Lunch in Wicker Park/Bucktown

My aunt is visiting me this weekend - any recomendations for a good Saturday lunch in the Wicker Park/Bucktown/U.Village area?

Why don't you try Feast? If the weather's nice, they have a lovely patio protected from the street. The food is perfect for lunch: really nice salads and sandwiches. It's quiet, refined, but not fancy.

Another option would be Club Lucky for Italian.

When were you planning to have lunch? Late or early? I live in Ukranian Village, but have a devil of a time finding a place in the neighborhoods you mentioned that is not swarmed with brunch people every Sat. and Sun. Usually, it is lunch I want and am met with long waits and few selections that are not breakfast foods.

Well,

Bucktown / Wicker Park brunch is a mob scene. However there is one place that is somewhat "undiscovered" in that you can walk right in and sit down and get fed a good brunch for a semi reasonable price - Francesco's Forno.

It pains me to reveal this information, but since I've learned so many secrets over the years on LTHForum, it's my duty to give back and reveal one myself (although I believe I may have first learned of this here on LTH!)

MJ

Francesca's Forno
1576 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-770-0184

I just had brunch at Meritage (Damen/Charleston) last week. I wasn't crazy about the dinner I had there in the past, but I thought the brunch was great. And it was no where near as crowded as Toast (which is how we ended up there). It's also much less expensive at brunch. Entrees ranged from $9-14 (the more expensive dishes featured crab or lobster). The best part of the meal was the made-in-house thai patty sausage. Its more expensive than your average brunch but it was easy to get a table on Sunday at 10:30--I'd definately go back there. The omelettes were excellent as well. The only weak spot--pancakes (banana caramel) were a bit of a let-down.

vegmojo wrote:Well,

Bucktown / Wicker Park brunch is a mob scene. However there is one place that is somewhat "undiscovered" in that you can walk right in and sit down and get fed a good brunch for a semi reasonable price - Francesco's Forno.

It pains me to reveal this information, but since I've learned so many secrets over the years on LTHForum, it's my duty to give back and reveal one myself (although I believe I may have first learned of this here on LTH!)

MJ

Francesca's Forno
1576 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-770-0184

There's some discussion about Francesca's Forno in this thread, with a brunch specific review at the end:
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=7066

Franchesca's Forno and Meritage are brunch places and there are other good ones in the neighborhood, but the original poster asked about Saturday lunch ideas.

I recently met some out-of-town friends at Francesca's for what I thought was a lunch date and discovered when we got there that it only had a brunch menu.

Perhaps the original poster could let us know if he/she is okay with brunch instead of lunch or with a late Saturday lunch (say, past 2 or 3)? That might help direct responses.

I went to a Saturday brunch at Bongo Room last week at about 11:30 and waited about 35 minutes for a table. When I drove past Francesca's Forno prior to stopping at Bongo Room, it didn't look like there was a wait.

Hey everyone - thanks for the great suggestions! Whatever we decide on Saturday, I will definately keep the other ones in mind, as I'm not yet familiar with my surroundings. We were going to venture out around 10 for shopping which means we'd probably settle down for lunch around noon-1.

this is completely late (by 30 days)...

bin wine cafe has Sat/Sunday brunch.

a few wks back, they had a morel/cheese omelette special that was above anything i was force fed @ either Bongos... the women always love the mimosa flights as well... skip the pancakes tho...

vegmojo wrote:Well,

Bucktown / Wicker Park brunch is a mob scene. However there is one place that is somewhat "undiscovered" in that you can walk right in and sit down and get fed a good brunch for a semi reasonable price - Francesco's Forno.

It pains me to reveal this information, but since I've learned so many secrets over the years on LTHForum, it's my duty to give back and reveal one myself (although I believe I may have first learned of this here on LTH!)

MJ

Francesca's Forno
1576 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-770-0184

I quite like the weekend brunch at Handlebar, and they are far enough from the mob scene that you can often just walk in. They have nice outdoor seating and good coffee. Be warned that they are a fish+veggies only place, and all the meat-sounding menu options are tofu, etc. The southwest inspired dishes (and the southern style comfort foods) are usually very good, but I don't recommend the vegetarian chorizo.

Handlebar
2311 W North Ave
773.384.9546
http://www.handlebarchicago.com/

I have an errand to run during lunch today near the Blue Line Damen Stop. I'd like to get lunch to go and bring it back to the office. Where do you recommend I go within 1-2 blocks walking distance? I am not a big fan of salads, and I would prefer to spend less than $8 if it's a only a sandwich. Places I've already considered and nixed are Red Hen, Goddess & the Grocer or the coffee shop right by the el station (can't remember the name). Thanks.

zk foods, up on milwaukee just past red hen, but the best sandwich (skirt steak with apple slaw and aioli) is nearly $10. the sloppy joes are good and overpriced at $6.

I actually rather like the spicy chicken sando at Santullo's, although I get them to add giardiniera for an extra kick and crunch.

Right at the intersection is Francesca's forno, which serves lunch, but I've never been.

I'm not too keen on Sultan's market, but you can go there and get a somewhat overpriced, cold falafel sandwich.

If you go a couple blocks west on North, past Wood, you'll hit Cold Comfort Cafe, which is better than Goddess, which isn't saying too much. But still, it's not bad.

A few blocks (up to Oakley) on Milwaukee gets you to Irazu, which is probably the best overall place in the neighborhood. But it's also a trek.

A full half mile south and a bit east is Milk and Honey, but that's also a hike from the el.

Anyway, it's a miserable area to get lunch in. If you have something better near your office, do that instead.

gleam wrote:A few blocks (up to Oakley) on Milwaukee gets you to Irazu, which is probably the best overall place in the neighborhood. But it's also a trek.

A full half mile south and a bit east is Milk and Honey, but that's also a hike from the el.

Anyway, it's a miserable area to get lunch in. If you have something better near your office, do that instead.

Yes I love Irazu and Milk & Honey. They are usually my go-to places when I'm in the area w/my car. However, today I will be on foot. Thanks for the rec's. I will consider Santullo's and zk foods.

although the density in the area of things to eat is pretty high, not too many outstanding picks. I work on the corner and struggle for options. my two go to picks however are a falafel sandwich and zatter bread from sultan's market or a meatball from lucia's deli. Lucia's has other good things too, and sultans has a pretty nice salad/marinated veggie barthat isn't too expensive by the pound. both sandwich options are under $5.
Stay away from flash taco and underdog!! both highly dissapointing. Sometimes you can get a great slice from santullo's, but sometimes the crust sucks and its a gooey mess. there are two people that throw good pie there, the grizzly older dude who is the gm and the little latino guy, otherwise dont order it.

Lucia's Deli
1825 W. North Ave., Chicago
(773) 292-9700

Sultan's Market
2057 W. North Ave., Chicago
(773) 235-3072

Its become a mob-scene as of late, but Milk & Honey is great, as long as you don't mind ordering at the counter.

This is more West Town, but it may also be worth it to go to Flo, on Chicago Ave.