By Ivy Velazquez
Who doesn’t love a real breakfast meal? Whether it be a fully loaded omelette or a large stack of pancakes slathered in syrup, breakfast is not a meal that can easily go wrong. Luckily, there are many local brunch-style restaurants to choose from. Favorites were determined through a survey on the Osprey Observer’s Facebook page.
The Recipe Box
Number one on the list was The Recipe Box. Located at 147 E. Bloomingdale Ave in Brandon, it is a primarily a brunchery, serving diner-style food, both breakfast and lunch. Open 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., The Recipe Box has received a 4.2 star rating on Google reviews and can be contacted at 655-2686.
The Egg and I
The Egg and I was second on the survey. Only serving breakfast and lunch, it specializes in healthier styles of breakfast, offering gluten-free and a “smarter choices” section of the menu. According to customer Katie Stockdale, “They have a very nice staff and I didn’t have to wait long at all.” It is located at 11220 Bloomingdale Ave. in Riverview and is open 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. For to-go orders, contact 409-3825.
The Brunchery
The Brunchery also made it within the top three. As its name suggests, it is primarily a brunchery, serving only breakfast and lunch, open 7:30 a.m. -2 p.m. during the week, 7:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. on the weekends. “The Brunchery really has a nice atmosphere, service is fairly quick, very large portions, and they’re creative with their dishes,” said Stockdale. The Brunchery is located at 4389 Lynx Paw Trail in Valrico and can be contacted at 654-9036.
The Scrambled Egg
Smaller and newer than most of its competing restaurants, The Scrambled Egg is located at 15282 Fishhawk Blvd. in Lithia. It serves American traditional food, from omelettes to burgers. Serving as a great neighborhood restaurant for the FishHawk community, The Scrambled Egg is open seven days a week, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. For to-go and catering orders, call 643-4444.
New York Diner
Open a little later than most of the others, New York Diner is a family-run diner, serving classic American food in an old school setting and has received great reviews on Google reviews. It is open 7 a.m.-4 p.m. and is located at 2126 Jelane Dr. in Valrico. It can be contacted at 654-4300.
Ciccio Cali
Ciccio Cali sits right next to The Egg and I. Unlike its neighbor, Ciccio mainly serves lunch and dinner. It is only open for brunch on Saturday and Sunday, which may somewhat account for its lower ranking. Just because breakfast isn’t its main course hardly means they are lacking in the area, even offering healthy options. “They offer different varieties of food and label the food that is gluten and dairy free,” said customer Katelyn Massarelli. Open 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. during the week and 10 a.m.- 10 p.m. during the weekend, 9 p.m. on Sunday, Ciccio Cali is located at 1230 Sullivan St. in Riverview. For to-go and catering orders, call 436-3840.
Fred’s Southern Kitchen
Despite being located a little further away by US-301 in Riverview, Fred’s Southern Kitchen made its way onto the list. This restaurant offers Southern homestyle food in a farmhouse atmosphere. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with buffets for both breakfast and lunch. Located at 6501 US-301 in Riverview, it’s open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. on Sunday. It can be contacted at 741-9101.
Boca Kitchen Bar Market
Located in the same plaza as Ciccio Cali and The Egg and I, Boca is the newest restaurant on the list, having just opened this past December. Like Ciccio’s, Boca is primarily a lunch and dinner restaurant, serving their “Champagne Brunch” only on the weekends. And it certainly isn’t lacking in the area, providing several delicious choices, such as their corned beef hash, made in a slightly untraditional style but good nonetheless. Part of a small chain, each Boca has a slightly different theme; this location featuring an outdoorsy feel, sporting locally grown food. It is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.- 12 Midnight, Saturday 9:30 a.m.-12 Midnight, and Sunday 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Boca is located at 11206 Sullivan St. in Riverview. For to-go, call 330-7997.
Moreno Bakery
Having started as small bakery in the corner of a hidden plaza, Moreno Bakery has now moved to a much bigger location where it can accommodate customers who wish to dine in. Along with its large servings of pastries, Moreno Bakery serves Cuban style breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Sunday, it is located at 737 W. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon. For more information, call 689-0320.
Latin Gril
As its name might suggest, Latin Grill is a Cuban-based restaurant, serving entrees such as mofongo and ropa vieja. This a good place to go when looking for somewhere to satisfy that craving for Spanish food. It also serves breakfast 7-11 a.m. weekdays, and 7-11:30 a.m. on the weekends. Regular closing times are 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12 Midnight on Friday and Saturday. Latin Grill is located at 3318 John Moore Rd. in Brandon and can be reached at 654-8000.
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