Food is consistently great. Service is great. I will always come back for brunch. However, this last visit was on a Sunday at 1015. It was 2 of us. When we walked in, the manager, Brooke, told us it "won't be too long" as we put our name on the waitlist. We stepped into the doorway and heard another lady say she was told the same thing. Then another group of people were told the same thing, it "won't be too long." Brooke called our other groups and sat them appropriately but since it was extremely crowded we couldn't hear so we opened the door. She came over to us and said she needed to close it because a table was complaining about the draft. We said we couldn't hear and Brooke said she would come find us or text us, but she had not taken a phone number or anyone else's phone number when we came in. After about 20 minutes we were able to move in and find a seat to wait. As we watched others come in, we kept hearing it "won't be too long" being told to each group. We even heard Brooke say "don't tell them 40 minutes because they will leave." Other groups were complaining about not being given a specific wait time. We were finally called at 30 minutes. I spoke with both the hostess and Brooke that a specific wait time would be much more appreciated than hearing "it won't be too long" when it's clearly a 30-45 minute wait. Brooke said she was "sorry I felt that way". As someone who works in the restaurant industry and manages one, I feel like not giving out specific wait times is not good for business. Telling the hostess to not say it's 40 minutes because you're afraid people will leave, is not good for business. The phrase "it won't be too long" for a 30-45 minute wait is not what people want to hear. If people choose to leave, that's ok. But most people are going to stay if they know the food is good, the service is good and they know a specific wait time. Clearly, the manager, Brooke, is training her hostesses this phrase and was overwhelmed by how busy it was. By not giving a wait time, Brooke had the whole wait area full of customers trying to guess how long they'd wait and whether or not they should stay. It was so overfilled that I'm pretty sure it was against fire code to have that many people blocking an exit. Again, we love Brunch Cafe and the food and service, but next time make sure to specify how long of a wait it is. read more

Normally our go- to is Southern Belles in Barrington because they have amazing skillets but we decided to try something different. We were a bit disappointed in the variety of skillets and the ingredients in them that they offered, but that's just because southern Belles skillets are unmatched. We ordered the meat and potato skillet which comes with ham, bacon, sausage, and cheddar cheese. The skillet was over salted but overall it was a decent skillet. It was a bit of a small portion. It comes with a side of pancakes or toast which you can upgrade to any specialty pancakes, French toast, or crepe. The patty melt was just average. Nothing special. A bit dry, and my boyfriend didn't like how it came on sourdough bread. The stuffed waffle was my favorite item. The waffle was so crispy and the filling was nice and sweet. There were bananas and strawberries inside and it was topped with whipped cream. It is a bit sweet, but if that's what you're craving then it's perfect for you! We also got a side of the cinnamon roll French toast which I expected to be crispy but it was soft and almost soggy. The flavor was good though, especially with the cream cheese icing. Overall, the service was good and food was pretty good. They have a lot of good options, but if you're looking for a good skillet I would say this place isn't it. read more

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So good everything is always delicious and the staff is super friendly. The coffee is the best! read more

Brunch Cafe-McHenry - So good. I get it with bacon instead of sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

Always love this place. Nice variety for breakfast with some gluten free options. If you are looking for a weekend breakfast, my recommendation would be to go early as they get hit with a rush on the weekends around 8 am. The California crepes are my favorite. read more

Always consistent and good food and service. It's my go to for breakfast Friendly staff great omelets

Omg the food and service are amazing. They have some great unique combinations! Huge portions! Birdie is the best server!

In my previous review I mentioned a family friend, Chuck. Chuck recently passed away. His family chose to have his post funeral luncheon at Brunch Cafe-McHenry. His favorite place. The staff was just as friendly and helpful and professional as they were when we last visited. They treated us like family! I can't say enough good things about Stephanie and her staff. Chuck's family knew them all by name! They were terrific! No other word fits.... Chuck's favorite's were served and in just the way he liked them. A wonderful tribute to a great friend. Thanks for being so thoughtful! Chuck loved visiting and now I think his friends will be visiting! Well Done Brunch Cafe! read more

Brunch Cafe-McHenry - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

I would come back and eat anything if Taylor was our server. She can read your mind. One of the best servers ever! No seriously, the staff at all the BCs are great. But Taylor is the best! Now the food! Food is in great big portions and today I tried something other then Country Fried Steak, the Chilaquiles. Out of this world good food! Try it if you want something different. not too spicey. I always add Cholula! Take care, and remember. Ask for Taylor and order the Chilaquiles! read more

Brunch Cafe-McHenry - Chilaquilles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

Have been going here for years. It is clean, wait staff is friendly and accommodating but best of all is the food. Amazing selection and every dish is delicious! read more

I haven't even received my food yet and I LOVE it so much! They are quick and kind, I couldn't wait to start the review. The waitlist is mobile so you can see yourself moving up as it happens. Post eating review- Kacy our waitress was ridiculously wonderful! I found the cafe through Google (sorry Yelp) but it was a great experience! Food was priced well, great portions, came in a timely fashion and was delicious! Front counter staff was awesome as well! read more

Brunch Cafe-McHenry - Waitlist status - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

I frequent the McHenry - Brunch Cafe often and I always have great food and amazing service. I highly recommend.

Fantastic service, food, options, seasonal entrees, parking! Nice waitlist program, nice waiting area, good mix of drinks alcoholic and non- alcoholic. Good selection of juices. read more

Did not disappoint! Food was great, service was top notch. Variety of tea flavors to choose from. Definitely coming back here and would recommend. read more

Brunch Cafe-McHenry - Sweet Potato skittle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

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The most welcoming brunch restaurant around Kirsten was wonderful and extremely cheerful. Food is always delicious read more

Food was good and very nice people there. Our server, Bertie, was fantastic. Good sense of humor and very friendly. I had multiple changes to my salad (I'm vegan) and she got it spot on!! Very casual diner type atmosphere. read more

Food is delicious and lots to choose from! So many of the options sound so good it's tough to make a decision! I went with the south beach scrambler and it was outstanding! They have the specials displayed on a little table near the front . One of the specials featured an apple bread pudding and we ordered a piece of that and shared between the table. Yummy!! Service was friendly and attentive. We had to wait for about 30 minutes for a table but was worth the wait . There's a women's clothing store right next door so you could kill some time on there while you wait . There was a long line to pay when we were checking out so thankfully we had cash and we were just able to leave it . read more

Brunch Cafe-McHenry - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

I've been here multiple times for breakfast and brunch. The food is phenomenal. I enjoy visiting.

Forgot to take a picture because we dove into our food to fast, but everything was so delicious! Had a veggie skillet with sourdough toast & a cold brew. Everything was fresh and made exactly to order. The service was great; wait time wasn't bad at all. Kasey was our server and so nice, really appreciated her kindness. Beautiful interior and well kept inside. Will be back next time I visit my parents from the city! read more

I am addicted to great service. Truly excellent shop, best hash browns with onions I have had in a great long while, and they even charge your phone for you when you ask. They have a skirt steak dish with arugula and poached eggs that will take you to heaven and back. Try it. You will know a beautiful Hollandaise by the time you take your first sip of their good coffee. read more

Great food always. Decent prices. Service is hit or miss. Terrible location for parking. Dine in or take out are both worth it. read more

Everything is always good. Everyone is pleasant and the food never disappoints. We eat there at least once a month.

I love local breakfast places. This one met expectations. Very busy, bustling. Super friendly greeting and server. Good variety on the menu. I got an omelet. Well stuffed. Food was fast to the table and everything was hot. Too bad I don't live nearby. This would be a weekend staple. read more

On Father's Day we decided to have a brunch here after strawberry picking. Foods were absolutely delicious!! and our waitress was very nice! It was so hard to decide, but I ended up leaving a comment what happened after we left this restaurant. So..when I was on the way to a parking lot(I was alone my husband and son were already in a car), one of the waitresses(not the one who served us)was in front of me and she was about go into inside of restaurant building. I was thinking of something and I couldn't say "bless you" right after she sneezed. What she did is came back from building and yelled "it's bless you!". I wasn't sure what happened at that time, but in that situation I'm sure she yelled at me. To young lady :I'm sorry I don't mean to you. I wanted to say "bless you" to you. I hope not it happened because of I am Asian. Except THAT we all had a great time here! And definitely we would visit again! read more

Brunch Cafe-McHenry - Ham and Cheese Omelet & Brisket Hash? - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

A fantastic thank experience. The portions are huge, delicious thick bacon and huge sausage links. The game and cheese omelette was light and packed with your choice of cheese. I highly recommend this place. read more

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Best breakfast in Mchenry hands down. Great food and the best severs in all of Mchenry.

Food was great! Nathan our server was excellent, we had a friend arrive a little late and he was really patient about it.

Great food , great service. We love Ana as our server! Always good food when you come here

Large menu - food is flavorful and fresh. Lots of room to enjoy our group. Service was friendly as were the hostess staff

Love it delicious food and great service! California CrepeCinnamon Roll French Toast read more

Had a great experience ! Our server was Vanesa, she was very kind and attentive ! The food was also very good ! Definitely will be returning ! read more

My family originally booked Christmas Eve brunch reservations elsewhere (in DT McHenry); however, the employee who took the reservation was rude towards my mom. I talked her into cancelling (because why give a restaurant with mediocre food and service our business if they're going to act that way??). We decided to go to Brunch Cafe instead. I'd been to the Roselle location and loved it. The McHenry location is literally 5 minutes away from where my mom lives. Great decision! (The aforementioned restaurant did us a favor!) Despite the holiday rush, we only waited for about 10 minutes at 10am. They had a lot of menu items that made choosing difficult. I had the steak skillet (steak, potatoes, mushrooms, onion, mozzarella, 2 eggs any style) and it was tasty! My family loved their food: my elderly great aunt, who will only finish food if it's superb, inhaled her french toast and cleaned her plate. My mom (who is a skillet fan herself) got the South of the Border (?) quesadilla and also polished it off. The decaf honestly had a bit of a weird flavor. I couldn't place why that was. That's the only anomaly. Service was good despite it being a madhouse on Christmas Eve! Bathrooms were clean. I'm a fan! I think we've found our new breakfast place! read more

Brunch Cafe-McHenry - Steak Skillet with eggs over easy + pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

I called to make a reservation, which was confirmed. However, when we arrived on time, we had to wait over an hour to be seated. The service was great, and the food was mediocre. My son likes their black and white pancakes, but that's about it. Decent water, though. Richard Walker's serves much better food. This experience ruined both Father's Day and my son's birthday. I would not recommend this place if you're looking for reliable service. read more

Food is always great! Kind of a hidden gem! We always go when in the area !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Solid brunch and even better quick service. The bread is really fresh and delicious. I had a grilled chicken salad. Really fresh ingredients. read more

Love love love this place! Quality food and generous portions. Everything is made fresh to order. Plenty of shareable dishes. Highly recommended! read more

Brunch Cafe-McHenry - Breakfast at Brunch Cafe! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

Nice breakfast place with a large menu. The service here at Brunch Cafe was good and food come out excellent. This place never disappoints! Their menu is huge, and there is something for everyone. The wait staff are experienced and work efficiently while being kind to customers. Our server went above and beyond. The whole place has an awesome atmosphere and very relaxing. Perfect spot to bring friends and family. I can definitely go back here again and again. Great place in the whole area! I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to everyone! read more

We visited on Monday for brunch, so no waiting & super fast service, but this probably varies depending on when you visit. But the menu was extraordinary! Great selection of breakfast, brunch, and lunch items. We tried 2 skillets, both plentiful and full of flavor. The pancakes, sometimes an afterthought at restaurants, were especially delicious! Definitely worth many more visits!! Great find!! read more

After our second visit here I am now convinced that this is the best brunch place in the area and wishing it were closer to where I live. This time around, I went right for the biscuits and gravy and had to again refrain from ditching my fork and just licking my plate. I think that if I had the appetite for it, I would go full pig and just get two orders. It is THAT good. That is all.... read more

Great local cafe with excellent service and menu options. I was pleasantly surprised with the Californian:yum!! Will be back soon.

Best omelette s in Illinois. Service is always good and food is great! Awesome selection for breakfast and lunch plus they offer the morning paper! read more