Loaf Lounge has been on my Chicago bakery bucket list for quite some time, and after finally making the trip, I can confidently say it exceeded every expectation. This is the kind of place that perfectly blends neighborhood charm, exceptional baking, and creative breakfast offerings into an experience that makes you immediately start planning your next visit before you've even left. The star of my breakfast was the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich. Every component was executed flawlessly. The bread was fresh, soft, and flavorful, providing the perfect foundation for the savory sausage, fluffy egg, and melted cheese. It's a simple sandwich in theory, but Loaf Lounge elevates it through quality ingredients and expert execution. Every bite was satisfying, hearty, and exactly what you hope for when treating yourself to a great breakfast. As impressive as the sandwich was, the hash browns nearly stole the show. Perfectly golden and crispy on the outside while remaining tender inside, they delivered that ideal contrast of textures that makes great hash browns so memorable. They're the type of side dish that starts as an accompaniment and quickly becomes one of the highlights of the meal. If you're ordering breakfast here, don't skip them. The coffee program is equally strong. Whether you're looking for a simple drip coffee or something more specialty-focused, the quality is evident from the first sip. It paired beautifully with both the savory breakfast items and the incredible selection of baked goods that tempt you from the moment you walk through the door. Speaking of baked goods, the display case alone is worth a visit. Everything looks meticulously crafted, and narrowing down your selection is nearly impossible. One standout was the famous chocolate cake featured in The Bear. As a fan of both great desserts and great television, trying it felt like a quintessential Chicago experience. Rich, decadent, and beautifully balanced, it's easy to understand why it has developed such a devoted following. Even beyond the cake, the variety and quality of pastries, breads, and sweets make it clear that Loaf Lounge takes its craft seriously. The atmosphere is another reason this place stands out. The space feels bright, welcoming, and effortlessly cool without being pretentious. There's a constant buzz of activity, but it never feels overwhelming. Instead, it creates the sense that you've discovered one of those beloved neighborhood spots where locals genuinely enjoy spending their mornings. The outdoor seating is a huge bonus, especially during Chicago's warmer months. Sitting outside with a coffee, a pastry, and a breakfast sandwich while watching the neighborhood come to life is about as good as a morning can get. The patio adds another layer of charm and makes Loaf Lounge a destination rather than just a quick stop. The staff deserves special recognition as well. Despite a busy crowd, everyone was friendly, patient, and genuinely enthusiastic. Whether answering questions about the menu or helping guests navigate the impressive pastry selection, the team created an atmosphere that felt welcoming and approachable from start to finish. Chicago is filled with outstanding bakeries and breakfast spots, but Loaf Lounge manages to distinguish itself through exceptional food, world-class baked goods, excellent coffee, inviting outdoor seating, and genuinely warm hospitality. Whether you're coming for the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich, the legendary chocolate cake, or simply a great cup of coffee and pastry, it's the type of place that reminds you why Chicago's food scene is among the best in the country. 5/5 read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Heard a lot of about this place and can confirm it's worth the hype. Everyone in my group got each sandwich and they all were delicious. The Rhiannon surprised me the most. No meats--just pure flavor and texture! The desserts are nice too. Loved the oatmeal cookie. Buttery and rich. read more

Loaf Lounge - Oatmeal cookie - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am obsessed with Loaf Lounge and can't wait to come back! I went on a Thursday morning and there was no wait. I ordered a chocolate chip cookie and their breakfast sandwich with a hashbrown on the side. The staff was super friendly and made sure that I ordered exactly what I wanted! They even bagged up the stuff I asked for to-go and brought it out to my table when I was done eating. The chocolate chip cookie here is one of the best I've had in Chicago. The texture is perfect, they use high quality chocolate, and it's not too sweet. It is also not too big, one cookie is a reasonable size so you don't end up overeating. The breakfast sandwich was good as well, just a bit juicy from the veggies. It has robust flavor and the softness of the English muffin really brings it all together. The hashbrown here is definitely a must-try as well. They really nailed the texture. read more

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The sausage egg & cheese deserves all the hype. Sometimes dishes get overhyped but this is not one of them. If you like sausage breakfast sandwiches at all you NEED to try this. The sausage is not your standard Jimmy Dean's-esque patty. You can tell it's made fresh - it's super juicy, the maple flavor really comes through but not in an aggressive way, and there are no weird fatty or chewy bits. The English muffin is unlike any other I've had. It tasted super fresh & had a pleasant chew. I find most English muffins dry but this was not dry at all. The egg? Could not be cooked any better. The yolk was perfectly runny while the whites were cooked all the way through. No one wants snotty egg whites! A lot of places can't get this right without overcooking the yolk but not here! I also got a cinnamon roll that was gooey with just the right amount of icing. They warm it up for you, which is essential imo. However, the roll isn't anything revolutionary. I'd get the oatmeal cream pie over the cinnamon roll. This is what Little Debbie should taste like & this is coming from someone who loves LB oatmeal cream pies!! The cookie part was crispy on the edges and ooey gooey everywhere else with just the right amount of frosting. My fave oatmeal cream pie ever. I also don't think I'll ever have a better sausage egg and cheese muffin. The hash brown was perfectly crispy and soft on the inside as well. Everything I got had just the right amount of salt and sweetness. read more

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Breakfast sandwich was great. Wish added the hash browns on top of it as well. Bakery items and coffee were also good. Would come back. It did take a little time to get the breakfast sandwich so expect a line and little wait read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Whoever invented the veggie, egg and cheese sandwich is a freaking genius. SO AMAZING EVERY FREAKING TIME. I dream of this sandwich. read more

Loaf Lounge - Veggie, egg and cheese sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loaf Lounge is a great spot to stop at if you're in the area! It's a super cozy spot and the drinks and sandwiches are phenomenal. The service is great as well and everyone is super helpful when looking for alternatives. The gentleman who made my matcha today makes it equally as good each time I come here. I recommend asking for oat milk and pistachio! Overall, I really love it here:) read more

Loaf Lounge - Matcha latte:oat milk and pistachio - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loaf Lounge lives up to the hype! It does get busy so I'd suggest coming at a non-peak time. The chocolate cake is really good and so is the coffee. I would definitely go back to try other baked goods. Would definitely recommend if you're thinking of trying this place out. read more

Stopped in on a cold weekend morning. Traffic didn't pick up until after we ordered which was nice so we were able to grab one of the few tables. Very tight inside but if you can find a seat you're good. I ordered the matcha, a cinnamon roll, and a sausage, egg, and cheese on an English muffin. They give you a number and bring the food out to you. When the food arrived it smelled so good and tasted even better. First bite of the English muffin the egg yolk broke all over the sandwich which made it rich and delicious. Sausage patty was fresh and the cheese was a great compliment. The cinnamon roll was nice and warm with a simple icing. The matcha was smooth and so refreshing on that cold day. So many loaves of bread to choose from too to take home. Such a great brekky on a cold day! read more

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Love this place!! A little out of the way but even on a cold wintery day it was still packed when I got there. Was able to secure a table for dining in, kind of tricky when it's so busy. Took a while for the sandwich to come out but I found it so worth it. Really good breakfast sandwich. I do regret not getting a hashbrown and a slice of cake to go, but can always return! read more

Loaf Lounge - Sausage egg and cheese with a latte - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

super busy on a saturday morning! this place has a cute, diner-like feel with delicious breads and pastries and sandwiches!! read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food is so fresh, simple and absolutely delicious! Bacon Egg & Cheese: 9.7/10 Fresh sesame seed bun , crispy and meaty bacon, a fluffy layered egg. A classic with an elevated touch. Sausage Egg & Cheese: 9.8/10 The fluffiest, chewiest English muffin I've ever had. You can actually see the seasonings in the sausage patty, flavorful and a kick of spice ! Hash brown: 10/10 Everything you want out of a perfect hash brown! Oatmeal Cream Pie: 10/10 Oatmeal cookies are thick and spiced perfectly. The filling is also delicious and thick! One of the best oatmeal cream pies I've ever had. Pistachio Matcha : 8.5/10 One of the better matches I've had in Chicago. Not too sweet but great taste of both pistachio and matcha, very well balanced drink. Service for dining-in was quick and friendly! The ambiance has a small-town , farm to table feel. Very cozy , quirky and cute ! Highly recommend Loaf Lounge to all read more

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Great breakfast sandwich! Cute little shop that has some baked goods but also some savory food. There's some space for people to sit and eat which is nice, plus space outside to eat when it's nice out. We enjoyed our coffee and food. When we were done, the staff cleaned up our plate which was nice. They also didn't rush us out to leave as we could keep sitting and enjoy our food and talk. The breakfast sandwich was very good. I thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast sausage and the sauce. The bread gave a little crunch that I normally would enjoy from a hash brown but the bread was able to give that small crunch. I highly recommend the breakfast sandwich here! read more

Loaf Lounge - Chocolate croissant - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I stopped by Loaf Lounge in Chicago and was seriously impressed. I ordered their smoked cured salmon on house-made marble rye, topped with herby cream cheese, capers, red pickled onions, thinly sliced cucumbers, and roe -- and wow. Every flavor came together beautifully. It was light, fresh, and incredibly well-balanced. The cream cheese and capers complemented the salmon perfectly, while the roe added a subtle pop of briny richness. The house-made marble rye was an elegant choice of bread -- soft yet sturdy, with just the right depth of flavor to tie everything together. For dessert, I had their famous chocolate cake, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The cake was very moist and slightly dense, exactly how a great chocolate cake should be. The icing was rich, flavorful, and sweet without being overpowering. Just a really solid, satisfying chocolate cake from start to finish. Loaf Lounge delivers both finesse and comfort in one stop. Definitely a place I'd come back to. read more

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My only regret with Loaf Lounge is not trying it SO much sooner. It had been on my list for months before we made the effort to go. Like many, we first heard about Loaf Lounge from The Bear with the chocolate cake. And if you know me, my guilty pleasure is any and all types of chocolate cake. The best in the city for sure is from Moody Tongue but I definitely needed to try the cake featured on The Bear! I've also heard a lot of good things about their breakfast sammie and if you're from Chicago, you know there are a lot of good options. They have an online ordering platform so it's super easy to order pick up and avoid the lines. It does get busy for sure I'd imagine but every time I visit, they seem pretty efficient with or without pre order. The breakfast sandwich quickly became our favorite.. I honestly hate English muffins because they are usually dry but man oh man have I been missing it. The texture and consistency of this muffin was unreal. Super chewy and bouncy and soft. I can't even explain how good the flavors of the sandwich are.. the sausage has a nice kick to it and with the melted cheese on the delectable muffin. Immediately top of my list for Chicago breakfast sandwiches. We first tried LL in the summer so at the time I believe the olive oil strawberry cake was the special at the time. We ordered both the chocolate and olive oil cake to try and our lives were truly forever changed. The olive oil strawberry cake was DIVINE. When I have my wedding, this WILL be my wedding cake. No doubt, so delectable, slightly sweet with a salty fluffy cream.. the chocolate cake was supposed to be the star of the show but it was outshined and for all the right reasons. The chocolate cake was a bit on the denser side so we didn't love it as much but the flavor was good! It reminded us of a more dense Portillo's chocolate cake which already is so good. Anyways, we loved the olive oil cake so much, I immediately DMed them on IG asking if they make whole cakes. I knew I wanted to buy a half sheet cake for a birthday and they were so sweet and accommodating with the custom order. I truly can say I found the best cake in the world right here in the best city! I love love Loaf Lounge and I know you will too! read more

The bear chocolate cake is definitely worth trying, especially if you love chocolate! It was huge and perfect for sharing. Pretty busy and we had to wait a little while but it was definitely worth it read more

Loaf Lounge - Bear cake - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I enjoy Loaf Lounge, but won't argue with anyone that finds them overrated. As others have mentioned, The Bear boosted their popularity. The Chocolate Cake is good and tastes of higher quality than Portillo's, but I'm not certain it's better. They've mastered the art of preparing eggs of any style and that's no dig. Cooking eggs properly requires more skill than many give credit for. The breakfast sandwiches are good, but the sausage is a little rubbery. I give them points for making the sandwich from scratch unlike the Kasama sando they're often compared to. My favorite item on the menu is the BLT on jalapeno cheddar bread. The mochas are top tier as well. Service is efficient though not particularly friendly. There's a fair amount of seating inside and out, but I usually take my orders to go. 4.19 stars. read more

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It was... fine. The breakfast sandwich I had was delicious, and the bacon was actually cooked which is always hit or miss nowadays. And the ginger cookies I bought were delicious! But I ordered a loaf of chipotle bread (it was like chipotle and some-sort-of-cheese sourdough) and that wasn't great, so rather than freeze it I just chucked it. I also picked up a piece of their chocolate cake for my SO and I to share--which I later found out has some sort of cult following?--and it was not something I'd buy again. The fudgy, ganache frosting was quite good but so rich that I could barely eat my half of the cake. The cake itself and the filling weren't as good as the frosting. My order took about 20 minutes to complete so if you are picking up, I'd suggest ordering online if you can. The indoor seating is limited so I assume most of their business is carryout. I was surprised how easily I found a parking space here, but I'm not sure if that's typical or if I got lucky. read more

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Cute shop and fast seating! The staff is nice. We got the sandwich with brown, it was amazing. I got the salmon toast, very salty, but also very good. The price of everything was quite a bit expensive for what it was, so I think this place is a one and done for me. The chocolate cake that was featured on the bear is good! I think it's worth going just because of that, it had a great amount of cacao which I don't often taste in chocolate cake because they're usually very sweet. read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ready for some tasty breakfast sandwiches?! This is a great spot for some hearty, ooey gooey goodness. *cough* might also be a great hangover breakfast. We had the Spicy Capicola and the Sausage, Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwiches. Both were good but I prefer the sausage, egg & cheese. The wait wasn't too long at all to snag two seats at the bar. It's a small space so keep that in mind! I also had to get a slice of their famous chocolate cake and it was pretty tasty! Definitely something you could take to a friend or as a gift. It's decadent! read more

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They had some unique offerings, but I was there too early to get the sandwich I really wanted to try. They can get fairly busy, but we managed to snag a table. I was just happy to finally try The Bear Chocolate Cake. read more

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The coffee is really good-even decaf. I like an americano hot or iced and they do a great one here. Service is friendly. The Bear cake is really good-great frosting and not too sweet. Last time I had it though it seemed a little past its prime. Sandwiches are hard to choose-so many good ones! Small room with tables and a few counter seats. Parking can be hot or miss. I wish they stayed open later! read more

So I didn't try the breakfast sandwiches and maybe that's my own fault so this review could be skewed. First of all I went on MLK day and it was extremely crowded. I had heard that this was one of the best bakeries in Chicago and I wanted to check it out. We tried the potato and leek danish as well as the oatmeal cream pie. Both of these were fine and nothing that I would try again? They told us they were going to heat up the danish, but it was completely cold inside, and that kind of turned us off. The cookie was good, but again nothing memorable or exciting. If I was in the area, I would try the breakfast sandwiches again, but I truly think that this place is extremely overhyped. read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cash is not accepted at this restaurant! Don't they trust their employees? There is no parking. It takes a long time to get your food. It is expensive food. There is not a lot of seating, and the turnover is really long. So be prepared. They also add 3% to your check to pay for the owners and their employees health insurance. Hate that. That cost should already be determined in their sales price, not an additional hidden fee to your customers. Beyond those issues the food is good. I had the grilled cheese and my other the mushroom dip. However at the end of the day when you balance the negatives and the positives.... We will not be going back to the Loaf Lounge. read more

It will be hard to find better breakfast sandwiches in the Chi. My wife and I arrived on a Saturday just a bit before 9:00am. Perfect, because literally 10 people walked in within 5 minutes of us and created quite the line. Simply put, the breakfast sandwiches were great. Dense, rich in flavor, and diverse in their composition, you'll be tempted to get more than one. And you wouldn't be disappointed if you did. read more

Loaf Lounge - Sausage, Egg & Cheese and Capicola, Egg & Cheese - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

oh my god i can not rave about how insanely delicious their chocolate cake is!!! It is so incredibly moist and huge! It's fluffy and the perfect amount of chocolate. The person I spoke to on the phone when confirming the order was so incredibly nice! Can't wait to come back and try their other items read more

Loaf Lounge - Cake - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Now I know of TWO Avondale destinations for the bestest runny egg breakfast sandwich. They're made medium so that there is yolk and y'all it is wonderful. Especially since their English muffins are made in house. The sandwich is properly seasoned. So if you still have bread, dip that yolk and enjoy. This one is worth a go. They excel past Avondale's other runny egg spot in two areas. First, better drink options (imo) and second, baked goods which are made in house. A detail not found in many cafes that rely on partnerships to offer pastries. Everyone talks about their chocolate cake which I've yet to try. I swear by their cinnamon rolls. They are the freshest. Whether with the ganache or without, it is worth the calories intake & expenditure. Back to that egg sandwich. Take heed and keep napkins close. Choose your bite carefully and enjoy. Blanketed under melty cheese, you'll feel loved. *If you prefer a hard egg, you must mention at time of order. The Cafe feels transit like. Grab and go kinda spot. They offer a bunch of two tops inside and more seating out front. If you dine in, service drops at your table. read more

Stopped by because of their well known breakfast sandwich and even the more well known chocolate cake from The Bear! I am not even a fan of the bear but am a fan of chocolate cakes. The breakfast sandwich was delicious. The sausage patty combined with their house made garlic aioli was a delicious combination. The chocolate cake was good but nothing special. Moist and fluffy. read more

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After doing a little research leading up to my trip to Chicago almost every food blog lead me to Loaf Lounge. And a ton of others apparently because that small space was packed to the rim on a mid Saturday morning. And for good reasons. All menu items are made to order and could take some time to come out but worth it. Order at the counter and until your number is called. There's limited seating at the bar area or at one of the small tables. They have tons of pastries, cakes and cookies and a great breakfast menu. Their English muffins and sausage are both homemade. The sausage didn't do it for me personally but the English muffin was delicious. The side hash brown was a great addition. And the hubby enjoyed his latte. Come for The Bear's famous chocolate cake and stay for the homey vibes. read more

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The workers here are strangely stuck up. It feels strict in this place. It's a yuppie place and it is weirdly unfriendly. Customers have to be super nice to buy things. Conjures soup nazi vibes. read more

Cool shop with nice outdoor seating area. Long line but moved quickly. Friendly and knowledgeable cashier. Breakfast sandwiches are made to order and take a minute but more than worth any wait. I had an iced coffee while I was waiting and it was solid. Everything is served on house made breads and eggs are expertly cooked. Quality sausage and bacon. I brought home a cinnamon roll and wife loved it. read more

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Busy Cafe spot on the weekend mornings! The Orange Demerara latte did not taste like orange which was disappointing but solid plane latte with raw sugar. I tried the Spicy Capicola & Cured Salmon. The Salmon was light, a lil messy with all the various topping, but the top pick out of the two. The Spicy Capicola was flakey, egg runny, & a tad sweet with the peach. Great cafe spot in avondale/logan square! read more

Loaf Lounge - Spicy Capicola, Cured Salmon, & Orange Demerara - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I got take out from here, my partner brought me back a breakfast sandwich and "The Bear". The breakfast sandwich came on a roll, lots of bacon on it. Not such a fluffy egg, more of a folded egg. The sandwich was good. The cake was so delicious and I am not a big cake fan. Definitely recommend. read more

Loaf Lounge - Breakfast sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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How is it that the location is a lounge but the kitchen closes two hours early. The bread in the counter didn't look too appetizing.

Great breakfast sandwiches. If choosing between the bacon egg and cheese and the sausage egg and cheese, go with the sausage.

eggs exploded like the bombs being used in the war right now. Exploded everywhere, took an hour, loads did not land anywhere intended and 40 cent delivery fee even though we have to fetch everything. read more

Loaf Lounge - Mess - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a fun bakery! Popularity is growing so you'll wait a bit to order and then a pretty decent wait for your coffee and food to come out. There is fairly limited cafe seating so everyone seemed to be able to sit before any bevs/food came out. Between the sausage and bacon breakfast sammies, definitely go sausage. It comes on a delicious English muffin with a runny egg. The flavor and texture of the sausage is an easy comparison to Kasama's longanisa breakfast sandwich. The hashbrown is a single patty - super classic and cheap at $2. read more

Loaf Lounge - Pastry and bread display case - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped by for a quick lunch to go but let's not lie, lately, most come here for the hyped up chocolate cake. Coming in, the ambiance was a little busy (came around noon) but quiet. Only one person ahead of me in line and most of the tables were filled; people were busy chowing down, as they should be. They had a glass display for their pastries and cookies and the shelf behind the counter had their loaves. Seemed like things sold out pretty fast, so that spoke well for what they offered. There's not a lot of selection when it came to the breakfast and lunch sandwiches but I wanted my choice to speak for itself. I decided on the Albert ham and cheese sandwich. It was a solid sandwich but a little pricey for $15. Loved the crunch of the slaw and the sourdough bread was toasted to perfection. I only ate half and saved the rest for later because they gave a good sized serving. Last but not least was THE cake. One slice cost me $7.50 so I had a lot of expectations. Let me say on the first bite, I wasn't blown away but as I kept digging in, the chocolate flavor wasn't one dimensional. The frosting on the outside was very good with a little hint of that dark chocolate. The sponge cake was just your good ol' chocolate cake, nothing special. It wasn't that moist but it was soft. I think the best part was the icing in the middle layers; the chocolate frosting was fluffier and there's a hint of saltiness. You need to have one solid forkful of all the elements to appreciate how good this cake was. It was dense and decadent but I'm not sure it's worth $7.50. I'd eat it again but only for a special treat, haha! Would I go back here? For sure when payday arrives, haha! I spent around close to $30 (with tip) for a sandwich and a slice of cake, and that's a little over my budget. Just wanted you guys to keep this in mind if you decide to try this place out! read more

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a hidden gem, known for the bear chocolate cake but the rest of their menu is super underrated. the chocolate cake was very good, its cake so theres only so much you can do but it met expectations. their breakfast sandwich was the hidden gem star, made to order and IMO better then kasama for the price value and deliciousness. the bun was buttered and toasted well, egg was soft, and the bacon thick and crispy, cheese melted to perfection. their other items all looked and smelled soooo good must go back. will absolutely be back next time im in town and would recommend. read more

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This place was a great choice. Looking for a sit down breakfast but wasn't lucky enough to find a table. We ordered anyway. There were a few tables, mostly 2 seaters. A few chairs around the counter. Very friendly, smiley happy staff. They greeted you with a warm smile and waited patiently if you were still deciding on what to order. The menu is small and they serve breakfast and lunch. But small is the best that means they perfect what they are good at. The food looked good. We ordered 3 sausage egg & cheese on an English muffin. And a bacon, egg and cheese on a sesame bun. And the homemade crunchy English muffin was DELICIOUS. Never have I had such a good breakfast sandwich that I was wanting more after I finished. The sausage was full of flavor and you could taste the pork. All I have to say is I want it again. I'll be back! read more

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