Waking up on a crisp fall morning and watching the sun warm the day, brunch made it on the agenda. Weekend brunch is the most important meal of the week to some, a time to get together with friends or plan a day date. Feasting on sweet or savory dishes and washing it all down with a mimosa or two (or unlimited). The Bay Area has plenty of choices for brunch. From Asian or French inspired options with indoor or outdoor seating, to brunch with a show, specifically of the drag queen kind. Whatever flavor or ambience you’re in the mood for, the Bay is sure to have something for you. Today Yelp was scoured, and Mints & Honey caught my eyes and stomach.
Still at home, I start looking at Yelp pictures to decide on what to order (which at times is a bad idea, as it builds up an appetite bigger than what you started with). Ok, so options are of preference for this meal. Then their toast sampler is spotted. A selection of 4 toasts, mixing and matching amongst 18 of their sweet and savory picks. After deciding on what to order it's time to get in the car and enjoy the nice sunny ride. As I cruise over the Dumbarton Bridge, I turned up the music and opened up the moon roof to let some light in for the ride to Burlingame. No matter how cold it is, the gleaming sun coming through the roof makes the drive serene like on a nice summer day.
Finally the exit, which could not come any sooner since all the menu toast pictures were imprinted in my mind. Burlingame, the City of Trees as it’s known by the wealthy San Franciscan residents who migrated in for the better climate. Being about a 10 minute drive from San Francisco International Airport and San Francisco 30 minutes away, Burlingame is a great option to stay if visiting the Bay Area. Although I am familiar with this city, I am still surprised by the finds of old and new. Like Kitchentown, a quaint little storefront I passed on the way and mentally bookmarked to check out sometime.
Luckily the metered parking spaces were plentiful and circling around with a grumbling stomach was not necessary. As you walk up, you pass their spacious sidewalk patio equipped with a water
station for the outdoor diners. At the front, I whispered, “This is so cute.” and tried to look over the shoulders of the few folks in line ahead to see inside. Just by the signage, welcome mat and plants framing the doorway, I knew I was in for an architectural treat. While in line waiting to enter, a server brought out a menu. Why must you still scan the menu after already deciding on what to eat before you left the house, beats me. Staring at that menu as though I must have missed something earlier, confirmation of what I wanted was made. Now time to ponder on what to drink.
YAY at last I’ve made it inside, still two diners ahead but at least I get to gawk at the interior decor close up. As I reached for my phone, I’m sure fellow diners knew a photo shoot was about to take place. The aesthetic is very nostalgic, reminiscent of a 1960’s kitchen.
From the retro fridge to the tiles surrounding the register area, I imagined ladies dining in their suit dresses adorned with pearls and aqua net bouffants. The designer of Mints & Honey definitely hit the mark.
After taking what felt like a full gallery worth of pictures, it's now time to order at the register. An abundance of toasts were named off; Avocado & Egg, Smoked Salmon, Curry Chicken Salad, Strawberry Ricotta, Prosciutto & Fig, Creamy Mushroom and the Egg Salad with their Apple Pie Latte and Boba filled Earl Grey Milk Tea to drink. You are assigned a number and take to the open seating available. Their floor plan was just as thought out as the decor. With options of the standard 2-4 seated tables, a large community table and tables with beautiful velvet loveseats.
Headed to the community table, I continue to fawn over all of the little details, like the hanging plants lining the walls, the selection of teas displayed at the bar, and a corner nook beautified with a floral painting. Excitingly, I started to list in my head friends and family that would love this place as much as I did.
As I thankfully watched the line of brunch goers form down the street, my food and drinks arrive. The tasting of toasts were in a transition from sweet to savory to creamy. All were tasty, but the stars of the show were the Curry Chicken Salad, Smoked Salmon and last but not least, the Prosciutto and Fig. The salty and sweet bite of this toast with a sip of the Apple Pie Latte (which was not overly apple pie-ish), made for a great combination that tasted very comforting. My only gripe would be the thickness of the toast and it not being low carb friendly. I had to start eating just the toppings to be able to try everything. Besides that, each bite was followed with a “Mmmmmm”, so this will definitely not be my last visit.
Thank you Mints & Honey for taking me back in time and filling me with a blend of flavors I have yet to find elsewhere. Can’t wait to visit again, maybe next time it will be at your San Carlos location.
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