{"id":4985,"date":"2013-07-18T21:51:32","date_gmt":"2013-07-19T01:51:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/?p=4985"},"modified":"2013-07-18T21:51:32","modified_gmt":"2013-07-19T01:51:32","slug":"the-three-coins-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/?p=4985","title":{"rendered":"The Three Coins"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s been slow going at the Tampa Bay Breakfasts command post. Too much work. Marek being 6 going on a lazy 16. But this morning we’re getting out and doing it. On bikes.<\/p>\n

\"coins00\"<\/p>\n

Little Ivo is tucked in back. This is the last summer I’ll be able to do this with him. Then we’ll enter a year where he’s learning to ride his own bike but not strong enough to actually ride anywhere. And then soon after, it will be three boys, three bikes, all over Tampa.<\/p>\n

\"coins01\"<\/p>\n

We’re on a long trek this morning. Multiple stops for water and local conditions briefings.<\/p>\n

This is a picture about which Marek will be having a talk with me in a few years.<\/p>\n

\"coins02\"<\/p>\n

Ivo’s not on his own bike, but he still gets a water break. It’s hard work putting things in dad’s shorts while he’s pedaling.<\/p>\n

\"coins03\"<\/p>\n

We made it, the three or so miles from Pancake Central to The Three Coins at 7410 N Nebraska Ave<\/a>. Today is 7 July 2013, and this is one of many visits we’ve made here. But it’s been a while. Last visit was back in 2011.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"coins04\"<\/p>\n

When I was chaining up the bikes outside, I told the boys, go inside and get us a table. Now it’s no lie that I tell them all the time to got get us a table, but this was the first time where I was outside and they were inside and there was a gap of time before I showed up on the scene.<\/p>\n

I walk in and there’s a line of waitresses behind the counter looking over the wall at the booth. And there’s a waitress at the booth with pad in hand, taking an order. And in the booth are two boys, my boys, each reading a menu. And Marek saying, ever so politely, “two orange juices please, ma’am, and we’ll be having one more person join us.”<\/p>\n

So I quietly took a seat at the counter with my back to them and took this picture. A picture of a mature, polite, six year old independent actor, getting it right.<\/p>\n

\"coins05\"<\/p>\n

Here’s the lineup. All good chow. Nothing exotic, just good breakfast chow.<\/p>\n

\"coins06\"<\/p>\n

Marek and Ivo are getting superballs out of the machine. I bet you’re wondering where they got the cash to do that?<\/p>\n

\"coins07\"<\/p>\n

This sweet gal bonused them each a quarter for cuteness. Thanks again, ma’am!<\/p>\n

\"coins08\"<\/p>\n

Marek and Ivo, lounging at the counter. Ivo putting his superball in his pocket. On the left is the proprietor, a very friendly fellow who runs a good shop.<\/p>\n

\"coins09\"<\/p>\n

Breakfast descended upon us like a hurricane. In a good way, not in a floods-and-destruction way. Notice how dexterous Ivo is with a knife.<\/p>\n

\"coins10\"<\/p>\n

For a change, I tried the French toast, oh la lah, and the Canadian bacon. I presume this makes it the French-Canadian special.<\/p>\n

\"coins11\"<\/p>\n

I’d like to call your attention to the line here. This place runs like a precision instrument. Four waitresses, sometimes five, moving together rapidly but smoothly, getting the job done. Want to open a restaurant and need to see how this part is done? Just come to The Three Coins on a Sunday morning and sit at the counter.<\/p>\n

\"coins12\"<\/p>\n

Andy and Ivo, father-son-moment.<\/p>\n

\"coins13\"<\/p>\n

During the father-son-moment with Ivo, Marek buttered up some bacon.<\/p>\n

Yes, you read that right.<\/p>\n

\"coins14\"<\/p>\n

I title this portrait, “Ivo, the Introspective Pancake Eater.”<\/p>\n

\"coins15\"<\/p>\n

The bill didn’t ring up cheap, but we did have a lot of chow: Three separate breakfasts, which is different than the way we used to do it years ago and get one $3.99 special with two plates. <\/p>\n

\"coins16\"<\/p>\n

Ivo’s job is to carry the payment.<\/p>\n

\"coins17\"<\/p>\n

Marek’s job is escort and security.<\/p>\n

\"coins18\"<\/p>\n

I didn’t get a picture of it, but both boys got pops from the nice folks at the register. On our way home we stopped at the park to play on the slides and swings. I took this picture of Ivo.<\/p>\n

\"coins19\"<\/p>\n

Then enlarged it when I got home and saw what he was doing. Tucking that pop in his pocket so he wouldn’t lose it.
\n\"coins20\"<\/p>\n

Great food. Reasonable prices. Incredibly friendly and highly professional staff. Every second customer is a regular known by name. This is a classic Tampa greasy spoon diner. We’re pleased to give The Three Coins a Tampa Bay Breakfasts Five Pancake Rating. <\/p>\n

Go get some. Tell ’em Marek and Ivo sent you. (They’ll be like, “Huh? Who?”)<\/p>\n

\"one-pancake\"\"one-pancake1\"\"one-pancake2\"\"one-pancake3\"\"one-pancake3\"<\/p>\n

\"Three<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s been slow going at the Tampa Bay Breakfasts command post. Too much work. Marek being 6 going on a lazy 16. But this morning we’re getting out and doing it. On bikes. Little Ivo is tucked in back. This is the last summer I’ll be able to do this with him. Then we’ll enter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[11,3,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-american","category-breakfasts","category-hillsborough"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p30Aox-1ip","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4147,"url":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/?p=4147","url_meta":{"origin":4985,"position":0},"title":"Mamas Family Kitchen","date":"November 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It's a beautiful day in Tampa, Florida. A great day for a bike ride. Ivo's on his Kazam bike. This used to be Marek's Kazam bike, and is the reason why he's such a biking ace today. Of course, you can't ride a Kazam all the way to breakfast, so\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "American"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/mamas-31.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4952,"url":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/?p=4952","url_meta":{"origin":4985,"position":1},"title":"Mamas Family Restaurant","date":"June 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"We re-visited Mamas Family Restaurant at 9312 N Florida Ave on 8 June 2013. It's only our millionth visit. Favorite Guest Reviewer Mom joined us. And we rode bikes here, so we're a little sweaty this morning. Here's Vicki, best waitress in Tampa Bay, advising me that she was able\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Breakfasts"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/mamas20.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2847,"url":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/?p=2847","url_meta":{"origin":4985,"position":2},"title":"Paradise Grill","date":"April 13, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"We're taking a really long ride this morning. Have to tank up. The Official Gas Station of Tampa Bay Breakfasts is the Citgo on Lois. Tell Jimmy that Andy sent ya! We're heading all the way to St. Pete Beach this morning. We're that dedicated to exploring every breakfast in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "American"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/beach-27-chargerforsale.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2728,"url":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/?p=2728","url_meta":{"origin":4985,"position":3},"title":"Chavez House","date":"March 9, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"It's Local Music Day at Tampa Bay Breakfasts. This morning we're spinning Rebekah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets. We saw Rebekah play in Lowry Park a few years back and have been fans ever since. To get to South Tampa, we had to drive by the University of Tampa. Now\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "American"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/chav-27.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":942,"url":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/?p=942","url_meta":{"origin":4985,"position":4},"title":"Gobbler\u2019s Eatery","date":"January 2, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"It's New Year's Eve! Marek's visiting his grandparents in Inglis for the weekend, so we're taking a road trip for breakfast this morning. Marek packed provisions, like a good little boyscout. We got stopped by a train on our way out of Tampa. Check out this cherry Mustang in front\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "American"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/andy-marek.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3515,"url":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/?p=3515","url_meta":{"origin":4985,"position":5},"title":"The Pink Flamingo","date":"December 26, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"This might be our last breakfast of 2011. We're cruising with Marek... And also Ivo. I'm always impressed that everyone fits in my little car. It's a dreary day here in Tampa. The sky is heavy. The air is cold. And we're hungry for breakfast. Heading to Davis Island this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "American"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/flam-05-choco.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4985"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5013,"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4985\/revisions\/5013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tampabaybreakfasts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}