Breakfast near Northwestern Memorial Hospital?

Courtesy of my doc (and my age, I guess), I can now plan to visit the hospital bright and early Monday morning to let them draw some blood. I'll have the rest the day off so I thinks, thinks I, this would be a great opportunity to have breakfast afterwards in a neighborhood I rarely visit to eat (we're talking St. Clair and Huron, but I'm reasonably willing to walk, weather permitting). Then it strikes me: I don't know where to go for breakfast in that area. Is there anywhere?

Having said that and adding that my druthers are probably for a nice greasy spoon-type joint, I will also consider any reasonable suggestion.

West Egg on St Clair and Ontario is a popular breakfast spot and only a block away.

I've gone here after an appointment at Northwestern.

Fox & Obel Food Market
401 E. Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Gypsy Boy-

This thread provides some suggestions in the area near Northwestern. If it's a nice day, you could pick up a breakfast panini from L'Appetito (in the Hancock building concourse) and walk up to the park or beach at Oak Street.

-The GP

You're not too far from the Ritz. Really good breakfast at the Cafe.

Gypsy Boy, we used to walk over to Fox & Obel after weekly appointments at Northwestern. And at the time I was hugely pregnant and was nearly waddling, so it was clearly the food that made me walk that far. You could make a nice breakfast of a panini or an omelet and excellent coffee. Or, just go for the pastries. The Cinnamon Swirl is one of my all-time favorite foods. Seriously amazing.

I also recommend Fox & Obel, which has a great variety of delicious, interesting food. My advice is to stay away from the West Egg Cafe. I have only eaten there once, but once was more than enough for the atrocious service I received and the mediocre food.

From your opening, I almost thought you were finally up for a colonoscopy...

Though not gourmet - the cafeteria in the hospital is above-average for such facilities, and there's an adjacent (next to the cafeteria) Au Bon Pain that I like, too. Across the street from the Galter Pavilion is a Corner Bakery, with outdoor seating - if you've liked that fare.

Though not gourmet - the cafeteria in the hospital is above-average for such facilities...

I second the hospital cafeteria as an option if you're not set on changing locations. The cafeteria used to be a very reliable lunch option (granted, you're looking for breakfast) when I worked at the MCA.

I have spent a lot of time at Northwestern recently (pregnant wife and I also live in the area), so I know a decent amount about the options:

1. Corner Bakery: Decent food, good coffee, seating is not that comfortable, but it is directly across the street (southwest corner). Lines can be long.

2. Au Bon Pain (in the hospital): Avoid if you can. Poor food. Good coffee though. When I was spent a month at Northwestern while my wife was hospitalized for pre-term labor, I actually would go to McDonald's [McClurg across from CBS] for breakfast rather than eat the Au Bon Pain food.

3. West Egg: The absolute worst coffee I have ever had. It is amazing how horrible the coffee is. Food is O.K. Greasy, if that's what you want.
A reasonable option: Get your coffee at Corner Bakery (or Starbucks -- there is one on the far north east side of the hospital) and then walk over to West Egg.

4. Fox and Obel: A favorite. I am in there for breakfast almost every weekend. Great food. Very good coffee. Outstanding pastry. Enjoy one before your cardiologist bars them. Downside: Seating can be limited, but it should not be an issue on a Monday.

5. Tutto Pronto: McClurg and Ontario. A decent Italian deli. Breakfast food is O.K., coffee is very good. Seating inside or outside. It can be a nice place to sit outside. Italian version of greasy spoon.

6. If your spouse (or other significant person) is joining you, and you want to have a great but expensive breakfast, try NoMi.

Many thanks to all! A veritable plethora of prandial preferences. How to choose? I find myself leaning toward Fox & Obel based, in part, on the number of highly positive mentions--and also because it's been the proverbial, uh...long time...since I was there. However, wherever I end up, sincere thanks to all who responded.

Since you're leaning that way....
I was at Fox & Obel for lunch yesterday, and noticed a surprising development. The parking lot is gone! Now, this is not really new and it's been over a year since I've driven there intending to park in that convenient, validated lot, so it was a shock. Then imagine my delight when I saw that in its stead, Fox & Obel is offering FREE valet service for up to 2 hours with any purchase of $5 or more. This makes having lunch there do-able for those of us who prefer to pay more for food than for parking.

Susan wrote:Since you're leaning that way....
I was at Fox & Obel for lunch yesterday, and noticed a surprising development. The parking lot is gone! Now, this is not really new and it's been over a year since I've driven there intending to park in that convenient, validated lot, so it was a shock. Then imagine my delight when I saw that in its stead, Fox & Obel is offering FREE valet service for up to 2 hours with any purchase of $5 or more. This makes having lunch there do-able for those of us who prefer to pay more for food than for parking.

For parking, you need to be going northbound on McClurg.
If you are coming east on Illinois, make a right onto McClurg and then you will need to find a place to turn around so that you are going the opposite way in front of the store.

If you are walking there, be careful at that intersection. I witnessed one accident (car v. pedestrian) on Sunday and have seen a lot more close calls. Illinois is four lanes of traffic and cars seem to think it is an expressway. Assume people are going to blow the red light (doesn't happen often, but definitely worth noting).