Motto

Never work before breakfast; if you have to work before breakfast, get your breakfast first.

--Josh Billings (1818-1885)

Saturday, January 19, 2008

The Bread Basket, 131 Park Avenue, Barrington, Illinois

The Bread Basket is a cozy breakfast and lunch diner in the heart of Barrington just off Main Street. The place is small and can be crowded on the weekends, but this Saturday we were seated as soon as we walked in at 10:35.

I ordered a Belgian waffle, a side of sausage links, and a glass of orange juice. I thought the presentation was good, the food was delicious, and I didn't have to wait long for it. My core cost was 5.25 for the waffle, so my rating would start at 5.25. I would penalize them for uncomfortable seats by .40 because the booths are small, but hey, 5.65 is a good rating, and there's a new word in the dictionary, it's "SAUSAGE." I didn't penalize them for the powdered sugar on top of the waffle because others probably would like the powdered sugar. But the thing is, I ordered a plain Belgian waffle and I got it with powdered sugar. So I walked out giving them 5.65 for a rating.

Shelby

My wife and I ordered biscuits and gravy (one biscuit and a generous ladle of sausage gravy) with two eggs over easy and plain wheat toast with coffee. I like my eggs on toast with catsup and Tabasco sauce. The fresh, hot plate of food was served quickly. The biscuit was fluffy, the gravy chock full of sausage, the eggs done perfectly. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I like the java at The Bread Basket. My wife doesn't care for the coffee. She prefers hers stronger, preferably Kona. I like mine sweet with milk, practically blonde, so who cares what the bean is. Actually, I like sweet, warm mocha milk. Most people would scarcely call it coffee. The biscuits and gravy are served only on weekends, but breakfast is served all day everyday. My score starts at 5.95 for B & G and two eggs. I'm a big guy, and this is a small place. I have to agree with Shelby that the booths aren't very comfortable, but it's only a .25 penalty for me. Final score 6.20.

Dad
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Saturday, January 12, 2008

Welcome!

We'll post our first review next Saturday, but we'd like for you to feel free to send in your suggestions for meals that deserve our consideration. Please keep in mind that we don't get up that early on Saturdays and don't really feel like traveling that far anyway.

We're not novices. Take note of the fact that we've been eating breakfast all our lives and searching for The Perfect $4.00 Breakfast for over 7 years. We've been to a lot of breakfast spots in the Northwestern Suburbs of Chicago over the years. One of our favorites is Richard Walkers in Crystal Lake. Their menu is too expensive for consideration of the top award, but, HELLO, can you say "BACON?" We love Reese's in Algonquin; The White Alps in Lake Zurich; The Bread Basket, The Canteen, and Egg Harbor in Barrington. We're looking forward to the opening of The Brunch Cafe in Fox River Grove.

In the future, you can look forward to other weblogs on The Perfect $4.00 Mexican Breakfast, The Best Root Beer, and The Best Root Beer Float. Our favorite Root Beer is from the Mug 'n' Bun in Indianapolis and favorite Float was served at The Village Tavern in Long Grove, but frankly that could have been about the live entertainment and not the Float.

Shelby and I are looking forward to your suggestions and comments.
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Scoring Guide

The best score a breakfast can receive is, of course, The Perfect $4.00. A base score is determined by the cost of the entree. That score could rise if the other factors that contribute to breakfast (service, atmosphere, and food quality, for example) warrant a penalty, scored in penalty pennies. The worst score a breakfast can receive is $10.00.

Theoretically, a breakfast could score better than a $4.00 if we walked in, were given the best seat in the place, got called by our names, were served pancakes, two eggs, bacon or sausage, and hash browns for $3.95 with great coffee or ice cold juice. But, if that happens, we won't tell a soul about it because we don't want a horde of other cheapskates messing up the place.

Let's say that Shelby ordered a plain Belgian waffle, a side order of bacon, and orange juice. Since the waffle cost $5.25 and the bacon and orange juice were sides, the breakfast's base score begins at $5.25, and Shelby could opt to begin the score at $5.00 if the conditions warranted it. If the service were bad, then Shelby might add a quarter penalty. If the seats were uncomfortable, he might add a dime, and if his syrup had that icky film on the top, he might add a nickel, resulting in a final score of $5.65. I have to say that $5.65 is a very respectable score.

Let us know how well the scoring guide works for you.