Brunch Bites: Dusek's and Roka Akor Old Orchard Begin Brunch, and Delish Diner Flashes Back

In this week's batch of brunch bites, Dusek's Board and Beer and Roka Akor Old Orchard join the brunch fray, while Delish Diner flashes back with the help of Pac-Man and Motown classics.

Considering Pilsen newcomer Dusek's Board and Beer comes from the same folks who brought us Longman & Eagle, it's no surprise they've got their sights set on brunch. Open for a couple months now, the restaurant and its subterranean sister Punch House have amassed substantial acclaim, something likely to continue with the addition of biscuits and duck neck gravy, oyster hash, and Juicy Lucy burgers. There's also something called the Beer & Board breakfast, featuring two eggs, bacon, house potatoes, and an optional Schlitz. Brunch is set to start this weekend, December 1, perfect for all your lingering Thanksgiving hangover needs, and will henceforth take place every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

(Sesame cake bread pudding at Roka Akor Old Orchard)

Just in time for your Black Friday mall looting, Roka Akor Old Orchard begins brunch service. True to form, brunch at this Old Orchard Mall standby features American favorites with a Japanese accent. Dishes include sesame cake bread pudding with compressed figs and vanilla bourbon syrup, yuzu tarts with macerated sour cherries, pork belly and shishito hash, smoked firm tofu with sansai vegetable scramble, and blue crab cake Benedict with avocado-wasabi puree, poached eggs, and yuzu hollandaise. Going forward, brunch will be served every Sunday only, but for the holiday weekend guests can partake on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

It's hard to believe Delish Diner could get any more nostalgic, considering the Wicker Park haven is already glistening in classic Americana. But leave it to a diner to up the ante on good-timey feelings via a new Flashback Brunch series, now available every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The food skews vintage and comforting, from bananas foster French toast to Monte Cristo sandwiches, grilled Reubens, hobo skillets, and lots more. What sets this place apart, though, is the presence of DJ Pac-Man spinning '70's tunes and streaming music videos of yore.