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Canteen Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
214 S Hough StBarrington, IL 60010
(847) 382-0900
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
chris f. said: "We had a reservation on the first Saturday night they were open, seated promptly. Great dining experience. On our waitresses suggestion we ordered the guac & chips appetizer. She returned to the table quickly and said it will be…" read more »
32 reviews for Canteen Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"...to try the home made corned beef hash (a weakness of mine." In 2 reviews -
"Great for breakfast or lunch, and usually not too crowded..." In 3 reviews -
"Also, the parking lot is tiny and tends to fill up quickly..." In 3 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Chrisa H.
1/6/2012
This is THE place for breakfast in Barrington. Not only are they ALWAYS open, they are always friendly and the food is always great. This is a diner in the classic sense of the word. The decor is kitschy, the staff is friendly, and the food always is great.
I love the Big Fat Greek Breakfast - the Zorba Omelette is my favorite. Mmmm...feta cheese, spinach, and tomatoes. LOVE!
I hear there is a new Eggs Benedict called the Falafel Benedict - so I know where I"m having breakfast this Sunday! -
Review from Brett D.
1/4/2012 1 photo
Canteen, serving Barrington since the 1940's, yo.
That kind of longevity can only mean one of two things: a) there is no other breakfast restaurant available in the town of Barrington, or, b) Canteen is doing something and doing it well for more than 60+ years. Kudos!
I can tell you this... it's definitely one of my favorite brunch stop-ins. From the ultra small - but cozy - dining room, the familiar smiling faces always there every time I stop in, to the consistently tasty and fully stocked menu, this is a family affair operation and they just get. it. right.
Mix Greek brekkie favs like feta-laced Omelettes and piled-high sandwiches on greek toast with nom worthy Bananas Foster Crepes, Pecan Belgian Waffles and crazy delicious Taffy Apple French Toast for a truly well-rounded morning marathon of all things mouthwatering. Excusez moi, is it hot in here or is it just me?
A down home atmosphere, attentive service and endless piping hot coffee are all just as dependable as the Canteen itself.
You know what's really tasty? Consistency.Listed in: Bring on the Brunch!!, Barrington... All the cool…
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Review from Jelena Z.
My lovely dalliance with the Canteen started with an enthusiastic recommendation from the beautiful Brett D and one hungover phone call on New Year's Day:
Me: You're open today?
He: OF COURSE we're open!
Done and done. We arrived to a full parking lot, a bustling restaurant and a hearty welcome from the same man who had answered the phone. We were situated in a big ol' booth made for sprawling (love!) and quickly took to the books, err menus, before us. I made a decision based on a combination of gut reaction and survival necessity: The Croque Madame French Toast. As it turns out, a Croque Madame tailored for breakfast is every bit as decadent as my 'bad girl' lunch staple (check out my photo - isn't she pretty?). I couldn't resist complementing my savory selection with a sweet side so I added a pancake for a nominal fee. This is what last suppers are made of! NomNOMnomNoMnoM.
Canteen's decor is very homey - think old movie posters and historic photos from a younger Barrington. Also on the menu's honorable mention list: Falafel eggs Benedict and sour cherry crepes! -
Review from Adam H.
Arlington Heights, IL
3/2/2012
We tried this place based on a recommendation to celebrate a day off and found the right spot. The decor was very cool and unexpected, and made me want to assemble a model airplane. We came at an off hour so it was relatively empty which is nice from time to time. Everyone was friendly and humorous and completed the experience. The food was delicious and the plates that other people ordered looked amazing as well. We will definitely return when we get the opportunity!
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Review from Amy J.
Barrington, IL
2/2/2012
It doesn't look like much from the outside but the food is to die for. This is a place that cares about what they serve to their customers, and how they treat their customers. If you're looking for delicious diner comfort food and you're in Barrington, this is the place you're looking for.
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Review from L S.
Lake Zurich, IL
2/28/2012
Epitome of old style dinner....food as fresh. Service was efficient....not necessarily friendly
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Review from Mark B.
Palatine, IL
We had the worst lunch we've had in a long time at Canteen last weekend.
While the interior is very quaint , I was completely turned off by the food that came to our table. When it finally got to our table.
I ordered a caprese panini, tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella with the unique twist of being grilled on greek bread.
Our waitress was young and seemed confused, nearly shell-shocked, by everything that was going on around her.
When the food finally arrived after far too long a wait, my sandwich was cold. The "Grilled" part was several sad, slightly beige lines that had been pressed into the bread by the panini press. Clearly not long enough to actually toast the bread.
The sandwich filling (basil, tomato and buffalo mozz) looked a little light, so I opened the sandwich up (see photo).
I had a couple slices of tomato, along with an end piece, 3 petite leaves of basil that didn't look all that appetizing and several clumps of melted mozzarella cheese (not buffalo mozzarella).
On tasting it, this turned out to be a truly disgusting sandwich.
The kitchen staff should be repremanded and the owner should be ashamed for letting that kind of food even be presented to a customer.
Wrong ingredients, skimpy ingredients, cooked wrong, served slow and cold.
We have had breakfast at Canteen before as well, but frankly it was nothing to write home about.
This visit seals it. We will not be back to Canteen.
Instead, I recommend the likes of Egg Harbor, McGonagles pub or Ambrosia etc.. for your next breakfast or lunch outting in Barrington. -
Review from Dana H.
Barrington, IL
1/22/2012
This place is good. It goes slightly beyond basic (with crepes and eggs benedict on a felafel). What I like is that their product is good, they make things that taste good and they are always friendly.
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Review from Sherwin C.
Palatine, IL
3/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Interesting restaurant. While it's not the best in texture or taste of the local restaurants they do offer many unique items (frittata, savory crepes, croque madame, etc.) that other places don't. In fact, it's really difficult to find many of these items outside of the city.
The prices are good and many of the items are special homemade versions so they taste different from other restaurants. Because of its uniqueness it's worth a visit if you live in the area. -
Review from Courtney W.
Chicago, IL
11/12/2011
This little place is quite a charmer. My father, who lives in Florida, still raves about this place to friends. He fondly remembers it after one visit about eight years ago. The chips that greet you at the table are made in house and are fabulous! My favorite soup of all time is also served here; lemon chicken rice. It is fabulous and always the soup of choice when I'm in town. The menu is pretty extensive and I enjoy something different every time I come in! Sam, the owner, is very nice and friendly and likes to learn every customer's name. The staff is pretty friendly and make great suggestions depending on your mood. I know when my dad visits in a couple of months, this will be the first place on his list!
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Review from Zhong Y.
Elgin, IL
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lunch was underwhelming, which is another case of a restaurant whose promising exterior fails to deliver. Menu was unimpressive, matched by preparation and length of wait between order and service and post-service check-in. Pass!
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Review from Nathan S.
Elgin, IL
3/20/2011
We were driving through Barrington when my wife spotted a small sign that said, "Falafel Benedict." This was odd enough to cause us to turn the car around and grab a late breakfast.
While we didn't actually try the falafel, we did find a large and varied menu to choose from, which is a bit rare in restaurants around here. My wife ordered the eggs Florentine and I just had to try the home made corned beef hash (a weakness of mine).
The food was okay, but nothing spectacular. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly, but the hash and the potatoes were very dry. My wife's dish was similar in that the eggs were quite good but the potatoes dry, and the hollandaise was not quite right. I will say that the coffee was excellent.
The food was certainly good enough for us to go back and try again, but they need to hone their craft a bit more when it comes to the breakfast staples. Bad potatoes point to a lazy kitchen, as fried potatoes are easy enough to cook that the kitchen staff must not be paying enough attention to their work. This makes me wonder how good the rest of the food will be.
The food was certainly good enough to warrant another go, as was the atmosphere of the restaurant. I will update when I try it again. -
Review from Tony P.
Schaumburg, IL
4/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a great breakfast place with all the popular places popping up all over the place, this place is just the quintessential breakfast joint. They offer a full menu although I must admit I always order breakfast.
From savory/sweet crepes, frittatas, awesome skillets and enormous omelets. This past weekend I ordered scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon crepe with Hollandaise Sauce. I think the sauce is great. Maybe a little thicker than you are used to but it is nice that it is not runny. My old man always gets the Gypsy Skillet which is his absolute favorite. Of course they do the old classics as well but will also put a new twist on them if you are open to it.
We have been meeting here for breakfast for years. It's a great restaurant to even drive out of the way for, no matter where you live. The staff is friendly and the owner is like the greek uncle you never had but always wanted! -
Review from Mark W.
Chicago, IL
1/18/2012
This place is great. Creative menu and comfort food, rolled into one.
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Review from Damian S.
Lake, IL
1/21/2010
A great place to go when you want some "down home" kind of cooking. Today I had the Hawaii-5-0 Frittata (bacon, cheese, pineapple, and ham on an open-faced omelette), which also comes with a plate of fried potatoes and your choice of pancakes, toast or something else. I chose the pancakes. The servings sizes were more that adequate for one person, and it was a tasty, filling brunch after "teaching" finals for the day. The only negative about the whole thing was the potatoes...they were a little burnt and crispy for my taste. That, and did they switch to Pepsi, or did they always have it?
One of my favorites for non-breakfast visits is the chicken, rice and lemon soup. It is so silky and flavorful! It goes with all of their meals very well, with the exception of a breakfast or I would've gotten it today.
The seating is typical diner-ish, with booths for four all around the perimeter and about 16 four-person tables (the kind that comfortably seat two) in the center. Never really been crowded, as it looks a lot smaller form the outside, and is a best-kept secret of the Barrington food arena. Although they're really neat, don't look too closely at the model planes, or you'll wonder when the last time a total vacuuming of the place was performed.
The food more than makes up for the decor, and the managers and staff have always been very friendly, yet not overbearing while you're eating. It's a great little locally owned restaurant. -
Review from Franklin D.
Arlington Heights, IL
11/4/2007
Cool model airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Dining area looked kind of small, probably because it was packed with people. Real nice greek guys running things...the whole menu had a "big fat greek xxx" theme going, like "big fat greek omelette", etc. Pretty funny.
My son had the chocolate chip pancakes. There were two gigantic pancakes and lots of chocolate chips even though it was a $3.50 kids plate. I had hash, eggs, potatoes, and rye toast for $7. Not bad.
NOTE: The restrooms are in the basement down some steep stairs. Also the parking lot was small but we found street parking easily (Sunday, 9AM-ish). Might be harder to park on other days. -
Review from Tim L.
Riverside, IL
8/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a surprise gem. Great steak wrap
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Review from Amy R.
Libertyville, IL
1/17/2011
Very good food and the owner is always nice.
Great place to eat-but call ahead as they have sporatic hours(mostly daytime). -
Review from Nick F.
Barrington, IL
9/21/2011
My wife and I go there at least once a week. The owner has a gift for hiring and keeping the most pleasant waitresses. A very warm and friendly place. When we brought my elderly mother-in-law with us, she was always treated with care and respect. And the food is excellent. If you want a tasty, hearty breakfast try the Greek steak and eggs. The steak is marinated and the eggs are scrambled with feta cheese. And there are always surprise dishes, often with a French or Italian twist. It's a good lunch place with great salads, soups and sandwiches And the Canteen is open on Friday nights for fish fry and a diverse menu if you want something not fried or just not fish. There is plenty of parking. Kids are welcome. In fact the restaurant is festooned with crayon-colored art work crafted by young customers. Don't miss this place.
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Review from Ga A.
Grayslake, IL
1/11/2012
One would never know the incredibly yummy food that is served within the walls of this small diner unless one ventured in and tried. I am so glad we did! I have been there twice. The gourmet selections are vast and the food is prepared deliciously. The fruit is fresh, you receive your own coffee carafe, kids meal menus complete with crayons. Wonderful airplane models hang from the ceiling, antiques sit on the shelves that wind around the room near the ceiling and old movie posters adorn the walls as do the kids art from the menus. I would have given a 5 star rating because the food is so good and the people friendly, but the service is lax and not overly accommodating. Note: the bathrooms are down the stairs. This place is a treat.
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Review from George B.
Chicago, IL
12/16/2007 16 Check-ins Here
The Canteen is one of those small places where you pass by it all the time and never think about stopping in for breakfast or lunch... and the first time you do stop in for a meal, you want to kick yourself because you realize you have been missing so many chances to eat at a pretty good and reasonably priced place.
The food is very good, and the coffee is great. What makes this place so good is the top notch service.
Unfortunately, this place isn't quite handicapped friendly, as the restrooms are down stairs. Also, the parking lot is tiny and tends to fill up quickly on weekends. -
Review from Rich W.
Arlington Heights, IL
2/25/2010
My brother and I went to lunch there the week of Christmas this past year. He is an international business traveler and isn't around much, but he was on semi-vacation Christmas week. He suggested we meet at the Canteen.
I kind of enjoyed the atmosphere, especially since I'm am an airplane nut. The owner (?) was a very jovial guy and greeted me like we were old friends when I came in.
I ordered a cup of coffee and studied the very extensive (typical of Greek owned restaurants) menu and had decided on a "breakfast" entree, by the time my brother arrived.
I had one of their "skillet" dishes. It was pretty good, but not as good as the similar offering at Papa G's in Huntley, a favorite breakfast stop on the days that my "Thursday lunch-buddy" and I are Operations dept. volunteers at the Illinois Railway Museum.
Anyway, back to the Canteen. My brother also had a "breakfast" entree, and said that is what he usually has when he and his family go there.
The service was excellent. The only negative, as someone else mentioned was the location of the washrooms, down a narrow stairway to the basement.
I'll give it another try, and have a different entree sometime soon, and possibly revise the average rating that i gave it. -
Review from Liz H.
Chicago, IL
2/16/2010
I love this place! It's yummy diner style food, with a nifty ambiance. The portions are huge, and the service so fast that you can easily make it a stop for your lunch break. Everyone is super friendly and willing to accomodate special requests.
The soups and sandwiches are especially tasty here.
Easily one of the best places to eat in Barrington! -
Review from Cathy S.
Schaumburg, IL
4/17/2009
I really miss the Canteen since I moved out of the immediate area.
It is a must stop if you are in the area.
The parking lot is very tiny and I would just avoid trying to park in it at all.
Instead park on the side street and enjoy a little walk before and after breakfast!
Everything I have had here is great and the staff is wonderful.
I hope to get back soon! -
Review from Judy T.
Barrington, IL
3/21/2010
We've been there several times over the years and mostly we've enjoyed it. This time I ordered the corned beef hash & eggs and the corned beef was the real thing, I guess, not the canned version. It was a roasted corned beef all chopped up. Now I realize this is the REAL version but I hate to say it but it made me think I was eating leftovers from St. Patrick's day last week. I had the regular canned version of corned beef there before so I
thought I knew what to expect. I'm sure it wasn't leftovers. -
Review from Rick F.
Hinckley, IL
12/22/2010
The Canteen rocks!
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Review from Robert M.
Barrington, IL
3/20/2011
The Canteen is a classic - no less. The interior dates from the 50s era, with occasional updates to the pictures and albums on the walls (anyone remember Sing Along with Mitch?).
The planes on the ceiling are awesome, and the kids get to color planes that immediately go into the front of the menus.
The food is all hardcore classic greek breakfast with the occasional sop to those trying to eat healthy. The Chocolate Chip pancakes are de rigeur for the kids. I usually get a fritatta, saves driving over to Arlington Heights or other suburbs for 'em. -
Review from yvette c.
Streamwood, IL
12/22/2008
I drive past the Canteen all the time & finally had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. The Canteen is your classic American diner that is located in downtown Barrington. They are open from 6 AM until 3 PM daily. They offer good food with friendly service. They serve fresh potato chips while you check out the menu. There are model airplanes hanging everywhere. My only beef is the bathroom, they are located in the basement & aren't the warmest area to be in during a cold Chicago winter. But that wont stop me from coming back!
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Review from Tom F.
Rogers Park, Chicago, IL
4/4/2010 4 Check-ins Here
The menu is typical greek diner, but the atmosphere, service and food quality are excellent for the niche. Great for breakfast or lunch, and usually not too crowded to get a table.
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Review from Raw F.
Barrington, IL
11/30/2006
The food here is great, I love the skillets, and the wait staff, even thought it's mostly teenage girls from the local high school, do a good job. Now if they could only figure out a way to make more parking and possibly a bigger waiting area it'd be my favorite restaurant in B-town!
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Review from maggie c.
Barrington, IL
6/9/2009
A friend of mine turned me on to the Canteen few years ago, and we have returned the favor to our family and friends. Fresh yummy food with nice sized portions and the service is fantastic! A definite winner! If you have not been give it a try!
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Review from Heather G.
Barrington, IL
2/28/2009
Good food, great prices!
