Walking into Egg Harbor’s new Wilmette location on the morning of Labor Day, less than a week since its opening, you would’ve never guessed that it was new. With the efficient servers, the bustling atmosphere, and the sense of comfort that comes when you enter through the door, the red balloons were the only giveaway that the location had just opened.
Wilmette is now one of Egg Harbor’s 19 locations in Illinois, so it’s no wonder that its opening was a breeze. And I can see why.
The cafe itself has a very homey feel due to its wooden interior and mix of table and booth-style seating. Its decor is what I would call millennial, with a brown and red color scheme, but not in a bad way. Thankfully, Egg Harbor’s decor does not include millennial gray, the lifeless trend associated with Generation Y, but rather several chicken-themed decorations.
For my breakfast, I ordered a strawberry orange juice and the Classic Avocado Toast with eggs sunny side up. My friend ordered a black coffee and the pumpkin pancakes off of the fall menu. The server used an electronic device to take the orders, which I understand is more efficient than paper and pen, but presented an issue when my friend attempted to substitute the pankake’s traditional side of meat with an order of eggs. It shouldn’t have been an issue to swap one side out for another, but our server was unable to do so because of the little options on the device. This complication isn’t a dealbreaker for the cafe, but it doesn’t reflect well on them.
The drink was as expected, a glass of orange juice with a hint of strawberry flavor, but I enjoyed that they offered this in addition to regular orange juice. It’s important to note that while Walker Brothers Pancake House, one of Egg Harbor’s Wilmette competitors, offers guava juice, Egg Harbor does not. Despite the extensive food menu, its list of drinks was underwhelming. My friend described the coffee, which was the cafe’s signature blend, as having a unique but weak flavor.
My avocado toast was delicious–in fact, I’d say it was close to perfection. The bread was soft with a crunchy crust, the tomatoes were fresh and tart, and the fig vinaigrette was immaculate. The blend of flavors was refreshing, healthy, and filling. As for the eggs, they were cooked just enough to be safe, but not for so long that the yolk was no longer runny: my preferred style of egg. While sides of fruit at restaurants are typically a soggy collection of melon chunks, this fruit bowl had variety. There was a good ratio of berries to melons, and I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful the cantaloupe was. While I didn’t try the pumpkin pancakes, they looked like a delectable stack of autumnal sweetness. I was told that they tasted as good as they looked.
One of my favorite details of the cafe was the cute mugs used to serve hot beverages. My friend’s coffee arrived in a sweet, green ceramic mug plastered with the Egg Harbor logo and location. Though a small detail, I greatly appreciated it during my breakfast experience. It felt authentic and contributed to the sense of comfort I felt while dining.
After a refreshing breakfast and an overall positive experience, I will be adding Egg Harbor to my rotation of local breakfast spots. Its menu and vibes are comparable to Walker Brothers and Hotcakes, but it has more of a homey feeling than Hometown Coffee or Sarkis Cafe. It’s a perfect addition to the north shore breakfast and brunch scene. So next time you think of going to Green Bay Cafe or another cozy breakfast spot nearby, switch it up and try Egg Harbor. Its menu has everything you are looking for, and its atmosphere is very welcoming.