I don't get it. I know good food. My palate is pretty good. This place wasn't good at all. 1st- It's a kid friendly restaurant with no kid like food? My family hit this place up for breakfast one weekend. My daughter was forced to eat some type of cornbread muffin type thing (can't remember) and dry pancakes. I had the crab cakes (after searching forever on the menu for something I'd like) and I can't remember what he had. I think his plate was something he was satisfied with. Anyways, 2 stars because the service was great and quick considering it was a Sunday morning. I left hungry. read more

Being the Southern Boy that I am, I was happy to find a place like Wishbone in Chicago! I have a habit of ordering sweet tea everywhere I go and to get actual sweet tea puts a smile to my face! I went here with David for brunch and was amazed by the selection of food on the menu. I had to also try the Watermelon Lemonade they were serving that AM and it was awesome! We both ordered an omelet and I had to try the cheese grits to see if they were good and it did not disappoint. It was actually some of the best cheese grits I've had and much better than most places served in Atlanta! I thought the biscuits were weird though...they weren't flaky or buttery...much more like a roll, but still good. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about with the service, but we had some pretty good hospitality and didn't have to wait long to be seated or served our food. Actually, I think I tipped more than normal since our waitress was way cool. I would definitely recommend and it's a good substitute for us Southerners! :) read more

I've eaten here numerous times over the past decade, and the food is consistently good. Many vegetarian options, and good sized portions. The cornbread muffins are from heaven. I love the red eggs as well. The southern eggs benedict is a mega-caloric guilty pleasure that says "clean your plate, I dare you". This place can be mega-slammed on the weekends, it is the nature of popular brunch spots in a large city. They usually handle that pretty well. When it's slammed it can be noisy, otherwise the noise level is average. I had a sad face when they closed the Berwyn location which was much closer to me, but this place ain't so bad to get to for me. This is a place I would be happy to take anyone, out of towners or locals. I loves me some wishbone. read more

A cool place with a good size patio--good for the summer when a lot of people want to eat outside. Too bad my partner was opposed to that. Bleh. The food is good, I had the Veggie Omelette- made with egg whites. Nice because places usually charge extra to have the egg white option. Came with potatoes and a corn muffin. Not really a fan of the muffin but the potatoes were good. My partner had the Crunch French Toast--this is a MUST HAVE! Out of all the brunch places I've been to- this is a first I'd ever seen. And totally ingenious! That crunch definitely compliments the toast, and it doesn't weigh the dish down and make it heavy. But remember- they close at 3pm on the dot! I got there the next day at 3:01 and they wouldn't seat us. I'll just have to dream about it until the next time I'm in Chicago. read more

Wishbone - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I just got back from a delicious brunch with my wife at Wishbone. There were a lot of people who seemed like they were waiting for a table outside, but when we walked up to the hostess we were able to get in without waiting. She had an andouille sausage omelette with potatoes and a cornbread muffin, all of which were great. I had the corn cakes with sausage patties and eggs. The eggs may have been a touch runny, but I think this ranks up there among the best brunches we've had in Chicago. The sausage in both dishes was a surprise hit - could be the best sausage among those brunches. I also had a Jamaican coffee, which includes rum and kahlua. That was strong but delicious. My wife's bellini had pucker in it, so if you don't like pucker stay away from that one. The service was fast, friendly, and attentive, and the art inside is a lot of fun. read more

Bean cakes. Particularly inspired home fries. A biscuit that looks like a roll but tastes unmistakably like a biscuit. Minus one point for the old guy I walked in on in the restroom. "I couldn't work the latch!" he rationalized. read more

be prepared to wait to eat at this dilectable breakfast spot! I am a HUGE breakfast fan, and I think this might be one of my top breakfast spots...EVER their corn flake crusted french toast will leave you happy (and full) and my husband can devour the southern benedict in no time! the service is quick, it's always packed, but it is well worth all of the inconveniences read more

Brunch here is amazing. From the light and perfect biscuits to the smoked brisket hash, from the perfectly prepared eggs to the spicy bloody marys, this is a place that serves its patrons well. Service was amazing and seated a large party on hardly any notice, handled us with aplomb and made sure we were happy happy campers by the end. Don't miss: shrimp and grits, corn muffins, spicy bloody Mary. read more

I've been here for brunch many times and the service and food have always been good. Even when arriving on short notice with a very large group, they have been extremely accommodating. Most recently Andrea handled a group of 25 for brunch perfectly! Highly recommended - crunchy French Toast, cheesy grits, shrimp & grits, Southern eggs Benedict, and brunch mimosas. read more

Wishbone is by far, my favorite breakfast eatery in Chicago. From their blackened catfish to the breakfast burrito with ancho chili sauce, they never disappoint. Although crowded at times, due to it's popularity, they always do their best to get you seated and served quickly. The quality of their food is always consistent, served hot and fresh. Try a side of cheese grits or seasoned home potatoes with your entree. read more

Horrible service, the orders were repeatedly incorrect. I had to ask three separate times to try and correct the same order. They forgot items that came with the dishes. Even the quality of the product was subpar. I would not return here again. read more

Basic Southern food - can't complain at these prices. Wishbone is a big, busy, high-turnover restaurant convenient to the Loop. Low prices keep it busy anywhere near a meal time. The service is ok, the food is ok at best. Atmosphere is crowded and rushed. This is a decent stop for a square meal of Southern cooking. But if you want the word "cuisine" added, this isn't the place. read more

I haven't done the brunch here, but it is pretty famous. Oprah and Patti LaBelle, ya know? (Patti LaBelle, totally wrote the mac n' cheese recipe, for reals) The food is amazing on all counts. The kitchen is fast and consistent. They frequently serve Crawfish Etouffette as a dinner special, and that's one of my favorite dishes. The pecan pie is Out. Of. This. World. Ok, I'll be honest. I haven't dined here as a customer. I'm a server there on nights and weekends. But the food IS really good. And the prices ARE really reasonable. And, I work there, so c'mon down, and with all the cash you save on your meal, Tip your Server! read more

I have been here a number of times, but this was my first time sampling their brunch menu. After a careful inspection of the regular and special breakfast items, I'd like to think I had the following inner monologue: Wes: Hmmm...what should I get? Kid Wes: Crunchy French Toast! Wes: What? Kid Wes: You like French Toast! You like corn flakes! This is french toast AND corn flakes! ...and so I decided to give Crunchy French Toast a try. Although not for lack of trying, it turns out that you can't combine things that you like, and always bring out what you liked in each individual component. In this case, I always liked the soft sweet taste of french toast, and the crunchy goodness of corn flakes. Combining the two negated what I liked about each: the french toast was no longer soft and tender, and the corn flakes added texture, but not necessarily crunchyness. It was certainly an acceptable dish, but certainly not the mind-blowing experience that Kid Wes was hoping for. That being said, I've always found Wishbone to be a delightful eating experience. I met a group of friends (with kids) today, we were able to get seating with minimal issues. (it's a lot tougher when the weather is milder of course!) They put out crayons and something to color for the younger ones, and have the wooden toddler seats if you need them and a kid menu. The coffee was okay, and the orange juice appeared to be of the fresh squeezed variety (or was at least priced that way). Service was acceptable and the food came out relatively quickly (under 10-15 minutes it seemed like). You can try finding street parking, but of course you can take advantage of their valet parking (at West Loop prices...$8). read more

Every time I come here I leave very pleased. The food is good and consistent. You can choose between american classics, cajun/creole classics, or southern classics. I have tried their southern catfish, yankee scramble, red eggs, hash, and pancakes. All were great. Even their in house bloody mary is good. Service has always been good, even when they are very busy. I have never had to wait long for an order to be taken or to get the check. The artwork on the walls is a little weird but fitting. It's like Dali or some other surrealist painted breakfast art. read more

While I have not had Wishbone for dinner is quite some time, a few years, I have had brunch there more times then I can count. Overall, Wishbone is kitchy, affordable, and quite tasty. Food: As I remember it, the blackened catfish was really good. The crispy french toast was not my thing, but very good. While I would not order it again my boyfriend was obsessed with how good it was. Overall the breakfast items are consistently good. The price is right. Drink: Coffee is kind of bitter, but it does the trick. Skip the OJ. I have never had a cocktail here, so I have no opinion on their bar. Atmosphere: Bright, airy, tongue-in-cheek. I like the crazy ass pictures of chickens. This place has a cool, comfortable feel. Very diverse, no one would feel uncomfortable here... except maybe an Evangelical... At times for brunch there is a wait, but I have never waited longer then 15 minutes. Granted, I don't roll in until after 11:30am. Service: It can be slow at times, but for the most past I have never had a problem. Closing: Everyone should have brunch here at least once. It is worth the trip and is becoming a Chicago staple. I can't wait to try the one in Berwyn... But that is probably because I am oddly obsessed with Berwyn.......... read more

Was in the area so stopped for breakfast. Usually go to the Lakeview location and was THRILLED that there wasn't a wait for a table at 10 on a Sunday morning. AWESOME! Menu was the same as Lakeview so I ordered my fav Kentucky Scramble -- scrambled eggs with peppers and onions and potatoes on the side. It was great. And the food came out in such a short amount of time. Although we easily found street parking, they have valet which i saw a lot of people using because it was so cold outside. read more

Friends and I were in from out of town and looking for a place to eat Friday night - we stumbled upon this gem after wandering into a few too many places nearby that had 90 minute waits. When we arrived, we got sat immediately, and soon after the waiter was bringing out plates of these complimentary mini corn muffins. Let's just say, if there are carbs in heaven, these things would be front and center - it was like having corn cake cupcakes. For my entree, I got the pulled pork plate, which came with sides of my choice (mac 'n cheese, cole slaw, potatoes). All delicious, and it was around $10 or $12 - unreal considering where we were! Having seen the menu of a BBQ place earlier in the night where the meats didn't come with sides, and sides were $5 each, it was a welcome relief to get such great value. Overall, our service was excellent, and our waiter seemed to go out of his way to accommodate us. If you're looking for a no-frills, diner type of place with a variety of comfort style food, I can't recommend Wishbone enough. It may not have trendy mood lighting or snazzy plate presentations, but if there's one thing millennials like myself enjoy, it's nostalgia, and when you happen to share the same name with a 90's PBS educational show about a talking Jack Russell Terrier, you've piqued my interest. read more

Good southern style restaurant. I tried the daily special baby ribs - I like it! Must have been roasted for a long time so it's easy to separate the meat from the bone. Shrimp grits also tastes good. read more

YES I HAVE BEEN BACK ALREADY...GEEZ I like to eat :P Well this time I went for lunch and NOOOO complaints. We sat outside and was wated on accordingly. I ordered the smoothered porkchop and collards/mac and cheese.... Okay the only tip I have on the dish is don't expect the porkchop to be filling unless you on a diet...they have TWO as an option listed on the menu for a reason....the reason is simple ONE won't fill you up even with sides. Overall I suggest you simply go and enjoy!@ read more

We visited Wishbone on a busy Friday evening and began our meal with a Seafood Chowder which was very good. For entrees we had: 1. Shrimp and grits 2. Blackened catfish with sides of mac and cheese and mashed sweet potatoes 3. Salmon cakes with sides of collard greens and red beans and rice. About 1/4 of the way through the entrees I said to myself......... 'dis ain't nothin' but soul food..........probably cooked by Mexicans'. No offense to my Chicano brothers, but, how would you like to go to the local Taqueria and see Ray-Ray nem' in the kitchen? All of the food was pretty tasteless. The shrimp and grits dish was decent but nothing special. They bring it out on one of those huge plates that has a round center about 1/4 inch deep that makes it look like you're getting a lot, but you're really not. The red beans and rice was pretty much rice with chopped tomatoes on top and about 8 beans (and flavorless). Mac n cheese? Tasteless. Greens.....meh. The salmon cakes were really a soul food dish called salmon croquettes, and tasted like nothing more than canned salmon formed into a round patty. Our server had a very pleasant demeanor but we only saw her once after she brought the food. We had to flag down other workers to get a refill of water (which we never got) and condiments. Another server brought the check but never came back, so we just paid at the register and left. I was surprised with how unimpressed I was with the food with the exception of the soup. My wife felt the same way. This place seems very popular, but I don't get it. Two and a half stars. read more

I love Wishbone's. It's one of my new favorite breakfast spots. I had a great omelete- it was the Wishbone's omelete with potatoes and toast. They had very good coffee and my cup was never empty. Our waitress was very friendly and always around if we needed anything. I want to try the cornbread as I've heard its amazing. We didn't have to wait at all for a table on a busy Saturday morning. I'll definitely be going back. Edit: The service I recently received was AWFUL. It took forever to get water/coffee, and our server barely attended our table because she had too many. Our food took a long time as well, and we waited well over 15 minutes for our check. I hope this was just a fluke, as I do like the food! read more

Had the best breakfast ever. I had the salmon patty breakfast. The most flavorful salmon ever. Also the service was excellent our waiter was attentive and funny. I will definitely eat here every time I am in Chicago. read more

Shrimp was over cooked, under seasoned and because I took 2 bits they gave me 50% of a $20 plate. 2nd time here will be my last. Manager was very unpleasant! read more

Thought this place was closed, but they moved on Jefferson. Had dinner before a concert at City Winery. Street parking only. Ashville salad with apples was delicious. We also had corn cakes which came with this sauce and shrimp on top( more like pancakes and not crabcakes), shrimp n grits(a lil mushy but great taste). I would come again. We enjoyed the food!!! read more

FOOD POISON!!! I never had food poiion in my life so I'm not crying wolf and I do not have a sensitive stomach (which wouldn't excuse it anyway) I eat everything and have been going to restaurants forever. SORRY WISHBONE! but it's CONFIRMED that I had a stomach flu 4 hours after I left there. It says that a stomach virus starts from 4 hours to 48 hours directly after the contaminated food or water. Was there Tuesday 6/26 at 10 am. Ordered Lite spinach egg white omlette. Had a tiny taste of the cheese grits and said ew! too salty. Put some mango chutney salsa on top of my omelette. Coffee and water and that'st it - no bread or corn muffin, nothing. At exactly 2pm, my stomach was hurting and I went to the bathroom...and went and went. Felt like I had the flu. Then diarrhea all day and night for the past two days. I'm on day 3 and I feel SLIGHTLY better. It also says that it doesn't have to be a group of people to get it, and it can only be one. It was the first thing I ate all day and the day before was nothing but home made food which I have been eating for weeks. It's OFFICIAL! - otherwise, food was just alright..coffee was very good..service was alright. For true brunch, there are MUCH better places all over Chicago. read more

I really like Wishbone on a couple of different levels. They care about their customers and their dining experience. The food is always fresh with high quality ingredients that are environmentally friendly. Wishbone doesn't serve environmentally friendly and organic foods as a gimmick. They genuinely care about their customers and the environment. They could easily promote this or charge a premium, but they don't. It's still one of the most reasonable places to eat in or out of the city. I wouldn't try it out for the first time on a Sunday morning. You don't get a feel of the restaurant because it's so crazy busy. On a side note, I met one of the owners while drinking some coffee. He is very nice and real. The conversation wasn't the same blah, blah, blah you get. Maybe I'm a dork, but I appreciated it. read more

I can't quite understand what the hype is all about. We had attempted to visit this spot on several occasions, but we were constantly greeted by very long lines just to put our name on the list. It's breakfast for cryin' out loud. I know many people cherish the first meal of the day and maybe that is why I just don't get it. Anyhow, my husband had heard rave reviews about this spot and I thought with all the lines - it must be pretty amazing. This past Saturday we got up early and decided to check it out. We must have beat the brunch crowd as there was surprisingly no wait. I was very pleased. We were quickly seated and I began to look over the menu. Being a girl from the South my eyes immediately zoned in on the Sausage Gravy Biscuits. Oh, heavenly sausage gravy, I've been longing for you ever since my sister last made you at Christmas in '06. We placed our orders and our tummies rumbled with excitement of deliciousness we were about to feed it. Service was sub-par, but the food arrived fairly quick. Both my dish and my husbands, Andouille Hash, seemed as if they had been made hours ago and sitting in back. The food was cold and not all that appetizing. We both doctored the plates to make them taste a little more to our liking. My husband adding hot sauce and me the black pepper. Once we finished we decided this was on the list of: no need to go back to restaurants. I am sure they won't miss our business one bit, but thought we'd share. read more

No wait for a table of 4 on Mother's Day around noon. The space is pretty big and feels semi-open considering the number of people bustling around. There are a few outdoor tables but I'd love to see even more. I'd describe the decor as "farm on acid trip" which I mean as a compliment. Service was prompt and friendly - mysterious menu items like "Hoppin' John" explained, water refilled, good check-ins. So many things on the menu looked delicious! I got the eggs florentine, which actually had a bit too much cooked spinach on it for me; I would have preferred about half the quantity in fresh uncooked spinach for a little crunch, but it was still tasty. My fiance got smoked beef brisket hash and cleared his plate. We also shared some Hoppin John and some cheese grits, which were actually the best I've had in a while and reminded me of my uncle from Atlanta who used to make them just like that. Quick and affordable for the West Loop, we'd definitely brunch here again! read more

The Crawfish Beignets are amazing! I hadn't been in years, and love the new location since it is closer to my job. The beignets are flavorful and filling. I also had the Cajun Shrimp and Grits. I couldn't finish because it really filled me up. My only complaint is that they weren't very giving with the corn bread, lol. read more

Came in here for brunch two weeks ago, and was blown away. I love cajun and southern food, and this place does it right on all aspects, from the food, to the drinks, to the service. Walking in on a Saturday morning, it was a bit crowded and we didn't have a reservation, but the space is so large we didn't have to wait more than five minutes to be seated. I asked my friend who frequents this place what to order, and she responded with "just get any of the cakes". She was not wrong. I ordered the crawfish cakes with cheesy grits on the side, she got the crab cakes and our friend got the spicy black bean cakes. We all shared and all were amazing, perfect blend of cajun and smoky seasonings on all. Grits were perfectly cooked as well, and trust me, they can be gross if they're cooked improperly. Some of our other friends got the chicken andouille hash and eggs benedict, all of which looked mouthwatering. I ordered the Mr. Funky drink and our other friends ordered the hurricane, and front porch tea. My only cricitism of the meal was my drink. The Mr. Funky (which I ordered solely based on the name) was cranberry juice, champagne, and something else, but it basically tasted like Hawaiin punch. I ordered the front porch tea instead for my second drink, and it was way better (their own homemade peach moonshine with iced tea). I noticed behind the bar that they had rows and rows of jars of homemade moonshine in probably 20 flavors. The peach one I had was excellent, and it added to the cool vibe of the restaurant. Even though this place is kind of out of the way in the West Loop, I will definitely be returning for brunch. Great drinks, and some of the best Southern cajun food I've had in the city. read more

I was visiting from out of town and my friend Erica told me that this place was just "it" when it came to brunch in the windy city. She knows I am down to try whatever spots she brings to the table, so off we went. Well, I have to say that Wishbone kind of left me wishing for more. While not awful, it wasn't a what I think I'd envisioned. I feel like the food was a little bland and service was slow. Erica even admitted that it our visit wasn't up to par with other times she'd gone. Guess I'll give a tug at Wishbone again next time I visit. Seems like I got the smaller half on the first pull. read more

Very cute place for Southern-inspired breakfast. We were seated quickly and the server got our orders quickly, nicely reminding us that breakfast is over at 11. Coffee was kind of weak, but the orange juice was fresh squeezed and delicious! I had the corncakes with eggs over medium (they came out more over easy), which were delicious. The red pepper sauce was really creamy and good. My boyfriend got the shrimp and grits with bacon hesitantly at the server's recommendation, which were really good. Surprisingly light and flavorful. Great prices for the food! I'd recommend it. read more

On all of the shows when a celebrity chef goes into a restaurant to save it, invariably a big problem is that the staff is poorly trained. I am fairly certain that is what our visit suffered from. We have passed by this place hundreds of times and finally my wife decided to go. We went there for an early dinner with my daughter. We knew it would be a challenge from the start. Because of my wife's celiac, we have to get gluten free. We asked a few simple questions of the waitress and she was completely clueless. She went and, "asked the chef" who apparently had no idea what gluten was as she started rambling about cream and butter. We gave up and ordered the 2 of 10 sides she said were certainly gluten free. She ordered the blackened trout with no shrimp sauce. Ultimately the dish came out covered in shrimp sauce which we sent back telling them we don't want the dish at all. I have had too many experiences where offending material is just scraped off and returned to me. She was satisfied just eating the sides. They tried bringing a dish without the sauce which we told them we said we didn't want and the waitress had said not to refire. My daughter ate a mango pancake which she enjoyed though is admittedly pretty tough to mess up. I had the salmon patties with mac and cheese and sweet potato mash with candied pecans. The salmon patties were really good and the potatoes was the reason for the 2nd star. The mac was very bland with no creaminess and the only cheese was the burnt bits on the top. That should be a highlight at a Southern comfort food diner. At the end of our meal the owner/manager came to apologize. We commented on our issue and she said all the sides except for the mac are gluten free and the waitress should have known. She offered the normal make-goods and we left. That leads me to believe that this is a training issue. I under stand the type of place this is but being in the West Loop which is a very trendy area, they should have some awareness. They have awareness of vegetarian and vegan issues on the menu so they know something. In the end, I would not recommend this and will not be going back. read more

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that I thought the food was pretty good. I mean, its not gourmet... its comfort food. Still, I think it was above average for breakfast / brunch. After waiting about 10-15 minutes for a table, our orders were taken without requiring us to sit around for too long. The service was quick, and the food was very tastey. I had Red Eggs, which were similar to Huevos Rancheros, but without chorizo. I'd definitely order those again. My friends had Andouille Sausage Hash and Fried French Toast. Both of them thought their meals were great, too. read more

It's really bizarre that in visiting my mom in Chicago, I had more southern food than I had when I visited her in Indiana. But no complaints from me about that. I love southern food. And Wiishbone was very tasty. Don't go here for grease laden ffood - as they call it - it's southern reconstruction cooking....I'm guessing reconstruction is a play on deconstructed because although they have plenty of southern favorites, nothing looked real heavy like southern food elsewhere (I'm thinking BSmiths and Georgia Brown's in DC). You'll leave full, but not comatosed. The prices were reasonable and lunch service was quick. I had the blackened catfish with coleslaw, spinach and mashed sweetpotatoes. Those potatoes were sooooo good - I was tempted to lick the plate. They also complimented the very tart and lemony steamed spinach. The catfish was perfectly seasoned. Mom was very happy with her Mango Chicken. We both had flavored lemonades which are served slightly slushed...they are tart and just sweet enough - not syruppy at all. The corn muffin was a little dry, but that's what butter is for, right? I also left with a wishbone T-shirt....only $10 and very cute. Makes a nice statement - says: war is a failure of the imagination - but very subtly. I'll probably be back with my mom and will consider using Wishbone to cater for work events that I have in chicago (depends on location). read more

I absolutely love Wishbone. There is nothing better than waking up on a Sunday morning and heading over to this place. This isn't just your regular breakfast joint. This is amazing southern-style cooking. You can generally expect a 10-15 minute wait for brunch on the weekends, but this is never a problem for me when I have one of their yummy bellinis in my hand. Plus, the decor is very entertaining. I highly recommend Wishbone to anyone looking for a great breakfast! read more

This was my first time at either Wishbone, and it's a pretty well-known place, so I was excited! We found surprisingly easy parking on Saturday around 11:30 am, and also didn't have to wait for a table. They had a nice covered patio, but there was a 25 minute wait for that. Too bad as it might be one of the last few patio-friendly days! I started with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice which was a little cheaper than what it usually costs at a brunch place. It was so hard to decide what to have, but I finally went for the chicken andouille hash with sunny side up eggs and wheat toast. I was starving, but my portion definitely seemed more manageable than most breakfast joints. The hash was pretty good, sausage a little bit spicy and cut in small pieces. Onions and potatoes all cooked to the right texture. I had fun mixing my egg yolk around in there. Eggs could've stood a little more cooking, they had a layer of that clear slippery stuff on the top that I pulled off with my fork and moved to the side. Not very appealing. Wheat toast was yer regular sandwich bread, butter came from little packets on the table. I didn't taste it, but my friend got the crunchy French toast, which appears to be deep fried. She said it is her favorite thing, and it did look pretty delicious - her side of bacon was also beautifully crisp as she requested. All-in-all it was a really standard brunch. The flavor of the sausage was the only above-average thing about it. It was certainly satisfying but very similar to what you can get almost anywhere else. I'd be happy to come back though, as the Southern menu looks so delicious and promising, I can't help but think some dishes may be good, but others are hopefully great! Worth a try I'd say, and hopefully they'll exceed expectations! read more

Lunch is best at Wishbone If there is one thing I've learned during my life it's that anyone can scramble an egg and it won't cost you $4. Breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day, but restaurants charge you more per ingredient than they do for lunch. Skip the breakfasts and the brunches [especially the latter, anywhere] and find great places for lunch. Like Wishbone. If you're within the 10 block radius, Wishbone is worth the walk, especially Saturday lunch. This assumes you like or wish to try Southern fare. Start with a hoe cake, truly! The hoe cake is served with a medley of grilled vegetables and the ubiquitous red pepper sauce over cheesy grits. Save the black bean cake and [low country] North Carolina crab cake for future visits. Play your Southern foods hand correctly and go with a traditional dish prepared in a traditional style. You will get a much better feel for the food and the talents in the kitchen if you go with Crawfish Cakes and leave the Peppercorn Filet to someone else. Sides are many and generous. Again, choose wisely. read more

This place is an old favorite for weekend brunch and even if a lot of people think it is boring or no longer novel, to me it is tried and true. It is a favorite place to bring out-of-town guests, who tend to be impressed because their breakfast menu includes quite a few unusual offerings, especially for Northern cities. From crab cakes to black bean cakes to cheese grits, I just love their selection and always have a hard time choosing from their menu. I can't really say anything about their lunch or dinner menus, since I don't recall the last time I was here for dinner. It's a popular place, so at peak brunch times, there will be a wait,. But there are a lot of seats and the service is generally pretty fast. read more