Approximately 15 minutes from campus, Last Chance Bar and Grill offers a change of pace from most of the places around Bradley’s campus. It serves breakfast all day, with lunch and dinner of primarily American food fare.
I tried the Mexican skillet, which consisted of two eggs your way, chili, shredded cheddar cheese and green onion laid on top of my choice of hash browns with a side of whole-wheat toast. The order, excluding tip, came out to a total of $10.19. I consider the skillet a staple of a place that serves breakfast all day, and this particular place is also known for its skillets.
Here are my thoughts:
Mexican skillet: 3/5
When I opened up the takeout box, I immediately noticed the skillet was compacted with ingredients. I was prepared for this meal to leave me with a huge, greasy mess, but it was not like that at all.
I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of cheddar cheese spread on the skillet, which really held the whole dish together. The eggs, which I ordered scrambled, were cooked to perfection. They were not too soggy and were not overly cooked to the point of dryness.
I was disappointed with the lack of spice that I had hoped for. Throughout the entire dish, I found only one sliced jalapeño, which was sad considering the entree’s name. Additionally, the chili was a strange choice. It was quite bland, lacking any type of spice or zest, but texturally it was a nice addition. Although the Mexican skillet was not what I expected, it did fill me up quickly and I was left satisfied.
Shredded Hash browns: 4.5/5
The shredded hash browns were by far the best part of the whole meal. While they were the bedrock of the skillet, their presence throughout the course of the meal was apparent. The hash browns were not too salty, and they were not as greasy as one would expect. They were perfectly cooked.
Although they complemented the skillet, I would have preferred this to be more of a side left on its own than for it to be the base of the meal with the addition of a much more zesty seasoning.
Toast: 4/5
I did not think the whole wheat toast would be anything special. It looked like they took it out of the grocery store bread bag, slathered on butter and said, “Here ya go.” However, when I took a bite into it, I was pleasantly surprised. It had a dash of garlic, almost reminiscent of Texas toast and had the perfect amount of crunch to it without being burnt. Additionally, the portion of four pieces instead of the standard two pieces was a nice bonus.
While some of the aspects of the meal were not up to par, for a little over $10, Last Chance Bar and Grill offered a nice, hearty portion that filled me up without costing too much.
