Popular B’more diner lives up to fame

I have to admit that I am often guilty of judging many books by their covers. I believe that a good book should have a cover respective to its literary prowess. My cover judgments extend from books to movie trailers and even to restaurants.

This is why I instantaneously took a liking to a breakfast joint that I had the pleasure of trying this weekend. Blue Moon Café is a Charm City gem tucked away in Fell’s Point, approximately a $10 cab ride away from the Hopkins campus. Students might also prefer to take the JHMI down to Penn Station and then the Circulator down to Fell’s Point to save money.

Opened in 1996 by Baltimore-born Sarah Simington and her veteran-diner mother, Sherri, the restaurant gives off an unmistakably homey vibe in sort of a hole-in-the-wall type of atmosphere with exposed red-brick walls and quirky paintings that clutter the walls in a tasteful, interesting way.

As a lover of breakfast foods in general, I was excited to visit Blue Moon when my friend suggested the highly recommended, classic diner. And upon entering, the savory smells wafting from the restaurant kitchen instantly set my stomach grumbling.

Shared among three people, we ordered a cinnamon bun, the Captain Crunch French Toast (which my friend pressed that we get because that was the highlight of the menu), and the Sweet Baby Jesus (a recommended dish that wasn’t even on the menu).

The portions for everything are enormous, and consequently, the price for the huge meal is very affordable, an important characteristic for college-students who want good food without spending a million dollars.

Now, all interior decoration and prices aside, the real aspect of Blue Moon Café worth raving about is their food. The rather large cinnamon bun was freshly-baked and delicious, and even though it was an absolutely delicious and satisfying meal in itself, it was quickly upstaged by the Captain Crunch French Toast. The Captain Crunch French Toast was heaven within thick slices of toast topped with powdered sugar, warm syrup, butter and fresh fruit.

But my personal favorite was definitely the Sweet Baby Jesus: picture the decadence of a thick layer of shredded hash browns smothered by mouth-watering Maryland crab, fresh tomatoes and topped with two soft fried eggs, hollandaise and bay spices. I think it is safe to say that the meal I had in Blue Moon was the best breakfast food I have ever experienced in my life.

All right, I will admit that sometimes passing judgments based on outward appearances result in unfruitful consequences, but Blue Moon Café’s superiority as an eatery was no mistake.

In this case, I was right to the classic diner by its cover. If you are a fan of hearty breakfast foods, or just delicious food in general, I highly suggest making the trip to Fell’s Point to visit this well-regarded establishment.