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 Enjoy: Breakfast Spots!
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Evanston has so many great places to choose from. While not exhaustive, we've compiled a list of breakfast joints to start your day off right.
Ovo Frito Cafe | Maple Foster: A fan favorite, Ovo Frito has been serving up amazing food and friendly service in a cozy, neighborhood cafe since 2017. Expect to find craveable breakfast favorites, as well as a wide variety of lunch options.
Frida's | Downtown: This breakfast gem is nestled in the heart of downtown and inspired by the art and life of Frida Kahlo. Experience their passion through their diverse array of breakfast and lunch dishes with an authentic Mexican flare.
West Town Bakery | Howard Street: West Town Bakery is located on the corner of Howard and Chicago, just steps away from the Howard "L" station. Whether grabbing a coffee and freshly baked pasty, or looking to sit down and dine in, West Town Bakery has you covered! Got an event coming up? You can also order custom cakes and cookies.
Le Peep | Downtown: Located at 827 Church St., this breakfast joint offers all your favs, including scrambles, a wide variety of omelets and Benedicts, a pancake of the month, and crepes. Or splurge and go for the ooey gooey cinnamon roll.
Cupitol Coffee & Eatery | Downtown: Cupitol is your all day lounge! It bring together all the best elements of a restaurant, bakery, cafe and bar. Their everyday brunch is available all day long, great to pair with a house-made pastry, coffee drink or healthy smoothie. In for happy hour? Don't forget to check out their cocktail menu.
Mid Kitchen | Downtown: With its unique menu full of organic and real food made fresh every day, Mid Kitchen makes sure to involve everybody's eating habits. They serve delicious vegan & gluten-free friendly dishes, including a great vegan breakfast!
Egg Harbor | Downtown: The newest business the list, the family-owned chain Egg Harbor offers classic brunch fare, along with specials and limited time offerings. The whole family can fuel up here, making it the perfect place to start the day.
The Lucky Platter | Main-Dempster Mile: Looking for something a little more quirky? This eclectic funky diner does not disappoint. Lucky Platter has been serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner made from scratch for over 30 years.
Sher-Main Grill | Main-Dempster Mile: A staple for over 25 years, this hole-in-the-wall gem delivers exactly what it should: quick, delicious, reasonably priced, grilled food.
Sarkis Café | Central Street: Sarkis Café has been an Evanston institution since 1965. The restaurant was purchased by Jeff Cramin in 2000 and remains owned and operated by the Cramin family to this day. The menu items are as unique as the café itself. Their signature sandwiches are unlike any other and have many interesting back stories.
 Support Main Street businesses
Construction continues on Main Street, promising rehabbed roadways, updated streetscaping, sidewalk improvements, enhanced ADA accessibility, and more later this fall. In the meantime, get out and show your support to local Main Street businesses who need the extra TLC.
Did someone say "free parking"? As a reminder, up to four hours of free parking is available in Lot 24, located near the corner of Main Street and Sherman Avenue, as indicated by signage.
 Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival August 16-18
The streets of downtown Evanston will play host to the annual Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival next weekend, August 16-18. Join fellow art lovers in browsing thousands of original pieces from an impressive 150 juried artists.
 Help us plan for the new Downtown Civic Plaza
The City of Evanston's Economic Development Division is working on an exciting new project - a new public plaza in Downtown Evanston - and we want to hear from you! Take a few minutes to complete this short survey to help us understand what you'd like to see in this space.
See below for upcoming events and start planning your weekends! You can find the full calendar of events on the Enjoy Evanston website.
Downtown Evanston
Central Street
Ashland Arts
West Village
West End
Have a upcoming event?
Help us add to our calendar! We encourage you to submit all your upcoming events through our website.
Please review the following submission guidelines:
- Only public events may be listed
- Cannot be solely retail in nature
- Cannot be solely religious or political in nature
- Cannot be solely fundraisers or networking events
- Should be leisure time or recreational activities
Event eligibility is also evaluated on a case-by-case basis. At this time, we are only able to accept event listings in English.
 Meet Diana Hamann, The Wine Goddess
Meet Diana Hamann, owner of The Wine Goddess, a wine shop and bar located at 702 Main Street in the Main-Dempster Mile District. Here you will find a well-curated selection of interesting wines, an incredibly knowledgeable and friendly staff, and great place to hang out and try a glass (or bottle!) of your next favorite wine.
Read the full interview here.
KB: Can you share some of the history of your business?
DH: We opened December 27, 2012, because who needs Christmas? We started as just a retailer, then added wine classes and events, then morphed into a wine bar/retailer.
KB: What can folks expect if they come to the Wine Goddess?
DH: Not that it’s rocket science, but we really know wine here. So as my grandpa used to say, you can “swing a dead cat” and hit something great. Anytime we’re open, we’re also a wine bar, with wine, beer, and a small number of cocktails by the glass. We make a mean cheese and charcuterie plate, are known for our truffle-salted popcorn year round, and our frozen beverages in the summertime. We’re definitely community oriented, so at any given time you might see a neighbor or two either shopping, or having a frosé with friends.
KB: How do you set yourself apart from other retail shops?
DH: Our store is pretty! You can definitely tell chicks run the joint. Well, a bunch of ladies, and one General Manager in touch with his feminine side.
KB: How does the Main-Dempster Mile district support your business?
DH: MDM is always doing events like “Where’s Waldo,” which at first seem silly to us, but then all sorts of new people come through the door, so what do we know?
KB: Is there a fun fact you can share?
DH: Diana has played the title role in Annie three times.
KB: What is your favorite thing about owning a business in Evanston?
DH: I like the fact that over the years, our customers have become our friends. So every day you go to work with the comfort that you’ll be seeing a bunch of your pals come through the door.
Interested in learning more about wine? Check out their wine club and try new monthly selections (with write-ups!) or attend one of their classes or events.
 What do YOU enjoy about Evanston?
With ten unique business districts, there is something for everyone to enjoy! We want to hear about your favs. Tell us about your favorite places for health and fitness! Send us an email about your favorite store, studio or gym at hello@enjoyevanston.com.
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