| « Green City Market opens Wednesday | Foie Gras Ban Opponents Insult Ald Smith's Manhood » |
Restaurant Mon May 14 2007
Head Over to Over Easy
This weekend, I joined two friends for brunch at Over Easy, my first trip there since it's reopening after last summer's fire. As was expected, at 9:30 a.m. we were told there was a 40 minute wait for a table. Fortunately, our caffeine headaches were assuaged by the delicious, self-serve Julius Meinl coffee station outside Over Easy's door. It's pretty genius to provide patrons with good, free coffee while they wait. It's like sitting at the bar during dinner time while you wait for a table at any other restaurant. Mood-altering beverages equal less cranky customers.
The last time I enjoyed brunch at this place, I ordered the vegan chilequiles, which I had read were out of this world. Expecting bits of tortillas mixed in with srambled tofu and the salty, spicy tang of a sauce of pureed tomatoes, onions and chiles, I was dissapointed by a basically bland and oily scramble of tofu sans the tortillas. It was no match for the Vegan Epiphany I love to order at M. Henry.
So, this time, I embraced my inner omnivore and ordered Sassy Eggs, eggs (any way you like them) over a chorizo-potato hash topped with fresh guacamole and ancho ketchup (I ordered mine on the side, because of my love/hate relationship with any kind of ketchup). While enjoyed the savory flavors of an urban brunch spot's take on sausage and eggs, I wasn't overly impressed. Everything tasted good and fresh, but I wasn't wowed by this dish nearly as much as I was by the Banana Spiked French Toast, and I am not into sweet breakfasts. 
Berries aren't my thing, and I get a toothache even thinking about all the sugar in pancakes coated with fruit compotes, maple syrup and powdered sugar. But this French toast had a bit of a crunch to compliment the smooth flavors of banana and rum caramel drizzled over the top. There was no need for the maple syrup brought out to my husband. It was the first time I ever experienced regret for ordering eggs!
Over all, Over Easy is a good spot for weekend brunch. It's average priced and the food is tasty. I'm really glad they reopened and even happier to see that the neighborhood is, too.
Over Easy is located at 4943 N. Damen Ave.
