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Categories: Grocery, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: LakeviewChristmas Eve we are closing at 1pm, Christmas day we'll be closed all day, but will be open at 8am Saturday to serve you and your family.
Announced 46 hours agoSouthport (Brown)
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
"I love to shop here - they have a great produce selection including bell peppers, fresh garbanzo beans, ginger, garlic, eggplant and more -…" read more »
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Well, today was probably the tenth time I've been here this calendar year. I've been debating between giving it four or five stars, which is why this review has taken so long. However I will say up front this is my favorite place for Brunch in the city these days.
Like any popular Chicago Brunch location, it is best to go on a weekday if your job affords you that luxury. If you go on a weekend, prepare to wait about an hour, and definitely longer in the Summer. Luckily they will take your cell phone number and call you when it's ready. This is a perfect place to bring your a special lady in your life because you can shop, er, she can shop, up and down Southport until you get a call telling you that your table is ready. It ends up being a very productive morning capped off by a meal that is absolutely delicious!
The options are a plenty here. My personal favorites:
1) Stuffed French Toast
2) Spinach-Artichoke Omelet
3) Brisket & Gravy
4) Bread Pudding Pancakes and/or the Cupcake Pancakes (I prefer to get a "taste" of each which is another thing I love about this place).
5) The Hash
Also, they need a Police Officer out there to arrest anyone who doesn't walkout with a cupcake or two to go. These Cupcakes are amongst the best in the City. If you go for brunch, definitely get a couple boxed up to go to have for dessert after dinner later on that evening. Trust me.
I could go on and on about the food, the service is great and my hat goes off to management for hiring a competent and warm staff.
For those of you that have never been, I want to give you a heads up it is "cozy" in there. Just today I found out that the young lady at the table to my right was pregnant and didn't want to tell her fiancee until after Christmas. The middle-aged gentlemen to my left just got promoted to Vice President of Sales for his company he's been working at for 15 years.
I could go on and on about the stories I've overheard in my visits here, but a lot of them are too cutting edge to print on this site! Point being? The seating is super tight.
Just enjoy it and start your day off at this wonderful gem on Southport. If you live in 60657 and haven't been there yet, you need to make this place a priority. Just don't go the same day I do because I don't want to wait more than an hour ;-)
& oh yeah, if you're hungover, get a bloody mary. They would be number 6 on my list.
(Suess Rhythm)
I do not like
green eggs and ham.
I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.
I do not like them,
Colleen-I-am.
Excuse me, my omelette needs an umbrella.
Why? Let me tell you...because they were all.....WET. Yes a big old pile of wet, green (pesto) eggs, with chilled mozzarella. It was, unappetizing at best. Soaked in pesto oil, all over the plate. I'm honestly surprised that would come out of a kitchen (especially at a place such as this!), then be approved by a server to give it to someone. Bad.
Luckily I ordered the "Tasting" of the apple/manchego salad...for $5 that is a GREAT value for lunch. Really fresh, and well portioned. Not wet at all!
Service was a little snippy, seating is always a little cramped and there are always a million babies everywhere.
And, WET eggs. Bunk!
Folks, let's just get this straight...Southport Avenue is a baby factory. I don't know if its in the… Read more »
I've heard many a folk talk about this place and no matter how many times I drove down Southport I could never spot this shop, and it's because it's intentionally flying under the radar. Which makes me like it a little more.
However, I was on a hunt...I was ready for Southport Grocery and all it's glory. I went on a Friday morning (avoiding the long wait I've heard about on the weekends) and sat right down. There are only about 15 tables in the entire place so it has that quaint feeling to it.
I went for the grown up pop-tart with pb&j and was pleased with it, but not blown away. It was a plenty to fill you up (I only ate half) but seemed to be have more dough and jelly than peanut butter...and the peanut butter is what I was truly after. You know what I loved? That you can get one pancake on the side...and I did. The real jewel of the meal was the bread pudding pancake. I could have easily eaten an entire order, especially when it is smothered in that cinnamon butter...yum!
I also had a bite of the spinach omelet which I loved, but there was a lot of richness with the cream cheese, so be prepared. I would definitely come back here for lunch, their sandwich menu looks delicious.
After our meal we tried to peruse the shelves of fancy foods, but it was pretty cramped so we didn't get to have too much fun. We did however pick up a bottle of wine (for him) and a rice krispie treat (for me) to enjoy later that night. Not too shabby.
Their Cupcake Pancakes are cupcake aficionado approved!!
Cupcake batter cooked up on a griddle. Served with a smear of whipped frosting butter and syrup.
Need I say more?
According to Yelp, the best time to visit Southport Grocery is on a weekday. And I'm glad I did… Read more »
Somehow, in my perambulations of Southport over the years, I had never noticed this odd hybrid of high-end grocery store and cute breakfast/lunch place. I would never shop here, but they have a cadre of pleasant, welcoming staff--and goddamn do they make a fine breakfast. Simply put, their steak and eggs is one of the best breakfast entrees I've ever tasted. I guess the key must be the two salsas, because otherwise it's simply torillas, eggs, steak, and beans. In any case, it all goes together wonderfully, and for $10, a breakfast of this size and quality is a heck of a deal.
I also sampled the cupcake pancake (ho hum) and the bread-pudding pancake (yum). The former comes with maple syrup which would be better served on the latter; but the bread-pudding pancake comes with a cinnamon butter which goes great with everything! This stuff took me back to my days of eating buttery cinnamon-sugar toast as a kid. Bread-pudding pancake + maple syrup + cinnamon butter = one heck of a dessert to follow up the phenomenal steak and eggs.
Wow.
Exceptional is the best word. My associate had the lamb sandwich (a Reuben varient) and I had the brisket and gravy over biscuit. Both had sensitive, mingled flavors, textures. (Biscuit was crunchy, buttered, etc). Nice folks; brought a second (ah, buttered!) biscuit to cope with rich, generous gravy. Wonderful concept of small portions of their pancakes; one small portion of the bread pudding pancake (with cinnamon butter and creme Anglaise) was more than enough for two. (A full portion could be too much for one). We went late morning on a weekday and it was already filling up; plan accordingly. How did I miss this for so long? (Better question: why am I sharing this?)
One downside: tables are cheek to jowl, no privacy. (But worth the loss).
Notes: a) Wonderful, attractive delicacies at the counter but even pricier than the meals; b) Wait staff and counterstaff share tips,
a great incentive for their top service.
I came here with my best friend on a Saturday morning before a little mani pedi. We must have lucked out because we didn't wait at all and sat right down (although when we were leaving people were already crowding up front).
The food was absolutely delicious. I had an omelet with chorizo and goat cheese and I just get it out of my mind! It came with red mashed potatoes that were just perfection. I also sampled the bread pudding pancakes which were also delicious. I thought it was going to be a more expensive brunch after reading other reviews but for the amount of delicious food I had it was totally worth it.
I can't wait to head back again!
Nice little quaint place and good food Nuff said.
The food here was phenomenal! I tried their sweet and savory french toast...I usually don't like french toast, but word savory peaked my interests. I was no disappointed, it so delicious. The portions are huge but I set out to eat the whole plate! Mission accomplished...and every bite was worth it.
The pudding pancakes were also great, a little sweet for my taste, but still pretty good.
This is Chicago people, waiting for brunch on the weekends is inevitable. It's more enjoyable to spend your time waiting perusing the cute shops up and down street, and then voila! the host ever so conveniently calls your cell to inform you the table is ready. :)
I found the staff to be friendly and patient, despite the all the hustle and bustle of the restaurant. If I were working there, I'd want to rip someone's head off after having a dozen customers badger me for a table.
Anyway, the food was delicious, and to me, it was a hearty portion size of savory french toast...defintely couldn't finish it all. My friend enjoyed the brisket and gravy. Somehow we found room for the famed cupcake, vanilla, and I wasn't impressed. The cake had a dry pound cake consistency, and I prefer my cupcakes moist.
Good place to brunch, but don't feel bad for skipping the cupcakes as they are overrated.
Dear owners of Southport Grocery,
Please think through your policies before you distribute your menu with stickers saying "We now deliver daily 10am-3pm" into my mailbox. It's disappointing to decide on a tasty lunch, make the effort to call, and be informed that the policy is a fallacy, and that you only deliver to people on your street. Who "only delivers along Southport"? I'm on Ravenswood, just a half mile west.
Sorry, but i disagree with your tagline. That "food experience" wasn't modern, simple, or fun. Just a big ole' bummer on a rainy day.
*calls potbelly's... again.*
My first visit here lasted about 2 minutes. No, we didn't get discouraged because of a long wait. Rather, we got annoyed that no one bothered to acknowledge our presence after standing awkwardly between the door and hostess stand while trying not to get in the way. Seriously, when someone enters your restaurant and looks like they want to be seated, I don't care if you're not the hostess. Even if you're a waiter or busboy, a normal person would at least throw you a "hi", "welcome", or "someone will be right with you".
My second visit was much better. We got there early, a few hours before prime weekend brunch time, and therefore were seated right away. Now I understand why there's always a huge wait - the place is smalllll. Price are very reasonable (well, except for the oj. $3 for a tiney tiny glass I can gulp down in 2 sips. I might as well save my money and grab a whole carton across the street at cvs on my way home for the same price). Both my boyfriend & I gobbled up the side of potatoes that came with my omelet. Mashed potatoes at breakfast? Awesome. And delicious mashed potatoes at that.
Now that I've finally been there I feel no rush to get myself back. My first experience will still taint any experiences I may have in the future.
I came here for brunch with a friend. Everything on the menu sounded really good. I settled on getting the pancakes with their yougurt-based sauce and berries on top. It was pretty good. After brunch, I took a quick peak at the store portion of their restaurant. . . really cute inside. I was tempted to get one of their vanilla cupcakes to go, but decided to get it another time.
Question... Who are the people that rated Southport Grocery as having the best cupcake in Chicago? I was not that impressed. I had the vanilla cupcake, and it was just ok. Nothing to write home about. It did have an almond extract flavor, which was unique, but I wouldn't go back there for that cupcake. I give the cupcake 3 stars. If you want a better-tasting cupcake, go down the street to Sensational Bites.
The only saving grace for me was the food. Namely the mashed potatoes that came with my grilled turkey sandwich. Talk about creamy, indulgent, flavorful mashed potatoes. Comfort food defined. 5 stars for the mashed potatoes. I would go back to try their other selections. Just because of those mashed potatoes.
I found this place to be wonderful. went there on a Sunday morning and waited about a half hour. I walked around, went to Anthropologie and before I knew it, they had called my cell to say my table was ready. how nice! We sat down and had a very cute, nerdy waiter with thick glasses. he was very charming and knowledgeable. the menu was amazing and boarderline impossible to choose from. i settled on the BLT which was fab as well as the red potato mash which was outrageous. you will wait here, but its worth it.
bumping this up a star for LUNCH...
had a late lunch with a friend on a sunday and it was fairly busy. they offered to take my cell number so that we could do some shopping while we waited. that definitely made the wait fly by :)
my friend got the chicken salad with grapes and really enjoyed it. it was nicely presented with flatbreads, greens and crusty slices of bread. i loved my vege sandwich. the roasted veggies and beets really went well together. i ended up removing the provolone as the herbed cheese spread was a bit salty. i'd probably opt to go with provolone only or just one type of cheese next time. the side of broc-peanut-sunflower seed salad was a great combo but they needed to lighten up on the mayo. service seemed a bit rushes this time around. also, the cupcake we shared was not nearly as good as before - i'm thinking since it was later in the day that it wasn't as fresh?
brunch looks FANTASTIC on paper (menu) but fails to deliver in taste...
we shared the grown-up pop…
Read more »
I love going to Southport Grocery for Sunday brunch. It is a small place, cozy, unless you don't like hearing others conversations. The food is great and the prices are good. I have never tried anything I do not like. My favorites include the bread pudding pancake and the bruschetta. It is family friendly and that is always a plus.
However, you can wait upto 2 hours for a table on Saturday or Sunday during brunch hours; especially, when it is nice out.
Food was delicious. Waitstaff was very knowledgable and accommodating.
The wait was not unreasonable for a sunday morning. I saw some reviews griping about the prices but I thought they were fair for the quality of food we received. (Full disclosure- I'm from NYC so I may be accustomed to a higher price point)
All the ingredients were fresh and delicious. I will definitely eat here again and have already recommended it to friends. The only reason I left one star off is because it is a tight space.
This is my first review on yelp. This place was so horrible that it lead me to my first yelp review. I just moved back to Chicago and noticed that Southport Grocery was on so many "best brunch of Chicago" lists. I decided to try it and am sorry I did. This was probably the worst brunch I have ever had.
The staff was nice, I do admit that. However, that did not make up for the fact that everyone at my table could not even finish their meals because the food was just awful. It was like they gathered random ingredients from their storefront and threw them into their omelets. There is no care or love put into their food. Coming up with "cupcake pancakes" isnt inventive but just plain gross. I cant believe that so many people like this place.
I've had random things from here; all of them passable but way too overpriced, but that's not the reason for a 1 star review. That's totally because of the staff.
Arrogant asses who are too busy to be bothered to do their job. I just went in for takeout & asked a staffer who was standing around doing nothing if I could see a menu. He vaguely gestured to the stand; "they're over there". Really? You won't walk the 5 feet and hand it to me? You know, act like you're happy to help a customer?
I've gone in at breakfast time and gotten similar treatment. I was the only one there & I'm standing at the register while 4 employees gossip about their night before. I didn't get any service until I opened my mouth to ask if maybe someone wanted to take my order. Sorry it was a measly pastry thing and that's not important enough for you. Oh, and the pastry was dry.
I'm never going back; which is just as well because the food isn't that great. I'd be wonderful at half the price. But it's not, so it's just not worth it. When options of places to eat in the neighborhood come up I'll veto SG straight away, and proceed to retell these stories to my friends. Hey Southport Grocery owners; if you read this, why don't you take the time to encourage your staff to be friendly, helpful, and actually perform their job tasks? Or do you not care as long as you keep getting people to pay for your $15 omelets? Ugh. Why couldn't you go out of business instead of Winston's?
Oh simple cupcake...how do I love thee? Let me count the ways....
I am all about a simple vanilla on vanilla cupcake. I don't need my cupcake overloaded with crazy toppings and flavor. Vanilla on Vanilla is what I love. Southport definitely has mastered the art of the simple cupcake. They only sell vanilla/vaniila and chocolate/vanilla...and thats fine with me. The buttercream is PERFECT and the cake is moist and tasty. I would come here just for the cupcake.
However....today I met some lovely ladies for lunch at Southport (this was not a cupcake only trip). We were 4 ladies with 3 babies and Southport accommodated us with a smile. We had a nice large table big enough for a couple strollers and a few highchairs.
I noticed a few people have complained about the service or the wait for food. We did not experience any of that. Our server was fast and always around to refill out coffee (which was fabulous) or water.
The menu is definitely drool worthy (umm...hello....stuffed french toast, bread pudding pancakes...etc etc). Knowing that I was going to get some cupcakes later on I decided on the savory end of the menu and ordered up a chorizo omelet with spinach and goat cheese. It was definetly tasty (but REALLY greasy - which I guess you get when you order something with chorizo). My fellow diners ordered up the hash (yum) and some salads. Overall the food was very good (I am going to have to return for some of those sweet menu items).
All in all it was a lovely dining experience...super clean...babies accepted...service with a smile...good coffee...I will be back!
Not worth the price- waaay overstated. I got the chorizo omellete which was good, but not great. No big deal. The potatoes it comes with is NOT anything like hash browns at all. It is a big scoop of warm potatoe salad mixed with sour cream. Seriously, heavy, thick and, well, gross. Bread does not come with, thats extra. All in all- not a bad experience but much better omelletes at Nookies or even IHOP for that mattet. And at least u can get hash browns & a toast comes with it. I left hungry.
If you want a breakfast or weekend brunch place that is actually truly different from 85 percent of the other restaurants serving the same eggs, pancakes, and sandwiches, head to Southport Grocery.
For most places, "different" means adding pepper jack cheese or pesto to the eggs, putting chocolate chips in the waffles, or making a "crazy" chicken patty sandwich. But this place, takes it to a different level, while maintaining food that is both novel and accessible to the masses.
For instance, take the blue berry bread pudding pancakes with cinamon butter. This is not standard anywhere, and is a welcome deviation from the standard breakfast carbs. The turkey BLT is served on a bread that melts in your mouth and comes with an apricot spread that takes the place of mayo. The bruschetta is an egg dish with chicken sausage and tomatoes, served on crusty bread, that is delicious. The sides are not an afterthought - the broccoli with peanuts is tasty and the potatoes are decadent, if not a bit too heavy on the cream.
Service is quick and I love that you pay at the counter on the way out. Tables can be cramped, but then again, you are here for the food, not the atmosphere. Also, you can't go wrong if you pick up a vanilla cupcake on the way out.
This place will be in my rotation for a while.
I went with a group of four yesterday. After reading the reviews I was planning on a LONG wait. We were seated withing 30 minutes. I will agree with one previous review that the service immediately upon entering is lacking. There was a crowd at the door and no visible employee playing gate keeper. We actually got passed on the list as a group of veteran SGC customers walked in, waded through the crowd and went right to where the server was. So heads up, all those people standing around in the doorway are already on the list. Fight through the masses like ya own the place and you'll be fine.
The food was unreal. I had the brisket and gravy. You heard me right, BRISKET and gravy. Other highlights at our table were the pop tarts for adults, bread pudding pancakes, and the burger. ALL received rave reviews. I'll definitely be back.
I love coming to Southport Grocery for brunch. It's cozy and tasty, and the prices are pretty good. My favorites are the Lolla Rosa beet salad, the hummus, and the roasted vegetable sandwich. Also note that you can swap the sides on the sandwiches. I always get the quinoa sweet potato salad.
My complaints are that the place is crowded and often fairly slow, and that a few dishes I've gotten have been really greasy (the grilled brie sandwich and the hash). Overall though, definitely an enjoyable place.
One of the more overhyped places I have been to, for a year I heard how wonderful this place was and finally went in. It's literally everything wrong and stereotypical of the Southport "crowd"(which I never really subscribed to). A bunch of mindless yuppies eating overpriced, un-tasty food, from a slow confused slightly snotty staff. I can put up with the poor service and overpriced food if it's good but this is only slightly above Potbelly quality. But if you are desperately trying to be cool and possibly be seen on the patio by all means go and pretend this is the best food ever.
This is my go-to spot for brunch and a must when people are in town to visit. I dream about two things every time I go here and cannot get myself to try anything else: 1) the bruschetta eggs and 2) the bread pudding pancakes. It's the perfect combination of sweet and salty and the fact that you can do a pancake taste is the best idea ever! The vanilla dipping sauce on the pancakes is the perfect complement rather than standard syrup. I heard that they may be selling the ingredients to make the pancakes at home but unless they sell the vanilla dipping sauce, it just wouldn't be the same. My husband is a huge fan of their club sandwich and raves it's one of the best he's ever had but I can't help but order breakfast every time we go there.
The wait can sometimes be pretty hefty since it is such a tiny place and they don't take reservations but it's a great area to walk around and do some shopping and they'll call your cell when your table's ready.
The first time I went there, I went for "The Cupcake." Although I wasn't that impressed with it - given the fact that it was apparently hailed as "the best cupcake in Chicago" - I went back several more times for actual lunches or breakfast.
I have to say...everything else I've had has been pretty damn good. I appreciate their unique takes on breakfast items. The Sweet & Savory French Toast, for example, was out of this world. It's basically a french toast, ham and cheese combo...Who thought of this? Amazing.
I took a risk and tried The Cupcake Pancakes another morning, and they were good, but sooooo rich and sweet I could only have a few bites. It really is like eating a cupcake with syrup on it. But I'm glad I tried it. It's interesting, like most of their menu.
When I go there for lunch, I usually get the chop salad. Yes, it's just a salad, but a very good one. I recommend it.
I'm glad this place is close by! I think you can always find something unique or just plain good, or both.
Visited friends in Chicago back in 2005. They took me to the Southport Grocery as it was one of their favorite spots at the time. I was only in Chicago for a total of 5 days but we managed to go there TWICE 'cuz it's THAT good! And now, 4 years later, here I am STILL thinking about that place!
Try the bread pudding pancakes (my god!) And the pop-tart breakfast thing (way good).
The bread pudding pancakes from Southport and cheese deep dish pizza from The Art of Pizza is enough to make any girl want to hop on a plane and visit the windy city.
The name is deceiving. for years i just thought it was just a grocery store with some cafe food. i finally went and realized oh how wrong i was. it's a WONDERFUL restaurant with a little grocery store. my other problem is i can never decide what to eat. should i for their amazing brunch food (pancakes, stuffed french toast), their yummy sandwiches, or should i spoil my meal and eat just their amazing cupcakes. the answer is usually brunch or lunch AND a cupcake. I can't eat here without getting a cupcake to go.
they're usually just open during the day/afternoon so parking isn't so bad on the weekdays. just bring some quarters.
Southport Grocery & Cafe was the first spot on our Cupcake Crawl....
Maybe it is the recency effect, but these cupcakes are awesome! I really can't attest to anything else but the cupcakes. The cupcakes here are dense, huge, and delicious (that's what she said ;-). But really, they're great. They don't have as many flavors as, say, Molly's, but the vanilla cupcake was enough for me. Pure and delicious.
We came here on a Saturday and it was BUSY. So they must be doing something right....certainly they have their cupcakes perfected.
Wow! just got back from a fabulous breakfast!!!
I was craving french toast and bacon and decided to give Southport Grocery & Cafe another try. I ordered the sweet and savory french toasts...sooooooooooo good. Its a huge helping of salty ham, gooey cheese, french toast and topped with a sweet mustard syrup...oh.my.god.
I love when im in the mood for something and i what i get hits the spot perfectly.
SG&C definitely deserved this upgrade.
I dont know...I just wasn't feeling this place. I was very disapointed in my lunch today- and when… Read more »
This place supposedly sells the best cupcake in town. Unfortunately I can't comment on this since I went there for breakfast.
I had the hash which consisted of cheesy hash browns (made with quality cheese), topped with peppers, mushrooms, scrambled eggs and chive sour creme. It was pretty tasty. What really impressed me though was that they had black, Hawaiian lava salt instead of normal salt - you had to ask for it though but I understand that since it's really expensive salt. I am a bit of a foodie and love me some good salt.
Good things about this place: the food was good and they definitely only use quality ingredients. Try the orange juice! I also like that you can see into their kitchen. That's always a good sign.
Bad things: The service was pretty slow. There is not a lot of space - so not good for groups.
I would say this is the kind of place you take your parents to if you want to impress them a little or your friend from Paris who is visiting and has high expectations when it comes to American breakfast. It's where you go for lunch with your girls or your sophisticated guy friends. It's not a family place but not every place can be or should be.
We went here for the April secret supper deal. A cool event that boasts the fresh ingredients the place is known for, along with an expert wine pairing that's a steal.
It started with the asparagus salad topped with Manchego that had the consistency of cheez whiz (not necessarily a bad thing). Then came the highlight, an amazing halibut- so fresh it may have still been alive- with carrot butter and peas. After was a charred pork belly and tenderloin (slightly gamey).Closed out with a standard strawberry shortbread dessert that was a bit amateur and doused with cream.
Our server was attentive, he immediately remedied the situation when I shot him dagger eyes for an inexcusably weak pour. At the same time, the staff is jonesing for and actively soliciting wild praise on every single thing, rivaling the desperation of a needy girl.
::::Rawwwwrrrrrrrr:::: The infamous sweet tooth rears it's ugly head again and lucky for me quite conveniently while shopping on the stretch of SoPo that is home to "the cupcake" available only at Southport Grocery. You know which cupcake I mean... scan any yelp talk thread on the best cupcakes in Chicago and you'll see this SG self-appointed 'gourmet cupcake' at the tops of any ones sugary inventory. What's so fantastic about it anyway? Well, I intended to find out...
Expecting to see wall-to-wall display cases of cuppies I was pretty surprised to find SG isn't just a bakery/deli with a few take away gourmet items, but a full café as well serving up droolworthy-sounding items like BBQ Brisket sandwiches, Grilled Brie on Ciabatta and oh that divine sounding brunch!! Save me an Arugula, Apple and Goat Cheese Omelet with a side of those Bread Pudding Pancakes. Holla!! Er, I mean Challah!! I'll definitely be back to sample those things if not a second round of cupcakes...
I politely decline to refer to them as 'the cupcakes' since that title currently and will always remain for my beautiful Sweet Mandy B. The SG cupcakes do pull in a pretty close second, or maybe third. They come in two varieties; vanilla buttercream on vanilla cake or vanilla buttercream on chocolate cake. Clearly variety isn't what makes them so illustrious, but simplicity is. Totally un-mussed with, the cake is moist and satisfying and that super sugary buttercream hits every corner of your sweet craving, but yes, they're really not much to look at.
SG appears to be a hit for brekkie, lunch, brunch, yummy items to take away for snacking, cupcakes and they have fabu mint tea served up by a hottie in a cardigan... bless you sexy-hipster! Stop in soon and get on the Grocery Train, you won't be disappointed.
Admittedly I make it a rule to no longer engage in cupcake war discussions as I've learned it's generally a ridiculously time-consuming and fruitless discussion. "Oh, you think Sprinkles are the best ever? Well, I think they're kinda over-hyped crap" Yeah, I used to say things like that but it never got me anywhere so I gave up. What did bring me into Southport on a snowy weekday was the prospect of a toasty warm drink to nurse while I shopped with my bestie in Anthropologie down the block. The cupcake was just a side-effect.
The service was delightful, friendly, full of suggestions and totally in disbelief of the fact that I'm from LA... random. Brett D. loved her tea and my latte was perfect. We decided to split a cupcake since Southport is constantly put up against our beloved Sweet Mandy B's by you Chicago folks and settled on vanilla (strike one in the overall battle royale when you only offer 2 flavors - vanilla and chocolate). The cake was light and moist but I found the frosting to be a little too sugary.
The market itself was super cute with tons of fun gourmet things I wish I had had the time to try and their cafe menu looked to be full of scrumptious things for brunch and beyond. Southport is a great low-key option when in the neighborhood yearning for a drink or bite but I'll stick to my lovely lady Mandy when it comes to my savage sweet tooth.
Absolutely the ONLY negative aspect of this place was the slow service. For being a small-ish place, and for not being busy, there was no reason for our food to take that long.
But...
It was totally worth the wait! I had the chicken salad with red grapes and flat bread... it was the best I've ever had!
My husband had this crazy special of banana and strawberry STUFFED french toast.
They also have some great Vermont products-to-go (which I'm a sucker for because I'm a Vermonter) including SUMMER SAUSAGE and chocolate peanut butter cookie dough you can take home and throw in your oven.
This place is great. Hope to sit outside next time AND have faster service.
Excellent yellowfin tuna sandwich.
Good portions. Attentive and friendly staff.
Bottomless Intelligentsia Tea for $2.50.
Coke in glass bottles. Eclectic grocery items.
I am pleased...
Cupcakes of doom!
I got lured here by a tweet--a friend shared news of their free cupcake a week ago. Since I'm a whore for cupcakes, I had no choice but to heed the call.
These aren't the puffed-up Willy Wonka technicolor treats you'll find at most bakeries. The top is flat, not rounded, and the frosting is simply spread on top, even with the top edge of the cupcake wrapper. However, don't let the plain-Jane appearance throw you off--these babies are just as craveworthy as any other pretty-princess cupcake. The next time I need a cupcake fix, I think I might stop here--their 'cakes rank among the best in the land.
This place was busy, but not busy where we had to stand forever for a table. For 16 of us, they were able to accomodate us quite well. Some of us had ordered our food to go because we thought we wouldnt be able to sit down and eat. But the staff was so willing to help us out that we ended up eating our take out food at a table. We felt bad for taking up their table but again, the staff were really nice about it and didnt give us a hard time. High quality customer service is what boosted my rating to a four. I only tried their famous vanilla cupcake and it didnt meet my expectation. The frosting was so overwhelmingly sweet that I could only eat half and had to take the rest home. I thought maybe it was too sweet because I had eaten 3 other cupcakes before this. But I went home, had something salty, had something spicy, and then ate this cupcake for dessert and it was still REALLY REALLY sweet. The cupcake (other than the frosting) was definitely delicious though. Next time I come here I'm going to try something savory for brunch. The menu looked really tasty! They have outdoor seating here and it was really relaxing and comfortable. Too bad summer is over!!!
Three courses for $20 on…
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Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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