Green Street Local, a classic comfort American restaurant with an upscale twist, has recently launched their new brunch menu for 2017. True to their name, Green Street Local uses Chicago as its inspiration and focuses on regionally sourced ingredients.
I was so lucky to be able to tag along with Soo (@fabsoopark) to my first ever menu tasting. It was an incredible sampling of all the dishes, meeting other food bloggers, and seeing everyone openly taking photos left and right. We sampled at least ten different things from their menu, so here’s the quick and dirty on the ones I managed to try before I just got too full.
{Ambiance}
Green Street Local’s interior can only be described as a classy sports tavern. They boast numerous flat screen TVs showing various sports games and keep a very well-stocked, beautiful bar. The dark polished wood tables, black leather chairs, soft bulb lights, lofty ceiling, and tall windows add elegance to the room. The interior suits many different occasions: sports games, date night, drinks with friends, or dinner with family.
FAB TIP: The second floor loft space can be rented out for private parties.
{Food}
Glass of Bacon
Candied Bacon is like bacon on steroids. It’s crispier, fattier, and more flavorful (sweet and salty knockout combo). Green Street Local perfected their candied bacon, and it was happiness in every bite.
Fab Review: Green Street Local // Candied Bacon // Photo: @topchicagoeats
Texas Skillet
The Texas Skillet was true comfort food. Does it get any better than a potato hash topped with scrambled eggs, chili, cheddar, and sour cream? The eggs were very fluffy and the chili added an extra kick that balanced out the heaviness of all the ingredients. The different elements all complemented each other and melded into flavor that built on itself.
Fab Review: Green Street Local // Texas Skillet // Photo: @senxeats
Mamma’s French Toast
The Mamma’s French Toast is one of the few sweet dishes on the menu and was actually a welcome reprieve from the other savory dishes. The French toast was coated in Captain Crunch pieces (brilliant!), giving it a fantastic crisp edge and light cinnamon profile. It was then stuffed with mascarpone cheese and topped with some fresh berries, powdered sugar, mint, and maple syrup. I did think toast was a bit too oily, so the fresh fruit and mint were a necessary touch.
Fab Review: Green Street Local // Mamma’s French Toast // Photo: @senxeats
Breakfast Za
I have to be honest and say the Breakfast Za was good in concept but okay in execution. The pizza was topped with jack cheese, sausage, and sunny side up eggs (once you add egg to something, it becomes a brunch item). While I would like to be able to eat pizza for brunch every once in a while, I felt a little underwhelmed: the yolk was partly well done and the bread base was a little hard.
Fab Review: Green Street Local // Breakfast Za // Photo: @topchicagoeats
Continental Benedict
Green Street Local has some creative benedicts, and I really enjoyed the addition of the feta, white cheddar, and roasted red peppers on the Continental Benedict. However, the broccolini was a little tough at parts and made the dish as a whole a little more difficult to eat. The potato hash, as it had been in several of the other dishes, was delicious.
Fab Review: Green Street Local // Continental Benedict and E.B.L.T. // Photo: @senxeats
Hash To Have It
At this point in brunch, I’d eaten a lot of eggs and carbs. The Hash to Have It was a fairly straightforward brunch dish, and it would rank near the middle of all eggs and carbs options. The potatoes, bell peppers, and onions were delicious, but the ham was off-puttingly chewy.
Fab Review: Green Street Local // Hash To Have It // Photo: @topchicagoeats
Social Nachos
The Social Nachos are begging to be shared. They’re an absolutely huge plate of tortilla chips topped with warm, delicious cheddar, as well as sour cream, salsa, and guac. Some of the chips were a little overtoasted, but I actually enjoyed that extra flavor.
Fab Review: Green Street Local // Social Nachos // Photo: @topchicagoeats
FAB TIP: You can top your nachos with chicken or steak for extra goodness.
The Skillet
Cookie skillets? Yes please. Warm cookies and ice cream? Yes please. Melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and Reese’s Pieces? Yes. Please. This colorful skillet was a sight behold with a warming aroma that can be detected from across the room. I caught the scent of cookie long before I saw it and had a one-track mind until I got my first bite. It was intensely sweet from the combination of cookie, chocolate, and ice cream, so I only took a few bites before I hit sensory overload. That said, this cookie skillet is reason enough to pay a visit to Green Street.
Fab Review: Green Street Local // The Skillet // Photo: @topchicagoeats
{Experience}
Green Street Local’s classic American brunch menu has some real winners on there. My highest recommendations go to the Candied Bacon, the Texas Skillet, Mamma’s French Toast, and the Cookie Skillet. If you go for brunch, make sure to try at least one of these great dishes. The restaurant also has a lively atmosphere and attentive service, so I imagine dinner or drinks would be a good time as well. As for myself, I noticed there are chicken & donuts on the menu, and being a big fried-chicken-and-sweet-carbs fan, I’ll be back to check that out.
Thanks to Victoria Kent (@supervicky55) and Green Street Local (@greenstreetlocal) for hosting the event!
{Location}
Green Street Local
West Loop || 130 S Green St, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 226-6565
{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$36)
{Fab Ratings: 3.5 Fabs}
Have you tried Green Street Local’s new brunch menu? Share your thoughts below!
Live, laugh, eat,
Senxi
Note: This meal was complimentary. However, the views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.
