kdough San Diego, CA

Three words: Crunchy French Toast.

Johnny's Luncheonette is probably my favorite breakfast spot that I like to hit while I'm in the Boston (Newton) area. I've been there countless times and each visit that I can remember has been great. -- That is, until this most recent one, which was awesome.

This trip included my wife and some friends on the Sunday before the Boston Marathon. As with most good breakfast spots on Sundays, you can expect to wait for a table. Even after a 40+ minute wait for a party of five, it was worth it.

This diner-style joint has a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. I had the incredibly delicious crunchy french toast and one of their tasty fruit smoothies (can't remember what they call it). The crunchy french toast is hands-down my favorite french toast I've had anywhere. They coat the toast with flaky cereals and nuts before cooking it to perfection. This equals deliciousness, amazing texture and crunch. Be sure to ask for real maple syrup to go with it. I don't believe they list the syrup on their menu so keep that in mind! It's worth the extra cost.

Try it! I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back.

For me, the WineSellar and Brasserie always manages to shine. This tradition continued as my wife and I headed to the Brasserie for a nice dinner together.

If you've ever been to the WineSellar and Brasserie, you'll know that it's in a unique location. Nestled among some industrial-looking buildings, just off of Mira Mesa Boulevard, lies the combined wine shop and french-style Brasserie. The Brasserie, located upstairs from the WineSellar, offers an award-winning wine list and menu.

We ended up there on a Friday -- the day before Valentine's day. Needless to say, the place was packed. I had made the dinner reservation early in the week, so we didn't have to worry. Being regulars at the WSB, we asked to be seated at a friend's table (she said this would be okay to do, so I didn't mind going for it). There was a small wait as we had arrived about 15 minutes early. Never fear -- a fine glass of Nicolas Feuillatte brut champagne was quickly suggested to us as we waited at the bar for our table. Fantastic.

Upon being seated at our table, we asked for a wine recommendation. We were looking for a nice Pinot Noir that would pair well with my duck entree and my wife's scallops. A bottle of 2006 Tantara Pinot was the clear winner. We'd both had a prior vintage before (2005 maybe?), so this was a nice surprise to receive as a recommendation.

The fresh-baked bread is always amazing. I started off with the Organic Celery Soup. One word: wow. I am not typically a celery person, but this soup is awesome. The celery, diced green apple and pistachio oil combine into something wonderful. My main entree, as I mentioned before, was two preparations of Duck Confit of the Leg and Grilled Breast. This gets better every time I have it. Cooked to perfection, the duck breast and leg were more than what I had hoped for. The sweet potato puree and the sauce (balsamic vinegar and orange) have my mouth watering now -- and it's been almost three days!

The incredible (and incredibly rich!) food and wine filled us up so much that we, sadly, had to pass on dessert. We'll most definitely be back again and will try even harder to save some room for a sweet finish.