One of my favorite brunch spots, Logan Square hot spot Lula Cafe still manages to feel like a hidden gem — even when you're waiting an hour for a table. Luckily for Lula's devoted fans, that wait time will (hopefully) be going down soon, when owner Jason Hammel expands the 11-year-old space this Spring. A partnership with Kevin Heisner (who also co-owns Nightwood with Hammel), the new Lula Cafe is taking over a neighboring storefront to create a pastry gallery for new pastry chef Kate Neumann, who formerly worked at award-winning restaurants Blackbird and Hot Chocolate.

Expect some incredible breakfast pastries and desserts coming out of the new 1,200-square-foot pastry gallery, including chocolate and banana torte and goat milk panna cotta. The space will also include an enlarged, 15-seat bar and an expanded coffee program, serving up Intelligentsia. Lula will close for a bit to knock down a wall and rebuild, but Hammel and Heisner say it will be a quick turnaround. And the best part of the expansion: the new 30-seat space will continue to be walk-in only, but the old space will begin taking reservations, so you won't have to wait forever for your Sunday brunch bi bim bop with Swan Creek Farm rabbit, assorted winter pickles, and a sunny-side up egg (shown right).

Source: Lula Cafe