There’s nothing more ’Murica than breakfast food, but eggs benedict reign supreme when it comes to a truly American morning meal. Purportedly invented in Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the late 19th century, eggs benny are a staple at any diner—and when executed well, are usually an indicator of how tasty the rest of the menu is.

At Benedict’s Cafe and Bar, breakfast is happily served all day. This newly opened eatery, named after the iconic breakfast dish, is the shiniest addition to an otherwise nondescript shopping center on Camden Avenue. Offering more than 30 breakfast options, as well as a somewhat eccentric lunch and dinner menu which boasts French, Italian, American and Mediterranean fare, Benedict’s has it all—but perhaps trying to do it all is too much.

After arriving at the restaurant late Sunday morning, we were seated promptly in the restaurant’s dining area, which is separate from Benedict’s bar. A large newspaper-print menu displayed a variety of Bay Area-inspired items, such as the red-and-gold Niners and silver-and-black Raiders pancakes ($10.99 each), sure to please the rivaling palates of Bay Area football fans.

I decided on the chunky monkey pancakes ($10.99), which came loaded with chocolate chips and slices of caramelized banana and were swimming in a super-saccharine butterscotch syrup that tasted exactly like a melted See’s Candy’s lollipop. The pancakes were cooked perfectly, but the butterscotch syrup became overwhelming after a few bites.

On the savory side of the menu, I went for the chicken and waffles benedict ($12.99), an updated version on the classic which included two perfectly poached eggs on top of a generous portion of fried chicken and hollandaise sauce. Despite the excessive amount of hollandaise, the fried chicken was flavorful and juicy on its own. The waffles were somewhat bland and didn’t add much to an already flavorful dish. The gardener’s breakfast skillet ($12.99), an egg-and-potato scramble that included spinach, avocado, mushrooms, tomato and cheddar cheese, was well-rounded in flavor and texture and came with enough mix-ins to please any vegetarian, but was sadly missing potatoes. Whoops.

All of Benedict’s savory breakfast items also come with a side—of which there are nearly 20 different options—that are sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Sides can also be purchased a la carte for $4 to $6 each.

Benedict’s Cafe and Bar is convenient in that there’s an option for every palate. That being said, narrowing their menu to focus on key dishes, rather than going so broad, might be a better strategy for this newcomer. —Avi Salem

Benedict’s Bar and Cafe  5365 Camden Ave, San Jose. benedictssj.com

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HERE’S NOTHING MORE ’Murica than breakfast food, but eggs benedict reign supreme when it comes to a truly American morning meal. Purportedly invented in Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the late 19th century, eggs benny are a staple at any diner—and when executed well, are usually an indicator of how tasty the rest of the menu is.

At Benedict’s Cafe and Bar, breakfast is happily served all day. This newly opened eatery, named after the iconic breakfast dish, is the shiniest addition to an otherwise nondescript shopping center on Camden Avenue. Offering more than 30 breakfast options, as well as a somewhat eccentric lunch and dinner menu which boasts French, Italian, American and Mediterranean fare, Benedict’s has it all—but perhaps trying to do it all is too much.

After arriving at the restaurant late Sunday morning, we were seated promptly in the restaurant’s dining area, which is separate from Benedict’s bar. A large newspaper-print menu displayed a variety of Bay Area-inspired items, such as the red-and-gold Niners and silver-and-black Raiders pancakes ($10.99 each), sure to please the rivaling palates of Bay Area football fans.

I decided on the chunky monkey pancakes ($10.99), which came loaded with chocolate chips and slices of caramelized banana and were swimming in a super-saccharine butterscotch syrup that tasted exactly like a melted See’s Candy’s lollipop. The pancakes were cooked perfectly, but the butterscotch syrup became overwhelming after a few bites.

On the savory side of the menu, I went for the chicken and waffles benedict ($12.99), an updated version on the classic which included two perfectly poached eggs on top of a generous portion of fried chicken and hollandaise sauce. Despite the excessive amount of hollandaise, the fried chicken was flavorful and juicy on its own. The waffles were somewhat bland and didn’t add much to an already flavorful dish. The gardener’s breakfast skillet ($12.99), an egg-and-potato scramble that included spinach, avocado, mushrooms, tomato and cheddar cheese, was well-rounded in flavor and texture and came with enough mix-ins to please any vegetarian, but was sadly missing potatoes. Whoops.

All of Benedict’s savory breakfast items also come with a side—of which there are nearly 20 different options—that are sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Sides can also be purchased a la carte for $4 to $6 each.

Benedict’s Cafe and Bar is convenient in that there’s an option for every palate. That being said, narrowing their menu to focus on key dishes, rather than going so broad, might be a better strategy for this newcomer.

Benedict’s Bar and Cafe
5365 Camden Ave, San Jose
benedictssj.com