Walk in any direction off campus and you’ll run into tons of amazing restaurants within five minutes. There’s nothing better than starting your day by eating a filling and delicious breakfast from a great spot just around the corner. Whether you prefer Maple, Freret, or Magazine Street, your choices of yummy breakfast food are limitless.
If you’re looking for a big breakfast plate filled to the brim with classics like pancakes, eggs, potatoes, and bacon, Bearcat is absolutely the place to go. Their menu is huge, but they do an amazing job of making each dish uniquely delicious. The only hard part about breakfast at Bearcat is choosing just one thing to get.
Pro tip: if you go to Bearcat and don’t order their delicious breakfast potatoes, you didn’t really go to Bearcat.
Another great option, but one that serves a less traditional breakfast, is Toast. Per the name, they have wonderful toast options, and I highly recommend the toast with honey, prosciutto, and ricotta. Their crepes are also delicious; as a fan of savory breakfast foods, I usually opt for the prosciutto and brie crepe. And no matter what, make sure you get an order of Aebleskivers for the table… you might not be able to pronounce the name, but I promise you’ll love these puffed pancake balls.
Pro tip: Get the chocolate dipping sauce. Thank me later.
Both Bearcat and Toast usually have quite long waits on weekend mornings (which attests to how good the food is), so I would recommend going early, or during the week if it fits into your schedule, because you’ll more likely get seated right away.
Pro tip: if you decide to head over to Toast on the weekend, make sure to join the waitlist on their website before getting there!
Understandably, not everyone wants to spend their whole morning getting breakfast. Luckily for those people (sorry, can’t relate), there are plenty of quick, yet just as good, places near campus. The best bagels nearby undeniably come from Humble Bagel. With a great assortment of bagels and cream cheese, you’ll get a filling breakfast for a lot less money than the above restaurants. Make sure you get their early (probably before 11 on weekends) because once they run out of bagels, you’re out of luck!
Pro tip: Get an orange juice, and reuse the cute jar for coffee or other drinks during class!
If you’re a true devotee to bagels and don’t mind a short drive, head on over to Stein’s on Magazine! Its as authentic a Jewish deli as they come, and they have allllll your favorites. Not to mention, they serve up a true New York bagel.
If you have a busy day and are worried that going to breakfast will detract from your homework/study time, just combine the two! All of my favorite study spots involve two necessities: food and coffee. Satsuma is a great option for this and is always frequented by Tulane students doing homework. The breakfast food, like their Mexican breakfast plate, is definitely worth writing home about. But there are also numerous options for people who aren’t big fans of breakfast (again, cannot relate).
If it gets a little too loud and you can’t focus, try walking down a couple blocks to Maple Street Patisserie. This is one of my favorite breakfast spots because it’s pretty quiet and bagels and pastries come at great prices. It’s even been voted best bakery in New Orleans a couple times!
Pro tip: try the croissants!
Another great breakfast location and study spot makes you feel like you’re sitting in a Parisian café in Le Marais: La Boulangerie on Magazine Street. This is a great spot whether you’re out with friends or looking for a new place to grind out a few study hours. They have a huge menu, and on top of that, there are dozens of delicious sweets and pastries for sale. My favorites are the avocado toast and the banana bread
Pro tip: I recommend buying a whole loaf and you’re set for breakfast all week!
If you’re looking for brunch on a budget, I have two final recommendations. The first is Waffles on Maple, and honestly the different combinations of toppings they put on and in the waffles is astonishing. But beware: they are closed on Saturdays, so don’t get your hungover heart up after a Friday night of partying. The second place is no stranger to Tulane students: Crepes a la Carte. You definitely won’t find a breakfast place closer to campus (unless it’s the Commons), and there is the added bonus of them taking NolaBucks! No matter what your go to breakfast dish is, you’ll easily find an amazing version of it in Uptown Nola.
Cover Photo: Justin Haber
About Renee Bunszel
Renee Bunszel is a sophomore from the Bay Area, and an English major and SLAMM minor. Renee loves reading, writing, and eating all the delicious food in New Orleans!
Renee Bunszel is a sophomore from the Bay Area, and an English major and SLAMM minor. Renee loves reading, writing, and eating all the delicious food in New Orleans!
