The Hinckley Cafe

We've been big fans of South Moon for a long time, so we recently decided to give Half a shot…read more Burgers appear to be their bread and butter here, but I had a chicken sandwich, which hit the spot. They have daily specials and trivia night here, factors that will certainly lure us back in. Cheers.

It's just the Half Moon now (new owners) but it's still a great unpretentious country bar run by…read moreterrific people. But you have GOT to try their Chicago style thin crust pizza. Finding pizza like this 50 miles west of Chicago is really a miracle. Great place, great people, great pizza. (Oh and they have a full menu too.)

Friday night

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Dairy Joy

4.2(50 reviews)

0.3 mi

Tidy and clean with indoor seating, patio seating and a walk up window. Burgers are good! Crinkle…read morefries are made to order. Lots of options. Happy customers and friendly service. We got the burgers each time but we hear from customers they have delicious in house Italian beef, pork tenderloin sandwich and fish sandwiches! Don't forget the ice cream! Great soft serve! This is not DQ it is Dairy JOY! Ps mason was really nice and had great suggestions.

Food is amazing! My sister from Dekalb and I was living in sugar grove at the time…read more We would meet at Dairy Joy for lunch 1 day a week to eat the best burger 's around

Inside

Hungry?

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March 2026

Burnt Barrel Social

3.8(73 reviews)

9.5 mi

Had the roast beef this is a fun place. I love the outside with the fireplace. My sister got the…read morebreasted chicken and my niece got the Reuben. It was delicious ambience's number one.

I ordered online from Burnt Barrel and purchased a steak sandwich with a baked potato, which…read morecarried a $3.50 upcharge. Shortly after placing the order, the restaurant called and informed me they were out of baked potatoes. I then asked to substitute roasted red potatoes instead. When I arrived to pick up my order, I was told the roasted red potatoes carried the same upcharge as the baked potato. After leaving I checked their online menu and discovered that was not correct. I called back simply to ask why I was not given accurate information. Instead of handling the situation professionally, the employee on the phone became extremely rude and defensive, repeatedly stating that they "did not lie" and that "people make mistakes." At that point, I explained that the $2 difference was not the issue it was the poor customer service and dishonest communication that mattered. I learned my lesson and unfortunately will not be returning to this establishment.

Menu

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A restaurant surcharge?!?!?! Why? And why were we not informed?!?!?!

Ellwood Steak And Fish House

3.8(244 reviews)

13.4 mi

A great spot for a cocktail, friendly bar with a great small plate menu…read more First class food and service, friendly atmosphere for a visitor to the area. Recommend steak , tried a fillet, and a NY strip both satisfying meals excellent quality and presentation. Well worth a visit.

Be careful about the sauces. What was supposed to be a lemon vinaigrette for broccoli and a lemon…read moresauce for a lamb dish both contained Dijon mustard which was not listed on the menu. Disappointing for both of our dishes. When I asked for the vinaigrette instead, I was told there was no alternative and "they didn't offer discounts" which was odd as I didn't ask for one. Wait staff was good. I would say the glitch came from the kitchen which wanted to use the same sauce for everything. Buyer beware.

Inside

Steak and shrimp special

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Very dirty grey goose martini - blue cheese stuffed olives of course!

Burnt Barrel Social

4.3(145 reviews)

12.5 mi

Always a great place to have dinner! This last dinner included a really tasty cream of mushroom…read moresoup! While we were eating we were asked if all was good by the hostess and then another who may have been the manager. It was nice to see the are continually seeking information from their customers. Keep up the good work!

Love the drinks here, very creative cocktails. HUGE fan of the BYO Grilled Cheese, too! We tend…read moreto order out here and then take it to a local beer spot that is easier with kids, and takeout is ready when quoted, and they're great with providing napkins, utensils and extra sauces. In restaurant, I have always had good service, and the vibes are perfect for out-of-town guests to get a taste of the area.

They were out of the fruity beer on draft :(

Menu

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The Vault

4.3(70 reviews)

13.3 mi

Great establishment with a cool vibe. Super friendly, prompt and attentive staff. But let's cut to…read morethe chase. The poached pear salad with the marinated grilled chicken was top notch. The poached pears were exquisite. The fresh spinach and thin-sliced pears were the perfect bed (better than arugula would have been) and the crans, feta and crushed nuts were great for balance and texture. But let's talk about that chicken's agave marinade. It was zesty with a slight acidic citrus to balance the sweetness from the pear. The whole deal was delicious. And with the maple-dijon vinaigrette to top it off - well, that topped it off! My buddy got a Hippie Chic sandwich and he liked it very much too. I don't usually write reviews on first visits and certainly never before for a salad but the Vault is a gem that should be on full display, not locked away!

I went here for mother's day. This was our first time here. Cute little place. We parked around the…read moreback and sat on the patio. Right out of the gate I was disappointed with slow service. There were two waitresses in our area and it was clear ours was not as serious about their job as the other. We waited long enough after being seated to start to wonder id we had been forgotten. Two other tables (seated after us by the other waitress) had been seated and got drinks before our someone came to our table. When I did get my water it had plastic wrap in it. The other waitress took it from us to get a new one. No sorry, nothing. Acted like nothing happened. Our waitress delivered the new one 10 solid minutes later. It was Not super busy at this time. Why so long? And again no acknowledgement of the plastic.. couldnt get myself to drink anything else with worry of contamination of the ice box. Order the california chicken sandwich and brussel sprouts. My mother had the smash burger. She seemed to enjoy it though both sandwiches were stacked super tall and mine had two huge thick red o ions on it. A bit overpowering but mine was good after that was removed. Brussel sprouts were significantly salty. Wasnt able to get through them. My mom got the fries and tho were standard. She also got a bloody mary. It was alright she seemed to enjoy it. Waitress was a little sarcastic with us for no reason and the plastic and just overall service was unfortunate. It was enough to leave a bad taste in my mouth and I dont plan to return.

Really nice bar with back lit bar top

Huge primer sandwich with french fries

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Black cherry Mimosa

Calico Cafe

4.7(77 reviews)

16.6 mi

This is my favorite local stop around me. Fresh ingredients, amazing portions... you will walk away…read morefull no doubt. A family ran place with an extra special down home dinner feel. I am a creature of habit and always order the same thing ( for over ten years) I'm a breakfast guy so I always get the Two eggs, Hardwood smoked bacon with home fries and two orders of sourdough break... don't judge. If I go in the afternoon I will add a homemade slice of pie too. Amazing food and some of my favorite people. Can't say enough good things.

The food was really scrumptious and the service was amazing. The atmosphere was pretty cool, gave…read morean old fashion kinda feel.

No more dinner, closes at 2pm.

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Cattleman omelette

Bootleggers

4.2(23 reviews)

9.8 mi

Closed on Friday night 8/21/26. There's no sign on the door and all the lights are out. Door is…read morelocked.

We ordered pizza from here and the cheese "bread". The cheese bread was basically a cheese pizza…read morewith no sauce and unfortunately no taste. That came with a side of sauce. The pizza was cooked around the crust but the center was not cooked. Mushrooms are from a can and toppings were only in the middle. We gave it a try, but I won't be going back. I did get the wild berry salad and fried mushrooms, both of those were better than the pizza.

Pizza menu

High and low tables as well as bar seating of course

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Nice cold glass of summer shandy!

Pub West

4.5(36 reviews)

6.8 mi

The food was delicious and drinks were great!!! Nice music and clean place lots of room. Our…read morebartender a bubly social butterfly. Nice place for a Sunday lunch and drinks. Will definitely be back!!!

Great place! They have a great gluten free pizza! Good service and people…read more Definitely Recommend

Onion rings - $7!!

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Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

Sugar Grove Cafe

4.4(107 reviews)

8.1 mi

Finally came back for breakfast today and I'm just as impressed as I was with the lunch. The…read moreportion sizes are INSANE at this place and they offer premium sides like biscuits and gravy, crepes, pancakes, etc. I had the chicken chilaquiles - the chicken was a little tough but everything else made up for it, I'd definitely get it again. I also opted for their "must try" pumpkin pancakes. These were also good but tasted more nutmeggy to me than pumpkin, but I still enjoyed them. The other two people in my party had the Popeye Omelet with raspberry crepes and meat lovers omelette with biscuits and gravy. Both were very happy with their selections. This is probably going to be my new breakfast spot, it's worth the 20 minute drive.

If you get Autumn as your server, you will be treated like royalty! She knows everything about…read moretheir expansive menu and anticipates everything you may need. The food never disappoints and is amazing how good everything is for what looks like a hole in the wall restaurant in the middle of nowhere!

Main interior dining area

Ole Ola Boy Skillet

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2nd section of interior dining

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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

Jan M.

Elite 17

28

1048

9

17 years ago

Nice little place on the main drag; stopped in for a quick breakfast. Fast service at the counter; an egg with bacon, toast and coffee was $4.99. An assortment of baked goodies also available to go. Stop in if you are passing through on US 30..... read more

Mj B.

0

2

0

11 months ago

Someone charged with possession of child porn works here. Very gross. Coming from someone who used to work there they have horrible sanitation and its all around gross. I do not recommend drive to somonauk or sugar grove for a better cafe experience! read more

Jeff M.

1

7

1

5 years ago

Good food, friendly service, and charming interior. The pecan pancakes are a nice touch.

Katie B.

0

3

0

15 years ago

awful!

The Hinckley Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

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Star 34 Cafè

4.3

(16 reviews)

We went for Mother's Day and it was extremely busy but the host was kind enough to squeeze our…read moreparty in without a reservation when they could. The staff was very attentive and was always coming around to fill our water and coffee. I ordered the avocado toast and my husband ordered the biscuits and gravy skillet. We both cleaned out plates! They also have freshly squeezed orange juice. It was a cute hometown diner-feel.

Food was very good but service was not great and took over an hour to get our food. Inside was…read moresmall and cute and there were not many people there. If I was in the area I would go again. Very reasonable prices and yummy food just wish the service was better

Paradise Pancake House

4.4

(18 reviews)

One of the better places for breakfast that I have visited in a while…read more It gets pretty busy on the weekends but my daughter and I went after the morning rush. I ordered the steak chilaquiles with my eggs over easy. Yummy!! It was a big portion and the steak was really good. My daughter got the Ferrero Rocher waffles and she was in heaven. I have also ordered delivery from them and I got the same quality of food delivered. Restaurant is nice and modern. Check them out for breakfast.

I have tried this place several times the food is decent. It all depends on what you are ordering…read more They could never get this coffee, right? The coffee is always weak. I'm not for sure if they're using a generic brand, but the coffee is never good.

Nikarry's Restaurant

3.6

(77 reviews)

If you're looking for hot and fresh breakfast try Nikarry's. It's local and simply affordable. I…read moreheard from my coworker that they have good pancakes. I thought they were pretty good overall. The biscuits gravy and eggs were tasty. There's ample parking. Where we sat was light and airy facing lake street, although a bit crowded with another full table added in very close by. Worth the try if your looking for local eats for breakfast or lunch.

Food is good, excellent pancakes. Service is above average. Booth seats could use some love, but…read moreoverall a great place for a meal.

The Roasted Rooster

4.6

(9 reviews)

Used to love this place but its gone downhill over the last 6 months or so with staff turnovers…read more Service is horrible and food is a hit or miss.

Some of the best chicken tenders I've ever had! I got the mac and cheese on the side--so creamy and…read moreflavorful--and the tiramisu was absolutely delicious! The staff was super friendly, even with takeout service. I didn't get to see the inside this time, but I already can't wait to come back and dine in!

Gene's Carry Out

3.5

(31 reviews)

The mozzarella sticks are delicious, the restaurant is quiet, and calm. Large tables for large…read morenumber of guests.

Fast, friendly service. Food, however, was not that great. Had fish and chips. Chips were soggy…read more The fish was crisp and crunchy on the outside, but the inside was mushy and very bland. I couldn't even taste the fish. Afterword, I felt very bloated, nauseous and had a headache for about two hours I won't eat here again.

Apple Villa Cafe

3.3

(190 reviews)

Went with my lovely wife for a late breakfast/lunch. It was not crowded at all. Our server was also…read morethe hostess as well as the person bussing the tables. She didn't seem too happy but maybe that was just my perception. Anyway, wife got an omelette , and I got a BLT sandwich. Kind of a no frills place; simple food that's good without any flair. My sandwich had the thick kind of bacon, so it's harder to make it crispy. There was a lot of bacon on the sandwich. Also came with soup and fries. I liked my meal. My wife's omelette looked dry but she said Thats the way she likes it. We had a $30 Clipp certificate and the bill was $29.27 so I had to spend an additional 73 cents to get the discount. I wound up ordering a baked apple pancake to go (frozen one), but I haven't tried it yet. Overall, a good experience, if you like a simple breakfast/brunch type of place.

I haven't been to Apple Villa is years but found myself back this morning as if nothing has…read morechanged. The omlets are huge and fluffy, just as I remember. The menu is pretty diverse with a little bit of everything and their specials also sounded great! It's located in a little strip mall and can be easy to miss but it's a great brunch spot - great food, service, and prices!

Village Courtyard

4.7

(37 reviews)

My husband and I knew the owners back in the 1980s. We came here regularly and it was NEVER…read moredisappointing. Staff changed a bit over the years, but always great. When he died, it's been hard for me to return, but I will be tomorrow, as I celebrate what would have been our 50th wedding anniversary. And I'll be bringing my daughter who was an infant in a highchair when we first came. She was even treated like a princess! I love the family, love the food, love the service..can't wait!

Always fresh delicious food and super friendly staff! Happy to consider ourselves "regulars".read more

Little Belles Restaurant

5.0

(1 review)

During a visit with a friend, he suggested the three of us head for lunch at Little Belles. The…read moredining area was a bit small, but very clean with a welcoming staff. Once seated we were promptly served water and the drink order taken. We were intrigued by the specials and ordered the Stacked Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy, breaded pork chops with mashed potatoes and gravy and I had the gumbolya. The portions were huge, the food was hot and tasted AMAZING! If you are in the area and haven't tried this restaurant since they've changed owners, do yourself a favor and stop in. Oh, and the prices were extremely reasonable!

McAlister's Deli

3.2

(13 reviews)

Food is ok they do have an excellent service wow it is extremely crowded because it is new here in…read moredekalb huge long line but it moves super fast service there is a gentlemen he is a floor keeper that comes around asking you to see if everything is ok you can get free tea refills I love the ambiance a little bit too loud for me I would prefer music on the back ground instead of listening to the loud conversations the food was ok the sub has very little meat and a little bit too salty for taste The price for me for 1/2 a sandwich and a cup of soup and a one size lemonade $23 way to expensive because it did not have no salad on it just the meat a very small amount of red onions the meat looked shaved I can do this at home but my son wanted to try it out Good for lunch time to come here and Chat with friends and Family. Over I give it 6 stars for service and ambiance not for the food food 2

Welcome to DeKalb!…read more When the White Castle closed at this location before COVID, we were sad. Then McAlister's Deli came in. The place is completely redone - you wouldn't recognize it. Food wise, oh was this place good. My wife ordered The New Yorker with corned beef, pastrami, swiss and spicy brown mustard on marbled rye, and I had their Horseradish Roast Beef & Cheddar, which had black angus roast beef, sharp cheddar, red onions, and horseradish sauce on a toasted ciabatta. Listen carefully when you make your order - they ask you if you want a pickle. The pickles are good. My wife went with their Choose 2 option, and got a half a sandwich and a cup of soup. I got the regular sandwich with a bag of Ms. Vickers Salt and Vinegar chips. While they don't have the fountain where you can get it, the staff makes regular tours and offers free refills for soft drinks, and also asks you if your food is okay. My wife enjoyed her New Yorker, and I enjoyed the Horseradish Roast Beef and Cheddar. It had enough Horseradish to taste good, and the drinks tasted great. The place is completely redone, is attractive and clean, with very good service. We'll be back!

Johnny K's

3.4

(70 reviews)