Sugar Bowl is one of those rare diner-style restaurants that provide good service, good food at reasonable prices and they let you dine at your own pace - even during rush periods. It's a neighborhood kind of place although we don't live that close. We've been coming here for years just not as much I'd like. The owner is a great guy and you can tell his style comes out in his bus and wait staff. Very attentive. Four+ stars here. We typically visit for breakfast and I stick with a couple favorites. Their menu is very diversified so if you can't find anything to try from their assortment then you probably weren't that hungry in the first place. Overall, I'd like to give them 3.5 stars. The only knocks from giving them four stars is their breakfast potatoes are sometimes overcooked, stiff and oily tasting. The other knock is the pricing on some of their items - most are reasonable and consistent with other restaurants in the area. They have a 'House Special' 3 eggs, ham, hash browns and toast or pancakes for $9.25. Their omelets run from $7.75 to $8.25 - seems a tad higher average than most. In short, I would strongly recommend Sugar Bowl. read more

Found this place on Yelp. It had to be quick, because my sister wanted to go to panera, and I told her that you can't drag me out of bed to go to panera...since I was under the impression we were going to orange. :) Their menu is extensive. I haven't seen so much food in my life and the place was full for 10 am on a sunday morning, but it was mostly seniors and their families. I love pb&j and ordered the peanut butter and jelly french toast. O M G It was so delish, very sweet had to have the home fries as a side to cut through some of the sweetness, but it was very good. I didn't get pancakes, but my husband had them as a side and I had a bite of his. Very good. Hands down best pancakes so far. I'm so glad I found this place, normally I wouldn't go to this kind of diner and I'm so glad I did. read more

This place hits all my buttons for a good restaurant. Walk through the front door and was greeted by the hostess who had a Greek accent, this is always a good sign for me as I love Greek diners. Within a minute or two of sitting down, one bus boy brought a pitcher of ice water and the other brought coffee and cups. The waitress came by to take our order but we were not ready, she said okay and went on to take care of her other tables. The other hostess (Greek also) came and seemed upset that our order was not taken yet. I told her it was okay because we were not sure of want we wanted. Settled for a skillet breakfast and it was enough for a meal and a half, and was nice and hot. Our waitress made sure we had coffee during the meal and always asked how every thing was going. Restaurant is very clean and well it. And if you enjoy watching trains, the Metra train runs right in front of the restaurant. read more

I'm not happy about our last visit- usually good experiences here. I ate my skillet and a mans black whisker/beard hair was at the bottom. I showed the waitress (who never once asked how food was) and she didn't apologize or anything. So after several minutes I went to manager at the front and explained. She then went to talk with waitress. Waitress admitted she should have apologized. Then the manager only took $4 bucks off my meal!!!! Any and I repeat any place you eat at would give you a meal free for the disgusting situation. I'm shocked at how they handled this- very disappointing- we will not be returning there. read more

i was just there for breakfast!!!! our waitress was sitting at the counter where they cook food and was playing with her hair and did not wash her hands after!!!! it was really kinda disgusting!!! basic restaurant etiquette if you are in the food service industry you wash your hands after that or you don't play with your hair where people can see you!!!! especially today in the age of covid!!!! oh yeah and also she was handing out food with no gloves!!!! i am not sick now but if i do get sick i know where i got it from!!!! read more

I have been meaning to write a review for a while but when I went for lunch today I had such an absolutely wonderful experience I knew I had to get home and write about it. I go there often (1 or 2 a week?) with my husband or my father. They have great breakfasts with giant portions you can easily share with another person. From the fluffy omelet to the Monte Cristo sandwich...I haven't had something I did not like. Every waitress I have had has been polite, friendly, and efficient- as are the bus boys. But today....I went for a birthday lunch with my father. We mentioned it to the waitress and she brought out a honey and cinnamon covered crepe. It was so sweet (in so many senses of the word!) but the sweetest part was when the owner walked over and asked if we got the crepes. Yes, we said, he's turning 66 today! She immediately took the check away from us and told us it was on the house, then gave us a big hug. It was such a nice gesture on her part and made us feel very special. I have been a regular in many breakfast places over time- but few ever made such an effort to make me feel so welcomed. I think that's what really kicks a place up to five stars. You can get fluffy pancakes at alot of places- but fluffy pancakes and great coffee from people who seem to really care- that is priceless. read more

Awesome restaurant and staff. Enjoyed my time there and looking forward to going back on

There's not much in Des Plaines, but there is Sugar Bowl. I was pleasantly surprised by the great breakfast and super sweet service. Everyone was happy to see you and the service was efficient yet laid back. For breakfast I had the California omelet with fresh mushrooms, avocados and swiss cheese. Unlike many diners, the mushrooms were indeed fresh, the avocados plentiful, and the cheese must have been of a higher quality. The pancakes were great as well, however, a bit too soft for my liking. I usually like my pancakes a little more crisp and thin. I tried the corned beef hash which was also good but was not homemade which was a bit of a disappointment but still good. Overall, Sugar Bowl is a great spot if you're in the area and seeking a low cost meal. The menu is huge so I'm sure you'll find something you'll love! read more

I came here expecting more, since the reviews for this place were pretty good. But, eh, it is only just ok. There is an old school sign outside this place, which I thought was nice. Upon walking in, we were promptly greeted and sat right away. The waitress came by and took our orders quickly, and my husband had a question about one of the combos on the menu. Upon talking about the combo, the waitress had mentioned that the potato pancake that was included with the combo was not homemade. Eh, bummer. So, my husband ordered the George's combo and I ordered the Stacy's combo. Each are combos with eggs, 2 pieces of bacon and 2 pieces of sausage, with the only difference is that my combo came with french toast and his came with a waffle. It was a pretty standard combo and it didn't taste bad, but the meat was just of standard quality. The coffee was pretty gross and I ended up having to go to a Caribou on my way home to make up for the grossness. Overall, not a bad place but just pretty standard. read more

Not bad considering the options in the ole DP. First thing to note: no booze. Second thing to note: their pancake mix is shit. Be warned. Third thing to note: Everything else can be considered slightly above A-OK. Aside from that, we tend to frequent this place out of necessity and convenience. Its clearly an old timey joint with tons of regulars. We will likely hit it up several more times while staying in our quiet corporate apartment. The service is quick. No compalints there either. read more

I was hopeful in coming to this place. I still haven't found anywhere even remotely close to my house that serves a stellar breakfast/brunch. Everyone was nice upon our arrival and we were seated promptly. We ordered and everything seemed to be going really smoothly. After we ordered, things seemed to fall apart. Our food came out fairly quick, which was good, but it was really mediocre. We'd both ordered sides of sausage links (for $3.50 a piece) and it seemed as though the cook had just put them on the grill and left them there. They were almost rock solid. I got the apple cinnamon french toast and it was VERY mediocre. Not horrible. It was edible. But I wouldn't call that a compliment. My boyfriend got the mixed berry crepes. "Mixed Berry" apparently means strawberries and blueberries. Not exactly a mixture of berries. Once we got our food and we were picking at it, our waitress completely disappeared. We finished eating and she still hadn't come back. We were ready to go and she STILL hadn't shown up. I was practically holding my credit card in the air and waving it around. We ended up having to go up to the front and ask to pay, awkwardly. Everyone was nice but could have been a little more attentive and the food could have been MUCH better. Probably won't be returning. read more

This is a place that has been a MUST go to breakfast restaurant for as long as I've been alive. Maybe longer (57 years). Great service ALWAYS. Reasonable prices. Great food. Fresh. Never have had any complaints here from the many times I've eaten breakfast or lunch here. They are closed by dinner time. I guess that allows them to focus on good meals earlier in the day. Right across from the train station in Des Plaines. Good TO GO coffee and milkshakes too!! Highly recommend !! 4.5 Stars !! ( I only give five stars on very rare occasions to make when I do THAT MUCH MORE special. Same with 1 star. If you see five stars in my review I guarantee you will be pleased. If you see one, you've just been warned about THE WORST of the WORSE!!!) read more

My husband travels internationally, We found the sugar bowl while driving to O'Hare. How could we not stop when a restaurant has such a lovely name and it did live up to expectations. We had a great breakfast and had plenty of leftovers. I am a sucker for an omelet. My husband had pancakes that had tons of fresh fruit on it. Must go back! We highly recommend the Sugar Bowl. read more

Perfect balance .....Old School Greasy Spoon neon signs on the outside ...Bright crisp and clean on the inside .....All the classics and some modern twists on the menu and of course healthy choices......Great friendly fast service .... And its footsteps away from DesPlaines Metra .....win win win read more

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Just tried out this place and I am obsessed!! I got a ham and cheese omelet... or should I say football. They have the best type of hash browns here!! Super crispy and done perfectly. Service was fast and friendly. You should definitely come here with an appetite. Can't wait to come back and try more menu items!! There is so much to choose from!! read more

The ages-old neon sign should be enough to draw you in. The food is fresh cooked diner. I know that sounds odd. For example, the chicken dumpling soup was really nice with fluffy dumplings, white meat and a light broth. This was good soup. Because this is a Greek diner I tried the gyro sandwich, and that was also good. Megan liked her burger. We both thought the fires were a little limp. The breakfast plates others were eating looked good. If you are in Des Plains, give the Sugar Bowl a try. read more

Just visited here today. We sat at 11:34, got up at 11:46. We were told twice that our server would be right with us. 12 minutes. 12 minutes with no drink order. It was not that busy. They had open tables too. Yes, they were getting ready because a larger party walked in. But, you do not ignore tables that are sat while the party is not even sat yet. You get all other tables under control before the large one. Ridiculous. Well we went down the street and got taken care of when we sat down. read more

This is one place where I don't "get" all the Yelp love. The food was ok. I had one of their combos. The potato pancakes were good, the bacon was overly crispy and the eggs were skimpy. Christopher had the ham & cheese skillet. It was also ok, but nothing exciting. They were out of Diet Coke, so I opted for Root Beer. It was $2.25 for an average size fountain glass. If they offered free refills, no one asked if I wanted one, so who knows. Christopher had a glass of orange juice .... $4.50 !!! When he told me I kept asking if he was sure. He was. The restaurant is clean and cheerful looking, but they keep it like an icebox in there. They also blast dreadful "easy listening" music. I can see where it is convenient for the locals, and maybe other things on the menu are fine, but Sugar Bowl is not a breakfast destination for us. It does have a great vintage exterior, but that's not enough to pull us back all the way from the city. read more

Very good food a reasonable price. The staff is very professional and they handled COVID with extreme professional procedures. Love the eggs and pancakes....Tried other restaurants in the area but nothing comes close. Will be back. read more

Diner conveniently located downtown Des Plaines across from the train station. Ended up there for breakfast / brunch with a group of friends after running the Des Plaines 5K and we were starving! Well the place met our needs, the portions were huge! The food is nothing special and pretty blend, not greasy though which is always a plus for me. So if you are looking for a local diner, with huge portions at a cheap price with attentive and friendly staff, by all means stop by your belly will be satisfied. If you are looking for something a bit more special, pass. read more

Nice family style Greek diner. Delicious food, friendly service, clean and nicely priced. A real gem. I had the buttermilk pancakes with berries. Cakes were fluffy and had a great buttermilk aroma. The berries looked and tasted very fresh. Diner coffee was a-ok. Stacy is a sweetheart. read more

their pancakes are delicious. really really good. skillets phenomenal best HOT BEEF I have ever had, but it isnt on menu...occasional special. Oh how I wish they were open for dinner. Even closing at 6 would work. Starting a petition read more

Good basic diner food. I got the eggs with bacon. Also came with hashbrowns and upgraded the pancakes to include bananas, strawberries and pecans. Eggs and bacon were basic. They were prepared well. Hashbrowns were ok, I would prefer them a little more golden but they were still tasty. I enjoyed the pancakes. They were nice and fluffy. I also liked that it was served with plenty of fresh fruit toppings and I thought the nuts were a nice touch. Service was very good and seating was nice and well spaced. Did not feel cramped at all. Overall if you are in the neighborhood this is a great spot to grab breakfast. read more

Love this place for breakfast!! Speedy service is excellent and the food is very good. I particularly like the variety of French Toast that they have on the extensive breakfast menu! The omelets are good too, large and fluffy! Plus they make this delicious orange marmalade in house that is unbelievable! The best! read more

Soooo good. Waitress recommended the avocado Benedict and its delicious. I'd never had eggs benedict before. Portions are big prices are awesome. read more

Sugar Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Another classic breakfast place. We decided to share a plate of sweet and another plate of savory. So we went with their House Cakes for sweet and Gyro Meat & 3 Eggs Platter. The pancakes were fresh and fluffy. I loved the pecans on my pancakes. It helped tone down the sweetness from all the fruits and syrup. For the savory side, the hash browns were a bit burnt, but I loved the gyro. They even gave us some tzatziki for the gyros. I would give them 3 stars because I've had better breakfast elsewhere, but their gyros impressed me. read more

Sugar Bowl - Gyro & 3 eggs platter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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I love this breakfast/brunch/lunch spot in downtown Des Plaines! We enjoyed super friendly service from the hostess and servers. Their menu offers many different breakfast and lunch options at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is quaint and comfortable. We dined on a Sunday morning and the restaurant was full but we were quickly seated and service was spot on. Definitely recommend for breakfast! read more

Big portions, friendly staff (both the server and hostess were incredibly thin and beautiful), I really like the color scheme in this large diner. I tried the breakfast special -- 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, potatoes, and toast for $5.99. That plus my hot coffee and small juice? What a great deal. read more

First time here and def not the last. We came during the breakfast special time (a select few items that are ONLY $5.99) :) I got 2 eggs- bacon - hash browns and toast. The bacon was so damn good! The potatoes were good but could be more cooked. Coffee was good and our server was on the ball when it came to refills on water and our coffee. Good breakfast food for great price. read more

My father-in-law and I ate breakfast there today it was outstanding I ordered a spinach and feta omelette cooked perfectly crispy hash browns and a Hostess Mickey was just outstanding I thought she was the owner as well as she knew all the customers and took pride in her job I recommend her for your highest award read more

I like the Sugar Bowl. I have gone frequently ever since the reopening with family. The food is delicious (yes, basic breakfast food for cheap!) and the service has always been good, even when it was crazy busy. The parking is nice because it is the side as well as the street. It is a Des Plaines staple and a highly recommended one at that! read more

My girlfriend and I were looking for a place for breakfast and happened across the Sugar Bowl. It's the hole-in-the-wall diner/greasy spoon experience that everyone loves. Really tasty food at a cheap price and FAST service. You can't really ask for more from a place that does only breakfast. read more

Sugar Bowls hours Monday thru Friday 6am till 3:30pm Saturday and Sunday 6:00am till 4:30pm read more

A friend suggested I take my son and DIL for breakfast yesterday. What a fantastic recommendation. Although it was already 10am, we were seated immediately. Great coffee, great menu and superior pricing. I had ham, eggs HB and rye toast. Best ham I've had in many a year. My son had the same as me, but with turkey sausage. (Yes, you pork haters--they have you covered :) My DIL had the veggie omlette. I would recommend this to absolutely anybody who wants good quality, good pricing and good service. read more

Sugar bowl restaurant has good classic diner food for reasonable prices. I tried the breakfast burrito and it was huge! It comes with hash browns on the side and it is very good and filling. I also have tried the Denver omelette, also very filling and tasty and comes with hash browns on the side. The service is good, very friendly servers. I will be back to try the burger or chicken sandwich soon! read more

Good breakfast, not so good pancakes. They had a weird play dough taste to them. Felt bad because waitress has chef make a fresh batch to redeem themselves and it still had that weird after taste. If you're going there for anything else other than pancakes, it should be a safe choice read more

It's not one of your classic 50's Sugar Bowl's, but the food is excellent. Although it was closed for quite some time, it's back up and running now. :) read more

The food is good, but the service is not that great! the waitress is so mean, look down the people, I went out to eat my husband, and he wanna to order first and she seems be very rude and mean said that wait for me to order so i can take it together!! and after the food came, never came back check on us do we need anything else, but gave us the check and walked away, and no thank you and no good bye!! read more

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Servers are so family oriented. Very attentive and made us feel so welcomed. Food was plentiful and tasted like homemade.

The service here was absolutely incredible!!!! I had to 5 star them for this! The bus boy had made a zealous effort to keep our drinks full in a courteous and friendly way. Needless to say, all the staff interacting with customers are going above and beyond expectations. I was not a fan of what I ordered, because it was cold but also wasn't having meat on Friday. My recommendation would be to order plates with meat because they will bring it out warmer. This minor aspect of the experience would definitely not change me from recommending this place to others. Awesome! read more