The White Sheep
This week we hit up White Sheep in Naperville. This is a new location - there's another one in Orland (which caused some initial confusion among our group). Once there, we tackled this week's get-to-know-you question: name a character or avatar you always select when you're playing a game (whether video, board, etc.). The iron from Monopoly apparently is a fan favorite, and Donkey Kong got an honorable mention for Mario Kart. Wouldn’t it be funny if embodying a persona in life were this easy…and we could just decide whomever we want to be, just like that? Maybe we can.
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QUICK STATS
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
Price Range: $$
Best For: folks wanting a modern, high-energy experience with an imaginative, well-executed menu
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BEHIND OUR RATINGS
Food Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]
These are the same people that brought you Darlene's (probably SSBC’s #1 so far in our journey), so you know you’re getting world-class food. The menu isn't ginormous, but everything on it - baked goods, savory items, and libations - is executed to a very high standard.
We're *always* going to lavish praise on a place that has breakfast appetizers, and White Sheep fully earned their kudos in this department. Fruit bruschetta, anyone?
Coffee is the good, lighter, breakfasty type coffee that you could keep right on drinking. We’re fans.
Service: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
As a new location, I think the service is a work in progress. Ours was sort of a bizarre first impression: we arrived early and requested a booth, and they tried to sell us on a half-booth (basically a standard dining table with one cushioned side) in the busiest / noisiest part of the dining room, squeezed between two other parties. We said we’d be happy to wait for a full booth - of which we found there were many open and they sat us right away. (I’ve been in food service btw I know about server capacity, this wasn’t that). We then witnessed another family experience the same thing - they tried to drop them into a table next to an open booth, to which the family had to politely push back. For some reason White Sheep is holding back on booths, and we don't understand why. On a couple occasions I wondered if there was a lack of critical thinking with regard to the experience of it all. Remember, the (exceptional) standard has been set by their sister restaurant Darlene’s. Comparatively, I’d say White Sheep Naperville team may be a tad less experienced and a tad more indifferent.
We went back up to the front to get some pics of the donuts and the bakery case - I can’t say I experienced much warmth (or even acknowledgement) from the folks up front. I think those first impressions really matter and can make the difference between a great restaurant and an exceptional one.
One last note (and this isn’t solely directed toward White Sheep but a general PSA): if you aren’t going to leave the coffee pot, we hope to never see the bottoms of our cups :)
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
We’re suckers for crisp, bright, stylish decor, and White Sheep is all of these things. The coffee bar / drink station is built in the middle of the restaurant as a focal point and the heart of an establishment literally built around their coffee. I think they hoped for a “hustle and bustle” vibe though the reality is a lot of the folks prepping looked kinda…stressed out. Also, there was this knocking or pounding that would happen every few minutes (we’re guessing from the espresso station?). It’s distracting to say the least. Maybe the joke is on all of us and this is their strategy to get us to not linger once we’re done eating. If so, it worked.
Noise Level: ⭐⭐ [2/5]
If you don't get a booth, it's extremely loud. If you do get a booth, it's still pretty damn loud. The hammering/pounding situation honestly makes you feel like you're in a construction zone.
Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]
The food is exceptional, no question. You're going to find dishes here that you just won't find anywhere else, like the fruit bruschetta, so while the price per dish is on par, be prepared to be tempted to splurge. You will not regret it.
Wait Time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
We walked right in but we also adjusted our normal routine because this is a really busy area. Food arrived quickly.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]
Kids menu ✅ chicken fingers ✅ families all around ✅
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WHAT WE ORDERED
If you come to White Sheep and don't order items from the bakery case, you're doing it wrong. We started with a cake pop and a white donut with sprinkles. Both were decadent, springy, a good frosting-to-cake ratio and baked to perfection. We also started with the fresh fruit bruschetta with honey and cream cheese sauce. The toast-to-topping ratio was off but it was absolutely delightful. A must try.
Court had the Biscoff cookie latte, which he thought was outstanding. It wasn't an overwhelming coffee flavor - it's there, but it was balanced well and the foam was very tasty. He had the All American hash bowl (potatoes with ham, bacon, sausage, onions, green peppers, cheese, eggs on top). He thought the potatoes could have been a little crispier, but overall it was really good.
Kay had the lemon blueberry french toast - a huge order with four thick slices (probably an inch and a half each). The blueberry lemon sauce was marvelous with lots of blueberries and lemon. Unlike other places that might skimp with sauce, there was more than enough to cover everything. She was only able to eat half (shout out to folks who want to try different menu items and split them). Her side of crispy bacon was delicious.
As for me, you guys know I like to try unusual fare, so I felt compelled to order the breakfast gnocchi even though I usually need to have to be in the mood for a dish such as this. I’d describe it as “comfort food gets a glow up.” Great flavors and texture, with a rich sauce white sauce. I also tried the strawberry tajin cooler and it was like hummingbird nectar. I lacked the restraint to savor it and basically guzzled it, which is OK sometimes (SSBC doesn’t judge).
Sunny got the chicken fingers and fries. The chicken tenders weren't as much his jam - they're the thick-coating breaded kind, and he prefers the thinner, crumbly coatings. So while they weren't his favorite style, he did think they were good.
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THE BOTTOM LINE
Our Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]*
*Note: It's a newer place and they're working out the kinks. The food is marvelous and we have no doubt they’ll find their stride.
What Made Us Smile:
Even with the growing pains of a new location, and the hustle and bustle of a busy Sunday morning, the food is never compromised. Not only that, it's very artfully, flawlessly, dare-I-say lovingly, prepared.
What Could Be Better:
The booth-stingyness was odd. And the hammering should probably move to the back. Also, a person dedicated to coffee refills during peak times would not hurt.
Will the SSBC Be Back?
Hands down, yes. That said, we’d steer toward off-peak times (or be prepared for a bit of chaos).
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Well, that's a wrap from your SSBC! Thanks for reading and please endeavor to be as gracious a guest as you expect of your establishment. Mind your manners, tip well, and if you linger during peak times (as we sometimes do), order lots and tip even better.
If you'd like to recommend a place for us to visit, drop us a line on our contact page.