Restaurant Review: Wake ‘n Bacon

Wake ‘n Bacon is a brand new restaurant that opened last week in Lakeview. This brunch spot provides diners with a delicious menu to satisfy whatever case of the munchies they may be having. See, the thing that sets Wake ‘n Bacon apart from other spots is the fact that they infuse (upon request) each item on the menu with CBD. 

For those who may not know, CBD, aka Cannabidiol, is a compound derived from cannabis that is said to alleviate a multitude of issues ranging from sleep disorders and anxiety to pain and inflammation. Despite its connection to cannabis, CBD itself does not produce an intoxicating effect on the user. The compound has become a go-to remedy for many. CBD-infused food is rapidly becoming a selling point for restaurants to serve customers great food with a potential side of relief.

Located at 420 W. Belmont Avenue (no coincidence there, I’m sure), Wake ‘n Bacon features a blue sky ceiling with floral designs hanging from above. The restaurant’s fantasy garden theme also features a photo booth and dry erase boards for kids. As of this writing, you can sit in the socially distanced dining room or grab your food and take a seat on the outdoor patio.

Wake ‘n Bacon’s menu is a creative mix of classic American comfort food blended with inspiration from Asian and Latin cultures. I ordered their CocoRazz Stuffed French Toast featuring savory Brioche French toast stuffed with sweetened raspberry cream cheese and topped with toasted coconuts and pecans. Both decadent and delicious, I realized my days of ordering French toast at IHOP were long over after finishing this delectable dish. For $15 and a $3.50 addition of CBD, your stomach will thank you for your kindness in ordering such a scrumptious plate. 

A few friends accompanied me to Wake ‘n Bacon for the sole reason of letting me try more off the menu. I was not disappointed one bit. The chickpea stir fry ($12) hit on all cylinders with red peppers, carrots, mushrooms, peas, and soy over sesame brown rice, creating a dish that was as tasty as it was gorgeous. 

I couldn’t help but take a few huge bites out of my friend’s Wake ‘n Bacon burger ($12) that included pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, and bacon chili jam topped on an all-beef patty and held together by a brioche bun. Great burgers aren’t hard to find in this neighborhood. Still, this one definitely made an impression and currently sits at the top of my list for anyone asking where to grab a burger in the Lakeview neighborhood.

If your munchie preference leans towards the sweet side, Wake ‘n Bacon has you covered with their turtle waffle topped with Mexican chocolate sauce, caramel, pecans, and whipped cream. Other desserts include the peach crumble crepe featuring vanilla lemon cream cheese topped with peaches and granola and the Halo Halo Chia Chia pudding with seasonal fresh fruits and green coconut jelly covered with the perfect choice of fruity pebbles.

The cocktail menu is stuffed with appeasing drinks such as the Borracha Horchata mixed with tequila and coffee liqueur and the Liquid Sunshine featuring Ketel One Peach and Orange Blossom, Citrus Springs OJ, Calamansi sour mix, and peach syrup. Each drink will run you around $10 and can be infused with CBD for an additional $3.50.

So the next time you’re looking for some, shall we say, potentially uplifting cuisine that delivers on both taste and execution, head over to Wake ‘n Bacon to see what all the buzz is about.

Wake ‘n Bacon is open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3 pm and on the weekend from 8 am to 4 pm. 

ERIC KAPAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO