Cheap eats: Bellevue Bistro

The Mediterranean Breakfast Bake at Bellevue Bistro consists of mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, spinach, basil, feta and mozzarella and served with rosemary potatoes and two fried eggs. (Credit: Gary Landers | Metromix)

Weekend tour: Bellevue

Spices, sandwiches, sweets and more line Fairfield Ave.

Located along the quaint Fairfield Avenue strip of tea and cake shops in Bellevue, the aptly named Bellevue Bistro fits right in. Part coffeehouse and part lunch spot, their large breakfast and lunch menu eclipses the coffee part, even though people can walk in and get the Joe to go. I wake up bleary-eyed on a Saturday morning and somehow pull myself out of bed before 2 p.m. Breakfast is only served until 11 a.m. on weekdays and until 2 p.m. on weekends, so I have an incentive to rise and shine.

The mood: When my boyfriend and I first arrive, there's only one other party dining, but soon enough, about five other groups of people filter in. They all seem to be drinking Cokes and eating lunch not breakfast. C'mon people, live a little! Have a mimosa or two.

The sunny décor in the dining area features yellow-colored walls, framed photographs for sale and fresh roses in vases setting on their 10 wooden tables. Wide windows allow a lot of light to shine through and offer a glimpse of pedestrians whisking by. A radio station blasts over the PA, but it's not overtly loud and neither are the chatting diners. It's pretty much everything I'd expect from a brunch place.

The food: As soon as we sit down, the waitress asks, "Anything to drink?" Yes. Coffee. Stat. She brings over a robust mug filled with house brewed coffee. Since it is brunch time, the boyfriend doesn't hesitate and orders their version of Sangria. Instead of wine, they pour cranberry-lime Smirnoff into a tall glass and load it with chunks of fruit. It tastes like cherry soda, which is fine, but it's more like a Shirley Temple than an adult drink.

Their Eye Opener drinks are truly unique, especially the Vincent Vega ($2.50). Having had this on another visit, I can attest the vanilla Coke with a shot of espresso drink tastes like what that failed Coke Blak stuff should've been.

We opt for the breakfast fare instead of their lunch items of sandwiches, veggie wraps and salads. I order the Mediterranean Bake ($7.50), a piping hot skillet of fried eggs served over roasted potatoes, onions, feta cheese, mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes. The boyfriend gets one of their benedicts, the Kentucky Hot Brown ($8.25). The Bistro spins this and piles turkey, cheese, crab, fried eggs and bacon onto a biscuit instead of an English muffin. How Southern.

The food is plentiful and filling and the boyfriend naturally cleans his plate and then happily eats my remains - our routine. Satiated and sleepy, we decide to head home and take a late afternoon siesta.

The drinks: I had a coffee ($1.75) and the boyfriend had a Sangria ($3.50) and coffee ($1.75).

The damages: $24.12 with tax.

The verdict: Friendly service with a Southern twist on traditional cuisines. It's casual and not as fancy as the bistro name indicates, so it's good for a weekend brunch or a weekday leisurely lunch. Afterwards, take a stroll down the avenue.