary time.