Sure feels like I've been getting to know the area around Scottsdale Road & Shea Boulevard pretty well of late. D'Lite, Butterfield's, Hop Doddy, and Zak's Chocolate are a few of my more recent discoveries in this neighborhood. Now you can add Eggstasy, a breakfast concept spot I'd bookmarked a few months ago. Empty fridge on a Sunday before the groceries stores were open meant I was in search of a good breakfast to start the day. Thankfully Eggstasy opens its doors at 6:30am daily. Let's eat.
You'll find Eggstacy in the Agua Caliente center on the north side of 69th Street & Shea. Enter through the archway, then turn right into the shopping center where you'll find Eggstacy set near the southeast corner. I came right at opening on Sunday and grabbed a table next to the kitchen. Chicago transplant Peter Verros is the man behind this large open air breakfast and lunch spot, which he originally opened in Chicago before deciding to pack up shop and instead move his operation to Scottsdale. His Scottsdale restaurant can seat at least 200 or more at a time including the patio. But even the interior restaurant is open to the elements as the bar area is setup in a wide open indoor/outdoor fashion. The morning was perfect outside so no worries today, though I do wonder how they mitigate the summer heat. Anyways, onto the food.
The menu is quite vast and contains most of your breakfast standards. Egg dishes (obviously), pancakes, french toast dishes, skillets, waffles, benedicts, and even some crepes. And this being Scottsdale you'll also find a large array of healthier as well as some gourmet breakfast items from something called a skinny B***h to a wild smoked salmon dish. The dish I wanted was the first one listed on the menu. The Eggasm is listed as an appetizer but for $9 I fully expected something pretty filling. The description read like a sandwich but I couldn't find any Yelp photos to confirm that so I ordered this in the blind. I also ordered perhaps their most unique side offering, their chorizo cheddar grits. Add some fresh squeezed OJ to wash it down and I was ready to go.
The Eggasm was nothing like I pictured. Instead of a sandwich, it came as a plate full of toasted ciabatta bread topped with specs of prosciutto, chives, and shaved parmesan cheese. Then at the other end of the plate was a jar full of coddled eggs and potato puree, in a form soft enough to act as a spread for the ciabatta bread. Basically just grab small spoonfuls of the egg/potato jar mix and throw it on the ciabatta and munch away. While not what I was expecting, it was truly delicious. The prosciutto and parmesan cheese helped elevate the flavor profile beautifully while the bread gave it the crunchy texture. A very pleasant surprise dish I never saw coming. The grits were also tasty, albeit a little heavy and the portion size of the side is probably meant to be shared by two. I mixed in a little of the grits with the Eggasm at times and the two dishes really work well together. My only big disappointment was the OJ honestly. Fresh squeezed is fine and a little pulp is okay by me, but honestly Eggstasy's OJ was chalked full of pulp. For others, this may not be hangup. But for me I don't want pulp unless I'm just eating an orange straight. When it comes to juice, I'd greatly appreciate some of that pulp strained out.
Total cost for the food, OJ, tax and tip came to about $25. Service was friendly and prompt (I was one of the few early risers on Sunday so I suppose that was a given), and the food items I chose were a nice twist on the usual breakfast fare. The restaurant itself is an ideal space for breakfast and lunch during the cooler months in the valley and the bar area in particular provides some great people watching vantage points. As I write this they'll soon be opening a second location just east of here on Shea & Via Linda. I came for Eggstasy and ended up having an Eggasm. The puns here quite literally write themselves. read more