Lou Mitchell on Jackson?

Lou Mitchell's is pretty good and has been featured (under various names) in lots of novels about Chicago including a couple of Scott Turow's best sellers. It is a real political hangout and a good spot to see the commodities traders stoking up. Be very careful when you park as it is easy to get towed away.

But, the best breakfast in Chicago is in in the 'burbs at the Walker Brothers Original Pancake House--a mini-chain of six or so places on the North Shore (Wilmette, Glenview, Highland Park etc.) where you can have very excellent coffee served with whipping cream and the famous German Apple Pancakes or the Lemon Pancakes. Neither is what you would expect and both a superb.

Note that while Walker Brothers is affiliated with the national Original Pancake chain, it is on an entirely different (and higher) plane.

Several great (and not-so-great according to the posters) breakfast places in Chicago in this thread in the Chicago forum . :)

Lou Mitchell thats the one i think, really good pancakes. Gave me a shot of ice cream too, bless um.

Lou Mitchell's pancakes are wonderful, light yet satisfying. Their oatmeal is out of this world. It's worth queueing up for breakfast at this place.

I just had breakfast at the Peninsula Hotel (The Lobby) this morning. I just ordered some pastries and tea which were fine. However, I did peruse the buffet, priced at USD 29, and was disappointed by the selections. The pastry and fresh fruit selections were not impressive and they didn't even offer smoked salmon on the buffet. I mean this is the Peninsula! I'd expect a luxury hotel to offer smoked salmon on the buffet.

In short, this buffet pales in comparison to the one offered at their sister hotel in BKK.

Also, my server, Robert was just not friendly at all. Maybe it was because I was wearing jeans and was the youngest person in the room, though I am 32. The hostess and the maitre d' who is from Holland were very friendly and hospitable.

I should have tried the Park Hyatt.

The Bongo Room and Toast are my favorites.

Went to the Bongo Room yesterday...it had been a while.

Had the chocolate French toast and the sweet potato & black bean breakfast burrito.

This place rocks! ^

Have heard the wait can be a PITA, what time does one need to get to Bongo Room in order to not have a wait (or at least a wait of no more than 10 minutes) ?
-

Gotta be early, that's true. I arrived there at 8:55am. Just in time, too. It seems the crowds walk in at the 9:00am mark and later.

Hey Willie, did you know that Flat Top Grill serves breakfast now? ;) (Not the one on Washington, however - at least not yet.) Haven't tried it.

Last time I went it was ~45 mins. This was late AM on a summer Sunday IIRC.

yes, we dined in the decent sized outdoor patio a few weeks ago, the andouille hash with poached eggs was excellent^

The breakfast burrito I had this morning was one of rock shrimp, chorizo, guacamole, black beans, quite good.^

Wait at 9am was quite busy but by 10:45am there were a few open tables and seats at the counter.

The pancakes did look excellent.

Yolk
 

Ate at the N Wells location last week. Good corned beef hash. Came back the next day for an omelete that was very good as well. Tables turn over quickly, so no wait either day ^

Yolk
South Loop-
1120 S Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
-Located half a block North of Roosevelt Road on Michigan Avenue

River North-
747 N Wells
Chicago, IL

Had a terrible experience at Bongo Room. Horrible service and lousy food to top it.

What did you dine on that was poor?