Loved seeing veggie opts and faux protein additions on a menu. The Bennie i had was smothered in a rich hollandaise with a nice crispy hash. Server was kind and bubbly. Love a classic diner feel with a counter. This place is no frills but good eats. read more

Cafe Olympic - Benedict - New American Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Ordered the basic eggs over easy hasbrowns and bacon with toast. Very good and lots of food. Had to take the bacon home there was so much. Very clean and service is very accommodating and friendly read more

Ok, we've been going to Cafe Olympic for years. I've never had a bad meal. This is an old fashioned diner that is quaint and comfortable. The waitstaff are phenomenal and attentive. The food is awesome as they have many options to choose from. Today, I had their famous HUGE cinnamon roll that was heavenly and hubby had their deletable breakfast sandwich with American cheese, Gouda cheese, 2 eggs over easy with bacon on a bagel (see pics). Additionally he got the cream of Chicken soup with rice. Their soups are very tasty and they make different soups each day. If you love soup, give this a try. They are very tasty with different combos of flavors and ingredients, varies from day to day- a bit of serendipity. If you haven't tried this diner, try it. You will thank me later. In the warmer months, they have multiple tables outside and dogs are often seen chilling with their owners. It's a friendly and fun place to dine. A+ read more

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I love the staff here. I'm autistic and "quirky" would be an understatement when it comes to my orders. I've never been made to feel like a burden or like my questions were unreasonable. The closest I've come to that was when I'd called in right before the lunch rush and I was told matter if factly that they didn't have time to answer a bunch of questions right now but I could call back after 45 min or so. Not what I expected but I appreciated the transparency and clear direct communication. I wish more places did that. read more

LOVE Olympic!! I'm obsessed with the bruncharito and the turkey/brie wrap. It's such a cool little diner with the best staff. Definitely one of my favorite breakfast/brunch spots in the county. read more

This is our second go to spot for breakfast. We adore this place. A little old fashioned spot that can use a remodel but I assume if they remodel the prices would go up. Maybe just reupholster your chairs. It was uncomfortable sitting on ripped chairs trying to enjoy GREAT food! Service was GREAT, I just didnt see the need for super short shorts on the waitress in a family setting. Its breakfast NOT a bar or hooter. I said what I said. OSHA would agree. read more

Local place that serves fresh scratch food that is really good. Shockingly their bakery items are fantastic!!! Key Lime pie is some of the best I've had!!! All their stuff baked by the owner. As for the owner, so nice and makes everyone feel welcome. Salads are great as well as the burgers! read more

I stopped by on my way to the train station to grab a gyro omelette to go. The staff was super friendly and patient while I looked through the menu. I put my order in and it took about 10min (not bad!) to get it and they gave me utensils and condiments in the package! I opened my meal on the train and was pleasantly surprised at the portion size and the crisp on the potatoes. I enjoyed every bite with a bit of hot sauce and I will definitely be back to dine inside and try a different dish. read more

Great local diner. They go out of their way to give good service. The menu has the traditionals plus some welcomed unique items that will please those looking for vegan choices. read more

Been twice. It was very busy hard to find a deer but the food was great I had hamburger and so did my some the first time I don't remember. But was cute diner look. I swore I posted a review years ago read more

Food seemed okay but there must be something like Olestra in the ingredients because I have never had that much gastric distress in my life.

absolutely outstanding I ordered a double smash burger and then added some hand battered mushrooms that were simply amazing! Super friendly staff with some really eclectic and cool menu items and lots of cool alcohol drinks as well!! read more

Cafe Olympic - vegan chili that was delicious - New American Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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My initial visit here several years ago was underwhelming, but I've been back several times since then and everything has been perfect! The quality of the ingredients is evident and this has become, by far, my favorite breakfast place in the area. I love all of their specials (+ great vegetarian selections). read more

Kelsey was a very good and fun sever. We stopped in for a late breakfast on a Sunday. The restaurant was busy and our options were to wait for a booth or sit at the counter. We chose the counter. Each staff member walking past would ask if we needed a warmup on our coffee or anything else. I enjoyed the waffle & chicken. It was beautifully served. The chicken was fresh breaded, hot and tasty. My husband ordered a veggie skillet with home fries and it unfortunately came out with hash browns. I'm quite certain that the kitchen would have made it again with the correct potatoes but my husband hates to see food go to waste. It would have been nice if she or the manager had taken a slight discount on his order but that didn't happen. Of course, we didn't raise a ruckus - it's Christmas time. I would like to try smash burgers which was saw carried out from the kitchen while we were there and they looked very tasty. There is also some nice shopping along the beautifully decorated city streets. Looking forward to visiting again soon. read more

Been here a few times now and it has never disappointed, pre-covid times and covid times! This past time was no exception, I brought my fiance along to give it a try and he loved it too, said it was great and the waffle was delicious! Although he still misses his waffle house (lol). Service 5/5: very friendly, always had a smile, or at least you can imagine one under their mask with how their eyes crinkle at the corner. Very professional and sanitary. The waitress seemed very on top of everything, never let the glasses run dry and made sure everything was good with us, checked up on us frequently but not too much! Had great attitude despite how hot it was outside (90+) and having to wear a mask Food 5/5: Can I just give this more stars? Their food is phenomenal even with the awkward times their quality has not wavered. Everything was fresh and cooked perfectly to order. It came out in a timely manner and was piping hot! Their biscuits and gravy were great, not too much sausage and not to little, good consistency and moist biscuits underneath. The bacon was crispy as asked for although my S/O would have preferred it burnt, and the hashbrowns had a great crisp to them. The only small complaint I'd have would be their tables! I didn't mind the fact that they only did patio seating, but their tables are made of metal. So be warned if you are sitting outside on a 90 deg plus day under a hot sun the shade umbrella doesn't do too much. Tables are still scorching hot and so were the chairs. That is minor, but overall they do a great job following the social distance guideline. We may be back again before all this is over and looking forward to getting more delicious food from them. read more

Cafe Olympic - Eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, toast Half order of biscuits and gravy - New American Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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We're plant based and was surprised to find dishes that fit our criteria. Plus our waitress was sensational and the whole vibe is friendly and down home! read more

Cafe Olympic is located as you enter a landmark stench of the historic downtown Crystal lake. It's a quaint little cafe. The one thing I am really enjoy is how friendly the staff and owners are. I just felt welcomed when walking up to have a late breakfast at their outdoor patio tables. We were greeted by Rose who was one of the owners and was super nice. We wait about 5 mins for a table. The crazy thing is I lived in Crystal Lake for 18 years and finally tried this treasure of amazing breakfast and lunch ... you can taste the love going into their food. I am vegetarian and was actually one of the draws for me to try it out since they are making a number dishes for folks like me ... and have some amazing sounding vegan options. There were many options I was eying buy ended up going with the Sante Fe Omelet but substituted the chorizo for their vegan version and then added brioche French toast and side of crispy hash Browns. We quickly getting food rolling out and OMG that omelet was the bomb! The vegan chorizo is a fantastic touch and great to have some additional protein. Hash browns were crispy and yummy and that brioche French toast just melted in my mouth. I'm a big fan of cafe olympic and would highly visit for a frat meal served with a wonderful vibe. The new owners are amazing and heard the had some bumps earlier on with timing of food but have not seen any issues after two visits now. Enjoy Cafe Olympic ! You will thank me for stopping in. Just a side note for anyone wanting to know more on health crises safety at practices. Masks up and social distancing in place. Small tables available for 4 to 6 people and saw the staff insuring a clean and safe visit. I'm picky on this front and felt extremely satisfied with their practices. read more

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I've been here 3 times so far, and my verdict is: Great food Great service Absolutely horrible coffee Truly the worst coffee I've ever had. I've gotten it 2/3 visits, and both times couldn't stand more than two sips. It's more bitter than I ever thought possible, which presumably means that it's over-brewed, at a wild temperature, or the grind size is off. I even tried to use loads of cream and sugar but it wasn't salvageable. But aside from the coffee, love this place! I have been consistently impressed by their service, and their food is really solid. They have some rotating specials which are often delicious. I love their hash browns, and they have really delicious biscuits! And they make a good burger, too! Moved to the area recently, and am really happy to have access to this local place. Just wish they would address that coffee issue--or maybe even partner with the coffee shop across the street! read more

This place is one of the best restaurants to eat at in Crystal lake! Good food and nostalgia all wrapped up in one!!! Took my mom there for lunch today and our service was quick and attentive! The ambiance is a throw back to the simpler days we all enjoyed in life! Very clean restaurant with great food and amazing people! read more

I have never been more enamored by food, service, and ambience as I am with this restaurant. Only dined 2 times so far, however, I definitely plan to come back and work my way through this enticing menu! read more

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Best place ever!!! The cinnamon roll was the size of my head. I had the Reuben and it was seriously the best I've ever had!! read more

Cafe Olympic - Reuben and fries - New American Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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Literally amazing best people and workers i go there all the time and every time leave with the best meal of my life

Great location. Great food. Great PEOPLE! This is our favorite diner in town. Also great for dinner! read more

Try the Cafe's Melty Italiano Sando! It's awesome. Service was great and it's a great diner.

Service was great, waitress was really sweet and didn't seem frustrated by us hanging out and talking for a while! They were very busy, all the food coming in and out of the kitchen looked great! Looking forward to going back to try more... and loved the old diner feel! read more

Cafe Olympic has an amazing service! Their space is cozy, cute, and clean. Very relaxing and interesting place. Their interior has an awesome atmosphere and you can literally smell the dishes that has been cooked inside the kitchen. So delicious! I ordered their vegan banana bread, mimosas, and their omelets. Everything I got was superb and top-notch! I can absolutely go back and order the same food again. This place is definitely a gem in this area. Their place is very accessible and convenient. Always welcoming and worth visiting. Big thanks to the whole management and staff for giving us an awesome experience! read more

My wife and I lived in Crystal Lake for 4 years prior to coming to this gem in downtown CL! Now that we've moved to Algonquin, we don't get to go to Crystal Lake as often. But we decided to meet up at this small diner right in the heart of downtown CL for lunch one day. Immediately, from the get-go I could tell they were under new ownership. The owner was there serving and chatting with customers as they entered the seating area. She was extremely helpful and very kind. We decided to get cheese curds for our appetizer and we were not disappointed! The sauce is amazing and the curds were perfectly crisp and squeaky (if you know, you know). For the main dish, she got the Apple Turkey Wrap (no mayo). I got the Reuben. I am a firm believer that in places like these, the reuben tells you all you need to know about their sandwich game! Well, they again hit it out of the ball park. I would say the only miss during this portion was the fact that the bread was overly crisp and made for a tough chew. The ambiance is the reason this gets just 4 instead of 5. I'm sure it will improve as ownership continues to update etc. But the interior was almost to "divey" in terms of what you'd expect a classic older diner to look like. Again, I loved everything about this place and can't recommend it enough for those looking for a good lunch! I can't wait to go back and see how they continue to spruce it up. read more

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This is our favorite brunch spot after fun at the farmers market. Great food, friendly service and reasonable prices. Tiny but more cozy if you sit outside. Always clean and welcoming though...thank you! read more

This is an old school Greek family diner with new food on trend with the vegan community. My husband and I went on a random Tuesday after meeting with a landscaper. We drove past at least four other breakfast/lunch joints to try this place and I'm glad we did! We got a friendly welcome and were seated right away. There were a couple tables empty and the traffic was picking up. We perused the menu as well as the one page flyer with specials. The menu had the usual breakfast and lunch items but they also had real cocktails! I believe the specials menu was all vegetarian and vegan. I ordered the lion's mane mushroom "crab" cake sandwich and my husband chose a grown up grilled cheese. I had iced tea and hubs had coffee. All good so far. The food arrived and it was pretty darn good and way more food than we could eats. Boxes were full at the end of the meal! My crab cake Sammie was good but it had a slightly bitter finish that might have been from the mushroom itself. Still good and tasty. My hubs sandwich (grownup grilled cheese on sourdough) was delicious. We both have old people tiny tummy syndrome so there was no way we could clean the plates, therefore full leftover boxes for home. It wasn't the cheapest dinner meal we've ever had but it was worth the price. I'd go back for sure. Go. Get the diner experience with a few bona fide veg options! read more

Friday night I went out with my hubs and two friends of ours. It was a paint the town red kind of night in downtown crystal lake. We went to cafe Olympic for the first time since the new owners. Um... I have to say, I am honestly wildly impressed with what i had. It was an odd combination that I may go back for should I have another friday like that. I had a bloody Mary so good I had two. (that was fun when I stood up.) I ate clam chowder and cheese curds now you may say wait a minute that sounds positively disgusting combination. I was thinking the same thing! I had only planned on bloody marys and cheese curds before a night on the town. someone pawned their soup on me. Which I'm okay with. The soup was out of this world it was not your traditional clam chowder but it worked fabulously!!! And went well with my bloody Mary. The cheese curd are also not your traditional curds. they used a thin batter. Ive never had thin batter cheese curds before it was amazing. Definitly will be going back at some point to have an actual meal here. 5/5 for a good place to start if your running around downtown crystal lake on a friday evening. Even just to stop in for a drink their Bloody Marys are . The atmosphere was difficult to tell. We were a group of 4 who all have kids. out on our first night on the town in awhile. So we created our own atmosphere. hopefully it agreed with those around us. read more

I Love Cafe Olympic, it takes me back to the Old Cafe's and Great Food as Well! I would recommend Cafe Olympic to anyone.

Excellent food and service. The salads are delicious. Breakfast is very good as well. read more

We ordered breakfast, delivered, on Sunday. I ordered the Greek omelette. Gyro meat, not thinly sliced but chunks, tomatoes, peppers and feta. This was absolutely delicious! The tzatziki sauce was loaded with dill and delicious! Delivery was done by the restaurant and was very quick, everything was hot. read more

Cafe Olympic - Greek Omelette - New American Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Food used to be good before it went from a family owned business to hipsters owning it and making everything taste the exact same. The 2 times I've eaten there the food has screwed up my stomach and my whole day. read more

Food is good, sometimes a little slow coming out. Service is EXCELLENT. Coffee tastes like dishwater. Bring your own...

Great food, drinks and staff. Dog friendly. Reasonably priced and located in downtown Crystal Lake.

We have been to this restaurant in the past but have never really given it a second thought till Friday. We met the New Owners & Rosie is a true Gem. So sweet & hospitable. She made this visit truly worth a return visit. Food was fresh & delicious. read more

Cafe Olympic - Inside Olympic restaurant - New American Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

5 of 5 stars The Olympic is still 5 out of 5. New owners work hard and the food is comforting and plentiful. Most around this are are familiar with this iconic downtown Crystal Lake dinner. I'm writing specifically to tell you about this cinnimon roll only offered on the weekends. Get in here and try it! It is the bomb. WAY better than Ann Sather's on the north side. Rachel told me she spent years trying to perfect the recipe for the perfect cinnamon roll. Trying to get the taste of the middle in every bite. It doesn't disappoint! read more

Cafe Olympic - Cinnamon roll - New American Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Oh. My. Gosh!!!! This place is hands down now my favorite breakfast spot! I'm In town visiting and my sister in law brought me here since I've been hearing about these cinnamon rolls for a while now. Everything we had was so delicious: the Cowboy skillet, Olympic Combo, Adult Grilled Cheese w/ Vegan chili, and pancakes for the niece. The lemon & blueberry cake was out of this world! The cinnamon roll was soooo good that we brought two home with us for the family! Next time I'm in town, I will definitely be back here to visit! read more

Cafe Olympic - Cinnamon Roll to go! Pop in microwave for 35 seconds and BOOM!! Mmmmm - New American Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

About 2 weeks ago I had The Signature Smash Burger & it was absolutely delicious. I didn't get it with the sauce. It was so good that I went back yesterday and had it again! This time I added grilled mushrooms. It was so good! My co-worker ordered the same thing & loved it too! Fries were delicious too. I've had the cinnamon roll before and it was wonderful. Love this place! read more