All-day breakfast aficionados have discovered a variety of hefty egg and meat platters that Kaimuki Cafe, the former Cafe Laufer, has added to the menu in the last six months.
Breakfast is served til 3 p.m. daily and big eaters can choose from sandwiches, wraps, pancakes, waffles and omelettes, from $11 to $13. There are three specials that include two eggs (any style), bacon, sausage patties and Lit’l Smokies — all three meats, not merely a choice of one — and you can have your pick of waffles, pancakes or roasted potatoes for $13.
Chef Melvin Avecilla said the cafe has always offered a few breakfast items, but he beefed up the menu when customers voiced disappointment when they couldn’t order eggs after noon. The variety of meats is changed every week to keep things interesting. Weekends are usually packed.
Avecilla also plans to expand his lunch and dinner menus next month, and include a few kids’ favorites like macaroni and cheese, and personal pan pizzas. Look for new Asian shrimp and barbecue chicken salads, a pork loin entree, and a couple of new sandwiches.
Cafe Laufer has been a neighborhood institution since 1995, starting out as a European coffee shop specializing in fancy layer cakes. It turned into a more popular lunch and dinner hangout under pastry chef Cyrus Goo, assisted by Avecilla for 17 years. After a brief scare that the restaurant would close in January 2018 when Goo left, Avecilla took over ownership, to the vast relief of regular customers.
“I didn’t want people to lose their spot,” he said.
Kaimuki Cafe is at 3565 Waialae Ave.; 735-7717. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.