Wildberry Pancakes: The Perfect Breakfast to Start your Day in Chicago
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While back in the city for a late summer trip, Mike and I finally decided to embark on the 36 mile journey along Chicago’s beautiful Lakefront Path. This fantastic multipurpose trail connects most of the city’s best tourist attractions like the Museum Campus and Navy Pier.
Before heading out on this lengthy trail, we wanted to fill up with a delicious breakfast. Although there are some food options along the way, it’s always a good idea to fuel up before any long workout. You can always pick up a snack along the way. We have always wanted to try out the highly regarded Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe, known for fabulous specialty pancakes and crepes, French toast, and filling omelets.
We figured that a pre-workout breakfast here would be the perfect opportunity to fuel up and experience a new downtown restaurant. This popular cafe is located just a few blocks from the path, making it the perfect option for those spending the day enjoying a bit of summer fun-in-the-sun on Lake Michigan.
Great food to fuel up prior to a long bike ride!
Wildberry offers a wide variety of pancakes, waffles, and French toast varieties, even a few vegan and gluten-free options! I did not want to load up on sweets before embarking on a 30+ mile bike ride, so I opted for more protein. I decided to go with the Veggie Omelette, which included a hearty assortment of onions, broccoli, asparagus, bell peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms.
What a nice combination of vegetables! I have never seen asparagus on an omelet, however, it went well with the other veggies. And, I also loved the fact that they used larger sized vegetables, instead of those tiny chopped pieces that you see on most omelets. The dish included hash browns (with just the right amount of crispiness – I can’t stand soggy potatoes) and your choice of bread (the rye was delicious).
Mike ordered the Breakfast Burrito (eggs, cilantro, avocado, and cheese packed inside a whole wheat wrap). You can make this option vegetarian by skipping the chorizo. Mike appreciated the easy substitution (no chorizo) and the option for fresh fruit as opposed to hash browns.
Of course, if you have a sweet tooth, you will want to treat yourself to a stack of creative pancakes. Recent selections have included: Blueberry Danish, Banana Coconut Cream Pie, and Oreo S’Mores. I am not a huge fan of anything overly sugary, but Mike would like to come back and try one of their iconic creations. I recommend checking out the current menu before planning your visit.
As a bonus, they serve renowned Intelligentsia coffee and offer a full espresso menu.
This restaurant was reasonably busy for a weekday morning. After experiencing the excellent food and service, I can see the reason behind the popularity and excellent reviews (currently number 2 on Trip Advisor of all Chicago restaurants)!
Additional details
Prime location: This restaurant is conveniently located on Randolph Street, within walking distance of Millennium Park and the Magnificent Mile. It’s a great pick if you will be enjoying any area activities like the bike path or seeing the famous Cloud Gate sculpture. Note there is also another location on Pearson St.
Address: 130 E. Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60601
Hours: Everyday from 7am-2pm
Parking: Pay per hour street parking or parking garage. There are several garages in the area including one right across the street. We took advantage of the excellent morning special ($15 if in between 7:30-9:30 and stay for at least 5 hours).
UPDATE: Check out my Windy City summer guide for more fun things to do. Most tourists love this city in the summer. I can see why as there are so many great festivals, beautiful beaches, and lots to do around the lakefront area.
