*insert happy dance here* Oh heyyyyyy, Buttermilk, where have you been all of my life, and why are you so far away from my house? Better yet, maybe I should move into one of those swanky condos behind this breakfast place. My breakfast cravings would be satisfied for the rest of my life! I’ve been wanting to go here for a while. However, every time we attempted to go, which was mostly on a Saturday, the wait was annoying and too long. I decided to come on a weekday, close to closing time. Anyways, absolutely ADORABLE restaurant. It’s modern with a twist of country chic! Lots of black and white décor… so simple and beautiful. Also, clean place! There’s a lot on the menu. It took me 20 mins to figure out if I wanted breakfast or lunch, if i wanted to pig out or eat clean. Screw it, I went and chose something indulgent. So I’m a sucker for biscuits and gravy. I ordered their B & G with an E: housemade biscuits with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and a side of potatoes. Oh geeez, 10 stars for the biscuits and gravy. Those biscuits are huge, flaky and melt in your mouth perfection with a yummy buttery flavor. The sausage gravy meshed so well with the biscuits. Ughhh, it was such a hearty dish, I couldn’t finish it(they give you 3 big portions of biscuits). And they top those with fluffy scrambled eggs. Perfectly cooked. Happy happy joy joy! As I said earlier, if you decide to go on the weekend, you need to come early otherwise the wait is ridiculous. The best is during the weekday in my opinion. Just take a day off and come here. And the best part is it’s just a walking distance away from the river so you can enjoy a stroll to walk off whatever you ate! I hope Buttermilk opens up another location in the future — hopefully another one in the western suburbs. Great food!
Nicole J.
Place rating: 4 Aurora, IL
My favorite spot for brunch! Will keep returning for their delicious French toast and mimosas. If you go on the weekend expect having to wait for a table. The French toast was the thick brioche bread covered in fresh fruit and every piece was the tastiest piece of fruit I had ever had. I typically get French toast when I go somewhere for breakfast, and buttermilk probably has the best French toast I’ve ever had. I just wish the wait wasn’t so excruciatingly long, cause the food is so good! It’s also really really loud in their due to the large amount of people and the open floor plan.
Megan W.
Place rating: 4 Frankfort, IL
I went here today for the first time for my good friends baby shower. After they stopped serving brunch, they opened up the entire restaurant for a baby shower. It’s such a cute place! The food and service was wonderful! The only negative was we were not able to set up the room until 2:45 after we were told we’d be able to by 2:15. It all worked out though and the shower was perfect! If you’re looking for a cute place for an event, look no further!
Kate S.
Place rating: 4 Evanston, IL
It’s great to see this style of restaurant open up in the area. The coffee bar section is just as Instagram-able as Heritage Bicycle in Chicago. Definitely a cool vibe. We went at 8:45 this morning(Friday) and it was crazy crowded within a few minutes of sitting down. I’m guessing it may be because high schools are graduating/finishing this week, and there were a lot of 14 – 18 y/o kids there. Still, service was prompt and the host, servers, and bus boys we interacted with were great. The buttermilk pancakes are excellent — light, but filling. The crispy potato side dish was generally very tasty(and I judge all breakfast places by their potatoes). Some were over-seasoned(especially with salt) and some were barely seasoned, but mixing it up together it was good. The seasoning tastes a bit like those mesquite bbq chips I used to take to lunch in elementary school, and I love it. Prices are a little high for some of the beyond basic items compared to what you’d expect in the burbs, but it seems pretty in line with places in the city.
Katrina S.
Place rating: 4 Brookfield, IL
Immediately taking off 1 star for the hostess being useless and quoting a way wrong time(said 45 minutes… we waited 75). Plus when I asked how much longer she said«how many people do you have in your party?» even though I had said just 2 when I checked in. Pretty sure several people who came in after me got seated before me. Oh well. We had a fantastic waitress(Taylor I think) who was so attentive and friendly and great all around. The crepes were standard, but the croissant was very buttery and flakey with thick bacon on it. I probably would not go back for breakfast, but several lunch items looked great! Also the interior is to die for. Future kitchen goals for sure!
Mike N.
Place rating: 4 Hinsdale, IL
We went for the first time on probably the worst day of the year – Mother’s Day! 1 hour 15 minute wait at 12:30. They gave us a pager which allowed us to take a nice walk downtown. I ordered the Chopped salad. Romaine, chicken, bacon, avocado, tomato and feta. Fresh tasting. Tomatoes were perfectly ripe Delicious. Portion wise, large enough for two and priced at $ 10. I couldn’t depart without trying something baked so I ordered a biscuit. Excellent. Service was slow but the server made up for it with her friendly service. We will be back!
Lucas C.
Place rating: 2 St Charles, IL
Had high expectations based on a ton of recommendations but it just didn’t deliver. Food– Probably the most mediocre breakfast experience of my life. I got my usual skillet with bacon onion and spinach and it was fine but the portion size allowed me to finish in about five seconds flat. I was still really hungry and the pancakes were dry enough that I didn’t bother with those. Service– We waited an hour for a table probably more. That’s an hour I’ll never get back.
B M.
Place rating: 5 Chicago, IL
THEYHAVE A VEGANMENU! Need I say more? This place is adorable and the food is really tasty. I really love that they have a nice variety of vegan choices.
John S.
Place rating: 5 Spring Grove, IL
Man this food was good. I had eggs Benedict(OG Style) I was a little worried based on there fancy massive menu. I was going to order the chia porridge l, it sounded amazing. I was with three other people they all equally enjoyed there breakfast. I had two double espressos, and a fresh squeezed OJ. Our waitress(Fany) which I doubt that’s how you spell her name. Was wonderful, high spirited and just a joy to be around. The restaurant was getting packed when we left and still our waitress pointed out… please no hurry at all. Take your time, enjoy yourselves. It felt great, what a great new spot to find.
Short K.
Place rating: 2 Kapolei, HI
After reading all of the reviews I went in with inflated expectations. The only way to describe my experience was is MEH. It tastes like every other typical suburban breakfast restaurant. It doesn’t stand out at all. I ordered the chicken fried chicken skillet which was a surprise to see on a menu in the nothern US. The chicken was bland and the luckily the gravy and the other flavors from the skillet helped, but overall it was just ok. Wasn’t bad… wasn’t fantastic. The pancakes on the side tasked like they came out of a box. For me pancakes are special and when breakfast restaurants don’t make a really good pancake it’s almost insulting. I also ordered a dopio espresso. I will admit to being a coffee snob. I knew it was going to be a problem when I walked in and noticed the Nespresso machine. I will leave it at that. We were there early on Sunday morning and beat most of the rush so, that was good that we didn’t have to wait too long. I don’t think I need to return. It was a good try though.
Caroline M.
Place rating: 3 Aurora, IL
My husband and I have recently returned to this restaurant and have had a much better experience than last time. We have found that the quality and taste of the the food has improved as well as the service. It is often quite busy, but they have a decent amount of seating while you’re waiting. The biscuits are quite good now, so much that I ordered the biscuits and chicken and gravy, which is not something that I normally order. Food in generally is pretty good, and you get a TON of it. We last went in January, but there were TONS of flies inside. Not house flies, but fruit flies/gnats. While eating, I noticed that there was one pesky fly that I just couldn’t kill. Once I got it, it seemed to regenerate. Closer to the end of my meal, I noticed the glass from the window behind me was covered in gnats. probably 15 – 20. The waitress seemed unimpressed that we spent some time killing the flies. Honestly, aside from the flies, we had a good experience. There are 2 things I just cannot stand. Hair and bugs. In my food. Ok, neither were in my food, but having the flies flying around my food the entire time was kind of a mood killer.
Grant P.
Place rating: 5 Downers Grove, IL
Holy cow, Buttermilk. You had me at hello. This place screams delicious from the name, to the décor and most assuredly the food. If Geneva were across the street you’d find me here every weekend. Unfortunately, it’s not. And perhaps that’s for the best considering the size of the breakfast I had here. When you walk in, you’re greeted by an atmosphere straight out of New England, as Buttermilk may be just as at home on a quaint street somewhere in the Hamptons. Whitewashed wood, with well-thought accents adorn the restaurant. The servers are pleasant and friendly, and coming here on a Friday morning around 10, I didn’t have to wait for a second to be seated. I’ll bet that’s not the case on the weekends, as anyone who knows about this place probably stops by. I wouldn’t be surprised if wait times get pretty steep during prime brunching times. The menu knocked me over with all the amazing choices. Eventually I settled on the chicken fried chicken skillet because I was truly trying to see just how many calories I could consume in one sitting. Spoiler alert? Not really. ITWASINCREDIBLE! Do not adjust your screens, I’m talking in all-caps here. First of all, what was put before me was practically a bucket of freshly fried chicken breast covered in sausage gravy and cheese, blanketed under my over-easy eggs, all sitting atop a mountain of potatoes cooked with bacon and ham plus peppers and onions. Holy cow, I’m drooling just typing all that. All that, plus a fresh made buttermilk biscuit that came with fresh preserves and what(in my imagination) was a ball of freshly churned butter. I may have made that last part up, but it wouldn’t surprise me if that was the case. It was very soft and melty. As I sat there, I texted pictures of my food and the menu to my wife who has already declared her love for the fried green tomato eggs benedict, even tho she hasn’t had it yet. But she is determined to try it within the next three days. Because fried green tomatoes=everything. All in all, I loved everything about Buttermilk and hope you do too. I can’t wait to go back, but please save me a chair at your table because I know after reading this review you’re all going to want to go there and I kind of don’t want to share how awesome this place is with the world. But I am.
Sarah Z.
Place rating: 4 Manhattan, NY
Buttermilk is a nice addition to downtown Geneva. I am happy to see a restaurant open in this space that actually has staying potential! I have been twice now, and have not been disappointed yet. The pancakes are delicious. I tried the cinnamon roll and also the oatmeal pancakes with chocolate and strawberries YUM. They also have good coffee drinks. I like buttermilk, but I am a die hard egg harbor fan. Good for specialty breakfasts though!
Corinna A.
Place rating: 4 Chicago, IL
What a cute/modern place to grab brunch! My boyfriend and I arrived around 1pm on a Monday and were seated immediately. The place wasn’t too crowded so it wasn’t overly noisy which I assume is typical on the weekend and what other reviews have said. I ordered a caramel latte to drink and my boyfriend ordered the coffee, both tasted great and the coffee came with a decanter so you could refill yourself. We both ordered off the lunch menu, I got the pig and fig sandwich with regular fries. The sandwich was just okay for my taste, between the fig preserve spread and melted brie cheese I thought it would make for a special sandwich but the ham just tasted like lunch meat ham you would get at the store(hence the 4 stars), it would have perfect if they had used ham off the bone like in one of their other sandwiches, that is if you like a sweet and salty combo! My boyfriend ordered the DLT sandwich which is DUCKBACON, yes you hear me, and it was just as delicious as it sounds. He added avocado for $ 1 and also got the sweet potato fries which were nice, thick and crispy! Our waitress was very friendly and attentive contrary to other reviews I’ve read. I suggest not going on the weekend at peak rush hours if you can just to have a more relaxed experience like we did. Our bill came out to $ 30.61 which is pretty decent considering we both got drinks! Will be returning soon!
Jennifer S.
Place rating: 4 Bartlett, IL
I’ve been here a couple times now and I’ve been very happy both times. Let me get my one complaint out of the way. I didn’t like their breakfast sausage links. At all. I’m sure it’s personal preference, but I was not impressed. And their parking leaves something to be desired on a busy weekend morning. Their staff is so attentive! We’ve had refills tended to quickly, food arrives hot and plates are cleared promptly. It’s a great breakfast spot! A few favorites include the s’mores hot chocolate, their bacon, the banoffee pie and their chocolately goodness waffle. For the waffle, I would get the almond butter on the side next time as I think it may be unnecessary but I cannot confirm my hunch at this point. The whole restaurant is bright and clean. A perfect spot for the family, meeting a friend or a solo breakfast spot. We are slowly working our way through the menu and I am looking forward to that next visit.
Janine K.
Place rating: 4 Lisle, IL
I really like downtown Geneva… I’ve visited several restaurants there so far, and this one yesterday morning. After finishing a 5K in Geneva, my friend and I wanted to go to brunch. This place looked cute and appealing from the outside so we decided to give it a try. There were people waiting outside, so it had to be good, right?! We were told there was a 30 – 35 minute wait and given a buzzer which we could take a half mile from the place. We walked around the area to kill time, only to wait closer to 45 minutes. Sometimes places over exaggerate, sometimes under… And really, what breakfast place isn’t crowded on a Sunday morning??? We were fine waiting. I had just finished a 90 day challenge at my gym the day before so the last thing I wanted was boring ol’ egg whites with spinach or that nonsense… I was totally down with something more exciting, and well… even not-so-healthy while I take a few days«break» to do some indulging before getting back on that wagon! This was the perfect place to do that. I flipped that menu back and forth having no clue what to order, EVERYTHING looked good… red velvet french toast? crepes? I settled on the oatmeal strawberry chocolate pancakes, which I put a dent in, and took the rest home. My friend and I also ordered a side of bacon which was really delicious, very little fat on it, and not greasy at all. They also have an extensive list of coffee on their menu, as well as bloody marys, mimosas, you name it. This is brunch heaven. What I really appreciated is that they give you extra water and a small coffee pot to refill your coffee without having to wait for your server. My friend and I really enjoyed our brunch here, and it was well worth the wait. This place is awesome! I’m really glad I checked it out!
Amy R.
Place rating: 5 Naperville, IL
Holy freaking deliciousness, Batman. Buttermilk is doing brunch RIGHT. I know these cute kitschy breakfast-and-lunch only places are kind of a dime a dozen these days, but I LIVE for brunch and so on my day off, my mom and I went and tried this place out. Here’s what made it so awesome: –HUGE coffee menu. This is not your standard regular-or-decaf. With a full espresso bar and a ton of fancy choices, you can’t go wrong ordering a delicious speciality drink. I got a cookie butter latte which was rich, decadent, and so tasty. –Tons of menu options, with not a lot of weird or plain stuff you’d never actually order. –Their speciality is biscuits, which is a pretty fun thing to make your selling point. Us northerners don’t really see a ton of interesting biscuit options. –The portions. Are. Enormous. Seriously I can eat a LOT of brunch, and I struggled to get through my meal. My mom barely made it halfway through hers. –I got the chicken fried chicken skillet which was UHHHHHMAZING. A huge piece of chicken fried chicken, bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, onion and peppers covered in sausage gravy and two eggs. Not for every day. So worth it. –For an up charge, you can get a specialty pancake as your side instead of plain. I got the cinnamon roll pancakes which were soooooo good. Way too sweet to be your main meal unless you’re a huge sugar fan, but amazing as a small side option. –PRICES. Are you kidding me with the prices? That huge skillet I got which had every ingredient under the sun? ELEVENBUCKS. Way further east, that would be $ 15 and half as huge/good. With fundrinks, skillet, a Benedict for my mom, the specialty cakes, our total was seriously like $ 35. Awesome. –Bright, happy, clean interior with a modern but welcoming theme. In short, there’s nothing not to love about this place. I can’t wait to get back and try more of that insanely expansive menu!
Serianna T.
Place rating: 3 Scottsdale, AZ
We were in town for a wedding when the Boy saw Buttermilk and declared we would be eating there for breakfast the next day. We called ahead at 9:30 and they had a 30 min wait and did not accept call ahead for the wait list. By the time we got there, the wait was 45 min but we were sat with in 30 min. The menu is impressive and hard to pick down to just one item but I ordered the Chicken Fried Chicken under the Biscuits section and also ordered a Blood Mary. The bloody was a little too pepper focused for my liking vs horseradish. The Boy’s eyes were as big as his stomach and he wanted to order an entrée AND an order of pancakes. Thankfully Buttermilk allows you to upgrade your pancakes with any order and he got the Eggs Your Way + Meat and upgraded to the Oats ‘N Chocolate pancakes. I wanted to love my dish, the dish was a massive portion and the chicken was nicely seasoned. The biscuits themselves were very dry and weren’t all that great. The 2 eggs that came with I ordered poached and asked for a side of Hollandaise to dip. The hollandaise arrived and was very runny, more of the consistency of melted butter so I was very glad I didn’t go the bene route. The Boy was happy with his dish and we both loved the pancakes. Normally I don’t like oat pancakes but the oats added a nice crunch to the cakes, the smaller cakes were good but I don’t think I could eat a full order with as much chocolate as they put on them. Customer service was definitely lacking. We were hung up on when we called the first time before we could ask our 2nd question and had to call back. I understand you are busy but a little tact goes a long way. Our server was nice but not exactly friendly, and a server at a neighboring table dropped a syrup carafe that shattered and got syrup down my pant leg. The syrup on the floor was cleaned up but my sticky pant leg and the broken carafe pieces that went under my chair went unnoticed. Cute concept but there is room for improvement.
Jen R.
Place rating: 4 San Diego, CA
Husband and I stopped here before heading out on a flight to Portland. We knew we’d be in the air for a while, so we were sure to order something hearty to keep our bellies full. We told our server that we were in a hurry, and she was very accommodating: she dropped off the check with the food and we were out the door in less than 30 mins. I had a vanilla latte and my husband had a mint mocha to drink. I thought both were delicious but husband favored mine more than his. We also split a chicken-fried chicken skillet(poached eggs are a MUST) and the lemon blueberry pancakes as a side. I was so incredibly happy with everything. This place rivals even my beloved Nosh. I’d love to go again and try their other offerings, especially their cinnamon roll pancakes. I hope they start to have pumpkin-flavored things since fall is around the corner! (SHUTUP, I LOVEFALL)
Olivia B.
Place rating: 2 Geneva, IL
Just like everyone else, we were excited to give this new restaurant a try. We went on a Friday around 11:30AM. We were told a 25 minute wait from a hostess, but it turned out to only be about 10 minutes, if that. It wasn’t bad at all. Our food came relatively quickly considering how busy the place was. Our waitress never stopped by during our meal, and we had to ask other servers/busboys for things, which was fine I guess. The food: I had the Goat Omelette — an omelette with chicken sausage, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbed goat cheese. Literally was SMOTHERED on the inside with the goat cheese, which was so crazy over powering it was nauseating. Then there was a big dollop of the cheese on the top of the omelette, too. Imagine eating spoonfuls for herbed goat cheese. That’s what this tasted like. The multigrain toast was a nice thick piece. The potatoes had no flavor at all so we added salt and hot sauce and ate maybe half. Wish I’d had the option for hash browns instead. Like everyone else said, it was pretty expensive, too. $ 10.99 for that omelette, the bland potatoes, and one piece of toast. Friend had the Red Rooster Skillet — pretty cool presentation in the skillet pan but she said it was a bit difficult to eat because of this. She liked it for the most part. The longest time we spent waiting was after we were done eating it took about 25 minutes for our waitress to drop off our check and get it taken care of. Our waitress knew the service was not good as she apologized for not checking in on us more when she dropped off the check and saw me reaching for the comment card. Will give it another try but not for a while.