Restaurant Review : Breakfast Republic at Liberty Station

Restaurant Review

Breakfast Republic
2865 Sims Rd
(Liberty Station)
San Diego, CA 92106

Last Saturday, Irene and I decided to have a widow’s day of exploring and wanted to include breakfast at the Breakfast Republic. We arrived there about 11:30am, and there was a wait of at least 90 minutes. Needless to say we did not stay.

But yesterday, a gentleman that I had met when I broke my leg last year called and suggested that we go out for breakfast. I jumped at the chance and this time when we arrived we were seated immediately.  It was not quite 10:00 am. I should say that all of the outside seating was taken and there was a 20 minute wait for a table, but there was inside seating.

We were given a very extensive menu – 13 ½” x 8 ½” – with the printed word margin to margin on both sides.  I know my son-in-law would have a field day with the offerings of this restaurant.  For example, there is a “beer and sausage” sampler which includes four 1.5 oz sausage samples and four ounce beer samples.

The menu is very different than most breakfast restaurants.  Besides the regular fare, which Claude had, there are Benedicts that you will not find in other places:  House Made Crab Cake – which I had; A Mushroom ‘n Pesto Benedict; a Jurassic Pork Benedict, etc.  The Omelets are also unusual; an Asiago-Fennel Sausage Omelet; Shrimp & Ricotta Frittata; and one of the fun Pancake offerings is called the “Flight of 3 pancakes  – where you can choose any 3 of their regular pancakes in a “mix and match” of your choosing.  The buttermilk pancakes (3) start at $7 and go up to $12 for the mix and match.  An interesting note is that if you want to have Maple syrup there is an additional charge.

The people across from us had one of the French Toast plates and it was enormous.  And again, there was quite a variety from Lemon ‘n Coconut to Banana Split, to S’mores, Mascarpone and Strawberry, etc. The prices start at $11 and go up to $18 for a French Toast Sampler for two people, selecting three of the other offerings.

The menu has just too many offerings to list them in this review.

So … how was it, you ask?

Claude ordered the “American” ($10) and it came with three eggs, choice of sausage – chicken maple apple cinnamon, Hickory Smoked Sonoma Jack Cheese Chicken; Breakfast Link, Chicken Asiago Fennel, Portuguese Linguisa or Chicken Mango.  He chose the Linguisa and he was served two large links; it also came with “house potatoes” and his choice of bread.  Needless to say for $10 there was a lot of food, and, according to him, it was very tasty.

I could not decide between the Crab Cakes Benedict; the Breakfast Quesadilla – open faced quesadilla, scrambled eggs, bacon, tomato, green onion, jack & cheddar cheese, green bell pepper, and topped with mango salsa or the Lemon ‘n Coconut French toast, but finally decided on the Crab Cakes ($14). However, for another $2 I could have avocado and tomatoes, which I elected to do.   And it was tasty, but I am spent a few years in Maine, and there is no comparison to their crab cakes and these.  It was served as a “benedict” – English Muffin; crab cake, poached egg – cooked to perfection – and Hollandaise sauce.

The review, if I were to stop here, would be good.  I’d go back and I would take people with me.  But the people that I would take would not be those that like the “run of the mill” foods, for there is not much of that on the menu.  It is truly an adventure. BUT… if I were to go again I would NOT sit inside.  The noise was deafening.  That, coupled with the airplanes taking off overhead, meant that everyone inside had to shout to be heard.  And, for some reason, the proprietors felt that they had to have music blaring and that was a huge obstacle to overcome if you wanted to talk and enjoy your meals.  (This is where texting would be popular!)

And… I am not sure what it was, but I was served something “extra” on my plate.  The waitress was not sure what it was either, and even though I was offered another plate, the food would have been the same so I kept it.  She picked up a napkin and removed it from my plate.

They have these cute “egg shape” salt and pepper shakers around – even have them for sale – but there were none on our table.  (By the way – the plates were so big that they barely fit on the table. We had to move our glasses to make room for the plate.  A smaller plate would have been better, and the food would have stayed hotter longer.)

Claude had a cup of green tea ($2.50) that was served with a large tea container of hot water, and I ordered a Chai Latte ($3.75) that was tasty, but not hot enough.  (Our total bill was $37 including the tip.) Notice the unique way of “serving” us the bill.

It should be noted that there is a full bar with many types of “Specialty Drinks” as well as beer on Draft and other “healthy” drinks. They also have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free items available.

Yes, I’d go back.  And I might even take some of their menu item ideas for my next cook book!  Let me know when you want to join me.