44 | JUNE 3 • 2021 

A

s the pandemic 
recedes, going out to 
breakfast or brunch 
is suddenly back in style. 
Skillet omelets, breakfast 
bowls, waffles and pancakes — 
plus socializing — what could 
be more fun?
I recommend 
trying the 
Breakfast Club. 
Founded in 
1998, it offers a 
delicious dining 
experience at all 
nine local fran-
chises, including Farmington 
Hills and Commerce Town-
ship. The nearest to my home 
is the Breakfast Club of Royal 
Oak.
“Nice guy” owner Sunny 
Poonin, a native of New Delhi, 
India, said he works 30 hours 
here and another 35 hours 
more each week at his other 
Breakfast Club in Madison 
Heights. Those hours are 
actually cutting back for him. 
Arriving in 2004 with poor 
English skills, Poonin was 

grateful to find employment 
in the fast-food industry. He 
worked his way up, putting in 
100 hours weekly to support 
his wife and children, but also 
to buy different restaurants. 
His last stop before acquiring 
the Madison Heights Breakfast 
Club in 2013 was Frittata in 
Clawson, then known for its 
gourmet breakfasts.
The Breakfast Club of Royal 
Oak, operating in a former 
Middle Eastern restaurant, 
offers a cute, unpretentious 
setting. Breakfast-themed art-
work decorates the pale yellow 
walls. Tables are bare and light 
floods through large windows. 
But talk about poor timing: 
“I was in business only two 
weeks,” Poonin said, before 
COVID concerns caused 
Michigan to shut down inside 
service at bars and restaurants. 
Like with other places, 
carry-outs and home deliver-
ies kept him going.
Picking up where it left off, 
the Breakfast Club provides 
friendly, efficient service. 

That’s inspired by Poonin 
himself, who not only cooks 
but brings out food to tables 
as needed. 
The Breakfast Club menu, 
the same in each location, 
features such items as Mini 
Spini Egg White Omelet, 
Irish Morn, Smoked Salmon 
Benedict, Breakfast Enchiladas 
and Blueberry Granola 
Pancakes. I tried the best-sell-
ing Crème Brulee French 
Toast, a custard-baked French 
toast topped with Sabayon 
sauce (zabaglione, in Italian) 
and caramel sauce. Served 
with a purple orchid, the des-
sert-like dish was tall, dense, 
rich and sweet.
I have more experience with 
the Breakfast Club Specials. 
One time I enjoyed Italian 
Scramble: scrambled eggs, 
roasted garlic, roasted red 
peppers, spinach, fresh basil 
and fresh mozzarella with 
balsamic reduction. I also 
liked Sunrise French Toast, 
a special cornflake-coated 
French toast topped with 
mangos and raspberry sauce. 
My companion went wild for 
Southern Benedict, a special 
featuring buttermilk biscuit, 
chorizo, two poached eggs, 
topped with Hollandaise and 
Ranchero sauces, goat cheese 
and red onion, served with 
loaded, diced potatoes.
A Breakfast Club signature 
is presenting the check along 
with a chocolate-dipped whole 
strawberry for each guest. It’s 
good-quality chocolate, too, 
and a much-appreciated ges-
ture. 

NOSH
dining around the d

The
Breakfast
Club

Esther 
Allweiss 
Ingber

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Other Local 
Breakfast Clubs
Commerce Twp.: 
(248) 926-0690
Farmington Hills:
(248) 473-0714
Madison Heights:
(248) 307-9090
Novi:
(248) 773-8038
More locations are in 
Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth 
Township and Troy.

Breakfast Club 
of Royal Oak
29110 Woodward,
Royal Oak
248-565-8013
No website; visit 
Facebook page
***½ out of ****

Creme Brulee 
French Toast

Sunny Poonin owns the Breakfast 
Club of Royal Oak and the 
Breakfast Club of Madison Heights. 
He’s shown by the company logo 
in his Royal Oak location.

Blueberry Granola 
Pancakes

