Linni Eats Newport Beach: Haute Cakes

When you spot the long line lingering outside of Newport Beach's Haute Cakes Caffe, don't be dismayed--you will need that time to decide from the delicious menu. The restaurant's owner will serve you fresh strawberries with greek yogurt as you contemplate your options, and will even field questions about their breakfast offerings and that day's specials. If nothing on the menu tickles your fancy, the line also offers a great view of the prepared pastry case, practically overflowing with red velvet cupcakes, quiche slices, and myriad other morning pastries.

When it's finally your turn, be sure to get some of their fresh-squeezed orange juice, and try to fit pancakes into your order somewhere--it is their namesake, after all. Their specialty blueberry cornmeal variety is a classic, safe bet, but the orange ricotta is also worth a shot. If you're watching your figure and these carbs sound terrifying, fret not. Mona's Breakfast offers egg whites cooked with spinach and salsa and is served with a bowl of haute oats, berries, and non-fat milk. This healthy choice is just as good as the carbo-loads and disappears from the plate just as fast.

The Mexican Scramble is another one that doesn't stick around for too long--despite ample portion sizes, it is just hard to put the fork down at this place! Chorizo, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and queso fresco are served with guacamole and sour cream and one can't help but savor those flavors, silently gobbling up all the eggs in sight. They offered a special scramble that day with sausage, onion, and apple and the owner was kind enough to make a half size for me. The Haute Scramble was also served in half size and featured tomato, basil and spinach.

Another special, and arguably the best, was the hot cereal. It sounds a bit boring, but there is nothing plain about the warmth of five grains served with sunflower and pumpkin seeds, almonds, dried cherries, and fresh bananas topped with a dollop of cool, refreshing greek yogurt and drizzles of honey. Why this isn't a regular menu item, I do not know, but I would pay good money to have this appear on a more regular basis.

The restaurant is tucked away off of the street and offers outdoor seating in a relaxed setting, where you may find yourself surrounded by beautiful, well-behaved dogs and babies of all shapes and sizes. Wealthy Newpsies in their velour track suits make for some interesting people-watching, and the owner makes frequent trips around the patio to socialize. Sunday mornings can be rough, but this is a place worth waking up for. If you can't get yourself out of bed before noon, they also have a lunch menu, featuring more classy fare like the brie sandwich served with oven roasted tomatoes, basil and balsamic all on a toasted baguette.