The Buttermilk Pancakes from Walker Bros. (Hansen)With all the long weekends and late starts this year, students have the perfect opportunity to go out for breakfast. However, which breakfast places are actually the best for you and worth your time? Well, I’ve picked three popular breakfast places and shared my experiences. From sweet to savory and cheap to pricey, here are my thoughts about three popular breakfast places: Walker Bros. Original Pancake House, Towne and Oak, and Hometown Coffee and Juice.

Walker Bros. Original Pancake House – 1615 Waukegan Rd, Glenview, IL 60025

I heard that Walker Bros. was a popular North Shore breakfast spot, so I visited their Waukegan location. Luckily, I went to Walker Bros. at 10 a.m. and there wasn’t a line. However, when I left around 11  there was a little bit of a line. When I sat down, I noticed the restaurant’s warm atmosphere created by families and friends dining together, the dark wood and stained glass of the restaurant’s ‘60s architectural style, and the ‘60s music playing. I felt welcome, and a waiter immediately handed me a menu. 

Walker Bros. definitely has something for everyone with its wide array of pancake options and egg, waffle, and crepe sections. Also, Walker Bros. accommodates dietary restrictions with its separate gluten-free menu. But, the menu’s sheer amount of options, for even just pancakes, did make me a little indecisive. However, I finally decided to stick to something classic and order the buttermilk pancakes. 

Despite the crowded restaurant, I received my order in fewer than 15 minutes. The first thing that appealed to me about the pancakes was the smell: they smelled of sugar and flour—as any pancake should.

The pancakes tasted great: they weren’t too dry, they were fluffy, and they paired well with syrup and butter. I don’t have any complaints; the pancakes did their job. Also, for their cheap price at $10.25, I got a good deal.

Overall, I would recommend eating at Walker Bros. for people who like a cozy vibe, sugary things, and a variety of food options.

Towne & Oak – 921 Green Bay Rd, Winnetka, IL 60093

The next restaurant I visited was Towne & Oak in Winnetka. Towne & Oak has a modern interior and big windows, which create a more open feel to the restaurant and allow customers to look outside. In the summertime, Towne & Oak is bathed in sunlight. However, because I went in the winter and it’s cloudier outside, there was no sunlight coming through the windows, which made the place feel dark. 

Looking at the breakfast menu, some of the food items were a little expensive. Also,  the breakfast menu itself only had eight dishes and did not offer a lot of food options, limiting the options for people with dietary restrictions. I ended up ordering the Towne & Oak Soft Scramble, which is scrambled eggs with toast, and it cost $11.50. 

After ordering at the counter, I searched the crowded room for a seat and found one at one of the room’s many circular tables. My only complaint about these tables is their size: they’re too small, especially if you are sitting with another person. But, the tables didn’t take away from the taste of the food. 

Towne & Oak made a normal scrambled egg more sophisticated with parmesan and chives, which I enjoyed. It was a nice twist to a basic dish.

I would recommend eating at Towne & Oak in the summertime, or at least when there’s sunlight outside, if one is looking for a brighter and more upbeat atmosphere. Regarding the rest, I would recommend eating here for people who like a modern vibe, enjoy savory food, and are OK with crowds. 

Hometown Coffee & Juice  – 700 Vernon Ave, Glencoe, IL 60022

The last place I visited was the Hometown in Glencoe. Upon entering the vestibule, the first thing I saw was a sign with the wait times for coffee, smoothies, and food. I found this very helpful, as it allows customers to better manage their time by understanding approximately how long they will wait for their order.

Then, I entered the actual restaurant and ordered from the big menu above the counter. Hometown’s whole menu is pretty much a breakfast menu, except for its salads. Hometown’s breakfast foods like smoothies, toast, and bagels provide customers with a variety of options and accommodates dietary restrictions. The prices are normal. When it was my turn to order, I got the Anytime Toast for $9.75, which contains avocado, tomato, bacon, and a hard boiled egg,  

Hometown is usually crowded, which was no different this time. So, it took a minute to find seating, but eventually I sat at a counter. While I was waiting for my food, I listened to the ‘80s music playing and took in Hometown’s crowded, yet lively atmosphere.

It took around 10 minutes for my food to arrive, and when it finally did, it did not disappoint. The Anytime Toast was great because it was a healthy and flavorful breakfast. Additionally, Hometown’s toasts make great shareables because they come pre-cut.

I would recommend eating at Hometown to anyone who can handle a crowd, enjoys organic food, and likes a cheery vibe.

If I had to choose my favorite out of the three, it would be Hometown, because they had reasonable prices, savory food that I would probably eat every day, and a bright atmosphere. But, having a favorite restaurant does not mean that other restaurants aren’t great. I had a good time at all of the restaurants I visited, and I would go back again.