|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Mornings on First serves up homestyle food and creative drinks for breakfast and lunch with relaxed ambiance in downtown Livermore.
In the mood for a fat burrito or a flight of coffee to kickstart your engine? Then Mornings on First may fit the bill. If a hectic day lies ahead, the Karl the Fog latte may calm your spirits with Earl Grey tea, milk, vanilla, and lavender.
The origin story of Mornings on First begins at The Last Word bar located a few steps from the Bankhead Theater. Stewart and Melissa McLean assumed ownership of The Last Word in 2017 and rebranded the venue as The Syndicate in February. The couple opened Mornings on First in June 2024.
Joao Mendizabal was the general manager of The Last Word when the McLeans assumed ownership, and he remains in charge. But he always dreamed of running a breakfast café. He began working as a dishwasher at Jim’s Country Kitchen in Pleasanton, became a cook, and then manager. Later he worked for friends at the Beer Baron in Pleasanton. After they bought The Last Word, they asked him to work there.
In 2023 while working at The Last Word with the McLeans, he learned his friends were selling their restaurant business, La Botica, on First Street, Mendizabal notified his current bosses and shared his passion to operate a café. The McLeans partnered with Mendizabal creating a team of All-Livermore residents and owners of Mornings on First.
With walls and patio chairs painted island turquoise, the self-described Hawaiian “touch” at the breakfast and lunch café is deliberate, said Steward McLean. “Melissa and I got engaged there and love the family ‘ohana’ atmosphere that Hawaii stands for. Our staff are like family to us and Joao.”
The Aloha Mimosa comprised of passion fruit and guava juice mixed with bubbles and vodka might pair with Ohana pancakes topped with coconut, pineapple and macadamia nut sauce. But the café’s specialties are the big draw here. Burritos are the top seller. Packed with bacon, sausage, ham, linguica, cheese and more, the burrito nearly covers the plate. Chilaquiles provides a mix of crunchy, smooth and spicy flavors with tortilla chips smothered in salsa, cheese and egg.
During a recent lunch, my dining companion Valerie selected the Eggs Florentine and said she liked the Hollandaise sauce at first bite. “This is a light, made-from-scratch sauce, not something from purchased a jar. Unlike many Benedicts that I have eaten, this Hollandaise is not heavy. Plus, the muffin is buttered, not dry.”
Could the spinach be fresh, she wondered? Our server Denise said it was and added that the tomatoes were sautéed separately for a fresh taste on each order. We both commented on the big bowl of fresh fruit we chose instead of potatoes. “These melons are firm and ripe,” said Valerie with surprise, since we agreed that many fruit substitutions are soggy and days old. Denise told us the fruit is cut daily, a rarity in many cafés. The waffles and pancakes can be topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries or bananas for a couple of dollars more.
The breakfast tacos I ordered were filled with chorizo, scrambled eggs, queso fresca and avocado. All three tacos make a filling meal.
I ordered a hot honey fried chicken sandwich to take home. I gave the Hawaiian style, creamy potato salad to Valerie for takeout. The Black and Blue Burger on another visit was memorable with a big helping of blue cheese, cremini mushrooms and onion. Gluten free bread is offered, and vegan style non-meat and plant based-egg options are also available.
The kid’s menu is fun to read. Next to the “Kickstarts’ section listing the tea and coffees, the “Little Racers” section features dishes such as Speed Racer egg, bacon and potato and Pit Grill grilled cheese and fries.
Mornings on First is a cheerful gathering place for friends, families, and groups, especially on the back patio. The First Street patio, inside dining and bar space, large patio room with its own bar and rear patio comprise considerable space.
Sitting near us at lunch were Mariah Altizer of Pleasanton and Basia Nojiri or Manteca. I asked Altizer about her favorite selection at the café. “For sure it is the biscuits and gravy. As soon as I tasted it, I liked the gravy and thought, ‘Oh, childhood.’ The gravy was thick like how my Great Grandmother served it. Only she used coffee grounds to thicken it.”
Nojiri liked her Philly omelet with the traditional cheesesteak and layers of provolone, onions and peppers. When asked about her coffee flight, Nojiri said, “They were all good, but the S’Mores Latte with graham crumbles was the best.” The trio also includes a Tiramisu Latte and Cookies and Cream Cold Brew.
Mornings on First is known for creative drinks. Below specialties like burritos and chicken and waffles, the Party Starters menu begins. The Breakfast Shot is listed first with no description. The brave souls who order it without an explanation receive a shot glass with two spirits, Jameson Isish whiskey and butterscotch liqueur, accompanied by a snifter glass of orange juice topped with a slice of bacon.
A Breakfast at Tiffany cocktail contains an array of island-sounding ingredients such as coconut rum and Blue Curaçao. Brunch drinks such as the Bloody Mary and Margarita are available plus a FitVine Mimosa made with FitVine Prosecco from Italy which contains less sugar, which may be a good idea after finishing off Ohana Pancakes or a Waffle Royale.
Observing that Mimosas are available by the carafe and the standard cocktails are also served as flights, I asked about the popularity of these drinks and the Breakfast Shot on weekdays. Denise acknowledged that these drinks are most popular during weekend brunches and social gatherings. The opening hours are 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Given their focus on creating a place for bumping into neighbors and connecting with friends, I asked Steward McLean about his experience in hospitality before becoming a restaurateur. Stewart told me works in hi-tech sales and Melissa is active in communications, and added, “Since we love our town, we wanted to open and own places here. Livermore is such a great place, and this town really looks after each other.”
