Time for Brunch!!

Hi everyone!
I live in the North Shore and am looking for a great place to take some girlfriends out for brunch on a Sunday. It does not have to be in the North Shore, as I am willing to do SOME travelling for good food! However, don't want to go to far into the city either.
Any suggestion??

M

There are great brunches all over the North Shore and northern parts of the city. Can you be a little more specific about what you're looking for?

nr706 wrote:There are great brunches all over the North Shore and northern parts of the city. Can you be a little more specific about what you're looking for?

For example, are you looking specifically for an all-you-can-eat buffet? Or a la carte brunch? Also, specifically for breakfast type dishes (eggs, pancakes, waffles) or for more variety, including various savory dishes?

One other question - are you willing to wait (up to 30-45 minutes) to be seated, or would you strongly prefer a place that accepts reservations?

Since you live on the North Shore, should we assume you're already familiar with Walker Brothers?

It's a Monday and it is 3 degree's out! You are making me think!! okay okay okay...

Reservations would be preferred, and am looking for more breakfast type foods, but a variety is always good. I am pregant and asking me to wait up to 40 minutes to eat, well, that ain't gonna fly!!
All you can eat would be great! I am eating for two...so I can use that excuse for a few more months!!

Thanks!!

Thanks, the additional information is helpful.

The need for a reservation (or, at least, short waiting times) rules out the popular breakfast spots like Walker Brothers, M. Henry, and Bongo Room, unless you're there at less busy hours.

Starting with the all-you-can-eat buffets... (warning - at $29-35, they're not cheap)

One place that does a very nice huge all-you-can-eat buffet for Sunday brunch is Allgauer's in Northbrook. They have a flyer that shows what they have, here. I'm pretty sure they take reservations. The biggest, best buffet brunch on the North Shore.

One other nice buffet Sunday brunch is at the Deerpath Inn in Lake Forest. Very conventional, an older crowd, but good food, and yes they take reservations. Their flyer is here.

The Barn of Barrington also does a nice Sunday brunch buffet, too, but it's not exactly North Shore. Their flyer.

Even bigger (and more expensive) splurge buffets are in the luxury hotels downtown, but you said you didn't want to go too far into the city.

Moving on to the a la carte places...

One place in Evanston whose Sunday brunch I like is Prairie Moon. Good pancakes, omelets, etc. They're not usually busy at all, although a reservation wouldn't be a bad idea. Call them anyway to make sure they're still serving brunch these days. Not all-you-can-eat though.

Similarly (in name as well as style), Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook does a nice a la carte Sunday brunch (Saturdays, too), and accepts reservations.

Other places that do decent a la carte brunches include Dixie Kitchen in Evanston, Lucky Platter in Evanston, Magnolia Cafe in Uptown, and Sola in North Center (keeping it on the north side).

I can recommend four places on the north side of the city:

Magnolia Cafe
1224 W. Wilson
Chicago, IL

Contemporary American. The smoked salmon eggs benedict are outstanding.

M. Henry
5707 N. Clark
Chicago, IL

Great place, but it can be a long wait on weekends. Go early. BYOB.

Tweet
5020 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL

Contemporary American with an organic focus.

Over Easy Cafe
4943 N. Damen
Chicago, IL

Quirky place with a lot of charm. The menu changes frequently, but everything I've had has been good. BYOB.

You guys are awesome! Great suggestions and I totally forgot about Allgauers....love that place!

And yes, I am familiar with Walker Bros...but wanted to go somewhere different.
Another place I really like alot (but go there to often, so wanted to try something different) is Wildberry in Libertyville.

This breakfast and lunch only restaurant is AMAXING! Many of their foods are organic and ingredients are from local farmers. Service there is always great, food arrives quickly and hot!
Amazing food, love that place.......

Wow all this talk about yummy places is making my tuna salad sandwich I am having for lunch, look pretty pathetic!!

Thanks everyone!!!

FrankP wrote:M. Henry
5707 N. Clark
Chicago, IL

Great place, but it can be a long wait on weekends. Go early. BYOB.

long wait, but worth it.

Tre Kronor in Albany Park has one of the best brunches on the northwest side. I don't know if they take reservations for brunch, but perhaps they'd make an exception for a birthday

Quince in Evanston is supposed to be lovely and they take reservations. It's in the former Trio space.

Jacky's is a nice French bistro in Evanston on Central St., and they take brunch reservations as well.

I've been to Quince, and while it doesn't pretend to Trio's levels, it's very good.

Another brunch option, just a couple of blocks from Jacky's, is Jilly's - also very good French-influenced food, and takes reservations.

And it amuses me that within a couple of blocks you have (coincidentally) Jacky's and Jilly's - although I don't think they've ever gone up the hill together and then come tumbling down.

I'm easily amused.

rlguffman wrote:Quince in Evanston is supposed to be lovely and they take reservations. It's in the former Trio space.

Are you sure they are still serving brunch these days? I know they were when they first opened, but now their website no longer shows brunch hours. (I know websites aren't always accurate, but I suspect they may have discontinued their brunch.)

I'm looking for a good, quiet place to have a Sunday brunch with a friend. It should be in the city, have great food, and (this may be a conflicting requirement) not require one to wait in a huge line.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks!
Jerry

Hi,

If you want southern style brunch, then visit either Feed or CJ's Eatery.

Regards,

Jerry wrote:I'm looking for a good, quiet place to have a Sunday brunch with a friend. It should be in the city, have great food, and (this may be a conflicting requirement) not require one to wait in a huge line.

Any particular part of the city?

Jerry wrote:I'm looking for a good, quiet place to have a Sunday brunch with a friend. It should be in the city, have great food, and (this may be a conflicting requirement) not require one to wait in a huge line.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks!
Jerry

For a quiet Sunday brunch, I like Sweets and Savories or Sola, and to minimize your waiting time they both take reservations.

I recently had a nice brunch at Sepia. They also take reservations, and it must have been on the quiet side since my grandma loved it.

Al Primo Canto's brunch is outstanding, and a real bargain to boot.

I enjoyed dinner there for the first time last month, and noted that they serve a Sunday brunch as well. Since the restaurant is steps from the Metra stop in Edgebook, we invited our Libertyville friends to meet there for a brunch with their two daughters. Sometimes brunches can be disappointing facsimilies of a restaurant's charms, but everyone in our party was delighted.

Much of their specialty items from dinner service are available, including their signature grilled meats. They will bring entire platters of meat to your table upon request, or you can get single portions at the carving station, which epitomizes their very attentive service.

As good as their meat is (and what Brazillian steakhouse worth a damn doesn't have good meat?), the consistent excellence of all their side dishes truly distinguishes APC. The salads, the cured meats, the fresh fruit salad (often a low point at all-you-can-eat buffets) were all excellent. My god, I never would have guessed the salmon and lox plate would be a high point! We didn't get to the omelette station, but our protein needs were well met, believe me.

$19.95 for adults, $9.95 for tweens (7-12), free for the young'ns. Sundays 11-230. (Show up before 1230, and you will have free run of the place if our experience is typical)

Al Primo Canto
5414 W Devon
773-631-0100

Thread Bump.

I would like the location to be in the city, easy for conversation, and no waits/accepts reservations.

And go!

Mexique

I'm planning a post on this place soon, but I can highly recommend Homestead. Not the farm to table place on the roof of Roots Pizza, but the small, family owned breakfast and lunch spot in the former Hohn Long space (before they moved a couple doors north) on Lincoln Ave. This restaurant is run by a mother/daughter team. The food is scratch made by mom, and she has some real cooking chops. Items tend to skew southern, but the menu has a good cross section of stuff. A little something for everyone.

I know you're looking for vegetarian stuff for yourself, which they have, but I've got to put in a good word for the corned beef hash.

Sorry to have not posted about this place before now, but I've been gathering pictures for a more complete post of both their breakfast and lunch options. I'm not sure you would even need reservations until this place gets discovered, but it can't hurt to call ahead.

Homestead
6144 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 681-0418

Snax wrote:Al Primo Canto's brunch is outstanding, and a real bargain to boot.

Don't get any ideas about this. Al Primo Canto is closed (now the home of King Pho).

stevez wrote:I'm planning a post on this place soon, but I can highly recommend Homestead. Not the farm to table place on the roof of Roots Pizza, but the small, family owned breakfast and lunch spot in the former Hohn Long space (before they moved a couple doors north) on Lincoln Ave. This restaurant is run by a mother/daughter team. The food is scratch made by mom, and she has some real cooking chops. Items tend to skew southern, but the menu has a good cross section of stuff. A little something for everyone.

I know you're looking for vegetarian stuff for yourself, which they have, but I've got to put in a good word for the corned beef hash.

Sorry to have not posted about this place before now, but I've been gathering pictures for a more complete post of both their breakfast and lunch options. I'm not sure you would even need reservations until this place gets discovered, but it can't hurt to call ahead.

Homestead
6144 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 681-0418

An enthusiastic "second" for Steve's find--we went a few weeks ago and I've been hoping to get back in. There's nothing remotely trendy here--just really thoughtfully prepared diner food in a comfortable space. Even the typically flavorless side dish of fruit was good! Loved the hash and eggs. Mom is from Spain but cooks with a southern U.S. flair. Been waiting for Steve to get a post up so that I could add my 2 cents and help get this spot a little well-deserved attention.

If you're looking for something a bit closer to home, Anteprima serves brunch now and takes reservations. And I always like Nightwood for brunch.

boudreaulicious wrote:Anteprima serves brunch now and takes reservations.

Are you sure? There's no mention of brunch on their website, and a quick check on Opentable of a random Sunday shows no availability. You're not just thinking of Acre, their sister restaurant a couple doors down that is open for brunch?

nsxtasy wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:Anteprima serves brunch now and takes reservations.

Are you sure? There's no mention of brunch on their website, and a quick check on Opentable of a random Sunday shows no availability. You're not just thinking of Acre, their sister restaurant a couple doors down that is open for brunch?

We had a (very good) Mother's Day brunch at Anteprima, but maybe they were doing brunch that day because of Mother's Day? At a minimum brunch is not unknown there.

boudreaulicious wrote:

stevez wrote:I'm planning a post on this place soon, but I can highly recommend Homestead. Not the farm to table place on the roof of Roots Pizza, but the small, family owned breakfast and lunch spot in the former Hohn Long space (before they moved a couple doors north) on Lincoln Ave. This restaurant is run by a mother/daughter team. The food is scratch made by mom, and she has some real cooking chops. Items tend to skew southern, but the menu has a good cross section of stuff. A little something for everyone.

I know you're looking for vegetarian stuff for yourself, which they have, but I've got to put in a good word for the corned beef hash.

Sorry to have not posted about this place before now, but I've been gathering pictures for a more complete post of both their breakfast and lunch options. I'm not sure you would even need reservations until this place gets discovered, but it can't hurt to call ahead.

Homestead
6144 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 681-0418

An enthusiastic "second" for Steve's find--we went a few weeks ago and I've been hoping to get back in. There's nothing remotely trendy here--just really thoughtfully prepared diner food in a comfortable space. Even the typically flavorless side dish of fruit was good! Loved the hash and eggs. Mom is from Spain but cooks with a southern U.S. flair. Been waiting for Steve to get a post up so that I could add my 2 cents and help get this spot a little well-deserved attention.

I tried to go to Homestead for breakfast today, and it appears that they have closed. Sorry for the false lead.

Apparently anteprima isn't doing it anymore--not sure when they stopped but it was definitely not just on Mother's Day.

I tried to go to Homestead for breakfast today, and it appears that they have closed. Sorry for the false lead.

Homestead's facebook page confirms this.

Okay, other suggestions?

I really love Tiztal Cafe for brunch--some of my favorite chilaquiles in the city, great waffles (I like the pecan), and wonderful oatmeal shakes, which they will kindly split for you if you're sharing. Everything's quite cheap, and there's usually not a wait (especially if you go later in the day or if it's a nice day, as they have a little patio in the back). Note that I usually go during the week or late on the weekend, so it's possible there is more of a wait on weekend mornings.

Tiztal Cafe
4631 N Clark St,
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-4631