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By:
Kevin McQuarrie There must be some sort of town tradition to
go to Cinnamon’s for Sunday brunch, because when we arrived, the place
was positively hopping. There were families, groups of friends, couples.
The restaurant has a large, pleasant outdoor seating area, with shaded
tables scattered throughout a courtyard. Those tables, however, proved to
be in high demand, so we opted for the 10-minute wait and sat inside.
Indoors, the Cinnamon’s décor has sort of a country/homey feel, with a
large faux arbor. While it’s not air-conditioned, an abundance of
ceiling fans keeps patrons cool. While perusing the menu, I was tempted to
order a few of the homemade bakery items, which included cinnamon rolls,
cornbread and coffee cake. But my new diet — you know the one — now
keeps me away from all those carbohydrates, so I ordered a Baja Breakfast
($7.25). This generous plateful of scrambled eggs, green chiles and
cheddar cheese arrives served on a corn tortilla. With salsa, sour cream
and an entire side plate of home-fried potatoes included, it’s a lot of
bang for the buck. If you have a big appetite, you can upsize the dish by
ordering it served with ground beef or shredded chicken, for $8.25. My friend chose the S.A.N.D. ($5.50), the
restaurant’s acronym for a “Start of A Nice Day.” It’s a hearty,
classic American breakfast, reminiscent of the food you would find during
the bygone days of meandering, road-trip travels. It’s two buttermilk
pancakes, an egg and your choice of bacon, sausage or ham. Pour on a
little syrup and you have a meal that can wake up even the sleepiest
person. We also tried the eggs Benedict: two poached
eggs on an English muffin ($9.95). They have several variations on this
dish. My New York-transplant friend selected the lox version. Lox is
cured, smoked salmon and the saltiness is a great foil for the richness of
egg yolk. I should note that Cinnamon’s makes its hollandaise sauce
fresh and from scratch, which always raises the level of eggs Benedict to
new heights. Heartier appetites will also enjoy the Meat
’n Eggs options on the menu, which include eggs with bacon, meat-loaf or
roast beef and gravy. If you’re in a decadent mood, try the broiled
prime rib ($9.75), which is also available with sautéed mushrooms and
onions for an additional $1.50. If you’re interested in lighter, more
healthful food, Cinnamon’s has a lot to offer, including Egg Beaters
substitutes for the egg dishes. There are also plenty of vegetarian
options. Another option is to eat off the lunch menu, which has many
salads. We tried the Mandarin salad ($8.75). It’s tasty mix of Char Siu
pork, roasted chicken, crispy won-ton strips and crunchy peanuts on a big
bed of tossed greens. Overall, we enjoyed our time at Cinnamon’s. The staff was prompt but not pushy. Our server gave us attention, but also let us relax and enjoy the morning. Lingering over coffee, we had a leisurely breakfast and then hit the beach. It was the start of a nice day, indeed. Cinnamon's Restaurant |
