CHEAP EATS: Breakfast & Brunch

[March 28th, 2007] Screen Door: This boisterous Southern gem woos diners with chicken 'n' waffles, spicy pimento-cheese scrambles and praline bacon waffles—piping hot, studded with sweet-savory hunks of perfection and topped with fresh whip and maple syrup. Bonus: Bloody Marys.
Wait time: A breezy 20 minutes after 10:30 am.

Tin Shed: Possessor of the most happy-making garden patio in town, this eco-friendly master of eggs, crisp potato cakes and veggie-vittles is brunch paradise.
Wait time: Think on the bright side—you'll have time to finish three sections of the Sunday Times. And the whole NYT Magazine.

Navarre: This small-plater's daily breakfasts lead to crossword-puzzle-like consternation over whether to pair the house-cured pork loin with a soft-boiled egg or order spicy Cuban black beans with avocado. Psst: The French toast is awesome.
Wait time: Unlike its nightly service, there's no wait come morning. (10 NE 28th Ave., 232-3555. 10:30 am-3 pm Monday-Friday, 9:30 am-3 pm Saturday-Sunday.)

Stepping Stone: Get a rifle-load of sugar delivered to your arteries via gooey cinnamon-roll French toast at 6:30 am or 2 am every weekend. The servers at this corner diner are angels in disguise, bearing armloads of fluffy omelettes and buttery "man-cakes." Plus, a full bar o' booze!
Wait time: 10 minutes at the most.

Village Inn: When the table wait at Cadillac Cafe and Milo's are interminable, lower your standards and open your heart to Portland's best alternative to Denny's. It's not all local, and hell no, it ain't sustainable. But owners Ding and Patsy Chan's staff is all smiles, and with your own carafe of coffee at yer elbow and an iron skillet of eggs and crispy hash browns (plus ether-light buttermilk pancakes), the world is a sunny-side-up kinda place.
Wait time: You don't wanna wait—that's why you're freakin' here. (1621 NE 10th Ave., 284-4141. 6 am-9 pm Saturday-Tuesday, 7 am-8 pm Sunday, 6 am-8 pm Monday.)