Taste Buds take on Egg Harbor Cafe
Ian and Allen taste and rank various Egg Harbor menu items
Design by Ian Sands & Allen Liu
Allen Liu, Copy Editor & Ian Sands, Photography Editor
Brunch, for many people, is a quintessential part of the weekend. The fusion between breakfast and lunch brings a welcome change to the traditional three meals. There are many brunch restaurants in Johns Creek, but perhaps the most popular among Northview High School students is Egg Harbor Cafe. It is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, and now, Ian and Allen have put it to the test to see if it stacks up against the competition.
Egg Harbor has a warm, inviting atmosphere that evokes “Southern Charm.” Everything about it points to it being a local establishment, but that isn't the case. It is actually a chain of restaurants that spans from the Midwest to the South. Egg Harbor has a rustic design that contributes to the overall warm aesthetic. The decorations are very homely, and the staff is kind, but this doesn't take away from its practicality at all. They had no trouble seating a group of 14 on a busy Sunday morning. While we chose to sit inside, they also have plenty of outdoor seating.
When Ian and Allen went, they ordered six food items and two drinks, then ranked them from worst to best based on a rating out of ten. Without further ado, Ian and Allen present the Egg Harbor review!
9. In dead last, and for good reason, we have the Bloody Mary mocktail. Appearance-wise, the Bloody Mary looked exactly how it tasted. With a full-length strip of bacon, a stalk of celery, a lemon wedge, a syringe, and a dill pickle jutting out of the lid, Ian and Allen were apprehensive to say the least. The taste, however, was akin to squirting Heinz ketchup straight from the bottle and into one’s mouth, albeit ice-cold and watery Heinz.
8. At second to last, we have the Avocado Toast. It was an average run-of-the-mill avocado toast, but the avocado overwhelmed the other flavors. As people who don't love avocado, this was not pleasant and tasted akin to simply eating a raw avocado. Adding other flavors or taking away some avocado would greatly improve this meal.
7. In seventh place, we have the Barrington Benedict. This was the first time both Allen and Ian had tried a Benedict, so their expectations were high. Unfortunately, the poached egg did not deliver on its promise and was far more runny than they would have preferred. Also, the flavor was not anything special and tasted like a regular breakfast egg.
6. In sixth place, we have the San Antonio Skillet. The potatoes were cold by the time Allen and Ian got to them, and that certainly played a factor in the overall rating. Despite this, the taste was still solid with the pork chorizo permeating throughout the potatoes and the Pepper Jack cheese creating a gooey, spicy flavor. Allen also had the brilliant idea of adding Cholula hot sauce to the dish, which elevated it.
5. In fifth place, we have the Fried Chicken & Waffle. Admittedly, this dish came in as an underdog. At first glance, the chicken seemed wimpy and sad, with the fried breading more gray than golden brown. But when Allen first bit into that crispy, salty, oily, juicy, succulent, and tender chicken, his mind was blown. Coupled with the syrupy, buttery, fluffy, hearty, and airy waffles, the Fried Chicken & Waffle had earned its rightful spot in the top five.
4. In fourth place, we have the Shakshuka. Like the Barrington Benedict, neither Allen nor Ian had tried Shakshuka ever before, so their hopes were high. Unlike the Benedict, the Shakshuka not only met those expectations, but went above and beyond. Its unique blend of Moroccan spices mixed in with tomatoey goodness, all underneath a cloud of poached egg and goat cheese, completely changed what the definition of a tomato dish meant for Allen and Ian.
3. In third is the Banana Bread French Toast. It takes French toast to the next level. The banana bread flavor works well with the classic French toast, and the syrup was very complementary to both. Overall, the only drawback was the density of the bread, which made it kind of hard to eat in great portions, but other than that, the meal was very filling, sweet, and delicious. Mixing banana bread with French toast is definitely a good move, and it was definitely worth it.
2. Next is the Avo-rizo Burrito. This meal is a masterclass on how to use avocado effectively. This meal elevates a classic breakfast burrito by adding chorizo and avocado. Unlike the toast, it doesn't overload the item with avocado; instead blends the flavors together to form a nice savory meal. The portion is very filling and is worth the price.
1. In first place is the Cookies and Creme Harborcinno. This drink is a delightful blend of a cookies and cream milkshake and coffee. It brings the best of both worlds with a deliciously thick texture and classic cookies and cream taste while also maintaining an undertone of coffee. They said they would get this drink every time they go back, 10/10 would recommend.
Menu aside, Egg Harbor is located smack in the middle of a busy plaza, only four minutes away from Northview. For any students looking to kill time before school, Egg Harbor is a great choice! The restaurant is easy to reach, with plenty of parking in the plaza and space inside to accommodate groups of all sizes. The pricing of most entréee items was on the higher end but still reasonable given portion sizes, the average cost sitting between $15-20 with sizes included. Service was speedy and spectacular, with waiters and hostesses being kind and knowledgeable.
Overall, Egg Harbor lives up to its reputation as a go-to brunch spot. With a welcoming ambiance, impeccable service, and sensible costs, it offers a memorable brunch with friends and family that will stay with you for years to come. The Messenger will be making a return to Egg Harbor, only without the Bloody Marys.
