dining out

The Bread Crumb, a storefront cafe at Magnolia Street and Atlanta

Avenue, is a misnomer. If you’re looking for a great breakfast place,

you’ll get the whole loaf here.

Located on Main Street for 15 years before moving on to the Von’s

Shopping Center six years ago, The Bread Crumb, owned by Lori and Larry

Lawrence, catered to the appetites of surfers loading up on carbohydrates

for their early morning sport. For the less active, the Bread Crumb is

the place to find generous hot platters of food that taste and smell like

home.

The Island Special ($6.50) covers half the plate with lightly crisped

matchstick hash browns and the other half with scrambled eggs combined

with sliced mushrooms and green peppers. The egg isn’t the usual light

and fluffy but firmer -- a hearty scramble covered with melting white and

yellow cheeses and slices of avocado served with a choice of bread. It’s

a tasty plateful that satisfies well into lunch. A side of four strips of

bacon ($2.75), crisp but a little tough, is a good addition.

A real bargain is The Bread Crumb Special ($6.25), a hot platter with

two big beautifully browned pancakes, two small meaty pork sausage

patties and a pile of scrambled eggs. It’s a hot, well-done combination

ready to start you on your commute. According to manager Brian Chun

Lachapelle, regulars never need a menu -- they just come in, sit down and

read the paper until their usual order arrives hot and ready. It’s almost

like home.

A big bowl of fruit ($3.25) wakes up the taste buds with chunks of

dewy fresh cantaloupe, honeydew melon and fresh slices strawberries.

Something you don’t need to ask for is syrup -- there’s a huge plastic

squeeze bottle full of maple syrup on the table -- this small place

thinks of everything.

Inside 18 tables for two to four are covered with blue and white

flowered cloths under glass. Thatched awnings over the windows give it a

kind of island feel.

Breakfasts are made when ordered by cooks Ricky Hernandez and Roger

Gonzalez. Most popular and recommended is the thick King’s Hawaiian bread

French toast ($5.95). Brian’s favorite is the very healthy White Scramble

($7.55) of six egg whites with chicken and choice of two vegetables and

fruit.

If you’re looking for a breakfast that rivals the taste of home, The

Bread Crumb is there for you. Like mom always said, “Eat your breakfast

-- it’s good for you.”

* MARY FURR is the Independent restaurant critic. If you have comments

or suggestions, call (562) 493-5062 or e-mail o7 [email protected]

FYI

The Bread Crumb

WHERE: 8956 Atlanta Ave. in Von’s Shopping Center

HOURS: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily

PHONE: (714) 960-5051

MISC.: Cash only