We come here every year for our girls brunch. Food is delicious service is great and friendly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Farmhouse vibes[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. read more

Benedict's La Strata - Sweet Heat Bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Just like it's East Dundee counterpart, Benedict's has the kind of charm that makes breakfast feel a little less routine.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is cozy and welcoming, pairing classic morning staples with enough creative twists to keep the menu from feeling predictable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's a relaxed warmth to the whole experience -- good coffee, comforting food, and an atmosphere that encourages you to linger a little longer than planned.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The food was delicious. The service was very good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was nice not too loud.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered the southwestern fiesta salad with a side of sour cream and the BLT Benedict. We would go back again. It's in downtown Crystal lake a great area to walk around. Not to far from the train station read more

Benedict's La Strata - Bloody Mary house vodka - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

I had breakfast in Crystal Lake at Benedicts on a Saturday afternoon. Service and the food were cool. I had veggie quiche with spinach, tomato, cheddar, and broccoli. This quiche was standard compared to other ones I've had in the past. A rich buttery flaky crust would have helped out tremendously. The breakfast potatoes were great. They were well seasoned, savory, and crispy. I tried the spinach, artichoke, and goat cheese frittata. It had a lot more artichoke than necessary because of the briny saltiness of it all. I'm sure this wasn't fresh artichoke. Other than that, the frittata would have been very good. Besides the miss steps, I think the menu had a few more offerings worth trying. read more

Benedict's La Strata - Spinach, Artichoke & Goat Cheese Frittata had a tad bit too much artichoke than necessary - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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One of our favorite weekend breakfast spots! We like to bike there on the weekends and enjoy a fresh coffee and their delicious Smoked Salmon Benedict with a side of berries. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The staff is always friendly, and we never have trouble finding a table.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Downtown Crystal Lake can get busy during fall events, so it's worth checking the festival schedule before you go.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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My husband and I went on a Saturday morning. We sat outside. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The temperature with the heaters on was comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our service wasn't great and I think part of the problem was that the servers were covering tables inside and outside so they weren't around when we needed something and felt we had to wait a while for requests. The food was good. The lemon zest pancakes are delicious but I needed to ask for more sauce. My husband had the breakfast quesadilla and said it was good. We got a side of sausage and got 2 links and felt the price was too high for what we got. I am not sure we will be back because the prices are high and food choices don't match our preferences. read more

Benedict's La Strata - Lemon Zest Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Food was good, service as well. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We ate outside in the covered table area, and it was a beautiful day![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

A local gem in the heart of Crystal Lake! Benedict's La Strata has quickly become one of my go-to spots, and it's easy to see why it's a favorite among locals. The breakfast and lunch menu is both creative and consistently delicious, with something for everyone whether you're in the mood for a classic comfort dish or something a little more unique. The service is always incredibly fast and friendly, which makes it a great option whether you're grabbing a quick bite or catching up with friends. Speaking of friends, whenever I have visitors in town, this is always where I take them for lunch and it never disappoints. My personal favorite? The Chicken & Pear with Brie sandwich it's packed with flavor and always hits the spot. And don't even think about skipping the fresh potato salad it's a must. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also have a cute bakery and coffee shop right across the street, which adds to the charm and convenience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Whether you're a local or just passing through, I highly recommend stopping by and exploring the menu you'll definitely want to come back. read more

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I wanna like this place so bad. I've been here three times and unfortunately, I have been disappointed every single time. First, I got the grilled cheese Benedict, the Benedict with the fillets and this time I got the chicken pot pie. When the pie came out eight minutes after I ordered, I knew it was gonna be a problem. It looked beautiful, but the bread on top was a hard Croissant like thing... The inside of the chicken pot pie was OK. Some of the chicken was good, other pieces were a lil tough like cooked too long. I would say 3/4 of the items inside of the pot pie was potatoes. Maybe a total of eight peas, little to no carrots or celery. It was overall just really disappointing. The server also didn't even tell me her name. She was nice but gave no recommendations. read more

Benedict's La Strata - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Located in downtown Crystal Lake, this was a great stop for late breakfast/early lunch. Restaurant is cozy and offers inside or outdoor (enclosed patio) seating. The menu is extensive. I had a delicious avocado, tomato and Gruyère cheese sandwich on fresh harvest wheat bread. My companion had light, fluffy crepes with fresh strawberries. Service was great and the food was very good. read more

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Haven't been here for years, decided to give it a try for breakfast. Remodeled since the last time I was here with a bit different layout. A small counter service at the relocated front door. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The environment was clean and well decorated.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was excellent and responsive. From a food perspective, I found the menu a bit limited. I had the seasonal special Bavarian style omlett that was excellent with diced bratwurst, gruyere cheese, grilled onions, and drizzled mustard holladaze sause. Coffee was unremarkable. read more

I've gone a few times for breakfast and lunch. The oatmeal was so do kinda mushy and way too much of it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The table was wobbly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The sandwich at lunch was soggy in on the bottom with no reason it should have been. Service was slow at lunch. Just nothing to rave about here. This is based on past visits within the year. Hopefully not the usual lately. read more

Delicious and creative Benedicts each and every time that we visit! Service can he a bit slow sometimes but always friendly, patient, and willing to adjust menu items for preferences! read more

Not worth the visit or order. Ordered pancakes that were burnt beyond recognition and tasted like cardboard. Skillets were lacklacking in flavor, with ingredients that seemed thrown together haphazardly. Won't be trying again! read more

Benedict's La Strata - I actually had to spit the bite taken out.. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

My mom and I met here for a little post Mother's Day Lunch. We arrived a little after 11:30 and we were seated (at a teeny tiny table) right away. My mom ordered the Reuben with the orzo salad. I ordered the Cali Melt with potato salad. We both really enjoyed our sandwiches but thought both sides needed salt. Our waitress was nice and attentive without being overbearing. I am sure we will be back sometime! read more

Food and service was exceptional. But we wanted to try the beignets and was told they only offer them before 11 wish we would have known!

Having a really hard time with this review, we wanted to love Benedict's because the food was great- but unfortunately the negative outweighed the positive. My husband and Ivisited this Saturday around 12:30, and most likely won't return. First off, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the cleanliness of the restaurant was concerning. We were sat at a table next to a window, the window ledge had months of crumbs and food CAKED on it. There was also food stains/splatters all over the wall against our table. Additionally, old sugar packets were used underneath the table to level one of the legs.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Secondly, the service was terrible. Our server was very short with us and walked away several times while my husband and I were in the middle of speaking to her. She dissapeared for long extents of time and we couldn't even get salt, pepper, butter, or ketchup brought to our table. Finally we waited around for over 15 minutes to get our check and our server was nowhere to be found. We had to get up and ask another server for the check When we went to go pay, it was around 1:45 and a group of servers was at the bar eating. We had to continue to wait to be checked out.. mind you the bill was $60 for the two of us, which is not inexpensive for brunch. I wish the food outshined everything else, but it was honestly not a good experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This restaurant needs a deep clean and staff retraining. If the visible guest areas were they dirty, just imagine how dirty the kitchen actually was.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Mens breakfast group was back again to this fabulous breakfast venue. My Eggs Benedict was just delightful. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The server kept our coffee carafes filled. The other guys were pleased as punch, too, with their food. We all understand the 20% gratuity for separate checks and the $0.50 per egg surcharge, because that's business. We're OK with that. Frankly, for our group it's the food and service standard against which we rate other breakfast places. read more

This place is absolutely delicious! And the service has been consistent happy people all the time! Last time we came we had an awesome waitress with great energy! This time same a different one her name is Nicole and she was fast , helpful with menu questions and reliable! I ordered the ultimate breakfast casserole it's part of a seasonal menu and back by popular demand. I was gonna get the breakfast burger but something leaving the menu captured my attention, so I got out of my comfort zone and ordered it and omg that hollandaise sauce was so buttery and delicious whisked to perfection! Yum! We have been here a couple of times already and I'm happy to say this is our new breakfast spot! It's so close to home located in beautiful downtown Crystal Lake! Perfect for breakfast and a little walk or shopping! Lots of parking in the back and some on the street! It wasn't too crowded this morning but it is on the weekends. They have mimosas and seasonal lattes, spiked hot cocoa for the adults! Full Bar, So many options! I will be back to try the breakfast burger, lol! Yumm That's all okay byeeeeee!! read more

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We hosted my daughter's bridal shower at Benedict LaStrada, and I cannot express my happiness with the entire experience. From start to finish, Tom and his team went above and beyond to make the day absolutely perfect. The food was outstanding, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the atmosphere was warm and inviting[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and the service was flawless. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Every single guest had wonderful things to say about the meal and the setting[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and I was truly blown away by the attention to detail and care that went into everything. Thank you for helping us create such a beautiful and memorable celebration--we couldn't have asked for more! read more

First visit today and had the best breakfast. I had the banana nut oatmeal which, although it sounds plain, was incredible! Huge serving and it was so very yummy! My friend had an omelette which she said was delicious as well as a gluten free English muffin. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great service and nice atmosphere![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will be back for sure! read more

It's been several years since I tried Benedict's. I stopped going here because the menu felt boring and everything tasted the same to me. Well my in-laws took me here last week and while I was reluctant at first, I ended up really enjoying the experience. Took about 30 minutes for a party of 7 to get seated on a Sunday morning - honestly felt like that was really quick given the size of our party. Our server was slammed but she was also spectacular so the service never lagged. She was all over it. I got the chilaquiles and they were exceptional. Great flavor, not drenched and a great portion. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals as well, including my very picky 5 year old niece. I also ordered a latte, but that was pretty average at best. Didn't really taste any espresso and would not order again. Felt like a big glass of milk - not for me. Overall, my mind was changed and I'm definitely a fan of Benedict's again. Hope to try some more menu items in the future! read more

Food was too fat for us, too many oil. We ordered BLT Benedict and Omlet. Service was okay

We usually love Benedict's but it's going to take us awhile to recover from our Mother's Day brunch experience. I had made a reservation for our party of 9 at the end of April . I wasn't aware that it was going to be a buffet style meal for $47 a person !! I wish someone would have mentioned that when I made the reservation because we would have never gone to Benedict's if we knew that . I will take some responsibility for not inquiring though because lots of places will do that for special occasions. But unfortunately, we learned all of this info when we checked in . We waited 30 minutes for someone to come over and ask us if we needed drinks ... I actually went up to the bar after about 20 minutes to ask if I could just order a drink and was told to go back to table and someone would come to take our orders ... I felt a little scolded but someone did come about 10 minutes later. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The nine of us all got in the long line for the buffet . I felt like I was back in elementary school waiting in the cafeteria line. It was a cluster.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was fine but $ 47 a person for breakfast foods , some meats and chicken tenders ....not worth it! I am actually sick to my stomach thinking about the amount we paid for this meal- it was criminal. I had been looking into hosting a banquet/party here and have decided against this venue due to the experience we had. I will likely return to Benedict's at some point because I do enjoy dining here and really like their menu but this was just disappointing . read more

Very unpleasant- food, and service. Avocado toast came out cold. The eggs were cold and there was very little flavor. An eggs, bacon and hash brown meal came cold as well. Very chewy and cold hash browns. The crepe order was forgotten. We received it when everyone was done. Our server seemed annoyed with us and other tables around him. He was muttering and complaining while walking by our table. We won't be back. read more

Open for breakfast and lunch. Nice selection on the menu - original items and some regular menu items but served with unique twists and freshness that can't be beat. Love that they offer a choice for the side. Chips are homemade, fruit cup is seasonal and a nice portion. Love that the soda refill is served in a half carafe - nice touch. There is inside seating, screened patio seating and outdoor seating - right in the downtown Crystal Lake. read more

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Great breakfast choice in Crystal Lake. Busy, so its good to go early. Really enjoyed the Fuego Benedict, spicy chorizo with a spicy Hollandaise. A different take on the benedict, but very good. The grill cheese Benedict was also a good choice, very flavorful. They also do a nice job with the breakfast potatoes. Big menu, hard to choose, but I suspect everything is good. read more

Benedict's La Strata - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

I had brunch there yesterday and ordered the Rothchild Benedict which is supposed to enclude filet mignon with eggs and the English muffin. I did not get filet mignon but got what I thought was flank steak, which was under cooked. Everything else about our dining was fine. read more

Always excellent service. Never worry about the quality of food. It's always excellent. Can't wait to go again. There are eggs Benedict is to die for. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a cozy charming restaurant in the middle of downtown Crystal Lake.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

My wife and I are in town for a job interview. When we travel we always want to find local spots which aren't chain restaurants, so we found BLS today. Keeping it simple, let's play "The good, the bad, and the ugly" game: The good: Expansive menu with traditional and unique items. The Beignet's were very fresh and excellent, as were our two entrees. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The server was very attentive and friendly, and the interior just felt comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Really good stuff. The bad: We all know eggs are more eggspensive (sorry, couldn't help myself) but BLS decided they are going to add a $.50 surcharge for each egg included in a dish. Listen...I've been a life-long food and beverage director for hotels, restaurants, and clubs. I know what the costs are. If a restaurant bumped up the cost of a dish to offset the temporary cost of an item, sure, it's completely understandable. However, their cost increase for each egg is about $.17 cents, so let's call this what it is: Gouging. Secondly, we asked for a little bit more of the ranchero sauce for one of the dishes, which came half-way filled in a 2-ounce ramekin. The bill noted a charge of $1.25 for a 1-ounce bit of sauce. C'mon. Nobody should hold it against restaurants for what feels like steep price increases since Covid, but there's a point where a restaurant is just nickel-and-diming patrons to death. The ugly: It's good for BLS that we can honestly say there was nothing ugly about our visit. The food was very good and the service was as well. Having said that, the price gouging leaves a very bad taste in our mouths so tomorrow we'll be finding somewhere else to dine. If such a thing isn't a big concern for you I'd recommend BLS as a good brunch joint. read more

Went for brunch with my daughter. I got the French toast with strawberries and whipped cream, two eggs sunnyside up, and sausage links. My daughter had pancakes with scrambled eggs and bacon. We were both very happy with our meals. I love the ambience and atmosphere of this place. The waitress was very attentive and nice. The bathrooms were well stocked and clean. One of my favorite brunch spots in CL. read more

Benedict's La Strata - French Toast Combo and Pancake combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Came here for breakfast with my wife. The menu is just massive so it took us 10 minutes to settle on a meal. Their coffee (Intelligentsia) is excellent and they bring a carafe out so we had three cups, each. For my meal I decided to have Eggs Benedict and it was very good. The poached eggs are very well prepared and their Hollandaise sauce is decadent. The English muffin was well toasted and the Canadian Bacon was very good. I would probably get something different next time but I love this restaurant. read more

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First visit since the pandemic. Everything is clean and the tables are spread out for social distancing. Silverware comes in paper sleeves (just ask for napkins). Came here with hubby for breakfast on his day off work (Presidents Day). Water served in a large glass carafe on your table so we may refill our own glasses. Coffee is still served in colorful (real) mugs and a small coffee carafe sits on the table so we may refill our own mugs. Liz, our waitress, helped with some suggestions. Service with a smile. Hubby ordered the original eggs Benedict with a fruit cup. He loved it. Said the hollandaise sauce was great. He ate it all. I ordered an old favorite, Red Rooster Hash with a fruit cup. Just as delicious as I remembered. Very satisfying and filling. I brought home my leftovers. Music softly playing. All the employees are so kind and happy. Now they have a second location across the street. It also serves Intelligencia Coffee as well as scones and of their baked goodies. Gluten-free available. read more

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Quaint breakfast place with a variety of options. My favorite is the zucchini egg Benedict. Super friendly staff .

Walked in on Mother's Day with my two kids and they said they just had the buffet (didn't say the prices), so we sat down. I noticed a sign on the wall where we were seated and it was almost $50 for adults and $15 or so for kids. I should've gotten up and left, but we had already ordered drinks and I thought maybe they would charge me for two kids and one adult only but they didn't. They also added 20% gratuity automatically to the bill, so I walked away spending $140 for myself, my teen son and my daughter on a breakfast buffet. The service was fine and the food was ok, but there was nothing spectacular like you'd see elsewhere like carving/omelette stations, fountains, etc. When we left I just felt like it was a rip off (who wants to feel like that on Mother's Day?) and wish we had just gone to one of the other restaurants down the street for a regular breakfast for 1/3 of the price. I would come back here for the regular menu because that's usually pretty good, but I wouldn't recommend the holiday buffets if they're offered. read more

Food is excellent. Fast service. Highly recommend. Hard to find a good breakfast place in this area A++

We recently came here for brunch on Sunday, and although it was busy we were seated right away in their enclosed patio area which luckily was well heated. Our food came out quickly and was delicious. The staff were friendly too. It can be hard to find street parking in the area but there are parking lot options close by. The restaurant was nicely decorated. For two people with specialty coffee drinks, a side and two entrees, our total was about $50-60. read more

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If 'I do not care' was a restaurant...this is what it would be. I am new to Crystal Lake, and have been frequenting all the mom and pop eateries as much as possible. I've been across the street to Taste of Benedict's and they were so wonderful. How could the two places be so different?!?! Shout out to Taste of Benedict for great service and atmosphere! I was sat outside, it was pretty cold but the heaters helped. I feel like since there was almost no one inside at the time, there wasn't a good reason to sit people on the covered patio. It was like 40 degrees. Service was absolutely awful. Myself and two other tables were ignored by our server. I literally had to ask the three servers behind the counter if someone could take my drink order after sitting at my table for 10 minutes. The hostess ended up helping me, which was very nice of her. She also ended up taking my order. In fact, the only time the actual server came out was to offer a to go box. The hostess helped me for everything else and she kept apologizing on the restaurants behalf. I was there for an hour no refills on coffee or water was offered and after I felt bad asking for help I didn't want to push. There were only a handful of patrons in the whole restaurant and it was mid day lunch time on a Sunday but a good 5 servers I think. The bussers were on top of things but kept looking at the three neglected tables like they were saying 'not my circus, not my monkeys!' A couple at a table next to me were so upset on how long it was taking to get their check that they actually started arguing with each other on who was going to go ask for the bill. I should have just left when I saw that going on. My food was just ok, which was a bummer because if it was good then the wait and stuff would have been worth it. I got a grilled chicken pear and Brie sandwich. The chicken breast had a re-heated flavor and was not really seasoned. The pear was definitely out of season and rock hard. Brie, aioli and greens were the best part of the whole thing. My side was the potato crisps and they were hard as a rock... I had like three but they were so hard that it didn't make sense to try and eat them. I did take the sandwich home because the ciabatta and Brie was a good combo without the chicken. Check out was interesting, the cashier was not a happy girl. I'm not sure what happens behind the scenes but she was not enjoying her job. I almost didn't say anything about the service... she didn't ask... but I offered up my experience and she definitely nodded and said 'ok'. I never felt more like an annoyance at a place of business before The hostess that helped so much was super cheery and cool. She did have her feet up on the podium but after everything else happening it wasn't really that big of a deal. There was more that happened but these were the highlights. I am hoping this was an off day and maybe a second visit will be better, because the whole thing didn't make sense. ****************************************** Adding replies to the owners response (thank you for the quick contact!) - I did not ask to be seated anywhere specifically. I would have been asked to be seated inside but seeing as how difficult it was to get service, I didn't want to press my luck. It was my first time at Benedicts so I didn't know what to expect regarding seating. - the hostess said she was normally a server but was helping out in front that day. She was wearing plain clothes. She came to my table after I asked the ladies behind the counter if someone could come take my drink order and she took both my drink and food order there. She really was so nice! - I didn't ask for a manager because my husband was with me, and he was so annoyed and upset that we had been there for an hour that honestly he didn't give me time to ask for a manager. He hates a fuss, and just wanted to leave and write it off as 'we will not be coming back again.' But that's not fair to a business either. I didn't see anyone other than servers, hostess and bussers the whole time. I should have asked for a manager, but already felt like I was being a 'Karen'. read more

Went for the Mother's Day Brunch buffet and wasn't at all impressed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Bill came to $378 for six adults ($63/pp) which was egregious given the cramped atmosphere, food quality and overall presentation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Diners had to stand amongst the tables inside to enter the buffet line, making it awkward for everyone, especially one particular family who I felt bad for as others were in their space.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]View inside the restaurant's supply closet wasn't pleasant, nor was having to move constantly so servers could pass by.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was okay but not for that price. Apple danish was hard. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Chair had food on it from previous occupant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Would not recommend if you're looking to treat mom. read more

We have been comming here since they opened. The original owner John was very conscious about the quality of what was served. He used clean ingredients and quality and good oils for frying. That has all changed with the new ownership. Now it seams to be all about there bottom line. It's a real shame, as this restaurant was the exception to the corporate rule. Another one bites the dust. The only exception is the service, it is always excellent. read more