For many Americans, eating breakfast out was among the first comforts to be sacrificed when the economy went kaput. But what if you could enjoy a hearty restaurant breakfast for less than five bucks? At Berkeley’s Flavah Island Cafe, chef/owner Donald Edwards branches out from the Jamaican specialties his restaurant is known for to offer traditional breakfast fare at bargain-basement prices — it’s one of the few places this side of Mickey D’s where you can get a full pancake breakfast for just $2.99. The generous stack of pancakes comes topped with fresh berries and syrup and includes a choice of bacon or breakfast sausage. Mind you, these aren’t frou-frou gourmet pancakes, but they are honest and buttery and served up hot. Other options include a couple different omelets and the steak and potatoes, which, at $5.99, is the priciest item on the regular breakfast menu. And if you’re feeling flush or just in the mood for something more exotic, splurge on the special Jamaican breakfast ($7.99): usually some variation on ackee and codfish, the best in town. In theory, Flavah Island opens at 8:30 each morning, but it’s the kind of super-casual place where it’s best to call ahead to make sure.
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