Butterfields Breakfast restaurant

www.butterfieldsrestaurant.com

I've heard about this place from some of my foodie friends, so I finally got around to checking it out. I visited the Wheaton location, where my friend out in Phoenix went to the Scottsdale location this past weekend. In both instances, even though we had to wait for a seat, the service was extremely prompt. I couldn't get to half a cup of coffee without an offer to top it off. They also come to your table offering freshed squeezed orange juice, and they walk around with it in a clear container along with the coffee pot (the coffee is served with heavy cream on the side - no cheap stuff here, but the prices are more than fair!).

The food arrived promptly, so the kitchen really has it together and everything was up to breakfast standards and beyond.

I started with the Crab Cake Benedict for $9.50, homemade sweet lump alaskan snow crab cake (which appeared to be a deep-fried medallion, but it was still fantastic), toasted english muffin and topped with a spicy chipotle hollandaise. The sauce made it happen, the eggs were perfectly poached, and I was HAPPY! I chose the Cheese Grits on the side (in it's own bowl), which were fantastic and very cheddar tasting. Delicious.

I followed up with a array of fantastic side dishes:

Amy’s Chicken Apple Maple Sausage 3.75. 4 sausage links, which look like regular pork sausages. They were grilled fresh (you could see the char mark on them) and they had a bit of a spicy kick. I never tasted anything like it, so for something different, get this!

Corned Beef Hash 3.25 - freshly made from hand. Pretty much what I would expect from a real breakfast place like this. Tastes great - add some louisiana hot sauce which is standard on every table along with jalapeno tabasco and one other that I cannot remember - maybe standard tabasco?

Chocolate Chip Pancakes - semisweet chocolate chips inside, lots of WHITE chocolate shavings on top. Possibly the sweetest chocolate chip pancakes I've ever tasted, and went well with the butterfields own table syrup in the glass container. You can also order fresh maple syrup from Vermont on the side for $1.50.

It's really out of the way for me, but since it's down the street from Fryes Electronics I will be making excuses to go there in the morning. Get there early, it gets PACKED and there's a good wait!

there is one supposedly opening on sanders and dundee (the old mcdonalds, near marissa's pizza/staples/dominicks) in northbrook but it's been awhile and the interior space still looks to be under construction.

I have been to the one in Wheaton, and now there is a second one in Naperville, just down the block from my office. Having gone once or twice, I would go back if someone wanted to go, but there was nothing particularly exciting for me. And some of it scared me.

The place starts out as a sort of old-school pancake house, not terribly dissimilar from a Walker Brothers or a Grandma Sally's for reference. Decent pancakes and waffles, okay omelettes and eggs if you like them whipped and humongous. Then they add some more ambitious stuff, like UA mentioned. I did not order those things on my visits as I just could not get my mind around something like ricotta stuffed strawberry French Toast. But I did get to sample them off my companions' plates, and was not terribly impressed. All the subtlety of a sledgehammer - overflowing with fat and sugar and just way, way over the top. Hash browns were okay, eggs were good; buttermilk pancakes were not great. Coffee was American style, meaning a bit watery but with decent taste.

Anyway, for my money I prefer the Pancake Cafe in Naperville or Egg Harbor (multiple locations including Naperville and Wheaton). Not that I am a big fan of eating out for breakfast (I loved Jeff Ruby's recent rant on the subject) so you can take this with a grain of salt, but the pancakes are pretty good at the former and they have some decent egg skillets at the latter.

Ricotta stuffed strawberry French Toast actually gave me nightmares for some time. I think it was deep-fried, too. I like my fat as much as the next guy, probably more, but generally not deep fried and coated with sugary syrup. <shiver>

dudefella wrote:there is one supposedly opening on sanders and dundee (the old mcdonalds, near marissa's pizza/staples/dominicks) in northbrook but it's been awhile and the interior space still looks to be under construction.

My officemates and I are eagerly awaiting this one. Not that we all love the place or anything (I've never been to one) - just eagerly awaiting another bfast option in the area.

I am not a fan of Butterfield's. In my experience, it just isn't all that good. It's not nearly as good as Egg Harbor (multiple locations). And if you're looking for more of a traditional breakfast diner, then there are a number of places, including the Omega on Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove, among others, that are much more reliable than Butterfield's.

I live just down the block, so I am hoping that it doesn't disappoint. Quite frankly, it'll be great to have a lunch place that doesn't seem to mind kids near my house.

I e-mailed the corporate office and got an opening date of Spring 2008.

While I do enjoy Butterfield's on the occasional visit, I far prefer Egg'lectic Cafe in Wheaton. They have two locations - one downtown and one in Town Square (in the old Egg Harbor spot). Both food and service IMHO are far superior to both Butterfields and Egg Harbor. It's also family owned, not a corporate restaurant. The almond-crusted stuffed french toast is fantastic!

They're always packed, especially on weekends, so get there early or call ahead and put your name on the wait list.

FYI they also do private events in the evenings, we had our rehearsal dinner there and had a GREAT time. A very unique spot for a special event.

Based on one visit, I agree that Egg'clectic is pretty good, FWIW.

It feels strange replying to this thread, since I no longer live in the area. I've tried all the places mentioned here and while Butterfield's is *eh*, Egg Harbor and Egg'cletic are better, I prefer Red Apple in Carol Stream. Each place has it's good and bad items and I could eat at any of them.

They have a diverse menu to please most every type of taste. The omelets are oven baked and quite large. The hash browns are made from fresh potatoes. The pancakes are good without being overbearing.

Red Apple Pancake House
414 S Schmale Rd
Carol Stream, IL 60188
Phone: (630) 871-2911

Now if I could get them to open a place near Jackson, TN, I'd be one happy camper!!!!