"Ria’s Bluebird, by the Oakland Cemetery in Grant Park, feels like a classic diner that was taken over by artsy SCAD students with a thing for colorful mosaics. Ria’s is rightly famous for their buttermilk pancakes, and there’s really nothing that disappoints here. Grab a seat at the counter and get the slow-cooked brisket with poached eggs or, our favorite, the country-fried tempeh, which is covered in a white pepper gravy and sits on a big biscuit with tomato slices. Note that there’s always a wait here on weekends, but friendly staff will offer you coffee while you wait. And out of respect for the interred across the street, please avoid telling the staff that you’re so hungry you could die." - nina reeder, juli horsford, demarco williams, jacinta howard
"The World's Best Pancakes. Need we say more? Ria's is truly a beloved gem in Grant Park. Coming to Ria's is like coming home. The food is truly spectacular, from the Brisket Breakfast to the Country Fried Tempeh (I know what you're thinking, but trust us, it's amazing), Ria's has never once disappointed. You walk in, put your name on the list, then go right back outside, no matter rain or shine. This system keeps away the haters, it's great. When your name is called, your heart flutters and you feel the butterflies in your tummy, all in anticipation of the wonders that are to come. We love Ria's, we know you will too." - Matchstic
"It would be a shame if you didn’t get to taste the world’s greatest pancakes while you're in the city. These butter-rich, fluffy hot cakes are worth every minute of the usual 30 to 45-minute wait to get a table. And there’s really nothing that disappoints at Ria's (other than the views since it's located across the street from the historic Oakland Cemetery). If you’ve gone paleo or plant-based this week, try the overstuffed omelets, slow-cooked brisket and eggs, or delicious country-fried tempeh with vegetarian gravy. When a seat at the counter opens up, slide in to claim your flapjacks." - nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard
"In the land of a thousand brunches, this all-day Grant Park brunch staple rises above them all. And that’s why this place stays busy, so get here early or during the weekday lunch hour when it’s easy to slide into one of the upcycled church pew benches without a wait. We’ve been here numerous times, smothering crispy country-fried tempeh in creamy white pepper gravy while trying to establish a connecting theme in the trippy art and colorful mosaics. We’ve got nothing. But we do think they should add a golden griddle sculpture to honor their always consistent, fabulously fluffy buttermilk pancakes." - nina reeder, jacinta howard, juli horsford
"Ria Pell’s tragic passing in 2013 hasn’t slowed her restaurant Ria’s Bluebird down. The Grant Park restaurant still makes the best caramelized banana pancakes in town and typically includes a wait on the weekends, now eased by more seating on the new parking lot covered patio. Ria’s Babybird also makes appearances on occasion at Boggs Social in the West End on the weekends." - Lia Picard