I have been eyeing their brownies in the pastry case ever since coming here...just had it. Dang. The best pastry case in Hyde Park. The best brownie I have EVER had. Yes. That's right. THE BEST brownie ever. I think I may have had my chocolate quota for the year in one brownie. So satisfied. Tummy is happy! read more

Came here for the first time today, loved it, definitely coming back to try the vegan food... But for now, I'll just say the service is great and tea selection rocks! read more

The roast beef oven baked sandwich was SO GOOD. Lovely little place that my sister recommended me to try and it was awesome! I also had a medium white mocha with whipped cream which was delicious. Would love to come again the next time i visit chicago read more

All the Sandwiches are very generous in size and delicious. Wifi is free. They made good coffee too. The only downside is that the store is small, it can get very crowded during the weekends and there is not sufficient room for people waiting for take-out (given that there is usually a bit of the wait for sandwich) read more

I ordered a chai and had to remind the server of my order after waiting about 15 mins. My tea was overly sweet and generally not appetizing. The free wifi makes it a good workspace but they really need to work on the beverage quality and the service. read more

Came in for some gelato and it was horrendously freezer-burned - pretty much every bite was either icy or gummy. And honestly, the gelato case didn't look that appealing to begin with - several flavors looked like they were melting when they should have been frozen. I've been here a few times and they definitely have worthwhile offerings, but the gelato urgently needs fixing. read more

Amaze!!! I never write reviews for anything but this sandwich I'm eating is everything I wanted and more. I had the turkey pesto provolone panini and it's perfect, crunchy bread, enough pesto, the right amount of cheese, and the spinach is perfect. It is not dry at all! I absolutely love read more

Very chill quiet place. A lot of people use there lap tops in there. The workers there are really cool and nice. The food is good

Favorite spot in Hyde park. Absolutely love this place. Sumac chicken sandwich is always amazing.

They have something for everyone, vegans and meat eaters alike! I had the vegan kufta sandwich on a wheat baguette and OH MY GOD I FELL IN LOVE WITH THAT SANDWICH. Probably one of the best vegan meals I have ever had. They are also super well priced as well! 100/10 would recommend. Super friendly atmosphere, I honestly have nothing bad to say about this place :) read more

Haven't had any pastries or gelato, but the coffee is decent, there is a lot of seating (compared to other cafes in Hyde Park), and there is free wi-fi. read more

Sooo many unique sandwich options that it's hard to pick just one! I had the Honey BBQ chicken sandwich and it was simply delicious. You may have to wait for your sandwich but that's how you know they are actually making the sandwich fresh. I know that I'll be coming back here to try the other sandwiches....that are zabihah! read more

The bread is freshly baked and it makes the vegan sandwiches so much better!

This cafe has yummy sandwiches with a variety of options. Most, if not all, can be made vegan and it's actually good vegan options! I'm a big fan of the old fashioned brownie as well! Been coming to this spot for years. read more

Most underrated cafe in Hyde Park. Got a ton of food through the Yelp deal and was psyched about all of them: amazing sandwiches in taste and size and a sweet apple crumble. I'll be back as soon as possible. read more

I've gone here for a while now. Their back patio is wonderful and open year round. The prices are reasonable. The tea selection is great, and I'm eating their carrot cake now and it's delicious. And even though they use the Square service, the employees don't ask for tips through it, which I find to be really honest. read more

Today was the second time i have eaten lunch at Cafe 53. I love it! I am a pescatarian, but both times, had the vegan meat. First time was the buffalo chicken sandwich, this time was the Sumac Chicken on a salad. Both were good, but I am partial now to the salad form:) I also got a decaf latte, and wow, it was excellent, I really have never had an exceptional latte, but the foam was amazing! I think the owner is the guy behind the counter, he knows everything about the offerings and is sooo helpful! I also just love the vibe. Kind of hard to go for lunch at Native Foods, even though it is a small-ish good, chain, when we have this awesome local option. Please visit now!! Oh, and they have gelato, cannot wait to try it some time! read more

I really enjoyed the roast beef artichoke sandwich on wheat. Plenty of veggies & an interesting tanginess. Lemonade was a bit too sweet for me. Best part of the meal was a cheesecake brownies still warm from the oven. Yum! read more

Always the best sandwiches in Hyde Park - once per week customer always trying something new on the menu, never disappointed.

Very nice sandwiches, very nice gelato and espresso! ...also very nice bakery! Check out the patio, hidden behind the shop: it's lovely! read more

This place is a popular study spot, and it's often difficult to get a table. The coffee itself is good, but a few cents more expensive than it should be. The gelato is good, and comes in flavors like basil and lavender. The baked goods are standard, cafe staples in decent sized portions. I've not tried the food from the menu, but it claims to be halal. Free wifi. As a final note: service can be slow, so don't go if you don't have a few minutes to wait for your drinks. read more

Garlic Chicken sandwich!! 'nough said. Seriously, it's really good. I just randomly stopped by, wasn't expecting awesomeness!!

The Turkish coffee here is great and all the sandwiches I've tried have been so flavorful. My favorite is the garlic chicken.

Their tea selection is heaven. I really enjoyed my experience there and their food is excellent as well!!! I'd highly recommend Café 53

This is a wonderful place. There are great vegan and regular sweet- starch options (and really great instant oatmeal) and sandwiches are coming; the seats are *really* comfortable. And, the coffee is great. It's perfect except for the oldies soundtrack. read more

Nice atmoshere, they don't overcharge for their gelato, got a single scoop of cookies and cream on a sugar cone for $2.75. Service was great, very friendly. read more

Really great sandwiches and tea selection, including many vegan options. Nice outdoor eating area in the back. Try the turkey and lingonberry sandwich. Yum! read more

Very nice variety of sandwiches, salads and breakfast alternatives! And very kind personell.

The best coffee in Hyde Park!!! The only place to have a real espresso. Made from Lavazza and thoroughly prepared.

I am a fan of this place. The staff is always friendly, and they let you taste as many flavors of gelato as you'd like before you commit to one (or two). I also like that they have an outdoor patio where you can sit and enjoy your treats. Good stuff. read more

I'm a U of C student who would come here because one of my profs held his office hours here. What impressed me was the vast selection of drinks and food items. Both times I came, I just ordered tea, but my friends who came with me the first time loved their seasonal pumpkin and peppermint lattes and vegetarian sandwiches. They have these "brownie balls" that I think are totally emblematic of America's culinary ingenuity. All the sweets and baked goods in the case looked delicious, and they even have gluten-free items. This is a good place to study. Like Starbucks, you could bring your laptop and copy of Plato or The Iliad here and chug away at your work for a few hours, if you wanted a change of scenery from the libraries on campus. Service is friendly, too. In fact, you can request a card that you give to the cashier guy every time you buy a drink; on the tenth visit, your drink is free. Aside from Cafe 57, this is probably my favorite off-campus coffee shop. read more

Cafe 53 DOES have outdoor seating. It was too hot outside the day I came to sit back there, but from what I saw it's beautiful. There is wifi, a ton of outlets, and it is relatively uncrowded. I wasn't a big fan of the decor or the music, but i's a convenient place to work. I enjoyed my visit. read more

I went here yesterday for coffee with a friend, and ended up getting an early lunch. They have a nice assortment of Mideastern sandwiches, as well as vegan versions of some of these. My mocha was quite good, sandwich was tasty, but what really sets this place apart are: 1) the large and lovely rear patio, and 2) the very kind and gentle staff. read more

I enjoy the back yard seating. Food taste great. The ice cream is a Rock. I will come again

My go-to place in Hyde Park to sit down and get homework done. They have such a large variety of vegan options to halal sandwiches. The owner of the place is incredibly nice and super accommodating with whatever you need. I like to sit on the back porch and work on all of my stuff; it's secluded and quiet and you can still run in and get whatever coffee/food you like. Definitely recommend!!! read more

One of my favorite cafes! The service and staff are always very nice ., Cafe 53 has the best turkey panini and warm apple cider i have ever had! read more

I love this place! The coffee is amazing and the veggie panini is delectable. The staff definitely knows the names of regulars and suggests awesome vegan and gluten - free snacks. read more

I like the way this place fills up with people and their laptops by 1pm, but the owner is completely chill with it and lets everyone stay as long as they like. The cappuccinos are surprisingly good (I note that other reviewers find them weak, and I should say I always ask for an extra shot of espresso), and the ginger cream scone is probably the only reason I got out of bed today. The decor is a little bit off, but in a way that makes everything feel somehow less trendy and more diner-y without harming the ideal-study-spot configuration. read more

Cafe 53 to me means coffee, gelato and pastries. Coffee can be inconsistent -- I'll usually have runs of good espresso-based drinks punctuated by one that's not so good. Gelato is always fine and lots of flavors, and there's a good variety of pastries that are specific to this place (plus vegan options for those interested). Free wifi, kind of small but there's also a backyard area too. read more

Delightful Hyde Park oasis on 53rd St. Good coffee, beverages, sandwiches, salads, ice cream, pastries! Everything is made to order so be prepared to wait if they are busy. Lovely patio in the summer. wifi! read more