I have only been here one time but I had the 49er pancakes, they were sooooooo good. That's all.
(4)
Liberty F.
The Lou Malnati's of breakfast! Simply the best breakfast around -- yummy huge omelets, pancakes, eggs benedict -- yummy food and good coffee. Only complaint is they often make you feel rushed by bringing the check too early and often forget to refill your water, even when you ask them. 30-Aug-2013 update: they just raised prices about $2 on most items like omelets, etc. :( At least the quality is still high, however.
(5)
Mathew K.
This is a great breakfast place. Almost everything is done well. The detractors are that it can get pretty busy, the service is average and it is pretty expensive. It is a nice treat for breakfast though.
(3)
Justin W.
Great atmosphere and food (gotta love the apple pancake and good luck if you finish it!), but I have to knock it down to three stars. Every time I eat pancakes there I get a godawful stomachache due to the insane level of carbs consumed. It makes me feel disgustingly lethargic and I cannot bring myself to do any physical activity until I have let the glucose levels in my system drop back down to normal.. I switched to omelets and I haven't had that same disgusting and lazy feeling.
(3)
David G.
a perfect restaurant. perfect food. perfect service. perfect decor. why eat breafast anywhere else? and real fresh squeezed orange juice that is the elixer of the gods.
(5)
Kelly D.
Every location is consistently delicious every time. 49ers are to die for. Amazing place to take the kids.
(5)
Bon J.
Solid place for food. It's a chain but a better one at that. Nothing bad, nothing great, decent prices, decent staff. You can't go wrong here as long as you don't have very high expectations.
(3)
Abi T.
Good coffee, pancakes you can't believe, and these huge oven-baked omelettes stuffed with veggies. There really isn't much more to say. The perfect pancake house!
(5)
Junie D.
Inconsistent food and service made me stop patronizing this location
(1)
Gary D.
Food at any Walker Bros is fantastic. It cannot be beat by breakfast place. The only complaint I have was a woman with a screeching baby a couple of weeks ago. The noise that child made causes nausea. They should been asked to leave but were not.
(5)
Gregg L.
It was all tasty: When we first drove up, the parking lot was empty. On a Sunday. We were worried. Either the food wasn't really that good, or they were closed due to the impending bad weather. Fortunately, it was just the afternoon lull in business. Our small group was led to our table, and our server, Tyler, was more than happy to give us his full attention. We all ordered different things from the menu, from the "Dutch Baby" (my sister's favorite), to Crepes (my friend said they were really good), to the Spinach Omelette [sic] (I did not go away hungry!). Everything was tasty, and we ate well for a fair price. Tyler's service was impeccable, and we went away quite satisfied with our dinner. Upon leaving, Tyler thanked us for coming and told us we were a fun group. Unfortunately our pictures got lost. :-(
(4)
Spencer H.
When I think of Walker Bros. Pancake House I think of the head honchos of breakfast restaurants. However my recent trip here was good but not great. We arrived around 9:30 A.M. & there was no line & we were seated in a booth so it already made the experience that much better. We started off with coffee. The coffee was good but they didn't have any flavored creamers which was not a big deal & did not hurt my experience but it would be something to offer. For breakfast I ordered the Eggs Benedict with beef patty substitute & a side of corned beef hash. The food came out after about 10 minutes which was very fast. The eggs benedict was not the best that I have had at Walker Bros. The hollandaise sauce was not as tasty as usual. The corned beef has was just ok. It was a little bit over cooked. The restaurant was clean & the staff here was very nice & attentive. They do charge a premium because it is a nice breakfast restaurant but this time I felt that the food could have been better. Overall the food was ok & the service was good.
(3)
Katie H.
Yeah this is a chain restaurant but that APPLE PANCAKE though...ooey gooey apples and cinnamon baked in a bubbly hot dough? How can you not like it? What's even better is that you can take one to go and bake it in the comfort of your own home and savor all of that in your PJs. Also, hashbrowns with pico de gallo and melted Habanero cheese? Great combination! This place definitely had an Ihop or Denny's feel to it but I'd choose it over those other places any day.
(3)
Kathy S.
One of the worst breakfast place in the area! Terrible service and really bad omelettes. Never again!!!
(1)
Michele B.
I really do love the apple pancake with all its ooooey goooey butter and cinnamon on it, but the service both times I have been here was lacking to say the least. My one pet peeve is if I am paying $2.95 for a cup of coffee, it should be hot and refiled at least once. Also a fork and knife would have been helpful. OK so maybe I am being picky, the guy could have been having a bad day, but if you have to ask twice, sorry dude, you need to find another place to work. They get 3 stars for the pancake or it would have been zero.
(3)
Angela T.
Food was great. Service was terrible. Hostess and waitress were on their phone the whole time. We could not get waitresses attention to get a box because she was texting. And theb we stood in front of the hostess for a couple minutes trying to pay the bill, before she even saw us standing there because she was texting. And then proceeded to use her phone while she rung us up. Rude. Grow up.
Hmm.. maybe I'm just having a bad luck here or maybe something has changed. The Dutch baby pancake here is not fluffy again...most of the stuff sank to the bottom. This could be due to the dutch baby not being served right away. I thought this branch also served fewer Swedish pancakes. That was a bit disappointing. Eggs Venetian is the bomb here. Service was good when we came here. The waitress was pretty attentive and refilled my coffee often. That was really nice.
(3)
Stef T.
Very typical Walker Bros chain restaurant. Everything you would expect from a breakfast joint.. Lots of egg scrambler and omelet options, all sorts of pancakes and waffles. Mediocre but reasonably priced.
(3)
Kristina C.
Just stop with the five stars, this place is seriously lacking on customer service to even be considered in the four star range let alone five. You won't get a server with a smile here. You also won't get your food at consistent temperature if ordering in a group. I once suggested to the manager they try using a tray to carry all the orders out versus one by one. We literally had a more than 8 minute time gap from when the first person received their meal and the last. The sad part is that we were a party of four. The manager said the owner won't allow trays. Really?!? For the sake of the customer alone that should be allowed, let alone their staff. I have to admit I love their potato pancakes and bacon which is why they are getting two stars. Their portions are large, but that should be expected in a breakfast place in the Chicago area, I would be surprised if they weren't. Their chocolate pancakes are a favorite, too. It kills me, I want so badly to like this place, I love breakfast. But, I cannot get past the service. And, honestly, it's pretty easy to succeed at breakfast food, I think they get more credit than deserved.
(2)
Kyle M.
Came here for a late breakfast today. Decided to go with the Venetian Eggs Benedict, with a side of potato pancakes. My only complaint is that the portion was a little small for my liking, but on Sunday mornings I usually devour up my food like a garbage disposal would, so I can't complain too much. A person with a normal appetite would be more then satisfied. The spinach mushroom pico combo on the Benedict was delicious. Their coffee here is also pretty great!!! #FiveStarForWhat
(5)
Steve M.
I feel that I should write an update of this location since I have come here so many times now. I typically come here on a Saturday or Sunday for breakfast. If I take a day off work I will stop by in the middle of the week. I love the buttermilk pancakes but the real treat is the apple pancake. I usually start off with their coffee. There's something about their coffee that makes it outstanding. If I feel hungrier than normal I will get their spicy hash brown potatoes and bacon on the side. They also have a combination plate that includes two eggs, hash brown potatoes, three pancakes and a small glass of orange juice. The staff here is really good and very attentive to the customer. The service is always fast and efficient. It seems as soon as you are seated the staff is bringing out your silverware and glasses of water. They immediately ask if you want coffee, tea or juice. It seams as though as soon as you place your order the food is on it's way out but not if you order the apple pancake as that will take time to bake. If you do decide to order the apple pancake, let your server know right away so you don't wate too long. If you get here early you can beat the crowd. This is key if you are hungry. If you get up later then you will typically wait in line but it's usually not too long of a wait.
(5)
Laura M.
Baked apple pancake was good. But my husband's Santa Fe omelette was hands down the best vegetarian omelette either of us have ever had.
(4)
Kyle D.
The good: Long line but actually didn't have to wait too long. Service was fast and friendly. Place has an interesting atmosphere that is family friendly and lively. The menu is vast and has tons of options and the food was great. Huge portion sizes too. The bad: Not much actually, just doesn't warrant 5 stars to me. I'm hard to please for 5 stars :). Overall: A very solid brunch option. I'm usually picky about chains, but it was definitely a good experience. Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 9/10
(4)
Michael S.
Ate at this restaurant numerous times, always at breakfast. Generally very good. Love the thick sliced bacon!
(4)
Ana E.
Horrible experience at this restaurant. First of all the wait staff unfriendly and rude, but the worst thing was the food. Raw pancake batter inside the pacakes, raw hash brown, uncooked eggs, and a long hair not on top but inside the crepes. I thought that because of courtesy the crepes with the hair and raw pancakes wouldn't be charged and they were. Never ever going back to that restaurant!!
(1)
Donna C.
I have always enjoyed this place because the food is consistent in taste and quality. My only knock is that they don't chop their omelet veggies and you are stuck with hunks that don't cook correctly but all in all, it is a yummy omelet. I had the chipotle chicken crepe that had a great taste but could have used a little more chicken and less pepper slices. But I would get it again because the blend of all the ingredients yielded one delicious product. The challah French toast was a perfect and very tasty, Our server was pleasant and efficient.
(4)
Cathy G.
I have been going to Walker Brothers since I was a teen since I happened to live near one of their original locations. I have to say I am not a huge fan of the famous Apple Pancake since sweets aren't really my thing, but if they were it seems like that entree would be amazing. To me it was like eating a whole coffee cake, could not do it! On the savory side, though, you cannot beat the egg dishes served at Walkers. Basted eggs are divine as is their entire selection of eggs and breakfast meats. One thing that is different than most breakfast restaurants is that you don't get hash browns with your entree, though you can order them and they are excellent and are offered with cheese, onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, etc. I like the Lake Zurich location and have always been satisfied with their service and food. Lately I have converted to low carb and can no longer eat their excellent pancakes and hash browns, so I tried the Santa Fe Omelet. The Waiter said good choice and he was definitely not wrong. Honestly one of the best omelets I've ever eaten though I would have killed for the accompanying pancakes which were sitting in front of me dripping with butter and syrup. Regardless, not too spicy though certainly spicy enough, this omelet knocked out out of the park. This is my new go to entree at Walkers, it's amazing.
(5)
Chris S.
The food here is always great and the atmosphere is really nice. My only complaint is the service. We have had several experiences where our server clearly hated their job. I'm also disturbed by the 'race line' between servers and busboys. Servers are almost always white. Busboys almost exclusively Hispanic. Why??
(3)
Har M.
Great place for weekend brunches. I am a regular here and enjoy their omelettes & pancakes. Always good service (not always the friendliest but efficient).
(4)
Kim G.
Large restaurant in Lake Zurich. Chain, but food doesn't taste like chain food. Bacon is delicious. My husband said the sausage wasn't good. Kids got chocolate chip pancakes (good!) and French toast (also good)! Service was quick and waitress was friendly.
(5)
Elle N.
Terrible decor (unless you're a grandma) & they don't care much for their customers. I ordered one of their omelettes and they come with 2 pancakes. I asked to substitute the pancakes with hash browns and they refused (unless I paid extra, of course). The pancakes and the hash browns cost the restaurant roughly the same price - so why can't the customer decide to have one instead of the other? Especially when hash browns are the standard side with eggs at every other breakfast restaurant in the world. Terrible customer service. Also, I asked to add green peppers to my omelette and while they charged me for this on my bill they didn't actually ever add them to my omelette.
(1)
Kim L.
The food and wait staff is excellent. The only problem I have with the place is the management. I have heard horrible things about the Manager Mike and how disrespectful and verbally abusive he is to his staff.
(3)
Ron B.
Good food and nice atmosphere. I always get the Lox Platter and my wife pancakes. If you go later in the morning it is not as crowed.
(5)
Luna M.
I can eat breakfast anytime of the day, but you can't beat going to Walker Brother's Pancake House (either Lake Zurich or Lincolnshire). Love everything from Pancakes to their Spinach Crepes. Their service varies upon how attentive the servers are. I leave there happier if I knew that the server checked on whether I had enough hot water for my 'hot tea' or coffee for my husband. Especially love the decor.
(5)
Caroline P.
Call ahead a day or so I'd you have a big group. They don't have reservations, but they will know you are coming and will put tables aside for you. I've been going to this Walker brothers for over five years now. After moving to California I really miss this place! When I was back in town for the holidays, I got to go back with a very large group of my family. Their gluten free menu is amazing! They have expanded it so much since I left. There are two pages of choices including waffles and pancakes, all made on dedicated equipment to reduce cross contamination. Our group received great service, and the foods was as fantastic add usual. I will keep my fingers crossed for a gluten free apple pancake in the future!
(5)
Phil A.
First time here. My son cleaned his plate which says a lot , Coffee was decent which is important to me. The omelette was good. Staff was very friendly so I would come back.
(4)
Katie M.
Huge portions, reasonable prices and good service. If I lived in Lake Zurich, I would definitely be a regular here! My husband ordered the Sante Fe omelette which is also served with three pancakes. My husband is a big eater, but can't throw back a huge omelette and 3 pancakes, so I skipped ordering something for myself and just ate his pancakes. The hubs loved his super spicy omelette and my upgrade from regular pancakes to blueberry pancakes was definitely worth the $.95 charge...they were delicious. Looking forward to our next visit to Lake Zurich so we can indulge in another brunch at Walker Bros.
(4)
Jer J.
The service here is terrible. There is no sense of urgency among the wait staff, and the odds are 50:50 as to whether the order is accurate. I've waited as long as half an hour after being seated for a member of the wait staff to introduce themselves. With a long line for Sunday brunch, they were seating people from the back of the line first, making families with children and elderly people wait. On a positive, the food is delicious and the portions are good sized. Just can't get past the lousy service, so I can't possibly recommend this place to anyone.
(2)
Michelle F.
I have got to say, I agree with my fellow Yelpers when they say that the customer service can be quite rude... I arrive around 8:30 on a very snowy morning. There was no line, and the place was maybe filled up about halfway. While I waited for my fellow nomming companions, I took a look around. very nice interior, cozy, and warm, which is exactly what I needed on this day! When we first saw our waitress, she was very nice and efficient. Then after that...not so much... After my friends arrived, we ordered (veggie omelette) and a side of pancakes. Most other breakfast places also have hash browns come with this kind of meal, but not this place. You have to add those on. I opted out this time. But for my omelette to be egg whites, the waitress told me it would be an extra 20 minutes, and she didn't recommend that... Ooook, so basically I ordered scrambled eggs with veggies. This does not an omelette make... But I upgraded the pancakes to their special of pumpkin pancakes. These were honestly the best part of my meal. The aformentioned "scrambled eggs" were just ok. but the pancakes had a nice flavor. Not too bad. Another strange thing was, our food came out in waves. My friend and I got our "omelettes", my friend got her food, and then our fourth companion got her side order of bacon, but not her french toast. She had to wait about 10 minutes for that, but the rest of us just sat there because she didn't have her food and we didn't want to be rude. But about 4 seconds after the food was plunked down in front of us, our waitress slapped the bill on the table, said "thanks for coming" and then left, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN. No refills, no ketchup, no "how was the food". Nothing. Ummm...thanks. So yes, come to this place if you want mediocre food, and to feel very rushed while eating cold food since you had to wait on your friends' food to be done. Oh, and the line was out the door by the time we left at 9:30.
(2)
Brittany Q.
Went here for lunch with a few friends. The place was packed but we were seated quickly. I just had soup and salad so I can't speak to the breakfast menu. Portions were lunch appropriate and the prices were fair. I would come back to here to try breakfast.
(3)
Kim G.
Absolutely worth the wait! We both had omelets, asparagus garden and spinach and cheese..Outstanding! The hash browns were delicious and both our meals came with pancakes....the staff is very pleasant and courteous! We highly recommend their breakfast, I'm so glad we stayed in line....a great place for the family!
(5)
Kevin F.
The food Like always was amazing. My family and I have been here many times. This was our first choice to start of the year for lunch. Never been so disappointed with their waiters before today. This kid lacked the skills to perform the task he was hired to do. I understand he might not have been motivated to work after a holiday. we where patient with him giving him that much. This individual does not reflect how great of a place it can be.
(3)
Nif P.
Pros: Great Food Cons: Long waiting times around the holidays and weekends, poor customer service, a little on the pricey side Most of the entrees that I have had here is pretty tasty. My fiancee swears by their buckwheat pancakes and I love their hashbrowns. We don't really care for their omelettes as they do a poor job at evenly distributing the cheese and the eggs benedict with crab is on the fishy side, but overall decent meal and great coffee. My biggest complaints is that I have to pull teeth to get coffee refills on some days. I should never have to ask for a refill. Also, the group of girls that act as hostess should get a little training in customer service and professional conduct. However, all in all, great place to come visit for breakfast if you can over look a few glitches.
(3)
Richard R.
I finally got around to revisiting Walker Brothers and, based on what I've heard from other people, was really hoping to report a much improved dining experience. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I base this on two things, and one of them may seem trifling, but allow me to explain. First, we went on a Sunday at the end of the brunch rush. So, while it was understandable that we'd have to wait in line to get seated, things were definitely slowing down and it would have been nice to have a leisurely sit down with my family. Although our service was good, I still couldn't shake the feeling that we were being rushed. There's a fine line between waiting on people who are ready to leave, and waiting on folks who, although they're done with their food are still talking and drinking coffee. Nevertheless, even though they stopped asking to refresh our coffee, the server hovered around as if he was waiting for us to leave (even though there were plenty of empty tables by that point). My other issue is the syrup. Walker Bros does not have real maple syrup. As I said, this may sound trifling, but this is a "nicer" breakfast place (i.e., not Denny's or IHOP), so you would think real maple syrup would be a given here. It's not. Your only other choice is sugar-free syrup (yuck!). Not providing real maple syrup at a pancake house is like going to an Irish pub and finding out that they only serve lite beer. :-/
(2)
Tom F.
Always great food. We usually share. Check your bill. We were charged for a substitution that we should not have been charged for. However we still love it.
(4)
Cristie F.
Where's the 3 1/2 star rating when you need it?!? I'm feeling rather nice so I suppose I'll round it up this time since I enjoyed my meal so much... For a nice Sunday/Easter breakfast, I met my dad up at Walker Brothers. Since it gets packed early, we met at 9:30am. Shockingly, the restaurant was fairly dead. I'm guessing it was mostly due to Easter morning church services. But a word to the wise - get there early since reservations aren't accepted on weekends. Since it was a holiday and I knew I would ultimately gorge myself that night at dinner, I opted for something lighter and went with the Healthy Start Medley ((scrambled egg whites, fresh fruit, & wheat germ granola pancakes)). The eggs were scrambled to perfection, and without all the oil or butter I hate. I was smitten with the wheat germ granola pancakes. I found there was a small amount of pecans and cranberries in the batter which gave them a nice crunch and a little extra sweetness. Yum. I also was lucky enough to snag one of my dad's potato pancakes. They were light, flaky, and delicious. There wasn't any of that batter mixed in with the potato and onions that most restaurants like to include to plump them up. Eww. My dad went for a ham and cheese omelet which was perfectly baked into a large and fluffy oval shape. It looked like a small egg loaf ((Well, I guess it was)). My boyfriend had the Eggs Benedict and didn't walk away raving about it. The Canadian bacon was more like a huge chunk of ham, and the hollandaise wasn't anything spectacular. Was it good? Yes. But very average. My dad's wife went for the French toast, and although I didn't try it myself, she said it was incredible. I'm still sad we didn't get an apple pancake for the table to share, but after all the portions at Walker Brothers are quite generous and the apple pancakes is too much of a dessert- like option for 9:30am. The customer service lacked some. The service just wasn't what I've experienced before. Our waitress seemed to be focused on something else. What that was, I have no idea. Maybe she's just not a morning person. Efficiency isn't her forte. I asked what type of coffee they carried and got "Umm. Kona." Straight faced. Umm, wtf is Kona? Well, my dad clued me in that it's their house brand ((it is tasty)). I should have tipped him. We had to constantly ask for our water and coffees to be refilled. There wasn't any jam or sugar substitute on the tables. So naturally, I had to chase down a waitress to get some brought out. The jam I can understand. But no Splenda out?? Strange. I will say that our food came out quickly which is always a plus. I will also say that I find it odd that an egg-white omelet requires 20 minutes to make ((as stated on the menu)). I've never heard such a thing. And sadly it deters people (like me) who can't eat egg yolks, to settle for scrambled egg whites instead. Recommendation to management: Remove that statement. It screams "if you want to be accommodated, you will wait for it". It's in bad taste. Good food. Average prices. Sub par service. With that being said, they might be a solid 4 or 5-star breakfast place if they only reeled in that bad customer service...
(4)
Jennifer L.
If you're a breakfast person - this place is a must! They have high quality breakfasts!! (As opposed to say the cheap place with the blue roof)... All locations have great food! Fast service as well. I do have 2 objections to this place - very expensive in my book. It's nearly $3 for a small glass of pop, and they up-charge you for everything! I think it was like an extra $1 to add a tiny bit of cheese to my scrambled eggs....C'mon!!! I have also had issues at a couple locations doing substitutions. So although I love their food, I always find myself super annoyed when the check comes. Love their eggs all kinds, wonderful fresh-squeezed O.J., and in fall the Pumpkin pancakes (they're totally not oversweet, just right).
(4)
Jay C.
Living in Chicago and working in the Western Suburbs I cannot tell you why in the world I ended up here. What I can tell you is that my first time here was the day after Mother's Day and this place was booming. Shortly after receiving our food order I realized why. The food was outstanding as I went with a mushroom omelette with a side of canadian bacon and my companion ordered the basted eggs. The service was excellent as well. I can't comment on the price as the lovely young lady I was with refused to let me see the bill.
(5)
Paul Y.
This location does not measure up to the Arlington Heights location at all. They have no lunch menu to speak of, the service is bad, and even the pancakes and other breakfast items are below par. Keep on driving past and make the trip to Dundee and 53 for the real deal, or even to Richard Walker's (the other brother?) on Roselle Road.
(2)
Catherine S.
You can count on at least two things at Walker Bros: the food will be delish, and if it's a weekend, you'll wait for a loooong time to get in. Fortunately, they serve their yummy breakfast food anytime of day, any day of the week. Think "pancake dinner" if you'd like to avoid the crowds. My standard order is French crepes - sophisticated, strawberry-y, and sweet without being dessert. The spinach crepes with cheese and Hollandaise are also very good if you have a taste for savory instead. My kids always, always get the chocolate chip silver dollar pancakes and split a side of bacon. They love this place. And the menu comes with crayons and a word find, which keeps them happy. Bonus tip: sign your kids up for the Birthday Club. They send a coupon for a free meal once a year.
(4)
Barbie S.
The food is ok - average for a breakfast place, I think. It is always busy on the weekend mornings here... and even when I have been here when it is not busy, I feel rushed. The wait staff has always been pleasant, just I felt rushed. The prices are a little higher compared to Egg Harbour Cafe, which is sooooo much better. And you get so much more at Egg Harbour than at Walker Bros.
(3)
Ron S.
There is no doubt that Walker Brothers has excellent food and fantastic service. The only 2 things you need to worry about is the price and going on a Saturday morning.
(4)
Lizabee H.
TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE. I love the original pancake house - the one in Wilmette, Glenview, and even Arlington Heights is wonderful. This one is HORRIBLE. First of all the design of the place is terrible. It was so loud I could hear every plate and knife like nails on a chalkboard. And then the food - I don't know what is happening at this one but it is a blotch on an otherwise wonderful chain of restaurants. I ordered the strawberry crepes, which I've probably eaten 100 times at various other locations. The ones here were terrible - literally had maaaaaybe two strawberries in them cut up into tiny pieces. I almost sent them back. I mean really....really?????! Additionally, our server was horrible. She delivered our food to the wrong table TWICE!!!!!! The other table was like - uhhhhh ummm this isn't ours..... Don't go here. Go to ANY of the others instead. Such a let down. Save yourself a crappy experience and drive another 20 minutes to the Arlington Heights location instead!
Been there more then once with my husband and then once again with our friends. Everytime we go there we always have excellent service. Even though when they are busy you may wait a little bit but once they get to you they always try and stay head of the game to give you great service. My favorite thing to get there is the Mushroom omelet it's my old faithful there and it's never steered me wrong. I've even had there pancakes yummy!!!!!if your looking for a great place with great food try walker brothers.
(4)
Matt T.
Just enjoyed breakfast at Walker Bros. in Lake Zurich. Crispy Crunchy French Toast was delicious, no need for syrup this dish is perfectly sweet enough as it is served. Great service, friendly staff.
(4)
W C.
great breakfast place a little pricey for eggs
(4)
ND P.
Great food - poor managing guests to be seated - could be more efficient - otherwise great food and service as usual!
(4)
Michael R.
I had the 49ers pancakes which are very thin,not crepe thin, and very tasty. The coffee is better than most restaurants in my opinion. Their apple pancake special is HUGE.
(4)
Megan T.
My husband was so excited to eat their 49ers here, but we walked out thinking why did we waste our money. The nicest person here was the lady at check out taking our money. Our food was under cooked, it was like they shorted cooking times to turn more tables. I ordered the waffle which was not very brown, it was undercooked by about a minute. I also ordered a side of cheesy hash browns which came out raw still. I asked if they could put these back on and she did, but because they had cheese on them they could only put one side on the grill and she brought them back out cooked on the bottom, but still raw under the cheese and halfway through. My husband said the same about his 49ers, even though he ate all of them he said they weren't as good as the other Walker Brother locations because they were slightly under cooked. Everything that we ordered was $1.00 more than the other breakfast place we are regulars at. We just feel over charged and under satisfied. In talking with some friends they said that they don't go there because its over priced for breakfast food. I couldn't agree more!
(2)
Chiris R.
Not a good value. Even though the food was okay, I don't like the idea of having to pay extra for hash browns with your egg dishes. 8.50 for a couple of eggs and turkey links!!!
(2)
Jen H.
Excellent regular pancakes, excellent specialty pancakes, excellent coffee, best butter and syrup anywhere. Everything else is pretty much average. The hash browns usually come undercooked. I did not care for the spinach crepes (weird flavor combo for me) or potato pancakes (bland and too starchy) Prices are expensive compared to other breakfast spots and considering the omelettes don't come with a side.
(3)
Andrea L.
As someone who has now spends most of my time on the east coast where there are no apple pancakes to be had, I love this place. The 50% off some particular menu item each month is a fabulous deal -- but seriously, the pancakes are always excellent. My favorites are the aforementioned apple pancake (gooey, cinnamon-y, sugary goodness -- I'd recommend sharing with a friend!) and the pigs in a blanket. Their corned beef hash leaves something to be desired, but hey, you can't have everything.
(5)
Marie G.
I love this place! Usually I get pancakes since it's a pancake house! I especially love the potato pancakes with applesauce. The seasonal pumpkin pancakes are great as well! Actually, all of their pancakes are great! Their omelets are quite The past few times I've been here I haven't had to wait too long. But if you come here on the weekend, it's definitely going to be busy - long wait, loud, & frazzled waiter/waitress. But Walker Brothers has a really cozy feel and I like to come here each time I come back to Illinois.
(4)
Gia S.
Food is good but pricey. Waitresses are not the friendliest people
(4)
C T.
When I used to work out in LZ my co-workers and I would go to Walker Bros for lunch once in awhile. Their famous apple pancake that you can bring home and bake was just okay. It wasn't flavorful and rich, just kind of starchy and bready if that makes any sense. Maybe because it's been frozen awhile and freezing doesn't do wonders in retaining rich flavors. Notice how frozen tv dinners have 3000mg+ of sodium? As for restaurant service, it was always good, with servers being kinda stressed out or something like half the times I was there. I forget what my usual was because I prolly tried to order something different each time. But their trademark pancakes! My goodness. They are great. They aren't especially fluffy or huge but the flavor! I think they use peanut oil and lots of butter in the batter or something. I dunno how you get flavor like that. I got potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream once. I don't think I'll ever understand the appeal of potato pancakes. They have never made me very happy but I ordered them on one occasion here because a co-worker had ordered it before and it just looked very good. They were okay, but I have never liked them anywhere else so I don't know how reliable my judgment is on that.
(4)
Patty R.
Great Coffee, Egg's Benedict, French Crapes, ohh the Potato Pancakes... They do a pretty good job of turning tables on the weekends. But be prepared for a bit of a line. Worth the wait! Haven't tried that Giant Pancake thing, Smells Wonderful.
(4)
Brian L.
I have eaten at this location over 40 times and the food is always good. The bacon is some of the best we can find. They are known for their pancakes but I usually get an omelet or corned beef hash. Some visits are better than others, but most of the time the service and food are good. You will wait on a Sunday morning. The other IL locations are also very tasty. Great home cooked breakfast!
(4)
leila r.
in short, food was good, server was good, MANAGER WAS AWFUL AND DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TREAT PATRONS. ****HOWEVER**** :) :) :) i filed a complaint with the website, and Ray Walker himself called me back to apologize and remedy the situation. he had also already spoken with the manager, general manager, and all his the supervisors to attend to the issue. it is truly something special to see an owner involved on a personal basis like that when they have so many locations operating. I am truly impressed, and although there are bound to be unprofessional moments with people lower down in the chain of command, the food and the intentions always deserve another chance. that is why i changed this review from 2 to 5 stars.
(5)
Nena M.
The food is good not great and a bit pricey for breakfast. The place looks very nice and clean and the service was fine. They do have free wifi.
(3)
Kurt H.
$42.00 for 3 for breakfast. It had better be good. Service sucks as usual. My Mother likes this place. She is 85. Need I say more?
(2)
Cletus T.
It's a regular stop for breakfast for us. I like the Banana pancakes that come with a light tangerine glaze on them that results in jamming every bit of that yummy goodness right down the gullet - full or not - so I switched to ordering 1/2 stack and now I get all they awesome banana stuffed carbs without the glutenous after-guilt. DANG their good. I also like the Blueberry pancakes that come with the extra blueberries. The syrup is OldSkool maple wickedness and the coffee is THE BEST...Kona blend..they bring real cream to the table with it. I also like the Santa Fe Omelet that comes to the table barking a warning that it's going to sting your tounge...served with some pretty good salsa as well. Service is always pretty good. They serve smoked bacon which is fantastic. I've also had their Hawaiian French toast - to die for - and the biscuits and gravy remind me of Grandma's Saturday morning skillet-made gravy. Can't go wrong for a breakfast joint. I may head back up there in a minute. . . .
(4)
Vicki R.
I am changing my review of this restaurant. My family and I had a bad experience on one of our visits with another customer; whereas, the manager did nothing. Mr. Walker was notified about the incident and immediately call us up with an apology. I am thoroughly impress with his response about rectifying the situation. The food is excellent and we will be returning to enjoy our family outings.
(4)
M M.
This place was good- pancakes were standard- diner pancakes. What I look for in a menu at a breakfast place are unique dishes and variety. I felt like everything on the menu was plain and standard, which is not very fun. I can't even remember what the pancakes tasted like bc they were really not stand-out. I would go to Egg Harbor a million times over before I came here, but if my meal was being paid for I'd go back :)
(3)
A. P.
What can I say? Good Coffee, Great food, Nice atmosphere.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Anthony C.
I have only been here one time but I had the 49er pancakes, they were sooooooo good. That's all.
(4)Liberty F.
The Lou Malnati's of breakfast! Simply the best breakfast around -- yummy huge omelets, pancakes, eggs benedict -- yummy food and good coffee. Only complaint is they often make you feel rushed by bringing the check too early and often forget to refill your water, even when you ask them. 30-Aug-2013 update: they just raised prices about $2 on most items like omelets, etc. :( At least the quality is still high, however.
(5)Mathew K.
This is a great breakfast place. Almost everything is done well. The detractors are that it can get pretty busy, the service is average and it is pretty expensive. It is a nice treat for breakfast though.
(3)Justin W.
Great atmosphere and food (gotta love the apple pancake and good luck if you finish it!), but I have to knock it down to three stars. Every time I eat pancakes there I get a godawful stomachache due to the insane level of carbs consumed. It makes me feel disgustingly lethargic and I cannot bring myself to do any physical activity until I have let the glucose levels in my system drop back down to normal.. I switched to omelets and I haven't had that same disgusting and lazy feeling.
(3)David G.
a perfect restaurant. perfect food. perfect service. perfect decor. why eat breafast anywhere else? and real fresh squeezed orange juice that is the elixer of the gods.
(5)Kelly D.
Every location is consistently delicious every time. 49ers are to die for. Amazing place to take the kids.
(5)Bon J.
Solid place for food. It's a chain but a better one at that. Nothing bad, nothing great, decent prices, decent staff. You can't go wrong here as long as you don't have very high expectations.
(3)Abi T.
Good coffee, pancakes you can't believe, and these huge oven-baked omelettes stuffed with veggies. There really isn't much more to say. The perfect pancake house!
(5)Junie D.
Inconsistent food and service made me stop patronizing this location
(1)Gary D.
Food at any Walker Bros is fantastic. It cannot be beat by breakfast place. The only complaint I have was a woman with a screeching baby a couple of weeks ago. The noise that child made causes nausea. They should been asked to leave but were not.
(5)Gregg L.
It was all tasty: When we first drove up, the parking lot was empty. On a Sunday. We were worried. Either the food wasn't really that good, or they were closed due to the impending bad weather. Fortunately, it was just the afternoon lull in business. Our small group was led to our table, and our server, Tyler, was more than happy to give us his full attention. We all ordered different things from the menu, from the "Dutch Baby" (my sister's favorite), to Crepes (my friend said they were really good), to the Spinach Omelette [sic] (I did not go away hungry!). Everything was tasty, and we ate well for a fair price. Tyler's service was impeccable, and we went away quite satisfied with our dinner. Upon leaving, Tyler thanked us for coming and told us we were a fun group. Unfortunately our pictures got lost. :-(
(4)Spencer H.
When I think of Walker Bros. Pancake House I think of the head honchos of breakfast restaurants. However my recent trip here was good but not great. We arrived around 9:30 A.M. & there was no line & we were seated in a booth so it already made the experience that much better. We started off with coffee. The coffee was good but they didn't have any flavored creamers which was not a big deal & did not hurt my experience but it would be something to offer. For breakfast I ordered the Eggs Benedict with beef patty substitute & a side of corned beef hash. The food came out after about 10 minutes which was very fast. The eggs benedict was not the best that I have had at Walker Bros. The hollandaise sauce was not as tasty as usual. The corned beef has was just ok. It was a little bit over cooked. The restaurant was clean & the staff here was very nice & attentive. They do charge a premium because it is a nice breakfast restaurant but this time I felt that the food could have been better. Overall the food was ok & the service was good.
(3)Katie H.
Yeah this is a chain restaurant but that APPLE PANCAKE though...ooey gooey apples and cinnamon baked in a bubbly hot dough? How can you not like it? What's even better is that you can take one to go and bake it in the comfort of your own home and savor all of that in your PJs. Also, hashbrowns with pico de gallo and melted Habanero cheese? Great combination! This place definitely had an Ihop or Denny's feel to it but I'd choose it over those other places any day.
(3)Kathy S.
One of the worst breakfast place in the area! Terrible service and really bad omelettes. Never again!!!
(1)Michele B.
I really do love the apple pancake with all its ooooey goooey butter and cinnamon on it, but the service both times I have been here was lacking to say the least. My one pet peeve is if I am paying $2.95 for a cup of coffee, it should be hot and refiled at least once. Also a fork and knife would have been helpful. OK so maybe I am being picky, the guy could have been having a bad day, but if you have to ask twice, sorry dude, you need to find another place to work. They get 3 stars for the pancake or it would have been zero.
(3)Angela T.
Food was great. Service was terrible. Hostess and waitress were on their phone the whole time. We could not get waitresses attention to get a box because she was texting. And theb we stood in front of the hostess for a couple minutes trying to pay the bill, before she even saw us standing there because she was texting. And then proceeded to use her phone while she rung us up. Rude. Grow up.
(2)Jon A.
Breakfast. Lunch. Brunch. The only thing bad about this place is the wait times to get a table during the rush. On this occasion, I didn't wait long only 10 minutes. I sat down with my husband to devour the coffee. I don't know what it is about their coffee, but it has something in that tells me to come back for more ... including the food. This time I got the Venetian Benedict - poached eggs with fresh sautéed spinach, mushrooms and bits of our crisp bacon on a grilled English muffin blanketed with our rich [H]ollandaise sauce & garnish of pico de gallo. Simply divine. I was expecting the Hollandaise to break, but it was creamy and savory. Let's talk about their pancakes ... again, there's something in the pancakes that keeps me coming back for them. Sometimes I wish they had AYCE pancakes as a year-round thing ... /sigh ... :) The WiFi is good here and the noise levels were moderate, but I could talk to my husband without raising my voice. Parking is a little hectic, especially during the rush, but it's not that bad. In the end, I like this location and the Lincolnshire location. Walker Bros. is always a good place to go ... good food, good times, and great staff. /wants pancakes and coffee
(4)Herschel S.
Hmm.. maybe I'm just having a bad luck here or maybe something has changed. The Dutch baby pancake here is not fluffy again...most of the stuff sank to the bottom. This could be due to the dutch baby not being served right away. I thought this branch also served fewer Swedish pancakes. That was a bit disappointing. Eggs Venetian is the bomb here. Service was good when we came here. The waitress was pretty attentive and refilled my coffee often. That was really nice.
(3)Stef T.
Very typical Walker Bros chain restaurant. Everything you would expect from a breakfast joint.. Lots of egg scrambler and omelet options, all sorts of pancakes and waffles. Mediocre but reasonably priced.
(3)Kristina C.
Just stop with the five stars, this place is seriously lacking on customer service to even be considered in the four star range let alone five. You won't get a server with a smile here. You also won't get your food at consistent temperature if ordering in a group. I once suggested to the manager they try using a tray to carry all the orders out versus one by one. We literally had a more than 8 minute time gap from when the first person received their meal and the last. The sad part is that we were a party of four. The manager said the owner won't allow trays. Really?!? For the sake of the customer alone that should be allowed, let alone their staff. I have to admit I love their potato pancakes and bacon which is why they are getting two stars. Their portions are large, but that should be expected in a breakfast place in the Chicago area, I would be surprised if they weren't. Their chocolate pancakes are a favorite, too. It kills me, I want so badly to like this place, I love breakfast. But, I cannot get past the service. And, honestly, it's pretty easy to succeed at breakfast food, I think they get more credit than deserved.
(2)Kyle M.
Came here for a late breakfast today. Decided to go with the Venetian Eggs Benedict, with a side of potato pancakes. My only complaint is that the portion was a little small for my liking, but on Sunday mornings I usually devour up my food like a garbage disposal would, so I can't complain too much. A person with a normal appetite would be more then satisfied. The spinach mushroom pico combo on the Benedict was delicious. Their coffee here is also pretty great!!! #FiveStarForWhat
(5)Steve M.
I feel that I should write an update of this location since I have come here so many times now. I typically come here on a Saturday or Sunday for breakfast. If I take a day off work I will stop by in the middle of the week. I love the buttermilk pancakes but the real treat is the apple pancake. I usually start off with their coffee. There's something about their coffee that makes it outstanding. If I feel hungrier than normal I will get their spicy hash brown potatoes and bacon on the side. They also have a combination plate that includes two eggs, hash brown potatoes, three pancakes and a small glass of orange juice. The staff here is really good and very attentive to the customer. The service is always fast and efficient. It seems as soon as you are seated the staff is bringing out your silverware and glasses of water. They immediately ask if you want coffee, tea or juice. It seams as though as soon as you place your order the food is on it's way out but not if you order the apple pancake as that will take time to bake. If you do decide to order the apple pancake, let your server know right away so you don't wate too long. If you get here early you can beat the crowd. This is key if you are hungry. If you get up later then you will typically wait in line but it's usually not too long of a wait.
(5)Laura M.
Baked apple pancake was good. But my husband's Santa Fe omelette was hands down the best vegetarian omelette either of us have ever had.
(4)Kyle D.
The good: Long line but actually didn't have to wait too long. Service was fast and friendly. Place has an interesting atmosphere that is family friendly and lively. The menu is vast and has tons of options and the food was great. Huge portion sizes too. The bad: Not much actually, just doesn't warrant 5 stars to me. I'm hard to please for 5 stars :). Overall: A very solid brunch option. I'm usually picky about chains, but it was definitely a good experience. Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 9/10
(4)Michael S.
Ate at this restaurant numerous times, always at breakfast. Generally very good. Love the thick sliced bacon!
(4)Ana E.
Horrible experience at this restaurant. First of all the wait staff unfriendly and rude, but the worst thing was the food. Raw pancake batter inside the pacakes, raw hash brown, uncooked eggs, and a long hair not on top but inside the crepes. I thought that because of courtesy the crepes with the hair and raw pancakes wouldn't be charged and they were. Never ever going back to that restaurant!!
(1)Donna C.
I have always enjoyed this place because the food is consistent in taste and quality. My only knock is that they don't chop their omelet veggies and you are stuck with hunks that don't cook correctly but all in all, it is a yummy omelet. I had the chipotle chicken crepe that had a great taste but could have used a little more chicken and less pepper slices. But I would get it again because the blend of all the ingredients yielded one delicious product. The challah French toast was a perfect and very tasty, Our server was pleasant and efficient.
(4)Cathy G.
I have been going to Walker Brothers since I was a teen since I happened to live near one of their original locations. I have to say I am not a huge fan of the famous Apple Pancake since sweets aren't really my thing, but if they were it seems like that entree would be amazing. To me it was like eating a whole coffee cake, could not do it! On the savory side, though, you cannot beat the egg dishes served at Walkers. Basted eggs are divine as is their entire selection of eggs and breakfast meats. One thing that is different than most breakfast restaurants is that you don't get hash browns with your entree, though you can order them and they are excellent and are offered with cheese, onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, etc. I like the Lake Zurich location and have always been satisfied with their service and food. Lately I have converted to low carb and can no longer eat their excellent pancakes and hash browns, so I tried the Santa Fe Omelet. The Waiter said good choice and he was definitely not wrong. Honestly one of the best omelets I've ever eaten though I would have killed for the accompanying pancakes which were sitting in front of me dripping with butter and syrup. Regardless, not too spicy though certainly spicy enough, this omelet knocked out out of the park. This is my new go to entree at Walkers, it's amazing.
(5)Chris S.
The food here is always great and the atmosphere is really nice. My only complaint is the service. We have had several experiences where our server clearly hated their job. I'm also disturbed by the 'race line' between servers and busboys. Servers are almost always white. Busboys almost exclusively Hispanic. Why??
(3)Har M.
Great place for weekend brunches. I am a regular here and enjoy their omelettes & pancakes. Always good service (not always the friendliest but efficient).
(4)Kim G.
Large restaurant in Lake Zurich. Chain, but food doesn't taste like chain food. Bacon is delicious. My husband said the sausage wasn't good. Kids got chocolate chip pancakes (good!) and French toast (also good)! Service was quick and waitress was friendly.
(5)Elle N.
Terrible decor (unless you're a grandma) & they don't care much for their customers. I ordered one of their omelettes and they come with 2 pancakes. I asked to substitute the pancakes with hash browns and they refused (unless I paid extra, of course). The pancakes and the hash browns cost the restaurant roughly the same price - so why can't the customer decide to have one instead of the other? Especially when hash browns are the standard side with eggs at every other breakfast restaurant in the world. Terrible customer service. Also, I asked to add green peppers to my omelette and while they charged me for this on my bill they didn't actually ever add them to my omelette.
(1)Kim L.
The food and wait staff is excellent. The only problem I have with the place is the management. I have heard horrible things about the Manager Mike and how disrespectful and verbally abusive he is to his staff.
(3)Ron B.
Good food and nice atmosphere. I always get the Lox Platter and my wife pancakes. If you go later in the morning it is not as crowed.
(5)Luna M.
I can eat breakfast anytime of the day, but you can't beat going to Walker Brother's Pancake House (either Lake Zurich or Lincolnshire). Love everything from Pancakes to their Spinach Crepes. Their service varies upon how attentive the servers are. I leave there happier if I knew that the server checked on whether I had enough hot water for my 'hot tea' or coffee for my husband. Especially love the decor.
(5)Caroline P.
Call ahead a day or so I'd you have a big group. They don't have reservations, but they will know you are coming and will put tables aside for you. I've been going to this Walker brothers for over five years now. After moving to California I really miss this place! When I was back in town for the holidays, I got to go back with a very large group of my family. Their gluten free menu is amazing! They have expanded it so much since I left. There are two pages of choices including waffles and pancakes, all made on dedicated equipment to reduce cross contamination. Our group received great service, and the foods was as fantastic add usual. I will keep my fingers crossed for a gluten free apple pancake in the future!
(5)Phil A.
First time here. My son cleaned his plate which says a lot , Coffee was decent which is important to me. The omelette was good. Staff was very friendly so I would come back.
(4)Katie M.
Huge portions, reasonable prices and good service. If I lived in Lake Zurich, I would definitely be a regular here! My husband ordered the Sante Fe omelette which is also served with three pancakes. My husband is a big eater, but can't throw back a huge omelette and 3 pancakes, so I skipped ordering something for myself and just ate his pancakes. The hubs loved his super spicy omelette and my upgrade from regular pancakes to blueberry pancakes was definitely worth the $.95 charge...they were delicious. Looking forward to our next visit to Lake Zurich so we can indulge in another brunch at Walker Bros.
(4)Jer J.
The service here is terrible. There is no sense of urgency among the wait staff, and the odds are 50:50 as to whether the order is accurate. I've waited as long as half an hour after being seated for a member of the wait staff to introduce themselves. With a long line for Sunday brunch, they were seating people from the back of the line first, making families with children and elderly people wait. On a positive, the food is delicious and the portions are good sized. Just can't get past the lousy service, so I can't possibly recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Michelle F.
I have got to say, I agree with my fellow Yelpers when they say that the customer service can be quite rude... I arrive around 8:30 on a very snowy morning. There was no line, and the place was maybe filled up about halfway. While I waited for my fellow nomming companions, I took a look around. very nice interior, cozy, and warm, which is exactly what I needed on this day! When we first saw our waitress, she was very nice and efficient. Then after that...not so much... After my friends arrived, we ordered (veggie omelette) and a side of pancakes. Most other breakfast places also have hash browns come with this kind of meal, but not this place. You have to add those on. I opted out this time. But for my omelette to be egg whites, the waitress told me it would be an extra 20 minutes, and she didn't recommend that... Ooook, so basically I ordered scrambled eggs with veggies. This does not an omelette make... But I upgraded the pancakes to their special of pumpkin pancakes. These were honestly the best part of my meal. The aformentioned "scrambled eggs" were just ok. but the pancakes had a nice flavor. Not too bad. Another strange thing was, our food came out in waves. My friend and I got our "omelettes", my friend got her food, and then our fourth companion got her side order of bacon, but not her french toast. She had to wait about 10 minutes for that, but the rest of us just sat there because she didn't have her food and we didn't want to be rude. But about 4 seconds after the food was plunked down in front of us, our waitress slapped the bill on the table, said "thanks for coming" and then left, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN. No refills, no ketchup, no "how was the food". Nothing. Ummm...thanks. So yes, come to this place if you want mediocre food, and to feel very rushed while eating cold food since you had to wait on your friends' food to be done. Oh, and the line was out the door by the time we left at 9:30.
(2)Brittany Q.
Went here for lunch with a few friends. The place was packed but we were seated quickly. I just had soup and salad so I can't speak to the breakfast menu. Portions were lunch appropriate and the prices were fair. I would come back to here to try breakfast.
(3)Kim G.
Absolutely worth the wait! We both had omelets, asparagus garden and spinach and cheese..Outstanding! The hash browns were delicious and both our meals came with pancakes....the staff is very pleasant and courteous! We highly recommend their breakfast, I'm so glad we stayed in line....a great place for the family!
(5)Kevin F.
The food Like always was amazing. My family and I have been here many times. This was our first choice to start of the year for lunch. Never been so disappointed with their waiters before today. This kid lacked the skills to perform the task he was hired to do. I understand he might not have been motivated to work after a holiday. we where patient with him giving him that much. This individual does not reflect how great of a place it can be.
(3)Nif P.
Pros: Great Food Cons: Long waiting times around the holidays and weekends, poor customer service, a little on the pricey side Most of the entrees that I have had here is pretty tasty. My fiancee swears by their buckwheat pancakes and I love their hashbrowns. We don't really care for their omelettes as they do a poor job at evenly distributing the cheese and the eggs benedict with crab is on the fishy side, but overall decent meal and great coffee. My biggest complaints is that I have to pull teeth to get coffee refills on some days. I should never have to ask for a refill. Also, the group of girls that act as hostess should get a little training in customer service and professional conduct. However, all in all, great place to come visit for breakfast if you can over look a few glitches.
(3)Richard R.
I finally got around to revisiting Walker Brothers and, based on what I've heard from other people, was really hoping to report a much improved dining experience. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I base this on two things, and one of them may seem trifling, but allow me to explain. First, we went on a Sunday at the end of the brunch rush. So, while it was understandable that we'd have to wait in line to get seated, things were definitely slowing down and it would have been nice to have a leisurely sit down with my family. Although our service was good, I still couldn't shake the feeling that we were being rushed. There's a fine line between waiting on people who are ready to leave, and waiting on folks who, although they're done with their food are still talking and drinking coffee. Nevertheless, even though they stopped asking to refresh our coffee, the server hovered around as if he was waiting for us to leave (even though there were plenty of empty tables by that point). My other issue is the syrup. Walker Bros does not have real maple syrup. As I said, this may sound trifling, but this is a "nicer" breakfast place (i.e., not Denny's or IHOP), so you would think real maple syrup would be a given here. It's not. Your only other choice is sugar-free syrup (yuck!). Not providing real maple syrup at a pancake house is like going to an Irish pub and finding out that they only serve lite beer. :-/
(2)Tom F.
Always great food. We usually share. Check your bill. We were charged for a substitution that we should not have been charged for. However we still love it.
(4)Cristie F.
Where's the 3 1/2 star rating when you need it?!? I'm feeling rather nice so I suppose I'll round it up this time since I enjoyed my meal so much... For a nice Sunday/Easter breakfast, I met my dad up at Walker Brothers. Since it gets packed early, we met at 9:30am. Shockingly, the restaurant was fairly dead. I'm guessing it was mostly due to Easter morning church services. But a word to the wise - get there early since reservations aren't accepted on weekends. Since it was a holiday and I knew I would ultimately gorge myself that night at dinner, I opted for something lighter and went with the Healthy Start Medley ((scrambled egg whites, fresh fruit, & wheat germ granola pancakes)). The eggs were scrambled to perfection, and without all the oil or butter I hate. I was smitten with the wheat germ granola pancakes. I found there was a small amount of pecans and cranberries in the batter which gave them a nice crunch and a little extra sweetness. Yum. I also was lucky enough to snag one of my dad's potato pancakes. They were light, flaky, and delicious. There wasn't any of that batter mixed in with the potato and onions that most restaurants like to include to plump them up. Eww. My dad went for a ham and cheese omelet which was perfectly baked into a large and fluffy oval shape. It looked like a small egg loaf ((Well, I guess it was)). My boyfriend had the Eggs Benedict and didn't walk away raving about it. The Canadian bacon was more like a huge chunk of ham, and the hollandaise wasn't anything spectacular. Was it good? Yes. But very average. My dad's wife went for the French toast, and although I didn't try it myself, she said it was incredible. I'm still sad we didn't get an apple pancake for the table to share, but after all the portions at Walker Brothers are quite generous and the apple pancakes is too much of a dessert- like option for 9:30am. The customer service lacked some. The service just wasn't what I've experienced before. Our waitress seemed to be focused on something else. What that was, I have no idea. Maybe she's just not a morning person. Efficiency isn't her forte. I asked what type of coffee they carried and got "Umm. Kona." Straight faced. Umm, wtf is Kona? Well, my dad clued me in that it's their house brand ((it is tasty)). I should have tipped him. We had to constantly ask for our water and coffees to be refilled. There wasn't any jam or sugar substitute on the tables. So naturally, I had to chase down a waitress to get some brought out. The jam I can understand. But no Splenda out?? Strange. I will say that our food came out quickly which is always a plus. I will also say that I find it odd that an egg-white omelet requires 20 minutes to make ((as stated on the menu)). I've never heard such a thing. And sadly it deters people (like me) who can't eat egg yolks, to settle for scrambled egg whites instead. Recommendation to management: Remove that statement. It screams "if you want to be accommodated, you will wait for it". It's in bad taste. Good food. Average prices. Sub par service. With that being said, they might be a solid 4 or 5-star breakfast place if they only reeled in that bad customer service...
(4)Jennifer L.
If you're a breakfast person - this place is a must! They have high quality breakfasts!! (As opposed to say the cheap place with the blue roof)... All locations have great food! Fast service as well. I do have 2 objections to this place - very expensive in my book. It's nearly $3 for a small glass of pop, and they up-charge you for everything! I think it was like an extra $1 to add a tiny bit of cheese to my scrambled eggs....C'mon!!! I have also had issues at a couple locations doing substitutions. So although I love their food, I always find myself super annoyed when the check comes. Love their eggs all kinds, wonderful fresh-squeezed O.J., and in fall the Pumpkin pancakes (they're totally not oversweet, just right).
(4)Jay C.
Living in Chicago and working in the Western Suburbs I cannot tell you why in the world I ended up here. What I can tell you is that my first time here was the day after Mother's Day and this place was booming. Shortly after receiving our food order I realized why. The food was outstanding as I went with a mushroom omelette with a side of canadian bacon and my companion ordered the basted eggs. The service was excellent as well. I can't comment on the price as the lovely young lady I was with refused to let me see the bill.
(5)Paul Y.
This location does not measure up to the Arlington Heights location at all. They have no lunch menu to speak of, the service is bad, and even the pancakes and other breakfast items are below par. Keep on driving past and make the trip to Dundee and 53 for the real deal, or even to Richard Walker's (the other brother?) on Roselle Road.
(2)Catherine S.
You can count on at least two things at Walker Bros: the food will be delish, and if it's a weekend, you'll wait for a loooong time to get in. Fortunately, they serve their yummy breakfast food anytime of day, any day of the week. Think "pancake dinner" if you'd like to avoid the crowds. My standard order is French crepes - sophisticated, strawberry-y, and sweet without being dessert. The spinach crepes with cheese and Hollandaise are also very good if you have a taste for savory instead. My kids always, always get the chocolate chip silver dollar pancakes and split a side of bacon. They love this place. And the menu comes with crayons and a word find, which keeps them happy. Bonus tip: sign your kids up for the Birthday Club. They send a coupon for a free meal once a year.
(4)Barbie S.
The food is ok - average for a breakfast place, I think. It is always busy on the weekend mornings here... and even when I have been here when it is not busy, I feel rushed. The wait staff has always been pleasant, just I felt rushed. The prices are a little higher compared to Egg Harbour Cafe, which is sooooo much better. And you get so much more at Egg Harbour than at Walker Bros.
(3)Ron S.
There is no doubt that Walker Brothers has excellent food and fantastic service. The only 2 things you need to worry about is the price and going on a Saturday morning.
(4)Lizabee H.
TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE. I love the original pancake house - the one in Wilmette, Glenview, and even Arlington Heights is wonderful. This one is HORRIBLE. First of all the design of the place is terrible. It was so loud I could hear every plate and knife like nails on a chalkboard. And then the food - I don't know what is happening at this one but it is a blotch on an otherwise wonderful chain of restaurants. I ordered the strawberry crepes, which I've probably eaten 100 times at various other locations. The ones here were terrible - literally had maaaaaybe two strawberries in them cut up into tiny pieces. I almost sent them back. I mean really....really?????! Additionally, our server was horrible. She delivered our food to the wrong table TWICE!!!!!! The other table was like - uhhhhh ummm this isn't ours..... Don't go here. Go to ANY of the others instead. Such a let down. Save yourself a crappy experience and drive another 20 minutes to the Arlington Heights location instead!
(1)V.i.o.l.e.t.t.a. D.
I had the: VENICIAN BENEDICT (sans bacon) - "Poached Eggs with fresh sautéed spinach, mushrooms and bits of our crisp bacon on a toasted English muffin blanketed with our rich hollandaise sauce, a garnish of pico de gallo. Served with fresh fruit..." It was awesome! The fruit was fresh (as always)...the english muffin was toasted on the bottom so it wasn't soggy when I bit into it (yum) and the overall texture was pleasing; not too runny...just right. I don't like their omelets b/c they're as big as your face and the inside is always watery...but, everything else I've had there has been quite tastetastic :] Also, I think the building itself should get five stars, it really is something to look at :]
(5)Heather U.
Been there more then once with my husband and then once again with our friends. Everytime we go there we always have excellent service. Even though when they are busy you may wait a little bit but once they get to you they always try and stay head of the game to give you great service. My favorite thing to get there is the Mushroom omelet it's my old faithful there and it's never steered me wrong. I've even had there pancakes yummy!!!!!if your looking for a great place with great food try walker brothers.
(4)Matt T.
Just enjoyed breakfast at Walker Bros. in Lake Zurich. Crispy Crunchy French Toast was delicious, no need for syrup this dish is perfectly sweet enough as it is served. Great service, friendly staff.
(4)W C.
great breakfast place a little pricey for eggs
(4)ND P.
Great food - poor managing guests to be seated - could be more efficient - otherwise great food and service as usual!
(4)Michael R.
I had the 49ers pancakes which are very thin,not crepe thin, and very tasty. The coffee is better than most restaurants in my opinion. Their apple pancake special is HUGE.
(4)Megan T.
My husband was so excited to eat their 49ers here, but we walked out thinking why did we waste our money. The nicest person here was the lady at check out taking our money. Our food was under cooked, it was like they shorted cooking times to turn more tables. I ordered the waffle which was not very brown, it was undercooked by about a minute. I also ordered a side of cheesy hash browns which came out raw still. I asked if they could put these back on and she did, but because they had cheese on them they could only put one side on the grill and she brought them back out cooked on the bottom, but still raw under the cheese and halfway through. My husband said the same about his 49ers, even though he ate all of them he said they weren't as good as the other Walker Brother locations because they were slightly under cooked. Everything that we ordered was $1.00 more than the other breakfast place we are regulars at. We just feel over charged and under satisfied. In talking with some friends they said that they don't go there because its over priced for breakfast food. I couldn't agree more!
(2)Chiris R.
Not a good value. Even though the food was okay, I don't like the idea of having to pay extra for hash browns with your egg dishes. 8.50 for a couple of eggs and turkey links!!!
(2)Jen H.
Excellent regular pancakes, excellent specialty pancakes, excellent coffee, best butter and syrup anywhere. Everything else is pretty much average. The hash browns usually come undercooked. I did not care for the spinach crepes (weird flavor combo for me) or potato pancakes (bland and too starchy) Prices are expensive compared to other breakfast spots and considering the omelettes don't come with a side.
(3)Andrea L.
As someone who has now spends most of my time on the east coast where there are no apple pancakes to be had, I love this place. The 50% off some particular menu item each month is a fabulous deal -- but seriously, the pancakes are always excellent. My favorites are the aforementioned apple pancake (gooey, cinnamon-y, sugary goodness -- I'd recommend sharing with a friend!) and the pigs in a blanket. Their corned beef hash leaves something to be desired, but hey, you can't have everything.
(5)Marie G.
I love this place! Usually I get pancakes since it's a pancake house! I especially love the potato pancakes with applesauce. The seasonal pumpkin pancakes are great as well! Actually, all of their pancakes are great! Their omelets are quite The past few times I've been here I haven't had to wait too long. But if you come here on the weekend, it's definitely going to be busy - long wait, loud, & frazzled waiter/waitress. But Walker Brothers has a really cozy feel and I like to come here each time I come back to Illinois.
(4)Gia S.
Food is good but pricey. Waitresses are not the friendliest people
(4)C T.
When I used to work out in LZ my co-workers and I would go to Walker Bros for lunch once in awhile. Their famous apple pancake that you can bring home and bake was just okay. It wasn't flavorful and rich, just kind of starchy and bready if that makes any sense. Maybe because it's been frozen awhile and freezing doesn't do wonders in retaining rich flavors. Notice how frozen tv dinners have 3000mg+ of sodium? As for restaurant service, it was always good, with servers being kinda stressed out or something like half the times I was there. I forget what my usual was because I prolly tried to order something different each time. But their trademark pancakes! My goodness. They are great. They aren't especially fluffy or huge but the flavor! I think they use peanut oil and lots of butter in the batter or something. I dunno how you get flavor like that. I got potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream once. I don't think I'll ever understand the appeal of potato pancakes. They have never made me very happy but I ordered them on one occasion here because a co-worker had ordered it before and it just looked very good. They were okay, but I have never liked them anywhere else so I don't know how reliable my judgment is on that.
(4)Patty R.
Great Coffee, Egg's Benedict, French Crapes, ohh the Potato Pancakes... They do a pretty good job of turning tables on the weekends. But be prepared for a bit of a line. Worth the wait! Haven't tried that Giant Pancake thing, Smells Wonderful.
(4)Brian L.
I have eaten at this location over 40 times and the food is always good. The bacon is some of the best we can find. They are known for their pancakes but I usually get an omelet or corned beef hash. Some visits are better than others, but most of the time the service and food are good. You will wait on a Sunday morning. The other IL locations are also very tasty. Great home cooked breakfast!
(4)leila r.
in short, food was good, server was good, MANAGER WAS AWFUL AND DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TREAT PATRONS. ****HOWEVER**** :) :) :) i filed a complaint with the website, and Ray Walker himself called me back to apologize and remedy the situation. he had also already spoken with the manager, general manager, and all his the supervisors to attend to the issue. it is truly something special to see an owner involved on a personal basis like that when they have so many locations operating. I am truly impressed, and although there are bound to be unprofessional moments with people lower down in the chain of command, the food and the intentions always deserve another chance. that is why i changed this review from 2 to 5 stars.
(5)Nena M.
The food is good not great and a bit pricey for breakfast. The place looks very nice and clean and the service was fine. They do have free wifi.
(3)Kurt H.
$42.00 for 3 for breakfast. It had better be good. Service sucks as usual. My Mother likes this place. She is 85. Need I say more?
(2)Cletus T.
It's a regular stop for breakfast for us. I like the Banana pancakes that come with a light tangerine glaze on them that results in jamming every bit of that yummy goodness right down the gullet - full or not - so I switched to ordering 1/2 stack and now I get all they awesome banana stuffed carbs without the glutenous after-guilt. DANG their good. I also like the Blueberry pancakes that come with the extra blueberries. The syrup is OldSkool maple wickedness and the coffee is THE BEST...Kona blend..they bring real cream to the table with it. I also like the Santa Fe Omelet that comes to the table barking a warning that it's going to sting your tounge...served with some pretty good salsa as well. Service is always pretty good. They serve smoked bacon which is fantastic. I've also had their Hawaiian French toast - to die for - and the biscuits and gravy remind me of Grandma's Saturday morning skillet-made gravy. Can't go wrong for a breakfast joint. I may head back up there in a minute. . . .
(4)Vicki R.
I am changing my review of this restaurant. My family and I had a bad experience on one of our visits with another customer; whereas, the manager did nothing. Mr. Walker was notified about the incident and immediately call us up with an apology. I am thoroughly impress with his response about rectifying the situation. The food is excellent and we will be returning to enjoy our family outings.
(4)M M.
This place was good- pancakes were standard- diner pancakes. What I look for in a menu at a breakfast place are unique dishes and variety. I felt like everything on the menu was plain and standard, which is not very fun. I can't even remember what the pancakes tasted like bc they were really not stand-out. I would go to Egg Harbor a million times over before I came here, but if my meal was being paid for I'd go back :)
(3)A. P.
What can I say? Good Coffee, Great food, Nice atmosphere.
(4)