Honey Berry Pancakes & Cafe
It all begins with an idea.
This week we hit up Honey Berry Pancakes and Cafe in Bolingbrook. Remember that each week, the person selecting the restaurant prepares a conversation-starter question. This week's question was timely given we’d been decorating all week; we took turns describing which ornaments on the tree are our favorite. The lesson here? Slow down, enjoy the season, focus on the little things that bring big smiles.
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QUICK STATS
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
Price Range: $$
Best For: a cheery, solid breakfast experience on the more modern side
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BEHIND OUR RATINGS
Food Quality: ⭐⭐⭐ [3/5]
Oof, we debated this rating as we’ve been here before (several times, actually) and we know they typically deliver better. However, we as SSBC pinky-swore that we’d report on the experience on review day and Kay, Bridget, and Sunny each were mildly to moderately disappointed. See our orders below, the consensus was baked goods were too cakey and sauces were in the wrong proportion.
Also, coffee goes a long way in our book. Despite the promotions around their monthly coffee/beverage club membership, we found the coffee unremarkable.
Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
Our server was very friendly and attentive on a busy Sunday morning. When delivering the check, she asked how everything was. We mentioned the french toast was only OK, and she said she wished we’d told her so she could have remedied it. This sparked a discussion among us: on the one hand, we agree in concept that the patron carries some responsibility to be communicative. That said, not everybody feels comfortable doing this, and we as SSBC are about sharing with y’all what the restaurant deems serve-worthy on the first try.
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
Clean, cheery, modern. We love their coffee mugs (though they’re showing some wear and not in a cute vintage way). Honey Berry boasts tall, comfy booths that create a little secluded oasis of dining and conversation. We’re all about these. However, on this particular morning we sat in a much smaller, open booth in the annex room which is not our favorite.
Noise Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
Depends. It’s great in the large cocoon booths. Too loud (not to mention a bit germ-y) in the annex.
Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
We joked it was the same bill -within a couple of dollars- as the last two weeks.
Wait Time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]
No wait at all. Prompt, friendly service throughout.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]
Absolutely kid-friendly and we were seated among many of them. Kids menu.
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WHAT WE ORDERED
Court went with the Honey Berry pancakes and he enjoyed his meal the most out of any of us. The pancakes are cakey and we mean that by way of sweetness, like you’re eating a stack of cake. That’s up his alley so he was a happy camper.
Kay ordered the rumchata french toast and was slightly underwhelmed. Very thick cut bread, and the sauce was good but sparingly applied so it was drier and less decadent than she envisioned when she ordered.
As for me, well, it’s no secret that I’m easily corrupted. If I see a particularly unique or compelling menu item, I’ll ditch that diet for one more day (I feel it’s my duty to the public interest, dear reader). So when key lime pancakes with white chocolate chips, blackberries, and graham crackers float into my consciousness, it’s a no brainer. And I liked it OK but wouldn’t splurge for it again. The key lime sauce was nice and tart, but out of proportion to the blackberry sauce. It would have been more aptly described as blackberry pancakes with a bit of key lime garnish.
Sunny stuck with his tried-and-true chicken fingers and fries. He didn’t enjoy the chicken: it’s a little more peppery, well-done, with a hard coating. For what it’s worth, those are actually my favorite - and the chicken is nice fluffy white meat. But alas, it’s his call and he was not a fan.
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THE BOTTOM LINE
Our Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]
What Made Us Smile:
This is actually one of our favorite local spots. While we can’t inflate the rating beyond what we experienced on review day, we always enjoy our time here.
What Could Be Better:
Better sauce ratios on specialty dishes. And we'll request a big booth in the main area next time.
Will the SSBC Be Back?
For sure. When we’re done with our yearly challenge, it’ll be back in our regular rotation.
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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.