I finally stopped into Brett's Kitchen after passing it a bunch of times, and honestly, I'm glad I did. The place has this old-school cafeteria/deli vibe in the best way, super casual, plenty of seating, and just a laid-back atmosphere overall. I grabbed a hot coffee (really good) and an egg salad sandwich. Decided to dine in since there was lots of space, and my food came out in about five minutes. Simple, quick, and exactly what I wanted in the middle of the day. The egg salad sandwich was great, fresh, flavorful, and way better than I expected for something so classic. Staff was friendly, vibes were solid, and it's just a nice little old school spot to take a break and have a meal. Definitely planning to come back. read more

See all

I was going to give this place 4 stars but there is a rude man who works the register named Ruffio. No matter how many times I patronize this place he's not very friendly. He's got the personality of a prickly cactus! What a loser!! Their food is decent but not all that great. It's a cozy place with a decent menu but nothing to write home about. I don't think I will give them my business anymore because I am tired of not being respected or acknowledged. I give them my business but that doesn't seem to matter. It's a no from me folks read more

A neighborhood staple! I got the BLT, and it was the perfect sandwich to eat while I people watched on the river. Great size and the bacon was deliciously crispy. It was a filling sandwich that really hit the spot on a sunny summer day! read more

Brett's Kitchen - BLT Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love the vibes, but it's really expensive so I don't see myself going back. The service is good and the food was yummy. I recommend checking it out at least once. read more

What a place!! Just good old fashioned well made sandwiches and other basics that take you right back to the 1970's. I had the turkey BLT and it was wonderful. My pal had a salad. Real bacon, real avocados, real mayo, perfectly toasted bread. No frills just DAMM GOOD. Carrot bread so delish and nice size. Just go there. read more

Can't miss with Brett's kitchen! Lovely staff and great food! We've been coming here for about a year

Turkey club sandwich and fries were delicious. Pretty busy on weekday around 2 and took about 10 minutes to get food but I didn't mind because there was a spot to sit and wait. read more

This place was a short walk from our hotel. It's a nice little Diner. We were greeted with a smile and received prompt service. The food was cooked to order and was delicious. read more

Brett's is a very small diner that offers a limited menu of coffee drinks, baked goods, and short-order breakfast and lunch items. You can either order at the counter for take-out or you can eat there but seating is limited. I suspect that most of their baked goods are made off premises, but they are fine. Their coffee and grilled items are old-school diner style. This place may appeal more to the local patron seeking friendly service and a good value, rather than to the foodie looking for gastronomic delights. The small interior is charming and they do have a nice outdoor seating area. read more

great if you want your to go breakfast burrito to be wet with fruit juice by the time you get it home why would they do this? read more

Brett's Kitchen - Bottom of the burrito is super soggy, a great use of my $15 - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

They're perfectly nice here. But I'd like to get the food I ordered? Got a grilled chicken sandwich but I ordered a Chicken Salad Sandwich and they didn't tell me. It's a perfectly fine dry sandwich but has no condiments, and they didn't tell me? I would just order something else a lot less boring read more

Brett's Kitchen - Grilled Chicken Sandwich - except that I ordered a Chicken Salad Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good local spot. The food is always good, and the pricing is great, especially for downtown. Very nice staff as well. It's my regular lunch spot! read more

I really, really want a place like Brett's Kitchen in my neighborhood!! It's warm, friendly, tidy, and welcoming. Bright colors, cool decor, open grill, and loads of healthy and vegetarian options for breakfast and lunch. And cans of cold Diet Coke, mmmmmm! My Impossible Burger and sweet potato fries are fantastic. Best meal all week! No wait to be seated, even at noon on a work day, and my food was ready in less than 10 minutes. Friendly staff. Loved this place! read more

Brett's Kitchen - Impossible burger and sweet potato fries. Wow!! So good!! - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Friendly family owned place with fresh food! The cakes and soups are always homemade!

Love this gem! Great diner nestled in design driven area of Chicago. Very good, clean, healthy food options. Vegetarian friendly. Very tasty! Friendly employees! read more

Brett's Kitchen - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great place if you want to be nickel and dimed. Super basic food but they skimp on everything and charge you out the nose for everything they can. Honestly if you want to get good food just leave River North. read more

I have been going here for close to 20 years and yesterday when I got home and raved to my wife about the delicious, delicate Mexican chicken sandwich, she asked if I wrote a review on Yelp and I didn't think I had. Interesting how I forgot about the regular places- places that could use business during Covid. The Mex Chick Sammie interestingly comes in a pita pocket with beautiful green lettuce, tomato sliced and fanned a Avocado, thin chicken breast and the secret ingredient - Brett's house-made salsa. Their ingredients are always beautifully fresh. I also love their breakfast egg- plate with a side of a Avocado- they do it right and their potatoes are the best I've had especially with a side of that home made salsa. They should bottle that salsa. Anyway, go here and you won't be disappointed- they do it right and they owners bust their humps. read more

Brett's is a little hidden gem for breakfast. Right near the L tracks you would miss it if you didn't know about it. Counter service with a small seating area. Great prices for this location in the city. Everything is fresh, made to order and nicely prepared. read more

Cute place, fresh food, little sidewalk patio. What's not to love! Not a lot around like it in the area so it's a great spot to grab a sandwich. I subbed portobello in my Mediterranean chicken sandwich, really good! read more

Brett's Kitchen - Got the Mediterranean Chicken with Tabouli (but with portobello) , so good! - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food: 1 Service: 3 Cleanliness: 1 My 3rd time here just because of its proximity to the office and only 1 time has it been good and edible - to go. Service isn't super friendly as well.. either stern or emotionless. The 1st visit I got the chicken salad sandwich and open up to see a fruit fly having a grand time in the lettuce. The 2nd visit was bc a friend stopped by and wanted something simple. He got the soup of the day and one of their bread pastries, ok! The most recent visit... I got the basics of all, grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup. Grilled cheese was nothing special. 2 piece bread and layer of melted cheddar cheese, okay. Can't go wrong with that. A couple bites into my chicken noodle soup I find an egg shell. An. Egg. Shell. Why the heck would there be an egg shell?! Clearly it's either by the disposable or they're just careless when making their sandwiches and soups. Ugh. Would I return? I tried. Never again. read more

Brett's Kitchen - Egg shell in the chicken noodle soup. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Kinda annoyed I paid for a turkey club there was no bacon and no cheese with one slice of turkey and ice berg lettuce not great

Gross is me being nice to describe my meal. I was looking for a quick bite to go and asked the cashier if he would suggest the Mediterranean chicken or the turkey burger. He said def the burger. Done deal! While I waited the cashier was on his phone the entire time. I was sitting on the side watching fruit flies inside their pastry cabinet just hanging out with their bakery items... Fire the burger is inside a pita, which actually makes it easier to eat in my opinion. Well it had a strange smell... I took a small bite to play t safe and out it went!! I got a feeling these were frozen burgers from Walmart! It was disgusting! It's far from fresh! Makes me question all their food. At this point I'm starving! I attempt the fries which are actually great! Perfectly crispy! I dip into the ranch I paid 59 cents for to realize it's expired ranch. Disgusting. I will never ever return again. Not even for the fries. Just not worth it. read more

Brett's Kitchen - Saw fruit flies inside the pastry display. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Excellent breads! Super good for snacking and will return! Loved it. Very moist. Muffins good too!

Really good turkey sandwich. Really quick service. Really good Mexican mocha. What more can you ask for? Go and try it!

Cute little cafe; prices were reasonable and the bean burger was fantastic. Definitely worth checking out

Stopped in here for lunch and WiFi before an interview. Overall a great experience. Friendly staff, fast WiFi, and quick service. I ordered a tuna melt and it tasted comforting, like something your grandma would make you. Would recommend. Good for a quick lunch. read more

Brett's Kitchen - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice little deli close to school for me. You walk in and it's got an open top grill (one of my favorite kind of grills - it reminds me of going to diners with my dad when I was a kid). It's got a whole diner decor feel, too. I like that they offer sweet potato fries and regular fries. I don't go to deli's too often, but I usually see chips as a side and no fries. I love fries so I was super happy. They have a good sized menu of burgers, sandwiches, soups and sides. They do breakfast, too. It's a good place to go because they have a big enough menu to cater to what food you feel like eating. I got the tuna melt. It was a tall sandwich! There was a very good amount of tuna on it, but I wanted more cheese. It didn't exactly melt over the tuna since it was one slice over a mountain of tuna. I'd go back to this place if I am feeling like getting a meal that will keep me full for a while. read more

There is no Reuben except Reuben, and Bretts is the messenger of Reuben. Reuben sandwich, extra sour + Dr. Bronners Cream Soda = happy me read more

A cute lunch spot that is totally out of place for the gallery district - I'd expect this to be sandwiched between two stores in Lincoln Park, never River North. I had an almond croissant that was slightly overpriced at $2, but still delicious. read more

Fast, affordable, and delicious! Met a few friends here for lunch yesterday and was very impressed with good old Brett's Kitchen. I had just come from Boot Camp with Jen (http://www.yelp.com/biz/nQVvfE-6VoEUPLcqJhvZqw) and was absolutely starving after Jen kicked my butt on the hills and stairs all morning long! And I came to the right place because my bagel with egg whites & swiss cheese totally hit the spot! The other girls I was with ate every bite of their meals as well! Fellow yelper, Ali A, said her cheddar cheese & chive omelet was unbelievable, while Dana P went all out with bacon, pancakes and eggs. Dana is one of those annoyingly skinny people who can eat bacon & pancakes & doesn't even do boot camp! Sigh. Although for those of us who do have to diet it's always fun sneaking bites of Dana's fattening food like the banana bread she also got at Brett's Kitchen yesterday. I've had a lot of banana bread in my life (it's one of the only things my mom knows how to make) and Brett's banana bread was among the best! Although Brett's Kitchen was delicious I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here because there's nothing truly special about it besides good food, but I"ll definitely be back when in the area. read more

This is a solid choice is you are craving a simple and fresh meal. It's the type of place where you can get a no frills soup, sandwich or burger. Kinda feels like something you could whip up yourself but the taste is consistently good. There's not too many places like this in the area so it can get busy, especially during the work week lunch rush. It sits right under the Chicago and Franklin L stop, so it's convenient for grabbing food before heading to work. You order from the counter and then move down the line and wait for your number to be called. Most people take their food to go, but there are table if you want to eat in. Last time I was there I got the grilled chicken sandwich on wheat. It was simple but really yummy. It came with half a pickle which was a nice surprise too. My only hang up with this place is the price. It always seems a little to expensive for the type of food and the portions served. I think knocking everything down $2 dollars would be fair. The vibe is a local, fast and easy neighborhood spot, but the price doesn't really match that. read more

Brett's Kitchen - Grilled chicken sandwich on wheat. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

If I was in the area for anything I would come here. The place is super small with a handful of tables but it seems like the crowd is office workers who order their lunch and go. Regulars abound but if you're not one you don't get iced out or mean mugged. You get the same quick and friendly counter service and sure you can get an Egg Salad sandwich or a burger but they have some pretty interesting options like a Mexican chicken sandwich which is a treat. If you're there to sit down though it may be difficult to get a table and if there's more than two in your group your seat choices will be further limited. Just don't show up for an office outing and it will be a treat. read more

Found this place in Yelp and Just went here for the first time about 30 minutes ago. I was very happy with my order. Got a chicken salad sandwich on rye and it was great. The rye bread was amazing and the chicken salad and really soft chunks of chicken in it. Also got the chicken tortilla since it was the soup of the day and it was really good. read more

Back when there were dozens of art galleries and design studios in the area, Brett's used to be more of a creative crowd--designers, collectors, dealers and artists packed this little sandwich/coffee shop. Neighborhoods change, but you'll still find decent coffee and short-order sandwiches that are tasty and affordable. $10 will get you a simple sandwich and fries here. read more

An uber simple sandwich shop serving good fresh food at great prices ($5-$10). BREAKFAST EGG SANDWICH ($5) -- I was expecting the egg salad sandwich. I was amused that it is 2 eggs on the grill with common fixins in a sandwich. Just right, balanced and happy BREAD SELECTION -- impressive. English Muffin, 7 Grain, Wheat...at least 7. VENUE -- clean and organized. SERVICE -- helpful, informative, friendly and gladly accommodates. I look forward to the steak sandwich. read more

Brett's Kitchen - Egg Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Brett's Kitchen has the best egg sandwich in the city. I haven't visited for a couple of years, but for a few years I used to spend many weekends in that neighborhood, and this was a favorite. No Sunday hours, which is a major bummer on those mornings when you want an egg sandwich after Saturday night's carousings. read more

The staff is great at this place. I often order black coffee in the mornings and enjoy it! I ordered a grilled cheese- it wasn't as good as a hamburger would have been (at the same price). I do realize that this 3-star review is entirely my fault for ordering such a bullsh*t attempt at a sandwich. I should have asked for a different cheese on my grilled cheese, perhaps one of the artisan cheeses that they promote would have been better than the standard, blase, cheddar. If you take anything away from this short review, please do not get cheddar cheese on anything that you'll order. And I couldn't find a bathroom, isn't a restaurant required to have a bathroom? Maybe its not required (?) as they might only have seating for about 15-20 people. read more

I'm a fish and fowl kinda gut and I also LOVE breakfast. This place is HEAVEN for me. It's just a little 6 table bakery styled shop. They've got tables outside as well but it's all very casual. The turkey chili caught my eye bur upon further inspection I noticed they had salmon burgers, gazpacho and curry turkey on wheat. With great burgers and a slew of healthy vegetarian choices, along with great coffee drinks and some tasty looking baked goods all moderately priced and served quickly, this place has now become a Chicago staple for me already. I came in for a quick cup of coffee and left with a place to tuck in my mealtime napkin. read more

Went here for a late lunch today with the gf for a couple of sandwiches and something for dessert. Ended up getting a corned beef sandwich on grilled rye bread with coleslaw and russian dressing. Surprisingly it was really better then I had expected. My gf had the turkey club and it was good as well. The cookies were above average, had a chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin. The staff was very nice, and they didn't charge extra for everything I wanted put on my sandwich which is nice considering what most places end up charging. I do not think anything was particularly amazing, but it was all very good, for lack of a better word. I will definitely be back here again. read more

My daily go to spot. Great food, family run, cute location, and affordable pricing for River North. Strongly recommend.