French Toast to open next month
French Toast, a new breakfast and lunch restaurant, is expected to open next month at 161 E. Bethel in Bourbonnais, in space formerly occupied by Cheezer’s Pizza.
It will be “a gourmet cafe without the gourmet price,” according to owner Heather Lavine.
The breakfast menu includes waffles, crepes, pancakes, omelets and french toast, of course. Omelet fillings include fresh crab or smoked salmon.
Specialty breakfast items high on my must-try list are the spinach and feta hash browns, creme brulee french toast, and verde chilaquiles, a traditional Mexican breakfast dish made with corn tortillas and green salsa.
Lunch offerings include a roasted portabella ciabatta sandwich and a croque-monsieur, a ham and cheese sandwich that’s dipped in batter and then grilled.
Lavine’s vision is for a restaurant similar to Toast, her favorite Lincoln Park cafe. She’s hired chef Justin Daniels to help develop the menu and lead the kitchen.
French Toast will lean toward the healthy, with some gluten-free and some organic items, and focus on quality, homemade ingredients. Dressings and sauces will be made from scratch, Lavine says, and pastries, breads and granola will be homemade on site.
Hours will likely be 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lavine hopes to open sometime in April.
March 1st, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Heather, I am so excited about your new place. We desperately need a place like this in the area. The only breakfast places around here are your everyday typical commercial breakfast/pancake eateries, nothing original, delicious, or healthy. The same goes for you lunch menu. I can’t wait to be one of your first customers!!
The best of luck to you,
Carol
March 1st, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Super excited about this one! My mom and I go out to breakfast all the time, it’ll be nice to try something new. And so close to home. Bravo!
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:03 am
I can’t wait for this place to open! I am really looking forward to the omelets with crab and/or smoked salmon. It will be good to have some more interesting dishes than what are served at every other place around the area. Now I just have to find a way to get my mom there before my brother does, even though they go out to breakfast at least once most weeks.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:37 am
I completely agree with the previous comments about the general lack of originality and amount of duplication in our local restaurant scene. With that in mind, French Toast sounds interesting and will be a very welcome addition. I will certainly try it as soon as possible after it opens. I wish Ms. Lavine nothing but the best of luck in her new venture.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:48 am
Can’t wait! Good luck to Heather and her chef!
March 4th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
This is so exciting! I love “Toast” in Bucktown, and I am so thrilled to hear that Heather is opening a local restaurant modeled after their tradition! This area could use some healthy alternatives and originality in their restaurant choices. I can’t wait to see the finished product! Good luck
March 5th, 2010 at 1:20 am
sounds awesome! can’t wait, we need a place offering fresh options!
March 6th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Heather, we can’t wait for your restaurant to open!!! You excell at everything you do & I am positive this place is going to be a hit!!!!!
March 25th, 2010 at 7:47 am
[...] Read my post from March 1 for more information on the restaurant. [...]
April 26th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
This sounds like it will be a nice addition to our community, but I wonder how it will compare to Blue’s Cafe? Nothing can beat the friendly wait staff there! Looking forward to trying this new place though.
December 13th, 2010 at 2:20 am
Hey Heather< I heard about ur new restaurant and im very happy for you. It was nice to see u that one day at mcdonalds. I hope lauren and u are doing well and tell her I said hi.