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Bordering the serene blue-green waters of the Long Island Sound, East Bridgeport is a living relic from pre-World War I. Made up of three historic districts, old-fashioned architecture and gorgeous port views, this neighborhood is not to be missed. Use our guide to treat yourself to some of the best brunch spots that Bridgeport’s East end has to offer.

Mushroom and Spinach Omelet with Castello Herb Cheese Toast

Funchal Café

Funchal is the largest city of Portugal’s Madeira Island, and it is from this region that East Bridgeport’s Funchal Café derives its Portuguese-inspired menu. One of the newest additions to East Bridgeport’s foodie scene, everything at the Funchal Café is made-to-order to ensure your omelets, egg and cheese wraps, breakfast sandwiches and lattes are piping hot when they arrive at your table. All ingredients are sourced locally, and the espresso beans are ground right in front of you.
Address and telephone number: 881 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, CT 06604 +1 (203) 345-9229

Cheesy Grits

Miss Thelma’s

Miss Thelma’s is a hole-in-the-wall serving soul food that you’ll savor from dawn to dusk. Even with its bright green exterior, this tiny joint is familiar only to locals and some lucky tourists in the know. Don’t walk past this place on Sundays, because it offers heartwarming morning meals that will keep you satiated all day with the flavors of Southern comfort. From cheesy grits to sweet potato fries, you’ll be licking your fingers clean while you’re waiting for seconds.
Address and telephone number: 140 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604 +1 (203) 337-9957

Cinnamon Raisin French Toast

Barnum Publick House

Bridgeport is known for once being the one-time mayoral district of circus promoter P.T. Barnum, but what a lot of people may not know is that there’s a restaurant here named after him too. The Barnum Publick House serves classic New American cuisine with an old-fashioned feel, with tavern-esque wine-colored walls, tin ceiling panels, wall sconces and dark wooden furnishings. But the brunch here steals the show, mimicking the place’s new-meets-old atmosphere with savoury classics like Eggs Benedict and sweet delights like the Cinnamon Raisin French Toast.
Address and telephone number: 1020 Broad St, Bridgeport, CT 06604 +1 (203) 690-1044

Frankie’s Diner

Frankie’s Diner shows off the older side of East Bridgeport, authenticating the historic value of this quaint neighborhood through not only its décor but also its food. The diner is spacious, with a warm and retro vibe that makes you want to spend all of Sunday here. Everything on the menu is priced at less than ten dollars, so you won’t feel guilty ordering a whole heap of breakfast items while you’re here. Try layering the syrupy pancakes with crispy toast, perfectly cooked eggs over easy and seasoned home fries.
Address and telephone number: 1660 Barnum Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06610 +1 (203) 334-8971

Pancakes with Nutella and Banana

Home On The Range

Home On The Range is one of best-known and most beloved breakfast joints in East Bridgeport’s historic Black Rock area. It was voted Best Breakfast in Fairfield County in 2008 and 2011, a fact that is displayed proudly on the sign outside therestaurant. Any classic breakfast dish you can think of, Home On The Range will find a way to reinvent it. Take for example the French toast, which is made from a multi-grain baguette drizzled with sweetened yogurt and maple syrup, peppered with candied ginger and sautéed apples, and accompanied with crispy bacon.

Blooms & Heirlooms

Previously known as Sweet Magnolia Café, this breakfast joint was just recently bought and reopened as Blooms & Heirlooms. If you were a huge fan of the former mom-and-pop bakery, rest assured that not one thing on the menu has changed. You can still get your zesty couscous, homemade blueberry muffins and silky lentil soup here whenever you want. Definitely don’t pass up a chance to try their fresh-squeezed orange juice, which locals love pulpy and sweet; it’s the perfect beverage accompaniment to any breakfast.
Address and telephone number: 1042 Broad St, Bridgeport, CT 06604 +1 (203) 332-1222

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Cookies

Leisha’s Bakeria

Leisha’s Bakeria is an East Bridgeport staple, tucked into a cozy and homey café on Lafayette Circle. With aged floors, chairs made of antiquated brass, wooden beams on the ceilings and mellow teal walls, Leisha’s Bakeria seems to welcome you with a hug. It also greets you with the inviting aromas of baked goods like chocolate chip cookies and warm breads like sourdough and biscuits. Everything here is as fresh as it is delectable, promising customers a homemade spin on breakfast they won’t find elsewhere.
Address and telephone number: 7 Lafayette Cir, Bridgeport, CT 06604 +1 (203) 557-8652

Snappy Dawgs

Snappy Dawgs is a gourmet food cart that locals flock to for mouthwatering breakfast on the go. If you’re ever having trouble chasing down the funky, eclectic truck (which is usually parked right outside of the Fairfield County Courthouse), you can always give them a call and they’ll deliver to you. The breakfast menu consists of incredibly cheap yet unbelievably tasty sandwiches, including the Marshal, an over-easy egg with chilli and cheese, and the Executor, made with authentic kielbasa and port onions. You can also add bacon or sausage on the side.

White’s Diner

White’s Diner is another retro-style eating establishment that has cultivated a cult following through years of serving East Bridgeport families. Though its hours vary based on staff, you can always call ahead of time and make sure there’s a table for you once you get there. The extremely friendly staff and owners are more than happy to accommodate large parties, especially for brunch. This spacious and quirky diner boasts some of the best breakfast dishes you’ll find in the area, from flaky croissants with smooth coffee, to smoked ham on the side of your fried egg.
Address and telephone number: 280 Boston Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06610 +1 (203) 366-7486

Harborview Market

Looking at this establishment from the outside, you’d never guess that Harborview Market was built to be budget-friendly. Local love it because of the familiar vibe that this family-run, Black Rock, mom-and-pop restaurant gives off. The Harborview Market is every type of breakfast and early lunch menu rolled into one, boasting a coffee menu that reads like one you’d find in an eclectic café in New York City. Not to mention, the brunch menu proudly combines the family’s Cuban flair with New American cuisine.

Address and telephone number: 218 Harborview Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06605 +1 (203) 367-7336

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