Orange
Chicago, IL 60657-1601
Phone: (773) 549-4400
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Belmont Avenue
- Directions:
- El: Red or Brown Line to Belmont
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 9am-2pm, Fri 8am-2pm, Sat-Sun 8am-2:30pm
Editorial Review for Orange – by J.P. Anderson
The Scene
The casual urban-chic scene at this breakfast and lunch spot features exposed brick and lofty ceilings--but mostly the color orange. Oranges line the shelves behind the counter; orange pillows cushion the wood banquettes up front; and orange walls and an artificial orange tree complete the theme.
The Food
A crowd lines up out the door for creative breakfast fare, including fun dishes like green eggs and ham (scrambled eggs with basil pesto and pancetta) and French toast kebabs (moist chunks of challah bread speared with strawberries and pineapple). One unusual treat is frushi (fruit sushi), with tidbits of fruit like mango and fig wrapped in sticky sweet rice, served complete with chopsticks. Fresh-squeezed fruit and vegetable juices are nice accompaniments: Go for simple juice, or choose your own blend from the listed varieties, including kiwi, cantaloupe, raspberry and more. Lunch fare includes several sandwiches (sauteed veggie, chicken basil pesto) and salads.
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Insider Tips
Where to SitThe front table in the window can seat four to five people and offers great Clark Street people-watching.
What to DrinkOrange doesn't serve alcohol, but feel free to bring your own.
ParkingMetered spots are available on Clark.
User Reviews for Orange
01/17/2008 Posted by beekie79
I've been to Orange (with a peel) only once, and I swore to myself that I would never go back, for any reason. I went with my mother, who wanted to go to a new place for brunch, where the menu was creative and unique. She got what she asked for, and for some reason, she liked it. I, on the other hand, may be a food traditionalist, but I don't approve of combinations that just don't go together, like fruit and rice, their special, which they call fruishi. The texture of the rice was poor and the fruit was small and sweet -- not what you want when you're eating rice. It was really gross. I remember I ordered the french toast, which is really rare for me considering I like it, but don't love it -- the choice a direct result from having a poorly thought out menu -- and it came with a balsamic drizzle on it. On French Toast. Clearly the person who created the menu has had severe issues with his palate, or perhaps he got in the "creative for the sake of creativity", regardless, he should not have been able to create a menu, or others should have tasted it before it was used. Remember that unique things are distinctive and individual, and usually catch on at some point, but there is a reason why no one else serves their food this way; it's an awful way to serve it.
Pros: none?
Cons: "unique" menu that no other restaurant would use, taste palate off kilter, "unique" food for the sake of being "unique", not good food.
09/30/2007 Posted by bldoolit
This place was awesome for a relaxed weekend breakfast. They had a great gourmet selection of variations on typical breakfast food. The portions were good sized and the ingrediants were fresh and tasty. The prices were pretty fair as well. This is one of my favorite 3 breakfast places in Chicago for fresh, hip breakfast food. I had some of the irish cut oatmeal that is pan seared and baked. It was excellent. The orange coffee is totally unique, but very good. My wife had an omelet that was out of this world. If you're looking for some great variation on breakfast, this is your place.
Pros: Food, quality of ingrediants.
Cons: Limited choices, service, cramped
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