Best Breakfast and Brunch Places in Downers Grove

"West LoopWhen this West Loop pioneer opened back in 2003, the elegant yet approachable eatery quickly made a name for itself thanks to sleek communal tables, a forward-thinking wine list, and, most importantly, the juiciest medjool date dish the Midwest had ever encountered. Plump dates undergo the full hog treatment here, plied with spiced chorizo sausage before being wrapped in a thick slab of bacon, fired until crisp and crackling, and doused in a warm piquillo pepper tomato sauce that practically demands a hunk of good, freshly baked bread. Don’t think, just order.How to book: Reserve via Tock or order take-out and delivery via DoorDash, GrubHub, and Caviar."

"For those of you who prefer fine dining, this is more of an upscale restaurant experience. Blackbird is a restaurant where you’ll find fantastic mid-western food showcasing farm-to-table ingredients. They offer great choices for meat eaters and vegetarians alike."

"Go to this Euro-style wine bar when you're feeling gregarious; the rather stark space has seating for only 48 people, and it's a tight fit....Read More"

"Restaurants American Lincoln Park. No matter what the forecast looks like outside, this Lincoln Park restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You transports diners to sunny California through a bright and spacious dining room that's dotted with greenery. Choose from avocado toast loaded with tomatoes and scallion mascarpone, chicken tinga tacos with guac, or the charred summer corn elotes that's imbued with jalapeños and queso fresco."

"Never again choose between a chocolate-chip cookie and a Rice Krispie treat. This slightly salty and super-fudgy cookie is studded with chunks of the classic bar. The whole thing is massive, yet you’ll find yourself refusing to share."

"Get a taste of California without leaving the city or even having to sit down through dinner. These cookies are always available alongside other sweets at their Market counter."

"Name another restaurant with Fruity Pebble French Toast...we'll wait. Flo serves up some unique in flair in West Town with a heavy Southwestern influence, plus mimosa flights during brunch!"

"Restaurants Bakeries Lower West Side. Kristoffer's is synonymous with tres leches cake—more specifically, one of the best versions of the delicacy in all of Chicago. The family-owned business in Pilsen makes the milk-bathed sponge cake in seven flavors—from vanilla and coconut to chocoflan and caramel."

"Kristoffer’s Cakes is known for their iconic homemade tres leches cakes, which is the item that put them on the map. Their vanilla tres leches cake comes with white or chocolate frosting, and is known for its excellent crumb and springy texture. (It’s a family recipe that the owners have kept secret since the bakery opened over 13 years ago.)"

"A landmark in Pilsen, Kristoffer’s Cafe & Bakery has been serving coffee and Mexican desserts for years. Though the original owners have gone on to open a cafe in McKinley Park, the customers continue to flock for the bakery’s famous tres leches cakes. They’re a favorite among chefs, including Rick Bayless."

"Tasty banh mi sandwiches are the draw at this beloved Vietnamese bakery and restaurant. The house special is filled with paté, headcheese, ham, pork roll, and a medley of veggies, while other sandwich options include lemongrass chicken, meatballs, and roasted pork. They’re all served on fresh and crusty bread that’s made in-house."

"Source: Photo by Flickr user Richie Diesterheft used under CC BY 2.0. Touted as a ‘bakery heaven’ by many of its regulars, is Sweet Mandy B’s, one of the best confectionery stores offering delicious desserts in Chicago. The toasty aroma of baked sweetmeats, tantalizing smell of coffee, airy atmosphere of sugary joy, and picturesque interiors – Sweet Mandy B’s hits all the right spots."

"In all our years of baking cookies, we can’t believe we never thought of this. Even if you have no qualms eating raw cookie dough on your own, rest assured, Sweet Mandy B’s has made the filling of this next-level sandwich safe to eat (aka eggless)."

"Yes, this is slightly biased because it’s my favorite bakery in the country, but I promise this is by far the best bakery in Chicago. All of your baked good dreams are fulfilled here. There is not a single bad item on the menu."

"Renowned for her 100% organic, vegan, and raw cuisine, Karyn Calabrese turns up the heart with her latest addition to the fold: Karyn’s Raw. Still offering a menu of organic vegan and vegetarian dishes, the restaurant serves conscious comfort raw food such as house-made empanadas, chunky nachos, peanut Asian style noodles, crêpes, mouthwatering vegan tiramisu, and more. Diners can enjoy a range of organic wines and beer with their meals and kick back on a Sunday with a long, lazy brunch."

"Located steps from chic North Michigan Avenue shops and minutes from Chicago’s business and financial centers, the Four Seasons Hotel is the perfect destination for elite business and leisure travelers alike. The luxury five-star hotel offers a fresh and contemporary ambiance with astounding views of Lake Michigan and the city’s magnificent skyline. Guests will also enjoy the hotel’s Health and Fitness Club with its 50-foot indoor pool surrounded by Roman-inspired columns and positioned under a domed glass ceiling."

"Just steps away from the luxury shopping, dining and entertainment on Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile, this downtown Chicago hotel features skyline city views, an on-site restaurant and lavish s..."

"North Center/Bowmanville Founded in 2006 well before the current craft beer craze took hold of America, Half Acre is one of the OGs of Chicago brewing and is regarded by many experts as the finest craft brewer in the city. With not one, but two breweries on the North Side (within a 10-minute drive of each other), Half Acre recently opened its massive 60,000-square-foot Balmoral facility as a testament to its increasing popularity and thirst for experimentation. Daisy Cutter (one of five year-round ales) is the beer that put Half Acre on the map, but the new digs have carved out more room for so-called “wyld beers” marked by experimentation and mixed fermentation."

"Somewhere between Dovetail and Marz is Half Acre, a relative OG by craft beer standards (it was founded by Gabriel Magliaro in 2006). While you may have heard of packaged brewery staples like Daisy Cutter West Coast Pale Ale or Pony Pilsner, the brewery also makes several draft-only offerings that are best experienced at one of their two taprooms. For the original location, check out their space at Lincoln Avenue; for a beer garden vibe, visit the expanded facility on Balmoral."