Wrigley Field Area

[FigNewton]

Ideas for either a pre-game Brunch of a post-game wait for the crowd to die down place. No sports bars please.

[nsxtasy]

Southport Grocery has one of the best brunches in town, and it's an 8-10 minute walk from the ballpark. Beware long waits to be seated on weekends, 30-40 minutes between roughly 9:30 and 1:00. www.southportgrocery.com

Deleece on Southport is one of my favorite neighborhood bistros, and it's about a 10-12 minute walk from Wrigley. Their a la carte brunch on Saturday-Sunday is quite good, and they accept reservations (including on Opentable). www.deleece.com

[Gonzo70]

A couple other good choices in addition to the above would be Kanela Breakfast Club and Socca. Both are on Clark about a half mile south of Wrigley. Kanela can have a lengthy wait on weekends if you do not arrive early, but Socca generally has seats and reservations can be made via Open Table. Hearty might also be worth looking into.

[nsxtasy]

Incidentally, I've posted detailed reports on brunches at Southport Grocery and Deleece, which I liked a lot, and Kanela, which I thought was only so-so (I would avoid it), at www.chow.com/topics/364403

Deleece has a sister restaurant on Clark near Kanela and Socca called Deleece Grill Pub. Like Deleece on Southport, they serve brunch and accept reservations including on Opentable. I haven't been there though.

[jbontario]

Nsxtasy, give me some recs at Deleece, I've only been to the Deleece Grill Pub and I really thought it was average at best. Maybe it was the girl I was with, but the place is really just a neighborhood bar that someone threw a menu at. The pork chop was dry and the cobb was about the level of what Friday's would serve. They highlight their mac and cheese options, we tried two and they were both dry and not tasty. Of course for mac and cheese I review all against the Lobster Mac at The Capital Grill which might be the most decadent thing I eat way too much, but honestly I would have been embarrased to serve what I ate at Deleece Grill Pub.

[nsxtasy]

As I mentioned, I haven't been to Deleece Grill Pub. The menu leans towards comfort foods and it just hasn't been sufficiently appealing to me to go there.

I've eaten at Deleece (the one on Southport) several times for dinner as well as the brunch I mentioned, and each time it has been outstanding. Friends I have brought there from out of town have been similarly impressed. I posted a VERY detailed report on one dinner and a second, briefer report on another dinner in a Deleece topic at www.chow.com/topics/757360 Check it out and you'll find descriptions of what I had and why I loved it.

[camusman]

For the post game, Toons Bar has excellent wings and many other tasty items. If you like Thai, TAC Quick is first rate.