Wildberry Pancakes and Café at Prudential Plaza

We visited Wildberry Pancakes and Café at 130 E. Randolph St. at Prudential Plaza recently. Being across the street from Millennium Park almost guarantees business from a steady stream of tourists, but it’s good enough to be one of our favorite breakfast/lunch joints.

The space inside is bright and pleasant with table and booth seating. During the warmer months—Wildberry opened this summer—outdoor seating is available. Wildberry serves Intelligensia Coffee, not that unusual for a Chicago eatery. What is unusual is that they have a mini Intelligensia shop inside the entrance, with a barista ready to make espresso and other specialty coffee drinks. For workers in and around Prudential Plaza who just want coffee to-go on their way to the office, this is a great convenience. The large breakfast menu has an assortment of egg, pancake, and waffle dishes sure to please most. The lunch menu includes hamburgers, paninis, sandwiches, and salads. Prices are reasonable and are comparable with other area breakfast/lunch restaurants, offering similar fare.

We arrived for breakfast on our visit and ordered the corned beef benny: English muffin, corned beef hash, poached eggs, chipotle hollandaise. The corned beef, poached eggs, and chipotle hollandaise were cooked, prepared, and presented perfectly; we would order it again. The corned beef benny came with hash browns. Service was prompt and our waitress was pleasant and attentive. And the Intelligensia coffee is a huge plus (we had several cups).

Overall, our experience was very positive and look forward to our next visit (maybe we’ll try lunch). With their ample menu, large space, and good service, Wildberry should establish itself as one of the more popular breakfast and lunch spots in the loop. Wildberry also has locations in Libertyville and Schaumburg.

Hours: Monday – Sunday 6:30 a.m – 2:30 p.m.

If you’ve eaten at Wildberry, tell us about your experience.

Waffles is a Winner

Welcome to Waffles
Waffles at 1400 S. Michigan Ave. had their friends and family opening today. We were first in line and ready to be impressed by this much-anticipated breakfast/lunch spot in the South Loop. We were not disappointed.

Not Your Grandfather’s Waffles
We ordered the chicken and bacon waffle and the Mexican chocolate waffle. The chicken waffle was savory rather than sweet and the fried chicken (drum and thigh) was crispy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. The waffle had pieces of bacon baked into it and was topped with a spicy maple syrup. The waffle didn’t just taste good, it looked beautiful on the plate. The Mexican chocolate waffle with orange Anglaise was topped with a spicy cocoa powder and shaved dark chocolate. Another piece of art on a plate, but that didn’t stop us from eating every bite of it.

Green Tea Waffle: Going, going, gone!

Light and Crispy
The waffles for both dishes were light and crispy, not a bit oily or heavy, which was good because General Manager, Alex Hernandez asked if we’d like to try the green tea waffle. This unusual creation is served with lemon ginger, Chantilly cream topped with ground pistachio, powdered sugar, and candied violet. It’s a good thing we had enough self-control to take photos of each waffle dish; otherwise the pictures would be of empty plates.

"Waffles: Friends and Family"

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Other Fare
Besides waffles, Waffles serves eggs and omelets and sandwiches. A friend who stopped by a bit later, ordered the vegetable omelet and it looked just as inviting as any of the waffles served. The space is modern, but warm, and is family-friendly. Don’t be afraid to bring your stroller. Intelligentsia coffee is served, alongside fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juices. Waffles will begin normal operation Thursday, August 17, 2011. Their hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. You may call them for information and reservations at 312-854-8572.