Fueling up the family buggy for your next fall excursion? Don’t forget to go fuel yourself! Most Americans consider breakfast to be the most important meal of the day, and prove it over and over almost every day, 361 days a year, up from 350 days a year on average, in 2010, according to a survey by the NPD Group, a global consumer marketing research firm. The survey observed that “out of the three meals, only breakfast has seen a growth in traffic.”
A National Restaurant Association survey found that 70 percent of Americans want restaurants to serve breakfast throughout the day, as reported on Consumerist.com, a subsidiary of Consumer Reports. And an article by eater.com, titled “The Business of Breakfast,” noted that the rise in popularity of breakfast is the result of its relative affordability, the number of restaurants that are offering high-quality breakfasts, and the attractive profit margins breakfasts offer restaurants, a win-win for us and for eateries struggling to stay afloat these days.
Fortunately for you, dear reader, our area has its share of stellar establishments serving breakfast to happy eaters of all dietary persuasions. Read on for a taste of some of the best.
Note: Staffing and other issues may affect hours of operation — check hours and full menus online before you go.
Aunt Chubby’s Luncheonette
Occupying the corner of Greenwood Avenue and Railroad Place, diagonally across from the circa 1876 Hopewell railroad station, the building that houses Aunt Chubby’s has been serving the residents of the village of Hopewell and beyond in one form or another for decades. Neglected for years, the 19th century clapboard structure underwent a top-to-bottom restoration before reopening about three years ago as Aunt Chubby’s Luncheonette.
Chubby’s still manages to retain every bit of its historic charm. Touches of homey décor add to the casual neighborhood vibe. The main dining room seats 34 at an eclectic assortment of tables and chairs, with space for 10 more at the vintage stools that line the counter. A side dining room offers seating for 16 more and sports an antique phone booth that the secret Superman in you will envy. Fresh flowers adorn every table. Outdoor seating, most under an open-sided canopy, accommodates another 30 or so diners, weather permitting.
The breakfast menu at Chubby’s consists of a well-curated mix of traditional favorites, like Chubby’s Breakfast (two eggs any style, home fries, toast) or the Egg Sandwich (cheddar, choice of bacon or pork roll, add $1.50 for the house sausage), as well as house specialties like the Roasted Veggie Bowl (seasonal vegetables, arugula, two eggs any style) and the Jersey Benedict (eggs, pork roll, hollandaise, English muffin). The coffee hails from Seattle roaster Caffe Vita, and beans are also available for purchase.
According to Aysha and Max, two of the top-notch members of Chubby’s friendly and efficient staff, the most popular items on the menu are Chubby’s Breakfast, Huevos Rancheros, the Breakfast Burrito, and the French Style Omelet.
And you’ll be hard-pressed to pass by the pastry counter at the front door without choosing one or more of the tempting and ever-changing selection of goodies such as pain au chocolat, olive oil cake, cookies, and more. All are prepared in-house by Daiva, who modestly refers to herself as a baker, but would bear the title of pastry chef in most other establishments. Trained in her native Lithuania, she has adapted her skills beautifully and plans to offer a selection of fall-themed baked goods like pumpkin muffins, scones, and cookies.
Chubby’s regular Roger Thorpe offered another reason for stopping by. “It’s the heart of the community,” he says. “This is the place where Hopewell congregates.”
Aunt Chubby’s, 1 Railroad Place, Hopewell. Tuesday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Takeout available. 609-466-1974 or chubbysluncheonette.com.
Café 72
Pay no attention to the last leg of your journey to Café 72, in this case it’s the destination that counts. Make the final turn on to Upper Ferry Road in Ewing and the first right into the parking lot, shared with Elite Caring Adult Medical Day Care. Across the street you’ll note the Ewing location of former Chambersburg stalwart Marsilio’s Kitchen.
Walk past the barber shop to the entrance and step inside, where your first impression of the streetscape immediately fades, as you are greeted at the door and invited to take your place at a table or one of the well-padded booths.
At first blush it appears to be a no-nonsense kind of place; dark wainscoting, hardwood floors, surprisingly comfortable wooden chairs, perhaps a sports program or soccer match on the TV. Then you notice the touch of whimsy; three strategically placed floor-to-ceiling tree trunks, festooned with twinkly lights and faux leaves sporting fall colors. Nice.
Unless the joint is really jumping — which it can be when the early crowd of retiree regulars and moms and dads with kids and grandkids in tow overlap with the office and service workers chowing down before they start their shifts fill the room with the pleasant buzz of contented diners — your beverage order will be taken and served promptly. If you’re a coffee drinker, you’ll appreciate the satisfying French dark roast, sourced from Benfatto Coffee Roasters of Hillsborough.
Then it’s on to the breakfast menu, with enough tempting combinations and permutations of pancakes, eggs Benedict, French toast, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches to keep you and your dining companions pondering for a while.
Looking for a place to start? In addition to the Classic Combo (two eggs any style, protein, toast and potatoes or fruit) server Jodie G., who has just marked nine years at Café 72, notes that the most popular dishes include Shrimp & Grits and the Funnel Cake Fries. Fall additions (subject to change) include pumpkin pancakes, caramel apple donuts, pumpkin pie white hot chocolate (whipped cream, cinnamon sugar, pumpkin sauce) and pumpkin brûlée (iced coffee (cinnamon sugar, coffee, milk, whipped cream, toffee, Pumpkin sauce).
Can’t make up your mind? Just order something; you’ll be back.
Café 72, 72 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 609-882-0087 or cafe72ewing.com.
Full Moon Café
It was sheer coincidence, but a fitting one, that my visit to Full Moon took place a half-day before the Harvest Moon was due to make an appearance. Located on Bridge Street in the heart of the charming Delaware River town of Lambertville, the Full Moon Café has been serving breakfast and lunch to enthusiastic locals and an ever increasing influx of tourists since 1979.
As one might expect from the establishment’s name, the lunar theme is reflected in subtle ways in the décor and the offerings on the extensive menu. Deep blue walls, accented by a stripe of red neon at ceiling height and terrazzo tiled floor set a comfortable and pleasing tone, a backdrop for the light wooden-topped tables and comfy wooden chairs in a cozy dining room that accommodates about 50. Strategically placed mirrors and a plate glass front open to Bridge Street give the room a spacious feel.
At just 20 minutes past the 8 a.m. opening time, Full Moon was already buzzing, half-filled with what appeared to be a gaggle of regulars dining ahead of the arrival of the day trippers. The majority were happily engaging in conversation while tucking into the egg dishes featured on the menu, an impressive selection of omelets, Benedicts, breakfast sandwiches, and much more.
Service at Full Moon is what one would expect from a popular local establishment, friendly and efficient. Our server, MJ, was an absolute wonder. Despite being the only server on duty that morning, she kept things moving along at a respectable pace and never lost her cool.
When our omelets arrived, it took a moment to realize why it seemed different from omelets served by other breakfast venues. When the answer dawned, it brought smiles. Unlike the traditional, fold-over omelet making technique, Full Moon’s arrive in the shape of a — you guessed it — full moon. MJ thoughtfully provided a sharing plate, and we were soon enjoying two half-moon Greek omelets (sausage, kalamata olive, onion, and feta cheese) and fresh fruit ($1.50) substituted for home fries.
One disappointing note: MJ informed us that the moon-themed feature of Full Moon we had been looking forward to — their full-moon dinners, served only on nights when the moon is full — have been suspended due to a staffing shortage that is plaguing the entire industry these days. One can only keep an eye on the night sky, and hope for their swift return.
Full Moon Café, 23 Bridge Street, Lambertville. Monday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday closed, Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 609-397-1096 or cafefullmoon.com.
Golden Dawn Diner
While the classic Jersey diner may be a rapidly vanishing institution, diner culture in New Jersey appears to be alive and well. Thriving in fact, if a recent visit to the Golden Dawn Diner in Hamilton Township is any indication. My dining companion and I arrived at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday on Labor Day weekend, assuming it would be a slow day, with most folks down the shore or cooling off in the Poconos.
No way! A steady stream of cars was already filling the ample parking lot. Fortunately, we were immediately escorted to a comfy booth by owner Chris Kurnellus and supplied with menus proclaiming “Fresh Homemade Food!” Soon after, we were greeted by Stella, our server, who took our coffee order while we perused Golden Dawn’s menu, a hit parade of diner classics that included eggs any style (including Benedict until 2 p.m.), pancakes, omelets made with three extra large eggs, and a nice selection of beverages, breakfast sandwiches, wraps and sides.
While deciding what to order, we checked out the décor. First of all, for a place as large as Golden Dawn — it seats 230-plus according to Kurnellus — the space manages to feel cozy, thanks in large part to the cream and brown color scheme, the carpeted floor, and the smoked exile-glass partitions that separate the booths. Tables are well spaced, and the noise level facilitates quiet conversation; not a problem, despite the classic rock playing in the background, the party of 12 seated quite near to us, and the dining room filling rapidly with a multi-generational crowd of regulars.
We were soon dining on a generously sized Western omelet (ham, peppers, cheese) and the lemony sauced and nicely poached eggs Benedict, served on a perfectly toasted English muffin and accompanied by a side of hash browns. The omelet was certainly shareable, although we detected no signs of sharing among our fellow diners, happily fueling up to start their day. For those who wish additional happiness, a Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or Screwdriver is available.
There was a wait for tables by the time we were heading for the door at 9:45 a.m., and the stream of vehicles into Golden Dawn’s parking lot continued apace.
Golden Dawn Diner, 2090 Whitehorse Mercerville Road, Hamilton Township. Open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 609-890-2606 or goldendawnhamilton.com.
Bonus: Short Stack!
Three more fuel-worthy eateries for you. Seating is limited, but all offer takeout; check websites for menus and current hours of operation.
Lady and the Shallot — Plant Based Eatery: They describe themselves as, “Whole Foods. Bold Flavors. Kind Eating,” Trenton Farmers Market, 960 Spruce Street, Lawrence Township. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday Brunch at 10 a.m. 609-955-1120 or their website at ladyandtheshallot.com.
The Gingered Peach, “Handcrafted baked goods with soul.” Insider Tip: Two words — “Trenton Volcano.” 2 Gordon Avenue, Lawrence. Tuesday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 609-896-5848 or their website at thegingeredpeach.com.
Lillipies Bakery: Small-batch bakery specializing in single-serving pies, artisan breads and sweets, and breakfast all day, baked with organic flour and locally sourced ingredients. Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street, Princeton. Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 609-423-2100 or their website at lillipies.com.
