We had a reservation for the American Girl Doll Cafe at 11:15 and were seated promptly. We got lucky and had a window seat and were presented with our mini cinnamon rolls. Our order and drinks were taken in a timely order and then shortly after we were provided our first course which included Roasted beet hummus and Boursin mousse cucumber bite, carrot sticks, ranch dipping sauce, cantaloupe and honeydew, strawberry-and-grape fruit skewer, beef meatball, fried cheese ravioli, and marinara. All of the first course was really good. I do wish they would have provided water for the table right off the bat because we didn't get our drinks until 10 minutes after the first course and the cinnamon rolls. Lunch came out and was fresh I got the AG burger. The sauce and fixings were good but I don't think the meat was very good and almost like a slightly char taste or it was frozen. The fries were good though. And they finished up with mousse along with the check. Overall this is a cute place. You don't rate it necessarily on the food which I would give a 4/5 but the experience. Girls get to bring in their American doll and that's the point. read more

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Food was overall great, my pasta was a little cold but the girls had a 5/5 time enjoying the views and eating with their dolls! I loved the cute desserts! We were treated with such attentiveness by our waiter it was a wonderful time! read more

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If you go to American Girl, of course you have to have the full experience and dine at the cafe! They have a $30 prefix menu with additional beverages for purchase. They start you off with sticky buns which looked quite glazed. Following that they bring you a tower with vegetables, fruit and some toasted ravioli and meatballs. The cucumbers topped with whatever it was- interesting. The ranch was... thick. The fruit was not a great selection. The toasted raviolis were toasted but hardly filled. I did not try a meatball but it looked dry. They do provide sauce to go with. The entree selection is actually good size, they have brunch and lunch options which is nice. We had the club, salad, pasta, pizza, quiche. The food was surprisingly not bad, though the avocado on my sandwich had black on multiple places. They of course have seats for your dolls to dine with you and even have two walls of loaner dolls which include bitty baby's, well wish dolls, and the standard 18" dolls. They even had a dog to pick! It's such a fun experience for young girls and the staff makes them feel special! I would recommend if you have children, but all ages can go, we saw some adults dining. read more

We visited the American Girl Doll store in December 2022. It was the first time for my daughter (age 5) and me. I never had an American Girl doll growing up so it was a fun experience for all of us. We booked lunch at the cafe so we wandered the aisles before and after. Because it was new to my child and she did not have her first doll yet, she didn't really ask for much (whew!). We ended up buying her doll there in lieu of waiting for Christmas. They have dolls there that children can pick out to dine with so you do not have to have your own doll to make the experience fun! I had little expectations for the food but it was surprisingly good! You could really get out of there with a lot of stuff and completely broke! Clothing for dolls were as expensive as adult clothes so beware of what you are taking your child into and set some expectations before going in, if you need. I would definitely go back for a tea or lunch again! It's a really fun experience for a mother/child, father/child, or group of friends! read more

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We visited for my daughter's 7th birthday and did the whole cafe experience. There were drinks, tea time style appetizers, and entree included. There was also a dessert included for the birthday girl. The service was okay. The food and drinks took a while to arrive, considering we were there during a random weekday. The decor was very fun and vibrant. They give you a seat for your American doll to sit at the table with you. Overall, it was a cute experience for a little girl. read more

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I did not read any reviews prior to visiting the American Girl Cafe, and I'm glad I didn't. I entered the cafe with an open mind, and was impressed by both the service and the food! The American Girl Cafe is located on the second floor of the American Girl Store. We spent our first hour shopping for a doll, and then headed upstairs for our reservation. We were early, and were not able to be seated at that time so we walked to the Lego Store. I do not fault the cage for not being able to seat us early. When it was our reservation time we were promptly seated. When you walk in the cafe, there are seats available that you can use to place your doll in at the table. If you do not have your own doll, they have multiple dolls you can choose from. The cafe is decorated in white, black, and hot pink accents which I thought were fun. If you are looking for an old school teashop vibe you may be disappointed, but I felt as though the black and white made it look more upscale. It did take about 10 minutes for our server to greet us, but it was clear that he was waiting on most of the tables that were occupied. He was very apologetic and quickly got our drinks. He also brought a teacup and saucer for each doll at the table. Each place setting had rolled silverware in a cloth napkin, and each napkin is decorated with a hair tie with a pink bow which is yours to keep. Since we did have a bit of a wait, we entertained ourselves with the game cards placed on the table. They were a mix of trivia and game suggestions. There is a $25 charge per person, and this includes a non alcoholic drink, cinnamon rolls, a charcuterie board type appetizer, a main meal with side, and a dessert. There were approximately 10 main dishes to choose from. The appetizer and dessert were standard choices for everyone in the party. We were quickly brought cinnamon rolls, one for each person in the party. These rolls were definitely more flaky than bready, which is what I'm used to. They were very good, and I could have eaten 5 by myself. The charcuterie type appetizer had salami, pepperoni, fruit kabobs, cheddar cheese, carrots, celery, pita bread, and hot spinach-artichoke dip. All 5 adults in the party chose The AG Burger for their main course, which is cooked to order. Mine did come out medium rare as requested, but another's was more on the rare side. It is topped with pepper jack cheese, a tomato-bacon jam, lettuce, and served on a pretzel bun. I chose the regular fries as my side. The portion was definitely adequate. For dessert we were serviced chocolate mousse in flower pots with a fake flower sticking out of it, which could be taken home. We did have a birthday party in the group, and our server put a candle in the dessert for the birthday girl. She was also given a birthday sticker for herself and her doll. Overall, I felt this is one of the best priced experiences in Chicago. I felt that the burger and fries itself could have easily been $20, and we were given appetizers, drinks, and dessert on top of it. There are alcoholic drinks and other speciality drinks available too. I did feel the price was justified for the food, but also the experience can't be beat. The entire experience is tailored to kids and their dolls. Even in the bathroom there are hooks labeled as a "Doll Holder". The dolls having a seat at the table really added to the experience as well. As previously mentioned, the service was a bit slow at the beginning. However, I assume they are suffering staffing shortages just like many other restaurants due to Covid. Today when I am going out to eat I am a lot more understanding than I was in the past because I know we are all facing a struggle. Our server was very apologetic and still took the time out to make us feel welcome. Overall, I would definitely recommend visiting the American Girl Cafe as a apart of your American Girl experience. Just like buying your first doll, it is a milestone experience! read more

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Ok I'm going to start off by saying, this is more of an experience thing than actual food quality. It does feel very fancy and makes your kid feel special! Our waiter thought was not the best, didn't come by our table very often and found my self waiting forever for a glass of water, and it wasn't even that crowded in the restaurant. So let's start reviewing: First course cinnamon rolls: 5/5 these were actually so good! They were one biters and were so flaky and gooey Second course tray of stuff (I don't know what to say): 4/5 Cam with lots of stuff, ravioli was pretty good, very unique Main course Best ever chicken tenders: 3/5 the best part were the fries honestly. They are called the best ever but they are more like the eh-est ever. The breading was almost soggy?? But fries were so good! Dessert Chocolate Mousse: 4/5 Good, a little sweet and rich but good chocolate flavor and live the presentation. read more

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Great service! Food was Awesome! Took our 11 yr old daughter, grown son and husband, we had our dolls and we all had an Amazing time! No Matter the age or grown, go and an experience this!!! read more

American Girl - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Decor is absolutely adorable. You can borrow a doll and accessories to dine with! The ambiance is lacking (loud and chaotic). The wait staff seemed overwhelmed and did not check on us. We had 2 of our large party not get meals for 20 minutes after everyone else was served and we had to ask twice for them. The prices are high for what you receive. The menu has a few good items, many are lack luster at best (chicken tenders are barely cooked, pasta is plain), first course is a decent attempt but overall boring (tiers with fruit, one carrot stick each, a meatball and ravioli). Salad entrees are ok. Cake is very good! You are paying for the experience, I wouldn't recommended coming here thinking you will have a nice meal. Definitely a do one time for the fun of it, but no need to return. read more

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Visited the cafe for a birthday brunch. The worst food, made us sick! Not worth the scam price they charge for this brunch. Never again. The food would be negative stars. The service was slow and sad. Disappointed in the experience read more

The SWEETEST!! A lovely cafe. Food was tasty. Perfect for a lunch. I was pleasantly full after eating all the courses. The meatballs & fried ravioli were my favorite from the stacked tray. I got the AG Burger & it was a solid burger. Simple food but the experience of the environment is what is most special. A great place to make memories! read more

American Girl - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have never encountered such a nice bunch of employees! From cashiers to servers to hair stylists, these people make your day special. Our two young ladies and their dolls got adorable hairdos followed by a delightful lunch. Included in the $27 prize fixe meal was a beverage, cinnamon roll, an appetizer assortment of cucumber sandwiches, fruit, meatballs and toasted ravioli followed by a main course and a chocolate mousse dessert. Your doll gets her own seat next to you. It was all so sweet and charming! Highly recommended! read more

This place is always going to be popular. We came for lunch. The food was fine. We had paid for the birthday package and I told the girls at reception that we were celebrating 2 girls' birthdays and I wanted 2 cakes. Time for cake came and this didn't happen. By the time the manager came over it was too late and the moment was gone. This is a scam. If me and my friend had bought our girls separately and sat at separate tables, they would have gotten their own cakes. In the end I had to BUY another one. Bogus. read more

I don't know....I have been here before and it is consistently mediocre. Like what others have said, check in people seem confused. It was not crowded when we were there but still they seemed confused. We got seated next to a window which was nice. The wait person was ok. Definitely not warm and friendly but not exactly rude. The food is meh. The thing I really don't like it that I felt rushed. We were literally still eating the appetizer with plates filled in front of us. We finished apps, then immediately moved on to the entree. The dirty plates from the cinnamon rolls and apps were there the whole meal. No one cleared the table. It is my biggest pet peeve. They brought the little flower pot mousse and tried to set it on the table around all the dirty plates. It is so gross, inattentive and unappetizing. I do not like being rushed or having a dirty table. And again, it wasn't crowded. A Tuesday and many open tables. And the coffee was cold. As a coffee addict who treasures a coffee at the end of my meal, it was disappointing. read more

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Years ago, my niece had a birthday party here and when my daughter was the same age, it was her turn. The layout, the menu, everything is reminiscent of the department store restaurants of yesteryear. You're in a mall, inside a store and then suddenly there is table service and a menu with appetizers, entrees and dessert. The girls get to bring their dolls and the first stop is getting a doll high chair so they can sit together. It's off to your table and time to sit. Then the menu comes and there are good choices for kids and adults alike. And if you booked a birthday party like us, they literally do all of the work. The cake comes out and they sing. This was the easiest birthday party ever from my perspective! read more

WOW! I was not sure what to expect from the reviews I read online about the quality of the food. My daughter wanted to go anyway. I made the reservation and I took my daughter and my mom. WE had such a great time. Our reservation was for noon but we checked in early at 11:30. The Cafe was mostly empty so we were allowed to dine early. I was worried that the food would not be great but it was very good. I ordered the crab cake sandwich with sweet potato fried. My mom ordered the chicken sandwich and my little picky eater ordered the plain bow tie pasta. The food was very good. We also ordered sangrias. My daughter got to sit next to her doll and the doll got her own plate and cup. My little one was so happy. The dining experience was priceless. We did go during the week when I assume everything is way calmer than the weekends. I just cannot imagine weekends here. This was the right speed for me. I'm a huge fan. The waiter and hostess were very cordial and attentive. I highly recommend the Cafe. Thank you! read more

Always a fun place regardless of the age. This location has 2 floors and full service for the dolls. The adorable bistro has a $25 prefix menu and the food was surprisingly good! read more

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This cafe is SO cute. The black and white stripe walls with the hot pink accents is iconic. We grew up coming here and it was always a highlight of the year. If you're little and have a doll with you, they give you a chair for your doll and it's so sweet to see the delight on a little girl's face to see that. They also have cute tea-party-like bites, drinks, and desserts to make the experience even girlier. Such a special experience if you have a little one! read more

Our experience started by not being offered a drink for 18 minutes after being sat. We were not acknowledged whatsoever after servers walked past to help others. Once our waitress acknowledged us her service was fine and she was pleasant. The food.... In short was horrible. It's shocking how poor the quality of food for the outrageous prices you charge. 40$? AT LEAST THE MACARONI AND CHEESE SHOULDVE BEEN EDIBLE... it was literally watered down buttered noodles. THE MARINARA PASTA SAUCE WAS NOT EVEN ENOUGH TO COVER THE NOODLES AND COULD AT MINIMUM CONTAIN GROUND BEEF FOR a $30 price tag. THE CHICKEN ON MY SALAD COULD BE USED FOR LEATHER ON A BELT. The chicken vegetable hash was edible. Hollow Rock hard raviolis. So basically we spent $350 for a slice of birthday cake. After spending over $1500 on gifts and services in store this meal felt like robbery. What a total disappointment for our family birthday trip to the Chicago American girl store read more

If you are looking for good food I would NOT suggest this place. Very overpriced for what you get. Chicken sandwich was decent. The kids absolutely loved eating here with their dolls. They even got a mini plate, cup and placemat for them that they get to take home. Go for the experience, not the food... read more

American Girl - Chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious food, great pricing, and an unforgettable experience for my 3 girls! An amazing deal at $27/person for a three course meal with souvenirs. read more

Came here for my daughter's bday a month ago. The food is mediocre to say the least. You're better off dining at The Cheesecake Factory down the street. My wife had the grilled salmon and it was good but just ok. I had the ribeye steak and it was terrible. Go elsewhere, save your money. The service was great tho! read more

We had a very nice experience. Our children chose a few experiences over a ton of gifts under the tree and this was our 6 year olds first adventure. Drove five hours, hotel pool, then lunch and shopping here. So much to see and learn. I now know why I couldn't find reviews on the salon... it's just for the dolls :). I'm surprised they don't capitalize on the market of moms and kiddos with their new babies getting pedis together.. anyway, we knew we were coming back 4 hours later for dinner so we shared 1 tea serving and it was a lot of fun! Cute little sandwiches and treats.... love that we can borrow babies and high chair seats to play and feed/eat with. We also had the holiday dinner and while I expected more-- interaction I think-- the food was pretty good and the service was friendly and nice read more

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Hit and Miss. Better fryer than a griller. Constant chaos from moving tables. Children can be loud here. Takes 30 mins for food to arrive at table. Loaner Dolls with chair accompanies your dining experience. The pink bow hair tie that holds the napkin and utensils is for you to keep. Some appropriate questions are on table as a mini-game. When food is served, Loaner Dolls get a cup that is safe for you to keep as momento. Excellent batter FLAVOR on FRIED CALAMARI served with pre-made bottled sauce. Fried lemon bits and tomato is a nice touch. Skip the STEAK FRITES as it was hard, dry and small portion. Your dog wouldn't eat it either without loosing a tooth. Nothing special about the ordinary 2-scoop OLD FASHION that simply satisfies the youngins. SERVICE is slow, and nowhere to be seen with an attitude to Make the Kiddies happy on their requests. Kiddies got an off-menu meal of pasta with butter and cheese. read more

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Today we had a total "Girls Day" and took my 2 daughters here along with my Sister, Friend, and her daughter! The whole experience was AmaZing! Our server was very attentive and got our kids and their dolls seated. :) I had the Cobb salad, which was excellent. My girls had chicken strips and a cheeseburger w/ fries and these cute fruit kabobs. Dessert was pretty tasty as well. The adults shared a cookie while the girls got these "Do it yourself" cupcakes which they loved! Great Place & Experience!!! read more

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$25 for a few courses of food. Really great deal as the kids have something to eat constantly once they thing the first course. Kids also love picking a doll to eat with. Really fun lunch read more

Hard to give a bad review but there is no other option... Went for my daughters birthday. Check in staff was rough, very unfriendly, no smiling at all. Took over thirty minutes after our reservation to sit in a seat that was ready the whole time??? Food was horrible. Will never go back sadly. read more

Took my daughter there for her first time on her actual birthday, after buying her first American Girl doll. I was really unimpressed. The menu was rather generic and expensive. The room was black & white with some dark pink. It resembled Victoria's Secret. I expected a cuter, more "dolly" looking restaurant. The wait staff was okay, nothing special, like we expected. They didn't even sing my daughter Happy Birthday because we didnt pay the $39 per person of a birthday package. Give me a break. It was her actual bday too. Really overrated. Never returning and will never recommend this place. read more

My friend and I took our girls to the cafe during our first visit to the store. We were visiting from out of town so we wanted to make it a memorable experience for them (they're both 5.) We decided to get the Birthday Celebration package. When my friend made the reservation she let them know we were not actually celebrating a birthday - it was more of a celebration of their friendship. Our reservation was at 2:30, we checked in at around 2:20 but were not seated until 2:40. Our server did not acknowledge us right away, but once he did the service was good. We ordered the pretzel bites and veggie platter appetizer. Nothing special. The girls ordered the bowtie pasta with butter. My friend got the chicken caesar salad and I had the grilled chicken sandwich. I was hesitant about the food but surprisingly, the chicken sandwich was actually good. At the end of our meal, we were surprised with a cake and ice cream. They clearly didn't note that it was not an actual birthday celebration, so our server sang "Happy Birthday" to both girls which left them a bit confused lol. Overall, the dining experience was good and our girls loved having their dolls sit next to them. The interior of the cafe was not what I was expecting and was kind of underwhelming compared to the rest of the store. The colors (black, white, pink) were kind of plain and had there not been dolls in there you wouldn't be able to tell it was the "American Girl" cafe. They should definitely invest in making it more appealing design-wise to both children and adults. read more

Went here for my daughter. She enjoyed it very well. The service was okay our waitress was busy with a birthday party which made things take a bit longer. You are going here for the experience - the food is on the smaller side and a little bit spendy. They know their market and do a good job. read more

Great idea, however the food was overpriced and not many options. I was impressed with their ability to meet my dietary needs. I'm dairy free, they were very accommodating. My daughter had a ball eating with her doll. read more

Service was terrible. Our waiter never checked on us. He made my meal incorrectly but we could never find him to fix my order. He didn't refill our water. Food was super salty. Surprised how not child friendly the restaurant was. No plastic cups with straws and lids for kids. No step stool in the bathrooms. And the sink was set so far back that I had to lift my niece up to reach it. It's cute, but that's about it. read more

my mom brought me here when i was real little. such a great experience for kids and the food was great. a core memory and the workers really got into it and made the experience way more fun. totally recommend if you have kids who love American girl dolls! read more

Terrible experience. Worst service I've ever seen. Not accommodating to allergies. Do not come here.

The service here was beyond terrible. Didn't get our drinks, didn't take a order, waited over 1.5 hours to get our food. It's not a 1 because the manager stepped in took care of a lot of the issues and comped it. Was tough read more

We flew into Chicago on December 6th to spend a beautiful weekend celebrating my husbands birthday. We had our 1st set of twins with us that are 5. Yes we have 2 sets. We promised our children a trip to American girl because they were doing so well in school. The trip shopping was great. We spent 400 dollars and kept our promise to our children. The PROBLEM was with your restaurant. The service was horrible as was the food. It was Monday December 9th and our bill was 112 dollars for lunch. I sent back my food. It was raw!!! The server did not really know how to handle it nor did your manager. Might I suggest instead of hiring a staff in the restaurant that does not know what they are doing to hire some experienced restaurant servers. When you have families that are coming in to shop and dine and spend over 500 a visit. TAKE CARE OF THEM. My daughters godmother that was with us was planning to do an American girl birthday party at the restaurant but after the terrible dining experience she cancelled it. And FYI we all got diarrhea . Great concept..hire people in the restaurant with food service experience. read more

My daughter had thee best time!! She absolutely loved eating with her brand new doll. Not only did they give her doll a place setting but they gave her one for her bunny she brought with! The food was very good! I had the roasted red pepper and artichoke panini. Was very delicious! I even asked if my daughter was able to get a crown, we were told they are for birthday packages but the waitress said she would totally get her one! Definitely a great experience and loved the smile on my child's face. read more

I would stay away from this place if your kids have dairy allergies , my daughter had an allergy reaction to dairy after telling them about her condition , she vomited , and after that they brought her chicken tender with a side of ranch that has butter milk !!! Are you kidding me . The manager didn't even come to our table to apologize or to check on my daughter . If your kid have food allergies stay away from this establishment. read more

Took my 6 year old for her birthday. The place is great for little girls.You pay for the experience when it comes to food. The food is ok but but pricey. Overall great experience read more