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

See all

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

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

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

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

See all

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

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

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

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 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

Great falafel wrap! And pretty quick delivery.

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

It's places like these that make me get mad at other cafes because it sets the bar WAY higher for what I should expect when I order a ~$8 sandwich. I've frequented this cafe before for its gelato but this was the first time I needed a lunch spot to get some work done. Ordered the garlic chicken sandwich and I was shocked to see that this sandwich is so large. I definitely could have saved the other half for lunch the next day had I not been starving. Highly recommend! Both the sumac chicken sandwich and garlic chicken sandwich are winners here! read more

Still open for take out and delivery! I had the vegan kufta beef sandwich and fattoush salad--both were excellent and arrived within half an hour via Doordash. read more

The picture on yelp looks deceiving. The drinks aren't the greatest. They taste like they have been washed down with water

My bagel was a little disappointing. Tasteless and microwaved to be exact but I'll be back for the great coffee and wonderful service.

Halal. Got a warm greeting. Sandwiches were way bigger and tastier than I imagined. I got The buffalo chicken samich and it was the tastiest I ever had. Ia chill environment. read more

Had a latte. It was good, but I was bothered to see that the person serving food and making coffees didn't have a mask on. The person in the back making food had a mask but it was pulled down under their nose. It may be uncomfortable, but people in food service should especially be the ones that are vigilant about mask use. Won't go here again until I'm vaccinated. read more

Cafe 53 is a special gem of 53rd Street. With fresh options available to cater to every dietary preference (gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, etc.) not only is there a wide variety with something for everyone, everything is delicious and done well. My favorite sandwich is the Buffalo chicken! Although sometimes I enjoy stopping in just for an iced coffee or a scoop of gelato. read more

this place is small, but there is a back patio that's very very quiet, a good break from the noise of 53rd street. the turkey avocado sandwich is super good, and they have quick iced coffee drinks. the establishment isn't super tidy and the employees seem a little rushed, but they make up for it with quick, cheap food that is actually really good. i would stop here if you need a break from the bustle of chicago and like sandwiches. read more

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

Garlic chicken sandwich!! I usually dislike sandwiches but this place is amazing. I recommend the Dutch crunch or French baguette. Staff is very nice also. 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

Quiet, peaceful atmosphere with great coffee, yummy baked goods and amazing gelato. I only wish Hyde Park had more places like this. This has replaced Starbucks as my morning procrastination stop. I highly recommend this place for a coffee, sugar pick-me-up or afternoon gelato. 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

I can't believe that I've walked passed this place a million times. I decided to try the vegan buffalo sandwich and absolutely love it. The bread was warm and chewy just like I like it. 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

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

Updated review ! the chicken sandwiches are a delight !! I gave this place another chance as per my friends recommendations and it was great ! The chicken sumac has just the right amount of seasoning and it's so good . I have also tried the buffalo chicken which is awesome as well. I would recommend this place !! read more

Warm and comfortable atmosphere. The food smells amazing and is very affordable. Free wifi. Large selection of tea and coffee and excellent Turkish coffee!!! The owner and other employees are very kind and pleasant. read more

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

Hands down the best sandwich shop ever. I'm vegan, and their vegan menu is second to none. Also, they are also incredibly friendly.

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

have gone to this place 3 times to get gelato and all 3 times i have been RUDELY told," we have gelato, but we can't serve it to you" ... nothing else. will never go back to this place... and its a shame, i really like gelato! now the fro yo place across the street is where its at! WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER. read more

The only place that knows how to make sandwiches! The roastbeef sandwich is amongst the most popular - and no surprises there! Chai latte is also great unlike all other places where it's always too sweet. Super comfortable place to study. Just wish the falafel sandwich was less dry, the chai latte less sweet, and the tables not as high - a bit uncomfortable of you're working on a laptop. All in all, Hyde park's greatest cafe! read more

Ok so the ambience needs a little work, but this place has turned into one of my favorite spots. It's part coffee shop, part gelateria, and part restaurant that delivers! They do everything.. And for the most part they do it well. The food options vary from the boring (grilled chicken salad) to unique international (I had some middle eastern chicken sandwich that was AMAZING). The gelato is pretty good as well. So..if you need a place to chill AND eat something on 53rd that's not deep fried, smothered, or just plain unhealthy....this is a good option. read more

This is my favorite sandwich place in Hyde Park. (Morry's and Medici bakery in contention). Garlic chicken w extra giardinara is my order, or sometimes a kefta. Dutch crunch and french bread are both good, but I prefer the dutch crunch. Also they have great vegan options here; my friends are very into the vegan buffalo chicken sandwich in particular. The coffee is whatever, come for the sandwiches, and maybe stay away from the "normal" sandwiches (maybe they list them as paninis?). I tried the roast beef many years ago and it was no good. read more