Mystery Diner in St. Charles: Southern Cafe adds spin to breakfast and lunch

The Southern Cafe recently opened a breakfast and lunch destination in St. Charles.

Drop biscuits are a signature item, and take a lead role in The Nasty Biscuit, a dish that demands attention below the cafe’s sign on the building. The menu describes it as a flaky buttermilk biscuit stuffed with crispy Southern-fried chicken breast topped with cheesy scrambled eggs and smothered in country gravy atop crispy hash browns.

The space at Route 64 and Tyler Road underwent a radical makeover from its long history as a pizza restaurant in the former Tin Cup Pass shopping center, switching to a bright white interior with country decor touches accented with greenery. Ample seating areas are on multiple levels.

At the entrance is a beverage bar with specialty coffees, juice blends, smoothies, teas, hot chocolate and other items. It provides easy access for customers looking for grab-and-go drinks. While you wait, you can peruse the nearby small marketplace with its house-label jams, sauces, attire and other wares.

We were shown a table on the second level, and our helpful server mentioned that some of the popular dishes include the fried green tomatoes and cheddar grits, and fried chicken with eggs nestled between waffles.

Another Southern dish is the Louisiana skillet, prepared with Cajun andouille sausage griddled with chopped onions and red and green bell peppers atop crispy seasoned hash browns with melted pepper Jack cheese.

We spotted all the brunch favorites, from French toast to eggs Benedict, pancakes and crepes. The lunch menu offers burgers, salads, wraps and an array of sandwiches from a Cajun shrimp po’boy to house-made corned beef. After 11 a.m., lunch entrees range from a spicy gumbo to catfish fillets.

While we studied all the choices, we enjoyed a fresh orange juice, served in a handled Mason jar, and a chocolatey hot mocha.

In the mood for breakfast, my dining companion ordered the avocado bacon omelet with crumbled, hickory-smoked bacon, diced tomatoes, avocado and pepper Jack cheese, for which he substituted Swiss.

The massive omelet was light and fluffy, and packed with creamy avocado and flavorful bacon. For his sides, he picked crispy hash browns and an English muffin.

I selected a build-your-own breakfast skillet, and upgraded to gluten-free pancakes for my side, garnished with tasty ripe banana and strawberry slices. Our server brought a bottle of warm syrup to the table, along with whipped butter and two fresh and luscious jams, one strawberry and one peach.

My excellent skillet included one of the giant biscuits, along with two eggs requested over easy, with hash browns topped by cheddar, green pepper and savory country ham.

Parking at The Southern Cafe is ample, and a patio awaits warmer weather. We won’t wait that long to try some of the other tempting dishes.

• 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: The Southern Cafe

WHERE: 1590 E. Main St., St. Charles; a sister location is in Roselle

HOURS: 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily

INFORMATION: 630-945-3437, www.thesoutherncafe.com