Sweet Toast

This week we hit up Sweet Toast in Naperville, and holy pancakes Batman we can’t wait to tell you about it. You will recall each week, the person selecting the restaurant prepares a conversation-starter question. This week, our question was to name your kindred-spirit animal. Responses varied, but we agreed on one thing: our kindred-spirit pancakes are Door county cherry.

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QUICK STATS

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

Price Range: $$$

Best For: fans of exceptional food (including a few original gems you can’t get anywhere else) and the best coffee around

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BEHIND OUR RATINGS

Food Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

At first glance, you’d think it’s like any other strip-mall breakfast place. It’s not a kooky bananas, pages-long menu filled with tons of outlandish creations. But it’s all done right. And if you look closely you’ll find some dishes that nobody else is doing (trust us, we know). Nobody is doing a Door County cherry (pancake / waffle / french toast). Nobody is doing sweet potato skillet with apples, avocado, brussels sprouts. 

Sweet Toast has figured it out: do something unique, do it well, and serve great coffee with it.

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

We were big fans of our server, Tammy. She was attentive without hovering and gave us a beat to peruse the menu. Plus, they leave the coffee pot on the table here - we LOVE that!

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]

On par with what you’d expect for a strip mall breakfast place, nothing too fancy, but it’s spacious and clean. Ample booths.

Noise Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ [5/5]

It was getting busier as our stay progressed, but noise level was always under control..

Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

They are on the pricier side, but we’re OK paying for quality (and originality).

Wait Time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

We got right in, no issues.

Kid-Friendly: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

Kids menu with excellent chicken fingers & fries :)

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WHAT WE ORDERED

Kay had the Door County cherry filled crepes and they were fabulous. They weren't as doughy as the pancakes so she didn’t get full as fast. Translation: they go down easy and you can eat them all before you know it. The filling was absolutely wonderful: the cherries had just the right tartness to them. Her side order of crispy bacon was good, and the coffee was fabulous. “Cup after cup after cup!”

Court had the Door County cherry pancakes and “my God, they were delicious.” The pancakes were very well made. They're not TOO cakey, though it’s fair to say they’re slightly more cakey than pan. they hold together. The cherry topping atop the chef's homemade cherry and cream cheese frosting is outstanding. He also described the coffee as the best we’ve had yet. It's, you know, it's the perfect “goldilocks” breakfast coffee - very balanced, it tastes like what the coffee on our logo looks like :) And remember they leave the pot, so you can just go nuts.

As for me, I had the sweet potato skillet with apples, avocado, egg, brussels sprouts, and some fashion of white cheese with overmedium eggs on top. Not only is it unique in that it’s the only one of these I’ve seen in our travels, it’s a delightful option for vegetarians or folks with dietary considerations. I love that. And it was wonderful. I got a side of the Door County cherry pancakes because I am highly susceptible to peer pressure. They are the stuff of legends. 

Sunny had the chicken tenders and fries, and they were really, really good. Perfect, crispy coating. The fries are the skinny ones.

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THE BOTTOM LINE

Our Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

What Made Us Smile:

They’ve got just the right amount of creative flair for those dishes they know they can master. Everything else is well-executed. And their coffee game commands respect.

What Could Be Better:

Oh man, we don’t know. Maybe crispy up the bacon a bit more? We’re nitpicking at this point.

Will the SSBC Be Back?

Try and stop us.

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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.