Sounding off: Designer Brunches

It's getting pretty heated over on LTHForum.com, where the fabulous foodies are debating over the price points at hip neighborhood brunch spots like Orange on Roscoe (2011 W. Roscoe St., 773-248-0999)--the popular eatery with outposts in Lakeview and the South Loop.

Here's a taste of comments:

"My bill for three for breakfast (at Orange) was in a similiar price range. 3 juices, 3 coffees, a few meats, a few entrees maybe an order of toast or something. It can get to the $60's quick."

"Sure you can cut corners, but with omelets and pancakes starting generally at $8 and specials at $10, you'd be wise to prepare for $20-$25/head whenever breakfasting nowadays at Orange, Bongo Room, and their ilk."

"I've eaten at most of these places recently, including Bongo Room, M. Henry, Wishbone, Walker Brother, and Orange on Harrison. Prices on their menus are remarkably consistent within this group, with $9 being the 'sweet spot' for most mains (with some less than that), $3.50-4.00 for a large juice, and $2-3 for coffee. I've gone over $20 only on the exceptional occasion when I have ordered more than one beverage, more than one food item, and/or an exceptionally expensive main (only a few are over $10). Based on my experience, I think that most people who order one main and one beverage will find themselves paying $12-20 including tax/tip pretty consistently. But order a large juice AND coffee, or get a dessert after your main, and yes, that's how you can end up over $20."

"Oh come on now! Everybody knows those breakfast places are more expensive than many neighborhood places, but it really depends on what you want to order. If you just want two scrambled eggs, you're better off at that coffee shop on the corner (or better still, McDonald's for around a dollar - although most people don't know that you can order eggs without meat there) rather than paying $5.95 for them at Orange or $4.95 for them at Bongo Room or M. Henry. But if you want a pancake 'flight' of four different kinds of pancakes (Orange, $10.95, one of only two items on their menu over $8.95), or creamy polenta topped with two eggs, sharp cheddar and fresh thyme, wrapped in applewood bacon and served atop a mixed greens salad (M. Henry, $8.95), or banana pancakes topped with crushed oreos served with warm vanilla bean cream and chocolate creme anglaise (Bongo Room, $8.95), then you'll need to go to one of those breakfast specialty places and pay the price. At any of these places, you can get a main for $8.95 and coffee for $2.50, thrown on tax and tip, and you're around $15; order more, and pay more. It's your choice; you can go where you want, and select whatever foods and beverages you want. . . . As soon as my local McDonald's starts selling a delicious puffed up cinnamony apple pancake for a dollar, and fresh squeezed orange juice for a dollar, I'm going to stop going to Walker Brothers. But I'm not holding my breath that that's ever going to happen."