Sunday, September 23, 2007

Flying Biscuit Cafe

For our second restaurant review, we went to one of my favorite places, the very first Flying Biscuit on the planet. The original Flying Biscuit, now one of five Flying Biscuits (and growing), is located at 1655 McLendon Avenue in Candler Park and is a hop, skip and a jump away from dozens of Little 5 shops. If you have to wait for a table (which is likely on a weekend), you can browse the Candler Park shops which include Frock of the Ages, Full Moon Records, and Donna Van Gogh’s. What’s unique about the original restaurant is the space. The bright-orange walls, colorful, hand-painted tables, and flying biscuits painted on the ceiling feels eclectic, spacious, and cozy, all at the same time. It’s the perfect spot for vegetarians and carnivores alike to enjoy a casual breakfast at any time of day.

Speaking of breakfast and vegetarians, Gaby ordered the tofu scramble. She said it was a little on the spicy side but overall, pretty good. A strong plus is that there are many different vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. I ordered the Egg-stra Ordinary breakfast (they let me substitute egg whites for eggs and extra moon-dusted potatoes for grits). My breakfast also was good, especially the moon-dusted potatoes. One downside: it wasn’t fresh-out-of-the-oven hot. However, we both really enjoyed the extra-large and fluffy flying biscuits, which arrived naked (you decide how much you want your biscuit smothered with their famous cranberry-apple-butter spread.) If you love the menu here, you can buy one of their cookbooks to take home recipes with you.

In addition to great food, here’s a rundown of the rest of our brunch rating criteria:
OJ? Fresh squeezed.
Coffee? Bottomless, hot, and complimentary while you wait.
Loud? Yup, very.
Service? With a smile, and patient as we chatted through a second cup of Joe.
Parking? Limited parking spots for FB customers exist across the street in the Candler Market parking lot. However, most people park on neighborhood side streets.
Restrooms? Eclectic décor, could have been cleaner and more of them
Bring kids? Yes. Space is tight but there’s a kid-friendly menu, and high chairs, crayons, and colormats are available.
Reservations? Nope, expect a long wait during prime time or if you’re w/lots of friends.
Bonus? The bakery next door sells fresh and day-old flying biscuits, baked goods, + T-shirts with the Flying Biscuit logo on them.

Rating: 3 Out of 3 Pancakes