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  • 0

    Found this cafe through Yelp and was not disappointed. Had an excellent sandwich (BRD - Bacon, Ricotta, & Date) and soup. Highly recommended for lunch, looking forward to trying breakfast in the near future.

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  • 0

    Awesome sandwiches & crazy good cookies.

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  • 0

    My husband and I love this place. We first started going here over a year ago now, and we've been coming back almost weekly ever since. The place has become part of our lives, not only for the wonderful food but because of the amazing people. I love their pickled carrots and beets, and if it were possible, I could go the rest of my life sustaining myself on them alone.

    We decided to have our wedding rehearsal dinner at Birchwood and it was nothing short of spectacular. Jesse helped us plan everything, she was lovely to work with. Our friends and family raved about the food, we really couldn't have asked for a better time.

    Simply put, the service and food is wonderful, the owners are caring and generous, and the staff is kind.

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  • 0

    Fantastic!! We live nearby and eat here frequently. We have never had a bad meal. The food is divine and the service is fantastic!  I wish I could give it ten stars :-)

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  • 0

    Really great food! Super yummy. I've been here several times and never had a bad experience, or even close to it! Only downside I'd say is the place is small and sometimes you will have to wait a bit for a table but ...it is well worth it!

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  • 0

    I like it here. Birchwood Kitchen has a Portland type feel. The people are nice and the food is excellent. Come before 930am on weekends or you are going to have to wait for a table.  This place is hard to beat in terms of food quality, price, and location.

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  • 0

    Samples of zucchini bread as soon as we walked in, so instant fan. Two sandwiches: croque de madame and salmon on bagel. Both were really good, and I liked how the bagel was slightly burnt (intentional or not) because it really complimented the salmon flavor.

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  • 0

    Thinking about what to eat for lunch?  This place is heavenly. We were in the wicker park area and wanted to get lunch and a yelp search led us here. Everyone who worked here was so polite and friendly and made you feel right at home. The pot roast and the curry duck sandwich were to die for- and giant for only $9. Desserts are pretty cheap and irresistible  too at around $ 2-3 each. Definitely a must try- wish there were more original places like this right in the city!

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  • 0

    Yum, yum, yum, did I mention YUM?

    So how this works, you order after you are given a table. The most upbeat, awesome friendly people work there. Great coffee, great food, just an all around enjoyable brunch spot!

    My friend had the roasted veggie cakes and I had the chillaquilles (sp?) - fantastic!!! There is a fantastic back patio for when the weather is nice but overall just a great enjoyable meal and service!!!

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  • 0

    Yum yuuum yuuum! This hidden gem is just fantastic! The decor is fun and modern. The people here are sweet and kind. I must say that the owner is really hands on! I love their sandwiches, as well as their homemade soups and cheese plates. Everything is made from scratch and their combinations of flavors are creative!

    This is one of my favorite brunch spots in Chicago. Everything I've had here is really tasty but I have to say my ultimate favorite is the Speck sandwich. Nom nom! I always swing by this place too just to grab some delicious sweets to take home. During the summer, my fiance and I like to dine out on their great back deck that has gorgeous greenery. Bottomline is...Birchwood Kitchen certainly never disappoints! Make sure to check this place out! I love it!

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  • 0

    I simply cannot wait to come back here!
    Stopped in for a quick lunch with the girls and had a wonderful time.
    The decor is fun, modern, and cozy.  Like many Wicker Park hot spots, this place is not big.
    We were greeted by the staff as soon as we walked in.  It was refreshing to see so many happy friendly faces.  They explained that we order at the register and they would bring out the food.  After several questions, followed by helpful and educated answers, we all ordered.

    Everything we had at the table was absolutely delicious.  I'm fairly certain there wasn't a crumb left on any plate.

    - Pot Roast Sandwich- tender delicious meat, perfect baguette that kept the sandwich all together. Delicious!
    - Speck Sandwich- I just tried a bite or two, but I loved it!  Perfect combination and fresh.

    Be sure to give this place a try! You won't be disappointed!

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  • 0

    My boyfriend and I got breakfast here a bunch before we moved a neighborhood south :(  I've only ever eaten their egg sandwiches, french toast, and grilled cheese.  But they were all so good that we came back a lot.  I love the vibe here too.  Laid back, but attentive.  The seating/ordering situation is different, but someone always comes right up to you when you enter to make sure you know how it works.  I will miss this place.  Friendly and delicious.

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  • 0

    This is the nicest, most welcoming staff in all of Chicago. What a lovely group of people! I so often run into a wait staff who has that "trendier than thou" attitude, but you will not find that here. They are so gracious, but not in a Bennigan's sort of way, just lovely. I had the smoked salmon sandwich, and it was delicious, just perfect. The place is warm and inviting, and I'm going back ... YUM!

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  • 0

    Everything is so fresh! They change their menu seasonally, so you know you are getting the best selection. The bread is phenomenal and their housemade chips? PLEASE forget about it. Service is friendly and simple, just like the decor, which lets the food shine through.

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  • 0

    As much as I love and trust Yelp, this is one of those rare occasions where the Yelp hype let me down.  Despite the promising menu descriptions and the super friendly staff, the sandwiches were unsatisfying.  The chickpea sandwich was a total disappointment.  Bread was hard as a rock and the sandwich consisted of little else but cold, mashed chickpeas and lots of lettuce.  The goat cheese and pickled beets sandwich was a little better but also bland.  Everything from the sandwiches to the salad and side pickles was on the acidic side leaving a vinegary aftertaste reminiscent of a bad deli cole slaw.  

    The saving grace here thought was the dessert.  Carrot cake was perfect and butterscotch cookie was absolutely fantastic.  I'm torn on whether to return here for lunch again but won't hesitate to drop by for a snack when the sweet tooth strikes.

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  • 0

    I got married here. (smallish dinner party)
    And I love them.
    And I love Laine and Jesse. And everyone.
    And if I could eat their food every day -- I would.
    The End.

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  • 0

    The food is very good, but the staff is great. Seriously, everyone was so nice, and went above and beyond. We placed a large order, but forgot to get a fruit cup side for my infant son, and they gave it to us on the house. Furthermore, they came to my table to ask if there was anything I would like in it specifically, and if I needed a knife to cut into baby sized pieces. How nice is that?!
    Anyway...the food. Very good. The portions are good sized, and we enjoyed the variety of sides. I got the croque madame. The mustard taste was the tiniest bit strong for my taste, but really that is more a personal preference and did overall enjoy it. I got a simple side of greens with it and they were dressed perfectly! This seems like a small thing to mention but let me tell you how many places get it wrong. If I were to make a suggestion, it would be please improve your cutlery. My fork bent repeatedly when trying to cut into my food. Another guest at my table had the same experience. It was really frustrating.
    Back to the positive things though. I stole enough bites of my husband's Cheddar Classic with Roasted tomato and Bacon to say that it was also fantastic!
    Great back patio, great free coffee while  you wait.

    So in summation, get rid of the forks and keep the people.

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  • 0

    I really wanted to love this place but our experience here left us feeling otherwise.

    My husband and I went here for brunch this morning and he ordered the mojo lamb (which was deccent but not great) and I ordered the shrimp and grits. I had to spit my first bite out because the shrimp had gone bad.

    We hailed down the server who took the plate away and then the manager showed up to tell us that she tasted the shrimp herself and that it tasted fine and I must have gotten a bad bite or something! She then asked me if I would like something else and so i ordered the quiche with a side salad. I especially requested that she make sure they leave out the onions from my salad and she said she would take care of it.

    20 mins late the quiche arrives and there are onions in my salad. The managers response was "ooh well they are easy to pick out"

    We also ordered the ricotta cakes but they were charred and the charred flavor overtook the whole dish.

    I couldn't imagine going back here again. The only good part about the meal was that the manager bought over the $$ that we paid for the shrimp and grits and did not charge us for the quiche.

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  • 0

    So this one time, I went for a run and stuck $10 in my key pocket for a post-run meal from Birchwood. I inadvertently ordered $10.95 worth of food and before I could change my order, the gentleman behind the counter pulled $1 from his own pocket to cover me. Amazing.

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  • 0

    i tried so hard to love this place.  they have so many great ideas, but just never really inspire with their execution quality. Execution is everything. Sorry, fail to execute at anything above average.  I still come here, because I like the idea of it, but it doesn't excite.

    mostly overrated.

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  • 0

    Birchwood Kitchen is easily one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago and a place that I miss now that I've moved away. I love the casual feel of ordering at the counter combined with incredibly tasty yet affordable food, a clean and appealing decor, and exceptional service. They also have a beautiful outdoor patio and serve Metropolis coffee (my Chicago favorite).  

    I typically stayed away from the busy weekend brunch. Instead I frequently popped in for carryout on the way home from work (often times not being able to resist eating the oatmeal butterscotch cookie before getting all the way home) or stopped in for dinner on a weeknight to share a bottle of wine (BYOB) and some girl talk with a friend.

    Birchwood Kitchen is definitely on my list of places to go on future trips back to Chicago.

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  • 0

    Nomnomnom.  I have just devoured my pot roast sandwich (red wine braised pot roast, roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, cheddar spread, baguette) and it had surprisingly complex flavors.  The pot roast is melt-in-your-mouth perfectly cooked and the cheddar spread gave it a nice tang.  I don't particularly taste the onions, but I'm not complaining.  The baguette tasted fresh and the pot roast juices mixed in to give it a nice soft flavorful texture without getting mushy.  I also got the tomato herb soup (the special of the day). Also the perfect balance of flavors with a nice herb punch, small pieces of tomato and basil to give it some texture.  It has a hint of creaminess which intensifies the tomato rather than covering unworthy flavors.  Very satisfying.  

    Also noteworthy: the lovely staff!  Everyone went out of their way to be helpful and nice, and at the end one of them came out to make sure we had everything we needed for our to-go order and to visit with our dog.  It was super funny you could tell he really wanted to pet him and get in there but didn't because of "health code reasons."  I can appreciate that! haha.  Nice bunch, we'll be back!  Speaking of bunch, those brunch photos look pretty great.

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  • 0

    Went on a sucky first date here, but they had really good coffee so I guess that helped.

    And the place is cute.

    And they only have one bathroom, so when you want to get away from your date for a spell there'll probably be a line, thus buying you more time.

    I prob should go back and try it when I am not in the midst of an hour long full-body cringe. I hate dating.

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  • 0

    Very nice place and friendly staff!!

    Had the goat cheese sandwich and loved it!! My husband had the meatloaf sandwich and enjoyed it very much.

    Great place!!

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  • 0

    Oh my yum!

    So flippin delicious.

    Ever in the mood for lunch food but it's before 10am? Have no fear, Birchwood is here!

    The bf and I made the walk over to Birchwood. We were curious about their brunch menu, but decided to stick with good ol' sandwiches. Being a vegetarian, I was LOVING their several veggie options (hot & cold sandwiches, salads and soups).

    I was reading an article on Chicago's top 50 sandwiches and saw the goat cheese sandwich from Birchwood listed. Skeptical of how good this could be, I went ahead and ordered it....

    Good grief, how have I not been here before??? The bread is perfect, and the goat cheese/beet/arugula combo is AMAZING. I don't even like beets that much, but these are pickled beets and are awesome.

    I was really sad when my sandwich ended, but luckily some of the goat cheese fell on to my huge side salad, which also included pickled onions. Delish. I was stuffed!

    I got the hazelnut latte with skim milk, and was blown away how sweet but not oversweet this was....still craving it, mmm.

    All in all, I've definitely spent double on brunch and felt unsatisfied. Come here. You won't be dissapointed.

    Also, the bf got the curried duck (weekday special) and said the curry tasted like the type his dad made! He loved it.

    You deserve all the hype Birchwood!!!!!!

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  • 0

    Friendly staff and amazing FOOD!   The burgers are only offered on week nights but that's probably the best thing, otherwise i'd be there for dinners on weekends as well.  bacon cheese burger rocks!  salmon salad sandwich, mushroom sandwich, meatload sandwiches are all amazing... it doesn't hurt that the place is also a BYOB!

    Brunches can be a bit hectic but not if you show up before 10.  Their menu changes every couple of months and the newest addition to the brunch... the curry pancakes was just awesome.

    Lemonade with ginger.. phenomenal.
    Peachcobbler, carrot cake, etc.. you will develop an addiction.

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  • 0

    The hot meatloaf sandwich (garlic-herb meatloaf, tomato fennel compote, gruyere cheese, sour dough bread) was delicious! My boyfriend ordered this with a side of chips, and I ordered the speck sandwich with a side of salad. We split the sandwiches, and I think I like his selection more. It was so juicy and soft and tender! OMG! And I loved the melted and slightly burnt gruyere cheese.

    My salad was amazing. My speck sandwich (smoked prosciutto, manchego, fig almond butter, baguette) was good too, but I thought the bread was a little too hard (but it's not as hard as Pastoral's so it's all good) and the figs made it a little too sweet for me.

    The customer service was great. When I asked to get my half of the speck sandwich wrapped to-go, the guy behind the counter wrapped it and taped the paper down as if I had ordered a to-go sandwich. I was expecting a DIY to-go service, so that was pretty awesome.

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  • 0

    Cute, affordable, no fuss. That's what I want in a brunch, and Birchwood delivers. The menu is small, but they switch it up with with a few specials each week. I would highly recommend the croque vert and breakfast sandwich.

    I've ordered a salad before and was not a huge fan of pickled vegetables atop already raw things -- something to keep in mind if you're craving a salad but might want some warm or cooked ingredients.

    I do love the casual atmosphere, but am not sure how I feel about the self-serve for coffee and such. I get that it cuts down on costs but for brunch feels odd to get up and refill your coffee. Oh well, hardly a deal-breaker, I'd be back many more times (especially to try their dinner) if I wasn't moving!

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  • 0

    Oh, not the damn Birchwood again.  Is anyone else just sick and tired of these little places with marvelous food and great outdoor seating and good service?  I have no patience for this.  I'm tired and I just can't take one more second of this crap.  I love it.  I went here once over the summer and I visited today to throat punch Chicago Magazine's #8 sandwich, The Smoked Salmon Salad.  

    I bust my ass to get here and back to work before my lunch hour is up and I find that the place is packed of shiftless layabouts (by that, I really just mean normal folk).  What are you people doing!?!  Do you think this is happy Friday funtime early weekend lunch? It's not the weekend yet, get your asses back to work!

    The smoked salmon salad sandwich is lovely.  Something in the salad had an unexpected crunch (perhaps the arugula) which I feel is an essential component to this first-rate salmon sandwich.  Lots of complexity with the onion, sage, squash and what might have been a hint of anise... perhaps?

    I know I'll get the, "Keith, you love everything.  When are you going to hate something again?  You can really hate the shit out of something.  You suck at liking stuff and we hate your face".  Settle down my vast assortment of delightfully unrefined minions, for there will be plenty of culinary shit masterpieces that will require enlightenment.  For now, please enjoy a salmon dish that does not suck for once in your life.

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  • 0

    Seriously- 5 star! This place really delivers. Lots of variety and lots of vegetarian options- score! The veggie chili is amazing and the veggie sandwiches are super flavorful and delish. Also- try one of the desserts. Lemon bars are especially tasty.
    If I lived closer I'd probably stop here once a week. One downer- gets super crowded on weekends at brunch time so plan accordingly. I like Birchwood for dinner. Less crowd, just as delicious :)

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  • 0

    Great food, we picked up takeout from here for the first time for lunch since I had to be back at home to work.

    I got the croque madame - it was delicious and not nearly as rich and overwhelming as they usually make them in France.  There they tend to include bechamel in addition to the egg on top, but this once was just the ham, cheese and mustard on the inside of the sandwich and egg on top.  It was nicely done, with just enough mustard to give it a zing, but not enough to overpower the other ingredients.  The dried herbs sprinkled on top added a bit of depth to it as well that I wasn't expecting.  It gets an A+ in my book.

    My boyfriend had the meatloaf sandwich (which I also tried) and he loved it.  It's rich, and there's a definite spice kick to it, but it was delicious.  The bread for both of these sandwiches was great, perfectly toasted/grilled (not sure which).  

    We also snagged a bit of the chicken and white bean soup, which was the soup of the day.  A bit salty, but that's honestly to my liking, and it wasn't overwhelming.  

    I definitely want to come back for a sit-down brunch or lunch, I'm ready to try more of the tempting menu!

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  • 0

    Solid, solid spot. I'm really glad I found this via yelp. I stayed in Wrigleyville for the weekend, but figured that this place was worth driving to (despite many detours due to road construction!).

    Meatloaf sandwich- strong garlic taste (awesome), the meatloaf itself was meaty, yet had good balance of veggies in it without tasting spongy. The sourdough was crispy end-to end, but not burnt. Well done.  

    Pork Sandwich- this was amazing. The habanero aioli put wings on this sandwich and made my taste buds fly...I wish I had more than just a bite- I took this sandwich to go for my friend.

    If I had the time, I would've preferred to sit down and have brunch with my wife here, despite the hectic nature of this place.

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  • 0

    Okay, let me preface this review by saying that the food here is really good.

    I'm giving this place a one star review because I came in for brunch this morning and there were a good half dozen open tables.  This is a super small place so that's like half the restaurant. I sat at one of the open tables while waiting for my brunch mate... then was asked to get up.

    The girl with the clipboard invites me to stand and wait until the rest of my party was here.  Let me reiterate... this is a small restaurant. The only place to wait was in front of the door.  It was very awkward.

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  • 0

    This place is great!! In that area in the daytime it's not easy to find non-chain, non-bar, non-busy restaurants without plunging into the craziness of 6 corners. I was so thrilled to walk in and see an open kitchen, fresh/gourmet options, and decent prices.

    I had the steak sandwich and it was delicious!! The side salad was such a nice option (field greens vs. iceberg lettuce).

    I will definitely be back to dine in or carry out!

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  • 0

    I enjoy these Chicago places that do not feel like Chicago. More like a little trip out of town. The staff feel like old friends, even on a first visit. But walking into the narrow old storefront with the exposed brick walls and clean woody decor, Birchwood seemed like a restaurant in Brattleboro, VT or Boulder CO*. Even the other peeps there felt like they were from elsewhere. That couple from a Cialis commercial, the fresh-faced blond students, or the backpackers.

    Arriving for lunch at prime time, just after noon, there was plenty of seating. They boasted a new menu for fall., We both chose the meatloaf sandwich, with a cup of white bean and swiss chard soup. For a clear broth, the flavors were nicely complex, the greens earthy, and there was just enough spattering of a red pepper, giving the broth a little kick. The meatloaf sandwich was made with toasted sourdough bread. It was filled with softly textured and delightfully herbed fresh meatloaf, fresh tomato relish and melted cheese. Sorry mom, but it was the best meatloaf sandwich I've ever wrapped my mouth around. I took the chips with it but you can get salad, too.

    The menu in general has a reasonable amount of cold and hot sandwich offerings, some brunch or breakfast items, a few salads (visible in their deli case) and of course bakery dessert items. Service is that hybrid type where you order at the counter, and they deliver. Our service were very timely, helpful and warm. The prices are moderate and what one would expect for an urban bakery.

    Toward the end of our lunch, one of those drop dead Wicker Park couples walked in. The nice small town granola/academic atmosphere slipped away as I remembered I was back in Chicago. And stepping out to the North Ave.traffic only confirmed that fact.  Can't wait to come back and work my way through the menu. Birchwood is definitely a top sandwich destination, and I'm sure the other offerings are just dandy, too. As my friend Matt says, "it's all good."

    *And yes, I've been to these places.

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  • 0

    I wish I lived closer to this place.  I would be there everyday for breakfast and lunch, and petition them to open later on the weekends so that I could be there for dinner.  

    I was there on a Saturday for brunch.  The place was packed of course.  I was greeted by a friendly host.  He said there would be a 15 minute wait.  A place with a reputation like Birchwood, I was expecting that so it was not a big deal.  He handed my friends and I brunch menus and lead us to their complementary coffee stand.  Nice touch!

    15 minutes later, the host told us our table was ready.  Turns out it was an outdoor table.  It kind of annoyed me that he didn't tell us it would be a 15 minute wait for an outdoor table and a 30 minute wait for an indoor table.  I think that's something the customer should know.  Anyhow, it was about 10 degrees hotter than hell that day so I wasn't too excited about the table. However, I was hungry! So outside, it was! When we sat down, my friend was smacked right in the face with the sun.  We were at a table with no umbrella.  We asked the host to move to a different table because of that and they were very accommodating.  

    Onto the food.  I ordered the Croque Madame.  Everything about it was delicious.  The ham:  tasty.  The gruyere: melted to perfection. The sour dough bread:  had the right amount of crunch to it.  The eggs: also good.  Even the salad was good.  It was a green mix, possibly arugula with a lemony dressing.    

    My friend got the carrot cake for dessert.  I tried some of it and was in heaven.  It was so good.  Not too sweet.  The cake was moist and had a good amount of carrot and  spice flavor.  The light sweetness of the frosting complemented the cake well.  Yum yum.

    I will be back for more!

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  • 0

    This place was recommended to me by Candice G and much to my surprise its RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from my apartment.
    How had I missed this gem?

    Anyway I ate here for breakfast and can't say enough good things about my experience. The staff was great and the place had a really cool vibe.
    I got a cup of coffee and the duck hash and it kind of blew my mind a little. One of the best breakfasts of my life. Eggs, sweet potatoes, duck, and all kinds of leafy green goodness? YES PLEASE.

    My date got the breakfast sandwich which she loved and was kind enough to share with me. I also really enjoyed it but not as much as the tasty and unique duck hash.

    If you come here on a nice day I highly recommend sitting out back as its beautiful and just has one of the nicest atmospheres I've found.

    I shall be returning here very soon!

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  • 0

    If Disney is deemed the "happiest place on earth" then this place could come in a very close second! As soon as you walk in you're greeted by a smiling face who directs you to the counter to order.  Surprisingly on a Saturday morning around 11am it was not busy.  Good for us!

    I wanted to eat every scrumptious looking pastry behind that case!  Good thing I practiced a little self control.  I ordered up a chai tea, which came from a tea company I had never heard of, Two Leaves Tea Company, but will now be ordering in bulk!  First plus of the morning.  

    Second plus of the morning was my amazing Smoked Salmon on top of egg salad and a sesame bagel.  The bagel was divine!  Not hard, but soft and fresh, like it had been baked that morning.  The egg salad was a nice mixture of egg and mayo and the salmon was perfect, not too overly salty like smoked salmon could be.  Just perfect!  It was so large in fact that I could hardly finish on side of the bagel!  It might be ideal for sharing with a side of fresh fruit.  

    Third plus was the amazingly friendly service.  I think I could have chatted with the guy ringing our meal up for days.  We may actually be best friends now.  I may actually be best friends with everyone there, considering their jovial attitude.  It's just a pleasure giving business to a spot that fosters a good environment and amazing food!

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  • 0

    No table service!

    That was a rude awakening on a Sunday morning.  I am not all about carrying my coffee AND oj AND silverware to my table that I have to pick out when I am not yet thinking clearly because it is 10am and I don't really wake up until after I consume caffeine.  Yes, I am a night owl.

    Besides that Birchwood is pretty fantastic.  I mean, the food is the best.  The people that work there are so friendly and nice (even though they won't serve you).  

    There is nothing else quite on their level.  A++++

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  • 0

    Came in here for brunch today and was greeted as soon as we walked in the door.  We were given menus and were instructed to take a look, order at the cashier and then have a seat.
    I went with the Croque Madame and DAMN was it good!  Sourdough bread, guyere, ham and Dijon topped with two over easy eggs and a side salad. Eggs were cooked perfectly and the salad was refreshing.  The room is big and inviting and there was also an outdoor patio. I'd go back!

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