Restaurant Review: Andersonville’s A Taste of Heaven an otherworldly experience

“When someone does something they love
And they share it with you,
It’s as if they’re giving you a piece of themselves,
A part of their heart,
A Taste of Heaven.”
Dan McCauley
While Andersonville’s roots are Swedish, their Chamber of Commerce proudly proclaims that are also recognized as the “shop local capital of Chicago,” supporting the largest network of local and independent businesses in the area.
Their restaurants are also locally owned and operated. A Taste of Heaven, on the corner of Clark and Balmoral, began nearly 30 years ago as the home of fresh baked goods, gradually expanding with an all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner menu of family-friendly offerings.
Start your day with a sweet Peaches & Cream French Toast served with fresh, homemade whipped cream atop sweet peaches. Katie Cakesare two buttermilk pancakes, topped with a tangy-sweet three-berry compote, lemon streusel crumbs, and fresh whipped cream. Coconut Almond Cakes combinetwo buttermilk and almond pancakes with shredded coconut, topped with warm homemade caramel and fresh whipped cream.
Those who prefer more savory breakfast offerings will enjoy the Verde Omelette, an Italian-inspired mix of tomatoes, mozzarella, and spinach. The Garland Omelette is a sweet-savory made of roasted turkey breast, Black Forest ham, roastedpear and Havarti cheese. A Dad’s Wrap is two eggs any style, your choice of ham, bacon, or turkey sausage, hash browns, cheddar, and ranch dressing, wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.
Lunch offerings include The Egg Roll Wrap, living up to its name with a broccoli, mixed peppers, red onions, carrots, crushed peanuts, brown rice and red cabbage stir fry, fragrant with garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce and sweet chili, served with a side of wasabi mayo. The Brown Derby is described, appropriately, as “Thanksgiving Dinner in a Wrap!” Hot Beef Sandwich is a throwback to Andersonville’s working-class roots. It’s a traditional hot roast beef sandwich, smothered in grilled onions, mushrooms and house-made beef gravy. The Speakeasy knocks it back to the Roaring 20’s, combining a turkey breast with applewood smoked bacon, havarti cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fresh sliced avocado and homemade ranch dressing.
Dinner is served from 3pm onwards to close, and is filled with comfort items like Thanksgiving Dinner (year-round);a turkey breast with sweet potatoes, turkey sausage stuffing, cranberry sauce, and roasted Brussels sprouts. Chicken & Biscuits is a chicken breast braised with carrots, mushrooms, and sweet peas, over a homemade buttermilk biscuits in an herbed cream sauce. Spinach Lasagna isa blend of three cheeses, tossed with fresh spinach, nutmeg and fresh basil, layered with semolina pasta and marinara sauce, served with our homemade baguette and butter. Yum!
For lighter fare, try their Chizona Salad, a seared chicken breast with black beans, chopped avocado, grilled corn, goat cheese and plum tomatoes, served on a bed of mixed field greens with red pepper mayo and lime sesame-soy dressing. Roasted Pear Salad is sweet-savory mix of warm chicken breast, dried cherries, goat cheese and sliced roasted pear over mixed field greens, served with honey mustard dressing. Julie’s Chopped Salad has a chicken breast, Black Forest ham, goat cheese, plum tomatoes, cucumbers, artichoke hearts, and roasted red peppers, served with a tomato basil vinaigrette.
All salads are served with a homemade baguette.
For dessert, what’s better than choosing one of their freshly made bakery items? There’s a full display every day!
Google reviews were similarly ecstatic.
“Somewhat quiet spot to get dinner,” one wrote. “Portions were somewhat big and you’re definitely going to leave feeling satisfied and full. Food tasted amazing and they also have breakfast all day as an option. If you want baked goods, they have that too as their display case has different cakes and cupcakes.”
A Taste of Heaven is located at 5401 N. Clark Street. They are open seven days a week, from 8am to 9pm. For more information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago