Waffles to expand up north?

According to a post in Monday’s Chicago Eater, Waffles at 1400 S. Michigan Ave. is planning on expanding up north, perhaps in Lakeview.

Waffles has been attracting folks from north side neighborhoods since opening, prompting General Manager, Alex Hernandez to scout locations around Lakeview. This time around, Hernandez is looking for a space with a kitchen.

If Waffles does open up north, Hernandez said he would “tweak” the menu and might add dinner service. Waffles tried dinner service in the South Loop on Fridays in the fall with modest results.

Waffles has been attracting large breakfast and lunch crowds
since opening last August.

New Businesses Coming to the South Loop

Some new businesses are getting ready to open in the South Loop.

A new pet-grooming place is opening up at 1400 S. Michigan Ave., just north of Waffles and Sanctuary. At 606 S. Wabash, a new Pita restaurant, Pita Belly is “coming soon.” You can follow Pita Belly on Twitter @thepitabelly. Their Facebook page is in the works and we couldn’t find a Web site, so one may assume it’s in the works too. And at 71 E. 16th St. a tableware product store, Cardinal International, looks like it’s ready to open.

There is a Cardinal International Web site, but it doesn’t give any retail store location details. According to the company Web site, Cardinal International is “the leading supplier of tableware products to the food service industry.” Based in Pine Brook, NJ, the company has been in business since 1935.

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.

#FF Follow Friday

Jazz Night at Donna’s Café featuring the Randy Ford Trio at Donna’s Café every Friday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. BYOB with a $5 minimum purchase. Donna’s Café is located at 1255E S. State St. Follow @donnascafe on Twitter.

Dinner at Waffles. Waffles is open till 8 p.m. on Friday nights. Dinner specials will be served along with the rest of their regular breakfast and lunch menu. Waffles is located at 1400 S. Michigan Ave. Follow @waffleschicago on Twitter.

Mixing the batter at Waffles

Friday Night Fish Fry at Weather Mark Tavern. All-you-can-eat fish fry for $9.95. Fish fry includes Cruzan rum battered fish, fries, and red cabbage coleslaw. Weather Mark Tavern is located at 1503 S. Michigan Ave. Follow @weathermarktav on Twitter.

GiGi’s Bake Shop food truck should be at 13th and S. Michigan Friday selling some great cupcakes. Follow the “purple bus” @gigisbakeshop. Be sure to contact GiGi for your holiday sweet treats. Besides cupcakes, GiGi makes tarts, cakes, puddings, and cheesecakes. For special orders, contact GiGi at 312-613-0956 or at her Web site.

The McCormick-Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park opens this Friday at noon. Skating is free if you have your own skates, skate rentals are $10. The rink is open Monday – Thursday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Located on Michigan Ave. between Washington and Monroe Streets, the rink will be open for the winter season until March 11, 2012.

#FF Follow Friday: Local South Loop Happenings

The Burger Point at 1900 S. State St. has their official grand opening on Friday, November 4, 2011. They’re soft opening was last week and it’s gone fairly well, so we’ll be expecting more great burgers and wings.

Jazz Night at Donna’s Café

Jazz, featuring the Randy Ford Trio at Donna’s Café every Friday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. BYOB with a $5 minimum purchase. Donna’s Café is located at 1255E S. State St.

Friday Night Fish Fry at Weather Mark Tavern. All-you-can-eat fish fry for $9.95. Fish fry includes Cruzan rum battered fish, fries, and red cabbage coleslaw. Weather Mark Tavern is located at 1503 S. Michigan Ave.

Dinner at Waffles. Waffles is open till 8 p.m. on Friday nights. Dinner specials will be served along with the rest of their regular breakfast and lunch menu. Waffles is located at 1400 S. Michigan Ave.

GiGi at 13th and S. Michigan

GiGi’s Bake Shop food truck should be at 13th and S. Michigan Friday selling some great cupcakes. Follow the “purple bus” @gigisbakeshop. Have you had one of GiGi's cupcakes? Do tell if you have.

Urban-Remix at 1468 S. Michigan Ave. is an upscale consignment shop featuring home furnishings, artwork, and antiques. Find them on Facebook.

#FF Follow Friday in the South Loop

Jazz, featuring the Randy Ford Trio at Donna’s Café every Friday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. BYOB with a $5 minimum purchase. Donna’s Café is located at 1255E S. State St.

Fish Fry at Weather Mark

Friday Night Fish Fry at Weather Mark Tavern. All-you-can-eat fish fry for $9.95. Fish fry includes Cruzan rum battered fish, fries, and red cabbage coleslaw. Weather Mark Tavern is located at 1503 S. Michigan Ave.

Dinner at Waffles. Waffles is open till 8 p.m. on Friday nights. Dinner specials will be served along with the rest of their regular breakfast and lunch menu. Waffles is located at 1400 S. Michigan Ave.

Second Annual South Loop Art Walk, Friday, October 28, 2011, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.. Check out eight participating art galleries in the South Loop, plus several neighborhood businesses offering special discounts. Click here for details.

GiGi at 13th and S. Michigan

GiGi’s Bake Shop food truck should be at 13th and S. Michigan tomorrow selling some great Halloween-themed cupcakes. Follow the “purple bus” @gigisbakeshop.

Three Peas Art lounge offers a comfortable and unique environment to view art, meet friends, and enjoy some great liquid refreshment. Three Peas Art Lounge is located at 75 E. 16th St. They are open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays.

Waffles to Stay Open Late on Fridays

Waffles, the new breakfast and lunch spot located at 1400 S. Michigan will be open until 8 p.m. on Fridays. Since opening in August, Waffles has been doing a brisk breakfast and lunch business, especially on the weekends. It’s not uncommon to see a dozen or so customers waiting outside on any given Saturday and Sunday.

Alex Hernandez, General Manager, says they will be adding some salads, fish and meat dishes to the menu for the dinner crowd. Some of these new additions may be seasonal selections.

Crowds waiting for tables outside Waffles this summer

For more information on Waffles and their menu, check out their Web site. You can also find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Hernandez is open to suggestions as far as Friday night dinner items go. If you were planning the Waffles menu, what would you serve for dinner?

Finding “Sanctuary” in the South Loop

Did you notice the new business at 1400 S. Michigan Ave.? We don’t mean Waffles, but it’s located in the same building as the new breakfast and lunch spot.

Sanctuary Music and Aesthetics is just one door north in Suite C. Set back a little from the sidewalk, Sanctuary has some impressive high-end stereo systems. We’re talking fancy man cave stuff. Kevin McCann, one of the owners, took me on a short tour of his new establishment, not too long ago. Selling alongside the stereo and video equipment are impressive watches, pens, and cigar accessories.

The nicely appointed audio room is worth experiencing for yourself

Sanctuary is open Wednesday – Sunday 1 p.m – 8 p.m., Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment. If you find yourself near 1400 S. Michigan Ave., you owe it to yourself to check out the ridiculously appointed music room. And by ridiculous, we mean awesome. Just about every song or artist you’d like to listen to is available with a soft touch of the iPad control tablet.

"Sanctuary"

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You can find Sanctuary on Facebook and you can follow them on Twitter.

Yolk Tops Favorite Breakfast Joint Poll

Our poll was hardly scientific or perfect and we know we left out some popular breakfast spots in the South Loop. Fifty-five folks voted in the poll. Here are the results.

Eppel’s received 7% of the vote
Little Branch Cafe received 18%
Waffles received 14%
White Palace Grill received 7%
Yolk received a whopping 52%

Did we leave out your favorite South Loop breakfast joint? Do you have a favorite that should have been included in the poll? Tell us about your favorite breakfast place here.

Waiting for Waffles

We told you. Barely open two weeks, Waffles at 1400 S. Michigan Ave., and their weekend business is out the door. The unique new brunch spot is carving a niche for itself in the neighborhood with it’s sweet and savory waffle creations.

General Manager, Alex Hernandez says Waffles will be adding more items specifically for take-out, including freshly made doughnuts.

Have you been to Waffles? What was your experience like? You can “like” them on Facebook and “follow” them on Twitter.

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.

No Waffling: Waffles To (Really) Open August 17, 2011

It’s been a long journey, but Waffles is really ready to open next Wednesday. Like The Scout, Waffles had set and missed several opening dates, but the 17th looks like the real deal. We’ll be attending Waffles’s “friends and family” event on Tuesday and you can be sure we’ll have a review of the space and, we hope, the food, soon thereafter.

The crowd at The Scout was standing room only last night.

Most Anticipated
Of all the recent restaurant openings or rumors of openings, Waffles has by far received the most attention. When we first reported on June 11 that Waffles was opening at 1400 S. Michigan Ave., the post garnered over 200 reads in less than two hours. That original post eventually racked up over 690 reads. The follow-up post on June 13 has received over 1,060 to date!

Ready For Restaurants
It’s pretty obvious that the South Loop is ready to support new restaurants. Since The Scout’s soft opening on August 10, the place has been packed. We predict the same will be true of Waffles. You can find Waffles on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to stay up to date on their opening and other news.

Opening Date for Waffles: August 10, 2011

It looks like the opening date for Waffles will now be Wednesday, Aug 10th. After missing several announced opening dates, this one looks like the real deal. South Loop Connection will be attending a special preview on August 8th. Waffles is located at 1400 S. Michigan Ave.

We’ll be posting interior pictures and our first impressions before opening day, so be sure to check this blog on Tuesday for the latest.

New Restaurants Opening Soon...We Hope!

Did you notice the small item in Thursday’s RedEye? It said The Scout Waterhouse and Kitchen (1301 S. Michigan) is opening August 1, 2011. We hope that’s true because The Scout’s Web site still says “Look for Opening in June 2011.”

Waffles’ Alex Hernandez said, “We had to push back our opening to the 27th of this month.” Hernandez has promised to keep us posted if there are any more changes or updates. Waffles is set to open at 1400 S. Michigan Ave. For a peek at Waffles's menu, visit rtheir  Facebook page.

Opening a new business and establishing an opening date is tough. This is especially true for restaurants that oftentimes have complicated kitchen equipment and are subject to various inspections and certifications.

Here’s hoping these dates hold.