Weekend brunch at Brandeis can spark some serious debates among exhausted, hungry college students. For the famished and somewhat adventurous, there is the option of creating "dessert waffles" at Sherman. Others will join the masses in the line for a Usdan omelet, breakfast sandwich or stack of pancakes. At some point, however, the hour-long wait for two sunny-side-up eggs becomes extremely unappealing and the debate over the best Waltham breakfast locale will ensue. The major contenders for the debate are Joseph's Two and In a Pickle. Both have solid quality breakfasts and are extremely popular with both the Brandeis and Bentley student populations. Inevitably, further frustration over on-campus food will most prompt a more detailed review of both locations.

There is, however, a third option. Main Street offers another breakfast diner that is even closer to Brandeis than either Joseph's Two or In a Pickle. The outside of the restaurant is completely unassuming, with a very simple bold-face type sign in blue lettering. This inconspicuous front marks the location of a hidden gem known as Arcadia Restaurant, a diner tucked between Beijing Star Restaurant and Emmanuel Cleaners & Tailors at 837 Main Street.

Arcadia Restaurant is the type of local Greek diner where the counters are greasy and certain customers can be classified as "regulars." This is not a tourist stop. Once past the outside doors, patrons will notice a wall covered in old, yellowed photos of what is presumably the owner's family. Otherwise, the décor is fairly minimal with a functional, unpretentious simplicity. Beyond the checkout counter, there is a surprising amount of space with an open griddle, counter service and almost two dozen tables for seated service. Patrons are accomadated without much fanfare and handed simple, laminated, double-sided menus. None of the other patrons, by the way, will be wearing oversized sweatshirts and sweatpants emblazoned with "B"-lettered college; you probably won't run into "that guy" from your econ class. You're far more likely to see families with two or three kids and locals on their way to work.

The menu offers the usual options of pancakes, omelets and breakfast sandwiches with a couple of distinctly Greek options, such as gyros ($2.75) and locanico ($3.00), a somewhat dry pork sausage. They have a number of delicious omelet combinations, including a vegan option (prices range from $3.60-$6.25). Just for fun, you might note that they spell "omelets" three different ways on the menu. Of course, they have plain stacks of pancakes and French toast, but the greatest deals are in breakfast combos at the start of the menu. "Hungry Man" is an amazing bargain at $4.75 for three eggs, two strips of bacon, two sausages or ham slices, home-fries, toast, a small juice and coffee. For less than $5, it will satisfy the hungriest of students on a college budget. The "Everyday Special" is also $4.75 and includes three pancakes, one egg, bacon or sausage and coffee.

The less hungry will appreciate two eggs, homefries, toast and coffee for only $2.65. Adding bacon, ham or sausage increases the price to $3.75. The health conscious can order Egg Beatersr with sausage, bacon or ham for $4.50. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate are just $0.85. My greatest complaint at both Joseph's Two and In a Pickle has always been their tiny glasses of juice. At Arcadia, the small is still tiny ($0.80), but the large juice ($1.10) is a huge tumbler's worth and a better deal than either of those offered by the aforementioned breakfast diners.

The overall quality of the food was very satisfying. Arcadia is certainly not advertising gourmet dining, but the homefries are large chunks of crispy, fatty joy, and the eggs are cooked just as ordered. The hash looks oily and mysterious but actually melts in the mouth. Arcadia surprisingly offers five different types of toast: white, wheat, scali, raisin and rye. The only major grievance is that the sausages are tiny, mass-produced links in cheap casing. The bacon is a better option and cooked to crispy perfection. The coffee flows freely, but it is important to note that the servers are not looking to bow down to your every whim. If you want jam with your toast, consider asking for it when you order. Good luck getting extra accompaniments after being served.

While the typical wait in Usdan and In a Pickle exceeds the average person's patience, the tables at Arcadia Restaurant on Main Street are ready to serve hungry locals looking for cheap eats. Sadly, you can't just "meal and points it," but after feeding four hungry college students for under $20, the financial damage was amazingly minimal.

The next time serious debate breaks out over the merits of Joseph's versus In a Pickle, consider Arcadia as a better bargain with a much shorter line on an average weekend morning. It's a no-frills joint where the food is wonderfully greasy after a long night of "studying" and, better yet, has blessedly, not been prepared on campus.