Cancel

Open app

Search

Chef Sara's Cafe

4.0 (96 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Chef Sara's Cafe Coffee & Tea Photos

Business Info

CHEF SARA'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Good for working

You might also consider

More like Chef Sara's Cafe

Recommended Reviews - Chef Sara's Cafe

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Chicken and waffle with salmon croquettes
Andrea S.

Chef Sara's feels like my grandma's house. You're received with a warm welcome and fresh food. The coffee is always strong and the food is consistently delicious. Plus, it feels like everyone that works and eats here already knows each other and once you step in, they just take you right in with the most delicious waffles and pancakes you'll ever have. You can tell chef Sara's throws love into every recipe, and you deserve some of that love.

dining area with table and chairs
Zaria D.

I went in after a morning walk. I love that you have to wear masks everywhere in the city. Went in and was welcomed. There was no inside dining so got it to go. Ordered cheese grits and chicken & waffles. The chicken was cooked into the actual waffle. The waffle was good and the chicken chunk was a nice size. The grits were not real flavorful and I could not taste the cheese. I was told it was a white cheese but couldn't taste it at all. Had to use salt and pepper for flavor. I would go back to the location when in town. There were a few menu items so would try something different. I would do the waffle again because I did enjoy that. The staff was friendly and welcoming.

almond danish
Lydia S.

Lovely little place for a delicious bite to eat! The atmosphere is very lively and pleasant as well. Both owners are very nice! Stop in when ya pass through :)

Darlene with Mixed Berry Smoothie
Gino W.

At the recommendation of a good friend, I made the drive to South Shore from the North Side to try out this cafe. What an outstanding recommendation. The salmon omelet with sauteed vegetables was delicious. I can dig the concept of chicken baked into the waffles for the chicken and waffle. Must give a nod to the cauliflower and leek soup and to the black eyed peas and smoked turkey soup. I don't know if the sweets are baked on the premises or if they use a baker off-premise. The food is definitely what I can speak to being outstanding and I love the energy in the cafe. They will get my dollars.

Crocheted while eating at Sara's

This is a new favorite place. It started with a random coffee walking by. The coffee turned out to be good enough to be memorable, and the two women working (mother and daughter) were charming and warm. A few weeks later, after a day at the South Shore Country Club Beach, that coffee called to me. I was crocheting at the beach and brought my stuff there for a cup of coffee. The daughter as it turns out crochets as well and sells beautiful items. I decided to have the sweet tea, the collards and extra coffee. Everything was fantastic. The greens were spicy and garlicy and perfect! The cornbread was perfectly corny and slightly sweet without the slightest bit of dryness. The tea, which was like a peach and mango, was delicious but a bit too sweet for me (I'm on a low sugar diet as of the past 6 months so I think my gauge of sweetness is off). The whole experience was just plain nice. Very cozy environment, kind staff that make you feel like you are a friend and a cool neighborhood feel that is very much welcome here. This will be a regular place for me to go to, or Uber Eat delivery from. Fyi: the bags I was crocheting while there turned out great.

Salmon Burger
Sade J.

I give this cafe a 3 Stars. First off it's right on 72nd and Exchange, and it's BLACK owned and parking is easily accessible. I was struggling in with baby when I was greeted by smiling faces. We got there an hour before closing and were welcomed like we were there first thing in the morning. Sara the owner was there, smiling bright and recommending that I order the salmon burger. Oh Lordy it was awesome. Salmon on a warm croissant with sweet and raw onions w/ a light sauce. I am no onion fan but this was the best salmon sandwich ever. So light yet filling. So flavorful but yet it didn't taste like salt touched it. I should've stuck with what I know, salmon burger only. Her other options are not too tasty. My partner order the salmon granger meal it sucked. How do you give someone a salmon patty, not even fresh salmon. The greens sucked as if they were made for a diabetic. I'll stick to just the sandwich and chips.

Turkey BLT sandwich!
Bobbee D.

Found this gem on Groupon. Omg. The food and the atmosphere gives off such a home vibe. Chef Sara is the best and down to earth. Even the regular customers make you feel like u just walked into her home for a home cooked meal. I ordered 2 BLT sandwiches (love the turkey bacon option) and a lemon pound cake. Omg, they both were sooooooo gooood! This will not be my last time dining there.

Fly right next to the table

I wanted to love this place but I waited 40 minutes for my plain coffee and an hour for my meal which was completely different from what I ordered. I don't recommend this place. Also had very large flies and was not tidy at all. Hoping I don't get sick from the food.

Gluten free waffle, turkey bacon,  chicken  sausage

See all

11 years ago

Excellent food & customer service. I made me feel welcome I would highly recommend it.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

15 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

This is a great Café with amazing homemade soups, sandwich spreads, and baked goods. The owner and staff are incredibly friendly!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Friendly and laid back. Food is delicious. We had a great and cozy lunch on a rainy Saturday!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 3 of 3

Ask the Community - Chef Sara's Cafe

You might also consider

Cafe 53 - Spicy tuna avocado on wheat

Cafe 53

4.4(375 reviews)
2.8 miHyde Park
$$

Oh yea, I can totally see why this spot is popular amongst Hyde Park folks! Friendly and helpful…read moreowners when I asked for recs. There's even a community board towards the bathroom, which gives this spot a community-based vibe. It's a quick, casual spot with several tables open for grabs when people leave. I got a traditional everything bagel w cream cheese to start the day, which had the RIGHT amt of cream cheese. Sometimes places give wayy too much, ruining the exp. I also ordered their popular Sumac Chicken sandwich on their Dutch Crunch bread, which was really good!! The bread had a slight sweetness to it that was satisfying and the flavors altogether were soo yummy. I waited ~12 min for my order, since they were rightfully packed. No outside food/drinks allowed if you're grabbing a table to eat. There's WiFi and a restroom in the back. Lots of neighborhood regulars. Bonus points that their food is halal for those w dietary restrictions. Great neighborhood spot!!

Stopped on a whim looking for a good local sandwich shop. The highlight was that bread was very…read moretasty and fresh. The Caesar salad was also flavorful. It had homemade croutons and sides of bread. Got a slice of the carrot cake and it was very moist. Not too sweet with cream cheese frosting. Raisins included, if that matters to you. We got the garlic chicken on French baguette. It was a creamy base and not something I would buy again. Glad we added cheese because there wasn't much to it. the other sandwich we bought was avocado turkey on Dutch crunch. It unfortunately had enough mayo to drown the restaurant. The amount of meat left much to be desired. We asked for chips which they had but only for online orders that came in. ??? Doesn't make sense to me. For 2 Sammie's, a salad and cake it was $45, just for a gauge of prices. The cashier was on the phone the entire time and couldn't hear what we said because of that. Kinda acted inconvenienced we were talking while he was on the phone. The restaurant is pretty chill and seemed like a workspace for people with art on the walls for sale. The art also had a thick layer of dust, and overall the dining room could use a good deep clean. The bathroom cleanliness was decent. This probably won't be another place I would seek out in the future.

Photos
Cafe 53
Cafe 53 - Garlic Chicken Sandwich

Garlic Chicken Sandwich

Cafe 53 - Menu (March 2026)

See all

Menu (March 2026)

Fairgrounds Coffee And Tea - Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Soup

Fairgrounds Coffee And Tea

4.0(12 reviews)
2.7 miHyde Park

Cozy atmosphere, below average service, and expensive but good quality food and drinks. The cafe is…read moresituated next to a university dorm, and therefore has no shortage of patrons. This however means that the servers and staff put little to no effort in creating a welcoming environment for patrons: they are often curt and unhelpful. They are also unapologetic when they get orders wrong or mixed up, which happens more than one might think. The food itself has not been disappointing, though I would recommend their savoury selections over the sweets. The drinks have generally been good, and I quite liked the Vietnamese iced coffee. The ambiance is super pretty, with cozy couches and comfortable chairs. The location is also fantastic, with a lovely porch that's nice to hang out in during the warmer months. The cafe would make an excellent study spot, but the poor quality of service coupled with the pricey food and drink options make me exceedingly reluctant to return. Visit at your own risk!

My go to place to hang out between doctors appointments at UC. If I have an early pm appointment I…read moreget work done before getting my kid from school instead of going home. Sometimes i bring the kid if he has an appointment after school. Sorry not sorry for infiltrating a student spot. I may be old but I look young so I think I pass as a student? It's pretty popular so I don't always get to use an outlet when I attempt to use Fairground as a temporary office. Oh well. If I can get the comfy couch I'm happy enough. :) Coffee is good. My son loves the brownies. I love the ambience. Staff are so nice. I'm glad I have a place to go on heavy appointment days!

Photos
Fairgrounds Coffee And Tea
Fairgrounds Coffee And Tea - Bacon Breakfast Taco

Bacon Breakfast Taco

Fairgrounds Coffee And Tea - Cool chance to experience the fairgrounds lifestyle while visiting Chicago. Like this!

See all

Cool chance to experience the fairgrounds lifestyle while visiting Chicago. Like this!

Robust Coffee Lounge - Everything Bagel & Cream Cheese and Latte

Robust Coffee Lounge

3.7(393 reviews)
2.0 miWoodlawn
$

Robust Coffee is a great spot if you're looking for a casual place to grab a solid cup of coffee…read more The space itself is pretty large with plenty of seating, and everything felt clean and well kept. The staff was friendly and welcoming, which always makes a difference. The coffee was really good just how I like it nice and strong, exactly what you want when you're trying to wake up. I also had a bagel which was good, though at the end of the day it's still just a bagel. The only real downside is parking. There isn't a lot of convenient parking nearby, which can make stopping in a little tricky depending on the time of day. It's also not the quietest environment, so it might not be the best place if you're looking to get a lot of work done. Overall though, it's a great neighborhood coffee spot with good drinks, friendly staff, and a comfortable atmosphere. I'd definitely come back.

This place sucks! And it's sad bc it's the only coffee place in the area so we don't have many…read moreoptions The service is rude and racist and they service mostly black and brown ppl. It's slow they never get orders right and even when you order ahead it takes FOR EVER! There is alway only one person making coffee at the busiest time, mornings. When you ask questions or for iodates it's always met with an attitude. Ppl dont say anything bc it's the only place in miles to get coffee. It's a coffee shop. You need more ppl making coffee please. And fix the attitude. Also they knew a new exhaust system. Anytime you go in there you smell like food. It's disgusting

Photos
Robust Coffee Lounge - Inside

Inside

Robust Coffee Lounge - Everything Bagel & Cream Cheese

Everything Bagel & Cream Cheese

Robust Coffee Lounge - Green Supreme

See all

Green Supreme

Chef Sara's Cafe - coffee - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...