Bakin’ & Eggs for Brunch

Bakin' & Eggs for Brunch

Posted by Tammy at 8:00 am

Jul 152010

The frittatas at Bakin' & Eggs are large enough to share.

We had brunch over the weekend at Bakin’ & Eggs — the Lakeview spot owned by the folks at Lovely. There was a spacious seating area on the bakery side of B&E and we were able to spend the 30 minute wait by gazing at the array of cupcakes, macaroons and croissants. They all looked yummy and, I couldn’t help noticing, were color-coordinated with the decor.

We were very hungry by the time we slid into our pew, so went for a selection of frittatas (sundried tomato, asparagus & salmon-dill varieties), a flight of bacon, and sides of cheese grits, potatoes, chicken apple sausage and ham. It was enough to feed an army of lumberjacks but we managed to do it justice. After we took the edge off, we were able to appreciate nice touches like the homemade raspberry jam that came with the toast. Everything was delicious. And though I didn’t try the bacon myself, the meat eaters at the table went into raptures over the slabs.

Service here was a little shaky, even after the rush of the brunch crowd had passed. We had to ask for half our drink order and our waiter disappeared a few times. Also, splitting the check four ways apparently means something completely different at B&E than other places. Why itemize when everyone’s sharing dishes? They also take the diner route of paying at the counter, but that was a little disconcerting after the waiter/sit and eat vibe up to that point. Admittedly these are small things, but they make a difference in the customer experience.

Having said that, I would go back to Bakin’ & Eggs. We stuck to the savory side of the menu and skipped the sweets and breakfast sandwiches. The banana bread french toast sounded and looked interesting as did the bacon waffle. Yes, a return trip is definitely in order.

Bacon flight? Yes, please.

Bakin’ & Eggs
3120 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657-3131
(773) 525-7005

If you’ve been to Bakin’ & Eggs and want to share your experience, please leave a comment or send us a tweet. See more photos from Bakin’ & Eggs on our Facebook page.

Brunch at The Bull and Bear

Posted by Bridget at 11:23 pm

Mar 162010

Poptarts served in style!

I was never one to get up early for Saturday morning cartoons as a kid because I liked sleeping in more than watching “Inspector Gadget.” Not much has changed on that front over the years – I still love lazy weekend mornings much more than planned ones. That’s one of the reasons I feel so at home in Chicago. In this fair city, I never miss brunch because it’s served into the late hours of the afternoon. My kind of town!

So when we were invited to the Bull and Bear for brunch on-the-house last Sunday at the crack of 11 a.m., I figured I could rouse myself for the occasion. And good thing I did. This bar has an extensive brunch menu worth getting up for!

The homemade poptarts, served at the table in a toaster, are particularly noteworthy. One bite, and your inner child will be happy. But never fear, there are treats that cater to adult tastes too, from fruit flavored mimosas to an excellent Bloody Mary bar.

Create your own Bloody Mary with a variety of choices.

We also tried the Banana’s Foster French Toast, the Serrano Ham Eggs Benedict, and the breakfast quesadillas stuffed with pork, eggs, cheese and peppers. All were very tasty, and served up by an attentive pajama-clad wait staff. The coffee was hot and plentiful, but we recommend asking for extra cream up front if you like to doctor up your caffeine infusion.

The space a the Bull and Bear is pleasant, with high ceilings, comfy booths and big windows that let in a lot of light. Some of the booths even have a beer tap built right into the table, and these tables can be reserved in advance for groups of five or more.

Eggs Benedict... a classic favorite.

There was no sign of morning cartoons on the walls of TV screens throughout the bar, but we were completely content watching the Blackhawks game instead. All and all, the Bull and Bear is well worth a visit for brunch. It is a distinct step up from bar food and hits the spot!

Bull and Bear
431 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 527-5973
Get directions

This was a media brunch and all food was provided to us free-of-charge.