I'd never been to Capri for breakfast before. I found myself headed for work earlier than usual this morning and decided to stop in. I'm glad I did! I owe big apologies to friends who have been telling me for years how good breakfast is at Capri. Yes, the building is not new, it looks like a dive- but in my experience some of the greatest local eats are found ins these 'greasy spoons'. I walked in and took a seat at the counter (as a sign asks 'singles' to sit there). I took a glance at the white board to see the specials, and the server poured me coffee (after asking if I wanted it of course) handed me a menu, and brought water. The breakfast menu is extensive, just about anything you want in the 'stick to your ribs' department. Although I cringed a bit at the header 'dieters corner' I could see that they offered also options for those seeking lighter fare.
Now, I'm not a fan of the whole 'pumpkin everything' craze that strikes in the fall. It's about as repellant to me as the whole 'peppermint/eggnog everything' craze that follows, but something told me I needed to try the pumpkin hotcakes. I ordered the 'hotcake special'. Two hotcakes (duh), two eggs and two strips of bacon. The server (darn I wish I'd gotten her name, she was great!) aid she wasn't sure the cook had mixed up the pumpkin hotcakes(I asked if I could get them in place of regular hotcakes) yet, and I told her no worries if not. However when she asked (since I could see and hear things at the pass thru). The cook (who I later found out was the owner) was happy to get them going for me.
As I waited I enjoyed my coffee (Farmer Bros.), dinked with my phone and soaked in the friendly atmosphere. Regulars were coming in, being greeted and chatting about this and that. It was a comfortable welcoming feeling that even I, in my business casual attire with my employee ID on a lanyard around my neck, felt a part of.
Capri is known for it's portions and boy howdy it's true. My plate arrived with two salad plate sized, thick, steaming pumpkin hotcakes, two eggs (over easy) cooked to perfection and two thick, large, crispy enough (but not too much) strips of bacon. The server put the whipped cream (which I didn't know came with) for the hotcakes in a separate cup so my eggs would not melt it. I'm a 'knife and forker' when it comes to hotcakes and eggs, so put my eggs between my pancakes, distributed the butter, spread the whipped cream on top and cut it all up together. I stared with NO syrup to get a cleaner tasted of the hotcakes, and for my first bite chose a morsel that was not totally inundated with egg yoke.
Folks, these are no 'pumpkin flavored' hotcakes, this is pumpkin mixed into the batter, not too sweet and not with an overdose of 'pumpkin pies seasoning' mixed in. The pumpkin is not over powering. The hotcakes are not heavy, but neither are they too light.
Having satisfied my desire to experience the full pumpkin flavor, I dove in. I probably should have stopped eating when I was about 2/3 done, but I simply could not bear to leave any behind. The server, not overloaded with patrons at the time, was doing the day to day things that keep a place like Capri running smooth, filling condiment containers, updating the white boards and such. We chatted a bit as I enjoyed one last cup of coffee. That's when I learned that the 'chef' was the owner, and that he has a history of doing what folks want to make sure their experience at Capri is a good one.
I paid less than $10 for my meal. I left satisfied in more ways than one, and I'll be back to Capri to try other menu selections.
In recap, don't let the 'dingy' appearance or the location sway you. Come hungry and in a mind set to enjoy a full local experience. You'll leave happy- so long as you aren't of a mind to expect any hipster/yuppified flim-flammery. This local 'hole in the wall' is a diamond mine. At least to me. read more