Because imagine my life as a sitcom, I must have a neighborhood bar. Cheers-style they know your name and your drink and it’s understood that when you’re sad or happy or the Cubs are in World Series, that’s where you’ll be. For me that place is The Pub and the People. But as much as I’d like to consider it my neighborhood bar, when I look around on Saturday afternoon and see laptops and sweatpants and patrons chatting with the staff, it’s clear P&P is a go-to spot for my neighbors as well.
While the Pub doesn’t have a bottomless deal, for $4 you get a generous pour of mimosa. You can also mix it up with other brunch drinks like Bloody Marys, Grapefruit Beermosas, and and an Orange Crush. My friend Alyssa opted for an Irish Coffee, and being the holiday season it came in a penguin mug. I ended up coming back for one later in the night when I needed a boost!
My favorite dish at this brunch is the Eggs in Purgatory. It’s super creamy grits with fried eggs, tomato sauce, parmesan, and crispy sourdough toast. Grits to me must be cheesy, and the parmesan delivers; it’s a natural complement you don’t see too often but is an obvious choice. Runny eggs make it easy to get that perfect bite. It’s total comfort food that will warm you up and calm you down.
P&P also puts a delightful spin on their waffle, a graham cracker waffle. If you feel like dessert, go for the s’moreffle, but in our case we opted for chicken and waffles. Of course we compared this dish to the chicken and waffles at Crisp down the street, which was sort of unfair because chicken is their thing. This chicken was tasty but not at the juicy inside / crispy outside level Crisp’s is at. The graham cracker waffle brings this dish home though, as the unique twist adds an extra flavor.
Finally, if you need a low cal or veggie option, try the Baby Kale Salad. The baby kale is much less bitter than the regular, so instead of tasting like the ground (Sorry, Kale!) it just tastes like a more robust lettuce. Topped with watermelon radish, big slices of pecorino, and pomegranate vinaigrette, the sweet-salty vibes are on point. I’ve definitely ordered this guy at happy hour too. If you have shit to do, skip the mimosa (shhh) and opt for this salad and a bloody to give you a boost.
So, if you’re on the struggle bus in the morning and need an unassuming brunch, try The Pub and the People. The food is just as good as much stuffier spots, and the friendly staff and neighborhood vibes make for a lovely experience.
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