The holiday season can be stressful, but sitting down with friends for brunch provides the ultimate release (mimosas don’t hurt either). Start your day with one of these 15 new brunches, where you can swap stories about family drama and solicit gifting advice while treating yourself to some cheer in the form of a breakfast pizza, loaded bloody mary or decadent pile of pancakes.
Bangers & Lace
1851 W. Addison St. 773-697-8667
Dishes: The Roscoe Village spot extends its love affair with sausage to the brunch menu with the duck BLT made with duck sausage, tomato-bacon chutney, lettuce and garlic aioli served on focaccia with fries ($11). If you’re looking for something lighter, opt for avocado toast—housemade focaccia topped with caramelized onion jam, smashed avocado and a mixed micro-lettuce salad ($8).
Drinks: Try a brunch-friendly beer such as Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA ($7) or the Bloody Beer, a spicy mix of Oskar Blues brew, house bloody mary mix, Sriracha, lime, smoked paprika and a celery salt rim ($8).
Brunch times: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. No reservations.
Robert’s Pizza Company
355 E. Ohio St. 312-222-0905
Dishes: The Streeterville spot serves up a menu of brunch pizzas such as the Loxza made with smoked salmon, cream cheese, chives, red onion, capers, chopped egg and dill ($25), plus cinnamon buns made with pizza dough ($7).
Drinks: Get your caffeine fix from the Brunch Money, hot coffee and heavy cream spiked with Patron XO Cafe, or opt for something more refreshing with the Citronge Lime Cooler made with lime liqueur, prosecco, sparkling water and lime juice ($9 each).
Brunch times: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
Coda di Volpe
3335 N. Southport Ave. 773-687-8568
Dishes: Like its dinner menu, the Lakeview restaurant’s brunch offerings are focused on Southern Italian fare including a sandwich with Italian-style ham, scrambled eggs, tomato marmalade and provolone served with a side of chili-dusted potato chips ($14), and a spin on oatmeal made with rice porridge, crispy oats, roasted peaches and caramelized honey milk ($12).
Drinks: Get a snack with your drink when you order the Calabrian chili-spiced Sicilian bloody mary, which is garnished with pickled pepper, lemon, pecorino and soppressata. Or try the strawberry aperol spritz if you prefer a bubbly bevvy ($10 each).
Brunch times: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
Broken English Taco Pub
75 E. Lake St. 312-929-3601
Dishes: Warm up with a bowl of pozole verde ($13) or enjoy a brunch spin on tacos made with chorizo, scrambled eggs and poblano peppers ($7).
Drinks: Choose vodka, mezcal, tequila or gin for your bloody mary ($7) or share a $20 bucket of five Tecate beers while you watch football.
Brunch times: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Smack Shack
326 N. Morgan St. 312-973-1336
Dishes: For $35, feast on a buffet of shrimp, oysters, crab, roasted fish, carved brisket, chicken and waffles and more at the West Loop seafood joint.
Drinks: Add a mimosa package to your meal for $15 or visit the bloody mary bar stocked with meat, seafood and cheese ($10) or a Moscow mule bar with several ginger beers, fruit, juices and garnishes ($12).
Brunch times: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
WhirlyBall
1825 W. Webster Ave. 773-486-7777
Dishes: Start your morning with some friendly competition with the Bucktown bar’s $28 Brunch and Bowl package, which includes an hour of bowling, shoe rental and your choice of entree. The menu includes options such as the Time to Wake Up Burger, an Italian sausage burger topped with a fried egg, ketchup and applewood bacon, and Three Egg Rancheros, fried flour tortillas topped with black bean puree, chorizo and pepper-fried egg.
Drinks: The package comes with your choice of a bloody mary, mimosa, spiked coffee or hot chocolate.
Brunch times: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
Maison Parisienne
3307 N. Clark St. 773-904-0777
Dishes: The Lakeview cafe offers a $29.95 meal package that starts with a regular or chocolate croissant served with jam to warm up for your choice of beef bourguignon with boiled potatoes or a rotating savory pie served with salad and soup. Dessert is also included.
Drinks: The meal comes with a soft drink or fruit juice and your choice of Intelligentsia coffee or Kusmi tea.
Brunch times: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
Roanoke
135 W. Madison St. 312-940-3760
Dishes: Favorites at The Loop spot include brown butter French toast topped with blueberry maple syrup, lemon curd and toasted hazelnuts ($11) and the housemade cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy, breakfast potatoes and fried egg ($11.50).
Drinks: Try the blood orange mimosa made with prosecco and blood orange liqueur ($11) or sip a Toast & Jam, a blend of Knob Creek rye, hibiscus syrup, and fresh grapefruit and lime juices ($11.50).
Brunch times: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
The Tankard
1635 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-292-2765
Dishes: The Bucktown spot serves classic brunch fare including steak and eggs with roasted potatoes ($15) and a meat lover’s omelet stuffed with bacon, sausage and American cheese with potatoes and toast on the side ($11).
Drinks: Split a $15 domestic bucket or go solo with a $6 mimosa or $8 bloody mary.
Brunch times: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
Lillie’s Q
1856 W. North Ave. 773-772-5500
Dishes: Southern fare dominates the Bucktown spot’s brunch menu, with dishes including Eggs in Limbo, which combines poached eggs, grits and a stew of tomatoes, smoked pork and chicken, corn and lima beans ($10), and cornmeal waffles served with fried chicken thigh covered in the restaurant’s signature hot sauce and sorghum syrup ($13).
Drinks: Pair those meaty eats with a light cocktail such as the blood orange mimosa ($10) or Salty Mae, a blend of gin, grapefruit cordial, lime and soda served in a smoked salt-rimmed glass ($11).
Brunch times: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen
55 E. Grand Ave. 312-999-9300
Dishes: Only available at the fast-casual restaurant’s River North location, the brunch menu includes Tennessee hot chicken and waffles made with boneless fried habanero-honey glazed chicken ($25) and cinnamon swirl pancakes topped with vanilla icing ($13).
Drinks: Take a trip to the build-your-own bloody mary bar or opt for a mimosa made with a rotating selection of juices ($6 each).
Brunch times: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday. Reservations accepted.
True Food Kitchen
1 W. Erie St. 312-204-6981
Dishes: The health-focused River North spot offers guilt-free eats like smashed avocado toast with a sunny-side up egg, smoked gouda, black sesame seeds and thyme ($10), and quinoa Johnny cakes topped with banana, Greek yogurt and maple syrup ($11).
Drinks: Sip a grapefruit mimosa sweetened with clover honey ($11) or spice things up with a bloody mary made with organic vodka and a blend of organic tomato, cumin, cayenne, onion, garlic and lime juice ($12).
Brunch times: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
Sugar Factory
55 E. Grand Ave. 312-946-2002
Dishes: Satisfy brunch cravings all day long at this massive River North spot, which serves appropriately sweet treats like Nutella chocolate chip pancakes topped with melted hazelnut chocolate and whipped cream ($10.95), and a s’mores crepe filled with marshmallows, crushed graham crackers and melted chocolate chunks and topped with vanilla ice cream ($11.95). Savory brunch fare, like the smoked salmon croissant sandwich with chive cream cheese and arugula plus a side of hashbrowns ($14.95), is available until 3 p.m.
Drinks: Fuel up with The Sugar Factory cappuccino served with steamed white chocolate milk and topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings ($8.95) or add a bit of booze with the amaretto mochaccino, which blends in amaretto and pure melted chocolate ($13.95).
Brunch times: 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
Columbus Tap
200 N. Columbus Drive 312-444-9494
Dishes: Dig into The Orchard, a stack of fluffy pancakes topped with bourbon-preserved peaches and cinnamon-roasted apples and pears ($16), or the Eggs and Bacon, scrambled eggs with blistered tomatoes, smashed fingerling potatoes and maple pork belly ($20). You can burn off the calories by hitting nearby Millennium Park ice rink.
Drinks: For $14 you’ll get a customizable bloody mary where you pick vodka, gin, bourbon or tequila for the base, and Old Bay, celery salt or salt and pepper for the rim. No matter what you decide, you’ll get a garnish of candied bacon, smoked olives and a spicy dill pickle.
Brunch times: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
Taco Joint
158 W. Ontario St. 312-337-8226 and 1969 N. Halsted St. 312-951-2457
Dishes: Both the River North and Lincoln Park locations offer a $32 package that includes beverages and your choice of one brunch entree with options including chicken chilaquiles and three buttermilk pancakes accompanied by crispy pork carnitas, citrus-chile maple syrup and hash browns.
Drinks: Brunch comes with two hours of drinks, so you can spend your meal alternating between a long menu featuring micheladas, red and white sangria and palomas.
Brunch times: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations accepted.
