Cleavers, conveniently located just east of the Lloyd Expressway and Green River Road (across the street from William Henry Harrison High School), boldly boasts “Best Breakfast in Town” on its marquee. More than a few people I know judge a restaurant’s breakfast by the quality of its Eggs Benedict, and that seems to me a reasonable method of critique. So, while my family has enjoyed numerous breakfast entrees at Cleavers, I recently dined there to try the Eggs Benedict.
Breakfast at Cleavers is very popular, especially on the weekends. I arrived at 8:30 on a Sunday morning, and the restaurant already was busier than I imagined it would be. Before long, there were three or four parties waiting to be seated. Servers hustled about and the cheerful din of the crowd filled the large dining room.
Weekend breakfasts at Cleavers have become a recent family tradition of the Jim and Mary Kay Muehlbauer family of Evansville. The couple invites their grown children and their families (all live in Evansville) for breakfast most Saturday mornings. Jim says that while the food is great, the main attraction is Lucy, his 1-year-old granddaughter, daughter of Glen and Ann Muehlbauer. “If Lucy is going to be here, I’m going to be here,” Jim laughs.
Cleavers is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and promotes its menu as featuring Chicago-style dishes. The building was completely renovated by owner George Flores when he opened in 2011; a relief sculpture of the Chicago skyline decorates the restaurant’s exterior.
Cleavers’ Eggs Benedict is served classically American (it is an American dish) — perfectly poached eggs atop toasted English muffins and ham, topped with buttery, lemony Hollandaise sauce. It’s served with a choice of fruit or hash browns for $6.99; I ordered both for an extra charge. Cleavers sources its meats from Dewig Meats, Haubstadt, Indiana.
For those who extrapolate best breakfast from best Eggs Benedict — and for everyone who visits — Cleavers is living up to its billing.
For more information about Cleavers, visit 5501 E. Indiana St., call 812-473-0001, or find them on Facebook.
