A big yellow sign proclaiming, "Open 8 a.m. Daily" welcomed those traveling east on North Avenue this morning. Beans and Barley, 1901 E. North Ave., is now open at 8 a.m.

"Our customers have been asking for earlier hours," co-owner Peg Silvestrini said. Beans, before today, wasn't open until 9 a.m., missing out on some of the business and before-school breakfast crowd, something to consider especially now that UWM students are occupying the Kenilworth Building a few hundred feet away and another UWM dorm is under construction further west on North Avenue. (It's also no secret that a Whole Foods will open a block away in a couple weeks).

Now, breakfast at the East Side institution is served daily from 8 to 11 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays until 2 p.m.

When asked what's the most popular menu item (for us it's the egg burrito), Silvestrini said, "It's hard to name one most popular item. I think we really do have the best breakfast in town -- four kinds of pancakes, all made from scratch with 100 percent maple syrup -- eggs, any way you like them with roasted potatoes, various omelets, quiche -- chicken sausage links -- almond french toast made with challa bread. And, for the non egg eaters: our tofu scrambler and vegan pancakes."

Beans also makes its own jam, granola, scones, muffins and coffee cakes. They also serves bloody marys and mimosas, along with the standard coffees (Alterra), teas (Rishi) and fresh juices. The weekend breakfast menu is larger, including fancier items like eggs benedict, huevos rancheros, lox, frittate, vegan biscuits and gravy.

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