Restaurant Review: Wrigleyville’s Uncommon Ground is uncommonly good
On a blistering hot Pride Parade day, my friend and I had made plans to have brunch prior to the parade nearby.
We’d sweated through a couple of blocks in the 85-degree plus heat index when I came upon one of our old stomping grounds after Cubs games.
“Kathy, let’s eat here!” I urged my friend. “I know this place!”
Uncommon Ground, at 3800 N. Clark Street, is known for contemporary comfort food with an emphasis on organic, locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant has won numerous sustainable business awards. From their bottomless direct/fair trade organic drip coffee to their onsite Greenstar Brewery, the first certified organic brewery in Illinois, Uncommon Ground has remained unchanged from the commitment they made in 1991 to provide fresh, organic food and drink for their guests.
As Block Club Chicago reported, owners Michael and Helen Cameron opened Uncommon Ground in Lakeview in 1991, bringing a sustainable and locally sourced approach to their food service. Also known for hosting live music, the venue is now celebrating 34 years at the corner of Grace and Clark streets.
In 2017, the couple served as consultants to the city of Paris’ rooftop gardening initiative, similar to their (closed) location in Edgewater.
Brunch is served here seven days a week until 3pm. I opted for their Vegan Hash, an unusual melange of sweet potatoes, roasted potatoes, onions, carrots, butternut squash, roasted crimini mushrooms, seitan chorizo, and ancho sauce. I added a scrambled egg for a $2 upcharge. It was so worth it! The portions are huge, and the ancho sauce added a spicy, fruity kick to the roasted vegetable hash.
I mentioned the large portions. As of Tuesday morning, I’ve still got a quarter of the order left in my refrigerator. Lunchtime treat!
Kathy ordered their Lemon Ricotta Poppyseed Pancakes with Wild Berry Sauce, whipped cream, and lemon zest. Three large pancakes, smothered in wild berry sauce, with a large swirl of whipped cream, zested with lemon. She reported, “The pancakes were tasty. The blueberries were really good. Kind of filling. The ricotta I don’t remember if it was inside the batter or between the stacks but you got three pancakes.”
Sufficient to say, both of us enjoyed our meals! The friendly server was accommodating to our needs and refilled my coffee cup as many times as I asked. The kitchen was also accomodating to my need for making the vegan hash without onions, which I very much appreciated.
Other brunch entrees include their Sunrise Sammy with scrambled eggs, bacon, swiss cheese, arugula, tomato, and lemon-pepper aioli on a toasted brioche bun, with your choice of crispy potatoes or side salad. Greek Yogurt Parfait has Michigan strawberries, housemade granola, and Greek yogurt, while Watermelon-Feta Salad, which I nearly ordered, has sugar snap peas, jalapenos, and pickled red onion, covered with a honey-lime vinaigrette.
For lunch, try Helen’s Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwich, with avocado, red onions, vegan cheese, arugula, and honey mustard on a vegan bun. Uncommon Ground’s Apple, Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad is a fresh mix of greens, diced apples, toasted walnuts, and blue cheese blended with balsamic vinaigrette.
At dinner, try a Petit Filet, a 6-ounce beef filet, served with rosemary scalloped potatoes, with bordelaise sauce. Or, a Summer Grilled Salmon, served with a weet pea puree, peas, fresh garlic, shaved shallots, and a garden greens salad. Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf is served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, bordelaise sauce, crispy fried onions, and an arugula salad.
Desserts include their colorful Rainbow Pride Cake, as well as their Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake, served with your choice of vanilla, strawberry or chocolate gelato. Classic Carrot Cake is frosted with a delectable cream cheese frosting. Brownie Sundae has homemade brownies, vanilla gelato, caramel & chocolate sauces, whipped cream.
Uncommon Ground is located at 3800 N. Clark Street. During baseball season, Uncommon Ground opens at 10am before Cubs weekday day games.
Otherwise, they are open Monday-Thursday, 11am-9pm, Friday from 11am-10pm, Saturdays from 10am-10pm, and Sundays from 10am-8pm. Reservations are recommended, and can be made by clicking here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
