Recently discovered this place after going for a run. I wanted something healthy but tasty. I've been here twice so far and I really like the sandwiches! And I love the fact that they have lettuce wraps since I'm on a low carb diet. And if I ever feeling like treating myself they have great bakery items and gelato. The sandwiches are fresh made and oven baked so overall this is a great healthy eating place if you ask me. Next time I will try their vegan options. read more

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

So for whatever reason, this humble little spot doesn't get much attention in the Chicago vegan world, but y'all, they have an entire vegan menu. They have a huge list of vegan sandwiches with vegan protein, and they make their own vegan garlic sauce. I've had the vegan garlic chicken and another vegan sandwich with artichokes and both were filling. The sandwiches are huge, though not quite a foot. I am used to 6 inch sandwiches, so I usually only eat half because they are actually filling. Messy, gooey deliciousness. They have vegan meatball subs, kufta, avocado and artichoke sandwiches, all kinds of stuff. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Got the tuna sandwich! It was delicious great customer service. Had to wait a little longer than expected because they ran out of an ingredient. But they made it up with a complimentary item of my choice! Thanks for the suggestions as well! The tuna sandwich was HUGE so I'm eating my other half now! Had he first half around 6pm. read more

I went here today for the first time. The owner and employees are so nice and welcoming! I had the new chicken parmigiana sandwich, and it was very tasty! Coffee was also good. It's a nice little cozy chill spot where people go to study/work/socialize over a sandwich, coffee, or pastry. Definitely a place to check out if you're in the area. read more

Better off going to subway! I'm trying figure out how my sandwich was soooo bad and they had just opened? It's like they gave me a sandwich they made yesterday and warmed it up! The vegetables were extremely over cooked and soggy! The bread was extremely soggy and they gave me a different bread than what I ordered! The sandwich literally made me sick! Save your $10 and take it to Medici up the street at least their food is fresh! read more

Super underrated for sure. Sizeable portions and tasty sandwiches. Also, great selection of teas

Ate here yesterday. Had a latte and hummus and falafel sandwich. The latte was really good. The sandwich was really good as well. Both had really good flavor. Only issue I had was we had to wait quite a bit to get served our sandwich, but other than that it was a nice place to go. read more

Best gelato around! And great sandwiches. Excellent secret back patio. My only recommendation is that I wish they used less plastic in their containers. read more

loved the gelato and the simple fact that the Cafe is there! Yeye Lynvonne Cafe Yeye: WCSU iHeart radio read more

Good coffee (and nice large mugs available if you're staying there). A few vegan offerings in the pastry case, including delicious gluten-free brownies. The real highlight here is the back patio -- a rare find in the area. Several tables & chairs, shade from lots of trees, and no street noise! It also tends to be a quieter crowd on the patio than inside, which is ideal for enjoying a coffee and reading. read more

The owner, who is almost always there, is very personable, and will knock himself out to make you happy. The coffee is way better than Starbucks and way way better than DD. Recently, the menu was expanded. Meat lovers, as well as veggies will be happy. I like the Eggplant Meatball, as well as their "Café 53 Sandwich" - which is a simple bagel with egg whites, covered in delicious Turkish olive oil, and sprinkled with mint. One note for those used to going to Starbucks... Café 53 does not have sugar-free syrup and a few other fancy things like that. Finally, the WiFi is reliable and extremely fast! read more

I worked at a pita shop in college and thought the best pitas of my life were in the rear view mirror. My pita hankerings still run deep though, so when I'm feeling hopeful I hop in the driver's seat and see what's around the corner. Today that road led me to Café 53, and one of the best pitas of my life. The falafel and hummus pita was perfectly done. The combination of light vegetables, tahini sauce and spicy peppers (3/5 peppers on my scale) was the perfect combination. I will be returning for another, and probably soon. read more

Cafe 53 - A thick, hot freshly made pita. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Café 53 is my favorite spot in Hyde Park. As a vegan, it can be difficult to find quick, easy food options that aren't fries or sad salads. Café 53 has a full menu of vegan sandwiches and delicious bread (the Dutch Crunch is the stuff on which dreams are made) with such staggering variety that I'm never bored. There are even vegan baked goods! You can always find a vegan raspberry crumb bar, ginger cookie, and brownie with a few seasonal desserts as well. It's truly delicious food: so good that you could feed the entire vegan menu to an omnivore and they'd be none the wiser. The overall vibe of the café can't be topped. The employees are lovely people who have practically memorized my orders. I once forgot to specify that I wanted my coffee decaf and went up a minute after ordering to ask to find that they had already prepared it decaf because they knew I've never ordered caffeinated coffee. The one time my order was messed up, they remade the correct order very quickly and apologetically and gave me both meals. There's always French radio stations blaring jazz and ballads and a pleasant hum coming from the kitchen as orders are called out and espressos are made. I've spent entire ten hour days studying here (there's also free wifi!) and I feel more comfortable than I would in almost any library. In spring and summer, there's even a lovely little outdoor patio in the back where you can enjoy your food. You can't beat Café 53! read more

Delicious! I had the avacado turkey sandwich and it was awesome! The Dutch bread is unlike any bread I've had before and the homemade cream sauce was very unique! read more

Love this little shop. Their food delivers more than a standard coffee shop sandwich. The turkey and avocado is great and comes with a cream sauce instead of typical mayo. The Dutch Crunch bread was awesome - I think they finish each loaf to order so it comes out warm and crispy. It also means waiting a few minutes for your order. My boyfriend highly recommended the buffalo sandwich - messy but oh so good! read more

I LOVE Cafe 53! I probably get a sandwich from here at least once a week because it's just so convenient and delicious. My favorite sandwich has got to be their garlic chicken sandwich. I'm a huge lover of sandwiches but honestly I've never quite had one like it. The sauce is creamy and the garlic flavor is very subtle. They also mix in some pickled jalapeños and giardiniera which brings in a little kick and tang to the sandwich. The only thing is sometimes it can take long to get your sandwich but honestly still well worth it! read more

This is a small cafe on 53rd Street. During the day you can find plenty of U of C students. There is plenty of seating. They sell made to order sandwiches, gelato and desserts. The vegan garlic chicken sandwich on Dutch or Italian bread is delicious. The bread tastes very fresh. The service is great. They have a great selection of vegan chips. The vegan brownies are great too. I wish they had a wider range of vegan desserts. read more

Wonderful coffee shop. Great quality food and drink. Nice outdoor patio seating. Open for dine in or carry out during Covid 19

My 7yo daughter and I visited after a museum visit to the city this week. The falafel sandwich was amazing and their portions are amazing. One sandwich was fully satisfying for both of us. The staff was helpful for this 1st time visitor and the restaurant was clean and nice. read more

Haven't had a bad sandwich here yet. I really recommend the Sumac chicken on a lettuce wrap or the Turkey Avocado on Dutch bread. Everything has an awesome flavor or spice to it. Whenever I come in the owner is here and is quick to ask if you need help and even skips over the tipping screen when it pops up on the card reader. He doesn't seem to mind college kids staying for a while and is quick to offer up the wifi password. Coffee and chai tea are yummy. I'm always too stuffed to try the deserts or gelato but they always tempt me. If you need something printed there's a printing kiosk that's easy to use and not too pricey. read more

Sandwiches and salads are consistently fresh, crisp and delicious. I've never been inside as I usually order via Postmates or UberEats but very good quality food! read more

I am new to Chicago and my friend took me to Café 53 for lunch. The service was great. The staff recommended the Sumac Chicken and it was delicious. I will definitely be going back soon! read more

Delicious, filling sandwiches. Great bang for your buck. Garlic Chicken or Sumac on Dutch bread is my fave

Love the variety of gelato and tea options. This is a nice neighborhood spot run by nice people.

I very nearly gave this place four stars ... but they HAVE TO get rid of the horrible radio station music they play- the music itself is okay (mostly classic rock) but it's played way too loudly and the commercials every few minutes drive me crazy because they're even louder than the music is. It's impossible to carry on a good conversation or have any sort of meeting, because of the music situation. Everyone I know who comes here brings ear plugs ... With their WiFi, they could easily have satellite radio, so I don't understand why they're still playing awful old-school blaring broadcast radio. Now the good stuff: they've got WiFi, they don't mind if you hang out for an afternoon with your laptop, and they've got a wealth of different kinds of sweet and savory treats, many of which are vegan. The baked goods and gelato are okay- not amazing, but not terrible- and the coffee is good. The staff is super friendly (and this makes up for the length of time it takes them to carry out your order). It's only been open a month, so I expect things will smooth out over the months to come! read more

There are many cafés to choose from in Hyde Park, but one of my favorites is Café 53. They have a full halal/vegetarian menu, which I had never seen before in this neighborhood. They have a very large tea selection right on the counter, so you can actually get a closer look at what you're picking. Plus there's gelato! I have many times come in for just a sandwich and found myself unable to resist those sweet and colorful temptations. Out back there is an enclosed garden with ample space. It is a tranquil respite from the busy city streets. Other than that, Café 53 provides the standard menu of salad/sandwich/coffee with plenty of seating areas for socializing, snacking and studying. read more

This hidden gem in Hyde Park is just what I needed. We were welcomed into this quaint and cozy coffee shop and had the menu explained to us, as we were looking for a vegan meal. The three of us ordered different sandwiches and was quite pleased with them. We ordered the Vegan Italian, Artichoke Eggplant and the Vegan Veggie Sandwich. The others ordered Mint Lemonade which they said was very tasty. I opted for water with cucumber. After placing our order, we were given the option to eat in the front of the restaurant or on the back patio....we opted for the patio and not oh boy were we surprised!!! It didn't look very appealing when we opened the door, but once being seated, it was like we were in our own little area....it seemed so far away from the bustle of Chicago living. We did not hear any street sounds such as horns blowing, sirens, yelling, etc. It was very peaceful, all we heard were birds chirping and locusts humming. The food was very fresh and made with love. We will definitely patronize this establish in the very near future. #eattolive read more

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I LOVE the full-halal menu, with so many vegan and vegetarian options too, that aren't just boring salads! There are a plethora of power outlets, fast-wifi, and a great space to set up shop to power through your work! The staff is also super kind and they have a back patio that is so gorgeous! The only complaint I have is that the water tank pours water SO SLOWLY, but other than that, I'm literally here every week! read more

Tons of great vegan options for sandwiches that can be tricky in other places where you'd just walk away with lots of lettuce, tomatoes and maybe a cucumber with some dressing slathered on - this place gives you OPTIONS for goodness! I recommend eating there so you can get it delivered to you fresh after preparation as (especially the vegetarian/vegan ones) some of the sandwiches get a bit sloppy quickly with the dressings and such soaking into the bread. I, personally, love their eggplant sandwiches. They are quite large and very filling. No real options for sides for those who want some fries or something with their order, but you can get some chips. If you're in the mood for gelato... oh man! They have some great, original flavor options. I tried a scoop of basil with a scoop of ricotta - which had a great cheesecake taste to it when combined. The server just kept providing me sample after sample with various combos to see what I might like. So many yummy options - I could hardly decide. read more

I have been to Cafe 53 a couple of times and I love it. It is beautiful inside, the food is good and the lady behind the counter was AWESOME! They have free wifi! I haven't tried their coffee but I will soon. read more

Tasty desserts. Miserable people. Rude and clearly offended that we were mixed race and mixed aged. Forst girl took our order. Did not totally listen. And then walked off saying the other girl would help us but did not pass us off and others were then served ahead of us. I mentioned this was rude that she walked off but was told , " i dont know about that and what do u want." rele uptight for a place with hardly anyone in it. I wont be back.....and i have been in hp since 1989. The people here suck. read more

Very bad experience with the service here. I arrived around 12:30 with my friend this past Friday. My friend ordered before me in line, and I ordered a turkey panini after her. I asked for no pesto and spinach on my sandwich, and the young woman at the register clearly did not know how to enter orders into the system. She asked me to repeat the two things I did not want on the sandwich many times and was fiddling around with the machine for awhile, just seeming lost. When I asked for Swiss cheese instead of Provolone cheese, she looked confused and simply replied "I don't know" and "I don't think so." When I explained that I just wanted a different kind of cheese on the sandwich, she walked into the kitchen for 30 seconds, came back to the register, and just said "I don't know" again. I have ordered this sandwich here several times before, it is an extremely simple order, and I knew she must have not known what she was doing. I explained one more time, and she eventually just put something into the system and handed me a receipt. My friend received her sandwich after about 15-20 minutes, but the young woman at the register forgot to make her iced tea until my friend had to remind her that she ordered one. 30 minutes had gone by, and my sandwich was not ready, yet people who ordered after me were already eating their food; it was not crowded at all. My friend was already almost done with her food by the time mine came out. My sandwich came out with spinach and Provolone cheese on it, two things that I asked not to have. I asked the young woman at the register if that was my sandwich, and she said "Oh, you didn't want spinach, right?" I had to re-explain my order all over again. She said, "Can you wait one more minute?" She went back into the kitchen, and then just disappeared, not giving me any kind of update. I was waiting at the counter because she said it would only take one minute, and I just saw the man working in the kitchen strolling around the back and joking around. There was no sense of urgency or respect for the customer's time, and with the lack of communication among the staff, he probably didn't even know I was still waiting. After waiting so long, it really felt disrespectful. I had to wait another ten minutes for the new one to come. This time, it was just turkey on a panini. There was no cheese, literally just the turkey and bread. I could not believe it. At this point, I had waited over 40 minutes for my food, and I was very hungry, but I had to leave for class and was already so upset with the service. I went back up to the counter and explained that my order was wrong once again, but that I would just like my money back because my friend was already finished with her meal and I had to leave for class. She did not say a single word of apology to me or thank me for being patient. She simply took my sandwich back, opened up the register, gave me $8 for the sandwich, and walked away from the register without speaking. Not to mention, I had also spent money on a Coke and chips that I wasn't refunded for. I would think that after having the whole experience ruined, it would have been the right thing to refund the whole meal, since the chips and drink were obviously bought to eat with my sandwich. The young woman acted annoyed with me for returning the sandwiches twice despite them being wrong both times and despite having to wait over 40 minutes. I don't usually write Yelp reviews or complain about food places or workers. Having worked many waitressing and hosting jobs myself, I understand that things happen in restaurants. However, the service was very, very bad - pretty much incompetent. I still cannot believe the lack of capability, urgency, and communication from the staff. I would be forgiving if I felt like anyone was trying to help me, cared about solving the issue at hand, or even sincerely apologized for such a bad experience! Unfortunately, it was so clear that I was not a priority at all. The food here is very good, and it is the sole reason for the good reviews that Cafe 53 has. However, I left this place feeling upset and disrespected, and I don't think any food is worth that. read more

I've stopped by this cafe over the years off-and-on but was never overly impressed or unimpressed. However, that all changed today! While walking by I saw that a variety of sandwiches are now on the menu, including many vegetarian/vegan, and decided to try one out. I had the vegan buffalo "chicken" sandwich and it was absolutely out if this world!!! Everything about it was fantastic!!! Can't wait to try other options in the future! read more

They do sandwiches well. I had the garlic chicken and added cheddar cheese and avocado on french bread to make for a very filling meal on the go. The service was a little slow both ordering and coming out but the wait was worth it. read more

Very clean, brightly lit, free reliable wifi, plenty of seating, and a wonderful staff! The last time I was there we were a group of 5+, and the girl behind the counter was as sweet as could be about letting us sample lots and lots of different gelato flavors. Less than $2 for a scoop on a cone is pretty cheap in my books! I had the chai gelato which was deeeelicious, I loved how thick and creamy it was. Other tasty flavors include the strawberry chocolate chip and oreo. The baked goods (esp the scones) looked very tempting as well. A cute little place in Hyde Park, the neighborhood needs more like it! read more

Great falafel wrap! And pretty quick delivery.

I give them two stars just for their amazing baked goods... Despite the flies I have seen in the case. No atmosphere here. Awkward chairs for the tables, booths are crooked and falling apart, all the tables lop sided. Crabby employees, one worker on her cell phone before ringing me. Internet does not work. Either freezing in here or 5 billion degrees. Average coffee drinks. The only thing it has over Starbucks on 52nd is that it has a bathroom. read more

A friend and I decided to get some gelato after lunch today and Cafe 53 was right there, looking like an adorable northside cafe. Neither of us had been there before and we went up to the gelato counter and the pastry counter....where we had plenty of time to admire the wares, since the three employees completely ignored us for several minutes. Finally my friend asked if we could get some gelato. The guy behind the counter turned to another man who was on the phone and then turned back to us and said "No, sorry." No? Seriously?! Isn't that their restaurant byline?! I asked why and was told because it wasn't uncovered. By that, I guess they meant that the gelato had plastic covers over each of the tubs. They couldn't take off the covers to serve us? O-Kaaaay. Obviously they didn't want our business.... So, I guess we won't be back! read more

Fabulous little shop, with great service and amazing food! We found our favorite sandwich shop and can't wait to try the next set of sandwiches. The italian bread is Fabulous! They definitely put thought into every ounce of that menu! read more

Love this place! So many options it is always hard to decide. Great location, friendly staff, and options to dine inside or outside. Far better than any chain restaurant! read more