Skip Whole Paycheck- go across the street Kingsbury Street Cafe

Honestly one of the most subtly beautiful and inviting eco-chic cafes in this city aside from Karyn's and Uncommon Gound, Kingsbury Street Cafe focuses on light, healthful meals.  The interior reflects the menu, as the walls and plates are stark white paired with natural inspirations throughout.  The long wooden tables and small cactus-like plants on each table are charming and elegantly restrained.  Kingsbury Street Cafe is lit with a sizable amount of natural sunlight as the front wall is 20 foot windows facing West, providing a refreshing place to start, or unwind from a hectic day.

The quality of the food is as outstanding as the interior; vivid, clean, and leaves an impression.  Nothing here is heavy or overbearingly rich, which is a nice contrast to high-profile restaurants that specialize in making the lunch/ brunch experience the most extravagantly calorie-rich meal of the day.  Kingsbury Street Cafe is playful and imaginative, but completely filling without regret.  Over the top brunch items I'm thinking of  include the Publican's Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder and The Bristol's hangover breakfast with noodles, pork belly, and a poached egg.  I'm not knocking Chicago's move toward a decadent and deserved brunch, just offering an excellent alternative.

Bypass Whole Foods for once and venture across the street for lunch or brunch. I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised and it won't make a huge dent in your wallet. I'm already looking forward to a return trip.

 Roasted beet salad 

with pistachio, edamame, red onion, red wine 

vinaigrette dressing with chicken

via

Grass Fed Beef Burger- crispy maple glazed bacon, sautéed 

mushrooms & onions, lettuce, tomato, pickle and a side salad in place of french fries