Maybe the only good thing about rising early on a weekend morning is beating the brunch rush at M. Henry’s, 5707 N Clark St (773-561-1600), a popular Edgewater restaurant that opens at 6 a.m. and has people milling about on the sidewalk outside by 9:30. Luckily for all of those who love the blackberry bliss cakes (thick, fluffy pancakes layered with mascarpone, homemade granola and fresh berries), when Roman Bakery closed next door, M. Henry’s quietly took over the space.
It didn’t so much double the size of the restaurant (though there are about a third more seats, which will make for a shorter sidewalk wait) as add a cute cafe and bakery. On a recent trip for brunch, I noticed both sweets and savories that you won’t find on the restaurant menu next door (mini-pizzas, fancy loaves of bread, mini-pies and tarts) as well as some things you can get next door but now gleefully can enjoy at home (a large selection of homemade soups, the pancake mix and homemade granola that have sometimes warranted an hour and a half wait). The cafe space may be a little small to camp out with a laptop, but it’s a perfectly charming spot to share a cup of tea or a bowl of soup with a friend.