Bloomington is a food city. Point blank. From traditional American fare in the form of burgers and fries to innovative vegetarian creations to the endless ethnic varieties running down 4th Street, this city has delicious fare that satisfies any and all Hoosier tastes. But if our restaurants know how to do one thing exceedingly well, it is definitely breakfast! These are the meals that help fuel our long days of classes, our pre-football game cravings, and our Saturday mornings spent recapping the previous night’s festivities with friends. Here I have highlighted the tastiest meals at some classic IU breakfast spots!
The Village Deli: Short Stack of Buttermilk Pancakes
The Village Deli can simply be summed up as the quintessential breakfast spot for IU students. Located just a block up from the Sample Gates along Kirkwood, the Deli dishes out endless cups of strong coffee and hefty platters to hungry Hoosiers throughout the week. Everything here is supersized including their pancakes! Their homemade buttermilk pancakes, the sizes of Frisbees, are served with a choice of fresh fruit, chocolate chips, and granola alongside warm maple syrup; a meal that will be sure to leave you satisfied for hours and hours.
Scholars Inn Bakehouse: The Sriracha Scramble
With locations spread all around Bloomington, Scholars Bakehouse is the go-to spot for IU students to take their families when they come to visit their budding collegiates. Scholars primarily functions as a bakery thus the majority of the meals they serve come with a couple slices of fresh bread such as sourdough or whole grain and a delicious selection of pastries greets customers when they walk in the door. Scholars offers a creative spin on traditional scrambled eggs with its choice of “scrambles,” which are scrambled egg dishes mixed with creative and flavorful ingredients. Be sure not to miss the spicy Sriracha Scramble which has scrambled eggs, chili sauce, sausage, green and red peppers, and Monterey Jack cheese. Served with a side of home fries and homemade toast, this meal will satisfy all of your breakfast cravings.
Runcible Spoon: The Lox and Croissant Bennie
Tucked behind the shops and restaurants lining Kirkwood, Runcible Spoon has been dishing out classic breakfast favorites to IU students for the past twenty-five years such as Eggs Benedict, endless varieties of omelets, and extra-think French toast. This tried-and-true establishment is also the only restaurant in town to have its own coffee roaster, allowing them to serve fresh, hearty cups of Joe alongside your eggs. One of their most popular breakfast entrees is the Lox and Croissant Bennie which is essentially the perfect combination of Eggs Benedict and bagels and lox; a toasted croissant topped with lox, eggs, and homemade hollandaise sauce. Now what could be better than that!
FARMbloomington: Hoosier Daddy
Since opening up close to eight years ago right off the Square downtown, FARMbloomington has been providing innovative, seasonal dishes that are created using local, fresh, and organic ingredients. The restaurant is located in an open, airy setting covered with colorful Bloomington memorabilia that is often fun to browse through while waiting for your meal. Lunch and dinner menus change seasonally, but the restaurant’s staple breakfast menu should not be missed! Using the chef’s fourth-generation recipe for fluffy buttermilk biscuits, FARMbloomington does just about anything you could imagine with a biscuit with the top choice being the Hoosier Daddy Special. This soul-satisfying comfort food starts out as your standard biscuits and gravy before being topped with a sweet pepper and sausage gravy. Add a cup of their Farmer’s Daughter raspberry mocha and you’ll be ready for a mid-afternoon nap after this meal.