We came around noon on Sunday. We did not have a long wait. There is a parking lot out front. The space is not that big probably about 30 patrons at a time. The atmosphere is lively with music playing. It was our first visit so we were having a difficult time deciding but then the server came and told us the specials and we quickly made our decision. What we ordered: - Catfish and grits special $38 - Lamb chop and eggs special $38 - Hibiscus Tea, Strawberry Lemonade All the food was very good and we definitely scraped the plate...only thing left over was the hash browns. I'm more of a smaller and crisper hash brown person and these were larger and more soggy. We will definitely be back because the food and wonderful. read more

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Brunch alert! Estimes is clearly the place to be, and I had no idea! When I first walked in, I could hear lively music and immediately felt the warm energy of everyone inside. The staff is extremely welcoming and provided great service from beginning to end. I learned that one of the first faces we saw even before being seated was the owner. He was very attentive and routinely checked in with each table. Once seated, we were greeted almost immediately by our server. Orders were taken pretty quickly, and our food hit the table just as fast. I ordered from their specials -catfish and grits. Let me tell you, the fish was fresh, light, and flavorful, paired with a type of red broth-like sauce on the side that was well seasoned with onions, peppers, and whatever else! I would dip my catfish in the sauce and then head on over to the grits. Delicious! I packed up whatever leftovers I had remaining and ate it before bed. This place is definitely worth revisiting. If catfish is still on the menu, I may pair it with the French toast next time. Other quick notes: Nice ambiance. Smelled CLEAN. Reservations strongly encouraged. BYOB. read more

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Came her on a Sunday for brunch after a church retreat, my friend found it. It's quaint with a bar and nice decor. And it's Haitian owned. Also it's Byob. Nice staff but our young waitress needs more training. My friend spoke to the owner as we waited to be seated who was very nice. We sat and i posted the salmon and grits, my friend had the shrimp n grits. I Also ordered the pumpkin spice pancake with amaretto sauce. Pumpking spice pancake was good didn't really taste like pumpkin and the sauce I couldn't tell what flavor it was. But I like how I could order a single pancake as opposed to a stack. The pancake was also cooked well. The salmon n grits was good; grits a li'l too runny and salmon a small portion. I liked that it was covered in sauce because, I love a lot of sauce on my food. Everything was cooked well; no overwhelming spices-more amercanized. My friend liked her Shrimp n grits but didn't like it so runny. The shrimp was good. She wanted to try the catfish but it ran out. She also had the Ameretto brioche French toast and that was good. All in all good experience I wiggly reccomend it for brunch. The dj was good. read more

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Been here a couple times and this place doesn't miss! Adorable brunch spot with amazing food. I had the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly. Lemon ricotta pancake was also delicious. The place is byob, but they do offer a flight of juices to mix with your champagne which all are delicious. Although the place is small it makes it feel very cozy. I sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful day. Service is great and with a smile. They are in a lot so there is parking but it does get tight during busy times. read more

Estimes Cafe - Flight - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

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Estime's Cafe is such a cute little restaurant with great brunch food. I ordered the chicken and French toast which was delightful. It was the perfect amount of chicken and French toast. I'm more of a bone in chicken girlie but the boneless chicken was so tender and juicy. It is tooooo good. The staff was super kind. It is a small inside. But they have about 8 tables and they have a counter seat for 4 people plus the outdoor patio seating. I can under how busy it can get and the waiting. The parking is whatever. And they're opening up a steak place and I can't wait to come back to Jersey to try that out. The owner was also there greeting people. It was a great experience. And he's Haitian. read more

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Duke suggested we come here after visiting his steakhouse and I'm glad he did. This place is welcoming, airy and the food and drinks are top tier. This is absolutely my new fav spot. read more

Estime's never misses! We've been here more times than I can count because it's consistently that good. The food is always on point, the vibe is right, and the staff -- including the chef -- are genuinely kind and welcoming every single time. I usually get the Estime's omelet, but this visit I took it up a notch and added the Creole sauce on the side... then poured it right over the omelet. Absolutely incredible. The home fries are always perfectly seasoned and delicious, but what really took this visit over the top was the fried chicken. As someone from Detroit, where soul food is serious business, this is hands down some of the best fried chicken I've had in New Jersey. Crispy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. From the music and relaxed atmosphere to it being BYOB, Estime's is a great breakfast and brunch spot -- not a turn-up brunch, but a place you go for really good food, good energy, and a chill environment. The pancakes are HUGE and so good, and over the years we've tried multiple items on the menu and loved everything. Highly recommend. 10/10. One of our absolute favorite spots in the area -- we'll definitely keep coming back! read more

Estimes Cafe - Estime's Omelet fried chicken home fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

We came to Estime's Cafe in early March for my husband's birthday for brunch. We learned the chef there, Chef Duke, is Haitian American like my husband and we wanted to support by eating his delicious food! The decor instantly made the colder temperatures outside quickly fade from our minds as we were transported to a beautiful casual island cafe. We were greeted by a very friendly waitress and seated immediately. Our waitress seemed to know a lot of the other patrons which always makes a place feel more cozy. Now for the food! I ordered the raspberry hibiscus tea which was the perfect amount of sweet and had a nice gentle flavor. My husband ordered French toast with fried chicken, I didn't even have a chance to try it he ate them up really quick! I ordered steak breakfast tacos and they were packed with fillings and flavor- best of all was the Haitian green sauce that came with them, I went through the sauce so quick and our waitress gave me the knowing look and brought out some more. We also ordered Duke's Fries to share and I recommend getting this no matter what your main dish is- they are the perfect blend of savory, a touch spicy, and a touch sweet! We enjoyed our time at Estime's, and especially enjoyed our food. We plan to go back and it's nice to see they do dinner on Friday's and Saturdays! read more

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This place is hidden gem and jam. The food is exceptional at homie. The portions are large and the service is great. The brunch is exceptional. read more

First time coming here with my husband and we loved it. The staff are great and service was fast. We met the owner who seems like a great dude who genuinely cares about his restaurant and the experience of his patrons. The inside decor is cute and welcoming. I enjoyed the DJ who was playing throwbacks. Honestly the food was the best part. I had the lobster and grits..... this dish goes on my list as one of the best meals I've ever eaten. Definitely give this place a try!! read more

Estimes Cafe - Lemon Ricotta Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

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What's not to love about Estime's Cafe?? -Incredibly cute interior -Absolutely amazing breakfast/lunch menu -The most incredibly kind team! -Literally every bite was flavorful and delicious -BYOB -Parking was super easy in their lot We stopped in for an early lunch and tried a bit of a few things. The salmon and grits was one of the specials and by far my favorite. The grits themselves were creamy, buttery and so tasty. They went perfectly with the salmon. Oh, and that sauce that was brought to pour over everything was amazing! I cannot wait to get this again and again. We also got Estime's Omelette and I loved that it was so simple and packed with so many different veggies. Last but not least we got a stack of the Lemon Ricotta pancakes! They are a clear favorite here on Yelp, so I had to give them a try. Such a subtle sweetness (even without the fruit jam brought on the side). I love pancakes and these were fantastic. Thankfully we shared everything so I was able to get a little sweet and a little savory. I hear they have live music on 2 Sundays out of the month and that they serve dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. Now I know two things I need to return for. Don't forget they are BYOB! read more

Estimes Cafe - Lemon Ricotta Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

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I took one of my girlfriends here for a belated birthday dinner and we really had a nice experience! You have to make a reservation and then you have to wait a bit for it to be "approved" and receive a confirmation.. that was a first, but I'm glad we were able to get in. Small, but intimate spot. And boy, did they have a playlist spinning.. I felt like I was 25 again with what they were rocking with. It definitely had us dancing in our seats a bit lol. Service had a couple of hiccups, but overall it was decent. BYOB, which my pockets always appreciate. Not a lot of menu options, but after the fact, the ones that we tried were solid. We started off with Haitian marinated lamb chops.. not really sure of the differentiation of preparation (hey that rhymed), but they were juicy and well seasoned. We also started off with the Uncle Dunn's shrimp which I'd liken to a better taste/quality Bang Bang shrimp. They were delicious and the star of the show to me. For entrees, we both ordered the herring pasta. After the truffle butter bread (delicious butter)... we were a bit stuffed, but let me tell you that when I came home and reheated, I see myself going back to take this meal to go. I loved it.. the herring gave it a depth of flavor that really elevated what could just be looked at as plain ol spaghetti... Yum. I appreciated the nice touch of a slice of almond cake which was light and delicious... not overly sweet.. that they brought out with a candle while playing a cheesy, but super fun birthday song. Overall, it was a nice experience! I'm looking forward to coming back to try the brunch menu. read more

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I went to this quant establishment about 2 months ago. This place is adorable and trendy. The decor is cute, they have a DJ and he played all the hits from the 90's and 2000's. The staff is friendly and helpful when you have questions about the menu. It's BYOB and the food looked amazing and tasted even better! I'll b going back in a week to celebrate a friend's birthday! read more

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What a wonderful brunch spot in my neighborhood!! Great vibes! Love the music! Soundtrack: Kompa. The farmers plate: eggs fluffy, sausage and home fries very flavorful! Loved that I can order single pancakes! Lemon ricotta pancake was super! Coffee served hot! Staff friendly! Website indicate they serve 6 COURSE CHEF'S TABLE WITH CHEF DUKE (BY RESERVATION, SATURDAY'S ONLY) Sounds very interesting!! read more

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+5 More stars... Seriously I was truly impressed and I love that for me. My sister has been here once b4 but she had potatoes and toast and that was good. She always said we need to go. This was stop #3 because the first stop my sisters fave seat wasn't available so we left. Spot #2 gave we slapped flowers in a living room and tried to pass it as a restaurant. So we left. Once we decided to go to Estimes we were excited but never did we know the food would WOW US this much. Arlene or waitress was nice. They greated and seated us instantly. The fried catfish was AMAZINGGGG it's so crispy and well seasoned. The brioche French toast was on point. The grits with it all OMGG.. the grits. I actually enjoyed them and that's rare for me to enjoy grits in a restaurant. Duke came out and I asked if they had dessert. He recommended the almond cake. AMAZINGGGGG.. it was AMAZING. The decor was a give away the food was going to be amazing because it had a tropical vibe with the ropes and baskets. We will be back, it's also BYOB so we brought our wine. read more

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I was craving shrimp and grits and found this place nearby, turns out I had been meaning to try it! The parking lot is pretty small, so I can imagine it would be tough on the weekend. They have both inside and outside seating but we opted for inside. The music is a little loud, but not shouting level loud. We had to wait a bit long for our server to take our order, but our server was very pleasant otherwise. The food was great, very flavorful and delicious. We got the shrimp and grits and the Haitian spicy omelet. The shrimp and grits were cheesy, comforting, and came with an amazing sauce over top. It was $27 which is kind of pricey, but the portion ended up being pretty large. The omelet had smoked herring, which is a unique combo, but worked really well. It wasn't very spicy though. Both dishes came with home fries, which we dipped in the sauce that came with the grits. read more

Estimes Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

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This place serves some of the best brunch food you'll ever have. The chef is passionate about food and it shows with every dish. I keep coming back just so I have an opportunity to get through everything on the menu! read more

The Food and service was excellent. I loved the ambiance and cozy decor My daughter and 4 year old grandson was visiting from N.C. and they loved the lambchops and hamburger and fries for my grandson I would definitely recommend this restaurant and I'm going back read more

Food is delicious but the dish I had high in fat and cholesterol. Once in awhile but not very often Small place read more

This place is a hidden gem! Awesome service, delicious food, and such a unique menu! My favorite were the fried chicken/french toast special and the lobster and grits. The quality of the food and the friendly service is top notch. The music and the ambiance were great as well. Can't wait to come back and try more off the menu! read more

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Great food, small space, brunch music is a bit loud but I would definitely return. Parking is sparse read more

This is definitely 5+ stars!!!! The ambiance down to the taste and presentation of food/service is top tier! 15/10! Incredible and can't wait to go back! read more

NJ stand up! I am so happy the Haitian community is on the rise here. This restaurant is fabulous. The restaurant is spacious with parking. There is also outside seating area. It is very clean and we were seated immediately. I came in with my sister and cousin for brunch and there were a lot to select from. I order the special: Lamb, eggs and fries. It was freaking delicious. I finished my plate. Lol. There drinks were good as well and they operate a BYOB so that is cool. I am very happy my sister introduced this restaurant. Also, while we were leaving I overheard that they also do catering so that is also a plus. read more

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This place is so cute. I came here for lunch and I am pleasantly surprised from the food to the people that work here! I ordered Shrimp and Cheese Grits. I asked for some hot sauce and they gave me two different kinds to choose from and I absolutely love the chimichurri sauce the best! There's a sign in the window that they're opening up a Duke's steakhouse on Main Street in Metuchen. I'm sure it will be amazing, I will have to check it out. The only downside is there in a tiny strip mall and not a lot of parking. read more

Estimes Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

The food is very authentic, high quality, and worth every penny. Based on the flavors I tasted, you can absolutely tell the chef has the culinary experience and the skills to give the guest the experience of the Haitian cuisine. We ordered the ambrosia French Toast, the Chef's special: Lobster meat and grits, and the Haitian Omelette all 5/5. Our server was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, warm and friendly. She was one of the best servers I've personally ever experienced. The ambiance is great, the space is small, but not lacking the design and vibe at all. I would return to try their specials! read more

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This find was definitely a diamond in the rough! Based on its location I didn't expect what I got. I literally felt like I was on vacation. They have a nice quaint ambiance inside for starters. Everything from the plates to the glassware was exquisite. Our server was very nice and informative. She did a great job checking in on us throughout the meal without being overbearing. Now for the food.. listen, everything was a 10, the grits were a 7, but that's fine cuz they still had nice flavor. But that slab bacon SLAPPED on every level, as did the homemade honey Sriracha sauce that accompanied it. The lamb chops were seasoned to perfection, and the mint sauce they provided with it was so BRIGHT, took my tastebuds on a fantasy ride (pause). The eggs were made with love, as were the home fries. They even have great coffee, it was creamy (pause). Overall great dining experience and will be sure to return and suggest this spot to others!! read more

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We went there for a Sunday brunch. They had a live DJ (the music was too loud for our preference but the choice of songs was nice). The entrance is not fancy, the interior set up is humble but the servers are very attentive and the atmosphere is very playful and warm. The executive chef and the owner, Duke Estime was there and actively involved in cooking and serving customers which I personally appreciated. The food was fantastic. We had brioche French toast, the Inman and brunch tacos with steak. It's a bit out of the way for us, but if we pass by the area, we'll be back. read more

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Every time I come here I leave with a clean plate or a box of leftovers that will be gone within the next 24 hours. I been Estimes twice, for brunch and dinner. For brunch I ordered lobster and grits and I think about that order to this day (for sure a must try if it's still on the menu). For dinner I got a lobster pasta which was also delicious and the chef was not stingy at all with the lobster pieces. The ambience is very cute and cozy during the day and in the evening they dim the lights to give a more intimate experience. The chef stops by to speak to the tables if he can and you can tell that he is very passionate about what he does. I will definitely be going again and I recommend anyone who hasn't to give it a try. read more

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The vibe, the food and the staff 100000/10 Visiting Jersey for a little Sunday funday and thankful for recommendations and will coming back!! read more

Was looking for someplace to have lunch with my family after my son had a cross country meet in Clark. We were not familiar with the area so I picked something close with good yelp ratings. The restaurant was in a small strip mall - not something I would have associated with good food. But it was great. There were 6 of us so we tried a lot of menu offerings and everything was very good. The restaurant was packed so we waited a little for the food - but definitely worth the wait. If I end up near there again I would go in a heartbeat. read more

Quite Quaint We were very worried that we wouldn't be seated for brunch on a Sunday due to the popularity of this spot, and they do not take reservations. However, we were pleasantly surprised to be seated right away. The food was amazing! I had the Lox Benedict Special, with an iced Hibiscus Tea. The eggs Benedict was scrumptious and deliciously savory, with a nice touch of micro-greens over top. The home-fries were crispy and well seasoned. Washed it all down with their refreshing iced hibiscus tea, perfect brunch in my book. Service was impeccable, and our waters and table were well tended to. Would definitely recommend, and worth the trip to "north-ish" Jersey. read more

Estimes Cafe - Salmon/Lox Eggs Benedict Special & Hibiscus Tea - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

This place is so cute. Came today with my friend for brunch as a walk-in. They do not take reservations for brunch. We were able to be seated right away. It's not a large restaurant. Also no alcohol. We ordered so much food ! I enjoyed everything but the eggs Benedict ( it was my first time and I'm not a fan) I love that it was a Haitian Owned restaurant and Haitian music was playing over the speaker. The owner was also very nice. I can't wait to come back for the dinner menu and to try other brunch items. read more

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The food was amazing!!!! I haven't had good breakfast like this in years. So full of flavor!! Best grits I've ever had. The ambiance is great, it's nice and quaint and the service is an immaculate!! This is a must go!!! read more

I had this placed bookmarked because the food looked good and it was. My baby had the chocolate chip pancakes of course and loved it. My husband had the farm breakfast as he says it was good and that can't be messed up. I also got an egg white omelette which was good. I could tell the food was well prepared with good ingredients and honestly food was hearty. Their coffee was very good. I loved the island music and decor. The plants and the rope lighting was so cute. The servers were cute they were smiley and cheerful. The place is pretty small and they may have been pretty busy. So now for reasons why I didn't give a 5 was just minor things. 1st they didn't have chorizo, we ordered wheat and they gave us white bread, they didn't have whipped cream and they didn't bring out the syrup until my son was almost done his food (which I guess it's good- less sugar). Also we were the table that got there first out of the bigger tables but our food came out a little slower but we saw a group of ladies waiting for a table it's weird because they basically can see you eating while they wait so felt a little rushed to hurry up and eat so they can sit not that said anything of course but just out of courtesy. Cute spot if close to the area . Vibe was cute. read more

Estimes Cafe - Farm breakfast love the lights and greenery cute ambiance - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

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I went here for brunch before and had a great time. I was looking forward for a chance to eat dinner here. That chance finally arrived and it was definitely worth the wait. disclaimer number one is this fine dining experience so expect to spend a little money lol. All in all, i truly enjoyed the food. We ordered the honey siracha bacon slab for an appetizer. It was so flavorful and tender. We cleaned it off the plate. For my entree, i decided to go all out and got the Duke's Surf and Turf, medium like a real man. The 16 oz steak came out perfect, well seasoned, better with each bite . The lobster was fresh and paired beautifully with the steak. Definitely poured on extra butter for good measure. My only criticism is the steak is best if finished hot, it definitely lost some of its flavor when it became lukewarm. This place is also BYOB, so we had our favorite wine paired with the meal. Overall; it was a great experience. We got a complimentary dessert. The chef walks around and greet the guests which is a nice touch. it's an intimate space, definitely make a reservation on their website. Would recommend if you are in the area. read more

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This is a very tiny place in a small strip mall. There's a small parking lot but plenty of street parking. Inside is very cute and farmhouse. Got seated for a table of 3 within a few minutes on a Saturday. Definitely still a hidden gem. The hot coffee was pretty terrible - tasted super burnt and stale. My friend ordered iced coffee and it automatically came with milk and he had to ask for a new one because he wanted it black. My lemon ricotta pancakes were out of this world delicious. Most of the lemon butter had melted on them. They didn't need syrup. They never came with the berry jam that said it came with. My husband got the brioche French toast and he said it was delicious. I got to eat his jam which was a tiny portion but fresh and flavorful. I wish I had gotten it with my pancakes. I also had a side of home fries and hot sauce. I asked for hot sauce with my order, never got it, had to ask again which was annoying. The home fries are like small red potatoes with seasoning. Good. We did have to ask for water twice but they brought it with a carafe. read more

Estimes Cafe - Lemon Ricotta Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

Came here for breakfast Saturday morning around 10:30. It wasn't too busy when we came in but when we left it was packed. The place itself is very cute. It's a quaint space with maybe 10 tables. We ordered coffee, chorizo and eggs tacos, lemon ricotta pancakes and a side of bacon. The coffee was good, not too light and not too dark. The tacos were also good. They came with avocado and pesto which was an interesting surprise. The pesto added nice moisture and saltiness to the tacos. The lemon ricotta pancakes were probably the best I've had. They were big, really fluffy, and topped with lemon butter, powdered sugar and a side of a berry compote. It paired really well with a side of bacon which gave it a nice salty crunchy texture change. Overall we liked this place a lot and would definitely come back. I'd be interested to try some of the lunch options as well. read more

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Once again, reviews by fellow Yelpers did not disappoint! The shrimp and grits, which was recommended by many of you, is a hit and a must have when you come here! The lemon ricotta pancake was good as well. They don't have oat milk (or any substitute) so if you're lactose intolerant, you'll have to enjoy your coffee black. Not a huge deal, but figure it's worth mentioning so folks know. If we are in the area again, would definitely come back to try the other dishes! read more

Estimes Cafe - Shrimp and Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

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Food was okay. I came here to try their "Lemon Ricotta Pancakes". It's good but not 12.95 good. 7/10 Also ordered their western omelette: basic diner flavored omelette. 7/10 service was fast. Waitress was polite and always checked every 10mins if everything was ok or if I needed everything. 10/10 Ambiance is nice and warm. Tons of plants which gives it a nice look. 10/10 Overall: it's a nice typical small spot for a local town. The prices can be better, but then again everything is so freakin expensive now. read more

A little rustic place serving big flavours. Shrimps and Grits was so beautiful and delicious. I almost wanted to order one fried egg to place on top of it and drops of hot sauce. But this dish should be experienced by everyone going to Estime's. The Buttermilk Pancakes were one of the best pancakes I've had. A knob of butter, powdered sugar, simple yet not boring. The texture was slightly more stretchy-chewy and completely delicious. It was sort of my dessert after a savory shrimp and grits. Next to try: omelettes and french toast. See you soon! read more

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