Where to Eat Before the Cubs Game: Start at Batter & Berries
Where to Eat Before the Cubs Game: Start at Batter & Berries
Game Day Starts at the Table
There's nothing quite like a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. The ivy, the rooftops, the crowd — it's a Chicago institution. But before you grab your seat in the bleachers, there's a crucial question every Cubs fan needs to answer: where are we eating?
Sure, you could grab a hot dog inside the park. But Chicago is one of the greatest food cities in the world, and Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville are packed with incredible options just minutes from the ballpark. Whether you're heading to a day game or an evening start, the pregame meal is part of the experience.
We've scoured the neighborhood, and one place stands above the rest for breakfast and brunch — Batter & Berries on Lincoln Avenue. Here's everything you need to know.
The Must-Visit: Batter & Berries — Lincoln Park
If you're heading to a day game — or if you just love a legendary brunch before an afternoon at Wrigley — Batter & Berries on Lincoln Avenue is your answer. This Black-owned Chicago gem has been redefining what breakfast and brunch can look like since 2012, and it has become one of the most celebrated brunch spots in the entire city.
Location & Hours
- Address: 2748 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
- Phone: (773) 248-7710
- Mon, Fri–Sun: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Tue–Thu: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Website: batterandberries.com
Why Batter & Berries Is the Perfect Pregame Spot
Founded by Dr. Tanya and Craig Richardson, Batter & Berries was built on a simple but powerful idea: offer the freshest food possible with flavors that people would come from all over the world to experience. That vision has paid off in a big way. The restaurant has been featured on the Travel Channel, Check Please (WTTW), Chicago's Best (WGN), and more — and for good reason.
"The idea was simple: offer the freshest food possible with flavors that people would come from all over the world to experience, and want to come back for more." — Founders Dr. Tanya & Craig Richardson
The Lincoln Park location at 2748 N Lincoln Ave puts you in prime position for game day. You're a short ride or a pleasant walk to Wrigley Field, which means you can linger over your French toast flight, sip your coffee, and still make it to the park in time for first pitch.
What to Order: The Must-Try Dishes
The French Toast Flight
The signature dish. A sampler of strawberry, blueberry, lemon, and caramel French toasts — each with its own distinct batter and sauce. The lemon one tastes like lemon cake. Unforgettable.
Cluck & Gaufre (Chicken & Waffles)
Award-winning chicken and waffles with cinnamon-sugar waffles. This dish alone has earned Batter & Berries a devoted following. A true Chicago classic, elevated.
Ribeye Omelette
7oz Linz Heritage Angus Ribeye with grilled onions, mushrooms, and a cabernet sauce — paired with cheese-crusted hash browns. Fuel for nine innings.
Brisket Hash
12-hour coffee and ancho chili braised brisket over caramelized onion and cheddar hash browns, topped with a fried egg. Rich, smoky, and deeply satisfying.
Specialty Pancakes
From fresh blueberry batter to lemon zest with candied walnuts, these are not your average pancakes. House-made and built with fresh, natural ingredients.
Bottomless Brunch Vibes
It's BYOB — bring the champagne and they'll bring the OJ. The ultimate way to pregame a Cubs afternoon with bottomless mimosas and world-class food.
Pro Gameday Tip
Batter & Berries gets busy — especially on weekend game days. Plan to arrive when the doors open (8 AM on weekends) or use their waitlist via the website. The wait is worth it, but getting a seat without the wait is even better. For afternoon games, arriving at 9–10 AM gives you a relaxed, unhurried pregame experience.
The Atmosphere: A Neighborhood Gem
Step inside and you'll feel it immediately: this is a restaurant that people love. The staff is warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely happy to help you navigate the menu. The space is cozy and community-focused, and the energy on a game day — with Cubs fans trading predictions over French toast — is something special.
The restaurant prides itself on using fresh, all-natural ingredients and has cultivated partnerships with local Chicago artisans and purveyors, giving every meal a uniquely Chicago character. As a Black-owned business that has thrived for over a decade in Lincoln Park, Batter & Berries is the kind of place you want to support — and the kind of place that makes you a regular after just one visit.
Getting to Wrigley from Batter & Berries
From 2748 N Lincoln Ave, Wrigley Field is about 1.5 miles north. Take the CTA Red Line from Fullerton to Addison (just two stops), or enjoy the 25-minute walk up Lincoln Avenue through one of Chicago's most beautiful neighborhoods. Perfect for walking off that French Toast Flight before the first pitch.
The Bottom Line: Start at Batter & Berries
A Cubs game at Wrigley is already one of the best experiences Chicago has to offer. Pair it with a meal at Batter & Berries and you've turned a great day into an unforgettable one. Whether you're a first-time visitor to Chicago or a lifelong North Sider, this is the pregame ritual you need in your life.
Fresh ingredients, innovative dishes, a welcoming atmosphere, and a French Toast Flight that genuinely deserves its world-famous reputation — Batter & Berries at 2748 N Lincoln Avenue is the place to be before the first pitch.
Add your name to the waitlist, or just show up early. However you get there, just get there.
Let's go, Cubs. ⚾