LOKal

I have a new favorite brunch spot. It is two blocks from my house, serves a succinct yet quality menu, and best of all, serves bottomless—yes bottomless—Bloody Marys and Mimosas. The real kicker? Those aforementioned drinks are made with fresh—yes fresh—juice. I’m talking about fresh squeezed orange and tomato juices. Seriously.

If you’ve never had fresh tomato juice, it might totally blow your socks off. It tastes nothing like the canned, concentrate stuff. Surprise! It tastes like fresh tomatoes! Throw in some vodka, spices, and the mandatory green olives, and you have yourself one great brunch drink. Or two. Really, have as many as you like—it is, after all, all-you-can-drink for a minuscule $7-9.

What is this sent-from-the-heavens brunch spot? LOKal. I still don’t know how to pronounce the name, but I do know that they serve up modern Eastern European goodies at night and fabulous brunch fare—sandwiches, omelets, etc—on weekend mornings. I’m talking about a toasted baguette with mounds of medium-rare steak, gorgonzola remoulade, and super skinny french fries covered in feta cheese.

I’d be returning simply for that Bloody Mary, but the steak sandwich served with those skinny little feta frites solidified my new-found loyalty.

LOKal

www.lokalchicago.com