Egg Harbor Cafe — Restaurant in Lake Forest

Myself & family have been going to Egg Harbor in LF for years, since its existence! I have really enjoyed this restaurant. Food and service had always been good. However, over the past year or so, it has seemed to slip. Quality of food not so impressive. Two of us stopped in for a quick lunch on a Thursday, 061225 @ 1 PM. Five small tables were occupied. It was not busy. We were seated in the first booth next to the front desk and given menus where we immediately knew what we were ordering yet it took a while for us to place our order of sandwiches & soup. During this time, I noticed a booth of three women waiting for the server for some time with their bill, and finally, one woman got up from the table, walked to the front desk and requested their bill from the manager at the desk where the manager prompted to the woman to return to the table and he would retrieve their server. (Same server as ours). Our food was very bland and tomato bisque soup had no taste! As for our service, we were ignored. No one gave us water when we were seated. No one came to take our orders in a timely fashion. No one came back back to offer us refills on our tea? Etc.This was very disappointing. We had hoped to request Thousand island dressing to put on our sandwiches to at least get some taste. Finally our server returned where we had asked for Thousand Island. We were then informed that they do not carry 1000 island and were offered a few other salad dressings and mustard? Moving on, it was time for the check and the place was dead. I did not see our server. I watched as the manager and, we assumed, his assistant manager and a server, (later to be discovered, our server), having a nonworking conversation for some time at the front desk. After approx10 minutes of being ignored, I got up to retrieve our bill and that’s when I discovered it was our server at the desk this entire time. I can’t tell you how annoyed I was when I was standing there asking for my bill and then prompted to give a tip at check out. Better yet the ignorance of the manager not picking up on how poorly this restaurant is run. READ THE ROOM. As for cleanliness, it’s questionable. Very, very disappointing. Unfortunately, this will be the last time I go to Egg Harbor In Lake Forest..

And another thing, since I’m on the subject, the restaurant renovation leaves a lot to be desired. There’s no warm atmosphere any longer. No one cares how this once great restaurant has been run into the ground. It’s unfortunate.

NOTE- On 061325, @ approx, 0906AM, I had called and left message on the VM, requesting a call back from, The Hemco Corp, located in Lincolnshire. Still waiting for call back. (Egg Harbor Management Co; Contact: John E Wright ; Title: President ; Phone: (847) 478-5100 ; Website:...

Came in for breakfast and was thoroughly impressed with the food, the service was decent, and the environment was wonderful.

My rule of thumb before I eat at any restaurant is to: A. Walk in knowing what they're known for B.always order one of the specials C. Try every part of my food individually before I eat the dish as a whole

I ordered one of the skillets from the special, and let me tell you, the potatoes were amazing by thenselves, the sausage had a great and robust flavor, the way they chose to melt the cheese and bacon bits together on top was mouth watering, and my over hard egg held everything together nicely so I had a little bit of it all in every bite. I wouldn't say "don't go here for lunch" but their breakfast menu is to die for. Which is what I heard through word of mouth and what I found when looking into this place.

I also tried their peanut butter coffee, which was very good, and the strawberry mimosa, which although I would have liked without pulp, was delicious nonetheless.

Overall: food was great in every individual facet, the beverages brought a lot of flavor and pleasant aroma with them to the table, and the environment was cozy; on top of that, the food came out very fast even with a moderate crowd in the restaurant. Over all very professional and very quick service.

Would make my top...

The food and service here are nothing special. In fact, the food really leaves something to be desired.

The skillets were just mediocre, and the avocado toast was on plain white bread that probably saw no more than 10 seconds in the toaster. Also disappointing, the mimosas were almost entirely orange juice. I also apparently had to salt and pepper my eggs myself, because there wasn’t a speck of either to be found on them straight from the kitchen. The food is very much reminiscent of an inexpensive chain (apart from the prices), rather than quality food prepared with care at a mom and pop diner. Just not that good at all.

The service was not good. Our server forgot to fill up our waters. He then proceeded to plop a coffee carafe and water pitcher on the table, and never came back until we were finished to give us the check. No refills on mimosas or so much as a check in to see if the food was alright.

While not a downright horrible experience, we do not plan...