Some mornings, the promise of a steaming cup of coffee, crispy bacon and a towering stack of pancakes is the only thing that gets us out of bed. Breakfast is a universal ritual and there’s beauty in its simplicity. And here, three new local spots are taking the essential elements of the morning meal and adding their own unique spin—and drawing swarms of locals and tourists.
MORNING NEWS
A breakfast joint by the brilliant minds behind Herbs & Rye? We’ll take it! Buzz around this new Sahara Avenue gem started building last fall, and since then, getting into Morning News has been like trying to infiltrate Buckingham Palace. Joining the waitlist is a must, but once you try the grub, you’ll want to broadcast it to the world.
Morning News’ aesthetic is modest but its personality really shines through in the menu, where cute cartoon characters of waffles and adorably buck-toothed eggs line the pages. Savor sweet stacks like the Banana Fosters pancakes ($15), drizzled in Nutella and caramel with banana compote; the Cherry Cheesecake ($14), stuffed with cheesecake chunks; and the Churro ($15), a treat of caramel-filled churros dusted in cinnamon sugar with a waffle cone of vanilla ice cream wedged on top like an indulgently over-the-top garnish.
Prefer the savory side? Heap on the Hollandaise with Morning News’ pork belly ($18) and honey ham ($15) benedicts, or double down on the sausage with one of their stacked breakfast sandwiches. But be warned, early riser: classics like the chorizo poutine ($16) and the Panko Loco Moco ($16), a beautiful mound of fried Spam and rice coated in a thick beef gravy, might send you back to bed. 3154 W. Sahara Ave., 702-220-3239, morningnewslasvegas.com. Daily, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. –AS
EARLY BIRDS
Early Birds' Churro Waffles
In the southwest corner of town we’ve recently seen a blossoming of restaurants, and thanks to the visionaries behind La Neta and Juliet Cocktail Room, Early Birds, opened in March, is where the unsatiated flock. The stunningly bright dining room features a faux skylight, green and gold accented wallpaper, lush greenery and retro Saturday morning cartoons on the TVs, making the space as Instagrammable as the food.
The drink menu reads like a cocktail lover’s dream, and for those in need of a brunchy caffeine kick with their cocktail, the Italian, Spanish or Irish spiked coffees will satisfy.
Early Birds’ pancakes are already the talk of the town and we insist on trying a stack of Lemon Poppy ($15)—two thick circles of batter griddled to perfection and topped with a lemon poppyseed drizzle and blueberries. And since we’re creeping up on the release of season 3 of The Bear, you’ve got to order the French omelet ($17) inspired by the show. A fluffy blanket of eggs house a layer of smooth herbed cheese, topped with crunchy potato chips and chives. 5025 Blue Diamond Rd., 702-473-0362, earlybirdseat.com. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. –GR
BESPOKE KITCHEN ALL DAY CAFE
Bespoke Kitchen All Day Cafe's Bulgogi Benedict
What happens when a successful ramen spot branches out into breakfast? You get an instant classic like Bespoke Kitchen. The creators of Tomi Ramen opened the cafe early last year and share the same plaza with it in case foodies ever get tempted to make the rounds. On weekends, lines often snake outside the door, so it’s recommended you secure a spot early.
Unlike Tomi’s compact and long indoor design, Bespoke nails a vibe that’s both spacious and natural, boasting beautiful plants that seem to grow out of every corner. The ’gram feed will love this place, but before you post, you need to taste.
Bespoke’s signature Croffles ($10), a cross-breed of a croissant and waffle, should be your first order for the table, as each variation features fresh fruit and a whipped mascarpone cream that cuts through the sweetness. Next, spring for the Bespoke Breakfast Board ($29), which offers a nice sampling of baby pancakes, waffles, sausage and bacon. Tomi’s influence becomes more obvious when we get to the bulgogi egg benedict ($15) and the corn hash chashu ($15), a perfect, textured bite of braised pork, rice and an over-easy egg. Aren’t you glad you didn’t hit the snooze button? 2600 W. Sahara Ave. #101, 725-278-8464, bespokealldaycafelv.com. Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. –AS
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