Dali's Café spinoff Eggstasy offers a surreally great brunch

Posted April 06, 2009 11:00 pm

By Izidora Angel Daily Herald Correspondent

Eggstasy server Janine Strave serves up Spanish Benedict, left, and an omelet with prosciutto, red pepper, onion, cherry tomato and fresh mozzarella. Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer

Peter Verros calls his new Oakbrook Terrace breakfast spot Eggstasy "a breakfast boutique, offering a fun, gourmet menu." After a recent visit, I couldn't, ahem, eggree more.

Eggstasy offers top-notch breakfast classics, made-from-scratch batters, soups, sauces and compotes, and even bakes its bread for French toast. So when you lay eyes on the silly puns gracing the menu and walls of the eatery - "We begg to differ" or "We're bringing seggxy back" - you'll have a chuckle and get right to business. It doesn't come off as cheesy, you see, when the place can deliver the goods.

The original Dali's Café opened nine years ago in Downers Grove and has enjoyed much buzz that even before we stepped through the glass doors of Eggstasy (in operation since mid-December), past the orange lounge and underneath the translucent buckets filled with eggs hanging from an all black, exposed duct ceiling, we had high hopes and eager bellies.

The surrealist theme is a great backdrop because is does what good themes are meant to - show up only when you look for it, not obstruct the view. Large three-dimensional "paintings" hang on the walls, each embellished frame encasing plump white and yellow roosters with red ribbons round their necks. The vivid yellow is also used on the Seussical lamps sprouting from the walls. Plenty of natural light comes through the windows and reveals a patio with so much potential we wished we had waited for warmer temps to visit.

Off to the back, a private party room's glass doors expose many, many egg-shaped mirrors, while the excellent eye for detail of he who decorated charms you as you note that even the swinging door to the kitchen has an egg-shaped window.

The menu can be daunting - if only all things daunting were this much fun. The scope is impressive, and even sports a range within its variety: French toast, skillets, pancakes, salads, crepes, Benedicts, sandwiches and salads come in several incarnations. It is around this time we realized everything here is extra large - the menu, the plates and portions, the presence - the only element ostensibly out of place being the normal-sized tables.

At brunch it is practically blasphemous to ignore the Benedict - that absolutely perfect food - so we merrily pointed to the Spanish version. It comes loaded and decadent, with a spicy chorizo standing in for Canadian bacon and standing up boldly to two flawlessly poached eggs and a creamy hollandaise.

Skillet dishes are another "must-do" at brunch, so we picked out the Gypsy steak version. It comes piled to the brim of the ceramic dish with large juicy pieces of N.Y. steak underneath a pair of sunny side up eggs, ham, green peppers, mushrooms, and Swiss and American cheeses, all mixed in with some excellently crispy hash browns.

A good omelet is an art form, indeed, and when we laid eyes and teeth into the prosciutto, red pepper, onion, cherry tomato and fresh mozzarella one, we could taste the chef's culinary inspiration.

The savory crepes wrapped around melted Brie, slices of sweet apple and crunchy pecan came next, topped with a fine dusting of powdered sugar. The legendary combination of cheese, apple and nuts is practically foolproof, but it didn't hurt to have some kicking crepes holding it all together.

We loved the atmosphere, polite service and detail of the place - from the fresh fruit skewer garnishes and petite jars of jam, to the fresh cucumber slices on the bottom of the water pitcher - because it makes all the difference in the world. The singular letdown? Mimosas and bloody Marys aren't on the menu as there is no alcohol served. Don't fret - the potent coffee by itself will give you a noteworthy buzz.

Eggstasy's extra large menu tempts with creations like an omelet, front, filled with prosciutto, red pepper, onion, cherry tomato and fresh mozzarella; the Spanish Benedict, back left; and apple, Brie and pecan crepe. Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer

Eggstasy's surrealistic interior seems inspired by eggs, of course. Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer

If you're looking for a new breakfast place, seek out Eggstasy in Oakbrook Terrace. Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer

Spice up your morning with an omelet that's filled with prosciutto, red pepper, onion, cherry tomato and fresh mozzarella at Eggstasy. Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer

Eggstasy 17W512 22nd St., Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 758-3441 (EGG1), <a href="http://www.daliscafe.com" target="new">daliscafe.com</a> Cuisine: Classic and updated takes on breakfast and lunch favorites Setting: Surrealist Americana Hours: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Price range: $6.95 to $14.95

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