My artist-writer-foodie niece Lucy is back living in Chicago (hooray!) and understandably made it to one of the first of the year open-air days at Green City Market in Lincoln Park. It opens this year May 2.
Her sole complaint: where to eat afterwards. There’s crepes, smoothies and other fare at the market. She wanted a meal.
So, here goes: breakfast and lunch dining choices in Old Town and Lincoln Park, within a 15 minute walk from the market.
Just across from the park, there’s Perennial Virant, a farm-to-table restaurant open until 11 a.m. daily for breakfast and 2 p.m. for weekend brunch, 1800 N. Lincoln Ave. In the same building, find Elaine’s Coffee Call for perfect lattes, pleasing teas and house-made pastries, 1816 N. Clark St.
If it’s an egg and all sorts of other things breakfast you’re needing, head to the original Nookies, 1746 N. Wells St. or Kanela Breakfast Club, 1552 N. Wells St.
Nearby, La Fournette bakery and cafe at 1547 N. Wells St. makes the city’s best baguettes and almond croissants. Also sandwiches, salads, soups.
For a meal at a neighborhood bar, The Sedgwick Stop at 1612 N. Sedgwick has an agreeably short breakfast menu: eggs every which way, biscuits, bagels, pork belly. Open daily at 10 a.m.
On weekends only Stanley’s Kitchen and Tap opens at 10 a.m. and serves kick-ass Southern food. 1970 N. Lincoln Ave.
The Dog Joint opens at 11 a.m. daily. Sure, you can order a salad but why would you? Burgers, dogs, sausage. 350 W. Armitage Ave.
Just up Lincoln Avenue you’ll dine outdoors at one of the city’s most pleasantly shaded street corners: Four Farthings Tavern & Grill, 2060 N. Cleveland Ave., open daily at 11:30 a.m., Sunday 10 am. (Indoors is pretty darn charming, too.) Next door is City Grounds, for excellent coffee and pastries inside its sunny two-story space or its street-side terrace. 507 W. Dickens St.
Continue up Lincoln Avenue to the original Potbelly Sandwich Shop, at 2264 N. Lincoln Ave., which opens at 11 a.m.
Farther west but easily walkable from the market is Toast, a hip and tasty breakfast and lunch spot, open at 8 a.m. daily, 746 W. Webster Ave. For a Greek diner fix, The Athenian Room opens at 11 a.m. daily, 807 W. Webster Ave.
Closer to Armitage Ave. duck into the darkly comforting Taco Joint, open 11:30 am Wednesday through Sunday, 1969 N. Halsted St. Nearby but a world away, Summer House serves weekend brunch beginning at 8 a.m., 1954 N. Halsted St. Blue Door Farm Stand opens daily at 7 a.m. and serves good and good-for-you food in an airy space, at 843 W. Armitage Ave.
Finally, meat-eaters will be happy to find themselves at Butcher & The Burger, 1021 W. Armitage Ave., open daily at 11 a.m., on weekends at 10 a.m. It’s smoky, it’s crowded, it’s delicious.