Before I arrived at TNT’s snack shop in Arlington Heights, I didn’t know what to expect. While I’d passed by the establishment hundreds of times over the years, I’d never eaten there. Now, that I’ve gone once, I’ll certainly be back for more.
What struck me initially about TNT’s was atmosphere. Despite being next to a gas station and a relatively busy road, the restaurant maintained a homey feel with its pleasantly unpretentious decor. The patio area, where I sat, was decorated with an array of picturesque statues and signs, which furthered this vibe.
Another great thing about the eatery was excellent service. My group was seated and served water only minutes after arriving, and our waitress was extremely friendly, offering us suggestions on what to order. Even more impressive was that the food arrived in only about fifteen minutes.
While these are all pluses, what I really care about was the food. Not being a big fan of breakfast food, I my waitress for a suggestion. After some thought, she told me to go for the tomato, spinach and onion omelette. Intrigued, I decided to try it out.
However, once the dish was served, I began to regret my decision. What I immediately noticed was how little of it was actually composed of the aforementioned vegetables. The experience was akin to ordering a hamburger and only getting two buns and a slice of pepperoni. Seeing this, the omelette was pretty bland, to the point where I needed to drench some Cholula on it to salvage the meal. While nothing was particularly bad about the omelette, it was astutely unmemorable.
The standout, surprisingly enough, was the hash browns that came with the omelette. Soft in the middle, yet crispy along the edges, with a
wonderfully savory taste, they were cooked to perfection. Next time I stop by TNT’s I’ll probably just get an order of the them. Also pretty good was the toast served with the omelette, but then again, can you really mess up toast?
The price was only $6.00 for all the food I ordered, which was worth it for all the food I got. In fact, virtually all menu items were under $10.00, with many meals costing less than $5.00.
TNT’s snack shop is truly the Tim Duncan of the local breakfast scene: masterful in the intangibles, very experienced, and still pretty effective despite its age. Because of that, I give TNT’s a four out of five stars. Although not dynamite, I would recommend the place to anyone looking for a quality, homestyle breakfast for an affordable price.