Ann Sather - Chicago, IL

Posted By Michael Stern on May 14, 2009 10:11 AM

Ann Sather calls itself a Swedish restaurant and there are indeed a handful of items on the menu that are Swedish-themed; but most Chicagoans know it as a breakfast place. The cinnamon rolls are legendary: two big fluffy ones per order, each blanketed in sweet sugar glaze. There are seven versions of eggs benedict, made with steak, turkey, smoked salmon, creamed spinach, crab cakes, fresh tomato or the traditional way, with ham. There are omelets aplenty; there are biscuits, pecan rolls, muffins and toast made from your choice of breads, including Swedish limpa rye.

We are particularly fond of the Swedish pancakes, which are folded-over crepes with a lace edge and fine, steamy-sweet flavor. They are available with a cup of lingonberry sauce, with a side of eggs or with a couple of meatballs. The potato pancakes are superb, as is the French toast with peach compote. But the item that rivets our attention is the waffle, two waffles to be exact, Swedish waffles, the menu says. We’re not exactly sure what makes them Swedish, but we do know that they are not big fat Belgians. They are thin, crisp and aromatic waffles, baked in an iron that gives them a fetching scalloped shape and served two to an order. As we’ve noted in previous Roadfood reviews, elegant thin waffles are becoming an endangered breakfast food; we celebrate these good, old-style thin ones.

Ann Sather opens at seven in the morning and closes mid-afternoon; it does a brisk lunch business, too: sandwiches, excellent vegetarian chili and meal-size salads. The hot pork sandwich, served with mashed potatoes and gravy, is down-home delish. And the Swedish meatballs are exemplary.

In addition to the location on Belmont, there are Ann Sather restaurants in Andersonville, Lakeview, Southport, Broadway and Wicker Park.

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Posted By Todd Merchant on December 1, 2007 5:41 PM

I have been to Ann Sather's Andersonville location a handful of times and have never been disappointed. The eatery has some of the biggest serving sizes I have ever seen.

I usually get an omelet that includes spinach; quite good. But the last time I was here I ordered the Jamaican Jerk Scramble, which is simply amazing. It includes chicken, tomato, onions and a tangy jerk sauce, and the consistency of the omelet is just right: not too runny, not too dry. But it is so big, I can't finish it, which is saying something for me.

You get two sides with your omelets -- including biscuits and potatoes -- but one of them must be the cinnamon rolls. You get two per order and they are absolutely fantastic. Save one for later if you can't finish it all.

Ann Sather is perfect for brunch. And the Andersonville neighborhood itself is a really fun to place to walk around. You should stop off at The Brown Elephant and find a bunch of bargains on used goods.

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Posted By Jason Warren on February 2, 2004 11:09 AM

A local 'chain' with three locations within a very close vicinity of each other Ann Sather is a Swedish restaurant in what used to be a ethnic neighborhood of the same. They presently are obviously popluar breakfast hangouts and offer and enticing menu. The Swedish pankcakes are thinner that a traditional, closer to a crepe. Swedish waffles are also thinner, and have a slight sweet flavor. Glancing around at other table offers an conflicting attitude of wanting to try everythign.

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