Breakfast sanctuaries for delicious variety

By Tara Sahdev

Is your stomach grumbling for something other than a Benson breakfast burrito in the morning? Check out five local eateries you can visit to satisfy your early-morning hunger:

Cramer's New York Style Bagels

495 El Camino Real #131, Santa Clara

If you don't feel like walking far to get breakfast, Cramer's New York Style Bagels is the place to go. It is located across the street from the main entrance of campus, next to Starbucks and Quizno's.

The prices of bagels range from $2.55 for a regular bagel with cream cheese to $3.95 for a Cramer's Sunrise: a bagel with eggs, ham, onions and cheddar cheese.

Even though Cramer's is directly across the street from campus, the owner said, "We have an equal mix of students and other customers."

All customers enjoy the breakfast bagels, the owner said, which are filled with eggs, cheese and a combination of other ingredients based on your individual preferences -- my personal favorite is the asiago bagel with lox cream cheese, a steal at $3.45.

Sara's Kitchen

1595 Franklin Street, Santa Clara

Eating at Sara's Kitchen is like living with your mother again. The servers are bubbly and eager to serve you from the second you walk through the door, full of "Can I refill your coffee, sweetheart?"

Sara's Kitchen is true to its name. With TVs at the booths and flower arrangements scattered around the restaurant, you feel like you have just stepped into a relative's home.

If you come for breakfast on a weekend morning, be prepared to find a crowd. Come during the week and you will be served immediately.

The most popular breakfast item is the eggs Benedict, which is served with potato fritters -- an $8 meal.

Farmers' market

Franklin Square, Santa Clara

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on sunny Saturday mornings, a farmers' market is held near Franklin Square. It is fairly low-key, with not too many vendors or people, and perfect for Santa Clara students.

Vendors sell a variety of items ranging from Indian food to jewelry. The prices are higher than those at Safeway, but everything sold there is grown or made by the vendors.

This farmers' market provides produce and cooked food, such as fruit and crepes, for a healthy breakfast. Even if you don't feel like spending money, it's worth visiting for its street performers and free food samples.

Bill's Café

302 N. Bascom Ave., San Jose

Bill's Café is a busy place to go on weekend mornings. For a group of four, there is usually at least a 10-minute wait, but on warm mornings, tables are available outside.

Be prepared to spend about $12 for breakfast with a drink.

It is a popular place for Santa Clara students as well. "We see the women's soccer team almost every Saturday morning," said a hostess.

Some popular breakfast dishes include the Californian Omelet and the California Benedict.

The manager of this family-owned business inherited the restaurant from the establishment's namesake, her uncle, Bill.

Flames Coffee Shop

449 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose

Flames Coffee Shop, a freeway drive away, is a great place to go if you want to catch a post-breakfast movie at the nearby Century Theaters or go shopping at Santana Row or Valley Fair.

The restaurant attracts college students from San Jose City College and San Jose State as well as Santa Clara.

Breakfast entrées range from $10 to $12, but, "The portions are really big for how much you pay," said sophomore Nikko Nascimento. "For the same price as Benson food, you get three times as much."

If you don't feel like the traditional breakfast food, Flames offers many unique omelets, such as the seafood and avocado omelet and the jambalaya omelet.

The most popular omelet? Linguica, avocado and cheese.

Enjoy your breakfast.

Contact Tara Sahdev at (408) 551-1918 or tsahdev@scu.edu.