The Breakfast Klub

12/19/09

Adult experience at high school - style rest / cafeteria

by HoustonChris at Citysearch

I recently moved into the apartment building not too far from this Breakfast Klub and decided to treat myself to some breakfast today.

The restaurant is your typical, poorly kept, neighborhood spot that has never been renovated since opening day. I guess the TVs inside can count but the outside is just awful. Citrus colors upon citrus.... The inside is just horrible.

Luckily I only had to walk a few blocks because parking is non existent. I estimated 15 spaces in the from, maybe 10 in the rear. Would seem like a fair amount but its not enough for the amount of customers the place caters to.

As I walked in, I walked into a line of about 9 people. I told the guy in front of me good morning and he turned his nose up at me and looked the other way. Apparently customers aren't supposed to talk to each other.

A lady immediately approached me with a menu and started to read it to me ??? okay ??? Then she wanted to know where I was from, if I had ever been there before, if I was expecting or looking for additional people. Just crazy stuff that you normally don't get asked at a restaurant... She finally left to tend to some other customers.

Then after a few steps forward in line she asked me if I was ready to order. Mind you, I didn't see any rush to order because the line was long. So I took another look at the menu after awing at the prices. Eggs & grits were like $7, a 20oz bottle of juice was almost $3, a cinnamon roll was $4. So the lady came back again to ask me if I was ready to order. I just picked the first thing I saw, which were the chicken and waffles and told her thats what I wanted. All that rushing just to tell me to tell the lady at the register "when" I get there.

So I get to the register and finally place my order. Waffle & chicken and a 20oz bottle of apple juice... Total is $14 and some change. Gave the lady my payment and she give me my juice and a number.

I found it odd that I had to get my own silverware. There seemed to be plenty of bus boys. Im sure one of them can set tables as they are cleaning them. I found the station pretty unsanitary and I went through 4 or 5 forks before finding one I could eat with.

You pretty much get everything at this station. Syrup, coffee, butter etc. I found it very inconvenient considering what I was paying to eat there. Next challenge was finding a table. I went to two empty table, the first was a 4- seater. As I was getting settled the lady comes over and asked me to move for a larger party, which I didn't have a problem with. Until she directed me to a 2 seater by the line. After telling the lady I would prefer to sit AWAY from the line where the door is opening and closing, she found me a table in the rear.

From the time it took for me to obtain my own silverware, syrup, butter, and find a table. The food was finally carried over to me. It was nice and hot. Waffle was delicious, wings were nice and juicy.

Other then the numerous staff walking around asking questions, I enjoyed my meal. The wait staff seemed a bit pushy. Right as I finished sucking the last bone the guy was there to ask me if I was finished and wanted to clear my table.

I saw the owner but he only seemed concerned to meet & greet people he knew. Or if they they were some politician. I guess the rest of the staff annoys the "normal" people.

This restaurant is VERY overrated and overpriced. I will never visit this restaurant again unless they do some upgrading and work on the staff.

• Pros: Food was great
• Cons: Overpriced, snobby customers

12/18/09

Really irritating and unpleasant

by riskassessor at Citysearch

Thought we should try somewhere new and this place gets rave reviews. Went mid morning when there was a very short line. Greeter gave us overly-detailed instructions on how the self-service system operated as if we had never been in a cafe before. Made us squish up to the people in front to shorten the line even though it was already very short.

At the counter, many of the instructions of the greeter (e.g. where to find silverware and coffee) were repeated.

Room echoed a lot. Very noisy. Dark, dingy even. Couldn't see the kitchen so could not tell if it was clean.

Not overly impressed with our meals. Mine was eggs Benedict with huge quantity of different meats (good) but very, very salty (bad).

Coffees were self service in different pots graduated from weak on left to strong on right but many of the pots were empty.

Several different people came round to ask if everything was OK. Too many! IMO, a restaurant should have confidence in itself and not need to ask.

We hated the noise levels, the fairly dark space, having to wait in line to order, and being bossed around while waiting in the line - especially the order to squeeze up against the people in front. The noise levels were really bad and we got out as soon as we could.

Our favorite breakfast place is Harry's on Bagby/Taft. No waiting in line (served at table), light, airy, quiet, friendly but not officious, delicious food, extensive menu (Greek, Latin, American), and a visible and very clean kitchen. It's always good to try somewhere new but we won't be going back to the Breakfast Klub.

• Pros: Huge portions
• Cons: Lines, officious ("helpful") staff, noisy, mediocre food

12/13/09

Good Food is Good For the Soul

by Dave Harbour at Citysearch

Owner Marcus Davis is a hard worker. He has a giving attitude and a warm spirit. He inspires exemplary customer service attitudes among his employees. Truly, though, he probably hires wonderful staff members to begin with. I was down to give an energy speech in Houston from my Alaska home and Houston son, Todd, wanted me to experience his favorite breakfast place. I've never eaten such a good breakfast surrounded by such wonderful folks. A sweet lady met us at the door with a menu and welcomed us to the Breakfast Klub, then told us about the bottomless coffee cup and the specials. After that introduction, I knew we would be in for something special. Marcus deserves to prosper. God bless you, brother! Dave Harbour

• Pros: Fantastic Katfish & Chicken & Grits & Koffee & Service!
• Cons: None Whatsoever