Hadn't been to the "Sugar Bowl" in years! Just remember going there after a movie at the Des Plaines theater. We'd go for ice cream. It's still a vintage-y type place with booths. Love it. Staff very attentive and friendly. Food was delicious. Big portions. Enjoyed it and would definitely go back again. read more

Sugar Bowl - Philly with cheese - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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staff were incredibly rude right off the bat. We mentioned we have a 10 am reservation. They said they couldn't sit us because our full party wasn't there, which I completely understand. But the way the host spoke to us was so rude. She kept asking how long til the rest of our party shows up and we told her maybe 5-10 minutes.. She kept saying we will give the table away, there is no grace period you know that? there is no grace period you know that? When no one was even saying anything rude or complaining... She ended up apologizing at least, she knew she was in the wrong but why act that way in the first place? Also they ignored our table when giving out Mother's Day roses.. Waitress and bus boy were both extremely short and sassy. At least the food was edible but honestly nothing special. I would pass on this place and find somewhere more deserving of your money & that doesn't scold/talk down to you. For being called Sugar Bowl maybe you should tell your employees not to be so sour. read more

The Sugar Bowl has been an integral part of downtown Des Plaines since 1921. It has, over the years, been a sweet shop, candy store, ice cream parlor and restaurant. Today it's heavily into the restaurant biz. Have seen this place many times when I've been zipping by on the train and had a hankering to try it, which I did early one Sunday morning.I went for ham and eggs, and I've been on a winning streak with breakfast ham in restaurants lately, like the Village Family Restaurant in Huntley, IL. I have a penchant for "REAL HAM," full muscle meat that's been cut from a butt or loin, not that pressed, chopped, and formed stuff that so many restaurants serve. Please dear god, no. The kind of ham I prefer, at least in Chicago area restaurants is called (some variation of) "Ham off the bone." And it's damned near porcine heaven to me. Especially heavily aged and smoked, and NOT cured or coated with any kind of sugar or substitute. So, if you haven't guessed, I'm sweet on the Sugar Bowl for breakfast. Great food, great service, good prices. If you're going to or thru Des Plaines, stop by. It's also not far from the reconstructed first (Ray Kroc version) McDonalds, now a museum. The Sugar Bowl serves breakfast and lunch menus read more

Sugar Bowl - Great ham, and eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

The food tastes good; however, we always get sick afterwards. When drinking from the water cups, you can smell a strong odor of bleach.... Putting the two together leads me to believe this can be the cause of our upset stomachs when ever we dine here. Will not be dining here again. read more

I'my first review was 12 years ago? Still feels like a new place to me. Great friendly service. Nice diverse menu, all your breakfast favorites. Waffles, Pancakes, Melts, Sandwiches, Steak and Eggs, Omelettes. Always well done. Decent size so even when busy it's usually not a long wait. read more

I was going to be in Il around this area so I decided to grab breakfast in the area and this was my choice. After looking at the area breakfast places and doing extensive research I chose this place based on the all important old school neon sign. The side of the building has public parking for the place which was nice because there is no street parking. The place is not old school at all and quite nice on the inside with it being one big open space. There is rich dark wood seating with tile floors balancing out the yellow walls with the ceiling trimmed out in neon lighting. The table has just about everything one would need for the Coffey and food. There is a couple flat screens with news playing. The menu is extensive with lots of great breakfast items but I would go with my servers vouching for the biscuit and gravy, country delight with scrambled eggs for a change. The potatoes were great with a 50/50 of extra crisp and soft potato. The scrambled eggs were perfect fluffy and moist. The biscuit and gravy really was one of the better ones out there. The fresh biscuit was very good while the gravy was very creamy with just the right amount of sausage. Overall this place was pretty decent for breakfast and a great choice for not being from the area. I would definitely recommend this place if your in the area. read more

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I almost almost almost ordered the spinach crepes, substituting one of them with a nutella one, but at the last minute, I opted for the portabella benedict. Gotta love shrooms... ... except when they're sour and not fresh. Gross. I left full though because of the side of home fries. My friend's eggs benedict with avocado smelled really sour, and the dish was just off. Not planning on returning. read more

Sugar Bowl - spinach and nutella crepes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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Best, and most consistently delicious pancakes over the four years I've been visiting! If you like pancakes, try the house cakes. Also the people and service is so friendly and excellent! read more

Sugar Bowl - Short stack of House pancakes, and Mateo's combo with choc chip pancakes instead of sausage. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

One of the best breakfast places ever! Prices are decent and the quality of the food is superb! I've tried a number of things but the best thing on their menu to me was their blintz. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Portions are huge, friendly staff, DELICIOUS food, plenty of parking... I could go on and on but I'm getting hungry just talking about this place. :D read more

Sugar Bowl - Blintz. The best thing ever - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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My friends and I went here for brunch on a Saturday..they seemed busy, but we didn't wait long before we got seated..the waitress was really friendly and the service was great throughout our meal.. We all ended up getting omelets which comes with hash-browns and a choice of buttermilk pancakes or toast..The omelets were huge and since we got pancakes as well.. we were full and had leftovers to take home..reasonable price.. good brunch places are rare in the suburbs so if i'm craving brunch when i'm in the area.. i would go here again.. :) read more

Sugar Bowl - Create your own omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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Been a regular at this breakfast place for awhile now. The sign outside makes you think of the old school diners. When you walk in you're greeted right away by the lovely staff. They're all so nice and welcoming and very friendly. I believe this is a family owned restaurant which makes it that much better. Never a long wait. Always get seated right away. The menu has a lot of options and the prices aren't bad at all. My favorite I usually get is Stacy combo for only $8.99 you get two eggs,two bacon, two sausage and side of French toast. Not bad for that price! Today I went little different I got the feta scrambler with egg whites, tomatoes,feta cheese and spinach was really good. Definitely recommend this place if you're ever in the Des Plaines area. Great staff , great food! read more

Sugar Bowl - Feta egg white scrambler. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Hungry, I got lured into this place by the pictures. The food *looked* legit. I pull up and was pleased to see parking in an adjoining lot (90minute limit). I walk in and was seated right away by a bus boy. Seemed understaffed, especially given the place was nearly empty. He gives me a menu and asks if I want coffee, to which I oblige. He brings the coffee, but no cream. A few minutes go by and I notice what I guess was the manager instruct a waitress to come over and service my table (she was but 100 ft from my table). She announces that she's filling in for another waitress who was supposed to take my order. Whatever. I order the sausage breakfast burrito and ask for some cream. She grabbed a few from the next table over and jets. Service was a 3 on a scale of 1-10. My burrito comes. I had high hopes for the thing. It was PATHETIC. It was more egg than anything else. They should've called it an egg burrito, not a sausage burrito. They literally sliced up two of those little breakfast sausage links and the entire rest was egg. What a wash. The potatoes it comes with - oh man they were the most FLAVORLESS potatoes I've ever had. They have got to be frying those things in water. No seasoning whatsoever, and extremely dry. A wasted morning. The coffee was decent, though. Not likely to return. read more

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Good breakfast. Each time we go we are pleased and happy with service and food. Exciting they are staying Busy and Dowmtown Des Plaines needs more places like this. read more

Very disappointed, this is our go to place for comfort food & no social distancing at all . Customers walking around maskless , employees wearing them wrong .Probably won't go back . read more

Good but we have not been there in a while. Soon we will. This restaurant has lasted many years because it is consistently good -- and convenient for many. read more

We love Sugar Bowl! This is my family's go to spot for a once a month breakfast meet up. We really like coming here. The hostess is the best-- she remembers us every month and is so pleasant. The menu is great- you can get anything you'd like and you will not be disappointed. Food comes out pretty quick and is always nice and hot. Servers are really attentive and pleasant. Price is not bad. There is a parking garage w/n walking distance and is free for a few hours read more

Sugar Bowl - Chopped salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Such a great place to to enjoy a filling and tasty comfort filled breakfast. We had a group of five (three adults and two children) and everyone was stuffed at a beyond affordable price. Great value, staff, food, and atmosphere. Amongst the table we had a large omelette, stuffed French toast, Mickey Mouse pancakes, scrambled eggs. The raspberry iced tea was soooo refreshing!! read more

Sugar Bowl - Stuffed French toast with scrambled eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

The exterior doesn't inspire a visit, but the neon sign and name do. The interior is a modern 50's Café including the music. A very diverse menu with some unique offerings. Our waitress Sonja, upon request, recommended several dishes from different sections of the menu- my Serena's combo arrived with generous portions and was delicious. My wife raved about the feta gyro omelet -- taking half home. We were greeted with a friendly hello by the host. Sonja and the bus boy were attentive. We look forward to their home made soups at lunch for our next visit. read more

Sugar Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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Best place in town for breakfast!! Always, hot and fresh. Great service too!! Pancakes are the perfect size and they cook it just like you ask for it. read more

Ruined our labor day! We waited for an hour or more than an hour still our orders are not ready. Terrible service. We will not come back. Save your misery! read more

"Full of Bologna" Come here when you either break free from a nursing home, or have lost your tastebuds. Food was bland. Service consisted of begging for coffee refills while Mexicans chattered to the manager about last night's big night of business. Though this kept the staff " busy" i look forward to this tacky hole-in-the-wall shutting it's doors in the near future. We're not all your buddies and chums when we go into your establishment. We're customers! read more

It was my first time eating here, the service is really great, they make sure you have everything you need. The parking is a little tough to find, but it's manageable. The food was good and no wait time! I recommend trying it out, if haven't already! read more

This place is great for brunch!! Upon arrival you are greeted by hostess. Super friendly staff, food is delicious, prices are great, portions are very reasonable. Food timing is perfect. Have not made it to the ladies room so I cannot comment. Plenty of parking nearby. I like this place for breakfast on weekends. read more

Sugar Bowl - California omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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We like this place. For years it has been our first stop after landing at O'Hare. I can get cantaloupe without all the other fruit. I can get 2% milk. All with a smile. Breakfast is good. Lunch is good. Service is excellent read more

Went here on a Saturday for breakfast with my family. Got seated right away, no wait at all. Both the bus boy and waitress were friendly and great at their job. Food arrive very fresh and tasted great! I ordered potatoes with toast and poached eggs and liked all three very much! read more

Good food good service good environment but, the order took to long over all everything was good and delicious.

Pro- Key point 7 minutes from car rental return at the airport. Con- getting here from some of the area hotels can be a bear you have to go around the airport and it's quite a journey and you could end up on a blocked howdy and paying a toll in addition. Be sure to check your GPS Went here after looking for a good diner for breakfast after my flight was delayed at O'hare. Checked Yelp and saw the name (and reviews ) but mostly the name since I play in the sugar bowl at times - inside joke. Worth the trip! Clean well decorated not a standard greasy spoon. Huge menu and lots of interesting choices over your standard diner fare. Multiple various French toast options for instance. Such as banana bread FT, captain crunch, raisin bread etc Ham "off the bone" non-processed! How often do you see that?!! I got the stuffed French toast figuring I would just eat a "taste" and finish all the healthy fresh strawberries and bananas that are included and boy was I wrong. Ended up eating it all and assuring myself an extra hour (or three) at the gym. Well needless to say, enjoyed it all ! read more

Sugar Bowl - Beauty of a breakfast. Stuffed French toast. Calorie bomb for sure. I got it for a toast and to eat the healthy fresh fruit. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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I've been coming here for a while now, and the more often I eat here, the more I appreciate the staff. The owner knows my daughter and makes sure to say hello, as do several waitresses and one bus boy. They practically treat us like family. I feel like this is an experience that becomes more and more rare as faceless chain restaurants with high employee turnover push out small, independent shops like Sugar Bowl. From the fresh-squeezed OJ to the overflowing breakfast burritos, everything I've tried here has been something I want to try again. Whether I roll in after a sleepless night in pursuit of a huge breakfast or bring my mother-in-law here for lunch, I know I'll be seated and eating something good fast. Potato pancakes, blueberry waffles, eggs florentine, a veggie skillet--they're all good! Don't forget to check the menu board up front for specials and seasonal treats, and come prepared to listen to cheesy music. read more

This is one of those diners that appeals to the masses. It's friendly, it hosts a diverse menu, it's affordable...it's a neighborhood staple. For those with families, it's clean and the kiddos would be happy to dine here, too. While it may look a bit vintage from the outside, Sugar Bowl slings out some pretty delicious eats. After a not-so-fun prenatal blood test, hubs and I drove to Sugar Bowl to fill my hungry belly. Just 15 minutes after we sat down, I was nose deep into my Paradise Crepes - thin and delicious crepes topped with fresh strawberries, bananas and a sprinkling of chocolate chips. Because of my fasting and testing, I could have served cardboard and been happy, but those crepes were pretty on point. The portions are sizable but not magnanimous, and, frankly, I think that's a good thing. Fairly priced, quickly served by a friendly, seasoned server...Sugar Bowl does it up right. read more

Sugar Bowl - Paradise crepes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Awesome diner thats everything you want from a breakfast joint: friendly staff, quick service, and generous portions. The omelettes are enormous and come with hearty hash browns and your choice of toast or pancakes. Most choices are under 10 dollars and will satisfy any hunger. Great spot for a quick casual breakfast. read more

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This place is hopping on the weekend. I usually like fancy establishments, but this place is very home-y. The four star rating is for the hearty food, value, constant water and coffee re-fills, service, but not necessarily for the decor (not that that really matters for breakfast). I had the skillet with feta and spinach. It was very good and filling for $9--they are not skimping on ingredients. Plenty of delicious feta in there! Especially in comparison to other breakfast places in the suburbs (looking at you north-shore or lakeshore burbs), you get a lot more for your money here. I really appreciate that one's water and coffee are constantly refilled--I was recently at a bougie place, and they (the other place, NOT Sugar Bowl) never refilled the water even once--with eggs or omelettes or hashbrowns, one needs water! It is so basic but essential. Moreover, the place is packed. It feels like half of Des Plaines comes here for breakfast on the weekend--which almost makes me want to give it five stars. I am glad to have this institution in DP especially because there aren't many independent restaurants open at the present in the downtown area. On a final note, the menu is large with a plethora of options--including gluten-free options. THANK YOU! Plus, it's open until 4:30 pm on the weekends--which is a godsend if you get a late start or need to run errands first. read more

I'm usually very picky with my breakfast places since not many places can execute both the sweet and salty dishes perfectly. But this place has great food no matter what kind of breakfast you're going for! My personal favorite are the french toast dishes. Great omelets too! read more

I only came one time and tried one thing and it was life alteringly good: a giant pile of french toast stuffed with cream cheese topped with strawberries, bananas, and coconut. Shout it from the rooftops hallelujah. read more

Sugar Bowl - Stuffed french toast with cream cheese, strawberry, banana, and coconut - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Stopped here a few weeks ago for lunch after taking the train in with two little boys that I babysit, only to be disappointed that another local restaurant was closed for the day. Portions are HUGE, but food was only mediocre. Watch out for the Kalamata olives in their Greek salad, as they don't take out the pits. Kind of expensive for the quality, but staff was very friendly. $2.20 for a burnt black coffee seems a tad ridiculous to me, considering the restaurant is a breakfast/brunch joint ... can't say I will be returning the next time I'm in Des Plaines. read more

Sugar Bowl - Greek salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

This was a dearly departed friend's favorite breakfast place. She was right; this place is great. Quality food served by people who care. A traditional diner with an efficient and professional staff. Everyone is inviting. From the hostess who was great with my young daughter, to the staff that took care of us. This is a place I would eat at anytime and be happy. Thanks Dawn. read more

This place was packed Sunday brunch. In the heart of downtown Des Plaines, & accross the street from the Metra, can't miss it. Was nothing special. Price range for this place should really be updated. A cup of orange juice was $4.50. .. service was quick but not attentive, the bus boy did a better job of asking if we needed anything when he brought us water vs the waitress when she brought the food. I had a Canadian Benedict, I was super hungry when I arrived but food & flavor was pretty short. Hash browns were dry, and no seasoning, (how dare they)! Maybe this place is a step up from retirement home meals . My brother and I ate for$30. Parents had coffee, total was $38. My suggestion would be going down the road east to the Des Plaines restaurant/ pancake house. Ten more dollars will feed two more. read more

Sugar Bowl - His omelette & hash, my Canadian Benedict. Strange tasting Hollindaise sauce. On the side PLEASE ! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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Great food!! GREAT STAFF "Penny Poo" made sure our coffee was always warm!! Can't beat yumminess of the food.. Happy New Years!!

AMBIANCE The diner that is a lot deeper and bigger than it appears...with cute 1950s vibe... maybe the signage... excellent service and very friendly. FOOD Good omelets... but not amazing. Standard brunch fare... had coffee (tasted a bit burnt, okay with extra sweetner) Fiesta omelet minus chorizo with sides of hash browns and toast. GREAT prices I must say... I think mine was $16 with tax and tip... I like DT Des Plaines. :-) read more

Excellent is always striving to get the food out efficiently. i appreciate the consistency and the quality of the kitchen's food. Always a 5 star experience. read more

Hollandaise sauce was the worst in my life and hash browns not possible to eat. I was veeery hungry, but never be back. Servers are very pleasant though read more