Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
132
Breakfast & Brunch
NEAR THE LOOP & MAGNIFICENT MILE
You can get a good (and upscale) br eakfast at one of the hotels near the Loop
or Magnificent Mile. Favorites include the Café at the
Four Seasons Hotel,
120
E. Delaware Place (
&
312/280-8800
), and Drake Bros. Restaurant at
The Drake
Hotel,
140 E. Walton Place at Michigan Avenue (
&
312/787-2200
).
A more informal choice in the Loop, overlooking the El tracks, is
Heaven on
Seven
(p. 119), wher e the C ajun and Cr eole specialties supplement an enor-
mous diner-style menu that has anything you could possibly desire.
For brunch with some soul, head to
House of Blues,
329 N. Dearborn St., at
Kinzie Str eet (
&
312/527-2583
), f or its popular Sunda y gospel brunch. To
guarantee seating, it's a good idea to book a spot 2 weeks in advance.
A local breakfast favorite since 1923 is
Lou Mitchell's,
565 W. Jackson Blvd.
(
&
312/939-3111
), acr oss the south branch of the Chicago R iver fr om the
Loop, a block far ther west than Union Station. You'll be g reeted at the door
with a basket of doughnut holes and M ilk Duds so that y ou can nibble while
waiting for a table.
For a Southern-style breakfast of spicy red eggs, cheese grits, or biscuits and
gravy, head over to
Wishbone
(p. 122), a homespun dining hall in a warehouse
district west of the Loop.
LINCOLN PARK & THE NORTH SIDE
Ann Sather
(p. 149), famous f or its homemade cinnamon r olls, is the per fect
breakfast or brunch spot if y ou're heading up t o Wrigleyville for a Cubs game
or to Belmont Avenue for a day of antiquing.
T he
Nookies
restaurants are Chicago favorites for all the standard morning
fare. Locations include 2114 N. Halsted St., in Lincoln Park (
&
773/327-1400
);
5
For dinner there's often a wait, but don't despair. In the bar area you'll find a heaping
mound of some of the best chopped liv er around and plenty of cocktail r ye to go with
it. (Kids who turn up their noses at chopped liv er should star t with a kiddie cocktail
instead.) When you're seated at your table, tie on your plastic bib—and indulge. In case
you don't eat ribs, Carson 's also barbecues chicken, salmon, and por k chops, and the
restaurant's steaks aren't bad either. But ribs are the house specialty, so make sure that at
least someone in your group orders them. (The waitstaff will be shocked if you don't.) If
by some r emarkable feat y ou have room left after dinner , the candy-bar sundaes ar e a
scrumptious finale to the meal. Carson 's popularity has led to something of a factor y
mentality among management, which evidently feels the need to her d 'em in and out,
but the servers are responsive to requests not to be hurried thr ough the meal.
612 N. Wells St. (at Ontario St.).
&
312/280-9200.
K ids' menu , highchairs , boost ers. Reser vations
accepted only for groups of 6 or more. Main courses $8.95-$30; kids' menu $6-$14. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm; Fri 11am-12:30am; Sat noon-12:30am; Sun noon-11pm. Closed Thanksgiving.
Subway/El: Red Line to Grand.
