My brother Mike and I ALWAYS go see new Marvel movies together…it’s become a tradition that I really look forward to. Today we went to see Thor: Ragnarok and I am happy to say it didn’t disappoint! As an added bonus, the Chicago weather decided to grant us a torrential downpour, making our choice of activity even more appropriate.
Before the movie started, we grabbed brunch (sidebar – why do I always call it brunch even when it’s probably, technically, breakfast? I don’t know, I guess “brunch” just sounds so much more indulgent?) at Sable Kitchen. Adjacent to the Hotel Palomar, Sable gets all-around great reviews and it was a perfect spot for us to grab a bite before the movie.
Walking in around 10:15, we settled into one of the few remaining high-tops in the long, narrow dining room. Although we were there in the morning, I could definitely sense from the décor – sputnik chandeliers with Edison bulbs, sleek fully stocked bar, accents of marble – that this place just oozes atmosphere for the post-work and dinner crowd.
It took a little while to get my COFFEE (let’s be honest that was my number one priority), but there was only one waitress working and it didn’t really bother us – we were enjoying catching up. The Sable Kitchen brunch menu consists of a handful of starters, sides and entrees with a thoughtful balance of sweet and savory; this isn’t one of those multi-page, takes-forever-to-decide type places. I chose the wild mushroom omelette served with breakfast potatoes and arugula salad, while Mike went for the fried chicken sandwich.
The eggs were fluffy, the mushrooms (definitely some chanterelles, not sure what else) were substantial enough that you could really taste them, and the breakfast potatoes were perfect – crispy, salty, bits of caramelized shallot…yum. Mike’s sandwich and fries looked amazing, and according to him it tasted amazing too – crispy chicken topped with pickles and slaw, homemade bun and thin kennebuc fries (another sidebar – what are ‘kennebuc’ fries? Have you noticed that this seems to be the hot new menu buzz word lately? I finally Googled it just now…the more you know).
With a nice atmosphere, delicious food and typical-for-River-North cost (~$20 per person including tip), Sable Kitchen was a great choice for brunch, and I’ll definitely be going back to try their famous cocktails and the dinner menu. Mike and I left contented and ready to enjoy the latest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here’s hoping I don’t have to wait until Black Panther comes out (February 2018!) before having another nice brunch with my bro!