Looking on the bright side at Sunnyside Cafe

It’s been a dark and dreary winter full of even drearier breaking news; a respite must be found somewhere, and tasty food is a pretty reliable pick-me-up. Williamston’s Sunnyside Cafe has plenty of options as well as a bright, welcoming, sunflower-filled atmosphere that can serve as a port in the storm.

The menu offers your usual diner favorites for breakfast and lunch, boasting waffles as well as pancakes. There’s also a list of specials, which is always the first place I look. I almost went for the meatloaf sandwich since I find meatloaf difficult to resist, but in the end, because it was breakfast time, I opted for the grits breakfast bowl.

The grits were hot and creamy, with just the right amount of grit. They were wonderfully savory, thanks to the havarti cheese and sprinkling of green onion, but they were even more delicious after I added some spicy dashes of Cholula, a favorite hot sauce of mine. They were topped with a perfectly done over-medium egg and crispy coins of kielbasa.

Not pictured (because it arrived a bit later and I couldn’t wait to dig in) was a fluffy, buttery biscuit, which served as the perfect vessel to carry heaping bites containing all the delicious components. It was the kind of biscuit you’d imagine being served alongside some fried chicken, which just happens to be my favorite kind. I could have eaten at least one more, but it’s probably best it only came with one.

A sweet component was needed after all that savoriness, and thankfully, a waffle had been ordered for the table to share. Crispy on the outside and cakey on the inside, with a lovely hint of vanilla, it was pretty close to perfection — it even came with real maple syrup. Ordering a waffle or pancake for the table is always a good idea.

The service is friendly, the food is delicious, and the decor leans heavily on mood-boosting shades of yellow. Whether you want a tuna melt, an omelet or a house-made cinnamon roll, Sunnyside Cafe has something to warm you up and make you smile. Though it’s a bit of a drive for me, I find every visit is well worth it.