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

Super casual place that you have probably walked buy a ton of times and never noticed because it's under the tracks. My friend and I both loved our lunch. I had the turkey burger, which is served on pita with cucumber, sprouts and green peppers. It was delicious. They let me substitute fruit since i didn't want fries as a side. He had the spicy black bean burger, as it was what they had recommended. It lived up to the hype. Would love to try this place for breakfast. Seemed to be a lot of locals/repeat business. Just a few tables inside. Reasonably priced, too. Support locally owned business! read more

I am a massive fan of Brett's Kitchen. When I was living in River North it was one of the few restaurants close to my apartment to grab a casual cheap meal. I stayed pretty loyal to my favorite meals depending on time of day. If you're up late and need to be up early the next day their egg sandwich is magic. I always got mine on sourdough with bacon, onions, and tomato. For lunch I the BLT was my go to along with an order of fries. I'm pretty picky about my fries can't be too thin; can't be too thick. Must be crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. These fries were consistently great. Both meals I normally would make at home but something about Brett's kept bringing me back. I also can't say enough about their coffee! The seating area is small and cozy and can be crowded during the lunch rush. Based on my experience I would say most people get take out. I hope Brett's sticks around forever because that neighborhood needs more restaurants with soul. read more

Very good breakfast and the hash browns are superb because they shave the potatoes pretty thin and add thyme. Pancakes are very fluffy delicious as well. read more

A delightful cross between a family owned diner and a neighborhood café. Whether you are looking to just grab a coffee or you are in the mood for a bite, Brett's kitchen is reliable and consistently offers friendly service and good food. The food is fresh, fast, and is priced just right! read more

I went in and ordered some banana bread. I got to the office and it was zucchini bread. I called back to see if they even had Banana bread, she said that they did have banana bread. i went back and told her I called. The Lady then said that I told her Zucchini bread, which is wrong. I was just kinda taken back and felt like are you kidding me? You just called me a liar and told me I was wrong. I love Banana bread, the only reason I went in this joint. Just kinda pissed, maybe i am sensitive. read more

Been going here for 7 years, their food is always consistent. The best thing is their Mexican Chicken Sandwich, the salsa is the star of the meal (ask for extra). I've basically tried almost everything on their menu. Their Portobello sandwich, tuna melt, grilled cheese (add bacon and avocado), and turkey chili are also really good. They lose one star because they often forget your requests (i.e. extra salsa on the side). Thanks for being a neighborhood restaurant in River North! read more

Just walked in for a coffee to go... There was no line at the order area, the guy working walked away, came back but didn't even look at me. He went on to keep his back turned from me as he continued with the drink he was making... I walked out and I won't be back, which sucks because I was actually happy to come upon a place i hadn't noticed before in my neighborhood. read more

This review is not based on the food, I'm sure it's good. This review is solely based on the fact that I paid $3 for "Mexican hot chocolate" that was literally a pack of powdered mix that they (right in front of me) took out of a box, ripped open, put in a cup and added milk to. The least they could have done is hide the packaged powder to let me think that I wasn't charged $3.00 for a mix they just pulled out of a box. read more

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

5 stars alone for the best tuna melt I have ever met and then unapologetically devoured! Get it on the 9-grain bread and you will thank me later. Also, the employees here are cool and funny! Cute, cafe decor-- love the bowls arranged in rainbow order on the shelves around the perimeter. Brett's has a grand total of 7 smallish tables, so lunchtime can be a bit snug. But, the cooks are lightning fast! I was in and out in 8 minutes. The menu is scrawled out of the chalkboard which creates the perfect antithesis to the typical downtown work mentality, aka "I'm leaving the office to bring lunch back to my desk". The breakfast items and "healthy/vegetarian" options sounded yummy as well. Thanks Brett's, for making my 8 minutes out of the office that much more enjoyable, and for making the next 15 as I ate my sandwich just heavenly. read more

Pretty simple sando shop. They're not gonna make you yearn to come back on the food alone, but the service is really quick and they do it with a smile. I had the Mexican Chicken, which was a little more chicken than it was Mexican. Light on spices, but the avocado was fresh and so were the other fixens. Definitely wouldn't shove the elderly out of the way to get another, but for a quick bite when I was in the area for a meeting it did the trick. There's lots of offices around here so if you're in one of them it's not a bad option, but as far as driving in from Oak Park just to go to Brett's kitchen I don't think I would. read more

Disappointing Glop. I was looking forward to the turkey burger from Brett's, even at $9. I didn't realize a turkey burger would be served on a pita--no mention of that on the menu or when ordering. Also no mention of the brussel sprouts and copious amount of creamy Italian dressing. So much sickly, sweet dressing that the pita bread fell apart. It was a messy, disappointing pile of glop. The side of sweet potato fries was burnt. Unedible. Maybe I should have ordered the $7 cup of chili instead? read more

I think the food is pretty decent, I don't have any real complaints about the food itself. I will say I've now visited this place 3 to 4 times for lunch over the last year or so and each time, the customer service was wretched. I asked questions about menu items & the person at the register hesitantly answers as if they are internally unwilling and annoyed that I would bother to ask, so yea, that's irritating, but the food is decent and it's a bit cramped in there during a rush so I usually order to go. That is all, you may return to your regularly scheduled programming read more

I have patronized this place for about 8 months. I get it is expensive because of the location but what about quality and customer service? I stopped in this morning to get a coffee and donuts, the guy bags my donuts without even mentioning that they were harder than a brick! I got to work and just tossed them. When I explained this to the other cashier all I got was an insincere "sorry". Their website pricing is not consistent with their actual pricing. I just paid nearly $9 for a sliver of corned beef, white bread and a slice of cheese. These experiences sucks because I loved your Sloppy Joe's! You won't get any more of my hard earned money- I will be sure to give you a thumbs down when asked. read more

In a rush Friday morning, didn't make breakfast, so I'll stop at Brett's Kitchen for some morning fuel. Usually I just grab a bagel with cream cheese which will only set you back $2.25 which I can handle but this time... ... I'll have an egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich with an OJ. Fresh squeezed or bottled? Fresh squeezed (its payday, why not?). That will be $9.00, and I almost felt obligated to tip, so 10 bucks out the door. Yikes! I will pay the convenience fee because it's literally under the Chicago and Franklin Brown Line stop and on my way to work. And don't get me wrong the food is very good and they crank it out in the morning. I've had the turkey club for lunch as well, at $6.75 with no sides; I haven't been back for lunch (maybe because there is a Subway within spitting distance of me). If price is not an issue then you will find superior home-made food, friendly staff, and they cook on a flat top right in front of you. If you stop in enough they will start to remember your order - if you can afford it (I think the price comes with the territory). Oh and they have a lot of pre-made sandwiches, muffins, and breakfast fare, etc. if that's for you. I was torn between 3 and 4 stars but price knocked it down. read more

Been meaning to try this sandwich shop since I started working down the block. Had the chicken salad sandwich on a pita - it was perfectly portioned and super fresh. The proportion of mayo to the rest of the sandwich was appropriate: not sloppy or dry. Everything is made to order, so there's a bit of a wait after you place your order; but obviously it's worth it. So many different kinds of sandwiches, including melts and burgers, breads to choose from, etc. They make their own baked goods, too - so snag a cookie, brownie, or piece of their breakfast breads in the morning. There is seating inside, but not a lot - so don't expect to dine-in during your lunch hour. Some people have complained it's "expensive" - $5-$8 is the cost for a sandwich, $2.25 for a baked good. It's really okay, people. This isn't mystery meat at Subway. read more

Now that I work in River North again, I can once more enjoy the delights at Brett's during the lunch rush. Their daily specials are interesting and delish, and include such items as salmon/ tabbouleh wraps and tuna tacos with tomatillo sauce. The staff is very friendly ("your special is EXTRA special today; look how nice I packed it up for you!") and they always pay attention to special requests (i.e. hold the tomato, sauce on the side, etc.). They have a lot of healthy and/or veggie options, which makes it easier to stay on track with my diet. Oh, and they have a KILLER grilled cheese;) The only down side? They are S-L-O-W and often get orders confused or forget them altogether. Order there, watch them, and make them uncomfortable until you get your meal. I've found it's the best way to avoid serious delays getting back to the office. read more

I have been patronizing this mediocre restaurant for years because I work in the area but I am finally done with them. Mediocre food and lousy service. The least they could do is apologize for their error but they don't care. read more

They're only open until 4pm - which threw me off when I'd walk by there after work on my way to the train. Literally, every day I'd press my face to the window and wonder if it was just vacant or something and the thought NEVER occured to me that there wasn't even a "For Rent" sign in the window so maybe it WASN'T vacant. Guys, it's not vacant. I'm just retarded and unable to figure out when it's open. S-M-R-T. Anyway, it's a lovely little sandwich/breakfast/coffee shop that's only open til 4 and makes a damn tasty tuna melt. I paid a little more than I would have liked for said tuna melt (considering a can of tuna at Dominicks tends to be $1, and bread is maybe $2 for a loaf), but I also could have brought my lunch so maybe I should shut up, huh? read more

We're visiting Chicago on a combo work/pleasure trip this weekend. Our hosts took us to Brett's for breakfast because it was close to the office. First item of importance was coffee! Unfortunately, we were disappointed. The simple "cup of coffee" was good although I'm always disappointed when a sit-down cafe serves coffee in paper cups. The disappointment came when my spouse asked for a decaf... "we don't brew decaf on the weekend" was the response. How about a decaf espresso drink, then? "We don't have decaf espresso." Kind of a bummer... The selection of baked goods was nice. Several types of breads - both sweet and savory - and various pastries. The banana bread was moist and had a nice flavor. I ordered the special - Huevos rancheros. Interestingly I was given the option of tortillas or cornmeal waffles. I decided to try the waffles. I was initially surprised at the simplicity of the dish when it was served. Eggs on waffles with a tablespoon of black beans, Pico de Gallo, and guacamole. While the dish had a nice flavor, it was somewhat dry. The waffles needed something to add some moisture to the dish... not sure what, I'm not a chef!, but something. Would I go back? Yeah, probably. Give it a try - it was busy so I imagine that their food is probably pretty good overall. read more

Brett's Kitchen - Todays special - Huevos rancheros on cornmeal waffles - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I work in a food wasteland. Seriously, I really do. That, and I am really lazy, and tend to have the eating habits of a pissed off 6 year old. Brett's has a decent menu, but they totally capitalize on the fact that there is really NOTHING ELSE in the 'hood. I mean come on, 2 bucks for a small container of cottage cheese? 2 bucks for a yogurt? They do have a really great choice of bottled drinks in the back, and Kettle Chips, too. Also, I found somewhere else in the area to get a bagel and cream cheese, where the price is the same as it is here, but you seriously get 3 times the cream cheese (here you get a single little tub, and it's that weird neufchatel stuff). The people who work here are super friendly and HILARIOUS. But Woe betide you if you come in during a lunch rush. It gets more packed than a can of sardines. I'd honestly rather give them my money than Starbucks any day, but to be honest, I like the cookies better at the chain. read more

Go early for lunch because it gets crowded fast. I love all of the sandwiches (I've tried most of them.) Club sandwich is always a go-to order for me. And the staff is always nice. read more

Now that I'm not working in River North anymore, I'm starting to miss Brett. Here's why: two items that made hating my job downright enjoyable: Chorizo & egg sandwich and an almond latte. It's a little pricey and If you are pressed for time, CALL AHEAD, it gets crazy swamped in there. Tuna Provencal sandwich is great. read more

Didn't eat there, but got mine delivered, along with my co-worker's meals too. Fries were decent, but the burgers are, IMNSHO, very close to Culver's, so it was excellent. Other sandwiches are generally good as well. Oh yeah, delivery was good, as they took less than an hour. And other co-workers swear by their food - I would. Prices are a tag bit expensive, though typical of the River North restaurants and snack bars. Update 1/23/2008 - Cole slaw tasted funny, and in a bad way, but the roast beef sandwich was good, albeit a bit dry (normal with sandwiches like these). Delivery was top notch, I think it came in 35 minutes after ordering - wow! Don't mind the nice lady who takes orders over the phone; my co-workers think she's crazy, but she's not! Update 10/8/2009 - Nice walk to this here place...burgers are still excellent, grilled cheese (with bacon) is great, the chili is okay (I like a more balanced chili), rueben is very good, and the baked goods are great. Still recommend this place, though I am dying to try their breakfast sometime soon - mmm, chorizo & eggs. The prices went up a bit, but not too unreasonable, considering the area its in. Still worth going for consistently good food! Update 3/1/2010 - Still a nice walk, even in post-winter, burgers are (fine, ok ok!) not like Culver's but still hold their own very very well. Baked goods are great - cookies are tasty and the blueberry muffin is deee-lish. Marbled breaded something was good too (forgot the name). Still the same friendly folks, getting more crowded. ATM is a bit steep in its fees, but its an off-bank ATM so its to be expected. Still like this place! read more

It's similar to a diner, or back in Metro Detroit, a coney. Order up at the counter and pick up when they call your number. I got a cheeseburger with french fries. Loved the french fries; they were crispy and seasoned just right. Cheeseburger was heavy on the condiments, and similar to any burger that you would get at McDonald's. Nothing to rave about on that end. Walked out of there paying $11, so not exactly cheap, but still okay. That being said, I'd come back if I was looking for a quick meal before classes if I was in the mood. read more

A quick update on Brett's, which has become my number one lunch location in River North. Here are some insider tips from a regular: The daily special is always rotating, and the only thing that is set in stone is Thursday, which is always Sloppy Joe day - the best day of the whole week! I go every Thursday, and I love it so much I even created a little song and dance that I sing when I order "It's Sloppy Joe Day Mother Truckas." The staff humors me with this, and even asked for their picture with me, when I came in wearing the "It's Sloppy Joe Day Mother Trucka" t-shirt my co-workers had custom made for my birthday. I usually get my Joe with the fries, but occasionally will get it with the coleslaw, and just dump the slaw right on the sandwich, adding a cool, crispy crunch. I also have been known to top my Joe with cheddar cheese and a bag of Fritos I snag at Walgreens next door. If I get the urge for Brett's on a non-Thursday, I usually opt for "the Dago." This non-menu item is the specialty of the line cook Dago (pronounced Dah-go, and hopefully spelled right. I know that this spelling is also how you spell the ethnic slur, which is absolutely NOT what I am going for.) it is basically a Mexican chicken sandwich, with a twist. You can also order his breakfast sandwich, which is pretty good too. Their 1/2 pound cheese burger is currently my favorite hamburger in town (next to Kuma's, which to be fair shouldn't really be compared to a regular burger anyway since it usually has so many unconventional ingredients piled on top!). It is just a delicious, no frills, mouth-watering, delicious burger. My boss and I get these about once a month, eat it so fast it's like swallowing it whole, and then go into a beef coma for the rest of the day. Also, I want to confirm the other reviews - the Banana bread is shockingly good. Very moist and delicious! Well worth it. The only downside to Brett's is that their close time of 4PM is a bit deceptive. There have been a number of times I've stopped by or called in an order around 3:30 and they've told me their grill is shut down for the day. read more

This is a common work lunch option for me. They used to have the best ever reuben sandwich. Piled high w/ meat and kraut w/ a little tub of thousand island on the side. Grilled buttery bread. I can almost feel my heart attacking as I sit here thinking about it. Then I went back a few weeks ago. Their line system changed (understandable..maybe trying to make it more efficient) but it totally threw me off. Then I got my 'wich and it lacked in meat, wasn't grilled the whole way, and they spread a weak and thin layer of thousand on one side of one slice. The price went up a bit. It was even made by the same dude....maybe he was in a hurry. Tear, brett's. Tear. I hope it was just a particularly bad day. read more

I was searching for a place for lunches around the River West area and came across Brett's Kitchen. While it's small (about 5 small tables), it's never been a problem for me finding a seat. Most lunch goers order their food to go. I've only had their corned beef sandwich, on rye with mustard and a tabouli salad. The corned beef is tastey. Not the best I've had (that would be Manny's in South Loop). But it is better than average. You get a decent amount of meat. The tabouli is kinda blah. Lots of cracked wheat. I prefer mine with much less cracked wheat. But it's a filler for those days when I'm starving. I like the girl who takes your order and works the register. She always greet people with an "hola!" and calls me "babe". Kinda funny and always catches me off-guard. But gives the place a feeling of familiarity, like I've been eating there for ages. read more

This place is sweet because they serve everything from soup to salad, from lattes to turkey clubs. Their food is top-notch, made with high-quality ingredients and elbow grease. The folks that work here are cool as well, they're always friendly, courteous and silly. I go here sometimes to "grab-a-sammitch" and have yet to be depressed by my purchase. Don't go around noon though, hold out for an off-hour eating time... because it'll be far too packed otherwise. I cannot stand being crowded and confused by the seething masses of sammitch-seekers. Another gripe of mine about Brett's is their traffic flow, which is completely related to my distaste with crowds. The way the line is set up, you order from the beginning of the sammitch counter then proceed backward toward the drinks. The problem with this is that when it is crowded... it gets difficult for the employees to tell who's who and who's been waited on. I often have the problem where someone who came in well after me gets waited on before me because of this traffic flow issue. This is a problem that needs fixing. People should order sammitches at a particular point toward the back of the restaurant. Then they proceed forward and progress toward the cash register, rather than proceeding backward into the restaurant and then having to loop back around to continue onward toward the cash register. One last note. There is no bourbon here, so beware or come prepared! I do like them enough though, to not subtract a star because of it. They should color themselves lucky. Phaw. read more

This is my second visit to Bretts Kitchen. I will not be going back if they were the last restaurant in the city. The cashier/order taker was very rude and has no customer service skills. The woman was aggressive and very, very rude. I figured she was just having a bad day on my first visit, but it looks like she's just an unlikable and disagreeable person. My order was skipped over twice before I questioned the cook about it. He then called out egg salad and carrot cake. Having ordered a smoked turkey and egg salad sandwich, I knew this was not my order. I politely asked the cashier/order taker about it, who then grabbed the bag in an angry manner and thrust it into my hands. She then screeched that it was my order. I asked her if she was sure because of what the cook called out and she screeched again it was my order and I could go. This woman was very aggressive in her manner and very, very rude. I will never waste another penny in this place. The bread was dry and turkey/egg fillings were sparse. If I'm going to spend so much money on sandwiches, it won't be at this place!!!! read more

I went to Brett's over lunch one day because I wanted to try something new. It was pretty busy, but I felt they were getting sandwiches out pretty slowly. Everything is open so you can watch them while you're waiting for your food, but I wish I hadn't. Granted I am a vegetarian and it bothered me that they didn't have a designated "meat" and "non-meat" section on their grill, but more than that, they were cross-contaminating like crazy! I think anyone should be concerned when they use the same spatula to flip a raw chicken breast and then flip a piece of toast. Someone took my food even though everyone is given a ticket with a number so I ended up waiting much longer for my food. In the end, the sandwich was pretty good (good enough for its price? not sure). I got the pesto special and I liked that everything was homemade and not mass-produced. But the service, wait, and lack of sanitary measures turned me off. There are better sandwich places in River North. read more

True Hidden Gem.... Its small and cozy, and tough to get a seat during prime hours, but you can get great sandwiches, and unbelievable breakfast food. Perfect place to hit up on those rough Sunday mornings.... read more

I've been here a few times as literally, a last resort. The general vicinity is a food desert with most food establishments being at least a half mile away. And who wants to walk in sub zero temps to McDonalds on Ohio Street or deal with the zombies on Chicago Ave. Yeah, that's okay, I'll wait. Didn't think so. So for a quick stop within a 1-2 block radius, this place meets a need. However, my experience today further underscored why I don't go often. For those new to the area, this is a diner-like atmosphere. With a grill and two to three people working the grill. When considering cost, quality and service - there is much to be desired. Service has been consistently poor. They have a ticket process. When you place and pay for an order, you are given a number that is included in a ticket. The order feeds to a ticket machine that the cooks (they are by NO stretch of any imagination - chefs) pull to begin preparing your meal. Naturally, 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. is part of the lunch hour and the busiest. I came in AFTER the lunch crowd. Placed and paid for an order and then began to wait. Waited some more. Waited more. While another customer's spouse ate half a sandwich and THEN realized it was chicken and not tuna as she had ordered -__- They prepared her another sandwich, this one with tuna. And again, I waited. And after 40 minutes got part of my order while they waited on fries. Really. 40 minutes for a simple sandwich. And the cook acted like he was irritated with me for having a different ticket number than the order he prepared for someone else who - obviously gave up waiting. This is not the first time they've either ignored my ticket that came through the machine or pretended that there was a mix up with the register. No. The mix up is with the cooks behind the counter. I can go into any number of reasons why this occurred but will leap to solutions. 1. Improve the back end process of how orders are received by the cooks. Either have a crew chief who directs what orders are handled by who OR 2. Set up an electronic system that projects the next order on a display screen. But I guess I'd have to walk the green mile to McDonalds for that. read more

Cute place, great and diverse menu. The sandwiches are the same price as other places in the neighborhood, but not quite as huge, which might be positive or negative depending on your hunger levels :) read more

The prices here are a little steep as others have mentioned. I've come here for a few things so far. One, the parfait. That is the one awesome thing I've had at Brett's so far. There are two layers of not-too-sweet yogurt, a middle layer of crunchy, fresh granola, and topped with 4-5 fresh berries. It's yummy and delicious, but it costs $4. I've also gotten the egg sandwich, which really was not worth the $4. The bread doesn't taste buttered or like anything special. And the eggs, although freshly cooked, was dry and didn't have much flavor. I definitely would not be getting that sandwich again. I've also bought a piece of pound cake, which was a huge piece, but way too buttery. But on a huge plus side, everyone there is friendly esp the cashier, and everyone who goes into that place looks happy. I bet their lunch sandwiches taste better. read more

I needed something cheap and quick, so I figured I'd give Brett's Kitchen a try. The staff is nice, though I couldn't quite achieve my goal of "cheap", grabbing a tuna sandwich and sweet potato fries for a bit over $11. The sandwich was quite good; it was relatively large, the tuna salad was of good quality and I liked the freshness of the vegetables. The fries, though, were pretty much unseasoned and I noticed it wasn't altogether crunchy. The wait was modest (~20 minutes) which was good--it means your food is going to be coming out fresh. I'm willing to give it another shot, though, and call my order in next time. read more

If you are indecisive DO NOT GO HERE! They have so many delicious choices, from a simple grilled cheese to a crazy sando with all the fixins! Plus soup or chili if you're into that kind of thing. Their veggie special is so good with the sesame sauce, its so fresh and crisp - just what a veggie special should be. Its difficult navigating your way through, but just when you think that you have had enough the cashier always has a big smile and somethng nice to say. On a side note - their coffee is pretty good too. I have no idea what kind it is, but I like it! read more

Pretty decent coffee, sandwich, breakfast shop. I went here on a Saturday for a healthy bite to eat. I got the portabello mushroom sandwich. It was good, it wasnt anything amazing BUT it was good and only like $6 or something. I love that they put sprouts on it. Such small things can make me happy. It looks like they have a great selection of breakfast items and other hearty sandwiches. They also have a case of pastries, breads, etc. read more

Based on the accolades of Yelp, I trekked all the way here from my conference one day last week in order to avoid eating at a chain for six meals in a row. The greek chicken sandwich I had was really really good. The chicken was juicy as hell, and the cookie was outa sight. But what really made it worth the hike in a suit in the midday sun was the people. This place has more character than a panera and a potbelly's put together - the woman who rang me up called me doll, sugar AND honey. Now that's sweet. read more