Wishbone

The cover story of the November issue of Chicago magazine is Best Breakfasts so I wanted to write about one of my family's favorite breakfast places.  It is mentioned in the magazine article but the couple of lines written about it just don't do it justice.   Everyone in our family loves to have breakfast at Wishbone (3300 N. Lincoln).  The restaurant is quite large and always loud, which is perfect for toddlers.  On Saturday and Sunday mornings probably 70% of the tables have kids at them so we always feel totally comfortable bringing in our crazy girls.  Wishbone provides coloring pages, high chairs, and kids drinks with lids and straws like any restaurant that caters to kids.  Plus the brightly decorated restaurant always distracts our girls while we wait for our food.  Servers are generally great with the kids, too.   

Wishbone specializes in Southern cooking and is open 7 days a week for breakfast.  The kids breakfast menu is pretty basic and consists of eggs,  a pancake (shaped like Mickey Mouse), granola, and french toast.  My kids like a basic American breakfast of eggs and pancakes so this menu is perfect for them.  The regular breakfast menu has quite a few more options that are really tasty.  The omelets are really good and come with delicious home fries.  My husband thinks they have some the best bacon.  As I mentioned, Wishbone specializes in Southern cuisine and their breakfast menu includes shrimp and grits, crab cakes, red beans and rice, and blackened catfish.  I really don't think you can order wrong.  I also love the lattes and fresh squeezed juice.  Lunch and dinner is also served here.  On Tuesdays kids eat free for dinner.

Wishbone opens at 8 AM on Saturdays and Sundays.  It is generally not that hard to get a table if you get to the restaurant on the early side.  However, if you get there after 10 it can be really busy and you may have to wait awhile.  There is a small waiting area inside the restaurant and a little room for strollers but not a lot.  Parking is available at meters on Lincoln or if you can get lucky and find parking on a side street for free.  The Paulina stop on the Brown Line is only a few block walk away.

Wishbone is definitely one of our favorite places to have breakfast and judging by the crowds it draws on the weekends it is a favorite of many families.