Reno
Cornmeal English Muffin
Cheddar Biscuit with Peach Preserves
Pumpkin SourDougnut
Sesame Bagel, Peach Jam
Pine – Chicken Thigh/White Cheddar/Dill Pickles/Hot Honey/Trinity Bun
Muffaletta – Mortadella/Muffaletta Spread/Red Onion/Mozzarella/White Bread
Hook – Toagarashi Lox/Cucumber/Avocado/Artichoke Cream/Cheese/Red Onion/Old Bay Bagel
Poutine – Fried Egg/House Cut Fries/Pork Belly Gravy
Stumptown Americano
Fancying myself as neither hipster nor particularly hip it was much to my sister’s surprise that I suggested Reno for Saturday breakfast but with jokes of PBR and bad facial hair aside I’d heard good things of the early morning pastry program and the wood fired bagels, or at the very least ‘good enough’ to justify the short walk to increasingly trendy Logan Square. By now a familiar paint-by-numbers theme with wood, exposed brick, and plenty of light alongside a list of clever libations and local-seasonal fare it was only moments after the 9am opening that we entered the large space and greeted with friendly smiles from not one but three employees including our server any questions regarding service were instantly cast aside, the duration of our stay only marred by a few menu misprints and misquoted prices mostly inconsequential when considering the quality of the cuisine. Undoubtedly the sort of place best suited for a group later in the day when Pizzas highlight the menu but equally amicable to the solos and large parties looking to sample and share in the morning it was with a bit of deliberation that we settled on our order and with sharing plates provided it was only the cheeseless poutine with an overcooked egg that failed to wow, the rest of the order inclusive of the smoky bagels, upscaled cheddar bay biscuit, and nontraditional but thoroughly impressive English Muffin serving as admirable warmup to a trio of well conceptualized sandwiches – the Hook perhaps the best thing ever done with cured salmon and a true stunner to someone who has never understood the sustaining popularity of the ingredient at any time of day, let alone breakfast.
