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    The Early Bird Eatery

    4.5 (363 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    Recommended Reviews - The Early Bird Eatery

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    Huevos Rancheros, after a couple of bites ;)
    Jess C.

    We stopped in from out of town for breakfast on a recent Saturday! We almost always choose Yelp to help us pick a spot when we are visiting a town we don't know well! This place was bustling!! It seems like a very popular spot! We just had the two of us and were seated at a small two person table between two other close tables - located alongside a long booth bench against the wall that breaks up into individual seating spots. This was totally fine for our breakfast that morning but it's not something I'd prefer if you like your privacy in conversation or otherwise. ;) The service was slow to start but after our waitress came she was mostly attentive the rest of our meal. We ordered 2 coffees. These were stronger and much more delicious than your average "diner cup"!! The staff offered a couple of refills throughout our time. I really loved the simplicity of the menu! There are options with a great variety, but it's still concise and not overwhelming!! Our dishes came out within 10 minutes of ordering, extremely fast and was surprising! My husband ordered the Huevos Rancheros with chorizo and he enjoyed it! The flavors were bold and the plate was pleasing to the eyes except for the avocado which was looked like it was quickly turning. I ordered the Crab Cake Benedict and had super high expectations for this entree!! It looked so beautiful upon arrival but when I began eating I quickly realized the dish was quite cool! My first half came with a well done poached egg which was disappointing. The second piece was cooked perfectly but was also just not very warm. The hollandaise sauce had wonderful flavor, but again, just wasn't warm - it seemed like the dish had maybe been sitting. I think this dish could be outstanding at the right temperature!! The potatoes that accompany this entree were a little dry for my liking but my husband thought they were good!! :) We noticed other tables with special lattes and several parties being served decadent looking sweet breakfast options - those all looked delicious!! There was a super kind and outgoing waitress serving nearby tables, explaining all kinds of special choices, like lovely latte options that were being offered that morning. The way she so kindly described everything sounded delicious but unfortunately our waitress didn't welcome our table with that same level of hospitality. What we saw being ordered by those nearby was met with great happiness when it arrived to them!! :)

    Massive key lime pancakes
    Amy H.

    It's always a great experience at The Early Bird Eatery! Highly recommend making reservations, especially on the weekends. For our latest visit, we couldn't pass up the Summer Restaurant week specials of the Blackberry Sparkler, Key Lime Pancakes and Carnitas Benedict. The pancakes were massive, perfectly cooked and loaded with key lime curd and whipped cream. The Benedict had flavorful pork on sopes, perfectly poached eggs and a chipotle hollandaise with a nice little kick. The restaurant week specials include coffee or iced tea, but every time we've gone, they have charged us (always easily fixed...server even admitted they always forget). Definitely one of our go to brunch spots!

    Crab Cake Benedict
    Karen A.

    5* Would give it more if I could! We drove over from Elkhart where we were visiting and am SO glad we did. Would go back anytime! We couldn't decide what to order so we got three things. The Crawfish Etouffee Poutine seemed "risky" since we are from the South and wondered what kind of etouffee it would be. It was amazing. The andouille sausage and crawfish were perfect with just the right amount of heat! We also got the Peaches and Cream French Toast and the Crab Cakes Benedict. It was all delicious. We couldn't eat it all but what we ate made us glad we ordered it all. Don't miss it! Shannon was a great server. Gave us plenty of time to look over the menu. Decor is simple local diner vibe - very clean and nice. Totally enjoyed!

    Peaches & Cream French Toast
    Rebecca P.

    We tried this little gem purely on yelp reviews! We took advise and reserved a table ahead, and we are very happy we did! This place is very busy on Saturday morning! The ambience is very light and brunchy and the over aesthetic is classic diner. We were seated after a short wait, we had a nice younger waiter who was very friendly and suggested his favorites to us as new customers. My latte was served hot with a beautiful design on top. Their espresso choice was very smooth and delicious! Our waiter stated they make their own syrup and I was very impressed with the quality of the vanilla flavor. 10/10 on my latte! Husband ordered biscuits and gravy with eggs on top. He was not overly impressed with the different take on the traditional biscuits and gravy however he said it was a preference not quality issue for him. The biscuits were good. He loved the potatoes loaded! Oh man- the peaches and cream French toast!!! What angel is working in that kitchen? I was blown away by this meal. The caramelized butter and peaches and French toast and cinnamon oh my goodness. I could not stop....literally lol We will be back absolutely, hubby wants to try the smash burgers that were suggested and I will eat their french toast for the rest of my life lol

    Hot Chocolate  Umami Hot Chocolate
    Lilly W.

    Food was super yummy! Customer service was decent, could be slightly friendlier but I'm not a morning person either so I get it!

    Corned Beef Hash side Cheesy Grits Peaches & Cream French Toast
    Ana C.

    We decided to get brunch for Labor Day. While it was very busy, we still felt like we got our food served at a decent time after ordering. I was really surprised by how good everything was. The corned beef hash was delicious. I'm not the biggest fan of meats but this was so good, melted in my mouth. The potatoes were also to die for. The peaches and cream French toast was also really delicious. Our meals came out warm and delicious. I would love to go back and try some of the eggs Benedict and the coffee! Great place and location to walk downtown afterwards.

    Avery J.

    Absolutely lovely experiance, the atmosphere is so calm and peaceful, and the food! Oh the food! We ordered pancakes and where expecting pretty standard cakes... but they came out so big and fluffy! Ive never not needed syrup with my cakes! They where TOO GOOD FOR SYRUP!

    Golden Milk Latte, Blueberry Lemon Pancakes, Spinach Feta omelette
    Katie D.

    We went for a little birthday brunch, and the food was absolutely delicious. I also really enjoyed my coffee-- I got the specialty golden latte. My friend and I split an omelette and the blueberry lemon pancakes, which I think was the way to go because both were incredible. It also meant I got a little bit of sweet, little bit of savory The cafe is well decorated and very clean, and our server was extremely kind and helpful. We'll be back for sure!

    Golden Milk Latte
    Megan M.

    Such a fun breakfast spot in a super good location when you're visiting. We were sat immediately at 10 am on a Friday. Ordered the best latte - Golden Milk was super unique and our server cautioned me against it (spicy like a chai), I have a new favorite morning indulgence. Kids got the biscuits and gravy and French toast. Both were fabulous and nice to have sweet and savory options. Hubby was craving a sandwich so he asked for a breakfast version and they met his desire! So nice of them to make something special for him. We loved this place - come hungry!

    Corned Beef Hash
    Justin T.

    If you're in South Bend and looking for a good little breakfast spot, I would highly suggest Early Bird! We got there about an hour after they opened and there was still plenty of seating but it filled up quick. The wait staff was friendly and responsive to any questions or concerns. Most of all... the food was fantastic. I had the crab cake eggs benedict. The hollandaise was made perfectly and complimented the dish well. The crab cake was thick and cooked to perfection. Great choice. My wife had the peaches and cream French toast. The French toast itself was delicious and the candied pecans made the dish in my opinion. Her only criticism was that the peaches were not hot. Not a detriment to the composition of the dish in my opinion but it caught her off guard. Again... still delicious, just cautioning those are considering trying it when you eat at the early bird. My son got the corned beef hash. Very savory and delectable. The over easy eggs on top were slightly overcooked but was still a great dish. He cleaned his plate. And if you're an orange juice fan, it was some of the best I've had. Overall a great experience and priced appropriately. I look forward to returning next time I'm in South Bend and trying more of the excellent looking options on the menu. Specifically the biscuits and mushroom gravy. I almost went for it this time but it's hard to pass up a good benedict. Great job Early Bird! Yum!!!

    Toasted marshmallow hot chocolate

    My significant other and I moved to town a couple months ago and have been eyeballing this restaurant. Despite the fact that they were very busy, we were still sat in a timely manner, our server was patient with us, the staff we interacted with was kind and we love the toasted marshmallow hot chocolate!

    Pork green chili poutine and latte
    Rhet T.

    Good food, good coffee. Service was just ok. I had the pork green chili poutine. An interesting fusion that was tasty but wouldn't be my first choice again. Coffee latte was very good.

    David B.

    We enjoyed our brunch here, great food with both breakfast and lunch options. Prices are on the higher side, and I was a little disappointed to get a canned soda instead of a fountain drink. The quality is solid, but it does feel like they nickel and dime you.

    Cauliflower Omelette

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    2 months ago

    The food was excellent, and the customer service made it even better! I would highly recommend

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    1 month ago

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    4 days ago

    Very good southern style food. The portions were huge, the wait staff very friendly and the food worth driving for.

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    6 days ago

    The food was amazing and the service was wonderful. Highly recommend the little gem!!!

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    5 months ago

    It's great for breakfast! 5 stars if it opened earlier during the week and we could meet there before work.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - The Early Bird Eatery

    I entered a wrong phone number for a reservation on Sunday at 10:40 for 5 and a high chair. Can you change the number?

    Yes we can. Just send it to us and I can update it.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Fatbird

    Fatbird

    4.1
    (219 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    What a gem of a place. Decor is gorgeous, mixing wallpaper, seating, lighting. It is a really nice…read moreambiance. I waltzed in on a weekday afternoon and it was pretty dead, but I was greeted and my food came out quickly. The maque choux was to die for. The banh mi chicken was less exciting, but still good enough to entice me to try it again. Wish I was able to order a cocktail on that trip, as the menu looked intriguing.

    This review is specifically for their restaurant week winter 2026 menu, which my boyfriend and I…read moreordered off of for lunch in January 2026. I have not yet had the pleasure of trying anything off of Fatbird's normal menu. I'll try to keep this review quick since it is pretty specific but long story short, we loved the unique and well made food and the service and vibes were great! So while Fatbird is known for their chicken sandwiches, my bf and I ordered the $40 lunch for two from this special 2026 menu, which was heavily indigenous Latin American-inspired in the ingredients. For the starter, we shared 8 sweet plantains slices which were yummy but we wish we had more. Then for our main, we split one grilled jerk chicken sandwich with VERY unique ingredients like a pickled green tomato as well as two creative tacos with tender shredded pork and more pickled veg. The tacos were spicy as heck and definitely not for the faint of heart! Lastly, we split a small bowl of arrow con leche brule, which helped bring the heat down from the tacos. While we didn't leave full, we had fun trying a curated and very unique set of dishes with interesting flavors, textures, and spices. The other 4 people we ate lunch with ordered a variety of stuff from the normal menu, some of which are in my attached pictures. My bf also ordered himself a pineapple tepache to sip on, which was $8, and I got myself a diet coke with lemon ($3). Our waitress was on top of her game and was very friendly. The interior is cute and spacious and the bathroom is cute and clean. I love a clean bathroom! Their normal menu has 8000 things I want to try next time! As for this special menu lunch, we paid, after tax, tip, and a credit card surcharge, a total of $67. A bit high for lunch, but good vibes all around!

    Photos
    Interior seating
    Interior seating
    Meals to be shared.
    Meals to be shared.
    The LOVE LETTER cocktail.

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    The LOVE LETTER cocktail.
    The Local Cup

    The Local Cup

    4.8
    (30 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Best coffee shop ever! You pay what you want. They have a pay it forward policy so someone has…read morealready paid for your drink. You can either pay it forward or receive the gift. I believe the workers work for tips, at least Ja'Lila does who served us. During our hour there we observed a mix of folks coming in. Some were obviously regulars chatting it up with Ja'Lila while they sipped their drink. Another couple on a road trip stopped in on their way to the east coast for some coffees and to use the WiFi. Some were in and out. Steady flow. Everyone treated with respect and dignity whether you made a donation or not. Donations are pay what you want. I'm not a coffee drinker but my sister said it's good! I got hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is homemade and I got fresh whipped cream which was also homemade. Delicious! Can you get that at Starbucks? Just asking I wouldn't know. I no longer lived in South Bend but if I did this would be my new spot. My sister does however and she's already been back before I had a chance to post my review. If you're a local and you remember the old VanBuren grocery store this is the spot! Support a business making a difference in the community, fostering connection and spreading kindness. Please support and let's keep places like this open!

    Great mix of people and a welcoming place to meet. Love the donation based coffee, friendly staff,…read moreand the fun bar up front. The big window adds a nice touch. Grateful to have this spot in our community.

    Photos
    The Local Cup
    The Local Cup
    The Local Cup

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    The Early Bird Eatery - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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