Best brunches in the Illinois Valley

Brunch: the most important meal of the weekend.

Luckily, the Illinois Valley has no shortage of delicious options. Get ready to feast on pancakes, biscuits & gravy, eggs Benedict and more at these fantastic brunch spots.

To find out where to get the best brunch in the Illinois Valley area, we asked our readers to weigh in for the Shaw Local Best of the Illinois Valley contest. The results are in, and here are the top-rated brunch restaurants, as voted by audiences.

Best Brunch: Starved Rock Lodge, One Lodge Lane, Oglesby

Starved Rock Lodge offers a buffet brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The menu includes breakfast favorites like cinnamon swirl French toast, scrambled eggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, an omelet station and more. Lunch items include Starved Rock’s famous fried chicken, pot roast, baked fish, pasta, salads, a carving station and a variety of side dishes. Desserts include assorted pies, cakes and pastries. Adults are $26 and children 10 and under are $12.95. For more information or to make a reservation, visit starvedrocklodge.com.

One of the Best: Hank’s Farm, 2973 Illinois Highway 71, Ottawa

Hank’s Farm hosts Sunday brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The regular menu is not offered, but the brunch buffet has favorites like eggs Benedict, French toast sticks, biscuits & gravy, salmon, roast turkey and over 14 feet of desserts. Adults are $25, children 5-10 are $12.50 and children under 5 are $3.50.

Hank’s is hosting a special “Frozen” brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2. Selections include eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, roast beef or pork, pasta and additional themed items. Special “Frozen” mimosa flights and festive drinks will be available. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes for an “icy” photo opportunity. Reservations are recommended, and can be made by calling 815-433-2540. For more information, visit hanksfarm.com.

One of the Best: Thyme Craft Kitchen, 405 5th St., Peru

This farm-to-table restaurant serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. All ingredients are sourced locally from 25 Illinois farms. The brunch menu, which is updated seasonally, includes a variety of dishes like biscuits & gravy, pancakes, smoked salmon plate, shrimp grits, grass-fed hamburger and more. For more information, visit thymecraftkitchen.com.