"As quintessentially Logan Square as The Logan Theatre or a stroll through the farmers’ market, Lula Cafe is best known for its friendly-not-intrusive service, brunch, and fantastic farm-to-table food since before that was a marketing tactic. And after 25 years, Lula remains a works-for-all-occasions neighborhood spot that consistently turns seasonal produce into plates that incite head turns and sunglasses getting pushed down for optimal ogling. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Lula Cafe is the type of reliable restaurant that any neighborhood would be lucky to have. Its controlled sprawl spans a patio, a worn-in bar perfect for after-work catch-ups with a glass of wine, and a cozy dining room that packs in a ton of tables among walls decked out with a serious art program and dim lighting that fill the space with a warm glow. That is to say, Lula can house (and please) everyone. photo credit: Christina Slaton photo credit: Kyle Kissel photo credit: Kyle Kissel The menu at Lula pretty much feels like the restaurant incarnation of a farmers’ market. Besides a handful of staples—like the pasta yiayia or chickpea fries that look like churros—there’s usually a variety of pasta, meat, and seafood, plus a strong selection of vegetable-based dishes. But that also means much of the date-stamped menu rotates regularly, so don’t get too attached to that grilled baby corn. Sometimes flavors fall flat, but nothing is ever over-dressed, the produce clearly shines, and flaws are never extreme to the point that we get that mad. Besides, it’s like getting mad at an old friend, which is hard to seriously do. Seasonal produce aside, if you haven’t dined at Lula Cafe in a while, your next meal here probably won’t be that different from the last. But it’s that consistency and homey feeling that fills us with Midwestern pride and makes this spot a Chicago classic. Food Rundown The menu at Lula Cafe changes regularly, but here are a few examples of dishes you might find. Beet Bruschetta Remember those head turns we mentioned? This well-done classic combo of lightly dressed kale mixed with beets, goat cheese, and pecans atop crusty bread will definitely invite some craning necks. Baked French Feta A baked piece of feta cheese with jalapeno-basil oil, marinated olives, and cucumber is going to be good ten times out of ten. The grilled bread it comes with is hearty and fantastic. Make sure to spread a healthy portion of cheese on that bread. photo credit: Veda Kilaru Plums and Prosciutto A seasonal dish involving prosciutto topped with thin slices of plum and lightly candied chopped black walnuts. There’s a nice crunch from the nuts which works well with prosciutto, but the plums don’t do much besides competing in a beauty pageant against the bright pops of color from the sprinkling of marigold. photo credit: Veda Kilaru Pork Chop A nice piece of meat that’s juicy and tender. The skin could be crispier and the peach-shishito flavor doesn’t totally come through, but this is a perfectly pleasant dish. photo credit: Veda Kilaru Chickpea And Fennel Tagine This is a staple on the menu, and for good reason. We love that the chickpeas retain a nice bite and aren’t relegated to mush, and the mild, lightly spiced curry-esque sauce is practically made for sopping up with the side of grilled bread. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Pasta ‘Yiayia’ Another staple, and arguably the most famous dish at Lula. When it’s delivered to the table, you might be mistaken and think it’s dessert, thanks to the sweet and overpowering smell of brown butter and cinnamon. The bucatini noodles are great, but we’ll be the first to admit that the creamy feta-crispy garlic slices-brown butter-cinnamon combo can be polarizing. photo credit: Kyle Kissel Brunch We have always enjoyed brunch at Lula, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention it. You can get everything from omelets and breakfast burritos to smoked trout scrambles and sweet dishes like coconut tres leches french toast—it’s all good." - Veda Kilaru
