Mapleberry Pancake House: No dinner, but great dishes and deals
Visitors to Chicago’s west suburbs may be tempted by countless chain restaurants for breakfast and lunch. But the single Mapleberry Pancake House in Carol Stream sets itself apart with fantastic morning and mid-day meals, and low prices to match.
Opened in a small strip mall three years ago and serving only breakfast and lunch, the Mapleberry Pancake House has become a neighborhood favorite thanks to a big menu of delicious, reasonably priced dishes and efficient, friendly service.
Diners can sample omelettes from around the world, from the Grecian (fresh spinach and feta) to the Polish (smoked polish sausage), to the L’Italiano (Italian sausage and mozzarella). Each comes with hash browns or fruit, toast, pancakes or homemade biscuits and gravy.
Breakfast skillets include the mushroom, ham and chili, and Irish (corned beef hash). Benedict Bennies include the Canadian (Canadian bacon), Florentine (sautéed spinach and bacon) and Butcher’s Choice (ham, sausage and bacon).
Delectable pancakes (from buttermilk to blueberry), waffles (strawberry to pecan), French toast (cinnamon nut to apple), and even crepes (raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, cottage cheese and peach) are also available.
Lunchtime highlights include salads (Greek, Asiatic, chopped, Caesar) and scrumptious sandwiches like the focaccia club, beef Philly and Monte Cristo melt. Wraps include the Reuben, chicken and spinach and Mediterranean (chicken and feta). Each comes with a bowl of soup and choice of cole slaw or fries.
Burgers are big draws, with chili cheeseburgers, avocado burgers, Philly burgers (mushrooms and peppers) and turkey burgers. Gyros come in sandwich, salad or platter form. If in the mood for something out of the ordinary, try a lunchtime crepe (bacon, chicken or ham, spinach, cream cheese and hollandaise) or a tunaberry croissant with cranberries.
With a warm atmosphere, friendly staff and fantastic prices (most entrees average $5-$8), Mapleberry Pancake House is a super satisfying spot. Whether you’re a local or just visiting Carol Stream, make sure to make Mapleberry a stop on your list.
Posted by D.J. Siegel
