9 Auburn breakfast spots to try before kickoff
Eleven o’clock kickoffs are not for everyone. In fact, some college football fans downright loath them. But for the rest of us, the early gridiron action gives us the rest of our Saturday back to enjoy the autumnal offerings and the rest of the SEC slate.
It also inspires to rise up and eat a great breakfast, and Auburn has you covered in that department. The Tigers kick off against Arkansas at 11 a.m. in Jordan-Hare Stadium, but before they take the field, make sure you fill your belly, especially if you don’t have enough time to tailgate.
Waffle House will certainly do any day, anytime — not to mention the flexible hours — but if you want to try some local flavors, visit these these places on a gameday or anytime you visit the Plains.
Bizilia’s Cafe (134 N College Street)
They serve breakfast all day long, so take advantage. Wake up with Mama Mocha’s local roast coffee, with their brewed coffee and espresso, fresh ground in house. They also carry “Brass Knuckle” medium roast for espresso, “Dawn of The Dead” with 50 percent more caffeine and “Onyx” a full-bodied dark roast. If you pick up a pound in their retail section, they will grind it fresh. Must try: The Hot Damn Panini — three eggs, two pork sausage patties, one slice of cheddar cheese, spinach, topped with homemade smoked jalapeno jelly.
Big Blue Bagel & Deli (120 N College Street)
Get breakfast plates, bagels, breakfast burritos and more on this wide-ranging menu. But how about one (or two) of their breakfast bagel sandwiches — either keep it simple with egg, meat and cheese, or add a little spice with The Cajun Sandwiches (two eggs, Cajun turkey and pepperjack).
The Bean Coffee Shop (140 A N Dean Road)
“Not just a cup of coffee.” Serving roasted coffee and desserts with an in-house bakery, this coffee joint wants novices and experts to feel at home when they visit. “The coffee we serve is from fair trade roasters,” their website says. “That means that every cup of coffee is a part of providing fair wage to farmers in some of the most impoverished countries in the world. Additionally our roasters are involved in a number of other charities and mission work.” If you get hungry with your cup of coffee, try what they call “Auburn’s BEST homemade cinnamon roll” or the avocado toast (spicy avocado slices with in-house spicy cream cheese spread).
Byron’s Smokehouse (436 Opelika Road)
This mom-and-pop barbecue favorite has all the smoked pork, chicken and turkey you could want on a gameday, but if you wake up early enough, sample the old school breakfast menu. Sometimes all you need is two eggs, bacon, grits, fried potatoes and biscuits. And don’t forget a cup of coffee.
Chappy’s Deli (754 E Glenn Avenue)
Open since 1989, they have an extensive breakfast menu, starting with the Capital City Platter: Three fresh eggs any style with biscuit and sawmill sausage gravy, your choice of grits or hash browns and your choice of bacon, sausage, turkey sausage or Conecuh sausage. There’s also the Country Fresh Eggs, the Fajita Omelet — or maybe the “Does a Body Good,” your choice of three scrambled Egg Beaters or egg whites, served with Southern grits, a fresh fruit cup, turkey sausage links and wheat toast.
The Hound (124 Tichenor Avenue)
A place that specializes in bourbon and bacon deserves a look on gameday, maybe even two. Start with the Bacon Flight, the chef’s daily selection of various styles of bacon produced in house. Move on to the Steak and Eggs (petite prime skirt steak, two eggs any way, breakfast potatoes), the Granola French Toast (granola battered Texas toast, fresh seasonal fruit, maple syrup, powdered sugar) or even the Big Nasty (Nashville-style hot chicken, Mama Sue’s pepper jelly, pepperjack, bacon, fried egg, chipotle aioli, fresh baked buttermilk biscuit). Any of those’ll do.
Lucy’s (2300 Moores Mill Road)
For the table, share the House-made Coconut and Banana Toast with fig butter and caramelized banana. For brunch, if you’ve got the appetite, try the Chicken and Waffle Bennie (Conecuh sausage gravy, poached egg, Eastaboga Wildflower Honey, Lucy’s Hash) or Lucy’s Big Bad Breakfast (two farm eggs your way, bacon, Lucy’s hash, house-made pimento cheese biscuit). And if you have a sweet tooth, grab some Lemon Lavender Donuts, with citrus sugar and creme anglaise.
One Bike Coffee (2415 Moores Mill Road Suite 130)
Dubbed “coffee with a cause,” this family-owned shop aims to “serve the best product in the most welcoming environment so we can give back to our community,” the website says. “One Bike Coffee gives 100% of our profits to local charities serving our community.” Grab a cup of medium or dark roast drip or their spiced chai and vanilla latte to start things off. If you’re hungry, hit the classic sausage, egg and cheese biscuit, or the Oatmeal Steamer (with fruit, almonds and craisins). Learn more about their foundation.
Ross House (150 North Ross Street)
This historic, 111-year-old, wrap-around porch home was professionally renovated with “traditional charm and a contemporary flair” to form a local coffee house locals love. The Café au lait or cold brew will wake you up just fine (but not on Sundays, when they close), and you can enjoy some blended drinks like the frappe or frozen Matcha. Food options include the baked oatmeal, breakfast quiche and muffins/scones.
One more, just in case…
Another Broken Egg (2311 Bent Creek Road)
If the local joints are all booked up, slide into this widely treasured chain sure to draw a large crowd of its own any Saturday morning. The Shrimp ‘N Grits (with Gulf shrimp, of course) are delicious, as is the Hash Brown Benedict (ham and cheese-stuffed crispy hash brown croquettes, topped with poached eggs, mushroom herbed hollandaise and red peppers). What about the Monterey Power Omelette, an egg white omelet filled with chicken, onions, green chilies and tomatoes?