Burnt toast is not something you’d want to have on your plate. But Burnt Toast Restaurant in Elgin was named for a gag gift and the name stuck.
“We’re known for our bacon and French toast,” said manager Veronica Camacho, who’s been with Burnt Toast for eight years. “Our bacon and eggs are popular and are many of our key items, along with our skillets.”
Camacho said breakfast is so popular “I don’t know if people know we have lunch. We have amazing lunch items. Like BLTs, burgers and lots of organic items.”
“But try one of the French toast dishes: Our famous French toast topped with Indonesian cinnamon sugar, the stuffed French toast with cream cheese and berries, or the Grand Marnier French toast with the orange-flavored cognac-based liqueur in the batter and as a sauce topping, along with sauteed bananas, pecans and cinnamon sugar.
“Decadent!” is how Camacho describes the Grand Marnier French toast.
“Very eclectic, right?” is how Camacho describes Burnt Toast’s menu.
The menu changes twice a year to bring in spring and fall items. She points to the sweet potato chorizo hash skillet — “this is the second time it’s offered, it’s so popular” — chicken & bacon & waffles, roasted beet salad, creamy vanilla bean chia yogurt “for a morning or afternoon treat.”
On the menu: Breakfast items like egg dishes and combo platters, skillets, steaks, benedicts, pancakes, omelets, crepes and waffles. Lunch items like salads, specialty sandwiches, burgers, melts, wraps and paninis.
About the owners: Kostas and Ingrid Drivas opened Burnt Toast in Elgin in 2007. Some customers were discussing a possible name and came up with an idea, buying the couple the gift of a wooden toaster with burnt toast as a gag gift.
Philosophy: “It’s a combination I feel of great customer service and to deliver what we’re promising, our great food and service,” Camacho said. “It’s not just a good picture we put out there. We want people to enjoy this one moment here at Burnt Toast that they have in their day.”
Décor: “Modern, almost like a fine-dining breakfast place to me,” Camacho said.
Specialties: House specialties like three kinds of French toast: Grand Marnier, banana nut bread and stuffed. Featured items like chicken pot pie,
We’re different because: “We work very hard in delivering customer service,” Camacho said. “We have a lot of regular customers we’ve known for years. We don’t take our blessings for granted.”
Prices: Breakfast and lunch items from $6.49-$12.99. Kids’ menu items are $3.99 and $4.99.
Logistics: Burnt Toast is at 2492 N. Randall Road, Elgin, 847-551-9725. Hours are 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sundays. Algonquin location is at 2520 Bunker Hill Drive, 847-854-9552. Go to www.btrestaurant.com.
