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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Restaurant Review: Another Broken Egg Cafe in Dallas’ Casa Linda Plaza
New content partner What We're Doing checks out Sunday brunch.
DALLAS Met friends of ours for brunch at this new spot in Casa Linda Plaza and stuffed ourselves. Local folks didn't waste time getting to Another Broken Egg Cafe. The place was packed, but we caught up with our friends during the wait on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
The food was worth the wait. Two folks at the table tried the Bananas Foster waffle, which was drizzled in the gooey Bananas Foster sauce with banana slices and whipped cream. You can get the Bananas Foster three ways: pancakes, waffles, or french toast.
I went for an eggs benedict variation with tomatoes and bacon pieces. The poached eggs were perfect, but could have used a bit more hollandaise. We all grabbed spoonfuls of the cheese grits, which were creamy and well cooked.
Servers are mature and friendly. We appreciated our server's attentiveness and follow-up. All of the dishes came out hot and as ordered. Portions are generous. We loved the cute souvenir earthenware coffee mugs. The only downside is the lack of brunch alcohol, i.e., no Bloody Marys or Mimosas.
As far as atmosphere, don't come to this spot to be seen. It's not that kind of scene. There's a mix of East Dallas hipsters as well as families from the surrounding neighborhoods and the after-church crowd. Come to this restaurant to eat and hang with some good friends. Recommendation: TRY IT

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CitizenKane, anonymous:
I don't doubt that this place will be successful. But then America's food bar is extremely low.
There is nothing special about another corporate franchise chain restaurant that serves factory food. Additionally, it isn't inexpensive.
It's concept is "Cracker Barrel" without the front porch rockers.
Give me small mom+pop owned/operated places over these kind of consumer rippoffs any day.
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xdavidwattsx, anonymous:
ABE is a corporate franchise chain?
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James Scott, verified:
yes, xdavid, it's a chain. If you want a local mom-and-pop, you're got a great one down the street a couple blocks to Barbecs.
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Alex Bentley, staff:
And <a href="http://www.anotherbrokenegg.com/map.php">here's the proof</a>, in case you don't believe James.
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jtmbls, anonymous:
oooo...beer biscuits...oooo
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bigeholmz, anonymous:
any shop that's willing to open up in casa linda (especially in this economy) shouldn't be poo-pooed because its not locally owned and operated. i would imagine 95% of the folks that have been to abe live in the casa linda area and have spent their fair share of time at barbecs over the years. it's something different that's all, and there's obviously a demand for some morning dining alternatives. ultimately, we need all businesses to succeed in casa linda so it will be more attractive to any business owners (local or national). just my two cents.
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eld11, anonymous:
Absolutely bigeholmz! I think I've been to Barbec's hundreds of times and having a new place in the 'hood is great for everyone. A rising tide lifts all boats and that's a good thing for Casa Linda and the nieghborhood as a whole.
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Billusa99, anonymous:
Reviewers: What is the coffee like? Seems like that is a key part of any breakie review. Please post back and let us know, as it otherwise sounds like a great place to try. Casa Linda needs the place, chain or not!
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esmith, anonymous:
We went to ABE last weekend and the food was terrific. What I didn't like was the 30 minute wait after being told 10-15 minutes. I don't care if it's a long wait, but tell me that up front. We were seated for about 10 minutes before we got our waiter over to us, even though he was at both tables on either side of us just asking them if they needed more water. Food took a long time but by then we expected that. I think once they get some more experience under them, it will be better. They should consider opening the back room for more seating.
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xdavidwattsx, anonymous:
I think sentiment is the same. Not all franchises are worth boycotting. Sure, buying and supporting local is always a preference but a decent breakfast place shouldn't be discouraged from opening, providing jobs and paying local taxes. Especially in this economy.
I do think I will wait to go there until they get their service issues worked out but I will certainly try it at some point. More eating choices is usually a good thing.
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piltdown70, anonymous:
Great! An alternative to the Goldrush Cafe, which is a little far to travel for breakfast. I just can't get on board with Barbec's. Just an opinion, but that place is highly overrated.
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Teresa Gubbins, staff:
piltdown70, did you ever visit barbec's in the '90s? it used to be fantastic. i seem to remember that the ownership changed. whatever the reason, the quality went downhill. i stopped going there a few years ago. but its reputation as a good place stuck, and i notice that people still speak of it fondly.
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pabloindallas, anonymous:
Barbec's: Underpowered and overrated. I could make better gravy while sleepwalking. The waitstaff IS sleepwalking!
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alexander troup, verified:
Garland Road, like so many other old strips in Dallas, was a great place to stop and eat, it still has its good haunts and poor, but I recall it was a great place to eat, as with Casa Linda Plaza, when they tore down the old Mobil gas station, that was the end of the good era I felt, while the plaza was a great intersection to go south, you had to get somthing to eat....A/T, Life is short and sweet,hollow be they name.
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jtmbls, anonymous:
I haven't been to Barbec's since the 90s due to my change of address. It was, at the time, the best hangover breakfast on the planet. I have often contemplated making the drive just for the beer biscuits alone but always seem to opt for something closer instead. Good to know that I haven't been missing what I thought I was missing.
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DarrylC, anonymous:
I haven't been to the new ABE in Casa Linda, but I used to patronize the location in Tallahassee, Florida when I lived nearby. If this location equals or surpasses the one I knew in the quality of its food and service, then I will go out of my way to eat there once in a while. (I don't live near this location; I just spend lots of time at White Rock Lake.)
As another poster wrote, not all corporate chains need to be boycotted. I also doubt they'd be able to drive Barbec's out of business. Maybe Barbec's will improve to compete better.
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El_Zoido, anonymous:
FINALLY! Probably the only other place to get an incredibly great breakfast (see Lucky's Cafe). The variety is fantastic and will please both those who want their bacon and those who prefer veggie only. The food is delicious, portions are satisfying, and the presentation is impressive. More importantly, the waitstaff is attentive. Everytime we've gone our coffee is re-filled and we're asked if we're enjoying it and if there's anything else needed. We notice the waitstaff walk by and eyes look over to see if we are in need of anything. They'll even stop and chat for a second if you ask how they are doing. The wait is as expected for a brand-new breath of fresh air to the Dallas breakfast/lunch scene. Sometimes told 30-40 minutes, but honestly we've never waited longer than about 25-30 min on busy mornings. Eventually that may slowdown. But part of it is owned to the fact that you're not felt like you're being rushed out of there like other places.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said for other breakfast places in Dallas. As for Barbec's...well, that place is awful. We have given them several opportunities to get things right as we have lived near the White Rock/Casa Linda area all my life. The service is subpar, not so attentive. The food is nothing better than you can prepare at home. Except for at home you would probably not prepare your omelette with canned mushrooms and browning avocados which we have experienced more than once. Biscuits? Wow, they're tasty but that's just biscuits! It's pretty difficult to mess up something as simple as eggs, but...
So visit Another Broken Egg. That place there is awesome. Now we can alternate between Lucky's and ABE. Thank you Dallas!
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MollieBGood, anonymous:
Not impressed. ABE has the feel of a Cracker Barrel without the gift shop and "country blue" ducks hanging on the wall.
While most people seemed to be getting the speciality plates my pancakes were So So at best. Coffee, at least decaf, tastes like a low end version of Folgers.
East Dallas hipsters should stick with Barbec's, John's Cafe or Gold Rush!
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CWhit, anonymous:
Barbec's is just another greasy spoon -- we stopped going there a couple of years ago. For the best breakfasts in Dallas, try Cindi's -- a wide variety of egg dishes, many omelettes, served with grits, home fries, hash browns, biscuits, toasted English, bagels, plain toast, waffles, pancakes, link and patty sausage, bacon, ham, canadian bacon, corned beef hash, lox -- you name it, you can get it, all perfectly prepared and amazingly inexpensive. Or the Oasis on Greenville -- not up to Cindi's standards, but okay (cash only). The Metro Diner across from Baylor is another great breakfast spot (also in Preston Center) with a special spicy sausage you can't find anywhere else. Lucky's is terrific too, if you don't mind the long, long wait.
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Travis Bush, verified:
Don't forget Market Diner on Harry Hines!
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clindac, anonymous:
Market Diner is great! ABE is a joke!
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geminisabah, anonymous:
my boyfriend just got hired on as a dishwasher, starting out at 9 dollars an hour. good deal.
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heidenstephanie, anonymous:
I had herd about this astounding establishment around the corner from myself through a friend, so i decided to take the time out to explore this new fine dining in hope to find someplace I can enjoy my food and not have to worry about drink fills or horrible soap tastes on my plate. I had entered in another broken egg on a Saturday and left with such disgust and annoyance. I had an awesome server who served me Bakezo and my friend a Hey Ricky she kept my drinks filled and all but as i was eating i noticed a horrible smell off another server which distracted me from my food and disgusted the hell out of me, this guy smelt like he had drink-en a keg of beer the night before and had no decency to shower before work the next day I could smell him so much it off-ed the smell of my awesome food, I asked the server who this young man was and she stated his name was Jason I had expected more out of this establishment for the way the scenery was but found differently as i stayed. As i was enjoying my food this guy walked up to my table loud and obnoxious stating he was the owner, I thought this was a joke, With the way he sniffled at my table it seemed like this guy was coked up or maybe had too many energy drinks. I will not be returning to this establishment for this reason but i do thank the waitress who served me with awesome service. I will be contacting the better business bureau for this establishment about this situation thank you and have a great day
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What do you think?