Fire Sign Cafe

You skied, you après skied, you painted this snowy-white town red. Now you need an a.m. filling station to gear up for another day on the slopes.

By Katherine E. Hill

Old Post Office Café

5245 N. Lake Blvd., Carnelian Bay, Calif., 530.546.3205

Huge breakfasts, friendly service and locals on the stools have defined the Old Post Office in Carnelian Bay since 1975 (before that, it was the local post office for 33 years). The only remnants of the café’s former life are on the menu, where you can order from the First Class Specials, Special Deliveries or Most Wanted until 2 p.m. Fluffy pancakes and pecan waffles are sure bets, but the best way to clear the cobwebs is the Hangover Helper—two biscuits and two sausage patties topped with housemade country gravy and served with eggs and potatoes— and a Loaded Bloody Mary made with Han Asian Vodka.

Fire Sign Café

1785 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, Calif., 530.583.0871

There’s always a crowd at this West Shore icon, but the breakfasts (served until 2 p.m.) are worth the wait. (Tip: Go solo and get served almost immediately; there’s usually an empty spot at the small counter.) Made-from-scratch dishes have been Fire Sign’s hallmark since it opened in the late 1970s: Joe’s Special, a hearty scramble of eggs, ground beef, spinach, garlic, Italian spices and Monterey Jack, never disappoints, and neither does anything from the griddle. Choose among buttermilk, whole wheat or buckwheat pancakes, and top them with the hot blue-raspberry sauce made fresh daily.

Ernie’s Coffee Shop

1207 Emerald Bay Rd., South Lake Tahoe, Calif., erniescoffeeshop.com

For more than 30 years, this old-school coffee shop with a loaded menu has lured even North Shore residents down to South Lake. A morning rush that never seems to slow means the waitresses are always in a frenzy, but you never have to wait long for a seat in the large, open dining room or at the long counter. When you do sit, order the colossal Ernie’s Breakfast Burrito: two eggs; your choice of hash browns or home fries; bacon, sausage or ham; veggies; cheese; and sour cream. Test the limits of the tortilla when you customize it with jalapeños, mushrooms, chorizo and nearly a dozen other options to make it your own.

LATE-NIGHT NOSH: Before turning in, stop off at MacDuff’s Public House (1041 Fremont Ave., macduffspub.com), a homey pub on the South Shore owned by a Scottish transplant. Traditional fare like bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie are served until 10 p.m., but a wood-fired pizza oven stays hot until midnight. Still thirsty? The Carnivore pizza with housemade hot and sweet Italian sausage and the Kirkwood Kona pie with slow-roasted pork go great with a pint.