About Having Breakfast in Punta Gorda Florida

Just noticed that I was getting quite a few looks at a very old post I did on breakfast in Punta Gorda now quite out of date.   I've waxed on and on about the joys of going out for breakfast.. so I won't indulge myself or bore you with that.   But I will share some of my latest favorite haunts to enjoy my favorite meal of the day in Punta Gorda.

I'll start with the basics.... our two local diners that if you don't know by now you must not ever go out for breakfast.  Elena's has been an after church and every day favorite in Punta Gorda since Elena first opened the place and long after it's namesake has been gone (she sold the restaurant several years back after Hurricane Charley).   Reliable, huge portions at reasonable prices with fast, friendly service are Elena's hallmarks.  Most of the servers have been there since I've been in Punta Gorda - that anniversary has past the decade mark - and they work smoothly together to deliver food hot and right. With daily specials running from eggs and bacon or sausage with coffee to omelets to pancakes or french toast, Elenas is crowded in season and frequently  in off season as well especially Sundays.



The other diner type restaurant is on the south side of town off Burnt Store Road... the Burnt Store Grill (or Cafe).  in the shopping center on 41 near the Home Depot. Good service, reliable food...... and great specials -- and I'm going to hate myself later for this one -- because it is already too crowded on Mondays -- the best of them is Monday morning currently $3.95 for eggs with bacon and sausage with potatoes or grits, toast and coffee -- you can't beat this.

Now for a personal favorite... because it is somewhat less crowded, with good value, good food and Brenda.  Brenda Ryan, as I have mentioned in other blogs, is a born and raised Punta Gordan who has run several restaurants around town... including a local one around the corner from my home that blew down during Hurricane Charley.... the Smokehouse (not the one on Cooper).   She also ran for awhile a breakfast and lunch place at the Masonic Lodge... now she runs the Breakfast at Dean's South of the Border, and will immediately make you feel at home.   While you may not think of Deans as a breakfast place, think twice.... delicious omelets at $5 and less, biscuits and gravy, huevos rancheros, cinnamon roll french toast -- see above.  I've raved about this place for breakfast since it opened and still give it top marks.

Then there are more city-style places... Hendricks (unfortunately now closed 11/14) comes to mind for its lovely omelets and breakfast sandwiches, Irish steel-cut oatmeat, wide selection of bagels with spreads and great coffee.  If you are a pastry or bagel and coffee breakfast person, this is the place for you... although I loved the egg sandwich on a multigrain bagel I had there a week ago.  Hendricks opens at 7 a.m.

Not a place for the earlier riser ( 9 a.m. opening), but an awesome spot for some great bagel sandwiches including a bagel with lox... you heard it yes lox... and other intriguing combos on a bagel.. like black forrest ham, jack cheese and mushrooms, Pies and Plates (closed) delivers up,in addition,oatmeal concoctions, quiche and yogurt parfaits.  The menu alone is over-the-top tantalizing.

A bit of a hidden treasure that we've previously highlighted is the Sky View Cafe at the Airport serving up some of Punta Gorda's best pancakes, awesome and different crunchy French toast, good omelets and egg dishes along with a wondrous side show.... planes taking off at the Punta Gorda airport.

The  Smoke House on Cooper Street near the Hospital for great home-made sausage and other home-style dishes, and on the 2nd and fourth Sunday the Punta Gorda Elks Lodge, serves up a tasty, gargantuan breakfast for Elks members (cooked to order omelets, eggs, choice of meat, or pancakes with coffee, toast for $7) right on the Peace River.... you can't beat it.

And a new addition to the Breakfast scene... John Ski's House of Breakfast at 502 King St. (right off north Tamiami Trail near the Ice House).   Check out our recent comments.