Downtown breakfast spots Mom would approve

THERE are more than enough places to get a cup of coffee in downtown Milwaukee, but where do you go for a “real” breakfast? Hotel restaurants are one source, but independently owned restaurants offering a full range of breakfast possibilities are hard to find. Here for travelers and for downtown workers, who may be moving up their schedules to avoid traffic hassles, are two of the best:

THE MICHIGAN STREET DINER at 220 E. Michigan Street, one block south of Wisconsin Avenue, could have been the set for “Happy Days.” Owner Gary Kuhn has been serving traditional breakfast here in the heart of downtown Milwaukee for 15 years.

The red and white diner décor contrasts with the location, tucked into the west side of the historic former headquarters of Milwaukee’s Northwestern Mutual. From 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. every weekday and all day until 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, you can get a filling breakfast at a very reasonable price.

Michigan Street’s menu offers typical Midwestern fare, from one farm-fresh egg with toast for $2.19 to Texas Bread French Toast, pancakes, three-egg omelettes and even a “four-egger with everything” at only $5.59.

Gary’s patrons can expect lunch after 11 a.m. on weekdays and weekends, but he’ll still serve breakfast all day to customers on the weekends. After all, it is “the most important meal of the day.”

MYKONOS GYRO & CAFÉ at 1014 N. Van Buren St. (corner of E. State & Van Buren) also offers a full breakfast – and do we mean full.

Owner Tina Kambouris has so many breakfast items that they fill a three by four-foot signboard posted beside the cash register. Possibilities start with eggs, breakfast sandwiches on croissants or bagels, or pancakes, waffles and French toast with strawberries or blueberries.

Tina says some of her most popular breakfast items appeal to the health conscious – a breakfast parfait with layers of granola, yogurt and blueberries or a big bowl of oatmeal at $2.35.

For the more adventurous, Mykonos naturally puts its special spin on breakfast with a Greek Village Breakfast of potatoes, eggs, feta cheese and pita. And, of course, you can order a normal three-egg omelette or a gyro omelette, Greek omelette with gyro meat and feta cheese or Mykonos omelette with feta cheese and spinach.

Open for breakfast from 7 a.m. 11 a.m. weekdays and from 7 a.m. until “2 or 3 p.m.” on weekends, Mykonos also offers vegetarian items and one of Tina’s favorites, home-made corned beef hash.

Mykonos remains open for lunch and dinner until 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 3:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays for the late-night crowd. Deliveries are also available by calling 414-224-6400.