Saturday morning was a long one. Wake up 45 minutes earlier than I do on a weekday to ready myself for a harrowing drive 35 miles through 12″ of fresh powder and blowing snow layered on top of slick and poorly cared for roads to drive my wife to her first 5K–one she could have done in Burnsville if she had only known to look. After getting dressed and packing the car I opened the garage door to find an impassible driveway due to plowing. Ten minutes of shoveling later and the car was in the driveway getting warm and we were about ready to head out the door just as the clock rolled over 6:00.
We slowly made our way out to I-35 and headed south towards Faribault. While the roads were plowed they were slick, the blowing snow made it even more difficult to see and the number of cars whizzing by only to later end up in the ditch was making the white knuckle ride from hell that much worse. The first thing I wanted to do when I arrived in Faribault was sit down and relax with a warm cup of decaf and after a quick stop to register The Wife for her 5K we did just that.
I hopped on the web and looked for restaurants in Faribault nearby. Ignoring Perkins, I found a listing for Bernie’s Grill located a few blocks from the Community Center where we were parked and made my way towards it. Downtown Faribault, unlike many of the communities to the north, continues to keep up its original downtown and seems to be doing it well without any empty storefronts and plenty of people making their way in to Bernie’s Cafe to beat the cold and snowy day which had just dawned as we walked through the door.
Bernie’s is a cute and well kept little diner with ample seating at a variety of tables and a very small counter at the front. Tables were adorned with a variety of holiday mugs which came in a multitude of colors, designs, and sizes ranging from large to very large. While the coffee wasn’t very good, I almost felt at home eating at Bernie’s and based on those who were eating there with us that morning it seems like many of the regular patrons who knew each other well felt exactly the same way.
I must admit that I spent very little time even looking over what I was about to eat as it was absolutely wonderful watching the snowy world go by through the large windows facing the downtown street. While few others even bothered to look outside at the scene they are wholly accustomed to, I spent my time remembering all the great places I ate as a kid or while traveling the small towns of the Midwest and wished that I could enjoy the same sight from a similar diner right near home. Even though I had never before stepped foot inside Bernie’s, I felt oddly at home holding my stout little coffee mug with a large Christmas tree on it which I swear was the exact image which was slapped on each and every one of my mother’s Christmas china.
They have a lengthy menu (this is slightly out of date price-wise but you’ll get the idea) with the usual fare for breakfast and lunch. While I was a bit confused on how to get what I wanted (two eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, and toast), the server was more than accommodating and took my order without hesitation and it later appeared on my bill for a couple of dollars. My wife ordered “Bernie’s Fabulous Blueberry Cheese Pancakes” listed on the menu as, “three secret recipe blueberry pancakes with powdered sugar,” for $6. We went with a #3 off the menu intended for seniors and children which was, “one slice of French toast or one blueberry pancake with two sausage or bacon with one egg and fruit,” for $4.75 to feed The Rooster. I ordered a decaf, which once filled never even approached the bottom before being refilled to the brim, and my wife ordered an orange juice.
Our orders were up quickly and while I don’t have any photos of the food, suffice to say that no person (and possibly not two or three) would go hungry from a single plate at Bernie’s in Faribault. My eggs, while slightly overdone on the bottoms were tasty and large. The bacon was perfect and the hashbrowns didn’t come from Sysco. The orange slices adorning the edge of my plate were a pleasant and refreshing surprise. My wife’s pancakes were huge and thick, hanging precariously over the sides of her plate, and came served with a tiny container of whipped cream. The Rooster’s plate could have fed a hungry teenager after football practice which led The Wife to remark that it was no wonder the place was teeming with seniors even on a morning where the weather was less than ideal for those over the age of 75.
Overall the food was good–not great or mind blowing–but just plain old down home diner cooking for inexpensive prices. I left full and extremely happy that we had eaten three great meals for less than we would have paid for two meals just a few miles further north. While I am not going to go so far as to suggest that you drop everything and run to Faribault to try to recreate our enjoyable morning at Bernie’s Cafe the next time it snows 12″ overnight, I will say that next time you’re in Faribault (or any small town really) stop in to the little corner cafe and watch the world go by outside. I think you’ll enjoy yourself more than you’ll ever know.
Have you ever eaten at Bernie’s Cafe in Faribault? If so what did you think? Do you have any similar memories of eating at a particular diner or cafe that comes back to you and gives you the warm and fuzzies? What do you like to do on snowy, cold days in the dead of winter? Whatever you have to say go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Address:
129 Central Ave N
Faribault, MN 55021-5210
Phone:
507-334-7476
Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 6 AM – 2 PM
Dakota Complaints Map
Dakota Inmate Dashboard
Loading ...
December 6th, 2010 at 8:09 am
I much prefer eating at a mom and pop place rather than a chain restaurant anytime of the week, but not many exist.
My favorite restaurant of all time has to be up in Herbster, WI. I think it was named MArge’s or something like that and I swear everyone talked with the thick scandinavian accent that I so love and since we were the outsiders, everybody was into our business and it was so much fun!
The food was crap, but the ambiance was priceless!
December 6th, 2010 at 8:15 am
Sounds like you are the worlds best husband to drive your lovely wife to her first 5K that she could have run in Burnsville if she’d have just looked.
I had to drive up to St. Paul that morning… was no where near as frightening as the trip that infamous Saturday night.. Which BTW so traumatized my daughter that almost every time we get in the car now she asks if it’s going to be icy.
Never eaten in Fairbault. Only been there once or twice and was seriously unimpressed.
December 6th, 2010 at 8:57 am
My hubby grew up in Faribault but has never mentioned the place…having kids we do sometimes stop at Perkins but Bernie’s sounds much better. Thanks for the tip!
December 6th, 2010 at 9:12 am
girl,
what are you doing in herbster? my work mate retired there in mid 2006 and loves it.
we’ve never eaten at bernies, however, thanks to awesomebill, it’ll go on the breakfast places to visit list.
bb
December 6th, 2010 at 9:27 am
Thanks for the 411. It won’t shock anyone on here, but I love these kinds of places. We go out of our way to eat at the indy cafes rather than chains whenever possible, even if it adds time to a road trip or whatever. It’s amazing how much more you learn about the world chatting with a waitress that’s been pouring coffee in the same mug for 40 years vs. some pimple faced 16 year-old at the drive through window. More people should try it.
Appreciate the writeup as always.
December 6th, 2010 at 9:38 am
I forgot to add, my hubby did take me to his favorite childhood restaurant of Basilleo’s Pizza in Faribault. While the pizza we had wasn’t quite as good as he remembers it was certainly good and the waitress was outstanding!
December 6th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Bernie’s fills the hole in the Faribault Breakfast scene that was left when Wimpy’s closed…it was a great place for Breakfast as well. Basilleo’s was great in it’s day…my last trip there was nothing like I remembered in the late 70′s/early 80′s
December 6th, 2010 at 11:27 am
This past summer had lunch at Bernie’s after visiting the Cheese Cave. Bernie’s was indeed a very pleasurable experience. Not only was the meal but the environment as well. What was even more noticeable…….. No back ground music what so ever. You know the kind, that is blasting into the forground at a 70db volume level. I’m looking forward to another visit soon. Thanks Bill for reminding me.
December 6th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by LazyLightning.org, MN Main Street. MN Main Street said: Nope, it's not a holiday event link. This south metro blog did a great review of downtown Faribault and Bernie's… http://fb.me/P7iDmTPY [...]
December 6th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
“…to drive my wife to her first 5K–one she could have done in Burnsville if she had only known to look.”
I would have driven your wife to Faribault, if you had only known to ask….
December 7th, 2010 at 4:15 am
[...] there’s a Haute Dish/Perennial Plate vegetarian dinner on Dec. 12, and Bill Roehl visits Bernie’s Grill in Faribault. » Lefsemania and Morning Roundup » Print Version // » [...]
December 7th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Definitely need to check out Bernie’s, thanks for the head’s up!
December 13th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Watertown is another small community in the Western Suburbs of Minneapolis that has a decent downtown with a couple of small little eateries. Nothing fancy, but you’ll get a good burger, fries and a beer for about the same price you’d pay at most fast food chains. I often wonder why so many people each at all of the food chains in this country. Most of these places just heat up frozen food. Do people these days even no what real food is supposed to taste like?
January 25th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
I grew up in Faribault and now live in Apple Valley. I still think Basilleo’s vegetarian pizza with spicy sausage is one of the best pizzas within an hour of TC. We prefer thin crust and have lots of trouble finding it with a good, spicy Italian sausage.
There is a new Thai restaurant in Faribault that I’ve yet to try. Also a couple of interesting places on the way to Faribault in Northfield–Kurry Kabob and the Mexican place across from Kmart.
January 25th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Mary,
I’ve reviewed Kurry Kabab: http://www.lazylightning.org/kurry-kabab-northfield-mn and I’ve been to the taquería across the street from K-mart and next to Firehouse Liquors (it’s actually in Dundas there).
Kurry Kabab is good. The taqueria is also decent (I’ve only had their torta once) but it’s pretty filthy and while the sandwich tasted good, any place that also sells bait always makes me worry about the food ;-)