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Category: American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, RavenswoodDamen (Brown)
Tue-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Don't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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dang, my brethren, this place is a wee bit of heaven on damen. i really don't know where to start...the blueberry crunch pancakes? the sides of bacon, ham or sausage? maybe the omelettes or the crazy-ass samiches? i know, i know...the upside-down apple pancake that BLOWS away walker bros. with its cinnamon butter, warm maple syrup and creme fraiche on the side. gourmet teas and coffee, natch. the only thing missing was hot chocolate, but our sweeeet southern waitress more than made up for it with her table-side manners;)
clientele is tres cool and the food looks like it came out of dr. seuss' kitchen which is, trust me, a good thing:)
did i mention the free java while you're waiting outside for your table? nice touch!
Weekend brunch is overrated. Brunching on weekdays is where it's at!
No wait on a Friday morning--at like, 10-ish. Does it get much better than that?
Yes!!
Not only is Over Easy super adorable (I loved the dangly egg decorations), they whip up a fantastic french toast. I stayed on the sweet side, while my man friend went savory with the BLT. My only complaint was the soggy strawberries sandwiched in between the luscious, thick layers of golden brown french toast. Perhaps keeping the menu more seasonal would work to their advantage--pears, apples, orange/Grand Marnier, anyone??
Service was swift. No wait to get seated. Cozy atmosphere. Thumbs up!
This joint was a bit of a surprise. 250+ reviews for a place I've barely heard of. Bright, cute, and bustling on an otherwise dead, dreary stretch of Damen. And a bevy of unique menu options when it seemed on the surface like more of a straightforward eggs/bacon/potatoes kind of place.
I am a notoriously indecisive menu peruser. I spent some time with their website before leaving the house and settled on the "frazzled eggs"--two eggs on grilled bologna, fresh herbs, and spicy maple mustard. Sounds intriguing, right? Well imagine my dismay when we sit down and get a SECOND menu full of specials. My heart sinks...oh, look at that...and that...and THAT. Fudge. I jettisoned the frazzled eggs and agonized over the Over Easy BLT or the El Gordito's Corn Cakes (two eggs, two corn cakes, and spiral-cut ham, with roasted red pepper sauce). BLT it was--eggs scrambled with pancetta, tomatoes, chives, served on an enormous telera roll with pepperjack cheese. The largest breakfast sandwich I've ever seen.
I don't know if I made the *right* choice, but it was a darn *good* choice. Utterly delicious. I liked the simple potatoes too, although the menu described them as "red potato hash" when in fact they were just potatoes. And I swiped a few bites of my lovely breakfast companion's delightful strawberry/marscapone french toast.
I hope that they bring back the El Gordito sometime, because three days later, it still bums me out that I didn't get to try that.
Cute place with the perfect layout. I love the egg decor motif--ubiquitous but not bludgeoning.
I have a slight problem where I think everything is 10 minutes from my condo. Over Easy Cafe is more like 25-30 minutes from my condo- on a no traffic day. A hungry Colleen C patiently waited for me while I drove across town to try this breakfast spot that is apparently oh so crowded on the weekends. Scoring a table at these places during the week is just one of the many perks of working from home- love it!
Once I FINALLY arrived (sorry Colleen!) I ordered my much needed cup of coffee, loaded it with lots of cream and sugar, and studied the menu. Colleen and I decided to be boring and both get the Damen Avenue Omelette (filled w/ goat cheese, portabello mushrooms, and spinach) with egg whites. I swear, we're usually much more fun! And we both opted for fruit instead of potatoes- gotta make up for all that cream I put in my coffee!
The service was speedy- I'm telling ya....during the week is the time to visit these places! I really liked the homey atmosphere as well.
And my omelette was tasty, but I couldn't help wishing for some yellow eggs instead of my boring egg whites. One of these days I'll learn...maybe after learning to leave myself more than 10 minutes to drive across the city.
I came here this past Saturday for the first time and had a great experience! The service is really nice because they have someone strictly on coffee re-fills (which is most important for an enjoyable breakfast experience).
There were a few things I was dying to try. This is mostly because I couldn't stop observing the dishes everyone ordered around me! Just about everything looked mouth-watering. I ended up going with the cranberry/strawberry french toast. I knew that if I went with anything else, I'd be kicking myself later. It was splendid! Although, I feel a bit shameful going to a place called "Over Easy" and passing up the eggs, but that's what the next trip will be for. Yes, I think I'll be returning to this joint very soon.
I'm legitimately mad that I've never been here before.
1) Free Julius Meinl coffee while you wait.
2) It's within walking distance to my house.
3) Super super sweet adorable servers, who are crazy polite and really accommodating.
4) Food comes out FAST.
5) I had French Toast with strawberries and marscapone. And it was fucking AWESOME.
6) Our total bill - 2 coffees, 2 french toast-y style things (see Emily B's review of Dulce de Leche French Toast) = $25. Totally and completely reasonable.
And, now...back to our regularly scheduled (Chicago) programming!
Mission: Brekkie.
Required: Eggs, Parking, Coffee, Granola, close to CTA.
Bonus: Weekday Availability.
:::::COMPUTING:::::
Result: Over Easy Cafe. :)
Now, don't fret pets...I haven't forgotten my brunch protestin' roots. I still don't wait 2 hours for eggs, ever, anywhere. I trekked this brunch spot on a Tuesday morning. Even so, still nary a table in the eggy house...couples canoodling over copious coffee, young families chattering sweetly, loners staring idly out across Damen...a good mix of young 'n old in this painfully cute cafe.
Sweet mother, I love retro formica tables...the ones in here are not only stylish but refuse to wobble. Sturdy breakfast furniture is an absolute requirement. Oh my, are those egg shaped bead curtains near the front door? Yep. Seriously. I told you, painfully cute. In a good way.
Coffee: quick, hot, rich. Refilled anxiously, just how I like it. Fresh cream would've been a good touch, but I can take anything save powder chemicals. Served in a real, roundy mug. Caffeine swoon.
Service: Efficient gal with killer ink. Friendly enough, fitting for this place. Not overly intrusive. Busboys were A+. Before I even knew I needed things (water, straws, napkins, my notebook, a pen) it appeared. Well done, OEC.
Location: Tucked away near Winnemac Park (one of the north side's finest), a few blocks from the Damen brown stop. Quaint. Neighborhoodish, very....swell.
Food: Damen Avenue Omelette (portabello, spinach, goat cheese) with egg whites. (I know, blech, shoot me). A bit off tasting, but I will fault myself with that. Egg whites are not really that great to eat, but I get it. Get the real eggs. The damn place is named for an egg style. Duh, Colleen. Side of fresh fruit. I refused to look at any other items on the menu like "blueberry crumble pancakes" or anything relating to french toast and drizzle, or creme de fraiche or...um, yeah. Hi. I'm a fat kid on the inside, but I was oppressing it today....whack!
Overall: 4 chicken-approved, egg(white)-tested stars. Next time, I'll order a little more devilish (pun intended) and enjoy it a little bit more. But, I'm still not ever coming on a weekend. Period.
A couple of great friends of mine introduced me to this place. Word to the wise...unless you are willing to WAIT for hours in chaos for a table, do NOT go on the weekends.
So we went there on a weekday for breakfast. And even for a weekday, we had to wait 10 minutes (which was acceptable). Once we sat down, I noticed a few things that caught my attention...but most notably...what I ordered...SASSY eggs.
When my dish came out, Sassy eggs looked more like a skillet type dish without the skillet. It was DELICIOUS. Spicy, warm, hearty...I was very happy.
My friend's daughter ordered the french toast and that looked phenomenal. I did not ask to taste it...I was overwhelmed with my own dish...but from the feedback it was good. To date, I have no idea how a little girl like that can consume all that sweet goodness...and NO, she did not.
Because of the size of this place, I can see how crazy it can get. Me, personally, I don't believe in waiting anything beyond 15 minutes to get food, especially with the thousands of restaurants in Chicago.
The little roll over thing explains it all: Meh. I've experienced better. I often see people lined up outside as I ride my bike by on Sunday afternoons and always want to shout: WHY? I've given Over Easy several tries, and with the wait and hunger being the best spice and all, this place should have been outrageous delicious. You'd think so from the other reviews. Nope. Just plain old brunch. Egg dishes not all that stellar, which you wouldn't expect from a place that references eggs in it's very name. Not really worth the wait. I live close-by but will venture my hung-over ass elsewhere in the city and wait.
The food is yummy and the service perfectly fine. I loved my Blackeye OJ. However, I wasn't wowed by the place. Minus points for no real waiting area- we had to wait outside in the cold. Atmosphere of the place isn't bad but isn't as neat as some other breakfast places in the city. Also the food felt just a tad more expensive to me than similar breakfasts usually are, and not really for any good reason I could see.
Perfectly good, but I don't have that burning desire to go back that is necessary for me to award 5 stars :)
They started taking takeout orders so no need to worry about lines!
Still the best breakfast in the city!
By far my favorite breakfast in the city! Just make sure you order one of their signature dishes to… Read more »
Breakfast menus tend to be the same wherever you go...
Not here.
Over Easy is easily one of my favorite spots to hit up when I want to escape the monotony of everyday omelets and pancakes.
-Two Words: SASSY EGGS.
"Sassy Eggs" contains two eggs served over chorizo-potato hash with cheddar cheese, red peppers, jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream, & ancho ketchup. GAME OVER! YOU MUST ORDER THIS!!!
I could eat this dish every single morning for the rest of my life and not get sick of it. Seriously.
I wash it down with "Freckled Orange Juice" and call it a day!
BE ADVISED: Custom orders are NOT allowed here.
Example: "I'd like the Sassy eggs but could you substitute the chorizo for..." -Now under normal circumstances I'd frown upon this....however...dishes such as Sassy Eggs should be considered "masterpieces." The chef is a genious and produces dishes the way he envisioned them to be....so why F#$% that up? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Even the plating tight!
-The place can get pretty packed on the weekend.
-The side of chicken sausage is tasty!
-Also on the menu: Banana-Spiked French Toast
-The decor is cool, the staff is super friendly, and the coffee is perfect.
Great food and they have coffee waiting for you outside while you wait. Why haven't more places though of this??? Great egg and pancake dishes. Servers are friendly. Glad to have this place in the neighborhood.
I 'yelped' brunch one Saturday morning before I went condo searching and this place was the choice. Thanks yelpers!
Although there was a small wait (they give free coffee while you wait, how nice is that?) it was definitely worth it. We sat at the bar for he first available seat and very much enjoyed our meal. The service was fast despite how busy it was and the refills endless.
Although not a place to sit and chitchat, we didn't feel rushed or hurried along.
My bf had the breakfast burrito and I had the veg omelet- both tasty tasty! ( I hope you can tell that I try everything he orders whenever we go out together, so I yelp on his behalf too!)
Definitely worth it if you live nearby, but nothing to haul ass too.
First off- the other yelpers do not lie, the Sassy Eggs are YUMMY!! Yep yep- If you go to Over Easy Cafe, SOMEONE has to order the Sassy Eggs.
That someone was Ginger D., who was willing to share her delightful dish with me while I had the Blueberry Crunch Pancakes. My pancakes were good, but frankly Ive had better at The Bongo Room in Bucktown and Meli in Greektown so they were nothing to write home about, but those Sassy Eggs just made my day- and they weren't even my dish!!
Over Easy Cafe is a small place, very cramped, luckily we went on a Friday afternoon for brunch and didn't mind sitting at the bar. The coffee was just OKAY (I am picky about my coffee), but the service was great, the bus persons would instinctively refill our water classes and bring us condiments.
I wish I lived closer to Over Easy, but with so many great brunch places closer to my part of town I probably wont be back often. I still give it 4 stars, because I was a fan of my experience.
Can this place make a bad or even mediocre French Toast? I really don't think it's possible.
Today I ate the "Dulce de Leche French Toast". This appeared to be vanilla pudding sandwiched between two slices of French toast, covered in caramel sauce and lightly drizzled in some strawberry sauce with whipped cream.
I'm not kidding. I could never dream up the stuff they do to French toast, but it turns out amazing every time.
Once again, the minute restaurant was packed when I came with my sister and boyfriend for some… Read more »
There is nothing I don't love about Over Easy Cafe. Seriously.
I love that:
*It is tucked away in a residential area of Lincoln Square that you probably would drive right by without noticing.
*The hostess who welcomed us and got our name was the friendliest person I've ever met, the kind of person who you want to give a hug to and tell them your life story. And as we were exiting after our meal, she also stopped and thanked us for coming in and wished us a very good day.
*As I waited 30 minutes for a table, I got to sip on coffee and sit in the sun surrounded by my fellow hungry peers.
*The decor of the restaurant, simple with its photographs of vibrant colored food and random over-sized egg beads that hang on the walls.
*Our southern waitress that called me "dear", "honey", and "sweetie". Often I find that to be condescending coming from someone my age, but she was nothing but endearing. She was lovely, made clever remarks, got us our food quickly, checked on us, and when she brought us the check she made sure to emphasize, "Here's the check, but there is NO hurry."
*The food was incredible. I got the Sunrise Omelet and it was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The pesto gave it flavor, the cheese made it rich, and the sun dried tomatoes made it fresh. My friend got the Blueberry Crunch Pancakes that were scrumptious and mess-free.
I honestly can't wait to come back here. I want to order almost everything on the menu, and will probably make that my mission over the next few months. Pretty soon the staff will know my name, and I'll be rocking one of their t-shirts as I strut down the street.
With so many reviews, there's not much else to say but I'll put in my 2 cents for the sassy eggs & strawberry french toast (stuffed with marscapone & strawberries with strawberry sauce, it needed no syrup and was just delicious).
Both dishes were perfect & their coffee is delicious. There is a wait to eat here, even at 8:20AM on Sunday. But, if you're willing to brave the wait, great breakfast food! The store next door is vacant so we devised a plan where Over Easy knocks down the wall & more than doubles their size. We are all for it...
My fiancé and I came across this place on Yelp when trying to find a last minute restaurant for our anniversary. While they were closed for dinner (it's a breakfast place), we decided to check it out the next morning.
Not only is the decor supercute, but the food and service is amazing. Since it was Wednesday around noon, we were seated immediately however i don't think I'll come on the weekends from what others have said. After taking our order, our server returned with our food in what felt like 5 minutes!
Taking advice from other yelpers, my fiancé had the sassy eggs which i seriously had to keep myself from reaching over the table and devouring it myself. I had the cannoli french toast--also AMAZING, and not as sweet as you would think. And not only is the food good, but the presentation rocks as well.
I cannot wait until we can come back, as we were already discussing what we would have on our next trip while we paid our check!
Yep...it is going to be busy on the weekends and at aprticular times during the week but I do think that the food is worth some wait time. I have never felt put off by the wait and do feel that the service attempts to get people in and out as quick as possible to accommodate the crowds.
Last time I had the corn beef special and really enjoyed it. While I tend to be a fan of the :can: version this was a homemade blend of peppers, corn beef and potato's then add to perfect over easy eggs(they better get those right).
Very enjoyable atmosphere and a great place for brunch/lunch in a area where you can be limited.
For food alone, Over Easy deserves 5 stars. So many other places phone it in for brunch, the meal period that most often bears the distinction of "afterthought." Not so here. Generous, well-presented portions of exactly the kind of food you want to eat on a Sunday morning.
You, and dozens of other people. Duh, it's brunch in this city, I know, but still, I get cranky after waiting more than 20 minutes to get in anywhere, regardless of whether there's free coffee. It's not Over Easy's fault, of course, that they're not exactly a well-kept secret, but it's not quite a leisurely experience with rushed service and a line of people outside waiting for your table to turn. I resolve to wake up earlier another morning to give it another shot.
This morning was the second time I've been to Over Easy - and once again, I was not disappointed. For the life of me, I can't remember the name of the dish I ordered, but I can vividly recall the overeasy eggs on ham with spicy corn cakes (like corn pancakes) accompanied with a spicy sauce on the side. Very unique and yummy!
We had a friendly server who made sure my coffee cup was always full. She made sure I got my caffeine fix!
I will definitely be back to try the other items on the menu and perhaps, even lunch.
I was REALLY tempted to give it 4 stars... but I dunno...
The good: the food was pretty good. The three adults all ordered the sassy eggs and the child in our group had the strawberry french toast. I did enjoy what I had. The not-so-great reviews here complained about the potatoes... and I hear ya. They weren't the best. I tried the french toast... it was good. I am not a coffee drinker but they had loose English Breafast tea and I thought that was very classy.
The bad: this is the 4th time we have tried to go there. The other three times they were either closed (on Monday? Federal holidays are always on Mondays and that's when my husband and I like to go out for breakfast... when we're actually both off) or the wait was so insane that we didn't even bother. Waiting 30 to 60 minutes for eggs? I don't think so... nothing is incredible enough to make me wait that long for the first meal of the day. Also, the sassy eggs were an easy decision... but nothing else sounded good to me on the menu. Do I go there again and just eat sassy eggs over and over again? I totally agree with the complaints on price too. $12 to $15 for eggs or pancakes? Kinda pricey...
Try it... it's good. But if your wait is 30 minutes or more, go down the street to Golden Nugget. Better bang for your buck.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It should be filling, tasty and hearty. Over Easy Cafe' failed on all of these requirements. If I go out for breakfast, I don't want what some people may call "art" on a plate. No. I want good and plentiful food instead. Give me good food and plenty of it. One slice of French Toast on a fancy plate with some cuckoo design of whipped cream and jelly over it does not fill me up It pisses me off. Give me a good cup of coffee (the coffee sucked) and a breakfast that will make my toilet proud.
What to do when you had a particularly bad dining experience with your in-laws the night before? Take them to Over Easy.
It had been three years and one stint living in DC since I had been here, and time has only made it better. FIL got the corn cakes, husband got Pan de Cangrejo, MIL got spinach/portabella/cheese omelet, and I got the Bordeaux Benedict. ALL were flavorful, HOT, and served with a smile. (I know, one expects those things, but after the previous evening's dining experience, we were giddy).
The (free) Julius Meinl coffee outside while you wait for your table is always nice, too. Get there early; expect to wait a little for a table (it's a small place). It will remedy all bad situations!
I've always wanted to try this place as I have heard good things, but I also understood the wait was always horrendous, so I was waiting for a perfect weekend day morning to check this place out. So a Friday morning came so I went.
I ordered a great mexican omelet (forgot the name). It was delicious. It came with a side of red potatoes. I will say it was plenty of food, but I somewhat wish there was more potatoes on the side as that side of the plate looked somewhat bare. The green salsa on the omelet was awesome, and the presentation was many notches above what you would expect from a breakfast joint. Also, the freshness of the ingredients you could taste. Even the prices weren't that bad... I would say maybe a dollar or so more than you would pay at a Golden Nugget.
Check this place out if you have a free week day morning. We waited 15 minutes. I would say though it's probably not worth it on a Saturday/Sunday morning with really long waits.
Enjoyed everything about it. Greeted warmly as soon as we walked in. Space is well lit and has a loft-like but not edgy feel. Food was excellent (wife got "Sassy Eggs" and I got the Nueva Mexicana Omelet) and service was pleasant and attentive. We got there ~2p on a Saturday, so it was still busy but not crazy. And to their credit, the staff were still friendly and on their game at the tail end of what I'm sure is a long, busy day. Great place.
I kept hearing about Over Easy from friends and just in general. While I don't partake in brunch as much as I'd like to, I love going. I managed to drop in during the week because a friend took a couple of days off to move.
The hostess was on top of things and I can only imagine the stress she experiences during high volume times. I appreciated her friendliness and efficiency.
The thing is, the food was good, but not spectacular. Maybe I'm asking too much...I mean, eggs are eggs, right? I suppose the thing is, as creative and fresh as the ingredients may be, there is no reason to wait longer than 20 minutes to eat here. Yet I always see a crowd of people standing outside. Don't get me wrong: I think it's great Over Easy does such good business. But personally, unless I'm able to go when it's not insane, I don't see a reason to return.
A dissapointment in a city with so many breakfast options. Overpriced eggs and bland potatoes. Very little depth to the flavors.
A initial glance at the menu tantalizingly suggests that the dishes are unique inspired. However, everything we ate seemed to have been poorly executed. My wife and I ate their last week, and in all honesty, I can't remember what I ordered, except that it was an unispired Mexicanish omelette dish. My wife ordere eggs with salmon which came out in a pool of water. My wife tried to send the dish back for being too runny, but the waitress insisted that the liquid was released by the salmon during cooking. That may have been so, but it did not detract from the overall grossness of the presentation.
To sum up, if I'm paying twelve dollars for eggs and potatoes, I better be blown away. For now, I will stick with Lula, M. Henry, and Victory Banner- our favorite breakfast spots.
Since moving to the neighborhood, I couldn't help but notice the massive crowds in front of Over Easy every weekend. It's a clear indication of good food and service.
Our wait was about 40 minutes for two seats at the bar- not bad for a warm August morning. I can't say that I would be willing to do the same in January. I would've preferred a table but it wasn't a deal breaker for me. Also, the hostess was just so sweet about it that I couldn't say no.
Service is fast! Everything came out in less than 10 mins. I ordered the smoked salmon omelette. It was good but I wish the potatoes on the side had more flavor. Next time, I think I'll try the sassy eggs that everyone seems to rave about.
As busy as the place was, I never felt rushed. I'd definitely go back for seconds.
awesome! pretty to look at, attentive staff, talented chefs, yummy & creative menu!
I have been a regular at this place for over 2 years now. The wait is long but it's well worth the wait. My friend loves the sassy eggs. I have tried a few bites of them and I agree they are yummy. Service is always great. The times that we have gone here in the winter, I have waited inside by some chairs where the bathrooms are!! I don't care.. I just can't take the cold while I am waiting to eat!!
I love their food. It's always fresh and tasty. I have had the omelette with the goat cheese(name escapes me) and it's great. I will definetly go back here again!
We tried Over Easy this past Sunday morning around 11:00 am. Our wait wasn't as bad as we had anticipated. They had a small coffee station for those people who were waiting in line.
The staff, including the hostess, were very pleasant.
And then the food....I checked Yelp before we made the trip to the restaurant. The recommendations for the Elvis French Toast are right on! My boyfriend ordered them. I felt guilty trying them because they were so delicious and probably not the healthiest thing on the menu. I ordered the Damen Omelet. It was fantastic. The potatoes were cooked perfectly.
We have some out of town guests coming in this weekend and our plans are to treat them to an Over Easy breakfast.
PREFACE:
An excellent meal deserves a review that gives the establishment its due. Enjoy.
INTRODUCTION:
Ever since the time I was 12 or so, I remember that to me (and as far as I know, to a significant amount of the population, as I always saw many people at these brunches), "Brunch" meant that you went to a buffet where you could serve yourself gigantic amounts of dishes that were both traditionally eaten at breakfast such as scrambled eggs and dishes that were traditionally eaten at lunch (such as pasta or tuna salad). Sometimes, there were also chefs (or possibly just waiters dressed up in a white coat and hat that sat behind certain parts of the buffet and made you an omelet or perhaps cut you a piece of prime rib). Being 12, a fat kid, and having little idea what the words 'serving size' referred to, I wholeheartedly embraced the notion i understood as brunch, frequently having 3 plates of food: 1 for breakfast items, 1 for lunch items, and 1 for dessert items.
After an approximate 10 year hiatus (HS, College), I found that the meaning of the word had completely changed from under me when I wasn't looking: It now meant that you had 1 dish, not a buffet, and that this dish was only breakfast food, not lunch. However, something else had changed too...the quality was significantly better! And of course, instead of being taken to brunch by my parents, i was going of my own free will with good friends.
I discovered the new meaning of the word "Brunch" while living in New York City, when many Saturday and Sunday mornings I would find myself at a table of one of many great brunch places: French Roast, Good Enough to Eat, Cafeteria, Sarabeths, The Popover Cafe, and others. Needles to say, these excellent establishments have given me the opportunity to build high expectations over the past few years. This weekend was my first real foray into brunch here in Chicago, with brunches first at Over Easy on Saturday and Lula Cafe (review coming forthwith) on Sunday.
REVIEW:
The bottom line is that my NY expectations were BLOWN AWAY today at Over Easy. While there are admittedly probably other great brunch places in Chicago of which I don't know, Over Easy not only hangs with the best New York had to offer, but in many ways puts a Chicago stamp (bigger portions, friendlier service) on the newly quintissential brunch experience, improving it to a level above any of the aforementioned NY restaurants.
Now, let me say here before we go any further that if you go when i did (prime brunch time on the weekend) you're probably going to experience a similar wait time: 1/2 an hour before you get to sit down. But you know what? It was totally worth it and also not really a problem!. You know why? because they have coffee for everyone waiting outside! You don't have to ask for it, it's just there! you can just serve yourself a little cup...and then go back for a 2nd one!
Upon entering, (and even outside) the atmosphere was lively and friendly, and the service almost *too* good: a busboy came by and filled up my water when it was 11/12 full, 3 different servers came by and asked if we had a drink order all within 2 minutes of sitting down.
Food wise, I had one of the specials: the "All American Breakfast Sandwich" and it lived up to it's name. When it arrived, I didn't think i was gonna be full when I finished. I was wrong. Also, upon slightly more careful inspection, I was shocked to see how fluffy my eggs were! I still am not sure how they accomplished it, or how many eggs they had to use for my sandwich. The eggs were topped off with a flavorful slice of cheddar cheese. Every bite was a perfect blend of egg, cheese, the various perfectly cooked vegetables (red onion, green pepper?, parsley?) that had been expertly diced and mixed into the eggs, and the soft (kaiser?) roll on which it was served. The flavor just popped, then mellowed, then built upon itself.
Mine was also not the only stunning dish as my friends ordered the Sassy Eggs (which was of such a stunning presentation, it must be seen to be believed - will definitely be a future order) and a couple omelets that were both tasty and inventive: A pesto omelet, and a cilantro one. No taste disappointed.
Before I knew it, I had finished my meal and brunch had turned into a wonderful memory. It is simply easy to say that brunch at Over Easy goes over real easy and will not be easily forgotten.
Ahhhhhh!
The beauty of a great brunch, especially on a Sunday, is one of my favorite pastimes. I'm as obsessive about brunch as some people are with wine or traveling or buying clothes for their dog. And when I don't have the time/energy to produce my idea of perfection in house, I love a great place that does it right in every way.
Having just moved here from Ann Arbor, where there existed a plethora of great brunch options, I was hoping and praying that there would be a beacon of hope reaching out to me. And I found it shining down Damon Ave. a few months ago while visiting a friend in Lincoln Square.
Seriously. If I were to create a restaurant that I would love to eat brunch at daily, this would be it. Perfect culinary execution, fun staff, great interior. It's just so, well, perfect. The menu is delightful and appropriately priced, and some of the chef's creations are like nothing you've had before.
I know everyone on here has raved about the "Sassy Eggs" dish, so it can't hurt to add to it:
Chorizo and redskin potato hash, jalapenos, two eggs, cheddar cheese, sour cream, guacamole, ancho ketchup, and a side of toast to make a great eating utensil out of.
Also, I've had several other items there, notably the Banana Spiked French Toast, which is two slices of french toast with a layer of sliced bananas, rum-caramel sauce, and candied pecans. Blissful.
Bottom line, the food is beautifully presented, and you'll leave with another sense of satisfaction that I think is very important, which is the satisfaction to price ratio.
Bravo!
I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars on this but ultimately decided that overall it was decent but just not stellar. The service was fantastic, friendly, quick, and very attentive. The coffee was also fresh, tasty and my cup never went dry. I had the sassy eggs and blueberry granola pancakes, and both were good but nothing special, and at $10 each I was expecting them to be a bit more than average. Also the $3 tiny cup of OJ was kind of a joke. This place is so tiny too that it was packed to the brim on a Tuesday, I can only imagine what it is like on the weekends. Speaking of the size, I like small, cozy places but Over Easy is almost too small, every time the small child on the other end of the restaurant shrieked it was as if I was sitting right there, and I can only assume everyone else in the place had a similar experience. All in all I would return if someone wanted to come here, but there are definitely other places I would prefer to brunch in this city.
Um, yes.
A friend and I were looking for a new brunch spot where we could park my car, not wait a million hours, and get some good eggs . . . so two out of three isn't bad . . . Over Easy Cafe won us over when the hostess told us that the wait might be 45 minutes to an hour, but that there was free coffee outside for us. While it might have been more exciting if they were able to keep up with the demand for it and actually have some when we got there, we were still quite pleased when we finally got some halfway through our wait.
We sat at the bar and got to watch all the serving action - and got plenty of attention from everyone who walked by, not just our server. After the coffee outside, my friend and I split a pot of tea and even got hot water refills, and were surprised to pay for just "one tea." I got the weekly special mexican omelet, with corn, tomatoes, goat cheese, and a salsa and sour cream drizzle, which was really fantastic - the combination of eggs and corn worked well and the salsa was very good. My only complaint was that the potatoes looked sad on the large plate; the serving size was probably just fine, but the way the plating was done made them look sparse and lonely. They were also just run of the mill, slightly fried red potatoes - nowhere near good enough to match with the omelet.
The unfortunate thing is that it seems like the only way to avoid the lines is to come on a weekday, but the special brunch menu is only offered on Sundays. The regular menu looks good, too, but it seems like they save the really special dishes for brunch . . . .
With so many reviews for Over Easy, it seems silly to add one more, but dang if they didn't rock my world! I've been visiting Chicago for a month and have been to OE four times. Twice I went on my own so I could be sure to get in, as they have a bar where singletons can sit and have intimate moments with their delightful minx of a menu.
Service: tops! Everyone who works there is busting their tail to keep you hydrated and the food comes out lickety-split. I developed a total girl-crush on one lass with a Southern accent who also speaks Spanish. The accent may be played up for us Yankees, but whatever, it works. I met the owner on my last trip. I've seen other reviews that comment on his mannerism with the staff, but in context, I could see he was trying to run a tight ship. The staff seemed to take it all in style, "tranquilo" as one guy advised another.
Food: As I wrote on another site (that I've since thrown over for Yelp!): brioche french toast was so amazing i didn't bother with syrup. The combo of blackberries, orange cream, blood OJ reduction, and whipped cream was such a delicate ecosystem I didn't want to upset it with syrup. Nor did I want to waste time getting it all down my gullet!
The Strawberry Sublime French toast lived up to it's name": brioche french toast with strawberry compote, marscapone cheese, & dusted with powdered sugar. I thought the mascapone would be too much, but it was all perfectly balanced.
I had the Damen omlette (eggs, sauteed portobellos, spinach & goat cheese, served with red potato hash & toast) and, while it was tasty, it didn't wow me. The hash at Tre Kronor is better.
My last meal for this visit was the Rio Grande Breakfast Sandwich. It included eggs scrambled with chorizo, red onion, tomatoes, & cilantro, topped with pepper jack cheese & served on a toasted telera with red potato hash. I don't think I've ever had telera bread and didn't need to know it exists because it's now on my list of must-haves.
In summary, have a purely selfish moment and go on your own if you want to be sure to try this place on the weekend. Otherwise, weekday waits aren't too bad. I think they've just instituted a new rule about a last seating at 2.45pm.
A great brunch spot!
My personal favorites:
Savory (ish): Grilled cheese with brie cheese and granny smith apples
I love the cheese-fruit combo, and it's so well done here, plus it's served with a small salad so I feel extra healthy. (Extra because the sandwich has fruit... maybe a little less healthy from the cheese...)
Sweet: Apple upside down pancake
Okay, I forget if that's what it's actually called, but it's a HUGE pancake cooked in a skillet with the bottom-now-top covered in cinnamon sugar caramelized apples. Definitely not something you can eat by yourself, or if you can, man am I impressed.
Personally I like to order one of each and share with someone else, because on its own, the apple pancake is a bit much, but with half of that and half a grilled cheese, I am perfectly satisfied.
Oh, if only this place wasn't so popular! I tried to come here a few times before succeeding in finding a wait less than one hour. I had to come on a Friday morning, but it was worth it. I had two, out of town guests and we still had a 15 minute wait at 11am on a Friday.
Totally worth it.
The place is adorable and the service matched the decor. Sunny, cute and cheerful all over the place.
We had SUCH a hard time deciding what to order since everything looked so damn good. Seriously, I was in pain with indecision and had to ask for reco's from our server to finally make a choice.
My companions had coffee which I tasted and was delicious (also served in the cutest little mugs; which didn't bother me because they were so attentive with refills) and I had earl gray tea which was high quality loose leaf and came in a pretty substantial pot. I got 3 cups out of it!
I had the Mexicana omlette which was awesome, but after tasting the sassy eggs and banana french toast off my friends' plates, I was jealous. Everything was extremely fresh and flavorful.
I'm already counting on going back and will wait with the masses for another chance at those sassy eggs.
Steak & Lobster $39.95 on NYE
Neighborhood: North Center
Chili's Gift Cards
Evanston, IL
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Creperies
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Bakeries
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