In honor of this weekend’s egg-centered holiday, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite brunch spots where you can get your egg on this Easter or any other weekend.
Big Jones
Big Jones is one of the most elegant, yet relaxed, dining rooms in Chicago. The Andersonville hot spot is usually teeming with good-looking gay men and lesbians, but if that’s not reason enough to get you there, the food is pretty amazing. Brunch standouts on the Creole-inspired menu include grilled Andouille sausage with hominy and poached eggs and an elevated version of the Southern staple shrimp and grits. Start out with a specialty brunch cocktail and a round of crawfish fritters served with cayenne mayonnaise and bitter greens. If you save some room, share some bourbon-spiked bread pudding or a slice of rich red velvet cake with cream cheese semifreddo. Big Jones is located at 5347 N. Clark; call 773-275-5725 or visit www.bigjoneschicago.com.
Hashbrowns
Keep your home fries and forget your fancy fingerling potatoes. When I’m at brunch, I want hashbrowns, and the absolute best within the city limits are served at, well, Hashbrowns. This always-bustling Maxwell Street joint does for hashbrowns what peanut butter does for jelly. The house hashbrowns are fried perfectly golden brown and delicious enough all on their own. However, there’s no reason to eat plain potatoes at Hashbrowns when you can get them mixed with stuff like Romano cheese, rosemary and chopped garlic. The “Killer Hashbrowns” are one of my top five absolute favorite things to eat in this universe. Not for the faint of heart (or those at risk for heart disease), these hashbrowns are mixed with cheddar cheese, onions, sour cream and topped with a crushed cornflake crust. The whole bowl of decadence is baked until golden and bubbly. I’m not sure if a defibrillator is also served with the “Killer Hashbrowns,” but it’s probably not a bad idea. Oh, yeah: Hashbrowns also has eggs on the menu. Hashbrowns is located at 731 W. Maxwell; call 312-226-8000 or visit www.hashbrownscafe.com.
Bistro Zinc
If you can handle a few tourists with your brunch, head to Bistro Zinc. Yes, it’s closer to the “Viagra Triangle” than the Champs Elysees, but it’s absolutely darling and serves some of the most authentic French food in Chicago. If you’re in the mood to make like a Parisian and wile away your Sunday afternoon at a street side café, indulging in pate, escargot, Nicoise salad, croque monsieur and glass after glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc—Bistro Zinc is the place for you. You’ll also find some more traditional breakfast foods like Eggs Benedict and brioche French toast topped with vanilla mascarpone and fresh berries. Bistro Zinc is located at 1131 N. State; call 312-337-1131 or visit www.bistrozinc.com.
Jam
Note to all Chicago hipsters: You’re busy next Sunday. You need to be at Jam for brunch with your effortlessly cool friends. The first thing you’ll notice about Jam is the funky modern décor: sophisticated “greige” walls, polished concrete tables, clear Plexiglas chairs, and chartreuse placemats for the perfect pop of color. But this East Village gem is more than just a pretty space. The chef hails from Charlie Trotter’s and North Pond—not bad places to cut your teeth. So don’t expect any run-of-the-mill omelets or boring old pancakes here. Look instead for fresh and inventive brunch fare like the “Panini Cristo,” a breakfast sandwich made of prosciutto, Taleggio, rapini and sweet mustard jam stuffed between two slices of French toast. Even the steak and eggs are a cut above. Yes, there’s a pan-roasted skirt steak and there are poached eggs, but there also rice grits, smoked tomato sauce and truffled Pecorino. Jam is located at 937 N. Damen; call 773-489-0302 or visit www.jamrestaurant.com.
Angelina
I’d be remiss if I didn’t include Angelina on my short list of best Chicago brunches. It’s conveniently located in Boystown, which makes it an obvious choice for the gay brunch crowd. However, I’d travel miles to get what Angelina is serving up for breakfast: unlimited mimosas. That’s right, as long as you’re sitting, they’re pouring. Paying $21 buys you an entrée and all the mimosas you can drink. I’m sure the food at Angelina is fine, but I honestly can’t remember a single thing I’ve ever eaten there. Just kidding! The cuisine, admittedly, is not going to knock your socks off, but it does the trick. The breakfast croissant—which is made with scrambled eggs, broiled fresh mozzarella and Canadian bacon—is my top recommendation to soak up all of that bubbly you’re about to imbibe. You can thank me later. Angelina is at 3561 N. Broadway; call 773-935-5933 or visit www.angelinaristorante.com.