A Place on Judah

3940 Judah Street (at 44th Ave.)

Tel: 415-566-9933

To hell with what they say about Bloody Marys, warm milk or any other hangover cure. To some end, these are effective. But, as far as I'm concerned, nothing gets rid of a throbbing head after a night of twenty-three jiggers better than an endless supply of coffee and a kick-ass breakfast.

For the aspiring alcoholic willing to subscribe to this theory, there is A Place on Judah. Graciously open for breakfast until 3 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, A Place on Judah is one of those rare eateries that seems perfectly tailored to guide the blitzed-out dipsomaniac from bed to reality.

The atmosphere is an odd one, at times suicidally close to suburbia. Vestiges of endless 60's music blare from the speakers. There is a 50's motif, consisting of ridiculous pop culture items hanging on the wall, coupled with the 90's sting of technology; a computer is available for rental should you wish to do some work.

There are also many tables set up outside. I would recommend sitting there, if only to avoid the disorientation of the interior.

There's also the matter of the coffee. The coffee is not brought out to you. No, you have to get up off of your rear and get it yourself. This, I'm convinced, is a good thing. Getting back your basic motor skills was never masterminded so brilliantly. The coffee will make your head clearer and the journey to the urns will be one of meaning and purpose. Now the taste borders somewhere within the happy medium of quality and quantity. And it's not piping hot nor scalding, which is the last thing you need to deal with in such a fragile state of mind.

The omelets! Ranging between six and seven bucks, you're guaranteed three eggs and a variety of produce slapped together, producing a tasty mass of muck with the power of a V-8 engine. My personal fave is Richard's Western Omelet, which gives you the best of both worlds in terms of sausage and its accessories. With an extra dose of spinach, the Western Omelet is quite delicious.

Personally, I've seen some amazing results from eating at A Place on Judah. I say this not to suggest some mystical Zen-New Age sort of silliness, but in terms of simple energy transition -- much needed yummies to sustain a spastic identity of enthusiasm, fear, hedonism and anarchistic ideas -- I have made it a frequent habit to eat there, fueling the necessary energies needed for an active Saturday or Sunday morning and allowing my innards to cope with the rest.

Edward Champion

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