Delicious sandwiches. Welcoming and culturally rich atmosphere. Family owned Palestinian store. Worth a visit and the wait!

Excellent surprise. Notable vegan menu items and wonderful service. Vegan Sumac Chicken Sandwich was awesome.

Service was good, vegan sandwich was excellent and I will certainly have it again. Dining in a little complicated as the place is small and the popularity makes it a little congested. Wouldn't stop me from going again though. read more

You have got to try this place. One of the best halal subs I've had. Great service and amazing food. Their Sumac Chicken Sandwich is out of this world! The best point, their meat is all halal! read more

I have to say that it's rare that you go somewhere and EVERYTHING is delicious. My vegan friend had the Vegan Garlic Pesto, a Chai Latte W/Almond Milk, and a slice of sweet potato pie! I had lemonade, and the sumac chicken sandwich in a lettuce wrap with hot peppers & a side of garlic sauce! (Which is different from the sauce it comes with). I had some sort of gelato to which the name escapes me but it may be my new favorite flavor! Think of vanilla with pieces of Oreo & maybe cheesecakes mixed in with a caramel ribbon. We'll definitely be back! read more

Cafe 53 - (Left) Sumac Chicken Sandwich lettuce wrap with giardiniera peppers and garlic Vegan Chicken Pesto (Right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This little cafe can easily be mistaken for a coffee and pastries ONLY shoppe. With restaurants and shops crowding the area, it was not our first pick. We dipped in a few places looking for food that was quick and convenient, but good. With the restrictions, we wanted to choose something that's not too messy, while eating on the run. This place checked the boxes. There's something to be said about judging a book by its cover. Cafe 53 has the coffee/latte drink menu, but also lots of sandwich options (hot and cold), cafe drinks. My mother went in to look at the menu while I navigated the metered parking. While waiting, she encountered a playful young gentleman and a very serious older man. So mom was giggling when I came in, as the young guy resumed his duties. She'd decided that we'd eat here. LAUGHTER AND CONNECTING WITH CUSTOMERS GO A LONG WAY. The older man was quite serious. He could use a smile and a more motivated staff. He was giving sharp orders In front of customers. He seemed burdened by work. There was a patio available solidifying our decision to 'dine in' (or out). The patio was a yard in the back of the business, nestled between apartment buildings. It was clean, quiet and shaded by trees. There was plenty of space and spacing between tables. Our wet tables and chairs were wiped down for us, by the same young man that made my mother laugh. He was genuinely relatable and a bit comical. I used the bathroom to wash my hands. It could use a little TLC. The Sumac Chicken sandwiches that we selected were delicious and the portions plentiful. We ate 1/2 for lunch and 1/2 for dinner. My mom LOVED her chai latte. It was piping hot and tasty. I ordered lemonade, but was informed that they had to make more. I was offered other options. There was enough to make an Arnold Palmer, so Arnold Palmer it is. It was refreshing. We enjoyed our visit and will visit again to try more sandwiches. read more

Owner was very nice and helpful with recommendations. Sumac chicken was great! Lots of different options for sandwiches.

great vibes and great food! the staff is nice and there's a great (halal) sandwich selection here. try the pastrami and the salami/turkey on the dutch crunch! they also have a cute outdoor patio! it's unexpected because the entrance is all the way at the back of the restaurant so you wouldn't know it's there but make sure to grab your sandwiches and eat them outside on a nice day! read more

i LOVE cafe 53 and am so upset that i only found out that they had such a nice patio as i was packing up to leave uchicago :(((( their sandwiches are always super incredible, and i love how they have so many great vegan alternatives with super great fake meats!!! their dutch crunch bread is MINDBLOWING and any sandwich with their garlic sauce is sure to make ur brain explode!!! any sandwich with the roasted eggplant is also fire fire fire !!! this was my go to for gelato when i came back to hyde park to move out!!! i'll forever cherish the memories of splitting gelato with friends in the patio in chicago's beautiful summer warmth, and i'm so happy that cafe 53 is just.... the spot...... the coffee and mint chocolate gelatos are sooo creamy and good and the portion sizes for one scoop are absolutely ridiculous. it's almost insane how much ice cream they give you for three bucks, and this will for sure be my most missed hyde park restaurant. i'll think about u a lot cafe 53, much love uwuwuwuwuwuwu read more

Cafe 53 - i think this is a vegan chicken sandwich? i don't entirely remember cause this was like a year ago, but any sandwich slaps! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of my favorite places in Hyde park. Sandwiches are great and unique. Setting is a small cafe with limited seating but get a sandwich to go and enjoy it in the park or at the lake. read more

One of the best caramel macchiatos I have had! And I order that everywhere. The mug was too small for my cravings, but it was still a great drink. I also had an egg and feta croissant, yummy! The price is fine. The food was good. The space itself was pretty tight though. Especially if you have to sit towards the back, there's hardly any room to move . Don't let it discourage you from checking it out for yourself, though! read more

All i had was a muffin and a bottled water and the muffin was your standard blue berry muffin. My problem with this place is how messy it is. They have these homemade covid 19 signs on every table that are all torn with the tape coming off them. The food cases have finger prints all over the glass. The place isn't dirty or anything like that, its just messy and disorganized. read more

Great Palestinian-owned cafe with vegan sandwiches and pastries. Coffee/drinks and a cozy ambiance

Wow, this place was a total surprise, and was fantastic. I'm reviewing now four days later because I'm craving one of their sandwiches. I got the sumac "chicken," the person with me got the garlic "chicken," both were awesome. They have a really nice quiet, leafy back patio. read more

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

So I ordered the Sumac sandwich. The service was awesome, had my order correct, on time and not a bad price! If you intend on dining in, the restaurant is cozy, warm and friendly. Now for the sandwich. The chicken was seasoned well and didn't over power the sandwich, fresh tomatoes and onions complicated the taste. My disappointment was there was to much sauce which was a mess once I took my first bite. The bread was not fresh as advertised. The chicken was hard to find! If I had to order the sandwich again I would ask for a little less sauce, a fresh Dutch crunch and enough chicken! 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

Amazing sandwiches! The food was delicious. The owner was super friendly and welcoming. All menu items are halal. Will definitely be back soon! read more

Had the vegan Buffalo sandwich delivered. It was delicious. A little messy so maybe don't eat it at a desk like I did great option for vegans on the south side read more

Exceptional sandwiches, great tasty pastries. Favorite spot in Hyde park. Service ambiance

I tried their sumac chicken and sandwich and I can surely say it is the BEST sandwich I've ever tasted! I chose Dutch bread to go with it and it was crispy and matched perfectly with the fillings. The portion was generous too. However, it can get quite busy during lunch times so avoid these times if you're using this as a working/ reading space. Can't wait to try out all their sandwiches. 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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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