As I left the doctor’s office early this morning, I suggested that Roland and I get some breakfast. He immediately thought of a place that he had seen in his travels up and down Route 31, in South Elgin. We arrived at the Foxtrail Restaurant, 800 North La Fox Street, at the front end of a strip mall, across from the Fox River.
We were seated immediately in a booth at the front windows. The place is very old, but very clean, friendly, and surprisingly inexpensive. The only customers inside at 9 a.m. were regulars who lingered over their coffee discussing world events at their local diner.
Our waitress brought us the full menu featuring breakfast, lunch, and dinner items so we were able to see what was offered at other times. Breakfast meat offerings were “ham off the bone,” sausage (either links or patties), and bacon. You could also get just one egg cooked any way you wanted. Most other restaurants start with two eggs and go up from there. Hash browns came with almost everything, as well as a choice of toast. The standard offerings of omelets, waffles, and oatmeal were available – and all very reasonably priced. The dinner menu included a lot of broiled meat choices as well as pork tenderloin, smoked ribs and brisket, and pasta dishes. Dinner prices were all in the $7.95 range and most included soup or salad.
Windows were painted with various specials for all meals including the “ham off the bone” with two eggs, hash browns, and toast for $3.95, and a fish fry offered on Friday for $5, which includes cod, haddock, or perch, potatoes and a vegetable for $5. There was a blackboard by the counter that listed five different lunch specials priced right.
We watched the chef cook our breakfast, as the kitchen was open to the patrons. Our first cup of decaf coffee was pretty weak, and the refill we got tasted like it came from a pot that had sat on the hotplate for a while. Such is the experience of decaf coffee drinkers. Our breakfasts arrived on big white plates. Roland had hash browns, eggs, and corned beef hash. I had one egg, three sausages, and hash browns. There was a variety of jams at the table to spread on our buttered toast. The next time we go, we will order the hash browns “extra crispy.” Roland wished his food was served hotter, but all in all, for the price and volume of food, we were satisfied and will come back again.
If you are looking for an inexpensive, tasty, and quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner, check this place out. If I find a better value for your buck, I will let you know!
