Batter Up!

What's it like?

"Chipotle for Breakfast."  That was my first impression of this breakfast restaurant, located in a newer center at the southwest corner of Figarden Loopand Brawley.  We walked in (on a Sunday morning) to be greeted by the same stainless steel industrial decor, concrete floor, and counter-style ordering that is so familiar at my favorite TexMex place.  But Batter Up! is all about breakfast, and they proved they are on their game.

As you might expect, pancakes are featured.  The change-up is they offer all sorts of mix-ins for their batter.  Think Cold Stone Creamery.  Fruits, nuts, and even chocolate chips are available to be mixed into traditional buttermilk or cornmeal batters, with the results cooked up into 9-inch diameter cakes that rival anyone's best.  Highly recommended.

The menu goes on to offer eggs and omelettes, the latter with a wide variety of egg-appropriate mix-ins.  All these items can be ordered a la carte, in predefined combinations called "specials," or in really any combination you think you'd like.  The menu is not for the indecisive.

We ordered the Mike's Special, which included two pancakes, two eggs (you choice), and two bacon, sausage or ham.  I ordered the sausage with scrambled eggs.  The sausage were little bitty links that were a cut above typical breakfast links, if a bit skimpy.  The eggs had been cooked in what tasted like sausage dripping, not the generic spray so typical of the industry.  They rated as perhaps the best restaurant scrambled eggs I've had, and I always order scrambled eggs.

Nothing beat the coffee, which was served from a thermal caraffe in house mugs.  It's called "Alligator French Roast -- the French Roast With a Bite."  Indeed.  Tasty, strong and memorable.  I love that.  It reminded me of Starbucks, pre-Pike's Place.  A very nice treat.

Prices were reasonable.  Dishes range from $6.95 to 10.95, which seems well in line with other breakfast houses, and low for the quality of the food.  I guess you pay in ambience, and bussing your own dishes.  I'll take that deal.

By the time we left at 10:30 AM, the house was full, the patio was full, and several parties were waiting.  Their wait would be rewarded.  Highly recommended!