Photo Credit: @citymousechicago via Instagram
Chicago’s Ace Hotel – the laid-back, cool hotel chain from Alex Calderwood – isn’t set to open until this fall, but the hotel’s new restaurant City Mouse squeaked its way into existence in the West Loop this week.
The new spot’s name, City Mouse, is a pull from the favorite story of one of Chef Jason Vincent’s daughters – “The City Mouse and the Country Mouse.” The whimsical moniker’s backstory is emblematic of the charming nature of City Mouse: the logo is a dignified rodent face in the shape of a heart and a sign announces that brunch is now available with a “promise” that dinner is coming soon.
While brunch is all you can get there right now, the location is going all-in on the usually weekend-only midday affair by offering it seven days a week from 7am – 3pm. The casual hubris of inviting people to enjoy egg dishes and cocktails at 11am on a Tuesday is precisely what has made Ace Hotel properties so inviting since their inception in the Pacific Northwest. It is a vibe that easily mixes a few suits in a breakfast meeting with a couple of artists in town from some distant coast.
Photo Credit: @citymousechicago via Instagram
The culinary spirit of City Mouse is to offer “a menu of seasonal fare inspired by the Midwest.” The opening announcement showcases some of what diners can look forward to:
Led by Giant Chefs Jason Vincent and Ben Lustbader and Ace Chicago/City Mouse Executive Chef Pat Sheerin, the restaurant’s brunch menu includes the following … a Gas Station Sandwich with egg and hash browns on an English muffin with American cheese and breakfast sausage, Milk Toast with cashew, coconut, stonefruit jam, caramelized milk, and Mexican chocolate ice cream; and Sweet Cornmeal Griddle Cakes with pork shoulder ragu, runny eggs, maple, and hollandaise.
While Chicagoans will have to wait with baited breath for dinner – and what is sure to be a hot nightlife spot – to step their way onto the scene, the decadent brunch at City Mouse is sure to only enhance the buzz around this hip neighborhood hub for the weeks ahead.
Photo Credit: @citymousechicago via Instagram
City Mouse
311 North Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607
Brunch: 7am – 3pm