Though starting the morning sunny side up is preferable, I usually ring in the morning with the clank of a spoon hitting the side of my cereal bowl. While I can't bear to ever starve myself in the morning, any hearty breakfast is reserved for the occasional lazy Saturday or Sunday.

So, in my quest to find a satisfying plate full of eggs and potatoes, I decided to forfeit my routine in favor of four local feasts.

Sybil's Omelettes

Omelet (or, omelette) being part of their name, Sybil's was my first stop. On a weekday morning, the establishment is full of retirees and the occasional parent out with their young children. I guess weekday morning equals quick service here, with which I was pleasantly surprised. Though modest in decor, Sybil's doesn't hold back in the number of their menu options or in the portion sizes. The breakfast specialists here offer 110 varieties of the egg-based breakfast. I can't say I made it very far. Stopping at number four, I chose an omelet with onions, cheddar cheese, and substituted green peppers for the given tomatoes. A large side of crunchy hashbrowns were sandwiched between the entree and a side of whole wheat toast. For those who prefer a crispy plate of 'browns, here's your place. Though a bit greasy, they were a nice contrast to the light and fluffy omelet, which was a bit cold for my taste. Though I left two halves of the thinly sliced toast, a bite of the browns, and a third of my omelet behind, I still left feeling like I wouldn't be able to move for hours. Sybil's also offers a host of other breakfast items, as well as lunch and dinner meals. My plate set me back $7.25. Sybil's Omelettes is located at 2373 State Street in Salem.

Word of Mouth Bistro

Talk about living up to one's name. I heard of this house-turned-bistro from co-workers and friends. Though I had already visited during their dinner hour, I had not yet tried anything from their morning menu. There was a lengthy wait for a table, but I knew it would likely be worth it, especially since I was already feeling starved. Once a table was procured, I knew what I wanted. The benefit of sitting around and waiting is that the menu lies there waiting for customer perusal. I wanted to deviate from my plan and order the creme brulee french toast, but I opted for the Caprese Omelet which came with a side of red potatoes and ten-grain bread (courtesy of Cascade Bakery). Though the omelet was rendered watery from the buffalo mozzarella and grape tomatoes, the taste of the "made from scratch" dish, which included fresh basil, made up for the texture. A variation on a theme, the red potatoes were no hashbrowns. They were, however, perfectly soft and lightly seasoned. The bread was sliced thick, as in four times thicker than a slice of bread from the average loaf. Corners are not cut around here. Slathered with fresh strawberry jam, it was a sweet contrast to a savory meal that cost $8.95. Word of Mouth, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, is located at 140 17th Street NE in Salem.

White's Restaurant-

Want to hear some trivia? This family-owned restaurant has been open since 1936. The diner-style establishment offers a plethora of options. This time, I felt like having a hand in making my breakfast. Not literally, of course. I did however choose the "Build-Your-Own" omelet. In an effort to spice up my morning, I added pepperjack cheese and green peppers. Yes, I did sprinkle a little black pepper on top for good measure. While waiting for the cooks to make my meal, I inundated my mom with a battery of random trivia questions provided on a folded laminated paper sitting atop the table much like a menu. Though not particularly useful, the questions about cartoons, science, and sports made the wait seem a bit shorter. When the food arrived, my large omelet took up half of the simple white plate while hashbrowns occupied the other side. I chose a biscuit for my bread option, which was delivered on its own. The omelet was good, but basic. Classic hashbrowns served here are soft, but not mushy. I was amazed to find that they were not greasy in the slightest - a refreshing twist for a fried dish. The biscuit was also okay. Not great; not bad. The "Build Your Own" omelet with cheddar cheese starts at $8, with a dollar added for each additional ingredient. White's Restaurant is located at 1138 Commercial Street SE in Salem.

Otis Cafe-

I decided to venture out for my final destination. With an insatiable need to visit this place for myself, I drove out to the coast. Located just a few minutes inland from Lincoln City, Otis Cafe is a tiny yet famous place. When I arrived around 11 a.m. the parking lot was packed and at least 15 people were seated outside waiting for their own turn. Thankfully, the sun was out in full force as I joined the "good-faith" waiting line. Since I brought only myself and one guest, the wait was short. A couple that had already been waiting in line offered to share their booth with us. This was only the first example of hospitality during the morning. The old-school diner can't seat much more than 25 people at a time. Seated at a booth snugly pushed near the bar counter, I felt privileged just to make it in so quickly. As I glanced around at the dated decor, I spotted a clever adage spelled out in dry erase marker on a board above the counter. "It's worth the wait weight," it read. Truer words have never been spoken. After chatting with our friendly neighbors across the booth and our exuberant waitress, I decided on the number seven omelet. The white cheddar omelet was accompanied by the german potatoes I substituted for the regular hashbrowns and a half-and-half combination of whole wheat sourdough and black molasses bread. Forget the small omelet. The huge portion of german potatoes was covered in white cheddar cheese and green onions, adding flavor and texture missing from any other potatoes I've sampled. Their homemade breads rivaled the Cascade Bakery in both size and flavor. The sourdough was satisfying, but the black molasses was subtly sweet. Otis Cafe's unique twist on staple breakfast dishes make it a standout location worthy of the wait and weight its customers experience. This time I had to take two boxes to go. The hefty breakfast set me back $9.25. Otis Cafe is located at 1259 Salmon River Highway in Otis.

Though my journey ended here, there are many other worthy breakfast eateries to try. In Salem, Busick Court, Off Center Cafe, and the Original Pancake House are likely choices. What are the others?