Breakfast Preview…
Weather: Cloudy and 41°F (5°C)
The inside of Mickey’s Diner, my breakfast destination tomorrow.
I never stop for breakfast on my ride to work. Mostly because I get up so early that there are precious few options. Only the major chains like Perkins and Denny’s are open reliably at that hour of the morning, and none of them are located along my normal commute. Even if they were, the cuisine isn’t really worthy of getting up early.
There might be one or two places on Grand Avenue, but I’ve been bypassing that route now for a couple of years. However, there is one place, only a quarter-mile or so off my beaten path, which has intrigued me for a long time. Mickey’s Diner has fought off City Hall and the wrecking ball more times than anyone else, and finally achieved Historical Landmark status several years ago.
I stopped there for coffee once, a couple seasons back, and took the shot you see up top. That was probably 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and I was getting an early start on some roadtrip for my old column “Backroads Diary”.
This place has been featured in movies since then, and you hardly ever see it as deserted as it was that day. I’ve been wanting to do this review for some time now, ever since I started Rush Hour Rambling, but every time I ride by, I can see people standing behind the folks seated at the counter, and sometimes even a line out the door.
Well, tomorrow is it. I’m going to get up extra-early, and ride out of my way to give you a breakfast review of Saint Paul’s most famous diner, complete with a closeup of whatever greasy-spoon classic strikes my fancy.
I’m only writing this preview to make sure I get my arse out of bed and actually do this thing in the morning. It’s supposed to snow tonight, and who knows what condition the roads are going to be in tomorrow. No matter. This will motivate me to get-up, suit-up, and brave the challenges bright and early. This is my promise, and now I am committed.
So what do you think? Omelette, French Toast, or Bacon and Eggs?
November 12th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Gary,
Definitely Bacon and Eggs!! I just stopped in a diner in Yucca Valley, CA last week very similar. It is a little bigger with booths instead of stools and it has a Harley Davidson theme. It is attached to a Harley dealer in Yucca Valley. Great place and good food. I have a couple of pictures if you would like them.
November 12th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
bacon, eggs over easy, hash browns, toast, white or wheat, and coke, not diet, no coffee and thats that.
later
jim
November 12th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
When I lived and worked in St. Paul, Mickey’s was a regular stop. the neighborhood looked a lot different back then. At one tim, ethere was a White castle not too far away. A guy could go out for a night on the town and make a late stp at White Castle to sponge up some of the alcohol. Sometimes, that wasn’t good enough, and a guy would end up sleeping in the back seat of the car. On those occasions, the sight of Mickey’s first thing in the morning would come as a welcome life ring. A couple of poached eggs, an English muffin and a bowl of navy bean soup would put everything right for the coming day.
Have you been to the Cuban cafe on 38th and Grand in So. Mpls? I think it’s called Victor’s. Tried it for the first time last week. That’s a definite stop back.
November 12th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Breakfast choices depend a lot on who is cooking and what is served. Being a fan of real maple syrup and not “pancake syrup” (Brown corn syrup trying to get uppity with some artificial flavor enhancement! A sure sign of the end times.) I only eat pancakes or french toast at a few places that serve the real thing.
Eggs are best with fried potatos or real hashbrowns, but should also be served with real country/sawmill/cream/sausage gravy. Good gravy will make a place, bad can ruin it. Bonus points for homemade bisquits, even if they are made from a mix. Your choice of breakfast meat, I’m partial to pit ham or bratwurst.
Omelets, made fluffy in a frying pan, can be sublime. If they make them to order, in a pan with a lid on it, go for the omelet! My favorite is chicken, swiss cheese and mushroom. Second is ham and chedder. Although one local place does a smoked salmon and mushroom that people have been known to faint over.
Gary, if you ever get out Eastern Washington way, let me know. I’ve got some great spots for you to try.
Dave T.
November 12th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Bacon and eggs. Coffee black.
Looking forward to the recap.
Bill
November 12th, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Add some sausage to that!
November 13th, 2006 at 3:34 am
I’ve always wanted to eat in a proper diner like that
November 13th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
I would probably see what they had for the day’s special and go with that - add a little randomness to your planned stop.
Hope the experience was a good one.
Also when taking your pics, I hope you didn’t forget to create one with Scarlett outside the diner.
November 13th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
Dick: Yeah, pics would be nice. Do you have my email?
jim: I went for something a bit more challenging than that…
Buster: Nope, never been to Victors. When do we go?
DaveT: If I’m ever out Washington way, I’ll take you up on that.
Bill: B&E seems to be the odds-on favorite. But it is very hard to get them wrong. That’s all I’m saying here. Read the next post for the details.
Tinker: To what? Did I delete a comment by mistake?
Mad: Well, if you ever find yourself in Saint Paul… Hey, isn’t the Ace pretty much like that?
MatL: It was, and I did. Read next…
Ride well,
=gc=
November 13th, 2006 at 5:55 pm
Mr. Gary, I forgot to comment on blog regarding the blast from the past. That is pretty much the reason I quit riding sport bikes. I won’t go into it here, but I was going to get in trouble. nuff said
later
jim
November 13th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
I have always been a sucker for bacon and eggs cooked and served by someone else somewhere else. Making them at home just doesn’t do it.
I remember these meals as a kid when I went hunting with my dad, getting together with a friend for a before work breakfast, and as a mandatory stop when riding.
There are a lot of old metal diners in Pennsylvania and while the quality of their lunch and dinner fare may be questionable they all seem to have the bacon and eggs, hash browns and toast down pat.
If I ever do my cross country ride I’ll have to stop in St. Paul for bacon and eggs.
steve
November 14th, 2006 at 3:26 am
Even if the Ace is, it still isn’t an authentic American diner.
November 14th, 2006 at 7:55 am
Gary,
The pictures are on their way. Let me know if they don’t arrive.