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Granite Rock Grill takes breakfast seriously, as their web page states their motto, which reads: "Home of the BEST breakfast in the greater Sacramento Valley/Placer area." That's quite a statement, so on Friday, November 17, 2017, I had to "refresh" my memory, and pay a visit to Granite Rock Grill, so could reaquaint myself with this wonderful restaurant. As with all restaurant reviews I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: Granite Rock Grill appears to be very compact from the outside, but inside, the dining room is very spacious, and offers a mixture of comfortable tables and booths. For a restaurant that serves only breakfast and lunch, Granite Rock Grill has one of the larger dining rooms I've seen during my visits restaurants.
Photo: As you walk in the front door, you won't be in doubt as to the name of the restaurant. Note the word play on the old Donny and Marie Osmond song, "A Little Bit Country," as the sign states "A Little Bit Country, a Little Bit Rocklin-Roll." Country music was playing the background, so along with the rustic decor, the restaurant is definitely "country." Many years ago, Rocklin was noted for it's granite quarries - the California state capitol building features granite from Rocklin quarries - so Granite Rock Grill is a fitting name for this fine restaurant.
Photo: The main dining room, after you enter the restaurant, and pass the Granite Rock Grill sign and the cashier's station. It's 0630 in the morning on Friday, November 17, 2017, and the spacious dining room is lightly seated, but by 0800, it should be packed, as this is a very popular restaurant of the Rocklin locals. The counter and the kitchen are in located in the rear of the restaurant, in the rear of the photo.
Photo: There is a large fireplace on the north wall of the dining room. It was a relatively chilly 48 degrees on this early Friday morning, and I asked the gal dressed in pink, who was preparing tables for soon-to-arrive guests, why the fireplace wasn't lit, and she said they usually don't light it until the dining room begins to fill up.
Photo: The south wall of the dining room is decorated with a large, painted mural. I find the name, "Kay's Bakery" interesting, as the owner of the restaurant is named Kay. I neglected to ask her if the mural had anything to do with her, or was it just a coincidence.
Photo: I sat at the counter, at the back of the restaurant, so I could witness all of the action, watch the staff at work, and chit-chat with the staff whenever they had a free moment. The counter is very spacious and comfortable, and it made a perfect perch for me.
Photo: One page of the extensive breakfast menu. I ended up ordering "Kay's," and I originally planned to order toast, until I notice the large pan of freshly baked biscuits on the counter. Granite Rock Grill is open for breakfast and lunch, and everything listed on the menu is available anytime the restaurant is open, so if you're in the mood to enjoy a burger for breakfast, you've come to the right restaurant.
Photo: Each position at the counter and every table is stocked with popular condiments, including in-house made jam.
Photo: If you want additional condiments, there is a rack located on the wall near the cashier's station that holds an endless array of picante sauce, some of it imported from Mexico. Somebody must have taken a trip to Mexico, as there were a few varieties that aren't available in the U.S., but are easy to bring back across the border. Whenever I visit Mexico, I usually bring back a supply of picante sauce that is unavailable north of the border. I see a bottle of "Pepper Plant" sauce, which is a classic, medium-hot California style condiment, widely distributed in Northern and Central California. The picante sauce is arranged from mild to hot. You take a bottle, apply the desired amount to your food, and then you return the bottle to the rack for the next diner to use. This is easily the largest collection of hot sauce that I've ever seen at a restaurant in the greater Sacramento area!
Photo: My server, Kay reaches for my breakfast, after it's been passed to her from the kitchen window. The kitchen is partially visible from the counter, which is always a plus for me. Note the "old school" order wheel, which is used to convey orders to the kitchen, just like it was done in the 1950's. The freshly-baked ban of biscuits is to the left of the photo. Kay asked me if I wanted a center or an end biscuit - I pondered the question for a few seconds, as I'd never been asked that question before - and I decided on a end biscuit. I remarked to her that would probably be my most difficult decision of the day, and she got a laugh out of that.
Photo: Meet friendly Kay Gardner, my server today, who just happens to be the owner of the restaurant. My hash brown potatoes and eggs have arrived with a smile, along with my biscuit and cup of gravy, which were delivered after the photo was taken.
Photo: Kay snaps my photo, as I prepare to enjoy a delicious breakfast at Granite Rock Grill.
Photo: My "Kay's" breakfast - named after the owner - of hash brown potatoes, two eggs, along with biscuit and gravy. You get your choice of hash brown or country potatoes, and your choice of a biscuit, or several varieties of toast. The gravy is extra, but well worth the small price of admission. This breakfast was PERFECT in every way! No wonder the restaurant advertises as the "Home of the BEST breakfast in the greater Sacramento Valley/Placer area," as today's breakfast is definitely one of the better breakfasts that I've enjoyed in a long time. Note: You MUST order the gravy, as it's pure heaven!
Photo: The two-plate presentation looked pretty, but since I was hungry, I combined everything on one plate, in order to "mix and match" as I ate. Today was especially decadent, as I buttered the biscuit and then dipped it in the delicious gravy. This breakfast was amazing! Back on Friday, March 30, 2012, the now defunct Sacramento Breakfast Club enjoyed a meeting at Granite Rock Grill, located in Rocklin, CA. Granite Rock Grill takes breakfast seriously, as their web page states their motto, which reads: "Home of the BEST breakfast in the greater Sacramento Valley/Placer area. That's quite a statement, so on Friday, March 30, 2012, the Sacramento Breakfast Club held today's meeting at Granite Rock Grill, so we could see if their motto is really true. Photo: Granite Rock Grill seems small from the outside, but inside, the dining room is very spacious, and offers a mixture of comfortable tables and booths. For a restaurant that serves only breakfast and lunch, Granite Rock Grill has one of the larger dining rooms of area restaurants. Photo: Our server, Rosa, takes our order. She pushed three tables together to accommodate today's members. Only a portion of the dining room is shown in the photo, but it gives an idea of how large this room is. The mural on the wall is a reminder of years gone by, when the restaurant was known as "Gold Miner Cafe." Photo: Granite Rock Grill features a small, yet comfortable breakfast counter. When I dine alone, I always sit at the breakfast counter, as I like to be near the action. Photo: Our friendly server, Rosa, takes Gerry's order of corned beef hash and eggs on this sunny Friday morning, March 30, 2012. Photo: Rosa poses for the camera, with a portion of our breakfast she's about to place on the table. Rosa and all of the staff at Granite Rock Grill are some of the friendliest folks we're had the pleasure to meet, and are very attentive, and make you feel at home. I give Granite Rock Grill the "coffee cup refill award," as there was one staff member who seemed to be dedicated to keeping coffee cups full, and my coffee cup never went below the half-full mark. I lost count of how many cups of coffee I drank after my 10th cup. Seriously... Photo: I had originally planned to order only eggs, potatoes, toast and coffee, but Rosa recited today's specials, and one of them was an Italian sausage omelet, which she called a "pizza omelet," and since I'm a sucker for Italian sausage, I changed my mind and followed her recommendation. The omelet included Italian sausage, salami, bell peppers, onions, parsley, cheese and I don't know what else. I ordered homestyle potatoes, with optional gravy, coffee and sourdough toast. Rosa was right on the money with her recommendation, as this breakfast was superior! The portion was absolutely GIANT, as I couldn't eat it all, even after kicking every bit of eating power that I possess. This breakfast was delicious! By the way, Granite Rock Grill's menu features a vast array of breakfast choices, with everything from super-healthy fruit and cereal, to calorie-bomb breakfasts, such as the breakfast I enjoyed today. Whatever you desire for breakfast, you'll find it at Granite Rock Grill. Photo: Today's members of the Sacramento Breakfast Club, from left to right: Eric Rench, Bev MacLeod, Dan MacLeod, Teri McCloud, Sean McCloud, David DeMario, Betty Townsend and Gerry Townsend. Thanks to Rosa, our super friendly server, for taking the photo. Breakfast at Granite Rock Grill is an awesome experience, as the dining room is huge, attractive and very comfortable, the staff is super friendly and attentive, the portions are gigantic, the presentation is beautiful, and the food is simply delicious. As fast as the question goes, "Does Granite Rock Grill serve the best breakfast in the region?" ... I can't answer that question, but I can tell you that Granite Rock Grill serves a breakfast that members of the Sacramento Breakfast Club will be talking about for a long time to come. Breakfast at Granite Rock Grill is truly an awesome experience, as the dining room is huge, attractive and very comfortable, the staff is super friendly and attentive, the portions are gigantic, the presentation is beautiful, and the food is simply delicious. As fast as the question goes, "Does Granite Rock Grill serve the best breakfast in the region?" ... I can't answer that question, but I can tell you that Granite Rock Grill serves a breakfast that I'll be thinking about for quite some time. Granite Rock Grill Copyright(c) 2017 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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