Briana's brightens breakfast scene in Palatine
Fans of Briana's Pancake Café in Elburn and Elgin now have a third spot to get their favorite breakfast. Briana's Restaurant & Pancake House opened in Palatine earlier this year, offering the same good breakfast fare regulars at the other locations have come to know.
The new spot is spacious and bright, with four rooms and picture windows to let in the morning sun. For breakfast, you can get everything you'd expect from a good breakfast place: pancakes, waffles, French toast, crepes, Benedicts, eggs, skillets and more. And the lunch menu is equally large, with salads, stir fries, sandwiches and burgers. There's no alcohol on the premises, but plenty of coffee, tea and juice.
We went on a Sunday morning and, although it was crowded, the restaurant is large enough that we didn't have to wait.
I ordered the Lumberjack Skillet with potato pancakes on the side. The skillet comes with corned beef hash, mushrooms, onions and American cheese on a layer of Briana's Potatoes, nice-sized cubes of chunked potato. I was surprised when it arrived to see that I was gifted an extra egg. The skillets are supposed to have two, but I got three. I also was pleased to see how well my eggs were cooked. I always order over-medium, but hardly anyone gets them right. These were perfectly cooked to my exacting specifications. The vegetables were obviously fresh and cut into big, healthy chunks.
For the potato pancakes, I would have preferred them a bit crispier, but the taste was spot-on: a great blend of potato and onion that brought me back to my childhood. The worst part about my meal was realizing I left my to-go box on the table after we left.
My companion ordered the classic French toast with powdered sugar and a side of sausage. The French toast was a solid standard version of the traditional breakfast staple, but the sausage was a real standout. We had the links, not the patties. And it was a great decision - the outside was slightly crisp, and the interior packed a strong maple punch without being overwhelming. It was easily some of the best breakfast sausage I've had.
Aside from the food, there were a few other things I loved about Briana's. First, my tea. The mug was huge, the kind you'd find at an indie coffee shop that holds about three brews' worth at one time. It was perfect for me.
Second, the service. Our waiter was delightful, giving us plenty of time to decide what we wanted while we sat there chatting for quite some time before ordering. He also didn't rush us out, which was nice. We were there for about three hours catching up and didn't feel any pushiness at all.
On a related note, my third love with Briana's is the speediness of the kitchen. I don't think even 10 minutes passed between ordering and eating, and there the food was, in big, piping hot, delicious portions.
I will absolutely return to this restaurant, and add it to my recommendation list for anyone who wants a satisfying breakfast.
<i>Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.</i>
Briana's Restaurant & Pancake House
154 W. Northwest Hwy., Palatine, (847) 485-7744
Cuisine: American
Setting: Casual
Entrees: $6-$17
Hours: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday; 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday