By: Amelia Naughten, News Editor

The Brothers Cafe, a classic American diner nestled in the corner of Magnolia Street, opened its doors for the first time in June of this year. Although it marked the end of the decades-long establishment of the Little Whale restaurant, it also brought in new excitement for Millbrae’s residents. As the cafe’s third official location, many people dined there with high expectations for the quality comfort food the brothers are known for. At the beginning of this October, I also had the opportunity to experience the highly anticipated restaurant. It’s safe to say that The Brothers Cafe did not disappoint.

When I first walked into the cafe, I was greeted with a modernized take on a retro-American diner: sage ribbed cushion seating that ran across one side of the diner, a handwritten blackboard menu displayed over a bustling stainless steel kitchen, and simple orbed lights hanging down from the ceiling. The Brothers Cafe also operates on an order-upfront basis, allowing a more casual dining experience. The restaurant stands out amongst the mix of ethnic restaurants in the city, providing Millbrae with a new American breakfast hotspot in addition to the token Millbrae Pancake House.

To best gauge the versatility of the cafe, I ate there once in the morning and again in the afternoon a week later. To first get a good feel for the diner’s breakfast menu, I ordered one savory and one sweet item, adding on a house-style Arnold Palmer to compliment the meal. 

The All-American – $15 ★★★★★
The All American is the cafe’s signature bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich served with a side of hash browns–the serving size definitely lived up to the $15 cost. The bread had a perfectly toasted and buttery outside, with fluffy scrambled eggs and sweet bacon within. The proportions in the sandwich were just right, with the eggs balancing out the dryness of the bread, and the bacon adding a pop of flavor. Although the hashbrowns erred on the bland side, upon sprinkling some salt, they became a good palate cleanser between bites of the sandwich. 

Belgian Waffles – $12 ★★★★☆

The Belgian Waffle consisted of the same simple sweet flavor as most other homemade waffles, although the Brother’s Cafe did an excellent job of ensuring it had a crunchy shell with a soft inside. The real star of the show was the home-made chocolate whipped cream, surrounded by freshly chopped strawberries. The cream, with faint hints of chocolate and an airy texture, never overpowered the other elements of the dish, rather enhancing the flavor of the waffle. I had never tried chocolate whipped cream before this dish, so I was pleasantly surprised by the creative twist on the classic topping.

Arnold Palmer -$4 ★★★★☆

The Arnold Palmer featured a balance of sweet lemonade and iced black tea, chilled with ice. Unlike many other drinks of the same kind, I enjoyed the more bitter take that the Brother’s Cafe featured and found it refreshing especially in combination with the sweet Belgian Waffles I ordered.

A week later, I returned to the Brother’s Cafe to sample some dishes from their lunch menu. 

Grilled Cheese – $5 ★★★★☆

A staple American meal of cheddar cheese sandwiched between two buttery, toasted slices of wheat bread, the Brothers Cafe could do no wrong. The sandwich reminded me of what my dad makes at home, and while it didn’t particularly stand out, I still found it a tasty meal (especially considering the affordable price).

Mac n’ Cheese – $5 ★★★★☆

The Aldente pasta coated in a rich, white cheese sauce made for a simple yet delicious meal. Unlike many other places that serve the same dish, the cheese sauce did not overpower the pasta. The serving size here was also rather large considering the price, and I felt that my money’s worth was well spent.

Overall, I found both their breakfast and lunch food casual and comforting. While the dishes didn’t stand out from other American dishes I’ve had in the past, it was good quality and I liked the simplicity of the ingredients they used. The calm set-up of the restaurant also makes it a great place to relax with friends and have a conversation without feeling rushed by incoming restaurant-goers. I think this is just the break-up Millbrae needs from the many ethnic and dessert restaurants around; it’s a place where I can get a breakfast sandwich without resorting to Starbucks or other chain establishments. 

I can see myself as well as other Mills students going there more often to get a quick bite after school, especially since the Brothers Cafe recently extended their hours up until 8pm. I look forward to seeing the future menu items that the cafe has in store, and highly recommend it if you want a filling meal that’s reliably high quality and easy to enjoy.