WEST LOOP — It’ll be all waffles, all the time at Wâfel, a new fold-and-go waffle place that opened this week.
Owner Steve Soble said his inspiration came from the waffle trucks and shops of Belgium as well as New York’s waffle truck trend.
And the fact that waffles make a wicked sandwich holder.
“Once you try them you’ll actually be angry you haven’t had them before,” Soble said.
The waffles, made from scratch daily, come two different ways. There’s the Brussels waffle, a thinner, yeasty waffle that folds easily and makes for good sandwiches. The denser and pearl sugarcoated Liege waffle is meant to be dipped in chocolate or spread with cream cheese and honey.
Soble is the founder of Spare Time Chicago, which includes restaurants like Lincoln Square’s Daily Bar and Grill and Southport Lanes in Lakeview.
Wâfel is at 217 N. Clinton St. Based on Wednesday’s foot traffic, Soble said he thinks Chicagoans are ready to see the waffle light.
“I was blown away by how happy people were,” he said. “When I tell people about it their eyes just light up.”
He said his current Wâfel favorites are the mushroom with roasted garlic and goat cheese and the fried chicken with maple syrup and apple slaw.
Wâfel brews coffee by West Loop roaster Sparrow. The Brussels fold-and-go sandwiches run from $6 to $9 and the dessert waffles go for $2.50 with an extra $1.50 for dips.
This weekend, the waffle joint will be open 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. Starting Monday, Wâfel will be open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., or until the waffles run out.
