Montclair Egg Shop
The Montclair Egg Shop
Your Family Brunch Spot
We love eating out, and a few years ago, slow and lazy brunches with bottomless mimosas were a part of most weekends. Now, with a toddler and an infant in tow, just getting out of the house can be a big production. Showing up to a restaurant and trying to squeeze a stroller between tables, apologizing for the inevitable spilled food on the floor, and trying to keep your child entertained so they don’t disturb other patrons can be downright exhausting. We’ll just eat at home, thank you very much. Luckily there are a few spots in the East Bay that make families feel invited and comfortable, and of those, the Egg Shop in Montclair Village is by far our family’s favorite. My two year old daughter loves it so much, she regularly walks around the house with a brown grocery bag draped over her shoulder, proudly announcing “I go Egg Shop now”.
The Egg Shop first opened in 1974 with multiple locations throughout Oakland. The Montclair Village location is the only remaining restaurant. The casual sit down spot is open for breakfast and lunch daily. It’s not unusual to find a line of patrons waiting outside for a table, but I’ve found that if you arrive before 9:30 you’re usually seated quickly on Saturdays. With the Montclair Village Farmer’s Market taking place every Sunday just a block away, arriving before 9am can help you avoid a wait then. The food is delicious and the staff are always welcoming and inviting to families. Booster chairs, high-seats, a kids menu, and crayons are on hand to make your meal that much easier. They strive for quick service and are always happy to bring out fruit or bread for the little ones to munch on while we wait for the rest of the order. Eggs do feature heavily here, with an estimated 300-400 eggs cooked up daily. My personal favorite dishes are a toss up between the Salsa de Montclair omelette and the Eggs Florentine. I’m a huge fan of poached eggs and hollandaise and usually judge a new brunch spot by how they pull of this classic breakfast staple. Egg Shop definitely tops my list on their execution. If you haven’t already given it a try, I definitely recommend stopping by. Bring the kids!
To learn more about the Montclair District, click here.