With two people in the house who won’t eat eggs, brunch is always a challenge. But, at WAVE restaurant in the W Chicago, we found its “Nourish” brunch menu brimming with eggless options, not to mention creatively re-imagined breakfast standards, including a house-made Pop Tart.
Actually, to call Chef Subido’s flaky, delicious pastry a Pop Tart is to do it a great disservice, but that’s what the menu says. We started with a sampling of pear and cherry tarts and found them fantastic. My 5-year-old declared the pear tart “way better than the ones in the box.”
My 8-year-old chose a straightforward fried egg with hash browns, which were very flavorful with peppers and onions. My sons also loved the short stack of pancakes, served with house-made maple-butter. I opted for a goat cheese, mushroom and spinach frittata, which was rich and delicious, certainly an unusually decadent start to my Sunday. With all the fresh menu options plus daily specials, my husband had a hard time deciding but finally went with Chicken& Waffles, which arrived big enough to fulfill brunch’s promise of breakfast and lunch.
In addition to the great food, WAVE offers a beautiful setting. Large windows overlook Lake Michigan while mirrored columns reflect the light. The décor is both modern and comfortable. Instead of traditional booths, customers are seated on large couches with numerous pillows and bolsters, which my sons got a kick out of rearranging.
Menu prices are quite reasonable, especially considering the lakefront location. Brunch entrees are priced from $7 for buttermilk biscuits and gravy to $14 for a grilled skirt steak sandwich. Fresh pastries and a la carte extras round out the options for under $5. You can quench your thirst with a variety of fresh squeezed juices such as orange grapefruit or carrot apple.
Attentive and knowledgeable service, combined with a casual brunch atmosphere, make this hip city spot easy for families.
Nourish is available at WAVE from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
