Nestled in the corner of the quiet morning streets of Downtown Saratoga, Darla Cafe is a wonderful brunch spot. We especially loved the warmly lit interior, with chandeliers giving off a vintage, medieval feel. The wonderful customer service added to the cozy and welcoming ambiance. 

Roseberry Lemonade (7/10)

The roseberry lemonade was an excellent blend of housemade lemonade paired with refreshing rose water, topped with a lemon slice. Upon our first sip, we were greeted with a tangy flavor that left a sweet aftertaste. The orange slice it was served with added a certain zest that tied the flavors together. The roseberry lemonade was perfect for a mid-morning breakfast in Saratoga.

Garden Scramble (6/10)

This vegetarian dish was served with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, spinach, cherry peppers, toast, and potatoes. The peppers were wildly spicy in stark contrast to the other more muted ingredients, making for an interesting culmination of flavors. The star of this dish was the potatoes. Roasted to perfection with crispy crusts and fluffy centers, these potatoes were irresistible to us, and before we knew it, the potatoes had vanished before our very eyes. We then tried the wheat toast in combination with the homemade marmalade on the table. The marmalade looked very promising, but we were met with dissatisfaction upon tasting. It had clearly been left out on the table for far too long and the flavor was rather bitter. It threw our taste buds off for the rest of the meal, and we struggled to finish my toast after the unpleasant surprise. Overall, the garden scramble’s taste did match the caliber of excellence the presentation had to offer.

Karaage Benedict (7.5/10)

The appearance of this dish was promising: the poached eggs on the multigrain toast looked perfect, and the karaage seemed to be the perfect contrast to the soft texture of the eggs. The delicate poached egg gave way to the perfect liquid yolk, which paired perfectly with the toast. We were beyond excited to try the dish and we had high expectations. On the first bite, we combined the poached egg, toast, and karaage, and were pleasantly impressed. However, the entire dish was slathered in a yuzu hollandaise, which completely detracted from the whole experience. The overly sour sauce overpowered the delicate flavor of the poached egg and karaage. The karaage was the saving grace for this dish: perfectly crispy and moist on the inside, with a hint of soy sauce flavor. Overall, a solid dish; just ask for the sauce on the side. 

Brioche French Toast (8/10)

Served with a delectable variety of fruits and a side of syrup, this dish looked so enticing that we almost couldn’t bring ourselves to eat it in fear of destroying the beautiful plating. However, it was completely worth it—the dish lived up to the high standards that its presentation set for it. The French toast paired perfectly with the sweetness of the syrup and the freshness of the fruit. We also enjoyed that the dish didn’t go overboard with the sweetness like others we’ve had before. The dish was one of our favorites, and we would definitely order it again!

Overall, we had a wonderful experience at Darla Cafe and thoroughly enjoyed the food and its presentation. We highly recommend stopping by in the morning for a delicious brunch and a quiet, pleasant atmosphere!