Brunch Time: Bleeding Heart Bakery

Bakery Hours: Mon – Thurs, 6am – 9pm; Fri 6am through Sun 9pm (63 straight hours)
Café Hours: Sun – Thurs 7am – 4pm; Fri 7am through Sun 4pm (57 straight hours)

If you've been to an outpost of Bleeding Heart Bakery, you know that the "punk rock" bakery is omnivore and vegan friendly - not to mention totally delicious. New on the scene is The Bleeding Heart's café in West Town, which serves up brunch daily. We recently stopped in for a visit and loved the mix of sweet and savory dishes available.

The menu offers eggs Benedict specials, pancakes and French toast, egg skillets, omelets, meat-centric entrees, and egg sandwiches (made on deep fried doughnuts!). You can replace eggs in many of the dishes with tofu, so even if a dish isn't vegan, you can make it so.

We tried the Veruca Salt waffle, which comes with sides of salted caramel mousse and vanilla bean anglaise. Adding on syrup should have made it a really sweet brunch dish, but the large, crunchy salt flakes balanced the sweetness nicely. Those looking for more savory items can try the Farmers Skillet, a mix of eggs or tofu with seasonal veggies. Wash it all down with an Italian soda, fresh squeezed juice, or coffee.

Bleeding Heart sources bacon, sausage, and bratwurst from West Loop Salumi, and all bread is baked in house. The décor is classic diner, with colorful cakes and baked goods available in the front. Plus, not only can you stop in for brunch during the week, Bleeding Heart is open for 57 straight hours from Friday at 7 a.m. to Sunday at 4 p.m., making it your post-bar eatery as well.