Wake n' Bacon
Author and Photographer: Fiorella Robinson
After a long week of midterms, I decided that the best way to relax would be to eat from a CBD-infused menu. CBD is known as an alternative medicine type and has been popularized due to it being the most active ingredient in Marijuana. Close friend testimonials have told me it has healing properties such as scar removal, inflammation, pain, while others use it for relaxation purposes. After seeing many TikTok posts recommending this restaurant, I made my way with a friend to Wake n’ Bacon in Lakeview. The restaurant was bright and open. The flowers and plants that decorated the ceiling made me forget it was 40 degrees in Chicago. In terms of Covid-safety, the restaurant was very proactive about its efforts. Wake n’ Bacon is currently reservation-only and requires a credit card deposit to reduce traffic. There are also no servers to take your order, maximizing the distance between workers and restaurant-goers by asking customers to order online with a barcode specific to their table.
While waiting for our food to arrive, my friend and I visited the photo area. There, a camera that looked like a mirror snapped an instant photo of us, and we got to keep it free of charge. Of course, we contributed one of our photos to the wall decorated with faces from past visitors. This feature of Wake n’ Bacon only added to the warm atmosphere.
When we returned to our table, our food had just arrived, both quick AND efficient service! We had both ordered their famed Spicy Chicken and Waffles. I am not kidding when I say this is the best-fried chicken I have ever had. The crispy chicken thighs were well seasoned and not too moist or dry. Its kick came from the spiced maple syrup and pickled peppers, and green onions. To balance out the savory part of the dish, the bubble waffles mellowed it out. To top it all off, I requested that the food be infused with CBD -- for relaxation purposes, of course. However, I am unsure if I felt any of its effects since I was already relaxed from submitting assignments early.
A meal, however, isn’t complete without a drink. To wake up after a busy school week, I ordered the Purple Haze. The coffee had Ube coconut milk and oat milk with a deep purple caramel finish at the bottom of the cup. The drink was creamy with a sweet finish at the end of each sip. The translucent glass made the whole drink absolutely Instagram-worthy.
Relaxation and good vibes are certainly what you get from this experience at Wake n’ Bacon. I will definitely make sure to go back at the end of finals for my next dose of CBD-infused food.