Breakfast in America

Kitchens - Mineola, TX

After spending a week in the Pineywoods region of Texas, three things were apparent: the food in restaurants is cheap, it’s almost always good, and there seems like there are more restaurants than people. Eating out seems to be a popular pastime in the area and after browsing the local grocery store chain, Brookshires, it was evident why the restaurants thrive in the Texas. It’s cheaper to eat out than to buy food at the grocery store. I was surprised to find the cost of food to be the same as, if not more expensive than the food sold on the West Coast. 

My third breakfast stop on the Texas tour was Kitchens – also known as the Texas Original Hardware/Deli. This restaurant shares a location with a hardware store which was established in 1899. New and antique hardware is available to purchase. It’s a great place to browse if you have to wait for a table. However, with ample seating, you probably won’t have to wait long. Make special note of the old photos on the wall. Not much has changed in building and you get a real sense of going back in time. 

Like other restaurants in the area, the food is plentiful, freshly cooked and cheap. There is plenty to choose from on the menu: from 3-egg omelets to Migas (a corn tortilla with jalapeños, tomatoes, onion and egg). However, our server convinced us that while everything is good, they had the best thing going with their pancakes. My parents and I ordered the Short Stack of two pancakes and a choice of breakfast meat. I tried the patty sausage and found it a bit dry or overcooked. My dad’s order of ham looked like the better choice and I would recommend going with that if you like your meat with breakfast. If you don’t, they are happy to substitute an egg made to order, like my mom did. 

The Short Stack

The pancakes were tasty – big and fluffy. Although, strangely, I had to keep adding syrup as it seemed to evaporate off the stack. The default pancake toppings were regular syrup and LAND O LAKES® Fresh Buttery Taste® Spread. However,  sugar-free syrup and real butter is also available. 

Coffee Rating: 3 (Rose City Blend from Distant Lands Coffee) 

Spendy Scale: $ 

Other Offerings 

• Lunch & Dinner
• Ice Cream
• Gifts/Hardware

Contact Information 

Hours 

Mon – Sat: 7am – 4pm 

Fri – Sat: 6pm – 9pm 

Sun: 8am – 2pm 

Breakfast served until 10:30am on weekdays & 11am on weekends 

Local Attractions 

• Lake Country Playhouse
• Mineola Tourism Department
• Mineola Nature Preserve

A One-of-a-Kind Cozy

This is NOT an eatery. I stumbled upon this searching for another cafe in Portland and I think these crocheted coffee cup cozies (or hot cup sleeves)  from the Coffee Cozy Cafe are neat-o. Even better, they are eco-friendly.

This is a great gift idea for the coffee/tea/chocolate lover. I’d pair this with a gift card to the recipients favorite beverage spot.