OK – I admit I have put off writing this review for quite a while, but here goes. Oscar’s Family Restaurant is a popular breakfast and lunch place just south of Flare Road in the Village Fountain Plaza. The reason I have been putting this off is because, well, Irene and I are there four or five mornings a week for breakfast. That alone should tell you that this will be a favorable review. So if you think I’m biased, it’s probably because I am. But the reason I’m biased is because of the food, the service, and the atmosphere. Let’s start with the food. My personal favorite is the crepe combo – two crepes filled with a light lemon crème sauce, topped with strawberries, strawberry syrup, and whipped cream, two eggs, and bacon. I’m not a big fan of eggs so I substitute hash browns for them. Absolutely delicious! It’s pretty much my go-to order. Irene is more diverse and has been all over the menu. Some of her favorites are the huevos divorciados – eggs on each end of an oval plate, one side covered in a salsa verde (green) and the other by a salsa rojo (red) divided in the center of the plate by beans. Divorced – get it? Another is the 2X2X2 – two eggs, two strips of bacon, and choice of two pancakes or two French toasts. I tell everybody who asks, Oscar’s is the best breakfast in town, and I’m not kidding. A few months ago, Oscar’s closed for two weeks for a well-deserved vacation. During that time, Irene and I went to a lot of other places for breakfast. Some were OK, some not so much, all were “it ain’t Oscar’s”. Lunch choices are everything from burgers, to burritos, to an all you can eat taco bar. You can see their menu selections on their website: https://oscarssebring.com/menu. You can also order takeout by calling (863) 471-0550. Delivery is also available by a third-party service.
Now on to the service. If you have ever run a service business in Florida, or, these days, on earth, you know that finding good labor is one of the most difficult tasks you will face. When Irene and I were in the Keys, if we could find help that 1 – actually showed up, 2 – was not drunk or stoned, and 3 – did not have a sheriff’s car behind them as they rolled in, we counted ourselves very lucky. Oscar’s seems to have a golden touch in this area. I spoke to him about it once and he credits his wife, Maria, with being able to source quality staff. I’ll ‘fess up here and tell you we’re on a first name basis with pretty much the whole front of house staff. They are remarkable. They strike the right balance between making sure you have everything you need throughout your meal and not being intrusive. Friendly, always smiling, and boy do they hustle!
Atmosphere. Not something that’s usually mentioned in a breakfast and lunch place, but I have to. The name of the place is Oscar’s Family Restaurant. The emphasis seems to be on ‘family”. When you walk in, Jenn or Maria will greet you, by name if you are a regular. They will seat you and a staff member will quickly set you up with coffee, tea, water, or whatever your beverage of choice. (They do have a bar so have a mimosa with breakfast if someone else is driving.) Orders are taken when you are ready, and the service is fast. Management is not above running food to the tables when the place is busy, as it often is. But as efficient as it is, it doesn’t lose its “familiness”. Look around and you’ll see parents and grandparents with kids, usually surprisingly well-behaved. A table full of Viet Nam vets having their morning reminiscence. A table full of old guys (they’re my age, so I’m allowed to say that) solving the world’s problems over coffee; speaking of which, I don’t know the brand, but it’s excellent. People coming in and people leaving smile at each other and nod and greet folks, known and unknown, at the tables. Jenn and Maria stroll the tables, often with a pot of coffee in each hand. Oscar comes out of the kitchen now and then to visit with his guests and make sure they’re happy. The place reminds me of Cheers, the show from whatever decade ago. Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. A Family. That’s Oscar’s.
Breakfast for two of us usually runs about $32 plus tax and tip. Tip well, they deserve it.
Oscar’s Family Restaurant is located at 267 US Hwy 27 N in Sebring, in the Village Fountain Plaza and is open 0630 – 1400 seven days a week. The place gets busy, especially in snowbird season. Sometimes you may have to wait a bit to be seated; it’s worth the wait.
