Christmas Wander: Starting Home and Best Breakfast Ever

Sunrise Cafe FTW!

We sadly left our hotel room in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, not wanting to leave even as we wanted to get home at the same time. I’d thought maybe we’d stop at the same place again for breakfast but as is often the case, once we got ready to leave, we were antsy to get on our way. I picked a place in Warren, Illinois, home of my favorite little wedge shaped stone building. We hit the fog and started the meander home.

After perusing the map I decided we should cut down south a bit and go through Apple River on the way because the road that went through it was East Stagecoach Trail. EAST STAGECOACH TRAIL! It’s part of the old road that originally ran from Galena to Chicago. Stagecoach territory, people, stagecoach territory. Roads make me giddy.

Downtown Apple River was quiet so we wandered on, past the Albert Stocks Memorial Triangle.

There’s a beautiful old Greek Revival house under all that.

At last we arrived at the Sunrise Cafe. I was so happy to see the street had a series of ramps so I had no problem getting in.

We got in and I was delighted with my choice. A quick look told me the old wooden booths looked gorgeous but might be hard to navigate with a walker so we found a four top on the other side, near the door so we had a great vantage point. A big family group came in and there was much discussion and moving of tables to accommodate everybody. A big family group ranging from babies to teens to parents to grandparents. It was lovely.

And then, the food.

If you are a crispy hash brown girl like I am, you may weep a bit seeing this.

It was too busy to chat much with our waitress but she did say the booths had always been there. Just gorgeous.

One of the best road breakfasts we’ve had in eons…ever perhaps. Great food, gargantuan servings, and I think the bill, after tax, came to $18. Smiles, cheerful service and the faint sounds of a tinny radio behind us playing John Mellencamp’s Pink Houses. I was overflowing with happiness.

Onward.

Love,
Cynthia