Niko’s Breakfast Club
It all begins with an idea.
This week we hit up Niko's Breakfast Club in Romeoville. This was a Court selection. Remember that each week, the person selecting the restaurant prepares a conversation-starter question. This week's question was about what we think our superpower is, and which superpower we’d like to have. Everyone wanted to fly or become invisible, while I want to clean rooms instantly with my mind. Clearly, practicality is my superpower.
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QUICK STATS
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ [2/5]*
Price Range: $$
Best For: A very tasty, very quick bite
*A note on our rating: sitting at the table, our original consensus was to rate much higher. However, an incident with management made this visit memorable for the wrong reasons. More on that below.
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BEHIND OUR RATINGS
Food Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
The food at Niko's was genuinely very good. Everything came out as expected and on par with what we know to be a reliable, well-liked local spot. Standards were cooked well, good portions, bottomless coffee, and some stand-out favorites.
Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]
Denise, our server, who was effortlessly warm, charming, and attentive gets 5 stars! And the servers overall are clearly hustling!
We witnessed the manager(/owner?) loudly reprimanding a worker about how a table was cleaned. That's never a good look on the floor, and it makes you wonder about the culture behind closed doors.
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
Very roostery. Coffee house diner feel. Lots of booths which we love, though they are a tighter squeeze. Not the most modern but neither is it trying to be. Charming in its own right. And clearly a local favorite. Well-reviewed online, and a healthy stream of folks coming in.
Noise Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
Slightly on the louder side but still able to carry on a conversation in a booth.
Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
Prices were very reasonable for the portions and quality.
Wait Time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
No wait to be seated, drinks and food came out promptly upon order. Coffees refilled quickly.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
They have kids' menu options, but the pressure we felt to leave while my son was eating does not scream “family friendly.”
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WHAT WE ORDERED
Court ordered the signature French toast which was good. It was a very large portion. He thought while it stood well on its own, it could have used a little something extra for sweetness.
Kay chose the german breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon, potato pancakes, and scalloped apples). The apples were exceptional. The potatoes could have used a bit more flavor, a bit less flour. Eggs were great: soft but not dry. Bacon was nice and crisp.
Court and Kay described the coffee as heartier, nitty-gritty 'coffee coffee' (less flavored, more substance) - but bottomless.
Sunny got his usual: chicken fingers and fries. The crinkle-cut fries received a rave review.
I ordered a veggie skillet that was very well executed. My specifications (light cheese) were followed, they got over-easy eggs absolutely spot on, the veggies were really good.
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THE INCIDENT
At about the 40-minute mark, the manager/owner came to thank us for coming. We were still eating but said all was well. Within moments, he began walking past our table, placing his hand on it and loudly announcing to staff, "We can put 5 here!" - while we were still seated, still eating.
Maybe 5 minutes later, he returned to "thank us" again - this time more sternly. My son was still eating and our coffees were full, but I got the message and paid. As we were getting up, he began snapping his fingers at us to get out faster. Yes, snapping his fingers. I checked my watch in the parking lot: 52 minutes had elapsed since we arrived.
To be fair to Niko’s, it was a busy Sunday morning. But there was no signage about time limits. No upfront communication when seated. For a family of four with a slow-eating kid, 60 minutes is reasonable. We’re hyper-cognizant of it, as you can see from our typical sign-off. And even if 40-45 minutes is their unwritten rule, there's a right way to handle it: "Folks, I actually need this table. Here are to-go cups, please see the pay station when ready and we hope to see you again."
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THE BOTTOM LINE
Our Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ [2/5]
Here's the thing - based on food and service alone, Niko's would have earned a solid 4/5. But snapping at patrons to get out is never cute, funny, or appropriate.
What Made Us Smile:
Denise! And then it’s a tie for second place, between scalloped apples and crinkle cut fries.
What Could Be Better:
What started as a great experience left us feeling like mouths to feed and wallets to empty.
Will the SSBC Be Back?
Sadly, no. Though it appears our experience is atypical and we’re happy for those that love and frequent Niko’s.
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Well, that's a wrap from your SSBC! Don't forget to follow our breakfast adventures on the socials. And get some SSBC merch (holidays are just around the corner ya know). If you'd like to recommend a place for us to visit, drop us a line on our contact page.
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.