Brunching at Beatrix

Watermelon strawberry juice

I'm not quite sure what I had expected from an intriguing yet somewhat standard brunch menu at Beatrix, but I am so glad I decided to find out this snowy weekend.  After slushing through the blackened sludge, we sat down in a busy and well-lit dining room with a glass of refreshing watermelon strawberry juice and cup of coffee.

Because of the snow, our friend was a bit late, and our waitress was very patient with us, and kept refilling our coffees and water.  Great service - love it when we don't feel rushed!

Tsukune in chili cilantro sauce

Tsukune is a Japanese-style chicken meatball, and they are usually grilled on a skewer yakitori style.  At Beatrix, they serve them with a beautifully done chili sauce with a tinge of sweetness and garnished with fresh cilantro.  It brings out the Asian flavors quite nicely!

Chocolate pastry

The chocolate pastry was a little bit denser than I would have liked it, but the chocolate to pastry ratio was spot on, and the powdered sugar was a nice touch.  Just needs to be fluffier!

Prime burger - whole grain toast or classic bun, kennebec fries, house-made giardiniera, choice of aged white cheddar, wisconsin swiss or havarti

Our friend ordered the prime burger, which looked so juicy that I kind of wished I had ordered it instead of my chicken tinga...

Spicy chicken tinga - guajillo chili, sunny eggs, avocado, corn tortilla

Well, that is, until our waitress placed the spicy chicken tinga in front of me.  I love breaking a sunny side up egg over almost any dish, and this was no exception!  The corn tortillas were the perfect carbs to match the zesty chicken that practically pulled apart in my mouth.  It could have been just a tad bit spicier, though, for a spicy dish.

Braised pot roast and egg sandwich - aged white cheddar, jalapeno relish

I didn't even get to try this because Andrew wolfed it down before I got a bite!  So with that, I'm pretty sure this savory breakfast sandwich is delicious!  He also finished the jalapeño relish!

Hash browns

And if there is one item at the restaurant you should not overlook, it is the hash browns.  These hash browns are cooked to the perfect crispiness.  I would have definitely eaten more if they gave me more!

Tips: 

1. If you are looking for a decently priced brunch place that takes reservations (on Opentable) somewhere off the Magnificent Mile, Beatrix is the place!
2. There is a pastry counter, and strongly encourage you to at least take a look.  But beware, you are going to want to get something once you see it!
3. The juices are pricey, but they are absolutely worth it!  They are much better than what you would normally make in your own vitamix at home!