Bongo Room Co-Founder John Latino Helped Define Chicago’s Brunch Culture | Eater Chicago

"A Wicker Park restaurant that helped usher in Chicago’s brunch phenomenon, theBongo Room was opened in 1993 by chef and founder John Latino and longtime partner Derrick Robles and earned legions of fans with a joyful, high-bar approach to breakfast and brunch. I recall the restaurant drawing long weekend lines down Milwaukee Avenue as customers queued for specialty pancakes and signature dishes such as fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes, banana bread French toast and blueberry pancakes; it embraced brunch at a time when many chefs loathed it and also served as a weekday breakfast haven for neighborhood locals. After debuting at 1560 N. Damen Avenue, the duo moved to a larger space in 1997 and later expanded to the South Loop (closed in 2019) and Andersonville (2012). Latino was a perfectionist who touched every plate, and his sudden death has left the restaurant and its community grieving and uncertain about the future of his distinctive seasonal menus." - Naomi Waxman