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‘Ethereal’ Balsan Launches a Seriously Hearty Brunch Menu

Photo: Helen Rosner

Pay attention, because the Elysian Hotel’s more casual restaurant Balsan has added brunch to its menu. No half measures here (after all, this is the Chicago Mag’s Penny Pollack called “ethereal,” “shockingly creative and delicious,” and “a contender for the best new restaurant of the year,” and it’s only been open a week) — the edited menu leans heavily towards the savories. Think a breakfast sandwich of fried egg, goat cheese, sweet peppers, and chorizo (there it is again), or cured sea trout with potato rösti, poached egg, and smoked roe. Those with sweet tooths are still taken care of, though, with a complement of breakfast pastries and a brioche french toast that comes with fig compote, citrus mascarpone, and an actual honeycomb. Read on for the full selection.

Brunch at Balsan is served Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

SMALL PLATES


Almond croissant - $5.00
Breakfast pastry - $5.00
Classic sticky bun - $5.00
Granola parfait wth whole milk yogurt and fruit preserves - $9.00
Cured sea trout with potato rösti, poached egg and smoked roe - $12.00
Housemade sausage with quince, grits and pickled mustard seed - $12.00
French onion soup with Uplands cheese and crouton - $10.00

LARGE PLATES
Fried oyster po’ boy with apple-celery root rémoulade - $15.00
Brioche French toast with fig compote, honeycomb and citrus mascarpone - $14.00
Breakfast sandwich with chorizo, fried egg, goat cheese and sweet peppers - $15.00
Croque madame with maple ham, sunnyside-up egg, Uplands cheese and fries - $15.00
Burger with sweet onion marmalade, Rogue River blue, arugula, pickles and fries - $14.00
Omelette with Bleu Mont bandaged cheddar, fries and heirloom ketchup - $15.00
Chicken and bread salad with watercress, pears, mustard and croutons - $16.00
Tarte flambée with fried egg - $16.00

SIDES
Fresh-cut fries with heirloom tomato ketchup - $4.00
Housemade sausage - $4.00

COCKTAILS
Aviation - $12.00
Gin, maraschino, crème de violette
Night & Day - $12.00
Cognac, Cointreau, Aperol, Champagne
Negroni - $12.00
Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth
Old Fashioned - $12.00
Rye, orange, cherry, sugar, soda
The Last Word - $12.00
Gin, Yellow Chartreuse, maraschino
‘Ethereal’ Balsan Launches a Seriously Hearty Brunch Menu