Brunch in Chicago: Blue Door Kitchen & Garden

Jumpsuit // Bag // Sandals

Oh heeeey, long time no #ChicagoBrunchPost! As I’ve mentioned before on the blog (or I’m sure you’re well aware if you follow me on Insta Stories), I live for brunch on the weekends. It is by far what gets me through the work week, and is always the highlight of my weekend. I would describe myself as a very food motivated individual and considering brunch is the only meal where it’s acceptable to have booze and dessert as your main course… Let’s just say, it has a very, very special place in my heart.

I’ve been to Blue Door Kitchen & Garden a few times now (you may have noticed the adorable backdrop from some of my pictures on Insta!) and knew it would be the perfect place to take my parents when they were in the city over the weekend. It has the best atmosphere, killer drinks, booooomb beignets, and super fresh and flavorful bites. It has hands down become one of my favorite spots in Chicago, especially during the summer! It is seriously the dreamiest, most charming place; housed in the carriage house of a historic Gold Coast, Chicago mansion, Blue Door makes you feel transported in time and place… It has elements of an old timey French countryside cottage, while also being reminiscent of the South and all its comforts and laid back vibes. I mean, how cute is the interior! They also have the perfect fenced-in outdoor patio that I swear always makes me feel like I’m on vacation somewhere… You would have no idea that you were right in the heart of a huge city; all there is to take in are the strung twinkle lights, the flower arrangements on each table, the trees cascading over you, and the music gently playing in the background. Like I said, it is the dreamiest.

Also worth noting that the staff is great, as is the service; we’ve always been seated without a reservation without a problem.

Now, to get to the food… To start, it’s of course worth mentioning that Blue Door is a huge supporter of Stewards of the Land, which is a coalition of 24 local, sustainable farms in Illinois (and where they get their produce and meats!). In addition to always making me think of this hilarious clip from the show Portlandia, farm to table means your meal is going to be out of this world fresh and delicious, and you’re also doing a solid for the planet!

The last couple times I’ve been here, I have gotten the vegetable hash, which varies in ingredients depending on what produce they have. This time around it was chinese broccoli, asparagus, and mushrooms, served with whipped lemon ricotta, a sweet potato and onion diced hash, and two sunny side eggs on top. Topped with just a tiny bit of balsamic glaze… Dear god it’s out of this world good. Every single bite was perfect!

They also are well known for some of their Southern comfort options, like these beignets, their rosemary maple syrup chicken & waffles (Fran’s fave, and he says the best he’s ever had. Coming from a kid who gets chicky waffles all the time!!), and their shrimp & grits. I’m not a meat eater myself, but I can attest that these little fried dough babies are phenomenal; the outside is warm, lightly crisped, topped with a healthy dusting of powdered sugar, as they should be, and are almost like the texture of a croissant in the middle… Super fluffy, doughy, melt in your mouth heaven.

Another reason for coming to Blue Door is their drinks. They mix up their drink menu depending on what is in season, but always boast a variety of what they call “Farm to Garden” cocktails. Right now, options include the Spring Fling, made of gin, vodka, cucumber, ginger, and lime, and the Blushing Bloom, which is gin, aperol, strawberry, allspice, lemon, and pineapple. I will say that their Bloody Mary is the best I have ever have. I like a super flavorful one with texture and a kick; the worst is when you notice your bloody is so thin that the melting ice is essentially turning it into water. They make em thiiiiick here, packed with worcestershire, fresh tomato juice, and pickled veggies and cheese served on the side. Bonus, their coffee is also perfection.

Definitely not a hard sell! If any of you are visiting Chicago or to of my Chicago babes looking for a new spot to try (I can’t believe I had never heard of it until recently, such wasted-ness!), I would love love love to hear your thoughts on it 🙂