Colonial Cafe - Naperville — Restaurant in Naperville

As a father, the Colonial Café gave me precisely what I needed: a place to fill the time while my wife disappeared into the serene oblivion of a spa day. There’s a certain irony in bringing kids to a breakfast spot like this—one where the pancakes are perfectly fluffy and the bacon crispy, where everything is exactly as it should be, yet nothing really matters beyond the moment.

I ordered the chilaquiles with poached eggs, because why not? The eggs were poached to perfection, the yolks spilling out like the last vestiges of hope in a world that no longer asks for much. The tortilla chips, drenched in salsa, were crunchy at first but quickly surrendered to the inevitable sogginess, just like everything else eventually does. Each bite was an exercise in finding fleeting satisfaction, knowing full well that the pleasure was as temporary as the breakfast special.

My kids, ever the simple creatures, went for pancakes and bacon. The pancakes were as fluffy as any I’ve ever seen, the kind that soak up syrup like a sponge soaks up water before sinking to the bottom of the sink. The bacon, crisp and brittle, snapped in their tiny hands—a small victory in a day filled with small victories that will be forgotten by bedtime. They ate with the reckless abandon only children can muster, unaware that these moments of pure joy are just that—moments.

The service was polite, the kind of polite that makes you feel noticed but not remembered, which was just fine by me. Coffee refills came like clockwork, a necessary fuel to keep the engine running for a little while longer. There’s something comforting about being in a place where nothing is asked of you beyond placing your order and waiting for the inevitable.

As we left, the kids were smiling, their bellies full, and I found myself pondering how mornings like this, where everything aligns just right, are both rare and utterly insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Colonial Café provided a small respite from the endless march of time. Maybe I’ll bring them back next time their mom needs a break. Or maybe I won’t. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that, for a brief moment, the pancakes were warm, the coffee was hot, and everything was just fine.

And that, for...

Horrible service!! First, we heard the supervisor/manager Barbara (whatever she was), from where we were sitting at, shouting at the cooks the whole time, which was so unprofessional and awkward. Then, our waitress was slow and I ordered the fish fry, but she didn’t tell me that I didn’t ordered the all you can eat. Not until I asked for another plate that I was told, which is whatever. But really who orders the fish fry on a Friday if it’s not the all you can eat. Come on! So we are waiting to pay and Barbara was checking out another customer. Well she was shaking the older man down because he has a punch card and wanted to redeem his free entree. She was super rude to him and he obviously was a recurring customer. Then it was my turn to pay and I asked Barbara about the charge for the fish fry because I thought they were trying to charge me for the all you can eat since it was $13. Come to find out, that the “large portion” I got was $13.79 and the all you can eat was $13.99 (.20 more!), but NOBODY GAVE US THAT OPTION. Well there I was arguing with Barbara in front of the other customers made to look like a fool for not knowing their pricing schedule. She was super rude about the whole situation. She ended up taking the drink off our tab in compensation, but why she was so rude about it is still a mystery. We are def not going back. First and last time we will be there. We literally ate everything including the kitchen sink, but I guess that wasn’t good enough be treated...

Seems like a very nice place. Girlfriend picked it out for a nice pre-birthday brunch. I was really excited after seeing the menu and sitting down since the place gives off a very nice chill atmosphere.

The waitress was very nice, but she wasn't "there" so to speak. Forgot our coffee creamers when we asked for them. Got us the wrong ice cream sundae. Wasn't sure about certain items on the menu. I get it, people have off days and I don't blame her. Still, a big reason we won't be going back.

I ordered the brat burger item. It showed up without the colonial sauce & saurcraut. I assume it's not ordered often and the people in the back had no idea how to make it or something. Still, very disappointing. Again, took awhile for the waitress to notice I wasn't touching my food. I tried to give her the eyeballs as I know she's was busy, nothing.

The fries were some of the most unoriginal I've ever had. I made the comment that I've had better McDonald's fries. I'm not picky, mind you, but I actually said that out loud.

The cinnamon French toast thing showed us with 3 pieces, but all three were essentially crust with a little bit of bread in the middle. Like it was bored out and saved for later lol.

I dislike being a hater, but damn did my attitude for this place go from 110% to negative pretty damn quick with the experience. I guess you can't judge a book by its cover applies here in a...