PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

What can be said about Jane's Restaurant that hasn’t been already? Is it the charming, country exterior? How about the beautiful White Room inside? Or, can it simply be the wide selection of fresh, healthy entrees? Answer: it’s all the above, and then some!

Even from Jane’s unassuming exterior, something nudges you to go on in and give it a try. More than anything else, it resonates a bygone era, more akin to Grandma’s house out in the country than a restaurant in the pulsating Buck town / Wicker Park neighborhood. As you walk in, you again are sent traveling back in time, this time to a Victorian-era bakery or ice cream parlor. The glue that binds the two together is the use of white and cream tones, covering just about every inch of the establishment. What would normally seem to be a bit institutional or even sanitary actually works in Jane’s favor, creating a gentle calm and peace, allowing you to just be.

The wait staff is prompt but not quick or hurried, intuitively knowing just when you’re ready to begin ordering. The selections they go over with you have that American contemporary theme, but seem to touch upon a nice hodge podge of everything perfectly, from the Pepper Encrusted New York Strip streak to the Creole Blackened Grouper and right on down to the Mustard Glazed Chicken breast. A nice selection of domestic and international wines are kept cool in their cellar, complimenting their wonderful, home style dishes. Also, vegetarians seem to have found a new haunt in town, as almost half of their choices cater to them.

What has truly made Jane’s stand out though is their wonderful breakfasts. The eggs Benedict are simply superb and the pancakes include apples or apricots sprinkled with powdered sugar and complimented with warm syrup. Even the coffee is a couple grades higher: Intelligentsia roasts replace the standard food service beans other restaurants push off on their patrons. Plenty of other choices are also available, each prepared tastefully yet just like you’d expect at Grandma’s. And yes, go for their Sunday brunch! While brunch has become the new standard for most restaurants these days, Jane’s has taken this notion to a whole new level, adding just a touch of Grandma’s love to every item.

So when you find yourselves in Bucktown, be sure to give Jane’s a try, morning, noon or night! She’s saving a table just for you.