Breakfast Between Two Slices

Bed-Stuy, you make a mean breakfast, if I may say so myself.

I can’t say that I’ve had better omelets, egg sandwiches, hash browns, bacon, grits, or any other heart-warming, comfort food in the city. Classic Bed-Stuy breakfast means extra butter, extra cream, and helpings that seem to take the “I could eat a horse” saying literally. What a way to start your day!

So I’ve decided to dedicate this week’s top five list to breakfast sandwiches. I searched diners, cafes, and delis all over Bed-Stuy looking for the best breakfast sandwiches, and came up with some unexpected combinations as well.

I tried to keep the price down as well, with sandwiches no more than $6 (and that was David’s Brisket House, where the portions could feed a small army).

Below are my favorite finds, an eclectic mix of bagel sandwiches, bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches and grilled sandwiches (all of which I recommend with a steaming cup of coffee).

5. Bedford Hill Coffee Bar - 343 Franklin Avenue

I tried their grilled cheese sandwich, which comes with melted sharp cheddar, and an herb and goat cheese spread, as well a list of other possible toppings. I opted for additional avocado, my all-time favorite vegetable. The sandwich was creamy, cheesy, and warm, with a distinct flavor of rosemary. Be sure to get this with a toasted bagel instead of the bread! The bagels here are great, not too firm nor too bready, and they make this $5 meal much more filling and appetizing (don’t be fooled by the brioche, it is pretty much just dry, white bread).

4. Bushbaby - 1197 Fulton Street
For $4.50 you can get a classic breakfast sandwich with turkey bacon, egg, and cheese on a croissant. Out of all the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches I've tried in the neighborhood, this one was my favorite. For one, the croissant is huge, flaky, buttery, and soft, and the innards neither too greasy nor too eggy. A thinly fried egg folds around melted cheese with turkey bacon (the less greasy, but just as delicious version of bacon) so that all flavors melt into each luxurious bite.

3. Wally’s Square Root Cafe - 584 Myrtle Avenue
Wally’s Bagel is a great breakfast option that is summery and delicious. The bagel comes with cream cheese, pesto, roasted red peppers, red onions and tomatoes. The flavor of herbs and onions, with the  sweetness of red pepper and tomato and creamy cream cheese makes for a delicious combo. Plus, it comes with a side salad of fresh greens, onions, carrots and tomato with balsamic vinaigrette. All in all a great meal, and very affordable at $4.75.

2. David’s Brisket House - 533 Nostrand Avenue
I know it is a bit on the pricier side, but I couldn’t write this article and ignore the sandwich shop of all sandwich shops, David’s Brisket House. Here you can purchase a brisket, egg, and cheese on rye bread with mustard, and a dill pickle on the side. The brisket is warm, smoky, and in abundance, with a thin egg and American cheese. Brisket on rye is one of those ancient combinations that will never grow old–the strong flavor of rye combined with the mildly smokey taste of the brisket. And now you can get it in the form of a breakfast sandwich!

1. Pilar Cuban Eatery - 393 Classon Avenue
Pilar offers a version of a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich that will blow your mind. The sandwich is scrambled eggs with cheese and house-made chorizo on pressed cuban bread, for $5.25. The bread is thin and very crispy, cut into a perfect rectangle. The chorizo is by far the best part–smoky, soft, salty, and spicy all at once. Combined with just the right amount of egg and melted cheese, this breakfast sandwich makes for one of the best egg and cheese sandwiches you will ever have.