Uncle Mike's Place

-By Keith 

(Photos Courtesy of LTHForum)

I don't usually go out for breakfast for a number of reasons:

• It requires waking up early.
• The lines at popular breakfast/brunch spots can be outrageous (especially on the weekend).
• Most breakfast food can be prepared at home quickly and without much difficulty.

Recently however, I visited an establishment that has me reconsidering my strict no restaurant breakfast policy, Uncle Mike's Place.  In fact, Uncle Mike's Place has an answer for each of my above listed complaints:

• Open from 5:00am - 3:00pm, seven days a week. Even I can't sleep until 3pm.
• Ample seating. I have visited Uncle Mike's at a number of different times and have always been seated immediately.
• Along with expertly prepared traditional options like omeletts and pancakes, Uncle Mike's also offers an item I can't prepare at home, a traditional Filipino breakfast.

Uncle Mike's Place - Exterior

Uncle Mike's is conveniently located a few blocks west of the busy Ashland and Grand intersection, right outside of the rapidly gentrifying West Town/Ukranian Village neighborhoods. However, Uncle Mike's Place seems comfortably inconspicuous, unmarked besides a small neon sign and located on a mostly industrial strip devoid of any foot traffic whatsoever. In this location since 1991, it is clear Uncle Mike's has survived thanks to two types of customers: devoted regulars, and more recently, those who have discovered this hidden gem from a number of positive reviews in the Tribune, the Reader, and on LTHForum.

Belonging to this second group of customers, I was worried that upon my entrance, there might be a "music stops" type of moment in which the regulars and staff menacingly glare at an obvious outsider. Thankfully, my worries were assuaged the moment I walked through the door. As Jess and I entered Uncle Mike's for the first time, we were immediately greeted by a friendly server who instructed us to sit wherever we felt comfortable and that she would bring over coffee and menus.

In addition to the friendly, yet efficient service, the ambiance at Uncle Mike's Place literally makes you feel at home. Comprised of 2 open and inviting rooms, including a good old fashion breakfast counter with customers sipping coffee and leisurely reading the newspaper, the walls at Uncle Mike's are decorated with tiles that may or may not have been stolen from your grandmother's kitchen.

Specials Board at Uncle Mike's Place

When it came time to order I knew exactly what I wanted without looking at the menu, the "Filipino Breakfast Combo." The combo is comprised of two types of pork, Tocino, thinly sliced from the shoulder, and Longanisa, in familiar sausage link form. Also included is lightly griddled garlic rice and two eggs cooked to your preference. The rice is excellent, slightly crunchy, smelling of fresh garlic, and the eggs are expertly prepared with a hint of Asian flavor from the sesame oil they are cooked in.  However, as usual, the pork products are the star of this massive plate. Both cuts are uniquely flavored with a bit of sweetness, garlic, and a surprising hint of licorice/anise and are beautiful cooked to caramelized perfection on the griddle. Also included in the meal is a small bowl of kamatis at sibuyas, a vinegar flavored relish simply made with tomatoes and onions that cut through the richness of the eggs and pork. Although Uncle Mike's is my first and only Filipino breakfast experience, my own taste buds and the large groups of native Filipino's happily scarfing down their food indicates this is an excellent rendition.

The Filipino Breakfast Combo

In addition to this must try dish, Uncle Mike's has an expansive menu that includes all the traditional breakfast/lunch items including pancakes, omeletts, and sandwiches. While I haven't tried the self proclaimed "best damned skirt steak east of the Pecos," I have sampled their pancakes and I was incredibly impressed. Light, fluffy and beautifully browned on the griddle, Uncle Mike's pancakes surpass any efforts I have attempted at home. You can also order the pancakes with freshly chopped mango or blueberries (pictured below). It seems as though everything at Uncle Mike's Place is prepared with an extra bit of care, there are bottomless cups of quality Intelligentsia coffee, fresh fruit that hasn't been sitting in a fridge for two weeks, and hearty toast made from quality bread.

Mango and Blueberry Pancakes at Uncle Mike's Place

To me, Uncle Mike's is the perfect breakfast place and the antithesis to many of the overly crowded, one-word named spots popping up all over town (Jam, Orange, Toast, Yolk, Flo, etc.). Owned by a former sheet metal worker, Mike Grajewski, a born and raised Chicagoan, and his Filipino wife, Lucia, Uncle Mike's is the embodiment of a family owned restaurant. It is the kind of spot you love to have in your neighborhood, and is worth the drive if you aren't lucky enough to live nearby. With most items (except the skirt steak at $13) under $10, delicious food, friendly/efficient service, and ample seating, Uncle Mike's quickly converted this former anti-restaurant breakfast diner into a soon-to-be regular.

Uncle Mike's Place - 4.5 Food Babies

-Keith

Uncle Mike's Place 
1700 West Grand Avenue - (312)-226-5318
Open Monday - Saturday: 5:00am - 3:00pm & Sunday: 6:00am - 3:00pm
For more information check out the Uncle Mike's Place Website.