Oh how do I love breakfast. If only I could actually wake up early enough on the weekends to enjoy a proper morning-time meal. Good thing I’m one of those people who love to eat breakfast any time of day. (Breakfast for dinner rules.)
Thankfully, Cafe Vienna in Laguna Beach serves it all day so I can sleep in to my lazy heart’s content and then roll out of bed and take a leisurely drive along scenic Coast Highway before sampling some California-easy fare.
Cafe Vienna is tucked away in South Laguna, a few blocks away from where I was lucky enough to call home for a year back in the day. It’s the sister establishment to the popular Cafe Heidelberg north on PCH. On Sundays, I’d get breakfast and coffee at Cafe Vienna, then stroll down to my favorite little beach across the street (Tablerock, baby!) to read the paper and get some sun. It was heaven. These days, it’s a bit more than nostalgia that brings me back …
Two words: California Omelet ($11). Mmm. It’s the quintessential sunny, California-style breakfast — a giant, fluffy omelet made with egg whites, mild jack cheese, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, topped with slices of fresh avocado. Then there’s the accompanying inch-thick slices of perfectly toasted multi-grain bread with a deliciously tangy (lingonberry?) spread and roasted potatoes.
The Cheese Croissant comes stuffed with scrambled eggs and melted cheese, with a small side of fresh fruit.
The Hot & Spicy Omelet ($10) came folded with ham, tomatoes and mushrooms, all smothered with cheese and salsa.
My favorite little indulgence: A latte named, what else, Cafe Vienna. It’s basically a mocha latte served in a giant mug crowned with a huge swirl of whipped cream and mini chocolate chips. Makes me feel like a kid again, except with a nice jolt of caffeine.
True, Cafe Vienna lacks all the hustle and bustle of its sister, Cafe Heidelberg, but I happen to like that it’s a bit sleepier here. Besides, who wants to wait forever to snag a table anyway? But trust me on taking that stroll across the street down to Tablerock Beach afterward. I can’t think of a better way to start my day, no matter how much later in the day it is.
31542 Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach
949.499.3015
Hours: Monday-Tuesday 7 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Visa/Mastercard accepted
