Mystery Diner: Geneva Diner a favorite for breakfast and lunch

The Geneva Diner has been an institution in town for decades.

Located just south of State Street, it’s a homey destination with an old-school vibe. A long, curving counter with stools anchors the room, which also offers booths for seating in the relatively intimate space.

The allure of the classic American diner permeates the restaurant, which serves a wide array of traditional dishes for breakfast and lunch, and adds its own creative touches along the way.

Friends rave about the club sandwich, available in multiple incarnations. The eatery highlights its combination of ham and turkey, accompanied by bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo on three slices of multi-grain toast.

For our carryout order, we opened with a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. It was chock-full of tender chicken, accented by carrot, celery and noodles for a hearty starter. We appreciated the broth not being overly salted.

My dining companion checked out the “Benediction” portion of the expansive menu, and landed on the California Benedict. The colorful dish arrived with two large poached eggs paired with slices of avocado, applewood-smoked bacon and tomato on an English muffin, topped with a light and creamy Hollandaise sauce to marry the flavors.

I ventured away from the tasty omelettes to try one of the signature burgers, the Mushroom Swiss. A generous patty of lean ground beef came smothered with sauteed mushrooms and Swiss cheese, along with crisp lettuce, tomato, a savory pickle spear and a nicely toasted bun. Beautifully prepared, the mushrooms added lots of flavor.

The delicious fries also were well made and arrived home hot.

We ordered too late in the day to snag a slice of the day’s apple pie. Another sweet option would be the Swedish-style hot cakes, featuring four thin pancakes sweetened with cinnamon, then rolled and sprinkled with powdered sugar, and served with a side of lingonberries.

There also are Mediterranean and Mexican dishes on the menu, as well as salads and recipes with a lighter touch. On the lunch side are melts, wraps and classic sandwiches, and for breakfast lovers, the kitchen specializes in skillets, omelettes, pancakes, waffles and French toast. For the best of both worlds, Bill’s Breakfast Sandwich features two eggs with bacon, tomato and Swiss cheese on oat toast.

The restaurant is just a few blocks west of the Fox River, making it a great spot to re-energize after a hike or stroll around town. The Geneva Diner is known for good value and friendly service. We look forward to returning to dine in, staking claim to coffee and a piece of pie.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at the Kane County Chronicle. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff when ordering or picking up the food. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a review.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Geneva Diner

WHERE: 14 S. Second St., Geneva

PHONE: 630-232-1288

INFORMATION: www.facebook.com/thegenevadiner, www.thegenevadiner.com