Kitsch’n River North

This would really be more of a three start review, but they get an extra one for their patio and allowing four-​legged children on the premises! Score. My pup is pleased to be not left home on a beautiful summer day.
The food is creative — I had pesto eggs of some sort and enjoyed it. They have a good selection as they serve bfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktails.
I used to go more often when they had the $ 2 bloody mary and/​or mimosa special and when it was warm. It seems like something took it over last time I was in the area for my massage at Allyu… hope this isn’t true b/​c this was a good last minute brunch option for us.

THE RIVER NORTH LOCATION IS NOW CLOSED ON WEEKENDS!
This used to by my go to brunch place, the food was always very good, and the menu has a wide selection. I am upset that they are no longer open on weekends!

We had a delightful, attentive server who was great about coffee refills and didn’t pressure us to order food immediately. The coffee was tasty and hot and there were plenty of half & half and sugar packets (including Splenda among others) readily available on the table.
In the lofty architecture, the décor of retro avocado appliances and playful board games tableside add to the delicious food.
I enjoyed the Borracho Breakfast Burrito which was very filling. It came with the «Danish Hashbrowns» consisting of potatoes, red peppers, red onions and rosemary.

On the minus side:
–My food was pretty cold & pretty so-​so.
–The prices were a little high.
–The coffee was bitter.
On the plus side:
–Yahtzee
–Water at the table
–Good service
–Cute atmosphere
Overall: Not my recommendation for brunch, unless you go on a Saturday when they have cheap Mimosas and Bloodys.

I had the crabcake benedict. Crabcakes were moist, a little mushy. The eggs were nicely poached. I ordered the garden weeds on the side, but others homefries/​hash brown thingies looked good too. Mimosas were nice
Maybe I had too many mimosas, maybe it’s because I started this review 3 months ago, maybe it’s the mimosas I have had between now and then, but the only thing I remember completely is that the food was kinda eh.
I failed. I’ll redeem myself.

Ok, I can admit — I usually come here when I don’t want to walk far for brunch or if Yolk has a long wait. The food is mediocre — sometimes delicious sometimes bland. In the few times I’ve been here with the family, I’ve been able to sample the following —
green eggs and ham — very bland and not much taste
ham and cheese frittata — very delicious — a bit of sweet and a bit of savory — well worth it
bananas foster French toast — a special one weekend — this needs to be a constant on their menu — it was fabulous and sooo yummy in the tummy
eggs benedict — not much can be said
deluxe mac n cheese — can’t go wrong
fried chicken and waffle — chicken was very very dry
It’s an ok back-​up to Yolk especially if you’re really really hungry — but I still prefer Yolk over this place. The restaurant needs to work on its consistency.
A side note — my sister found a piece of hair in her deluxe mac n cheese — the waiter was so kind about it and quickly took it away and replaced it with a brand new order — he even asked if there was anything he could get for her while she waited and also took it off the bill. Very good service from the waitstaff!

Okay, Ive been to Kitsch’n on Roscoe years ago when these over the top brunch places first were on the scene. We thought we would go here today as it was my moms birthday and we were planning on shopping downtown (this is right off Chicago and the Mag mile).
It was the WORST. What happened Kitsch’n??? Biscuits and Gravy– stale and unedible. French toast with bananas — soggy and so sweet it was unflavorable. Cobb salad with tukey — forgot the blue cheese and it was «eh» at best. We left hungry. Coffee was cold and never got refilled.
Poor service for only 5 other tables in there max at noon on Sunday for brunch. I don’t think this place gets enough business to keep the food fresh.
Don’t go. Go to Feast in the Gold Coast or Orange in stead. Sorry to say, they are officially off my brunch list.

The food is average, the portions are depression-​era-​ish, the prices are inversely proportional to the health of the economy, but it still deserves 5 stars for 3 critical reasons:
1. $ 2 bloody marys
2. Squishy seats and random toys at the table
3. I’ve rarely EVER had to wait to be seated, which for a brunch place in Chicago, takes you a LOOOOONG WAY!!!

One of my girlfriends and I tried Kitsch on Sunday purely for the $ 2 mimosas :)
— $ 3 parking with validation for the garage across the street
— we both liked our egg dishes — both were around $ 8-​$ 11. normal
— Intelligentsia coffee was great
— no wait to be seated
— great service
Will definitely be back! If you’re there, head downstairs and check out the David Barton gym. I want to live there.

I tried Kitsch’n a few times, because I live nearby and was always hoping it would prove itself to be a good breakfast spot. It never has. Go to Motel Bar next door, they now serve lunch and Brunch on the weekends. Their food is much better.
I do appreciate the little pick up window at Kitsch’n, however. It’s very handy to grab food on the go if you workout downstairs at David Barton.

Pay $ 2.00 here and you’ll get more than a soda or coffee – you’ll get a mimosa or bloody mary! Yes, two dollars – cheaper than beer at most places. This place is huge, there was no brunch wait at 1pm on a Saturday, and it has quite a bit of outdoor seating. And my veggie omelette was chock FULL of veggies! And they have CURLY FRIES. The coffee was a bit sub-​par, even though it was Intelligentsia, but you really should be drinking a cheap mimosa anyway.
The music was a lovely Saturday mix of Pavement, Neko Case, Andrew Bird, the Shins – basically all things on my indie-​happy ipod. This means the staffers here must be cool, and our waitress definitely was – very friendly and had a ton of recommendations to offer up.
Puppies on the patio too – they must have a license. Love the pups!

While I am a regular at Kitsch’n River North, my last two experiences have been awful. My roommate and I were there a few weeks ago for Saturday brunch. We got our regular mimosas and Greek toast before ordering. My roommate ordered an omelet and I had the juevos locos. When our food arrived, her omelet contained not a single filling that she had requested, while my eggs were so spicy as to be inedible. My roommate and I both like spicy foods, but agreed that someone must have tripled up on the peppers. We couldn’t catch our waitress to send the food back. When she did come with our bill and I explained the eggs were too spicy to eat, she took the food away and didn’t offer to bring me something else or comp the meal. The final indignity? I ended up with food poisoning with my head no more than 3 feet from a bucket for 2 days.
We decided to go back more recently, and our group of 4 was seated immediately. That’s the good part. The bad part? messed up orders, messed up bill, and more throwing up after the meal. We won’t be coming back.
I give this place 2 stars for the décor, the ease of parking across the street, and the strong coffee.

Great place for a Sunday Brunch. I have been going here after Church the past couple of weeks and have been very pleased. It isn’t as homey as the Roscoe Village location but it is a lot roomier. I have had the Scrambled Green Eggs and Ham and was pleased. Not thrilled. Not appalled. Just pleased. I will say that coming here right after Church makes for a tough time because of two things.
1) It can get crowded. But what breakfast place isn’t on a Sunday?
2) They offer $ 2 Bloody Marys and Mimosas (Raspberry and Pomegranate!) Evil! Evil! Tempting goodness!

Back in my days of West Town residency, I was a regular Sunday bruncher at the Kitsch’n. True, its location in the 600 W. Chicago building lacks charm, but the hardworking Kitsch’n makes up for it with good food, $ 1 PBRs and… little-​to-​no wait!
I always start with the Creamsicle cocktail– how has no one mentioned this dreamy concoction yet? Have you ever tried an Orange Freeze from Steak n’ Shake? Tastes just like that except thicker and generously spiked with vodka. Two of these plus a PBR and you’ll be lulled into a luxurious afternoon nap!
Food: I highly recommend the Mexican breakfast dishes, specifically the Chilaquiles and the Huevos Locos (eggs, chorizo, habaneros, mango mojito salsa, pepper-​jack jalapeño cheese and served with warmed tortillas). However, stay away from the Borracho Breakfast Burrito: boring. Friends also rave about the fried chicken and waffles and the coconut crusted french toast. If you’re the lunch at brunch type, go for the Monterrey grilled chicken sandwich.
For those who like to hit the snooze button, their aptly-​named Hangover Brunch is available until 3 pm daily. Also, free parking with validation is available on the weekends in the garage directly across the street on Larrabee.

So many bad reviews for this place what gives? I went there last night since we love the Roscoe location and my fiancé works near this one. It has a more open and ‘urban’ feel than the other one. For people complaining on its decorations or its loft style… shut up. That is how it is supposed to be and all. They don’t come into your house and complain about your beige couch or other boring crap. Its loud and bright and fun in this place.
The food is good. Maybe if you got bad food you ordered something a little off the wall (PB and bacon burger for instance??) The ribs are good. Their quesadillas are good. I will admit that there are better brunch spots out there. But this place is not all about brunch they’re about comfort foods and such.

Had a Cobb Salad BIG AS MY HEAD, delicious. And huge — but I loves me the big salads. Our server could not have been more charming, just a glance sent him back to our table to see what we wanted. The interior is cute, and expansive.
Working in the area, ate a few lunches here. Greasy, overpriced and SLOW service. Desultory counter people. Overpriced, small lunch salads. Weird post-​college rut vibe.

Nice to have a choice for a decent meal, though its expensive for what you get: i.e., an order of their slyders is generally good with Hawaiian bread, and a good hamburger patty on it with a pickle & relish on the side — about 7 – 8 bucks for six; I think you can skimp on the quality a bit and get a better deal at White Castle; or a decent cheeseburger for 9+ dollars, but at least you get fries or whatever side.
Staff is generally crappy, though there is one freckled gal there who always have a smile and is very helpful; the worker dudes there are basically useless. Oh yeah, you want take out, it won’t be ready in 15 minutes, but at least you won’t get your order messed up at the next door place at Motel Bar…
Update 3÷1÷2010 — I guess this place is downsizing or slowly shutting operations down. Was Kitsch’n River North, and now its now-​closed The Fifth and still open K-​Café. The website’s a bit ambiguous if its still serving hot food (e.g. chilaquiles), but still has coffee, sandwiches, frou frou drinks, and some other knick knacks. A bit in change in staff, but still unremarkable and in need of help, food quality is still just okay — again, better choices elsewhere, like Motel Bar.

So nice to have a great place to eat in my NEW OFFICE BUILDING!
So I ended up getting the Cajun Chicken sandwich, even though the Chicken and Waffles have been a secret obsession I’ve been wanting to try out.
Well, the chicken scored well in my book so now I’ll have reason to go back — many times — the next to try out the aforementioned dish.
Oh, the the HAND DRYERS. AMAZING. I can’t really describe them, but you must see them!

Strolled right in on a Saturday at noon and sat right down. And there were still plenty of other tables available… this is a first in my brunch world!
You’re probably thinking the food is bad. I had the same fears, but was pleasantly surprised by my experience here. I’m guessing it’s easy to get a table because it’s a really big space. Once our waitress finally took our order (we were being ignored for awhile) I chose the mini stack of pancakes with berries and my friend went with the breakfast burrito.
The food came out fast so we forgave our waitress for ignoring us earlier. The pancakes were unbelievably good and the mini stack was the perfect size. The breakfast burrito… not as good… I think my friend will be ordering the pancakes next time.
Good food and no wait? I’ll be back! Perhaps even next weekend.

I was very disappointed with lunch here today. I ordered the breakfast burrito and it was very bland, even after applying half a bottle of hot sauce (and I am a spcie wuss, so that tells you how bland it was). The potatoes on the side were pretty tasteless too. My compadres ordered the green eggs and ham (mediocre) and the grilled chicken sandwich (bland, and it took 3 requests and many minutes before she got her pesto mayo, which wasnt worth the wait). We then ordered the brownie batter dessert, which is what prevented me from giving this place 1 star, it was decadent and yummy. However, it took so long to get that too that the manager comped it.
I might go back just for dessert and to hang out and play the old school games, but not for the food or service.