Best breakfast spots in Chicago

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Situated in the center of Logan Square, this haven of "hipsterdom" is ideal for a weekend brunch or a full meal before a concert at the adjacent Logan Square Auditorium. The menu is ideal for vegetarians, but with items ranging from a tofu scramble with ginger miso sauce to grilled pork loin, the diversity and freshness (almost all of the food at Lula is local) of the menu is sure to offer something for everyone. Prices are a tad on the expensive side, but the cost is well worth it.

Description:

Taste of Heaven is an ideal place to stop for coffee and dessert in Andersonville. Just one look at the cakes, brownies, scones, and other treats on offer in the glass bakery case will have you hooked. A few dessert standouts include a (rather generous) slice of one of their many house-made cakes (Jeanine's and the 1000-chocolate chip cake are both delicious). Another mouth-watering option is to try one of their apple pastries served a la mode with vanilla ice cream. (Taste of Heaven dishes up a variety of rich and creamy Petersen's ice cream flavors.) For those with more of an appetite, Taste of Heaven also has on offer a number of hearty breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrées. Just be sure that you have plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely meal, as during busy times the kitchen can become overwhelmed, leaving you with a long wait for your food.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best cinnamon rolls in the city!

Description:

Ann Sather offers four locations in Chicago with two in the Lakeview neighborhood, meaning you have many chances to eat some of the best cinnamon rolls in the city! The Belmont location has been an institution in the neighborhood, serving delicious Swedish food for over 30 years. Scandinavian favorites can be found here at very reasonable prices, including meatballs, dumplings, and sauerkraut. However, the real draw here is the breakfast menu, featuring fantastic, buttery, sticky cinnamon rolls, which come with virtually every menu item. Or, you may just love them so much, you have to take several to go! Ann Sather is great for families, and groups of all ages.

Our Local Expert Says:

Nestled in the quasi-pedestrian section of Lincoln Square, Cafe Selmarie is right off a plaza, giving it a hearty dose of European feel. The entrance at the bakery is pretty smart — it's hard to leave without picking up a dessert (or two).

Description:

Nestled into charming Lincoln Square, looking out onto the square's fountain, Cafe Selmarie is a delightful eatery to enjoy a treat, lunch, or a cup of coffee in the morning. It is hard to bypass the beautiful pastries in the bakery, where your mouth will water at beautiful cakes, cookies, and tortes. The menu offers homemade soups, salads, quiche, sandwiches, and plenty of fresh and creative entrees. Patrons can also choose to dine on the outdoor patio during the summer months, right on the square.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Fleet Foxes deemed this establishment the "best vegan diner in the world" at last summer's Lollapalooza! See if they are right...

Description:

If you think it is hard to find restaurants that cater to your vegetarian/vegan needs, the looking is over. Not only does the Chicago Diner keep your needs in mind, the entire menu is completely vegetarian and can be made vegan upon request. Plus, there is even a gluten-free menu that has more than just a few choices. This local favorite has an all-American diner feel, and includes a full brunch menu, plus a liquor menu featuring gluten-free beers, and local and sustainable wines and liquors. The restaurant offers free parking.

Description:

Hearty meals made with fresh and organic ingredients dominate the menu at Uncommon Ground. Whether a vegetarian or an uncompromising carnivore, you'll find an entrée to tempt your palate at this cozy coffeehouse and café. A full-bar complements the menu; in fact, you may just want to stop by for one of their signature martinis, which you can enjoy at the bar or while sitting on one of the comfy chairs in the front room. Uncommon Ground also makes an excellent stop for coffee and dessert. Foam-topped lattes and other coffee creations are literal works of art; the baristas clearly know what they're doing. Live music is available just about every night of the week in the back room of the café; if you want to listen to music as you eat, you may want to make reservations in advance to ensure you'll be seated in the back.

Description:

Housed in a former 1950s strip mall (much quainter than it sounds), Pauline's is a great place for brunching on a lazy summer's day. Breakfast is king on the menu, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Among the entree options are five-egg omelet concoctions filled with a variety of fresh ingredients ranging from salmon to white asparagus. For those with cholesterol on the brain, egg whites or egg beaters can be substituted for a small additional charge. Another excellent (and rather-filling) option is the fruit- or chocolate-chip-filled pancakes, which come slathered with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. For those who aren't the breakfast-all-day types, the lunch menu has a number of salads and sandwiches to choose from, including several burgers and classic diner-style offerings.

Description:

If it is the weekend, and you are lining up for Hyde Park dining, you are probably at this bustling, roadhouse-style Southern eatery (think rusty old ad signs as wall art). The list of the munchies that keep drawing the crowds includes fried green tomatoes, oyster po' boy sandwiches, jambalaya, country fried steak, baby catfish and pulled pork BBQ. Do not miss the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth corn pancakes.

Description:

Formerly Earwax Records, this café is one of Wicker Park's standard places to meet and greet for the moody hipster with a book to read or music to discuss. The closest you get to eclectic is present here, right down to the lack of air conditioning in the summer, which makes the place so hot the wax will run out your ears. Decent, cheap food, strong coffee and alternative atmosphere (complete with murals of circus freaks) complement the not-so-comically rude service. The coffee shop also features a video rental store with some decent selections.

Description:

This lovely street-side cafe is perfect for a long Saturday brunch with family or just a cuppa joe. Dishing out American fare with hints from Asia and Latin America, Bretts offers salads, sandwiches, tamales, huevos rancheros, cornmeal waffles, blueberry pancakes, and seafood delights. In addition, a complimentary bread basket arrives on your table filled with delicious coffee cake and jam. The casual air, street-side tables, and a decent wine list makes a trip to this Roscoe Village haunt memorable.