- December 4, 2025
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A few weeks ago my friends and I were back at the New Pass Bait Shop & Grill, which happens to serve up one of my favorite breakfast sandwiches that I mentioned in a recent Eating With Emma column. It got me thinking that I need to give a little culinary love to some other egg-cellent local breakfast dishes in town, with September being National Breakfast Month and all.
As we all inhaled our breakfast sandwiches just about everyone agreed the first meal of the day was the best meal of the day. And really, what’s not to love? There's the simplicity of the ingredients and the fact that we poor millennials can always afford to fry an egg and toast a slice of bread, whether it’s pay week or not. Then there’s the nostalgia that bacon brings as it sizzles.
In a world where the headlines can make your stomach hurt, there’s something comforting about a stack of pancakes, a crispy strip of bacon or a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. That’s the magic of National Breakfast Month. It's an excuse to lean into the comfort of morning glory. It almost makes you wish every month was dedicated to breakfast — and that every facet of life could be this egg-cellent.
Here's where you can find me ignoring the world around me and partaking in my own breakfast club.
6970 S. Beneva Road, Sarasota; 941-993-1577; BagelsandBrewsCafe.com.
Rise and Dine: If you’re new here, you’ll learn quickly that I’m a sucker for a bagel after living in Connecticut for 25 years. It was impossible to find anything that resembles a Tri-state (New York/New Jersey/Connecticut) bagel in our area until Bagels & Brews came along. They have the classics, but after you bite into an everything-cheddar, you won’t remember the staples. Pair it with their freshly made veggie cream cheese ($4.25) and you’ll thank me later.
Breakfast Club Bliss: Two words: pork roll ($8.99). With one hard egg, American cheese, Taylor ham on a sesame bagel — you will be fueled for the morning. This is a breakfast column, but the café has an extended lunch menu that should not be skipped.
4413 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-926-2692; 8431 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-355-9236; MamaGsBakery.com.
Rise and Dine: Right after college, I lived in Germany for nearly a year teaching English. Every Friday, recovering from a Thursday expat meetup, I'd grab a roll with hard-boiled eggs at a deli across the street from school and shove it into my mouth as my first students walked in for the day. So when I saw that Mama G's served Frühstuck ($8.95), it had to make my list. This traditional German breakfast comes with two slices of ham and Swiss cheese, hard-boiled egg, apricot and strawberry preserves, butter and two rolls.
Breakfast Club Bliss: Looking for something a tad simpler? The plethora of German pastries, offered in both savory and sweet options, are too long to list here, but a few of my favorites are the cheese danish ($3.95), almond croissant ($3.95) and the kale and goat cheese pocket ($5).
538 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota; 1419 Fifth St., Sarasota; 941-313-2283; ProjectCoffee.us.
Rise and Dine: The caffeine-focused morning crowd will be pleased with the options for that morning cup of jolt at Project Coffee's locations in Burns Court and the Rosemary District. Whether you choose the simple yet delicious cortado, a double shot in steamed oat milk ($4.75), or an elevated strawberry milk supermatcha ($6.50), you'll leave feeling ready to take on the day.
Breakfast Club Bliss: Don't skip on the eats, my latte-loving pals. Depending on the location, the menu may change, but the pastries baked in house are not to be missed — nor is "the world's greatest avocado toast" ($12.75) made with Brad Bandits sourdough, radish, Brick Street Farms microgreens and extra virgin olive oil (add a soft scramble for $4).
4832 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-706-4225; 7246 55th Ave. E., Bradenton; 941-201-6002; 411 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota; 941-364-8767; 8491 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton; 941-210-4760; TheBreakfastCompanyFl.com.
Rise and Dine: Prepare to be inundated with choices, delicious culinary mind-boggling choices. From a Parisian bowl ($17.95) with two eggs, braised short rib, fontina cheese, baby spinach, mushroom, caramelized onion and diced chive to Boston cream pie pancakes ($13.95) with vanilla custard and chocolate ganache drizzle to southern eggs Benedict ($16.95) with crispy chicken, cracked-pepper gravy, scrambled eggs on a grilled biscuit. This isn't an ordinary breakfast, it's an egg-traordinary.
Breakfast Club Bliss: On your birthday, you are treated with a mini-cinnamon roll that is to die for. Pair it with the pomegranate mimosa ($8.95), or an orange, cranberry or pineapple-ginger one. Or make it a screwdriver!
3557 Webber St., 941-923-4459; OrderGuerrerosBakery.com.
Rise and Dine: My grandfather, regardless of where we went for breakfast, always ordered the huevos rancheros, even if it wasn't on the menu. I can't tell you how many times on St. Armands or Longboat Key in the early '90s we had to bury our heads under the table as he walked back to talk to the chef if a waiter told him that the fried eggs and tortilla duo wasn't an option. Well Poppy, if you were here, I'd bring you to Guerrero's for huevos rancheros ($12.99), served eggs over medium with three fried corn tortillas, topped with red sauce.
Breakfast Club Bliss: Huevos con chorizo ($12.99) is calling my name next time I head to Guerrero's. These portions are generous, so be sure to come hungry first thing in the morning!
