It’s a given that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but why not have it be the most delicious?
Bella Rosa Coffee Company: You know the coffee, but do you know they have a cafe? This homey hideout not only has their tasty, locally-roasted joe, but includes plenty of coffee drinks (don't miss the lavender white chocolate mocha) as well as pastries from Costeaux and Village Bakery. Noms. 5491 Skylane Blvd. Suite 140, Santa Rosa, 707-542-6220. (Photo by Heather Irwin)
Bruno’s on Fourth: Bruno’s on Fourth is what Applebee’s can only aspire to: good eating in the neighborhood. The tiny 38-seat restaurant is a blip on the local food radar, but start asking around and you’re bound to find a devotee. Ask where to get the best biscuits and gravy in the North Bay and there’s little argument that this brunch-time hotspot is the place to go. Brunch is served on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features the usual suspects, done right and with crispy home fries. 1226 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-569-8222. (Photo by Conner Jay)
Café Des Croissants: Need your breakies in a hurry? You can smell the buttery goodness even before you head inside, but the vast selection of filled croissants will make you swoon. Like their bagels, they're best when heated up for the optimum deliciousness. For bigger appetites, get a breakfast sandwich or bagel with lox schmear. 85 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-570-2078; 1791 Marlow Rd., Santa Rosa, 707-800-7149. 2444; Lomitas Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-544-6710. Also in Rohnert Park, Sebastopol and Petaluma.(Photo by Crista Jeremiason)
Crepevine: Obviously you want the crepes here, mostly because they come with so much good stuff inside and my favorite homestyle potatoes. Savory crepes like the Bombay with chicken breast and curry sauce or the Kyoto with tofu, spinach and peanut sauce are belly-filling. If you have a sweet tooth, the Santorini is the way to go -- walnuts, pistachios, brown sugar, coconut, cinnamon and mascarpone cheese. Daily Benedicts, egg dishes and breakfast burritos plus pancakes and French toast make it a one-stop breakfast shop. 740 Farmer's Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-577-8822.
Criminal Baking Co.: This Biteclub favorite recently relocated from the SOFA district to Railroad Square. Each day, the cases are stocked with muffins, cheddar-bacon scones, cupcakes, and specialties like shortbread-crust lemon tart fluffed with meringue topping and tea sprinkles. Owner Dawn Zaft and her team also make plenty of gluten-free (bagels!) and vegan pastries. Breakfast salutes include huevos rancheros, quiche, English muffins and waffles. 808 Donahue St., Santa Rosa, 707-888-3546. (Photo by Chris Hardy)
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Dierk’s Parkside Café: There’s literally no room for pretension at this intimate neighborhood restaurant. Located just across Santa Rosa Avenue from Las Palmas, it's a surprising place to find one of Wine Country's favorite toques, Mark Dierkhising. But over the years, he's created a morning institution popular with bed-headed kids, apres-bike groups and in-the-know Wine Country visitors hunched over Chicken Fried Steak, Huevos Rancheros and quite possibly the world’s best hangover cure: the Country Benedict whose magical powers include a warm baguette, scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms, oven-dried tomatoes, spinach, hash browns and Hollandaise sauce. 404 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-573-5955. (Photo by John Burgess)
Dierk’s Midtown Café: The offshoot of the brunch-tacular Dierk’s Parkside, Dierk's Midtown serves up a vibe and all-day brunch menu similar to that of the Santa Rosa Avenue location. While many people religiously order the Benedict, fans old and new should check out the seasonal specials like the spicy chorizo hash or cinnamon French toast with crispy bacon and eggs just how you like them. 1422 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-2233. (Photo by John Burgess)
East Wind Bakery: Baonuts are the thing here. Think donuts but with an Asian twist, filled with mind-blowing ingredients like mango lassi, white pepper chocolate, cardamom lemon curd or fig, and goat cheese. You can also get them glazed with Thai coffee or in savory flavors (curry beef, carnitas salsa verde). While you're there, pick up milk bread flecked with bits of Earl Grey tea, herbs or cinnamon. If you’re looking for a twist on the breakfast sandwich, try their egg, kimchi and Chinese sausage-stuffed croissant. 3851 Sebastopol Rd., Suite 109, Santa Rosa, 707-709-6098. (Photo by Heather Irwin)
Emily’s Kitchen: You can’t go wrong with a healthy stack of Emily’s creamy ricotta pancakes topped with warm blueberry syrup. If you’re into the classics, the all American breakfast – complete with two eggs, Applewood smoke bacon or sausage, and two pieces of Costeaux cinnamon walnut bread French toast – is the way to go. 709 Village Ct., Santa Rosa, 707-523-2234. (Photo Yelp)
Franchetti’s: If you want a taste of country charm, try the veggie Chetti’s hash, served in a cast iron skillet and loaded with potatoes, mushrooms, butternut squash, sweet roasted onions and house-made mozzarella topped with fried eggs. The brunch bennies are a great way to start any weekend, and so are the the bottomless mimosas. 1229 N Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-526-1229. (Photo by Erik Castro)
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Hank’s Creekside Cafe: Expect to sit around reading the paper on Saturday and Sunday mornings waiting for a table at this quirky Santa Rosa breakfast institution. Fluffy pancakes as big as your head, sausage, eggs and Huevos Rancheros, all served with a side of local cred and a homemade touch. Biscuits are made from scratch, eggs are fresh and the cottage fries are, Oh My God good. If you’re up for a splurge–and I mean a artery-clogging blow-out–go for the Crab Cake Benedict. 2800 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, 707-575-8839. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
La Texanita: Alma and her team make one of my favorite chilaquiles with green sauce, onions and cheese, plus beans and cheese. Seriously authentic Mexican in Roseland with not only Huevos Rancheros, but Huevos Revuelto (spicy scrambled eggs) and Huevos a la Mexicana (with tomatoes, onions, and chilis).667 Sebastopol Rd, Santa Rosa, 707-525-1905. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
Los Arcos: A sleepy little cafe serving traditional Mexican breakfasts including excellent chilaquiles, huevos with chorizo, Machaca (scrambled eggs with shredded beef), and breakfast burritos all served with rice, beans and tortillas. 1791 Marlow Rd #6, Santa Rosa, 707-545-5858. (Photo by Ricardo Ibarra)
Jeffrey’s Hillside Café: Former John Ash & Co. chef brings Wine Country dining to breakfast. Don’t miss their chilaquiles (best we’ve had), Southern-inspired biscuits and gravy, sticky bun french toast and cheese blintzes with lemon curd. Lines can get long on weekends, so put on your patient hat—it’s sooooo worth the wait. 2901 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-6317. (Photo by Scott Manchester)
Mac’s Deli: Breakfast is served all day (or at least until 4:30pm) at this casual downtown deli. Benedicts with lox, fluffy pancakes, waffles, omelets with anything and everything under the sun. 630 4th St, Santa Rosa, 707-545-3785. (Photo by John Burgess)
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Naked Pig Cafe: The seasonal, local specialties from Naked Pig owners Dalia Martinez and Jason Sakach continue to cater to a hip, bustling scene at their new, bigger, brighter and even more stylishly-decorated space on Mendocino Avenue. The menu changes up; but you can expect dishes like Eggs Benni with Meyer lemon Hollandaise; Americana eggs with local bacon and Santa Rosa-grown breakfast potatoes; and waffles (bacon in the batter) with local wildflower honey. 435 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-978-3231. (Photo by Heather Irwin)
Omelette Express: The Don Taylor classic where omelets are king. And queen. And all the royalty. A lengthy menu has add-ins ranging from bacon and avocado to the more exotic anchovies and scallions. Daily Benedicts, French toast and oatmeal (if you really want that). 112 4th St, Santa Rosa, 707-525-1690. (Courtesy photo)
Parish Café: A love letter to owner-chef Rob Lippincott’s hometown of New Orleans, the second Parish Cafe has already woven itself into the fabric of downtown Santa Rosa. Breakfast favorites include the Breakfast Po-Boy (eggs over medium, black forest ham, provolone cheese, spinach and tomato on French bread), Bananas Foster Pain Perdu (french toast, fresh bananas, pecans and maple bourbon sauce), and Eggs Nouvelle New Orleans (poached eggs, lump blue crabmeat, shallots, house made hollandaise). Don't miss the beignets. 703 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-843-7804. (Photo by Heather Irwin)
The Pharmacy: The mission behind The Pharmacy is to serve thoughtfully-crafted foods that nourish and enrich, rather than deplete our bodies. If this sounds good to you, start your day with a yellow egg salad toast with house-made lemon aioli, chives, and shallots; a carrot loaf toasted with house-made cream cheese; or one of the best avocado toasts in Sonoma County. Organic espressos, cappuccinos, macchiatos, chai lattes and other coffee beverages are also on the breakfast menu. For a probiotic boost, try the banana fig lassi or the turmeric ginger kefir. 990 Sonoma Ave. #1, Santa Rosa.
Piner Café: A charming cafe with both the basics and some unusual picks served all day. The special is the chile relleno casserole, which usually sells out. Chicken fried steak, polish sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes and a long, long, long list of other breakfast norms. 975 Piner Rd, Santa Rosa, 707-575-0165. (Courtesy photo)
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The Pullman Kitchen: (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
Red Bird Bakery: (Photo by Beth Schlanker)
River Vine Café: (Courtesy photo)
Sam’s for Play: (Photo by Kent Porter)
SRJC Bakery Cafe: (Photo by John Burgess)
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The Spinster Sisters: (Photo by Charlie Gesell)
Eggs Benedict at The Spinster Sisters in Santa Rosa. (Photo by Heather Irwin)
Starting from Scratch Cafe: (Photo by Heather Irwin)
Willie Bird's: (Photo by John Burgess)
Zoftig Eatery: (Photo by Heather Irwin)
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It’s a given that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but why not have it be the most delicious? Start your morning with a kick of flavor at some of the best Santa Rosa restaurants and cafes. Click through the gallery for details. Did we forget one of your brekkie faves? Let us know in the comments below!
Maci Martell contributed to this article.
