Foodies Find Feast of Options at Brighton's Breakfast Club

welcomes new members with open arms, and there's no rubber chicken on this group's menu. Consistently voted Best Breakfast in Livingston County, this small, simple restaurant serves up an impressive array of gourmet breakfasts and, despite its name, lunch.

On a recent Sunday morning visit, we were seated right away, although a line later formed out the door behind us (unfortunately letting cold air blow in all the while).

The regular menu is full of skillet breakfasts, pancakes, waffles and a variety of four-egg omelettes, along with specialties like cheese blintzes, a Breakfast Club Wrap and "The Fluffy" — scrambled eggs with melted cheddar and bacon on a grilled croissant ($6.29).

The restaurant is "world renowned" for its oven-baked French toast, made with cinnamon rolls, Texas toast and croissants melded together and piled a mile high with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and streusel topping ($8.99). This is definitely one to share.

My husband and I weren't in the mood for sweets, though, so he ordered a vegetarian omelette, which arrived stuffed with spinach, tomatoes, caramelized onions and cheese, along with portobello mushrooms that added a subtle kick.

Eggs florentine, with sausage, spinach and black olives, was crave-worthy

I was delighted to find my favorite, eggs Benedict, on the menu, but opted for eggs florentine, a version that keeps the English muffin and hollandaise, but replaces the Canadian bacon with sausage, and adds spinach and two thinly sliced black olives on top. Served with hash browns and strong black coffee, the meal was crave-worthy.

It would take a long time to try everything at this bustling local gem, which also offers a menu of weekend specials that on our visit included a country omelette, raspberry royale waffle, meat lovers bowl, blueberry mango French toast, and quiche duet, served with pasta salad, spring mix and fruit for $7.79.

And make no mistake, the Breakfast Club also serves lunch. Standard fare includes crispy or grilled chicken breast, turkey burgers, reubens and black angus cheeseburgers. More creative offerings include a California chicken melt topped with artichokes, roasted red peppers, melted provolone and scallion aioli; a Mediterranean sandwich with spinach, onion, black olive, red pepper and feta;  the Monterey gold, which tops shaved grilled turkey with mango, guacamole and honey mustard on grilled Texas toast; and a popular Monte Cristo.

A great little spot for lunch, too

Lunch specialties include shrimp scampi, quesadillas, grilled crabcakes and chicken alfredo. The soup of the day is always accompanied by lobster bisque ($3.99, cup; $6.99, bowl).

Children are welcome, and catered to with their own kids' menu.

One wonders how that tiny kitchen, tucked behind the humbly adorned walls of this little diner, could crank out such amazing fare. It takes some time to get your meal, but it's worth the wait.

The Breakfast Club is located at 676 W. Grand River in Brighton and accepts members 7 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. Call (810) 229-8877.