"Oh my, you should eat!" proclaims the cover of the full-to-bursting menu at this quirky diner with a tongue-in-cheek mentality.

Broken into a series of rooms (a table-laden front room with plenty of neon signs in the windows, a row of booths along a hallway and then a cozy back room with peek-a-boo booths), Clarke's is decorated in attention-grabbing orange and blue, with tables close enough to hear what your neighbor is ordering for breakfast.

Of course, a breakfast order here doesn't mean it's early morning. From chocolate chip pancakes to oversized burritos, anything on the menu can be had at any time (though customers tend heavily toward the breakfast items). The skillet eggs are among the most popular items on the menu. Three eggs piled atop Northshore potatoes and smothered in cheese, this ultimate comfort dish is served eleven different ways, from the Big 'n Beefy (steak) to the Popeye (spinach and cheddar). Baked pancakes, which come in apple, blueberry or German (lemon) varieties, take 30 minutes to make but are worth every single second; as big as a full dinner plate, thick, and piping hot, they're almost impossible to eat solo (though believe me, you'll want to try).

Those seeking non-breakfast fare can have their pick of salads, sandwiches, burgers, (thoroughly Americanized) Mexican food and mini-pizzas. The Tuna Meltdown, albacore tuna mounded onto a jumbo English muffin and topped with cheddar cheese and bacon, is one of the best tuna melts in the area, despite its offbeat base. No matter what you order you're likely to leave with a full belly and an almost-full wallet; most dishes are under $8.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Rockwood