Are you tired of your bitter coffee and that nameless granola bar you have every morning? Well you're in for a great morning because it's time for another battle! Yes, you guessed it - it's the Breakfast Battle. Time to drag your grouchy bottom out of bed to some of the greatest restaurants in Greencastle serving some of your favorite breakfast classics just how your mom makes it-- well, close enough. Our staff crawled out of bed and ventured out to find the some good breakfast eats.
Fairway Family Restaurant
Panyin Conduah
Past the crème-stone bridge on Highway 231 lies an out-of-the-ordinary diner called Fairway Family Restaurant. The exterior is not that of your typical diner; this family diner has an old-school feel that would make anyone who steps through the door feel like they've taken a trip back in time.
Although the restaurant was pretty empty on our Thursday morning trip, the service was quick and the staff was very friendly. According to our waitress, one of the best meals on the menu was the chopped steak and eggs dish with shredded hash browns and toast. The steak was a little dry, but the addition of A1 sauce gave the dish more kick. The buttery toast topped with grape jelly had a perfect crunch, but the shredded hash browns were somewhat bland. Overall, the service and friendly staff definitely added to the experience at the diner which made the trip worthwhile.
The best part about Fairway is that their restaurant is open from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, which is convenient for anyone who enjoys a very early breakfast or even a late night one. The prices on the menu were moderately affordable based on a college student's income making these dishes worth your buck!
Taste: 3.5 Appearance: 4 Price:$$
2 West
DePauw Classic!
Nettie Finn
Situated right on campus inside The Inn at DePauw, 2 West Bistro is the go-to breakfast meal for those DePauw students lacking the four-wheeled means to go further afield for food.
At $10.65 for all-you-can-eat buffet, combined with the fact that they accept TigerCards, 2 West serves up whatever delicious breakfast food a college heart might desire without being overly pricey.
2 West offers breakfast fans an all-you-can-eat buffet and omelette bar. The buffet consistently offers fresh fruit, granola, bacon, sausage, eggs and hash browns. The omelette-s are made to order, with enough veggies available to make you feel slightly better about those six pieces of bacon.
While the food was delicious, and the servers friendly, the service can be a little slow. The need to ask for a water refill is hardly ever a good sign.
However, 2 West's wildly inclusive hours more than make up for a few failings. They are open Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Yes, that's right, even those who like to sleep until noon can still stumble out of bed and get to 2 West in time for a hot breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays.
Taste: 4 Appearance: 4 Price: $$$
Jackson's Family Restaurant Double Decker Drive In
Emilie Hofferber
Jackson's Family Restaurant Double Decker Drive In is a five minute drive from campus and has a name you probably can't say ten times fast. Walking into Jackson's immediately gives you an old-time sense, with a large dining room with booths and customers that are likely regulars. The restaurant is seat-yourself style and known for their lightning fast service. The menu offers an extremely vast assortment of all sorts of breakfast foods and combinations with the exception of fruit. Customers can go to Jackson's and expect a family atmosphere breakfast with the other diners interacting with each other.
The food at Jackson's came out at a shockingly fast speed, which is perfect for those mornings where you're just dying to get a good bite. The plate sampled included toast, eggs, and bacon. The bacon at Jackson's was crispy and filling and each bite was wonderfully satisfying. The wheat toast came buttered and tasted like it had a hint of honey, which complemented the meal well. Jackson's offered a better than average home-styled meal for a really great deal.
One of the perks to Jackson's is that they serve breakfast until 11:30 a.m. on weekdays, which is perfect if you want to grab something after your morning classes. Jackson's opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays and stays open until 8 p.m., offering all three meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Taste: 4 Appearance: 2.5 Price: $$
Downtown Cafe
Emilie Hofferber
Located at the heart of the square, the Downtown Cafe flaunts a classic diner atmosphere with a hint of modern cafe-chic. The Downtown Cafe's breakfast is perfect if you're looking for a quick fix before your day. The menu offers the basic essentials of the traditional American breakfast such as biscuits and gravy, made to order breakfast sandwiches, bagels and omelettes.
One dish, affectionately called the "Treasure Plate," offers diners their choice of bacon, sausage or ham to top off two eggs and two slices of toast. The Downtown Cafe had quick service, and the food was out several minutes after it had been ordered. The Treasure Plate arrives in a neat, fresh arrangement. The dining room of the restaurant is well-lit because of its easternly facing windows. This also with the atmosphere and environment serves as a soft awakening to start off your morning. The only downside of Downtown Cafe is that it seems like the kind of place that needs some sort of music coming from speakers; however, the quiet sounds of silverware and small conversation made for a pleasant experience.
The food at the Downtown Cafe comes at a modest price and the quality is definitely not compromised. With tax, the treasure plate came to around five dollars. The eggs tasted home cooked and fresh--something highly valued in college life-- and the bacon was on the slightly chewy side with a tinge of maple flavouring to it. The toast that came with the meal added the perfect amount of crunch to complete the meal.
The Downtown Cafe accepts Tiger Cards and serves breakfast starting at 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on weekdays. On weekends, breakfast starts at 9 a.m. The establishment stays open until 3 p.m., serving delicious lunch specials until close.
Taste: 3.5 Appearance: 4 Price: $
