Brunch at Nonni's Bistro

One of the luxuries of a weekend is the opportunity to have a good, relaxing brunch. And last Saturday was one of those. The biggest hurdle, though, is deciding on where to go.

We've tried most of the decent brunch places in and around Fremont (at least those that we know of), so we wanted something else. We've gone as far as Oakland and tried Aunt Mary's (made popular by Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives"), but that was a miss (maybe we ordered the wrong dishes).

My wife suggested Nonni's Bistro, which she has tried once with her friend. So, off we went to Pleasanton.

Nonni's is a relatively small restaurant located on Main Street. The atmosphere was bright and airy as the front windows and doors were wide open, as it welcomed diners to partake. There were also sitting in the front  and side patio for al fresco dining.

The host that greeted us was pleasant and cheerful, as she escorted us to our table. Servers were attentive and constantly checked on you if you needed anything else. Tables had white linen clothes, and the interior had clean, simple lines.

Now, for the food.

My wife ordered Traditional Benedict served with crispy country potatoes ($14.95), while my son had The Valley omelette ($13.95), which consisted of sauteed greens, bacon, mushrooms, and cheese, plus assorted fruit and sour dough on the side. I tried to be adventurous so I chose the Huevos Rancheros ($14.95). It was made of eggs, chorizo, and black beans over a flour tortilla, topped with cheese, fresh salsa, sour cream, and avocado.

The portions seemed to be just right because my son and my wife managed to finish their dishes. I guess they liked it, too. Visually, the Benedicts really looked delectable. However, I couldn't say the same for mine. Honestly, I've never had Huevos Rancheros anywhere so it's quite difficult to compare.

If all Huevos Rancheros were like Nonni's, I probably won't order it again. My dish was a heaping mound of black beans with melted cheese over 2 eggs. If you weren't looking hard enough, you might miss the thin slices of chorizo sauteed with some diced onions. If you love black beans, this one's for you. Otherwise, stay away.

One consolation though, the coffee wasn't bad. And if you like Mimosa to wash down your meal, they offer a bottomless option for $10. Good deal. Otherwise, a single glass will run you $8 (not so good deal).

For the food they served, I find it a little overpriced. I don't mind paying this much if flavor came a little close to Left Bank's (Santana Row). But then again, I'm probably comparing apples to oranges.

Would I come back? Maybe I will give it another try. This time I will stick to the traditional brunch treats, like french toasts, pancakes, and maybe even omelettes. Who knows, I might like it this time.

Author's Note: Nonni's Bistro is located at 425 Main Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566.