Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
The long awaited, much anticipated Brunch Cafe is finally a reality. It opened it’s doors on Oct. 7 to satisfy the brunch cravings of the good citizens of Huntley.
From the outside, it appears to be a small restaurant when compared to the “Big Rock” that it was built around. You will be amazed at how much room there is on the inside. It is a bright and airy restaurant that seems to shout “good morning, wake up and smell the coffee.” The owners put a lot of time and effort into sprucing up the interior, and it really shows.
Brunch Cafe
12270 Princeton Drive
Huntley 60142
847-669-8437
www.brunchcafe.com
Directions: Take 47 North to Princeton, voila!
Travel Time: 5 minutes
There is one nice feature here that we haven’t seen in too many restaurants. Next to the cashier, they have their daily specials on display, complete with a chalkboard describing them in mouth watering detail. This eliminates any unwelcome surprises when your food arrives.
Since Jim loves his breakfasts, and I prefer lunch, he went with the “BR” and I went for the “UNCH”. On the way to our table, one of the specials caught his eye. It was called the Caliente Potato Pancake Benedict ($9.99). This was 2 poached eggs atop chorizo sausage, jalapenos, diced tomatoes, onions, and a spicy Hollandaise sauce, all served over a crispy potato pancake. This was accompanied by mixed fruit. CAUTION: The jalapenos still had the seeds and membranes in them and they registered a 6.0 on Jim’s “Sweat Head Meter.” He never had that combination before, but he loved it and would order it again in a heartbeat.
Nancy ordered the ever exciting Turkey Club Sandwich ($8.99). This consisted of turkey, bacon, American cheese, tomato, and lettuce on toasted white bread served with French fries. She really went out on a limb this time! Nancy is usually a waitress’ worst nightmare. She orders an entree and changes everything around until any similarity between what she wants and the original dish is purely coincidental. At one unnamed restaurant, the waitress actually told her to go in the kitchen and make it herself!
This time it was “hold the American cheese and tomato.” She also requested that the fries be cooked extra crunchy (double dipped). Nancy orders her fries like this all the time. Most of the time the waitress says “no problem,” but the cook never does it, and they arrive limp and soggy. To her surprise, they actually honored her request, and I didn’t have to hear her whine for the entire meal.
The Brunch Cafe is a much needed addition to the breakfast/lunch choices in Huntley. They offer the standard breakfasts and sandwiches, but are not afraid to shake it up with some new and creative choices.
FYI: Handicap accessible and, if you want to cut your wait time during peak hours, call ahead to put your name on a list.
The munchy brunchy bill was $25.42, an average price for an above average menu.
Jim’s take: This is one of my new favorite breakfast places. It’s close to home, inexpensive, has a varied menu, and gives free Dum Dum suckers on the way out.
Nancy’s take: What can I say…. It’s a Turkey Club Sandwich. I had a taste for it so deal with it. If they were to add to the menu combination plates with eggs and a side of meat accompanied with a variety of pancakes or French toast, it would make me “happy, happy!!!”
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