Bay Diner: Northeast Ohio's best weekend brunches, breakfasts

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio - Our brunch and breakfast series continues as we check out Bay Diner. Here's a look at what to expect:

Location + hours: 660 Dover Center Road, Bay Village, 440-835-9011. Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It's less than a mile north of I-90 and is in a corner strip mall with dedicated parking lot. There is a dedicated all-day breakfast menu.

Menu or buffet? Menu.

Ambiance: It's a fairly small place, with fewer than 50 seats spread between six booths, about eight tables and five counter seats. Three television sets hang behind the counter. (On our visit sports was on two and HGTV was on the other.) Assorted product signs and license plates are hung, and what it appears to be an original courthouse sign is mounted above the men's-room door.

The eats: Every one of the more than 40 items on the menu is under $10. The 9-grain banana walnut French Toast was light, with a generous amount of walnuts on top of the cakes. French Toast comes topped with cinnamon. Sour dough as a toast option also is nice to see. For those with a serious sweet tooth, a chocolate-chip Belgian waffle sundae is available, and Reese's Peanut Butter Chips are among toppings for the "Bay Cakes."

Don't miss: Tater Tots. Crispy on the outside, hot inside. It's a bit different than the usual potato side offerings, and a squirt or two of maple syrup doesn't hurt, either.

Eggs and more: Half a dozen omelets include Gyro, Greek and Western, and the two-egg platter satisfied with over-easy eggs, has browns and thick bacon.

For the kids: If kids are in your group, on the way to your table the hostess will grab a handful of crayons from the basket on the counter. Also, the display case below the hostess stand serves as a mini museum of sorts for the little ones' artistic creations.

Have a brunch spot you've wondered about and want us to visit? Email me.

Previous eats: Northeast Ohio breakfast-brunch spots we've tried:

111 Bistro - Medina

35 Brix - Green

Akron Family Restaurant - Akron

Alley Cat - Cleveland

Beau's on the River - Cuyahoga Falls

Big Al's Diner - Cleveland

Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern - Twinsburg

Blue Door Cafe - Cuyahoga Falls

Brim Kitchen + Brewery - Willoughby

The Eye Opener - Akron