Dunlays on Clark Chicago

Dunlays - Great brunch, friendly atmosphere

Dunlays on Clark is a highlight of the restaurant scene in Lincoln Park, and had everything I was looking for when it came to Sunday brunch. 

I was turned on to Dunlays on Clark by a friend who just happens to be a Lincoln Park local. She assured me that they had a really strong brunch menu, and even if they had a wait it usually went pretty fast. We put our name in at Dunlays and were told it would be a half-hour wait, however I think we were seated in no more than 15 minutes, which was a nice surprise.

We ordered from the brunch menu - well, my friend did - I actually made a last-second decision to try their signature club sandwich. (After a week on the road, my body NEEDED some kind of veggies.) We opted to pass on the Mimosas and stuck with the water, even though it was Sunday morning. Our server was really polite and didn't egg us on to purchase any items we weren't interested in.

The food came out in about 10-15 minutes, which was impressive given that the place was full and the line outside only got longer during our meal. My sandwich was equal parts HUGE and delicious - fresh veggies, tons of meat and some salty fries on the side. Overall, it was exactly what I had in mind for food that morning. (For what it's worth, she loved her omelet as well.) My sandwich was so big that I actually only ate half and saved the rest for an afternoon treat later that day - which definitely came in handy, as I tend to get pretty lazy on Sunday afternoons. Overall, I'd give the food an 8/10.

As for the atmosphere of Dunlays, it's really hard to generalize this Lincoln Park restaurant. They have a small bar to the right of the entrance, and the football game was on but it wasn't remotely overpowering the dining room. There were a lot of 20-somethings like myself eating with friends, and even some younger families with kids. There was definitely a hip-without-trying vibe to the restaurant. The quarters were sort of tight, but at no point did I feel crowded or cramped. Also, it was quiet enough that you could have a conversation, but loud enough that you didn't feel awkward talking about more personal stuff.

Overall, Dunlays on Clark is a laid-back, reasonably-priced American restaurant that fits just about any taste. I don't have a single bad thing to say about the place, and would highly recommend visiting if you're in the area.

This review was made by the www.chicagotraveler.com site editor based on personal experience. Chicago Traveler was not paid for this review, but we may receive compensation for placement of this travel provider advertisements on our site.