Ten Best Breakfast Places in Fort Lauderdale

UPDATE: The number four restaurant on this list, Hibiscus Cafe, is now closed. The rest, however, remain open and delicious.

Talk to any dietician, or mom, and you'll hear that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

It may sound counterintuitive, but consuming calories in the morning -- healthy calories, that is -- helps individuals maintain a healthy weight says a number of scientific studies.

While that theory most likely does not extend itself to your favorite binge brunch of mimosas, syrup and butter coated waffles, and hollandaise smothered eggs benedict, it's okay to indulge every so often -- you know, like every other day.

See Also: Ten Best Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

All health debates aside, getting out of the house to break one's fast is a great way to set the tone for the next twenty-four-hour period. Are you going to indulge every morning? Probably not; it's not like you have the time anyway.

However, for those times you want to get going in a relaxing kind of way, it should be done properly with crisp smokey bacon, perfectly cooked eggs, fluffy pancakes, or whatever other accoutrements you've come to desire and expect.

See also: Ten Best Brunches in Broward County

Whether you have a favorite morning resting place of your own -- and you think it should make the cut -- or you're looking to find something new and exciting, we bring to you the ten best breakfast spots in Fort Lauderdale.

10. The Floridian

Filled with knickknacks from days gone by, the Floridian has been long hailed as a "to-go" for Fort Lauderdalians looking to get a fix of good ole fashion diner food. Situated right on Las Olas Blvd., the twenty-four hour spot is prime for awkward people watching --which may or may not include local music producer Rick Ross -- all hours of the day and night while noshing on classic fare like New York strip and eggs, western omelets, and reuben sandwiches. While it's nice to try something different, sometimes you just want to go back to your old reliable.

See also: Ten Best Brunches in Palm Beach County

9. Lester's Diner

Another oldie, but goodie, Lester's has been around since the '60's and it's the epitome of diner chic -- if such a thing exists -- and most of its servers have been around since the placed opened up. Another 'round-the-clock place, the spot is jam-packed on weekends around 4 a.m. and again for daylight creature's normal breakfast time of nine in the morning. From self-proclaimed fluffy omelets, available in vegetarian, Spanish, western, and plain old American cheese among others to Belgian waffles and homemade pastries, its worth the late-night or morning lines. Don't worry, they provide a bench in the expectation of a lengthy wait.

8. Riverside Market

It's not often that you can find a good breakfast and a collection of hundreds of beers in one spiffed up convenience store setting, but the combo does exist. It's called Riverside Market. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood downtown, the spot is best known for its happy hour crowds of local craft beer geeks; however, it serves up one damned fine breakfast too. Breakfast sandwiches and oven-baked omelets -- also known as frittatas to some -- are offered in creative combinations, such as the über cheesy Ed Hardy with your choice of cheese; the latin-inspired 305 with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and homemade salsa; or the healthy Urban Garden, stockpiled with nutrient dense spinach, mushroom, and broccoli. All pair exceptionally well with the wide range of breakfast stouts -- just sayin'.

7. Salsa Fiesta

Fast and fresh Mexican is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of good breakfast spots, but it should be -- hello, breakfast burritos anyone? Rather than go for your usual old eggs-over-easy, potatoes, bacon, and side of white toast, you would be wise to spice it up sometimes. You do know, variety is the spice of life, right? Here you'll find Mexican-inspired breakfast fare ranging from well-known huevos rancheros and breakfast burritos to gluten-free waffles made with almond flour and topped cinnamon sugar, mango, whipped cream, agave nectar syrup, and guava dipping sauce. It's the exotic way to start your day.

6. The Original Pancake House

Generally, we prefer to keep it local, but this international chain has got breakfast down-pat. As you probably surmised from the name, this place is known for its unparalleled pancakes; however, it manages to do make everything well. From perfectly light and airy scrambled eggs and crisp thick-cut bacon to globally inspired pancake-like dishes, such as the oven-baked Dutch baby served with whipped butter, lemon, and powdered sugar and the Danish Kijafa Cherry Crepes filled with Montmorency cherries simmered in our Kijafa sauce and lightly dusted with powdered sugar this place can cure any breakfast craving -- whether it's conventional or not.

5. St. Bart's Coffee Company

It's kind of hard to find a better place to start your day than watching the sunrise over the beach -- if you can manage to make it up in time. Unfortunately, finding a well-made and reasonably priced meal on Fort Lauderdale's strip of sand is not the easiest of tasks. Thankfully, this place exists. Whether you're looking for fresh smoothies (around $6) to go along with morning power-walk or hangover cures like French toast ($6.50) and bagels with lox ($8.50), it will be enjoyable and in financial reach. It's a win-win before you even do anything.

4. Hibiscus Cafe (CLOSED)

With a warm, friendly interior filled with mismatched tables, soft curtains, and area rugs, this place feels more like your quirky aunt's shabby-chic tea room than inventive breakfast spot. Fortunately, this place manages to fill the homey vibe with creative offerings, such as the Blue Fried Egg Sammy with blue cheese and arugula on grilled multigrain bread with potatoes on the side; the Hibiscus Breakfast Sandwich, a croissant filled with scrambled egg whites, turkey, brie, and granny smith apple with fruit; or the Monkey Nutter, a combination of peanut butter, banana, and chocolate on your choice of grilled bread served with fruit salad. On second thought, the food might be more reminiscent of your eclectic aunt after all -- it's definitely not run-of-the-mill, that's for sure.

3. Steak 954

Just as you would expect from a swanky steakhouse set in the posh oceanfront W Hotel, the breakfast here is creative, trendy, and refined all at the same time. Of course you have your classic benedicts, but here they're combined with stylish accoutrements like crab, avocado, and tomato hollandaise or smoked salmon, potato pancake, and dill hollandaise. Yeah, you have blueberry pancakes, but they come with Chantilly cream. Even the discerning need to get a good fix of classic breakfast, here they (you) can find it surrounded with other fashionable compatriots -- or you could just watch the rest of them while you stuff your face. It'll be delicious either way.

2. La Bonne Crepe

Everything we can do the French can do better -- or so they think, anyway. Blueberry pancakes, pfft. The French have crepes, those warm and thin blankets that gently surround fresh fruits and savory fillings. You can debate the superiority of pancakes versus crepes all you want, but if you're looking for the best crepes in this part of town, look no further. At La Bonne Crepe you'll find all manner of the morning delicacy with fillings ranging from fresh strawberries and bananas with homemade blueberry syrup to apple and cinnamon compote to ham and swiss cheese. For those looking for something, slightly more Anglo, the spot also has a delectable selection of omelets and combination egg breakfasts. You'll be saying "oh la la" by the end.

1. Old Fort Lauderdale Breakfast House

Whether you're from America's heartland or not, there are times when you just want a big old plate of stick-to-your-bones homemade breakfast just like grandma used to make -- even if it wasn't actually your grandma. Here you'll find traditional southern-style delicacies like fresh and airy homemade biscuits and gravy, lofty oven baked pancakes, and free-range eggs served with cheese grits, thick-cut bread, and savory breakfast sausage all made with the freshest and highest quality products. It's not trendy. It's not reinventing the wheel. OB House does everything the right way, which means following grandma's lead and doing it all at home, from scratch. This place takes that ethos to the max.

Follow Sara Ventiera on Twitter, @saraventiera.