Rubi-os Cafe putting its best breakfast, lunch food forward in Elgin
Rubi-os Café in Elgin opened earlier this year, and so far the casual eatery catering to the breakfast and lunch crowd appears to have gotten off on the right foot.
One would hope that's the case, considering the history of the Larkin Avenue site. Over the years a string of cafes, a steak chain and a pancake house have set up shop in the same space, only to call it quits in short order.
Rubi-os, named after the family running the business, offers a broad menu that covers most of the breakfast bases, including made-to-order omelets, benedicts, waffles (churro dipped in cinnamon sugar), French toast (Hawaiian), buttermilk pancakes (apple cinnamon, candied pecan), crepes and skillets (skirt steak, healthy). For those seeking lighter fare, there's a yogurt parfait and a protein bowl (quinoa, apples, vanilla yogurt, candied pecans and oatmeal).
Lunch options include classic burgers, dinner salads (Cobb, Caesar and ahi tuna), chili, grilled chicken and other sandwiches such as a Reuben, BLT, tuna melt and egg salad.
The prices are definitely reasonable, with most items costing less than $10.
And based on a recent visit, we found the ingredients fresh, the presentation thoughtful and the service conscientious. Customers have a choice of counter, booth or table seating.
The Rubi-os kitchen shines when it mixes cultures by introducing Latin-influenced flavors.
The Hispanic Skillet, for example, explodes with a variety of enticing flavors. My order featured two overeasy eggs accompanied by hash browns and a mix of chorizo, jalapeño, tomato, onion and cilantro - the whole works accented with a blend of cheese and avocado.
For an included side dish, I opted for a cup of fresh fruit and wasn't disappointed by the mélange of strawberries, pineapple, cantaloupe, grapes and kiwi. Other possible sides to choose from include toast, pancakes or oatmeal.
Another stick-to-the-ribs dish I can recommend is the Huevos Rancheros. This house specialty featured white corn tortillas topped with refried beans, two eggs, chorizo and blended cheeses that came blanketed with green salsa. Avocado and sour cream on the side tempered the spice.
Among other dishes with a south-of-the-border ring are the breakfast quesadilla, a flour tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, cheese, tomato, sliced avocado and onions; and the breakfast burrito, a large flour tortilla housing eggs, chorizo, jalapeños and cheeses.
Coffee, a blend of lightly roasted Costa Rican coffee balanced with a blend of other central American coffees, is supplied by Chicago Coffee Roastery in Spring Grove. It comes with free refills. Fruit smoothies and flavored coffee or tea blended beverages also grace the menu. My pick-me-up orange juice was cold, pulpy and thoroughly refreshing.
It's also a good idea to check out the list of seasonal specials. Examples of current spring offerings include cheese blintzes with a berry compote and a cheddar-and-beef sandwich.
I'm going to keep my eye on Rubi-os Café with high hopes of making a return visit there soon.
<i>Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.</i>
Rubi-os Café
1568 Larkin Ave., Elgin, (847) 608-2618,
Cuisine: Breakfast and lunch diner
Setting: Casual dining in a spacious, cheery environment
Prices: Most dishes are less than $10
Hours: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily
Also: Early-bird specials from 6 to 8 a.m.; free parking; children's menu; carryout