ORLANDO, Fla. – Since I’m not much of a morning person, nothing motivates me to get up more than knowing a hearty breakfast and coffee are in my future. Because of my love for breakfast, I’ve been on a mission to find some of the best spots here in Central Florida. Through my research, I’ve found, we have a lot of options! So I put together a list of some of the best places. The list comes from personal experience, Google reviews and word of mouth.
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The Town House Restaurant
139 N Central Ave, Oviedo
Located in Oviedo, this restaurant is a local favorite. It calls itself an old-school eatery featuring American and Greek classics. This restaurant has always been my go-to, even though it’s 40 minutes away from where I live. With over 986 reviews, it has a rating of 4.4 stars out of 5. My recommendation, go for the biscuits and gravy. You won’t regret it.
The Table (Photo by Sarah Annay)
100 E. New York Ave. DeLand
I found this hidden gem while visiting downtown DeLand. Their website says the concept of their restaurant began 40 years ago while visiting grandma for dinner. There were no cellphones or televisions to distract them from conversations at the table. This same concept continued when they opened in 2017. The restaurant has no televisions or Wi-Fi to connect to. The goal is to sit back, relax and create new memories while eating at the table. The website says their meals are made from scratch. The menu draws from Southern classics like chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, and chicken biscuits.
Hash House A Go Go
5350 International Drive, Orlando
This restaurant is technically a chain, because it has a few locations across the country, but you really can’t go wrong eating here. It was founded in San Diego in 2000, and now you can enjoy meals here in the tourist district on International Drive. Their menu is inspired by food from the Midwest and they're known for breakfast/brunch. Several news outlets have given them awards for best breakfast, and they have a great coffee menu. Also, you'll get more than what you pay for because their portion sizes are big. Sometimes the plates can be bigger than your head.
Grills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar
4301 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando
This restaurant actually has locations in Orlando, Melbourne and Port Canaveral. They have thousands of Google reviews with 4.4 out of 5 stars. And their breakfast menu is unique. It includes things like a cinnamon roll slam to a traditional Benedict with a seafood twist: crab meat.
Dixie Belle's Cafe
7125 S Orange Ave, Orlando
Located near the Orlando International Airport, this place is a great spot to stop by before or after your flight. The restaurant says it's an "Airy, family-run daytime eatery for home style American eats, breakfast & some Mexican classics." This restaurant has a lot of great reviews, with 4.6 out of 5 stars and many people saying this is their go-to breakfast place when they can't decide on where to go. They also claim to be the home of the sweet potato biscuit.
Island Gecko Grill
773 N Courtenay Pkwy., Merritt Island
Located close to the Kennedy Space Center and the beaches and formerly called the Barking Gecko Grill, this restaurant is considered a local favorite. This family-owned restaurant opened in 2005 and has great reviews on Google. Their menu includes anything you would want for breakfast -- like omelets, French toast, waffles and breakfast sandwiches. On Sundays, they only serve breakfast. The owner tells me they have the largest variety of breakfast items in Brevard County and their favorite menu item is called "The Mess." It includes everything but the kitchen sink, topped with cheese and eggs the way you like it.
The Spanish Sugar Mill
601 Ponce Deleon Blvd., De Leon Springs
For a unique breakfast experience, this is a great place to check out. The restaurant opened in 1961 and when you sit down to eat, you'll see a griddle in the middle of your table. Servers bring you a pitcher of homemade pancake batter, so you can pour them on the griddle and flip your own pancakes. If flapjacks aren't your thing, they also have eggs, sausage, bacon, French toast and more.