This Week's Counter: Spring Valley Restaurant (Oregon, IL)

We were out in N. Illinois visiting family over the Memorial Day long weekend, and ran across this place near where we were staying.  It's in a small town called Oregon, and this is our second counter there.  Spring Valley is just outside of the town center, near the Rock River.  
We stopped in on Sunday morning for a late breakfast, bringing the extended family.  Cam and I got two seats at the counter, and everyone else got a big table.  They have a very extensive menu, and their cinnamon bread seems to feature in a lot of the dishes -- for French toast, breakfast sandwiches, or just as a regular toast.  Cam and I didn't try it (other family members did, and really liked it -- we bought some to take home), but had some of our usual choices -- breakfast sandwich with egg and bacon, regular eggs and breakfast potatoes, toast, coffee.  And more bacon -- Cam gave the bacon high marks!

Service was extremely good throughout -- every server passing by, whether or not they were working the counter -- asked how things were and if we needed anything else. Constant refills on on the coffee.  Just a really friendly, small-town place.  The food overall was very good, and we had a great time.

Next time we're in Oregon, we have to try a 3rd counter -- we heard there's another place called Charlie's Breakfast Nook....

        

Cam says: "Great service with a very comfortable counter. Delicious food and a great diner atmosphere. 8 frying pans."

Ted says: "Nice, busy place with good service. Food was good, not standout.  Fun to go to counters when we're traveling!  I'll give it 6 frying pans.."

This Week's Counter: Sunrise III (Oregon, IL)

This week's post is special because we took advantage of some travel to stop at a counter way outside our local area -- 300+ miles away in Oregon, IL to be specific.  While visiting family in this small town, about 2 hours West of Chicago, we noticed the Sunrise III restaurant.  So on Saturday morning we stopped in for breakfast.  This place looks like it's right out of the 1970's, both outside and inside. Mostly tables and a small but comfortable counter. We were probably the only non-locals/regulars in the place, but the staff was extremely friendly regardless.  Apparently there is a Sunrise and a Sunrise II in towns nearby -- so this is sort of like one location of a chain. Cam had a chocolate chip waffle (which was more like an order of whipped cream and chocolate with a side of waffle) and some bacon.  Ted had eggs, toast and hash browns (extra crispy).  We enjoyed the meal a lot, and it was very fun to take Eat At The Counter on the road!

Cam says: "Amazing waffles as well as amazing service. Nice family eatery atmosphere.  I will give this counter 5 frying pans."

Ted says: "Great small town atmosphere, very friendly service. Some of the best hash browns I've had -- rest of the meal was pretty good, but not outstanding. I'm going with 4 frying pans for this one."