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Breakfast bunch

El Estoque’s Arts & Entertainment section reviews three local breakfast restaurants

Ananya Chaudhary and Benjamin Zhang • March 4, 2025

Graphic | Benjamin Zhang

Holder’s Country Inn

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Overview

On the corner of Main Street Cupertino sits a branch of Holder’s Country Inn, a restaurant serving all three meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Boasting a cozy and warmly-lit interior and fully decorated with a bar and multiple TVs broadcasting sports games, Country Inn invites customers to try its impressively diverse array of items. The plates at this restaurant are giant and the portions follow suit, promising a satisfied stomach for all potential customers.

RATING: 4.5/5

PRICING: $$/$$$

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Continental Breakfast ($16.50)

An absolute bargain for the price, the Continental Breakfast at Country Inn features two gigantic pancakes topped with butter, two eggs, a choice of two sausages or two slices of bacon and a choice of apple or orange juice — we chose sausages and apple juice. The focal point of the meal is the two pancakes: Large enough to cover an entire plate and thick enough to look like several pancakes stacked on top of each other, they are a dream come true for any pancake lover. They are incredibly fluffy and delicate, but not too soft or chewy that it becomes hard to cut through. Each bite is a mouthful of golden brown delight, and it is so pillowy that it feels like eating a cloud. The ball of butter is nicely seasoned and pairs well with the supply of maple syrup. The supporting items don’t let down either — the two sausages are nicely cooked and salted, faring very well in taste, albeit having the appearance of a sad hotel breakfast sausage. The two sunny-side-up eggs have a beautiful yolk with a sun-kissed complexity and have a very nice texture. The apple juice, filled to the absolute brim, is satisfactory and doesn’t taste too sweet. A meal large enough for two people if necessary, the Continental Breakfast is sure to leave one feeling satisfied.

RATING: 4.5/5

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Mushroom & Avocado Omelette ($18.00)

The ginormous omelet mixed with spinach and mushrooms is topped with Swiss cheese and avocado, taking up half of the plate. On the other half sits a mountain of perfectly crispy hash browns and on the side are two pieces of buttered toast. The omelet is generously portioned and packed with fresh ingredients. The combination of spinach and mushrooms contributes to the dish’s earthy flavor, while the Swiss cheese adds a smooth texture. On its own, the omelet lacks depth in flavor and comes across as a bit bland; however, when paired with hot sauce, there is a perfect kick that elevates the dish to a whole new level. The hashbrowns are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, making them an excellent side to the soft omelet. However, the buttered toast lacks flavor and is barely toasted, and feels like two pieces of plain bread. Overall, the meal is fulfilling, and every bite is perfectly textured and with the right condiments, well flavored, creating a satisfying breakfast.

RATING: 4.5/5

Saratoga Bagels

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Overview

Hit by the smell of freshly baked bagels and the warmth of the establishment's employees, Saratoga Bagels creates a memorable experience with a family-like feel and extensive menu. Although seemingly ordinary at first glance, the New York-style joint brings a new style to the Bay Area, explaining its popularity among local residents. However, the establishment is slightly overly praised, as it feels like it is almost trying too much, whether that be adding too much cream cheese or packing a sandwich to the brim — both minimal problems that contribute to a semi-unsatisfying meal. However, this is still a must-try bagel place, as the friendly customer service and variety of bagel combinations make up for slight lacks.

RATING: 4/5

PRICING: $/$$$

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Plain Bagel with Cream Cheese ($4.75)

The plain bagel with cream cheese starts off promising with its simple yet delightful taste. The bagel itself is fresh, with a satisfyingly chewy texture that pairs well with the smooth cream cheese. However, the experience takes a turn with the almost sickening amount of cream cheese on the bagel. While its flavor is delicious, the excessive quantity makes the bagel difficult to finish and can leave a bit of a heavy feeling.

RATING: 4/5

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Turkey & Bacon Bagel Sandwich ($11.49)

Despite the appetizing and tasty look of the cross-section, the sandwich fell apart the instant it was taken out of the bag due to the amount of overloaded items. The remnants of the ingredients, though, still combined to be a delicious item. A good portion of turkey slices and bacon stripes are placed onto the bagels. The bacon, though crunchy, is quite thin and flakey when bitten into. However, when combined with contrasting turkey pieces, the two meat flavors and textures complement each other quite well. The addition of vegetables elevated the sandwich, and the cucumber especially made for a cool and refreshing aftertaste. The bagel, which could be chosen by the customer from a variety of bagel types, was unfortunately extremely hard to chew — though this does mean that it doesn’t suffer from the sogginess that often plagues sandwiches. With the added mustard that brings all the flavors together, Saratoga Bagel’s Turkey & Bacon Bagel Sandwich isn’t a bad option for brunch — if one can look past the falling pieces of lettuce and disintegrating slices of tomatoes.

RATING: 3/5

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Chocolate Cookie ($2.50)

The giant chocolate cookies behind the glass counter certainly lived up to their appetizing appearance. The sweet treat is almost as large as a napkin and wafts a sugary aroma. The outer shell is nicely crunchy, but the inside is fresh and soft. It manages to dodge every sin that a cookie may commit — it doesn’t crumble and isn’t soggy, nor is it chewy. Saratoga Bagels offers a generous portion of chocolate chips, though the sugary delight does get a bit overwhelming towards the end. With a dash of salt sprinkled onto the Chocolate Cookie, the flavors are incredibly well balanced with punches of sweet and salty coming at differing times. While it might often be overshadowed by the abundance of bagel options, the Chocolate Cookie is the creme de la creme of Saratoga Bagels.

RATING: 4.5/5

Sweet Maple

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Overview

With a modern feel, every meal at Sweet Maple is beautifully plated, ready for a picturesque social media post. However, by trading authenticity for aesthetics, the establishment's food is at best subpar and not worth the price, making the Sweet Maple a one-time trip.

RATING: 3.5/5

PRICING: $$$/$$$

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Blueberry Moffle ($17.00)

Beautifully presented, the dish features two bluish-purple mochi-waffles stacked on top of each other, with a generous drizzle of sweet glaze and blueberry sauce positioned on the side. Additionally, a slice of fresh grapefruit adds a hint of tartness to the entrée. The moffle embodies an ideal balance between the two foods: it possesses the perfect chewiness of mochi, with a soft inside, and the satisfying crunch of a waffle from the outside. However, its disappointment stems from the dish's actual flavor, as the blueberry is hardly noticeable, and there is an unexpected bitter aftertaste that detracts from its overall enjoyment. While the glazed sweet cream attempts to cut the bitterness through its sugary flavor, it fails to do so completely. Despite its appealing look and texture, the lack of blueberry and the bitterness result in a less-than-satisfying meal.

RATING: 2.5/5

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Avocado Croffle ($14.00)

The croffle makes up the bottom of the appetizer, topped with seasoned mashed avocado and three scampi shrimps, creating an aesthetically pleasing dish. The croffle itself — a fusion of a croissant and waffle — has a crispy exterior that crumbles with every bite and a chewy interior. The avocado is perfectly creamy, while the shrimp is reminiscent of lemony Mediterranean seafood. However, the overall flavor of the dish feels somewhat disjointed, with the ingredients not blending together as well as one might hope. For example, the avocado is overly peppered and lemony, creating a pungent aftertaste that doesn’t mix well with the shrimp's delicate taste. Overall, it is a dish perfect for those seeking a light breakfast starter for the day.

RATING: 3.5/5

Photo | Benjamin Zhang

Pimped Up Ramyun ($24.00)

Adding flair to the average late-night snack, Sweet Maple’s Pimped Up Ramyun elevates a simple cup of “Shin” noodles to an extravagant entree, garnished with a mixed array of vegetables, a giant fried egg and the signature millionaire’s bacon. Though the dish is filled with the popping colors of red and green bell peppers—seasoned with a mixture of spices—it is more of a pleasurable numbing spice rather than one that’s too hot to handle. The millionaire’s bacon — which Sweet Maple has become widely renowned for — lives up to its name. It is sweet, salty, and candied; each bite is soft but not chewy and is such a unique twist to the standard strip of bacon. The sunny-side-up egg is laid on top of the dish and decorated with a strip of spicy delight. The Pimped Up Ramyun manages to achieve a perfect balance between the nostalgic taste of a street vendor and fine dining.

RATING: 4.5/5

About the Contributors

Ananya Chaudhary, Editor-in-Chief

Ananya is currently a senior and Editor-in-Chief for El Estoque. When she isn’t reporting for El Estoque, you can find her binging her favorite shows: “Gilmore Girls” (only the first four seasons), “Grey’s Anatomy” (the first six seasons) and “How I Met Your Mother” (all nine seasons). Ananya likes to spend most of her time within the bounds of her room, where she likes to jam to music, call her friends or — and most probably — sleep.

Benjamin Zhang, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Benjamin is currently a junior and an Arts & Entertainment editor for El Estoque. In his free time, he likes to play soccer, collect vinyls and review bad movies.