Ryan Wisniewski
Stacked
The Old Fashioned, 23 N. Pinckney St.
Breakfast may be the only time to visit this Square institution when you can also hear yourself think. The short-stack buttermilk pancakes are enough to start the day, but there’s also a large stack and a pancake special (for instance, blueberry). The maple syrup is pure and from Wisconsin — of course.
Special sauce
The Fountain, 122 State St.
The signature Fountain burger, made with in-house ground beef blend (half chuck, half brisket) with muenster, crispy onions and Thousand Island dressing, is a rich masterpiece.
Deconstructed spring roll
Dragon I, 422 State St.
The Vietnamese Noodle Salad is everything you like about spring rolls and more. Start with a choice of grilled chicken, pork, beef or shrimp; it comes on vermicelli noodles and lettuce with diced carrot and radish and topped with chopped peanuts, with a side of fish sauce.