Egg Haven – Grade A

Tucked away beside Gamestop in DeKalb is a “haven” for everything breakfast. Egg Haven Pancakes & Cafe, 2562 Sycamore Road, offers a full menu of breakfast and lunch items.

Atmosphere:

The restaurant is very clean and has a warm ambience. The large picture windows surrounding the dining area light up the room, and the bright natural lighting adds to the warmth of the eatery. The nice china and place setting makes the meal much more elegant than the usual cafe or diner experience.

Service:

From the moment you enter the doors of Egg Haven, you are greeted by the warm and hospitable staff. Even on a busy day, like Sunday morning, the staff is very courteous. However, there is often a wait, so weekday mornings are typically a better time to go.

My waitress was very prompt, polite and even offered light conversation which was very welcoming. The other waitresses always made sure my coffee was full and that I had everything I needed to fully enjoy my meal. I was asked five times if I wanted more coffee! Though this may have been a little too much, it was nice to know that the girls were attentive to each customer.

Food:

With a name like Egg Haven, the eggs better be good; and they most definitely were. From scrambled to poached, the ova are prepared to near perfection. The food is pleasing for the stomach as well as the eyes as each meal is garnished and presented beautifully.

Though the lunch is also good, featuring delicious 10-ounce burgers, the breakfast menu is where this restaurant really shines, as it uses extremely fresh ingredients to improve the quality of their meals. The must-have item is definitely the freshly-squeezed orange juice, which literally tastes like they stuck a straw into a ripe orange.

Price:

As the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” Eating at Egg Haven is a little more expensive than eating an Egg McMuffin, but the quality and service makes it well worth it. Plus, with the large portion sizes of each meal, there is usually enough to take home and enjoy later. Daily specials and combos such as the NIU Club, which offers juice, french toast, bacon, sausage and eggs for $7.15, offer plenty of food at an affordable price for a college student. Students can even pay with Huskie Bucks.

Overall:

Egg Haven lives up to its name, as its breakfast proved to be quite heavenly. The service and low prices, along with the quaint setting, makes this restaurant worth the trip from campus.