Harlow’s Cafe: A Tempe Breakfast Staple

The Drink: Coffee, black                                                                                                                           The Dish: The Cisco- French toast, eggs and bacon
The Place: Harlow’s Cafe
The Location: 1021 W University Dr Tempe, AZ 85281

By: Clayton Porter

The city of Tempe is growing and with this the market for a go-to breakfast spot is becoming quite crowded. Even with new joints popping up all over town sometimes your best bet is to go with what has been around for years. This is especially true if it is morning and you find yourself heading west on University Drive. Past the Mill Ave District and all its chaos from the night before, just on the other side of the Hardy and University intersection, Harlow’s Cafe.

Around since the 1980’s the dining room is cozy and charming. Old wooden paneling on the wall matches the tables. All are accented by a golden glow from the ceiling lights and lantern-style lights above the booths. Around the place you will notice movie posters from Hollywood’s golden era, featuring dramatic imagery of characters embracing each other or fighting unspeakable evils. This a fitting theme for the spot’s name as Harlow is the last name of a notable film actress from the 1930’s.

The menu is plentiful and the prices are fair. It comes with your typical breakfast choices: eggs, bacon, French toast, pancakes, chorizo-you name it and its on there. You can mix and mash items together or flip to their “All-Star Cast” section of the menu featuring breakfast combinations. If it’s 12 o’clock or early afternoon, as Harlow’s is only open until 2pm, then there is a lunch menu. I honestly have never tried the lunch menu as breakfast is so good here. My recommendation is breakfast anytime of the day.

Today I order the “Cisco” which is French toast, two eggs and with a choice of sausage or bacon I go with the latter.

I sip on my black coffee while I wait for the meal to arrive and take some time to reflect. I have been to Harlow’s many times before. Always a great spot to bring friends who are in-town for a visit or the morning after a long night of drinking studying to try and nurse your body back to health. With its generous and hearty portions, Harlow’s is all about you staying healthy.

My food arrives. I pour syrup and butter up my French toast. Add a little pepper and hot sauce to my eggs, then dig in. The food isn’t fancy but Harlow’s does not claim to be. It is just simple homestyle breakfast and lunch dishes. Perfect for when you need a good meal to prepare you for that big day ahead or a breakfast to fill your stomach before you head back home and back to bed.