Breakfast is probably the most important meal of the day. If there’s one good reason to get out of bed early in the morning, it should be a warm, hearty meal. Plus, studies show that eating breakfast can actually help people lose weight. Here's a rundown of some of the best morning places and eats:

Apartment 1B

Tucked deep within Salcedo Village is Apartment 1B. Billed as the place for gourmet comfort food, the restaurant has a homey and cozy feel. It is not too large and the second floor is actually just a loft.



Probably the most-ordered item on the menu is Eggs Benedict with hollandaise sauce (P320-P470, depending on the sidings). Apartment 1B also serves the usual Pancakes/Waffles (P235) and Omelets (P310 --try the one with the cream cheese filling). But the Orange French Toast is out-of-this world delectable.



The minute the waiter set my plate on the table, I was mesmerized. The sweet smell of the almonds wafts up invitingly. The bread is soft and tender. It tastes so well on its own that you don’t need to spread butter or pour honey on it. Also, it doesn’t hurt that they use wheat bread for their toast, a healthy alternative to the usual white kind.

Apartment 1B serves breakfast from 7 am to 3 pm.


Café Mary Grace

Café Mary Grace has just recently started offering morning fare, but its dishes are well on their way to becoming just as popular as its ensaymada.



Unlike most meals, which come with garlic rice, its Filipino Breakfasts are served with garlic rosemary fried rice. It might taste almost the same as plain garlic rice, but it sure smells great. The Vigan Longganisa (P179) is ordinary, but the Beef Tapa (P171) is superb. Sweet and savory, the meat is tender and chewy.



Meals don't come with drinks, but there are plenty of juices, teas, coffee varieties and hot chocolate flavors on the menu. The Mint Hot Chocolate (P92) is so rich and heavy that it is more of a dessert than a drink. The same goes for the White Hot Chocolate and Toasted Cashew (P92); it even has tiny bits which taste suspiciously like white Toblerone. The Mexicana Hot Chocolate, as the name promises, is spicy, but sadly, the chili and chocolate don’t mesh well together. Other items are the Pancakes (P165), Fruit Platter (P194) and assorted Sandwiches (P167-P236). A word of warning though: service is quite slow. It takes around 30 minutes for orders to arrive. Even if you arrive at the very minute they open at 8 am, you will be able to finish breakfast well past 9 am. (Tip: Ask for your bill the moment your food arrives so you can leave immediately after eating)

Café Mary Grace (Serendra branch) serves breakfast from 8-11 am.


Italianni’s

Italianni's has the best Corned Beef (P295) I’ve ever tasted. The deep red meat shreds are supple and tasty.



Other meals to try are Spicy Tuyo Fillet (P295) and Garlic Beef (P395). The Salmon Bibingka (P325) is novel. Sardines in Olive Oil (P295) is so-so, tasting just like the bottled ones in supermarkets, as with the Country Style Breakfast Steak and Eggs (P395).





What’s great about Italianni’s breakfasts is that they come with a side salad and a modest fruit platter, on top of the requisite garlic rice and eggs, which all make for very filling meals. This is a very good bargain because in other breakfast places where the meals cost less than P200, you have to order salad and fruit separately.

Breakfast is available from 7-10:30 am, but only at Italianni's branch in Greenbelt 2, Makati.


Portico 1771

Portico 1771 effortlessly combines good food, great ambience and cheery service. Morning sunshine streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The walls are painted bright yellow, complementing the colorful paintings of flowers, gardens and country scenes.



Portico’s Filipino breakfasts (P220 to P360) are probably the best deals in town. Even if priced higher than other stores, meals come with garlic rice, egg, fruit juice and your choice of hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate. Choose from Pritong Paksiw Bangus Belly (P360), Crispy Bacon (P320, although bacon is not strictly Filipino), or Vicky’s Chicken Adobong Tuyo with Native Garlic (P310).



The best item on the menu though, is Baguio Longganisang Durog (P310). Unlike other longganisas, which tastes like the processed food that they are, Portico’s version is fresh and just oozes with flavor. Crunchy and crispy, the Baguio longganisa straddles the delicate line between sweet, salty and spicy, with fantastic results.



It’s too bad that the restaurant sometimes runs out of supply of Baguio longganisas. The Vigan variety which they use as substitute is only half as good, and doesn’t taste quite as fresh. Another thing that is not constant at this restaurant is its Hot Chocolate. On some days, the hot chocolate is thick and creamy, combining the full taste of native hot chocolate and the consistency of Swiss Miss. On other days though, the hot chocolate is watery. One thing that never changes at Portico, though, is their good service. The waiters and waitresses are pleasant, and orders and bills consistently arrive fast.

Breakfast is available from 7-10 am.