Do breakfast right at these 3 spots

At the one-and-only Al's Breakfast, take a seat and become the next generation of U of M-ers who have found a.m. nirvana at this beloved short-order landmark. Don't miss the blueberry-walnut pancakes (skip the fake maple syrup and spring for the real thing), the divine hash browns and the superb bacon waffles. Cash only.

Here's a thrilling way to start the day: Breakfast at Bank, located inside the Art Moderne stunner that was formerly the Farmers and Mechanics banking lobby, reborn as the dining room and bar of the Westin Hotel. The kitchen's top dish? A fantastic walleye-shrimp cake Benedict, although the bacon, eggs and Cheddar on ciabatta is pretty special, too.

Jensen's Cafe, Burnsville's main-street cafe, is the breakfast-all-day place for all kinds of made-from-scratch fare, including smoked-salmon omelets, huge lemon-ricotta pancakes, a half-dozen different Benedicts and toasted pecan waffles, all served with a smile in a cheerful, autumn leaves-colored setting.