Mystery Diner in Batavia: Andres Restaurant a hidden gem on Fox River

Perched above the banks of the Fox River in downtown Batavia is a casual restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. After our first visit, we want to return soon to the riverside seating along the wrap-around balcony.

The terrain allows access from the sidewalk level or via stairs from the convenient parking lot. Because the restaurant is set back from Route 25 and Webster Street, a short block south of Wilson Street, it’s a quiet spot punctuated by birdsong. From our table, we watched a white heron staking out fishing spots, accompanied by geese, gulls, and other birds, while we sipped iced tea and pink lemonade from the shaded balcony at lunchtime, a pleasant breeze keeping us cool.

We tried a variety of dishes, priced affordably, and all very enjoyable.

I started with a spinach salad with wonderfully fresh baby spinach, hard-boiled egg, tomato and generous bacon pieces. It comes with a sweet-sour dressing or you can pick your favorite.

As an appetizer, my dining companion picked a pastor taco, featuring marinated pork along with onions and cilantro nestled in two corn tortillas.

It packed plenty of spice and was accompanied by a hot green salsa.

For an entree, I chose a Colorado skillet that was excellent. Instead of conventional hash browns, a base of thinly sliced grilled potatoes was topped with melted cheeses as the bed for nicely sized chunks of ham, perfectly al dente green peppers and onions, all crowned by two over-easy eggs. Their rich golden yolk married all the ingredients for a beautifully balanced dish. A toasted and buttered, split English muffin completed the plate, with a choice of jellies and marmalade. Breakfast heaven.

Since it was technically lunchtime, my fellow diner headed right for the Batavia Burger, featuring freshly ground, never frozen Black Angus ground chuck topped with crispy bacon strips, and sauteed mushrooms and onions, with melted Swiss on a toasted gourmet bun. It was a juicy, flavorful burger that tasted like a classic.

It comes with a choice of sides, and he enjoyed the thin-cut fries served nice and hot.

The menu has lots of traditional temptations from eggs Benedict to omelets, frittatas and pancakes, with gluten-free pancakes available, too. It notes that chicken salad is one of the signature sandwiches.

My fellow diner next time wants to try the savory crepes that come with fillings ranging from a California mix of vegetables to enchilada options.

The bike path runs along the riverbank, with Andres Restaurant an appealing stopping point. The service was friendly, and this spot just a little off the beaten path is one to revisit.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at the Kane County Chronicle. The diner’s identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a review.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Andres Restaurant

WHERE: 5 Webster St., Batavia

HOURS: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week

INFORMATION: 630-482-9420, Facebook at tinyurl.com/3a3bms2k