Sunrise Grill — Restaurant in Maine Township

My best friend and I happened upon the Sunrise Grill en route to a garden center in Des Plaines. We were both hungry and wanted to stop somewhere close to the store. I saw the reviews and tantalizing photos and knew this was the place to go!

Walking in, I was extremely impressed by how warm, relaxed and inviting the vibe was. It was homey and not pretentious in the slightest, and the smiles of the patrons indicated to me I had come across something truly remarkable.

My friend and I sat in the adjoining room off to the left which was bright and cheery with beautiful, colorful paintings on the wall.

My guest had a glass of sunny, freshly-squeezed orange juice (which she informed me was terrific!), and I had a robust, fragrant black coffee which was excellent.

Anyone who knows me knows I am an eggs Benedict aficionado. Over the years, I have had countless numbers of them at restaurants, and they ranged from excellent to downright awful. But Sunrise Grill surprised the hell out of me!!!

Usually, when one orders eggs Benedict, it comes with two poached eggs. Sunrise Grill serves it --- and get this! --- with THREE eggs! This is their norm! I know! Three eggs! I thought I was in eggs Benedict Paradise! The eggs were poached perfectly, the Canadian bacon was of superior quality, hearty English muffins toasted just right and the Hollandaise sauce was simply sublime with just the right touch of lemon. Hash browns were gold brown, buttery and utterly delicious.

My friend had a classic Denver omelette with pancakes. She was impressed with everything! The omelette was fluffy and rich and filled with fresh, vibrant, succulent ham, peppers and onions. The pancakes were also a home run spectacularly prepared and full of flavor reminiscent of those made from scratch at home.

Everything we ate had that "homemade" appeal, and yet there was something I picked up that gave our breakfast an elevated stance that can only come from a true culinary chef experienced in fine dining. And, sure enough, the owner, Chef Jose, worked at fine dining establishments in downtown Chicago. I knew there was something magical involved here.

Other than phenomenal breakfast selections, they offer extensive lunch items including wow-factor sandwiches, wraps, burgers, salads and amazing Mexican fare one is hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Chef Jose really puts his epicurean yet highly approachable skill to the best use for dinner. A virtual feast for the eyes and palate includes sumptuous French bone-in pork chops, 14oz strip steaks, Chicken Vesuvio, lobster spaetzle (can you imagine?), tropical salmon and Lake Superior White Fish Almondine! It's just mind-blowing! This is a dine-in Mount Olympus in Des Plaines!

Chef Jose's classic training takes center stage here, and one can immediately tell everything served is meticulously well thought out, sourced and initiated. It's pure perfection.

Chef Jose (a master Chef if ever there was one) and his wife Maria opened Sunrise Grill quite a few years back. It has always been a family-owned venture, and the love they and the staff put into it is simply overflowing.

Of note, Chef Jose's wife, Maria --- who he affectionately calls "Baby Girl" ---- bravely fought and overcame breast cancer back in 2019. Sadly, as of February, 2024, Maria's cancer has returned causing her to undergo intensive, difficult treatments which has affected her ability to work the restaurant as often as she used to. Yet, the family and staff continue to support the fight against breast cancer and raise awareness wherever and whenever they can.

This news has hit everyone so hard, and the effect has been devastating. Yet, the love the family and staff have for their customers is so genuine and so beautiful that it makes Sunrise Grill more than just a restaurant. It is a place to celebrate and appreciate life against so much adversity surrounded by good friends, family and the greatest food in the realization that we are all the strongest together.

When you visit, please ask about Maria "Baby Girl." It would...

I had the pleasure of dining at Sunrise Grill recently, and I must say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the impeccable service provided by the server. Their kindness and attentiveness truly stood out.

The food at Sunrise Grill was equally impressive. Every dish I tried was bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. What truly impressed me, though, was the server's dedication to ensuring a perfect meal. When I realized I had accidentally put too much salt on my egg, the server immediately noticed and offered to replace it with a new one, free of charge. This level of attentiveness and willingness to rectify any mishaps was truly commendable.

Moreover, the server's commitment to ensuring a flawless dining experience extended beyond just fixing a seasoning mistake. If anything was missing from a dish, they promptly apologized and swiftly brought the missing item without any delay.

In conclusion, Sunrise Grill not only offers delectable food but also goes above and beyond in providing exceptional customer service. The server's kindness, promptness, and willingness to ensure a perfect meal made my visit truly memorable. I can wholeheartedly recommend Sunrise Grill to anyone seeking a delightful...

Pains me to write this because the place is super cheap in the mornings, $23 for two meals and a pop!??! Insane. Anyways I absolutely hate onions & tomatoes. I ordered the chicken quesadilla, requested no pico de gallo, no tomatoes, no onions. It looked so good and it was good, the one piece I ate, that didn't have much onions, I was able to pick them off. I am not the type to send food back, when this happens at other places, I am able to pick these nasty things out. ANYWAYS I get to the large piece, thinking I can pick them out. NOPE, literally onions on both sides, so many of them. There was no way. I ended up leaving so hungry. She did discount me, which I didn't want a discount, I didn't wanna say anything BUT come on, what if they served their beyond burger to a vegan and accidentally added bacon? Because she responded with an apology BUT then added the cooks sometimes cook drunk and then she said maybe you'll learn to like them. No. Never. I never have. What if this was something I am allergic to? OR again, you want to tell that to a vegan/vegetarian, maybe you'll learn to like the bacon. Anyways my point is, I left hungry!! LOL the rest of the menu looked good though. And once they give you your food, they don't come back to check on...