Brunchatize me, Cap’n! If you’ve ever been to or heard of Chicago, you know this city LOVES its brunch. If it’s Saturday, it’s preparation for a long night of shenanigans ahead. If it’s Sunday, it’s recuperation from Saturday night. Either way, some delicious breakfast at noon goes a long way. The Bristol needs no introduction; it is pretty much in every Buzzfeed/Thrillist-type list of best food in Chicago. And let me tell you, food is kind of a big deal for Chicagoans.
I give the Bristol 4.5 Lizards.
Why you ask? I’ll tell you, just because you asked so nicely.
Service: Let’s start with this: they’re always busy. You pretty much need to have a reservation and be on time for it if you want a table. I think they hold tables for 10-15 minutes after a reservation time before giving it away to waiting customers. That’s good practice for keeping reservations on time and moving along. The host was friendly and personable, making conversation as we waited to be seated. Upon sitting down, we were immediately given menus and glasses of water, and our waitress came to see if we had questions about the menu, if there were any allergies at the table, and made recommendations right off the bat. She was quick to bring our food and very nice. Fantastic.
Food: The menu changes seasonally and all of the ingredients come from local farms that are listed on the wall. DING DING DING, we have a winner! We started with the sweet bomboloni (those donut-looking things) which had a delectable coconut dulce de leche filling and a passion fruit syrup that I probably could have licked off the plate if I wasn’t in public.
Then came the main course: braised pork chilaquiles, open-faced egg sandwich, and duck fat fries. The pork in the chilaquiles was soft and not too overpowering, with a good mixture of crispy and yolk-soaked tortilla. The open-faced egg sandwich normally comes with pork, but we chose to do without the meat for that one. It was done in a mornay sauce on the toast, which basically just means buttery deliciousness. The crisp, flavorful potatoes that came with the sandwich were really great as well. Divine flavors all around. I ordered the duck fat fries as a side to my chilaquiles (which was way too much food, by the way) and sadly, they were the only disappointment. They were overcooked, and although they were plenty greasy, there wasn’t even a hint of duck fat flavor. Boo. Oh well.
Overall, awesome place for brunch with a great ambiance. It’s probably also great for dinner. Definitely make a reservation – it’s done through OpenTable, so it’s very easy. If you eat meat, they have great meat dishes. However, they are willing to make accommodations if you don’t. Check out The Bristol if you’re in town – right off the highway in Bucktown.
What do you think of The Bristol? Share your experiences!
TheElizabethian 