I had never been to Tre Kroner for breakfast before, although the place is legendary in my part of town. They serve up buttery thin pancakes with small sides of lingonberries and authentic Falukorv sausage. The waitresses seem to be recent immigrants from Poland or Serbia, and while not Swedish, their sweet round faces and Old World European politeness only add to the diner’s atmosphere, giving patrons a healthy dose of far away charm close to home.

We got there later than I would usually eat breakfast, at least for a weekday, just past eleven, but in this magical Swedish eatery kingdom breakfast is served all day. Painted scenes of Dalarna (Swedish countryside) grace the walls and servers greet guests with offers of fresh, hot cinnamon rolls as soon as they’re seated.

As I perused the menu and tried to narrow my choices, reminding myself that I could try another dish on my next visit, I looked around the small dining room. Almost every table was full. Tre Kroner boasted a loyal and eclectic clientele; students from nearby North Park College, moms with kids in tow, and lanky old Swedish men, retirees from the neighborhood no doubt, happy to get out of the house and discuss the state of the world with old friends. When John and I lifted our heads above our crepes, we had to smile at these two Lincolnesque silhouetted white-haired gentlemen having a conversation over coffee and cinnamon rolls. We dubbed them Sven and Lars.

Ah breakfast. I knew similar rituals were taking place at Marmalade, Over Easy, and Bakin’ & Eggs. Why should having breakfast out be so much fun? A short walk usually comes along with the decision to have someone else break some eggs for you, and it’s always a treat to eat a meal that’s not confined to ingredients you picked up at the grocery store the day before, but there’s more to it than that.

Giving conscious thought to doing something with others that you could do alone can make a single hour seem especially precious. The day will become flooded with thoughts and tasks soon enough. Setting aside time to swab a short stack with Canada’s finest maple syrup, read the paper while someone else is refilling your coffee mug, or chat up the hostess demonstrates self-care and civility. For me, these moments are sublime.

Whether sitting at a table with a friend or unfolding a newspaper alone at a counter stool, the idea of taking time to be with yourself in a room full of others presents a compelling intersection of basic human desires. I’m reminded that there is no shame in others seeing me in the most basic of daily routines. Besides, breakfast is a time when people like to have what everyone else is having while having it done exactly the way they want.

Being with your neighbors, enjoying the start of the day with something hearty in your belly, a smile from a waitress, and a background chorus of laughter shared between friends is such a delight. Being a member of the Breakfast Club is no small thing.