Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery

Welcome back to the brunch blog.

First out of the gate in the New Year; Fat Apples. A long established Berkeley spot typically brimming with local folks out the door waiting for a seat. Having passed this place on more times I can count on my toes and fingers, we decided to give it a shot. To our surprise, our group of four was seated promptly on a Sunday mid-morning but there ended the excitement for me. I understand I may be in the minority here, but this may be one of the most mediocre brunches I have ever experienced. The service is lacking - coffee refill, please and the food is really just, meh, nothing to write home about (ironic, I suppose that I am writing about it here). On the positive side, if you are looking for an affordable, local place to take the family, Fat Apple's will fit the bill.

Fat Apples boasts a small breakfast menu that sticks to mostly the basics; eggs & toast, pancakes, french toast and throw in some scrambles and pastries. We ordered the raved about must try pumpkin pancakes which were okay and really just that - okay. The pancakes lacked the flavor you would expect to come along with pumpkin - cinnamon & nutmeg come to mind. Then there were the whole-wheat pancakes. By far the most bland pancake I have ever brought to my lips. I wasn't looking for sugar. I enjoy whole-wheat flavor without the sweetener. There was no whole-wheat goodness here, no crunch, no pizazz, nada. I would have been better off toasting a slice of Milton's at home and slathering it with butter and syrup. Both orders of pancakes were served up as the pancake special. A short stack, with one egg and meat. The tortilla scramble was also ordered by one of our dining companions and was served with homefries and a choice of toast or pastry. It was conveyed that this wasn't the best scramble and the homefries, well, not so good. And the coffee, unmemorable.

And there you have it - ouch, I know. Would I give it another shot - of course. Not this year though with so many other places to try.

1346 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
(btwn Berryman St & Rose St)
Berkeley, CA 94709