Uncommon Ground gets a bonus star for taking brunch reservations. This is so important when trying to plan a large family gathering that includes any children under the age of 5, for whom waiting may not be a strong suit. Brunch itself was fine. Not great, but fine. Some of the issue for me was that there was very little on the breakfast menu that I could actually eat, since dairy isn't an option (butter is OK) and I try to eat low carb. I don't really hold that against them. And what I did eat (eggs with bacon and potatoes) was fine. The bacon was pretty good actually. They did forget my husband's bacon, but when we pointed it out, they removed it from the bill. Everyone else really enjoyed their food. The chilaquiles were an especially big hit at the table. The vegan chorizo was also quite well received. I like the space - it didn't feel too crowded. read more

Points for the pleasant staff and nice outdoor seating but the food just wasn't good. Dry, bland and off temperature. Went with a party of three, we all ordered different brunch items and all were disappointed. read more

This place is incredible. I've lived in the area for 10+ years and finally ventured in to UG to try brunch this weekend. Our group was BLOWN away - plenty of healthy brunch and lunch offerings. I will absolutely be returning to try more of the menu & dinner options very soon, and look forward to returning to the awesome patio this summer too. On top of the food and service being incredible, my husband says the beers were some of the best local brew options he's had in the city. Don't overlook this spot!!! read more

The food here is so bland and unseasoned. The menu descriptions sound great, but the food is so poorly prepared.

Food is okay. I should've done more research prior to going there. It was a long Uber ride on a busy Saturday. It's more like a causal study cafe. Service was okay given that they weren't that busy. It wasn't what I hopped for my birthday brunch lol. I would say it's not worth spending your money or time there. read more

Sweet potato fries and cheese curds were a large portion, which we liked. The carnitas tacos were so underwhelming - I was shocked when they came out. Regular old tortillas and seemingly unseasoned meat. Especially for $16, in the Chicago dining world I'm expecting something really tasty or an elevated cuisine. Side of Mac and cheese was fine. Nothing to write home about. Also, the food came out lightning fast. Like within 1-3 minutes. Which leads me to believe it's not made fresh. Our waitress also was no where to be found, except to take our order. We won't go back read more

$9 (without tax) for a 16 ounce iced latte with one pump of vanilla? Get out of here! Absolutely ridiculous! Came here once and never coming back! read more

The find is too expensive to be so mediocre and bland. The service was fine. The bacon wrapped meatloaf had soggy undercooked bacon and no seasoning. The mac and cheese was congealed and gross. The burger was bland bland bland, not even salt on that patty. They have really gone downhill. read more

Today I ordered an artichoke dip appetizer for carryout and when I got home and opened the container of garlic bread that it comes with, I found a long hair in it. Gross! I know these things happen but hopefully the expo(s) and management will get it together and not overlook these types of issues. It's doubtful that I'll be back unfortunately. read more

Great music, terrible service. Ambiance was nice, we went to see a band play. I hadn't been there in years and I thought we had to order through our phones since we sat for over 30 minutes before the waitress bothered to check in on us. Finally she did, she didn't seem like she really to be there. There were five in our party. We realized the band is not provided with dinner so we bought one person his meal. Suddenly it became a party if six so she tipped herself 22% everything is automated so I was only allowed to enter the digital signature when she brought the digital check. So literally five hamburgers and fries & a few drinks was over $400 bucks. If at least the service was decent, that would be fine but she was never around. read more

The place was SO dirty. Went to the bathroom to wash my hands and brown gunk had come up through the floor drain. Disgusting. Went to another bathroom. Just as filthy. Did not stay to eat because I could just imagine what the kitchen looked like. And I thought business were stepping up cleaning protocol because of covid. How could this place passed inspection? read more

I came here this past Saturday and was very pleased. The cocktails were amazing and I ended up having a beer too that was recommended by the bartender! My friend and I split the Mac N Cheese and the burger. Both were excellent. We also had the hummus appetizer, I'd definitely skip that my next time around - nothing special about it. The appetizer is the only reason it isn't five stars. I'll definitely visit again soon and try something new! read more

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I was told it was awesome so, that's a problem sometimes to gave those expectations. We had a larger group 9 all together. One of the two kids had cheese on his burger when they asked for no cheese - happens. My chicken Schnitzel was overdone but I thought it was amazing until I got to the thinner pieces. Still a fun place and really enjoyed spending and evening there eating. My kids salmon was terrific and the burger looked really good. read more

Uncommon Ground - Chicken Schnitzel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best French toast , service was great and the beer fantastic . We also met Brandon the master brewer .

Came here to review this and Yelp reminded me I reviewed it over 5 years ago and said "never again". I guess we did it again and it's still disappointing. Food was pretty boring and the brought our entrees out about 30 seconds after appetizers which just meant we had all this food on the table going cold. It just hasn't got better in 5 years. Shame read more

We came here for lunch on a weekday and it was pretty empty. Located a block away from Wrigley Field, this place serves contemporary American and was really good. It is family friendly and the staff was very friendly. We took public transportation here but there seemed to be plenty of street parking since it was not a game day. They were out of a few things when we arrived and said it was because of the busy preceding weekend. For example, the ham stuffed French Toast was not an option. I ended up getting the Chilaquiles and it was awesome. The perfect blend of ingredients in the right ratios made this an excellent filling meal. This would have been a 4 star review if they had everything they advertised on their menu. read more

I always forget how much I love this place! We got a salad, veggie stir fry, and sweet potato fries and they were all incredible! My favorite was the roasted carrot app. Also, the beer is sooo good!! Gorgeous patio too. I loved this place up in Rogers Park - this was my first time at the Wrigleyville location read more

This seems like a cool neighborhood spot and if you live in the area it would definitely rate a few visits to try a few different items. I was just visiting and I didn't have anything so great as to lure me way across town again on its own, but the things I did try were very good and filling. This is a farm to table restaurant and the only two bad things about these types of restaurants is that they have no guarantee of ingredients being available so often things won't taste the same if you order them multiple time and they may also be out more than one thing on the menu, always very frustrating, but there are a lot of good and meaty options here to choose from. We were here for a large group so we ate in the super secret backroom - good to know that is there for future special occasion planning but I think our waitress sort of forgot we were back there and never came to refill our drinks, but still a good dining experience overall, the tacos (my personal jetfuel!) and Sunrise Salad both were very good. read more

Uncommon Ground - Pulled Pork Tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Especially nice in warm weather outside. Food is good. Vegetarian options.Been a few times to both locations and both have friendly staff, easy going vibe. A go-to for us. read more

Ok, I rescind my previous remarks...which were likely the result of an ill-fated brekkie date, way back in the day, with a boy named Morty. No amount of pancakes can solve a breakfast date with forced conversation without the aid of copious champagne. Truth. Finally, back for din din... 1. They employ very cute boys. Alex (server). CUTE as a button. Since we sat there for nearly 4 hours, I got many opportunities to notice. Well done! 2. Steve the guitar player. Is Uncommon Ground growing cute men in the garden or something? Holy holy, (organic) guacamole. 3. Sunshine salad (say that fast 5 times) was fresh, if not a wee bit...boring. Probably because I like bacon on my salads, with thick fatty dressing. I should've opted for the chop (yum), but my jeans will thank the SUNSHINE when I can actually zip them up, so hooray. 4. The buzzy bee: espresso, organic honey, and soy milk. Shaken and poured over ice = Frothy, non-dairy, pick-me-up. This will be my new go-to drinky drink when I feel like wittlin' away the day on the patio with some friends. $6, and worth every non-Starbucks penny. 5. It still blows me away that this used to be a little itty bitty coffeeshop. All grown up with mass appeal. $4 Bell's drafts on Mondays, too! Holla! I stand corrected, and have learned never to go on brunch dates until AT LEAST the 5th or 6th date. A coupl'a years will do that to ya, I apologize UC for letting you get caught in my catastrophic dating crossfire ;) read more

Very average food that is overpriced and lacks overall talent in preparation. I must have had too much wine when I composed my last review back in Feb 2014. Was here over the weekend and the consensus was: FAIL. See pics of the breakfast dishes from this weekend, pretty sad. I've been here three times in the last year and can say 100% without a doubt that this place is just overall lacking. Everything sounds so great on the menu but when the food comes it's just a disappointment. Dishes: -Helen's Chicken Sandwich- bland and on too thick of bread. -Fish tacos- with brown/slightly turning guacamole. Hardly any fish. Needs a ton of hot sauce to be enjoyable as this is the only flavor you'll get. Hey UG folks, ever eaten a fish taco before? Maybe you should try one. -Biscuits and Gravy- OMG I don't even know how this was allowed to be called biscuits and gravy. See photos of this one. Utterly disappointing runny mess, and where was the sausage country gravy exactly? Again, I implore mgmt/cooks here to go try some biscuits and gravy to model their dish after what most people expect. -Chilaquiles- aka a big plate of tortilla chips. Again, overdone on the chips missing the smoked chicken and scrambled eggs, this dish was $14, see pics posted. The bloody mary's are good, I'll give them that. Much to be improved here in terms of quality, flavor, portions, prices, etc. read more

Uncommon Ground - Supposed biscuits and gravy. Runny and gross - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I used to come to this Uncommon Ground to see music back when seating was an elbow-to-elbow affair, before the renovation. The renovation has made it a beautiful open space in front, with a nice wrap-around bar. I made a reservation, thinking the place would be packed, which the staff seemed to think was cute, since it wasn't busy at all on a weeknight. Seating in the backroom is a little cozy. There was much on the menu I wanted to try, but I went with the bacon-wrapped meatloaf, served with some kind of malnourished albino carrots, and mashed potatoes. The dish was good! My dining partner's salad was chock-full of veggies and looked good as well. Service was excellent, and our waters must have been filled so much we almost floated out of there! We never felt rushed during dinner and had a nice espresso to top it all off. This is a place I would definitely return for a fresh meal served with local organic ingredients, to enjoy some music, or just to have a glass of wine at their nice bar! read more

You know you haven't been to a place in a long while when you don't even recognize it anymore. Such was the case Saturday night when I visited Uncommon Ground. Last time I was here- it was a little coffee spot that happened to serve brunch. Well imagine my surprise when I walked in to the new and improved Uncommon Ground and found three large seating areas, a full bar and little gathering spots. Nice. Really nice. The ambiance is a little rustic with some contemporary touches thrown in like the lights hanging above the bar and the interesting artwork on the walls. There is also music in the 3rd room throughout the week so check out their website to see who is there. We had reservations (a good idea as there were people standing around who didn't) so we were seated promptly and began to review the menu. We settled on some Korean chili spiced calamari to enjoy with our drinks. Good without being too spicy. For my entree I chose the special of the day which was a lamb shank, based on the recco from our server. It came with mashed potatoes and broccoli and was pretty darn good- falling off the bone in all it's tenderness. I also had a taste of the mac and cheese that was made with white cheddar and Gruyere cheese. Also very good (here's a hint- order the child sized portion as a side dish) Service was attentive and helpful- she actually told us that she had tried everything on the menu which was nice to hear and it showed in the suggestions that she made. Dinner for two with a couple of drinks and dessert was reasonable coming in at just under $100. Parking in the area is tough- try a little farther south on Clark and you should be okay. Wanted to stay and linger in one of the comfy chairs by the fireplace, but we had places to go that night. But you can bet I will be back as I have more to try at this "Uncommonly" good cafe. read more

I had such high hopes for this place as the menu looked really terrific. I took my mom here because we both enjoy healthier food. I ordered the black bean burger and my mom ordered the fish tacos. Ummm but wait, my black bean burger HAD NO BLACK BEANS. They made it with black eyed peas instead and didn't tell me they ran out. Not to mention the beans weren't even cooked all the way so it basically felt like I was chomping on nuts. Also this fake black bean burger was flavorless. Yuck. My mom's fish tacos needed some serious seasoning too. So boring. We didn't even finish out meals. I will say I like the atmosphere and I didn't end up having to pay for my burger because I told them there wasn't any black beans in it. Probably won't be returning. read more

Uncommon Ground - Looks good... It isn't. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came to Uncommon Ground for dinner last night with a friend who suggested it since they have vegan options on the menu. Always a good start, in my opinion! It was a beautiful evening so we opted to sit outside on the patio, which is decorated with strings of lights and has planter boxes of herbs and such all around the fence. Really nice ambiance. Our server was very friendly and asked about any dietary restrictions before I mentioned it myself - love that! To start we ordered the hummus appetizer to split. It was good but nothing unique! I also ordered a Paloma off the cocktail menu, which was very good. I thought it was cool that they featured local beer (and other local items) on the menu, but I didn't try any other drinks at this visit. For dinner I wanted something light so I got the large Caesar salad. It's totally vegan and topped with avocado slices. I was SO pleased with this choice, as I haven't had a Caesar salad in a loooong time. It tasted just how I remembered (sans animals and fish, of course!). It's the perfect entree if you are looking for something that isn't too heavy. I would definitely like to come back and try some of the other vegan options. Thanks for a great experience! read more

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After a two-star review several years ago, it's time to give an update - and pleasantly, a much higher rating. I've been back a handful of times since the old review, and each time, happy to report, a more positive experience. Today was brunch on the patio. Great food, service, and a thoughtful proactive comp of some bloody Marys after a minor kitchen screw up. Thank you Uncommon Ground for being a consistent force in the hood through so many Cubs seasons (and a WS win!) and other ups and downs Happy to recommend! read more

Dined here almost daily while working in the vicinity for a period of time. Mom Service was always good. They have a meatloaf that isn't CCB read more

This was my first visit to the Lakeview UC for dinner; I used to come occasionally for drinks, coffee, and desserts back in the mid-aughts, and I've eaten several meals at the Edgewater location. So basically I knew what I was getting into, and I wasn't disappointed...mostly. The draft beer list is pretty short, but I put together a nice little sampler with a couple of known quantities (Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, Lagunitas Pils) and a couple of new-to-me but tasty options (Revolution Rosa Hibiscus, 3 Sheeps Black Wheat). And as usual, there are plenty of enticing craft cocktails. Next time. We started with a Korean calamari appetizer, and after it came, I remembered that I didn't like it at the other location, and why--too much coating, not enough squid. The sauce and overall flavor are good, but they need to thin out the batter by about 50%. The fish tacos were somewhat better; my only complaint is that they used two tortillas per taco. This is usually appreciated, but in this case, there was not enough filling to balance two tortillas, but too much to balance one. They were still pretty good tacos though, and the fries--regular and sweet potato--were fine. Our server was great, giving honest feedback to questions and expressing enthusiasm about some of our choices. Unfortunately, his name isn't printed on the receipt so I can't tell you who he was. The food is really three stars, but service, atmosphere, and ethos merit a fourth. For those reasons, I'd prefer to come back here rather than the Edgewater location. read more

This place is okay...the drinks are okay, the service is okay, the food is okay, the prices are too high for everything being "okay". However, it DOES have a better than okay atmosphere, which is why on average it rates "okay". Point made? read more

Came in for a late lunch with my lady friend on a Saturday around 3. The food was seriously delicious. Everyone was super nice. The music was perfect. We started with some cocktails, which were really well done. We ordered two cups of soup and a large ceasar salad. The tomato soup was seriously the best I've ever had. It was delicious and nice and peppery, which I always crave on a cold day. My partner really enjoyed the vegan chili, which she is actually kind of rare for her. And the full sized vegan ceasar salad was perfect to cap off the meal. We felt full, but also perfect. The dressing was so good especially for being vegan. It had a bunch of different greens and some broccoli and Brussels sprouts too, so that was nice because I don't usually eat either of those cold. Can't wait to come back and order takeout and delivery more in the future! Happy small business Saturday! read more

I live down the street which is bad news, because this place is always calling my name. I usually come for brunch during the week if I have a day off. Going on the weekend, especially during baseball season, ensures that you will wait an hour or so for a table. The food is expensive but it's amazing! They use fresh, seasonal ingredients and the flavor combinations are always on point. My staple brunch is the Uncommon Huevos (organic black bean cake, eggs over easy, smoked chile sauce, chihuahua cheese) with chai tea or a Bloody Mary, the latter if it's been a rough night! I have also had various seasonal scrambles, duroc ham sandwich, blackened Florida shrimp salad, mac & cheese with bacon (+ a bloody = best hangover cure ever!), pork tacos, pizza, pasta.....pretty much everything on the menu! Recently, I had the pumpkin ravioli which came in a cheesey cream sauce. It was perfect for a chilly fall day. I have yet to come for dinner, but I would like to soon. I love the ambiance here and it seems cool at night. Service is usually good but can be slow when it's busy. read more

Uncommon Ground - Pumpkin ravioli - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place has some of the best calamari I have ever had in my life! Its officially called korean fried calamari which of course that means its sweet and quite spicy with a nice kick to it. I also tried the gluten free roasted cauliflower which was ok, but sadly it followed the calamari which was a hard act to follow. I had it with a nice, dark zinfandel which was really good. I like this place! read more

This review is for the food since last time was for the drinks. We had no reservations but were seated immediately. They have about three rooms for seating but the first room at the front of the restaurant is primarily for bar food/drinks. The menu changes every two weeks so dont expect any particular signature dishes. The restaurant supports local farmers so the food is very fresh and you can taste the difference. We werent very hungry so we ordered three appetizers. We had the goat cheese and spinach dip, the vegetarian chili, and the tomato bisque soup. Everything tasted delicious! Service was great. The prices for our dishes were reasonable but the entree dishes can be pricey. I wish they had a better selection of entree dishes. Maybe in another two weeks when the menu changes the entree selection will be better? Parking in this area can be difficult. read more

COST: $14 (Ham & Cheese Stuffed Brioche French Toast) $13 (Farmers Market Scramble) Looking back now and after writing down what a friend and I shared plus the prices, this might be on the middle to lower end of brunches I've had in Chicago. The brioche french toast was pretty good, but I'm just not a big fan of candied brussel sprouts. I felt it just didn't blend well with the dish. It was too overpowering and brussel sprouts are crunchy enough roasted, it's worst off candied. The scramble was not bad either, but nothing about it truly stood out. Overall, it was a pretty average meal on the higher end of prices. I did love how they have Yelp reservations, so I can't dock their reviews too much. read more

Uncommon Ground - Farmers Market Scramble and Ham & Cheese Stuffed Brioche French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food and great service! Went here for Mother's Day and they gave all the tables Rose vases to take home! read more

Uncommon ground used to be a very reliable brunch spot. Then they expanded and got too big and the quality went away. I hadn't been back in a few years and went this past weekend and was so disappointed. A cup of coffee was $2.75, 2 small pieces of bacon cost $4, 3 dinky chicken sausages were $5, and a fresh mushroom scramble that wasn't cooked all the way through cost $12. The scramble came with a side of bland potatoes and 1 piece of toast. Are you kidding me?? I could have made a better breakfast at home, and if i have a choice next time I probably will. I would say the only reason to go to Uncommon Ground at this point is if you want to sit outside. They do have a nice outdoor section, and when the weather is nice it is a pleasure eating out there. But they sacrificed quality for quantity. With all of the new restaurants opening in Chicago, spend your money elsewhere. You can find a much better brunch. I wish I could have given this place 2.5 stars instead of two, but it definitely didn't deserve three. read more

First time at Uncommon Ground and all 4 of us were very impressed. The portions were quite large and the service was attentive and friendly. We opted to sit outside and really enjoyed their side patio (which is quite large!). We had the mixed berry pancakes, ham and cheese stuffed French toast, egg and pepper breakfast sandwich, and chilaquiles. No complaints from anyone! I would easily order any of these again. Perfect spot before a Cubs game, especially because they take reservations via Yelp. read more

Uncommon Ground - Ham and cheese stuffed French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Uncommon Ground has some a-okay brunch food just north of Wrigley Field. I came here on a Saturday morning, and my favorite thing was the interior -- it was so cozy and filled with light! Great for a laidback brunch. The brunch menu: classics with a twist. Options ranged from egg-based dishes to salads and grain-filled bowls, and I loved that gluten free and vegetarian were marked on the regular menu. My chilaquiles were good, although a bit different than other renditions I've had elsewhere; there was a lot of scrambled egg and very little tortilla chips. A lot of people seemed to be walking in without reservations, and even at 11am with an afternoon Cubs game, this place was maybe half-full at best. The food wasn't amazing but it wasn't bad either. And for a low-key, cozy brunch to please a variety of eaters, Uncommon Ground fits the bill. read more

Nice outdoor seating area for hanging out with your buddies after a game or just because you're in the area. I've always sat outside seating area in the warmer months so my review is based on those experiences. Used to come here quite often but since my friends moved out of the area, I really don't feel like going out of my way to visit. The snooty staff was a bit standoffish, then again, I haven't been there since last summer so they may not even be working there any more. Fresh, organic ingredients. Decent wine selection. Good desserts that go well with the fab coffee and tea drinks. Solid entrees. The sweet potato fries though do make my heart skip a beat along with the pizza. read more

4 words: Nutella stuffed french toast! O-M-G. heaven. it was topped with pecans and bananas. yummm. i am obsessed with nutella. did i mention that? i also tried the kiwi/pear tea. nice and light and not too fruity. great brunch experience! it was an added surprise when we only had to wait 15 minutes, as opposed to the 30 we were originally quoted. prices are pretty reasonable ($10-12 for a brunch item). it's crowded, but people aren't sitting on top of each other (i.e., M Henry). also, it's loud enough in here to talk to your friend and not worry about having the table next to you eavesdrop. read more

Uncommon Ground - nutella stuffed french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois