Industrial district food crawl
The Bottom Lounge.
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Wicker Park is no longer a "hip" secret; nor is the neighboring East Village's sudden population, with condos and restaurants going up quicker than you can sneer, "What, you've never heard of that?" A stroll through these parts of town will take you past countless eatery options, a measurable percentage of which probably have the words "arugula" and "panini" somewhere on the menu. Tired of the same-old-same-old, Decider headed to the Fulton Industrial District in search of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a drink in less-charted waters.
Breakfast: The Breakfast Club
One bite of The Breakfast Club's perfected massive, fluffy omelets and a sip of its fresh-squeezed OJ and it'll come as no surprise that this place has been around for more than 20 years. A small cottage that was converted into a restaurant in the '80s, the Pepto-pink interior manages to feel cozy rather than crowded even when bustling. Ignore the name: The Breakfast Club is also open for lunch and dinner.
Lunch: Uncle Mike's Place
Uncle Mike's is a true neighborhood diner. Come in a few times and the staff is bound to remember your name (and obligatorily ask you if you'd like fries with that). Tuna salad sandwich and burger fare is standard without any frills, but the corner location is sunny and bright, and the food gets the job done. Uncle Mike himself will probably be behind the counter.
Dinner: Otom
Moto's sister restaurant specializes in upscale, clever comfort food. Home cooking like barbecued ribs with pork and greens gets the molecular gastronomic treatment, with nuggets of pureed pork that's been frozen and then fried acting as "beans." Tiny cubes of carbonated watermelon masquerade as "toro," something cool and effervescent on the tongue. The menu is largely protein-centric, but kudos to a dish that features crisp-yet-tender tofu; along with fingerling potatoes and sweet corn, it's a soothing and satisfying highlight.
A drink: The Bottom Lounge
Nothing says "wrong side of the tracks" like actually being beneath them, and the El's rumble is deafening outside this recently re-opened venue on Lake Street. Inside, dark paint, exposed brick, and spare furnishings maintain the warehouse vibe earnestly. Multiple stages and live music most nights of the week are the main draw, but a satisfying (if not terribly inventive) menu of bar food served until 1 a.m. and a beer list that runs the gamut from Chimay to PBR are good incentives to stay.
