Southport Grocery

We haven't done a restaurant post since we moved to Chicago, and doing Southport Grocery and Cafe seems like a good place to start.  We first went there with Charlie's mom and sister last fall when they visited.  We've gone there a few times since then, and when Abby and Leslie were up again in early June, we went back.

Southport is a North/South street about five blocks west of us.  It's a little more family oriented than where we currently live.  Wrigleyville seems more like dog oriented place, but Southport has dogs and baby strollers :)  D'agostino's, a pizza favorite of ours, is over on Southport, and so is Toon's - Charlie's favorite local watering hole & buffalo wings joint.  Southport Grocery & Cafe was our first dining over in that part of Lakeview.

We always go to Southport Grocery for Sunday brunch.  This usually means a long wait - because the place is good, it also happens to be very popular.  Cupcakes were apparently their first success, but the breakfast / brunch fare is as unique as any place we've been.  Charlie first got their griddled coffee cake, which was made with sour cream and was excellent.  He's also gotten the brisket and gravy, which is a dish with eggs that sounds more like dinner but was a great start to the day.  Leslie has had the chorizo omelet - also excellent.  Abby has gotten various types of pancakes (cupcake and bread pudding).  Katie found our favorite, though.  She got the sweet and savory french toast - which is french toast topped with ham and swiss cheese along with a side of maple-mustard syrup.  If you ever go there - that's our recommendation!

As you can tell by the name, it's not just a restaurant - it's a grocery.  So you can buy some of their famous cupcake mix or some of that unique maple-mustard syrup.  Or any number of other goodies!