The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/7/08 Section: Athenscape

Media Credit: FILE PHOTO Students start the day at Five Star Day Cafe for breakfast. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: FILE PHOTO A student wraps up the day with his parents at Mama's Boy. [Click to enlarge]

Whether your morning quest is for a fresh start to the day, an acceptable substitute for your mom's home cooking or the perfect hangover cure, Athens offers students an assortment of dining hall getaways.

Five Star Day Café, located downtown and on Barnett Shoals Road on the East Side, allows students to alleviate their cheese grits appetite between classes. Five Star offers "gourmet soul" variations of traditional breakfast fare, such as its tomato basil biscuit, or the "Elvis Breakfast" for a more adventurous morning. And everything can be paired with its "Kool-aid du jour."

Some exploring may be necessary to find Athens' next hottest breakfast spot. Big City Bread Café, located on the outskirts of downtown behind Prince Avenue, offers quiet outdoor seating beneath lighted trees.

"I really love the patio," said Molly McGinley, a morning-shift server. "We have really good food, and you can just hang out here."

Big City's menu includes a quiche of the day, in addition to breakfast staples. Its daily variety of homemade pastries impresses not only the taste buds, but also the eye.

Mama's Boy on Oconee Street provides a cozy atmosphere inside or out. Offering traditional country cooking and "Southern fun dining," Mama's Boy serves dishes such as homemade biscuits and gravy or eggs, breakfast tacos and even "Chocolate Cake for Breakfast" (if you need to satisfy a craving).

When in need of a pick-me-up and muffin, Espresso Royale Café downtown is your friendly local coffee shop in a prime location - across the street from North Campus.

Although a bit pricey for a student budget, Porterhouse Grill offers a breakfast buffet for when the parents are in town and are paying.

When wanting a laid-back atmosphere, The Grill serves breakfast from midnight to noon. This '50s-style diner is ideal for satisfying late-night hunger.

Those preferring vegetarian meals can choose Bluebird Café, located on Clayton Street. The Grit on Prince Avenue also purveys vegetarian alternatives.

Your own personal breakfast mecca can definitely be found in Athens - you just have to know where to look.

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