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    Scratchboard Kitchen

    3.9 (321 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:30 pm

    Scratchboard Kitchen Photos

    SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Scratchboard Kitchen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Kat Q.

    What a cozy restaurant. The interior is set up as a winter ski lodge with a ski lift, snowy pine tree decor and comfortable seating. Parking may be a challenge at times but the village parking garage is only a block away. We ordered the smash burger which came on a brioche bun with bread and butter pickles and cheese. The truffle fries were good but a little too salty. I'd opt for regular fries next time. The squash soup was delicious but the chia seeds on top were a bit too hard and crunchy for me. They have a nice selection of beers and cocktails too. Everything is ala carte so the bill can add up. A nice winter retreat.

    Billie M.

    The food was so good! I ordered the hash and while the dip didn't go with it, once I got it home and was able to add some hot sauce it was perfection. My friend got a biscuit sandwich and potatoes which she loved. The portion sizes were that perfect amount of not too small, not too big.

    Grits
    Lisa M.

    Love this restaurant. We've been here a handful of times and it never fails. We've always enjoyed our meals, and the staff has always been kind and attentive. We like the outdoor dining experience for brunch with our kids. We get to enjoy tasty food and beautiful weather. They offer a kids menu with a coloring sheet and crayons to keep littles busy. The scones and pop tarts change every time we've gone, so it's kind of fun to try it each time there's a new flavor. These are both great! Flaky and buttery. What's not to like? What we got: Lox on toast - The amount of lox is generous and the proportion of salmon to bread and everything else is just right. Love the capers, dill and red onions on it. It's on one slice, but definitely filling. Kids French Toast - This is sweet. But it's nice and fluffy and a winner for our kid. Sometimes kid menu items lean bland, and I'm not sure why. But this was flavorful and it comes with orange slices, so a little added bit of nutrition! Cheesy grits - So creamy! This was a really nice texture and consistency. It's a side but we ordered it as a main for our other kid. Slagel bacon - Comes with 2 slices, and we added it to the grits. Rose cardamom latte with oat milk - So good! It's sweet but not too sweet--the cardamom isn't overpowering and the rose isn't too floral.

    Biscuit Breakfast Sandwiches & Crispy Potatoes
    Miranda L.

    Disappointed to not be writing a glowing review of Scratchboard Kitchen. My fiancé and I have loved coming to brunch here over the last 3 years but left today feeling the experience isn't quite the same. We visited on a Sunday morning with no reservation which was no problem. The male at the host stand doubled as our waiter and could not be less hospitable. He mumbled, never refilled our water glasses, had a dry tone, and never smiled once. It came across that he could have cared less to be working that day and was irritated to be serving us. It seemed the menu had grown since the last time we dined which we were excited for! My fiancé ordered the Shakshouka and I the Breakfast Sandwich with Crispy Potato side (my favorite). The food took about 15 min to prepare and when it was brought out, I felt disappointed. The Breakfast Sandwich switched from their fluffy biscuit to a grainy english muffin. The Crispy Potatoes continue to not come with enough sauce. Underneath the coleslaw side was a dark, short hair. I asked for a new plate which they accommodated. We were later told my Crispy Potato side was comped which was nice but also the cheapest item we ordered and not the affected item. Down to receiving our bill, our waiter was not warm and came across impatient and careless. Overall, portions seemed smaller but pricing is still a premium. They pride themselves on all ingredients being fresh and house made but service has declined. This should be a two star review but I am hopeful they will turn things around.

    Shakshouka
    Lily D.

    The inside of the restaurant is very tight, so if the weather is permitting, I would recommend outside seating for more room. Our server was very relaxed, and almost a little too relaxed. I appreciated the no stress ordering, but at times we felt forgotten. We ordered a side biscuit, which never came. Our server found us as we were leaving and offered it on the house, even though we had asked during our meal of the biscuit was coming and he said "yeah it should be out", but never updated us again. We had to tell him to remove the biscuit because we were already done with our meal and we were never checked on again. I will say, the breakfast sandwich was good, but very big. So come with an appetite! The egg was fluffy and the bacon was thick and not too chewy. The avocado was fresh. It said there is a cream cheese spread, but that was slightly peppery and more of a pimento. The shakshouka was my mom's. She said it was good but there was hardly any feta. We have had shakshouka elsewhere and decided this wouldn't be something we try again. Not pictured was my iced coffee, which I would not get again. Very watery and really no vanilla flavor. However we will come back and try their lunch service. The quality is there and everything is made in house, maybe we just got an off day.

    SEASONAL GRAIN & VEGGIE BOWL
    Joe M.

    I stopped into Scratch Board Kitchen on a whim while heading out to grab coffee and decided to stay for lunch and I'm really glad I did. The restaurant has a clean, upscale vibe with a lot of thought put into the decor. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the menu was surprisingly diverse and creative. Pricing was reasonable for the most part, but I did find that adding a protein (I chose grilled chicken) made the meal a bit pricey my total came out to around $42 for a coffee, entrée, and pastry. I went with the Seasonal Grain & Veggie Bowl quinoa, lemon chili vinaigrette, peas with preserved lemon, artichokes, brown beech mushrooms, and red pepper spread with grilled chicken on top. It was fantastic. Fresh, flavorful, and balanced, with the mushrooms adding an earthy note that paired really well with the tang from the preserved lemon. The lemon squeeze at the table brought everything together. The cold brew iced coffee was also a standout rich and smooth, like an actual cup of brewed coffee poured over ice (not your typical watered-down cold brew). And I couldn't resist trying their chocolate strawberry pop tart. It was exceptional clearly handmade, soft and buttery with the perfect touch of sweetness. I genuinely wish I had grabbed a second one for later. All in all, a great little lunch stop. Would definitely come back, especially for brunch or to try more of those pastries. Just be ready for the bill to climb a bit if you add extras!

    Spicy Chicken Sandwich
    Alex M.

    Third time is not the charm. I'm not sure why we gave Scratchboard another chance. After our dinner experience a few years ago we should have known better. But we figured we would try the brunch again. Well. What a disappointing brunch. We had a reservation for outside. They were busy, but they tried to seat us (two adults and a high chair for a baby) where two adults and a baby had no chance of fitting. We ended up waiting for a table to leave so we would have space for the high chair. No problem. But the food. Oh boy the food. Again, I have no problem paying high prices for small portions if the food is quality. But this food was not. The breakfast hash was oily and under seasoned. No one wants to eat an egg and potatoes with no salt. The Rueben tartine was edible but came with a coleslaw that was potentially rancid and definitely soggy and inedible. On top of that, our server was a little rude. We won't be back. If you're stopping in for a latte or poptart I'm sure that would be fine. As those were tasty. But I cant recommend the food.

    Trauma  inducing Bloody Mary
    Anna P.

    If you're in need of some top-tier comfort food, do yourself a favor and get the ham and Gruyère cheese sandwich with extra protein. It was warm, melty, and basically gave me a hug from the inside. My partner went for the Mediterranean salad with chicken, and let's just say the chicken was doing all the heavy lifting. The salad itself? It looked like it had been prepped by someone with commitment issues--definitely not freshly cut. Now, about the Bloody Mary... I respect creativity, but this mix was like a failed science experiment. It tried way too hard to be different, and instead, it tasted like regret in a glass. Hard pass. Thankfully, we ended on a high note with coffee, which was strong, smooth, and exactly what I needed to recover from the Bloody Mary trauma. The atmosphere is bright and welcoming, and our waiter was fantastic--attentive, helpful, and didn't rush us, which is always a win. Would I come back? Absolutely--for the sandwich and coffee. Would I order the salad or Bloody Mary again? Only if I lost a bet.

    Espresso martini a must (anywhere I go)
    Kristina P.

    Definitely in my top five breakfast spots. I crave this place so bad all the time. Their menu is always very exceptional and exquisite. The service is great minus the last time we went our server was a little dry on her communication, but besides that interaction it's been great always. The ambience is so cute inside I love sitting in the back. God bless the hands and soul of whoever made my biscuits and gravy with eggs on the side. There is not one thing I've gotten that I do not like.

    Latte
    S B.

    It's a cool cozy spot, seems trendy.. the latte was good! Very smooth oatmilk latte with cardamom and rose. The food.... needs some work. Didn't taste special, I think I've gotten better tuna salad at a grocery store food bar. It was bland, boring. The kale salad was $6 extra to get as a premium side and it's kale and lemon like it's so boring yall I'm sorry for $6?? Nahhh. Service was good, nothing wrong or out of the ordinary there. I wouldn't come back to eat, I'd come for a drink -- maybe.

    Strawberry smash
    Carly M.

    I was seated outside where there was a street fest going on so it was good people Watching. My friend was a little late meeting me so I ordered the strawberry smash and the sunchoke gratin. I wanted the gnudi but they were out so I was kinda bummed about that. The sunchoke was very good though so it made up for it. My friend and I ordered a bottle of wine because they are 1/2 off on Thursday which was great! Service was good and wasn't too aggressive. They had a cute inside area that I will probably dine in when the weather turns back in the fall. Only down fall was there were a few menu items out that I wanted to try, but overall very good food and drinks.

    I forget the name but it was a salad with peas, micro greens, ndjuda, lemon something....it was incredible.

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    4 years ago

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    Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

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    Thank you, Gina! We appreciate you and your support!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Amazing brunch and coffee in downtown Arlington Heights. The coffee is so good! Definitely a great place in the summer to sit outside.

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    6 years ago

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    Thank you for coming by and for your feedback! We appreciate you!

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    Thank you, Michael!

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    Thank you, Kristina! We're so glad you enjoyed it!!

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Thank you very much! We look forward to seeing you back here soon!

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    4 years ago

    Amazing truffle soft scramble! Nice touch on the macadamia milk for your latte!! The burratta was unique and delicious!

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    Thank you so much, Carrie!

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    Absolutely delicious food. Well worth the trip and will definitely be dining here again.

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    Thank you, Lisa!! I hope you’ll be back soon!

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    Page 6 of 9

    Ask the Community - Scratchboard Kitchen

    Do you take reservations or is their a waitlist option on the weekend?

    We take reservations and also accept walk-in’s. Reservations can be made online or by calling us at 847-749-3103.

    Before heading out. Would you be able to tell me some of your GF and DF options? I appreciate your help

    Of course! Here are some great options: Horchata Overnight Oats: DF & GF Spring Salad: GF & can be DF… Read more

    Is this place good for dining with young kids?

    Yes! We love when little ones join us at Scratchboard! We have a kids menu which you can find on our website, changing table in the first restroom, and high chairs.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    There were five of us and we had a reservation. I highly recommend having one as the place is a…read morelittle on the small side with a small amount of tables, two to three counter height rounds, and a bar with about five to six seats. We ordered some drinks (no one got alcohol) and some appetizers. We got the Low Carb Yuka Fries and while that is not my bag, they were good. I was pleasantly surprised. We also had the roasted red pepper spread, which everyone enjoyed. Two of us ordered the Ultimate Steak Sandwich. I opted to removed the caramelized onions. The other person let them on. I also removed the garlic herb sauce but replaced it with a chimichurri sauce. That really kicked it up a notch and was good for dipping the fries in. They're fresh cut fries, so they were good on their own, but the chimichurri again kicked it up a notch. We also ordered the chicken bowl, the avocado salad, and the Greek style lamb chops. We all loved our food and were too full for dessert. It's a quaint little place, cozy for intimate conversation or a night out with family and friends. I think the night was made a little more fun when a couple came in and was seated at a counter height table and were making out all night. It was a lot and gratuitous. The table next to them were visibly uncomfortable and that made it all the more enjoyable to witness. Dinner and a show. Who knew?

    Are you looking for a magical find in a location that's out of the usual? If so, this is that…read moreplace. Phoenix Flame was a fantastic find. We had fantastic boa boa sliders that you will regret not ordering. The octopus and maduros were great as well. For dinner, I had lamb chops with chimichurri that was delicious and tender. My colleague had the short ribs were tender. The Argentinian steak was "delicious " with not too much chimichurri and excellent vegetables. Should you come here? Yes!!

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    Which wich is which? Which wich did the witch wish was her wich? Which?…read more With over 50 options you're gonna be asking which wich? This was my first visit to Which Wich and I was a little overwhelmed by the bags on the wall (you're supposed to mark which wich you choose with a sharpie). Instead I went up to the register and was walked back to the bags. Too many choices so I selected a tuna wich and fries. I waited quite some time. I was expecting a quick turnaround like at Subway or Potbelly's. No, your food is prepared behind a barrier and you were supposed to mark the toppings you wanted on the bag. It was about 20 minutes at which time I decided to take my food to go. I had a dr appointment so I took my wich into the office with me (didnt wanna leave a tuna wich in a 100 degree car). I carried my bright yellow which wich bag into the waiting room. The wich was ok, nothing spectacular. I prefer the tuna sandwich at other establishments. I wouldn't order the fries again. Next time I would examine the menu in advance so I could select which wich.

    Which Wich was my sister's go to sandwich spot when she was at the University of Iowa. So, when a…read moreWhich Wich opened near me, I wanted to try it. When I entered Which Wich I grabbed a sandwich bag and filled in my order. This was new to me but I was able to figure it out and ordered successfully. An employee also explained this to me. Because I wanted to try everything I could, I ordered a French Dip sandwich, French fries, milkshake, and cookie. The sandwich was fine, a little better than your average sandwich shop sandwich but not super memorable. The French fries were really good and I enjoyed the skinnier fries. The milkshake was again ok but not great. The cookie, I thought, was the best thing I had from Which Wich. The food was average but what was really shocking was the price. This meal was $25.02. This was really expensive. A dinner for two would cost over $50! This caused me not to want to go back. It makes it really difficult to take a family here for food. For adequate food and really high prices, I cannot recommend Which Wich!

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    I was disappointed with the food. First the name difference (Ramen USA) on Yelp compared to their…read morewebsite and Google maps kinda threw us off. There's also discrepancy in their menu and what they actually have available as it seems they also display items for the the cafe next door. We happened to arrive during happy hour so some menu items were discounted. They also have a complimentary salad bar. We ordered chicken karaage, potstickers, salmon avocado sushi, and I had the katsu sandwich. All the food items we ordered came separately over a span of 20+ minutes, with the sandwich arriving last and cold. Not only did the sandwich come on a cold sourdough bread, the meat also had an unusual texture and so I ended up throwing it out. The other items we ordered were lacking in flavor. The chicken karaage was prepared well but it had no flavor. I'm regret spending money at this establishment.

    If customers are waiting before the restaurant opens, you know that you are in for a treat, right?…read moreI mean, this was our first time to Uma Japan Eatery (didn't know it was formerly Ramen USA) and we were a little confused when we arrived because there was signage for Uma, Ramen USA, and M Cafe. So we got out of the car and saw someone pull up in front of the restaurant and jump out at 11:59. As soon as the door was unlocked at 12pm, this customer went in, and a few others after them. This is a small joint, and it was already half full by the time we ordered, then sat down (they told us the table at which to sit). I didn't know, but asked, and found out that a salad bar and miso soup are also included. The salad bar was pretty decent, with fresh vegs. They even had French fried onions (my guilty pleasure) and a very good House dressing (ginger vinaigrette). The portions are enormous. The couple next to us got ramen, and it was practically overflowing. We ordered takoyaki (too much food, we didn't need). I had the Pork Katsu bowl and my companion had a Katsu curry. I wished I had ordered the curry -- it looked dark and rich and thick like pudding (not like a boxed curry). They also gave us a bonus piece of chicken karaage which was so large and crispy. I think I'll get the curry next time, or the ramen. We originally came because we were going to get a karaage sando, but get the curry.

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    Scratchboard Kitchen - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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