Kitschy Country Breakfast at Apple Tree Cafe
Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2017"This is it," I thought as I opened the last Christmas present from my mom several years ago. "Now I have tangible proof that she always wanted a daughter."
Mom had given me an entire set of highly effeminate, tacky country stoneware adorned with apples. There were large coffee mugs, bowls, plates, soap dispensers, gravy boats and more. I never thought I'd see that stoneware again, until I had breakfast at Apple Tree Cafe in Deer Park.
The cafe is located on the west end of the Dillonvale Shopping Center strip mall on Galbraith Road, near the PNC Bank. We'd first visited the restaurant in 2010 and were surprised to find it still going strong more than six years later.
Apple Tree Cafe feels like a small town diner. It's got that old country kitsch decor that would make any grandmother swoon. There are red checkered table cloths and a refrigerated display case full of pies and cakes. There are barn paintings. There are little wooden roosters. There are bird house decorations. And yes, there are apples. Lots and lots of apples.
We stopped in recently to reacquaint ourselves with the place. The menu includes a line of soups, sandwiches, burgers, chicken and shrimp baskets, pasta dishes and quiche. But make no mistake: Apple Tree Cafe's specialty is its breakfast menu, served all day.
The cafe's breakfast offerings include various egg platter combinations, as well as pancakes, waffles, French toast (including their signature caramel-apple version), sausage, omelets, breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy and grits, all washed down with some coffee served in a large mug.
The biggest difference we noticed was that the cafe has nearly doubled in size over the last year, as they'd purchased, gutted and remodeled an adjoining space. They needed it, because when we stepped inside, the original dining room was packed.
For our latest visit, I ordered the "country breakfast:" two eggs cooked to order with a choice of grits, home fries or hash browns, along with sausage or bacon and a small portion of biscuits and gravy ($8.25). My girlfriend opted for a biscuit sandwich topped with an over-easy egg, sausage and cheese, along with a small side of grits and hash browns ($8.25).
My favorite kind of egg has been of the poached variety of late, and when I make them at home, the results are hit or miss. I was pleased to find that Apple Tree's poached eggs were perfectly formed, with the hot, liquid gold yolk core I yearn for. The fried potatoes were brown, crispy and delicious with the two large slices of sausage. My "small" biscuits and gravy was a meal in itself: one large biscuit halved and submerged in a pool of mildly peppery gravy, which instantly whisked me back to my childhood.
My girlfriend's biscuit was flaky, hot and a bit messy with yolk running unbidden between the layers of cheese and sausage, but she managed happily well. Her grits were thick and buttery. So were the ones she was eating.
Given all the fancier breakfast spots in town, we often forget about these hidden, unassuming gems for the simple fact that they don't exude a trendy or youthful vibe. Yet most of the time, all you need is a place that serves consistently good food. We'll be back to visit Apple Tree Cafe, kitschy effeminate stoneware and all.
The best TACO joint in the city. I go there as a treat to myself every Monday. TEX MEX TACOS are delicious culinary treats that look beautiful and taste great. I'm so impressed with this place that I never explore the other items on the menu. If you don't get your taco fix here, you're losing in life.
posted: Tue., Apr 27th, 2021 @ 2:37 PM
My Wife and myself dined at Ferrari’s on Saturday and the Food and service was great/ I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli with misc nuts and sauce and it was the best meal I’ve had there/ My wife had the Fish and Vegetables and was very happy/ I also got a couple of their pizza and olive loaves of bread/ The bread is always a hit at work.
posted: Mon., Nov 23rd, 2020 @ 1:14 PM
@Rick: Thanks for the suggestion! I'll have to remember to give them a try.
posted: Sat., Nov 21st, 2020 @ 9:06 AM
Try Joe's Pizza located at Airway and Smithville Rd. You might like it...That's one of favorite haunts. I definitely think it beats Cassano's.
posted: Fri., Nov 6th, 2020 @ 4:19 PM
Hands down the best Indian in the area. I have yet to find their yellow Punjabi dish anywhere. It is my favorite, and what keeps me coming back time after time. I think I have been here over 100 times. I love this place.
posted: Thu., May 28th, 2020 @ 12:03 PM
I found a gyro I keep thinking about
https://www.yelp.com/biz/tazikis-mediterranean-cafe-cincinnati
their lamb gyro is about 2-3 bucks higher in cost than a gyro elsewhere - B U T - it is made with whole pieces of lamb meat, not the lamb and beef loaf that all other Gyro joints in Cincinnati seem to do
it is a chain. A minus for me, and I suspect for you as well.
But its good.
really, really good
one caveat: skip the baklava as it is not made in-house
posted: Mon., Dec 9th, 2019 @ 12:43 PM
I'll take your word for it, then.....it is fairly close to work so it'll be an upcoming lunch
I also need to try out this little taco wagon near Quatmans in Norwood
posted: Mon., Sep 9th, 2019 @ 6:21 PM
Hi @TJ - We were pretty impressed with the quality of the items, which I think justifies some of the pricing. I really liked the house-made tortillas and their salsas. Chilero offered some extra little touches that were a pleasant surprise. :)
Just by way of comparison...that same week we'd tried the new Mazunte location downtown...and our experience at Chilero beat them out.
posted: Thu., Aug 29th, 2019 @ 10:18 PM
Great food and fantastic atmosphere
posted: Wed., Aug 28th, 2019 @ 8:29 PM
Seems very pricey for a mostly carryout/counter-service joint
posted: Wed., Aug 28th, 2019 @ 5:51 PM