There are several reasons that The Hen of Lincoln Park (2423 N. Clark St.; Website Link Here ; is a popular brunch spot.

Nested in the heart of—surprise!—Lincoln Park, this casual spot is in a location that draws a lot of locals and visitors (especially during baseball season, when Cubs fans can dominate this area and Lake View).

However, it's also a good bet that the reasonably priced menu and delicious offerings also contribute to The Hen's popularity.

The dishes on The Hen's extensive menu can embody the essence of diner cuisine—not exotic but what you could call "stick-to-your-ribs" food. For example, omelets include the Hunter (bacon, sausage, ham and cheddar cheese) and the Cousin Vinny (Chicken sausage, onion, roasted red pepper, spinach, fresh mozzarella and pesto). The skillets include the O'Brien (perfectly cooked corned beef, onion, green pepper and Swiss cheese) and the, um, interestingly named Perfectly Un-Kosher Skillet (with bone-in ham, bacon, sausage, green peppers, onions and cheddar cheese). In addition, there are omnipresent offerings such as chilaquiles, the Breakfast Burger (with optional sunny-side-up egg), and chicken and waffles.

On the sweet side, dishes range from the basic (which isn't a bad thing) to those that are delightfully over the top. Waffles, pancakes and French toast are on full display but there are also items such as Black & White Full Stack (a stack of buttermilk pancakes with white and milk chocolate drizzle and chocolate chips) and apple churros French toast (French toast topped with cinnamon sugar, vanilla bean cream, warm brown sugar, and butter caramelized apples). For something slightly different but just as tasty, the cinnamon-roll French toast can't be beat. And the waffle flight (featuring four mini-waffles, each with a different topping) was sublime.

But don't think there are more healthful items, even within the previously mentioned categories. The Weld is an omelet with tomato, avocado, bacon and Havarti cheese while the Gatherer (as opposed to the Hunter) contains spinach, mushroom, onion, tomato, green peppers and Havarti cheese. Avocado and salmon toasts are also on the menu as well as various breakfast bowls (with varieties such as cauliflower rice and the Grainy Day, which has faro, quinoa, broccoli, yellow squash, poached egg and sesame seeds with sriracha tahini dressing). In addition, there's the popular Oatmeal Bar—a dairy-free item with four of your favorite toppings.

I heartily recommend a visit to The Hen. It has enough enticing (and filling) items to bring you back time and time again to sit alongside the locals and Cubs fans.

Note: This visit was arranged.