Nutritionists aren’t kidding when they tout breakfast as the most important meal of the day. Of course, the pros have glucose levels in mind when they advise against starting on an empty stomach. But an added benefit of seeking out a country ham biscuit, catfish Benedict, or eggs and rice is getting acquainted with the place that produced it. ¶ Restaurants that specialize in breakfast crack open a window to their communities and give visiting eaters a chance to get to know the people who enliven them. A tasting menu restaurant might be trendy, but breakfast joints are the real deal for local flavor if you’re visiting a new town—folks don’t put on airs when they go out for breakfast. Get a taste of what the regulars come back for again and again at these seven early-bird restaurants across the South. Doctor’s orders.
