If you don't like the sound of free cinnamon rolls the size of baseball gloves--well, you might be crazy. But you also might want to head over to Chicago's legendary breakfast mecca, Ann Sather's, so they can change your mind. The hearty serving of two cinnamon rolls with every entree is a pleasant alternative to your run-of-the-mill restaurant bread bowl.
This authentic Swedish dining room got its start on Belmont and has since spread to 5 locations throughout Chicago. The restaurant's namesake moved here from Scandinavia and opened the Belmont spot in 1945. Her original cinnamon roll recipe is still served today, and can be purchased to go if you don't have time to eat in.
On this particular rainy Sunday, I found myself at the Andersonville location, a two-story space designed with Swedish floral wallpaper and traditional, comforting decor. It has a great ambience, very old-fashioned, yet frequented by anyone from church-goers to the heavily-pierced couple with matching eggs benedicts next to our table.
We were seated on the second floor, and were eating in the drought between lunch and breakfast crowds. Our expedited service may or may not have been a result of this, but we were definitely never left hungry. The waitstaff were extremely friendly, but not annoyingly chatty. Our cinnamon rolls were on the table in no time in all their glorioius gooeyness. Bear in mind that you get two cinnamon rolls in one order, so definitely plan on splitting with others at your table. I would also recommend taking some home to heat up in the microwave later. Our waiter actually gave us a few leftovers to take home, free of charge, due to the switch to lunch patrons.
Our entrees were out in no time--I ordered Debbie's Delight, a serving of oatmeal on a plate, topped with rice porridge, dried cranberries and apricots, raisins, and granola. This medley may sound a little over-the-top, but I was supremely satisfied. A fellow diner of mine tried the potato pancakes served with applesauce and sour cream. The pancakes were not as potato-y as we expected, but we decided to trust the Swedes working in the kitchen over our own American assumptions. I also got to sample two omelettes, both of which were a little disproportionate--the salmon, cream cheese, and asparagus dish looked as though a filet of smoked salmon and a slab of cream cheese had been placed in the center of it and not mixed at all, and the goat cheese omelette had a definite surplus of cheese. These egg dishes were made with quality ingredients and both tasted amazing once you do the mixing yourself, but you shouldn't have to.
You won't spend too much here, average entrees run from $8-15. There is an entire case of pastries, breads, and of course, cinnamon rolls on the ground floor of the Andersonville location, as well as the Belmont location. These both feature large, full-scale dining rooms. The newer additions have a more cafe-feel and are usually in smaller spaces with possibly more limited menus.
Andersonville
5207 N. Clark
773-271-6677
7-2:30 Mon-Fri
7-4 Sat & Sun
Closed Tuesday
For a complete list of locations, phone numbers, and hours, visit their website at www.annsather.com
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