Montclair Egg Shop

"On any given morning, about half the residents of Montclair roll down from their wiggly, tree-lined streets to start their day off with incredibly strong coffee and, of course, eggs, at Montclair Egg Shop. The diner, housed in a cottage straight out of Animal Crossing, has been around for 50 years and counting, with all the usual egg-centric suspects—fluffy scrambles, benedicts, and french toast that’s even better when slathered in their house apricot jam. When in doubt, go for their potato pancake, a crisp-edged hash with little chunks of ham and onions. " - julia chen 1, lani conway

"On any given morning, about half the residents of Montclair roll down from their wiggly, tree-lined streets to start their day off with incredibly strong coffee and, of course, eggs, at Montclair Egg Shop. The diner, housed in a cottage straight out of Animal Crossing, has been around for 50 years and counting, with all the usual suspects—fluffy scrambles, benedicts, and french toast that’s even better when slathered in their house apricot jam. When in doubt, go for their potato pancake, a crisp-edged hash with little chunks of ham and onions. Food Rundown Egg Shop Potato Pancakes This hash-latke-hybrid arrives with crispy edges, a dollop of sour cream, and little bits of ham and onion throughout, plus a side of scrambled eggs. It’s delicious, and even more so with a shake of hot sauce (but isn’t everything?). Challah Bread French Toast If you like challah, and you like french toast, you’ll enjoy eating this for breakfast. Opt for the version with strawberries and a thick squiggle of whipped cream. Apricot Jam There’s a full jar of this on every table, and your only course of action is to smear as much of it as you can on every available surface. It’s sweet, mildly chunky and goes especially well with sourdough, the aforementioned french toast, and even the occasional stray potato." - Julia Chen

"Model trains and vintage tchotchkes draw little eyes upward while awaiting waffles, eggs, or the house special, ham and cheese potato pancakes, at this neighborhood family favorite dating back to 1974. Once one of seven “egg shops” in the East Bay, it’s now the last and truly knows how to cater to both littles and adults with daily breakfast and lunch, coffee shuttled quickly to the table, and mimosas and Bloody Marys offered every day of the week. If you’re dining with a pancake lover, go on a weekday; a fluffy, buttermilk stack is only offered Monday through Friday." - Justine Jones, Laura Smith Borrman

"There’s a reason why Montclair Egg Shop has survived 50 years in business, and that’s because it’s a well-loved — and delicious — institution in this Oakland neighborhood. As you may have guessed, egg-centric dishes rule the menu here, with scrambles, omelets, huevos rancheros, and five kinds of Benedicts (and more). Ed’s Welsh Scramble ties together mushrooms, spinach, bell peppers, potatoes, and cheddar, while the Eggs Juneau is a Benedict dish featuring smoked salmon. Those looking for a boozy accompaniment can order a mimosa or bloody mary from the bar, and there are of course coffee and nonalcoholic beverages available as well." - Dianne de Guzman, Lauren Saria