One of my favorite childhood memories is the smell of bacon frying, biscuits baking and fresh squeezed orange juice at my grandmother's house in West Tenn.

Walking into the cozy Market Square Kitchen made me reminisce about family breakfasts and salivate as I took in all of familiar smells.

I immediately felt at home in the simple but comfortable wooden tables and chairs, and the décor created a homey atmosphere that made me wonder if my grandmother might appear beside me, pinch my cheeks and ask me how I wanted my eggs that morning.

Our server arrived, and was rather hasty in taking our drink orders and even brought my companion coffee when she only asked for water. The coffee I ordered was piping hot and tasted as if it had been freshly brewed.

The extensive breakfast menu offered pancakes, eggs, breakfast sandwiches, an array of side items and a selection of daily specials. Prepare to be disappointed by the lack of healthier items because the food here is greasy, fried and full of cholesterol.

After contemplating over the menu and being nagged by our server, we placed our orders and were surprised how speedily they were delivered.

I ordered the red-eye biscuit and sausage gravy with an egg sunny side up. I have high expectations for biscuits and gravy, and I must say the Market Square Kitchen failed to impress me on many levels.

The proper biscuit should be buttery, flakey and golden brown. The biscuit that sat before me was dry, rock hard and covered with lukewarm gravy. The flavor of the gravy brought out the salty and spiciness of the sausage, but the poor temperature masked any hope of this dish being a success.

The food was mediocre and the service was pushy.

The egg served atop the unexciting mess was fried in too much grease, giving the edges a crispy brown appearance. The yolk was able to maintain its bright yellow appearance and rich flavors making it a nice accompaniment to the gravy.  

My companion ordered the Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and blueberries. In her opinion the waffles were delicious and the berries tasted of summer. The waitress had indicated that this was a top seller, and my companion said she would definitely order it again.  

The prices at the Market Square Kitchen are cheap and the menu prices range from 92 cents for toast, English muffin, biscuit or bagel to $6.95 for a country chicken fried steak and gravy with three eggs and toast. The portion sizes are large, and they will leave even the hardiest appetites full.

Despite the quaint atmosphere and cheap prices at the Market Square Kitchen, the food was mediocre and the service was pushy. And so, I will continue on my search for a wonderful cheap breakfast that won't leave me yearning for grandma.