Yep, this is mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Kirk is still super busy with work, Ed(from Yuma) is super busy with writing a couple of posts after a relaxing short vacation and Cathy finally stopped being super busy and has time to share another meal.
I haven't posted all the meals The Mister and I shared for our birthday week (our September birthdays were on Thursday this year; we have eight days when we go out a lot). Since The Mister's birthday is first and he gets to choose meals on those first three days, this was one of His breakfast choices.
The family owned 'sister' restaurant of La Mesa Bistro & Bakery, which I've posted about twice, recently opened in El Cajon. It's in the same parking lot as Saray, which used to be Sultan Kebab and before that, was Dubai. (Sultan Baklava is still next door, as it has been all along).
Similar in decor as La Mesa Bistro & Bakery, there's a locally themed mural on the far wall. That's a self portrait of the artist, who is an El Cajon resident, on the left.
There are also the same large variety of coffee choices that you can pump and serve yourself, (as you can do with a water cup). You can grab a menu and find a seat, then walk up, order and pay; or just walk up and order and pay if you know what you want; no one taking orders here other than at the cash register. Your food will be brought out to you. The website has some good photos of all the coffee press pots on that side of the restaurant; I didn't take photos as it was very crowded when we were here.
Condiment choices are the same (the bottle that looks like it should be filled with olive oil is filled with maple syrup).
We ordered two chalkboard specials (the chalkboard is floor to ceiling by the entrance door and there are more specials on the chalkboard behind the cash register)(all the specials were around $8). The Mister chose raspberry pancakes. Made with fresh raspberries, as you an see, these were an excellent choice. The house made pancake mix made light, fluffy, great tasting pancakes on its own and the raspberry addition was just so fresh, wonderful and complimentary.
The pancakes came with two eggs (poached) and two pieces of thick, crispy bacon.
Since it was a Friday, I chose the salmon scramble as my breakfast. Delicious (not salty) smoked salmon pieces were cooked with eggs and red pepper, scallion and capers. This was served with fresh home fried potatoes and home made (the 'Bakery' part of the name of the restaurant) rye toast as well as some house made salsa. Really, really good.
Both of these family owned and run restaurants can get crazy busy on weekends, and both serve excellent, quality food.
El Cajon Bistro & Bakery 109 Jamacha Road (at Second and Main) El Cajon, Ca 92019 (619) 590-0278 Website Sun-Mon 7-4, Tues-Sat 7-9