Breakfast is, by far, the most important meal of the day. It’s also my favorite meal. Personally, I would be happy eating breakfast food at every meal. I just don’t get tired of it. Best part is…there is such a variety of foods that can be made for breakfast or are considered breakfast foods that it doesn’t get boring either.
It was the dawn of a very busy day. My U2 concert in Chicago was that evening and I was about to brave not only downtown, but also the General Admission line. This meant having a hearty breakfast to fortify myself for the long wait. This was a meal that no IHOP or Waffle House (actually…I’ve never once been to Waffle House…quite proud of that!) could fulfill. But, from a previous visit a year before, I knew one place that would…so when it came to choosing where breakfast was that morning, I already had an answer:
Eggsperience Pancakes & Café.
I never walk away hungry from Eggsperience. Last time, I only got about one-third of the way through my omelet before calling it quits. So, when such occasions call for great food for either breakfast or lunch…when in Chicago, this is my sure bet. I’ve always enjoyed my experiences (eggsperiences, haha!) here, so why not do it again?
We drove to the location in Glenview and were seated at a table near the window. It was already a hot day out, so the window seat with the morning sun coming through heated us up fast. But, we were more than ready to eat. And for breakfast, we all got something different. Heather created her own omelet, ordered it with a side of hash browns, and some toast. Cathy created her own little breakfast skillet, with eggs whites, bacon, mushrooms and cheese. She ordered hers with a side of pancakes and hash browns. As for me, I ordered what I got last time, because I loved it: Eleni’s Egg White Delight, which is made up of egg whites, fresh spinach, mushrooms, red peppers, and low-fat mozzarella cheese. It is served with a side of fresh fruit. I was asked if I wanted toast or pancakes with it, and when I said I couldn’t have either, I asked if I could substitute for the hash browns. The waitress was a little reluctant to do so, but after explaining that I had a food allergy, she said she’d try.
Try she did, because our heaping array of food was delivered a short while afterwards. They definitely don’t skimp on portion sizes here. Which was perfect that day. I wanted something that would fill me up and I vowed to eat as much as I could possibly stomach. Here’s the thing about the omelets here…they are massive. Mine took up over half the plate. It was a thing of beauty. And yes…they conceded and allowed me to have hash browns instead of toast or pancakes, so I was a happy girl.
Equipping myself with a fork and knife, I sliced into the omelet, which was packed full of the fresh vegetables and melted cheese. No skimping on ingredients here. The reason the omelets are so massive is because they pack them with what you order. And the taste…exquisite (eggsquisite?). I dashed a bit of Tabasco sauce on mine, as they didn’t offer my favorite hot sauce, Cholula. But, Tabasco always does in a pinch. Nothing was bland. Fresh ingredients always yield a better flavor, so the rich flavor of all the vegetables attested that they aren’t just tossing any ol’ thing into these meals. They truly take pride in their food and it shows in presentation and in taste. The egg whites were fluffy and light. The spinach wilted to perfection and tucked inside. The mushrooms were the perfect level of sauteed, smooth and soft. The red peppers added a bit of bite to the flavor. And the cheese…that melt-y goodness in the middle…delicate, yet just what the omelet needed to add sustenance.
The hash browns were good. Not as crispy throughout as I usually like them, but a drizzle of ketchup and I was in carb heaven. They were seasoned perfectly, so nothing really needed to be added to them. As for the fruit…juicy and fresh. I am a fruit fiend and I was in heaven as I nibbled on the melons and in the small side they provided with the omelet.
I ate as much as I could. And yes…the entire omelet (minus some large bits of cheese because at times it did become too much) did bite the dust. I was hungry and knew I wouldn’t be getting another full meal all day. Just the snacks I had for the GA line and more than likely some popcorn in the stadium. I ate most of my hash browns, but eventually had to stop for fear of exploding (eggsploding?).
All-in-all, Eggsperience served up the perfect breakfast just as I remembered them doing last time. Delicious, served in good time, and fresh. This isn’t a fast-food joint, or a short-order diner. This is good, quality food in a beautiful setting, cooked to perfection. Come hungry to this restaurant, because you will leave full and probably still have some food on your plate.
When in the Chicago area, locate one of the five locations of this restaurant and go…indulge a little in breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day, and Eggsprience treats it as such. Trust me…you’ll want to go back next time you’re in town.
The Celiathlete 