The Breakfast House (1817 Fruitville Rd.), a bright yellow Florida bungalow serving decadent lunches and breakfasts, recently celebrated 15 years in business. The occasion marks a significant milestone for owner Wendy Goldberg, who invested all her savings to purchase the bungalow in 2009. At the time, the cottage—located on the north side of Fruitville Road—was dilapidated, as were the other 14 houses on the block.
“I had an idea,” says Goldberg. “Myself being a designer, I can see past what others may not see. This falling-apart bungalow would make a cute breakfast restaurant.” Six months after buying the property, she restored it, officially opening The Breakfast House on Dec. 14, 2009. Goldberg tells That’s So Sarasota that she served 35 guests on opening day, but by week two, she was serving more than 100 a day.
Goldberg’s success inspired the previous property owner, who owned the other houses on the block, to suspend his demolition plans and save the remaining bungalows—many of which are historic 1920s homes. On Nov. 2, 2012, the “Historic Downtown Village” debuted. All 14 dilapidated bungalows are now small, female-owned businesses. Following the debut, an Artist’s Market was established. “When The Breakfast House first opened, I would say, ‘I had rescued this little bungalow,’” Goldberg notes. “Now I can say, ‘I helped to rescue them all.’”
Sweet and savory treat at The Breakfast House
Goldberg topped her revitalization with sweet and savory breakfast treats. On the sweet side, the “Pancake Parlor” section of the menu offers specialty pancakes like the Lemon Lavender Stuffed Blueberry Pancake (lemon, ricotta, lavender filling stuffed between three fluffy blueberry pancakes, finished with a sprinkle of powdered sugar) and the Island cakes (the House Original: three pancakes, coconut, freshly grilled pineapple, and macadamia nuts).
For something savory, consider one of the 11 styles of eggs Benedict. Varieties include the Key West Shrimp Benedict (topped with shrimp, scallions, and tomatoes), Duck Bacon Benedict (served with maple-smoked duck bacon), and Tuscan Benedict (topped with spinach, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and a special pesto hollandaise). These options only scratch the surface of The Breakfast House’s offerings, which also include an extensive lunch menu. For a complete overview, check out the menu here.
The Breakfast House is open Tuesday – Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check them out on Instagram.
