Every weekend, families and friends flock to Hometown to enjoy breakfast, lunch, brunch, or just a quick coffee together. With two locations in the New Trier District, it’s a toss up on which one to go to since both options have so much to offer. We went to both locations at the same time on a Saturday afternoon in order to compare the two.

Note: While there is also a Hometown in Lake Forest, we have chosen to exclude it due to its location outside of the New Trier District.

Glencoe (covered by Zoey)

Location: The Hometown in Glencoe is located on the corner of Park and Vernon Avenue, surrounded by stores such as Black Sheep and Valentina. After eating, you can walk around the downtown area and enjoy the nearby stores, or head to Kalk Park to enjoy the sunshine. Its location is quite central, across from the pharmacy and nearby the Glencoe Starbucks.

Food: My go-to meal at Hometown is the Berry Bowl with a S’mores Shookie. The Berry Bowl contains a strawberry, blueberry, banana, açaí smoothie topped with granola, honey, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. The S’mores Shookie is a doughy cookie with melted marshmallows, chocolate chips, and graham cracker crumbs. If I am not very hungry, I will go for a Tropical Escape Smoothie which is a refreshing mango, pineapple, and citrus drink.

Service: I expected a long wait time at such a popular destination, but was pleasantly surprised when my meal came within 10 minutes. The service was incredible; every staff member was ready and happy to help me with whatever necessary. 

Seating: At 1:00 pm on a Saturday afternoon, Hometown is bustling with families enjoying a nice lunch, friends catching up, and people simply grabbing a quick coffee. The indoor seating may look neatly spaced out, although on busy weekends it can feel cramped and it is often stressful trying to find a table. The outdoor seating is spacious, and there are tables large enough for eight people to sit comfortably around. Umbrellas are also provided for rainy or extra sunny days. 

Overall, I quite like the Glencoe location. My friends and I are always quick to pick this restaurant when making plans and it never disappoints.

Winnetka (covered by Mara)

The Hometown in Winnetka, however, is not so peaceful. Its Saturday afternoon crowd features every Winnetka stereotype, from intimidating middle schoolers, to gossiping moms, and of course, every staff member being a New Trier student. I truly cannot think of a time when I haven’t seen at least three people I know here. 

Location: Close to other local favorites such as Stacked & Folded and the new Corner Banh Mi, Hometown’s position on Lincoln Avenue and Elm Street is ideal. It’s walking distance from most Winnetka stores and important buildings such as the Winnetka Community House and post office.

Food: The Winnetka menu is identical to Glencoe’s, including my personal favorites of the Berry Bowl and the Garden Caprese. From coffees to smoothies and wraps to salads, Hometown’s menu offers a great deal of variety. The pricing at both locations, however, is not so inclusive. $9.75 for a toast is reasonable, but $6.75 for a 12 oz smoothie is outrageous. Even Starbucks only charges $5.25 for a 12 oz drink!

Service: The staff, though a little too familiar for my liking, is efficient and kind. I received my Tropical Escape Smoothie 5-10 minutes after ordering, which I consider to be a reasonable amount of time for a smoothie.

Seating: From what I’ve seen, this Hometown is often more crowded than Glencoe’s. Whether (due to the larger population in Winnetka or just its popularity, seating is definitely harder to come by. The inside tables are quite crammed, and the outdoor options are limited to smaller tables of two to four people. I have often found myself claiming an inside table as soon as one becomes available, despite not having ordered yet.

Overall, I have a love-hate relationship with this Hometown location. Its menu may be delicious, but its seating and clientele often prompt me to purchase my smoothie elsewhere.

Our Choice

After carefully considering the two options, we have chosen the Glencoe Hometown as our winner. Its comforting ambiance and its friendly inhabitants and staff distinguishes it from the Winnetka equivalent. We appreciate the perks of both locations, but would strongly recommend Glencoe for brunch-goers looking for a new favorite spot.