When waking up at 5:30 a.m., your choices for a hot meal are limited. If you can't bear the thought of another Egg McMuffin, the best option is to wait half an hour and head to Sher-Main. And even if you rise and shine a little later in the morning and the possibilities are more abundant, Sher-Main is still a great place to start your day. This Evanston greasy spoon serves up the kind of griddle-cooked eggs, pancakes and sausages that you learned to love during long nights in college. The omelet section, the heart of Sher-Main's breakfast menu, has a list of traditional diner favorites, with Denver, Greek and steak omelets highlighting the roster. All egg plates come with potatoes, toast and jelly, and you shouldn't hesitate to throw piece of bacon or a sausage into the mix as well. For lighter eaters, Sher-Main delivers an assortment of cold cereals as well as rolls, bagels and muffins. A long list of grill sandwiches caters to the lunch crowd, but the restaurant does its best work before noon.

With its booths of olive plastic leather, dull grey linoleum floor and faux wood walls, Sher-Main won't win any contests for restaurant atmosphere, but the comfort provided by the style-deficient dining room is perfect for the early hours. The small row of booths and handful of diner stools tend to be occupied by quiet folks nursing their eggs and coffee, so your early morning can be as sedate as you want it.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Patrick Corcoran