Robinson's Ribs -Oak Park

OK so we were intrigued-  a ribs place that advertised a "Southern Style" breakfast.  Breakfast today was late because we first went to Mann School's Spring sing (enough said about this third grade performance.)

When we arrived at Robinson's, which had ample free on street parking, the restaurant was empty and there was no breakfast menu displayed but one was quickly brought out and since we were the only folks there we had great service.    Robinson's is a bar-b-que joint. It looks like and smells like a bar-b-que joint;  vinyl seats, formica tables, framed newspapers on the walls and a pervasive smell of some bleach cleanser that quickly faded into the background. 

The breakfast menu was brief, a few sandwiches, lots of egg choices, pancakes and some omelets.  Max ordered a fried egg sandwich with turkey sausage and a side of grits.  Leslie (she wanted a little taste of everything)  chose the breakfast special which came with grits, biscuit, eggs and turkey sausage.  The food took a very long time to come out but we had good coffee while we waited. I don't know what kind of coffee they use but it was fresh and well brewed and much better than expected.  The cups were small but they were frequently refilled. 

When our food did come the portions were enormous.  The turkey sausage was very good and plentiful. It was the size of a banana from a banana split !  Leslie's biscuit was ok (definitely not a biscuit from the south but the grits were very good.  The eggs were good also.  Max's sandwich was enormous.  He had the same spicy turkey sausage, egg and lightly toasted wheat bread.  He felt the grits were also good but a little too thick (could be that it was 10:00 a.m. by now).

We are looking forward to trying out their dinner menu. 

Blue Max Coffee

We missed last week's blogging because it was Passover and we did not want to go  out and eat a plate of scrambled eggs with no toast.  It is good to be back. This week we opted to return to a place where we have been often before, Blue Max Coffee at 26 Lathrop ave. in Forest Park. 

When you walk in you place your order at the front counter and then take a number card to your table.  The atmosphere here is very nice. The dining area is the front room and sun porch of an old house. We have always opted to sit in the sun room, -it is sunny.  Generally the crowd is mixed between people working on their laptops and groups of women who just finished getting their kids settled into school.  It is usually fairly busy but we have never had to wait for a table. 

The menu is a large, typical Yuppie breakfast menu, perfect for its location.   You can find it on their website.  The baked goods are very good and very sweet.  This morning Leslie had the pancakes. She described them as fluffy, tasty, buttermilk based pancakes. They looked great and were covered in fresh sliced strawberries and blueberries and bananas.  After Passover I needed a break from anything that might have remotely touched an egg so I ate the oatmeal. It was really excellent, a creamy texture with good chewy oats.  I was very happy. 

They roast their own coffee and it is very good, rich well brewed and flavorful.  Leslie likes their big blue mugs.  We really like this place. I may try writing sermons here.