{"id":9484,"date":"2015-01-03T11:54:47","date_gmt":"2015-01-03T17:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/burgersdogspizza.com\/?p=9484"},"modified":"2015-01-03T11:54:47","modified_gmt":"2015-01-03T17:54:47","slug":"papa-g-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.peterstromquist.com\/?p=9484","title":{"rendered":"Huntley, IL – Papa G’s Diner"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Originally published July 2013) \u00a0Second visit in a few months. You’re unlikely to just wander by here, Huntley is kind of out of the way from everything.<\/p>\n

I love “country breakfasts” in the Upper Midwest. \u00a0My definition of that phrase is – from a rural mom and pop type establishment that serves ample quantities of good food, for low prices. \u00a0Especially those places with ‘farm-fresh’ eggs, bright yellow yolks, instead of the pale yolks one experiences from the giant egg farms. \u00a0There’s a place in Illinois that is so proud of its eggs, they give you a dozen on the way out the door, free with every meal.<\/p>\n

Huntley used to be a very rural town in Northern Illinois, rolling horse pastures, bucolic countryside, small businesses. It’s on its way to becoming a suburb of Chicago, even tho it would be at least a 90 minute drive into the city under the best of conditions.<\/p>\n

Illinois 47 is a major north-south artery that runs through the heart of Huntley, and on the way out of town towards the north sits Papa G’s, a typical country diner.<\/p>\n

Many diners in the Chicago area seemed to be owned by Greeks, and Papa G’s, though I don’t know for sure, would seem to fit that description as well, as they have numerous Greek specialties on the menu.<\/p>\n

While the restaurant does a brisk business for weekend breakfast, with every table full, if there’s a wait, it’s only a matter of minutes usually. \u00a0Compare this to Portland, Oregon, where going to brunch is a “thing” and at some places you can expect a two hour wait. And people do it.<\/p>\n

This morning, at Papa G’s, I went with the egg breakfast with ham. \u00a0Three eggs on a plate are standard here, and the massive ham steak was touted as “off the bone.” \u00a0Hashbrowns and in-house baked breads for toast were included. They bake a variety of breads, and cut it thick for toast. \u00a0It’s great. \u00a0I love ham in any form or fashion, and this is a nice piece. It’s slightly sweet, just FYI.<\/p>\n

I suspect it won’t be my last visit. Maybe next time I can meet Papa.<\/p>\n

\"Papa<\/a><\/p>\n

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