Solid breakfast, need a better bathroom, kind of scary downstairs!
(3)
Liz H.
I love this place! It's yummy diner style food, with a nifty ambiance. The portions are huge, and the service so fast that you can easily make it a stop for your lunch break. Everyone is super friendly and willing to accomodate special requests. The soups and sandwiches are especially tasty here. Easily one of the best places to eat in Barrington!
(4)
Tim L.
What a surprise gem. Great steak wrap
(5)
Rick F.
The Canteen rocks!
(5)
Nick F.
My wife and I go there at least once a week. The owner has a gift for hiring and keeping the most pleasant waitresses. A very warm and friendly place. When we brought my elderly mother-in-law with us, she was always treated with care and respect. And the food is excellent. If you want a tasty, hearty breakfast try the Greek steak and eggs. The steak is marinated and the eggs are scrambled with feta cheese. And there are always surprise dishes, often with a French or Italian twist. It's a good lunch place with great salads, soups and sandwiches And the Canteen is open on Friday nights for fish fry and a diverse menu if you want something not fried or just not fish. There is plenty of parking. Kids are welcome. In fact the restaurant is festooned with crayon-colored art work crafted by young customers. Don't miss this place.
(5)
Cathy G.
I really miss the Canteen since I moved out of the immediate area. It is a must stop if you are in the area. The parking lot is very tiny and I would just avoid trying to park in it at all. Instead park on the side street and enjoy a little walk before and after breakfast! Everything I have had here is great and the staff is wonderful. I hope to get back soon!
(4)
Tom F.
The menu is typical greek diner, but the atmosphere, service and food quality are excellent for the niche. Great for breakfast or lunch, and usually not too crowded to get a table.
(4)
George B.
The Canteen is one of those small places where you pass by it all the time and never think about stopping in for breakfast or lunch... and the first time you do stop in for a meal, you want to kick yourself because you realize you have been missing so many chances to eat at a pretty good and reasonably priced place. The food is very good, and the coffee is great. What makes this place so good is the top notch service. Unfortunately, this place isn't quite handicapped friendly, as the restrooms are down stairs. Also, the parking lot is tiny and tends to fill up quickly on weekends.
(4)
maggie c.
A friend of mine turned me on to the Canteen few years ago, and we have returned the favor to our family and friends. Fresh yummy food with nice sized portions and the service is fantastic! A definite winner! If you have not been give it a try!
(4)
Bon J.
Really the best breakfast joint in the area, and I love diners. Freindly staff, owner seems very nice, great food, solid menu, great for kids. The whole place is packed with colored pictured from kids along with a ton of model airplanes. Highly recommended from someone who doesn't throw around 4 stars very often. Will be 5 stars with a couple more visits I'm sure
(4)
Raw F.
The food here is great, I love the skillets, and the wait staff, even thought it's mostly teenage girls from the local high school, do a good job. Now if they could only figure out a way to make more parking and possibly a bigger waiting area it'd be my favorite restaurant in B-town!
(4)
Kelly P.
Food was just ok and service was HORRIBLE! After reading the reviews on here I feel like maybe the place may deserve a second chance, but I would be extremely hesitant to go back. I went in yesterday for a late breakfast with my mother while out running errands. It was about 10 am and there were only 3 other tables in the place. There were 2 men, who I would assume are managers/owners & there were 2 waitresses. We were sat by an owner and our waitress came over and timely so got us our drinks & asked us what we wanted to eat. The food came out in a timely manner, but after that it all went down hill. We never saw our waitress again till we were done eating & she came to ask if we were done & drop the check. There is nothing more aggravating then being completely out of water and coffee and NO ONE in the restaurant seems to really care. When we were done eating she came to pick up our plates and said "are your finished?" and when we both said yes she said "ok", took our plates, placed the check down & left. No thank you, no come back again some time, nothing. Her & the other waitress spent most of their time standing by the open air kitchen eating & playing with their cell phones. As for the food it was just ok. I had chocolate chip pancakes which were a little dry due to being kind of over cooked. My mother had the strawberry french toast & to our surprise it was completely under-cooked. It was doughy and mushy and not appetizing at all. You could see the waitress just sprinkle cinnamon & sugar over it when it came to the window when in reality french toast should be cooked with some cinnamon in the mix. I definitely would not recommend this place, nor will I ever be going back here again.
(1)
Yvette C.
I drive past the Canteen all the time & finally had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. The Canteen is your classic American diner that is located in downtown Barrington. They are open from 6 AM until 3 PM daily. They offer good food with friendly service. They serve fresh potato chips while you check out the menu. There are model airplanes hanging everywhere. My only beef is the bathroom, they are located in the basement & aren't the warmest area to be in during a cold Chicago winter. But that wont stop me from coming back!
(4)
Mark W.
This place is great. Creative menu and comfort food, rolled into one.
(5)
Dan W.
Stopped in here for the first time after driving past it for years. We won't be going back. There were maybe 5 other tables sitting when we sat down, but it took at least 5-7 minutes just for the server to bring us coffee. We ordered basic eggs and bacon/sausage, which came out in 3 minutes, clearly showing that the food is not prepared to order. My wife ate 1 sausage link because they were not good. The bacon was hard and tasted like it was microwaved. The potatoes were cold, oily and soggy. Finally, the entire restaurant smelled like 3 day old garbage. Don't waste your time and money at this place
(1)
Brett F.
Canteen, serving Barrington since the 1940's, yo. That kind of longevity can only mean one of two things: a) there is no other breakfast restaurant available in the town of Barrington, or, b) Canteen is doing something and doing it well for more than 60+ years. Kudos! I can tell you this... it's definitely one of my favorite brunch stop-ins. From the ultra small - but cozy - dining room, the familiar smiling faces always there every time I stop in, to the consistently tasty and fully stocked menu, this is a family affair operation and they just get. it. right. Mix Greek brekkie favs like feta-laced Omelettes and piled-high sandwiches on greek toast with nom worthy Bananas Foster Crepes, Pecan Belgian Waffles and crazy delicious Taffy Apple French Toast for a truly well-rounded morning marathon of all things mouthwatering. Excusez moi, is it hot in here or is it just me? A down home atmosphere, attentive service and endless piping hot coffee are all just as dependable as the Canteen itself. You know what's really tasty? Consistency.
(4)
Frank V.
Service was only issue. Only one waitress working that morning [July 4]. I think management underestimated customer levels, as she was SWAMPED! Not only was food waiting to be delivered while she was taking orders, but she had to handle cashier duties as well. Ham off the bone mixed in scrambled eggs was great. I am from Berwyn and saw there ad in a Chicago newspaper recommendation.
(4)
Alexis W.
If I could do 3-1/2 stars, I would. Breakfast was good, but I just can't go to 4. This place is obviously a local favorite (complete with regulars who good-naturedly hassle the waitstaff).The dining area is small, so don't come at a peak meal time unless you're prepared to wait. We came for breakfast at 8 am on a Saturday and got a seat, but it filled up. The atmosphere is family-friendly and delightfully (and unpretentiously) small-town. The "canteen" scheme comes complete with dozens of airplanes hanging from the ceiling, which the toddler loved. The BBS crepes (blueberry, banana, strawberry) were generous, although unspectacular. The crepes were fine, and the serving of fruit was surprising. There must have been a whole banana on one crepe, several fresh strawberries on another, and a healthy serving of blueberries on the third. Standard crepes, but the fruit stands up to the price tag. The Argentine Benedict was great - eggs poached to perfection, the homemade Chimichurri sauce was a little spicy. The steaks were perfect, and the potatoes were good but standard. All in all, a good breakfast. The prices may be a little ambitious, but I'll pay a little extra for the friendly waitstaff and comfortable vibe.
(3)
Karyn S.
My boyfriend's dad LOVES it here, and brought me here a couple weeks ago. We've eaten there since, and I found the waitress to be nice/friendly, and I love the airplanes! The food was good - I loved the scrambled eggs! My boyfriend's dad loves biscuits and gravy - except he hates the biscuits that are used. He ordered a custom version - that involved English muffins, and they were more than happy to make it - and he thought it was delicious! The food always came out promptly, nice and hot and delicious. I will agree with a previous review, I found the bacon to be slightly overcooked for my taste (I wish it had been like 30 seconds less on the grill). It was still good, but it wasn't my preference. The bacon was fine on my first visit, however.
(4)
Tobin h.
It did it's job. Very good but nothing great. Better than the average greek diner but nothing to do the chicken dance for. I'd go back then I'd go back again because the service was near great and the food was above average...but still, did it's job. It is a simple pancake house with simple reviews. go and be happy. It is that kinda place!
(3)
Tom F.
We have been going to the Canteen for over 15 years, This family owned and operated restaurant is the best place I have ever had breakfast! We go every Sunday. Their homemade soups and sandwiches are great! Try the BBQ or corned beef with their homemade potato chips, The best!!!
(5)
Lily R.
Place was very friendly with a nice assortment of breakfast and lunch items. Staff is really nice and accommodating. There was a stale smell that kinda gave me a nauseous feeling, and was a lot stronger in the basement where the restrooms are at. Add some bleach or Mr. clean to your mop and that may help that smell. Great food and staff, will return some day soon.
(4)
Jelena Z.
My lovely dalliance with the Canteen started with an enthusiastic recommendation from the beautiful Brett D and one hungover phone call on New Year's Day: Me: You're open today? He: OF COURSE we're open! Done and done. We arrived to a full parking lot, a bustling restaurant and a hearty welcome from the same man who had answered the phone. We were situated in a big ol' booth made for sprawling (love!) and quickly took to the books, err menus, before us. I made a decision based on a combination of gut reaction and survival necessity: The Croque Madame French Toast. As it turns out, a Croque Madame tailored for breakfast is every bit as decadent as my 'bad girl' lunch staple (check out my photo - isn't she pretty?). I couldn't resist complementing my savory selection with a sweet side so I added a pancake for a nominal fee. This is what last suppers are made of! NomNOMnomNoMnoM. Canteen's decor is very homey - think old movie posters and historic photos from a younger Barrington. Also on the menu's honorable mention list: Falafel eggs Benedict and sour cherry crepes!
(4)
Nicole G.
After several years staying away because I thought the breakfast was too greasy, we ended up here and I am glad we did. The food was phenomenal. Not greasy at all. We did have to wait but it was Sunday morning. The crowds made the restaurant extremely loud which I do not like. And the wait was substantial to get our order in. But we could see our waitress was hurrying around with a 10-person party. She was courteous and very upbeat for the amount of running around. Had the French toast which was awesome. C had a ham and cheese inlet which was fluffy and delicious. I stole his potatoes which were great too. Atmosphere was eclectic and entertaining. Will go back.
(5)
Rose D.
I could have swore I wrote a review for this place but as it seems to have disappeared I shall remedy the situation! I love Greek diners for breakfast & lunch. The Canteen Restaurant is just a tiny little place but the the menu & food is so very good. We've only been here once so I will reserve a higher star rating for a future visit. There were so many delicious sounding things on the menu we definitely will be coming back to try more! The only reason I'm not giving them 4 stars right off the bat is because of the service. Yes, it is a small restaurant but they get busy & there were only 3 servers working the dining room. We were there on a weekend morning, a typically busy time for any breakfast place, so I think they would have been better off having at least one more server. Perhaps someone called out for the day. Either way we waiting very long time to place our order and the only time our server came back was to drop off the bill & get us a box. Actually, I believe one of the bus boys brought us the box. But I won't let this one time deter us for a return visit. As I said the menu looks great & we have more things we want to try!
(3)
Ryan B.
I've driven by this place a thousand times and always wanted stop in, so I did. Not sure if it's always like this, but the second I walked through the door I smelled a sewer-like odor. My guess is that it was coming from the bathrooms downstairs. The place had a very dated, hadn't-been-cleaned-since-1953 smell to it. Our waitress was very kind, but forgot a lot of stuff. The food wasn't too bad, but I couldn't enjoy it because I was grossed out by the smell of the place. My wife loved her breakfast, however. Don't think I'll be going back though. Has tons of potential...just clean the place up!
(2)
Angie V.
Service here is excellent. Fun, friendly atmosphere. 4 stars for being adorable! (And for not being a chain or in a strip mall.) As for the food, well... Ummm... Yeah, my coffee was terrible, blech! But, the menu is inspired. My hubbins ordered the Argentinian benedict and said "it's good, not amazing." He did tear into the perfectly prepared breakfast potatoes, though. I ordered regular eggs benedict and it was kind of lousy and lacking flavor. The eggs were poached beautifully and the Canadian bacon was nice. But, the English muffin was an awful puck (offensive to the rest of the meal, actually). The hollandaise was creamy, but someone forgot to add lemon juice and it was sorely missed. My side of fruit was fresh, ripe, and sweet. I'd return just for the kind treatment and the atmosphere -- but I'd only order the basics off the menu.
(4)
Todd P.
Just had a great omelette with some really fresh ingredients. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure my order was just what I asked for. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Keir H.
I would give this place 3-3.5. Service is always friendly and the food is consistently good. It's mainly the basic Greek diner breakfast/lunch with a couple of tasty surprises on the specials. It's small, local, friendly, fast and tasty at good prices: so you won't go wrong here. Also they advertise a pig roast/BBQ they do during the summer that sounds delicious.
(3)
Krista S.
This is a family friendly 1940s diner. Our son loved the model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and I loved the old movie posters! Stick with the classics, ham and eggs and the french toast were amazing! The service was great and the food came out fast and hot which is great when you have little ones waiting to eat. We will definitely go back to Canteen.
(4)
Sarah M.
So I finally went to the Canteen, after forgetting about it for nigh on 15 years. It is a cute little divey kitchy Greeky diner in downtown-ish Barrington. We went there for break-lunch some random day during the week. Coffee is good, food is decent, and prices are moderate. Was I bowled over? No, but I also wasn't expecting to be. I honestly can't even remember what I ordered, but I know everyone in my group was happy with our meals. If you're in the area and aren't feelin' Egg Harbor, then head over to Canteen - they may just surprise you!
(3)
Will C.
Cool vibe, cheery wait staff, good food at a fair price. Nothing extraordinary, but darned good. I'll be sure to go back. Good lunch samiches. : )
(4)
Angela P.
When I was a kid, we'd drive past the Canteen every weekend that we'd go to visit my grandpa. It was a one-hour drive, and I got to know how close we were to grandpa's by the landmarks along the way. Seeing the Canteen meant we were in downtown Barrington, and no, we were not there yet. My dad used to beg my mom to come here, but she'd cringe at the dingy exterior. Since I was a kid, I was more interested in stopping at McDonald's for a happy meal. And, like most things, I agreed with my mom on this one. My first visit to the Canteen was today - with my mom, of all people! We stopped on our way to Volo Antique Mall for brunch. My dad, I hear, is totally jealous. I couldn't decide between breakfast or lunch, and lunch usually wins when there's a creamy soup on the menu. I had the chicken swiss melt with a side of cream of chicken rice soup. The soup was disappointing. It was very creamy and lemony, but there wasn't any chicken and hardly any rice. And since I'm trying to watch my weight, and what I eat, cream soup was an indulgence. So, I was pissed that I wasted calories on it! My sandwich was just okay, and it was a little bland. The chicken could have used some seasoning. And, not that I needed it, but I was surprised that the sandwiches came with fries, soup or salad, instead of the fries and soup. My mom had the taffy apple waffle and kept talking about how good it was until we reached Volo. The waffle appeared homemade, no frozen business here, and the apples were gooey, covered with cinnamon and caramel. The waffle was also topped with pecans and caramel syrup. I can confidently say that the waffles here are worthwhile, as my mom was very happy with her breakfast. As for me, I should've gotten the frittata. Probably more healthy, and breakfast seems to be more of a specialty. We received great service. My mom had a question about the banana pancakes (are they in the batter or on top?), and the waitress very quickly asked someone in the kitchen. The Canteen is a very tiny restaurant, with about 14 tables and a counter with stools. There were old movie posters on the wall, and my mom couldn't stop complaining that the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" poster didn't fit in. I couldn't help but agree. That, and the random Reebok hockey stick. It smelled a bit musty inside as well. And when I headed to the bathroom, I had to walk down a long staircase. There is no way to get to the bathroom if you use a wheelchair, and it'll still be difficult if you use a walker or cane. So if you're wheelchair-bound, you might have to hold it til you can get elsewhere. I'd go back for breakfast, but I don't recommend the lunch menu.
(3)
Doug A.
This review only pertains to breakfast. First off the coffee is delicious. I hate when breakfast places try to have some special coffee. Just a good black coffee is all you need in the AM. Breakfast is good here. It seems people either love the place or hate it. The owner is always at the door to greet you when you walk in and seat you. The decor is funky, I'm not really sure what the theme is supposed to be. The ham off the bone is absolutely defuckinglicious. I could eat it for 3 meals a day. The eggs are always cooked the way you want them. The potatos are good. I've had the gyro skillet which was very good too, although it wasn't the gyro meat off the spit.. It's a breakfast place. They do a good breakfast. That's all you get. They also do bbq on Thursdays nights. Haven't been, but I will soon go.
(4)
Darci S.
I was underwhelmed by the Canteen. My husband works nearby and I was looking for someplace new to try for lunch. Its definitely a unique place with a homey feel. Our lunches were fine, don't get me wrong, but nothing I'll be running back for. Service was good and attentive. Perhaps we should have tried breakfast entrees, it seems like that is the preferred food here. Probably won't go back but it wasn't bad either.
(3)
Yaneck W.
very nice diner in Barrington!
(4)
Sherwin C.
Interesting restaurant. While it's not the best in texture or taste of the local restaurants they do offer many unique items (frittata, savory crepes, croque madame, etc.) that other places don't. In fact, it's really difficult to find many of these items outside of the city. The prices are good and many of the items are special homemade versions so they taste different from other restaurants. Because of its uniqueness it's worth a visit if you live in the area.
(4)
Mark B.
We had the worst lunch we've had in a long time at Canteen last weekend. While the interior is very quaint , I was completely turned off by the food that came to our table. When it finally got to our table. I ordered a caprese panini, tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella with the unique twist of being grilled on greek bread. Our waitress was young and seemed confused, nearly shell-shocked, by everything that was going on around her. When the food finally arrived after far too long a wait, my sandwich was cold. The "Grilled" part was several sad, slightly beige lines that had been pressed into the bread by the panini press. Clearly not long enough to actually toast the bread. The sandwich filling (basil, tomato and buffalo mozz) looked a little light, so I opened the sandwich up (see photo). I had a couple slices of tomato, along with an end piece, 3 petite leaves of basil that didn't look all that appetizing and several clumps of melted mozzarella cheese (not buffalo mozzarella). On tasting it, this turned out to be a truly disgusting sandwich. The kitchen staff should be repremanded and the owner should be ashamed for letting that kind of food even be presented to a customer. Wrong ingredients, skimpy ingredients, cooked wrong, served slow and cold. We have had breakfast at Canteen before as well, but frankly it was nothing to write home about. This visit seals it. We will not be back to Canteen. Instead, I recommend the likes of Egg Harbor, McGonagles pub or Ambrosia etc.. for your next breakfast or lunch outting in Barrington.
(1)
Brendan O.
This place is hidden gem in Barrington. Their skillets are excellent and so are there omlets. They have a lot of unique breakfast dishes for any morning desire. Excellent coffee and I would recommend the chuch wagon skillet to anyone.
(5)
Tanya B.
This was the worst breakfast of my life. I was really hoping it would be good because my boyfriend had never been here before and it was my suggestion to come here. It started off ok. The problems started when we got our food. Our waitress was foreign and must have not understood English well because she messed up our order. I asked for 2 of the same kids meals (the chocolate chip pancakes). She only rang up one. When she came over with the food, I asked her about the other meal and she said "Ok I will have them make it right now." She did not return until the pancake was ready. She was basically standing by the kitchen waiting for it for about 8 minutes. This was annoying because we needed other things to enjoy our meals at the time and she was not around to get them for us. I had asked her for another plate so I could split the pancakes that I did have between my girls so they could both start eating while we were waiting. She never brought it. I ended up taking my skillet off the plate so I could do that. My food was incorrect. It was supposed to come with green peppers which is one of my favorite parts and it didn't. This was not the waitresses fault but she didn't come back for 8 minutes so by then the skillet was cold...and I still had to wait for them to heat up the peppers... My boyfriends steak skillet was so peppery that he couldn't eat it. He said he was burping up pepper all day (TMI I know). The chocolate chip pancakes were nasty! I might have stolen a couple of bites... It tasted like they used Aldi brand imitation chocolate chips. It did not even taste like real chocolate. I didn't know that it was possible to mess up something so simple. I WILL NEVER RETURN. It was the waste of a good morning, a waste of $30 and a whole buncha calories... Definitely not worth it.
(1)
Dave C.
Love the old diner feel, good home style breakfast!
(4)
jan l.
Had breakfast here today. I've been on the hunt for fresh corned beef hash, and due to reviews on here we went. It's so very delicious! Fresh, crispy, lots of beef. We'll be back. We ordered very basic food. My husband had the ham off the bone and two over medium eggs, with pancakes. I'm not a fan of pancakes, frankly I just don't get them. But the looked really light and fluffy, and they were. The potatoes, another thing I'm not usually a fan of, were very good. Cubes with onions and green peppers. The only down side was they were room tempature. The service was very good, it's very cute and homey inside. And did i mention? The best corned beef hash I've had in years!!
(5)
Chrisa H.
This is THE place for breakfast in Barrington. Not only are they ALWAYS open, they are always friendly and the food is always great. This is a diner in the classic sense of the word. The decor is kitschy, the staff is friendly, and the food always is great. I love the Big Fat Greek Breakfast - the Zorba Omelette is my favorite. Mmmm...feta cheese, spinach, and tomatoes. LOVE! I hear there is a new Eggs Benedict called the Falafel Benedict - so I know where I"m having breakfast this Sunday!
(4)
April B.
Took my husband there for breakfast on his birthday - my first time was spectacular. Dont let the quaint diner atmosphere fool you. The food is 5 star all the way! I had a tough time picking from a very unique menu of creative breakfast options. I decided to try the croque Madame French toast. It was awesome! Brie-stuffed French toast with ham and an egg on the top with a drizzle of sweet honey mustard. Really good! My husband had juicy ham (cut off the none) and eggs and pancakes. Very good service by Nora and excellent food.
(5)
Courtney W.
This little place is quite a charmer. My father, who lives in Florida, still raves about this place to friends. He fondly remembers it after one visit about eight years ago. The chips that greet you at the table are made in house and are fabulous! My favorite soup of all time is also served here; lemon chicken rice. It is fabulous and always the soup of choice when I'm in town. The menu is pretty extensive and I enjoy something different every time I come in! Sam, the owner, is very nice and friendly and likes to learn every customer's name. The staff is pretty friendly and make great suggestions depending on your mood. I know when my dad visits in a couple of months, this will be the first place on his list!
(4)
Daniel G.
I loved this place. The service was great and the food was excellent. The homemade potato chips were incredible.
(5)
Lou L.
Great place for fresh standards and innovative twists like Southwest Benedict made with pulled pork, homemade biscuits, hollandaise with a kick and eggs - great! The crepe's are the best I have had in the Chicagoland area. Sam R and his family run a friendly tight ship. Go in a stranger and leave a friend. My favorite breakfast spot in the NW suburbs.
(5)
Candice M.
Great breakfast place. They did change their potatoes to be a bit more "Greek" but that I can deal with. It's a pretty typical breakfast place. That's the one thing that downtown Barrington seems to have in abundance. I've never had any problems with service or the food. On Saturday/Sunday mornings there might be a wait, but it's worth it. I love their skillets. Definitely give it a try.
(4)
Scott F.
Solid breakfast, need a better bathroom, kind of scary downstairs!
(3)
Jerrod B.
I love steak and eggs at greek restaurants. This place seemed to boast their skirt steak. Steak was okay, but I've had much better at similar restaurants. Pool of butter on eggs and the crust on my toast flaked like it was old. The coffee was indeed good like the other posts say.
(3)
Jay K.
Very cool place for breakfast if your in the area. Model airplanes are hanging from the ceiling and they have a tiny U shaped counter if you like. Maybe 8 booths and as many tables. Good friendly service. For lunch I'm going to Baloneys.
(4)
Dallas T.
Here's a charming little cottage turned restaurant on 59 in Barrington serving your typical Greek style family breakfast and lunch menu items... We didn't plan to eat here, it was just a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing, because we were hungry and the Canteen was right there (right here). The place was busy and we struggled for parking and waited for a table. Once seated, the service was decent as was the food (the staff are well rehearsed and friendly with customers, and service is routine, and so is the food)... I imagine I'll come again on the spur-of-the-moment.
(3)
Sue S.
I've lived in the area for years and pass this place on my way to work every day. I encouraged two of my friends to join me for our 1st adventure there. I'm all for local restaurants, we were expecting amazing, we got much less. The waitress had zero personality. She was slow and even though we were the ONLY people in the place she plopped the pot of coffee on the table so that we could serve ourselves, guessing so that she could focus on playing with her cell phone at the counter. We got an omelette, pancakes and waffles. Definitely not worth the $30 bill. Last but not least, here was an odd sewer smell. I see that other folks have written about that as well. I guess the owner of the restaurant doesn't read their YELP reviews. Sadly, we will not be returning.
(2)
Melanie S.
Nothing fancy here, just good, solid, stick-to-your-ribs kinda fare. Sour cherry crepes, ham (right off the bone) and fluffy scrambled eggs, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and strong coffee were all satisfying, if not mind-blowing. They're not reinventing the wheel; it's comfort food in a diner atmosphere. Service is friendly and familiar. Charming place in a quaint part of Barrington. Open for breakfast and lunch only. I can see why the locals love it so.
(3)
Katie F.
Food was very good (I want to try a bunch of other things though). Service was pretty friendly and super fast. They do need to do something about the bathrooms though-kinda gross.
(4)
Drew K.
Visited on a Sunday just after noon. Service was immediate and friendly. The temperature was quite warm inside, possibly they were having issues with the a/c. There was a large selection of breakfast and lunch items - eggs, pancakes, sandwiches. I had the ham and eggs. The portions were good, but both the eggs and the potatoes tasted a little "off," a bit like the cooking oil was turning rancid. It's a good place for conversation over food as there is not overly much background noise. The prices are very reasonable. I might visit again if in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back.
(2)
Tony P.
This is a great breakfast place with all the popular places popping up all over the place, this place is just the quintessential breakfast joint. They offer a full menu although I must admit I always order breakfast. From savory/sweet crepes, frittatas, awesome skillets and enormous omelets. This past weekend I ordered scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon crepe with Hollandaise Sauce. I think the sauce is great. Maybe a little thicker than you are used to but it is nice that it is not runny. My old man always gets the Gypsy Skillet which is his absolute favorite. Of course they do the old classics as well but will also put a new twist on them if you are open to it. We have been meeting here for breakfast for years. It's a great restaurant to even drive out of the way for, no matter where you live. The staff is friendly and the owner is like the greek uncle you never had but always wanted!
(4)
Keith Z.
Food was good. Although to took forever for the kitchen to prepare it. Our server was most bizarre - she was snappy and curt with poor people skills.
(2)
Adam H.
We tried this place based on a recommendation to celebrate a day off and found the right spot. The decor was very cool and unexpected, and made me want to assemble a model airplane. We came at an off hour so it was relatively empty which is nice from time to time. Everyone was friendly and humorous and completed the experience. The food was delicious and the plates that other people ordered looked amazing as well. We will definitely return when we get the opportunity!
(4)
J G.
We shared 2 different chicken wraps, both were great, lemon chicken soup was excellent, tasty fresh cut fries. Nice local diner, we'll be back
(4)
Dana H.
This place is good. It goes slightly beyond basic (with crepes and eggs benedict on a felafel). What I like is that their product is good, they make things that taste good and they are always friendly.
(4)
Franklin D.
Cool model airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Dining area looked kind of small, probably because it was packed with people. Real nice greek guys running things...the whole menu had a "big fat greek xxx" theme going, like "big fat greek omelette", etc. Pretty funny. My son had the chocolate chip pancakes. There were two gigantic pancakes and lots of chocolate chips even though it was a $3.50 kids plate. I had hash, eggs, potatoes, and rye toast for $7. Not bad. NOTE: The restrooms are in the basement down some steep stairs. Also the parking lot was small but we found street parking easily (Sunday, 9AM-ish). Might be harder to park on other days.
(4)
Luke S.
Epitome of old style dinner....food as fresh. Service was efficient....not necessarily friendly
(4)
Amy R.
Very good food and the owner is always nice. Great place to eat-but call ahead as they have sporatic hours(mostly daytime).
(4)
Nick F.
My wife and I go there at least once a week. The owner has a gift for hiring and keeping the most pleasant waitresses. A very warm and friendly place. When we brought my elderly mother-in-law with us, she was always treated with care and respect. And the food is excellent. If you want a tasty, hearty breakfast try the Greek steak and eggs. The steak is marinated and the eggs are scrambled with feta cheese. And there are always surprise dishes, often with a French or Italian twist. It's a good lunch place with great salads, soups and sandwiches And the Canteen is open on Friday nights for fish fry and a diverse menu if you want something not fried or just not fish. There is plenty of parking. Kids are welcome. In fact the restaurant is festooned with crayon-colored art work crafted by young customers. Don't miss this place.
(5)
Cathy G.
I really miss the Canteen since I moved out of the immediate area. It is a must stop if you are in the area. The parking lot is very tiny and I would just avoid trying to park in it at all. Instead park on the side street and enjoy a little walk before and after breakfast! Everything I have had here is great and the staff is wonderful. I hope to get back soon!
(4)
Tom F.
The menu is typical greek diner, but the atmosphere, service and food quality are excellent for the niche. Great for breakfast or lunch, and usually not too crowded to get a table.
(4)
George B.
The Canteen is one of those small places where you pass by it all the time and never think about stopping in for breakfast or lunch... and the first time you do stop in for a meal, you want to kick yourself because you realize you have been missing so many chances to eat at a pretty good and reasonably priced place. The food is very good, and the coffee is great. What makes this place so good is the top notch service. Unfortunately, this place isn't quite handicapped friendly, as the restrooms are down stairs. Also, the parking lot is tiny and tends to fill up quickly on weekends.
(4)
Damian S.
A great place to go when you want some "down home" kind of cooking. Today I had the Hawaii-5-0 Frittata (bacon, cheese, pineapple, and ham on an open-faced omelette), which also comes with a plate of fried potatoes and your choice of pancakes, toast or something else. I chose the pancakes. The servings sizes were more that adequate for one person, and it was a tasty, filling brunch after "teaching" finals for the day. The only negative about the whole thing was the potatoes...they were a little burnt and crispy for my taste. That, and did they switch to Pepsi, or did they always have it? One of my favorites for non-breakfast visits is the chicken, rice and lemon soup. It is so silky and flavorful! It goes with all of their meals very well, with the exception of a breakfast or I would've gotten it today. The seating is typical diner-ish, with booths for four all around the perimeter and about 16 four-person tables (the kind that comfortably seat two) in the center. Never really been crowded, as it looks a lot smaller form the outside, and is a best-kept secret of the Barrington food arena. Although they're really neat, don't look too closely at the model planes, or you'll wonder when the last time a total vacuuming of the place was performed. The food more than makes up for the decor, and the managers and staff have always been very friendly, yet not overbearing while you're eating. It's a great little locally owned restaurant.
(4)
Nathan S.
We were driving through Barrington when my wife spotted a small sign that said, "Falafel Benedict." This was odd enough to cause us to turn the car around and grab a late breakfast. While we didn't actually try the falafel, we did find a large and varied menu to choose from, which is a bit rare in restaurants around here. My wife ordered the eggs Florentine and I just had to try the home made corned beef hash (a weakness of mine). The food was okay, but nothing spectacular. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly, but the hash and the potatoes were very dry. My wife's dish was similar in that the eggs were quite good but the potatoes dry, and the hollandaise was not quite right. I will say that the coffee was excellent. The food was certainly good enough for us to go back and try again, but they need to hone their craft a bit more when it comes to the breakfast staples. Bad potatoes point to a lazy kitchen, as fried potatoes are easy enough to cook that the kitchen staff must not be paying enough attention to their work. This makes me wonder how good the rest of the food will be. The food was certainly good enough to warrant another go, as was the atmosphere of the restaurant. I will update when I try it again.
(3)
Luna M.
Have only been here for breakfast. The coffee is good and the pancakes are great. The kids devour them. It's an old school type of place - not fussy or fancy - which is fine by us. Service is fairly fast and the prices are reasonable.
(4)
Rich W.
My brother and I went to lunch there the week of Christmas this past year. He is an international business traveler and isn't around much, but he was on semi-vacation Christmas week. He suggested we meet at the Canteen. I kind of enjoyed the atmosphere, especially since I'm am an airplane nut. The owner (?) was a very jovial guy and greeted me like we were old friends when I came in. I ordered a cup of coffee and studied the very extensive (typical of Greek owned restaurants) menu and had decided on a "breakfast" entree, by the time my brother arrived. I had one of their "skillet" dishes. It was pretty good, but not as good as the similar offering at Papa G's in Huntley, a favorite breakfast stop on the days that my "Thursday lunch-buddy" and I are Operations dept. volunteers at the Illinois Railway Museum. Anyway, back to the Canteen. My brother also had a "breakfast" entree, and said that is what he usually has when he and his family go there. The service was excellent. The only negative, as someone else mentioned was the location of the washrooms, down a narrow stairway to the basement. I'll give it another try, and have a different entree sometime soon, and possibly revise the average rating that i gave it.
(3)
Zhong Y.
Lunch was underwhelming, which is another case of a restaurant whose promising exterior fails to deliver. Menu was unimpressive, matched by preparation and length of wait between order and service and post-service check-in. Pass!
(2)
Andrea R.
I could eat here every weekend and not exhaust the delicious options on the menu. We've been for both breakfast and lunch. The ham is absolutely amazing; I've never tasted ham so good. The homemade potato chips are my boyfriend's favorite. Their specials are always delicious, too. It's charming and at a great price.
(5)
Judy T.
We've been there several times over the years and mostly we've enjoyed it. This time I ordered the corned beef hash & eggs and the corned beef was the real thing, I guess, not the canned version. It was a roasted corned beef all chopped up. Now I realize this is the REAL version but I hate to say it but it made me think I was eating leftovers from St. Patrick's day last week. I had the regular canned version of corned beef there before so I thought I knew what to expect. I'm sure it wasn't leftovers.
(2)
Liz H.
I love this place! It's yummy diner style food, with a nifty ambiance. The portions are huge, and the service so fast that you can easily make it a stop for your lunch break. Everyone is super friendly and willing to accomodate special requests. The soups and sandwiches are especially tasty here. Easily one of the best places to eat in Barrington!
(4)
Tim L.
What a surprise gem. Great steak wrap
(5)
Rick F.
The Canteen rocks!
(5)
Kelly P.
Food was just ok and service was HORRIBLE! After reading the reviews on here I feel like maybe the place may deserve a second chance, but I would be extremely hesitant to go back. I went in yesterday for a late breakfast with my mother while out running errands. It was about 10 am and there were only 3 other tables in the place. There were 2 men, who I would assume are managers/owners & there were 2 waitresses. We were sat by an owner and our waitress came over and timely so got us our drinks & asked us what we wanted to eat. The food came out in a timely manner, but after that it all went down hill. We never saw our waitress again till we were done eating & she came to ask if we were done & drop the check. There is nothing more aggravating then being completely out of water and coffee and NO ONE in the restaurant seems to really care. When we were done eating she came to pick up our plates and said "are your finished?" and when we both said yes she said "ok", took our plates, placed the check down & left. No thank you, no come back again some time, nothing. Her & the other waitress spent most of their time standing by the open air kitchen eating & playing with their cell phones. As for the food it was just ok. I had chocolate chip pancakes which were a little dry due to being kind of over cooked. My mother had the strawberry french toast & to our surprise it was completely under-cooked. It was doughy and mushy and not appetizing at all. You could see the waitress just sprinkle cinnamon & sugar over it when it came to the window when in reality french toast should be cooked with some cinnamon in the mix. I definitely would not recommend this place, nor will I ever be going back here again.
(1)
Yvette C.
I drive past the Canteen all the time & finally had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. The Canteen is your classic American diner that is located in downtown Barrington. They are open from 6 AM until 3 PM daily. They offer good food with friendly service. They serve fresh potato chips while you check out the menu. There are model airplanes hanging everywhere. My only beef is the bathroom, they are located in the basement & aren't the warmest area to be in during a cold Chicago winter. But that wont stop me from coming back!
(4)
Mark W.
This place is great. Creative menu and comfort food, rolled into one.
(5)
maggie c.
A friend of mine turned me on to the Canteen few years ago, and we have returned the favor to our family and friends. Fresh yummy food with nice sized portions and the service is fantastic! A definite winner! If you have not been give it a try!
(4)
Bon J.
Really the best breakfast joint in the area, and I love diners. Freindly staff, owner seems very nice, great food, solid menu, great for kids. The whole place is packed with colored pictured from kids along with a ton of model airplanes. Highly recommended from someone who doesn't throw around 4 stars very often. Will be 5 stars with a couple more visits I'm sure
(4)
Raw F.
The food here is great, I love the skillets, and the wait staff, even thought it's mostly teenage girls from the local high school, do a good job. Now if they could only figure out a way to make more parking and possibly a bigger waiting area it'd be my favorite restaurant in B-town!
(4)
Tom F.
We have been going to the Canteen for over 15 years, This family owned and operated restaurant is the best place I have ever had breakfast! We go every Sunday. Their homemade soups and sandwiches are great! Try the BBQ or corned beef with their homemade potato chips, The best!!!
(5)
Lily R.
Place was very friendly with a nice assortment of breakfast and lunch items. Staff is really nice and accommodating. There was a stale smell that kinda gave me a nauseous feeling, and was a lot stronger in the basement where the restrooms are at. Add some bleach or Mr. clean to your mop and that may help that smell. Great food and staff, will return some day soon.
(4)
Brett F.
Canteen, serving Barrington since the 1940's, yo. That kind of longevity can only mean one of two things: a) there is no other breakfast restaurant available in the town of Barrington, or, b) Canteen is doing something and doing it well for more than 60+ years. Kudos! I can tell you this... it's definitely one of my favorite brunch stop-ins. From the ultra small - but cozy - dining room, the familiar smiling faces always there every time I stop in, to the consistently tasty and fully stocked menu, this is a family affair operation and they just get. it. right. Mix Greek brekkie favs like feta-laced Omelettes and piled-high sandwiches on greek toast with nom worthy Bananas Foster Crepes, Pecan Belgian Waffles and crazy delicious Taffy Apple French Toast for a truly well-rounded morning marathon of all things mouthwatering. Excusez moi, is it hot in here or is it just me? A down home atmosphere, attentive service and endless piping hot coffee are all just as dependable as the Canteen itself. You know what's really tasty? Consistency.
(4)
Angela P.
When I was a kid, we'd drive past the Canteen every weekend that we'd go to visit my grandpa. It was a one-hour drive, and I got to know how close we were to grandpa's by the landmarks along the way. Seeing the Canteen meant we were in downtown Barrington, and no, we were not there yet. My dad used to beg my mom to come here, but she'd cringe at the dingy exterior. Since I was a kid, I was more interested in stopping at McDonald's for a happy meal. And, like most things, I agreed with my mom on this one. My first visit to the Canteen was today - with my mom, of all people! We stopped on our way to Volo Antique Mall for brunch. My dad, I hear, is totally jealous. I couldn't decide between breakfast or lunch, and lunch usually wins when there's a creamy soup on the menu. I had the chicken swiss melt with a side of cream of chicken rice soup. The soup was disappointing. It was very creamy and lemony, but there wasn't any chicken and hardly any rice. And since I'm trying to watch my weight, and what I eat, cream soup was an indulgence. So, I was pissed that I wasted calories on it! My sandwich was just okay, and it was a little bland. The chicken could have used some seasoning. And, not that I needed it, but I was surprised that the sandwiches came with fries, soup or salad, instead of the fries and soup. My mom had the taffy apple waffle and kept talking about how good it was until we reached Volo. The waffle appeared homemade, no frozen business here, and the apples were gooey, covered with cinnamon and caramel. The waffle was also topped with pecans and caramel syrup. I can confidently say that the waffles here are worthwhile, as my mom was very happy with her breakfast. As for me, I should've gotten the frittata. Probably more healthy, and breakfast seems to be more of a specialty. We received great service. My mom had a question about the banana pancakes (are they in the batter or on top?), and the waitress very quickly asked someone in the kitchen. The Canteen is a very tiny restaurant, with about 14 tables and a counter with stools. There were old movie posters on the wall, and my mom couldn't stop complaining that the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" poster didn't fit in. I couldn't help but agree. That, and the random Reebok hockey stick. It smelled a bit musty inside as well. And when I headed to the bathroom, I had to walk down a long staircase. There is no way to get to the bathroom if you use a wheelchair, and it'll still be difficult if you use a walker or cane. So if you're wheelchair-bound, you might have to hold it til you can get elsewhere. I'd go back for breakfast, but I don't recommend the lunch menu.
(3)
Jelena Z.
My lovely dalliance with the Canteen started with an enthusiastic recommendation from the beautiful Brett D and one hungover phone call on New Year's Day: Me: You're open today? He: OF COURSE we're open! Done and done. We arrived to a full parking lot, a bustling restaurant and a hearty welcome from the same man who had answered the phone. We were situated in a big ol' booth made for sprawling (love!) and quickly took to the books, err menus, before us. I made a decision based on a combination of gut reaction and survival necessity: The Croque Madame French Toast. As it turns out, a Croque Madame tailored for breakfast is every bit as decadent as my 'bad girl' lunch staple (check out my photo - isn't she pretty?). I couldn't resist complementing my savory selection with a sweet side so I added a pancake for a nominal fee. This is what last suppers are made of! NomNOMnomNoMnoM. Canteen's decor is very homey - think old movie posters and historic photos from a younger Barrington. Also on the menu's honorable mention list: Falafel eggs Benedict and sour cherry crepes!
(4)
Jerrod B.
I love steak and eggs at greek restaurants. This place seemed to boast their skirt steak. Steak was okay, but I've had much better at similar restaurants. Pool of butter on eggs and the crust on my toast flaked like it was old. The coffee was indeed good like the other posts say.
(3)
Tony P.
This is a great breakfast place with all the popular places popping up all over the place, this place is just the quintessential breakfast joint. They offer a full menu although I must admit I always order breakfast. From savory/sweet crepes, frittatas, awesome skillets and enormous omelets. This past weekend I ordered scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon crepe with Hollandaise Sauce. I think the sauce is great. Maybe a little thicker than you are used to but it is nice that it is not runny. My old man always gets the Gypsy Skillet which is his absolute favorite. Of course they do the old classics as well but will also put a new twist on them if you are open to it. We have been meeting here for breakfast for years. It's a great restaurant to even drive out of the way for, no matter where you live. The staff is friendly and the owner is like the greek uncle you never had but always wanted!
(4)
Keith Z.
Food was good. Although to took forever for the kitchen to prepare it. Our server was most bizarre - she was snappy and curt with poor people skills.
(2)
Adam H.
We tried this place based on a recommendation to celebrate a day off and found the right spot. The decor was very cool and unexpected, and made me want to assemble a model airplane. We came at an off hour so it was relatively empty which is nice from time to time. Everyone was friendly and humorous and completed the experience. The food was delicious and the plates that other people ordered looked amazing as well. We will definitely return when we get the opportunity!
(4)
J G.
We shared 2 different chicken wraps, both were great, lemon chicken soup was excellent, tasty fresh cut fries. Nice local diner, we'll be back
(4)
Dana H.
This place is good. It goes slightly beyond basic (with crepes and eggs benedict on a felafel). What I like is that their product is good, they make things that taste good and they are always friendly.
(4)
Franklin D.
Cool model airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Dining area looked kind of small, probably because it was packed with people. Real nice greek guys running things...the whole menu had a "big fat greek xxx" theme going, like "big fat greek omelette", etc. Pretty funny. My son had the chocolate chip pancakes. There were two gigantic pancakes and lots of chocolate chips even though it was a $3.50 kids plate. I had hash, eggs, potatoes, and rye toast for $7. Not bad. NOTE: The restrooms are in the basement down some steep stairs. Also the parking lot was small but we found street parking easily (Sunday, 9AM-ish). Might be harder to park on other days.
(4)
Luke S.
Epitome of old style dinner....food as fresh. Service was efficient....not necessarily friendly
(4)
Amy R.
Very good food and the owner is always nice. Great place to eat-but call ahead as they have sporatic hours(mostly daytime).
(4)
Damian S.
A great place to go when you want some "down home" kind of cooking. Today I had the Hawaii-5-0 Frittata (bacon, cheese, pineapple, and ham on an open-faced omelette), which also comes with a plate of fried potatoes and your choice of pancakes, toast or something else. I chose the pancakes. The servings sizes were more that adequate for one person, and it was a tasty, filling brunch after "teaching" finals for the day. The only negative about the whole thing was the potatoes...they were a little burnt and crispy for my taste. That, and did they switch to Pepsi, or did they always have it? One of my favorites for non-breakfast visits is the chicken, rice and lemon soup. It is so silky and flavorful! It goes with all of their meals very well, with the exception of a breakfast or I would've gotten it today. The seating is typical diner-ish, with booths for four all around the perimeter and about 16 four-person tables (the kind that comfortably seat two) in the center. Never really been crowded, as it looks a lot smaller form the outside, and is a best-kept secret of the Barrington food arena. Although they're really neat, don't look too closely at the model planes, or you'll wonder when the last time a total vacuuming of the place was performed. The food more than makes up for the decor, and the managers and staff have always been very friendly, yet not overbearing while you're eating. It's a great little locally owned restaurant.
(4)
Nathan S.
We were driving through Barrington when my wife spotted a small sign that said, "Falafel Benedict." This was odd enough to cause us to turn the car around and grab a late breakfast. While we didn't actually try the falafel, we did find a large and varied menu to choose from, which is a bit rare in restaurants around here. My wife ordered the eggs Florentine and I just had to try the home made corned beef hash (a weakness of mine). The food was okay, but nothing spectacular. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly, but the hash and the potatoes were very dry. My wife's dish was similar in that the eggs were quite good but the potatoes dry, and the hollandaise was not quite right. I will say that the coffee was excellent. The food was certainly good enough for us to go back and try again, but they need to hone their craft a bit more when it comes to the breakfast staples. Bad potatoes point to a lazy kitchen, as fried potatoes are easy enough to cook that the kitchen staff must not be paying enough attention to their work. This makes me wonder how good the rest of the food will be. The food was certainly good enough to warrant another go, as was the atmosphere of the restaurant. I will update when I try it again.
(3)
Luna M.
Have only been here for breakfast. The coffee is good and the pancakes are great. The kids devour them. It's an old school type of place - not fussy or fancy - which is fine by us. Service is fairly fast and the prices are reasonable.
(4)
Rich W.
My brother and I went to lunch there the week of Christmas this past year. He is an international business traveler and isn't around much, but he was on semi-vacation Christmas week. He suggested we meet at the Canteen. I kind of enjoyed the atmosphere, especially since I'm am an airplane nut. The owner (?) was a very jovial guy and greeted me like we were old friends when I came in. I ordered a cup of coffee and studied the very extensive (typical of Greek owned restaurants) menu and had decided on a "breakfast" entree, by the time my brother arrived. I had one of their "skillet" dishes. It was pretty good, but not as good as the similar offering at Papa G's in Huntley, a favorite breakfast stop on the days that my "Thursday lunch-buddy" and I are Operations dept. volunteers at the Illinois Railway Museum. Anyway, back to the Canteen. My brother also had a "breakfast" entree, and said that is what he usually has when he and his family go there. The service was excellent. The only negative, as someone else mentioned was the location of the washrooms, down a narrow stairway to the basement. I'll give it another try, and have a different entree sometime soon, and possibly revise the average rating that i gave it.
(3)
Zhong Y.
Lunch was underwhelming, which is another case of a restaurant whose promising exterior fails to deliver. Menu was unimpressive, matched by preparation and length of wait between order and service and post-service check-in. Pass!
(2)
Andrea R.
I could eat here every weekend and not exhaust the delicious options on the menu. We've been for both breakfast and lunch. The ham is absolutely amazing; I've never tasted ham so good. The homemade potato chips are my boyfriend's favorite. Their specials are always delicious, too. It's charming and at a great price.
(5)
Judy T.
We've been there several times over the years and mostly we've enjoyed it. This time I ordered the corned beef hash & eggs and the corned beef was the real thing, I guess, not the canned version. It was a roasted corned beef all chopped up. Now I realize this is the REAL version but I hate to say it but it made me think I was eating leftovers from St. Patrick's day last week. I had the regular canned version of corned beef there before so I thought I knew what to expect. I'm sure it wasn't leftovers.
(2)
Liz H.
I love this place! It's yummy diner style food, with a nifty ambiance. The portions are huge, and the service so fast that you can easily make it a stop for your lunch break. Everyone is super friendly and willing to accomodate special requests. The soups and sandwiches are especially tasty here. Easily one of the best places to eat in Barrington!
(4)
Tim L.
What a surprise gem. Great steak wrap
(5)
Rick F.
The Canteen rocks!
(5)
Nick F.
My wife and I go there at least once a week. The owner has a gift for hiring and keeping the most pleasant waitresses. A very warm and friendly place. When we brought my elderly mother-in-law with us, she was always treated with care and respect. And the food is excellent. If you want a tasty, hearty breakfast try the Greek steak and eggs. The steak is marinated and the eggs are scrambled with feta cheese. And there are always surprise dishes, often with a French or Italian twist. It's a good lunch place with great salads, soups and sandwiches And the Canteen is open on Friday nights for fish fry and a diverse menu if you want something not fried or just not fish. There is plenty of parking. Kids are welcome. In fact the restaurant is festooned with crayon-colored art work crafted by young customers. Don't miss this place.
(5)
Cathy G.
I really miss the Canteen since I moved out of the immediate area. It is a must stop if you are in the area. The parking lot is very tiny and I would just avoid trying to park in it at all. Instead park on the side street and enjoy a little walk before and after breakfast! Everything I have had here is great and the staff is wonderful. I hope to get back soon!
(4)
Tom F.
The menu is typical greek diner, but the atmosphere, service and food quality are excellent for the niche. Great for breakfast or lunch, and usually not too crowded to get a table.
(4)
George B.
The Canteen is one of those small places where you pass by it all the time and never think about stopping in for breakfast or lunch... and the first time you do stop in for a meal, you want to kick yourself because you realize you have been missing so many chances to eat at a pretty good and reasonably priced place. The food is very good, and the coffee is great. What makes this place so good is the top notch service. Unfortunately, this place isn't quite handicapped friendly, as the restrooms are down stairs. Also, the parking lot is tiny and tends to fill up quickly on weekends.
(4)
Kelly P.
Food was just ok and service was HORRIBLE! After reading the reviews on here I feel like maybe the place may deserve a second chance, but I would be extremely hesitant to go back. I went in yesterday for a late breakfast with my mother while out running errands. It was about 10 am and there were only 3 other tables in the place. There were 2 men, who I would assume are managers/owners & there were 2 waitresses. We were sat by an owner and our waitress came over and timely so got us our drinks & asked us what we wanted to eat. The food came out in a timely manner, but after that it all went down hill. We never saw our waitress again till we were done eating & she came to ask if we were done & drop the check. There is nothing more aggravating then being completely out of water and coffee and NO ONE in the restaurant seems to really care. When we were done eating she came to pick up our plates and said "are your finished?" and when we both said yes she said "ok", took our plates, placed the check down & left. No thank you, no come back again some time, nothing. Her & the other waitress spent most of their time standing by the open air kitchen eating & playing with their cell phones. As for the food it was just ok. I had chocolate chip pancakes which were a little dry due to being kind of over cooked. My mother had the strawberry french toast & to our surprise it was completely under-cooked. It was doughy and mushy and not appetizing at all. You could see the waitress just sprinkle cinnamon & sugar over it when it came to the window when in reality french toast should be cooked with some cinnamon in the mix. I definitely would not recommend this place, nor will I ever be going back here again.
(1)
Yvette C.
I drive past the Canteen all the time & finally had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. The Canteen is your classic American diner that is located in downtown Barrington. They are open from 6 AM until 3 PM daily. They offer good food with friendly service. They serve fresh potato chips while you check out the menu. There are model airplanes hanging everywhere. My only beef is the bathroom, they are located in the basement & aren't the warmest area to be in during a cold Chicago winter. But that wont stop me from coming back!
(4)
Mark W.
This place is great. Creative menu and comfort food, rolled into one.
(5)
maggie c.
A friend of mine turned me on to the Canteen few years ago, and we have returned the favor to our family and friends. Fresh yummy food with nice sized portions and the service is fantastic! A definite winner! If you have not been give it a try!
(4)
Bon J.
Really the best breakfast joint in the area, and I love diners. Freindly staff, owner seems very nice, great food, solid menu, great for kids. The whole place is packed with colored pictured from kids along with a ton of model airplanes. Highly recommended from someone who doesn't throw around 4 stars very often. Will be 5 stars with a couple more visits I'm sure
(4)
Raw F.
The food here is great, I love the skillets, and the wait staff, even thought it's mostly teenage girls from the local high school, do a good job. Now if they could only figure out a way to make more parking and possibly a bigger waiting area it'd be my favorite restaurant in B-town!
(4)
Frank V.
Service was only issue. Only one waitress working that morning [July 4]. I think management underestimated customer levels, as she was SWAMPED! Not only was food waiting to be delivered while she was taking orders, but she had to handle cashier duties as well. Ham off the bone mixed in scrambled eggs was great. I am from Berwyn and saw there ad in a Chicago newspaper recommendation.
(4)
Alexis W.
If I could do 3-1/2 stars, I would. Breakfast was good, but I just can't go to 4. This place is obviously a local favorite (complete with regulars who good-naturedly hassle the waitstaff).The dining area is small, so don't come at a peak meal time unless you're prepared to wait. We came for breakfast at 8 am on a Saturday and got a seat, but it filled up. The atmosphere is family-friendly and delightfully (and unpretentiously) small-town. The "canteen" scheme comes complete with dozens of airplanes hanging from the ceiling, which the toddler loved. The BBS crepes (blueberry, banana, strawberry) were generous, although unspectacular. The crepes were fine, and the serving of fruit was surprising. There must have been a whole banana on one crepe, several fresh strawberries on another, and a healthy serving of blueberries on the third. Standard crepes, but the fruit stands up to the price tag. The Argentine Benedict was great - eggs poached to perfection, the homemade Chimichurri sauce was a little spicy. The steaks were perfect, and the potatoes were good but standard. All in all, a good breakfast. The prices may be a little ambitious, but I'll pay a little extra for the friendly waitstaff and comfortable vibe.
(3)
Karyn S.
My boyfriend's dad LOVES it here, and brought me here a couple weeks ago. We've eaten there since, and I found the waitress to be nice/friendly, and I love the airplanes! The food was good - I loved the scrambled eggs! My boyfriend's dad loves biscuits and gravy - except he hates the biscuits that are used. He ordered a custom version - that involved English muffins, and they were more than happy to make it - and he thought it was delicious! The food always came out promptly, nice and hot and delicious. I will agree with a previous review, I found the bacon to be slightly overcooked for my taste (I wish it had been like 30 seconds less on the grill). It was still good, but it wasn't my preference. The bacon was fine on my first visit, however.
(4)
Tobin h.
It did it's job. Very good but nothing great. Better than the average greek diner but nothing to do the chicken dance for. I'd go back then I'd go back again because the service was near great and the food was above average...but still, did it's job. It is a simple pancake house with simple reviews. go and be happy. It is that kinda place!
(3)
Dan W.
Stopped in here for the first time after driving past it for years. We won't be going back. There were maybe 5 other tables sitting when we sat down, but it took at least 5-7 minutes just for the server to bring us coffee. We ordered basic eggs and bacon/sausage, which came out in 3 minutes, clearly showing that the food is not prepared to order. My wife ate 1 sausage link because they were not good. The bacon was hard and tasted like it was microwaved. The potatoes were cold, oily and soggy. Finally, the entire restaurant smelled like 3 day old garbage. Don't waste your time and money at this place
(1)
Drew K.
Visited on a Sunday just after noon. Service was immediate and friendly. The temperature was quite warm inside, possibly they were having issues with the a/c. There was a large selection of breakfast and lunch items - eggs, pancakes, sandwiches. I had the ham and eggs. The portions were good, but both the eggs and the potatoes tasted a little "off," a bit like the cooking oil was turning rancid. It's a good place for conversation over food as there is not overly much background noise. The prices are very reasonable. I might visit again if in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back.
(2)
Jay K.
Very cool place for breakfast if your in the area. Model airplanes are hanging from the ceiling and they have a tiny U shaped counter if you like. Maybe 8 booths and as many tables. Good friendly service. For lunch I'm going to Baloneys.
(4)
Dallas T.
Here's a charming little cottage turned restaurant on 59 in Barrington serving your typical Greek style family breakfast and lunch menu items... We didn't plan to eat here, it was just a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing, because we were hungry and the Canteen was right there (right here). The place was busy and we struggled for parking and waited for a table. Once seated, the service was decent as was the food (the staff are well rehearsed and friendly with customers, and service is routine, and so is the food)... I imagine I'll come again on the spur-of-the-moment.
(3)
Sue S.
I've lived in the area for years and pass this place on my way to work every day. I encouraged two of my friends to join me for our 1st adventure there. I'm all for local restaurants, we were expecting amazing, we got much less. The waitress had zero personality. She was slow and even though we were the ONLY people in the place she plopped the pot of coffee on the table so that we could serve ourselves, guessing so that she could focus on playing with her cell phone at the counter. We got an omelette, pancakes and waffles. Definitely not worth the $30 bill. Last but not least, here was an odd sewer smell. I see that other folks have written about that as well. I guess the owner of the restaurant doesn't read their YELP reviews. Sadly, we will not be returning.
(2)
Melanie S.
Nothing fancy here, just good, solid, stick-to-your-ribs kinda fare. Sour cherry crepes, ham (right off the bone) and fluffy scrambled eggs, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and strong coffee were all satisfying, if not mind-blowing. They're not reinventing the wheel; it's comfort food in a diner atmosphere. Service is friendly and familiar. Charming place in a quaint part of Barrington. Open for breakfast and lunch only. I can see why the locals love it so.
(3)
Katie F.
Food was very good (I want to try a bunch of other things though). Service was pretty friendly and super fast. They do need to do something about the bathrooms though-kinda gross.
(4)
Angie V.
Service here is excellent. Fun, friendly atmosphere. 4 stars for being adorable! (And for not being a chain or in a strip mall.) As for the food, well... Ummm... Yeah, my coffee was terrible, blech! But, the menu is inspired. My hubbins ordered the Argentinian benedict and said "it's good, not amazing." He did tear into the perfectly prepared breakfast potatoes, though. I ordered regular eggs benedict and it was kind of lousy and lacking flavor. The eggs were poached beautifully and the Canadian bacon was nice. But, the English muffin was an awful puck (offensive to the rest of the meal, actually). The hollandaise was creamy, but someone forgot to add lemon juice and it was sorely missed. My side of fruit was fresh, ripe, and sweet. I'd return just for the kind treatment and the atmosphere -- but I'd only order the basics off the menu.
(4)
Todd P.
Just had a great omelette with some really fresh ingredients. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure my order was just what I asked for. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Keir H.
I would give this place 3-3.5. Service is always friendly and the food is consistently good. It's mainly the basic Greek diner breakfast/lunch with a couple of tasty surprises on the specials. It's small, local, friendly, fast and tasty at good prices: so you won't go wrong here. Also they advertise a pig roast/BBQ they do during the summer that sounds delicious.
(3)
Krista S.
This is a family friendly 1940s diner. Our son loved the model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and I loved the old movie posters! Stick with the classics, ham and eggs and the french toast were amazing! The service was great and the food came out fast and hot which is great when you have little ones waiting to eat. We will definitely go back to Canteen.
(4)
Sarah M.
So I finally went to the Canteen, after forgetting about it for nigh on 15 years. It is a cute little divey kitchy Greeky diner in downtown-ish Barrington. We went there for break-lunch some random day during the week. Coffee is good, food is decent, and prices are moderate. Was I bowled over? No, but I also wasn't expecting to be. I honestly can't even remember what I ordered, but I know everyone in my group was happy with our meals. If you're in the area and aren't feelin' Egg Harbor, then head over to Canteen - they may just surprise you!
(3)
Will C.
Cool vibe, cheery wait staff, good food at a fair price. Nothing extraordinary, but darned good. I'll be sure to go back. Good lunch samiches. : )
(4)
Darci S.
I was underwhelmed by the Canteen. My husband works nearby and I was looking for someplace new to try for lunch. Its definitely a unique place with a homey feel. Our lunches were fine, don't get me wrong, but nothing I'll be running back for. Service was good and attentive. Perhaps we should have tried breakfast entrees, it seems like that is the preferred food here. Probably won't go back but it wasn't bad either.
(3)
Yaneck W.
very nice diner in Barrington!
(4)
Sherwin C.
Interesting restaurant. While it's not the best in texture or taste of the local restaurants they do offer many unique items (frittata, savory crepes, croque madame, etc.) that other places don't. In fact, it's really difficult to find many of these items outside of the city. The prices are good and many of the items are special homemade versions so they taste different from other restaurants. Because of its uniqueness it's worth a visit if you live in the area.
(4)
Mark B.
We had the worst lunch we've had in a long time at Canteen last weekend. While the interior is very quaint , I was completely turned off by the food that came to our table. When it finally got to our table. I ordered a caprese panini, tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella with the unique twist of being grilled on greek bread. Our waitress was young and seemed confused, nearly shell-shocked, by everything that was going on around her. When the food finally arrived after far too long a wait, my sandwich was cold. The "Grilled" part was several sad, slightly beige lines that had been pressed into the bread by the panini press. Clearly not long enough to actually toast the bread. The sandwich filling (basil, tomato and buffalo mozz) looked a little light, so I opened the sandwich up (see photo). I had a couple slices of tomato, along with an end piece, 3 petite leaves of basil that didn't look all that appetizing and several clumps of melted mozzarella cheese (not buffalo mozzarella). On tasting it, this turned out to be a truly disgusting sandwich. The kitchen staff should be repremanded and the owner should be ashamed for letting that kind of food even be presented to a customer. Wrong ingredients, skimpy ingredients, cooked wrong, served slow and cold. We have had breakfast at Canteen before as well, but frankly it was nothing to write home about. This visit seals it. We will not be back to Canteen. Instead, I recommend the likes of Egg Harbor, McGonagles pub or Ambrosia etc.. for your next breakfast or lunch outting in Barrington.
(1)
Nicole G.
After several years staying away because I thought the breakfast was too greasy, we ended up here and I am glad we did. The food was phenomenal. Not greasy at all. We did have to wait but it was Sunday morning. The crowds made the restaurant extremely loud which I do not like. And the wait was substantial to get our order in. But we could see our waitress was hurrying around with a 10-person party. She was courteous and very upbeat for the amount of running around. Had the French toast which was awesome. C had a ham and cheese inlet which was fluffy and delicious. I stole his potatoes which were great too. Atmosphere was eclectic and entertaining. Will go back.
(5)
Rose D.
I could have swore I wrote a review for this place but as it seems to have disappeared I shall remedy the situation! I love Greek diners for breakfast & lunch. The Canteen Restaurant is just a tiny little place but the the menu & food is so very good. We've only been here once so I will reserve a higher star rating for a future visit. There were so many delicious sounding things on the menu we definitely will be coming back to try more! The only reason I'm not giving them 4 stars right off the bat is because of the service. Yes, it is a small restaurant but they get busy & there were only 3 servers working the dining room. We were there on a weekend morning, a typically busy time for any breakfast place, so I think they would have been better off having at least one more server. Perhaps someone called out for the day. Either way we waiting very long time to place our order and the only time our server came back was to drop off the bill & get us a box. Actually, I believe one of the bus boys brought us the box. But I won't let this one time deter us for a return visit. As I said the menu looks great & we have more things we want to try!
(3)
Ryan B.
I've driven by this place a thousand times and always wanted stop in, so I did. Not sure if it's always like this, but the second I walked through the door I smelled a sewer-like odor. My guess is that it was coming from the bathrooms downstairs. The place had a very dated, hadn't-been-cleaned-since-1953 smell to it. Our waitress was very kind, but forgot a lot of stuff. The food wasn't too bad, but I couldn't enjoy it because I was grossed out by the smell of the place. My wife loved her breakfast, however. Don't think I'll be going back though. Has tons of potential...just clean the place up!
(2)
Doug A.
This review only pertains to breakfast. First off the coffee is delicious. I hate when breakfast places try to have some special coffee. Just a good black coffee is all you need in the AM. Breakfast is good here. It seems people either love the place or hate it. The owner is always at the door to greet you when you walk in and seat you. The decor is funky, I'm not really sure what the theme is supposed to be. The ham off the bone is absolutely defuckinglicious. I could eat it for 3 meals a day. The eggs are always cooked the way you want them. The potatos are good. I've had the gyro skillet which was very good too, although it wasn't the gyro meat off the spit.. It's a breakfast place. They do a good breakfast. That's all you get. They also do bbq on Thursdays nights. Haven't been, but I will soon go.
(4)
Candice M.
Great breakfast place. They did change their potatoes to be a bit more "Greek" but that I can deal with. It's a pretty typical breakfast place. That's the one thing that downtown Barrington seems to have in abundance. I've never had any problems with service or the food. On Saturday/Sunday mornings there might be a wait, but it's worth it. I love their skillets. Definitely give it a try.
(4)
jan l.
Had breakfast here today. I've been on the hunt for fresh corned beef hash, and due to reviews on here we went. It's so very delicious! Fresh, crispy, lots of beef. We'll be back. We ordered very basic food. My husband had the ham off the bone and two over medium eggs, with pancakes. I'm not a fan of pancakes, frankly I just don't get them. But the looked really light and fluffy, and they were. The potatoes, another thing I'm not usually a fan of, were very good. Cubes with onions and green peppers. The only down side was they were room tempature. The service was very good, it's very cute and homey inside. And did i mention? The best corned beef hash I've had in years!!
(5)
Chrisa H.
This is THE place for breakfast in Barrington. Not only are they ALWAYS open, they are always friendly and the food is always great. This is a diner in the classic sense of the word. The decor is kitschy, the staff is friendly, and the food always is great. I love the Big Fat Greek Breakfast - the Zorba Omelette is my favorite. Mmmm...feta cheese, spinach, and tomatoes. LOVE! I hear there is a new Eggs Benedict called the Falafel Benedict - so I know where I"m having breakfast this Sunday!
(4)
April B.
Took my husband there for breakfast on his birthday - my first time was spectacular. Dont let the quaint diner atmosphere fool you. The food is 5 star all the way! I had a tough time picking from a very unique menu of creative breakfast options. I decided to try the croque Madame French toast. It was awesome! Brie-stuffed French toast with ham and an egg on the top with a drizzle of sweet honey mustard. Really good! My husband had juicy ham (cut off the none) and eggs and pancakes. Very good service by Nora and excellent food.
(5)
Courtney W.
This little place is quite a charmer. My father, who lives in Florida, still raves about this place to friends. He fondly remembers it after one visit about eight years ago. The chips that greet you at the table are made in house and are fabulous! My favorite soup of all time is also served here; lemon chicken rice. It is fabulous and always the soup of choice when I'm in town. The menu is pretty extensive and I enjoy something different every time I come in! Sam, the owner, is very nice and friendly and likes to learn every customer's name. The staff is pretty friendly and make great suggestions depending on your mood. I know when my dad visits in a couple of months, this will be the first place on his list!
(4)
Daniel G.
I loved this place. The service was great and the food was excellent. The homemade potato chips were incredible.
(5)
Lou L.
Great place for fresh standards and innovative twists like Southwest Benedict made with pulled pork, homemade biscuits, hollandaise with a kick and eggs - great! The crepe's are the best I have had in the Chicagoland area. Sam R and his family run a friendly tight ship. Go in a stranger and leave a friend. My favorite breakfast spot in the NW suburbs.
(5)
Brendan O.
This place is hidden gem in Barrington. Their skillets are excellent and so are there omlets. They have a lot of unique breakfast dishes for any morning desire. Excellent coffee and I would recommend the chuch wagon skillet to anyone.
(5)
Tanya B.
This was the worst breakfast of my life. I was really hoping it would be good because my boyfriend had never been here before and it was my suggestion to come here. It started off ok. The problems started when we got our food. Our waitress was foreign and must have not understood English well because she messed up our order. I asked for 2 of the same kids meals (the chocolate chip pancakes). She only rang up one. When she came over with the food, I asked her about the other meal and she said "Ok I will have them make it right now." She did not return until the pancake was ready. She was basically standing by the kitchen waiting for it for about 8 minutes. This was annoying because we needed other things to enjoy our meals at the time and she was not around to get them for us. I had asked her for another plate so I could split the pancakes that I did have between my girls so they could both start eating while we were waiting. She never brought it. I ended up taking my skillet off the plate so I could do that. My food was incorrect. It was supposed to come with green peppers which is one of my favorite parts and it didn't. This was not the waitresses fault but she didn't come back for 8 minutes so by then the skillet was cold...and I still had to wait for them to heat up the peppers... My boyfriends steak skillet was so peppery that he couldn't eat it. He said he was burping up pepper all day (TMI I know). The chocolate chip pancakes were nasty! I might have stolen a couple of bites... It tasted like they used Aldi brand imitation chocolate chips. It did not even taste like real chocolate. I didn't know that it was possible to mess up something so simple. I WILL NEVER RETURN. It was the waste of a good morning, a waste of $30 and a whole buncha calories... Definitely not worth it.
(1)
Dave C.
Love the old diner feel, good home style breakfast!
(4)
Frank V.
Service was only issue. Only one waitress working that morning [July 4]. I think management underestimated customer levels, as she was SWAMPED! Not only was food waiting to be delivered while she was taking orders, but she had to handle cashier duties as well. Ham off the bone mixed in scrambled eggs was great. I am from Berwyn and saw there ad in a Chicago newspaper recommendation.
(4)
Dan W.
Stopped in here for the first time after driving past it for years. We won't be going back. There were maybe 5 other tables sitting when we sat down, but it took at least 5-7 minutes just for the server to bring us coffee. We ordered basic eggs and bacon/sausage, which came out in 3 minutes, clearly showing that the food is not prepared to order. My wife ate 1 sausage link because they were not good. The bacon was hard and tasted like it was microwaved. The potatoes were cold, oily and soggy. Finally, the entire restaurant smelled like 3 day old garbage. Don't waste your time and money at this place
(1)
Sue S.
I've lived in the area for years and pass this place on my way to work every day. I encouraged two of my friends to join me for our 1st adventure there. I'm all for local restaurants, we were expecting amazing, we got much less. The waitress had zero personality. She was slow and even though we were the ONLY people in the place she plopped the pot of coffee on the table so that we could serve ourselves, guessing so that she could focus on playing with her cell phone at the counter. We got an omelette, pancakes and waffles. Definitely not worth the $30 bill. Last but not least, here was an odd sewer smell. I see that other folks have written about that as well. I guess the owner of the restaurant doesn't read their YELP reviews. Sadly, we will not be returning.
(2)
Melanie S.
Nothing fancy here, just good, solid, stick-to-your-ribs kinda fare. Sour cherry crepes, ham (right off the bone) and fluffy scrambled eggs, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and strong coffee were all satisfying, if not mind-blowing. They're not reinventing the wheel; it's comfort food in a diner atmosphere. Service is friendly and familiar. Charming place in a quaint part of Barrington. Open for breakfast and lunch only. I can see why the locals love it so.
(3)
Katie F.
Food was very good (I want to try a bunch of other things though). Service was pretty friendly and super fast. They do need to do something about the bathrooms though-kinda gross.
(4)
Angie V.
Service here is excellent. Fun, friendly atmosphere. 4 stars for being adorable! (And for not being a chain or in a strip mall.) As for the food, well... Ummm... Yeah, my coffee was terrible, blech! But, the menu is inspired. My hubbins ordered the Argentinian benedict and said "it's good, not amazing." He did tear into the perfectly prepared breakfast potatoes, though. I ordered regular eggs benedict and it was kind of lousy and lacking flavor. The eggs were poached beautifully and the Canadian bacon was nice. But, the English muffin was an awful puck (offensive to the rest of the meal, actually). The hollandaise was creamy, but someone forgot to add lemon juice and it was sorely missed. My side of fruit was fresh, ripe, and sweet. I'd return just for the kind treatment and the atmosphere -- but I'd only order the basics off the menu.
(4)
Todd P.
Just had a great omelette with some really fresh ingredients. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure my order was just what I asked for. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Keir H.
I would give this place 3-3.5. Service is always friendly and the food is consistently good. It's mainly the basic Greek diner breakfast/lunch with a couple of tasty surprises on the specials. It's small, local, friendly, fast and tasty at good prices: so you won't go wrong here. Also they advertise a pig roast/BBQ they do during the summer that sounds delicious.
(3)
Alexis W.
If I could do 3-1/2 stars, I would. Breakfast was good, but I just can't go to 4. This place is obviously a local favorite (complete with regulars who good-naturedly hassle the waitstaff).The dining area is small, so don't come at a peak meal time unless you're prepared to wait. We came for breakfast at 8 am on a Saturday and got a seat, but it filled up. The atmosphere is family-friendly and delightfully (and unpretentiously) small-town. The "canteen" scheme comes complete with dozens of airplanes hanging from the ceiling, which the toddler loved. The BBS crepes (blueberry, banana, strawberry) were generous, although unspectacular. The crepes were fine, and the serving of fruit was surprising. There must have been a whole banana on one crepe, several fresh strawberries on another, and a healthy serving of blueberries on the third. Standard crepes, but the fruit stands up to the price tag. The Argentine Benedict was great - eggs poached to perfection, the homemade Chimichurri sauce was a little spicy. The steaks were perfect, and the potatoes were good but standard. All in all, a good breakfast. The prices may be a little ambitious, but I'll pay a little extra for the friendly waitstaff and comfortable vibe.
(3)
Karyn S.
My boyfriend's dad LOVES it here, and brought me here a couple weeks ago. We've eaten there since, and I found the waitress to be nice/friendly, and I love the airplanes! The food was good - I loved the scrambled eggs! My boyfriend's dad loves biscuits and gravy - except he hates the biscuits that are used. He ordered a custom version - that involved English muffins, and they were more than happy to make it - and he thought it was delicious! The food always came out promptly, nice and hot and delicious. I will agree with a previous review, I found the bacon to be slightly overcooked for my taste (I wish it had been like 30 seconds less on the grill). It was still good, but it wasn't my preference. The bacon was fine on my first visit, however.
(4)
Tobin h.
It did it's job. Very good but nothing great. Better than the average greek diner but nothing to do the chicken dance for. I'd go back then I'd go back again because the service was near great and the food was above average...but still, did it's job. It is a simple pancake house with simple reviews. go and be happy. It is that kinda place!
(3)
Tom F.
We have been going to the Canteen for over 15 years, This family owned and operated restaurant is the best place I have ever had breakfast! We go every Sunday. Their homemade soups and sandwiches are great! Try the BBQ or corned beef with their homemade potato chips, The best!!!
(5)
Lily R.
Place was very friendly with a nice assortment of breakfast and lunch items. Staff is really nice and accommodating. There was a stale smell that kinda gave me a nauseous feeling, and was a lot stronger in the basement where the restrooms are at. Add some bleach or Mr. clean to your mop and that may help that smell. Great food and staff, will return some day soon.
(4)
Dallas T.
Here's a charming little cottage turned restaurant on 59 in Barrington serving your typical Greek style family breakfast and lunch menu items... We didn't plan to eat here, it was just a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing, because we were hungry and the Canteen was right there (right here). The place was busy and we struggled for parking and waited for a table. Once seated, the service was decent as was the food (the staff are well rehearsed and friendly with customers, and service is routine, and so is the food)... I imagine I'll come again on the spur-of-the-moment.
(3)
Drew K.
Visited on a Sunday just after noon. Service was immediate and friendly. The temperature was quite warm inside, possibly they were having issues with the a/c. There was a large selection of breakfast and lunch items - eggs, pancakes, sandwiches. I had the ham and eggs. The portions were good, but both the eggs and the potatoes tasted a little "off," a bit like the cooking oil was turning rancid. It's a good place for conversation over food as there is not overly much background noise. The prices are very reasonable. I might visit again if in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back.
(2)
Jay K.
Very cool place for breakfast if your in the area. Model airplanes are hanging from the ceiling and they have a tiny U shaped counter if you like. Maybe 8 booths and as many tables. Good friendly service. For lunch I'm going to Baloneys.
(4)
Krista S.
This is a family friendly 1940s diner. Our son loved the model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and I loved the old movie posters! Stick with the classics, ham and eggs and the french toast were amazing! The service was great and the food came out fast and hot which is great when you have little ones waiting to eat. We will definitely go back to Canteen.
(4)
Sarah M.
So I finally went to the Canteen, after forgetting about it for nigh on 15 years. It is a cute little divey kitchy Greeky diner in downtown-ish Barrington. We went there for break-lunch some random day during the week. Coffee is good, food is decent, and prices are moderate. Was I bowled over? No, but I also wasn't expecting to be. I honestly can't even remember what I ordered, but I know everyone in my group was happy with our meals. If you're in the area and aren't feelin' Egg Harbor, then head over to Canteen - they may just surprise you!
(3)
Angela P.
When I was a kid, we'd drive past the Canteen every weekend that we'd go to visit my grandpa. It was a one-hour drive, and I got to know how close we were to grandpa's by the landmarks along the way. Seeing the Canteen meant we were in downtown Barrington, and no, we were not there yet. My dad used to beg my mom to come here, but she'd cringe at the dingy exterior. Since I was a kid, I was more interested in stopping at McDonald's for a happy meal. And, like most things, I agreed with my mom on this one. My first visit to the Canteen was today - with my mom, of all people! We stopped on our way to Volo Antique Mall for brunch. My dad, I hear, is totally jealous. I couldn't decide between breakfast or lunch, and lunch usually wins when there's a creamy soup on the menu. I had the chicken swiss melt with a side of cream of chicken rice soup. The soup was disappointing. It was very creamy and lemony, but there wasn't any chicken and hardly any rice. And since I'm trying to watch my weight, and what I eat, cream soup was an indulgence. So, I was pissed that I wasted calories on it! My sandwich was just okay, and it was a little bland. The chicken could have used some seasoning. And, not that I needed it, but I was surprised that the sandwiches came with fries, soup or salad, instead of the fries and soup. My mom had the taffy apple waffle and kept talking about how good it was until we reached Volo. The waffle appeared homemade, no frozen business here, and the apples were gooey, covered with cinnamon and caramel. The waffle was also topped with pecans and caramel syrup. I can confidently say that the waffles here are worthwhile, as my mom was very happy with her breakfast. As for me, I should've gotten the frittata. Probably more healthy, and breakfast seems to be more of a specialty. We received great service. My mom had a question about the banana pancakes (are they in the batter or on top?), and the waitress very quickly asked someone in the kitchen. The Canteen is a very tiny restaurant, with about 14 tables and a counter with stools. There were old movie posters on the wall, and my mom couldn't stop complaining that the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" poster didn't fit in. I couldn't help but agree. That, and the random Reebok hockey stick. It smelled a bit musty inside as well. And when I headed to the bathroom, I had to walk down a long staircase. There is no way to get to the bathroom if you use a wheelchair, and it'll still be difficult if you use a walker or cane. So if you're wheelchair-bound, you might have to hold it til you can get elsewhere. I'd go back for breakfast, but I don't recommend the lunch menu.
(3)
Jelena Z.
My lovely dalliance with the Canteen started with an enthusiastic recommendation from the beautiful Brett D and one hungover phone call on New Year's Day: Me: You're open today? He: OF COURSE we're open! Done and done. We arrived to a full parking lot, a bustling restaurant and a hearty welcome from the same man who had answered the phone. We were situated in a big ol' booth made for sprawling (love!) and quickly took to the books, err menus, before us. I made a decision based on a combination of gut reaction and survival necessity: The Croque Madame French Toast. As it turns out, a Croque Madame tailored for breakfast is every bit as decadent as my 'bad girl' lunch staple (check out my photo - isn't she pretty?). I couldn't resist complementing my savory selection with a sweet side so I added a pancake for a nominal fee. This is what last suppers are made of! NomNOMnomNoMnoM. Canteen's decor is very homey - think old movie posters and historic photos from a younger Barrington. Also on the menu's honorable mention list: Falafel eggs Benedict and sour cherry crepes!
(4)
Brett F.
Canteen, serving Barrington since the 1940's, yo. That kind of longevity can only mean one of two things: a) there is no other breakfast restaurant available in the town of Barrington, or, b) Canteen is doing something and doing it well for more than 60+ years. Kudos! I can tell you this... it's definitely one of my favorite brunch stop-ins. From the ultra small - but cozy - dining room, the familiar smiling faces always there every time I stop in, to the consistently tasty and fully stocked menu, this is a family affair operation and they just get. it. right. Mix Greek brekkie favs like feta-laced Omelettes and piled-high sandwiches on greek toast with nom worthy Bananas Foster Crepes, Pecan Belgian Waffles and crazy delicious Taffy Apple French Toast for a truly well-rounded morning marathon of all things mouthwatering. Excusez moi, is it hot in here or is it just me? A down home atmosphere, attentive service and endless piping hot coffee are all just as dependable as the Canteen itself. You know what's really tasty? Consistency.
(4)
Nicole G.
After several years staying away because I thought the breakfast was too greasy, we ended up here and I am glad we did. The food was phenomenal. Not greasy at all. We did have to wait but it was Sunday morning. The crowds made the restaurant extremely loud which I do not like. And the wait was substantial to get our order in. But we could see our waitress was hurrying around with a 10-person party. She was courteous and very upbeat for the amount of running around. Had the French toast which was awesome. C had a ham and cheese inlet which was fluffy and delicious. I stole his potatoes which were great too. Atmosphere was eclectic and entertaining. Will go back.
(5)
Rose D.
I could have swore I wrote a review for this place but as it seems to have disappeared I shall remedy the situation! I love Greek diners for breakfast & lunch. The Canteen Restaurant is just a tiny little place but the the menu & food is so very good. We've only been here once so I will reserve a higher star rating for a future visit. There were so many delicious sounding things on the menu we definitely will be coming back to try more! The only reason I'm not giving them 4 stars right off the bat is because of the service. Yes, it is a small restaurant but they get busy & there were only 3 servers working the dining room. We were there on a weekend morning, a typically busy time for any breakfast place, so I think they would have been better off having at least one more server. Perhaps someone called out for the day. Either way we waiting very long time to place our order and the only time our server came back was to drop off the bill & get us a box. Actually, I believe one of the bus boys brought us the box. But I won't let this one time deter us for a return visit. As I said the menu looks great & we have more things we want to try!
(3)
Ryan B.
I've driven by this place a thousand times and always wanted stop in, so I did. Not sure if it's always like this, but the second I walked through the door I smelled a sewer-like odor. My guess is that it was coming from the bathrooms downstairs. The place had a very dated, hadn't-been-cleaned-since-1953 smell to it. Our waitress was very kind, but forgot a lot of stuff. The food wasn't too bad, but I couldn't enjoy it because I was grossed out by the smell of the place. My wife loved her breakfast, however. Don't think I'll be going back though. Has tons of potential...just clean the place up!
(2)
Doug A.
This review only pertains to breakfast. First off the coffee is delicious. I hate when breakfast places try to have some special coffee. Just a good black coffee is all you need in the AM. Breakfast is good here. It seems people either love the place or hate it. The owner is always at the door to greet you when you walk in and seat you. The decor is funky, I'm not really sure what the theme is supposed to be. The ham off the bone is absolutely defuckinglicious. I could eat it for 3 meals a day. The eggs are always cooked the way you want them. The potatos are good. I've had the gyro skillet which was very good too, although it wasn't the gyro meat off the spit.. It's a breakfast place. They do a good breakfast. That's all you get. They also do bbq on Thursdays nights. Haven't been, but I will soon go.
(4)
Darci S.
I was underwhelmed by the Canteen. My husband works nearby and I was looking for someplace new to try for lunch. Its definitely a unique place with a homey feel. Our lunches were fine, don't get me wrong, but nothing I'll be running back for. Service was good and attentive. Perhaps we should have tried breakfast entrees, it seems like that is the preferred food here. Probably won't go back but it wasn't bad either.
(3)
Yaneck W.
very nice diner in Barrington!
(4)
Sherwin C.
Interesting restaurant. While it's not the best in texture or taste of the local restaurants they do offer many unique items (frittata, savory crepes, croque madame, etc.) that other places don't. In fact, it's really difficult to find many of these items outside of the city. The prices are good and many of the items are special homemade versions so they taste different from other restaurants. Because of its uniqueness it's worth a visit if you live in the area.
(4)
Mark B.
We had the worst lunch we've had in a long time at Canteen last weekend. While the interior is very quaint , I was completely turned off by the food that came to our table. When it finally got to our table. I ordered a caprese panini, tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella with the unique twist of being grilled on greek bread. Our waitress was young and seemed confused, nearly shell-shocked, by everything that was going on around her. When the food finally arrived after far too long a wait, my sandwich was cold. The "Grilled" part was several sad, slightly beige lines that had been pressed into the bread by the panini press. Clearly not long enough to actually toast the bread. The sandwich filling (basil, tomato and buffalo mozz) looked a little light, so I opened the sandwich up (see photo). I had a couple slices of tomato, along with an end piece, 3 petite leaves of basil that didn't look all that appetizing and several clumps of melted mozzarella cheese (not buffalo mozzarella). On tasting it, this turned out to be a truly disgusting sandwich. The kitchen staff should be repremanded and the owner should be ashamed for letting that kind of food even be presented to a customer. Wrong ingredients, skimpy ingredients, cooked wrong, served slow and cold. We have had breakfast at Canteen before as well, but frankly it was nothing to write home about. This visit seals it. We will not be back to Canteen. Instead, I recommend the likes of Egg Harbor, McGonagles pub or Ambrosia etc.. for your next breakfast or lunch outting in Barrington.
(1)
Will C.
Cool vibe, cheery wait staff, good food at a fair price. Nothing extraordinary, but darned good. I'll be sure to go back. Good lunch samiches. : )
(4)
jan l.
Had breakfast here today. I've been on the hunt for fresh corned beef hash, and due to reviews on here we went. It's so very delicious! Fresh, crispy, lots of beef. We'll be back. We ordered very basic food. My husband had the ham off the bone and two over medium eggs, with pancakes. I'm not a fan of pancakes, frankly I just don't get them. But the looked really light and fluffy, and they were. The potatoes, another thing I'm not usually a fan of, were very good. Cubes with onions and green peppers. The only down side was they were room tempature. The service was very good, it's very cute and homey inside. And did i mention? The best corned beef hash I've had in years!!
(5)
Chrisa H.
This is THE place for breakfast in Barrington. Not only are they ALWAYS open, they are always friendly and the food is always great. This is a diner in the classic sense of the word. The decor is kitschy, the staff is friendly, and the food always is great. I love the Big Fat Greek Breakfast - the Zorba Omelette is my favorite. Mmmm...feta cheese, spinach, and tomatoes. LOVE! I hear there is a new Eggs Benedict called the Falafel Benedict - so I know where I"m having breakfast this Sunday!
(4)
April B.
Took my husband there for breakfast on his birthday - my first time was spectacular. Dont let the quaint diner atmosphere fool you. The food is 5 star all the way! I had a tough time picking from a very unique menu of creative breakfast options. I decided to try the croque Madame French toast. It was awesome! Brie-stuffed French toast with ham and an egg on the top with a drizzle of sweet honey mustard. Really good! My husband had juicy ham (cut off the none) and eggs and pancakes. Very good service by Nora and excellent food.
(5)
Courtney W.
This little place is quite a charmer. My father, who lives in Florida, still raves about this place to friends. He fondly remembers it after one visit about eight years ago. The chips that greet you at the table are made in house and are fabulous! My favorite soup of all time is also served here; lemon chicken rice. It is fabulous and always the soup of choice when I'm in town. The menu is pretty extensive and I enjoy something different every time I come in! Sam, the owner, is very nice and friendly and likes to learn every customer's name. The staff is pretty friendly and make great suggestions depending on your mood. I know when my dad visits in a couple of months, this will be the first place on his list!
(4)
Daniel G.
I loved this place. The service was great and the food was excellent. The homemade potato chips were incredible.
(5)
Lou L.
Great place for fresh standards and innovative twists like Southwest Benedict made with pulled pork, homemade biscuits, hollandaise with a kick and eggs - great! The crepe's are the best I have had in the Chicagoland area. Sam R and his family run a friendly tight ship. Go in a stranger and leave a friend. My favorite breakfast spot in the NW suburbs.
(5)
Tanya B.
This was the worst breakfast of my life. I was really hoping it would be good because my boyfriend had never been here before and it was my suggestion to come here. It started off ok. The problems started when we got our food. Our waitress was foreign and must have not understood English well because she messed up our order. I asked for 2 of the same kids meals (the chocolate chip pancakes). She only rang up one. When she came over with the food, I asked her about the other meal and she said "Ok I will have them make it right now." She did not return until the pancake was ready. She was basically standing by the kitchen waiting for it for about 8 minutes. This was annoying because we needed other things to enjoy our meals at the time and she was not around to get them for us. I had asked her for another plate so I could split the pancakes that I did have between my girls so they could both start eating while we were waiting. She never brought it. I ended up taking my skillet off the plate so I could do that. My food was incorrect. It was supposed to come with green peppers which is one of my favorite parts and it didn't. This was not the waitresses fault but she didn't come back for 8 minutes so by then the skillet was cold...and I still had to wait for them to heat up the peppers... My boyfriends steak skillet was so peppery that he couldn't eat it. He said he was burping up pepper all day (TMI I know). The chocolate chip pancakes were nasty! I might have stolen a couple of bites... It tasted like they used Aldi brand imitation chocolate chips. It did not even taste like real chocolate. I didn't know that it was possible to mess up something so simple. I WILL NEVER RETURN. It was the waste of a good morning, a waste of $30 and a whole buncha calories... Definitely not worth it.
(1)
Dave C.
Love the old diner feel, good home style breakfast!
(4)
Brendan O.
This place is hidden gem in Barrington. Their skillets are excellent and so are there omlets. They have a lot of unique breakfast dishes for any morning desire. Excellent coffee and I would recommend the chuch wagon skillet to anyone.
(5)
Candice M.
Great breakfast place. They did change their potatoes to be a bit more "Greek" but that I can deal with. It's a pretty typical breakfast place. That's the one thing that downtown Barrington seems to have in abundance. I've never had any problems with service or the food. On Saturday/Sunday mornings there might be a wait, but it's worth it. I love their skillets. Definitely give it a try.
(4)
Scott F.
Solid breakfast, need a better bathroom, kind of scary downstairs!
(3)
Jerrod B.
I love steak and eggs at greek restaurants. This place seemed to boast their skirt steak. Steak was okay, but I've had much better at similar restaurants. Pool of butter on eggs and the crust on my toast flaked like it was old. The coffee was indeed good like the other posts say.
(3)
Tony P.
This is a great breakfast place with all the popular places popping up all over the place, this place is just the quintessential breakfast joint. They offer a full menu although I must admit I always order breakfast. From savory/sweet crepes, frittatas, awesome skillets and enormous omelets. This past weekend I ordered scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon crepe with Hollandaise Sauce. I think the sauce is great. Maybe a little thicker than you are used to but it is nice that it is not runny. My old man always gets the Gypsy Skillet which is his absolute favorite. Of course they do the old classics as well but will also put a new twist on them if you are open to it. We have been meeting here for breakfast for years. It's a great restaurant to even drive out of the way for, no matter where you live. The staff is friendly and the owner is like the greek uncle you never had but always wanted!
(4)
Keith Z.
Food was good. Although to took forever for the kitchen to prepare it. Our server was most bizarre - she was snappy and curt with poor people skills.
(2)
Adam H.
We tried this place based on a recommendation to celebrate a day off and found the right spot. The decor was very cool and unexpected, and made me want to assemble a model airplane. We came at an off hour so it was relatively empty which is nice from time to time. Everyone was friendly and humorous and completed the experience. The food was delicious and the plates that other people ordered looked amazing as well. We will definitely return when we get the opportunity!
(4)
J G.
We shared 2 different chicken wraps, both were great, lemon chicken soup was excellent, tasty fresh cut fries. Nice local diner, we'll be back
(4)
Dana H.
This place is good. It goes slightly beyond basic (with crepes and eggs benedict on a felafel). What I like is that their product is good, they make things that taste good and they are always friendly.
(4)
Franklin D.
Cool model airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Dining area looked kind of small, probably because it was packed with people. Real nice greek guys running things...the whole menu had a "big fat greek xxx" theme going, like "big fat greek omelette", etc. Pretty funny. My son had the chocolate chip pancakes. There were two gigantic pancakes and lots of chocolate chips even though it was a $3.50 kids plate. I had hash, eggs, potatoes, and rye toast for $7. Not bad. NOTE: The restrooms are in the basement down some steep stairs. Also the parking lot was small but we found street parking easily (Sunday, 9AM-ish). Might be harder to park on other days.
(4)
Luke S.
Epitome of old style dinner....food as fresh. Service was efficient....not necessarily friendly
(4)
Amy R.
Very good food and the owner is always nice. Great place to eat-but call ahead as they have sporatic hours(mostly daytime).
(4)
Damian S.
A great place to go when you want some "down home" kind of cooking. Today I had the Hawaii-5-0 Frittata (bacon, cheese, pineapple, and ham on an open-faced omelette), which also comes with a plate of fried potatoes and your choice of pancakes, toast or something else. I chose the pancakes. The servings sizes were more that adequate for one person, and it was a tasty, filling brunch after "teaching" finals for the day. The only negative about the whole thing was the potatoes...they were a little burnt and crispy for my taste. That, and did they switch to Pepsi, or did they always have it? One of my favorites for non-breakfast visits is the chicken, rice and lemon soup. It is so silky and flavorful! It goes with all of their meals very well, with the exception of a breakfast or I would've gotten it today. The seating is typical diner-ish, with booths for four all around the perimeter and about 16 four-person tables (the kind that comfortably seat two) in the center. Never really been crowded, as it looks a lot smaller form the outside, and is a best-kept secret of the Barrington food arena. Although they're really neat, don't look too closely at the model planes, or you'll wonder when the last time a total vacuuming of the place was performed. The food more than makes up for the decor, and the managers and staff have always been very friendly, yet not overbearing while you're eating. It's a great little locally owned restaurant.
(4)
Nathan S.
We were driving through Barrington when my wife spotted a small sign that said, "Falafel Benedict." This was odd enough to cause us to turn the car around and grab a late breakfast. While we didn't actually try the falafel, we did find a large and varied menu to choose from, which is a bit rare in restaurants around here. My wife ordered the eggs Florentine and I just had to try the home made corned beef hash (a weakness of mine). The food was okay, but nothing spectacular. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly, but the hash and the potatoes were very dry. My wife's dish was similar in that the eggs were quite good but the potatoes dry, and the hollandaise was not quite right. I will say that the coffee was excellent. The food was certainly good enough for us to go back and try again, but they need to hone their craft a bit more when it comes to the breakfast staples. Bad potatoes point to a lazy kitchen, as fried potatoes are easy enough to cook that the kitchen staff must not be paying enough attention to their work. This makes me wonder how good the rest of the food will be. The food was certainly good enough to warrant another go, as was the atmosphere of the restaurant. I will update when I try it again.
(3)
Luna M.
Have only been here for breakfast. The coffee is good and the pancakes are great. The kids devour them. It's an old school type of place - not fussy or fancy - which is fine by us. Service is fairly fast and the prices are reasonable.
(4)
Rich W.
My brother and I went to lunch there the week of Christmas this past year. He is an international business traveler and isn't around much, but he was on semi-vacation Christmas week. He suggested we meet at the Canteen. I kind of enjoyed the atmosphere, especially since I'm am an airplane nut. The owner (?) was a very jovial guy and greeted me like we were old friends when I came in. I ordered a cup of coffee and studied the very extensive (typical of Greek owned restaurants) menu and had decided on a "breakfast" entree, by the time my brother arrived. I had one of their "skillet" dishes. It was pretty good, but not as good as the similar offering at Papa G's in Huntley, a favorite breakfast stop on the days that my "Thursday lunch-buddy" and I are Operations dept. volunteers at the Illinois Railway Museum. Anyway, back to the Canteen. My brother also had a "breakfast" entree, and said that is what he usually has when he and his family go there. The service was excellent. The only negative, as someone else mentioned was the location of the washrooms, down a narrow stairway to the basement. I'll give it another try, and have a different entree sometime soon, and possibly revise the average rating that i gave it.
(3)
Zhong Y.
Lunch was underwhelming, which is another case of a restaurant whose promising exterior fails to deliver. Menu was unimpressive, matched by preparation and length of wait between order and service and post-service check-in. Pass!
(2)
Andrea R.
I could eat here every weekend and not exhaust the delicious options on the menu. We've been for both breakfast and lunch. The ham is absolutely amazing; I've never tasted ham so good. The homemade potato chips are my boyfriend's favorite. Their specials are always delicious, too. It's charming and at a great price.
(5)
Judy T.
We've been there several times over the years and mostly we've enjoyed it. This time I ordered the corned beef hash & eggs and the corned beef was the real thing, I guess, not the canned version. It was a roasted corned beef all chopped up. Now I realize this is the REAL version but I hate to say it but it made me think I was eating leftovers from St. Patrick's day last week. I had the regular canned version of corned beef there before so I thought I knew what to expect. I'm sure it wasn't leftovers.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Scott F.
Solid breakfast, need a better bathroom, kind of scary downstairs!
(3)Liz H.
I love this place! It's yummy diner style food, with a nifty ambiance. The portions are huge, and the service so fast that you can easily make it a stop for your lunch break. Everyone is super friendly and willing to accomodate special requests. The soups and sandwiches are especially tasty here. Easily one of the best places to eat in Barrington!
(4)Tim L.
What a surprise gem. Great steak wrap
(5)Rick F.
The Canteen rocks!
(5)Nick F.
My wife and I go there at least once a week. The owner has a gift for hiring and keeping the most pleasant waitresses. A very warm and friendly place. When we brought my elderly mother-in-law with us, she was always treated with care and respect. And the food is excellent. If you want a tasty, hearty breakfast try the Greek steak and eggs. The steak is marinated and the eggs are scrambled with feta cheese. And there are always surprise dishes, often with a French or Italian twist. It's a good lunch place with great salads, soups and sandwiches And the Canteen is open on Friday nights for fish fry and a diverse menu if you want something not fried or just not fish. There is plenty of parking. Kids are welcome. In fact the restaurant is festooned with crayon-colored art work crafted by young customers. Don't miss this place.
(5)Cathy G.
I really miss the Canteen since I moved out of the immediate area. It is a must stop if you are in the area. The parking lot is very tiny and I would just avoid trying to park in it at all. Instead park on the side street and enjoy a little walk before and after breakfast! Everything I have had here is great and the staff is wonderful. I hope to get back soon!
(4)Tom F.
The menu is typical greek diner, but the atmosphere, service and food quality are excellent for the niche. Great for breakfast or lunch, and usually not too crowded to get a table.
(4)George B.
The Canteen is one of those small places where you pass by it all the time and never think about stopping in for breakfast or lunch... and the first time you do stop in for a meal, you want to kick yourself because you realize you have been missing so many chances to eat at a pretty good and reasonably priced place. The food is very good, and the coffee is great. What makes this place so good is the top notch service. Unfortunately, this place isn't quite handicapped friendly, as the restrooms are down stairs. Also, the parking lot is tiny and tends to fill up quickly on weekends.
(4)maggie c.
A friend of mine turned me on to the Canteen few years ago, and we have returned the favor to our family and friends. Fresh yummy food with nice sized portions and the service is fantastic! A definite winner! If you have not been give it a try!
(4)Bon J.
Really the best breakfast joint in the area, and I love diners. Freindly staff, owner seems very nice, great food, solid menu, great for kids. The whole place is packed with colored pictured from kids along with a ton of model airplanes. Highly recommended from someone who doesn't throw around 4 stars very often. Will be 5 stars with a couple more visits I'm sure
(4)Raw F.
The food here is great, I love the skillets, and the wait staff, even thought it's mostly teenage girls from the local high school, do a good job. Now if they could only figure out a way to make more parking and possibly a bigger waiting area it'd be my favorite restaurant in B-town!
(4)Kelly P.
Food was just ok and service was HORRIBLE! After reading the reviews on here I feel like maybe the place may deserve a second chance, but I would be extremely hesitant to go back. I went in yesterday for a late breakfast with my mother while out running errands. It was about 10 am and there were only 3 other tables in the place. There were 2 men, who I would assume are managers/owners & there were 2 waitresses. We were sat by an owner and our waitress came over and timely so got us our drinks & asked us what we wanted to eat. The food came out in a timely manner, but after that it all went down hill. We never saw our waitress again till we were done eating & she came to ask if we were done & drop the check. There is nothing more aggravating then being completely out of water and coffee and NO ONE in the restaurant seems to really care. When we were done eating she came to pick up our plates and said "are your finished?" and when we both said yes she said "ok", took our plates, placed the check down & left. No thank you, no come back again some time, nothing. Her & the other waitress spent most of their time standing by the open air kitchen eating & playing with their cell phones. As for the food it was just ok. I had chocolate chip pancakes which were a little dry due to being kind of over cooked. My mother had the strawberry french toast & to our surprise it was completely under-cooked. It was doughy and mushy and not appetizing at all. You could see the waitress just sprinkle cinnamon & sugar over it when it came to the window when in reality french toast should be cooked with some cinnamon in the mix. I definitely would not recommend this place, nor will I ever be going back here again.
(1)Yvette C.
I drive past the Canteen all the time & finally had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. The Canteen is your classic American diner that is located in downtown Barrington. They are open from 6 AM until 3 PM daily. They offer good food with friendly service. They serve fresh potato chips while you check out the menu. There are model airplanes hanging everywhere. My only beef is the bathroom, they are located in the basement & aren't the warmest area to be in during a cold Chicago winter. But that wont stop me from coming back!
(4)Mark W.
This place is great. Creative menu and comfort food, rolled into one.
(5)Dan W.
Stopped in here for the first time after driving past it for years. We won't be going back. There were maybe 5 other tables sitting when we sat down, but it took at least 5-7 minutes just for the server to bring us coffee. We ordered basic eggs and bacon/sausage, which came out in 3 minutes, clearly showing that the food is not prepared to order. My wife ate 1 sausage link because they were not good. The bacon was hard and tasted like it was microwaved. The potatoes were cold, oily and soggy. Finally, the entire restaurant smelled like 3 day old garbage. Don't waste your time and money at this place
(1)Brett F.
Canteen, serving Barrington since the 1940's, yo. That kind of longevity can only mean one of two things: a) there is no other breakfast restaurant available in the town of Barrington, or, b) Canteen is doing something and doing it well for more than 60+ years. Kudos! I can tell you this... it's definitely one of my favorite brunch stop-ins. From the ultra small - but cozy - dining room, the familiar smiling faces always there every time I stop in, to the consistently tasty and fully stocked menu, this is a family affair operation and they just get. it. right. Mix Greek brekkie favs like feta-laced Omelettes and piled-high sandwiches on greek toast with nom worthy Bananas Foster Crepes, Pecan Belgian Waffles and crazy delicious Taffy Apple French Toast for a truly well-rounded morning marathon of all things mouthwatering. Excusez moi, is it hot in here or is it just me? A down home atmosphere, attentive service and endless piping hot coffee are all just as dependable as the Canteen itself. You know what's really tasty? Consistency.
(4)Frank V.
Service was only issue. Only one waitress working that morning [July 4]. I think management underestimated customer levels, as she was SWAMPED! Not only was food waiting to be delivered while she was taking orders, but she had to handle cashier duties as well. Ham off the bone mixed in scrambled eggs was great. I am from Berwyn and saw there ad in a Chicago newspaper recommendation.
(4)Alexis W.
If I could do 3-1/2 stars, I would. Breakfast was good, but I just can't go to 4. This place is obviously a local favorite (complete with regulars who good-naturedly hassle the waitstaff).The dining area is small, so don't come at a peak meal time unless you're prepared to wait. We came for breakfast at 8 am on a Saturday and got a seat, but it filled up. The atmosphere is family-friendly and delightfully (and unpretentiously) small-town. The "canteen" scheme comes complete with dozens of airplanes hanging from the ceiling, which the toddler loved. The BBS crepes (blueberry, banana, strawberry) were generous, although unspectacular. The crepes were fine, and the serving of fruit was surprising. There must have been a whole banana on one crepe, several fresh strawberries on another, and a healthy serving of blueberries on the third. Standard crepes, but the fruit stands up to the price tag. The Argentine Benedict was great - eggs poached to perfection, the homemade Chimichurri sauce was a little spicy. The steaks were perfect, and the potatoes were good but standard. All in all, a good breakfast. The prices may be a little ambitious, but I'll pay a little extra for the friendly waitstaff and comfortable vibe.
(3)Karyn S.
My boyfriend's dad LOVES it here, and brought me here a couple weeks ago. We've eaten there since, and I found the waitress to be nice/friendly, and I love the airplanes! The food was good - I loved the scrambled eggs! My boyfriend's dad loves biscuits and gravy - except he hates the biscuits that are used. He ordered a custom version - that involved English muffins, and they were more than happy to make it - and he thought it was delicious! The food always came out promptly, nice and hot and delicious. I will agree with a previous review, I found the bacon to be slightly overcooked for my taste (I wish it had been like 30 seconds less on the grill). It was still good, but it wasn't my preference. The bacon was fine on my first visit, however.
(4)Tobin h.
It did it's job. Very good but nothing great. Better than the average greek diner but nothing to do the chicken dance for. I'd go back then I'd go back again because the service was near great and the food was above average...but still, did it's job. It is a simple pancake house with simple reviews. go and be happy. It is that kinda place!
(3)Tom F.
We have been going to the Canteen for over 15 years, This family owned and operated restaurant is the best place I have ever had breakfast! We go every Sunday. Their homemade soups and sandwiches are great! Try the BBQ or corned beef with their homemade potato chips, The best!!!
(5)Lily R.
Place was very friendly with a nice assortment of breakfast and lunch items. Staff is really nice and accommodating. There was a stale smell that kinda gave me a nauseous feeling, and was a lot stronger in the basement where the restrooms are at. Add some bleach or Mr. clean to your mop and that may help that smell. Great food and staff, will return some day soon.
(4)Jelena Z.
My lovely dalliance with the Canteen started with an enthusiastic recommendation from the beautiful Brett D and one hungover phone call on New Year's Day: Me: You're open today? He: OF COURSE we're open! Done and done. We arrived to a full parking lot, a bustling restaurant and a hearty welcome from the same man who had answered the phone. We were situated in a big ol' booth made for sprawling (love!) and quickly took to the books, err menus, before us. I made a decision based on a combination of gut reaction and survival necessity: The Croque Madame French Toast. As it turns out, a Croque Madame tailored for breakfast is every bit as decadent as my 'bad girl' lunch staple (check out my photo - isn't she pretty?). I couldn't resist complementing my savory selection with a sweet side so I added a pancake for a nominal fee. This is what last suppers are made of! NomNOMnomNoMnoM. Canteen's decor is very homey - think old movie posters and historic photos from a younger Barrington. Also on the menu's honorable mention list: Falafel eggs Benedict and sour cherry crepes!
(4)Nicole G.
After several years staying away because I thought the breakfast was too greasy, we ended up here and I am glad we did. The food was phenomenal. Not greasy at all. We did have to wait but it was Sunday morning. The crowds made the restaurant extremely loud which I do not like. And the wait was substantial to get our order in. But we could see our waitress was hurrying around with a 10-person party. She was courteous and very upbeat for the amount of running around. Had the French toast which was awesome. C had a ham and cheese inlet which was fluffy and delicious. I stole his potatoes which were great too. Atmosphere was eclectic and entertaining. Will go back.
(5)Rose D.
I could have swore I wrote a review for this place but as it seems to have disappeared I shall remedy the situation! I love Greek diners for breakfast & lunch. The Canteen Restaurant is just a tiny little place but the the menu & food is so very good. We've only been here once so I will reserve a higher star rating for a future visit. There were so many delicious sounding things on the menu we definitely will be coming back to try more! The only reason I'm not giving them 4 stars right off the bat is because of the service. Yes, it is a small restaurant but they get busy & there were only 3 servers working the dining room. We were there on a weekend morning, a typically busy time for any breakfast place, so I think they would have been better off having at least one more server. Perhaps someone called out for the day. Either way we waiting very long time to place our order and the only time our server came back was to drop off the bill & get us a box. Actually, I believe one of the bus boys brought us the box. But I won't let this one time deter us for a return visit. As I said the menu looks great & we have more things we want to try!
(3)Ryan B.
I've driven by this place a thousand times and always wanted stop in, so I did. Not sure if it's always like this, but the second I walked through the door I smelled a sewer-like odor. My guess is that it was coming from the bathrooms downstairs. The place had a very dated, hadn't-been-cleaned-since-1953 smell to it. Our waitress was very kind, but forgot a lot of stuff. The food wasn't too bad, but I couldn't enjoy it because I was grossed out by the smell of the place. My wife loved her breakfast, however. Don't think I'll be going back though. Has tons of potential...just clean the place up!
(2)Angie V.
Service here is excellent. Fun, friendly atmosphere. 4 stars for being adorable! (And for not being a chain or in a strip mall.) As for the food, well... Ummm... Yeah, my coffee was terrible, blech! But, the menu is inspired. My hubbins ordered the Argentinian benedict and said "it's good, not amazing." He did tear into the perfectly prepared breakfast potatoes, though. I ordered regular eggs benedict and it was kind of lousy and lacking flavor. The eggs were poached beautifully and the Canadian bacon was nice. But, the English muffin was an awful puck (offensive to the rest of the meal, actually). The hollandaise was creamy, but someone forgot to add lemon juice and it was sorely missed. My side of fruit was fresh, ripe, and sweet. I'd return just for the kind treatment and the atmosphere -- but I'd only order the basics off the menu.
(4)Todd P.
Just had a great omelette with some really fresh ingredients. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure my order was just what I asked for. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Keir H.
I would give this place 3-3.5. Service is always friendly and the food is consistently good. It's mainly the basic Greek diner breakfast/lunch with a couple of tasty surprises on the specials. It's small, local, friendly, fast and tasty at good prices: so you won't go wrong here. Also they advertise a pig roast/BBQ they do during the summer that sounds delicious.
(3)Krista S.
This is a family friendly 1940s diner. Our son loved the model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and I loved the old movie posters! Stick with the classics, ham and eggs and the french toast were amazing! The service was great and the food came out fast and hot which is great when you have little ones waiting to eat. We will definitely go back to Canteen.
(4)Sarah M.
So I finally went to the Canteen, after forgetting about it for nigh on 15 years. It is a cute little divey kitchy Greeky diner in downtown-ish Barrington. We went there for break-lunch some random day during the week. Coffee is good, food is decent, and prices are moderate. Was I bowled over? No, but I also wasn't expecting to be. I honestly can't even remember what I ordered, but I know everyone in my group was happy with our meals. If you're in the area and aren't feelin' Egg Harbor, then head over to Canteen - they may just surprise you!
(3)Will C.
Cool vibe, cheery wait staff, good food at a fair price. Nothing extraordinary, but darned good. I'll be sure to go back. Good lunch samiches. : )
(4)Angela P.
When I was a kid, we'd drive past the Canteen every weekend that we'd go to visit my grandpa. It was a one-hour drive, and I got to know how close we were to grandpa's by the landmarks along the way. Seeing the Canteen meant we were in downtown Barrington, and no, we were not there yet. My dad used to beg my mom to come here, but she'd cringe at the dingy exterior. Since I was a kid, I was more interested in stopping at McDonald's for a happy meal. And, like most things, I agreed with my mom on this one. My first visit to the Canteen was today - with my mom, of all people! We stopped on our way to Volo Antique Mall for brunch. My dad, I hear, is totally jealous. I couldn't decide between breakfast or lunch, and lunch usually wins when there's a creamy soup on the menu. I had the chicken swiss melt with a side of cream of chicken rice soup. The soup was disappointing. It was very creamy and lemony, but there wasn't any chicken and hardly any rice. And since I'm trying to watch my weight, and what I eat, cream soup was an indulgence. So, I was pissed that I wasted calories on it! My sandwich was just okay, and it was a little bland. The chicken could have used some seasoning. And, not that I needed it, but I was surprised that the sandwiches came with fries, soup or salad, instead of the fries and soup. My mom had the taffy apple waffle and kept talking about how good it was until we reached Volo. The waffle appeared homemade, no frozen business here, and the apples were gooey, covered with cinnamon and caramel. The waffle was also topped with pecans and caramel syrup. I can confidently say that the waffles here are worthwhile, as my mom was very happy with her breakfast. As for me, I should've gotten the frittata. Probably more healthy, and breakfast seems to be more of a specialty. We received great service. My mom had a question about the banana pancakes (are they in the batter or on top?), and the waitress very quickly asked someone in the kitchen. The Canteen is a very tiny restaurant, with about 14 tables and a counter with stools. There were old movie posters on the wall, and my mom couldn't stop complaining that the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" poster didn't fit in. I couldn't help but agree. That, and the random Reebok hockey stick. It smelled a bit musty inside as well. And when I headed to the bathroom, I had to walk down a long staircase. There is no way to get to the bathroom if you use a wheelchair, and it'll still be difficult if you use a walker or cane. So if you're wheelchair-bound, you might have to hold it til you can get elsewhere. I'd go back for breakfast, but I don't recommend the lunch menu.
(3)Doug A.
This review only pertains to breakfast. First off the coffee is delicious. I hate when breakfast places try to have some special coffee. Just a good black coffee is all you need in the AM. Breakfast is good here. It seems people either love the place or hate it. The owner is always at the door to greet you when you walk in and seat you. The decor is funky, I'm not really sure what the theme is supposed to be. The ham off the bone is absolutely defuckinglicious. I could eat it for 3 meals a day. The eggs are always cooked the way you want them. The potatos are good. I've had the gyro skillet which was very good too, although it wasn't the gyro meat off the spit.. It's a breakfast place. They do a good breakfast. That's all you get. They also do bbq on Thursdays nights. Haven't been, but I will soon go.
(4)Darci S.
I was underwhelmed by the Canteen. My husband works nearby and I was looking for someplace new to try for lunch. Its definitely a unique place with a homey feel. Our lunches were fine, don't get me wrong, but nothing I'll be running back for. Service was good and attentive. Perhaps we should have tried breakfast entrees, it seems like that is the preferred food here. Probably won't go back but it wasn't bad either.
(3)Yaneck W.
very nice diner in Barrington!
(4)Sherwin C.
Interesting restaurant. While it's not the best in texture or taste of the local restaurants they do offer many unique items (frittata, savory crepes, croque madame, etc.) that other places don't. In fact, it's really difficult to find many of these items outside of the city. The prices are good and many of the items are special homemade versions so they taste different from other restaurants. Because of its uniqueness it's worth a visit if you live in the area.
(4)Mark B.
We had the worst lunch we've had in a long time at Canteen last weekend. While the interior is very quaint , I was completely turned off by the food that came to our table. When it finally got to our table. I ordered a caprese panini, tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella with the unique twist of being grilled on greek bread. Our waitress was young and seemed confused, nearly shell-shocked, by everything that was going on around her. When the food finally arrived after far too long a wait, my sandwich was cold. The "Grilled" part was several sad, slightly beige lines that had been pressed into the bread by the panini press. Clearly not long enough to actually toast the bread. The sandwich filling (basil, tomato and buffalo mozz) looked a little light, so I opened the sandwich up (see photo). I had a couple slices of tomato, along with an end piece, 3 petite leaves of basil that didn't look all that appetizing and several clumps of melted mozzarella cheese (not buffalo mozzarella). On tasting it, this turned out to be a truly disgusting sandwich. The kitchen staff should be repremanded and the owner should be ashamed for letting that kind of food even be presented to a customer. Wrong ingredients, skimpy ingredients, cooked wrong, served slow and cold. We have had breakfast at Canteen before as well, but frankly it was nothing to write home about. This visit seals it. We will not be back to Canteen. Instead, I recommend the likes of Egg Harbor, McGonagles pub or Ambrosia etc.. for your next breakfast or lunch outting in Barrington.
(1)Brendan O.
This place is hidden gem in Barrington. Their skillets are excellent and so are there omlets. They have a lot of unique breakfast dishes for any morning desire. Excellent coffee and I would recommend the chuch wagon skillet to anyone.
(5)Tanya B.
This was the worst breakfast of my life. I was really hoping it would be good because my boyfriend had never been here before and it was my suggestion to come here. It started off ok. The problems started when we got our food. Our waitress was foreign and must have not understood English well because she messed up our order. I asked for 2 of the same kids meals (the chocolate chip pancakes). She only rang up one. When she came over with the food, I asked her about the other meal and she said "Ok I will have them make it right now." She did not return until the pancake was ready. She was basically standing by the kitchen waiting for it for about 8 minutes. This was annoying because we needed other things to enjoy our meals at the time and she was not around to get them for us. I had asked her for another plate so I could split the pancakes that I did have between my girls so they could both start eating while we were waiting. She never brought it. I ended up taking my skillet off the plate so I could do that. My food was incorrect. It was supposed to come with green peppers which is one of my favorite parts and it didn't. This was not the waitresses fault but she didn't come back for 8 minutes so by then the skillet was cold...and I still had to wait for them to heat up the peppers... My boyfriends steak skillet was so peppery that he couldn't eat it. He said he was burping up pepper all day (TMI I know). The chocolate chip pancakes were nasty! I might have stolen a couple of bites... It tasted like they used Aldi brand imitation chocolate chips. It did not even taste like real chocolate. I didn't know that it was possible to mess up something so simple. I WILL NEVER RETURN. It was the waste of a good morning, a waste of $30 and a whole buncha calories... Definitely not worth it.
(1)Dave C.
Love the old diner feel, good home style breakfast!
(4)jan l.
Had breakfast here today. I've been on the hunt for fresh corned beef hash, and due to reviews on here we went. It's so very delicious! Fresh, crispy, lots of beef. We'll be back. We ordered very basic food. My husband had the ham off the bone and two over medium eggs, with pancakes. I'm not a fan of pancakes, frankly I just don't get them. But the looked really light and fluffy, and they were. The potatoes, another thing I'm not usually a fan of, were very good. Cubes with onions and green peppers. The only down side was they were room tempature. The service was very good, it's very cute and homey inside. And did i mention? The best corned beef hash I've had in years!!
(5)Chrisa H.
This is THE place for breakfast in Barrington. Not only are they ALWAYS open, they are always friendly and the food is always great. This is a diner in the classic sense of the word. The decor is kitschy, the staff is friendly, and the food always is great. I love the Big Fat Greek Breakfast - the Zorba Omelette is my favorite. Mmmm...feta cheese, spinach, and tomatoes. LOVE! I hear there is a new Eggs Benedict called the Falafel Benedict - so I know where I"m having breakfast this Sunday!
(4)April B.
Took my husband there for breakfast on his birthday - my first time was spectacular. Dont let the quaint diner atmosphere fool you. The food is 5 star all the way! I had a tough time picking from a very unique menu of creative breakfast options. I decided to try the croque Madame French toast. It was awesome! Brie-stuffed French toast with ham and an egg on the top with a drizzle of sweet honey mustard. Really good! My husband had juicy ham (cut off the none) and eggs and pancakes. Very good service by Nora and excellent food.
(5)Courtney W.
This little place is quite a charmer. My father, who lives in Florida, still raves about this place to friends. He fondly remembers it after one visit about eight years ago. The chips that greet you at the table are made in house and are fabulous! My favorite soup of all time is also served here; lemon chicken rice. It is fabulous and always the soup of choice when I'm in town. The menu is pretty extensive and I enjoy something different every time I come in! Sam, the owner, is very nice and friendly and likes to learn every customer's name. The staff is pretty friendly and make great suggestions depending on your mood. I know when my dad visits in a couple of months, this will be the first place on his list!
(4)Daniel G.
I loved this place. The service was great and the food was excellent. The homemade potato chips were incredible.
(5)Lou L.
Great place for fresh standards and innovative twists like Southwest Benedict made with pulled pork, homemade biscuits, hollandaise with a kick and eggs - great! The crepe's are the best I have had in the Chicagoland area. Sam R and his family run a friendly tight ship. Go in a stranger and leave a friend. My favorite breakfast spot in the NW suburbs.
(5)Candice M.
Great breakfast place. They did change their potatoes to be a bit more "Greek" but that I can deal with. It's a pretty typical breakfast place. That's the one thing that downtown Barrington seems to have in abundance. I've never had any problems with service or the food. On Saturday/Sunday mornings there might be a wait, but it's worth it. I love their skillets. Definitely give it a try.
(4)Scott F.
Solid breakfast, need a better bathroom, kind of scary downstairs!
(3)Jerrod B.
I love steak and eggs at greek restaurants. This place seemed to boast their skirt steak. Steak was okay, but I've had much better at similar restaurants. Pool of butter on eggs and the crust on my toast flaked like it was old. The coffee was indeed good like the other posts say.
(3)Jay K.
Very cool place for breakfast if your in the area. Model airplanes are hanging from the ceiling and they have a tiny U shaped counter if you like. Maybe 8 booths and as many tables. Good friendly service. For lunch I'm going to Baloneys.
(4)Dallas T.
Here's a charming little cottage turned restaurant on 59 in Barrington serving your typical Greek style family breakfast and lunch menu items... We didn't plan to eat here, it was just a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing, because we were hungry and the Canteen was right there (right here). The place was busy and we struggled for parking and waited for a table. Once seated, the service was decent as was the food (the staff are well rehearsed and friendly with customers, and service is routine, and so is the food)... I imagine I'll come again on the spur-of-the-moment.
(3)Sue S.
I've lived in the area for years and pass this place on my way to work every day. I encouraged two of my friends to join me for our 1st adventure there. I'm all for local restaurants, we were expecting amazing, we got much less. The waitress had zero personality. She was slow and even though we were the ONLY people in the place she plopped the pot of coffee on the table so that we could serve ourselves, guessing so that she could focus on playing with her cell phone at the counter. We got an omelette, pancakes and waffles. Definitely not worth the $30 bill. Last but not least, here was an odd sewer smell. I see that other folks have written about that as well. I guess the owner of the restaurant doesn't read their YELP reviews. Sadly, we will not be returning.
(2)Melanie S.
Nothing fancy here, just good, solid, stick-to-your-ribs kinda fare. Sour cherry crepes, ham (right off the bone) and fluffy scrambled eggs, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and strong coffee were all satisfying, if not mind-blowing. They're not reinventing the wheel; it's comfort food in a diner atmosphere. Service is friendly and familiar. Charming place in a quaint part of Barrington. Open for breakfast and lunch only. I can see why the locals love it so.
(3)Katie F.
Food was very good (I want to try a bunch of other things though). Service was pretty friendly and super fast. They do need to do something about the bathrooms though-kinda gross.
(4)Drew K.
Visited on a Sunday just after noon. Service was immediate and friendly. The temperature was quite warm inside, possibly they were having issues with the a/c. There was a large selection of breakfast and lunch items - eggs, pancakes, sandwiches. I had the ham and eggs. The portions were good, but both the eggs and the potatoes tasted a little "off," a bit like the cooking oil was turning rancid. It's a good place for conversation over food as there is not overly much background noise. The prices are very reasonable. I might visit again if in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back.
(2)Tony P.
This is a great breakfast place with all the popular places popping up all over the place, this place is just the quintessential breakfast joint. They offer a full menu although I must admit I always order breakfast. From savory/sweet crepes, frittatas, awesome skillets and enormous omelets. This past weekend I ordered scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon crepe with Hollandaise Sauce. I think the sauce is great. Maybe a little thicker than you are used to but it is nice that it is not runny. My old man always gets the Gypsy Skillet which is his absolute favorite. Of course they do the old classics as well but will also put a new twist on them if you are open to it. We have been meeting here for breakfast for years. It's a great restaurant to even drive out of the way for, no matter where you live. The staff is friendly and the owner is like the greek uncle you never had but always wanted!
(4)Keith Z.
Food was good. Although to took forever for the kitchen to prepare it. Our server was most bizarre - she was snappy and curt with poor people skills.
(2)Adam H.
We tried this place based on a recommendation to celebrate a day off and found the right spot. The decor was very cool and unexpected, and made me want to assemble a model airplane. We came at an off hour so it was relatively empty which is nice from time to time. Everyone was friendly and humorous and completed the experience. The food was delicious and the plates that other people ordered looked amazing as well. We will definitely return when we get the opportunity!
(4)J G.
We shared 2 different chicken wraps, both were great, lemon chicken soup was excellent, tasty fresh cut fries. Nice local diner, we'll be back
(4)Dana H.
This place is good. It goes slightly beyond basic (with crepes and eggs benedict on a felafel). What I like is that their product is good, they make things that taste good and they are always friendly.
(4)Franklin D.
Cool model airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Dining area looked kind of small, probably because it was packed with people. Real nice greek guys running things...the whole menu had a "big fat greek xxx" theme going, like "big fat greek omelette", etc. Pretty funny. My son had the chocolate chip pancakes. There were two gigantic pancakes and lots of chocolate chips even though it was a $3.50 kids plate. I had hash, eggs, potatoes, and rye toast for $7. Not bad. NOTE: The restrooms are in the basement down some steep stairs. Also the parking lot was small but we found street parking easily (Sunday, 9AM-ish). Might be harder to park on other days.
(4)Luke S.
Epitome of old style dinner....food as fresh. Service was efficient....not necessarily friendly
(4)Amy R.
Very good food and the owner is always nice. Great place to eat-but call ahead as they have sporatic hours(mostly daytime).
(4)Nick F.
My wife and I go there at least once a week. The owner has a gift for hiring and keeping the most pleasant waitresses. A very warm and friendly place. When we brought my elderly mother-in-law with us, she was always treated with care and respect. And the food is excellent. If you want a tasty, hearty breakfast try the Greek steak and eggs. The steak is marinated and the eggs are scrambled with feta cheese. And there are always surprise dishes, often with a French or Italian twist. It's a good lunch place with great salads, soups and sandwiches And the Canteen is open on Friday nights for fish fry and a diverse menu if you want something not fried or just not fish. There is plenty of parking. Kids are welcome. In fact the restaurant is festooned with crayon-colored art work crafted by young customers. Don't miss this place.
(5)Cathy G.
I really miss the Canteen since I moved out of the immediate area. It is a must stop if you are in the area. The parking lot is very tiny and I would just avoid trying to park in it at all. Instead park on the side street and enjoy a little walk before and after breakfast! Everything I have had here is great and the staff is wonderful. I hope to get back soon!
(4)Tom F.
The menu is typical greek diner, but the atmosphere, service and food quality are excellent for the niche. Great for breakfast or lunch, and usually not too crowded to get a table.
(4)George B.
The Canteen is one of those small places where you pass by it all the time and never think about stopping in for breakfast or lunch... and the first time you do stop in for a meal, you want to kick yourself because you realize you have been missing so many chances to eat at a pretty good and reasonably priced place. The food is very good, and the coffee is great. What makes this place so good is the top notch service. Unfortunately, this place isn't quite handicapped friendly, as the restrooms are down stairs. Also, the parking lot is tiny and tends to fill up quickly on weekends.
(4)Damian S.
A great place to go when you want some "down home" kind of cooking. Today I had the Hawaii-5-0 Frittata (bacon, cheese, pineapple, and ham on an open-faced omelette), which also comes with a plate of fried potatoes and your choice of pancakes, toast or something else. I chose the pancakes. The servings sizes were more that adequate for one person, and it was a tasty, filling brunch after "teaching" finals for the day. The only negative about the whole thing was the potatoes...they were a little burnt and crispy for my taste. That, and did they switch to Pepsi, or did they always have it? One of my favorites for non-breakfast visits is the chicken, rice and lemon soup. It is so silky and flavorful! It goes with all of their meals very well, with the exception of a breakfast or I would've gotten it today. The seating is typical diner-ish, with booths for four all around the perimeter and about 16 four-person tables (the kind that comfortably seat two) in the center. Never really been crowded, as it looks a lot smaller form the outside, and is a best-kept secret of the Barrington food arena. Although they're really neat, don't look too closely at the model planes, or you'll wonder when the last time a total vacuuming of the place was performed. The food more than makes up for the decor, and the managers and staff have always been very friendly, yet not overbearing while you're eating. It's a great little locally owned restaurant.
(4)Nathan S.
We were driving through Barrington when my wife spotted a small sign that said, "Falafel Benedict." This was odd enough to cause us to turn the car around and grab a late breakfast. While we didn't actually try the falafel, we did find a large and varied menu to choose from, which is a bit rare in restaurants around here. My wife ordered the eggs Florentine and I just had to try the home made corned beef hash (a weakness of mine). The food was okay, but nothing spectacular. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly, but the hash and the potatoes were very dry. My wife's dish was similar in that the eggs were quite good but the potatoes dry, and the hollandaise was not quite right. I will say that the coffee was excellent. The food was certainly good enough for us to go back and try again, but they need to hone their craft a bit more when it comes to the breakfast staples. Bad potatoes point to a lazy kitchen, as fried potatoes are easy enough to cook that the kitchen staff must not be paying enough attention to their work. This makes me wonder how good the rest of the food will be. The food was certainly good enough to warrant another go, as was the atmosphere of the restaurant. I will update when I try it again.
(3)Luna M.
Have only been here for breakfast. The coffee is good and the pancakes are great. The kids devour them. It's an old school type of place - not fussy or fancy - which is fine by us. Service is fairly fast and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Rich W.
My brother and I went to lunch there the week of Christmas this past year. He is an international business traveler and isn't around much, but he was on semi-vacation Christmas week. He suggested we meet at the Canteen. I kind of enjoyed the atmosphere, especially since I'm am an airplane nut. The owner (?) was a very jovial guy and greeted me like we were old friends when I came in. I ordered a cup of coffee and studied the very extensive (typical of Greek owned restaurants) menu and had decided on a "breakfast" entree, by the time my brother arrived. I had one of their "skillet" dishes. It was pretty good, but not as good as the similar offering at Papa G's in Huntley, a favorite breakfast stop on the days that my "Thursday lunch-buddy" and I are Operations dept. volunteers at the Illinois Railway Museum. Anyway, back to the Canteen. My brother also had a "breakfast" entree, and said that is what he usually has when he and his family go there. The service was excellent. The only negative, as someone else mentioned was the location of the washrooms, down a narrow stairway to the basement. I'll give it another try, and have a different entree sometime soon, and possibly revise the average rating that i gave it.
(3)Zhong Y.
Lunch was underwhelming, which is another case of a restaurant whose promising exterior fails to deliver. Menu was unimpressive, matched by preparation and length of wait between order and service and post-service check-in. Pass!
(2)Andrea R.
I could eat here every weekend and not exhaust the delicious options on the menu. We've been for both breakfast and lunch. The ham is absolutely amazing; I've never tasted ham so good. The homemade potato chips are my boyfriend's favorite. Their specials are always delicious, too. It's charming and at a great price.
(5)Judy T.
We've been there several times over the years and mostly we've enjoyed it. This time I ordered the corned beef hash & eggs and the corned beef was the real thing, I guess, not the canned version. It was a roasted corned beef all chopped up. Now I realize this is the REAL version but I hate to say it but it made me think I was eating leftovers from St. Patrick's day last week. I had the regular canned version of corned beef there before so I thought I knew what to expect. I'm sure it wasn't leftovers.
(2)Liz H.
I love this place! It's yummy diner style food, with a nifty ambiance. The portions are huge, and the service so fast that you can easily make it a stop for your lunch break. Everyone is super friendly and willing to accomodate special requests. The soups and sandwiches are especially tasty here. Easily one of the best places to eat in Barrington!
(4)Tim L.
What a surprise gem. Great steak wrap
(5)Rick F.
The Canteen rocks!
(5)Kelly P.
Food was just ok and service was HORRIBLE! After reading the reviews on here I feel like maybe the place may deserve a second chance, but I would be extremely hesitant to go back. I went in yesterday for a late breakfast with my mother while out running errands. It was about 10 am and there were only 3 other tables in the place. There were 2 men, who I would assume are managers/owners & there were 2 waitresses. We were sat by an owner and our waitress came over and timely so got us our drinks & asked us what we wanted to eat. The food came out in a timely manner, but after that it all went down hill. We never saw our waitress again till we were done eating & she came to ask if we were done & drop the check. There is nothing more aggravating then being completely out of water and coffee and NO ONE in the restaurant seems to really care. When we were done eating she came to pick up our plates and said "are your finished?" and when we both said yes she said "ok", took our plates, placed the check down & left. No thank you, no come back again some time, nothing. Her & the other waitress spent most of their time standing by the open air kitchen eating & playing with their cell phones. As for the food it was just ok. I had chocolate chip pancakes which were a little dry due to being kind of over cooked. My mother had the strawberry french toast & to our surprise it was completely under-cooked. It was doughy and mushy and not appetizing at all. You could see the waitress just sprinkle cinnamon & sugar over it when it came to the window when in reality french toast should be cooked with some cinnamon in the mix. I definitely would not recommend this place, nor will I ever be going back here again.
(1)Yvette C.
I drive past the Canteen all the time & finally had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. The Canteen is your classic American diner that is located in downtown Barrington. They are open from 6 AM until 3 PM daily. They offer good food with friendly service. They serve fresh potato chips while you check out the menu. There are model airplanes hanging everywhere. My only beef is the bathroom, they are located in the basement & aren't the warmest area to be in during a cold Chicago winter. But that wont stop me from coming back!
(4)Mark W.
This place is great. Creative menu and comfort food, rolled into one.
(5)maggie c.
A friend of mine turned me on to the Canteen few years ago, and we have returned the favor to our family and friends. Fresh yummy food with nice sized portions and the service is fantastic! A definite winner! If you have not been give it a try!
(4)Bon J.
Really the best breakfast joint in the area, and I love diners. Freindly staff, owner seems very nice, great food, solid menu, great for kids. The whole place is packed with colored pictured from kids along with a ton of model airplanes. Highly recommended from someone who doesn't throw around 4 stars very often. Will be 5 stars with a couple more visits I'm sure
(4)Raw F.
The food here is great, I love the skillets, and the wait staff, even thought it's mostly teenage girls from the local high school, do a good job. Now if they could only figure out a way to make more parking and possibly a bigger waiting area it'd be my favorite restaurant in B-town!
(4)Tom F.
We have been going to the Canteen for over 15 years, This family owned and operated restaurant is the best place I have ever had breakfast! We go every Sunday. Their homemade soups and sandwiches are great! Try the BBQ or corned beef with their homemade potato chips, The best!!!
(5)Lily R.
Place was very friendly with a nice assortment of breakfast and lunch items. Staff is really nice and accommodating. There was a stale smell that kinda gave me a nauseous feeling, and was a lot stronger in the basement where the restrooms are at. Add some bleach or Mr. clean to your mop and that may help that smell. Great food and staff, will return some day soon.
(4)Brett F.
Canteen, serving Barrington since the 1940's, yo. That kind of longevity can only mean one of two things: a) there is no other breakfast restaurant available in the town of Barrington, or, b) Canteen is doing something and doing it well for more than 60+ years. Kudos! I can tell you this... it's definitely one of my favorite brunch stop-ins. From the ultra small - but cozy - dining room, the familiar smiling faces always there every time I stop in, to the consistently tasty and fully stocked menu, this is a family affair operation and they just get. it. right. Mix Greek brekkie favs like feta-laced Omelettes and piled-high sandwiches on greek toast with nom worthy Bananas Foster Crepes, Pecan Belgian Waffles and crazy delicious Taffy Apple French Toast for a truly well-rounded morning marathon of all things mouthwatering. Excusez moi, is it hot in here or is it just me? A down home atmosphere, attentive service and endless piping hot coffee are all just as dependable as the Canteen itself. You know what's really tasty? Consistency.
(4)Angela P.
When I was a kid, we'd drive past the Canteen every weekend that we'd go to visit my grandpa. It was a one-hour drive, and I got to know how close we were to grandpa's by the landmarks along the way. Seeing the Canteen meant we were in downtown Barrington, and no, we were not there yet. My dad used to beg my mom to come here, but she'd cringe at the dingy exterior. Since I was a kid, I was more interested in stopping at McDonald's for a happy meal. And, like most things, I agreed with my mom on this one. My first visit to the Canteen was today - with my mom, of all people! We stopped on our way to Volo Antique Mall for brunch. My dad, I hear, is totally jealous. I couldn't decide between breakfast or lunch, and lunch usually wins when there's a creamy soup on the menu. I had the chicken swiss melt with a side of cream of chicken rice soup. The soup was disappointing. It was very creamy and lemony, but there wasn't any chicken and hardly any rice. And since I'm trying to watch my weight, and what I eat, cream soup was an indulgence. So, I was pissed that I wasted calories on it! My sandwich was just okay, and it was a little bland. The chicken could have used some seasoning. And, not that I needed it, but I was surprised that the sandwiches came with fries, soup or salad, instead of the fries and soup. My mom had the taffy apple waffle and kept talking about how good it was until we reached Volo. The waffle appeared homemade, no frozen business here, and the apples were gooey, covered with cinnamon and caramel. The waffle was also topped with pecans and caramel syrup. I can confidently say that the waffles here are worthwhile, as my mom was very happy with her breakfast. As for me, I should've gotten the frittata. Probably more healthy, and breakfast seems to be more of a specialty. We received great service. My mom had a question about the banana pancakes (are they in the batter or on top?), and the waitress very quickly asked someone in the kitchen. The Canteen is a very tiny restaurant, with about 14 tables and a counter with stools. There were old movie posters on the wall, and my mom couldn't stop complaining that the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" poster didn't fit in. I couldn't help but agree. That, and the random Reebok hockey stick. It smelled a bit musty inside as well. And when I headed to the bathroom, I had to walk down a long staircase. There is no way to get to the bathroom if you use a wheelchair, and it'll still be difficult if you use a walker or cane. So if you're wheelchair-bound, you might have to hold it til you can get elsewhere. I'd go back for breakfast, but I don't recommend the lunch menu.
(3)Jelena Z.
My lovely dalliance with the Canteen started with an enthusiastic recommendation from the beautiful Brett D and one hungover phone call on New Year's Day: Me: You're open today? He: OF COURSE we're open! Done and done. We arrived to a full parking lot, a bustling restaurant and a hearty welcome from the same man who had answered the phone. We were situated in a big ol' booth made for sprawling (love!) and quickly took to the books, err menus, before us. I made a decision based on a combination of gut reaction and survival necessity: The Croque Madame French Toast. As it turns out, a Croque Madame tailored for breakfast is every bit as decadent as my 'bad girl' lunch staple (check out my photo - isn't she pretty?). I couldn't resist complementing my savory selection with a sweet side so I added a pancake for a nominal fee. This is what last suppers are made of! NomNOMnomNoMnoM. Canteen's decor is very homey - think old movie posters and historic photos from a younger Barrington. Also on the menu's honorable mention list: Falafel eggs Benedict and sour cherry crepes!
(4)Jerrod B.
I love steak and eggs at greek restaurants. This place seemed to boast their skirt steak. Steak was okay, but I've had much better at similar restaurants. Pool of butter on eggs and the crust on my toast flaked like it was old. The coffee was indeed good like the other posts say.
(3)Tony P.
This is a great breakfast place with all the popular places popping up all over the place, this place is just the quintessential breakfast joint. They offer a full menu although I must admit I always order breakfast. From savory/sweet crepes, frittatas, awesome skillets and enormous omelets. This past weekend I ordered scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon crepe with Hollandaise Sauce. I think the sauce is great. Maybe a little thicker than you are used to but it is nice that it is not runny. My old man always gets the Gypsy Skillet which is his absolute favorite. Of course they do the old classics as well but will also put a new twist on them if you are open to it. We have been meeting here for breakfast for years. It's a great restaurant to even drive out of the way for, no matter where you live. The staff is friendly and the owner is like the greek uncle you never had but always wanted!
(4)Keith Z.
Food was good. Although to took forever for the kitchen to prepare it. Our server was most bizarre - she was snappy and curt with poor people skills.
(2)Adam H.
We tried this place based on a recommendation to celebrate a day off and found the right spot. The decor was very cool and unexpected, and made me want to assemble a model airplane. We came at an off hour so it was relatively empty which is nice from time to time. Everyone was friendly and humorous and completed the experience. The food was delicious and the plates that other people ordered looked amazing as well. We will definitely return when we get the opportunity!
(4)J G.
We shared 2 different chicken wraps, both were great, lemon chicken soup was excellent, tasty fresh cut fries. Nice local diner, we'll be back
(4)Dana H.
This place is good. It goes slightly beyond basic (with crepes and eggs benedict on a felafel). What I like is that their product is good, they make things that taste good and they are always friendly.
(4)Franklin D.
Cool model airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Dining area looked kind of small, probably because it was packed with people. Real nice greek guys running things...the whole menu had a "big fat greek xxx" theme going, like "big fat greek omelette", etc. Pretty funny. My son had the chocolate chip pancakes. There were two gigantic pancakes and lots of chocolate chips even though it was a $3.50 kids plate. I had hash, eggs, potatoes, and rye toast for $7. Not bad. NOTE: The restrooms are in the basement down some steep stairs. Also the parking lot was small but we found street parking easily (Sunday, 9AM-ish). Might be harder to park on other days.
(4)Luke S.
Epitome of old style dinner....food as fresh. Service was efficient....not necessarily friendly
(4)Amy R.
Very good food and the owner is always nice. Great place to eat-but call ahead as they have sporatic hours(mostly daytime).
(4)Damian S.
A great place to go when you want some "down home" kind of cooking. Today I had the Hawaii-5-0 Frittata (bacon, cheese, pineapple, and ham on an open-faced omelette), which also comes with a plate of fried potatoes and your choice of pancakes, toast or something else. I chose the pancakes. The servings sizes were more that adequate for one person, and it was a tasty, filling brunch after "teaching" finals for the day. The only negative about the whole thing was the potatoes...they were a little burnt and crispy for my taste. That, and did they switch to Pepsi, or did they always have it? One of my favorites for non-breakfast visits is the chicken, rice and lemon soup. It is so silky and flavorful! It goes with all of their meals very well, with the exception of a breakfast or I would've gotten it today. The seating is typical diner-ish, with booths for four all around the perimeter and about 16 four-person tables (the kind that comfortably seat two) in the center. Never really been crowded, as it looks a lot smaller form the outside, and is a best-kept secret of the Barrington food arena. Although they're really neat, don't look too closely at the model planes, or you'll wonder when the last time a total vacuuming of the place was performed. The food more than makes up for the decor, and the managers and staff have always been very friendly, yet not overbearing while you're eating. It's a great little locally owned restaurant.
(4)Nathan S.
We were driving through Barrington when my wife spotted a small sign that said, "Falafel Benedict." This was odd enough to cause us to turn the car around and grab a late breakfast. While we didn't actually try the falafel, we did find a large and varied menu to choose from, which is a bit rare in restaurants around here. My wife ordered the eggs Florentine and I just had to try the home made corned beef hash (a weakness of mine). The food was okay, but nothing spectacular. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly, but the hash and the potatoes were very dry. My wife's dish was similar in that the eggs were quite good but the potatoes dry, and the hollandaise was not quite right. I will say that the coffee was excellent. The food was certainly good enough for us to go back and try again, but they need to hone their craft a bit more when it comes to the breakfast staples. Bad potatoes point to a lazy kitchen, as fried potatoes are easy enough to cook that the kitchen staff must not be paying enough attention to their work. This makes me wonder how good the rest of the food will be. The food was certainly good enough to warrant another go, as was the atmosphere of the restaurant. I will update when I try it again.
(3)Luna M.
Have only been here for breakfast. The coffee is good and the pancakes are great. The kids devour them. It's an old school type of place - not fussy or fancy - which is fine by us. Service is fairly fast and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Rich W.
My brother and I went to lunch there the week of Christmas this past year. He is an international business traveler and isn't around much, but he was on semi-vacation Christmas week. He suggested we meet at the Canteen. I kind of enjoyed the atmosphere, especially since I'm am an airplane nut. The owner (?) was a very jovial guy and greeted me like we were old friends when I came in. I ordered a cup of coffee and studied the very extensive (typical of Greek owned restaurants) menu and had decided on a "breakfast" entree, by the time my brother arrived. I had one of their "skillet" dishes. It was pretty good, but not as good as the similar offering at Papa G's in Huntley, a favorite breakfast stop on the days that my "Thursday lunch-buddy" and I are Operations dept. volunteers at the Illinois Railway Museum. Anyway, back to the Canteen. My brother also had a "breakfast" entree, and said that is what he usually has when he and his family go there. The service was excellent. The only negative, as someone else mentioned was the location of the washrooms, down a narrow stairway to the basement. I'll give it another try, and have a different entree sometime soon, and possibly revise the average rating that i gave it.
(3)Zhong Y.
Lunch was underwhelming, which is another case of a restaurant whose promising exterior fails to deliver. Menu was unimpressive, matched by preparation and length of wait between order and service and post-service check-in. Pass!
(2)Andrea R.
I could eat here every weekend and not exhaust the delicious options on the menu. We've been for both breakfast and lunch. The ham is absolutely amazing; I've never tasted ham so good. The homemade potato chips are my boyfriend's favorite. Their specials are always delicious, too. It's charming and at a great price.
(5)Judy T.
We've been there several times over the years and mostly we've enjoyed it. This time I ordered the corned beef hash & eggs and the corned beef was the real thing, I guess, not the canned version. It was a roasted corned beef all chopped up. Now I realize this is the REAL version but I hate to say it but it made me think I was eating leftovers from St. Patrick's day last week. I had the regular canned version of corned beef there before so I thought I knew what to expect. I'm sure it wasn't leftovers.
(2)Liz H.
I love this place! It's yummy diner style food, with a nifty ambiance. The portions are huge, and the service so fast that you can easily make it a stop for your lunch break. Everyone is super friendly and willing to accomodate special requests. The soups and sandwiches are especially tasty here. Easily one of the best places to eat in Barrington!
(4)Tim L.
What a surprise gem. Great steak wrap
(5)Rick F.
The Canteen rocks!
(5)Nick F.
My wife and I go there at least once a week. The owner has a gift for hiring and keeping the most pleasant waitresses. A very warm and friendly place. When we brought my elderly mother-in-law with us, she was always treated with care and respect. And the food is excellent. If you want a tasty, hearty breakfast try the Greek steak and eggs. The steak is marinated and the eggs are scrambled with feta cheese. And there are always surprise dishes, often with a French or Italian twist. It's a good lunch place with great salads, soups and sandwiches And the Canteen is open on Friday nights for fish fry and a diverse menu if you want something not fried or just not fish. There is plenty of parking. Kids are welcome. In fact the restaurant is festooned with crayon-colored art work crafted by young customers. Don't miss this place.
(5)Cathy G.
I really miss the Canteen since I moved out of the immediate area. It is a must stop if you are in the area. The parking lot is very tiny and I would just avoid trying to park in it at all. Instead park on the side street and enjoy a little walk before and after breakfast! Everything I have had here is great and the staff is wonderful. I hope to get back soon!
(4)Tom F.
The menu is typical greek diner, but the atmosphere, service and food quality are excellent for the niche. Great for breakfast or lunch, and usually not too crowded to get a table.
(4)George B.
The Canteen is one of those small places where you pass by it all the time and never think about stopping in for breakfast or lunch... and the first time you do stop in for a meal, you want to kick yourself because you realize you have been missing so many chances to eat at a pretty good and reasonably priced place. The food is very good, and the coffee is great. What makes this place so good is the top notch service. Unfortunately, this place isn't quite handicapped friendly, as the restrooms are down stairs. Also, the parking lot is tiny and tends to fill up quickly on weekends.
(4)Kelly P.
Food was just ok and service was HORRIBLE! After reading the reviews on here I feel like maybe the place may deserve a second chance, but I would be extremely hesitant to go back. I went in yesterday for a late breakfast with my mother while out running errands. It was about 10 am and there were only 3 other tables in the place. There were 2 men, who I would assume are managers/owners & there were 2 waitresses. We were sat by an owner and our waitress came over and timely so got us our drinks & asked us what we wanted to eat. The food came out in a timely manner, but after that it all went down hill. We never saw our waitress again till we were done eating & she came to ask if we were done & drop the check. There is nothing more aggravating then being completely out of water and coffee and NO ONE in the restaurant seems to really care. When we were done eating she came to pick up our plates and said "are your finished?" and when we both said yes she said "ok", took our plates, placed the check down & left. No thank you, no come back again some time, nothing. Her & the other waitress spent most of their time standing by the open air kitchen eating & playing with their cell phones. As for the food it was just ok. I had chocolate chip pancakes which were a little dry due to being kind of over cooked. My mother had the strawberry french toast & to our surprise it was completely under-cooked. It was doughy and mushy and not appetizing at all. You could see the waitress just sprinkle cinnamon & sugar over it when it came to the window when in reality french toast should be cooked with some cinnamon in the mix. I definitely would not recommend this place, nor will I ever be going back here again.
(1)Yvette C.
I drive past the Canteen all the time & finally had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. The Canteen is your classic American diner that is located in downtown Barrington. They are open from 6 AM until 3 PM daily. They offer good food with friendly service. They serve fresh potato chips while you check out the menu. There are model airplanes hanging everywhere. My only beef is the bathroom, they are located in the basement & aren't the warmest area to be in during a cold Chicago winter. But that wont stop me from coming back!
(4)Mark W.
This place is great. Creative menu and comfort food, rolled into one.
(5)maggie c.
A friend of mine turned me on to the Canteen few years ago, and we have returned the favor to our family and friends. Fresh yummy food with nice sized portions and the service is fantastic! A definite winner! If you have not been give it a try!
(4)Bon J.
Really the best breakfast joint in the area, and I love diners. Freindly staff, owner seems very nice, great food, solid menu, great for kids. The whole place is packed with colored pictured from kids along with a ton of model airplanes. Highly recommended from someone who doesn't throw around 4 stars very often. Will be 5 stars with a couple more visits I'm sure
(4)Raw F.
The food here is great, I love the skillets, and the wait staff, even thought it's mostly teenage girls from the local high school, do a good job. Now if they could only figure out a way to make more parking and possibly a bigger waiting area it'd be my favorite restaurant in B-town!
(4)Frank V.
Service was only issue. Only one waitress working that morning [July 4]. I think management underestimated customer levels, as she was SWAMPED! Not only was food waiting to be delivered while she was taking orders, but she had to handle cashier duties as well. Ham off the bone mixed in scrambled eggs was great. I am from Berwyn and saw there ad in a Chicago newspaper recommendation.
(4)Alexis W.
If I could do 3-1/2 stars, I would. Breakfast was good, but I just can't go to 4. This place is obviously a local favorite (complete with regulars who good-naturedly hassle the waitstaff).The dining area is small, so don't come at a peak meal time unless you're prepared to wait. We came for breakfast at 8 am on a Saturday and got a seat, but it filled up. The atmosphere is family-friendly and delightfully (and unpretentiously) small-town. The "canteen" scheme comes complete with dozens of airplanes hanging from the ceiling, which the toddler loved. The BBS crepes (blueberry, banana, strawberry) were generous, although unspectacular. The crepes were fine, and the serving of fruit was surprising. There must have been a whole banana on one crepe, several fresh strawberries on another, and a healthy serving of blueberries on the third. Standard crepes, but the fruit stands up to the price tag. The Argentine Benedict was great - eggs poached to perfection, the homemade Chimichurri sauce was a little spicy. The steaks were perfect, and the potatoes were good but standard. All in all, a good breakfast. The prices may be a little ambitious, but I'll pay a little extra for the friendly waitstaff and comfortable vibe.
(3)Karyn S.
My boyfriend's dad LOVES it here, and brought me here a couple weeks ago. We've eaten there since, and I found the waitress to be nice/friendly, and I love the airplanes! The food was good - I loved the scrambled eggs! My boyfriend's dad loves biscuits and gravy - except he hates the biscuits that are used. He ordered a custom version - that involved English muffins, and they were more than happy to make it - and he thought it was delicious! The food always came out promptly, nice and hot and delicious. I will agree with a previous review, I found the bacon to be slightly overcooked for my taste (I wish it had been like 30 seconds less on the grill). It was still good, but it wasn't my preference. The bacon was fine on my first visit, however.
(4)Tobin h.
It did it's job. Very good but nothing great. Better than the average greek diner but nothing to do the chicken dance for. I'd go back then I'd go back again because the service was near great and the food was above average...but still, did it's job. It is a simple pancake house with simple reviews. go and be happy. It is that kinda place!
(3)Dan W.
Stopped in here for the first time after driving past it for years. We won't be going back. There were maybe 5 other tables sitting when we sat down, but it took at least 5-7 minutes just for the server to bring us coffee. We ordered basic eggs and bacon/sausage, which came out in 3 minutes, clearly showing that the food is not prepared to order. My wife ate 1 sausage link because they were not good. The bacon was hard and tasted like it was microwaved. The potatoes were cold, oily and soggy. Finally, the entire restaurant smelled like 3 day old garbage. Don't waste your time and money at this place
(1)Drew K.
Visited on a Sunday just after noon. Service was immediate and friendly. The temperature was quite warm inside, possibly they were having issues with the a/c. There was a large selection of breakfast and lunch items - eggs, pancakes, sandwiches. I had the ham and eggs. The portions were good, but both the eggs and the potatoes tasted a little "off," a bit like the cooking oil was turning rancid. It's a good place for conversation over food as there is not overly much background noise. The prices are very reasonable. I might visit again if in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back.
(2)Jay K.
Very cool place for breakfast if your in the area. Model airplanes are hanging from the ceiling and they have a tiny U shaped counter if you like. Maybe 8 booths and as many tables. Good friendly service. For lunch I'm going to Baloneys.
(4)Dallas T.
Here's a charming little cottage turned restaurant on 59 in Barrington serving your typical Greek style family breakfast and lunch menu items... We didn't plan to eat here, it was just a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing, because we were hungry and the Canteen was right there (right here). The place was busy and we struggled for parking and waited for a table. Once seated, the service was decent as was the food (the staff are well rehearsed and friendly with customers, and service is routine, and so is the food)... I imagine I'll come again on the spur-of-the-moment.
(3)Sue S.
I've lived in the area for years and pass this place on my way to work every day. I encouraged two of my friends to join me for our 1st adventure there. I'm all for local restaurants, we were expecting amazing, we got much less. The waitress had zero personality. She was slow and even though we were the ONLY people in the place she plopped the pot of coffee on the table so that we could serve ourselves, guessing so that she could focus on playing with her cell phone at the counter. We got an omelette, pancakes and waffles. Definitely not worth the $30 bill. Last but not least, here was an odd sewer smell. I see that other folks have written about that as well. I guess the owner of the restaurant doesn't read their YELP reviews. Sadly, we will not be returning.
(2)Melanie S.
Nothing fancy here, just good, solid, stick-to-your-ribs kinda fare. Sour cherry crepes, ham (right off the bone) and fluffy scrambled eggs, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and strong coffee were all satisfying, if not mind-blowing. They're not reinventing the wheel; it's comfort food in a diner atmosphere. Service is friendly and familiar. Charming place in a quaint part of Barrington. Open for breakfast and lunch only. I can see why the locals love it so.
(3)Katie F.
Food was very good (I want to try a bunch of other things though). Service was pretty friendly and super fast. They do need to do something about the bathrooms though-kinda gross.
(4)Angie V.
Service here is excellent. Fun, friendly atmosphere. 4 stars for being adorable! (And for not being a chain or in a strip mall.) As for the food, well... Ummm... Yeah, my coffee was terrible, blech! But, the menu is inspired. My hubbins ordered the Argentinian benedict and said "it's good, not amazing." He did tear into the perfectly prepared breakfast potatoes, though. I ordered regular eggs benedict and it was kind of lousy and lacking flavor. The eggs were poached beautifully and the Canadian bacon was nice. But, the English muffin was an awful puck (offensive to the rest of the meal, actually). The hollandaise was creamy, but someone forgot to add lemon juice and it was sorely missed. My side of fruit was fresh, ripe, and sweet. I'd return just for the kind treatment and the atmosphere -- but I'd only order the basics off the menu.
(4)Todd P.
Just had a great omelette with some really fresh ingredients. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure my order was just what I asked for. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Keir H.
I would give this place 3-3.5. Service is always friendly and the food is consistently good. It's mainly the basic Greek diner breakfast/lunch with a couple of tasty surprises on the specials. It's small, local, friendly, fast and tasty at good prices: so you won't go wrong here. Also they advertise a pig roast/BBQ they do during the summer that sounds delicious.
(3)Krista S.
This is a family friendly 1940s diner. Our son loved the model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and I loved the old movie posters! Stick with the classics, ham and eggs and the french toast were amazing! The service was great and the food came out fast and hot which is great when you have little ones waiting to eat. We will definitely go back to Canteen.
(4)Sarah M.
So I finally went to the Canteen, after forgetting about it for nigh on 15 years. It is a cute little divey kitchy Greeky diner in downtown-ish Barrington. We went there for break-lunch some random day during the week. Coffee is good, food is decent, and prices are moderate. Was I bowled over? No, but I also wasn't expecting to be. I honestly can't even remember what I ordered, but I know everyone in my group was happy with our meals. If you're in the area and aren't feelin' Egg Harbor, then head over to Canteen - they may just surprise you!
(3)Will C.
Cool vibe, cheery wait staff, good food at a fair price. Nothing extraordinary, but darned good. I'll be sure to go back. Good lunch samiches. : )
(4)Darci S.
I was underwhelmed by the Canteen. My husband works nearby and I was looking for someplace new to try for lunch. Its definitely a unique place with a homey feel. Our lunches were fine, don't get me wrong, but nothing I'll be running back for. Service was good and attentive. Perhaps we should have tried breakfast entrees, it seems like that is the preferred food here. Probably won't go back but it wasn't bad either.
(3)Yaneck W.
very nice diner in Barrington!
(4)Sherwin C.
Interesting restaurant. While it's not the best in texture or taste of the local restaurants they do offer many unique items (frittata, savory crepes, croque madame, etc.) that other places don't. In fact, it's really difficult to find many of these items outside of the city. The prices are good and many of the items are special homemade versions so they taste different from other restaurants. Because of its uniqueness it's worth a visit if you live in the area.
(4)Mark B.
We had the worst lunch we've had in a long time at Canteen last weekend. While the interior is very quaint , I was completely turned off by the food that came to our table. When it finally got to our table. I ordered a caprese panini, tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella with the unique twist of being grilled on greek bread. Our waitress was young and seemed confused, nearly shell-shocked, by everything that was going on around her. When the food finally arrived after far too long a wait, my sandwich was cold. The "Grilled" part was several sad, slightly beige lines that had been pressed into the bread by the panini press. Clearly not long enough to actually toast the bread. The sandwich filling (basil, tomato and buffalo mozz) looked a little light, so I opened the sandwich up (see photo). I had a couple slices of tomato, along with an end piece, 3 petite leaves of basil that didn't look all that appetizing and several clumps of melted mozzarella cheese (not buffalo mozzarella). On tasting it, this turned out to be a truly disgusting sandwich. The kitchen staff should be repremanded and the owner should be ashamed for letting that kind of food even be presented to a customer. Wrong ingredients, skimpy ingredients, cooked wrong, served slow and cold. We have had breakfast at Canteen before as well, but frankly it was nothing to write home about. This visit seals it. We will not be back to Canteen. Instead, I recommend the likes of Egg Harbor, McGonagles pub or Ambrosia etc.. for your next breakfast or lunch outting in Barrington.
(1)Nicole G.
After several years staying away because I thought the breakfast was too greasy, we ended up here and I am glad we did. The food was phenomenal. Not greasy at all. We did have to wait but it was Sunday morning. The crowds made the restaurant extremely loud which I do not like. And the wait was substantial to get our order in. But we could see our waitress was hurrying around with a 10-person party. She was courteous and very upbeat for the amount of running around. Had the French toast which was awesome. C had a ham and cheese inlet which was fluffy and delicious. I stole his potatoes which were great too. Atmosphere was eclectic and entertaining. Will go back.
(5)Rose D.
I could have swore I wrote a review for this place but as it seems to have disappeared I shall remedy the situation! I love Greek diners for breakfast & lunch. The Canteen Restaurant is just a tiny little place but the the menu & food is so very good. We've only been here once so I will reserve a higher star rating for a future visit. There were so many delicious sounding things on the menu we definitely will be coming back to try more! The only reason I'm not giving them 4 stars right off the bat is because of the service. Yes, it is a small restaurant but they get busy & there were only 3 servers working the dining room. We were there on a weekend morning, a typically busy time for any breakfast place, so I think they would have been better off having at least one more server. Perhaps someone called out for the day. Either way we waiting very long time to place our order and the only time our server came back was to drop off the bill & get us a box. Actually, I believe one of the bus boys brought us the box. But I won't let this one time deter us for a return visit. As I said the menu looks great & we have more things we want to try!
(3)Ryan B.
I've driven by this place a thousand times and always wanted stop in, so I did. Not sure if it's always like this, but the second I walked through the door I smelled a sewer-like odor. My guess is that it was coming from the bathrooms downstairs. The place had a very dated, hadn't-been-cleaned-since-1953 smell to it. Our waitress was very kind, but forgot a lot of stuff. The food wasn't too bad, but I couldn't enjoy it because I was grossed out by the smell of the place. My wife loved her breakfast, however. Don't think I'll be going back though. Has tons of potential...just clean the place up!
(2)Doug A.
This review only pertains to breakfast. First off the coffee is delicious. I hate when breakfast places try to have some special coffee. Just a good black coffee is all you need in the AM. Breakfast is good here. It seems people either love the place or hate it. The owner is always at the door to greet you when you walk in and seat you. The decor is funky, I'm not really sure what the theme is supposed to be. The ham off the bone is absolutely defuckinglicious. I could eat it for 3 meals a day. The eggs are always cooked the way you want them. The potatos are good. I've had the gyro skillet which was very good too, although it wasn't the gyro meat off the spit.. It's a breakfast place. They do a good breakfast. That's all you get. They also do bbq on Thursdays nights. Haven't been, but I will soon go.
(4)Candice M.
Great breakfast place. They did change their potatoes to be a bit more "Greek" but that I can deal with. It's a pretty typical breakfast place. That's the one thing that downtown Barrington seems to have in abundance. I've never had any problems with service or the food. On Saturday/Sunday mornings there might be a wait, but it's worth it. I love their skillets. Definitely give it a try.
(4)jan l.
Had breakfast here today. I've been on the hunt for fresh corned beef hash, and due to reviews on here we went. It's so very delicious! Fresh, crispy, lots of beef. We'll be back. We ordered very basic food. My husband had the ham off the bone and two over medium eggs, with pancakes. I'm not a fan of pancakes, frankly I just don't get them. But the looked really light and fluffy, and they were. The potatoes, another thing I'm not usually a fan of, were very good. Cubes with onions and green peppers. The only down side was they were room tempature. The service was very good, it's very cute and homey inside. And did i mention? The best corned beef hash I've had in years!!
(5)Chrisa H.
This is THE place for breakfast in Barrington. Not only are they ALWAYS open, they are always friendly and the food is always great. This is a diner in the classic sense of the word. The decor is kitschy, the staff is friendly, and the food always is great. I love the Big Fat Greek Breakfast - the Zorba Omelette is my favorite. Mmmm...feta cheese, spinach, and tomatoes. LOVE! I hear there is a new Eggs Benedict called the Falafel Benedict - so I know where I"m having breakfast this Sunday!
(4)April B.
Took my husband there for breakfast on his birthday - my first time was spectacular. Dont let the quaint diner atmosphere fool you. The food is 5 star all the way! I had a tough time picking from a very unique menu of creative breakfast options. I decided to try the croque Madame French toast. It was awesome! Brie-stuffed French toast with ham and an egg on the top with a drizzle of sweet honey mustard. Really good! My husband had juicy ham (cut off the none) and eggs and pancakes. Very good service by Nora and excellent food.
(5)Courtney W.
This little place is quite a charmer. My father, who lives in Florida, still raves about this place to friends. He fondly remembers it after one visit about eight years ago. The chips that greet you at the table are made in house and are fabulous! My favorite soup of all time is also served here; lemon chicken rice. It is fabulous and always the soup of choice when I'm in town. The menu is pretty extensive and I enjoy something different every time I come in! Sam, the owner, is very nice and friendly and likes to learn every customer's name. The staff is pretty friendly and make great suggestions depending on your mood. I know when my dad visits in a couple of months, this will be the first place on his list!
(4)Daniel G.
I loved this place. The service was great and the food was excellent. The homemade potato chips were incredible.
(5)Lou L.
Great place for fresh standards and innovative twists like Southwest Benedict made with pulled pork, homemade biscuits, hollandaise with a kick and eggs - great! The crepe's are the best I have had in the Chicagoland area. Sam R and his family run a friendly tight ship. Go in a stranger and leave a friend. My favorite breakfast spot in the NW suburbs.
(5)Brendan O.
This place is hidden gem in Barrington. Their skillets are excellent and so are there omlets. They have a lot of unique breakfast dishes for any morning desire. Excellent coffee and I would recommend the chuch wagon skillet to anyone.
(5)Tanya B.
This was the worst breakfast of my life. I was really hoping it would be good because my boyfriend had never been here before and it was my suggestion to come here. It started off ok. The problems started when we got our food. Our waitress was foreign and must have not understood English well because she messed up our order. I asked for 2 of the same kids meals (the chocolate chip pancakes). She only rang up one. When she came over with the food, I asked her about the other meal and she said "Ok I will have them make it right now." She did not return until the pancake was ready. She was basically standing by the kitchen waiting for it for about 8 minutes. This was annoying because we needed other things to enjoy our meals at the time and she was not around to get them for us. I had asked her for another plate so I could split the pancakes that I did have between my girls so they could both start eating while we were waiting. She never brought it. I ended up taking my skillet off the plate so I could do that. My food was incorrect. It was supposed to come with green peppers which is one of my favorite parts and it didn't. This was not the waitresses fault but she didn't come back for 8 minutes so by then the skillet was cold...and I still had to wait for them to heat up the peppers... My boyfriends steak skillet was so peppery that he couldn't eat it. He said he was burping up pepper all day (TMI I know). The chocolate chip pancakes were nasty! I might have stolen a couple of bites... It tasted like they used Aldi brand imitation chocolate chips. It did not even taste like real chocolate. I didn't know that it was possible to mess up something so simple. I WILL NEVER RETURN. It was the waste of a good morning, a waste of $30 and a whole buncha calories... Definitely not worth it.
(1)Dave C.
Love the old diner feel, good home style breakfast!
(4)Frank V.
Service was only issue. Only one waitress working that morning [July 4]. I think management underestimated customer levels, as she was SWAMPED! Not only was food waiting to be delivered while she was taking orders, but she had to handle cashier duties as well. Ham off the bone mixed in scrambled eggs was great. I am from Berwyn and saw there ad in a Chicago newspaper recommendation.
(4)Dan W.
Stopped in here for the first time after driving past it for years. We won't be going back. There were maybe 5 other tables sitting when we sat down, but it took at least 5-7 minutes just for the server to bring us coffee. We ordered basic eggs and bacon/sausage, which came out in 3 minutes, clearly showing that the food is not prepared to order. My wife ate 1 sausage link because they were not good. The bacon was hard and tasted like it was microwaved. The potatoes were cold, oily and soggy. Finally, the entire restaurant smelled like 3 day old garbage. Don't waste your time and money at this place
(1)Sue S.
I've lived in the area for years and pass this place on my way to work every day. I encouraged two of my friends to join me for our 1st adventure there. I'm all for local restaurants, we were expecting amazing, we got much less. The waitress had zero personality. She was slow and even though we were the ONLY people in the place she plopped the pot of coffee on the table so that we could serve ourselves, guessing so that she could focus on playing with her cell phone at the counter. We got an omelette, pancakes and waffles. Definitely not worth the $30 bill. Last but not least, here was an odd sewer smell. I see that other folks have written about that as well. I guess the owner of the restaurant doesn't read their YELP reviews. Sadly, we will not be returning.
(2)Melanie S.
Nothing fancy here, just good, solid, stick-to-your-ribs kinda fare. Sour cherry crepes, ham (right off the bone) and fluffy scrambled eggs, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and strong coffee were all satisfying, if not mind-blowing. They're not reinventing the wheel; it's comfort food in a diner atmosphere. Service is friendly and familiar. Charming place in a quaint part of Barrington. Open for breakfast and lunch only. I can see why the locals love it so.
(3)Katie F.
Food was very good (I want to try a bunch of other things though). Service was pretty friendly and super fast. They do need to do something about the bathrooms though-kinda gross.
(4)Angie V.
Service here is excellent. Fun, friendly atmosphere. 4 stars for being adorable! (And for not being a chain or in a strip mall.) As for the food, well... Ummm... Yeah, my coffee was terrible, blech! But, the menu is inspired. My hubbins ordered the Argentinian benedict and said "it's good, not amazing." He did tear into the perfectly prepared breakfast potatoes, though. I ordered regular eggs benedict and it was kind of lousy and lacking flavor. The eggs were poached beautifully and the Canadian bacon was nice. But, the English muffin was an awful puck (offensive to the rest of the meal, actually). The hollandaise was creamy, but someone forgot to add lemon juice and it was sorely missed. My side of fruit was fresh, ripe, and sweet. I'd return just for the kind treatment and the atmosphere -- but I'd only order the basics off the menu.
(4)Todd P.
Just had a great omelette with some really fresh ingredients. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure my order was just what I asked for. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Keir H.
I would give this place 3-3.5. Service is always friendly and the food is consistently good. It's mainly the basic Greek diner breakfast/lunch with a couple of tasty surprises on the specials. It's small, local, friendly, fast and tasty at good prices: so you won't go wrong here. Also they advertise a pig roast/BBQ they do during the summer that sounds delicious.
(3)Alexis W.
If I could do 3-1/2 stars, I would. Breakfast was good, but I just can't go to 4. This place is obviously a local favorite (complete with regulars who good-naturedly hassle the waitstaff).The dining area is small, so don't come at a peak meal time unless you're prepared to wait. We came for breakfast at 8 am on a Saturday and got a seat, but it filled up. The atmosphere is family-friendly and delightfully (and unpretentiously) small-town. The "canteen" scheme comes complete with dozens of airplanes hanging from the ceiling, which the toddler loved. The BBS crepes (blueberry, banana, strawberry) were generous, although unspectacular. The crepes were fine, and the serving of fruit was surprising. There must have been a whole banana on one crepe, several fresh strawberries on another, and a healthy serving of blueberries on the third. Standard crepes, but the fruit stands up to the price tag. The Argentine Benedict was great - eggs poached to perfection, the homemade Chimichurri sauce was a little spicy. The steaks were perfect, and the potatoes were good but standard. All in all, a good breakfast. The prices may be a little ambitious, but I'll pay a little extra for the friendly waitstaff and comfortable vibe.
(3)Karyn S.
My boyfriend's dad LOVES it here, and brought me here a couple weeks ago. We've eaten there since, and I found the waitress to be nice/friendly, and I love the airplanes! The food was good - I loved the scrambled eggs! My boyfriend's dad loves biscuits and gravy - except he hates the biscuits that are used. He ordered a custom version - that involved English muffins, and they were more than happy to make it - and he thought it was delicious! The food always came out promptly, nice and hot and delicious. I will agree with a previous review, I found the bacon to be slightly overcooked for my taste (I wish it had been like 30 seconds less on the grill). It was still good, but it wasn't my preference. The bacon was fine on my first visit, however.
(4)Tobin h.
It did it's job. Very good but nothing great. Better than the average greek diner but nothing to do the chicken dance for. I'd go back then I'd go back again because the service was near great and the food was above average...but still, did it's job. It is a simple pancake house with simple reviews. go and be happy. It is that kinda place!
(3)Tom F.
We have been going to the Canteen for over 15 years, This family owned and operated restaurant is the best place I have ever had breakfast! We go every Sunday. Their homemade soups and sandwiches are great! Try the BBQ or corned beef with their homemade potato chips, The best!!!
(5)Lily R.
Place was very friendly with a nice assortment of breakfast and lunch items. Staff is really nice and accommodating. There was a stale smell that kinda gave me a nauseous feeling, and was a lot stronger in the basement where the restrooms are at. Add some bleach or Mr. clean to your mop and that may help that smell. Great food and staff, will return some day soon.
(4)Dallas T.
Here's a charming little cottage turned restaurant on 59 in Barrington serving your typical Greek style family breakfast and lunch menu items... We didn't plan to eat here, it was just a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing, because we were hungry and the Canteen was right there (right here). The place was busy and we struggled for parking and waited for a table. Once seated, the service was decent as was the food (the staff are well rehearsed and friendly with customers, and service is routine, and so is the food)... I imagine I'll come again on the spur-of-the-moment.
(3)Drew K.
Visited on a Sunday just after noon. Service was immediate and friendly. The temperature was quite warm inside, possibly they were having issues with the a/c. There was a large selection of breakfast and lunch items - eggs, pancakes, sandwiches. I had the ham and eggs. The portions were good, but both the eggs and the potatoes tasted a little "off," a bit like the cooking oil was turning rancid. It's a good place for conversation over food as there is not overly much background noise. The prices are very reasonable. I might visit again if in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back.
(2)Jay K.
Very cool place for breakfast if your in the area. Model airplanes are hanging from the ceiling and they have a tiny U shaped counter if you like. Maybe 8 booths and as many tables. Good friendly service. For lunch I'm going to Baloneys.
(4)Krista S.
This is a family friendly 1940s diner. Our son loved the model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and I loved the old movie posters! Stick with the classics, ham and eggs and the french toast were amazing! The service was great and the food came out fast and hot which is great when you have little ones waiting to eat. We will definitely go back to Canteen.
(4)Sarah M.
So I finally went to the Canteen, after forgetting about it for nigh on 15 years. It is a cute little divey kitchy Greeky diner in downtown-ish Barrington. We went there for break-lunch some random day during the week. Coffee is good, food is decent, and prices are moderate. Was I bowled over? No, but I also wasn't expecting to be. I honestly can't even remember what I ordered, but I know everyone in my group was happy with our meals. If you're in the area and aren't feelin' Egg Harbor, then head over to Canteen - they may just surprise you!
(3)Angela P.
When I was a kid, we'd drive past the Canteen every weekend that we'd go to visit my grandpa. It was a one-hour drive, and I got to know how close we were to grandpa's by the landmarks along the way. Seeing the Canteen meant we were in downtown Barrington, and no, we were not there yet. My dad used to beg my mom to come here, but she'd cringe at the dingy exterior. Since I was a kid, I was more interested in stopping at McDonald's for a happy meal. And, like most things, I agreed with my mom on this one. My first visit to the Canteen was today - with my mom, of all people! We stopped on our way to Volo Antique Mall for brunch. My dad, I hear, is totally jealous. I couldn't decide between breakfast or lunch, and lunch usually wins when there's a creamy soup on the menu. I had the chicken swiss melt with a side of cream of chicken rice soup. The soup was disappointing. It was very creamy and lemony, but there wasn't any chicken and hardly any rice. And since I'm trying to watch my weight, and what I eat, cream soup was an indulgence. So, I was pissed that I wasted calories on it! My sandwich was just okay, and it was a little bland. The chicken could have used some seasoning. And, not that I needed it, but I was surprised that the sandwiches came with fries, soup or salad, instead of the fries and soup. My mom had the taffy apple waffle and kept talking about how good it was until we reached Volo. The waffle appeared homemade, no frozen business here, and the apples were gooey, covered with cinnamon and caramel. The waffle was also topped with pecans and caramel syrup. I can confidently say that the waffles here are worthwhile, as my mom was very happy with her breakfast. As for me, I should've gotten the frittata. Probably more healthy, and breakfast seems to be more of a specialty. We received great service. My mom had a question about the banana pancakes (are they in the batter or on top?), and the waitress very quickly asked someone in the kitchen. The Canteen is a very tiny restaurant, with about 14 tables and a counter with stools. There were old movie posters on the wall, and my mom couldn't stop complaining that the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" poster didn't fit in. I couldn't help but agree. That, and the random Reebok hockey stick. It smelled a bit musty inside as well. And when I headed to the bathroom, I had to walk down a long staircase. There is no way to get to the bathroom if you use a wheelchair, and it'll still be difficult if you use a walker or cane. So if you're wheelchair-bound, you might have to hold it til you can get elsewhere. I'd go back for breakfast, but I don't recommend the lunch menu.
(3)Jelena Z.
My lovely dalliance with the Canteen started with an enthusiastic recommendation from the beautiful Brett D and one hungover phone call on New Year's Day: Me: You're open today? He: OF COURSE we're open! Done and done. We arrived to a full parking lot, a bustling restaurant and a hearty welcome from the same man who had answered the phone. We were situated in a big ol' booth made for sprawling (love!) and quickly took to the books, err menus, before us. I made a decision based on a combination of gut reaction and survival necessity: The Croque Madame French Toast. As it turns out, a Croque Madame tailored for breakfast is every bit as decadent as my 'bad girl' lunch staple (check out my photo - isn't she pretty?). I couldn't resist complementing my savory selection with a sweet side so I added a pancake for a nominal fee. This is what last suppers are made of! NomNOMnomNoMnoM. Canteen's decor is very homey - think old movie posters and historic photos from a younger Barrington. Also on the menu's honorable mention list: Falafel eggs Benedict and sour cherry crepes!
(4)Brett F.
Canteen, serving Barrington since the 1940's, yo. That kind of longevity can only mean one of two things: a) there is no other breakfast restaurant available in the town of Barrington, or, b) Canteen is doing something and doing it well for more than 60+ years. Kudos! I can tell you this... it's definitely one of my favorite brunch stop-ins. From the ultra small - but cozy - dining room, the familiar smiling faces always there every time I stop in, to the consistently tasty and fully stocked menu, this is a family affair operation and they just get. it. right. Mix Greek brekkie favs like feta-laced Omelettes and piled-high sandwiches on greek toast with nom worthy Bananas Foster Crepes, Pecan Belgian Waffles and crazy delicious Taffy Apple French Toast for a truly well-rounded morning marathon of all things mouthwatering. Excusez moi, is it hot in here or is it just me? A down home atmosphere, attentive service and endless piping hot coffee are all just as dependable as the Canteen itself. You know what's really tasty? Consistency.
(4)Nicole G.
After several years staying away because I thought the breakfast was too greasy, we ended up here and I am glad we did. The food was phenomenal. Not greasy at all. We did have to wait but it was Sunday morning. The crowds made the restaurant extremely loud which I do not like. And the wait was substantial to get our order in. But we could see our waitress was hurrying around with a 10-person party. She was courteous and very upbeat for the amount of running around. Had the French toast which was awesome. C had a ham and cheese inlet which was fluffy and delicious. I stole his potatoes which were great too. Atmosphere was eclectic and entertaining. Will go back.
(5)Rose D.
I could have swore I wrote a review for this place but as it seems to have disappeared I shall remedy the situation! I love Greek diners for breakfast & lunch. The Canteen Restaurant is just a tiny little place but the the menu & food is so very good. We've only been here once so I will reserve a higher star rating for a future visit. There were so many delicious sounding things on the menu we definitely will be coming back to try more! The only reason I'm not giving them 4 stars right off the bat is because of the service. Yes, it is a small restaurant but they get busy & there were only 3 servers working the dining room. We were there on a weekend morning, a typically busy time for any breakfast place, so I think they would have been better off having at least one more server. Perhaps someone called out for the day. Either way we waiting very long time to place our order and the only time our server came back was to drop off the bill & get us a box. Actually, I believe one of the bus boys brought us the box. But I won't let this one time deter us for a return visit. As I said the menu looks great & we have more things we want to try!
(3)Ryan B.
I've driven by this place a thousand times and always wanted stop in, so I did. Not sure if it's always like this, but the second I walked through the door I smelled a sewer-like odor. My guess is that it was coming from the bathrooms downstairs. The place had a very dated, hadn't-been-cleaned-since-1953 smell to it. Our waitress was very kind, but forgot a lot of stuff. The food wasn't too bad, but I couldn't enjoy it because I was grossed out by the smell of the place. My wife loved her breakfast, however. Don't think I'll be going back though. Has tons of potential...just clean the place up!
(2)Doug A.
This review only pertains to breakfast. First off the coffee is delicious. I hate when breakfast places try to have some special coffee. Just a good black coffee is all you need in the AM. Breakfast is good here. It seems people either love the place or hate it. The owner is always at the door to greet you when you walk in and seat you. The decor is funky, I'm not really sure what the theme is supposed to be. The ham off the bone is absolutely defuckinglicious. I could eat it for 3 meals a day. The eggs are always cooked the way you want them. The potatos are good. I've had the gyro skillet which was very good too, although it wasn't the gyro meat off the spit.. It's a breakfast place. They do a good breakfast. That's all you get. They also do bbq on Thursdays nights. Haven't been, but I will soon go.
(4)Darci S.
I was underwhelmed by the Canteen. My husband works nearby and I was looking for someplace new to try for lunch. Its definitely a unique place with a homey feel. Our lunches were fine, don't get me wrong, but nothing I'll be running back for. Service was good and attentive. Perhaps we should have tried breakfast entrees, it seems like that is the preferred food here. Probably won't go back but it wasn't bad either.
(3)Yaneck W.
very nice diner in Barrington!
(4)Sherwin C.
Interesting restaurant. While it's not the best in texture or taste of the local restaurants they do offer many unique items (frittata, savory crepes, croque madame, etc.) that other places don't. In fact, it's really difficult to find many of these items outside of the city. The prices are good and many of the items are special homemade versions so they taste different from other restaurants. Because of its uniqueness it's worth a visit if you live in the area.
(4)Mark B.
We had the worst lunch we've had in a long time at Canteen last weekend. While the interior is very quaint , I was completely turned off by the food that came to our table. When it finally got to our table. I ordered a caprese panini, tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella with the unique twist of being grilled on greek bread. Our waitress was young and seemed confused, nearly shell-shocked, by everything that was going on around her. When the food finally arrived after far too long a wait, my sandwich was cold. The "Grilled" part was several sad, slightly beige lines that had been pressed into the bread by the panini press. Clearly not long enough to actually toast the bread. The sandwich filling (basil, tomato and buffalo mozz) looked a little light, so I opened the sandwich up (see photo). I had a couple slices of tomato, along with an end piece, 3 petite leaves of basil that didn't look all that appetizing and several clumps of melted mozzarella cheese (not buffalo mozzarella). On tasting it, this turned out to be a truly disgusting sandwich. The kitchen staff should be repremanded and the owner should be ashamed for letting that kind of food even be presented to a customer. Wrong ingredients, skimpy ingredients, cooked wrong, served slow and cold. We have had breakfast at Canteen before as well, but frankly it was nothing to write home about. This visit seals it. We will not be back to Canteen. Instead, I recommend the likes of Egg Harbor, McGonagles pub or Ambrosia etc.. for your next breakfast or lunch outting in Barrington.
(1)Will C.
Cool vibe, cheery wait staff, good food at a fair price. Nothing extraordinary, but darned good. I'll be sure to go back. Good lunch samiches. : )
(4)jan l.
Had breakfast here today. I've been on the hunt for fresh corned beef hash, and due to reviews on here we went. It's so very delicious! Fresh, crispy, lots of beef. We'll be back. We ordered very basic food. My husband had the ham off the bone and two over medium eggs, with pancakes. I'm not a fan of pancakes, frankly I just don't get them. But the looked really light and fluffy, and they were. The potatoes, another thing I'm not usually a fan of, were very good. Cubes with onions and green peppers. The only down side was they were room tempature. The service was very good, it's very cute and homey inside. And did i mention? The best corned beef hash I've had in years!!
(5)Chrisa H.
This is THE place for breakfast in Barrington. Not only are they ALWAYS open, they are always friendly and the food is always great. This is a diner in the classic sense of the word. The decor is kitschy, the staff is friendly, and the food always is great. I love the Big Fat Greek Breakfast - the Zorba Omelette is my favorite. Mmmm...feta cheese, spinach, and tomatoes. LOVE! I hear there is a new Eggs Benedict called the Falafel Benedict - so I know where I"m having breakfast this Sunday!
(4)April B.
Took my husband there for breakfast on his birthday - my first time was spectacular. Dont let the quaint diner atmosphere fool you. The food is 5 star all the way! I had a tough time picking from a very unique menu of creative breakfast options. I decided to try the croque Madame French toast. It was awesome! Brie-stuffed French toast with ham and an egg on the top with a drizzle of sweet honey mustard. Really good! My husband had juicy ham (cut off the none) and eggs and pancakes. Very good service by Nora and excellent food.
(5)Courtney W.
This little place is quite a charmer. My father, who lives in Florida, still raves about this place to friends. He fondly remembers it after one visit about eight years ago. The chips that greet you at the table are made in house and are fabulous! My favorite soup of all time is also served here; lemon chicken rice. It is fabulous and always the soup of choice when I'm in town. The menu is pretty extensive and I enjoy something different every time I come in! Sam, the owner, is very nice and friendly and likes to learn every customer's name. The staff is pretty friendly and make great suggestions depending on your mood. I know when my dad visits in a couple of months, this will be the first place on his list!
(4)Daniel G.
I loved this place. The service was great and the food was excellent. The homemade potato chips were incredible.
(5)Lou L.
Great place for fresh standards and innovative twists like Southwest Benedict made with pulled pork, homemade biscuits, hollandaise with a kick and eggs - great! The crepe's are the best I have had in the Chicagoland area. Sam R and his family run a friendly tight ship. Go in a stranger and leave a friend. My favorite breakfast spot in the NW suburbs.
(5)Tanya B.
This was the worst breakfast of my life. I was really hoping it would be good because my boyfriend had never been here before and it was my suggestion to come here. It started off ok. The problems started when we got our food. Our waitress was foreign and must have not understood English well because she messed up our order. I asked for 2 of the same kids meals (the chocolate chip pancakes). She only rang up one. When she came over with the food, I asked her about the other meal and she said "Ok I will have them make it right now." She did not return until the pancake was ready. She was basically standing by the kitchen waiting for it for about 8 minutes. This was annoying because we needed other things to enjoy our meals at the time and she was not around to get them for us. I had asked her for another plate so I could split the pancakes that I did have between my girls so they could both start eating while we were waiting. She never brought it. I ended up taking my skillet off the plate so I could do that. My food was incorrect. It was supposed to come with green peppers which is one of my favorite parts and it didn't. This was not the waitresses fault but she didn't come back for 8 minutes so by then the skillet was cold...and I still had to wait for them to heat up the peppers... My boyfriends steak skillet was so peppery that he couldn't eat it. He said he was burping up pepper all day (TMI I know). The chocolate chip pancakes were nasty! I might have stolen a couple of bites... It tasted like they used Aldi brand imitation chocolate chips. It did not even taste like real chocolate. I didn't know that it was possible to mess up something so simple. I WILL NEVER RETURN. It was the waste of a good morning, a waste of $30 and a whole buncha calories... Definitely not worth it.
(1)Dave C.
Love the old diner feel, good home style breakfast!
(4)Brendan O.
This place is hidden gem in Barrington. Their skillets are excellent and so are there omlets. They have a lot of unique breakfast dishes for any morning desire. Excellent coffee and I would recommend the chuch wagon skillet to anyone.
(5)Candice M.
Great breakfast place. They did change their potatoes to be a bit more "Greek" but that I can deal with. It's a pretty typical breakfast place. That's the one thing that downtown Barrington seems to have in abundance. I've never had any problems with service or the food. On Saturday/Sunday mornings there might be a wait, but it's worth it. I love their skillets. Definitely give it a try.
(4)Scott F.
Solid breakfast, need a better bathroom, kind of scary downstairs!
(3)Jerrod B.
I love steak and eggs at greek restaurants. This place seemed to boast their skirt steak. Steak was okay, but I've had much better at similar restaurants. Pool of butter on eggs and the crust on my toast flaked like it was old. The coffee was indeed good like the other posts say.
(3)Tony P.
This is a great breakfast place with all the popular places popping up all over the place, this place is just the quintessential breakfast joint. They offer a full menu although I must admit I always order breakfast. From savory/sweet crepes, frittatas, awesome skillets and enormous omelets. This past weekend I ordered scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon crepe with Hollandaise Sauce. I think the sauce is great. Maybe a little thicker than you are used to but it is nice that it is not runny. My old man always gets the Gypsy Skillet which is his absolute favorite. Of course they do the old classics as well but will also put a new twist on them if you are open to it. We have been meeting here for breakfast for years. It's a great restaurant to even drive out of the way for, no matter where you live. The staff is friendly and the owner is like the greek uncle you never had but always wanted!
(4)Keith Z.
Food was good. Although to took forever for the kitchen to prepare it. Our server was most bizarre - she was snappy and curt with poor people skills.
(2)Adam H.
We tried this place based on a recommendation to celebrate a day off and found the right spot. The decor was very cool and unexpected, and made me want to assemble a model airplane. We came at an off hour so it was relatively empty which is nice from time to time. Everyone was friendly and humorous and completed the experience. The food was delicious and the plates that other people ordered looked amazing as well. We will definitely return when we get the opportunity!
(4)J G.
We shared 2 different chicken wraps, both were great, lemon chicken soup was excellent, tasty fresh cut fries. Nice local diner, we'll be back
(4)Dana H.
This place is good. It goes slightly beyond basic (with crepes and eggs benedict on a felafel). What I like is that their product is good, they make things that taste good and they are always friendly.
(4)Franklin D.
Cool model airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Dining area looked kind of small, probably because it was packed with people. Real nice greek guys running things...the whole menu had a "big fat greek xxx" theme going, like "big fat greek omelette", etc. Pretty funny. My son had the chocolate chip pancakes. There were two gigantic pancakes and lots of chocolate chips even though it was a $3.50 kids plate. I had hash, eggs, potatoes, and rye toast for $7. Not bad. NOTE: The restrooms are in the basement down some steep stairs. Also the parking lot was small but we found street parking easily (Sunday, 9AM-ish). Might be harder to park on other days.
(4)Luke S.
Epitome of old style dinner....food as fresh. Service was efficient....not necessarily friendly
(4)Amy R.
Very good food and the owner is always nice. Great place to eat-but call ahead as they have sporatic hours(mostly daytime).
(4)Damian S.
A great place to go when you want some "down home" kind of cooking. Today I had the Hawaii-5-0 Frittata (bacon, cheese, pineapple, and ham on an open-faced omelette), which also comes with a plate of fried potatoes and your choice of pancakes, toast or something else. I chose the pancakes. The servings sizes were more that adequate for one person, and it was a tasty, filling brunch after "teaching" finals for the day. The only negative about the whole thing was the potatoes...they were a little burnt and crispy for my taste. That, and did they switch to Pepsi, or did they always have it? One of my favorites for non-breakfast visits is the chicken, rice and lemon soup. It is so silky and flavorful! It goes with all of their meals very well, with the exception of a breakfast or I would've gotten it today. The seating is typical diner-ish, with booths for four all around the perimeter and about 16 four-person tables (the kind that comfortably seat two) in the center. Never really been crowded, as it looks a lot smaller form the outside, and is a best-kept secret of the Barrington food arena. Although they're really neat, don't look too closely at the model planes, or you'll wonder when the last time a total vacuuming of the place was performed. The food more than makes up for the decor, and the managers and staff have always been very friendly, yet not overbearing while you're eating. It's a great little locally owned restaurant.
(4)Nathan S.
We were driving through Barrington when my wife spotted a small sign that said, "Falafel Benedict." This was odd enough to cause us to turn the car around and grab a late breakfast. While we didn't actually try the falafel, we did find a large and varied menu to choose from, which is a bit rare in restaurants around here. My wife ordered the eggs Florentine and I just had to try the home made corned beef hash (a weakness of mine). The food was okay, but nothing spectacular. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly, but the hash and the potatoes were very dry. My wife's dish was similar in that the eggs were quite good but the potatoes dry, and the hollandaise was not quite right. I will say that the coffee was excellent. The food was certainly good enough for us to go back and try again, but they need to hone their craft a bit more when it comes to the breakfast staples. Bad potatoes point to a lazy kitchen, as fried potatoes are easy enough to cook that the kitchen staff must not be paying enough attention to their work. This makes me wonder how good the rest of the food will be. The food was certainly good enough to warrant another go, as was the atmosphere of the restaurant. I will update when I try it again.
(3)Luna M.
Have only been here for breakfast. The coffee is good and the pancakes are great. The kids devour them. It's an old school type of place - not fussy or fancy - which is fine by us. Service is fairly fast and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Rich W.
My brother and I went to lunch there the week of Christmas this past year. He is an international business traveler and isn't around much, but he was on semi-vacation Christmas week. He suggested we meet at the Canteen. I kind of enjoyed the atmosphere, especially since I'm am an airplane nut. The owner (?) was a very jovial guy and greeted me like we were old friends when I came in. I ordered a cup of coffee and studied the very extensive (typical of Greek owned restaurants) menu and had decided on a "breakfast" entree, by the time my brother arrived. I had one of their "skillet" dishes. It was pretty good, but not as good as the similar offering at Papa G's in Huntley, a favorite breakfast stop on the days that my "Thursday lunch-buddy" and I are Operations dept. volunteers at the Illinois Railway Museum. Anyway, back to the Canteen. My brother also had a "breakfast" entree, and said that is what he usually has when he and his family go there. The service was excellent. The only negative, as someone else mentioned was the location of the washrooms, down a narrow stairway to the basement. I'll give it another try, and have a different entree sometime soon, and possibly revise the average rating that i gave it.
(3)Zhong Y.
Lunch was underwhelming, which is another case of a restaurant whose promising exterior fails to deliver. Menu was unimpressive, matched by preparation and length of wait between order and service and post-service check-in. Pass!
(2)Andrea R.
I could eat here every weekend and not exhaust the delicious options on the menu. We've been for both breakfast and lunch. The ham is absolutely amazing; I've never tasted ham so good. The homemade potato chips are my boyfriend's favorite. Their specials are always delicious, too. It's charming and at a great price.
(5)Judy T.
We've been there several times over the years and mostly we've enjoyed it. This time I ordered the corned beef hash & eggs and the corned beef was the real thing, I guess, not the canned version. It was a roasted corned beef all chopped up. Now I realize this is the REAL version but I hate to say it but it made me think I was eating leftovers from St. Patrick's day last week. I had the regular canned version of corned beef there before so I thought I knew what to expect. I'm sure it wasn't leftovers.
(2)