Extensive menu satisfies at Arlington Heights' new Golden Brunch
The where-to-have-brunch decision typically involves variables like location, atmosphere and pricing. But chances are the most important factors are the breadth of choices on the menu and how well a restaurant's kitchen delivers those omelets, waffles and crepes.
Golden Brunch, which first stepped up to the plate in March, fills the bill on all counts for hungry residents of Arlington Heights.
The 135-seat breakfast/lunch family-run establishment, co-owned by cousins Vasilis Nikolopoulos and Tom Nikolopoulos, offers something for everyone. From Oreo pancakes and country-fried steak and eggs to the beet-spinach salad and tuna melt, the list goes on and on. And its dishes are reasonably priced, from $6.49 to $10.99.
Early arrivals between 6 and 9 a.m. on weekdays can take advantage of several discounted dishes, too.
If you want to start with a pick-me-up, Golden Brunch serves a mean cappuccino using beans supplied by independent Forest Park-based roaster Philosophy Coffee.
Take a circuit of the menu and you'll find various breakfast combination plates pairing eggs with ham, maple sausage, chicken sausage links and steak.
I can recommend the smoked Nova Scotia salmon benedict - but with a cautionary note. The lox comes on an English muffin topped with two poached eggs and avocado and a rather fiery Sriracha hollandaise sauce. Next time I would order the dish minus the hot sauce.
Also good eating was my dining partner's eggs with house-made corned beef hash with onions and diced red potatoes. Not a dish I hadn't had before, but one that was thoroughly satisfying.
Other egg-based dishes include skillets such as the Fiesta, with chorizo, onions and Chihuahua cheese, and Mediterranean, with artichoke hearts, sauteed spinach, mushrooms and Kalamata olives.
On the heartier side are entrees like chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, potato pancakes, breakfast burrito and chilaquiles (corn tortilla chips in a salsa verde with queso fresco, homemade guacamole and two eggs).
Many of the entrees come with a choice of hash brown potatoes, fresh fruit cup, pancakes or toast.
Rounding out the breakfast selections are a half-dozen pancake (plain or with fruit or other enhancements), waffle (think bacon or topped with Nutella, bananas and berries) and French toast (cinnamon roll, banana loaf) options. Plus, consider the Golden Brunch Signature Crepes filled with honey-infused Greek yogurt mixed with strawberries and topped with crunchy granola.
The lunch side of the menu includes half-pound Black Angus burgers (the Texan comes piled with applewood-smoked bacon, poblano peppers, cheddar and chipotle mayo), various wraps (buffalo chicken, fajita pork) and sandwiches (barbecue chicken, pulled pork, corned beef and turkey Reuben) along with hearty salads (Cobb, caesar, Greek and tuna-avocado).
Service was professional: Just the right blend of businesslike and friendly.
Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.
Golden Brunch
31 E. Golf Road, Arlington Heights (847) 758-7400,
Cuisine: Extensive breakfast-lunch menu
Setting: The sprawling dining space is carved by room dividers to help reduce sound and preserve a feeling of intimacy
Prices: Breakfast items $6.49 to $10.99; lunch fare $8.99 to $9.99
Hours: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Also: No reservations; free Wi-Fi; eat in or take out