Sandy's — Restaurant in Highwood

This is a rarity today for restaurants of any type, a par-excellence value! This is a diner/breakfast/lunch restaurant, a few booths and counter seats. Most of the activity by the staff is out front, no secrets. Many customers have dined there frequently, they are regulars and recognized, the waitress can practically write the order without asking, they know the person that well. Occasionally it is a first timer and because of the ambience they feel free to voice their opinion as to how good it is, as we did the first time we ate here in late winter 2025.

We had driven by Sandy’s many times and I often remarked, we should try them out, and we would have sooner, but the parking is the limiting factor, basically curbside parallel parking, only 4 or 5 spots are in front of the restaurant, others down the block and across the street. There may be some in the alley behind but I’m not aware of any. I’m unable to walk any significant distance, so if the parking isn’t right near the door, I’d pass Sandys by, but that is my issue, if you are healthy, the distance isn’t an issue

The food is great, the owner/chef/cook knows what is expected of a dinner establishment. The eggs are prepared as asked, if the request is “over-medium” the egg whites are cooked through, yolks runny, and edges crisp ... Anyone who has trained as breakfast fry cook will know how to make eggs to request, and yes that is a SKILL. The biscuits and gravy are the best I have had in the NW suburbs, there is breakfast sausage crumbles in a cream gravy, and the gravy actually is seasoned and not just white flour paste.

No matter how rushed and busy a restaurant is, they should never lose sight of the fact that each meal served is important, there are not many 2nd chances in the restaurant business. I’m guessing that one of the wait staff is probably the owner, this is the difference, she is watching that the customer’s expectations are met, she...

Sandy’s ain’t just a diner; it’s a place where folks come to sit a while, where they cook with hands that know flavor and hearts that know patience. You walk in, and the smell of good coffee and sizzling breakfast greets you like an old friend. The tables are few, the kitchen small, and the line can make you wait. But oh, don’t you worry, ‘cause Sandy’s doesn’t rush for nobody, no sir. They’re crafting each plate with care, custom as you like it, each omelette a little masterpiece made just for you.

Now, the service here ain’t putting on airs. It’s straight-talking, no-nonsense, diner-style charm. They don’t apologize for what they are, and why should they? This ain’t fast food; it’s food that takes its time to be good. You settle into that booth or stool, sip on some mighty fine coffee, and watch the bustle of a place that knows its worth. Sandy’s is for folks who appreciate good, honest eating—the kind that fills you up,...

First off I would like to say if you are a white individual this is the place for you, but if you are colored avoid this place if you dont want to have an embarrassing experience. The owner was our waitress and we were looking for ketcup and she was nowhere around so I decided to ask someone else and she came back furious saying “don’t you ever ask my staff for anything you can only ask me” like ok and after that she stood next to our table making it known she was ready for us to go. On a different occasion the treatment was so bad that the customer sitting next to us felt second hand embarrassment that he offered to pay for our food because he said there was no reason for her to treat us like that. In other words the owner there is very racist so colored people are...