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32 | April 26, 2018 | The winnetka Current dining out winnetkacurrent.com quick bites A brunch of options Area restaurants abound with brunch-time hits STAFF REPORT Brunch — the hybrid breakfast/lunch meal eaten during the late morning/ early afternoon hours often accompanied by mimosas, sangrias and bellinis. While brunch has been an American favorite for decades, in recent years, millennials seem to have taken the trend to a new level, with brunch posts flooding social media feeds, restaurants across the city and suburbs touting exclusive brunch menus, and T-shirts from Target to boutique shops donning corny phrases like “Brunch so hard” and “But first, brunch.” But, with warmer temperatures on the horizon and several North Shore restaurants dedicating special brunch menus, how can eaters pass up the delicious options of breakfast and lunch favorites served at a time when the warm, seasonal sun is at its peak and appetites are the most ravenous? Here, we have a roundup of some of the area’s tastiest spots to hit up for a classic brunch-time meal. Read up, build an appetite and head on out to try them this spring. Homemade waffle with fruit — Caffe Buon Giorno, Winnetka Tucked inside Winnetka’s quaint Laundry Mall, Caffe Buon Giorno has kept Winnetkans coming back for yummy eats for 19 years. The moment you walk in the door, the enormous menu will have you thinking for a few minutes about what to order from the plethora of options. Luckily for diners who stop by during late morning/early afternoon brunch-time, you can have your pick of anything from omelets, fluffy waffles with fruit, homemade soups and garden-fresh salads. Owner Mary Jo Vlahos, of Kenilworth, said while the restaurant has an abundance of items, there are no specific brunch specials, as tried and true favorites have eventually made their way to being on the menu permanently. “We have a lot of specials that have become popular and then they stay, so our menu is pretty huge,” Vlahos said. One favorite item ordered at brunch-times is the homemade waffle, which can either be served as a plain, homemade Belgian waffle with butter and maple syrup ($9.95) or topped with assorted fresh fruit, bacon, sausage or ham ($15). With the fruit-topped waffle, diners will enjoy a floral-shaped Belgian waffle with a light dusting of powdered sugar and fresh, sweet slices of pineapple, cantaloupe, banana, strawberry and blueberry. “We have really fresh and unique menu items, really different omelets and different ingredients, and I think our food is super fresh,” Vlahos said when asked about what keeps patrons coming back. Caffe Buon Giorno, 566 Chestnut St., Winnetka, is open 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday and is closed Monday. For more For $15, the homemade waffle with fruit at Caffe Buon Giorno is a Belgian waffle dusted with powdered sugar and topped with pineapple, cantaloupe, banana, strawberry and blueberry slices. JACQUELINE GLOSNIAK/22ND CENTURY MEDIA information, call (847) 784-8899. Story by Jacqueline Glosniak, Editor Avocado toast — Market House On The Square, Lake Forest Hospitality and listening to customers is the No. 1 goal for the staff at Market House On The Square in Lake Forest. Carla Westcott, owner of the restaurant, offers a brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays and special brunch events on Easter and Mother’s Day. “I think Market House knows how to do hospitality,” Westcott said. “We love this community, love welcoming our guests in, love having families and helping them have a special experience. Mother’s Day is one of our favorite days here.” This year for Mother’s Day, Market House is taking reservations for a special Mother’s Day brunch beginning at 10 a.m. with the last seating at 2:30 p.m. The Mother’s Day brunch is $38 for adults, $18 for kids and includes a three-course meal and brunch cocktails. “We do three courses for Mother’s Day and it is kind of set up like prix fixe menu,” said Dan Marquis, executive chef at Market House. The menu includes a variety of options, such as smoked salmon, eggs, French toast and avocado toast. I stopped into Market House and tried its famous avocado toast, made with artisan wheat bread topped with avocado and crab salad and served with a small side of petite greens. While this item will be on the Mother’s Day brunch menu, it is also on the regular brunch menu for $15. Westcott believes Market House’s brunch menu stands out from the rest because of Marquis’ cooking skills and his special attention on finding fresh ingredients that are locally sourced. Market House On The Square, 655 Forest Ave., Lake Forest, is open 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (847) 234- 8800. Story by Alyssa Groh, Contributing Editor One of the many brunch items available at Market House On The Square is the avocado toast, made with artisan wheat bread topped with avocado and crab salad and served with a small side of petite greens. Alyssa Groh/22nd Century Media The short rib and hash ($17) at Jolane’s Restaurant and Bar includes burgundy braised short ribs, skillet potatoes, demi glace and two sunny-side-up eggs. Chris Pullam/22nd Century Media Short rib and hash — Jolane’s Restaurant and Bar, Glenview From the wood-paneled walls and glass tabletops to the stone flooring and sunlit windows, the enclosed patio at Jolane’s Restaurant and Bar basically screams brunch. And now, the menu has followed suit. A few weeks ago, Head Chef Jose Guerrero rolled out his new, 30-item menu: a combination of longtime favorites and new creations. “We have something for everyone,” he said. “Nowadays, brunch is like its own occasion, and we wanted our menu to reflect that, to have something to fulfil your needs.” When I asked to sample a dish of his choice, Guerrero didn’t hesitate. A short time later, sitting at a small table next to a window, I dug into Jolane’s short rib and hash ($17), complete with burgundy braised short ribs, skillet potatoes, demi glace and two sunnyside-up eggs. The restaurant’s small plates include buffalo wings ($9), chorizo flatbread ($12) and, of course, avocado toast ($10), while the entrees range from the breakfast wrap ($11) with avocado, black beans and scrambled eggs to the brunch burger ($16) with sweet balsamic shallots, broiled tomatoes, arugula,
winnetkacurrent.com dining out the winnetka current | April 26, 2018 | 33 Brie and a fried egg. Sandwiches, like the Tuscan chicken panini ($13) or the salmon BLT ($16), and egg dishes, like the lobster scramble ($20) and blackened salmon omelet ($16), complete the menu. Jolane’s Restaurant and Bar, 1100 N. Milwaukee Ave., Glenview, is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Bunch hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday- Sunday. For more information, call (847) 834-0485 or visit jolanes.com. Story by Chris Pullam, Contributing Editor Challah French toast — Meg’s Cafe, Glencoe Why eat breakfast and lunch when you can delve into a brunch menu with twice the options? This Mother’s Day weekend, An Apple A Day Catering and Meg’s Cafe is serving up a special brunch menu for its patrons on May 12. The downtown spot at 317 Park Ave., Glencoe, is open for brunch from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturdays. The cafe is closed on Sundays; therefore, it will not open for the actual holiday on May 13, but owner Barb Lepman said catering will be offered. “Our catering is very popular,” Lepman added about her restaurant, which is named after her daughter. “I expect [catering] to be busy that day.” If you are interested in brunch with Mom at the cafe, the in-house menu is abbreviated compared to catering offerings, but doesn’t lack variety. The menu offers a selection from pancakes and French toast to omelets and paninis. I strolled through the cafe’s bright red doors last week and sampled the challah French toast and Quiche Lorraine. The challah French toast is available on Meg’s Cafe brunch menu on Saturdays. A special catering menu will be offered for Mother’s Day. Megan Bernard/22nd Century Media The French toast was dusted with powdered sugar and accompanied with butter and a light maple syrup. The battered challah bread was thick and fried just enough, making for a good comfort dish. The cafe provides a nice escape, as diners enjoy their meals at white-clothed tables with sun beaming in from nearby windows. I brought back the quiche to our newsroom and the entire pan disappeared within the morning hours. Each slice consisted of all the ingredients — eggs, bacon, Swiss cheese and onions — and packed a savory flavor. The quiche is available on the catering menu. Meg’s Cafe is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday (for brunch). To place a catering order, call (847) 835-2620. Story by Megan Bernard, Contributing Editor Huevos Divorciados — Mesa Urbana, Northbrook With its best-of-bothworlds nature, few meals can add a signature touch to your weekend quite like a well-prepared brunch. And, with Mother’s Day — one of the most popular days of the year for Sunday brunch — quickly approaching, it’s never too early to start exploring ways to treat mom. Those looking for a brunch menu packed with flavorful options should look no further than Northbrook’s Mesa Urbana. With two years of Mother’s Day brunch experience already under its belt, the Mexican fusion restaurant is rolling out special Mother’s Day brunch options for guests this year. While the options are vast, fresh-tasting and seasonal foods are an important part of this year’s offerings. “We always try to grab things that are in season,” said owner Moe Taleb. “Everything is very seasonal. It’s very important to us to give our customers the freshest options.” Among the many highlights of Mesa Urbana’s brunch menu are its Huevos Divorciados ($17) and Desayuno San Pedros ($22). Prepared with a hearty portion of carne asada, over-easy eggs, beans, nopales and queso fresco, the Desayuno San Pedros is sure to satisfy appetites. Mesa Urbana’s Huevos Divorciados features poached eggs, salmon, baby arugula, tomatillo and guajillo topped on an English muffin. The colorful dish makes for a delightful brunch option. In addition to its food offerings, Mesa Urbana will be offering moms the Huevos Divorciados ($17), one of the many brunch options available at Mesa Urbana on Mother’s Day, includes poached eggs, salmon, baby arugula, tomatillo and guajillo on an English muffin. Martin Carlino/22nd Century chance to win five gift certificates for various spa and salon services at Northfield’s Teddy Kossof Salon. Mesa Urbana, located at 3566 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, will be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Mother’s Day. Reservations are suggested. For more information, or a full Mother’s Day brunch menu, please call (847) 383-0700. Story by Martin Carlino, Contributing Editor Omelet — Disotto, Highwood Most people don’t think of heading to an Italian restaurant when they want breakfast or brunch. Highwood’s Disotto, however, aims to change that. Disotto has a number of breakfast items on its menu, but Executive Chef Juan Ramirez said the standout item is the restaurant’s build-your-own omelet ($15). The list of ingredients to choose from spans far and wide, with a number of options for vegetables, cheeses and meats. Additionally, there is no limit to the number of items you can choose. While the restaurant is typically only open for dinner, it is also open Sunday mornings for breakfast, said General Manager Milena Jurado. It will also begin serving Saturday breakfast once the weather permits patio seating. Jurado and Ramirez took over Disotto roughly six months ago. Since then, they’ve almost entirely rewritten the menu. Ramirez said he focuses on using fresh ingredients to ensure the best flavors. Sometimes, Ramirez said, fresh and simple are the best things you can be. “Everything has the chef’s touch,” Jurado said. Disotto, located at 310 Green Bay Road, Highwood, is open 4-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-8 p.m. Sunday. Story by Xavier Ward, Contributing Editor Breakfast pizza — Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Wilmette When you think about eating pizza for breakfast, it usually involves heating up leftovers from the night before. That’s not how Wilmette’s Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar imagines things. As part of its brunch menu, Napolita offers three breakfast pizzas — buongiorno, svegliati and colazione. Each Neapolitaninspired pie costs $15 and is made fresh in the restaurant’s Stefano Ferrara oven, imported from Naples, Italy. The oven weighs in at 7,000 pounds and heats up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit. During a recent stop, a hungry editor was served the buongiorno (meaning “good morning” in Italian). This delicious creation features San Marzano tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella, bel paese (semi-soft Italian cheese), scrambled eggs, pancetta, roasted tomato, spinach and extra virgin olive oil, all imported from Italy. The buongiorno isn’t the only breakfast pizza available at Napolita during brunch, or pizza for that matter, as the entire menu can be ordered. The other breakfast pizzas are svegliati (founduta, pancetta, fontal, roasted potatoes, scrambled eggs, arugula and extra virgin olive oil) and colazione (Nutella, banana, strawberry and powdered sugar). “We’re brunch people. We love brunch,” said Josh Schonfeld, one of the owners of Napolita. “We want people to still be able to enjoy what Napolita has to offer, but enjoy brunch at the same time.” With a perfect mishmash of sweet and savory items, Napolita’s brunch runs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every weekend and reservations can be made at (224) 215- 0305 or at napolitapizza. com. If the weather cooperates, the restaurant’s patio is set to open this week. The restaurant’s popular Mother’s Day brunch returns Sunday, May 13. Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar is open 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Story by Eric DeGrechie, Managing Editor
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