When I need to lift my spirits without spending money on retail therapy, one of my favorite things to do is go out for brunch with friends. Luckily, there are so many great restaurants in Chicago that serve brunch, I never run out of options of scrumptious things to try. After taste-testing my way around the brunch places that Chicago has to offer, I’ve compiled a list below of my favorites.

Toast Two
Location: Bucktown
I put this one at the top of my list because not only is the food delicious, the décor is quirky and perfectly reflects the name, with toasters from every decade gracing the walls. They’re known for their stuffed French toast, but I’m a savory girl, so I ordered an omelet along with chicken sausage stuffed with apple and gouda cheese, both of which exceeded my expectations. Toast Two is in Bucktown, while the original Toast is in Lincoln Park. They don’t have a website, but you can check out their menu, here.

Ann Sather
Locations: Andersonville, Lakeview, Broadway, and Southport
I have one thing to say about Ann Sather and it’s a very important thing. Are you ready? Cinnamon Rolls! All egg entrees come with two mouth-watering, gooey cinnamon rolls on the side. Do you really even need another reason to go? If you do, you can check out Ann’s menu here.

Meli Café and Juice Bar
Location: Greektown
The early bird gets the bacon at Meli, so set your alarm to avoid the crowd. The wait can be up to two hours, but the food is worth it. The ingredients are so fresh, they virtually melt in your mouth. I ordered a skillet and it was enough food to eat for brunch and dinner that night. With such a vast food selection and a healthy juice bar, you can satisfy your appetite in any way imaginable. And, it’s all presented so beautifully, you might just want to take a picture! (I did.)
See Meli’s menu here.

Orange
Location: South Loop
You really can’t call it brunch without a mimosa or bloody mary. Save some money and bring your own, because two of Orange’s four locations are BYOB! Orange gets points for its creativity, including the Frushi, fresh fruit presented as a sushi platter. I’m a fan of the pancake flights, which feature four flavors of mini pancakes, choices of which change weekly. Just like Meli’s, they have a juice bar where you can choose any combination of flavors and have your juice brought to your table just minutes after being squeezed. Visit their website to check out the list of locations and their menu.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned along my journey to discover the best brunch places in Chicago, it’s this: The one word or women-named bruncheries rule.

Photo credit: Simondee