Jupiter Donut Factory, Jupiter, February 16, 2014

Happy birthday, Monica!

I'm always looking for an excuse to make the haul to Jupiter Donut Factory, and my friend Monica had just tried out JDF the week before and was happy to go again for her birthday.

A new twist this visit is that I tried their biscuits with sausage gravy. And while it was served on a dinky paper plate with a plastic fork, it was scrumptious. Peppery, but not too much so. Monica and family also enjoyed the hot breakfast sandwiches and declared them delicious. But none of that hot protein kept us from indulging in sweet, fresh goodness of donuts. Here's Monica's family's haul:

Unless you  live in Jupiter, this place is out of your way. But it's worth a little road trip. And I guess I will just have to come here again to get a photo of the hot breakfasts....

Jupiter Donut Factory (Tripadvisor)
141 Center St, Jupiter, FL 33458(561) 741-5290

Dune Deck, Lantana, February 9, 2014

This is the place you take your mother-in-law for her birthday. This is the place you go when you don't want to wait at John G's, and yet, you still want to get here early because a line forms at the Dune Deck as well. There is a playground nearby if you have to wait with little ones, and a lovely ocean view with benches if you are waiting with older ones.

Never forget: CASH ONLY. Always important to remember when you are a party of 6 to avoid scrambling at the end of the meal!

View: The ocean in February while the rest of the country freezes? Priceless.

Service: Friendly and fabulous. Waiter picked up on my anxiety and got my son's chocolate chip pancake order in right away, and the food back out to the on-the-edge-of-whining boy quickly. Coffee and water were refilled attentively.

Food: delicious. My in-laws didn't let me take photos of their meals. My daughter ordered a hot dog because she doesn't like breakfast much. Sean had home made corned beef hash and eggs. He loved it.

I had two eggs over easy with potatoes....

Here's what was left of my son's three large pancakes by the time my food arrived:

Mother in law: very very happy. If you talk to the host ahead of time, you can arrange for a birthday key lime pie and a low-key birthday song from the waiters.

Dune Deck
100 N Ocean Blvd
Lantana Beach, Florida. 33462
(561) 582-0472

Hobo's, North Palm Beach, February 6, 2014

I am trying to combine my breakfast eating with visiting with old friends. And this time I remembered a couple of photos, unlike poor Gabriel's in Wellington.

Sara suggested this diner called Hobo's on Northlake Blvd. The parking lot was packed because clearly some pool cleaning company was having a big breakfast meeting and all their trucks with trailers were filling up the parking lot. But I can see why they chose this place: plenty of seating and great food. Lots of police officers eating here when we left, another sign of a good place.

But the food spoke for itself. I had my standard ham and spinach omelette and it was yummy. Good mix of spinach and salty ham and eggs fluffier than I can ever get them at home. I indulged in a biscuit which was big and a wee bit dry, but I had no problem finishing it.

The staff was friendly and yet, also stayed out of the way to let Sara and I catch up. But I did forget to ask my friend how she liked her sandwich. I'll add in her comments later -- it sure looks good, doesn't it?

I can vouch for the fact that she didn't have leftovers!

Sara has a few other breakfast places in her neck of the woods to show me, but I'd have no problem coming back to Hobo's too. Its big red sign is easy to see from the road. The no frills basic diner decor was neat and clean. Family owned, which means they take pride in their work and you get to watch their adorable toddler scamper around the place.

Once my husband finds out they have two signature hot sauces called Bitch Spit and Rude Awakening, he will want to try this place out himself.

Sadly I did not make note of the wifi.

Hobo's Gourmet Kitchen
421 Northlake Blvd.
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
(561) 841-8305

Al Pan Pan, West Palm Beach, January 25

Again, late with another review, but this one has photos! I had stopped by this little Argentinian/Uruguayan cafe last year and picked up some pastries, which I enjoyed.

We visited this little bakery/restaurant again in hopes of letting our daughter practice her Spanish. The menu is in Spanish, with helpful, and sometimes amusing English translations. For example, did you know that the Spanish dish "macaroni and cheese" translates to "macaroni and cheese"?

Sadly the waitress didn't help out and only spoke English with us despite our mention of wanting to practice, though she spoke Spanish at other tables. Oh well.

The cafe is simple, about a dozen tables. Lots of big photos of Argentina, and a broken player piano in the back.

I had an egg, ham and cheese sandwich on a croissant. Ellie had bacon and cheese sandwich on a croissant, but they also threw on an egg which she hadn't wanted. She ate it anyway. Both of our sandwiches were messy, filling, but mostly unmemorable.

Sean had scrambled eggs, ham and "hash browns" which were really just tater tots.  I'll have to bug him to remember what he can about it.

The food wasn't anything spectacular for us to go back for and we will find another restaurant for practicing speaking Spanish. This place is always busy, so obviously some people like it. Never having been to South America, I can't say that this cafe makes me nostalgic for anything.

But, free wifi! And quite a beautiful display of pastries!

Al Pan Pan
1000 S Military Trl
West Palm Beach, FL 33415
561-963-4343 

Gabriel's Cafe & Grille, Wellington, January 16, 2014

Gabriel's in Wellington was ... fine. My review isn't any more complex than that. I was there to catch up with an old friend, and we had such a delightful time doing so, that I forgot to take photos or really make note of much of anything.

Let's see: my ham and spinach omelet was delicious and large. Kelly was better than me and got a veggie egg white omelet which she enjoyed. Her coffee was refilled repeatedly without prompting by a friendly and sweet waitress.

The place -- like so many that we go to -- is clearly a local institution. On a Thursday morning, it was busy but not packed, and no one ever rushed us out from our 2 1/2 hour chat session. The decor was standard country-ish, cozy, and slightly dated. It has at least three rooms and outside eating, so Gabriel's can serve many, but it doesn't feel crowded or sound loud. The food didn't blow me away, but also didn't disappoint. The seats were mighty comfortable for hanging out chatting with an old friend. Kelly said she's brought her kids there, and it's a kid-friendly place.

Sorry it took me three weeks to get around to writing this up!

I will definitely bring the family back some time to check it out more thoroughly.

Here you can see Urban Spoon for photos: Gabriels.

12793 West Forest Hilld Blvd, Suite G
Wellington, Fl 33414

561-793-0675