Elly’s Pancake House may be a newcomer to the Naperville dining scene but it arrived with decades of experience. Located just off Route 59 on Showplace Drive in the Naperville Crossings plaza, the family-owned casual and contemporary café and bakery is the latest addition and seventh Elly’s in the Chicagoland area.
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Boasting “good times and great food,” Elly’s serves up all-day breakfast specialties along with an extensive lineup of homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and gourmet burgers.
“We are more than pancakes,” said George Greko, manager of the Naperville location. “We make everything fresh and in-house; you can have breakfast for lunch and lunch for breakfast.”
Here’s the scoop on this new eatery that hopes to become a Naperville staple.
What’s on the menu: Everything you would expect from a breakfast and lunch eatery, with an emphasis on the freshest and highest quality ingredients. Specialty baked pancakes (apple and German), skillets, frittatas and omelets coexist with hearty burgers, salads and wraps. There are gluten-free and vegan options as well.
About the owner: The Georges family opened their first Elly’s location in 1997, and along with Naperville, they have Elly’s in Chicago, Norridge, Jefferson Park, Elk Grove, Arlington Heights and Mundelein.
A mission statement: Offer great food, specialty coffees, juices and smoothies along with great service in a comfortable atmosphere.
What’s the décor like? The lobby is spacious and modern with concrete-like tables, wood and metal stools and a neutral color scheme. It includes a juice and coffee bar and a giant chalkboard lists daily specials. The dining area seems similar to the former restaurant (Mimi’s Café) that was located there, offering comfortable booths and tables for large and small groups.
Food specialties: Specialty pancakes such as the berry mascarpone and the banana Nutella are big sellers, as are the crepes, Belgian waffles and homemade brioche French toast, Greko said. The burgers are made from prime beef and are ground and hand-packed in house and served with hand-cut fries. And don’t forget the coffee, which is made especially for Elly’s, and can be purchased to brew at home.
We’re different because: Elly’s is a family-owned restaurant that has many unique items on the menu, Greko said. “We make everything homemade, fresh and to order.”
Extras: There are rooms in the restaurant that can be rented out for gatherings or meetings and reservations are welcome for parties of 10 or more during the week. Carry-out is available and they have a special “grab and go” coffee and croissant special for $3.
Price range: A stack of pancakes or homemade brioche French toast starts at $7.50, signature omelets (served with hashbrowns and toast or pancakes), salads, and burgers (served with hand-cut fries or salad) are under $10. Made from scratch soups are $4.50 and a kids’ menu that includes a drink ranges from $4.50 to $7.50.
Logistics: Elly’s Pancake House is located at 2656 Showplace Drive (on the northwest corner of Route 59 and 95th Street) in the Naperville Crossings plaza. They are open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 630-420-2300 or visit www.ellyspancakehouse.com
Jane Donahue is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.