Breakfast at Dos Gringos feels like–and kind of is–dining at an eclectic friend’s place. Signs in the converted Mount Pleasant row house gently remind company that it’s a cell phone-free zone. Mismatched tables and chairs make it feel homey. Fresh squeezed juice is served in soda fountain glasses, and the coffee in house mugs. Thankfully, though, the café stops short of getting too cutesy. The fare isn’t completely vegetarian, but it’s definitely a wee bit Birkenstock with Tex-Mex leanings. We wouldn’t go there expecting to gorge on a stack of pancakes with a slab of bacon, but rather to partake in a light, fresh breakfast with a twist.

Previous attempts at breakfast taught us that Dos Gringos often sells out by noon, so we phoned ahead for a status report. After hearing that there was only one customer (which wouldn’t last long), we were urged to “come on in for great service.” And great, friendly service we got, even as a crowd poured into the small dining room. After ordering at the counter, the cashier handed us a toy fish to identify our table to the wait staff. We were promptly served at our table in front of the sunny bay window. The pre-ordering system is so fetch (sorry, I just watched “Mean Girls”) because it means someone knows we’re here and we don’t have to spend twenty minutes trying to flag down a waitress to place an order.