There Are No Odd Balls, Only OddFellows

Remember my addiction to breakfast? It's not waning, but I promise to get off the brunch bid after this post. (I swear.)

Photo by Karyna Michaela

I went down to the Urban Street Bazaar in the Bishop Arts District on Saturday, and I was tickled to death to take some fun photos of all the vendors selling their homemade goods. 

As I walked down the sidewalk towards Oddfellows, the "fresh and local" place I was supposed to meet mi amiga at before taking my artistic sneak peek, I dived into my ruby-red, shoulder pouch to pull out my camera. 

It was at this moment I realized I had left my memory card floating around on my laptop (insert face palm here). Yeah, it happened. You know, that moment where you are so pissed off at yourself no words can be uttered. Needless to say I couldn't take any pictures. Bummer, and I mean big bummer. (Thanks to Karyna for lending me a photograph of our eats. Aesthetics are super important, this she knows.)

 Despite my error, I decided to bask in a little "me" time with a mimosa while we waited for a table inside. (There's a window by the patio that opens up into a bar.)

My advice? Get there early. Oddfellows isn't a huge joint, and it fills up fast on the weekends. (We had to wait about 3o minutes to be seated) And although the food is good, it's a bit on the pricy side (I'm assuming it has to do with the whole fresh and local thing, or maybe they're just so good, they charge that much just because they can. Hey, I would too.) The Migas and Buffalo Mac & Cheese (Voted Dallas Observer's Best Mac & Cheese of 2011) are delicious. I repeat the Migas and Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese are delicious.

But I wasn't too thrilled with the service. Our waiter took about 10 minutes to take our order then never really came back until the end of our meal, only to ask if we were ready for our checks. (I give props to the girl who stepped in towards the end to finish up with us. I hope the tip went to you, lady.)

I guess it comes down to one simple question: would I go back despite minor discrepancies?

Oddly enough, I would.

Run A Mile...Or Seven...To Breakfast

Ok, I admit it: I never liked breakfast as a kid. I prefered to sleep 10 more glorious minutes instead of dragging my little butt down to the kitchen to put food in my stomach. (I could do that later in the day so why bother, right?)  I did, however, occasionally scarf down my grandmother’s traditional homemade breakfast: two eggs, one slice of American cheese warm, gooey and melted just the right way. (Eight-six and still alive and kickin’. Go Nana Go!)

But you know, here I am 15 years later and suddenly always up for devouring some delicious morning goods: juicy fruit, yogurt, large, thick and crumbling muffins filled with lumps of gooey, chocolate chips and  stuffed, dripping omelettes that would make even the most snobbish of food connoisseurs drool. So what happened? Did my taste buds magically grow a new preference? Well, the way I see it now, food is food and no matter what kind, it’s always good. Must be that whole growing up thing (They say your pallet changes as you get older. That’s gotta be it.)

So way back (And when I say way back I only mean two weeks ago...not two decades) during Spring Break when I had time off from work and school, I was hungry, starving, famished, etc. etc. and decided to take my taste buds over to Seven Mile Cafe off Congress St.

This place, simply put, is "The Shiz." Hooking up locals with fine, downhome cooking, the one story home painted to perfection in gray blue paint, serves breakfast and lunch everyday from 7am-3pm. Their outside as well as their inside will give you that warm, fuzzy feeling (Yes, all over and everywhere. Feel the tingle.) and remind you of some general store your grandparents used to walk a mile and a half to in order to scarf down some of that penny candy that's now $2 in 2012. Although, the guitar collection mounted high above the tables is more modern than retro. (I still dig it.)

 It is a bit on the pricy side, but I believe in sticking by that whole "you get what you pay for" mentality. (It's pricy but not unreasonable considering they offer vegan and vegetarian options to diners.) I suggest trying one of their signature scrambles, (Particularly the avocado, mushroom and cheese scramble. Hello, Happiness!) which comes complete with a larger than life side of hash browns and your choice of wheat or sourdough toast, a cinnamon roll or rasberry breakfast cake. (I opted to switch this out for fruit. It's .75 cents extra btdubs.)

Don't forget about their pancake options too: pineapple upside down, red velvet, chocolate and peanut butter and cinnamon roll.

Why in the hell did I ever pass up breakfast? With age comes wisdom.

Run. Don't Walk to Seven Mile Cafe.