Alexander's Breakfast & Lunch Skokie — Restaurant in Niles Township

Update, 9/8/24: Review responded to and consistent with the repeated, canned statement of the experience not being consistent with their service standards - just like every 1 star review here. Note to ownership: Get it together. Your food would shine so much more if your staff understood patronage is the reason food leaves the galley.

First off, the food is solid and there is no doubting that. I'm not going to punish the cooks' work for the front of the house's trash work ethic. The service deserves zero stars. The atmosphere is average at best ..... I dined in for personal and business within two weeks, both service experiences were increasingly horrible. For the personal visit: as we walked towards the restaurant after the farmer's market, we were literally flagged down by the server on the patio to be seated (strangely bypassing the host) and realized within seconds it was too cold to sit in the shade. So we asked if there was availability inside and he said he didn't know. Ohhhhh, so this was selfishly done to accommodate your tips....got it. Then upon ordering I asked to substitute the bread option for pancakes. He said they couldn't, but a side order could be done. According to my check, the side order was the price of the actual meal. Party of two.... $75 later. Trash.

Business visit: 8/28, 830am, check your cameras - table of 3 in the third booth along the wall. You know what happened. We stood at the host station while three servers played dumb with maybe four customers in the restaurant before being seated. Your server struggled to take our order, left work, and we waited 45 minutes for food after inquiring with the busser. You can see us looking around several times as 20 people received their food from the other two servers walked past us like idiots. They knew exactly what happened. How did they so happen to get all those seats? Nobody stepped up to do the right thing. You guys are joke and only survive because...

If I was reviewing the food alone, I would’ve given it 5 stars. The food is really good. This is not a standard diner menu. You can find interesting omelettes, chilliquilles, and a variety of hashes.

I have been to the restaurant about five times over the last 6 years. Each time the food was great, but the terrible service and atmosphere kept me away. I’ve come back yearly, hoping for improvement because the food is so good.

We got Azteca hash with an English muffin and the feta omelette with sourdough toast. Both were so cooked perfectly and also very tasty. The eggs, ordered over easy, were cooked exactly that way- a rarity I’ve found in diners. The omelet was stuffed with tomatoes, onions and spinach and a dollop of feta (maybe mixed with roasted red pepper??) on top. The potatoes are so nicely cooked. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The sourdough was fresh and had a wonderful crust and sour taste; this is not your typical sourdough- it clearly came from a bakery. The toast was served with a strawberry sauce and packaged butter. The butter and cream for coffee came prepackaged, which was weird to me. All that effort to have such an eclectic and refined menu and the butter and the cream came in packages. Would’ve preferred a fresh, not shelf stable cream for my coffee and butter for my toast.

Good news, today there were many improvements on the service- enough improvements for me to return again soon. However, it seems obvious to me that they need a front of house manager. For example, today my coffee was not refilled during my entire meal. Also, the waiter told us he’d be right back with our toast and he forgot about it. But, everyone was really friendly, the place was totally clean, and we were greeted right away when we walked in (and so was everyone else while we were there).

I really like this place and am looking forward to...

Title: Delicious Food, But Chilly Dining Experience

Rating: ★★★☆☆

I recently dined at Alexander's restaurant in Skokie, and while the food was undeniably delicious, my overall experience was somewhat dampened by the constant opening and closing of the front door. This unfortunate circumstance made the dining area quite cold and uncomfortable, causing the hot food to cool off quickly.

Let's start with the positive aspects of my visit. The menu at Alexander's offers a wide variety of mouthwatering dishes that cater to various tastes and preferences. From the moment I took my first bite, it was evident that the chefs here possess great culinary skills. The flavors were well-balanced, and the presentation was visually appealing. The quality of ingredients used was top-notch, and each dish was prepared with care and attention to detail.

However, the seating arrangement near the front door proved to be a significant drawback. As the door constantly swung open and closed, a chilly draft permeated the dining area, making it quite uncomfortable. This not only affected the ambiance but also had an adverse impact on the temperature of the food. Despite the dishes being served piping hot from the kitchen, they quickly lost their warmth due to the constant influx of cold air.

While I understand that managing the door may be challenging during peak hours, it would greatly enhance the dining experience if the restaurant could find a solution to minimize the cold air entering the dining area. Perhaps installing a vestibule or implementing a more efficient door-closing system could help mitigate this issue.

Despite the discomfort caused by the draft, the attentive and friendly staff at Alexander's did their best to ensure a pleasant dining experience. They were quick to address any concerns and were knowledgeable about the menu, providing helpful...