SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN

Restaurant · Arlington Heights

SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN

Restaurant · Arlington Heights

2

5 W Campbell St, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, USA

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SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null
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SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN by null

Highlights

Unfussy eatery with a patio serving sandwiches, bowls & hearty mains, plus coffee & craft cocktails.  

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5 W Campbell St, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, USA Get directions

scratchboardkitchenah.com
@scratchboardkitchen

$$ · Menu

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5 W Campbell St, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, USA Get directions

+1 847 749 3103
scratchboardkitchenah.com
@scratchboardkitchen

$$ · Menu

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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@eater

"Chicago-area chef Grace Goudie, executive chef at Scratchboard Kitchen, a brunch spot in suburban Arlington Heights, will next week vie to win $10,000 on the Food Network competition show Chopped, according to a rep. The episode will air at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 11." - aimee.levitt

Chicago Restaurants Channel Disney Magic With ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Frozen’ Promos - Eater Chicago
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@eater

"Scratchboard Kitchen, a breakfast and lunch specialist in Arlington Heights, is selling take-and-bake brunch kits for Father’s Day. The $100 package serves four and consists of a fruit salad, shrimp aguachile, breakfast burritos, and cinnamon rolls. Guests can also add extras like a caviar board, biscuits, mimosas, and Bloody Marys. To order, visit Tock." - Jeffy Mai

Where to Eat on Father’s Day in Chicago - Eater Chicago
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Amy Pic

Google
Scratchboard kitchen is an absolute culinary gem! We are so fortunate to have it here in the northwest suburbs. Every dish is meticulously prepared with fresh ingredients and creative execution. I've always loved coming here for brunch, and I always get the amazing pop tarts with their perfect pastry and delicious fillings. Recently, my husband and I went there for Sunday dinner. He had the short rib sandwich, which was delicious, and I made a meal just out of all of the veggie dishes- beet hummus, bbq roasted carrots with goat cheese, and grilled artichokes. We enjoyed delicious cocktails from their drink menu. Everything is excellent.

Farah Ali

Google
This is my new favorite restaurant. Located in downtown Arlington heights, this place is an absolutely must try for the delicious food, impeccable service, and fabulous ambience. The restaurant is known for its scratch-made dishes and beverages for breakfast, brunch, and lunch is now offering a dinner service Thursday through Saturday. I recently visited and it was AMAZING. It has an outdoor patio too, making it the perfect spot for summer and fall. The chef and their team have done an excellent job of giving us a fresh take on Midwestern seasonality. Everything we tried was a 10/10.

Erik C

Google
So looking forward to my first time at this place and hard for me to leave a poor review when the atmosphere and staff are 5 star but the food…ugh. There was so much salt on both of our appetizers that is was gross. The drinks were great though.

G B

Google
Love this place. Interesting brunch options and delicious. I got the avocado toast which was so good - the grapefruit and chickpeas were a nice twist from traditional avocado toast. The breakfast sandwich my partner loved - big fluffy biscuit and eggs. We did start with a strawberry rhubarb coffee cake that wasn’t my favorite - dry and crumbly - so I’d skip that though. It definitely gets crowded so try to get here early or make a reservation if possible!

Stephanie Lovell

Google
We settled on Scratchboard Kitchen for our latest meeting. Scratchboard Kitchen focuses on sourcing as much local produce as possible, listing the local farm partners on their website, and creating seasonal dishes. I am still adjusting to the restrictions that my food intolerances have placed on dining but I was able to choose the Fried Chicken Sandwich - Spicy with some alterations and have a lovely Rose & Cardamom latte. Brit went with the Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich and Erika went with the Tuna Melt. They shared the Strawberry Matcha Poptart. I will say that I have noted a trend of fancy poptarts since the fall last year.

J Rock

Google
The food is really top notch. If you're looking for an elevated brunch experience this is a great place to go. The breakfast sandwich was delicious. The best biscuit I've had outside of Kentucky. A side of the crispy potatoes really went well. The potatoes were crispy on soft combined with the aoili dipping sauce really tasty! I can tell there is a lot of thought and care put into the whole menu. The coffee was flavorful and not bitter and I tried one of the seasonal cookies. The cookie has great texture and consistency throughout. Everything was delicious. I will be going back again!

Dani S

Google
Such a great place to get breakfast! The service was amazing and the coffee was strong . I was really impressed with the housemade syrups , sauces , etc

Laura Eder

Google
Met a friend for brunch on her birthday here. It was humid so we sat inside. Cute place, chairs are a little uncomfortable. Limited menu but the food was very good. Service was pleasant but very slow. They did do a sweet pancake plate with a candle for my friend’s birthday. Vegetarian friendly. Not a bad option but much better breakfast places in Arlington including Southern Kitchen 1/2 mile away.

Michelle W.

Yelp
Scratchboard Kitchen has a cozy feel in their restaurant. The breakfast menu is familiar yet not typical breakfast offerings. They also have a good selection of brunch cocktails. The staffs are friendly and helpful. There are enough gluten-free options for us. The coffee cake delivers on the flavor, and the biscuit is quite thick. The only criticism is that the biscuit is not fluffy. Instead it has a texture similar to Angel Food Cake. One other suggestion I would love the restaurant to take note of is to have GF version of the Sausage and Gravy. It would elevate the experience GF customers even more!

Ln E.

Yelp
I wish I had the chance to tell you about the food, but the hostess did not seat us despite the fact she said it would be about a 30 to 45 minute wait. We were happy to wait that long, and took a walk around the area waiting for the text message letting us know our table would be ready. We came back in a little bit under an hour, and were still not seated. After several people were seated ahead of us, that appeared not to be anywhere near the restaurant while we stood and waited, I finally gave up. There is no restaurant worth waiting for more than an hour when you're told it should be about 30 to 45 minutes. The biscuits did look amazing, but certainly not worth feeling like second class citizens. Since it seemed as if she had no intention of ever seating us, the hostess (she has red hair) should have said, "we are not accepting walk-ins today because our reservations are full." Instead, we waited more than an hour before finally giving up. Of course, 5 minutes after we walked out I received a text message saying that we could sit at a table in the back if we wanted. I have attached our text messaging so that you can see the timestamps of when I first entered the restaurant until the time that I left. Just be warned, if you have any special needs like you're in a wheelchair, maybe go someplace else.

Kourtney D.

Yelp
I recently moved from Miami to Arlington Heights and this is undoubtedly the best place i've been at since then. The staff is very personal and detailed and the food is FIREEEEEEE, brought some friends from Florida the second time I was there and they were absolutely stunned. The gnocchi , the chicken ceaser salad - everything hits and doesn't miss - love it here

Natalie K.

Yelp
Scratchboard kitchen prides themselves on making everything from scratch which is a concept that intrigued me to try brunch here. They had fun options on the menu like homemade poptarts but unfortunately were all out at the time I came. I ordered mushroom coffee and a biscuit sandwich which was okay. We also got potatoes and pancakes. Truthfully, both the pancakes and the biscuit were dry. The food didn't blow my mind. Additionally, our waiter was kind of rude and I felt rushed by him. The restaurant is really cute since they have plants all around. I thought this place was just okay.

Scott S.

Yelp
IDGAF if they reportedly offered incentives for good reviews... I don't see how anyone could give them a bad review. I had that biscuit egg sandwich again, and that biscuit was like my mom made it.... The service was good. The ambiance was kinda cool. Sadly, I forgot to take a pic of my food cuz it looked so good I just ate it.

Charlotte T.

Yelp
I think this is my new favorite restaurant. The breakfast dishes are all super unique, the pastries are freshly baked. And the service is wonderful. I love that this restaurant is farm to table, and you can clearly taste the freshness. Everything we got was wonderful, but when I come here in the future, I definitely want to try the lox, breakfast sandwich, and the avocado toast. Also, this place is open for dinner. I really need to come here to try that.

Ryan D.

Yelp
I've been wanting to go to Scratchboard Kitchen for a while, and I finally got the opportunity to go. It was well worth the wait. I ordered the pumpkin pancakes, and my mom ordered the wild berry pop tart. We both ordered the hot chocolate. This may have been the richest hot chocolate I've ever had. Even the foam was very rich. The pancakes were delicious. They added pumpkin seed toppings and had pumpkin butter between each pancake. The pop tart had fresh berry jam on the inside. All of the food is made from scratch, and you can taste the freshness and care that goes into each dish. I can't wait to come back and try their lunch and dinner menus. I highly recommend Scratchboard Kitchen!

Donna H.

Yelp
The atmosphere is a quaint take on industrial theme, the service is excellent & the food always excellent. The rotating pastry flavors including a GF option are amazing. 'Pop tart' isn't close to describing the wonderful baked pastry filled with fruit and topped with a flavored icing. This isn't your 5 year old child's pastry!

Cristel M.

Yelp
Scratchboard Kitchen never disappoints! The avocado citrus toast was delicious! Great service, too. Can't wait for my next visit!

Alexandra B.

Yelp
3.5 - This is a breakfast/brunch spot located in downtown Arlington heights. There is street parking available and there are a few lots a couple blocks away. All their items are locally produced which I love. I tried the salted honey chai latte which was pretty tasty. For food I had the avocado citrus toast which was very unique and something I wouldn't think of putting together and it was soooo good. I highly recommend the avocado citrus toast. This is on the pricier side with small portions. I understand it's higher quality however I think the portions are just too small. Service was great - the person at the host stand was very kind and seated us right away. Our server explained that their menu is constantly updating pending what's available from the local markets. This is a cute and rustic place perfect for a girls brunch.

Miranda T.

Yelp
Scratchboard Kitchen is the perfect combination of rustic/magnolia decor meets fresh food options. While the prices may seem a bit above market value, you can guarantee each item is fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully put together. They offer little flavor enhancements like homemade coffee syrups, fresh jams/sauces, and so much more. For my husband and I, this spot is an absolute treat for a weekend brunch date! Staff is always kind and you'll often see the owner walking around to offer a helping hand or check to see how customer's experiences are. Tip: Some weekends can be busy so I recommend making a reservation through their website. They also offer inside and street patio seating.

Evelyn E.

Yelp
Had brunch with my parents and everything was perfect. The hostess was welcoming and pleasant. We sat in patio. Our server Luisa was exceptional, attentive and friendly. The food was delicious. We tried he steak & eggs, pancakes, breakfast sandwich, salad.

Alex M.

Yelp
Giving this a one star to average out my previous 5 star review. Man, this place has gone downhill. We went for brunch over a year ago and loved it. We just left dinner and this is one of the most disappointing meals I've had in recent history. Let's start with the pork chop. It was bad. Small. Overcooked. Under seasoned. AND FOR $28?!? I would be embarrassed to serve this. I would love to see Chef Grace serve this to Thomas Keller. I have no problem spending money on a dish that is creative, well cooked, and well executed. Even if it is a small portion. The four dishes we had were none of these things. The food was unimaginative and poorly prepared. Especially the pork chop. The short rib melt was fine. Not good, not bad, but certainly overpriced. The gnocchi and ramp Caesar were nothing special. Overall, very disappointed with dinner and slightly embarrassed I have ever recommended this restaurant to friends.

Jamee S.

Yelp
The food is innovative and so well prepared. The servers are professional, yet warm and friendly and make you feel at home. You can find a table in a quiet remote area or in two small dining rooms with well spaced tables. It's just lovely, It's a surprising find for downtown Arlington Heights but would easily compete with a Chicago establishment. And the Chicken sandwich with Pimento Cheese is to die for!

Carmen V.

Yelp
Looking forward to going there for breakfast today and was very disappointed with their check in system. It was a party of 3. We were told it would be 30 minute wait. Standing off to the side just watching people checking in and getting seated. After 45 minutes we go check to see where we are on the wait list we are told we are next. We wait another 10 minutes and get a text that our table is ready. We go check in and they want to sit us INSIDE! We wait all that time to sit inside. We just walked away. Very, very, disappointed.

Ellie K.

Yelp
I've been wanting to try this place for a while. I initially made a reservation for indoor dining but the weather was so beautiful today, and the nice hostess was able seat us in their lovely outdoor patio. We ordered truffle scrambler, lamb shakshouka, and avocado toast with egg. It took over half an hour for the food to come out, got the food just when we were about to be hangry, our coffee was cold and water was warm. Lol The food was all good, the truffle scramble was very smooth and fluffy! When we first got the food I felt like the portions were small for the price, but all of us were surprisingly full when we finished. Their $4 fresh squeezed orange juice is shockingly tiny and nothing special, I wish the menu showed how many oz it was. 3 sips and it was gone, this belongs in a kids menu. Service was ok, nothing outstanding. I realized after I left that the server didn't even show me the bill. Only showed me the screen to select tip amount. No receipt either. I know I should've asked for it but customers usually don't have to in any other restaurants. I was happy with their food and I guess that's the most important part, but there are also many other brunch places that can offer better dining experiences.

Allison ..

Yelp
I was expecting so much better. We frequent Beer on the Wall and always see Scratchboard kitchen across the way. We finally decided to go try it and were unfortunately disappointed. We sat outside. The inside of the restaurant was maybe at 40% capacity. Our waiter was extremely slow and inattentive. After we finished dinner and our plates were cleared, we waited 25 minutes just to get the check! The food was unimpressive. We stayed off with the pretzel appetizer and it came with more dipping sauce and cheese than pretzels (2 small pretzel sticks) for $12! We then shared the short rib melt and fried chicken sandwich. Nothing special... and very underwhelming for $20 entrees. The entrees took forever to come out. Overall it was a big disappointment.

John L.

Yelp
Such an amazing brunch spot. The food is beyond amazing, and the lattes are worth getting. I've been here 2 times now, and each time has far exceeded my expectations. The service is extremely professional and prompt. I believe you can make reservations which I might do in the future, but each time I visited, I was seated right away. It's a smaller dining room, and I am sure it probably fills up on the weekend. The s'mores French toast has been my favorite entrée so far, but do yourself a favor and get a side of breakfast potatoes. They taste amazing and It's a must every time I go now. I totally recommend this place, especially if you have friends or family visiting. The ambiance provides for a great experience.

Lindsay G.

Yelp
My husband and I have been here a few times, both for breakfast and dinner. Each time, the food is fresh and inventive. I like that the menu changes with the seasons, including their craft cocktails. The atmosphere has more casual, downtown vibe, which is always nice to find in the suburbs. We met the owner during one of our visits, and it's clear there's a high level of pride in what they do. We keep coming back!

Karen N.

Yelp
I have ordered take out on several occasions, but have not dined in before. The restaurant is larger I had anticipated. We did make reservations for Sunday morning and we were not disappointed. Service was incredible and the food , while on first glance does not appear to be large portions, the food was filling. A perfect brunch and all of the flavors were amazing. This is a farm to table restaurant and adds a freshness . I have had the rose cardamom latte several times to go, but dining in added a new dimension to it. It was beautifully presented and tasted wonderful. It is a unique experience , upscale , yet down to earth. Definitely will continue to support.

Steve R.

Yelp
Locally sourced food Awesome menu Freshly made Great coffee Really good comfort food choices as well. Interior is spartan chic and just great service overall. What's not to like?

Jacob K.

Yelp
Everything is made from scratch ... literally . Dishes are true american staples with a modern twist. I recommend their avocado and Lox toast plus coffee with mushrooms

Yuliya M.

Yelp
Loves the farm to table places. The atmosphere was great and casual. We sat outside which was very nice. Food was delicious!!! Lots of great selection and very bold flavours. Would recommend getting potatoes as a side, thank me later. I also got a rose latte which was so different but very good. To end the breakfast we got a brûlée grapefruit and it was perfect! Service was quick and very attentive. Would come back again!

Susan S.

Yelp
Omg just go here. Everything was excellent . They out source the food from thirty local farms home made honey butter. Wonderful steamed milk with rose petals and roasted cardamom. Delish Sourdough bread with a lemon cream cheese and chives paper thin sliced red onions toasted capers shaved eggs and lox. Francisco with our waiter he was great very knowledgeable very kind really cute highly recommend such a delightful place has been on my radar has been here only for one year and it's fantastic.

Anthony G.

Yelp
I went to Scratchboard Kitchen for Sunday brunch and had a wonderful experience! The service was amazing and my waitress was very attentive despite having a few big tables on the patio. My food and drinks came out quickly, and were delicious. I love that they change up the menu seasonally, and that they have patio seating outside during the summer. The vibe of the restaurant is so nice, and the patio is spacious for larger groups. Definitely recommend checking them out for brunch or if you're in Arlington Heights!

Jen J.

Yelp
I came here for brunch and I really enjoyed the service as well as the food and overall ambiance. I got the short rib hash and a maple sausage as a side. The hash was very flavorful and short rib was tender. I didn't think the sausage was that good. The thing that surprised me were their lattes, the french toast latte was delicious! I'll definitely come back here again

Jameson F.

Yelp
So, so, so, so, SO delighted I found this place!!! Might even go as far to say that this is the absolute BEST brunch place I've been to in at least the past 4-5 years! Beautifully modern atmosphere, inside and out. Love the foresty vibe it gives off! Service was overall friendly and efficient. Everything was reasonably priced as well, especially considering the top-notch quality of all the food. Brunch, how I love thee? Let me count the ways... LOL!! Started with a rose cardamom latte (which was oh so exquisite) and a pastry board, consisting of a funfetti scone and a banana muffin with a strawberry filling, topped with chocolate frosting and chocolate chips. As jarring as it may sound, every bite of the muffin tasted phenomenal!! Loved the scone too, especially with the luscious vanilla bean frosting. Only bummer was that they had sold out of their homemade pop tarts which I was dying to try. Oh well... The brûléed grapefruit was a hit as well, as I was really digging the hard brittle consistency on its surface. Almost tasted like candy! I appreciated how the grapefruit was able to retain its raw flavors despite it having been caramelized on top. Well done! And now, the star of the show, the most divine lox on sourdough (also added a side of diced crispy potatoes which complemented the toast very well)!! Lox & a lemon-chive cream cheese spread on a slice of rustic sourdough toast, garnished with slivered red onions, capers, mustard seeds and dill. Pure heaven on a plate!!! Hope they keep this item permanently on their menu, as I would go back and get it every single time. Seriously it's that great! Would like to go back soon and try their pop tarts (hopefully before they sell out) and maybe their lamb shakshuka as well.

Sarah D.

Yelp
Scratchboard is a fun creative brunch spot, I love their biscuit and pop tarts. All dishes from here are made healthy and very flavorful.

Reed S.

Yelp
Placed our reservations two weeks in advance. This place is usually pretty booked so I recommend making reservations. That should be a hint already for the review to come... this place is well worth the hype. We started off brunch with a blueberry pop tart (it was nothing like the poptarts from the store, this one was 10x better) incredibly light but buttery and flavorful. We also ended up ordering one to go! To drink I had a perfectly balanced rose cardamom latte! For my meal I had an avocado toast, which was possibly the best avocado toast I've ever had. The flavors were similar to an everything bagel seasoning but nothing overpowering like the mix from a grocery store. I also usually don't like the pickled veggies on top because in other roasts I've had elsewhere, they were too vinegary. These I loved! I also got a side of sufléed grapefruit which was difficult to eat but a nice balance of sweet and spicy. Overall great food and experience! Signed up for the rewards program and will definitely be coming back! Hopefully soon

Anne S.

Yelp
I've been to Scratchboard for brunch and it was great. Then I went for dinner on a Friday night and it was the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. I made a reservation for two at 7:15 and we were seated promptly, drink order taken, and drinks were fine. Then we placed an appetizer order (for peas and burrata) and it took 45 minutes to come out. The waiter never checked on us, until he finally said "did the burrata come out yet?" He didn't even know we hadn't received it. He said the order "got lost" and he had to place it again. We finally got the appetizer, and it was so-so. Then we ordered two entrees. It took another 45 min for one entree to come out (the short rib melt). When he brought it, he said the other entree (steak frites) would be out in a sec, which it was not. It was another 10 min at least, and by then it was 9pm and we couldn't stay any longer, so we had to ask to take the second entree to go. The waiter was not apologetic at all and offered to see "if he could get us a scoop of ice cream or something." Finally, the manager brought the to-go bag and apologized with a sorry excuse that the kitchen was overwhelmed (although the restaurant did not seem that busy). He did offer us a small gift card for the wait, but I hardly want to return. It was the worst service I've ever experienced and the food was just okay. I understand kitchens being busy, but this was ridiculous and the lack of an explanation or acknowledgment throughout the night really made the experience awful.

Sunny A.

Yelp
I'm giving this place 2 stars because the patio ambience is lovely, the bathrooms are clean, and there are 2 or 3 menu items that are delicious. I have been to this place about 8 times since we live just down the street and can walk over for brunch--here is where I had to take off stars: Staff is very inattentive and at times rude. They act like they are doing you a favor by taking your order. Then they forget 3 of the 6 things you order, and rudely tell you that you should have reminded them earlier when they don't bring you the things you asked for. The menu is very hit and miss. Many of the dishes are missing color or a bright veggie component, so you leave feeling heavy from the overly salted and greasy food (photo of the classic breakfast attached. The farm fresh ingredients are charred black and you can barely taste their real flavor from having sat under heat lamps for a while (takes staff forever to get your food to you too). Which takes me to the wait times. You wait 45mins to an hour to be seated, which is not a problem if they would take your meal order at a reasonable time. But no, you wait another 10 mins before a waiter even comes by, then your order for eggs and bacon take another 25 mins, and they forget half of your meal so you have to either wait another 20 mins for the rest of it or leave hungry. Either way they give you attitude for "reminding" them that something is missing. The food is meh, service is mediocre at best, drinks are good, the restaurant is pretty, the patio is great. That's my sum-up. I'd rather forgo sitting on the patio and eat at Egg Harbor up the street, and only come here for the mimosas.

Brigette B.

Yelp
It kills me when a restaurant has posted hours and then turns you away. Their door says 8am - 3pm. I just walked in at 2:20pm and the lady at the front abruptly turned me away. Why don't you change your hours to close at 2:20pm if you are turning people away 40 minutes before your stated closing. I am hungry, I just got off a plane and I looked up your restaurant on Yelp and drove out of my way to get here based on your stated hours. I will never know whether your food is good or not! Suffice it to say that I don't like the way you do business from the "get go."

S S.

Yelp
This place is really cute, the staff is friendly. But the food? Atrocious. I was honestly embarrassed I invited friends here. I have never sent food back, but after one bite of the "falafel" I was honestly afraid I would be poisoned if I swallowed it. I understand everyone has their own spin on traditional dishes, which I can appreciate. But the falafel was foul tasting and seemed like it was a complete raw mush inside, it didn't resemble any normal falafel by any stretch. I should have prefaced that I have been to this place several times, the lattes were always consistent, and the food, even though it is severely overpriced, it was at least edible. We went for the vibes more than anything else. But this will be my last time, the portions seem to be getting smaller, it's almost like they are playing a joke on us. We also decided to expand beyond the regular latte and try the beet latte, which was just hot beet juice... gross. Even the regular latte was room temperature and sad tasting. The side of "maple sausage" was a regular sausage cut in half lengthwise and severely burnt. The side of artichoke was also burnt to a crisp. Not sure how it's not embarrassing for the cooks and the waiters to place food that was completely burnt in front of a customer and think that it's acceptable? By the way this isn't the first time we have gotten burnt food, they seem to have a pattern of burning bread too... which doesn't make sense? Just toast it the proper amount of time? Anyways overpriced, tiny portions, the cooks don't have basic cooking knowledge since everything is completely black and burnt, no one remembers how to make a latte, and the falafel will make you want to throw up. I only regret not taking a picture of all the burnt stuff, I just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible and never return.

Cashmool B.

Yelp
This is a places where one is left to ponder the vagaries of success. Such as why one place soars and another fails. Frankly, I don't get why this place is so wildly popular. I've been so disappointed both times I've eaten there. The food seems to be focused on trendy dishes. But the thing is, trendy itself doesn't have any flavor, so to make it work you have to deliver the taste. Scratchboard misses that point. And please save me from waiters who think they're cool because they work at a popular restaurant. Coolness doesn't mean indifferent, brusk service. There are plenty of greasy spoon joints whose wait staff are efficient and personable. Scratchboard could learn a lot from them. Sadly I feel they are so popular they don't have to bother learning the basics. You can do better

Jessica R.

Yelp
While certainly expensive, this place is an absolute stand out in the suburban brunch scene. The creative menu is chef curated by season with fresh ingredients and nearly all made in-house. The staff is exceptional - knowledgeable and incredibly well trained. They operate like a top restaurant in the city. The atmosphere is fresh, clean and earthy to mirror the menu. They've got a great shady patio in the summer and gender neutral bathrooms for a bonus. Now the food - wow. We've been several times and truly everything is incredible. As a gluten free pescatarian, I appreciate how many options fit my unique dietary restrictions. The gluten free biscuit is a revelation - this alone will keep me coming back! And my meat and gluten-eating husband absolutely loves the biscuit chicken sandwich. He dreams about it haha Like I mentioned, the prices can feel steep, but in my experience, it's always worth the splurge to enjoy brunch here. I know they also serve dinner, but we haven't tried that yet, but I'm interested! Will report back.

Megan B.

Yelp
Super impressive and love all the woman involvement. Chef Gracie worked at The French Laundry with Thomas Keller. The avocado toast is a simple dish but this place blows it out of the water. So delicious. Everything I've had is amazing. They really do have the best biscuits. I wouldn't order the lamb shakshuka again, but that is only because I feel lamb is too heavy in a brunch dish for me. It was very tasty. They are now open for apps and dinner - need to try asap!

Katie M.

Yelp
I came here for an outdoor brunch with a girlfriend about a month ago. The patio was packed, and there would have been over an hour wait time had we not had a reservation, so MAKE SURE TO MAKE ONE!! Our waitress was SUPER helpful with recommendations and all of the staff was incredibly friendly. The food was out of this world!! I ordered the crispy potatoes and the brûlée'd grapefruit, and my friend and I split the pastry board ($17, but worth every penny. The scone was A-MAZING). She had the rose cardamom latte (so pretty) and some sort of a breakfast bowl. Presentation of all of the food and drink was on point! Plenty of leftovers and I highly recommend! Just wish the water was cold, and was refilled more than once as it was hot and I eventually had to wave someone over to have my glass refilled at the end of the meal ... Love that this place is women owned, and I can't wait to visit again in the spring when I'm not pregnant to try one of their delicious looking cocktails!

Nilam P.

Yelp
Small menu that uses local, fresh ingredients. Stopped for breakfast twice and food was great. Not a fan of the latte but their drip coffee is good.

ALice A.

Yelp
I wanted to try Scratchboard Kitchen for awhile now. Because of the pandemic, I was still a bit hesitant to dine indoors. Luckily, their patio was open and they do take reservations! A friend and I made a noon reservation for Sunday. Got there on time but was told our table is not ready yet. Had to stand around and wait for about 20-25 mins. It was a gorgeous day out and there's plenty of stores surrounding the area that you can explore while you wait. I love how they blocked off a whole street so customers can walk around the area without having to watch for traffic. Did I mention this restaurant is women owned AND allows dogs out on the patio?! Masks are required when dining indoors. All staff are wearing their masks as well. If you can't stand wearing a mask, reserve a seat outside. Our waitress was super friendly and gave us a quick intro about the restaurant. Everything is freshly made daily. Before going to the restaurant, I was looking forward to their Pastry Board. Homemade pastries are a must try for me! Unfortunately, it was already sold out by 12:30 PM by the time we were seated. Very disappointed but will try to come back earlier next time! I ended up just ordering a Biscuit and their gluten free Banana Bread which comes with local honey butter and jam. This isn't your regular Pillsbury sized biscuit. It was big enough to share with another person. I absolutely loved the buttery and cheesy taste of the biscuit! Their honey butter goes really well with the biscuit! Loved it! Banana Bread was really good too! I shy away every time i hear something is "gluten free" because it just tastes BAD. But NOT this Banana Bread!! The banana bread was very fresh, packed with banana flavor, moist and a little bit of a chewy texture to it. My friend ordered the LAMB SHAKSHOUKA ( FETA, CILANTRO, BAKED EGG, SOURDOUGH TOAST). The lamb was cooked very tender and has a little bit of a spice to it. I wish there was more sourdough pieces to go with it because it was really delicious! I can't wait to come back and try other items on their menu!

Joy S.

Yelp
The food and service were very good, but the portions were very small for the cost, I had the Eggs in Purgatory, which was $14, and there was only 1 egg in the dish, it was very good but definitely not worth $14

Saba A.

Yelp
This was one of the first few places I would only go back to on repeat when we first moved to a Arlington Heights. It all started with the host stand and wait staff, because they were incredibly accommodating and welcoming. Everything is incredibly good from the biscuits, which is a must order and any of their coffee's and a top favorite of mine is the cardamom latte. Anything you order from the food menu you won't be disappointed. I like how they make everything fresh on the go in an open kitchen concept. And if there is any time that you were thinking of going, I highly recommend coming in for breakfast or brunch.

Amy J.

Yelp
Food was incredible, wonderful flavor, combinations, and very fresh. Ambience was great... Though it was fairly busy, it was not loud & we were able to hold on a conversation, etc.

Cheryl F.

Yelp
Short Rib Hash: Potatoes, onions, summer corn, egg My first time at Scratchboard today! I met a friend for lunch and was delighted by the patio area and its cool, relaxed, almost vacation-like vibe. The short rib hash was a tasty bowl of roasted potatoes with melty braised short rib meats. The perfect sunny side up egg on top oozed into the bowl and made a velvety sauce that enriched all of the flavors. My friend had the blueberry grilled cheese (sorry, no pic) and said it was great! We didn't try any of the lattes or cocktails but they looked pretty inviting. Service was prompt and friendly and Danielle, one of the owners, was nice enough to ask how everything was as we were leaving. Well, Danielle, it was excellent! I only gave 4 stars bc I know my next time back will upgrade it to a 5. I can't wait!

JenJen K.

Yelp
One of the best brunch restaurants in Arlington heights!! I've been here 5 times and zero complaint. Oh I guess one complaint is that they are closed after 3pm...every dishes are delicious!! My absolute fav is the lox on toast!!!

Pam T.

Yelp
Every time I've dined here, it's been fabulous. Food is fresh and delicious. Chef Grace is talented and the best!

Elizabeth T.

Yelp
Came back on 6/25/2022 with more friends because of the delicious food and great experience from 2020. A downgrade to 3 stars because of inattentive wait staff (I had to ask for utensils and water for our group, strawberry French toast served with sauce poured on the toast when I asked for it to be on the side), and the not so refined way of giving customers the check. Wait staff carry devices that read your credit card which is great for efficiency but our waitress did not show us the receipt for our table. She just stood there and said she would take my credit card, then just flipped the device for me to click on the percent tip and sign. I had to quickly mentally calculate all food purchases total and a 20% tip. (The device only had a buttons for 25% tip and above on food cost + tax, not just food cost). I am not sure why this is the protocol now but it seems a but uncouth. Food - still excellent Prices - a bit higher than I remembered for small portions but such is the world we live in now (delicious spa water was $8 for only what I estimated to be 6 to 8 oz of drink due to too much ice in the drink); lox on toast was $17 for one piece of bread with very measly toppings; shakshouka $17; horchata overnight oats $12 Host - friendly (and I believe I saw the owner doing everything fr hosting to helping staff re-organize tables because rain started pouring while we were dining -- bow down to all your hard work, ma'am!) Ambiance - still fun and hip Restaurant - clean dining and bathrooms Needs improvement - wait staff attentiveness and way if presenting bill

Leslee A.

Yelp
Wanted to give this restaurant a second chance - tried a pop up dinner once and for sausages it was crazy expensive. Thought we try breakfast- usually less expensive and this is their supposed specialty. Warning -Sticker Shock! 2 egg biscuits, 1 crispy potatoes, 1 cold brew, 1 mimosa without tip was $67! Ridiculously way overpriced. Biscuits were average - I didn't care for the molded gelatinous egg. Maybe it was supposed to be soufflé like? If the menu was half the expense I would try again! It simply isn't worth it!

Phil S.

Yelp
04/14/22 - Today I went to Discount Tires in Mt Prospect to get my tires rotated. While I was waiting my sister picked me up & we went to grab lunch. We decided to go to Scratchboard Kitchen in Arlington Heights. Two words SIMPLY AMAZING!!! Scratchboard Kitchen is located in downtown Arlington Heights @ 5 W Campbell St. Scratchboard is highly rated on Yelp 4 1/2 stars out of over 150 reviews. Everything about Scratchboard is first class from the location in downtown Arlington Heights to the interior space that is chic very tastefully designed. The staff is awesome. Francisco was our server, he had a great knowledge of the menu items available and last & most importantly the food. The item I selected was the Lox on sourdough toast. This was incredible. I ordered the lox on sourdough bread w/lemon cream cheese w/chives, mustard seeds, thin sliced red onions & egg yolk pieces ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! I really enjoyed this tasty morsel & was tempted to order another. I savored every bit of this sandwich. Beautifully presented (almost too beautiful to eat) but you can rest assured that I did eat it & savored every bite. My sister unfortunately had eaten just before she picked me up so she opted for a biscuit w/butter & black raspberry jam (very tasty). FYI the menu is on a QR code embedded in a block of plexiglass so don't look for a paper menu. The menu items change periodically seasonally, but this lox on sourdough is something I would highly recommend. Beautiful space, excellent food in downtown Arlington Heights. Will I be back again? ABSOLUTELY I can't stop thinking about that scrumptious meal!!

Mike M.

Yelp
My sister in law is always on the hunt for up and coming brunch spots, and she found an absolute gem with Scratchboard Kitchen in Arlington Heights. It's located in a little downtown area surrounded by a bunch of nice looking restaurants to eat at. Although the inside looks pretty small, they actually have a decent amount of seating closer to the back. Additionally, they had plenty of outdoor seating along the sidewalk. I really liked the vibe inside. It could've easily been a brunch place you'd find in the city with it's minimalistic industrial chic décor sprinkled with pops of green from assorted plants throughout the place. They were a farm to table menu that made everything from scratch. After briefly scanning over the menu, I knew exactly what I wanted to get: the fried chicken sandwich. Even before this whole chicken sandwich craze swept the nation, I've always been a sucker for deep fried meat for breakfast, whether it's chicken and waffles, country fried steak, or fried chicken biscuits. The fried chicken sandwich at Scratchboard Kitchen might possibly be my favorite fried chicken sandwich around. Usually I'm not a huge fan of biscuits in general because they're typically too dry on the outside and have such a one toned flavor, but I absolutely loved the biscuit here. This biscuit didn't need any type of country gravy or sauce to carry the flavor. One piece of the biscuit by itself was delicious with such a savory bite. It definitely had more than just butter in it. I can't tell exactly what it was but there were elements of cheese, ranch, and herbs like rosemary or thyme or something. It almost tasted like a gourmet cheddar bay biscuit. Surprisingly the biscuit was the star of the sandwich for me, but all the other elements were also legit. While the piece of chicken could've been bigger, at least you could tell they didn't use those massive chicken cuts pumped with hormones and water. This piece of chicken was extra crispy on the outside and had a nice seasoning in the breading. The meat was ultra juicy and seemed to be pure thigh meat. The pimiento cheese gave a nice sharp Merkt's cheddar type of flavor, and the spicy version of the sandwich added some sort of hot chili oil to mix with the mayo. I'm not even mad that it didn't have an egg on it. It was perfect as it was. We also tried some of the other items on the menu as well. The Dutch baby and gravy was a unique spin on the traditional biscuits and gravy. It was almost like a gravy soup in a flaky pastry bowl with an egg on top. While it was tasty, their biscuits are so damn good that I would've just preferred a ranch biscuit that gravy on top. That would've been a killer combo. The grits were super cheesy and creamy, and I'm surprised they aren't are more common item on brunch menus around here because they were awesome. The short rib hash was good, but a bit on the pricier side. Overall, Scratchboard Kitchen was an absolute win in my book. I'm glad we tried a variety of the menu items, but next time I'll definitely focus on the fried chicken sandwich, which is hands down the MVP of the menu.

Missy A.

Yelp
This restaurant is such a cute brunch spot. I added a photo of the decorated floating shelves because I liked it so much. I also liked that the menu is a QR code placed at the table. To start off to drink I got easy like sunday morning cocktail. HEY IT's 5'o'clock somewhere am I right?! It was very tasty and refreshing! & I was def feelin it if ya know what I mean. I wanted to try the other cocktails but i'll save it for next time hahah I also had their orange juice. I'm not sure if they add something to it but it tasted so good and not acidic at all! For food I got short rib hash and a side of avocado. Short rib hash was DELICIOUS!! So savory, tender and soft. The potatoes were a bit much, don't get me wrong it was good but just heavier for me in my opinion. But man I kept thinking to myself, "how dope would it be if i could eat this with a little bit of rice" For pastries I got a rhubarb pop tart and a rainbow scone? I don't know the exact name but man both were so delicious and had this homemade taste to it!! I can't explain it, you're going to have to just try it yourself! From what I was told they have different pastries all the time so they might have something different when you go. Lastly, to-go I got the iced salted honey chai latte and girl or boy whoever is reading this omg So so good! In conclusion, EVERYTHING WAS GREAT, SERVICE WAS EFFICIENT & STAFF WAS VERY FRIENDLY! I will be back to try other things on the menu and im very excited about it. Lol