Restaurants like the Bay Leaf Cafe are the reason why I love supporting and frequenting local family owned businesses.
I came to Bay Leaf on a rainy Wednesday morning before my Doctor's appointment. I almost never get an opportunity to have a nice breakfast during the week because like most other people, I work an 8 to 5 shift during the day. When I scheduled my appointment for 10:30 am, I had to take advantage of the extra time that I had available. I decided to treat myself to breakfast. I've had this place bookmarked for a while, and I decided to try it out since it was right down the street from my new Doctor's office. I found a great parking spot right across the street from the restaurant.
When I arrived, I was greeted promptly by Zakia, the business Owner. She was very sweet and courteous and she immediately asked me if I wanted a cup of coffee. I don't drink coffee so I refused, but I glanced over the menus that she gave me for a few minutes before I decided on what I would order. They offer breakfast and lunch and I found myself looking over the entire menu out of curiosity. They have a pretty extensive breakfast menu for such a cozy little place, but what I was excited about was the $7 weekday breakfast specials.
Go ahead... call me a penny pincher. But, I LOVE being able to have a nice meal at a discounted price. They have about 5 different $7 weekday breakfast specials to choose from that range from egg dishes to pancakes and French toast. I was craving for carbs, so I decided to go with the French toast special which comes with a slice of French toast, 2 eggs any style, and a side of sausage or bacon (I chose the bacon this time).
While I waited for my meal to arrive, I looked around and scoped out the facility. I felt so comfortable there, like I was sitting at the dinner table in someone's home. The whole design and setup makes you feel at ease. This place has a homey type of feel to it and the decor is definitely indicative of that. Before I knew it, my breakfast was ready! I asked Zakia to bring my glass of milk with my meal, which she did accordingly. This is such a small detail, but I was so happy to have a large glass of milk! You wouldn't believe how many breakfast places skimp on this but then have the nerve to charge upwards of $3 for it.
I started eating my breakfast and I was pleasantly surprised. The French toast was hot and fluffy, eggs were cooked just right, and the bacon was nice and crispy. I think it took me all of 10 minutes to finish this meal. I was hungry and it was so good, so I scarfed that bad boy down with no regard.
I struck up a nice conversation with Zakia when I was finished. I thanked her for the meal and for the fantastic customer service! When I was ready to pay, she brought over a portable debit card machine and I was thoroughly impressed! Not a lot of small businesses are on par with today's new technology... especially when it comes to payment machines. I'm often surprised at how many restaurants are still operating as cash only.
When I was leaving, I noticed that a few more people had come in and sat down to eat breakfast. I missed the morning rush, which was great for me because I had an appointment to get to. I can't wait to try Bay Leaf out for lunch one day! This place has been opened since 1999, so you know that they are doing something right! Thank you to Zakia and the rest of the staff for such a wonderful experience and for exuding exceptional customer service. I will definitely come back here in the future! read more