Hidden Gems: Northbrook Grill

Tucked inside Sunset Foods, Northbrook Grill is a cafeteria-style eatery offering a variety of food options. At the time of writing, listed hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays; it is closed on Sundays.

Breakfast options include chilaquiles, French toast, a traditional breakfast plate with eggs, hash browns, and sausage or bacon, and a breakfast burrito. Later in the day, the Grill serves wraps, burgers, pizzas, and more.

We recently visited on a Saturday morning for a casual family breakfast. I ordered the breakfast burrito, filled with eggs, sausage, peppers, onions, potatoes, and cheese and served with a side of salsa—all for just $9. My boys chose donuts from the bakery—supplied by Do-Rite Donuts in Chicago—and we bought a quart of fresh-squeezed orange juice to share.

For families with children who may not have much patience for a more formal restaurant experience, this is a great option. The prices are hard to beat—I don’t think any of the breakfast choices even reach $10 as of this writing—and the food is consistently good. I’ve had the breakfast burrito several times, as well as a chicken wrap for lunch, and my boys give the burgers their seal of approval.

The Grill is rarely crowded, aside from a few retired locals who seem to have discovered the secret. Go check it out—and, if you’re lucky, Ron Bernardi might be there to say hello!