The Orbit Room (2959 N. California Ave) is set to host next month’s LoganSquarist meetup, but Logan Square residents may want to visit the bar before then because it just added something new to the menu: brunch.
The brunch menu debuted on July 13, and staff say they were surprised by the turnout for day one. Diners headed straight to the back patio for umbrella-shaded seats next to tiki masks, purple flora and island-like fauna with an easy view of some ukulele playing hula girl statues (one of which had seen better days).
Owners Dirk and Adriana Nebbeling, along with their cook Johnny Gomez, say they decided to give brunch a go in part due to changes in the neighborhood and the bar’s growing popularity.
“We had tried brunch over the last seven years, and while many people enjoyed it and wanted it back, the neighborhood and our location were not quite ready for it,” Adriana Nebbeling says. “The neighborhood is changing, and our popularity has grown. Yesterday’s brunch was a big success and we will keep it going from now on.”
Orbit Food and Drink Basics
Typically served as Potatoes O’Brien, guests can also order their potatoes as tater tots, fries or homemade chips. For extra protein, bacon and sausage are available as sides.
The brunch beverage of choice is the Bloody Mary, whether or not customers are nursing hangovers. Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix forms the base, while a lime wedge, lemon wedge and three skewered, Sriracha-drizzled olives appear as garnishes. For Bloody Marys with a bit more heat, bartender Mario Raffanti will double the drizzle.
Typically, there’s a beer back with Bloody Marys, and though I didn’t get one this time, draft beer from Bell’s, Three Floyd’s, Allagash, Metropolitan and Two Brothers breweries would have hit the spot.
Any of those would pair well with The Orbit Burger if is beef your thing at brunch. Choose from a variety of burger toppings including cheddar, bleu and pepper jack cheeses or get crazy with some pineapple (a perfect complement to your surroundings).
Hangover Helper?
My go-to cure after a night of heavy drinking is a chorizo and egg burrito with anything else that can fit inside a giant tortilla. The Orbit Room offers one of those. My vegetarian companion ordered one, except she subbed extra green sauce for the spicy sausage, leaving the grilled onions, red and green peppers and diced potatoes as is. Beans, sour cream and a side of lettuce and tomato rounded out the delicious-looking plate.
My Food
I opted for the chilaquiles, a.k.a. breakfast nachos, because I am nothing if not a nacho lover at all meal times. These “nachos” arrived as chips mixed with scrambled eggs, cheese and lettuce topped with a large dollop of sour cream. On the side was a ramekin of lightly peppered beans. I added Cholula to everything on the plate because I like spice, but I wish I had asked for the chorizo from my friend’s burrito for my chilaquiles.
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