Out of hibernation

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.

Spring has sprung, tra-la, tra-la!!! The daffodils are poking their heads out of the ground, and we are all poking our heads out from behind our masks (hopefully for good this time). We felt like Mamma and Papa Bear coming out of hibernation as we left our cave one sunny day with bear sized appetites. First thing on our list, go to the bank to get a loan so we can fill up the gas tank of the Mini-Mobile. Second is getting Mamma Bear, who has been cooking all winter long, out of the kitchen, and last but not least, to satisfy my Papa Bear appetite. Luckily on the way to our bank, we remembered a new restaurant that we put on our list to review. In keeping with our bear theme, we decided to try the Honey Berry Café in Hoffman Estates.

This restaurant is a large bear sized den in the Poplar Prairie Stone Crossing shopping center. The inside décor is similar to most of the newer brunch cafes. It is a large open concept eatery with a white and gray color palette. It features modern booths and tables which complete the wake me up feel after our long hibernation.

It took a while to peruse their huge menu. Honey Berry offers an array of brunch selections along with fresh juices and smoothies, specialty coffees, and breakfast themed cocktails. They offer an abundance of these cocktails such as a Bloody Mary with bacon, cheese, celery, olives, and a pickle. Also included is their Cinnamon Roll cocktail, and the ever-popular Rise and Shine which contains a “good wake me up” dose of tequila.

Jim, being Jim, found something under “Family Favorites” that indeed could feed a family!!! He went with the Back to Bed Sandwich ($15). This was two eggs over easy, ham, sausage, bacon, and cheddar cheese drizzled with maple syrup all stacked high on French toast. This was served with hash browns and if that wasn’t enough, two pancakes on the side. What arrived from the kitchen was a picture perfect entrée, that tasted as good as it looked. The side of pancakes was fluffy with crispy edges. The portion was truly Papa Bear sized.

Nancy who is not a big fan of breakfast saw they had a Chicken Salad Sandwich ($14). This was all white meat chicken, mixed with almonds, apples, celery, and cranberries served with lettuce and tomato on whole wheat toast. This comes with a side of either fruit or fries and she chose the fries. Nancy, being Nancy, had to have it her way. She nixed the whole wheat toast, substituted a flour tortilla and thereby turning it into a wrap. When the waitress brought over her plate she remarked, “that looks delicious, I think I would enjoy that more than the whole wheat sandwich.” And to wrap this up, this was a very tasty sandwich “wrap.” (Don’t hate me.)

The price for our Spring fling was $39.10, coming out of hibernation, priceless…

FYI: This restaurant is handicap accessible.

In conclusion, this “honey” of a café is a welcome addition to our breakfast arsenal. We both took home doggie bags for another meal.

Jim’s take: My meal looked too pretty to eat, but I forced myself and I was glad I did.

Nancy’s take: I kept sneaking forkfuls of Jim’s pancakes; they were really good. I especially loved the crispy edges.

Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at: thediningduo@gmail.com

---

---