Egg & Berry
This week we hit up Egg & Berry Breakfast & Brunch Cafe in Orland Park. Remember that each week, the person selecting the restaurant prepares a conversation-starter question. This week, we discussed our favorite movies, the ones that you can watch over and over again. It got us thinking about those restaurants you keep coming back for. While Egg & Berry has some room to develop, elements of the experience were strong. Here’s hoping they can get to the “repeat favorite” status in the hearts of Orland Parkers!
____
QUICK STATS
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
Price Range: $$$
Best For: groups, trendy folks, lovers of Halal menu favorites complimented with imaginative, delicious libations
____
BEHIND OUR RATINGS
Food Quality: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
In the 4ish months that we’ve been trying a new restaurant every week, Egg & Berry had our highest enthusiasm going in based on the menu offerings and overall vibe. We found the shakes and specialty drinks to be quite good. That said, there were misses on the food side that couldn’t be overlooked.
Two of us split a sharing platter, of which the egg rolls were the clear favorite. Beyond that, we were disappointed with the quantity and quality of the other items. For a $30 sharing platter, the little bowls of the items were sparse, in some cases there was only 1 (for example the french toast sticks and the fruit). Several of the items were not in great shape, whether due to lack of fresh ingredients, having sat out for a while, or both. To be fair, we visited at the busiest time and I’m sure food prep en masse is tricky.
Y’all know that coffee looms large in SSBC world. The first cups we received were quite bitter, usually an indication that we’re getting the bottom of the pot. The subsequent cups mellowed out a bit - though it is possible we also acclimated to it. It wasn’t something we’d recommend to you.
Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
Jillian, our server, was friendly, a good salesperson, clearly a marketer at heart. Our understanding is she came up with some of the ideas for the mocktail drink flights, which are probably among the best things at Egg & Berry. She forgot a couple of things, but was extremely busy. Warning: she gets a little…passionate…about taking home leftovers. She may or may not own stock in toaster ovens.
A VIP/manager came by at the end of our meal to greet / thank us (we couldn't see the front door, so we didn’t see the wait line building). She was lovely, gracious, classy. Top notch!
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]
It’s extremely easy on the eyes. Clearly decorated by someone with a great eye and an emphasis on details - it feels very high-end, dare-we-say luxurious. In all of our travels, we’ve yet to find another place with rose pink velour type booths. The neon signage is popular right now and social-media friendly (clearly their vibe). But details matter and they’ve thought of them all: chic chandeliers, fresh, crisp paint on the ceiling. It just feels good to be here.
Noise Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
It's a really busy place, and human beings make noise. We happened to be in a booth in the corner so we were okay. Those swanky booths that provide the nice aesthetic happen to double as sound-absorption. Smart!
Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
This was the second most expensive place we've been on our travels. The drinks were worth it, though in our opinion the food did not justify the high price tag.
Wait Time: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
We came early knowing it would be crowded. Good for them - they're clearly doing a lot of business and it's “the place to be.”
Kid-Friendly: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]
Nice kids menu with chicken fingers and fries. Lots of families in attendance.
____
WHAT WE ORDERED
I mentioned above that Court and I split the sharing platter, which consisted of small, individual serving size bowls of: egg rolls (2), chicken and waffles (2), mini avocado toasts (2), french toast sticks (1), fruit (1), hummus (1), cucumber (1), mini toasts (1). The egg rolls were a Court favorite for sure, and the french toast sticks and mini avocado toasts get honorable mention. That said, there should have been two of everything: it goes without saying for a platter designed for sharing. The fruit serving was tiny and not very fresh. The cucumber was either past its prime or had accidentally gotten too cold (you know what I’m talking about where it partially freezes and the texture changes). The waffles were soggy on the bottom, I’m sure they were placed hot into the bowls and then sat (steaming, soggifying) for a while. The hummus was turning a bit icky on top, again, having sat out.
Kay had the handheld breakfast sandwich with beef bacon, scrambled egg, caramelized onion, avocado and cheese. The sandwich should have been delicious but she was a bit disappointed with it altogether. She felt maybe it was overpowered by the bread? She also had a side of breakfast potatoes, which were good.
Sunny got the chicken fingers and fries, plus an Oreo milkshake. He thought the milkshake was extremely tasty! The chicken tenders and fries were only okay - the fries were a bit on the overdone / brown side.
____
THE BOTTOM LINE
Our Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
This was our storyline: incredibly enthusiastic to visit → incredibly impressed with the decor → incredibly wowed with the drinks → incredibly underwhelmed with the food. That's a challenging position for a restaurant, because you ALWAYS want the trend line going up. I feel like if you had to choose between first and last impressions, you’d want folks leaving on a high note.
What Made Us Smile:
The atmosphere is exceptional, and the drinks delight all of the senses.
What Could Be Better:
The theme here is one of slight hubris (overcharging) coupled with lack of QC / attention to detail. The great news is these can be remedied quite easily. The quality and attention they spend on their atmosphere should now be concentrated into their menu. Focus on quality control: the freshest produce, better management of prep / flow to ensure everything is served at its best, and maybe rethink the current coffee offering.
Will the SSBC Be Back?
With some changes, sure. In its current state, the drinks and ambience are worth a visit though the food under-delivers for the price point. We say this with love, and we hope they embrace this feedback because Egg & Berry has so much promise.
____
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.