Sometimes the only thing that can make mornings endurable is a good breakfast to start your day on the right side of the bed. Luckily for students at the University of Iowa, the Iowa City area has plenty of options for a hearty morning meal. This month, the Take 5 team checked out some of the most popular breakfast digs, rating them based on quality, menu, price, service, and atmosphere.

	Quality and Taste of Food	Menu Selections	Price/Value	Service	Atmosphere	Overall Rating
Lou Henri	4.1	3.7	3.7	4.1	3.1	3.7
Perkins	3.4	4.1	2.8	3.8	3.8	3.6
The Hamburg Inn	3.2	3.5	3.5	2.5	3.9	3.3
IHOP	4.2	4.2	3.2	3.9	3.5	3.8
The Mill	3.3	2	3.9	2.9	3.3	3.1

Rater comments

Lou Henri (3.7)

	Hidden down on Iowa Street, Lou Henri provides another option for breakfast dining in Iowa City. The food is well prepared and delicious. The staff is friendly but unfortunately, they are also slow to deliver the food. However, everything's forgiven once it arrives. - Andrew
	Living just two blocks down the street from Lou Henri, I get to enjoy breakfast there often. It's always tasty and has tons of options, catering to everyone from meat lovers to vegans. The portions are a perfect size, too. My only criticism is that on weekends when they're busy the service tends to lag a bit. On a weekday, however, it's no problem. - Lindsay
	Lou Henri had a good selection of breakfast. You can choose between hash browns and steak fries which are chunks of crispy potato with onion. It is within walking distance from downtown which makes it convenient. Customer service was great, and it had a small town atmosphere which was nice. - Tyler

Perkins (3.6)

	Perkins has an extensive menu. From fresh muffins to skillets, they have it all. This place is a little bit more expensive than the others. Customer service was excellent. Their omelets are large and full of ingredients. If not looking for a local business for breakfast, this would be an okay option. - Tyler
	Perkins is a staple of the Midwest — I know I can't make the drive from my hometown in Minnesota to Iowa City without seeing at least five Perkins along the way. The food isn't the most impressive in the world, but it's consistent and decently priced, and Perkins has the added bonus of being open all night. If you ever really need an omelette at 2 am, you know where to go. - Lindsay
	Perkins knows how to do breakfast. Instead of having the servers interupt every few minutes to offer coffee, they just set a pot on the table and allow you to help yourself. The service is quick and friendly and the surroundings are comfortable. The food is good but could be better. - Andrew

The Hamburg Inn (3.3)

	The atmosphere is welcoming and holds a lot of history. The food is plain-looking but exceptionally delicious. The only negative that I can find for Hamburg Inn is the slow service. It is usually busy in the mornings so you should go there expecting to be there a while. Prices are reasonable. - Andrew
	Hamburg Inn is an Iowa City icon. Its location is near campus, but seating is limited. They have a fairly good selection of breakfast items to chose from. Customer service could have been better, but overall the breakfast was good. - Tyler
	I think it's probably a crime to be an Iowa City resident who has never patronized the Hamburg Inn. It's one of our most famous attractions, after all, and when you go there you can see why. This is classic American diner food, although this one even offers vegetarian sausage and bacon. Very much appreciated, Hamburg Inn. The malts are my favorite (I get them even with breakfast), and you can get breakfast at any hour of the day. I've rarely had prompt service here, but because it's the Hamburg Inn, I'm willing to cut it some slack. - Lindsay

IHOP (3.8)

	This was probably my favorite place. I was very impressed with the food and the service. They got us seated right away, and the food came out fast and hot. The hash browns are very good, although a little buttery. They have a home-style feel, even though it is a chain establishment. It was also a nice touch that they had various kinds of flavored syrups at the table for your convenience. - Tyler
	IHOP is one of those chain restaurants I thoroughly and consistently enjoy. The pancakes are great, although I prefer getting crepes because they're hard to find anywhere else, and they're really good. This is probably the most extensive breakfast menu you'll find in the Iowa City area, because the entire restaurant is devoted to breakfast. Also, like Perkins, it's open into the wee hours of the morning. - Lindsay
	IHOP was my least favorite of the five restaurants. Although it received my lowest rating, eating there was not a negative experience by any means. The service was prompt and my beverages were kept full. The food was very regular and stood out neither by taste nor presentation. - Andrew

The Mill (3.1)

	The Mill only offers a breakfast menu on weekends until 1 pm, so you can't just drop in and order eggs and bacon whenever you feel like it. I got the french toast, which was really good and a huge portion. I would advise against ordering orange juice here, however. It was so watered down you could barely taste the orange. - Lindsay
	The Mill does an impressive job transforming from a smokey bar to a family breakfast restaurant on weekends. The food comes timely and in hearty portions. My orange juice tasted awful but didn't take too much away from a pleasant breakfast experience. - Andrew
	I was very surprised to see The Mill serves breakfast. They had a smaller selection of breakfast items. I got the french toast and you get a lot for your money! Customer service was great, and the coffee cups are very large. I feel they specialize more in their lunch and dinner options instead of their breakfast, however. - Tyler

If you'd like to share feedback about these five restaurants or any other establishments from Iowa City to Coralville, sound off. Fill out our feedback form and watch for next month's newsletter, where we'll share representative comments from S.T.A.T. members.

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