Sunday Breakfast Downtown

We are taking the kids downtown this weekend, they are young, 5 & 6 we were going to stay at the Residence Inn and we could get the "free" breakfast buffet, but I just got a kick-butt rate at the Intercontinental Hotel, so we are staying there. I don't know where to go for b-fast on Sunday morning. I don't want to do the "brunch" thing, just breakfast and I'm drawing a blank. Any suggestions?

Thake the kids to Lou Mitchel's for a big city dining experience and a great breakfast as well. They'll love the free donut holes while you wait in line. Girls (of all ages) get a free box of Milk Duds.

Lou Mitchell's Restaurant & Bakery
565 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60661
312-939-3111

stevez wrote:Thake the kids to Lou Mitchel's for a big city dining experience and a great breakfast as well. They'll love the free donut holes while you wait in line. Girls (of all ages) get a free box of Milk Duds.

Lou Mitchell's Restaurant & Bakery
565 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60661
312-939-3111

stevez, I work about 3 blocks from Lou Mitchell's, I am looking for something just like that closer to our hotel? You're on the right track and I appreciate it.

I'm afraid there's not really anything LIKE Lou Mitchell's near the ITC. Breakfast over on Michigan Avenue is a rare thing -- I know the Grand Lux does Breakfast/Brunch but that's not exactly a Lou Mitchell's experience. There are places you can get breakfast at near there -- the Corner Bakery at 360 N. Michigan, the Houlihan's across the Street in 1 East Wacker -- but there really isn't a good diner type place around there anymore. More's the pity. You could venture over to Fox N Obel on Illinois and have a tasty breakfast -- but again, not exactly the experience I think you're seeking.

I say get in the cab and do Mitchell's. Or even go to Ina's on Randolph...

There's always the original Billy Goat. Ham and eggs, steak and eggs, omelets, and french toast.

http://www.billygoattavern.com/menu.html

Billy Goat Tavern
430 N. Michigan Ave at Lower Level

Best,
Michael

The breakfasts at Tempo are very close to what you'd get at Lou Mitchell's. As a longtime LM fan, it hurts me to say Tempo is probably doing a better job these days.

Tempo Café
6 E Chestnut St
Chicago
312-943-4373
24 hours

one of my fav downtown lunch spots is the West Egg Cafe...

it can be a bit crowded at times on weekends, though...

620 N Fairbanks CT
Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 280-8366

Agree; there's a dearth of non-hotel breakfast places around there (I miss Cambridge House), and the coffee shop at the Intercontinental is an overpriced atrocity. The kids might actually like carrying their trays at the Spice Of Life Cafeteria on the second floor of Northwestern Hospital, which I'm sure would be open Sunday morning and cooks all the usual dishes to order. In a similar vein, you could go over to Foodlife in Water Tower which also opens early Sunday.
>>Brent

Also, Heaven on Seven serves a pretty good weekend brunch with all the standard breakfast foods, starting at 11am.

Heaven on Seven
Corner of Ohio & Rush
312.280.7774

Great ideas everyone, thanks - I'm leaning toward Tempo, but am seriously considering Billy Goat, they've never been there, it may be an experience. I think my daughter may look down her nose at the place, but my son will love it.

They keep popping into my head....

You've also got Chalfin's Deli, a good Jewish Deli in the basement of the Seneca hotel.

Chalfin's
200 E.Chestnut
312-943-0034
http://www.chalfinsdeli.com/

eatchicago wrote:There's always the original Billy Goat. Ham and eggs, steak and eggs, omelets, and french toast.

wow. they serve breakfast? how excellent.

any idea how early they start serving beer? (to go with the steak and eggs, of course)

hanse_coloursmay wrote:any idea how early they start serving beer? (to go with the steak and eggs, of course)

I would bet that they serve beer when they're open and the law allows, but if your visit depends on it, I'd call first to make sure.

Best,
Michael

There's always the original Billy Goat. Ham and eggs, steak and eggs, omelets, and french toast.

http://www.billygoattavern.com/menu.html

Billy Goat Tavern
430 N. Michigan Ave at Lower Level

Be careful! The above link is for the Billy Goat at Navy Pier, not the original on Lower Michigan. According to the link this ersatz Goat serves breakfast beginning at 7:30. The real one doesn't open until 11 on Sunday (I don't know if their breakfast menus are the same). I haven't been to the Navy Pier branch but don't care for the two other offshoots I've visited. I suspect the Navy Pier one might be more than a little touristy.

Rene G wrote:

There's always the original Billy Goat. Ham and eggs, steak and eggs, omelets, and french toast.

http://www.billygoattavern.com/menu.html

Billy Goat Tavern
430 N. Michigan Ave at Lower Level

Be careful! The above link is for the Billy Goat at Navy Pier, not the original on Lower Michigan. According to the link this ersatz Goat serves breakfast beginning at 7:30. The real one doesn't open until 11 on Sunday (I don't know if their breakfast menus are the same). I haven't been to the Navy Pier branch but don't care for the two other offshoots I've visited. I suspect the Navy Pier one might be more than a little touristy.

Good catch. I've never been to either of those two for breakfast. I'd suggest calling first (312) 222-1525 to make sure they're open for you. Either way, it looks like you've got a lot of other good options.

eatchicago wrote:Also, Heaven on Seven serves a pretty good weekend brunch with all the standard breakfast foods, starting at 11am.

Heaven on Seven
Corner of Ohio & Rush
312.280.7774

Jimmy Bannos (and his Investors) have closed Heaven On Seven at this location.

Hombre de Acero wrote:Jimmy Bannos (and his Investors) have closed Heaven On Seven at this location.

Since this topic is over ten years old, there have been many, many other changes since then. The places mentioned here are mostly still around, but are not necessarily the top picks they once were. A huge number of breakfast/brunch specialty places have opened up during that time, including various locations of Bongo Room, Yolk, and many more. And there are also lots of restaurants that don't specialize in breakfast every day, but are now open for breakfast/brunch on weekends. I'm sure there are other breakfast/brunch topics here on LTH that are more up to date. (And The Food Diva's kids must be in high school now! )

Just to start populating this thread with more contemporary restaurants, I had an excellent brunch at Tanta a few months ago.

The dishes were brunch-ified themes around Peruvian (and sometimes pan-Latin) staples such as ceviche/leche de tigre, lomo saltado, anticuchos, and papa a la huancaína.

Leche de tigre clásico:


Papa a la huancaína:


Chilaquiles (in the style of of lomo saltado -- sans fries):


Plato anticuchero:


Overall, a worthy option for a more unique brunch.

Tanta Chicago
https://www.tantachicago.com/
118 W Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60654