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Hello, Bonjour Cafe, we need to talk

March 25th, 2009, 11:10 am · 13 Comments · posted by Jeff Overley

We’re always taking suggestions about local gems to review, so when one of our beloved commenters last month recommended Bonjour Cafe & Bistro, we put it on our list.

Just looking at the menu, I was drooling, as French fare is a special weakness of mine and Bonjour has a wide selection of various butter-laden treats - croque monsieur, croissant sandwiches, toasted brioche with eggs, quiche, crepes, ad nosheum.

What’s more, this place has received glowing reviews from an array of sources, be it Yelp or our very own paper or, according to Bonjour, Zagat, Riviera and OC Weekly.

After a mid-day breakfast at Bonjour this week, though, I’m going to have to be the voice of dissent.

Granted, the Dana Point cafe has great character, and when I went, the service was spot-on thanks to a sweet-as-can-be waitress. But because of exorbitant prices, it all amounts to a nice setting for getting fleeced - kinda like being mugged by someone with manners.

The eggs Benedict shown above was a hefty $11.99, did not come with any side (i.e. potatoes) and still managed to be the best deal of the meal. One of my dining companions offered a brief, unenthusiastic description when I asked for his opinion: “It’s good.”

I ordered Les Oeufs Brouilles du Midi, aka toasted brioche bread topped with two scrambled eggs, sauteed spinach, roasted tomatoes and kalamata olives. Now, the eggs were creamy and the brioche made me want to swear off any and all other breads for the rest of my life, but like I said, the price was absurd.

This plate was $10.99, and again, there were no sides. It was a slice of bread, two eggs and a small handful of mixed-in veggies for eleven freaking dollars.

The insanity continued with my other dining companion’s choice, the ham-and-Swiss omelette with potatoes. There was just nothing remarkable here - it could’ve passed for a diner omelette-and-eggs plate. That is, it could’ve if it weren’t $11.99.

So man, it pains me to diss my favorite food genre, but Bonjour, you’ve got to get it together. I know that “le petit dejeuner” is French for “breakfast.” At your place, though, it loosely translates as “ripoff.”

Bonjour Cafe & Bistro
24633 Del Prado Ave.
Dana Point
949-496-6368
(Breakfast and lunch only)

More to fill your plate with:

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 13 Comments

  • 1000Steps says:
    March 25, 2009 at 12:11 pm

    Jeff,

    I might be the guilty commenter you speak of as I’ve always enjoyed Bon Jour. There’s no doubt that the prices are higher than your average breakfast joint but I overlook it the once or twice I eat there a month. Why? Because the atmosphere, sitting on the patio on a warm morning with a cappuccino is awfully relaxing. There is no price for that these days. Also the crepes and quiche are pretty good too.

  • OCgal says:
    March 25, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Plums in Costa Mesa is hands-down the best “bistro” style breakfast around!

  • Jeff Overley says:
    March 25, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    1000Steps - Ha, yep, it was you, but don’t feel guilty, I’m just one reviewer. And you’re right, the ambiance is great and I do imagine they have fabulous coffee - I knew I should have taken the host up on the post-meal coffee offer.

    OCgal - I have to agree, and funny thing, it was on my glowing review of Plums last month that 1000Steps posted the comment about Bonjour.

    http://foodfrenzy.freedomblogging.com/2009/02/18/i-love-you-plums-i-mean-heather-i-love-you-heather/4405/

  • Maseca says:
    March 25, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    The term “gyp” is a racial slur and is unbecoming to a major media outlet like the OC Register.

  • Jeff Overley says:
    March 25, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    Maseca - My apologies, never occurred to me where the term came from; the post has been updated.

  • Val says:
    March 25, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    Ok — I love me some hollandaise, but why does that look so chunky? Tell me it’s lemon zest!

  • Kristin A. says:
    March 25, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    yea, that hollandaise should not be chunky like that. was something else in it?

  • Jeff Overley says:
    March 25, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    Well, I called Bonjour to see if they add anything that might account for the chunks, but they told me to call back tomorrow. I don’t want to add speculation to an already-unflattering review, so I’ll just leave it at that.

  • hbgrrl says:
    March 25, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    The first thing I thought of when I saw that hollandaise was that it looked ‘broken’ or curdled. Yikes!

  • Stephen says:
    March 25, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    Gah! Political Correctness rears its ugly head in a piece on FOOD, of all things.

  • OCyelper says:
    March 26, 2009 at 8:05 am

    oh god. jeff i am a HUGE fan and dont think you should have updated your post. being pc on a post is RIDICULOUS… free speech and i think its funny. i feel GYPED for having to read the updated post and not the original one.

  • janetms says:
    March 26, 2009 at 8:27 am

    I love Plums but the prices are comparable to what you’re quoting for Bonjour. Yes, you do get your sides and while the restaurant is lovely inside, there sure is no “ambience” in that strip mall! Not really a place I want to linger with coffee.

  • Griffin says:
    March 27, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    First of all, I do not think that those prices are that high if the atmosphere is nice and the food is good. I have definitely paid a lot more for a crappy breakfast.

    Secondly, I see nothing wrong with the word “Gyp.” Most people do not see this as an offensive term. You should not have updated your post just to please one overly sensitive person.