Rosie’s Home Cookin’

This week we hit up Rosie's Cafe in Naperville on Route 59 and Ferry Road. Remember that each week, the person selecting the restaurant prepares a conversation-starter question. This week's question was about music nostalgia, which was perfectly appropriate for Rosie’s great 50’s mix and diner vibe that we enjoyed so much.

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QUICK STATS

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]

Price Range: $$$

Best For: Folks who want to support a veteran-owned nonprofit over a cup of excellent coffee

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BEHIND OUR RATINGS

Food Quality: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]

We came, and would return, to Rosie’s because they’re a pure nonprofit - they're running the restaurant to collect funds and put that back into the veteran community, creating opportunities for folks. And they create such a warm, welcoming experience it’s hard not to love every element of your experience here. 

That said, the food was actually the element we enjoyed the least. None of us had a standout item, and overall we thought the preparation of breakfast staples (e.g. eggs, bacon, french toast) has room to improve. 

THAT said, the coffee was excellent! A morning "keep it coming" coffee that you can drink the whole time. Very light, no aftertaste, and a wonderful aroma. You all know how seriously we take our coffee here at the SSBC - this is worth an extra star in our book.

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

A gentleman greeted us who was absolutely delightful. The owner, Len(?), came over to introduce himself and couldn't have been more welcoming. Our server was lovely as well - this place is a genuine class act.

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]

The place itself is lovely - a diner feel with good music playing at the right volume. We could talk, which was wonderful.

Word to the wise: we sat in a booth against the front window, and when the sun came out felt as if we were under a magnifying glass. They know about it and have a shade on order, but watch out for that booth in the meantime ;)

Noise Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

Their music (great playlist btw!) was at the perfect level.

Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]

A touch on the pricier side. It was on par with our typical Sunday breakfasts though we didn't order as much - they’re not as big on the specialty drinks, bells and whistles stuff.

Wait Time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

We got right in.

Funny story: we tried to visit in January and were crestfallen to show up to a darkened building…they were in the process of moving to this location! So technically you could say either we waited either 60 seconds or 5 months 🙂

Kid-Friendly: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

KIds menu, gumball machines, family atmosphere, old-timey horse machine for the wee ones.

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WHAT WE ORDERED

As for me (Bridget), I ordered scrambled eggs (well), bacon (crispy), a fruit cup, and a side of pancakes. The eggs were a bit on the slimier side and the bacon was of the thicker, fattier variety. The pancakes were pretty good, although the fruit was not very fresh.  

Court had the granola French toast made with sourdough bread. It was good although there wasn’t much granola on it and he thought the middle was a bit dough-y. He absolutely loved the coffee. 

Kay had scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon, with a side of fruit and an English muffin. The eggs were underdone while the Canadian bacon was overdone and difficult to cut through. The English muffin came with jam (which was good) but no butter. Her fruit wasn’t good either. She agreed the coffee was excellent. 

Sunny had the strawberry waffles and he enjoyed them.

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THE BOTTOM LINE

Our Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]

What Made Us Smile:

We love what Rosie's is doing - a veteran-owned nonprofit putting funds back into the veteran community. The ownership and service couldn't have been nicer, and the coffee is outstanding.

What Could Be Better:

We’d love to see a level-up on the prep & execution of dishes. We’re huge Rosie’s fans and want them to be at their best.

Will the SSBC Be Back?

This is a place you come to for a cup of excellent coffee and to support a great cause. We think we visited on an off day, because their reviews are really strong and they are beloved among the community. We look forward to returning and trying again.

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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.