Poppy Seed Café

The breakfast gem of Fircrest

By Jennifer Johnson on January 10, 2008

Poppy Seed Café, has been a tasty start to Fircrest’s day for almost two years. Owners and chef Darin Adams and wife, Shelly, load their menu with breakfast staples and a little something extra. Just thinking the words chorizo, apple smoked sausage and homemade country gravy start the mouth watering.



Scrambles are a specialty of the house ($9.25) and are served with perfectly seasoned potatoes and choice of toast, fluffy biscuit or English muffin. What separates these dishes from plain plates of eggs? Ingredients like smoked salmon, capers and cream cheese, or try the welcome variance of spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes.



Cinnamon vanilla egg battered slices of baguette and halved croissants make a nice change from usual slabs of French toast ($6.75 and $7.50). A lemon poppy seed waffle was crisp on the edges and soft inside with the decadent touch of raspberry butter on top ($6.75).

Upon seeing blueberry, cranberry, banana buckwheat, and buttermilk pancakes on the menu, high expectations arise. Almost spilling across the edges of the plate, butter spreads easily over the hot powdered sugar surface of a stack of three buckwheat cakes ($6.75). A quick drizzle of syrup followed. The steam rose as hopes fell. Though the flavor was good, the cakes were just too dense and dry to be enjoyable.



Locals love coming to the Regents Boulevard café for the late breakfast menu served until noon Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday (during the week breakfast ends at 11 a.m.). Quick friendly service, comfortable chairs and linen covered tables give the eatery a cozy atmosphere. Smart selections of lunch items are served until 2:30 p.m. You can’t go wrong ordering any of the creative salads, burgers, quesadilla or hot and cold sandwiches. Want something a bit more filing than lettuce and veggies? Sample three different mixed salads. Generous scoops of creamy dill tuna, tangy pea, and curry chicken salad come arranged on a bed of greens ($8.75). Chicken, cheddar and Monterey jack cheese melt in a spinach tortilla with black beans and corn to make a sour cream and pico topped quesadilla ($8.25).



[Poppy Seed Café, 616 Regents Blvd., Fircrest, 253.460.4101]