Breakfast in La Crosse: The Green Grass Grows All Around
This is the first installment of my ongoing series, Breakfast in La Crosse.
The food in La Crosse continues to surprise me. From Fayzie's to Marge's, there's no shortage of places to eat a great breakfast. But which should be prioritized? Which should be skipped? Do Bloody Marys matter? Throughout this series I'll address these questions and more, including a Humble Internet's Opinion section looking at ratings around the web — and whether I agree.
Humble Internet's Opinion on Greengrass Cafe
Facebook: 4.8 out of 5 stars. Nothing but positive reviews praising price and food quality.
Yelp: 4.5 stars from 21 reviews. Almost entirely positive comments about the food and wonderful ambiance. The only negative came from a couple who ordered takeout. This is not a place to order takeout. Remember that.
TripAdvisor: #57 out of 158 in La Crosse. 4 stars from 8 reviews. More positive raves about food and price. Two reviewers didn't love the food or the price — they're the minority. Another loved the food but felt the wait was too long.
Friday morning was a good day. No work, and I had the pleasure of eating at Greengrass Cafe. Greengrass is a great little diner near UW-La Crosse at 1904 Campbell Rd, right next to the Eagle's Nest. I'm excited to write about this place — I feel they serve one of the best breakfasts in La Crosse.
I went in shortly after opening with my soon-to-be cousin-in-law, Amy. Great conversation about work and family. The ambiance only enhanced the experience. More people were out enjoying their morning at Greengrass than I expected for a Friday — college students, seniors, and regular community members. You can feel the warmth the moment you walk through the door.
I was initially thrown by the seat-yourself setup — seating myself at restaurants always feels strange — but we found a great spot next to a window. One of the quirky charms of the restaurant: the windowsills are filled with grass and scattered with toys. I'll admit, I touched the grass to see if it was real. It was not.
The staff is friendly and prompt. My coffee came quickly and stayed full — that alone earns a strong endorsement. We also indulged in Greengrass's Bloody Marys. Excellent. I don't know what blend of herbs and spices they use to coat the rim of the glass, but it's far superior to plain celery salt. These people know what they're doing.
I had a Denver scramble — great. Appropriate portions, spot-on price, and the taste tells you they're using quality ingredients. Amy had the basic breakfast: eggs, bacon, and toast. She loved the bacon but noted, reasonably, that "they really should have included more bacon."
This is a great restaurant. Greengrass gives back to the community and puts out a superb product. Those two facts add up to an amazing experience. Do the right thing and patronize them.
Find them on Facebook.