Golden Waffle Combo

$9.25 at Golden Waffle Café

1449 Broadway, Placerville, 530-642-9322, goldenwafflecafe.com

The Golden Waffle is one of those small-town relics of a diner that seems to transport you straight back to the ’70s—complete with wooden booths, vinyl seats, an orange and brown color scheme, hearty portions, and ever-flowing coffee bestowed from the friendly waitstaff. Known for, you guessed it, their waffles, the Golden Waffle combo is always a stellar deal. It arrives piping hot with a large Belgian waffle that’s equal parts chewy and perfectly crisped, two eggs your way, and a choice of smoky bacon or savory sausage links. With the syrup on the side, you could dip each bite separately or pour it over the whole kit and caboodle for a touch of maple with your bacon and scrambled eggs. Talk about a classic all-American breakfast of champions.

Quiche

$10.29 at Sweetie Pie’s

577 Main Street, Placerville, 530-642-0128, sweetiepies.biz 

For nearly 30 years, Sweetie Pie’s has been a staple for locals and weekend warriors alike as they pass through Placerville. From the decadent baked goods and olallieberry jam to the variety of melts and salads, there’s something for every appetite—including their daily quiche with a flaky, buttery crust and cheesy, egg custard filling. The vegetarian option is always chock-full of seasonal veggies and Emmental cheese, and served alongside hash browns or country potatoes and toast. During the brunch rush, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cold seat throughout the Victorian’s lovingly renovated rooms, so grab a mug from the counter crew and fill ’er up at the coffee bar as you enjoy the lively crowd and try to control your salivating.

French Toast

$9.25 at California Kitchen, 251 Main Street, Placerville, 530-622-7500 

California Kitchen offers a full lineup of breakfast favorites with a few Mexican influences mixed in (the huevos rancheros with mole, carnitas, and chilaquiles are all muy bueno!), yet when you wake up craving something sweet, French toast is both satisfying and perfectly respectable to order before noon. California Kitchen’s version hits the spot with thick Texas toast, generously dipped in cinnamon-vanilla egg batter, before hitting the griddle for that glorious golden brown coating. Topped with a dusting of powdered sugar, and served with whipped butter, maple syrup, and a side of strawberry preserves, it’s worth rising and shining for. With one of the few full liquor licenses in Downtown Placerville, you’d be remiss to not order a Bloody Mary. With a variety of tasty pickled veggies and even a strip of bacon, it’s almost a meal in itself!

The Farm

$7 at The Argonaut Farm to Fork Café

331 Hwy 49, Coloma, 530-626-7345, argonautcafe.com

It could be argued that Coloma hit the map twice. The first time, of course, when miners discovered gold in “them thar hills,” and again when The Argonaut Farm to Fork Café opened its doors 10 years ago. The popular little roadside café along historic Highway 49 serves up innovative and inspiring breakfast and lunch fare that’s truly farm to fork. The Farm is consistently fantastic and includes a bagel of your choice (try the jalapeño cheddar for a little extra heat) piled with perfectly fluffy scrambled farm eggs, gooey melted cheddar, and spicy sriracha Vegenaise. You can also add on creamy avocado slices for an additional $2 and still stay under budget. Pair your breakfast sammie with a Temple drip coffee to go, and spend your morning exploring the gorgeous golden foothills and the South Fork of the American River. Eureka!

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Brioche

$8.50 at Selland’s Market-Café

4370 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 120, El Dorado Hills, 916-932-5025, sellands.com

From the owners of Ella and OBO, Selland’s Market-Café now has three locations, including one on Broadway and their flagship in East Sacramento. The El Dorado Hills spot, which is tucked inside Town Center, is the perfect brunch destination during a day of shopping or before catching a matinee at the nearby Regal Theaters. The brioche sandwiches are always divine, as the bread is warm, buttery, and fluffy on the inside with a golden crust. My favorite is the bacon, egg, and cheese variety with peppered bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, fresh tomatoes, and green onions. With an amazing combo deal for lunch, you might just want to stop in after the movie, too; for $9.50, pick your choice of any two items: a cup of soup or chili, 1/2 cold sandwich, cold side, or variety of small side salads.

Three-Egg Cajun Sausage Omelet Breakfast

$9.59 at The Purple Place Bar and Grill

363 Green Valley Road, El Dorado Hills, 916-933-2313, thepurp.com

Established in 1955, The Purple Place has long been a laid-back, family-friendly roadhouse serving delicious, seasonal dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Renowned also for their large covered patio (umbrellas and misters in the summer and heaters during winter), pool tables, shuffleboard, Etch A Sketches, a whopping 10 high-definition TVs, live entertainment, and awesome specialty cocktails, there’s plenty of reasons why this is “the place” to go in El Dorado Hills. Breakfast features fan favorites like egg bennies, pancakes, French toast, and signature omelets. Try their three-egg omelet with farm-fresh eggs, diced Cajun sausage, cheddar cheese, hearty seasoned country potatoes, and your choice of toast. Pets are welcome here, too, so be sure to check out their “Purple Pooch” menu for your furry friend! 

Coconutty Toast

Coconutty Toast; © Style Media Group

$7.60 at Totem Coffee Co.

312 Main Street, Suite 104, Placerville, 530-903-3280, totemcoffeeroasters.com

When Totem Coffee entered the caffeine scene in the fall of 2015, they quickly became known as the little roasters that could, offering ethically sourced, quality grounds from around the world. One of their first featured food items, breakfast toast in an array of flavors (both sweet and savory), is still a fan favorite. I mean, who doesn’t love toast? Heywood Banks even wrote the aptly named song “Toast!” with a good chance he was crooning about Totem’s coconutty option. It’s equal parts healthy and heavenly with thick, rustic slices of organic bread (from Auburn’s The Baker and The Cakemaker) slathered in creamy coconut peanut butter, ripe banana slices, a drizzle of honey, and a heavy sprinkle of hemp and chia seeds for a bit of crunch. Enjoy it while cozied up listening to some vinyl inside the chic, warm interior or outside on the ivy-covered and sun-dappled patio. We’ll toast to that!

Two-Egg Breakfast

$9.49 at Diamond Springs Hotel

545 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, 530-621-1730, diamondsprings-hotel.com

When you’re hankering for some good country cooking, Diamond Springs Hotel never disappoints. Their hefty menu tempts with a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, but it’s the classic two-egg breakfast that guarantees a bright, light start to any day. Two eggs (cooked your way) are plated with either three strips of crispy bacon or freshly made sausage patties and your choice of toast or a buttery English muffin. The historic hotel is a charmer with its antique-filled dining room, red-and-white checkered tablecloths, and staff that’s fluent in homegrown hospitality. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the owner’s second venture, the newly refurbished Sportsman’s Hall in Pollock Pines—another historic Gold Rush stop along the famed Pony Express Trail, with equally delicious food.

BLT

$8.95 at Placerville Brewing Company

155 Placerville Drive, Placerville, 530-295-9166, placervillebrewingco.com

Since 2005, Placerville Brewing Company (PBC) has been keeping the community satisfied, thanks to an expansive pub menu and signature beers and ciders (all brewed on-site) that rotate by the season. If you’re one of many that have the attitude that everything is better with bacon, then you won’t be disappointed with PBC’s BLT paired with their crispy, natural-cut French fries and a side of chunky blue cheese dressing. (If you’re able to splurge by upgrading to their garlic and Parmesan fries, do it!) Loaded with fat slices of bacon and the traditional crisp lettuce, juicy red tomatoes, and grilled sourdough, this BLT is far from ordinary. Although the beer is constantly flowing, PBC is a casual family place; on a nice day, be sure to snag a spot on the patio to enjoy the sunshine.   

Falafel Sandwich

$9 at Farmer’s Delicatessen and Bakery

3952 Cambridge Road, Cameron Park, 530-672-6800, farmersdeli.net

Getting their start at local farmers’ markets, the aptly named Farmer’s Delicatessen and Bakery opened their much-anticipated storefront in an unassuming area of Cameron Park with a few inside tables and lots of authentic flavor. Specializing in European cuisine that's made from scratch, Farmer’s also offers frozen items for you to take home and prepare (their rosemary focaccia, garlic knots, and lamb meatballs are a must), as well as breakfast sandwiches and sweets. Their selection of lunch fare, however, including the falafel sandwich, will transport you straight back to the motherland. The warm and soft pita is brimming with flavorful falafel, farm-fresh cucumbers, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and their heavenly tzatziki with a sprinkle of paprika and secret spices. If you like a little heat, ask for it spicy, and the gracious staff will happily comply.

Picadillo Enchilada Lunch Combination

Picadillo Enchilada Lunch Combination; © Style Media Group

$8.50 at Casa Ramos

6840 Green Leaf Drive, Placerville, 530-622-2303, casaramos.net 

Marco Ramos and his family have owned and operated restaurants in Northern California since the ’90s, with several “House of Ramos” locations throughout the foothills. Placerville’s Casa Ramos—which has loyal fans, thanks to time-tested and tasty family recipes, generous portions, and huge margaritas—introduced a new lunch menu recently with several specials for those watching their budgets. The “Lunch #1” offers your choice of an enchilada, taco, tamale, or tostada with a side of their Mexican or cilantro rice and your choice of beans. The picadillo enchilada is especially exceptional and comes with slow-roasted shredded beef mixed with pork and your choice of house-made sauce (salsa is traditional, but you’ll love the mole). Prepare to leave satisfied but not grossly stuffed.

Tortilla Soup

$9.50 at Cascada

384 Main Street, Placerville, 530-344-7757, cascadainplacerville.com

Located near Placerville’s Bell Tower, Cascada boasts some of the best people-watching windows on Main Street—both in their dining room and front bar area—and is an ideal locale for cozying up in the afternoon with a steaming bowl of their terrific tortilla soup. Cascada makes theirs with a savory, slightly spicy broth and chunks of white meat chicken along with onions, garlic, a bit of fresh cilantro, crispy corn tortilla strips, avocado slices, and a dash of cheese and sour cream. A bowl of it could make a nice lunch all on its own, yet you can’t say no to their complimentary chips and trio of dips: mild pico de gallo, hot roasted salsa, and a totally addicting creamy refried bean. 

Lasagna

$7.95 at Papa Gianni’s Ristorante

3450 Palmer Drive, Suite 1, Cameron Park, 530-672-2333, papagiannis.net

Serving authentic Italian cuisine for nearly 20 years, Papa Gianni’s has always been a top choice for date nights and special events, thanks to a romantic ambiance and amazing service, but did you know the restaurant also offers some of their dishes with slightly smaller portions and less expensive price points during lunchtime? The homemade lasagna (served with their to-die-for garlic bread) is a personal favorite and comes with meaty Italian sausage, classic marinara, creamy ricotta, and layers of luscious pasta before being finished with melty mozzarella. Make it a sweet ending with one of their traditional Italian desserts: tiramisu, cannoli, and a variety of cheesecakes.

Deviled Egg Salad Sandwich

Deviled Egg Salad Sandwitch; © Style Media Group

$9.90* at Timmy’s Brown Bag

451 Main Street, Suite 10, Placerville, 530-303-3203, timmysbrownbag.com

Timmy’s Brown Bag offers an exciting rotation of tantalizing sandwiches with zany ingredient combinations that totally work (think Japanese curry sloppy joe with crunchy Indian snacks or smoked oysters with pepper bacon and asazuke cucumbers). Their often-featured deviled egg salad offering is piled with crunchy potato chips, crisp winter greens, sweet bread and butter pickles, V8 mayo, and bacon red onion vinaigrette on a fluffy brioche bun. Alternately, if you must stay under budget, you can opt for an equally filling order of decadent and flavorful truffle fries or tots, smoked paprika limeade, or pho black lime crinkle fries with hibiscus aioli.

House Chili

$8 at El Dorado Saloon and Grill

879 Embarcadero Drive, El Dorado Hills, 916-941-3600, eldoradosaloonandgrill.com

Combining their two family-owned restaurants, El Dorado Saloon and Sauce’d Pizza and Cocktail House, the owners recently unveiled the reinvented El Dorado Saloon and Grill. Gone is the mechanical bull in the bar, but the same great service, local live music, and mouthwatering mules are here to stay. They’ve also introduced an exciting new menu that runs the gamut from Italian, traditional Southern, American fusion, and Mexican influences. For lunch, a hearty bowl of their house chili is a welcome change from the traditional sandwich and features certified Angus ground beef and chunks of grilled tri-tip with chili beans, all topped with onions, cheddar cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. With plenty of cozy seating inside, El Dorado Saloon and Grill also boasts a pet-friendly patio in case you want to bring your favorite furry friend and enjoy your lunch in the sunshine.

Turkey Pumpkin Sandwich

$9.95 at The Farm Table

311 Main Street, Placerville, 530-295-8140, ourfarmtable.com

The Farm Table is one of the pioneering farm-to-table establishments in the area, with a menu that changes by the season and uses locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. There’s even a small market on-site that sells house-made sausages, pantry items, and their famous duck confit. Lunchtime means a variety of tempting sandwiches, including their house specialty: turkey and pumpkin on house-baked ciabatta. It’s essentially an entire comfort meal in one bite. The sammie is stuffed with Diestel free-range smoked turkey, winter squash roasted with sage and leeks, local greens, and a sweet and tart cranberry mayo. To bring the farm home, sign up for either their “Gourmet Charcuterie” or “Seasonal Sausage Clubs” and enjoy the area’s bounty all year long.