This East Dallas gem creates generous breakfasts and hearty lunches with a Southern flare composed with fresh herbs and vegetables grown in an on-premise garden. Each Garden Café employee must work in the garden for one half hour during his or her shift, bringing an unprecedented immediacy to the farm-to-table concept.

There are veggie egg-white omelettes and surprising chorizo-onion-pepper scrambled eggs with tortillas. Or try the satisfying sweet potato pancakes or the daily changing “Garden Plate” that serves up what is available that day. Chicken and dumplings and hearty veggie burgers keep devoted patrons filling the extensive patio most weekends. Kids are entertained with the generous outdoor play area in back. One knock: the oatmeal is instant. Go for the pancakes instead.