Delicious food, tons of options, wonderful staff. Get the patty sausage -- it's ground in house. Bought 5 slices of pie to take home!

Great, old fashioned, homestyle food, and the best pie in the Midwest. Most entrees are under $8, which includes the salad bar or soup. Pie is $2.59 per slice. Whole pies are roughly $11, but you must order them at least 24 hours in advance. My group had fried chicken, bbq meatballs, and pork cutlet with milk gravy. We were all very happy with our choices. The fried chicken is extra crispy and the chicken is very fresh. We also had the butterscotch pie, lemon meringue, and peach pie. Their pie crust is absolutely amazing. It flakes in such a way that it had to have been made with real lard. The peach pie was made with fresh peaches, and perfectly sweetened. The butterscotch was not too heavy, and the lemon meringue melted in my mouth. The decor is worn, but welcoming, and the staff is very friendly. Blue's Cafe is the diner equivalent of Cheers...everyone knew everyone's name (except us yuppies from the Big City.) We drove 75 miles to try Blue's Cafe & it was worth it! Coming from Chicago, we got off 55 in Braidwood & continued to IL 113, which is a beautiful, scenic highway along the Kankakee River. It was very nice. We'll be back soon! read more

See all

Sunday...Monday...Happy Days...a ride in a time machine. To a time when life was easier, simpler and friendlier. Oh...and things weren't so damn expensive. The Blue's Cafe is it! Quaint, clean and great food. I had a the Blue's breakfast muffin; two eggs on an English muffin, three hearty slices of bacon...nice bacon, it was still drizzling grease and a slice of American cheese. Damn good! Only $5.29! I added a slice of tomato and light mayo. Try it this way. Okay, I had to have a piece of one of their pies that are made every morning in their kitchens starting at 3:30am. I opted for the Hawaiian cream pie, flaky buttery crust, banana and pineapple cream with a wonderful whipped pie topping. Better than any I'd ever had in the Hawaiian Islands and I've eaten a lot of pie there. Glad I experienced this American Classic in the middle of somewhere in Illinois. read more

See all

Blues Cafe is going to be hard for me to rate. Do I rate it in reference to other local establishments or do I rate it according to places I have visited all over the U.S.? Well for those few who read my reviews and trust what I say I'm going to tell it like it is. Blues gets a local rating of 3.5 but overall rating of 3. Blues Cafe is a clean, friendly establishment, clean restrooms too, with a very friendly and down to earth wait staff. The prices are very reasonable and could make a nice stop for lunch. Let's get to the food. The salad bar had fresh lettuce but there is not much else if you're looking for a salad bar you would have at Golden Corral. They have a fruit salad, potato salad and a few others that are heavy on the craem/mayo, so this is not going to be your local destination. I have a BLT and fries for lunch. The fries were crispy and hot. The bacon was crispy and the bread was just regular thin slices and slightly toasted. The only issue was the cheese that was on the BLT. More calories! I removed the cheese, easy enough. It was an ok sandwich, it just needed a few more slices of bacon, but it was good. The pie here is supposed to be great and maybe that would have pushed it over the edge to 4 stars. Thing is I was full so it would have to wait for another day that most likely won't come. The waitress did show me the pie when I inquired about it and I must say the lemon meringue did look good, even if I'm not a meringue person. So would I recommend the Blues Cafe? If your in the area and you like the nostalgia of eating at a small diner I say go for it. It's an ok place. It's not bad, but there are places that take it to the next level and I have to balance my reviews. read more

Blue's Cafe - Tasty BLT with hot, crispy fries! - Cafes Near Me - Kankakee, Illinois

We went back for lunch! They did not disappoint! Our waitress was a little crabby but whatever! The food was still great!!! If you haven't gone there yet what are you waiting for? GO! read more

Superb! A nice, casual little spot in Kankakee! Highly recommend it! Everything is made from fresh! The food is delicious, the servings are generous, the staff is friendly, and the prices are reasonable. The pies are like a work of art, they are handmade by the owner! You can purchase a slice or order a whole pie to pick up next day. I cannot say enough great things about this little gem of a restaurant in Kankakee. read more

Very nice people, solid business and good neighbor. Food is better than the national chain breakfast places. Pies are the best in the county. Sandwiches could be more robust, they seem too simple and dry sometimes. Prices are very good for some of the dishes. With inflation it's hard to get a coffee with a meal and it not go above $10 so Yelp might have to adjust its price ratings for that. I gave Blues two $$. They take credit now too, kinda sad but not everyone remembers cash these days. read more

See all

Good food and best cream pies on the planet! Simple and charming with a polite staff.

This is definitely a little "cafe" type establishment. My husband has been wanting to try it for years and today was the day. The menu was reasonably priced with a number of offerings. We opted for the chicken filets. They were the exact same thing you would find at a race track or carnival ($9.00 for 4 pieces, a potato and included a salad bar). Unfortunately, the salad bar had virtually nothing but 5 or 6 items one would put on a salad. Hubs had the apple pie ala mode which he said was ok. The staff was friendly and the restaurant was clean. I really wanted to like this place but am struggling, it just wasn't for me. We hoped that this hometown rooted establishment that's been here for many years would have amazing home cooked food. However, based on what we ordered, we were really let down. Maybe their breakfasts are better. I'm not sure we will return. read more

Blue's Cafe - We opted for the chicken filets. - Cafes Near Me - Kankakee, Illinois

Excellent food and service. Stopped here on the way out of town and left very satisfied.

A great place to bring memories alive, create new ones. My husband has to have a piece of their chocolate pie for breakfast dessert. Great family restaurant. Friendly service, you will want to comeback. read more

Blue's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Kankakee, Illinois

See all

Food was lousy. Ground beef had no taste or seasoning and tasted like pellets of cardboard. The waitress had no personality and did not have the warmness we're used too. Lastly the prices for what you get ARE TOO HIGH. We have never spent anywhere near that with the previous owners. We will NOT come back. read more

We drove south to photograph the Barn Quilts and decided to try this cafe because it promised good pie. They were wrong, they have SUPERB pie like you WISH your Mother had made. We had our pie with breakfast, that's how inviting it looked. Breakfast was steak and eggs with biscuits that make you weep with joy. Did I mention they have great pie? This cafe has been open since 1954 and is the real deal - truly friendly waitresses who know their customers. Ours got us information on the barn quilts and warned us the pies might be gone if we stopped back after our photographic quest. I had peach pie that would make Georgia jealous and my husband had Hawaiian pie that he closed his eyes to savor. For old fashioned home cooking, super service and good prices visit Blue's Cafe. Oh, and get some pie! We went back a second time and they were out of pie. Bummer. Get there early. read more

We have come here on the way to or from Champaign and this week we were here after visiting the Chicago Bears Training Camp. Why do we like a restaurant that is quite a trek from our house? The pie, it is home made and spectacular. I am also a fan of their reasonably priced breakfasts and the 1950's comfort food that my Mom used to make. Beef on white bread with mashed potatoes and gravy reminds me of my childhood even though I know it is not the healthiest. The servers are all quite friendly and patient, the food is good and inexpensive and I always have dessert. Pie that is better than my Mom used to make. Bring cash or miss out. read more

I've had this place bookmarked for over 2 years now. One day after work I decided it was time to finally check it out. I may need therapy for waiting so long now that I know what I've been missing! I had lunch because I had worked all day with no food. I ordered a blt club. It was mediocre to average to be honest. You aren't here for the club sandwiches though! It's average diner food if you are here for a full meal. I'm just not a huge diner fan. The pie! Oh my god! I ordered the pecan and the butterscotch banana. Yes all of it was for me. And yes I ate it all! It changed my life! No joke. I love pie. Always have. I thought I had tried the best (I was so wrong until now). This pie can't even be put into words. I was even eating it while driving home. I couldn't stop!! I didn't even care that I had whipped cream all over my car the next day. Just get here and order the pie. Whatever they have left when you walk in- just order it! All of it! Trust me, you won't be able to stop! read more

After a day of cruising route 45 and just enjoying the day. Blue's came to mind as a place for a piece of fresh homemade pie. we arrived around 7pm hoping they had some left. To our delight they had two pieces of blueberry pie left and half of a custard pie. Well blueberry won this one hands down. This is some good pie and it was stuffed with fresh blueberries oozing out. Each bite was as good as the last. I wanted more but this hit the spot and was a great treat to end the drive. Cool place with many other offerings for food choices and everything looked appetizing. Clean, friendly and just good. Time for more pie... read more

Blue's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Kankakee, Illinois

This place is extremely "Marge" only not retro cool....just retro held over from a bygone time. I am suprised they dont serve Papst in bottles for lunch. This is as diner as diner gets. The pork tenderloin sandwich is crispy good and the blt is well constructed. If you are on a diet dont even come in here. If you are hungry and have five bucks, you will not leave hungry. Be old school and have the pie or cobler. So so so funny that the coffee cups are circa 1950 and are so small (six oz) the waitresses have to constantly run around to fill them. Good thing the portions are not from 1950....er wait....maybe in the grand scheme of things that is a bad thing. read more

Blue's is one of my favorite places on earth. I only eat my meal to get to the pies!! Seriously. The menu is basic - burgers, salads, chicken fried steak, meatloaf, yummy diner food which is fun in moderation...but the pie?? I could eat the pie everyday. There are about 15 different kinds each day of all types. Cream pies, fruit pies, and my personal fave, custard pie! Best ever!! read more

Great spot, best breakfast place in Kankakee county!!! Great service, coffee, bacon and pancakes

Excellent food and service and while I didn't try the pie myself, my friend Alice ranked her slice as one of the best and wished she brought home two slices. It's a nice atmosphere, clean and reminiscent of earlier days. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood, you won't be disappointed. read more

Our favorite spot to drop in and have a bite to eat and a piece of pie. Never had a bad meal , service is great, food is served in a timely manner always hot when need be. This is our place to take friends from out of town who are always interested in an old-time Diner. The Price is Right. read more

The breakfast and lunch are good, but I would not say that it is outstanding or close to the best. But what is the best are the pies. They have the greatest homemade pies, a large selection, done in or order a whole pie to take home. I really like the butterscotch. So even if you're not looking for breakfast or lunch, I highly recommend coming in for the pie. read more

Me and my wife visited this diner Thursday morning and it was so good we ended up having breakfast there again the next day!!! With everything going on as far as COVID is concerned, it's good to know that little spots like Blue's still exist. My wife order the vegetarian omelette and I ordered the chicken fried chicken and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by how muck food we got for the low price that we paid. Most definitely will be coming back soon!! read more

Driving between downstate and Chicago, decided to find a place to dine in Kankakee, wanted something cheap and yelp reviews pointed me here - it's a typical diner with a no nonsense decor, I wish the lighting was a little more creative than flourescents and acoustic tile, but whatever - the more important thing with diners is the food - and Blue's didn't disappoint. I had a Mediterranean chicken pasta - it was really tasty, definitely beat my expectations for "diner food" (my 'bar' for diner food is set by Mary Anne's in Champaign, for what it's worth). Oh, dinners come with the salad bar, which was a little limited in options but I put together something simple that tasted good. Waitress said they serve breakfast items all day except the biscuits and gravy, which makes sense to me. Of course, yes, the pies were awesome, and between getting pie ala mode and bringing a slice home to my mom, adding an extra 10 bucks to the bill so it turned out not being so cheap after all! Worth driving all the way into town off the interstate tho. read more

Great home cooking! Just the perfect setting for a breakfasts and lunch. Nice variety on the menu. Supper makes you feel like home. Very budget friendly with great food and service. read more

The best pies I've had. The apple pie is fresh apples thinly sliced and wonderful. The peach pie is flaky and fresh peaches. Cherry pie was sweet tart - again - flaky crust and wonderful warm with ice cream. The custard pie is smooth with a hint of nutmeg. They routinely have at least 11 different pies daily - from chocolate, banana, lemon meringue, raisin, pecan to a wonder called Hawaiian - a mix of pineapple, coconut and banana (ever wonder what heaven tastes like?). The breakfasts are reasonably priced - have the potatoes well cooked, add cheese and gravy over it all - OMG! The breakfast time is about the only time you can guarantee that you will find all the pie flavors available. If you wait for lunch time - you may find that they have run out of a flavor or two of your favorite flavor pie. They have a pot roast - huge chunks of well done fall apart tender roast beef with tons of flavor - it melts in your mouth. The bar-b-que beef sandwich ($3.29) is shredded beef, lots of sauce and fluffy buns. They have barley soup (a bit too salty - but tons of barley). The breaded pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes is bland - but - you can always look forward to the pies - order your slice ahead or they could run out! read more

I can't believe that I haven't written a review of this place yet? How Rude of me. This is a simple diner with a soda counter and is full of locals. I have always had a good meal here. The menu is not that large, but they have daily specials. The bomb drops when you get to the homemade pies. They are made by Vivian. She is 72 and comes in every morning at 2:30 to get em ready. They have all kinds of fruit and cream pies. But my favorite is the pecan. When I walk-in they slap a piece in front of me. Then I order my food. And then one or two after. There is not alot to see or do in this one horse town. But iffin yer in town, ya godda go get a slice at the Blues and tell um the pie guy sent ya. read more

Each of the three times I have been here we have had to get up from our seat and go ask for our check, after waiting for a very long time. The service was never good. The food, while excellent portions and tastes good is expensive. The layout makes it extremely noisy. I think there are other diners in the area that are a better value with much better service. read more

Decent food and always a happening place for the who is who and what's what of the area.

The food and service here is excellent. Many customers that come here are regulars who have been coming here for 50+ years. The only reason I give it 4 stars is because it always smells like old people. Also, the waitresses are a bunch of old ladies. I have nothing against old people, I just want to see some young hotties every now and again. I'm pretty sure when I was there one time, a guy sitting at the next table shit his pants. He looked like he was over 85, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Don't let the old people stop you from going though. The pie is also DA BOMB! read more

The pie is excellent I would go there just for the pie the food is overpriced doesn't have a taste and the place really needs a facelift.

I have to admit, when I read the previous reviews posted here about Blue's Cafe having the best pie ever, I was a bit skeptical. I make pretty damn good pies so I was a little weary. Alas, I must admit what everyone else had already discovered. The pie here is absolutely FABULOUS! I had the banana cream pie while I was there for lunch and it was the best I had ever had. I brought 4 slices of pie home with me. I shared the cherry which was hard to do. It was soooo much better than mine. the slices of Apple and Peach were not for me so I personally can't attest to their deliciousness, but I was told they were divine. I saved the blueberry for last (being a snob, I have to claim mine is better). If you find yourself in Kankakee, please do yourself a favor and stop for pie. The food is pretty great too! read more

This is a pretty good local place, mainly for breakfast. It's traditional American breakfast. The food is pretty good and the decor is old but very clean. read more

Best diner around. We found this after always ending up in the mall's food court, or at a chain restaurant. This place is really awesome. They only take cash, so if you don't want to pay their ATM Fee find your bank before you come. The place looks and feels like an old time diner, and has local Kankakee history photos on the wall which is neat. We've passed dishes around the table and haven't found a bad dish yet. The salad bar is great, and obviously, the pie is amazing. If you're sick of fast food, chain restaurants and waffle houses, you need to stop here. read more

I've been here many times and it's consistently good! All diner dishes are present and well executed. Clean and excellent, friendly service.

Simple comfort food, well prepared. Good breakfast!! I recommend the Blues Skillet. My son likes the biscuits and gravy. Lots of Regulars. Family owned by the Chouinard's since the 1950's or so. One of the family is usually there. About a dozen kinds of homemade pie made just about DAILY by actual grandmas who start their day VERY early. Try to leave room for pie!! read more

Picked up a beautiful peach pie after ordering the day before. Crust was delicious -flaky and then just melts in your mouth...but the peaches were CANNED. Really? I assume they make it with fresh peaches in season. Please let customers know at the time of the order that the ingredients will not be fresh. We may want to order a different pie. read more

Excellent service and food. I had the mushroom and swiss burger with onion rings and a lemonade. Very clean. Throwback and nostalgic decor :-) diner like. I must add they only accept cash. No credit or debit cards. read more

Truly a classic Kankakee institution! Inexpensive, great "greasy spoon" kind of diner. The food is good and the pies are great! Best of all, if you need an ego boost by feeling like you are the young, hot one then this is the place to visit. The median age at dinner time is approximately 72. read more

Just tried Blue's Café for the first time very good place, very reasonably priced, cute place and the food was very good, Will go back for sure. Recommend this place for sure. read more