Fido and The Perch

One of the reasons I love summer is that I get to start my day a wee bit later and take my kids to breakfast. This never happens during the school year as there is, well, school, not to mention sports-filled Saturdays that usually start early and Sunday morning church. So breakfast out is a summer or holiday treat exclusively.

Two of my favorite places to take my kids are coffeehouses that also happen to serve exceptional food. Whether you’re taking time for a breakfast meeting, a chat over coffee, or spending time with your kids – meaning infants, as well as out-of-the-nest adults – both Fido and The Perch are superb choices.

Fido, Hillsboro Village: http://bongojava.com/fido.php

Each time I have breakfast here, I find myself wishing we had a daily street fashion photography section, given the fun array of styles I see on both the men and women who frequent Fido. One of the hippest places west of the river, their tagline rings true: “Blurring the line between upscale coffeehouse and casual restaurant.” (And with Vanderbilt out for summer, the parking is a little easier for the time being.)

The Fido Special tells you immediately that this is not your ordinary breakfast fare!

My kids are all big fans of the food here and I have to say, if you’ve never eaten at Fido, you’re missing out, as they offer some of the finest eats around. With an eclectic menu you can enjoy throughout the day, breakfast is not simply a muffin or oatmeal. It’s homemade goodness including breakfast burritos, waffles, huevos rancheros, quiches and more.

The back story on the name is worth sharing, too. Jones Pet Store was the original occupant of the space and their sign remains on the building today, as does a definite dog vibe inside. The day we visited, we noticed our table marker was a photo of a dog with a fun name – Joaquin Pheonix – and some trivia about the breed pictured. Love it.

As if you couldn't tell, my son's main goal this particular day was to make funny faces and lean into all my photos....

The service was quick, the coffee amazing, and all plates were cleaned…for the most part. The portions are large, so eating an entire serving is hard to do.

I had oatmeal with fresh fruit and the "Local Latte" sweetened with local honey!

The salmon scramble (minus the customary herb cream cheese), hash browns and toast.

Chocolate chip pancakes!

The huervos rancheros would have been prettier if we'd ordered with salsa and sour cream. Still, they were a hit!

All in all, Fido not only serves up some of the best coffee anywhere (it’s owned by the Bongo Java people), the food is stellar. Simply put, it’s fun place to be and linger. Introducing your kids to Fido is in essence showing them what it feels like to be cool…as that’s how you’ll feel when you’re there.

The Perch, Brentwood: http://theperchtn.com/

You have to give this area of Brentwood serious props for the growing number of locally owned businesses taking hold here in recent years. The Perch is definitely a place for everyone to check out, no matter where you live. And it’s always bustling, given that the food and coffee are spot on great.

The Perch, with Instagram-added coloring...

I dragged one 8-year old boy and four 13-year old girls out of bed one morning at 8:00 to hit The Perch for crepes. Only one even had the slightest idea what a crepe was. I had to giggle when one ordered coffee and another a latte. REALLY? I think I started liking coffee when I turned 27 and not a second before.

Of the five, four ordered crepes and one ordered a waffle. I opted for a side of Smoked Gouda Grits knowing that splurge was all I needed to add to the coffee I was craving.

All three coffee drinkers got refills (it’s self-serve), remarking nearly in unison,”This coffee is really good!” So, coffee lovers, this place will satisfy without doubt.

Both the apple cinnamon and ham and cheese crepes were a hit, with only a small bite left on two plates. Crumbs were all that remained on the waffle plate, as well. And the grits? Well, they were hands down the BEST cheese grits I’ve ever had, and that includes my own. My son took some and slathered them all over his savory ham and cheese crepe.

Ham and cheese crepe with smoked Gouda grits.

Crepes and coffee and phones at the teen table.

Nothing left on these plates! (Well, we had one slow eater.)

And, the biggest compliment of all? One of the 13-year old girls told me that she planned to bring her mom back and treat her to breakfast for her birthday. How sweet is that?

We love our locally owned coffeehouses, so look for reviews of three other favorites in the coming weeks!