Eastman Egg Company

Their brick and mortar location opened up last week. I got by there for breakfast this morning and I doubt I'll be returning, unless other reviewers here tell me the sandwiches I didn't get are to die for.

I went with the basic egg/bacon/cheese on a chiabatta roll. First thing I noticed was the formed egg patty. Not very large and almost premade looking. Bacon was fairly thick sliced and done correctly - 2 slices. The roll had a 'slighty too long in the microwave' feel to it - soft but not spongy with a couple small hard nodes in it - definitely not fresh. I couldn't sense any flavor from the white cheddar - even the remnants on the wrapper were tasteless.

So, for a mere $7.75 I got to think about all the better, cheaper breakfasts I passed up.

stoutisgoodfood wrote:Their brick and mortar location opened up last week. I got by there for breakfast this morning and I doubt I'll be returning, unless other reviewers here tell me the sandwiches I didn't get are to die for.

I went with the basic egg/bacon/cheese on a chiabatta roll. First thing I noticed was the formed egg patty. Not very large and almost premade looking. Bacon was fairly thick sliced and done correctly - 2 slices. The roll had a 'slighty too long in the microwave' feel to it - soft but not spongy with a couple small hard nodes in it - definitely not fresh. I couldn't sense any flavor from the white cheddar - even the remnants on the wrapper were tasteless.

So, for a mere $7.75 I got to think about all the better, cheaper breakfasts I passed up.

Walked by this morning and briefly paused to consider going in. Gutsy business model. Disappointing review considering Cafecito makes incredibly delicious breakfast sandwiches that have a homey, sloppy scrambled eggy quality to them (and fantastic coffee) just two streets East (they're roughly equidistant from my office).

Eastman Egg Company
23 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone:(312) 600-4814
Open Monday - Friday, 6am-6pm
http://eastmanegg.com/

Eastman Egg Company, a fast-casual breakfast and coffee restaurant, has landed more than $1 million in expansion funding. The money will fund a second downtown storefront, slated to open in September at 500 W. Madison St.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... on-funding

I've mentioned before, but not in the dedicated thread, that the signature Eastman sandwich is very solid - owing a lot to the "country ham," which is good and about 1/2 way on the road between country and city ham. So maybe suburban ham. I've had no problems with the bread, cooked-to-order egg or other components. Anyway, nothing else I've tried there has been notable, except the egg salad, which was an expensive and nearly complete failure (dry, crumbly, virtually mayo-less "egg salad"). Good coffee, too.

I'm a fan. I was worried they would not survive given the relative lack of crowds. I hope they do!

BTW their profit margins must be taking a hit with the recent run-up in egg prices.

teatpuller wrote:I'm a fan. I was worried they would not survive given the relative lack of crowds. I hope they do!

BTW their profit margins must be taking a hit with the recent run-up in egg prices.

Their profit margin is likely the most attractive feature for investors. They can easily withstand a doubling of pricing on eggs. Overall I've (somewhat) changed my opinion since my first snap judgment. Their offerings are good but their price points will kill them in the end.

The Eastman Egg Co., the egg-centric breakfast and lunch business that started with a food truck in 2013, is ready to spread its wings again thanks to $1.5 million in new funding.
Eastman has signed a letter of intent to open its next location in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, founder and CEO Hunter Swartz said, declining to give an exact location. That location, its first outside of downtown, does not yet have an opening date.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ ... story.html

After receiving more than $1 million in expansion funding, egg sandwich stalwart The Eastman Egg Company has set its sights on Chicago's hottest dining district. The food-truck-turned-local chain is heading to Randolph Row, taking over the space at 939 W. Randolph St.

http://chicago.eater.com/2016/8/22/1258 ... -bake-shop

Eaten there once (in the Northwestern Train station). Underwhelmed. Perfectly ordinary, no more. And, frankly, no matter what time of day I pass by there is rarely anyone (okay, more than 2 or 3 people) in there. I guess I must be missing the point, or the attraction.

After seeing a few decent reviews, I was enticed to give this another try. Sadly, I think it was worse than my first experience (above #1). Went with the egg and chorizo sandwich - again, the bun was questionably fresh (I couldn't even saw through the bottom with a knife), the egg was a flavorless yellow folded over thing and the chorizo was a fairly large patty that was dried out and lacking any distinct spicy taste. A side of generic salsa verde gave it some moistness anyway. At least the price of $7.75 hadn't gone up - but still way too expensive for what it is.

Maybe their coffee rocks, because the rest of it seems lackluster.

stoutisgoodfood wrote:Maybe their coffee rocks, because the rest of it seems lackluster.

I wish it did. I had never had beans (or coffee) from Irving Farm Coffee Roasters (their supplier) and since Eastman Egg emphasizes "exceptional" coffee on their website, I thought I'd try a bag. First time I went in, all the bags were at least three months old. I dropped the company a note and, to their credit, they apologized and said that they would be bringing new bags in the following week. They also offered me a free bag.

I thanked them for the info, declined the offer, saying I'd be happy to pay. I did and I have to say that the coffee was mediocre. I simply didn't get much flavor. I don't recall the origin of the beans any longer.

FWIW, I typically buy Intelligentsia but recently discovered Stumptown Roasters (from Portland, OR) at Backlot Coffee (formerly Linz and Vail) on Central Street in Evanston. As I recall, all bags are $15.99 and they have a selection that is different from what is usually available in Chicago. I have bought several bags there and been happy--so far. But I won't be back to Eastman Egg, at least not for their coffee.

Backlot Coffee
2012 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201
backlotcoffee.com
(847) 475-1381

Gypsy Boy wrote:FWIW, I typically buy Intelligentsia but recently discovered Stumptown Roasters (from Portland, OR) at Backlot Coffee (formerly Linz and Vail) on Central Street in Evanston.

For those in the city, Stumptown is also available at Wormhole Coffee in Wicker Park, and at the multiple locations of Stan's Donuts.