Lula Cafe
Lula Cafe ranks 7th in the list of best brunch spots in Chicago. There are a million steaks in the world, but none compare to Lula's. A plate is patterned with flat-iron slices, with semolina gnocchi tucked in here and there. This is not steakhouse fare. It's also not that strange genre of Italian steakhouse food. This is a kimchi-strewn steak with an addictive heat and crunch. Sardine specks pop with brininess, riffing on the fermented cabbage's funk.
Doesn't it sound strange? It's far from it. It's visually appealing. It is technically completed. It's a dish that's more than the sum of its parts: high-quality, consciously sourced, thoughtfully prepared beef; rustic housemade pasta; a commitment to canning (kimchi); and a preference for small, sustainable fish (sardines). These are the characteristics that have come to be known as so Lula for more than a decade. However, this steak is more than that. It's a dish that's greater than the sum of its very great parts thanks to its inspired flavor combinations.
The flavors in these dishes were enticing. Others were simply stunning to look at, similar to the plates at Blackbird or L2O. But, unlike Blackbird and L2O, Lula belongs to the world of neighborhood restaurants where appetizers are $10 and entrées are $20. And, in this context, Lula's food is truly unique due to its ambition and finesse.Take, for instance, the evocative plating of bay scallops, each little guy adorned with its own mint leaf, little orbs of baby brussels sprouts and beets dotting the plate like a magically earthy ocean floor.
Google Rating: 4.5/5.0
Address: 2537 N Kedzie BlvdChicago60647
Contact: 773-489-9554
Website: lulacafe.com
