Sorry to say, I was not impressed. The Dutch crunch bread was the best part of my sandwich. The pastrami was literally black and tough. The other sandwiches we got we're slightly better, but nothing worth praising. The chicken was dry in both. I really wanted to like it here, because the people were so nice. But this was by far the worst pastrami I've ever had. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. That's really all I have to say. Being a vegan college student in Hyde Park, it is difficult to find food! Honestly, where can I eat around campus? It took me over a year to try this place and I can't believe I didn't do it before. There are SO many vegan options and desserts. The bread is soft and fluffy, the filling is flavorful, and for every meat option, there is a vegan alternative. So so good. Really filling and flavorful. The ambiance isn't great - a small hole-in-the-wall type. But the food is fantastic and the customer service is awesome. Everyone was really friendly and our food arrived fast. So, I highly recommend this place and especially in these current times, please support them! read more

Cafe 53 - Vegan Meatball Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We just happened upon this place after touring UChicago and I'm glad we stopped in. Two of us had the falafel and hummus , one had the buffalo chicken and one had the chicken salad. Plenty of food and all was prepared well. Staff was friendly, too! I just wish we had room for dessert- they looked amazing! read more

Cafe 53 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cafe 53 is pure delight. They have a huge food selection- all different hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries, and gelato. They also make good lattes and carry quality coffee beans. All food and drinks are reasonably priced, especially the sandwiches because they are humongous. The other great thing about Cafe 53 is their back patio, which has seating for several groups, and is shady in the summer. read more

Delicious sandwiches and great coffee. The only thing, they need to clean there tables as soon people leave. I already recommended to 20 people . Going back soon! Pastrami sandwich. read more

Cafe 53 - Delicious sandwiches and great coffee. Pastrami sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love it! Great service & food. Love the hours and it's open when other places aren't yet!

This is my favorite lunch spot! Every time someone visits me I make sure we do a meal here! In nicer weather the back patio is just the most magical little spot. Perfect for lunch after church, study spot while grabbing a coffee or pastry, or casual hang over some gelato! My go to is the Turkey panini! read more

UPDATE: The owner reached out to me because of my review. I really really really appreciate restaurant owners who care about their customers. He offered a couple of options and I can safely say I will definitely come back here because this restaurant cares. Old Review: The food was not good at all. It wasn't tasty, they need to taste their own food. Also the paper they wrap in is not meant for wrapping sandwiches, the paper got soggy so bad and seeped through into the plastic bag. I was missing my water bottle which was a part of that order as well. AOverall a bad experience. read more

Two Words: Halal Menu! I am forever on a journey to find delicious halal cuisine..I can not believe that the entire menu is halal! This is music to my ears! It is so odd to tell people that I have never had am authentic roast beef sandwich, lol..but dangggg! I asked the owner where they purchase the meat and he told me and he didn't take it personal. Several times shop owners take such offense to you asking them about he validity of the halal meat! Environment - Very cute little shop that is full of students! It is packed with assortments of tea, beverages, a huge menu (beef, chicken, turkey, and fish), dessert, and they also serve gelato! This shop also has a PRINTER! (If you have or are in school at the moment, you know the importance of a working printer!) That is deff a added bonus and what a great way to bring back more customers? Awesome! Food - I had the Roast Beef Artichoke Sandwich which had massive amounts of roast beef, lettuce, tomatoes, artichokes, dipped in asian dressing and cheddar cheese! This was just delicious! The bread was firm for the purpose of the sandwich, but soft to the last bite! I paired this with Pomegranate Ginger Ale! I can not wait to return to this little place! The price was great..you will leave satisfied! http://www.cafe-53.com/ read more

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Amazing sandwiches highly recommend the Sumac Chicken. Love eating in the back and their Turkish coffee hits the spot too.

Always amazing food and service. They never disappoint My go to when I want something good and filling with no drama or unsuspected issue. And the gelato is the bomb!!!! read more

Am I missing something??? Did I order something wrong? Picked up the turkey avocado sandwich on french roll to go with a chocolate cake. $13. Ok, I thought this better be a good sandwich. The server tried to put my chocolate cake in a baggy. I had to stop him and ask him to put it in a container. Wouldn't the cake be smooshed in just a baggy. So I open up the sandwich. It looks decent and it's humongous. You can definitely share a sandwich. The sandwich tasted ok. Bits of avocado were not ripe so they were hard. The turkey was a bit salty. There was plentiful lettuce and slices of tomato. I didn't realize the sandwich comes with mayo :( not a huge fan. The chocolate cake was also ok. I think it might've been starting to get old as the edges we're starting to dry. So I guess if you're really hungry, not craving that subway down the block, then this place is alright. read more

The best falafel and humus wraps in Chicago. Many other great items on the menu as well. You can not go wrong with any choice. read more

Cafe 53 - Cafe 53 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped here for lunch one day and got a roast beef panini. Meat was a little weird and sandwich was just ok. I'd be willing to try it again because their other sandwiches looked pretty good. They do have a really good chip selection read more

Delicious and friendly . Enjoy swinging by anytime I'm in Hyde Park. My go-to for a latte and a tasty lunch.

Lovely place with nice staff but they consistently forget to use non-dairy milks when requested. If you order a drink with oat or almond milk or you are lactose intolerant make sure to confirm they did not use cow's milk. This has happened multiple times. Often when I go to pay the barista also swipes away/closes out the tip form on the ipad payment system. Many times I want to leave a tip but they close the system out so I am unable to. Slow down and let the customers leave a tip! read more

Have only been once in three years... but I'll probably correct that. Enormous, reasonably priced sandwiches. Could maybe use a bit more meat but not a bad deal at all. Everyone loves the Dutch crunch bread. I honestly don't see what the big deal is. It's good but not amazing. But good is perfectly good. Hummus is great -- I especially love the peppers they add to give it a bit of a kick! read more

A quaint, quiet place but I will frequent much more often that I have in the past. The food is wonderful, the staff is great and the atmosphere is excellent as well. read more

Cafe 53 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great restaurant for a quick bite. Carrying out is smooth and efficient. The kefta sandwich was mighty tasty! I wish there was a bit more beef, though. But that's a very minor gripe. All in all a great place to get your grub on! read more

This place is a much needed addition to the area. After dinner on Sunday we wanted to have an ice cream cone while taking a stroll. Since Baskin Robbins is gone, there isn't really an ice cream shop in Hyde Park anymore. This place is a cute cafe that can also try to fill the void of the missing ice cream parlor. I tried a couple of the sorbets, and they were both great. I thought the pastries looked amazing. I'll have to stop in some time and get my brother a vegan brownie. The staff was so friendly. They really just seem like genuinely happy people. read more

Cafe 53 has great sandwiches and baked goods. I usually order my food for pick up and it's ready, and I don't have to wait. If you're vegan definitely try the kofta sandwich with the French bread. It's really tasty and a good portion size. read more

Did I not write a review for this place? Shame on me! It's a bit of a whole in the wall with chipped paint and tile and some worn, wobbly tables and chairs. But oh my sweet Baby Jesus is the food here good. The sumac chicken sandwich on Dutch crunch bread is my new habit. Good thing I have many reasons to get to Hyde Park all the way from Lakeview! And the owner/manage? Dude couldn't be more friendly or helpful. Even though he wasn't going to make as much money from my desired order, he convinced me not to get the hummus plate along with the sandwich, saying it was too big. "I'll make it for you if you want. But it'll be too much food. I want you to be happy." I took his advice and he was so right. The sandwich, at $6.00, was as big as my head. I ate at 11:30 and had to force myself to think about what to make for dinner at 5pm. Meet your new crack! read more

Cafe 53 - Sumac chicken sandwich on Dutch crunch bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing Vegan Options! I had the chicken artichoke sandwich. So good. I ordered the Coconut Chai tea latte. The backyard has a peaceful area as well. read more

Cafe 53 - Gorgeous and peaceful hidden gem. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I ordered the Roast beef artichoke sandwich, sumac chicken sandwich, and the buffalo chicken sandwich. All three were delicious. From the dutch bread (crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside), to the meat fillings to the toppings and sauces, everything complemented the other perfectly. A lil pricey as Each sandwich is $8-9 plus tax. The owner is a very nice man as well. We borrowed a lighter from the guy and accidentally broke it. We wanted to pay for it but he said not to worry about it. read more

Stopped here this morning and was pleasantly surprised to see this gem in Hyde park so many different selections and options and everything looks good. Truly a cafe that runs properly and had a cozy feeling to it as well I will definitely be back. read more

I've only had the chicken sumac sandwich and it was great. Definitely not ones run of the mill sandwich spot. I'm sure the other sandwiches will be flavorful and unique. Also had the eclair. While it was fresh I would prefer it to be softer. read more

They have a lot of vegan options, which I deeply appreciate, and I ordered their vegan meatball sandwich on pita. the pita was way too thin and dry to fit such a title, the vegan meatballs themselves were also dry and tasted heavily of cumin- not bad but barely alright- and the marinara sauce was essentially just mashed tomatoes without a trace of seasoning. The peppers were probably the best part of the sandwich because everything else was just bland and dry...not a fan, especially for close to $9. perhaps their other sandwiches are better, and it wouldn't hurt to return for some gelato. the inside is rather small. front end seems like it'd be a nice place to study but it was full, so i sat in the back and the table was too tiny to fit both my textbook and the food. i wasn't too thrilled with this spot but i'd be down to give it another try with a new sandwich, as it seems to have a pretty heavy following. read more

Love love love. Have had Cajun sandwich, garlic chicken and buffalo chicken on baguette. All amazing. Delicious and filling. Owner is so nice. Had a plain coffee with cream and sugar and mmmmmm! Got my bro into this place now. Haven't had the luxury to sit and enjoy the cafe but everything so far is delicious. I gave 4 stars Bc sometimes phone orders or ordering upfront feels intense Bc they have lots of bread options etc and I went in not knowing and felt pressured to know....if U catch my drift. But overall nice people and great food. :) def worth it! And during quarantine they are still up and going. so great local support ! Go read more

Fairly solid garlic chicken sandwich. Loved the garlic sauce and peppers. It's a nice spot on 53rd with a good vegan selection. I enjoyed picking up the sandwich and going to the nearby to eat. read more

Spouse and I have been coming here a lot. All the eats and drinks are wonderful. Huge selection of teas. First rate coffee. Gelato in interesting flavors, all good (although the lavender reminded me of soap). Sandwiches huge and thoughtfully put together. You can substitute lettuce wrap for bread if you need to limit carbs. Amazing contemporary music, not too loud. I don't know what station it is, but many songs are in French. We need a place to sit and chill that is open later than most. Staff is very welcoming and have never tried to hurry us out. The only thing I could possibly want to change would be to make it larger with more tables. In good weather, there is also outdoor seating. read more

Sumac chicken sandwich was the best sandwich I've ever had. 10/10. Their Dutch crunch bread really put it over the top. Definitely a must try in chicago! read more

Updating my review from earlier (2 stars). Things have improved. Ordered two sandwiches today which were well made and delicious. The service was also quick and great. I think the espresso drinks could still use some work here. read more

I've been coming to Cafe 53 now for over 2 years. Usually the food/service is great. However today the cashier with pink hair was incredibly rude as soon as I walked in. And continued to be for my whole time. I'm incredibly disappointed in this restaurants hiring decisions. I won't be coming back while they continue to work there. read more

The desserts are pretty mediocre; the mini macaroons are cute but not super delicious and the blueberry muffin top was average. I rank 4 stars because of the abundant patio seating and huge sandwiches around me. I'll come back to try one for my own and can update my thoughts then! read more

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I was told that this café was one of the biggest ones in Hyde Park and that surprised me because it seem kinda of small to me but it wasn't a problem. I came here just for a meeting so I didn't really have any food but I did have a Tea Latte' which I had never had before it was okay and it was reasonable in price. There was a steady stream of people that came through the door and many of them the man behind the counter seemed to know. It had such a welcoming feel and even as my Pastor and I prayed after our meeting as we sat at the table no one in the Café seemed put off or as if they were surprised in fact they were smiling. That was the Cherry on the top of this visit. I will be coming back to taste some of their food and pastries. I will update my review when I do. Enjoy! read more

We stopped in and ordered sandwiches and coffee on a Saturday afternoon. The sandwiches were just okay. I probably wouldn't go back unless someone really wanted to. We have the bbq chicken which had way too much bbq sauce on it - couldn't taste anything else. read more

This is my favorite coffee shop in Chicago. No matter how long it's been since moving out of Hyde Park, I come back almost every week. There is nothing particularly flashy about Cafe 53 but it has everything you could want out of a coffee shop experience: -Ample seating with roomy tables and a beautiful patio in nice weather -Reliable wifi -A never-ending display of teas to choose from, and you can make a latte out of any of them with your milk of choice. I don't really drink coffee but the few times I've had it here it's been good. -Huge food menu!! Tons of sandwiches, a vegan version of almost all of them (vegan sumac chicken is my favorite...soooooo yummy), salads, breakfast bagels, and everything is so delicious! -Mouthwatering pastry display with cookies, brownies, scones, pie, cannoli, little savory pies with spinach and stuff -Homemade gelato year-round -Extremely reasonable prices and generous portions -Owners are so friendly -Clean bathrooms, tables, and floors -Music isn't loud or annoying -Just a cozy place to chill out or study or eat I could sit here all day and in fact I usually do! read more

I went here on a Friday afternoon and had a hard time picking a sandwich. The owner helped me decide on the garlic chicken on the Dutch crunch bread, which I was skeptical about. When my order came out, I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the sandwich. My first bite into the sandwich made me say mmmm! The Dutch bread was scrumptious! It was fresh, crunchy on the outside, and perfectly soft on the inside! The chicken was seasoned well and the garlic taste was not overwhelming. The giardiniera peppers added the perfect spicy touch. I also shared my friend's kufta sandwich. The description says it is steak but it is ground beef. The recommended bread was French baguette and I have to say that there was very little kufta on the bread. I was disappointed because most bites did not have any meat just bread. All in all the place was cute, the garlic chicken sandwich was delicious, and I will be back to try more sandwiches! Oh btw this place is halal! read more

Great food great environment!!! I love it here. Highly Recommend!! Vegan Options As Well read more

Cafe 53 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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soooo good. i had the turkey avocado on dutch crunch bread and i am hooked. good pricing too! next time i wanna try their coffee