Cafe Mia
3573 Far West Blvd., 342-9570
3663 Bee Caves Road, 327-1795
Breakfast Menu: Mon-Fri, 6:30am-10:30am; Sat-Sun, 8am-Noon, no reservations needed
Though it’s not a formal brunch service, we’ve included Cafe Mia in this listing because of the quality of their food, the accessibility of the restaurants, and the affordable prices. Both the casual eateries are located in suburban strip centers with plenty of parking, which means no dressing up and no valet parking. In keeping with their Mediterranean theme, Cafe Mia offers omelettes in three varieties: Greek ($6.75) with feta cheese, wilted spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sun-dried tomato pesto; French ($7.25) with bacon, brie, tomatoes, artichokes, and basil pesto; and an Italian Fritatta ($7) with sausage, mozzarella, bell peppers, onions, and garlic pesto. The egg dishes can be paired with a la carte sides of pancakes, bacon, sausage, cottage fries, fruit salad, or focaccia toast in prices ranging from $1.50 to $3.99. The menu also includes a stellar selection of waffles and the best French toast in town. The soft waffles ($6.95) come with the following flavor variations topped with fresh whipped cream: Bananas Foster on a pecan waffle, Cherries Jubilee on a chocolate waffle, Apple Caramel on a vanilla waffle, and Raspberry on a saffron waffle. However, the pièce de résistance of the Cafe Mia menu has to be the Crème Brûlée French Toast ($6.95), a round loaf of day-old focaccia that’s been dipped in custard, and then butter-sautéed in a skillet, with caramelized brown sugar on top. The round of toast is then served with a crown of fresh whipped cream and warm maple syrup on the side. It’s a decadently dangerous dish, full of taste and texture contrasts, perfect for sharing.
This article appears in March 16 • 2001.