Breakfast At Tifiny's

If you’re looking for a nice place for lunch, I have just the spot for you. If you want a place where the food is exceptional, the service is outstanding, and the atmosphere is so pleasant that you will linger longer than you might otherwise, I know where to go. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, making it a great choice any time of day. There is only one negative for ‘Breakfast At Tifiny’s’ – it’s in a small town in the Utah desert – far from where most of us live.

Tifiny’s is a great place to take your spouse, significant other, boyfriend/girlfriend, Mom and Dad – anyone that will enjoy a nice meal in a pleasant setting. Too many restaurants end up being a disappointment, but not this little café in the desert - Tifiny’s went beyond my expectations. I did not know until after my trip that this outstanding restaurant features Chef Mary Ann Burt, trained at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Paris, France – just another plus that adds to the significance of Tifiny’s.

The café is located in the small Southern Utah town of Santa Clara (just a few miles northwest of St. George and Interstate 15). It’s right on the main street through town; from the street it looks inviting with the trellises, flowers, and outdoor tables with diners enjoying meals. You can sit indoors, out front, along the side of the old building, or on the back covered patio. Breakfast At Tifany’s is a nice, casual place to eat great food.

We had sliced turkey sandwiches on perfectly fresh ciabatta bread with lettuce, tomato, and cranberry mayo. That would have been enough by itself, but the sandwich was accompanied by a spinach salad with basil, strawberries, sugared walnuts, and onions. That was only one of several tempting sandwich items on the menu – it was tough choice just picking one. Tifiny’s is called a Crêperie – with a stunning variety of fruit filled crepes which, sadly, we did not make room for (next trip for sure). Our server was Heather – a friendly young woman that handled our orders with smiling efficiency (although she did forget to bring me a spoon for my coffee – not a deal breaker though!)

Like I said – the only negative is that Tifiny’s is in Southern Utah. Fortunately, this is a major tourist area. The attractions in the St. George area (known as ‘Utah’s Dixie’, as it is in the southern part of the state) are many – I mean numerous. With a hotel in town as a base, the vacation possibilities are virtually endless.

For starters, St. George is only 120 miles northeast of Las Vegas. If you drive up from Vegas, you drive through the spectacular Virgin River Gorge – an incredible canyon with majestic cliffs that tower above you. If you drive through the gorge in the early morning, you may be treated to the sight of mountain goats and deer. Just remember to pay attention to the road though – the traffic can be dangerous.

The area surrounding St. George includes the incredible Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Snow Canyon, Sand Hollow, and Quail Creek State Parks, and Valley of Fire State Park in nearby Nevada. You may be tempted to pass up the state parks, thinking they can’t rival the bigger National Parks, but that would be a mistake. Snow Canyon State Park is one of the most magnificent, breathtaking places anywhere.

The point is, of course, that although you won’t make the trip to St. George just to eat at Breakfast At Tifiny’s (okay, well you might), but you can spend an exceptional family vacation touring all of the above-mentioned parks – a worthy and unforgettable slice of the great American Southwestern Desert. If you’ve never been out there, do yourself a favor and put it on your bucket list – you will not be disappointed.

Of course, while you’re in the area, you need to go to Santa Clara and stake out your table at Breakfast At Tifiny’s. If you stay in the area for more than a day, you may find yourself coming back for more – exactly what I intend to do on my next trip to St. George.

 

Larry Manch is an author, teacher, guitar player, freelance writer, and columnist. His books include: 'Twisted Logic: 50 Edgy Flash Fiction Stories', 'The Toughest Hundred Dollars & Other Rock & Roll Stories', 'A Sports Junkie', 'The Avery Appointment', 'Between the Fuzzy Parts'. His books are available in paperback and e-book.

He also writes about sports for Season Tickets, food and travel on Miles & Meals, and music/guitars on The Backbeat.

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