Brunch time: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Cost: about $12 per person, without a cocktail; $20 with a cocktail
The scene: Jane’s, a Bucktown favorite since 1993, is the kind of spot that will make you ask, “How come there isn’t a place like this my neighborhood?” The brunch offers a perfect mix of cozy-casual and upscale-gourmet. From the service (no-nonsense, but friendly enough) to the crowd (a slightly older yuppie-hipster demo, but not annoying), it’s a nice spot to go when you’re in the mood for good food but don’t feel like wearing anything nicer than last night’s T-shirt. The space is a former bakery and retains some of the original decor, most notably two display windows that are now seating nooks. The soaring exposed-joist pitched ceiling offers a certain rustic charm that matches the food and the attitude.
The cuisine: For late risers — or who those who just aren’t really into brunch (you know who you are) — Jane’s offers plenty of lunchy items, starting with one of our favorite burgers in the city, an $11 sirloin patty topped with bacon, cheddar and grilled onions. But the sweet side of the menu is the main event here, with options such as farmers market-fresh apple and apricot pancakes ($8) and blueberry-strawberry-peach crepes ($8). When we overheard a sever talking about the apricot scones ($5 each), we couldn’t resist; turns out they’re from Bittersweet bakery in Lakeview. Fine by us, especially since they’re served with the perfect accompaniment: house-made sweet cream.
Better than a bloody mary: A bloody mary with a cute Coronita ($9) — a mini bottle of that light Mexican favorite. We wanted to hook it to a keychain and take it with us to drink in case of a cerveza emergency.
The wait: Brisk table turnover means a 15-minute wait on Sundays even during peak times. After the outdoor cafe closes for the season, however, it may be slightly longer.
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THE JUICE
Jane’s1655 W.
Cortland St.773-862-5263
RATING
(out of 4) eggs
3.5
Loved it: Breakfast burrito ($9), stuffed with eggs, black beans and a killer chipotle-pesto sauce (and brightened with light avocado mousse)
Hated it: There’s not much to hate here, but we might quibble with the slow coffee refills.
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clamorte@tribune.com
