Southtown Star from Tinley Park, Illinois • 76

(I restaurantreviJi The Star Thursday, Nowsmbef 3, 200C Big Apples back for breakfast lovers i r'frtcike InSVniAQiaoIldits (703)747-7273 items $149 to $1029; luncheon items 45; childrens items $3.19 to $4.40 to 3 pm seven days a week i Mjor cards accepted 1 1, and peppers. South of the border specialties also can be found on the menu, such as huevos con chorizo and huevos rancheros. At lunch time, Big Apple focuses on salads and sandwiches. Burgers, melts, wraps, dubs and croissants are some of the sandwich categories. Among the individual offerings are a turkey and avocado club, a corned beef and Swiss croissant, tuna melt, chicken Caesar wrap and a Big Apple burger that features two burgers with cheese and sliced onion in a Kaiser roll.

Under "tall orders," customers will find sandwiches that don't fit in any other categories, such as French dip, turkey Reuben, Cajun chicken and plain grilled cheese. The salads range from a Creek chicken to shrimp to Cobb to taco to a seasonal fresh fruit. This is a place where even the beverage selection should be given consideration. It offers fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juices at reasonable prices. It all adds up to a wonderful collection, especially for breakfast lovers who have to be happy to have Big Apple back.

and French versions. Customers also can team plain 'cakes with a multitude of toppings, including pecan, cherry and banana. A number of these same toppings are available on Big Apple's crepes. I found the triple berry combination of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries delightful. Not only was this team wonderful? but the underlying i crepes were well made.

They were delicate in texture but not in size. They are the extra-large version. The same is true of Big Apple's omelets. They are made of four eggs, and while the menu has several suggestions for fillings, customers also can build their own. My guest enjoyed the fresh veggie version that featured a filling that was fresh to the almost raw degree.

But the broccoli, onion, green pepper, spinach, tomato and mushrooms were provided with a generous hand. On another visit she indulged in mama's skillet, one of 10 of these popular breakfast items. Hash browns and cheese were joined by ham, bacon, sausage, onions and peppers, all nicely minced, as well as The Big Apple Pancake House in Chicago Heights has come back better than ever from a fire that kept it closed for many months. Obviously, the dining room has been refreshed, making it a Eleasant place for a leisurely reakfast or a quick lunch. But the kitchen, too, seems to have perked up with the new start.

During a few recent visits, every dish my guest and I ordered was exceptional, especially the namesake big apple pancake. The menu advises that customers have to allow the staff 40 minutes to create this concoction that teams fresh apples with a pancake batter into a sweet puffy caramelized confection. I was astonished when the server brought a pitcher of syrup to go with it, as if it needed that one more indulgence. It certainly was delicious and held up well enough to be enjoyed for a second meal, because in no way could I come close to eating it all. In fact, I didn't even finish it on the second try.

Less extravagant are Big Apple's other pancakes, which include whole wheat, potato fctrons who prefer the hash brown base instead of eggs can order skillets that feature i corned beef hash and Swiss cheese (the Boston) or chicken breast and broccoli (the -California). Big Apple also offers blintzes, waffles, breakfast sandwiches, French toast, scramblers and steak and eggs. In the latter category, the beef can be New York, country-fried, skirt, butt or Western steak. Among the "specials are potato Benedict, a twist on the familiar eggs Benedict that also is available, as well as biscuits and sausage gravy and eggs eggs instead of the advertised two. Add to this dish the choice of pancakes or toast, and Raul Bunyon might have been challenged to finish.

Other omelet possibilities are the "jumbo farmer" made fritta-ta style with ham, bacon, sausage, onion, green pepper, hash browns and cheese; avocado is served with tomato and bacon, and the three-cheese version features American, Swiss and Cheddar. For those who prefer to create their own, starting with four i eggs they can add items like black olives, sliced jalapenos, chorizo, chicken and feta. d. TMnyPat Omr fWruw 1 Biiuer Buy One Dinner Get 2na up lo $8.00 value IMne-ln Oahr Good any day Not valid with my odw aflmAfaoouna Counn Exjures 11-17-05 SR with my other 1205 II. CsSumot Iteraoislf Ifl (3764 534 CZ7V CMmSoMb (7ti) TN 14 mi 74H8 M-mm 7441 m-sm Mon Thur.

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34 -(030) 551-4476 MATTESON 4431 211th St. (708) 748-4400 10 Tacos Beef, Chicken or Pork only 149 ferry Oat Only vm a wot VWJ TTNLEYPARK 691 1W 159th St. (708) 420-2500 SHOREWOOD 221 Vertin Blvd (813) 436-2300 (mod am dzv Not valid with any other oSentttacouniB JmipnnJ-lxptres lt-17-05 SN tea.