The Scene:
Moose & Sadies was the first coffee shop in the North Loop, and is still number one in my heart. It is located at 212 North 3rd Avenue. There are a lot of great things to say about Moose & Sadies but primarily – it is just such a fine place to chill out. Go there for breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch or just grab a mug of really good coffee and facebook a friend. In a word, better make that two (I told you there was a lot to say), Moose & Sadies = Comfort; Home.
Peter Kirihara, who also owns Bev’s Wine Bar and Jet Set (talk about eclectic!) got everything right. The vibe is like the old New French Bar–kind of smart and arty–full of boho and tech savvy hipsters who work and live nearby and come in on Sunday’s with their Moms and Dads. Everyone is welcome. It has a cozy and inviting look: warm green walls, a tumble of daily newspapers on a great wooden bench, the menu and daily specials neatly printed on a huge chalkboard, a pastry case chock full of tasty treasures, and a photo I love – the museum-worthy piece with the huge dog and the tiny girl.
The Food:
Susan Muskat, formerly of the Birchwood Cafe, runs the kitchen and kicks out the jams with some of the best baked goods this side of Salty Tart, and that means a lot if you don’t know what I’m talking about. Her tender scones (hello dairy!) with outrageously fantastic combinations of date and walnut, or prune and hazelnut or blueberry ginger–always so crazy good. The muffins are always brimming with seasonal fruits and nuts and hit exactly the right note for me – never too sweet, always moist – you’ll never want butter. The bran muffin is the best I’ve ever had. It’s always fun to see what combo they come up with to make us get just one more muffin to go. Watch out for the caramel rolls – they could put you in a coma and it would be worth it.
Lunch is great – a quiche of the day, the best chicken salad ever made with gorgeous simplicity and perfectly fresh seasonal ingredients, an omelet, a BLT with a side of housemade pickles that are the definition of crunch, and a tuna melt that, if you’re lucky that day, has a kick of horseradish. Oh boy, who doesn’t need that?
For dinner, there is often a great homey pasta, amazing pizza combos (roasted butternut squash, applies, leeks, fried sage, manchego and gruyere anyone?), chicken pot pie that most definitely does not come from a little aluminum pan, delicious soups, and tons of surprises every day that take advantage of what is fresh and somehow just perfect for the day. It makes you think they were reading your mind and made the (fill in the blank) just for you.
But, breakfast, oh breakfast at Moose & Sadies is so good. fresh organic eggs made your way, pancakes that topple over the edge of the plate, french toast with homemade fruit compotes, omelets with just the right amount of meat and veg to cheese ratio in every single bite, the best fresh bread (made in house, of course), incredible, rib-sticking oatmeal with goodies included, best coffee around, and – well stop me!
The Shizz:
Brunch. Did I say I love their breakfast. Their brunch is the word. You wake up Sunday morning, want a great brunch, but don’t want: to change out of your sweats, comb your hair, clean yourself up to make an appearance. Go to Moose & Sadies, bring your NYT, your laptop, your kids, your dog in the summer to sit outside, your appetite. Because this is day for the best Huevos Rancheros ever – corn tortillas with roasted tomato salsa, refried beans, two eggs cooked perfectly over easy, and topped with melted jack, avocado and sour cream. Heaven already! Their specials are also to die for – a recent take on Eggs Benedict with perfectly poached eggs sitting on top of crusty/creamy potato cakes and griddled ham – wow. I almost went back for another order, but there was that bag of scones and muffins sitting by me. Oh, you can dress up if you really need to.
The biscotti, cookies and bars need a shout out, too – just like you wish you could whip up for your school lunch – perfect and homey.
And a big love letter to the staff – counter service has never been so good – anywhere. They seem to love being there, and then I do, too. And, yes, that’s Peter’s Mom bussing tables.
North Loop – need I say more?!
