Unless you’re the type to roll out of bed before 9:00 a.m. on those precious weekend mornings, the breakfast scene in San Diego resembles nothing short of a cattle call filled with gastronomic moans and growls. Long lines and tightly packed dining rooms are par for the course if you forage on the beaten track at places such as Denny’s, IHOP, Coco’s and the like. And even the more desirable haunts among GLBT breakfast-goers can prove a formidable wait if you’re eyeing The Crest Café, Hash House A Go Go and The Mission.

So what are the alternatives for those in need of a quiet omelet on a lazy Sunday morning? Below are a few places that offer shorter lines, or at least a much-needed change of scenery.

This tucked-away building, complete with lavish Japanese gardens, serves a decent indoor-outdoor Sunday brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The menu carries all sorts of breakfast favorites, as well as seafood, prime rib and ham. The cost is $21.95 per person – a little steep, but if you get there before noon, you’ll get seated within minutes. No need to make reservations.

The lagers and aged whiskeys take somewhat of a back seat on weekend mornings, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, as Brits and Anglophiles converge on the pub’s commodious patio for full English breakfasts, which feature eggs, banger sausages, black-and-white pudding and those omnipresent Heinz baked beans. Traditional fare is also available, such as omelets, bacon and toast.

It’s the only place in town that offers buttermilk on the beverage list, which tells you that the food is stamped with all the hominess of a Midwest diner. The spacious dining room is squeaky clean and rarely overflows with customers no matter what time you visit. The feta and black olive omelet is a winner, as is the corned beef hash. But we’ve yet to see anyone chugging down that yellowish milk.

The restaurant caters to those who like sleeping in on weekends by offering breakfast from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. If you can swallow the outdated steakhouse motif, you’ll be greeted by quietude and a breakfast-lunch menu that features everything from steak omelets and old-fashioned pancakes to French onion soup and burgers. And it’s a great place to wash down those Huevos Rancheros with a stiff bloody Mary.

Hip and relatively new to the restaurant scene, Ticasso offers traditional Mexican and American breakfasts in a weekend atmosphere that isn’t riddled by clamor. The big raves are Chilaquiles de la Casa (corn tortillas with scrambled eggs in a red tomato sauce) and a Nopalitos omelet with sautéed cactus. French toast, waffles, standard omelets and oatmeal round out the menu. Mimosas are available too. Breakfast is served from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Most don’t equate reasonable prices with seaside haunts like The Shores. Yet visitors will find plenty of wiggle room and one of the best ocean views in San Diego without coming away with empty pockets. The kitchen puts out a full breakfast menu, plus a pleasurable weekend buffet for only $12.95, from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. The bill of fare includes South of the Border Burritos, Santa Fe Egg Scramble, eggs benedict, salmon, sausages and bacon.

A colorful and comfortable breakfast room awaits the morning set at LC’s, which recently underwent a facelift of rainbow acrylic tabletops and purple napery. Aside from an extraordinary daily buffet, offered from 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, the menu carries savory breakfast dishes named after downtown condominium complexes, such as “City Front” French toast, “Renaissance” apple-chicken sausages and the “El Cortez” breakfast burrito. The location along San Diego Bay’s promenade is perfect if you need to walk off a pat of butter.