Editor’s Note: Our columnist is not a trained or paid professional, nor does he get complimentary meals from the restaurants visited. He and his party arrive unannounced and do not reveal that they will be doing a review. Comments or questions may be sent to Sam Geati, greengeezer9@comcast.net.
Recently, I woke up to one of those soggy mornings that sadly wiped out another day of tennis, which happens to be my favorite sport. So, I immediately called two of my tennis buddies, Roger and Nelson, to see if they were up for a breakfast road trip. Being two of the power-eating machines that they are, it was agreed upon to head for one of the two Burnt Toast restaurants that are equidistant from Sun City. In this case, it was the one on Randall Road just south of Rt. 72.
We arrived shortly after 9 a.m. and were seated immediately. This establishment is very popular for breakfast and lunch, sometimes resulting in short waits for a table, but our timing was lucky. The activity is brisk in this restaurant, as it is a well-oiled machine, the combination of very competent management and well-trained employees that work as a team. Most importantly, they serve nothing but the best in quality and freshness, from the veggies and meats to the dairy and coffee. We were all impressed with the competency of our server and the attentiveness to refilling our coffee cups. The menu consists of traditional breakfast and lunch fare with many house specialties, including various Belgian waffles, crepes, Benedicts, stuffed French Toast, skillet dishes, and omelets. Lunches include several salads and sandwiches. Also on the menu are various healthy-choice specials.
Our orders came quickly and therefore hot. Many of the breakfast items come with a choice of toast or three large pancakes. Roger ordered the Denver Skillet, which included hash browns with green peppers, onions and ham topped with two eggs, along with a stack of three large pancakes. The cost of his dish was $7.50. He praised the freshness of the ingredients and the perfectly cooked eggs. Somehow, he managed to finish everything on his plate including the three pancakes.
Nelson chose the Meat Lovers Omelet, which included ham, bacon, sausage, and cheese. He rated it excellent and said every meal he and his wife Joan have had here was perfect also. His order included toast or pancakes, and he opted for the pancakes. He was nice enough to share them with me so I could sample them. They were outstanding! The cost of his dish was $7.99.
I ordered Combo #2, which consisted of two eggs, two slices of bacon or sausage (I took the bacon, which was cooked perfectly and was a high quality product), and two slices of scrumptious French Toast. My meal was priced at $7.24 and was well worth it. The French Toast was the best I’ve ever had in a restaurant. We all agreed that this was a great way to make up for the loss of our tennis day.
Ratings (5 symbols being the highest):
Quality of food, value, service, and ambiance: *****
Price range: $$
Comments: We noticed the owner hopping from table to table to not just ask each customer about their experience but to chat for a few minutes. We were never rushed and ended up having many refills of coffee and plenty of time to enjoy the ambiance. One thing for sure, none of us needed any more food until dinnertime. Without a doubt, this is an unbeatable choice for breakfast in our area. I haven’t been there for lunch yet; that will be another time.
Burnt Toast – 2 locations: 2492 N. Randall Rd. Elgin, 847-551-0725 and 2520 Bunker Hill Dr., Elgin, 847-834-9552. www.btrestaurant.com
