Address: 10841 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Hours: Mon-Sat 6:30 am – 3:30 pm, Sun 7 am – 3 pm
Parking: lot, street
Visited: December 12, 2010, 9:30am
Okay, so it’s been a while. But don’t think that team ESP hasn’t been out trying to get things done – the holidays may have slowed us down, but we’ve visited a few places over the last month (after determining that Taki Sushi is either closed or under “remodelation”). We’ve been a little slow on writing things up, but we promise we’re back in the groove now…as long as “Sexy Saturday” at Gregory’s doesn’t force us to meet our maker early. On to the review!
A couple of weeks before Christmas, we decided to try some AM nibbles to salve the realization that Taki Sushi was no more. What better place to nosh on breakfast specialties than Nibs, a San Pablo standby that apparently specializes in “Charbroiled Burgers” and “Homemade Pies” according to the faded pylon sign. We parked in their medium-sized lot and ambled into a narrow foyer with a take-out counter connected to the service area behind the counter. Dave inadvertently rang the low-hanging wind-chimes with his head, announcing our entrance. We passed through the interior door and found a full house of Nibblers along with a couple of spare stools near the end of the wood-grained Formica counter. A friendly smile and two menus came our way.
The most striking part of Nibs was how festive it was. This wasn’t your average Christmas decor – not a quick run to Target for a couple of discount ornaments, an inflatable Nativity set and a bunch of Santa-head mugs that make you think you’re drinking Santa’s brains. No! The owners at Nibs care about Christmas, and the results are palpable: stockings hung, fireplace decked, tinsel strung and ornaments hanging over the counter that could have made the worlds largest Newton’s Cradle with the right bump.
When the attentive staff returned we ordered: Dave went with the bacon-avocado + jack cheese omelet along with wheat toast and an OJ; Emily opted for eggs (scrambled hard, of course), bacon, toast and grits, washed down with coffee.
As we waited for our food we couldn’t help but notice that some farming was happening in front of us on the counter: a John Deere salt and pepper shaker set was ready to plant the napkins. We glanced down the counter to see a cornucopia of salt and pepper options creating quite a collection. Sadly, there wasn’t a “Salt-N-Pepa” salt and pepper set, but if we see it in the discount bin at CVS, we’ll buy it for them.
As we started eating, a regular came in and sat next to us at the end of the bar. How do we know he’s a regular? The staff saw him and brought him his own mug from a collection of mugs – each with its owners name. How often does one have to come to Nibs for this honor? The regular told us he got the mug after coming 5 or 6 days a week for 2 years. If you want your mug, you’ve got to be dedicated. It’s never too soon to start.
At $22 before tip, the nibbles weren’t bad. They clearly understand the pay-off on pre-buttered toast, a brunch essential that most places don’t follow. Add that to an impressive warm-syrup dispenser, plenty of hone-fries, and great jam, and I’d say it’s worth adding to our weekend bunch-around when we’re hankering for a hunk of diner food. Will we get personalized mugs? Probably not, nonetheless, thanks for brunch, Nibs, I’m sure we’ll be back at some point.
Final cost: $22.66 + tip
