Dan B.
Yelp
I love breakfast. There is nothing I dislike when it comes to the breakfast menu, though I will admit that I prefer egg dishes to pancakes. One of my favorite spots to in Saint Paul to grab breakfast is Capital View Cafe.
Capital View Cafe is located on Smith Street at the high end of the bridge, and when you arrive it's easy to tell why they call it Capital View Cafe. Right outside its front door is a great view of our state's Capital, and if you walk a block north you have a great view of all of downtown.
Now a great view may nourish the soul but it will not fill the belly, so let's talk about the food. Capital View Cafe has all the traditional offerings that any self respecting breakfast joint should have: a solid eggs benedict, great waffles, hearty biscuits and gravy, and big ol' omelets. It also has a couple of tasty variations on the classics, like my favorite- the Dublin Benedict. In this version of eggs benedict, they sub in corned beef hash for the canadian bacon. Wicked yummy.
Now you might be saying to yourself, "Sold. This place sounds great, I'm going to try it this weekend." (Which you should) But Capital View Cafe is just getting started. Everything I have mentioned is great, but I really go there for the Mexican breakfast selections.
This is not the New Louisiana Cafe (one of the most overrated breakfast spots in Saint Paul) where they top eggs and cheese with salsa and call it Tex Mex. We are talking about authentic Mexican selections like chipotle red pork chili, huevos con chorizo, and machaca (seasoned shredded beef, onions and peppers scrambled with eggs). All of which are served with refried beans, fresh corn or wheat tortillas, and your choice of homeade salsa (I like to mix the hot and mild).
They also serve the best Tex Mex burrito I have found in Saint Paul, as well as classic mexican dishes like huevos rancheros. Every time we go to Capital View Cafe, I have a devil of a time deciding on what to order. Occasionally one of the more traditional american dishes will sneak in, though those days are few and far between. I seriously go there for the Mexican options.
My only complaint is that the staff at Capital View Cafe may be too friendly. The clientele is largely regulars, and my wife and I have had slow service on a few occasions when the staff is chatting with the regulars. This is a small complaint, and I hate to point it out because I love the food so much. However, if I don't tell you the truth then my opinion won't mean squat.
Capital View Cafe is also open for lunch and has free wifi. I can't say that I have made it in for lunch, but if the authentic mexican lunch options are as good as the breakfast options are, then I am depriving myself of a tasty, tasty midday meal.
Give Capital View Cafe a shot dear readers, and I promise you will find the food to be exceptional!