The Iron Whisk - Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch with Flair!

I may be the only person in the tri-state area that had not visited The Iron Whisk in Cobden,  Illinois.  That all changed on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend this year!  The rumors were true - this eatery is a treat for all of the senses.  On Front Street in Cobden, the Whisk is easy to access with plenty of parking in the attached lot and surrounding streets.  A host  at the door will take your name and number and call you when your table is ready.  The wait is well worth it!    

Housed in a former service station, the high ceilings and large windows make for a bright and cheery atmosphere.  Banquette seating spans one wall with a high top table for six and several four-tops dispersed throughout the dining room.  Light fixtures are spaced along the ceiling with Mason jar fixtures covering the bulbs.  Upbeat, eclectic progressive tunes emanate from the sound system for a jovial background beat while dining with friends and family. Servers bustle around busily filling coffee cups, delivering orders and clearing tables for the eager diners waiting to sample the fare. 

The Iron Whisk is central to hiking, wineries, festivals and the winding, beautiful roads of Southern Illinois and as an avid people watcher, I enjoyed seeing a group of ladies out for a girls' trip, families with cute babies in high chairs, cyclists enjoying the hills and sunshine and couples enjoying an intimate meal.   

There is truly something for every customer on the expansive menu.  A crowd favorite is the Dutch baby and while dining, I saw at least a dozen being served.  The fluffy German pancake, similar to a Yorkshire pudding, is cooked and served in a cast iron skillet and they come in several varieties.  The Classic Dutch baby is served with maple syrup and powdered sugar while the lemon blueberry is topped with blueberry compote, whipped cream and lemon curd.  The homestyle Dutch baby is served with two fried eggs and bacon, ham or sausage.

My partner ordered the Classic Dutch baby and it was a heavenly sweet choice for brunch, melt in your mouth tender and drenched in maple syrup.  

I chose the Holly Go Lightly sandwich for my entree and the combination of fresh, savory flavors was intoxicating.  Served on a fresh brioche bun, the Holly Go Lightly comes with a fried egg topped with fresh dill, goat cheese, hollandaise sauce, mixed greens and scallions.  Smash-fried potatoes are on the side, as with all sandwiches, and were a top competitor for my favorite food at The Iron Whisk.  Baby yellow potatoes are cooked partially, smashed a bit, then fried to perfection for a combination of soft potato chunks and crispy bits of starchy heaven.  A side of bacon rounded out the vegetarian dish.  

Classic fare is available including baked oatmeal with apples, brown sugar, butter, milk and raisins.  Biscuits and gravy, bagels with lox and whipped cream cheese, and a combo meal with eggs, potatoes and toast are quintessential favorites for those who, the menu says, "prefer not to take whisks!" 

Potato bowls were tough to pass up and will be my next order at The Iron Whisk.  Smash-fried potatoes are topped with either eggs, hollandaise and ham or eggs, cheese, gravy and bacon or sausage.    

Lunch options include three delectable sandwiches.  The Cobden Cubano includes the usual pork, ham, cheese and mustard, pressed to melty perfection.  Cheese Louise is a fromage lover's dream with goat cheese, feta, parmesan, provolone and cheddar topped with red pepper walnut spread all sandwiched between honey balsamic glazed sourdough bread.  A Whiskey Melt and classic burger are also on the menu for a toothsome, meaty entree.  

Fresh, cool summer selections include a garden salad, and the Iron Salad with mixed greens, goat cheese, dried cranberries and candied walnuts.  Chicken or bacon can be added to either salad for a heartier meal.  

A bartender stays busy preparing libations that come out looking like works of art.  While we were seated, the Loaded Smoked Bloody Mary looked to be the most popular drink.  Piled high with garnishes including salami, pickles, and tomato, the mix includes house smoked tomatoes for a tangy, rich flavor.  Mimosas, Irish coffee, beer and a Whiskey Mint Palmer round out the drink menu.  

For those not imbibing, fresh brewed coffee, cold crew coffee, mint lemonade, iced tea, juice and soda are also available.  Ice cold water in a flip top glass bottle adds charm to each table, as a quirky little detail. Specials change from week to week and highlight local and seasonal produce with a lavender week coming up the first part of June.  

For an entirely full restaurant on a Sunday morning, our food came out quick, fresh and just as we ordered it.  While the eatery is usually busy the entire time they are open, the wait goes by quickly by enjoying the shaded outdoor patio with a cash-only bar.  A playground is just down the street and a walk around Front Street is a nice way to pass the time until the host calls your cell phone to welcome you inside.  

If you haven't visited The Iron Whisk, or even if you go every weekend, the variety and flavor combinations at this culinary gem should not be missed!