Wishbone
3300 N. Lincoln

The Basics
Where you’ll find it: 3300 N. Lincoln, just two blocks north of the Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland intersection. www.wishbonechicago.com. (773) 549-2663. There is another restaurant downtown.

When it’s open: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday; 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Brunch is served 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Reservations: Accepted except for Saturday and Sunday brunch.

What you’ve heard: Wishbone is a great breakfast joint with a Southern vibe. ... A popular restaurant, especially for brunch on the weekends. ... Unique take on Southern-style favorites. ... Fun, friendly spot. ... I hadn’t heard anything about it prior to the morning we arrived.

Visual Aids
First impressions: The room has an open layout, packed with tables and people; although crowded, it was very comfortable. The place can be deceiving because it’s larger than you think if you look to the left of the “bar,” where there is another smaller room to accommodate guests. ... The host was friendly despite the crowded wait area. Our names were placed on a wait list, but we were seated in about 10 minutes, if that. ... Huge windows allow those seated at the booths to people watch on Lincoln Ave. ... There is a steady stream of loyal customers for brunch, but they do an excellent job of managing things. ... The restaurant is really big, and it didn’t have a cramped feel to it, which is something you often get in the city. The decor was interesting, with a lot of animal pictures/sculptures throughout.

The atmosphere: Very lively atmosphere. Casual mixed crowd with families and friends enjoying brunch. ... The decor is fun, different and colorful, and cylinder light fixtures hang from the ceiling with interesting kitchen sculptures within each tube. You will not see this unique style anywhere else. ... The booths and some tables are set up perfectly for couples, but it’s also very conducive to hosting larger groups. ... Despite plenty of customers, it’s never too loud to where conversation is drown out. ... The restaurant has a “country” feel. The space, combined with the artwork and paintings, makes you feel removed from the city for a moment.

The Experience
At your service: The service was excellent. When dining in a restaurant that is busy and where there is a wait list, good service can sometimes can be shelved. Not in this case. The waitress was not only friendly and engaging, but very accommodating, and our food came out quickly. You would’ve thought that we were one of her only tables. ... The host at the door was friendly and in control of everything despite about 20 or so people waiting to be seated. ... We had a brief wait before ordering our drinks, but the waitress was attentive throughout the meal with refills and condiments.

Get your drink on: Had to stick with the good ol’ coffee. Although, in a previous visit, I had the Bloody Mary, and it was delicious. ... A large orange juice may cost $4, but it will be the best you’ll ever have outside of a resort in the Caribbean. Freshly squeezed and to die for, and the fresh lemonade is quality as well. ... I was hungover and had a Sprite. ... Although we didn’t try them, specialty drinks like the Cajun martini and mimosas looked enticing.

Menu variety and prices: The menu was reasonably priced and is divided into breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner sections. We were there for brunch, and that menu offered everything from your typical omelettes to pancakes, crab cakes, shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, blackened catfish, fresh fruit, French toast, breakfast burritos and steak and eggs, among many others. ... Everything was reasonably priced between $5-12, and the servings were large enough to satisfy the heartiest of eaters.

Description of what you did decide on: I decided on the Kentucky omelette, which consisted of scrambled eggs with corn and peppers, topped with crispy bacon. Delicious! My dish was accompanied by toast and Wishbone’s amazing home fries, which were crispy to perfection, and soft in the center, all sauteed with crispy, seasoned onion strips. ... There are a lot of good options, but I have a difficult time straying from the salmon cakes. Think crab cakes but with Atlantic salmon, served with a rich hollandaise sauce. They come with two eggs any style, home fries or grits and a choice of toast, biscuit or corn muffin. The tender salmon is superb, and my scrambled eggs were fluffy. ... I had a great sausage omelette with feta cheese, home fries, a corn muffin and a side order of bacon. The bacon was fantastic, cooked to an almost perfect level of crispiness, and the strips were extra wide. The home fries were excellent. Good chunks of potato with a hint of garlic and cooked just right.

Something that caught your eye: What caught my eye? The wooden chicken figurine next to my head and the fun atmosphere. I love the lively decor. ... How popular the place is, but also how consistently prepared they are to handle the crowds. ... Lots of colors and interesting artwork (giant pictures of lettuce, statues of hens and other animal pictures), not to mention a bunch of tasty-looking options on nearby tables.

What you’ll tell your friends: Wishbone has some of the best home fries and is a great breakfast joint to hang out with friends on a lazy morning/afternoon. Plus, it’s conveniently located, so you can’t go wrong! ... One of my New Year’s resolutions is to go to Wishbone more often. The food was great and offers some interesting tastes, the service was friendly, and not a bad price either. ... If you’re looking for a unique, friendly break from the breakfast norm, this is it. Plenty of Southern, Cajun and soul food favorites.

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