Chicago Restaurant Spotlight: Flo

Spring arrived in Chicago on Saturday (and then promptly left again, but that is another story). Saturday was a sunny 70 degree day, so instead of lounging around at home cooking breakfast in my pajamas, we decided to go out for brunch. Charles suggested that we go to Flo, a Mexican restaurant in West Town, where we went on one of our first dates. We hadn't been to Flo in years - it somehow slipped off of our radar; finally returning an old date spot was a special treat.

Flo was just as we remembered it. It is a casual restaurant with a laid back vibe. There is usually a crowd of people waiting outside for tables. Free coffee is available while you wait, giving diners an extra incentive to patiently wait for a table. It was such a nice day that the wait flew right by.

The menu has several different breakfast cocktails, but I went for a mimosa since it sounded refreshing. We shared the chips and guacamole to start, because when you have brunch after noon, ordering an appetizer just makes sense. The chips are freshly made in house, and the guacamole is full of big chunks of avocado.

I had the huevos rancheros, while Charles had a gigantic Smothered Ranchero Burrito with potatoes. I love the simplicity of huevos rancheros. In it's most basic form, huevos ranchers consists of tortillas, red chili sauce, black beans, and fried eggs. Often the dish incorporates rice, cheese, and/or guacamole. At Flo the huevos rancheros begins with cheese stuffed tortillas, which are smothered with red chili sauce, and then topped with fried eggs with runny yolks. Black beans, pico de gallo, and extra tortillas are served on the side. This is the ultimate breakfast (especially if you indulged in a few beverages the night before) - it is cheesy, spicy, and packed with protein.

I will admit to reaching across the table several times to steal potatoes off Charles's plate. The Smothered Ranchero Burrito was a lot of food. It was stuffed with eggs, beef, black beans, cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream. The entire thing was smothered in red chili sauce. Charles must have been hungry, and this burrito must have been good because Charles quickly devoured every bite.

I am sure we won't be waiting long before we return to Flo's again. It is a fun and reasonably priced place for brunch. It is a little out of the way just because there isn't much happening on that section of Chicago Ave, but it is easily accessible from the 66 bus.

Flo's is located at 1434 West Chicago Avenue. They do not take reservations.