Recs: breakfast/brunch Sat. morn. Linc. Sq and environs

I know this is broad, and the number of decent alternatives nearly infinite.
My bro. and partner are coming in from Denver and we're all going out on Sat.
I was looking for any particularly good recent experiences that standout among the generally OK gentrified mass in the area.
I just moved into a temp. sublet on Western and don't know the area as well as my old Argyle hood.
I am, blissfully, across the street from Spoon, and the very nice Nopales, but haven't yet got to know the breakfast options that well.
Need kid friendly, and not impossibly crowded/boistrous, so as to allow civilized conversation.
Something a bit more upscale than Golden Apple or Jeri's Grill, but life-changing, glitz-infused, vertically presented, maple-crusted, deconstructed french toast not required.

I don't love Fiddlehead Cafe for dinner, but brunch is actually quite nice. They allow the Mexican cooks more leeway in the kitchen for brunch than they do for dinner, so in addition to breakfast staples like pancakes and omelettes, you can get authentic migas and other dishes with very fresh, picante salsas.

Isn't Over Easy Cafe on Damen near to you?

I've not been but that's the place I would want to try for breakfast/brunch.

There's also Cafe Selmarie but I'm not much of a fan.

In Andersonville, not too far away, there's Ann Sather's, Tweet (well that's more uptown/edgewater but in the hood), Pauline's and A Taste of Heaven.

Glenn's Diner on Montrose serves a pretty decent breakfast. Its usually busy, but I have never really had to wait for a table. The menu covers all the basics with a few out of the ordinary items. I usually go for the New Orleans scramble with shrimp and andouille sausage.

Cafe Descartes, right on Lincoln Ave in the mall, serves a really yummy oatmeal latte, consisting of granola steeped in a latte.

Pauline's on Ravenswood might be fun, and I've always had great breakfasts there.

http://www.paulinesbreakfast.com/Su2007_Paulines_menu.pdf

Over Easy was extremely boring the one time I went there, and inexplicably filled with pregnant women. Not worth the wait or noise. That said, they did mysteriously close down for a time last winter, and have reopened, but the menu is identical. Glenn's diner does to a pretty tasty breakfast, so if they're not too far southeast you might want to give them a try. Cafe Selmarie is good but busy, so come early and expect to wait. There is a Sweet Occasions near Damen and Wilson, the setup is casual and the food is more lunch-oriented, but it's tasty.
I started going to Pauline's about 5 years ago and stopped going about 2 years ago because the quality of the food and service had declined considerably, so I can never recommend it. Plus, it's awfully far north for what you want.
And I feel required to give a shout-out to my old favorite 24-hour diner, the Golden Angel on Montrose and Lincoln. I haven't been in years, but it used to be the best place to get friendly service and decent cup of coffee at 3am.

There's the Lincoln. It's very kid friendly. I used to live a couple of blocks away, and since then, it has been a periodic convening spot for Saturday breakfast with about eight of my friends and their assorted munchkins. If we get in at 9 we can easily get a table big enough for all and room for running around. One of the group sometimes thinks the food is too greasy, and perhaps it is, but I like it pretty well.

Another option we sometimes tap is Café 28, which used to be a very hip spot for breakfast ten years ago, but which was almost desolate last time we tried it. The food was fine (not revolutionary) -- but the trend has passed them by, so it was again easy for a pretty large group to just show up and settle in for a congenial meal.

I rather liked Over Easy the one time I went, but it was on Good Friday so less crowded than typical on weekends.

The Golden Nugget on Lawrence has suprisingly high quality diner fare for its type. Not going to win awards, but it's prepared well. It is a bit tidier than the Golden Apple, but perhaps still outside your "scale" window.

Lincoln Restaurant
4008 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL
(773) 248-1820

Cafe 28
1800 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL
(773) 528-2883

Golden Nugget Pancake House
4747 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL
(773) 769-6700

Based on your description, I would highly recommend 42 Degrees N Latitude at Sunnyside and Lincoln. I have rarely been disappointed in their brunch, and they offer a wide range of choices, from the basics to "hip french toast" creations. In fact, I regard their brunch as one of the most underrated in town, and am often puzzled by the sometimes paltry crowds (larger now that patio is open).

Also, they offer a dining room as well as a more casual bar/dining area.

See link for brunch menu

http://www.42nlatitude.com/latitude_002.htm

Is the garden reopened at Lutz bakery yet? Their website says it is "still under construction" but it has said that for at least a year now, so maybe the website isn't updated? I've always had lovely breakfasts there...

Lutz Bakery & Cafe
2458 W. Montrose
773.48.7785
www.lutzcafe.com

A little northwest from you in Albany Park is Tre Kronor, for a Swedish breakfast.

Tre Kronor
3258 W. Foster Ave.
773-267-9888.

I think Tre Kronor is a great rec . . . and it's a real short drive from you (no more than 5 minutes).

I'm also a big fan of Over Easy, and I typically enjoy Selmarie.

On the other hand, I recently tried Fiddlehead for breakfast and I did not like it at all.

One other option is Sola -- I don't think many people even know they do brunch. But it is not so far away (20 minute walk or a short drive), and they do a very good and not unreasonably priced Saturday and Sunday brunch.