PUBLISHED IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE AUGUST 6, 2015

A solid brunch spot has been missing from downtown St. Charles for quite some time. Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch is a warm, family-friendly restaurant open seven days a week.

Here’s the scoop on this new breakfast and lunch spot.

What’s on the menu? Traditional American breakfast and lunch dishes are on the menu at Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch. Guests can expect the typical waffles, pancakes, omelets, French toast, skillets and eggs Benedict for breakfast. For lunch offerings, after 11 a.m., staples like sandwiches, salads and soup are available. Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch also puts a twist on traditional breakfast and lunch offerings with their signature dishes.

About the owners: Matt McCoy, Rob Mondi and Abednego “Abby” Mejia (also the restaurant’s head chef) worked together years ago at Rock Bottom in Naperville. Since they’ve known each other, they’ve always wanted to own a restaurant and to be able to balance out family life as well. “We’ve all been working in the restaurant business our whole lives,” said Mondi. “We wanted to open a restaurant with all of our own creations, serving the best food possible.”

Mission statement or philosophy: “We wanted to be the best”, Mondi said. “We went to all the restaurants in the area and tried their food. It helped us understand what others are offering and how we could carve out a niche for ourselves.” From the decor, the food and the customer service, it is apparent in every aspect of the dining experience that they truly care and put heart into everything they do.

The decor: The owners did all the renovation work to change the building from a Thai restaurant to the cute breakfast and lunch spot that it is today. The fresh, friendly and warm environment does not have a slick franchise feel. The homey atmosphere extends to the decor with purples and lavenders, sunny windows and nods to the hometown with old photographs from the St. Charles Historical Society on the walls.

Food specialties: Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch offers signature dishes for breakfast and lunch every day of the week. Breakfast signature specials include corned beef hash with diced corned beef, cubed sweet potatoes, nutmeg and topped with eggs; a biscuits and gravy waffle, with biscuit batter poured into a waffle iron and served with a topping of Andouille sausage gravy that gets trapped in every cranny of the biscuit-waffle; and chicken chorizo waffles made with an amazing homemade verde sauce and topped with queso fresco and two fried eggs.

Lunch specialties at Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch include a high-stacked meat mountain of a Reuben sandwich; a BLT with savory cream cheese and fried eggs; and waffle and sausage sliders where two sausage patties are placed between the biscuit waffles and served with a side of Andouille sausage gravy for dipping delight.

To wet your whistle, Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch also has a bloody mary made with Effen cucumber vodka and a beermosa made with Allagash white and orange juice. For alcohol-free options, Kona coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice is available.

We’re different because: Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch is the only breakfast spot in downtown St. Charles and does not take reservations.

Extras: On weekends, Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch offers homemade pies.

Price range: Most dishes are in the $7 to $10 range.

Logistics: Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch is located at 11 N. Third St. in downtown St. Charles. Parking is available in front of and behind the restaurant. They are open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m until 3 p.m. Call 630-377-0797 or go to www.abbysbreakfastandlunch.com/.

Beth Casey is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.