Eggsperience cafe opens third area breakfast and lunch place

Eggsperience Pancakes & Cafe has launched its third location, which recently opened in Long Grove.

The family-owned eatery gives a contemporary twist to lunch and breakfast at 3970 Route 22, on the corner of Old McHenry Road.

Co-owner Nick Sakoufakis said his family is attempting to give customers a different flavor at their colorful new restaurant. He operates the growing business with his father, Tom Sakoufakis of Norridge, and brother, Peter Sakoufakis of Park Ridge.

The new eatery features everything from apple pancakes to paninis, salads and burgers. A healthy, popular breakfast selection is the Eleni's egg white delight, a baked egg white omelet with fresh spinach, mushrooms, roasted red pepper and low fat mozzarella. It goes for $8.99.

The roasted red pepper bennie is another popular pick with its sweet roasted red peppers, feta cheese served over poached eggs on an English muffin covered with homemade hollandaise, Nick said. It goes for $7.99. For the customer with a sweet tooth, the chocolate banana crepes are the hot pick, he added.

This is the third Eggsperience to open in just over two years. The first opened in Bannockburn at 2445 Waukegan Road and a year ago another opened in Glenview at 2000 Tower Road.

"We're trying to show a new, trendy look. Society is changing and we feel it's important to keep up," Nick said. He said they're constantly updating the menu and trying different approaches.

The family has been in the restaurant business for years. Prior to launching Eggsperience, the family owned Yinnis Opa, a Greek restaurant in Highwood, for seven years. Tom is originally from Greece and raised his family in Norridge, where he still resides.

Their first restaurant venture was not far from the new Long Grove establishment. For 11 years, the family operated Crossroads, a breakfast place in Lake Zurich at Routes 12 and 22.

"We were looking to get back into breakfast," said Nick, who resides with his wife in Schaumburg.

The new eatery is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For more information call (847) 550-0771 or check out www.eggsperiencecafe.com.

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