B&B Cafe - Albert Lea MN- Good Place to get your breakfast on a Saturday         by Rashid Fehmi

A family run restaurant

It was 8:00 AM on a Saturday and we were hungry.  We had decided to check out some local breakfast place.  Of course Google came to our rescue.  While searching found B&B Cafe. The website did say that we needed reservations.  Our immediate reaction was - come on.  It should not be an issue and we can just walk right in.  That is exactly what we did and the place was packed and yes reservation would have helped. The lady who greeted us was helpful and suggested that we sit at the counter / bar.  It was our first experience sitting at the bar and that too for a breakfast.  We were not alone, There were only few stools left so we hopped on the empty stools.  The lady asked us if it was our first time. Which was, she suggested their Cakes.  After clarification Cakes meant pancakes.  

We looked around and everyone had ordered pancakes.  So looked like a safe choice.  Went ahead and ordered the same with a backup plan of an omelette. Both ended up being good choices.  Here is the view of our breakfast.  

While we were waiting at the bar there were three ladies sitting right of us.  Most likely they were locals and during our conversation we came to know that they were three of the seven sisters.  Sheba said that she could tell but for me all three did not have any resemblance. One of them looked towards me and said she was the quieter one as the one sitting next to me was apologizing for being loud. We had started having a conversation with these young ladies who were teachers and maybe retired and had a weekly routine of meeting at B&B cafe for breakfast.  They were there first so they got their breakfast and started cutting through their pancakes when one of the young waitress, who must have been the daughter asked us if we would like to move to a table for two.  I was a bit hesitant as did not know how the three sisters would feel.  So we said no.  The girl came back and explained that she would like us to move mainly because the gentleman who had reserved the table for two did not get his company and now he was all alone at the table holding up two seats.  If we moved they would have one extra stool and one extra customer to serve.  So we obliged and got our table.  

It was time to check out the decoration this one said " If you feed them they would come".  Certainly true for this place.  They must have been feeding the people for years and even though they had an obscure entrance still people seemed to keep on coming.

The sign that got my attention was the one below

BE NICE OR LEAVE THANK YOU

It was a longer wait then we are generally used to, but considering that Mom and Pop were the two Chefs tirelessly working the kitchen we patiently waited for our breakfast that arrived almost 40 minutes after we had placed our order.  Still the wait was worth it.  It was a large size pancake, with eggs and regular serving of coffee.  I think there were four girls who were working the tables and one lady taking care of the customers at the counter.  No computers, no TV's, the girls were running around with a order pad in hand scribbling the orders and inserting the order sheet into the clip-on orders at the kitchen where most likely mother was cooking the eggs and the father was busy getting all the supplies ready for the next order.  Eggs were broken into a glass, whipped and poured on to the griddle.  Shredded potatoes were moved in and out of the fridge.  The commercial fridge was constantly being opened and closed.  It was hectic with girls getting the plates, the father packing breakfast for pick up orders.  That is when I realized that couple of stools had signs "no seating here".  That is where take out orders were being placed and there was a constant stream of customers who were coming in, picking their order, paying one of the girls and walking out.   Did not seem like Covid-19 had impacted them.

The youngest one seemed to be the accountant type as she had a hand held calculator that she was using and doing the billing.  As expected no credit cards were accepted.  Only cash or checks.  I have had experienced that in the pas, and had almost embarrassed myself, and learnt the lesson, so generally carry some extra cash while traveling.  When the bill came we were in for a big surprise. The lady placed the bill on our table and informed us that someone had paid a substantial amount towards our breakfast.  Sheba asked but "why". Her response was this happens all the time and the people that had paid have left.  My guess is that the ladies who we were talking to at the counter did this.  I had overheard them say that it was going to be one check for all three sisters.  However, one of them very clearly said that it will be a fight when it comes to who will pay.  I am assuming that rather than fight amongst themselves they may have just decided that they will pay for someone else breakfast today and it happened to be us. Well there are nice people around.  We decided to pay it ahead in the form of tip to the girls who had been tirelessly working the morning shift.  So we left the full amount of our bill together with the normal tip.  Hoping that the girls will be able to do something on the weekend with the extra tip.

321 Sibley St 
Albert Lea, MN, 56007

If you are going on a Saturday - do make reservations
(507) 373-1921