Breakfast is the most interesting meal of the day. The options range from a plain piece of toast to the full spread of bacon, pancakes, eggs and other breakfast food fare. I think if you invest an early rise into your day, a good breakfast is the least you deserve.
Bleary eyed and groggy, I visited Zarzour’s Eats, also known as ZJ’s, and Jackie’s Treats to reap my reward. ZJ’s is open Monday through Fridays at 6:30 a.m., and at 7:30 a.m., on Saturdays for breakfast. After breakfast, they stay open till 2:30 p.m., with home-style meal options.
For breakfast, there’s all kinds of choices. I started with a cup of coffee so I could read the menu without dozing off and then went for an Applewood smoked bacon omelet served with biscuits and gravy or toast and hash browns or grits.
The biscuits and pepper gravy were my favorite by far, and the mix went well with the omelet, which was stuffed with cheese and large crumbled pieces of bacon. The hash browns I picked as a side were good, but I found myself wishing I’d tried their grits instead. They probably would have mixed better with the items I ordered.
Their other breakfast items include French toast (with the option to add fresh seasonal fruit on top), bacon, sausage, city ham, eggs (in varying numbers), fruit cups, pancakes, oatmeal and sliced tomatoes. These items can come as part of the platters they offer; in wraps, sandwiches or omelets; or all on their own. The prices are so reasonable that it would be an effort to go over $10 and still be hungry. My meal was only $7.65, and I couldn’t finish it.
Their lunch specials also sound quite appetizing. Mondays, they have pot roast or quiche with the standard sides. Tuesday, they have chicken and dressing or meatloaf. Wednesday is country style steak or chicken and dumplings. Thursday is chicken potpie or French dip with aus jus. Friday is bourbon glazed chicken or lasagna, and Saturday is fried chicken or spaghetti and meatballs.
The standard sides they offer on most of these days include hash brown casserole, lima beans, broccoli, mashed potatoes, pinto beans, green beans, macaroni and cheese, sliced tomatoes, side salad, coleslaw, cup of fruit or soup. Three sides are included with the main course for lunch meals.
In addition to all this, they have the standard menu that includes soups, burgers, sandwiches and one-of-a-kind bakery items. Even though the sun was just rising, I was tempted (and encouraged by the owner) to take out a slice of their homemade, perfectly iced cakes. The carrot cake was gorgeous, with little icing carrots decorating the top, and the strawberry cake was a vibrant and tempting shade of pink. I resisted, but if it’s midday and visitors aren’t too full from the lunch offerings, they should definitely try these desserts.
Their cake selections include Oreo dream, lemon explosion, strawberry, triple chocolate, vanilla bean or Grand Marnier cheesecake, carrot and red velvet. They have specialty banana nut and apple cinnamon bread as well as cheese bars, French silk pie, white chocolate cherry pie, apple sour cream pie, 7-layer dream bar and lemon meringue pie. Jackie sure does have a number of tasty sounding treats.
The interior of ZJ’s also offers a lot of character to go with the dining experience. This café style restaurant is located directly across from the Market Street Tavern and Miller Plaza and beside Quiznos. There is plenty of room inside the restaurant for any size group. The walls of the restaurant feature many colorful glass collage tiles and several works of art for sale.
Since the business is family owned, there are also pictures of the family on the wall, and under a sign saying “Loves,” other photos of children and sweethearts. The red and yellow colors inside the restaurant and the art give the place a cheerful atmosphere, but also make it good for a quiet breakfast or a social get-together.
The manager and server working when I visited were both very personable and attentive to making me feel taken care of and welcome. Even though this restaurant has only been around for three months, they are doing well and keeping their name in the public eye with daily status updates about their specials on Facebook.
ZJ’s also offers their own line of sauces and apple butter for sale at the register so that guests can take a little bit of eats and treats home with them. For an early morning riser reward or for home style cooking without the long wait and messy cleanup, visit Zarzour’s Eats and Jackie’s Treats.
Email Erica Tuggle at reporter@hamiltoncountyherald.com.