Revisit: Kit Kat Lounge

Long long ago in the spring of 2007, I was new to Chicago and was still trying to find my footing. I'd moved here the previous fall with two friends from college and we had all just barely made it out of our first arctic winter. I had a crappy job (which I would be fired from within the month for accidentally exposing a shady real estate investor's sketchy policies), a cheap, but comfortable apartment, and a very small group of friends. My roommates were both from Pennsylvania and were getting really home sick, especially as Easter approached. One decided to go home for the holiday, while the other couldn't afford the trip. "Don't worry," I told her. "I saw a sign on the restaurant down the block about an Easter brunch. You and I are going to go to that and have the best time ever." That restaurant was Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, and I had no idea what I had just signed us up for.

My first ever Easter brunch at Kit Kat Lounge, 2007

We walked in Easter morning with no reservation and were lucky to be seated. In those days, Kit Kat wasn't doing a brunch service every week, and this might have only been the first or second time they had done a special service on Easter. They had a prix fix menu that included unlimited mimosas and three courses (biscuits, an entree, and a dessert) at a pretty damn good price. Best of all, they featured numbers by the exquisite Madam X, a showgirl drag queen of the highest order who made all her own costumes and sang all her songs live. Keep in mind, this was before RuPaul's Drag Race transformed the drag scene forever and brought it's history, artistry, and lingo into popular culture, so having brunch at a drag club on a religious holiday seemed very rebellious to us at the time. My poor home sick room mate was infatuated with Madam X, even asking if we could take a picture with her to commemorate our first Easter in Chicago.

For the next ten years, Kit Kat was my go to neighborhood spot. I knew the nightly specials by heart. I knew the martini menu by heart. I knew the performance schedule by heart. I took friends there. I took dates there. I took my mother there. When this blog was launched in 2010, Kit Kat was the subject of one of our very first reviews. That was just at the point where they were beginning to expand their brunch service to include holidays like Halloween and Mother's Day, so things were a little shaky, but I never minded. Mostly because I was usually pretty wasted.

Now, Kit Kat's Sunday brunch is a mainstay of the neighborhood. Every Sunday, you'll find huge groups of girlfriends, boyfriends, families, bridal showers, birthdays, and everything in between flocking to Kit Kat for their perfect mix of entertainment, great food, and amazing cocktails. When I moved out of Lakeview last year, I knew that heading to Kit Kat anytime I wanted was going to be one of the things I would miss most.

That is why I decided to make my triumphant return to Kit Kat this past Sunday. They've recently expanded their menu quite a bit, so I was interested to see what they had in store, as well as revisit some of my old favorites. And of course, I wanted to see what new numbers Madam X had added to her repertoire.

Where as in the past, Kit Kat Lounge had only offered unlimited mimosas with their brunch, they've now expanded the choices to include Bloody Mary martinis, white and red sangria, pink champagne, and vodka spritzers. I'm pretty partial to the sangria myself, but I also had to get one of my old favorites off the martini menu, the Lava Lamp (which is basically a lot of vodka and a Jello shot). I was near to distraught not to see my all time fav cocktail, the Black and White, was no longer listed on the menu. I beg you, Kit Kat. BRING THAT ONE BACK.

My friend and I started off with the Crab Cake Benedict, which has been on their brunch menu since the very beginning. It was still satisfyingly crabby, with a softer texture then a typical New England style crab cake, but they had added a bit of bacon to the top, which gave it a welcome meatiness and a little crunchy contrast.

Next up, a stand by and a new addition to the menu: The Kit Kat Burger and the Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich, both of which came served with a literal mountain of truffle fries (their fries are outstanding, by the way). Once again, the burger was just how I remembered it: cooked perfectly medium, topped with a thick slab of bacon, a perfectly fried egg, and melted Gruyere cheese. It's nearly impossible to go wrong with this burger. The chicken sandwich was a nice new addition to the line up, with a sweet and tangy flavor that matched nicely with the crunchy slaw and the juicy chicken. It was a little difficult to pick up and eat (especially while trying to hold out a $5 bill to Madam X in my other hand), so eventually, I had to resort to a fork and knife. Still, hoping this one sticks around for a while.

Lastly, we finished off with my personal favorite sweet treat on the menu, the Rice Krispie French Toast. For this dish, they coat their French toast in a layer of puffed rice cereal, then serve it with a tres leches syrup and marinated strawberries. It's not overly complicated, but it's still such a fun take on a classic brunch dish.

As always, Madam X was perfection. She delighted the crowd with several pop diva medleys (Beyonce, Miley, Katy Perry, etc.), which included her signature vocal talents as well as dramatic costume changes. Some Sundays will see her doing an entire show of themed numbers, like ABBA for Mother's Day (Mama Mia... get it?), Rocky Horror on Halloween, or just an entire morning of Lady Gaga to celebrate Mother Monster's birthday and such. Regardless of her set list, she is never a disappointment.

People are often surprised when I recommend the food at Kit Kat, but I cannot remember a time when I got a dish I didn't like. The prices are always more than reasonable (seriously, most bars would be charging upwards of $20 for comparable cocktails, whereas Kit Kat charges $13 for most everything they serve, and has 4 nights per week where all martinis are half price!). Can they get a little crowded? Yes. Is the service a little slow and spotty sometimes? It can be. But in my over a decade acquaintanceship with this restaurant, always come away utterly delighted with my experience there. Also, Madam X? My mom said to tell you hello!

I was invited to dine free of charge by the restaurant, but all opinions are my own.

Wrigley BBQ or Smoke Gets in Your (Pork) Belly

The Slow and Savory Review

"It used to be funny when Hawk would talk about selling everything we own and buying a food truck, but I think he might be serious this time. The other day I caught him looking at listings for mobile smokers on eBay and he keeps dropping hints about an industrial deeper fryer he wants for Christmas!" Brandy's friend Bailey was explaining about her husband. "Well, life on the road has its advantages. But why has he come down with wanderlust all of the sudden?" "He's been watching a ton of barbecue shows and he thinks he needs to go South to brush up his skills." "Well, that's nonsense. There's wonderful barbecue right here in Chicago!" "But it's better in the South, isn't it?" "Tell you what. Get your coat and we'll go get some barbecue for brunch. Then you can tell me if you need to cross the Mason Dixon line to eat real meat."

Brandy took her friend along to check out the recently revamped Wrigley BBQ in the heart of East Lakeview. Since being taken over by Mitch Liebovich (who previous ran a successful barbecue restaurant in Pittsburgh), the entire menu has been renewed to focus on smoked meats (as opposed the previous menu, which put more focus on the sauces) and barbecue classics tweaked for the Midwestern palate. Mitch himself actually met with Brandy and Bailey, letting his passion for great food shine as he explained the changes he'd implemented so far and what he hoped to do in the future, including additions to some of the pre-existing restaurant design.

Getting themselves a glass of Cheerwine from the soda fountain (Brandy was over joyed to see the North Carolina favorite soft drink), they started in with an appetizer of fresh made Jalapeno Cornbread. Ever spice shy, Brandy was a little concerned, but the peppers just ended up lending more of smokey flavor than any heat. The bread texture was utterly perfect, being moist and bouncy without crumbling to pieces, and it had just the right amount of sweetness and grit to it.

Next up, the ladies decided to dive into an order of Chicken Nachos. The gigantic portion was more than a little intimidating, especially considering they still had more food coming in the pipeline, but they were both so happy after taking their first bite that they had decided to indulge. The nachos were deeply satisfying on every level, having been loaded with sour cream, shredded cheese, sweet corn, BBQ beans, succulent pulled chicken meat, and cool shredded lettuce. "There is no being delicate with a plate of food like this," Brandy commented, BBQ sauce penetrating the crevices between her fingernails and sour cream clinging to her lips. The biggest surprise was just how juicy and flavorful the chicken meat was. "I thought getting chicken would be a cop out, but this is amazing!" said Bailey.

Unable to decide between the Brisket Hash and the Biscuits and Gravy, Bailey compromised by ordering the hash with a side of gravy and a single biscuit. "I would have been happy with just the hash but once Mitch explained how he makes the gravy to order and actually puts his barbecued brisket into it, I knew I had to try some." Bailey, the ultimate gravy connoisseur, was not disappointed in the least; the gravy was hearty enough to be a meal in itself, and when combined with the surprisingly light and buttery biscuit, it was pure heaven. The hash wasn't anything to be sneezed at either, with a creamy cap of cheese covering a very generous helping of melt-in-the-mouth brisket, crispy potatoes, and topped by a perfectly fried egg.

Brandy picked the BELT, a take on a BLT with smoked and crisped pork belly in place of the bacon as well as sharp cheddar and avocado joining the party. The pork belly had a really unique texture from first having been smoked and then slightly crisped up, which Brandy rather enjoyed as a textural contrast next to the soft veggies and the Texas Toast. "It speaks to how well balanced this is that even with a rather large slab of meat in here, this sandwich isn't overly rich or greasy. That's a rare thing to find in a breakfast sandwich," she pointed out.

Finally, they decided to round out their meal with something sweet; the Bourbon Bread Pudding French Toast, which had a seasonal variation prepared with pumpkin bread. Instead of being presented in slices, this french toast came in thick cut sticks ("That's what we Brits call 'Soldiers.' Perfect for dipping into egg yolks," as Brandy explained to her friend). The result of having cut the toast in such a fashion was a very crispy exterior and a pure custard interior, and with this version having been made with real pumpkin puree, it gave the impression of being the filling of creamy pumpkin pie. Pouring the homemade bourbon syrup over that French toast was the single most satisfying experience Brandy had that day, possibly even that week. "I've never had a French toast like this!" Bailey exclaimed, "I'd say I want to bring some of this home so Hawk can try it, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to share."

Thoroughly stuffed, Brandy and Bailey finally began to pack up their things. Mitch's hospitality was certainly something that stuck with both of them, and the passion he so clearly put into his food impressed Bailey to such an extent that she was already planning to bring Hawk for a return visit before they had even left the restaurant. "I guess there really is good barbecue to be found in Chicago, if you know where to look," said Bailey. "I know where to look; under my finger nails. Next time, I'm bringing gloves," said Brandy.

The writers of this blog were invited to dine at the restaurant free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

The Short and Sweet Review

The Big Cheese Poutinerie or The Freedom of the Fries

The Slow and Savory Review

Perhaps one of the reasons Brandy is able to stand the bitterness of a Chicago winter is that for a short time in her life, she actually served as a Canadian Mountie.  The position came about completely by accident (Brandy was spending some time in Calvary while seeing a rather famous hockey player and somehow signed up with a recruiter while a little tipsy at a party, thinking the man was actually asking her to sign up for horse riding lessons), but she rather enjoyed her time in red none the less.  "Being in a position of authority like that was quite interesting," she recently reflected, "My station wasn't heavily populated, so I ended up spending most of my days breaking up fights between a herd of caribou."

One thing Brandy acquired during that time was a taste for the magical Canadian dish known as poutine.  Since moving to Chicago, Brandy has been over joyed to find a variety of poutines being sold everywhere, from the fanciest restaurants on Michigan Avenue, to the diviest bars in the South Side, most of which seem to be geared towards the breakfast crowd.  "I'm not sure why Chicago looked at a pile of French fries and cheese curds covered in gravy and decided that was appropriate breakfast fair," Brandy has said, "But I'm not going to complain either."


With a deep love for this King of junk foods, Brandy definitely took notice when the Canadian franchise known as The Big Cheese Poutinerie decided to open their first US location just a short jog away from Wrigley Field.  The chain featured a variety of poutines outside of the traditional one, even offering to make any of their menu options with sweet potato fries by request.  In fact, once finally stopping into the narrow, quirkily decorated location, Brandy was so overwhelmed by choices that she decided to space out her options by trying one item each day for a week.

Day 1: The Scottish Curry.  This poutine appealed to Brandy's heritage as a take-away loving Brit, which is perhaps why she decided to dive in with this one first.  The fries and cheese curds were here, but instead of a traditional gravy, this mound of starch and melty dairy was covered in a thick British style curry sauce, pulled chicken meat, and green peas.  The curry sauce was spiced without being too spicy and matched weirdly, yet perfectly with the cheese curds.  The peas served to add a nice splash of color, though not a lot of flavor, and the chicken was surprisingly tender.  "I don't know if Canadians would go for this one," Brandy commented, "But I think the majority of the pub going population of London on any given night would campaign to make this their national dish."

Day 2: The Cheese Burger.  Turning an American tradition on its head, this poutine came topped with fresh tomatoes, ground beef, cheddar cheese, two pickle slices, and a "secret sauce" that tasted suspiciously like Thousand Island dressing.  Brandy loved the little bit of fresh sweetness from the tomatoes, the tang of the sauce, and the indulgence of the cheddar with the cheese curds underneath.  "Again, maybe not the traditional Canadian poutine," she mused, "But this is truly an American classic.  Hungry baseball fans would eat this one up, quite literally."

Day 3: Corn Fritters.  Taking a little break from the poutines (the portions of the previous poutines were so large that she needed time to consume the leftovers) Brandy ordered one of the side dishes.  These golden nuggets looked unassuming on the outside, but beneath the crunchy fried exterior lurked a creamy, sweet, salty filling that served to please every kind of sinful food craving one could imagine.  Brandy was surprised the morsels didn't come with some sort of dipping sauce, though they were plenty tasty enough on their own.

Day 4: The Breakfast Poutine.  From the moment she saw this beauty on the menu, Brandy knew she'd have to have it.  This one came topped with scrambled eggs, pork sausage, smoked bacon, and a side of real maple syrup.  This combination was a sheer genius mix of breakfast favors and textures, but in a way Brandy had not really seen.  Here, the classic side potatoes were represented by the fries, and a mouthful of the cheese, eggs, bacon, and fennel spiced sausage dipped in the maple syrup made Brandy feel as though someone had taken everything she loves about breakfast and thrown it together in a sort of artery clogging salad.  "With this lineup of ingredients, there wasn't a whole lot that could have gone wrong," she admitted.

Day 5: The Dessert Poutine.  Rounding out her week, Brandy indulged in this strange seeming concoction with a base of the same fries, but this time tossed in cinnamon and sugar and mixed with cream cheese in place of the cheese curds and drizzled with a caramel sauce.  This decadent dish was just as grossly satisfying as it sounded, with the cream cheese melting into a sticky sauce that gathered together all the cinnamon and sugar into itself.  Brandy couldn't detect any caramel flavor, per say, and she did wish it had it had a little more of a hit of salt to counteract the sweetness.

Sadly, during the course of her week sampling poutines, Brandy was unimpressed with the service at The Big Cheese.  The store front seemed to close up at odd times that didn't match those posted, and once when she tried to place her order in advance for pickup, she arrived to find a blank faced employee who didn't seem to know what she was taking about, thus forcing her to wait about 15 minutes while he lackadaisically prepared her food.  In the end, though the service was not ideal and the presentation wasn't about to win any awards (both dine in and takeout poutines are served the same way, in a brown paper box), there was no denying the taste, or as Brandy put it, "Is it healthy? No.  Is it pretty?  No.  But does it taste good?  How could it not?"

The Short and Sweet Review

Sandwich Me In or Peace, Love, and Lunchmeat

The Slow and Savory Review

For most who lived through the 1960's, it was a time of great excitement and change, whether it was the music, the fashion, or societal norms at large.  But for Brandy, it was a time of extreme annoyance, as for most of the decade, she lived in a small flat next door the famous Abbey Road Studios.  Many a night she was robbed of sleep by some roundy bunch of musician, chattering and laughing away in the street as they exited from their latest recording session, often times still strumming their guitars or drumming on trash can lids.  "Oy!  You kids out there!" she used to shout from her window, "Didn't you make enough noise while you were in the studio?  Hush up!  And stop blocking the crosswalk!"  So well known was she as the neighborhood grump that often the bands would perform impromptu concerts of love songs outside her window in an attempt to woo her sympathies (which worked more often than not).

It was a warm spring day in Chicago when Brandy was suddenly and abruptly reminded of that period in her life when she heard the sounds of a familiar song drifting through the air.  "That's what those four young hairy blokes used to play outside my window," she mumbled to herself as she wandered towards the music.  Eventually she found herself outside of a friendly looking cafe called Sandwich Me In, from which the music had been wafting through the open door.

Inside was a happy mix of exposed brick walls and wonderful pops of color.  The quotations on the walls drew Brandy's attention immediately, especially one from a member of The Grateful Dead.  It was this she was starring at, and not the menu, when a voice asked, "Have you been here before?"  Brandy shook her head and was gently informed by the smiling man behind the counter that everything they served was locally sourced, organic, and 98% of everything on the menu was made in house. Impressed, she placed her order and grabbed a seat near the open door to enjoy the music that had first grabbed her attention.

Quite quickly, the smiling man brought over a tray of food to Brandy's table, including a piece of Bread Pudding.  "It's our one year anniversary special," he explained, seeing the amazement on her face, "Every dine in order comes with a complimentary slice."  What he didn't know was that Brandy had intended to order the bread pudding from the start, but had been too dazed by the myriad of delicious items on the menu, and had just resigned herself to going back up to order it once she had finished her sandwich.

First off there was the Vanilla Cola.  Normally Brandy wouldn't find a soda remarkable (indeed, she usually doesn't even order the stuff) but the fact that this was made completely from scratch intrigued her.  She found that the drink had a earthy, herbal taste to it, and not the syrupy sweetness she had expected.  There were notes of licorice and rather than cola, she thought it reminded her a little more of root beer.  Never the less, she found it very refreshing and the perfect accompaniment to the food.

As her side, she had chosen the Shoestring Chips with BBQ Sauce.  She found the little pile of potato pieces in front of her to be an excellent compromise between more traditional potato chips and French fries, being crisp and eternally snackable.  The BBQ sauce that accompanied them was also wonderful, with a great clean flavor that left just the littlest bit of sweetness lingering on the tongue.

For her sandwich, Brandy had chosen the Country Fried Steak, and from one end of the bread to the other, she was instantly in love.  To begin with the middle, the steak had been coated in a homemade cracker crust, providing a perfectly light crispness.  The steak itself was tender, plenty moist, and was accompanied by a nice hit of sweetness from some caramelized onions and a creamy blue cheese that somehow managed not to overpower everything else.  Even the bread was delightfully soft, but held together under the weight of all the fillings.

Lastly there was the Bread Pudding, which came topped with a little dollop of toasted meringue.  Brandy found the dessert to be soft and buttery with a caramel like flavor.  It was almost more salty than sweet, but Brandy didn't seem to mind and soon gobbled the whole thing into non-existence.

At an unbelievable price of $12 and change for everything (as the dessert was free), Brandy decided to spend her leftover pocket money at one of the record shops down the street, buying up anything she spied with the words "Recorded at Abbey Road Studios" on the back.

The Short and Sweet Review

Rockit Burger Bar or Rock and Rolls

The Slow and Savory Review

We all get older, that is a fact of life, but for someone with an old soul like Brandy, sometimes its hard ot pinpoint just how much they've aged.  Brandy's true age is a well guarded secret (rumor has it that Ernest Hemmingway was the last person Brandy told her real age to, and he died with that information unexposed) so much so that she usually doesn't even celebrate her birthday, but this year for some reason was a little different.  Whispers began immediately that this birthday must be a special one when Brandy sent out a few invitations, requesting her friends to meet her at Rockit Burger Bar, right across the street from Wrigley Field, to celebrate her "coming of age," as she put it.

A regular cast of characters like Bailey Blue, Hawke, and Polish rock star Baranina were joined by new friends like Brocco Lee Binto (inventor of the controversial Cyber Cycle, a self peddling bicycle that has a tendency to take its riders several miles away from their intended destination) and Bain Marie Bistre (owner of Doggie Delights Bakery, a subsidiary of Honey Bee Bakery, that produces all natural and delicious treats for canines).  None of those gathered quite knew what they were in for.  "How old do you think she really is?" Bailey asked Hawke.  "Do you think this is her hundredth birthday?" mused Bain Marie.  "I've known her for twenty years and I only just learn when her birthday was!" said Brocco.  Finally Brandy arrived and joined her friends at the stately bar while their table was readied.  Worried about upsetting the poor dear, no one said a word about it being her birthday, but simply acted as if this were any old brunch she had invited them to.

The main dining room had a polished but laid back atmosphere, boasting huge televisions on every wall that had been bordered in interesting wood paneling to make them blend into the rest of room, creating a sort of dressed up sports bar kind of feel.  Most everyone partook of the $5 mimosas (Brandy was a little surprised more interesting cocktails weren't on offer), except for poor Bain Marie, who sipped on some tea due to a soar throat ("Silly me!  I was mixing a batch of Butter Biscuits when I accidently inhaled half a bag of wheat germ!" Bain Marie said with a cough).

Straight away, Brandy insisted on ordering a starter for the table, the Burgers and Fries poutine, which in addition to the traditional fries, gravy, and cheese curds, added ground beef, shredded lettuce, and tomato to make for a wonderfully salty snack.  The gravy was perfect and light, the fries crispy and tender, the cheese curds just a little bit melted, and the crisp vegetables helped to balance all of the fattiness.  "Its like when you have left overs from a late night burger place," Hawke said, "And you re-heat them all together, but this time they are freshly made and awesome."  Most of the table had never experienced the joy of a poutine before, so Brandy seemed happy enough to have introduced them all.

Bailey sampled the Buffalo Mac and Cheese for her entree, which seemed an odd combo at first, but wound up being a delightful mix of ooey gooey pasta goodness and spicy chucks of  chicken, topped off with blue cheese crumbles.  "Really great stuff!" Bailey exclaimed, "Like dipping hot wings in some mac and cheese!"

Hawke went more traditional with the Patty Melt, here with mushrooms, onions, and two kinds of cheese.  He felt his sandwich was a little over toasted, almost to the point of being burnt, and that the meat was a little more under done than he would have liked, and that the overall dish was just average.

Bain Marie went for the Eggs Benedict with House Potatoes.  The benedict was pretty traditional (Brandy would have loved to have seen something a little more creative, like a Benedict Burger, but alas) but very well done.  The potatoes were especially nice, with a good coating of spice on the outside.

Brocco, a recently converted vegetarian, went for the Vegetarian Burger, featuring the Barbecue Red Bean patty, as well as some cheese and a host of veggies.  Brocco said that the barbecue flavor really shone through, and that the seasoned fries on the side were really well matched to the burger.  "I'll have to program my Cyber Cycle to remember this place!" he said through a mouthful of burger.

Brandy pulled out the big guns with the Truffle Burger and a side of Truffle Fries ("It really must be a big day," Bain Marie whispered to Baranina, who due to her contract with her record company had expended all allowable calories on one bite of poutine and was now snacking on a lemon wedge as her entree).  Brandy thought the burger could not have been more perfect; juicy, medium rare, and with just the subtlest hint of truffle oil mixed in with the mushrooms and cheese.  "Adding ketchup to this would be sacrilege," Brandy instructed the others.  The fries were also quite good with a little sprinkle of Parmesan cheese to liven things up.

It was only when Brandy tried to order some dessert from the sweet faced and very attentive waitress that the truth finally came out.  "We'd love the Dessert Nachos for the table, dear," Brandy said.  "Is it a special occasion?" the girl asked.  "Someone's birthday," Brandy said with a wink and a grin.  "Then the nachos are on the house!" their server replied, making everyone at the table give a cheer.  The nachos come out with a candle on top, a lovely little surprise that made Brandy smile before she blew it out.  Everyone waited with baited breath for Brandy to say something, which Brandy took as an opportunity to gobble up a good portion of the dessert, which consisted of crispy triangles of fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar, sliced strawberries, and vanilla ice cream.  Brandy found it to be all rather light and a great mix of textures.

After paying the bill (entrees averaged around $12-$14, but considerable portion size and quality made up for the price) and exchanging a few hugs, the party began to part ways, still as confused as ever as to whether or not they had really just attended a birthday celebration.  It was Bailey who, after Brocco had ridden away on his Cyber Cycle (almost heading straight into the Wrigley Field ice skating rink), finally said, "Happy birthday, Brandy."  "Oh my dear, its not my birthday," Brandy said kindly, "I just said that to get the dessert.  Bye bye now."  But somehow, Bailey didn't quite believe that was true.

The Short and Sweet Review