Nestled in the charming suburb of New Lenox, Country Charm Restaurant has been quietly perfecting the art of the humble hash brown while the rest of the culinary world chased fleeting food trends.

Pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and googly eyes – the holy trinity of kid-friendly crafting – are neatly organized in bins. Scrapbooking supplies, from decorative papers to stickers, allow memory-keepers to ...