Stuffed to perfection: Michael's A.M. may have the perfect French toast | Local Flavor
April showers bring May flowers, and my hypothesis is that they bloom first at Michael’s A.M. in Akron’s Merriman Valley.
The restaurant’s exterior may seem plain when glancing at its simple sign and string lights, but that all changes once you walk through the door.
You’ll first notice a Christmas tree adorned with various species of flowers, birds and butterflies (all fake of course, it’s not like a Disney princess lives there) in the vestibule. The tree is decorated anew each season and seeing it in “bloom” prepares you for what’s in store.
Further in, every wall is a pale yellow, with some sections of the ceiling being that same hue or baby blue. The main dining room is taken up by a purple and sky blue bar and checkout station, which has booths arranged on either side of it. More seating is available in a second, smaller dining room that was added to relieve congestion and waiting times for weekend brunch in 2017.
Certain dishes on the menu shine just as brightly as the restaurant’s color scheme.
Breakfast near me: Check out the Michael's A.M. menu
I had never heard of Michael’s A.M. until one of my physical therapists told me it was a great place to go for alcoholic drinks in the morning. Then I found out that they serve stuffed waffles and stuffed French toast, and it went to the top of my very long list of restaurants to visit.
My friend Lillie came with me to try their mimosa ($6), which she said was delicious. She also got avocado toast ($11.75) with scrambled eggs on the side instead of poached eggs on top. It also came with a choice of meat, which in this case was sausage links.
I opted for cranberry juice ($4.20), rye toast ($2.55) and the stuffed French toast combo ($14.50). The latter comes with a breakfast meat (bacon in my case), two eggs and two pieces of French toast stuffed with home-made sweet cream cheese and choice of fillings with flavored syrup and whipped cream on top. I had mine stuffed with strawberries and chocolate chips.
Lillie had a bite and described it as “heaven in your mouth.” I wanted it to taste like a strawberry stuffed with sweet cream cheese coated in chocolate and that’s exactly what happened. Merry, our friendly waitress, was just as invested in achieving that flavor profile after I told her my goal.
The filling was rich but not too sweet, something Lillie also appreciated as she doesn’t like cream cheese normally. It complimented instead of overwhelmed the intense sweetness of the chocolate chips and tartness of the strawberries.
They stuffed the French toast and then it stuffed me. I didn’t need to eat for quite a few hours after that large breakfast, which cost $42.42 before tip.
What makes Michael's A.M. so special?
According to owner Gary Porto, who bought the restaurant in 2015, it’s not just the food that has cultivated such a loyal customer base, though they do take great pride in it.
“We're a homemade, from-scratch restaurant serving organic and natural foods made from organic and natural ingredients,” he said. “Everything is made at the time that it is ordered, so it's very fresh.”
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The employees in the back and front of house are what keep regulars happy and returning.
“Our people just keep coming back, and that’s the real testament to how well we’re doing,” Porto said.
When snowbirds return from their southern dwellings, they come in and hug servers that have doled out Michael’s menu for over 20 years. The restaurant seems somewhat immune to the rapid overturn most of its kind are experiencing today. Porto hasn’t hired a server in the last five years and the kitchen is similarly stable.
Michael's A.M. to celebrate 40th anniversary with special dishes
Michael’s A.M. will be celebrating its 40th year of operation June 15 and has a few anniversary specials in the works for customers to get excited about.
Seafood lovers will be thrilled to know that a seafood crepe filled with shrimp, mussels, scallops and bechamel sauce as well as fried cod Fridays will be added to the menu.
Three to four variations of grilled flatbread pizzas will also be up for grabs.
Michael's A.M. breakfast is tough to beat
Customers have told Porto, “We didn’t know how good your food is until I ate someplace else.”
I’ve eaten at quite a number of breakfast spots during my time at the Beacon Journal, and this colorful little diner filled with loyal customers and an even more dedicated staff was pretty darn good.
Got a restaurant recommendation? Contact Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com and on Twitter @TawneyBeans. And follow her food adventures on TikTok @akronbeaconjournal.
Details
Place: Michael’s A.M.
Address: 1562 Akron Peninsula Road, Suite 120, Akron
Phone: 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Hours: 330-929-3447
Website: michaelsam.net
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Enjoy stuffed French toast, waffles at Michael's A.M. in Akron
