Alright, so I gotta tell you about this morning. Woke up, and the stomach was making noises, you know? The kind that says “feed me now or face the consequences.” I was down in Long Beach, just kinda wandering, and then I saw this sign: Waves Breakfast. Never heard of it, not a local hotspot I knew, but hey, when you’re hungry, you’re hungry.
First Impressions, You Know?
So, I walked in. It wasn’t super fancy, not one of those hipster places with mismatched chairs and art that costs more than my rent. Nah, this was more… straightforward. Like a classic breakfast joint. It was decently full, which I usually take as a good sign. People don’t usually line up for bad food, right? Or maybe they do, what do I know?
Got seated pretty quick, which was a win. The waitress, she was hustling, man. Looked like she was juggling ten tables, but she had that “I got this” vibe. Handed me one of those laminated menus, the kind that’s seen a few battles. You know, coffee stains and maybe a sticky spot or two. Adds character, I guess. Or maybe they just need to wipe ’em down better.
The Order and The Wait
I’m not one for complicated breakfast orders. Too many choices just stress me out before I’ve even had coffee. So, I scanned through, saw the usual suspects. Ended up going for something simple:
- Pancakes, classic.
- Side of bacon, because why not?
- Coffee, black. The usual fuel.
The coffee came out first, thankfully. Standard diner coffee. Not gonna win any awards, but it was hot and it was coffee. Did its job. Then the wait for the food. Wasn’t too bad, actually. Watched the kitchen door swing open and shut, saw plates piled high going to other tables. Everyone seemed pretty happy with their mountains of eggs and potatoes.
The Main Event: Did it Wave Hello to My Taste Buds?
Then my plate arrived. Looked pretty decent. The pancakes were a good size, three of ’em stacked up. Golden brown. The bacon was next to it, looked like it was cooked just right – not too floppy, not burnt to a crisp. That’s a delicate balance, man, and a lot of places mess it up.
Took a bite of the pancakes. Fluffy. Good texture. Not too sweet on their own, which is good ’cause you’re gonna drown ’em in syrup anyway, right? The syrup was just the regular kind, nothing fancy, but it did the trick. Bacon was good. Crispy, salty. Exactly what bacon should be. Honestly, it was a solid, no-nonsense breakfast. No bells, no whistles, just straightforward good food.
The whole vibe was just… a breakfast place. People talking, forks clinking, coffee pouring. Nothing pretentious. It was what it was, and it was doing it pretty well.
So, Would I Go Back to Catch Another Wave?
Yeah, I think I would. It’s not the kind of place you’d drive an hour out of your way for, you know? It’s not a “destination breakfast.” But if I’m in Long Beach again, and I’m hungry in the morning, Waves Breakfast would definitely be on my list. It’s reliable. It gets the job done. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. No drama, just a good plate of food to start your day. And sometimes, that’s the best kind of practice run for the day ahead.
