If you’re from Chicago, cancel your brunch plans for next weekend. (Please?)
I know I don’t often make demands around here, but in this case, it is justified – and you will thank me later, I promise. Instead of whatever you’d originally planned, you’ll be visiting The Bristol in Bucktown this coming Saturday or Sunday, and here’s why:
This restaurant – well, neighborhood eatery, as it calls itself – is beautiful, with a cozy interior of exposed brick, hardwood floors, a chalkboard menu wall, a long bar with rows of ordered glasses and a communal dining area of intimate seating.
I’ve read several reviews that warn how crowded the main room will be, but on a Saturday afternoon, we walked right in and got our choice of tables.
Speaking of when we walked in: I didn’t even open my own door because they saw us coming, and this staff is friendly.
That makes sense, as the way I discovered The Bristol in the first place was on Twitter, through @JohnTheBristol (John Ross), one of the partners behind this restaurant, who posts updates about the seasonal Midwestern menu.
The chef is Chris Pandel, formerly of NYC’s Cafe Boloud and local TRU, and his creative brunch plates range from a duck and potato skillet to a fried egg sandwich with pork belly and Mornay sauce.
After having a citrus buckle with bourbon cream, the taste of which lingered on my tongue, I ordered the Bristol Burger, sans cheddar, which comes with pickles and breakfast potatoes.
I wish I could tell you what all was on it, and I meant to look, really, but from the moment I took my first bite, I couldn’t stop eating long enough to notice much more than the golden brown bun and how it complemented the meat, with its sweet sauce and sliced onions, poking out on the sides with the lettuce.
The breakfast potatoes were dark and crispy outside, soft and creamy inside, just as they should be, and that sauce – that sauce!
The fried egg sandwich is served with pork belly, Mornay sauce and more of those fantastic breakfast potatoes, and, though I’m not much a fan of eggs, I have it on good authority that this entree was also quite delicious.
Oh and one more thing, just because I have to say this: if you’re lucky, if you go on a random Saturday afternoon like we did this weekend, you might be seated a few feet from the winner of Chicago’s Top Chef, and as you see her walk in.
You’ll lean across the table, excited, saying, “Stephanie Izard just walked in the door,” and you’ll feel completely brilliant, proud, for choosing the same restaurant as the first female winner of the reality cooking show, knowing you’re in for something good.
And you will be, indeed.
The Bristol
http://thebristolchicago.com
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Prices: Affordable, entrees between $9 and $15
2152 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
773-862-5555
About Shanna Mallon
Shanna Mallon is a freelance writer who holds an MA in writing from DePaul University. Her work has been featured in a variety of media outlets, including The Kitchn, Better Homes & Gardens, Taste of Home, Houzz.com, Foodista, Entrepreneur, and Ragan PR. In 2014, she co-authored The Einkorn Cookbook with her husband, Tim. Today, you can find her digging into food topics and celebrating the everyday grace of eating on her blog, Go Eat Your Bread with Joy. Shanna lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with Tim and their two small kids.
Brunch is the one thing I miss the most here in Argentina. Breakfast isn’t even that much of a deal. Coffee (albeit very good coffee) with crackers, toast, etc. So I’m actually considering some cockamamie plan to roadtrip up to Chicago just for this brunch when we’re back in the US this summer.
Hmmm.
OMG that looks amazing! I have been wanting to go to the Bristol for a whlie and this is another good reason why!
That looks amazing. We stayed in Bucktown when we visited friends in Chicago and really liked the area, shame this place wasn’t open then!
Oh my! I am so hungry now. Might have to make a special trip to the city for this! Thanks for sharing!
Maybe you felt brilliant when Stephanie walked in, but I was giggling like a little school girl.
Leigh – That is just the kind of thing I would say, and I love it. If you do end up in Chicago, I really hope you get to go to The Bristol. (PS – Are the steaks in Argentina as good as I’ve heard?)
Jessica – Yay! Promise to tell me what you think if you go, OK?
Gemma – I’m amazed at how fast things change in the neighborhoods! A few years ago, Bucktown was so inexpensive to live in, and now it’s really hip and trendy. And I didn’t know you’d been to Chicago – how nice!
Maxine – I’m thrilled to have you leave a comment here! And yes, make the trip. Seriously.
Adam – LOL. We were both trying not to be ridiculous. I am so bad at the whole fan thing.