Landmark Café & Crêperie — Restaurant in Galesburg

Review Date: July 25th, 2016

Crepes creep me out.

Are the not just a pancake? Like, a really thin pancake? Or are pancakes a crepe ripoff?

My friend Laura told me about this place and actually suggested a day trip to Galesburg. She had been here before and raved about it and said I needed to experience it. Without twisting a single arm, I agreed.

I’m not sure what I expected and after all this time, I still don’t think I properly processed the interior of this place. It looked like super upscale inside but there was a patio with outdoor seating that seemed to have a jungle vibe to it? A dichotomy of sorts.

Either way, we sat down and started going over the menu. I didn’t view the menu before hand so I expected breakfast and some simple cafe items. I was not prepared for a full-on restaurant. My plan was to order something breakfast-y, but after seeing the menu, I was not so sure. I settled on a grilled sandwich. Possibly the White BBQ Chicken or Turkey Melt with a side of chips.

What was put down in front of me had a very basic look to it. I looked at my friend’s food and was instantly ‘food envious’. But no matter, it’s not how the food looks on the plate but how it tastes that matters in the end. I tried the chips first, expecting them to be Kitchen Cooked (a regional favorite) but they tasted homemade. Deliciously homemade. That got me stoked to try my sandwich, so I took the first bite.

The plain look on the plate (as seen below) was just a façade. It blew my socks off. I remember thinking that this is what premium tastes like. This is what fresh ingredients and no cutting corners will get you. That sandwich did not last long. I cleared my plate before Matt or Laura were halfway done with their meal. It doesn’t help that I am a fairly fast eater in the first place. Throw in a dash of deliciousness to the food and it disappears even quicker.

The place is a bit pricey are around $12+ per person. But I can say the quality on this visit was fantastic. If you can splurge the few extra dollars for Landmark, I say go for it.

We went for the crepes, I got a sandwich. My friends say the crepes are fantastic and I hope one day to experience them. In the mean time, I will savor the memory of that...

Located in the cutest downtown shopping area, there is on street parking and public lots available in the area. The dining area is small, you likely cannot accommodate a larger group without a lengthy wait. We arrived around noon on a Sunday and waited about 15 minutes for a table. They provided a pager and indicated you could walk a 3-block radius, then recommended some shops nearby.

When our pager went off we were promptly seated. Tables area is tight, there is not a lot of room to spread out. Our server came quickly and was friendly and accommodating. There are separate menus for breakfast and lunch/dinner. Options include crab cakes, Belgian waffles, paninis, pastas, and of course sweet or savory crepes. There are many options that are either gluten free or can be offered gluten free.

We ordered a GF Turkey Melt, a Bacon & Cheddar Waffle, and Pesto Chicken Pasta. Everything came quickly and was delicious. We would all order what we had again, but with the expansive menu would be excited to try other options also. Many items on the menu can also be ordered in a smaller portion for a reduced price as well. I did this with my pasta, as I wanted to save room for a sweet crepe.

For dessert, we ordered a Nutella Strawberry Crepe, a Black Forest (minus the cherry) Crepe, and the Hot Fudge Crepe (half portions). The Black Forest and hot fudge were filled with vanilla Hagan Dass ice cream. They were all so delicious and I recommend saving room to try one.

They also offer their coffee beans to take home (and will grind them if desired) in half or full pound bags. The Praline Pecan is really lovely. Overall, if you are in the area, definitely give this place a try! It would be hard to be...

We have always had good food but my husband and I went there a few weeks ago and it was probably the worst lunch experience ever! First, I asked for extra dressing for my salad, tiny plate came out with a hair on it. Then, I never finish my salad so I passed it to my husband. He ate a few bites and then I heard him say "oh" and there in the salad was a Japanese Lady Bug (orange) Sent food back with waiter and he apologized. Immediately our main lunch course came out. My husband ordered the pasta with sausage, which was steaming hot on bottom and cold on top and the sausage was cold. He kept eating it despite my protests to send it back too. After I ate half of my Elegant Grilled Cheese I picked up the other half only to discover an eyelash under the sandwich. We both felt kinda sick so we sent that food back too. Our waiter then said "I'll go get the ticket" and I told him we were not paying for anything. We were not offered any gift card (not that we would go back) Only an apology from the manager as we were walking out. We have been eating there for years and we felt like it wasn't taken seriously. I think we will try Chez Willy's across the street next time we are...