Whimsical décor that goes with the season or holiday. A nice Family restaurant with good service and unmemorable food.

We loved the Windhill Pancake Parlor. It has been quite awhile since I have visited here but I was definitely not disappointed. The staff was very friendly from the time we got there till the time we left and the waitress kept my coffee full! The menus are really fun as they're iSpy or other fun books with the menu inside. A fun twist. There are plenty of food options to keep you full as well. We weren't disappointed with the selections. Our table got a little bit of everything from the menu and it all looked great and tasted great with no complaints. I didn't see it but I heard the train that'll serve you food on the other side stop a few times. Will definitely be back to see this! read more

Decorations are great! Food is better than average Lots of choices. Service is adequate. read more

Overpriced breakfast food small portions. Nicely decorated for children Like a theme restaurant Pick four hungry man breakfast is hardly enough food. read more

Great food, fair prices, quick service, friendly staff. Always well decorated and they always have interesting new things hung up.

First time going here & felt homey. I will be back the food was good! The history the info you on in the menu is pretty good ims. read more

Windhill Pancake Parlor - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

The first time my husband went to the Windhill, we had breakfast on a Saturday. The breakfast was good and the coffee was excellent! The server told us how they grind their own beans. I must say, that really makes a difference. The second time we went was on a Monday afternoon for an early dinner. My husband enjoyed his cheeseburger. However, when I got my chicken fingers, they smelled like that had been fried in old oil. They tasted tgat way too. I sent them back and had some eggs which were good. The reason my rating is only a 3 is because the Halloween decorations are so over the top, they are disturbing. In addition to the witches, spiders and normal creepy stuff, there are fake bloody knives and clothing hanging from the ceiling. The public hygiene practices also left a lot to be desired. My server on Monday brought my drink with a completely unwrapped straw in it and the menus are not wiped down in between customers. These were the things that I saw. It makes me wonder what could be going on in the kitchen. As an added bonus, the chairs are pretty uncomfortable. read more

Everything top notch. Greeted on arrival. Well wishes on departure. Italian Beef, Ruben, Philly Cheese-Steak, Chopped Steak. All fresh. All very well prepared. Reasonable prices. Super server. Outstanding interior decor. Second time around. we'll be back. read more

This is a GREAT place to take kids. There are so many decorations to look at. The kids menu has things to color and the main menu has search and find pages. If you sit at the counter, a model train delivers your food. The staff is super friendly and the foods pretty good. read more

The food was delicious and fabulous and the service was excellent and the ambience definitely got me in the Christmas spirit

Rude. Daughter was looking at stuff at register while I held baby and woman who came out of no where very rudely says "are you coming up or not" While daughter was "shopping" all their stuff around register. She clearly didn't look to see that I was standing right there holding the baby. Funny because I haven't been back since the time the train derailed and the waitress was so terrified of getting in trouble that she asked if she could blame us. read more

Omg!!! This place is a notch up "pancake parlor" the decor changes with the holiday. Family owned and don't forget to try the lobster eggs Benedict. read more

Omg the atmosphere!! Felt like I should salute as I walked in. The BLT salad was ok. Mom had the crepes and really liked them. The river walk is a block away to walk off your meal!! read more

Windhill Pancake Parlor - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

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I moved here a little over a year ago. The Windhill was the first restaurant I tried and it did not disappoint. It's the perfect local, place to go for great food, great service, and friendly staff. Breakfast is my favorite thing to have there. You will not leave hungry. The best part is the atmosphere. They decorate, and I mean DECORATE for every holiday. My first time it was Halloween season and I thought, wow, that must be their favorite time! and Jenny the owner said, just wait... they go all out for everything. So much to look at. This picture is just what's over the doorway to the kitchen. Love this place. Try it! read more

Windhill Pancake Parlor - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

For starters the place is decked out in decorations. They go all out for the holidays like ceiling to floor, which is something that makes this place stand out. Their menus are stuck onto the pages of books which is super unique and cool. The servers are nice and welcoming. We got to sit at the bar and have the train deliver our food which was awesome. The bar however is a bit crowded, like the seats were too close. This type of seating is understandable it doesn't make the experience bad. Now for the food. I got some cream of chicken and rice soup and the belly buster: two eggs over medium, hashbrowns, bacon and two pancakes. The soup was good and tasted like they added lemon. I personally am not a fan of the added lemony flavor but that does not mean that it was not delicious. The belly buster was delicious my only issue was the pancakes. The pancakes tasted like they had too much baking soda??? They fell apart very quickly and were dry. They taste like Busquick box pancakes, which isn't bad. My partner got the million dollar bacon, toast, jalapeño popper omelette, and hashbrowns. According to him the omelette was pretty okay but missing the wow factor. The hashbrowns were missing some flavor but nothing some tobasco can't fix. The soup was delicious. For him the million dollar bacon was the highlight of his meal. He really enjoyed it, I however am not a fan of sweet bacon. If you love sweet bacon I highly recommend the million dollar bacon. Overall, our experience was pretty good especially because the owners son (is what we heard him say), who was our server, was attentive, polite, and welcoming. 7/10 would recommend this place. It does get packed often and can get loud but it just adds to the dinning experience. :) read more

Excellent food and service and a big menu. We also love the seasonal decorations. This is a really nice restaurant to go to. Highly recommended. read more

I was not expecting to have such an amazing experience. First of all, the menus are books, and I ended up with a book about herding dogs (Great Pyrenees). Not only was the menu a little intimidating (it was HUGE!!!) but entertaining, too! Now let's get down to the food. OMG, the food! I started with a camp fire drink (hot chocolate with Baileys) and I ordered the S.A.D. Omelet-spinach and artichoke dip slathered on an egg and topped with tortilla chip strips. For my sides, I upgraded to the hash brown casserole and chocolate chip pancakes. Lord have mercy. I was anything but S.A.D. about my food (See what I did there?) It was amazing and delicious, but I could've done without the strips. My friends ordered the Works. The plate was cleared and he was thrilled. My other friend ordered the Special - Monkey Cakes. She said they were yummy but too sweet (it's important to note this same person ordered a strawberry shake with the meal, so.... duh) I also learned they serve breakfast for dinner, so I will be back! read more

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Wonderful breakfast place. Good bloody Marys and a quaint atmosphere. Friendly service.

Our entire family loved this quaint little jewel in the heart of McHenry. From the down home feel to the choo choo train we enjoyed the atmosphere. On top of all that the food was excellent and I'd recommend one of the combo plates where you can choose up to 6 items. Can't wait to go back! read more

Service was great. Food was just okay. Stopped by for brunch on the Saturday before Easter. The kids wanted a choo choo restaurant but the one we frequent is 40 minutes away. We didn't get to sit at the train counter, but the kids were able to see it from where we were sitting. The place has decor all over. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall- making it very unique. Menus are inside different books- also very unique. Since it was close to Easter, they had an Easter bunny going around greeting and taking pictures with the kids which was a nice touch. And as an added bonus, the Easter bunny was giving each child an egg with candy, so there were lots of happy kids. Food wise- it was okay. Nothing to impressive about anything we ordered. Kids pancakes were thin, and a bit in the mushy side. Chicken fried steak had a nice breading to it, but lacked some flavor. We also had steak and eggs, and the steak was small and also lacked flavor. Our waitress was super nice and checked on us frequently. She also made sure our drinks were always full- which was much appreciated especially by my 6 year old who got another chocolate milk. This was actually the first place we've ever eaten at, to offer a second chocolate milk. She didn't even ask she just brought it when she saw he didn't have anymore and my sons eyes just lit up- usually we just have drink water, so he was pretty happy. Food may be mediocre, but they know how to provide great customer service and sometimes that goes a long way... read more

Meh.... the hash browns didn't seem fresh. Like frozen from a grocery store maybe.... not crispy. I ordered cheese crepes, they were mushy and store bought. I could taste the freezer on them..... I wish I would have taken a picture. I will never understand why restaurants put stuff on the menu that they didn't make fresh. I seriously had better ones at a buffet. All they gave was 4 small and short crepes with frozen strawberries on top. Also the kids drink cup was joke. So super tiny. read more

Windhill Pancake Parlor - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

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The Windhill Pancake Parlor is some good food but a bit on the pricey side. We had a party of 5 and didn't have anything out of the norm. My wife and I both had bacon and eggs, she had a side of oatmeal and was just drinking water. I was drinking iced tea. My son and daughter in law both had a corned beef hash and eggs skillet and both had a soda. My granddaughter had bacon, eggs, and pancakes with a soda. Our bill came to $84 with tip. Don't get me wrong, the food was good but $84 for eggs and bacon. read more

Love the seasonal decorations. Food is prepared made to order, no problem! Nice local cafe. read more

Food was good. Had the bang bang Benedict which was good. I love spice and for me could have used more but it was good. Service was attentive and it's a nice small town place. Definitely recommend read more

This place has been on my breakfast bucket list for probably 20 years - no joke. Well my husband and I were back in town visiting and we finally tried it. And guess what? It was amazing and was so worth the wait. The staff was amazing, and the environment (although a bit of a sensory overload) was really fun to observe. We went in October so the whole restaurant was decked out in everything Halloween themed - including little dolls that had wheels and rolled in between the tables scaring the kids! Their menus are inside books too- which is definitely an interesting touch. For the food, we both got skillets and shared a pancake sampler. My husband got a Hot Mess Skillet (country biscuits and gravy) and I got a Mexican Mess (cheesy, hash browns, Mexican style), and we shared an apple, blueberry and chocolate chip pancake with a side of cheesy hash browns. Also, their coffee is the bomb. All the food was superb. This place will be an absolute must when we are back in town. read more

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Everything tasted store bought. The coffee was okay but for 2 visits we were very disappointed with our food. The cheese on my husband's potato pancakes looked like plastic and tasted like plastic. The crepe I had ordered was covered in a orange sauce that was extremely sweet. It had no taste, as if it were sitting in the kitchen for months. Overall most of the food we ordered was not fresh and it was definitely was noticeable. Plus, the meals were too pricey for us. You'd think you'd get what you pay for but not here. You are better off making better food at home. read more

Delicious food. Different choices on the menu. Nice atmosphere with the historical pictures/trains & such. A nice nostalgic restaurant near the river. Nice place to go. read more

I have been eating at Windhill for the past couple of years the food is delicious and the service is good. The Friday fish fry is a must! They just added a bunch of new menu items, the Cheeseburger in Paradise Savory Crepes were unique and delicious! read more

Windhill Pancake Parlor - Cheeseburger in Paradise Savory Crepes Ground beef, bacon, cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, pickle, chipotle mayo, and ketchup. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

This is a very cute breakfast/lunch restaurant with a creative menu and some good theming! The decoration inside can best be described as cluttered and homey with some nice seasonal touches, menus in assorted books (weird, but cute) and a small train display at the bar in the back. Usually food at a place like this is an afterthought, but it is solid and well thought out here. Lots of creative and indulgent menu items. The standards of pancakes, eggs, etc are very good and we also sampled the lemon cake French toast which was very indulgent but good. Service was good and prompt for this type of restaurant. Worth checking out for a good breakfast option if you find yourself in the area! read more

Amazing food and service. So much history packed in one little building. They go all with their holiday decor and menu as well. read more

Windhill Pancake Parlor - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - McHenry, Illinois

Fantastic place all around! We got a seat at the counter so we really had primo seats with the kiddos. Got to watch the train a few times and they really make a fun great deal out of it. The food was outstanding. My husband had steak and eggs, I had the biscuits and gravy he and the kiddos shared the ninja turtles plate. Everything came out quickly the service was spectacular and we will be back many times again. read more

It's ok. Expensive. Raspberry crepes are loaded with syrup and just ok. Blintzes are from a box. The ambiance is the only charm. Coffee and a treat then its a nice place to go. Family dinner be ready to shell out $50 or more. It's not bad just average and a little pricy. read more

Windhill is always a favorite breakfast place for us. Great atmosphere. Good quality food. I appreciate the gluten free options.

Food is decent. Service is great. Decorations are great. The train table in the back is perfect for families with children as a novelty to have your food delivered on the train! Staff is always super friendly and prompt even on busy holidays. They're running around and still as friendly and smiley as possible. This is our fourth Christmas Day visit. Happy to find such a fun place to eat and be entertained as a treat on special days. On Tuesdays, I think, they have discounted kids meals and a great balloon artist. Worth the trip! read more

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The food was phenomenal! Our group had lobster omelets with hollandaise sauce, fruit crepes and waffles. Everything tasted great. Our servers were super attentive and did a great job. We would definitely go back. The restaurant was crowded though. I'm glad we were there early and would probably get a reservation for a large group. read more

We love this historic restaurant! Great food any time of the day with holiday themed decor!

I love this restaurant. It has a LOT of variety on the menu. I had apple crepes with raisins and pecans. It was so tasty!! My son had two scrambled eggs that looked like three. Portions are generous. read more

My family and I enjoyed this restaurant. The food was good and the atmosphere was also nice. The service was decent too. I will be going back. read more

Very very disappointed in food quality, the menu and reviews look impressive. Ordered corn beef hash, was from canned puree style and tasteless, cheese slices were plastic sheets. Blintzes were 2 inches long and must of been frozen, came pan fried and boiling hot, were tasteless, worst I have ever had. Atmosphere and decora are great, wish they put that into there food. read more

Ambiance is cozy and reminiscent of the good ole days. Good food but do wish portions were a bit more generous. Take the kids here for Halloween or Christmas seasons. They're decorating is top notch and kids will get a kick sitting at counter waiting for miniature train to deliver their food! read more