Downtown Fort Wayne
Conner's Kitchen + Bar
Throughout the week Conner’s Kitchen + Bar serves a multitude of delicious breakfast dishes including all of the breakfast classics. Are you looking for a special brunch spot on the weekend? Then Conner’s also has you covered!
The brunch menu bends the normal breakfast rules and combines sweet, savory, breakfast, and lunch. Another specialty of Conner’s Kitchen + Bar is their wide variety of coffees. Not just a simple black cup of joe, but you can get a latte, a cappuccino, or stick with a locally roasted brew.
*Pictured above is Conner's Kitchen + Bar's Smoked Brisket Hash
Cindy’s Diner
If you’re looking for a classic Fort Wayne breakfast spot, eating at Cindy’s Diner is a must. Their menu comprises of corned beef hash and eggs, “garbage” (a combination of eggs, potatoes, cheese, onions, and ham), hot cakes, eggs, a three-egg ham and cheese omelet, and sides such as English muffins, bagels, muffins, hot cooked cereal, and toast.
Cindy's is serving the community, 15 at a time!
*Pictured above is a casual day at Cindy's Diner.
Dash-In
Serving breakfast all day, Dash-In is a good restaurant to visit if you’re looking for a simpler breakfast menu. With 12 main options, all served with a side of either hash browns, breakfast meat, sauteed veggies, or fresh fruit. Even though the menu runs small, Dash-In does not fail to serve everyone's taste buds.
The menu offers lighter fare options such as their Yogurt Delight and Avacado Toast and classic options such as Biscuits and Gravy and their version of a breakfast skillet called "Slop." And of course they have unique dishes like the "Smash Bowl" and their "French Toast Casserole."
*Pictured above is Dash-In's Weekend Brunch "Build your own Omelet"
Proximo
This downtown eatery serves traditional breakfasts and ones with a little Latin-American flair. Proximo has nailed their savory dishes such as their Chilaquiles, Steak & Eggs, and their Garbage Skillet. However, they don't stray from serving a sweet breakfast in their menu such as their Lemon Blueberry Pancakes and their Dulce de Lech French Toast.
Proximo also has many different Benedict options and if you're looking for a light breakfast, has options to order sides such as banana bread, turkey bacon, and bagels.
*Pictured above is Proximo's Dulce de Leche French Toast
Ophelia's
Ophelia's technically specializes in brunch, not opening until 9:00, however their breakfast dishes are not something you should miss out on! Treat yourself to their specialty drinks and thier sweet breakfasts such as their spin on French Toast or Spiced Sweet Potato Pancakes. Or if you are interested in the savory/lunch side of their brunch be sure to check out their Totcos (tater tot nachos) and Biscuits & Gravy Benedict.
While you go for the food, be sure to stay and enjoy the aesthetic and "instagrammable" look of the restaurant.
*Pictured above is Ophelia's Flora Latte
South of Downtown Fort Wayne
The Friendly Fox
The Friendly Fox is restaurant that takes their culinary and customer service skills very seriously. Not only are they locally owned, but strive to get their products from local vendors, such as their coffee from Fort Wayne's Utopian Coffee. This family-owned restaurant serves breakfast every morning from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. and add a brunch menu to the mix on Saturday mornings at the same time. While they have many unique options such as their quiche, they may be known for their delicious breakfast sandwiches. The sandwiches are special with unique ingredients such as brisket, chorizo, and even bacon jam!
*Pictured above is the interior of the Friendly Fox decorated for the holidays.
If you enjoy Mexican and you enjoy breakfast, this diner is the perfect spot for you. Waynedale Café is a family-owned and operated restaurant that serves authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex breakfast options... and it is a treasure. In addition to many of the more traditional American breakfast options, the Waynedale Café offers huevos rancheros, chorizo and eggs, and a Mexican-style steak and chilaquiles, a dish which consists of fried tortillas topped with eggs, a red or green sauce, and steak or chicken.
*Pictured above is Waynedale Cafe's Chicken Chilaquiles en salsa verde with sunny-side up eggs.
If you’re searching for a restaurant with an environment that feels like home. The Bluebird constantly pushes themselves to give their customers a meal that is full of comfort and love.That's just one of the things that keeps regulars regular. Another one of the things that keep people coming back to The Bluebird is the Griddle Toppers. Griddle Toppers are eleven toppings that transform waffles, pancakes and French toast into any ambrosia you desire. The Bluebird also has angel food cake French toast, the idea of which might seem scandalously decadent, but remind yourself there are no breakfast rules to break.
*Pictured above is a snapshot of the Bluebird Restaurant's dining room.
North of Downtown Fort Wayne
Mastodon Grill
If you find yourself on the north side of Fort Wayne, possibly near Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW), catch a bite at Mastodon Grill. Connected to Holiday Inn PFW Mastodon Grill serves hotel residents and customers from the public daily for breakfast and dinner. With your classic breakfast options nothing can go wrong at this establishment. Did we mention that kids under 12 can eat for free with a purchase of an adult meal? Try their Malted Mini Waffles served with berries, whipped cream and warm syrup or their Slider Trio, three yummy breakfast sandwich sliders!
*Pictured above is a Mastodon Grill coffee cup.
The Liberty Diner is a Manhattan-styled eatery, and you know what that means: smoked salmon for breakfast. The Liberty Diner offers a bagel with cream cheese, of course, but it also offers a distinctive dish wherein the salmon is paired with savory potato pancakes. It is also known for its Greek-style egg dishes (omelets and frittatas). Try many of their other specialty dishes or choose from an expansive menu of breakfast classics: skillets, pancakes, waffles, French toast, and combo meals.
*Pictured above is one of the famous Liberty Diner omelets.
One reason the Lunch Box Café is so popular is that its recipes were devised by Gerhard Heinecke, who cut his culinary teeth at Gardner’s, a beloved and much-missed downtown drive-in restaurant. One of the best things to order is the steak omelet, which is absolutely packed with tender ribeye. But don't miss out on their Breakfast Manhattan that covers your classic breakfast combo with sausage gravy or their many breakfast burrito options.
*Pictured above is a shot of the bar top at the Lunch Box Cafe.
This post was originally published in January 2018. Last updated June 2024
