Rise & Shine

Taste Cafe & Marketplace

By Beth A. Clayton, Terry Kirts, Tony Rehagen, Maggie Richmond, Julia Spalding, and Jodi Wright

Photography By Tony Valainis

Taste Cafe & Marketplace

The bright and airy interior of this College Avenue cafe adds the perfect rise-and-shine ambiance to their fresh morning offerings. From orange juice squeezed on-site every morning to hot teas like cha-cha chai and strawberry hibiscus, owners Marc Urwand and Deidra Henry attend to the details that make breakfast an experience, rather than just a meal. It's tempting to go straight for the house made granola, c.b. & g. (cheddar biscuits and gravy), or southwest burrito (stuffed with scrambled eggs, black bean salsa, pepper jack cheese, avocado, potatoes, spicy sour cream sauce, and house made salsa ranchera), but always look to the hand-written menu of daily specials, where some of their best offerings can be found. A recent favorite was strata with zucchini, corn, and a richly flavored roasted tomato pesto. 5164 N. College Ave., 925-2233.

Sophia’s House of Pancakes

To crowds waiting for a table, Sophia’s House of Pancakes appears to be a run-of-the-mill family restaurant with a wood-plank porch, cheery yellow walls, and servers canvassing the dining room with glass coffeepots. But once seated, diners experience something out of the ordinary—the south side’s richest, most wonderfully excessive breakfast. It takes five eggs to make the fluffy apple-cheddar omelet; mile-high slices of French toast, known as “Sophia’s Real Treat,” are stuffed with mascarpone; and the pancakes taste like vanilla cake right out of the oven. The restaurant’s namesake dish, served with packets of whipped butter and tiny pitchersof warm syrup (though the cake flavor shines even better when paired with blueberries or strawberries), is worthy of all the buzz. Sides are a solid lineup of basics done right, like hash browns fried to a perfect crisp lattice, along with crepes, blintzes, and corned-beef hash. Servers are quick with both refills and a fewcrayons and a fresh paper placematto pacify a fussy toddler. 1694 W. MainSt., Greenwood, 888-6800.

Acapulco Joe’s

This landmark Indianapolis restaurant opened in 1964 and has been serving breakfast to a band of steadfast followers ever since. The faded Mexican decorations, laidback but friendly service, and spicy salsas in squeeze bottles are all part of the experience. The short breakfast menu includes the usual: hotcakes, omelets, and huevos rancheros (two eggs, smothered in Joe’s special salsa, served with a side of beans or potatoes). As far as specialties go, “Butter-me-not-biscuits” smothered in creamy sausage gravy are a tasty choice, but Joe’s Breakfast Burrito—a gut-busting combo of scrambled eggs, bell peppers, jalapeños, onions, tomatoes, and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla and served with breakfast potatoes and a side of bacon, sausage, or ham—tops our list. 365 N. Illinois St., 637-5160; 172 Melody Ave., Greenwood, 893-2071.

Cornerstone Coffee & Espresso Bar

Cozy up in a deep booth for a leisurely weekend breakfast at this pub-like hideaway at the corner of 54th and College with your favorite sectionof the paper and a big cup of thegood, strong coffee. Among thetraditional breakfast offeringsreside some surprises; the sweet-potato pancakes—fluffy and flavorful, with a good mix of spices—are as comforting as a thick blanket on a cold winter morning. Or try the baked frittata, served in a skillet with bacon, sausage, onions, red and green bell peppers, mushrooms, and fresh mozzarella. 651 E. 54th St., 726-1360.