Brunch Bites: Southport & Irving and State and Lake Chicago Tavern

In this week's batch of brunch bites, Southport & Irving serves up brunch late at night and State and Lake Chicago Tavern continues its "Beer Brunch" series with inspiration from Lagunitas.

 

Southport & Irving
Eat this late at night at Southport & Irving



Brunch is typically the type of meal you groggily wake up to on Saturday or Sunday morning (or early afternoon, depending on the kind of night you've had). But Southport & Irving is expanding its brunch breadth with a late-night brunch program available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. Seeing as brunch is inherently tied to comfort food and relaxation, it makes a sensible late-night segue into the weekend. And while standard favorites like biscuits & gravy, chilaquiles, and pancakes are present and accounted for, the restaurant goes above and beyond with outre brunch fare like potato samosas, pork ramen, and steak with oyster kimchi, rice dumpling, and black garlic demi-glace. And since this is late-night brunch, cocktails are especially apropos. There are a variety of brunch cocktails in place, including a Green Michelada, a Champagne Cocktail, Cider Punch, and the gin-based Shakedown with lavender syrup, orange-juniper extract, lemon, and Cava. 

Speaking of boozing and brunching, State and Lake Chicago Tavern continues its Beer Brunch series with a focus this month on Lagunitas Brewing. Available on weekends through the end of November, the series entails brunch dishes inspired by and made with Lagunitas brews. For $20 at brunch, guests get their choice of entree and craft beer. Dishes include Imperial Stout-roasted apple pancakes, beef and cheddar IPA omelette, "Brown Shugga" bread pudding French toast, and "A Little Sumpin' poutine. Brunch is served from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. 

- Matt Kirouac

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