Pancake Café
1292 Rickert Dr, Naperville, IL, 60540
Pancake Café Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Naperville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Naperville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Naperville for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1292 Rickert Dr
Naperville, IL, 60540 - Phone (630) 637-1010
- Website https://www.pancakecafenaperville.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 4:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
T B.
i go here from time to time, old school joint the ladies who work there are nice, family oriented.. but the grandson who serves, skinny little guy with a funny hair doo.. anyways, he messes up my order almost every time. the last time i was there, i ordered an omlette with havarti cheeze he even suggested it, it came out cheddar. he says don't worry about it go tell my grandma if you have a problem????? huh??? also he forgot my thick cut bacon, had to ask twice for it.. is what it is but after that i thought it was important to let folks know.. also i agree the cups and silverware and what not are a bit tired.. decent joint but don't expect too much.. stay away from the kid, he acts like you should be priveledged hes waiting on you... be more humble and treat customers the way you would like.. dont mind the high prices as long as i get what i order.
(2)Marta S.
This place has been around for so long and it's always been consistent. When I order a veggie omelet I know exactly what I'll get. The hash-browns are delicious and the service is always excellent. They're sweeter entrees are also yummy if you want to start your day with dessert style.
(4)Derek M.
Absolutely awesome! Best bacon, corned beef, pastrami and biscuits and gravy. I love every time I go.
(5)Jim E.
I've been going to pancake Café for years. I've never been disappointed in the food or the service. Family owned and the kids are even servers there. Maybe the best bacon I've ever had my life! It's become a Sunday tradition for me and the kids.
(5)Alicia P.
We were looking to try a new place for breakfast, so we stopped in Pancake Cafe. The first thing I found less than awesome was when my two young girls ordered chocolate milk, the waitress brought out two glasses, literally filled to the brim - and no lids or straws. The second glass was so full she even spilled it all over as she reached over my husband to my daughter. Who does that with two small kids (6 and 8)? The food was okay. Everything tasted ... Fine. I had a half order of pumpkin pancakes and my husband had a half order of pecan pancakes. Mine were kind of raw in the middle and not very warm. Also, the syrup was very runny and had little flavor. The bacon, however was great - thick cut and crispy. The kids each ordered off the kids menu. I thought it was pretty pricey for the quality of food and service ($2.60 for a cup of mediocre coffee?? This isn't Starbucks!). With all the restaurants around here to go to, we probably won't be returning to this one.
(3)Kevin G.
Best breakfast food I have had in awhile. Service was excellent, very attentive and friendly. The bacon is to die for. I don't care if it is 4.75, it is worth every penny!!! The omelets are baked and are delicious. My wife had the corner beef hash and loved it, I tried some and felt it was great as well. We had their hawaiin coffee with our meals and even that was some of the best coffee. Both of us highly recommend pancake cafe. Great food, coffee, and service, what more could you ask for?
(5)Phil J.
Just finished breakfast and ordered the huevos rancheros and apple pancake to split between my wife and I. We were told it would take 15 min for the apple pancake. The meal arrived nearly an hour later. The small apple pancake is more than enough and should be considered a desert rather than a meal. The rancheros was nothing special. The staff was very friendly and it is unfortunate that the kitchen was so slow and a tad uninspired. Not a bad place to eat but not great by any means.
(3)Angus W.
I always need a nap after. The best bacon, absolutely the best.. so thick it's almost a slab. Yummy! It's pricey for a breakfast place, atmosphere is ok and the staff is pretty attentive. (we've been there many, many times) Good coffee, great eggs, omelets, french toast and pancakes (my son likes the massive German Pancake) very good hash browns. Did I mention the awesome BACON? We don't do big breakfasts very often, but the Pancake Cafe never dissapoints.
(4)Ronald L.
Excellent food. Very creative twist on menu items. Extremely Expensive. So if your with a family of four, expect close to $100 with tip to eat here. We go here a lit when it's just the two of us and its $40.with tip
(5)W Q.
thanks to yelp reviews i checked this place out for breakfast and really liked it. i will definitely recommend pancake cafe for breakfast. we narrowed down to three breakfast places to go, egg harbor, juicy-o's, or try something new. really glad we tried pancake cafe. we were seated right away, fast service, waitress made great recommendations, loved her. we had the mixed berry crepe, the berries were very fresh, the crepe was very tasty and filling, it was delicious. we also had the 'cafe' which came with hashed browns, 2 eggs, 2 sausage links, french toast, and bacon. loved it. the bacon is excellent, definitely don't miss out on the bacon here--it's a must. the kona blend coffee here is also great, i could drink it all day. for two plates, two drinks, our total was $25. the restaurant is very clean, great service, good value, great food/fresh fruits, great kona blend coffee, and bacon perfected. 5 star worthy. if you're looking for a breakfast place in naperville, pancake cafe is top on my list. egg harbor is great - but sometimes you have to deal with 'naperville' pretentiousness. if you're in the mood to get great breakfast minus the attitude, pancake cafe is your best bet. mixed fruit crepe: yelp.com/biz_photos/QqNt… mixed fruit crepe: yelp.com/biz_photos/QqNt… 'cafe' plate: yelp.com/biz_photos/QqNt… bacon: yelp.com/biz_photos/QqNt…
(5)Angela P.
One of my favorite breakfast places! Service is quick and attentive, and it's family-owned, which is a nice touch. Food is prepared fresh, no sight of any canned ingredients here. The decor is outdated, but this establishment is clean. Don't be put off by the Tiffany-style lamps, flower-y elements and burgundy booths. You aren't eating the chairs, are you? My favorites are the banana crepes, omelets and chocolate chip pancakes. And the bacon! I'm not a big fan of bacon, I enjoy it occasionally - but you cannot pass up Pancake Cafe's bacon. It's sliced thick with lots of flavor. Had lunch here once, the sandwich wraps are just OK. I'd recommend breakfast. Very busy on the weekends, but the wait isn't too long. My only complaint is that they close early. Who doesn't like pancakes for dinner? I don't know why people complain about the prices here - portions are enormous, and it's cheaper than Eggsperience, also on 75th Street.
(4)Theresa C.
Excellent food, just expect to use your whole paycheck to pay the bill. I decided to take my mom out during the holidays. I had never been here before and gave it a shot. I love family owned businesses, so why not? The menu is pretty decent. They have your standard items breakfast items included. The standard price hovers around $10 - $13 per person. It's kinda touted as a "gourmet" breakfast place hence the higher pricing. I had the chocolate chip pancakes and they turned out to be really delicious. Mom had pigs in a blanket. She liked them as well. Though she did say the pancakes were a little too thick. You get what you pay for, but just be prepared. To me, paying $30 for breakfast for two is a little steep.
(3)Rick G.
K, in town to visit friends and family with the wifey. She's not as big a fan of breakfast as myself so I felt compelled to review the PC. Firstly, location,...non-descript space in a bland mall. The interior is equally non-descript. Not a big deal. Secondly, service. We arrived around 130pm so there were only a few other patrons. We were seated promptly and a friendly and efficient waitress immediately arrived to intro and take our drink orders. She remained attentive and intent on providing good service. Thirdly, and really most importantly, food and beverage review. Having been born in Honolulu I loved the mild Kona coffee. No "Sugar in the Raw" but not a biggie. I ordered a veggie omelet with spinach and chicken breast added, well done hash browns, side of the famous bacon, and wheat toast. Omelet was a 9/10. Veggies were fresh, jalapeno jack cheese nice, and the size and texture great. Def not a small omelet. The hash browns appeared to be fresh cut potatoes and were delicious. The bacon,...friggn awesome,...a 10/10,...def some of the best bacon I have ever enjoyed. Not "steak-like" as previously mentioned, but thick and slightly smokey, and if you enjoy bacon it is worth the $4.25. Actually I can not believe I cleared my plate, there was plenty to take home but, having worked out as much as I have lately, I indulged. Overall as a "breakfast" person I was very satisfied. I also sampled the wife's pancakes and thought they were light and fluffy. I def prefer these to the thick and heavy variety. So,...if you love breakfast,...go go go. I doubt you'll"ll be disappointed.
(5)Jessica D.
I would have liked to have reviewed the food at Pancake Cafe, especially since I have heard it's phenomenal, but unfortunately, I did not get that far. When we walked in, we were greeted by a less than pleasant hostess who snippily informed us of the 10 minute wait. Having read previous reviews, the wait was expected and not an issue. When tables were ready, the hostess essentially barked out names. Had things gotten better once we were seated, that would have been minor. Upon being seated, we waited nearly 10 minutes for our server to acknowledge us. We ordered two coffees and off she went before we could order anything else. After nearly another 10 minutes, we received our coffee. It was delivered by a busboy who I had witnessed wiping his nose with his hand only moments before. There were a few grounds of coffee floating around in the mug, a minor annoyance at worst. I then noticed that there was something very obviously caked onto the side of my coffee mug. Already tiring of this place, I grabbed my napkin to make a futile attempt at cleaning off the mug, since it was just on the outside. I picked up the container of cream to pour it into the coffee only to sick my finger into a glob of butter stuck to the side. By this point, we were both fed up and our waitress wasn't anywhere in sight. As we headed for the door, no one even bothered to ask how things were or why we were leaving so soon. I don't care how fabulous the food may be. For the price, which averages $2-$3 more per plate than a typical breakfast joint, and especially at $2.75 for coffee served in a dirty mug, that sort of service is not tolerable. It will be a long time before I consider giving them another chance.
(1)J. R. H.
Pancake Cafe offers a wide variety of styles and options for breakfast. I enjoyed the the traditional Apple Pancake--which is close to an apple pan dowdy. This place earns 4 stars for good original offers. But they fall short of the Best of the Breakfast Scene on service. Maybe it was just a tough mid-week day on my visit, but I almost missed my appointment because I had to wait more than 25 minutes to get my selection--and then it was so hot I could not race through it. So maybe there's more to this place than this first experience. Maybe I'll get another chance to give them a try. Also here's another tip for yelpers---it's early AM, you're going in for your first calories of the day. Be sure to make RIGHT TURN after you enter the FIRST glass door to find the NEXT glass ENTRANCE door...beware the glass door facing you is the EXIT door. I suppose it was quite a sport for the locals---you can sit and watch who knows how to get in already (or reads quicker than I do) and those who don't read or are obviously out of towners. It's a fish bowl on the way in, and you're easily seen by anyone paying any attention...be sure to laugh at yourself if you goof as I almost did.
(4)A H.
This used to be a good restaurant. I haven't eaten here for a long time (because of the prices). I had a coupon, so I decided to take my 2 kids for breakfast. The food was ok, but there was so many water spots on all the dishes, I couldn't tell if they were water spots or dirt. I decided to call them water spots so I wouldn't gross everyone out. The wait staff was nothing to write home about. I won't be coming back. There are plenty of breakfast places in Naperville that have great food at way better prices on clean dishes.
(2)Dan P.
Talk about a nosedive. This was one of my favorite places, not the service and cleanliness are probably going to prevent me from ever going there again. After waiting 15 minutes after being seated to get ignored by the wait staff, I went to the hostess. She up-charged EVERYTHING! I ordered a kid's breakfast, got a truck driver's meal. Ordered a small pancakes, got the bucket. Everything was ala carte, not the meal prices. $50 for three people, one of them being 5 years old is ridiculous. Then (after waiting an hour without any other real assistance from the waitstaff) I finally got my check and went to ask her about the bill. She takes it, ANSWERS THE PHONE, and refuses to even look at me. I had to - had to - had to go, so I left a poor tip and got the kids out. The food is still tasty, but after years without an upgrade, the place is looking downright dirty. Quite a shame, they were so good.
(1)Kevin W.
I consider myself a pancake critic. I've tried over 15 pancake restaurants in the Chicago area. My rating below is based on a basic breakfast sampling of regular (original) pancakes, sausage, eggs and coffee. I rate Pancake Cafe a 4 overall. Richard Walkers meet your match! Eat in style, a breakfast with class. You'll pay about $3 more here, but it's worth it. I like the hometown cafe feel, but this is a good variety for when you want to hear classical music with your breakfast. Pancake (original) **** very good flavor Sausage (links) **** Eggs (scrambled) **** Coffee **** great coffee
(4)Jim M.
cant say enough about the place.. I have always said you get what you pay for by far best breakfast place around. fresh is the name of the game here.. kona coffee and the thickest bacon you will ever see no wonder this place has been in the same spot for 20 years now that's saying something. they just do it right
(5)Andrew W.
standard pancake house. coffee wasn't good. pancakes were not impressive. mexican omelet was the only reason it was a good experience.
(3)Ellen M.
Mouthwatering breakast, but skip the lunches. The portions are generous, so my younger child usually shares what I order. The Dutch Baby is great, all the specialty pancakes are quite tasty. The eggs, cheese and fruit are always fresh, and you can get real fresh-squeezed OJ. Good coffee. Naturally, there's a LONG wait on the weekends, but the service is efficient while remaining friendly. Minus a star because the swedish pancakes need work. Too crispy.
(4)Craig W.
Excellent breakfast, service was great. And they ARE open Sundays.
(5)priya b.
I have been to MANY breakfast places in the area and so far this is my favorite. The service is excellent, although it is often crowded you are always well served. The food is divine you should definitely try the apple pancake it is the best I have had, but plan ahead it takes 30 minutes to bake. Overall this place has a really Mouthwatering breakfast - drool !
(5)Fozzy B.
Great apple pancake and egg dishes. Wait can be a little too much. One server is awesome, another may be a little flaky with checking up on you...it will depend on who you get. Ever since I found Tangerine Cafe in downtown, I've been coming to this one less. But this place still rocks, just a little outdated with the decor. You won't go wrong on most of the options on the menu. This cafe is good to keep in the breakfast rotation.
(4)I. J.
After not 1 BUT 2 cups of coffee with lipstick still on the cup (literally fushia lip prints) I figured maybe I'm just having a bad day but then my 3rd cup of coffee came with about a spoonful of coffee grinds (clearly this was the end of the pot which was not a big deal but if you just handed someone 2 other dirty cups don't you think you'd be extra careful not to hand them anything else to complain about????) Honestly the waitress seemed nice, but clearly was more focused on other tables in lieu of just our little table of 2. The food was meh ...not good not bad just meh. HOWEVER, I gave them an extra star because the bacon was pretty bad-ass! If I am ever in a bacon crave I will for sure be back...otherwise I'll skip it and head to one of the other ba-zillion places in Naperville and beyond.
(2)Amy J.
Hands down the best breakfast place I've ever been to. My best friends parents are regulars at this place so they introduced me... :) And, I have yet to have anything better. I had the apple pancake, it was EXCELLENT. It seriously was good enough to be a dessert. So good. Great hashbrowns, and juice selection! Service is always good. Place fills up fast on weekend mornings (Especially Sundays) like most breakfast places, but it's worth the wait!
(5)Michelle I.
Want an expensive breakfast? Well, I think $30 for 2 in a diner breakfast is steep!The food is pretty good. I like the tuna in a bread bowl on the lunch menu. It actually got me into eating tuna, I never liked it before this. Decent place but I rather go somewhere else at this price.
(3)Teresa K.
best breakfast place handsdown in the area. we used to go to ihop until someone mentioned this place. and the bacon! wow giant bacon, plus they have bacon pancakes and bacon waffles. yummers! their portions are huge so there's no skimping here, plus i've never had bad eggs (not runny or dry). i made the mistake of ordering a club sandwich when we were there one afternoon for lunch...bleh not so good. stick with the breakfast.
(5)jack l.
The pancakes here are the best!
(4)Brett I.
Yelpers, how could you not mention the onion hashbrowns? I'm not sure they we my favorite hasbrowns ever, but still a quite distinct feature at the pancake cafe. Great coffee with good cream. Butter is apparently whipped on-site as well as batter for the pancakes. Very good breakfast, and I like breakfasts. Inside is a little dated, but who cares about ambiance during breakfast? Today I had the asparagus and cheese baked omelette with hashbrowns and a side of pancakes (pancakes are a side now?). It was all delicious, and I would recommend the cafe to anyone looking for breakfast. There were a lot of tempting items on the menu.
(4)Me Y.
I've had a couple mediocre experiences here, but my breakfast I had there today will make sure I'm not going back: My omelet took a while. The waitress said that they got it wrong so they had to do it again. Fair enough. So when I finally get it, I dig in and it's pure liquid - totally undercooked. It looked like soup. I point this out to the waitress to have it sent back, and she insists it's just the cheese. I couldn't believe it, it was clearly the egg because the cheese is way thicker and darker yellow. She said they could put it in a pan and cook it more. Since it was mostly liquid, it completely laid in a pool on the plate. I said, how can they cook it more, it's just going to fall apart and won't be an omelet any more. She said they can roll it back up. I said ok. So, I get it back and it is cooked more, but still isn't fully cooked. At this point, the waitress said it was the cheese again. I was just thinking 'you've got to be kidding me', but I just said politely that it was undercooked egg. She gets irritated at me and says 'what would you like??'. Now, at a restaurant where the servers are polished (and not raised in a barn) they would be courteous, and at the very least recognize that nobody wants to eat undercooked food, so she isn't the one who should be irritated about it; I could get eggs that are fully cooked at McDonalds but I chose to come here. Well, not any more.
(2)asra a.
there were certain things that i loved about this place, and others that i thought were just standard. the fresh squeezed on premises OJ is amazing. pecan pancakes and strawberry waffles are good as well, but I can probably make these just as good at home. the pecan pancakes have chopped pecans in the batter, as well as whole pecans sprinkled on top. the waffles have fresh strawberries on top, powdered sugar and whipped cream. Being a breakfast cafe, I was surprised they didn't have any maple syrup. I live close by, so my husband wanted to go back to our place and brig the maple syrup we have at home. We also ordered an oven baked veggie omelette with hash browns which were good as well. the corned beef hash is made on premises as well, and was pretty good too, better than most places. Service was standard, I asked the waitress to put the whipped cream for the waffles on the side, she brought it to me with whipped cream on the waffles saying the cooks had already put it on the waffle before she could do anything about it. You pay your bill at the counter up front. overall it was a good experience, I may come back but there are so many breakfast options in the area that I can not say for sure right now.
(3)Alan R.
Went there for lunch just the other day and was extremely disappointed in my meal. Ordered the Pastrami 1/2 lb sandwich. It was a joke. More like 1/2 oz. sandwich. I'm from the East Coast and sandwiches I get back home are the real deal. Paid $12.95 for that and my wife had the Fish& Chips. 3 small greasy pieces of fish and curly fries. The bill + tip was $ 31.00. A total ripoff. Don't think I'll go back anytime soon.
(1)Jessica M.
A ma-and-pop place with generations of history in its workings! I have visited twice and for each visit, we ordered the big club sandwich which stands about a foot tall with stacks of sourdough bread, turkey, bacon, arugula, cheese, and tomato. It is the perfect combination for a satisfying sandwich that is meant for sharing. I especially love how they substituted lettuce with fresh arugula. The bacon slabs are also not to be undermined. They are thick and drenched in a a sticky maple syrup without being too heavy. We would usually have it with a side of curly fries which are fried with perfection. Some of other items that we tried are the omelette, Belgian waffle, fish and chips, and pork, three-way sandwich. With the omelette, we had it with egg white, mushrooms, and jalapeno cheese. It was a very health-conscious, light, and fluffy choice. The Belgian waffle was standard with strawberries and whipped cream served to the side. The fish and chips are generous and well-fried, served with a huge portion of french fries. The pork, three-way sandwich was a big surprise. It was heavy but the slow-roasted pork was made in the house, being especially juicy and tender. The toasted sandwich was also stacked with thick slices of bacon and pulled pork. It had a lot of depth with each level having a defined taste. See you again soon, Pancake Cafe!
(4)L H.
First let me stay that my family and I have been going here since they first opened up. They were on the way home from church and many a time we stopped and had a nice brunch. Through the years we had been known as regulars but not to the point where the two main hostesses bothered to talk or ask anything about us. That's ok came there to relax and enjoy the meal. We had noticed through the years that the food was not as good as in the past and basically the menu stayed the same. So recently we called ahead to order the apple pancake. We get seated and order other food to come first. after 30 min find out they never put the apple pancake order in so we are waiting a lot longer. One of the hosts I believe she is the owners sister comes over to apologize and makes a racial comment about Hispanics and how long it would still take. ( uh I'm Hispanic). I asked her to repeat what she said to make sure I heard right. She now starts to tell me I took it wrong. Smh. Ask her to please leave me and my family alone. We eat and as we begin to leave notice the owner waiting for us at the register. He apologizes for the long wait about the APPLE PANCAKE. I tell him he has bigger issues than that. "Oh she didn't mean anything by that " he tells me. I have a Thick skin about most things but we don't have that kind of relationship. Will never go back and have told everyone I know
(1)Tim H.
Who serves a Waffle with the same consistency as a pancake? This place does. By the time it arrived, the bottom was a soft mess when I flipped it over. Parents were treating and didn't want to reorder, so I ate the less than palatable meal. I'll pass the next time they offer and they only have time to stop in here. They still only play classical music here, which is worse than rap in my opinion. Their bacon Waffle just didn't do it for me.
(1)Marsha L.
My companion had the German pancake which overflowed the plate and was delicious. I had the Apple pancake with peaches instead of apples and pecans. It was outstanding. Thank goodness the waitress recommended I get the small one. It was filled with freshly cut peaches and loads of pecans. The pecans were worth the extra cost. The very bleak outside of the restaurant is not representative of the outstanding food and service within its walls. For anyone that wants a true homemade and filling breakfast I definitely recommend the Pancake Cafe. I live in California or else I would be a frequent visitor.
(5)George L.
Best breakfast around hands down. Thick cut bacon !!!!!!!!! Great quality ingredients. Owners. Care. Great family restaurant. Only thing would be improve or fix the lumpiness of the booths
(5)Nick C.
Not so great. My 13 yr daughter and I went there for breakfast at 8:30 on a Saturday and we were 2 of maybe 12 total people in restaurant. I have heard that food was not so great but I had a coupon so I said why not. I had the western omelet with coffee and she had the kids pancake meal. Mine was below average was warm not hot and hers was soggy with cold sausage. When I went to pay my $23 dollar (way over priced) bill I was told that I could not use my coupon because it was a Saturday. I said to hostess really??? She said sorry cannot accept this today. Now I know why place was empty, below average food and ignorant to their customers. I will not be going back to eat at this place ever again Naperville-Nick
(1)Crystal C.
I don't even know why I came in here! Some of the food was good and some of the food was down right disgusting! And it was not worth the money. $11 for a burger please, For those prices I could go to Portillos. This restaurant has potential but they really need to work on using fresh ingredients and using less food from the freezer.
(1)Veronica B.
This place is delicious! Their pecan waffle is yummy! Great service and great food. The location is central and it has plenty of parking. Been here for lunch and breakfast...and I think it is excellent!
(5)LOIS B.
Dropped my car off to be detailed and came right across the street to get some breakfast. Their specialty is baked pancakes. They take a while, but worth the wait. And the thick sliced bacon, yum. The place is tired looking and could use a face lift, but the service is friendly and food arrives as ordered and hot. I would not go out of my way to return, but if in the area, it works.
(3)Ian E.
Disappointing. Have been here a few times and decided to come back after a year or so, and that was a mistake as we'd forgotten that the menu isn't that great. No skillets, fairly high prices and they have a steep up charge for every special request. Cutlery was also dirty and the service not very friendly. The omelette didn't seem fully cooked, but the owners did comp that for us when we complained, which is why this review has two stars not one. There are much better breakfast options nearby.
(2)Vincent W.
I admittedly have a huge soft spot for this family owned and run breakfast/brunch spot. My family and I have been long time patrons since I was a young lad, and I feel like my experiences here have greatly influenced my standard in breakfast/brunch cuisine. Now that I live in Chicago, I make it a mission every time that I visit my stomping grounds to enjoy a nice breakfast (with family). And I can honestly say, in all my many years of visiting, I have been quite surprised at the consistency at which Pancake Cafe is able to produce. And while the flash and thrill of Chicago brunch joints have hit the scene with creative offerings, I still measure up the quality and execution to the standard that is created at Pancake Cafe. And while the pricing (which I've seen many people here complain about), is definitely above average for suburban fares... they are pretty much price well below average for quality breakfast/brunch offerings for someone from the city. I think the food is well worth the price. Omelettes - The omelettes that are served here are incredibly fluffy and I believe are oven baked. I have yet to experience a similar preparation anywhere else, so it maybe something that is hit or miss for some people. I enjoy it immensely, and used to constantly get the Western "ham/peppers/onions" (easy on the cheddar cheese). It comes with some delicious hash browns that are stringy and browned perfectly on both sides. A more unique offering would be their mushroom omelette that comes with a mushroom sauce side. The side is quite heavy and probably should be used more as a dipping sauce. Pancakes - The namesake of the restaurant is probably not what you think. While they do serve conventional pancakes, the star (and most likely namesake) belong to both the Baked Apple Pancake and the German Pancake. Both of these require a long wait for preparation, so bring some interesting friends and enjoy a long conversation with coffee (or you can call ahead like a smart person). The wait is well worth it. While the Apple Pancake is a bit rich for my tastes, the German pancake is both light and fragrant. I love squeezing a bit of lemon over the gently applied powered sugar pancake to give it refreshing touch. Both these offerings are massive, and definitely should be shared. Sandwiches - I have recently been experimenting with the sandwiches here after a heavy recommendation from the staff. The sandwiches are fantastic and HUGE. To the point where there is no chance in finishing the full meal. The turkey club and the pastrami sandwich are my personal favorites and I'm glad that they have been recently added to the menu to keep things fresh. However, I would say I'm not a big fan of their fries. Much rather have these sandwiches with a side of hash browns. Overall, I'm a huge fan and always have been. While I have adventured in the many brunch places Chicago has to offer, I still have a huge soft spot for this place. The food is well prepared, and the staff and family have been incredible hosts every time I've been. The menu is constantly changing with new specials that I look forward to whenever I'm feeling adventurous. I'm glad that this place has been around for so long, and I look forward to going every time I visit "home."
(5)Tamera B.
This place is one of our "go-to" breakfast restaurants when we want a good traditional breakfast. The food is always fresh and GOOD. The pancakes are always good and fluffy. The bacon is wonderful......crispy and thick, like it's supposed to be! The hashbrowns are yummy as well. We've had lunch here a couple of times and I had an amazing sloppy joe on one of those occasions. The restaurant is a nice size, so we've never had to wait for a table/booth. The atmosphere is very casual and the service is always fast and friendly.
(4)Alex B.
Came here looking for a simple classic breakfast and this place delivered that, and then some. The symphonies playing in the background give the place a very charming atmosphere. The staff wasn't rushing to provide service, but this allowed us to have to time to explore the menu a bit. When it came time to order, the waitress said "we're easy" and offered to mix and match my pancakes rather than giving me a stack of 3 blueberry. I understand that staff usually has protocol to follow with things like that but it's refreshing to see flexibility from the staff to go off - menu. The orange juice was tasty, though I can't drink a lot of that stuff. In the end, I had a cinnamon roll,blueberry, and buttermilk pancake all for the price of a regular stack.... all three were very yummy, especially the cinnamon roll. The bacon was thick as all hell, and yummy too. The specials looked varied and unique. I'll break down the review like this: The menu has a lot of choices, and based on my experience, I wouldn't fear ordering something I haven't tried The staff is nothing special, but friendly enough The food(what actually matters), delivers and the pancakes are exceptional This place is a solid breakfast location that I'm sure locals have made into a regular spot
(4)Veronica J.
Pancake Cafe is always a staple when I visit my family outside of Chicago. We go for breakfast and have enjoyed. Atmosphere - it's very casual, think diner style. They'll seat you at a table and are happy to serve you. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch. Food - as the name suggests, pancakes are what they are known for. They have a wide variety, including flavors that come and go seasonally. My personal favorite are the pumpkin pancakes. They are cooler with pumpkin inside and dusted with cinnamon. They are amazing. A full order comes with six pancakes (six!) but I would generally suggest a half order. We also always get the bacon - yummmm! It's thick cut and crispy - literally perfect in every way. Service - service is okay... I mean, it is a diner after all. It's not the most prompt or friendliest in the world, but it does the job. Price - the price is decent. You can get a hearty breakfast for under $10. Things that add to the price quickly are OJ and bacon. Overall, stop in and try the pancakes... I'm confident you'll enjoy them!
(4)Matt B.
Great place for breakfast. They have a large variety of pancakes and the couple of different ones that I've tried have been great. They offer a whole order or a half order of pancakes, get the half order. I can eat a lot and I only order the pancakes, no sausage or bacon to go with them and I could only eat half of them. They also have some of the best bacon you've ever tasted, it's thick and cooked just right. If you're a fan of breakfast it's definitely worth a try.
(4)Margaret C.
Have been there several times and have enjoyed it .This time however was a different story. To begin with service was very slow- had to wait awhile to get coffee. I ordered blueberry pancakes- thinking that because of the name they would be really good. Wrong- pancakes were like lead, very dry and chewy with about 3-4 blueberries in the pancake. Butter did not melt on the pancake. Usually have pancakes without syrup but they were so dry I used the watered down syrup. Had to send the sausage back because it was ice cold in some spots- they reheated & sent back. Needless to say I won't be back for pancakes.
(1)Shannon M.
I have been here so many times now, and this is probably my favorite breakfast joint in town. Nothing fancy, but there always seems to be a table and there's a nice selection of breakfast items to choose from, sweet and savory. I like the raspberry and blackberry crepes, which are a bit unusual and not on every typical breakfast place's menu. Service is always quick and friendly. This is a convenient location for me and is always a good choice. :)
(4)The J.
$8.95 for pancakes and $4.95 for bacon...a grand total of $13.90 plus tax and plus coffee. Sorry, but it's not worth it. Yes, the pancakes are good, but they are not any better than Grandma Sally's or Quincy's, which cost under $8 with bacon or sausage. I gave them two stars because our waitress was very attentitve and friendly.
(2)Lucy C.
Rainy days suck, but they're nothing brunch and a cup of coffee (more on that later) can't fix! I stopped in with a friend on a Thursday morning and Pancake Cafe was bustling, but not so much that it affected their service. The interior looked like it could use some renovations (my booth was pretty uncomfy) but I suppose it adds to the "this place has been around forever and if it ain't broke don't fix it" kind of vibe. My friend and I both ordered omelettes and whoooo big portions. I got the spinach and cheese which comes with a yummy homemade mushroom sauce. Without it, I probably would have thought the omelette was a little bland. The hashbrowns were delicious! I hate it when places serve mushy, greasy hash, but PC has perfectly brown and crispy hashbrowns. And three pancakes on top (not physically) of a giant, fluffy omelette and hash? I 'd be full on that alone. Definitely a huge bang for your buck. Now the coffee. I sip on my coffee pretty slowly usually. At PC, they have a server whose sole job is probably to fill people's coffee mugs. While that's fantastic, her constant checking on my coffee levels made me feel like maybe I don't drink my coffee quickly enough. So I drank more than I usually do. I also then realized that they serve some pretty strong coffee. Needless to say, I was a little jittery the rest of the day. I got a lot done though :)
(3)Mandy H.
Ive been here about 3 times and service is always excellent. Their food is good. I found their cobb salad spectacular and very filling. Comes with a half loaf of bread, so if you're paleo or otherwise not into that, let them know when you order to skip it. We recently were served by Lorel and she gave us tips to save money on our order while still getting exactly what we wanted. Service was prompt and our coffee was always full. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Genni O.
Good (not great) food, great servers, and a decent old school pancake house vibe. If there's a reason to go here, it's the fantastic thick-cut bacon and apple pancake. If there's a reason to totally steer clear of this place, it's the INCREDIBLY HIGH PRICES. Seriously, the prices are out of control. I'll take egg harbor anyday but check out the two aforementioned items and you'll be pleased.
(3)Jo R.
Pancake Cafe serves some very decadent breakfast items. At my most recent visit, I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes. The waitress gave me the option of ordering a full (6 pancakes) or half (3 pancakes) portion. I opted for the half so as not to have a Creosote moment. It was still of mammoth proportions. Thankfully the chocolate high didn't rob me of my better judgment; I took half home. When the waitress arrived with my pancakes, I immediately noticed the beautiful presentation. I almost snapped a picture. The three pancakes covered in powdered sugar, chocolate chips, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream were arranged perfectly. They were moist and had a rich chocolate taste. Be warned, however. If you choose the chocolate chip pancakes and down the Kona Coffee, you may just leave very jittery. The coffee, I think, is pretty strong. Service was excellent--very cheerful and prompt, always present to refill the coffee. The restaurant itself has a cozy feel to it. While the outside looks dated, the inside is nice and well-kept. They have mainly booth seating and customers pay at the desk. If you are out hunting for an excellent breakfast destination, I recommend the Pancake Cafe in Naperville.
(4)Laura V.
Best food ever! Service is friendly and attentive, hostess always has a smile on her face. The only drawback is this is not a "fast" breakfast or lunch. Plan to go when you are not pressed for time.
(4)Bryan H.
Turrrrrrible even the water was DISGUSTING. The waitress was a pushy little thing. The pancakes were dry the syrup was sub par & this is supposed to be a pancake house? No. Never ever again.. waste of my time.
(1)Jasen M.
If you like The Original Pancake House or Walker Bros. and you are ticked off that there is not one of those anywhere near the Naperville/Aurora area, fear not, for this place has exactly the same menu, for the most part. My favorite is the 49er flapjacks. They removed them from the menu for some god-forsaken reason, but they still make them to order and they are about as good as the ones at OPH/WB. Dutch Baby and apple pancake are also good and the crepes are really good as well. Very good coffee and nice ambiance, again, similar to OPH/WB. Turkey sausage is good! Syrup is the good kind, not the natural stuff that plagues Cracker Barrel. I have been coming here for years and I will continue to. One of the best!!!! If you find yourself at the Naperville DMV, it's right by there, so check em' out!!!! I feel pretty good about the fact that you will like it. Staff is nice too.
(5)Sam K.
So this cafe was rated for 4 stars for quite a while, and I simply did not understand why. Now it is at a more reasonable level - 3 stars. They serve the usual American breakfast of eggs with bacon. They also have pancakes and omelets. I would say this is not any more special than a good usual breakfast place. The waitresses can be hit and miss. Some of them are really friendly and attentive while others can be a bit unwelcoming for a good morning. I would still give this place a try though just because they do offer good food at a decent price.
(3)Ibet V.
Nasty food, this place doesn't even deserve a 1 star. Coffee tasted like diry water, and there was a hair on my omelette, my brother ordered a blt and found 2 hairs!! Service ssucked
(1)Amy R.
So in my efforts to try to love Naperville, I invited my mother out here today to get brunch someplace. Her coworker Paul recommended Pancake Cafe, and she was eager to try it. Oh my, I thought! Real live fancy brunch! Naperville isn't so bad! I won't even miss Chicago after this meal! Scoff. So we walk into this extraordinarily dated, dusty, strange sort of maze-y walkway of a restaurant entrance and are greeted by a self important sort of man, asking how many in our party. I thought this was weird because there were countless empty tables, until I looked over and saw two parties waiting before us. WHAT?! We waited almost TEN MINUTES IN AN EMPTY RESTAURANT. When it was finally our turn, he led us to a similarly dated booth. I'm cool with dated. It's retro. Kitschy. Whatev. But if you're not cool with dated, you're gonna freak out. Our server took at least 10 mins to come take our drink order, during which time at least two busboys had come by to hand out water and silverware. Incidentally, the busboys are the nicest part of the staff. I ordered a pecan banana baked pancake, since I figured I should get some form of the restaurant's namesake. My mother got a baked omelette. He warned me the pancakes take a while, saw the hesitation on my face, and told me that because I got a small pancake, it'd be only 15 minutes. I told him that was just fine and he went on his way. And we waited. And we waited. Now, my mom and I can gab with the best of them, but after 30 minutes or so, we were getting impatient. Our waiter swung by twice to ask if everything was ok, but he couldn't update us? Yes, the coffee and water is just fine... When the food came out, it looked AMAZING, and tasted just the same. I could eat that baked pancake every day - sweet, chewy, and loaded with bananas and pecans. And the small is an incredibly generous portion. Being a veteran of the diner circuit I asked for our check right away, as servers can sometimes disappear after you get your food. He apparently interpreted that as "YES! I never have to come back!" And he didn't. When we finished our food, I finally had to flag down another waitress to ask where we paid - since he couldn't be bothered to stop over and say "hey, I can't help but notice that Visa card on top of your check, but you actually pay up front." When we paid, and equally curt woman checked us out, and we were on our way. I'm sad to give a restaurant with delicious, diner-y, giant portion goodness two stars, but here's the deal: I don't want to wait 40 mins at a diner. That's why I enjoy diners - they're fast, hot, and decent. I don't want to wait for a table when I can see literally more than half a dozen tables doing nothing. And weirdly in this instance, even great food couldn't make up for that. We won't be back, but if you're in the market for a nice, slow, really slow, reaaaaally leisurely Sunday brunch, go nuts. You'll love it.
(2)Grisel B.
Best omelette I ever had. Bacon, sausage and american cheese. Could only eat half. Pancakes were good. Orange juice was good.
(4)Rob H.
They said they have the world's best bacon... It's true. From taking my first bite my mouth was instantly filled with saliva and flavor. The fact they make great food (served with plenty of syrup and butter) is a bonus of the bacon. This might be my favorite family owned restaurant anywhere. They have the type of quality I expect from independent restaurants. Delicious.
(5)Tara C.
It was all just pretty bad. Service was bad food was okay maybe but I think my coffee creamer was curdled, just not worth it.
(2)David Z.
Just finished eating breakfast with Mom and Mom had a perfectly prepared steak and I had oatmeal and poached eggs. This hands down is the breakfast place in Naperville!
(5)Pamela H.
Terrible.. I've been here 3 times and each time got worse than the last. Food is not bad, gigantic portions which is so odd being that the crowd is 70+. The main elderly lady waitress is very ignorant and only has patience for her elderly regulars. Kids menu needs work.. You can't get eggs & bacon together unless you order the eggs & then pay for a side of bacon. I won't be back.
(1)Rick N.
Bacon its the one thing that every sane person can agree upon. This place has some of the best bacon you will ever have in your life. This place has some of the best bacon you will ever have in anyones life. Everything else is also very solid too. It's the type of place that would typically have weak coffee to keep the old folks happy but the coffee is actually decent. Bacon. The Swedish pancakes, eggs, hash browns are all excellent and the staff is top notch. Bacon! Prices are reasonable although the decor is a bit blah. Bac-ON!! Plus they have an awesome apple pancake just like The Pancake House (Walker Bros). BACON!! Good place for kids to learn to love bacon.
(5)Bunny P.
Fremch toast was tasty, but was strangely sweet? Even w/o the syrup.. Whatevvs. It was still really good. One of my girlfriends ordered pumpkin pancakes, literally, 30 mins later, they came... so she got her cakes were free. Overall, nice place. food is good. service good. Meh.
(3)Dave S.
Pancake Cafe is the only sit-down place to eat in the area, yet there weren't many people there during one early afternoon. Aha! Early afternoon. People only come here for breakfast, I guess. It can be a real pain to get in the parking lot, thanks to raised medians, don't-blink turn arrows and paisley-designed Naper-villain street plans. Getting there is absolutely none of the fun. It's my biggest complaint. Once arriving, we were seated quickly. Most of the other diners were on the back-nine, shall we say. The one server was young, polite and attentive. My wife stuck to the theme and ordered a vegetarian omelet with feta cheese; I went with a patty melt (my Plan B) and apple-taffy salad. I'm not an omelet fan, but I were forced to eat an omelet, I might pick this one. The full omelet was well-prepared: the eggs were light but not runny or crispy, the veggies were plentiful, the feta was a nice touch. Only the undercooked onions kept my wife from giving it the highest of marks. My patty melt was quite good. I asked for caramelized onions, and these were as close as I've gotten from a restaurant. No complaints on the burger or the toast. American cheese? Oh well. The apple-taffy salad is neither taffy nor a salad. I couldn't taste any caramel, though there was plenty of green apple, along with pineapple and pecan. And I can't call anything with that much marshmallow and Cool Whip a "salad." But PC is not cheap: my patty melt was nearly ten dollars, as was the omelet. Maybe it's not bad for seniors who may or may not get a discount. PC is far away from our home, but it's a good option in the area if you're stuck out there. The lack of dining alternatives in that busy area confounds me.
(3)Carrie S.
One word - steakon. The bacon is so thick it's like eating a huge steak comprised of delicious bacon meat and bacon fat. The Pancake Cafe has a lot of other awesome menu items too, especially for breakfast. I'm a big fan of the Swedish pancakes and crepes. I'm not sure about the lunch items, but you can be assured that they are awesome if they include steakon. The decor is a little hokey (lots of floral patterns and mirrors) but it's clean and they have a little coffee girl whose main job is to run around with a carafe of coffee and keep your cup filled. It's touches like this that makes it a little less painful when you are at the counter paying for your $10 breakfast. When friends visit from out of town, they demand we go to the Pancake Cafe! I gladly oblige.
(5)Jim C.
Texas salad. Crisp mixed greens. Red peppers, cilantro, perfectly grilled chicken, sweet purple onions, cilantro dressing inthe side and tortilla strips combine to give this salad one awesome punch of flavor and crunch.
(5)Sara B.
The omelet was delicious. The mexican with jalepeno cheese...really glad that we shared it, because it was HUGE. Sadly to say the pancakes were nothing special, boring was the words that I would use. Maybe a second chance is in order, not sure yet.
(2)James C.
All too often I will try a place that says they specialize in pancakes only to be very disappointed. This is the real deal! Small, dated diner with great simple food and great service. I have been here several times, usually with my 5 yr old. Servers are very nice and accommodating. Pancakes are great! Thick cut bacon is the only bacon I've had in Naperville that is actually thick. Mmmmmm bacon. Eggs are cooked the way you order them every time. Hash browns are good, not just flavorless potato afterthoughts. Big servings, small price! Definitely recommend to anyone who want a classic, simple, great breakfast with friendly service.
(4)George B.
Very friendly staff, the portions are big!! I would return and bring someone.
(4)Birgitte C.
My husband and I really enjoyed this restaurant! We went here a few weekends ago as it had been recommended to us by a friend. I had blackberry crepes and my husband had the Western omelette. Both dishes were wonderful! The service was great as well. The only thing we didn't like was that the hostess kept trying to push a coupon and sales flier on us for a local store that had just opened in the same shopping center. Other than that, it was a great experience!
(5)C B.
Nice breakfast and lunch pancake house, good food, huge portions, and decent service. Besides the excellent omelets and pancakes, their coffee is very good. Also, try some of their bacon, it's thick and very tasty. Pancakes are included with every omelet, you will never leave hungry! The service is good and they do a remarkable job on busy weekend mornings. My one complaint is the servers never seem to know what the specials are or the prices on the specials. But that is a minor flaw in an otherwise good place! I recommend the huge omelets!
(4)margo f.
Went here with my husband and was blown away with their new deli sandwich choices that Pancake Cafe offers. I decided to try a "small" reuben and it was HUGE! By far the best reuben I have ever had in my life. The owner's Mom explained how the corned beef on the reuben was slow roasted and prepared with great care and WOW did it show. Now, I have two great reasons to come to pancake cafe....breakfast chorizo omelettes and their deli sandwiches. If you are a fan of deli sandwiches and know what a real reuben should taste like, try Pancake Cafe! AA++ all the way.
(5)Tiffany K.
Jesse and I wanted to try a new breakfast place since it will probably be one of the last times we eat breakfast out here. We just left and we both really enjoyed our breakfast. I had the French toast, eggs, bacon, and sausage. It was all very good. The French toast was good and buttery, the eggs were typical eggs so only ok, the perfectly seasoned sausage was very good, the bacon was very good...thick and great flavor. I would recommend getting their bacon with anything you get. It's soo good! Jesse had their pancakes, bacon, eggs and hashbrowns. The pancakes were SO good...if you like thicker pancakes. It was almost like eating a biscuit pancake. I do not like hashbrowns, so I really can't tell you how those were. Jesse ate them though haha. When we were leaving we ran into the "mom", who told us it was her son's restaurant and their entire family worked there. Grandkids, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews....I thought that was really cool. They also sell their frozen apple, blueberry, and another flavor pancakes in jewel and whole foods. They looked pretty good and given the food I tasted, I don't doubt they are good. We would most definitely go there again! Good place to go have *good* breakfast and relax.
(4)Becky S.
Eh, this place is okay. The average age of the diners was around 80 years old, so not exactly a hip and happening place. The food was okay. I had the blackberry crepes on special which were delicious, but my fellow diners were not so lucky. My sister had the cinnamon roll pancakes which were not that great and were not like how they were described to us by the waitress. My husband had a club sandwich of some sort that was not great either, although the fries were yummy. He was upset they had a non-Heinz ketchup though. The waitress was sweet and friendly, and the coffee was plentiful which is always appreciated. I think we will keep looking for a nicer brunch spot though -- any suggestions from local Yelpers?
(3)Sara D.
Bacon bacon bacon! I had bacon with a side of eggs, toast, and fruit. I think I found my Stella's out in the burbs, horray. (I have been missing my Stella's Diner in Lakeview for a while now.) This is, quite simply, a very laid back, delicious breakfast/brunch joint. A good test for a breakfast place is the coffee, and Pancake Cafe passed the test. As others have stated, the bacon here is fantastic, nice and meaty. Be sure to order some, because most likely your dining companion will not want to share...it's that good.
(4)Tiffany B.
I'll start by saying that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so I put more weight on it and therefore, have slightly higher expectations of it. What can I say, I eat breakfast for dinner, often! The Good: Went there with our family today, a larger gathering. Everyone seemed pretty happy, so I want to be fair about that. I'm not a pork eater, however I saw the "slabs" of thick cut, juicy bacon on other people's plates, and almost fell off the wagon. Not your typical bacon portions, they serve "real" bacon here for those of you that do like partake of the swine. The French Toast was basic but really good. I loved that they threw down a plate of REAL churned butter. Not like the joints that give you butter imitation in a little plastic square, that butters a quarter of your pancake. (I'm sounding lightly slovenly at the moment, but come on.. Who doesn't slather pancakes in butter? It's almost sinful not to!) Service was decent. The waitress was very nice. Slightly absent but not to the point that we were raising eyebrows. My oldest son had the Eggs Benedict and loved it. My other son had the cheeseburger from the kids menu; his only complaint was that there wasn't enough of it. :) Another plus there. Everyone else was happy. The Bad: I ordered the cottage cheese crepes and was super excited about it. They came out (a GIANT plate full, more than I could hope to eat) and were piping hot and beautiful. Until, I put a piece in my mouth. Texture was great. The intense flavor of bacon was not so great. In an attempt to rule in or out that my palate had gone round the bend on me, I asked my Mom to take a bite and asked her if she tasted bacon. Sure enough, she got a heavy flavor of it as well. And she isn't sensitive to that sort of thing as she eats bacon. Was a really bizarre, hopefully one off thing. I nicely sent it back and they were kind about it. I ordered the French Toast and it was good. Waitress was nice about it and even said she mentioned it to the cook. All in all, nothing that stood out as an exceptional experience, but nothing that made the experience unpleasant either. They goofed but recouped quickly, and like I said, to be fair, I was the only person that anything off happened with. While no one was savoring their plates like vultures, everyone was sated.
(3)Aaron V.
The outside is kind of boring, the decor outdated, the staff is barely friendly, but it is very clean. The apple pancake is something to try, but nothing great. My omelet was very boring and bland. Pancakes were dry and not fluffy. Not a bad place to eat, but not terrible, and not great. The bill for 2 people was $25 that's without a drink. Kind of pricey for the "quality" they speak of. Best place to go to is still Riverview Diner in downtown Montgomery.
(2)Christine B.
This place is pretty good, but both times eating here I've never been able to finish my food. It just comes with so much. Their omelettes are huge, fluffy, and delicious and you are welcome to order your own with whatever you want in it! I've never tried the pancakes. I like that this place is local and is influenced by their owners heritage which I believe is norwegian, dutch, or sweedish or something. One thing I would suggest is that they invest in some square or rectangular tables. Both times we've gone has been for more than 6 people and pushing together two circle tables is pretty awkward.
(4)Damian S.
I'm a huge breakfast fan and just moved to the area so Yelp! was key in directing me here. It was a simple duplication of the Waffle House (Walker Brothers) of North Shore Chicago or the one down near Michigan Ave, right down to the side of Mushroom sauce. Wait staff was friendly, Iced Tea was good, the Spinach Cheddar omelet was just ok, the cheese was low grade and didn't run out, it kind of curdled up inside due to the oil content. Egg was over cooked. The place was not busy so the cook just wasn't watching or timing the oven. Baked omelets with molten cheese flowing forth are a joy. I barely cracked a smile. I went based on the reviews, especially given the calls from the masses to try the bacon ( 8 slices per lb.? yes please!) Unfortunately my side order never came. A cardinal service sin! I luckily had the 1 piece my girlfriend got with her order and I will say that I missed out. "Oh..hmm..your bacon never made it out..." she said. Did you think it was walking itself out? It was your job to bring it hon. She took it off the bill without another word or apology like it was par for the course but I was an unimpressed fat guy. Pricey for what it is around $10 a plate, standard fare and no escape from the mundane. If you need breakfast, they have just that. If I'm in a bacon mood I may go back but overall I was unfortunately underwhelmed. Order a breakfast here, then order the exact same breakfast at Walker Brothers in say, Highland Park, IL. You'll notice the difference.
(2)Andrew L.
There is no better breakfast place in the area hands down. There is nothing on the menu that I don't love. Bacon so think and delicious that it will literally ruin all other bacon you will eat for the rest of your life. Service has always been fantastic. Only issues are that it is a little pricey. But a couple of extra dollars per person is worth the increased quality of food.
(5)Erica B.
I have gone here for breakfast quite a few times and it has been pretty good, nothing to write home about but nothing super negative either. However, this time we went and our bill was just over $50. WOW! WHY? Why, is what my husband and I were questioning. The food is mediocre and the service is okay, the place could use a good cleaning or a remodel and I certainly did not feel that a breakfast for two adults and a three year old should have been over $50. The seem to have recently raised their prices, about 20% it seems. We don't usually spend more than $35-$38 bucks on bfast... and these costs are not including tip. I must say I was really disappointed and we probably will not be going back when we can spend less money at Egg Harbor and the food is a bit better. Sorry Pancake Cafe but you did a bad thing by raising your prices the way you did, you just don't have the product to justify the increase. A prime example is the fresh triple berry crepes that they have on their specials menu, you may have fresh berries in the back but that does not mean that they are good quality berries. I ordered this, granted I took the chance because the berries are not in season and the strawberries were over ripe and some sporting some pretty nasty spots, some of the black berries were fresh and some were frozen and the raspberries seemed to be okay. I just don't think you should have something on your specials menu that you cannot 100% deliver on. They are also pushing this Picoso sausage that is suppose to be their less greasy version of chorizo... my husband tried this and said that it was bland and not the best substitute that he has had. I hope they get back on their game. Good Luck!
(2)Sarah S.
oh. my. goodness. looks like nothing from the outside, old school simple on the inside. My boyfriend and I really liked our first visit and plan on going there again next time we go out for breakfast.
(5)Zack R.
I'm a little partial to this place because I have been going here for years with my mom for a weekly lunch. also I often eat like a 9 year old and thus I enjoy their pigs in a blanket, which I have since been told is actually an item that belongs on the children's menu. Oops. No regrets
(4)Dave M.
Breakfast is the best! Bacon is the most thickly sliced, leanest, and most flavorful I've had. The baked omelets are huge and very well prepared. Toast is excellent. The coffee is good but not outstanding. Service is always pleasant and efficient. Hash browns are among the best I've run across. I'm not a pancake eater, but my granddaughter, a pancake aficionada, gives them two thumbs up. This place would be hard to beat! Haven't tried lunch. Why would anyone eat anything but breakfast here?
(5)M B.
My favorite breakfast restaurant. Food is great - especially the apple pancakes, the Swedish pancakes, and their hashbrowns. Their orange juice is fresh squeezed, and you can taste the difference. The service is usually very good. It is a neighborhood restaurant. Sometimes there is a wait, but it is usually not that long of a wait to be seated. The apple pancakes do take some time though, but you can also purchase them to take home and bake. You do have to take your bill to the register, but once you realize that, it is not a big deal. The paintings on the wall look like they are original paintings, and they could be better, but still, this is a neighborhood restaurant, and not a chain. I like the real feel of it. But most of all, the staff are very nice and genuine.
(5)Melissa P.
If they offered 1/2 stars, I would give this place 4 and a half. The food is consistently very good, the portions are good and the coffee is wonderful. The price is maybe higher than some other breakfast places, but the food is better and the environment is less chaotic. We've been coming here for years and I have never had a bad experience. Their thick french toast is amazing. My husband always gets the crepes and raves about them. There isn't a bad thing on the menu.
(4)Sara K.
Anytime people let me choose a breakfast places, I chose here. I LOVE this place. They have a great selection of food, and I would recommend it to any one. Their service is medicore on occasion, but I think the food makes up for it. I am a complete sucker for panackes though.
(5)Maureen F.
Pancake Cafe was very disappointing. The restaurant is very dated and needs an upgrade. I thought it was pricey for what you got. It is not as good a value as Colonial Cafe or some of the other places in town. Our Waiter was uninterested and really seems like he didn't care. We found a long hair in our hash browns and the waiter had no reaction. Overall, expensive, a little run down and lackluster service. There are too many similar choices in Naperville to go back to Pancake Cafe. We won't be back!
(2)Iqraa A.
My husband read good reviews on this place so we decided to go. We were seated within a couple of minutes and ordered our coffee but had no silverware to stir it with. Had to ask for it ...came back 5 mins later. The place was maybe a quarter full and it took the waitress another twenty mins to ask for our orders. I ordered the cinnamon roll pancakes and my husband ordered the turkey sausage and eggs-scrambled with cheese. The food came out I barely ate half of my pancakes they were way too fluffy and chewy almost! I have had cinnamon roll pancakes at cracker barrel and was hoping these Would be comparable but they were not. They tasted like wheat pancakes with cinnamon roll icing..yuck! My husband didn't get cheese on his eggs so the waitress offered to bring it out in a cup? I was Confused but my husband said sure then she came back and said she would just take it back which was nice of her but she shouldve done that in the first place, we are used to going to places with great service and food And we do follow reviews on yelp but this was the first disappointment ....we will not be back to pancake cafe!
(2)Heather M.
Classic breakfast joint. Way better inside then it looks on the outside. Gotta be honest for a place called "Pancake Cafe," the pancakes were just OK. I enjoyed Blueberry hill in Aurora more. The staff is great. Everytime I go I see the same servers an I like that. It has a family feel. I'm s big bacon person and they're bacon is pretty damn good. Coffee is ok. Not horrible but not great.
(2)Michelle K.
Best. Crepes. Ever. I am a sucker for berries of all kinds, and the Pancake Cafe's Raspberry Crepes and Three Berry Crepes (strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries) are filled with lots of fruit in every bite. I would have them every morning if I could. The last time I went, my boyfriend got chocolate chip pancakes heaping with whipped cream, and they were as delicious as they sound. Good coffee too, and it's nice that they have a designated "coffee girl" whose only job is to make sure everyone's coffee is filled. This is important, as your waitress will probably be frazzled and too busy to visit your table often enough to keep tabs on your coffee level. The prices aren't bad, although I was a little irritated that my two crepes were like $10, AKA $3 more than my boyfriend's enormous plateful of six pancakes - but oh well. Fresh berries ain't cheap, but they're so worth it.
(4)Lauren V.
FLAT OUT AMAZING! I've eaten here perhaps a dozen times and have had excellent meals and service each time. Wonderful pancakes of many common and exotic varieties. Very good service. It's one of my favorite breakfast places around!
(5)Maria S.
The pancakes are fabulous and the omelets are fantastic. Even if we come here for dinner we all always order breakfast. It's that good. Definitely on the omelets - you could easily split and share. You get a 3 egg omelet (broccoli and swiss cheese is my weakness... yum) hash browns, and pancakes. I usually share it with one of my kids. They also have a kid's menu. Service is fast and efficient. Even when there is a wait for weekend brunch the tables turn pretty quickly.
(5)