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Categories: Restaurants, Nightlife
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
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Another neighborhood favorite. I think I've tried nearly every item on their menu.
Hands-down the best Bloody Mary I've had in this city.
Good service. Nice atmosphere. Food never disappoints.
I recommend the beer cheese & chips or the artichoke for an app. Then maybe one of their delicious sandwiches...or a pizza. Delicious pizza.
And of course, since they're attached to DOC wine bar, a bit of that trickles over into Dunlay's. Hence the decent wine list.
Love it.
Great atmosphere for every mood, from excited and slaphappy at the bar to quiet and intimate at the tables and booths. The pub tables at the front are a good medium. The staff are friendly and cute, and always eager to please. Twice now, I've gotten free unsolicited desserts because some things went wrong with the entrees that were in no way the staff's fault.
Lots of great reasons for repeat business, but the best is the food. Everything on the menu is awesome. Their worst dish, the meatloaf, could be the best dish at 90% of the other bars in Chicago. Bonus points just for having the stones to serve meatloaf. Their neapolitan pizzas are almost as good as Spacca Napoli's in Lincoln Square, but the atmosphere is way more conducive to enjoying it with a good beer (which they have plenty of). They're the only bar in the city I know of that serves creme brulee, but their other desserts are almost as good and probably more crowd pleasing. The skillet cookie is always a big hit with my friends.
I went to Dunlays last night for a first date night. The atmosphere was appropriate for a date, although tables are quite close together so you won't have much "private" conversation. This does add to the intimate feel of Dunlays which is a good thing I guess.
My date and I shared 2 appetizers, the grilled artichokes and the beer cheese with chips. The beer cheese and chips were pretty good -I mean how can you go wrong here, but the grilled artichokes were not appetizing to look at or eat. At $8.00 for grilled artichokes was a bit of a joke. The hearts of the artichokes are removed -mind you this is about the only edible part of an artichoke. The presentation was almost laughable for both appetizers, a big blob of cheese on a cafeteria style plate nearly covered in chips, and litterally 3 half artichokes and a side of remoulade tossed on a plate.
The biggest problem I had with Dunlays was the service. My date and I were half done with our appetizers and just about done with our first round of drinks and the waitress just dropped the bill off and says "I will take this when you are ready." How about asking me if I would like anything else or another drink before you drop this off? The kicker is after we asked to order another drink, she brought the drinks and dropped off the bill AGAIN! This is just rude to me, I will tell you when I am done no need to push me out the door. The place at this point was less than half full with no one waiting for a table, what is the rush.
There are just too many great places to eat and drink in Chicago for me to want to go back to Dunlays. I will not likley return to Dunlays in the future.
Stumbled upon this spot last time I was in Chicago and LOVED it! Small tables with high chairs near the windows...perfect for hanging with friends or a date.
I had the Gnarly Head Zinfandel (peppery, jammy...yummy) and the steak florentine...perfection. It was cold outside so this place was cozy and ice. I will be refturning next time I am in the windy city.
It was such a nice day yesterday and I was dying to sit on a patio. Dunlays is the one patio near the house I haven't been to yet - I was sure it was going to be greasy bar food but I was OK with that as long as I could sit outside.
We ordered the beer cheese - it was not a melted cheese as we expected and so therefore was very hard to eat with tortilla chips. Maybe they can serve this with crackers instead? It was kind of weird to eat chips and cheese with a knife but was tasty anyway.
I had a dark n' stormy and my SO had a bloody mary. We both enjoyed our drinks and watching people as we waited for our food. I ordered a house salad with citrus vinaigrette and it was actually a pretty good salad with fresh mixed greens - although it had hard bacon on it that I could have done without (yes, it was so hard I would have rather had no bacon!). I also had the BBQ chicken with mashed potatoes and he ordered the ahi burger with asparagus. Both were very good but nothing special. The selection was a lot less bar-food than I thought it would be. The couple next to us ordered a veggie burger that looked awesome. There also is an option for fresh vegetables on the menu both as a side and an entree.
We spent too much, mostly on account of more drinks. However, I was pleasantly surprised not only by the choices and quality of food but also by our waiter. He was patient and not pretentious. He kept the drinks coming and brought us new silverware after we used ours with the strange beer cheese experiment (often you have to wait for a second go-round with the waiter for more flatware).
I'd def consider brunch here! Especially with a 10% cash discount!
It's just alright. It really depends on what you're looking for. If you want standard greasy bar food, then this is an ideal spot for you.
If you're looking for a warm and romantic setting with gourmet cooking and service, you might want to go elsewhere.
I had a glass of wine and my work friend had two beers on tap. Dunlays reminds me a lot of Bar Louis, but without six flat screen TVs across the bar. Similar crowd though.
Our server was pretty annoying. I cannot tell you how frequently she came back, and even just stood there while we were in the middle a conversation.
hmm... I probably will not be back.
Dunlay's FAILS on my mojito scale. And my mojito scale was developed at Harvard and has been tested time and time again by rocket scientists at Lockheed Martin. Okay, not really... but it IS a pretty rigorous scale.
WAY too much simple syrup... skimpin on the mint... and ONE lime... as a garnish??? That is not a mojito. Especially at $10 a pop.
It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the patio. Minus the major traffic congestion and honking horns in this area of Clark Street. At least they have outdoor seating?
Out waitress was great and never left a skimpy mojito run dry.
A tip for Mr Dunlay... beef up on the mint and muddle in with your limes. Skip the simple syrup and use real cane sugar.
I'm usually in the Lincoln Park neighborhood whenever I'm in Chicago, as that's where several of my friends (Hi Sara, Mollie, and Vinnie!) live, and let's face it, Lincoln Park is one of the coolest areas of the Windy City. It wasn't until my recent trip (last weekend) that I was finally able to hit up Dunlays On Clark.
After a long day of traveling (delayed outbound flight from SF, taking the Orange Line and switching to the Brown Line, and a quick $5 cab ride), I finally made it to Dunlays. What a relief! I was so ready to get my food and drink on as I hadn't eaten a full meal all day long. The food menu is vast and reasonably priced, and items includes pizzas, salads, hamburgers, grilled fish, and ribs.
After much deliberation, I opted for the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, (Marinated chicken breast with basil mayo, monterey jack, lettuce, tomato on sourdough). This was a no brainer for me (hello, jack cheese and sourdough are my favs). The sammie was absolutely amazing as the chicken and bread were grilled to perfection and the chicken was super tender and juicy. Jack cheese and a bit of basil mayo were in every bite, and was mouthwatering delish. I devoured it! The french fries were shoe-stringy, and super crisp and nicely salted. It seemed like it wasn't necessary to wash my plate since there was practically nothing on it! LOL!
For dessert, we all shared the " Chocolate Chip Cookie" - with ice cream, served in a cast iron skillet. This thing was ginormous, shared by all 6 of us, and reminded me of BJ's Restaurant and Brewery's "Pizookie." The cookie was warm and with every bite, there was gooey chocolatey awesomeness.
Drink menu has a great selection as well, from Beers to White and Red Wines, Sparkling Wines and Champagnes, too. More importantly, they have Daily Drink Specials, and lucky for me, it was a Thursday, and Martinis were $6! Awwyah! Yes, $6!!! Side note, I have this throw pillow (thanks to Stacy) here at home with a bunch of martinis all over, and it reads "One Martini, Two Martini, Three Martini, Floor!" I was fairly certain that "Floor" wasn't going to happen, and lucky for me, I have a fairly good tolerance. Let's start counting:
1) Mango Martini - Of course, it was a must for this Mango Freak. This didn't disappoint at all, as I swear there were chunks of mango, and wasn't overly sweet. It went down way too easily, and absolutely lovely. This was my fav martini of the evening.
2) Blood Orange Martini - I'm not a huge fan of blood orange, but my friends kept ordering it, so I had to try to see what the fuss was all about. It was fruity orangey goodness. Like 1), it went down way too easily.
3) Clarktini - This was basically a cosmo with a sugar rim. Woohoo!
*So, after consuming three martinis, I definitely did NOT hit the floor. :0
Dunlays on Clark rocks. They serve not only dinner, but lunch and weekend brunch too. The ambiance is totally chill, as there were families, couples on dates, and a bunch of friends gathering for a dinner or drinks. It's a bit dimly lit inside, and bar area isn't huge but with several flat screen tvs. Despite being uberly crowded on a Thursday night (as the Lakers and Magic Game was on), our server was super attentive and efficient. I'll definitely be back to Dunlays the next time I'm in Chitown!
Alright - this rating is based on two visits.
Brunch (4 stars)
Food was great, though a little pricey. Nothing too crazy exciting on the menu, but the potatoes were very good as a side and slightly addicting. Serving was so-so. Amazing bus boys really save the day.
Dinner (1 star, less if possible)
Extremely pricey considering quality and options. Nothing outstanding on the menu, almost left before ordering. Waitress only stopped by once when we got our food, before we tried it, then couldn't even see her in the dining room. Got the feeling there was this attitude like they were doing us a favor serving us and no one wanted to be there.
Note to the Chef - Margherita Pizza DOES NOT HAVE TOMATO SAUCE. I was practically insulted. None of the main ingredients of Margherita pizza were cooked in! Each of the 4 slices had half of a grape tomato. The main ingredient in Margherita pizza is tomato... butt tons of tomato! Horrible!
Easily could have been a 1 star review if I was paying or if I was Italian.
After a long afternoon in the park with my camera I was in desperate need of some food to set me right. I walked past a ton of places in the hood before finally settling on Dunlays. I had heard of it a few times and I'm glad I tried it out.
I'm not a vegetarian but every once in awhile I get the urge for a veggie burger so that's what I ordered with a side of fries. The fries were the thin cut type which aren't my favorite but they arrived hot and fresh which is a plus. The veggie burger was hands down one of the better ones I've tried in awhile. I think the best part was the texture. It stayed together well but was soft and slightly sweet which I really enjoyed. It's not one of those veggie burgers that tries to trick you into thinking it's really meat but that's ok with me. I liked the rice-like quality of the burger and the sweetness that the sweet potatoes gave it.
I think the atmosphere is cool and clean but I have a feeling this place probably gets packed at busy times. I was there for a very early dinner around 4:30 so there weren't very many people inside. We were seated right away, our server was fast and friendly, and we were out of there in about 45 minutes from start to finish. Perfect ending to a long afternoon of walking.
Since I'm such a fan of D.O.C I thought that I should start frequenting Dunlay's. It's right in my hood and now they are open for lunch during the week, so I have been dropping by there at least once a week to continue trying new items on the menu.
I like Dunlay's for a few reasons. The servers are always really friendly, helpful and down to earth (I've only had one rotten egg out on the patio).Typically they don't have much else going on since weekday lunches can be rather slow so I will chat it up. My favorite spot to sit is at the hightop table right by the east window so I can do some fabo people watching. Everything I've tried on the menu so far has been really good and moderately priced, so I have no complaints.
I'm a big appetizer person so I've tried plenty of the appetizers on this menu. The Beer Cheese with Chips is my favorite, it has smoked jalapeno, aged beer cheese, and is served with fresh tortilla chips. I also enjoy their Sashimi Tuna which is pepper crusted ahi tuna seared rare, with asian vinaigrette
I've been on this fish kick lately so I'll typically do their fish of the week, I've had the salmon and the bass which were both very good. Usually for a side, I will do the asparagus and the cole slaw (you can't make asparagus poorly, but I'm loving their cole slaw!! It's tangy goodness makes my mouth water).
Their salads are also very plentiful and the dressings are great. I like their cesar salad with some grilled chicken on it. The burgers are alright, but on Wednesday they've got a special on them which is cool.
The best part is that on Tuesday's they offer half priced bottles of wine. That makes my day =) Check it out if you haven't because you'll be pleasantly surprised.
I think Dunlay's is the great place for a first date and an even better spot for a late breakfast if your date goes well :)
Dinner: In general, sticking with their nightly specials has worked well for me. I've been impressed by their seafood so don't be afraid to order it.
Breakfast: I'm obsessed with the fried egg sandwhich and as people have already mentioned, the hash browns are to die for (can't be healthy though).
From the posts I've read, it's either hit or miss depending on your expectations. I'd say give it a shot but don't expect fine dining (cause it's not) but it's not a diner either.
I encountered the much talked about 'lincoln park chad-douchebag' for the first time right here at Dunlay's. Sitting at the bar waiting for my girlfriends to show up Mr. Chad/DB chatted me up, telling me all about the powder in Vail. Ugh. Thank God the bartendress was really nice and talked to me a bit so that I didn't have to listen to him too much.
My friends showed up and we ordered an appetizer with potato chips covered with blue cheese and hot sauce. It was interesting. Good in the way that something really gross and bad for you is yummy but bad in the way that eating something like that makes you feel afterwards. I wouldn't order that again. I had the Ceasar salad and added chicken. I prefer grilled chicken on my salads and this was cold shredded chicken..eh, just okay.
The bartendress told me that they do brunch every day, which is nice since I work weekends usually. Good to know.
Dunlay's is really close to work so I can see coming here again, but it won't be my first choice.
After dining here tonight with Sarah B to take advantage of their half off bottles of wine night... I kind of feel ripped off.
I was looking forward to tonight for a while - um, hello, half off wine? Plus I hadn't eaten dinner here in a few years, as I normally come for brunch (which I still think is good). Oh, and catching up with Miss Bling Bling (aka Sarah B) is always an added bonus.
When I arrived, everything was smooth sailing - seated right away, our server was very nice... but then we looked at the wine list. Wines averaged around $30-40 a bottle. But hey, half off. We settled on a $30 bottle of white based on the description. When our server brought it over, I thought to myself, "no wonder it sounded familiar - I have two bottles of it at home. Which cost me exactly $8.99 at Binny's." So... the exact same bottles of wine that cost me $9 they are charging $30 for. Even at half off ($15), I felt totally ripped off. I know, I know, markup, blah blah blah... but come on.
We started with the spinach and artichoke appetizer - it was very yummy. When our entrees arrived, I was disappointed again. I had ordered a burger, and it was drenched in mustard. So drenched that every time I touched it my hands were covered in it. Not cool.
So, while I think I'll avoid dinner here in the future, I still think this is a solid brunch spot. Service is still great, and they were packed with a wait on a Tuesday night so clearly they are not hurting for business. But just beware of that wine list... *shakes fist*
I live right down the street from Dunlays's and walk by it all the time, yet somehow I always forget… Read more »
I like that the food is simple and usually quite delicious. They have some great wine specials though out the week, half priced bottles always make me feel better about drinking an overly upcharged bottle of vino at a restaurant.
But, the reason I keep coming back is for the beer cheese deliciousness!! At first I was not sure that I would like it, it is cold and I normally would partake in a cheese dip that is warm. However, it is so, so, so good. When I lived around the corner I used to stop by and get beer cheese to go all the time, I miss it.
We were looking for a place to eat after running a nice 3.5 mile race with 18,000 of our closest friends in Grant Park. My friend suggested this place as she liked the veggie burgers there. Generally speaking, when a meat eater says they like the veggie burger at a place, you know that first the place probably has a killer description of it to even catch the attention of the non vegetarian crowd and second it probably was pretty damn good.
So we got there and got a table for four. The inside was pretty empty but there were quite a few people sitting outside. The waitress really must have thought we were crazy. We walked in there with 2 sets of matching shirts and then the other three people order a veggie burger with coleslaw while I was super different and got the veggie burger with fries, though the pizza with tomatoes and arugula was calling my name. The burger was all it was hyped up to be and I especially liked the crunch of the walnuts. The worst part was that I was super hungry (moreso than normally) and I ate it extremely fast (faster than usual).
Bottom line is that I will go back here soon and might double up on the veggie burger and that pizza that was calling me on that night. Now I am hungry...
Went on Easter Sunday and ended up eating in DOC. Everything ordered at our table was enjoyed--chicken panini special, Wrightwood Salad (Rachel W.), Eggs Florentine, an omelette.
I had the Eggs Florentine... essentially this was a twist on Eggs Benedict with Brioche. A good dish, but the brioche was so large I was not able to finish the dish (and that says something!).
I felt that the restaurant was a little cold (maybe it was a bias that it should be warm on Easter Sunday) and that our server did not quite fit the restaurant.
I will certainly add this to my list of go to brunch places.
I may be biased because my friend manages the place and leads us through the best of the menu but --yum-- artery clogging yumminess! And isn't that what chi-town dining is all about?- Guilt inducing gluttony? What I am craving right now: The kettle chip nachos, Ahi sandwich with delicious rice salad and the skillet cookie dessert. Do yourself a favor and walk or bike here so you don't feel bad about that food coma you'll fall into. Oh and don't leave without trying the Bloody Mary's -its like an anti- pasta salad in your cup and on those hot chicago days the Mojito's are equally delicious and refreshing!
This is a great place.
Super good spinach and artichoke dip. Excellent burgers and fries. Awesome salads.
Great place to sit on the patio with a drink and an appetizer and watch the world go by.
All of my out-of-town guests have raved about this.
My uncle even said ten times "this is the best chicken sandwich I've had in my entire life. and the best cole slaw. Seriously the best I've ever had."
Dunlays is really nothing special, but it's all right. Wednesdays are $5 burgers so that's pretty cool. Our waitress was somewhat nonexistent, sort of slow on the diet coke and water refills. Spinach artichoke dip was pretty tasty, not the best, not the worst, which is pretty much how I feel about Dunlay's. It'll do in a pinch, but it's not a destination.
I have eaten out here several times, since I live in the neighborhood. Everything I order here is just fine, and perfectly tasty, but it lacked a spark, I feel!
The last time I went, my mango martini was tasty but I didn't get "mango" from it at all....more coconut or pineapple or something like that. The grilled artichoke was great, with a delicious dipping sauce. I ate way more than my share of that one! My macadamia nut crusted mahi-mahi was in a very tasty lemon-butter sauce, with a fun crunchy coating, but it just wasn't memorable. The mashed potatoes were definitely memorable - we got a huge portion, and they were filled with scallions and big potato chunks.
The overall effect was a pleasant meal, but it's not the kind of meal that makes you go back dying for more, you know?
A group of us TRIED to go to D.O.C., but it was very crowded and we didn't feel like sloshing red wine on our clothes, so a server from D.O.C. got us a table at Dunlays across the hall and we tried to order wine there...
.... except Dunlay's was out of both of their Malbec's. BUT our very nice waitress allowed us to order a bottle from D.O.C. and drink it at Dunlay's. Good service, good wine, moderate prices. No real complaints.
No major complaint on the food or service. This biggest issue is price.
There is no way their pizza's should cost more than the pizzas at places like quartino. You basically walk out of there thinking "did I really spend $60 for that meal." Those baked/boiled ribs arent worth $22 Btw.
Dunlays has been my neighborhood joint for 5 years. They are a consistent and casual restaurant/bar that serves simple, good American bar food. They also have good beer on tap, a nice martini list, outdoor seating in the summer, and a friendly staff.
The veggie burger is the best I have had. I also enjoy the pizzas, the citrus vinaigrette on my house salad, the brandied cherries in my manhattan, and of course the cookie. They always have fresh fish specials too. Plus you can get a pig ear to go for your dog.
The fried egg sandwich is to die for, and my friends swear by the bloody mary, but everything else about this place is mediocre. We had to track down our waitress for the bill after she disappeared for a long time, and I would have liked a little more champagne in my $7.50 mimosa, which just looked/tasted like a champagne flute full of OJ.
Can't complain too much, though -- didn't have to wait for a table at about 10:30 on a Sunday morning.
Dunlays is more of a restaurant than a bar. This is a good thing. All of their food is pretty delicious, both on the lunch/dinner and the brunch menu. Good service, good location, good outdoor patio when it's nice out and a decent beer selection. You're gonna pay a little more for dinner here than if you just went for regular "bar food" but it's worth it.
Wow, can it be - a bar in Lincoln Park without a preponderance of douchebags?
Yes, it is possible. I actually was dreading going here Saturday afternoon, but was more than pleasantly surprised.... It was a very pretty place with a low-key atmosphere. And aside from one over-the-top inebriated customer, the crowd was dandy. I wasn't hungry, which was unfortunate since all of the food looked and sounded really good.
You really can't go wrong with a cold draft on a hot and humid day. The patio was pretty empty since you perspired just stepping outside. But the inside was very comfortable, not freezing like some places on a summer day.
I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I would totally go back to Lincoln Park for this place.
I was here for Sunday brunch and it was very disappointing. It's definitely not cheap, but I expect amazing food in that case. The $4 orange juice essentially came in a shot glass. We asked for eggs over easy and got eggs over raw. It took forever to get seated while we stood and watched empty tables. I've only been here for brunch, so I can't attest to their dinner, nightlife, etc.
If you're looking for brunch, just go to IHOP. The food is better, the prices are better and the service is better
Cookie! Cookie! Cookie!
I mean, let's get to the point: I eat at Dunlays purely to enjoy "The Cookie" at the end. Doesn't everyone?
I will say, though, that Wednesdays rock at Dunlays. Half-priced cheeseburger with those yummy fries? Make mine a blue cheese!
Pizza's pretty good, too. And my friends are obsessed with the Wrightwood Salad...the more Craisins, the better.
Dunlays is almost directly across the street from our place, which makes it conveinenet. However, it's a little pricey for the neighborhood, in my opinion. We've eaten there a handful of times, and while each time the food is ok, we always spend a ton on food and drinks. And each time we realize how silly it is since we could just get take out or eat at home for a fraction of the price!
The only big plus is they have a great outdoor patio in the summer, which is ideal for people watching or relaxing with your dog on a nice day. That's another plus - they're pretty dog friendly.
Wow I was surprised to see such high star reviews for Dunlay's on Clark. My husband and I walked in because the menu sounded pretty good and the restaurant looked pretty nice. However, I was looking forward to a very satisfying dinner and I was totally disappointed. I ordered the pork tenderloing and it sounded really tasty with all the sauces that it is matched with. I was expecting to a get a huge chunk of meat that would fill me up but instead I got 6 or 7 mini slices of fatty meat. The garlic mashed potatoes (completely covered in parsley and scallions) were served room temperature to me and they didn't have any flavor at all. My husband's BBQ grilled chicken breast was just boring save for the BBQ sauce it was doused in.
I will say that I did enjoy that the wines by the glass were 1/2 price on Mondays. The server was good but then again we were literally the only ones in there at the time. I was really disappointed in the choice we made and I think we could have spent $70 at some place much better.
The Irish Breakfast here comes with a pint of Guinness.
I don't know why my friend ordered the Lincoln Park Omelette, it's not like he got a pint of Guinness with it.
They took reservations for Easter Brunch. Awesome. I was hoping they would have had some more specials or breakfast-y items in honor of Easter, but no. Oh well, I opted for lunch: The Wrightwood Salad and I did NOT go wrong. Perfect balance of dressing and all the fixings. Iced tea was good, service was good even though they were clearly busy, and they even had an Easter Egg Hunt for the little ones. Fun!
Three words: fried egg sandwich.
Dunlay's is a popular neighborhood restaurant with an awesome menu--and by my tastes, the fried egg sandwich is the best thing they've got. The atmosphere is inviting and friendly, and the restaurant is always clean and well-kept.
But back to the fried egg sandwich: I'm the picture of 'classy' as I'm about to tell you that this is one of the best hangover meals I've ever had...but it's true. I do drink. And I do, on occasion, need good food after a long night of drinking. And there's few things better after such a night than Dunlay's fried egg sandwich and their seasoned potatoes that come with. (Make sure you try the potatoes if they don't come standard with your order...they're incredible! Prepared with heavy cream and cheese, and a variety of seasonings....yum.)
To top it all off, the service is outstanding. The servers are so friendly, and there's always a manager nearby to check in on your experience and to offer their help if you need anything. (Not to mention, they appear to really be working with the staff and not just standing around watching...something that I appreciate, having worked in a restaurant years ago.)
Some of the menu items seem a bit pricey, but on the whole, this is a great place to consider for a nice breakfast. (I'm sure lunch and dinner, too, but I haven't been there for either.)
I have been to Dunlays for brunch twice and dinner once. Their hash browns are DELICIOUS. I had the Lincoln Park omelet and the Eggs Florentine and the Wrightwood Salad for my meals, and I was very happy with all three. I love Bloody Mary's, and Dunlays are my favorite! I have ate outside and inside, and I never had to wait for a table despite going at peak hours. Friendly staff, very reasonable prices, and great food!
It was my first time at Dunlays but it's one of Steve's favorite neighborhood haunts. I really liked the cozy ambiance, and although it was a Saturday night, we had no trouble finding a little table for two to eat. It's a nice little neighborhood place with a slightly sophisticated vibe- the bar looked cool and I was thinking at some point of takin some girlfriends there for drinks.
I wasn't very hungry, so I ordered the Wrightwood salad- excellent salad with lots of yummy stuff loaded on it, like corn, chicken, avocado, craisins, almonds, etc. Steve got the mahi, which was overcooked but good nonetheless, since he ate the entire thing.
Wine selection is pretty good- I had a really nice Sauvingon Blanc. I am eager to go next door and check out the DOC Wine bar as well- that will be our next outing I'm sure!
UPDATE! Scuba Steve and I had brunch there last weekend and I was blown away. Can't remember the exact name of my omelette, but it had goat cheese, asparagus, and roasted peppers in it- are you kidding!?!?! SO GOOD. And next time I will for sure get the breakfast potatoes- I don't know what they put in those things, but I think it might be crack, because I am addicted already!
After walking past this place WAY too often on the way to Best Buy (aka browsing at big TV heaven) I finally decided it was time to check it out.
For me, the dinner menu seemed to be lacking some choices. Although, the plus side was the choices that were available were pretty tempting.
We had the Beer cheese and chips as an appetizer, and it was great. I love cheese, and this was sweet, salty, soft, perfect with a glass of wine. Loved it
I had the Pork chops and garlic mashed potatoes. It was presented beautifully, first bite, amazing, juicy, great grilled flavor...but once I cut in a little deeper, the pork was soft, and gooey, I would classify it as undercooked. The lighting was dim, so I couldn't really see the color of the meat, so I called over the waitress. She said they were cooking the pork medium tonite, and that mine looked more cooked than most of the other chops. I questioned that, thinking Pork was like chicken, and needs to be cooked through...but she claimed it didn't, and offered to cook mine longer if i wished.
After seeing the movie 'Waiting' I decided to trust the waitress and suck it up. Who wants to risk dandruff and fingernail clippings on my returned meal...I ate around the edges, and the eColi didn't hit me, but I wonder about the other chop eaters that nite!
Besides that little incident, the food was very tasty, and then run on the average $15 a plate. The restaurant is smaller, the place def packs them in but they had TVs playing the Cubs game when I was there waiting to be seated, mad props. The brunch menu looks delish, so I will be back to check that out, and I wont lie.... Ill be back to eat too...I'll just make sure to request my pork cooked well next time :)
Came for their brunch on a Sunday afternoon and came to a surprisingly short wait. Only 15 minutes! Nice surprise considering that me and my friend were starving and were in the mood for some greasy potatoes.
The food had some hits and misses. Got the Lincoln Park omelette which had goat cheese, asparagus, bell peppers. At least I thought it was an omellete. Came out more like a scramble, with huge chunks of goat cheese. I am a cheese fan, but that was just too much cheese for me to handle. The eggs were dry, and slightly browned from being burned - was not a fan. BUT where the omelette disappointed, our potatoes were amazing - very most and well seasoned.
The other high point was the oatmeal pancakes. I don't know what's unique about pancakes made with oatmeal, but this certainly was a standout.
Overall, Dunlay's is reasonably priced ($8-$10 for brunch items) and a good go-to brunch spot when you don't feel like waiting for over an hour. Next, I will check out the lunch/dinner options and weekly specials.
Busy busy busy on a Saturday morning/afternoon. So expect service to lag just a bit. Otherwise, it's fine. The potatoes that come with breakfast items are pretty fantastic, although they're very, very peppery (black pepper). But the omelet was pretty bad. Very little taste, save for the pocket of goat cheese. And the one artichoke heart that I ate was so bad I nearly spit it out. It had none of the flavor I expect from artichoke hearts. It was just bad.
I don't know, they don't have to be great, because they're packed all of the time when it's not great. Not somewhere I'd be dying to go back to.
There sure are pretty people in Lincoln Park, and Dunlay's seems to house a lot of them. After a long and crazy day apartment hunting, I cabbed to my friend's restaurant and waited for a much needed hug. She was my server, so of course the service was good - but the service from the other staff members were quick & efficient.
Soups are house-made daily - and my chowder was delicious!!! I don't normally order meatloaf, but I just couldn't turn it down. It did not disappoint. My friend ordered risotta cakes, which were creamy and the perfect texture. Her veggie burger was good, but nothing to rave about. However, they have a tasty specialty cocktail menu and my blueberry beverage (or two) hit the spot.
Special
Chicago, IL
Black Hawks and Bulls…
Neighborhood: Irving Park
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Delis
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Italian
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