One of my favorite weekend activities to do in Chicago is to try different brunch spots around town. But after I had my son, my brunch requirements changed. I didn’t want to stop brunching, but needed to find kid-friendly places. A children’s menu, good service and atmosphere are all qualities I look for now.
Hi. My name is Christine (@thechicagogoodlife). With so many brunch places in Chicago, I have narrowed down my “Top 5 Kid-Friendly Brunch Spots” in the city.
5. Cornerstone Café
With two locations, Lincoln Park and Logan Square, this diner is the first brunch spot we ever took our son to. This casual café is an easy diner to bring children of all ages for breakfast or an early lunch. They open at 7 a.m. and serves breakfast and lunch daily. You will find lots of children and families there. They are very accommodating with seating and strollers, which will make you feel right at home.
The menu has plenty of sweet and savory options, like delicious pancakes and French toast for the children and a variety of omelette options for the adults, all large portion sizes. Their corned beef hash and sweet potato fries are great options for brunch, too. Service is fast and friendly and the food is all worth checking out. Great value, friendly service. They don’t take reservations, so I recommend going early.
FAB TIP: The Logan Square location is BYOB.
{Location}
Cornerstone Café
Logan Square || 2753 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 235-1155
Lincoln Park || 2200 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 270- 4343
{Price Range}
$ (Under $10)
{Fab Rating: 3.5 Fabs}
4. Wishbone
This Lakeview and West Loop southern comfort restaurant is great for any meal, especially for a family brunch. The crab cake benedict, red eggs, and biscuits are delicious. Definitely don’t skip out on the biscuits! They are some of the best I have ever had. You can also ask for a side of honey.
My son loved the strawberry pancakes. He devoured them. There are other options like eggs, grits, and mac and cheese for children. All the portions are large and could easily be shared.The service is friendly, fast and accommodating. There are lots of dining space for you and your family. They don’t take reservations except for parties of 6 or more on the weekends.
FAB TIP: One FREE entrée from the kids’ menu for every regular adult breakfast (must be ordered by 9 a.m.).
{Location}
Wishbone
Lakeview || 3300 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 549-2663
West Loop || 1001 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 850-2663
{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$30)
{Fab Rating: 4 Fabs}
3. Stella Barra
Stella Barra, located in Lincoln Park, is connected to Summer House Santa Monica and serves a fabulous All-You-Can-Eat chef-inspired brunch for only $19.95 per adult. Oh, the best part, kids under 12 eat for FREE. There are so many options for both adults and children such as pancakes, French Toast (my son’s personal favorite), house-made cinnamon buns, biscuits and gravy, chilaquiles (this is a must!), yogurt parfaits and so on. Mimosas and Bellini’s are also available for $5 per glass.
They supply crayons and coloring menus for the kids and service is always great. There is stroller parking in front and lots of dining space. Great food and service really make this the perfect place to go with kids. They also take reservations, making it super convenient.
FAB TIP: They have an outdoor patio in the back with lots of seating for large groups.
{Location}
Stella Barra
Lincoln Park || 1954 N Halsted, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 634-4101
{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$30)
{Fab Rating: 4 Fabs}
2. Kingsbury Street Café
This Near North Side upscale diner has extremely good food, innovative dishes and fast service. The menu includes items like lemon pancakes, shrimp egg white frittata, and salmon hash. One of their most well-known dishes is the Piggy Moo Cluck Sandwich, which has eggs, ham, bacon and cheese served on ciabatta bread. It’s amazing and not your average brunch sandwich. They also serve really delicious coffee and brunch cocktails to accompany the food.
Lemon Pancakes at Kingsbury Street Café // Photo: @topchicagoeats
The kids’ menu isn’t extensive, but they have typical items like pancakes and chicken fingers. However, many of the items on the adult menu could be shared with children, even for the pickiest eaters. My son and I shared the lemon pancakes and needless to say, we both loved it.
This cafe serves a great weekend brunch with a fun, lively vibe with a little something for the entire family. It does get very busy on the weekends so I would highly recommend making reservations.
FAB TIP: Pastries to-go available.
{Location}
Kingsbury Street Café
Near North Side || 1523 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 280-1718
{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$30)
{Fab Rating: 4 Fabs}
1. Knife and Tine
I was initially hesitant to bring my son to Knife and Tine. It is small and rather intimate, but now that I’ve been, I cannot say enough about their service and willingness to work with you and your children. And of course, the food. I have been several times with my son for happy hour, dinner and brunch. Each time, the food and service went beyond expectations. I have even dined by myself with my son and they have been extremely helpful. The staff will assist you with the stroller, seating accommodations, and even give your little ones a box of Legos, stickers and crayons with coloring sheets.
The shrimp and grits with scrambled eggs is amazing. It is made with white cheddar and apple smoked bacon. For the kids, they have banana pancakes, French toast, grilled cheese and other fun dishes. The food is incredible and service is very good every time. They take reservations.
FAB TIP: Delicious coffee cocktails available.
{Location}
Knife and Tine
Lincoln Park || 1417 N Fullerton, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 697- 8311
{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$30)
{Fab Rating: 4.5 Fabs}
What are some of your favorite kid-friendly brunch spots in the city? Share below.
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~Christine
Note: These meals were not complimentary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.
