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Kanela (Old Town); Rockit's brunch; LYFE Kitchen
DISH: WEEKLY DINING GUIDE
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times
2013-11-20

This article shared 4484 times since Wed Nov 20, 2013
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The Old Town branch of Kanela ( 1552 N. Wells St.; www.kanelacafe.com ), thankfully, continues the tradition of the older Lakeview venue with delectable items and friendly service.

Poring over the extensive menu might be a bit time-consuming, and could lead the most single-minded person to be a tad indecisive when it comes to selecting what to eat. However, regarding the starters, one could never go wrong with the monkey bread or the Kanela roll ( cinnamon roll with cream cheese ). In addition, the heady list of juices ( including one consisting of banana, strawberry, orange and honey ) is intact.

Our server, Rob ( a perfect combination of friendly and deadpan ), brought out a flight of French toasts—orange, red velvet, banana walnut and poppyseed—that would bring a smile to any diner's face.

Also, like the Lakeview branch, menu items are divided into "Sweet," "Savory," "Soups," "Salads" and "Sandwiches." Two of my favorite savory items are the duck confit hash and Lorraine scramble ( peppered bacon, gruyere cheese and caramelized onions ).

Just keep in mind that Kanela is only open 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday, so there's a somewhat limited window to enjoy the food—and Rob.

How do you maintain a crowd when the Cubs aren't playing? Well, Wrigleyville's Rockit Burger Bar ( 3700 N. Clark St.; www.rockitburgerbar.com ) may have just the ticket with a weekend brunch that can satisfy practically anyone's appetite. ( Note: Dieters should enter at their own risk. )

There are certainly traditional items such as eggs Benedict, customizable omelets and waffles. ( Our waffles were decorated with apples, pretzels, walnuts and raisins, and drizzled with caramel sauce—too little, unfortunately. ) However, everything else hits the mark, including a sumptuous breakfast burrito stuffed with eggs, chorizo, avocado, cheddar jack, diced tomatoes and chipotle mayo. ( This says a lot for me, as I'm not a fan of avocado. )

There are also items such as Rockit's well-known burgers, including The Motherclucker and the Truffle Mushroom Burger. Be sure to top things off with drinks ranging from mimosas to Oreo milkshakes.

Nov. 15 marked the grand opening of LYFE Kitchen ( 413 N. Clark St.; lyfekitchen.com ), a fast casual restaurant with a sustainable approach.

LYFE stands for "Love Your Food Everyday," and this eatery definitely employs a healthful approach, as chefs Art Smith and Tal Ronnen have created items that do not exceed 600 calories. Items range from breakfast items such as Art's Start ( steel-cut oatmeal with dried cranberries, almond granola, Greek yogurt and pure maple syrup ) and quinoa buttermilk pancakes to dinner offerings such as grilled barramundi and Tal's Grain Bowl. ( Reinforcing the health-oriented approach, there are also a herb garden for viewing as well as specialized menus that stress vegan and gluten-free options. In addition, there was a "sprout-cutting" in place of the traditional ribbon-cutting. )

Smith told Dish he put his name and reputation behind LYFE because "it was the first restaurant that was driven by the intention and purpose that it be healthful, delicious, comforting, and safe for the people as well as for the environment." Smith added that the menu will change by season.


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