Over the past year or so, my friends and I have developed a great appreciation for brunch. It used to be that we would occasionally stop by somewhere in Evanston for a quick bite to eat, but now we go all-out and make the trek into the city fairly regularly to eat at the best brunch sites that we can find. This has given us great knowledge of the city's best. Here are some of our favorites.
Yolk
Yolk is a chain of breakfast/brunch restaurants all over Chicago. I absolutely love its food and its bright, cheery atmosphere. Just be warned, the portions are huge! They make their omelets with five eggs and nearly everything comes with a side of pancakes and nearly anything else that you could ever want. Plus, if you go to the Yolk on South Michigan Avenue, you can get a donut from Stan's Donuts (just around the corner!) while you wait for your table.
Bongo Room
The Bongo Room is now open in three different locations throughout Chicago and it's for a good reason. The food is great, the drinks are great, and the staff is super friendly. The brunch menu boasts everything from the Chocolate Tower French Toast to the Ground Sirloin Benedict, so there's something for everything. Even better, the south loop location is also just around the corner from Stan's.
m. henry
A cute little storefront that's way bigger inside than you'd ever imagine, m. henry is one of my personal favorites. The food is amazing, huge, and actually comes out pretty fast. The last time that we went, I realized that I had to be back in Evanston for a CPR class approximately an hour later. I expected to have to leave brunch early, but we got our food so fast that I didn't have to! My tip is to get something savory, but share a sweet meal with the table. You won't be disappointed.
Big Star
Big Star definitely isn't the average brunch restaurant, but I've decided that brunch is the best time to go. With its menu of amazing tacos, Big Star is a fantastic find. The restaurant opens at 11:30 on weekends and it's best to get there right at opening so that there's no line. Otherwise, if you wait until lunch or dinner, you're likely to have an hour+ wait. However, even if you do have to wait, the tacos are definitely worth it.
