This place is a joke not sure what else to say. We ordered the food almost 3 hours ago and it's still not here. They blamed grub hub not putting the order in. We called 1.5 hours ago to ask where the food was and they said it was on its way with the driver. Then we waited 30 min, called again, and it hadn't even left the place and they said it was being packaged up. Here we sit 3 hours later and the food still hasn't arrived. How breakfast food should take 3 hours to cook, package and deliver is beyond me. This isn't the first time we have experienced this with egg Shells. They need serious management help or they need to stop trying to deliver all together. read more

First of all, my eggs were cold and under cooked. Then we got locked in and there were so many fire hazards. Never want to come back

The service is very slow. Food is good but there were 3 tables open and until we asked them to clean a table for us they didn't even notice we had been waiting for 30 minutes to sit down. When they cleaned the table it seemed not very sanitary either. read more

I used to love this place, but it has gone downhill. The restaurant appears dirty and the last couple times I went, the quality of food had gone down significantly. It was bland and poorly cooked. Service is hot and cold. read more

Will never order here again. Made an order via Grubhub, food never came. I called Egg Shells, they said they would be refunding me through Grubhub and hung up. Person on the phone was very rude as well. Never got the refund, called Grubhub, said that this is common and that restaurants lie about contacting them and that there is a 24 hour policy, so now I am out $40. Do not order online here. read more

My wife and I loved this place when we first moved to the area and have eaten here probably a dozen times in the last ~3 years. However, in the time since we first moved to the area this restaurant has really gone down hill. Our most recent trip involved bad coffee (all of these comments are relative to past when we first moved and things were great), bad service, wrong order when it did arrive, no side when one was supposed to arrive (on top of the wrong order which was for wife), slow service (not crowded at the time). There is not a thing about this place that doesn't seem to have fallen off and in several cases steeply fallen off. I wish I wasn't writing this review.......but I am because we had recommended this place many times too..... read more

Egg Shells is tiny. And by tiny, I mean very, very small. They say that they're wheelchair accessible, but I'd like to see someone try it. When the place is full, it's difficult to navigate on two feet, much less in a wheelchair. If you want to go for breakfast with a large (meaning more than 4) party, you'll want to go either very early, or well after the rush, unless you want to wait for a while. The food is very good. Excellent even. Fresh, thickly sliced toast, fluffy omelets and pancakes, and everything is made to order. Meats are also delicious. We go often for the food, as it is outstanding. Housemade fresh donuts as well are tempting, but so far I've resisted. Prices are extremely reasonable, and their weekday breakfast special is an amazing deal (ask for the farmer's breakfast - pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage all for under $4.) The service is a different story. It can be adequate, but that's about the best it gets. Hope you get Melissa, as she's by far the best of the lot. Others (who will not be named) range from overwhelmed to downright horrible. It's often tough to get coffee refills, and it's a common occurrence to have to ask for the same item several times. I've seen people wait (and wait and wait and wait) because the only available table is covered with loaves of bread and the servers are too overwhelmed/busy/clueless to clear the table. The owner is a frequent presence, and when he's around the service improves, but that isn't always the case. For a place as miniscule as this one, 2 servers should be able to handle it, but when the place is busy (or even sort of busy) they really can't. read more

I ordered a pick up, waited 35 min before I left my house, did some yard work. They did not even start making my breakfast until I got there, and just left me waiting with the car running....no information nothing. OK, if she would have told me when I got there, we have not even started making your breakfast, I would have paid, and said I will be back in 45 min, running to Home Depot, did my thing and came back to get breakfast, I was not given that option, just delayed for 45 min. I will never go back there again.....ever. read more

Having eaten here six times (so far), I can say, without a doubt, Eggshells is an absolutely terrific place for breakfast and lunch. I have eaten at breakfast places throughout the country (Atlanta, New York, Las Vegas, Kansas City and Chicago) and Eggshells sets the standard by which all other Chicago establishments follow. I will get to the food in a moment. But first... Craig, the accessible, hard-working co-owner, is as gracious and accommodating as one could hope. He is among the very best restaurant owners I've met. He greets everyone with a smile and his approach makes you feel like you have been one of his longtime friends. I've observed his enthusiasm, and seeing how he loves when customers are happy. For example, I've seen him go out of his way to make sure his customer's spread the good word (he has been known to surprise his customers with free homemade doughnuts (they're awesome!), bagels & cream cheese to go, a toasted bialy with butter and a random sampling of his item du jour. The environment: We all have waited in line to get a seat at breakfast in places like Toast, The Bongo Room, Orange, Southport Grocery & Cafe and M. Henry's. Many of these have limited seating and often come with long waits. This is not a negative in my opinion. Big crowds who wait, do so for good reason: The food is excellent. The place is a destination. Eggshells, given its less populated geographic area, has shorter waits, but it's absolutely worth the wait. Okay, the food. Where do I begin? Huge entrees, many of which come with two sides of your choosing (awesome selection). Terrific specials. like the Irish Benedict with exceptional homemade Corned Beef Hash. Best bagels in Chicago (Beats NY Bagels and Bialy, taste for yourself). Eggshells' Bialy will also make the East Coasters very happy. Unbelievably good homemade whipped cream cheese - also take it to go! Potato Pancakes to die for. Huge 10 oz. Angus burgers. Tater Tots are pretty killer. Must try the Eggshells LumberJack Burrito. Must try the Eggshells Chopped salad. One last thing: I love the menu. It doesn't read like War & Peace with so many options. But it has all the breakfast fare you would want: pancakes, french toast, huge omelettes, belgian waffles, great salads, sandwiches, awesome sides, etc. You must check it out. You'll love it. Peace, Mitchell read more

In my last two visits I have noticed a dirty restaurant, they do not keep clean as they did when they first opened. Also on thus past Sunday we got no attention when we requested an outside table get cleaned - again Bad service. We will no longer eat at Egg Shells until Craig cleans up his place and people! read more

The food is great! When you can get it.... We (We being several employees at retail business on Rand road down the street) used to order all the time because we all live and work in the area, it was convenient and tasty. Then we started to see some inconsistencies in the quality of both food and service. Either it would take them OVER TWO HOURS to deliver and the food would be greasy and ice cold, or they would refuse to deliver at all. Some days they would come up with an excuse why they couldn't deliver. They would claim they had a flat tire, they were to busy to take an order (WHAT?!), they were to busy to deliver, their delivery person was out sick, it was too late (It was 11am and they claim they close at 3pm). Some days they would simply say weren't delivering that day. We actually had them argue why we were being difficult and wouldn't come pick up the food. Not that we need an excuse but when on a 30min lunch break there really isn't time to order for 12 people, wait for it to be prepared AND eat! Now when your order comes to an average of $200 and you're ordering about once a week (or more) you might expect a little appreciation or at least a "Thanks" now and again. Instead you get....attitude and Horrible customer service. The last (and probably Final time) we ordered the white haired man that delivered actually blamed the delivery time on the directions we gave him. The directions are One Left, then One Right. We also gave the business name. It's pretty big and nearly impossible to miss. I miss when the younger owner worked there, because he can't be around anymore. I can't imagine the guy who used to talk to every table, deliver himself, correct any mistake no matter how minute and generally be the best costumer service guy in the biz caring so little about his business any more. read more

This place was exciting to have when it first opened, and the food was decent. Since then, they have outgrown their space and there's nowhere to sit or even stand to get your take out. The food has no flavor and is just okay. They constantly advertise that they deliver, when in fact they only deliver when they feel like it. I've called three times for delivery in lake Zurich and have been told that they weren't delivering at that time. False advertising will not get you repeat customers. read more

I decided to try it because it's close to work and has a fair number of good reviews. It did not live up to my expectations. The waitress was quick, friendly and attentive. That's the only good part of my experience. The dining room is tight and cramped. There were only two other tables that had customers and it felt crowded. I can't imagine how bad it would be if it was busy. Finally, the food was average at best. I ordered scrambled eggs with bacon and rye toast. The rye toast wasn't really toasted, it was just kind of warmed. Sadly, it was the best part of the meal. The eggs were overdone to the point where they were a bit burnt. The bacon was underdone, with the fat still soft and white. I will say breads, bagels and donuts all looked and smelled great. Overall, if you are looking for a bakery, this place might be Ok. If you are looking for a restaurant to have breakfast, there are better choices. read more

Let me first say, I want to like and support a local place like this very much. But when the older proprietor is too busy taking up a valuable space during rush hours, reading a paper and not really giving any kind of attention to the customers, then buses tables in a sloth-like, sloppy manner (he looked like he just got up and was walking around in grubby t-shirt and shorts) and not washing his hands (did I see you lick your finger to turn the page of your newspaper?! Ugh!), when grabbing your silverware...gross, negative points. Add to that, you can see the kitchen (very cool), but to watch the cooks not care and toss your order paper right onto your dish of hot food...isn't that a sanitation issue with the food department? While waiting for our main meal, we got served our donuts on wax paper squares while everyone else got served donuts on actual plates without an explanation. They were all with the frosting of the donut face down. Seriously? Huh?! We let the older owner, Max know about our food getting paper tossed onto it, since he wasn't really paying attention to what was going on in front of his face. He just kept telling me it was the food slip with our order. He didn't seem to understand I didn't want the order slip thrown *onto* my food. There was no reason for it. The kitchen and public counters were messy, dirty, sloppy. The open plastic bags/sleeves holding the bread for toast was also resting on my breakfast food. Wait staff grabbed bread to throw in the toaster...after handling money and touching gosh knows what else. Wondering what the health department has to say about this place? I understand mom and pop places and I want them to do well. I understand kitchens hide a lot of stuff they do to your food before it's presented. However, when customers can clearly see kitchen operations, try to at least make an effort to keep your kitchen clean and professional. If you're going to be present at your place of business to monitor, please monitor and at least be friendly to new customers. They've got a good idea and I hope they do well. But if the owner doesn't even bother to listen to their concerned wait staff about hygiene and customer feedback, I truly hope the Food Sanitation Department checks this review out. It might help them change a few things before someone gets massively sick. Maybe then, I'll go back. Until the service and sanitation gets better at this place, I don't recommend this place. I'll clog my arteries elsewhere. Walker Brothers and Egg Harbor are just too close and too good to bother with bad attitude and disgusting sanitation that early in the morning. read more

The service was bad, the food was worse. I was surprised at how dirty the place was (the menus, floor, the soda machine) it was gross. My eggs on the egg Benedict were totally undercooked and the muffin was soggy. My boyfriends eggs were undercooked as well the yolks were so runny. The potatoes were a soggy greasy mess. I probably watched 3-4 tables be seated & served their food before I got my food. A couple tables had already left before I had gotten my food and they were seated after us. Our waitress forgot about us multiple times getting our drinks out and she was eating food in the corner table (that was for people who had canceled their delivery order because the chef forgot to make their food) while we were waiting for her to take our orders. Unprofessional, lazy. I'm never coming here again, sorry! It seems like no one on staff cares. I don't think they will be open very much longer if this keeps up. read more

Was the first one in the door at 6:00 A.M. Ordered food by 6:05 A.M. And came to the table by 6:30 A.M. With no one else in the restaurant! Two customers came in for doughnuts and that's it. The waiter kept telling me the order is coming up and I asked him is it do to the chickens in the back room were on strike. read more

Our family of five enjoyed plentiful and delicious fresh food here. The service was exceptional and it was clear the staff and owner, whom we met, cared about their patrons. We will be back! read more

The food was stellar. I went here for first time before a meeting I had in the area. Donut holes with dipping glaze, good coffee and sausage gravy to die for. read more

I'm all about supporting local businesses, so the wife and I decided to give Eggshells a shot. Not sure what to say, other than the floor and tables were dirty, the seating was incredibly cramped, the service was just okay and the food was poor. My wife ordered the potato pancakes and I can honestly say they were almost inedible. Potato pancakes are made with shredded potatoes and little bit of onion. Eggshells makes theirs with either mashed potatoes or instant potatoes. They were terrible. I had an egg dish that was supposed to be hash with eggs and chipotle sauce on top. It wasn't bad, but also wasn't good at all...very oily. People sitting next to us sent back a burger because it was still frozen in the middle. Unacceptable! This place has great potential and I want them to succeed, but it was bad enough that we won't go back. They should talk Robert Irvine into coming there and clean it up. They have the potential to be a breakfast restaurant powerhouse, but unfortunately they're a restaurant impossible. I would suggest new cooks using fresh ingredients, as well as cleaning the place up a little. Man, I want to love this place, but.... read more

Been here for breakfast and lunch. Love the corned beef hash. No one else around makes it fresh with real corned beef. I would much rather have corned beef hash and hash browns made from real meat and potatoes than the bagged and canned ones you get from other restaurants in the area. The portions are also very generous. The staff was attentive and pleasant. The donuts are the best anywhere! I was told they are made fresh everyday and if you go late enough they give you some free to take home so they don't go to waste. The garlic bialy's are excellent too. Some times the coffee is a little too strong for me. I read the previous reviews about the toast and it's strange to me because every other restaurant handles toast the same way, you just can't see it because it's in the back. Overall great home made food, generous portions and very nice staff. I'll keep going! read more

This place is dirty, there were multiple fruit flies hovering over my plate. It makes you wonder how the back space is maintained if the front area is so filthy. Food is tasteless. Service is terrible, the waitress was busy checking her phone for at least 10 minutes while we waited for the bill. Space is cramped and uncomfortable. Overall a very unpleasant experience. read more

Ordered eggs benedict. Comes with 2 sides. Great! But we won't serve x, y, or z sides. And we are out of a and b sides. So they are basically mandating what sides to eat. Oh and by the way they are also out of hollandaise? That was the deciding factor to just go somewhere else instead. read more

I'm giving it 2 stars as the food was very good. However, my friend and I won't ever return due to the rude waitress. We ordered crepes. Halfway through breakfast, the waitress said, "I can't believe you are eating so much of that". We were dumbfounded. We both finished our meals. The waitress came back and said, "I can't believe you ate it all". I told her she was rude. Her response "really"? I said yes and then she said "oh" and walked away. No apology. When we go out to eat, we prefer not being told we are "pigs". read more

I had the eggs Benedict and they were awful. The potatoes were unedited and the waitress complained the whole.time. I'll never go there again. read more

Food was horrible, under cooked and sloppy! I was double charged and spent over an hour trying to get the charge reversed. I was charged $94 for 3 omelets and a fruit cup...NEVER AGAIN!!! read more

food is great waitresses are rude bordering on surly

Filthy! I have never seen such filth in a restaurant in such a short period of time than I did here. Starting with the owner who went to grab a couple donuts for himself using his bare fingers moving multiple donuts around to get to the ones he wanted. Then he went and operated the cash register. God knows what he was handling before he handled all the donuts with his bare hands. As the owner, he especially should have known better as there was wax paper right next to him he could have used. Not to mention he was dressed like a slob. Then the waiter went to get lemons out of a cooler to put into someone's iced tea and he used his bare fingers to grab the cut-up lemons and put them into the drink. Has this place not heard of utensils? One of the cooks/bus boys came out from the kitchen and grabbed a couple donut holes and popped them into his mouth and then walked back into the back. The floor is filthy, looks like it has never been washed. This all happened while we were eating our breakfast which, while good, will no doubt get me sick. After seeing all this go on, I couldn't even finish my meal. The health department really needs to look into this place's sanitation. Who knows what happens that I didn't see? We were only there for about 1/2 hour. I will definitely not be back and urge anyone who cares about their health to think twice. read more

Less than mediocre breakfast. Absolutely the worst service from the rudest, grungiest server I've ever encountered.

Check your bills, first time I thought was mistake , 2nd,3rd time, definitely on purpose. They tack on a dollar or 2 here and there on drinks and meals. Sneaky and obviously unethical. Food is ok, not great read more

Last time i will ever go here. Food is good however service is so awful that I would not recommend it any longer. No one greets you as you enter. You have to practically grab someone by the arm to get their attention. Once you sit down there is significant wait prior to ordering. I had a very poor experience today and it was not crowded at all. My wife ordered a hot tea and water was luke warm. We waited so long we had to get our food to go and they wanted me to put it in to go boxes myself, ridiculous. Honestly, there are plenty of places with superior service and i would included mcdonalds as an example. Will not be going back. read more

It amazes me that with all of the nice dining options in Lake Zurich that this place is still in business. It is dirty, the wait staff is less then helpful and curtious. The dining is very cramped and my food was undercooked. I would not recommend this breakfast/lunch place, go a little further down Route 22 to Brunch Cafe or down Rt. 12 th Walker Brothers, where the staff is smiling and the food is hot. read more

They need a new location. This place is a dump and to small. Also hire new professional wait staff at your new place. And for god sakes there's nothing I hate more than a place that "nickel and dime"s you for pieces of cheese etc. You make enough money to afford a piece of cheese or spoonfull of cream cheese and not bleed everyone dry that comes in for an extra dollar or more per sandwich. Heck, even mcdonalds throws in a piece of cheese. your looking at a 14 dollar burger. May as well goto lucky munk and get a giant delicious one loaded with toppings. read more

The food was really good, but the waitress made our meal stressful. I would go back if they were not crowded or just to buy donuts.

Terrible and rude service. The menu looked great but the sides were terrible. They charged us $2.50 for toast and two of us shared a third meal and they tried to charge us $3 for 'splitting an order'. So dumb! Bad attitude of the server spoiled it for us. Better food and prices elsewhere! read more

This was our second try eating here. We stopped in for breakfast. Ordered breakfast and then waited over 1/2 hour with nothing and no communication. We inquired and found out they had a large catering order so there's people that are waiting longer than us. No sorry no we're working on it. No thank you. We left after 40 minutes. The waitress was nasty and used her fingers to grab toast and bagels no plastic gloves. Never never again.dont waste your time. Bathrooms were disgusting. Would give 0 stars if possible. read more

We have eaten here a lot and the food was great. A few days ago we went for breakfast and the help seems unaware you are there. And the place was dirty, never was before. Salt and pepper shakers, the chairs in sunshine were flithy.. And then my husband said, Look up. The black vents were clogged with dust. Don't know what's going on but we won't go back till they clean! It was a favorite breakfast place. read more

This compact, fast-paced diner caters to the local breakfast and lunch crowd. The chopped salads are a decent choice for lunch and the eggs come any way you'd like them. The price is right and the staff friendly. All told it was decent ... nothing bad but nothing really remarkable. read more

Food is delicious... if you are ever served... SERVICE IS HORRIBLE!!!!!! Worst part is, they could care less if you aren't satisfied..Takes 15 minutes for them to come around to greet you, the taking your order takes forever.. Place is tiny and cramped.. Definitely has gone down hill.. worth going down Rand Rd. and going to Walker Brothers.. read more

Like many other reviewers, I struggle with Eggshells because their food (when they actually get your order correct and don't undercooked it) is delicious. The problems start everywhere else...the inept servers, the dirty and cramped atmosphere, the inability to make food consistently, and a total breakdown when it comes to handling busy crowds. It is a shame because their menu is so promising and the fact that they are an independent business is appealing in such a chain-restaurant hellhole. But unless they figure out how to clean up their execution and stop acting like clueless yokels, they will remain mediocre to disappointing. UPDATED 8/2012: there appears to be a concerted effort by the owners and staff to really improve the service and friendliness. While the environment is still rough around the edges, you can tell this scrappy little diner is working on their weak spots. Raising rating from 1 star to 3 stars. Want to get 5 stars? Move out of this awful strip mall cubicle and into one of the MANY vacant spaces in LZ (Yogis, Omega, etc). read more

My girlfriend and I would really like to give Shells a better star rating, but can't.. While over the past 2 years the service has been hit or miss, the last two experiences with their service has been simply awful. Their good food doesn't make-up for how lame their staff is. Rude and uncaring sums up the service. Lack of basic cleanliness would be the other complaint if we even cared to return--check out the nasty black drape at the entrance and in & around the soda machine if you care to visit this joint. We'll spend the thousand of dollars we spend eating-out at their competition after today. read more