Bored with our usual choices, Nicole and I decided to take a drive in the direction of Borders on Ponce, with the aim of stopping somewhere to eat. About a mile before the bookstore, we spotted a small purple building with the words Java Jive painted in yellow on the side and a large sandwhich board on the sidewalk that said, “Breakfast served here.”

First off, beware of the parking lot. It is directly after the building and an alley-sized driveway takes you up behind the building. It is the first time I actually felt I needed my 4 wheel drive in Atlanta- the pavement is broken and uneven, giving you the off-roading experience so many SUV drivers are looking for.

The resturant itself is very kitchy but low on corny. There are 1950s and 60s esque furniture, including a large amount of floor space dedicated to oldstyle appliances; stoves, ovens, fridges etc. Why that space isn’t used for more eating tables, I will never know, but it definetly sets the tone for the entire experience. The lamp on our dining table was probably the height of fashion in 1957, but is now hideously ugly, but in a good way.

There was a significant wait, but the staff has no problem serving you up a cup of coffee while you wait- just head to the counter. The coffee itself is dark, robust and very flavorful, just what a cup of coffee should be. It is served in a 1950s style cup and saucer and the refills don’t stop. I don’t think my cup got below half way until after we had paid the check.

When handed a menu, I noticed immedietly that there were great options for vegetarians, meat lovers and everyone in between. I ordered the Mexican Omlette, which was lovely. Chock full of fresh ingredients like black beans, sauted onions and cilantro, the eggs fluffy, perfectly cooked and well seasoned. I wish the cilantro had been cut in smaller pieces, but that was my only complaint. The biscuit served with it, however, was the tastiest thing I have eaten in a long time. Billows of steam emerged when I split open the golden brown crusty outside to reveal a tender and flaky inside. It was buttery without being greasy and when I bit into it, I could actually see the cells reexpanding. Best of all, the actual biscuit was flavorful and tasty even before strawberry jam was applied.

Nicole got the chorizso sausage scramble which we both enjoyed. The eggs and sausage had lots of spice without being too spicy; I find there is a fine line between being able to taste spices without being overpowered by a burn, but Java Jive walked that line to perfection. The dish was hearty, with lots of meat but surprisingly, was not too heavy. It was a filling breakfast when paired with a biscuit, but it did not appear to induce a food coma.

The other great thing about this breakfast spot was the speed with which we were served. We did have to wait almost 45 minutes for a table, but within ten minutes of placing our order, we had hot, delicious food in front of us that smelled so good it was sinful. The staff was friendly and sunny in addition to being prompt on every request. The price was right and I was more than happy to leave a generous tip on the table.

Moral of the story is, on a lazy Saturday or Sunday, when in that part of town, I would make sure to stop in and have a fantastic brunch.