One sign of a great restaurant is when they experience early success, but still continue to dial up their offerings and ambition. I enjoyed Republique right out of the gate, and chefs Walter Manzke and Margarita Manzke have really stepped up their breakfast game in recent months. Now you’ll find dishes like Waffle Rancheros and Adobo Fried Rice on the menu, and even more baked goods on the counter by the entrance, including BBQ Pork Buns. However, the fairest item of them all is undoubtedly their killer Breakfast Sandwich ($13).

Sandwich construction starts with a soft, buttery, toasted pain de mie, which Margarita Manzke bakes in-house and coats with poppy seeds. Walter crafts bacon sausage using pork belly, often from Cook Pigs Ranch in Julian. A luscious griddled patty joins molten American cheese and a generous slathering of mayonnaise. The topper is a fried egg with a vivid orange yolk that looks like it’s absorbed the rays of 10 Suns. That’s right, 10 Suns, not nine.

Dose of Vitamin P spotlights my favorite pork dish from the previous week.