Megan's Quiche and Challah Toast
Sunday was our lovely Caitlin's birthday! To celebrate such a wonderful day, Caitlin invited me and a group of her wonderful friends to the renowned Bucktown restaurant, Mindy's Hot Chocolate. I had quite the biased opinion going in because Hot Chocolate is actually my family's favorite restaurant in the area. We have been going there since it opened and I can honestly say they have the best mac & cheese and burgers that I have ever tasted. This outing was particularly exciting for me because although I've been to Mindy's Hot Chocolate over a dozen times, I have never been for brunch! I could not wait to try a different spin on my favorite restaurant. Hot Chocolate is situated in the super trendy neighborhood of Bucktown, which has lots of shops and cute cafes to explore. I highly recommend coming on a nice day (although we haven't had many of those in Chicago recently) and exploring the neighborhood after you eat! That is... if you can motivate yourself to walk after all the delicious food :)
For my meal, I decided to get the ham & kale quiche with a side of the grilled challah toast. I had heard nothing but good things about the quiche and clearly it is a popular item because by the time our waitress took our order she informed us there were only three left! I'm lucky that I was able to snag one because the quiche is a lovely treat. It comes with a thick, buttery crust and a side salad with a light raspberry vinaigrette.
My mouth is watering just thinking about this quiche. The thick crust perfectly complemented the gooey center of the quiche. The cheese and eggs were perfectly blended to form a creamy custard. The kale and ham were wonderfully balanced with each bite and the whole dish was loaded with flavor. The side salad was not outstanding or overwhelming with flavor, but it nicely complemented the main event.
The side of grilled challah toast was also a great treat. The toast had a nice crust but was not burnt at all. The butter that accompanied the side was nicely churned and gave the toast an even fluffier taste. For only $1.50, I would definitely recommend this dish alongside any of the brunch entrees. All in all my experience at Hot Chocolate's brunch was even lovelier than expected... but you can't really go wrong with such an incredible restaurant and such wonderful company! -Megan
Order Up for Caitlin: Bellini, Half&Half, Brisket Hash
Two words, chocolate & espresso. The Half&Half is a must have at Mindy's HotChocolate. The fact that HotChocolate is included in the restaurant name should be a no brainer that they know how to make a great cup of cocoa. For all you mocha fans, this drink combines dark chocolate with a single shot of espresso. And did I mention the homemade marshmallow...pop that sucker into your mug while its still hot and it will melt into a creamy layer atop the delicious chocolate masterpiece! Yes it is $6...but money well spent!
Having crept Mindy's Hot Chocolate's online menu, I saw the brisket hash consisting of a pesto-topped poached egg, root vegetables, and cubes of brisket, I knew I had to try it. The flavors were spot on, but I will say that the majority of my pieces of brisket were quite fatty. Sorry Mindy. With the brisket hash at $14, I would advise ordering the veggie scramble or the crab cake benedict instead, both priced at $13 each. Overall, I had a great birthday brunch and so did all of my friends! We will definitely be back.
If you want to book your reservation with Mindy's Hot Chocolate or just creep on their brunch menu, like Megan and I, here's the link: http://www.hotchocolatechicago.com
Megan and Caitlin's Overall Review of Mindy's Hot Chocolate:
Atmosphere: 5/5 stars
The ambience in Hot Chocolate is extremely trendy and visually pleasing. The music is hip and comforting, and there is lots of funky art to feast your eyes on. Our table was situated close to the kitchen and it was very cool to watch the culinary masters at work in such an energetic atmosphere!
Service: 3/5 stars
Our waitress was not the most enthusiastic server we have ever had and there was a bit of a snafu with the bill at the end, so we docked a few stars for this time around. That being said, we had a large group and the restaurant was very busy so we understand a certain level of stress. I (Megan) have been to Hot Chocolate dozens of other times for dinner and their service is usually impeccable. Sometimes it's just an off day!
Food: 5/5 stars
The food at Hot Chocolate is like no other. My quiche was divine and while Caitlin's brisket hash was a little fatty, it was still a great treat. I'm still partial to coming to Hot Chocolate for dinner, but you can't go wrong with an afternoon brunch at Mindy's either!
Pricing: $$
Hot Chocolate is a little on the pricier side, with most entrees being between $12-$20 for brunch. The food is definitely worth every penny though so if you're in the mood for a bit of a splurge, we highly recommend it.
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