Marengo Cafe

We were passing through and found this amazing gem. First, the outdoor seating was perfect. The…read morewaitress was on the spot. The fish fry walleye and potato pancakes were the best I've had. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing!

The Walleye is so awesome and you have to order their homemade potato pancakes…read more I highly recommend giving the fish fry a try Oh did I mention it's All you can eat !

Taco salad

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Fish Fry Friday walleye and potato pancakes!

Allen's Corner Diner

4.6(152 reviews)

12.3 mi

Great diner with simple and delicious food. Excellent homemade soup, slaw, grilled cheese and…read moreburger!

Cash only! This…read moreplace is a hidden gem. The servers were super prompt and very friendly. We got there at 7:00am on a Friday and we made it just in time, because by 7:30, every seat was taken... including at the counter. It's an intimate and cozy little place, warm and comfortable. The food was great, with huge portions. I got the Neighbor Benedict, which was a mountain of gravy on top of a biscuit, two sausage patties, and two poached eggs and it included a healthy portion of hash browns with onions. The only thing that was a slight bummer was that this place is cash only, and we didn't know that coming in. Thankfully there was an ATM inside, but the fees were high and my bank charges fees on the other side, so the reasonable prices turned out to be just as expensive as anywhere else. I will bring cash next time and upgrade this review to five stars.

Great way to start the day. Warm and cozy here.

Chorizo skillet with cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs and rye toast

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Exterior.

Papa G's

3.8(129 reviews)

10.6 mi

We met some friends here for breakfast. Wasn't too busy for a Sunday morning at 8am, but quickly…read morestarted filling up after we were seated. We were seated and served coffee and menus. Spent a lot of time chatting, and never rushed to order. the food was good and we continued to stay and chat well afterwards. Never bothered us or made us feel like we were taking up table space. Just checked to see if we wanted anything else. It was quite nice and relaxing, not overpriced.

What great service and large menu. Many great choices for breakfast or lunch. Our waitress was…read moregreat. Portions were large. We will definitely return.

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Dino's Restaurant

4.2(33 reviews)

0.0 mi

love it. this is a great place to eat especially for that small town feel. the locals are always…read moreat their same table and everyone is treated and treated like family. portions are decent and service is great. tell Tracy I said to try the Dino's skillet.

They have delicious breakfast! My husband and I have gone in once and ordered to go twice and every…read moretime has been great! The service is good and the people there are kind. We have had the pigs in a blanket, Swedish pancakes, bacon egg and cheese sandwich and we've loved it all.

Eggs over medium, Swedish pancakes with berries and sausage/bacon

Delicious steak and eggs

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Gluten Free chocolate chip pancake

Checkers II

3.6(102 reviews)

3.6 mi

awesome food, good draft beer, pretty good service, cold beer and few gambling machinesread more

Nice little sleeper neighborhood Resturant Bar. Food was…read moreoutrageously delicious! Should have gotten the waitresses name but she was a sweetheart! Beautifully decorated and very, very friendly. A keeper in my book. We will be back.

Welcome

Big pretzel with cheese

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The pork schnitzel is a monster

Farm Table Cafe

4.6(23 reviews)

5.9 mi

Trust me! You have to come try this place. My family and I finally got up early enough that we…read morecan get over here and have breakfast. Driven by it a ton of times in the afternoon but they're only open till 11. We get there and it looks like it's filled with a bunch of locals who are obviously regulars, but we were quickly seated and greeted by the nicest woman. Food was all great but you have to try the cinnamon roll French toast. Trust me even if you don't like French toast you will like this. Also make sure you visit the bathroom "outhouse". My son was laughing so hard when he came out of the bathroom. This is my new breakfast place

Very good only issue took40 minutes for food. When I spoke up only because we had to be somewhere…read morethey did make it happen. Great people just make sure on Sundays you give yourself plenty of time !!! Definitely would go again !! Small town feel good food!!!

Old chair

Breakfast.

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Exterior.

Isabel's Family Restaurant

4.0(86 reviews)

10.0 mi

We're new to the area and have been trying as many different restaurants as possible to find ones…read morewe might enjoy. We thought that Isabel's might be a decent family restaurant. We were there on a Saturday afternoon. First off, the staff and service was decent. Our server was nice, but she did seem like she didn't want to be there but did follow up in a timely fashion. The biggest issue was the food. My lady had the Butcher Shop omelet, and I had the Monte Cristo. The food was barely edible. I should have known better than ordering a Monte Cristo in a family restaurant, so maybe that's on me. It tasted like they took the previous day's pre-made French toast, used a dried out unseasoned chicken breast, left over breakfast ham, and what ever cheap Swiss cheese they could find. I took one bite and lost my appetite. I could barely eat half of it. To add insult to injury; The fries were not good either... and they upcharge you for them. They tasted like boiled potatoes. Ketchup could not help them. My lady was less than impressed with her omelet as well. It was basically flavorless Which is difficult with that much meat. Either way, we wont be returning.

Visited today and food was solid. Hamburger and soup were good as was the chips and salsa. They…read morehave a great dessert menu but my waist line said 'skip it!" Servers were amazing - attentive and so friendly! Isabels is also a great place that give a lot back to the community giving free meals for the holidays. They are a very caring and generous business!

Dining area with gaming machines

Apple pie and vanilla ice cream

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Dessert case

Chick-N-Dip

4.1(111 reviews)

11.8 mi

You can call ahead and order your broasted chicken. We usually do a dinner. They have a vinegar…read morebased Cole slaw that is delicious. Only cash, which keeps the costs down. Pricing is very reasonable. Not really an eat in kind place but we bring insulated bags to keep food hot on trip home.

Literally the best chicken I've ever had in my life. Juicy and so crispy. They also have really…read moregood ice cream

Chick n Dip!!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

Broasted Chicken!!!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

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French Fries!!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

Red Ox Restaurant & Bar

3.1(70 reviews)

11.9 mi

I will never go back. It's dirty, the blinds are dirty, the light fixtures are full of fluff dust,…read morethe floor is dirty, the menu was filthy. I looked beyond that however because we heard the food was good. The food was terrible with wilted lettuce, soggy fries and overall just tasteless. The fish was frozen and they did not fully cook it. Staff was nice. The prices are expensive for the quality of restaurant.

Delicious food with quick and friendly service! My favorite is the liver and onions! They also…read moreprepare your food for carry out!

The chicken and artichoke dinner

Very good ribs. ALL-U-CAN-EAT for $22 on mon. Comes with soup, bread, vegetables.

Red Ox Restaurant & Bar - First time eating here. I had the steak and shrimp. The steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. I would definitely go back

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First time eating here. I had the steak and shrimp. The steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. I would definitely go back

Trio Grille

3.9(80 reviews)

1.4 mi

The Trio Grille was a pleasant surprise for a quick lunch. Attached to a bowling alley, this bar…read moreand restaurant exceeded expectations with its ambiance and food quality. I had the blackened chicken sandwich paired with parmesan and garlic potato wedges, both bursting with flavor and absolutely delicious. My wife chose the fish tacos, which were also flavorful, though the tilapia had a slightly fishy taste that wasn't to our liking. We ended our meal with the panna cotta dessert, which looked fancy and tasted delightful. Kudos to the friendly and helpful staff, especially CJ, our server, who gave excellent recommendations and provided personable, attentive service. We definitely plan to return to try more menu items and highly recommend stopping in for a visit.

So I went in on a Friday when driving through town to get a quick beverage around 5pm. The place…read moreis in or connected to a Glo Bowl. The atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty open bright and nice. After some chat and hearing that the fish fry is popular, I thought ok, I'll give it a try. I haven't had a fish fry in years. I had the three piece cod, battered and fried, with side choice of fries. It also came with a roll and coleslaw. You can also get Walleye, or all-you-can-eat for a few more bucks. Coleslaw is not my favorite thing but I thought I'd try it. It was kind of tart and vinegary. Still not a fan so I left that alone. The fish was the star of the show of course and was pretty great, I have to say. Cooked so the fish was tender and flaky inside a crispy crust. The fries were fries, and I took most of those and the role home. The pretzel roll would be for a little sandwich later. All in all for the price a surprisingly decent meal. I have been kinda disappointed in restaurants lately but this was just as you'd wish; tasty, a decent price and the servers were great.

Trio Grille

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Klaudia D.

0

3

0

10 months ago

I was really hoping for a good breakfast, but this was a major letdown. The eggs were awful - honestly, they reminded me of the low-quality, rubbery ones you get at a La Quinta continental breakfast. The orange juice claimed to be fresh-squeezed, but it tasted anything but fresh. And the bacon... well, it looked so sad and unappetizing that I didn't even bother touching it. Overall, I expected a decent breakfast but left frustrated and still hungry. Definitely won't be coming back. read more

Mrs R.

0

19

0

12 years ago

Great food! Fast service and a good price. The food here is always great and the staff is very friendly

Jason K.

0

2

0

2 years ago

It was Nice place, very welcoming service, the food was good. I would definitely come back.

Melissa C.

5

1

0

13 years ago

Good breakfast. Well staffed. Would go back if I was passing through

Marengo Cafe - diners - Updated September 2026

People who viewed Marengo Cafe also viewed

Dino's Restaurant

4.2

(33 reviews)

love it. this is a great place to eat especially for that small town feel. the locals are always…read moreat their same table and everyone is treated and treated like family. portions are decent and service is great. tell Tracy I said to try the Dino's skillet.

They have delicious breakfast! My husband and I have gone in once and ordered to go twice and every…read moretime has been great! The service is good and the people there are kind. We have had the pigs in a blanket, Swedish pancakes, bacon egg and cheese sandwich and we've loved it all.

Town and Country 2

4.3

(21 reviews)

My mom brought me to her favorite, regular breakfast spot and we were warmly greeted by Anila…read more Anila made us feel so welcome! She knew my mom's regular order, and I enjoyed a generous and delicious skillet. The sourdough toast was awesome too. Loved the "Table of Knowledge" where an early morning group of gentlemen who "know everything" enjoy their coffee and breakfast. Will be back! Thank you for an enjoyable meal.

Tucked away in a small mall in Woodstock, keep your eyes open so you don't miss it, is this small…read morecozy restaurant. Saturday at 8:45 pm arrival, seating ok with a lot of locals. Food for the price was amazing for the amount. Check the daily specialties written on the wall.

Allen's Corner Diner

4.6

(152 reviews)

Great diner with simple and delicious food. Excellent homemade soup, slaw, grilled cheese and…read moreburger!

Cash only! This…read moreplace is a hidden gem. The servers were super prompt and very friendly. We got there at 7:00am on a Friday and we made it just in time, because by 7:30, every seat was taken... including at the counter. It's an intimate and cozy little place, warm and comfortable. The food was great, with huge portions. I got the Neighbor Benedict, which was a mountain of gravy on top of a biscuit, two sausage patties, and two poached eggs and it included a healthy portion of hash browns with onions. The only thing that was a slight bummer was that this place is cash only, and we didn't know that coming in. Thankfully there was an ATM inside, but the fees were high and my bank charges fees on the other side, so the reasonable prices turned out to be just as expensive as anywhere else. I will bring cash next time and upgrade this review to five stars.

Kozy Nook

4.1

(45 reviews)

Strictly average and the food was cold. I've been there twice and both times I had the same…read moreexperience.

Stopped in for breakfast on our way back to Chicago. Got the French toast, breakfast quesadilla,…read moreand breakfast burrito. Everything was delicious, and the service was top notch. Ivan and Maria make you feel welcome and take pride in providing a wonderful experience. Will definitely come back.

Kelley's

3.5

(33 reviews)

Had the French dip, great roast beef! And their Rueben is good, could leave the Monte Cristo…read morehowever , that one could have been better somehow. The breaded pork cutlet with gravy was excellent! So are all the desserts. Especially the carrot cake

Stopped in 4-30-26 at 5:30pm. 1st time ever. Service was excellent, the food outstanding. More food…read morethan we could eat. I had meatloaf dinner with a large salad. Wife had ham and cheese sandwich and a bowl of creamy broccoli soup. 1 of the best she has ever had. Will definitely be going back.

Garden Prairie Cafe

4.9

(18 reviews)

Delicious breakfast, great service and a hometown feel! We enjoyed our time there and the…read moreattentiveness of the staff.

Oh my goodness, what a cute diner. Simple breakfast. Hog skillet, diced ham, mushrooms, onions hold…read morethe cheese. Biscuits & gravy. Gravy like Big Ma used to make! Great service! Glad we went out of our way!

Corner Square Cafe

3.9

(13 reviews)

Absolutely lovely…read more Located on the Main Square of Woodstock, IL, this cafe serves breakfast and lunch in a warm, welcoming space. Our waitress tells us the business previously at this location got a make over when participating in a foodnetwork TV show. Sweet. The decor is earthy colors with wood on the walls, fun signs, comfortable booths and tables for groups. Highchairs are available for your tiny family members. A hostess will seat you with menus and flatware wrapped in a napkin. Salt, pepper, sugar, creamer, jelly, syrup, ketchup and hot sauces are on the table. One side of the menu is breakfast, the other lunch. We were asked right away if we would like coffee. The staff here are all very nice and welcoming. Different members of staff came around to all tables several times during our stay refilling coffees as needed. Our waitress checked in on us a couple of times and actually stopped at the table to be sure we had all we needed, not just running past. We both ordered breakfast and the portions are generous. I had the Irish Bene and they don't skimp on the smoked salmon! The eggs were poached well, a generous amount of spinach and the potato pancake is tasty and light. I very much enjoyed their coffee. Strong, hot and smooth. Not at all bitter. Yay. Two remodled, single-person restrooms are at the back of the restaurant where you'll also find hooks for your coat. A diaper station is in the ladies room. The restaurant has two window walls letting in the sun light. On-street parking is free. If we lived here this would be our breakfast place!

Love this diner, clean and pretty right next to the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple. Thus, you can go…read moreto the temple and remind yourself that all suffering stems from desire and that we should have compassion for all life then walk half a block and work up a desire for sausage and biscuits thus negating the inner peace you just stepped into. It would be really fundamentally incorrect to describe their sausage and biscuits as Nirvana in the Buddhist sense, but the dish is very good and so is the coffee. Most tables have a good view of the town square featured in "Groundhog Day," and the diner is next door to a nice indie bookstore.

Kirkland Family Restaurant

4.3

(26 reviews)

Super nice and cozy place. Pizza is honestly really good and very cheap. Highly recommendread more

Explored another small town restaurant tonight. The ambiance seemed very 1980's, extremely small…read morerestroom as well. Seated pretty quickly for a Friday night. The place was filled. Large menu with typical cafe style food. We ordered the beer nuggets. I wasn't really impressed with the sauce, a little bland or the nuggets. They seemed a little small and not as puffed up compared to the really good ones. For the main, I had the chicken salad, kiddo had the Mickey Mouse pancake and our friend had the fish fry. Everything came out at the same time. Large enough portions. Chicken salad was pretty tasty. Reported that both the pancake and fish were as well. Overall not bad, but not my favorite either.

Boone County Family Restaurant

4.3

(55 reviews)

My go-to place for breakfast and lunch! Service is great, portions are very good and prices are…read morereasonable. They always have good specials and their home made soups are excellent. I love family owned traditional American places like the BCR and I eat here every chance I get! Nothing flashy, just great food, fast service and reasonable prices.

What a great diner style restaurant. Wonderful staff! Bro and I had patty melts. It was as…read moredelicious as it sounds. Son had chicken fried steak--2 pieces. It came with a dessert choice. The server and busman made sure we were entertained and never thirsty. Very attentive!

Cruisin

4.4

(202 reviews)