While I do like to sleep in while on vacation, there's something to be said about getting a hearty meal to start things off - especially if your plans include heading to the beach and being in the surf and sun all day.
Here are some places that are close to Bella Vista to grab a delicious breakfast. We'll cover having breakfast at Bella Vista in a future post, namely dishes that are easy to prepare when cooking for a crowd.
Bagel Port
Located just a quick 7-minute drive from Bella Vista, Bagel Port is located less than 2 miles away in the Galleria Plaza on the corner of Highway 17 North and Lake Arrowhead Road at 9666 North Kings Highway. They are opened Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) and open at 6:30 AM. They do curbside pickup and DoorDash, though on busy days, we usually just run into the store ourselves and don't have to wait long at all.
They bake their bagels fresh daily and the plain, onion, and everything bagels are our usual go-to selections. We also enjoy their flavored cream cheeses. The veggie and chive are delicious - we usually get the small container of veggie and a medium container of the chive, since it's so popular in our household.
Breakfast sandwiches are also a good choice. I have gotten a BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese for non-NY'ers) and it was pretty good. Obviously nothing compares to the original on a Kaiser roll, but this one was very tasty plus my view couldn't be beat! I have not yet tried their lox, but it is definitely next on my list.
Theo's Pancake House
Once you leave the grounds of Kingston Plantation, instead of hanging a left toward Bagel Port, if you make a right towards Chestnut Road, you'll be headed towards another great place for breakfast, Theo's Pancake House that's right off Highway 17 before you get to the Tanger Outlets.
Its blue exterior is instantly recognizable and large seating area means we've not encountered a wait to be seated. The friendly owner saw my husband and kids wearing their Buffalo Bills shirts when we entered and greeted us with a "Go Bills!" - he's apparently from New York originally as well! Their menu is closer to a typical diner menu that we know and love, focusing on breakfast staples like eggs, omelettes and pancakes. They also serve some lunch items like sandwiches and salads.
If I don't go for french toast or waffles, my go-to will usually be an omelette with spinach, bacon and cheese as my favorite. I prefer my bacon in the omelette itself instead of on the side because they will usually chop it up nicely and distribute it throughout. I do not want to do more work than necessary while on vacation, haha!
I was also thrilled to discover they served corned beef hash, which I love particularly when it has a little crust on the outside.
Theo's Pancake House | Facebook | Trip Advisor | Menu
Johnny D's Waffles & Bakery
This family-run operation has 3 locations in the area: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle, and Surfside. Johnny D's is run by Chef Jamie Daskalis who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. She also has a cookbook and does private events.
The closest location to Bella Vista is about 15 minutes away in North Myrtle and they are open daily from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. They serve the standard eggs and pancakes but they are really well-known for their dizzying array of waffles - both sweet and savory - and their Coconut Banana French Toast Waffle sounds a little insane. They take a waffle, dip it in custard, grill it and top with bananas, coconut and other sweetness.
They also offer a many different eggs benedict combinations; I am looking forward to trying their Pork Belly Benedict - yum!
Well, that's our round-up for breakfast eateries close to Bella Vista. If you come across another great spot, please add in the comments below, we are always looking for #goodeats!
