Whether it’s a freshly ground espresso, a homemade breakfast or an artisanal sandwich, Krazy Cakes Cafe & Restaurant has all the bases covered in downtown Quincy, Illinois. Owner Brian Lash’s experience in the restaurant industry prepared him to take over as owner when the business came up for sale in 2018. From starting as a dishwasher and busboy at 15 to working alongside top chefs in fine dining establishments, Lash realized his passion and aptitude for excellent customer service.
“I worked alongside a couple top chefs in fine dining, and they really took the time to teach me their wealth of knowledge,” Lash says. “Once I realized the limitless potential and the artistry involved, I was hooked.”
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Serving Up Community
Now, as owner of his own establishment, Lash has created a welcoming cafe, bakery and coffee shop with a diverse and ever-growing menu. Known for their breakfast options, which include made-from-scratch pancakes, biscuits and gravy, Krazy Cakes also offers a range of sandwiches, salads, house-made queso dip and more.
“We make as much as possible in-house,” Lash says. “The seasonings, sauces, biscuits and even our pancakes – the recipes are all ours. This guarantees quality won’t be compromised, and that’s what our guests have come to rely on.”
If You Go ...
Location: 512 Hampshire St., Quincy
Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays and Mondays
Website: krazycakescafe.com
Contact: 217-222-2253 or krazycakescafe@gmail.com
Lash’s personal favorite is the Krazy Monte, a sandwich loaded with capicola, prosciutto, turkey, smoked gouda, provolone and blackberry jam.
Customers can enjoy the ambience of exposed brick and calm colors inside the cafe or dine on the patio beneath a fragrant lilac tree.
Krazy Cakes prides itself on being community centric. The cafe sources eggs and some produce from local farms and farmers markets and bakes apple pies for Edgewood Orchards in Quincy. This year, Krazy Cakes provided dessert for The District Feast in the Heart of Quincy to raise funds for The District and the Quincy Farmers Market.
Whether it’s welcoming regulars into the cafe or bringing lunch to employees stuck at the office, Lash and staff have become a staple of the downtown community through a service-oriented mindset.
“I’m big on community, and I’m big on family,” Lash says. “I’m very blessed to have, not only my own family, but a work family that is so devoted. I think that is a very big foundation for the success of the future.”
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