Birdy’s Coffee House

Spring is here and the birds are returning. It’s a short migration, as the crow flies. Just a few hops away from downtown Libertyville Metra station, finches and warblers alight for crumbs. Keep your eye on the sparrow. With so much hustle and bustle, I can’t keep track of them all coming or going for fresh food on the fly!

What kind of bird are you?

Scroll down to see more photos and read more about Birdy’s Coffee House.

“The croissant of the Franco’s Pepper & Egg Hot Breakfast Sandwich is light and fluffy. The mayonnaise is very tangy. I like the side of ripe, fresh fruits!”

Historic downtown Libertyville is home to Restaurant Row on Milwaukee Avenue, and no culinary strip would be complete without a choice coffee house. There is a chain down the street with a drive-thru, a place up the road with a vibe, and a location in between on the corner that’s too weekday for the weekend. I don’t want to feel like I can’t hang at the cool kids’ table, and I don’t want to be too cool for the room. A little birdy told me…

…that a new coffee house was open serving vibrant coffee, fresh breakfast with a personal touch, and hosting a cozy lodge atmosphere that none of the above places could claim as their own. It was time to leave the nest. With the gyro nav in my tummy as my guide, Lisa, my mom and I set a course.

We walked in and were taken under the wing of the family at Birdy’s Coffee House. After some chipper introductions and chirpy pleasantries, we placed our orders and basked in the morning sunlight. The dining area seemed larger inside than it appeared from the outside, and despite the proximity to the line, we couldn’t really hear the clickety clack on the tracks. Even the birds in the outdoor seating area didn’t flinch from a passing train. And just like that, our food and drinks arrived.

“This Iced Coffee is impressively smooth. I’m drinking it black and I love it!”

We’ve had breakfast sandwiches. And we’ve had #$@&%*! breakfast sandwiches. But now we were having

BREAKFAST SANDWICHES!

My mom ordered the Vegetable Farmer Hot Breakfast Sandwich while I ordered the Franco’s Pepper & Egg Hot Breakfast Sandwich. Lisa divebombed for the Bacon & Fontina Hot Breakfast Sandwich. However, in all the excitement, my cockatoo crest must’ve impaired my senses because we ended up eating each other’s sandwiches(!). We realized this after a few bites, so we just stayed the course. My mom: “The croissant of the Franco’s Pepper & Egg Hot Breakfast Sandwich is light and fluffy. The mayonnaise is very tangy. I like the side of ripe, fresh fruits!” Lisa: “The Bacon & Fontina Hot Breakfast Sandwich has crispy bacon, and the Portuguese roll melts in my mouth. The onion marmalade—yes, ONION marmalade—gives it a nice zing. I’m enjoying my Hot Coffee with honey and cream, a nice complement to the sandwich!” And me: “The Vegetable Farmer is packed with fresh broccoli and other veggies. The croissant is pleasingly buttery. This Iced Coffee is impressively smooth. I’m drinking it black and I love it!” Nobody’s feathers were ruffled.

Lisa and I circled back soon thereafter for a return visit. She wanted to try the Vegetable Farmer Hot Breakfast Sandwich on a different bread. I wanted to try the Portuguese roll with the Smoked Salmon & Goat Cheese Tartine. Lisa: “This Vegetable Farmer Hot Breakfast Sandwich is served on multigrain russell toast. It’s chock full of fresh veggies, naturally flavorful. My Jett Pack Smoothie is combined with a Vanilla Ball Float. I can taste all the sweet and tart berries!” And me: “Whoa, my first bite of the Smoked Salmon & Goat Cheese Tartine is an explosion of flavors. The briny punch of the capers, the rich creaminess of the egg, and the soft Portuguese Roll that finishes firm is amazing. I see a spectrum of colors with every bite!” This is right up there with the best!

“The atomosphere at Birdy’s Coffee House feels like a cozy lodge. The menu offers something for everyone. I want to come back and sit by the fire!”

Lisa and I wanted to bring a little Birdy home. We let the Chocolate Croissant, Cinnamon Roll and Blueberry Scone out to spread their wings. Lisa: “The Chocolate Croissant is stuffed with high quality chocolate. I can savor all the layers. The amount of chocolate is pah-fect! The Cinnamon Roll is airy with just the right amount of cinnamon. This is very well balanced. I like this a lot! Wow, the Blueberry Scone has a lot of blueberries. It’s unbelievably tender, more like a fine pastry!” And me: “The Chocolate Croissant is light and flaky. The frilly texture of the croissant pairs well with the smooth chocolate! Oh, the Cinnamon Roll warmed up just a touch is dreamy. The cinnamon is wonderful. I would buy that whole skillet! The Blueberry Scone is not your usual scone. This has tons of fresh berries and is so tender. This is the scone 2.0!” I brake for Birdy scones.

After everything, Lisa and I shared a couple impressions. Lisa: “The atomosphere at Birdy’s Coffee House feels like a cozy lodge. The menu offers something for everyone. I want to come back and sit by the fire!” And me: “At Birdy’s Coffee House, I feel right at home here thanks to the personal touch from the family owners. They reinvigorate the standard coffee house menu with new flavors and ideas!” What kind of bird am I? I’m the bird that comes back, like a trained hawk or falcon. Or a budgie.

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