Apothecary:

Blackbird Bistro, 2329 California Ave. S.W., 937-2875, WEST SEATTLETime of entry: 1 p.m. They serve breakfast until 2 p.m. on weekends.Level of hangover (1–10 scale, with 10 being a paralyzing head-thumper): 2…I had been dealing with car salesmen for the better part of the morning, so I needed a little comfort food to soak up the slime and stench of cheap cologne I felt covered in. My dining companion, Molly, was nursing a bruised heart, so I’d say we both deserved a little grease.Level of waitstaff hangover: 5? Our waiter seemed a bit dazed, but it may have been from the blindingly bright sun. He was very concerned about the fact that our outdoor table was in direct sunlight and offered us the option to move several times. But armed with sunglasses and Molly’s insatiable thirst for sunshine, we stayed where we were. He was a bit forgetful throughout the meal in a “Jesus, I think I was still drunk when I got to work today” kind of a way so I’m guessing he may have knocked a few back the night before. I feel you buddy. We’ve all had those days. Prescriptions: After my vegetarian companion excitedly pointed out Blackbird’s large array of flesh-free plates, including many vegan options — as a carnivore, I never would have even noticed that — she chose the vegetarian biscuits and gravy. I opted for the Classic Benedict, and we decided to split a fruit plate. My food hit the spot, with crunchy and well-spiced hash browns and just the right amount of Hollandaise sauce covering perfectly poached eggs. They were a little skimpy on the ham, and I usually prefer my Hollandaise with a tad more lemon, but overall, it was a damn fine breakfast. The attractively arranged fruit plate pleased us both. Most places slop some half-ripened fruit in a bowl and call it good. This place took the time to fan out apple slices and symmetrically place orange wedges. Molly’s biscuits and gravy came with three eggs, two huge biscuits covered in vegetarian gravy, and hash browns. The gravy was a bit sweet for our taste, but the biscuits were dense and tasty. Molly was especially pleased with the crunchy edges of her over-easy eggs. Hair of the dog: I instantly regretted not ordering a Bloody Mary once the couple next to us did. Did you know a Bloody Mary is called a Caesar in Canada and it’s made with Clamato juice? Success of the soak: We were happy with our meal, and with nothing to complain about food-wise, we were left to gripe about our personal lives while soaking up the sun and the much deserved calorie-fest. We walked out in considerably higher spirits.