Leave it to Ina Pinkney to throw her own last dance. Her beloved Ina’s (1235 W. Randolph St.) cooked its last brunch for the happy/sad crowd that gathered at her West Randolph dining room at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Pinkney’s super crispy and uncompromisingly juicy fried chicken brought tears to our eyes; one bite of the delectable vegetable frittata bathed in tomato sauce reminded us why it’s been on the menu since Day One; and, our last mouthful of Heavenly Hots went down as a serious loss for the planet. 

With her irresistible smile and heartfelt words, Pinkney visited every table, and no one knew whether to laugh or cry. We opted for one last cup of coffee with our adored Breakfast Queen.