Bites Nearby: In a Pickle Restaurant

A restaurant has to be doing something right when it's packed at 2 p.m. on a Friday afternoon.

Opened in 2005, In a Pickle, just across from , has become a destination in the Waltham restaurant scene. Its secret? A balanced choice of classic "all-day" breakfast fare: omlets, eggs with home fries, pancakes, French toast, waffles and reasonable prices. One long-time Boston food critic described its breakfast menu as "affordable, delicious, unpretentious, yet inventive."

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When the owner (he goes by just "Tim") was trying to open a restaurant 7 years ago and wrestling with finances, he found himself in a pickle (hence the place's engaging name). Today, though, it could be called "the toast of the town."

What to eat: Most popular is the extensive breakfast menu, starting with lots of different kinds of omelets, filled with chicken, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes and other choices. But, it's hard to pass up eggs and home fries, fluffy pancakes, caramel-crunch French toast, or Belgian waffles. There are also paninis, burritos and sandwiches.

The vibe: A lively, packed and busy scene. Groups might have to wait for a table.

Cool factor No. 1: You can create your own omelet or sandwich, choosing all the fillings, cheeses, veggies, meats, and breads.

Cool factor No. 2:If some people at the counter (there are nine stools) look like regulars, it's because they are.