It was amaaaaazing. Best biscuits and gravy I have ever had in my LIFE. cash only- but WORTH IT

The best brunch spot in Chicago. The food is great and staff is always nice. I love that they have fun with their specials. Lots of options for vegan food lovers! Very accommodating! I lived in Humboldt Park 10 years ago and would come here for the French Toast. Long story short I moved back into the neighborhood 5 years ago and am delighted to be a returning customer. read more

Flying saucer is one of my favorite Chicago breakfast spots! It has both indoor and outdoor seating for breakfast/brunch. The menu has a wide variety of dishes to choose from and they don't serve alcohol but it is BYOB, if you're craving a mimosa with your meal. I get the "trucker bowl" which is a giant bowl of biscuits, eggs, hash brown potatoes, and it's all covered in sausage gravy and cheese (they have the vegetarian version as well). The servers are all very friendly and they checked on me regularly to make sure all was well. read more

I came to this place with my guy. It only takes cash. The place is pricey for just a sampler meal for two. The eggs could be better but they where good. When you ask for a small I would suggest a large because it was served on a very small cup. 32 dollars for two samplers, a small orange juice and a coke. Service wasn't that great especially since we were the only ones there. Probably just an off day. I wouldn't go back just I could get alot more for a cheaper price. read more

Flying Saucer - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I came here with some vegetarian friends who love the menu (it caters strongly to veggie people). I, an unabashed meat eater, ordered the meatiest thing on the menu--something that resembled chicken-fried steak. The steak itself was so dry and chewy that I could barely eat it. Knowing this is a veggie-centric place made me wonder if a vegan employee had been forced into the kitchen to cook the steak for me against their will, with their hatred and scorn making its way into my dish. In any case, I'd advise against their meat options. I tasted my friend's non-meaty food and it wasn't too bad, so there may be some hope there. Also, cash only. Oh--and they don't give you water unless you ask for it (with an explanation as to how this improves the environment). Meh. read more

Me and my friend wandered in here after getting lost to meet up at church. Its a really cool intimate diner. It's small in space mind you. I had the Huevos Valando which was so good. The waitstaff was really nice. Definitely going back! Side note: like any diner it can be busy in the weekends. read more

See all

I seriously heart this place. I do remember during the pitchfork music festival I dined here for brunch/breakfast 2 days in a row. On to the food, my absolute favorite is the trucker bowl and a cup of the rather deliciously caffeinated cup of Metropolis coffee. However, I've seen some pretty awesome breakfast dishes like French toast or waffles laden with fruit, whipped cream, etc... Also, the black bean cakes are very good, an exceptional item only served during brunch (I think). read more

I love this place and the passion and dedication of the people who run it. They provide a great experience with exceptional food. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting without being overbearing. Their homemade granola is out of this world, and I have yet to try a dish I wasn't thrilled to get. Each time I come to Chicago from Detroit I make a point to get out to Flying Saucer for a great brunch and a good interaction. read more

Flying Saucer - Breakfast salad with crispy shallots and egg - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My wife and I have been eating here for a year or so now and we love it. The mini pancakes are cute and to die for. The steak and eggs are killer, I love my steak cooked medium rare and even in these trying times, when ordering to go it's cooked to perfection. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. Wife and I will continue to go there! read more

One of the most humiliating and disrespectful experiences I have ever had in my life. Here is the build-up. I was treating my brother and father to some breakfast after running in the Hope for the Day run in Humboldt Park, a race that sought to raise awareness about suicide. It was my father's birthday and my brother's birthday the week prior. We got seating immediately in the middle of the restaurant, at a table that was situated in what seemed to be the epicenter of traffic. My father sat down first, and I noticed that he had moved the table in such a way as to avoid unnecessary friction within the restaurant, as the original configuration was oddly in the way of every possible path. After a minute, the manager/possibly owner, came by and straightened the table to its original configuration, which was awkward and obtrusive. After he left, I adjusted the table's position. This person, a balding, tattoo'ed, tortoise-shell glasses wearing, effete monstrosity of a man with an English accent, came by and moved the table again. After the first time, where I saw him correct my father's positioning of the table, I was a little irked. But now, when he moved my configuration of the table, I got more agitated. He returned. I asked him, "Is there some sort of fire code enforced that you have to keep moving the table?" "No, it's so that people have room to move about in the restaurant," he said. "Well, there seems to be even less room to move, now," I said. I noticed that a better table had opened up. I sighed and thought of a resolution. "You know, this is not working, what if we moved to that table over there," I said. In response, he furrowed his brow and spat out, "You know what, your attitude is not working. Why don't you get the fuck out of here?" I left, in shock and disbelief. Angry, but compliant and hurt. It affected me for hours after, and I thought about the reasons that would lead a man to disrespect a fellow human being so badly. Was his life so petty and shallow that the only power left he had was dictating who goes and who stays during the brunch hours? I felt angry, but I also felt sad for him, and for us, as humans. read more

If you're a fan of this place and want to keep it that way, quit reading now. My family eats all over Chicago. We have two little girls, seven and three, who are very polite. If they are not, one of us will leave the restaurant with one or both kids. We do not impose on our fellow diners, religiously so. So, we were completely taken aback and surprised when our little family was recently kicked out of Flying Saucer for a.) telling the waiter the dish he brought for our seven-year-old was not what she ordered, and, b.) telling him politely he'd brought the wrong dish. She had ordered the special French toast, reading it off the specials placard, even mentioning how much she liked mints, especially with chocolate. Easy enough. But when they brought our food, they brought her a limp-looking, misbegotten two pieces of French toast. We politely told the waitress who brought it and she took it and headed back to kitchen. He took it from her, shaking his head and acting like a child, brought it back to the table and shoved it in our faces, saying "She was holding the menu when she ordered it!" We politely responded, no, she was holding the specials and said it very clearly. He repeated that she was holding the menu and did it in an incredibly rude way, again!?!? At that point, my wife and I both called him out for being rude, at which point he snatched our plates off the table and we got up, put the girls' coats on and left with both girls sobbing for absolutely no reason. Also, when we first got there and one of the girls made a peep, he cranked the music up to near maximum, making it uncomfortable to sit in the room and making it very clear that FAMILIES ARE NOT WELCOME AT FLYING SAUCER. I see from looking at the other reviews here that this was not an isolated experience. I will never go there again and suggest you do the same. read more

Interesting to see so many positive reviews of this joint; wish I could say the same. With restaurants & food, I usually agree/stick with the "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" rule; but my hope is being honest here will help this place identify & rectify an ongoing problem (I know others in the food service industry with the same comments) with the end result of me enjoying weekend breakfasts there again. After having given it several tries over the years, I no longer go there (and ANYPLACE that serves breakfast in Humboldt Park - my neck of the woods - has my total support), but two thumbs down on this one. Why? Shitty shitty shitty service, with an extra salty dose of sniffy attitude. Nothing irks me more than to roll in somewhere (when it's not even busy), and some "hipper than you" waitron sees you sitting, knows you're there, and busies themselves with anything BUT some basic service: You know, incredibly difficult stuff like laying down some menus, saying hello, asking if anyone wants coffee, etc. All the time acting like they're doing you a favor by just waiting on you. Grrrrrrrr..... Anyone else out there have a similar experience with this place? UPDATE APRIL 23, 2006. Against my better instincts, I let a pal of mine persuade me to give this joint another shot last Sunday. My pal just moved in around here, lives right across from the Black Beetle on Chicago Ave. He's in the food industry too (a very successful family catering company in Addison), so he knows whats what. Guess what? SOS as before. Having worked my share of brunches, etc., I know the difference between a manageble "hum," vs. insane rush/crunch - "in the weeds" time; this was the former. There were a few open seats & tables when I was there - and it didn't matter one whit. The service S-U-C-K-E-D. Here's why: When it takes more than 5 minutes at your table to even see a menu - SUCK. When it takes closer to 10 minutes to even be asked if you want some coffee? SUCK. When what's supposed to be hot food comes out lukewarm, with places colder than indentity theft? SUCK. As I mentioned before, I try my best to support any food establishment adding a different style to the existing abundance of Puerto Rican and Mexican places around Humboldt Park (such as the very solid Feed on Chicago & California), but I just can't do it for this place. I'm pretty confident in saying if there were any sort of decent competition available around here, the Saucer would take a serious hit in their business - at the very least. The moral to this story: "Fool me once, shame on you...' read more

Fabulously exceeded expectations! Upon first entering I thought I should be hungover to eat here, but once the food arrived, I knew I'd chow down here in any and all states of consciousness. Everyone I was with (carni, herbi, and omni alike) LOVED their orders. I got the tofu & sweet potato hash, with kale and spiced apples and all I can say is HECK YEAH! I highly recommend...& highly crave a day later. Great vegan & lots of vegetarian options. But they have normal people options too. :) read more

Props to the Saucer for opening up an hour earlier than just about every other brunch place in town. And props for... location: just down the street from me Anti-Pop: not carrying coke or pepsi Consistency: for being unfriendly, almost always Inclusive: folks from the neighborhood eat here Coffee: it is always good Water: conservation is a a plus Just a few things to work on: Flavor: spices, seasonings, salt, pepper - all vital Temperature: food should be served hot Attitude: unfriendly is one thing, indifference is another I'd spend every one of my breakfast dollars with you if you'd only love me back. Just a little. For now I'll see you casually. Very casually. read more

Last weekend, I sat my ass down in a comfy seat at Flying Saucer, eagerly awaiting what I knew from experience would be a totally warm, cozy, coma-inducing breakfast. This place is usually like giving your guts a hug with a down coat on. So I ordered the thing I have ordered three times before, the trucker bowl, which has never failed to satisfy and comfort me and make me useless for an entire day. Let me just point out that I know nobody likes to be hungry and hung over and pay for a meal they don't want. But when I have this experience, you can ask my dining partners: it ruins my life. I melt into a pile of bloody tears and I sigh heavily for HOURS after the dining experience that has failed to meet my expectations, I start to vocalize how "See?! This is proof that the whole world is against me! Put 'crappy breakfast at Flying Saucer' on my list of examples!!" I am basically a big downer and nobody wants to be around me after a disappointing meal, so it's in everyone's best interest that breakfast be tip top. When I ordered the trucker bowl, I expected the biscuits, scrambled eggs, fluffy white mounds of pepper gravy, ham, onions, cheese, and potatoes. The key here is "fluffy white mounds" of gravy. If you've ever made gravy from scratch before, you'll know that it's very easy to completely fuck it up and end up with oily, watery goop that separates from the flour and is just basically about as useful to me at breakfast as a pool of dog vomit. So that's what was poured all over my breakfast: oily, pinkish, separated gravy fuck-up that should have been discarded and re-made from scratch because it was unfit to grace the top of a heap of such amazing ingredients. But nah, they just figured, fuck it, we're busy, these assholes will eat anything. And they served the crap. The minute the server put the bowl down, I knew just by looking at it that it wasn't right. I started to breathe into a paper bag to calm my distress and my boyfriend eventually talked me into taking a bite. I did, and it was as if they had mixed Sriracha with the gravy (maybe that's where the pink hue came from??). It was definitely made spicy with something other than pepper all of a sudden. I'm telling you, I had been looking forward to this yummy bowl of slop that has never failed to make me happy before like you would not believe. I had thought about it all week. I had dreams about dipping my feet into that gravy and tucking myself into one of those biscuits for a long winter's nap. We called the server over, and I asked "Is this by any chance the vegetarian gravy or something?" He said "Did you ASK for vegetarian gravy?" and before he could hear me say no, he went to check our ticket to see if I'd asked for vegetarian gravy. He didn't even glance at our weird bowls of pink watery gravy. He came back and showed me where "regular" or whatever was written on our ticket....which really proves nothing, because it's not like the chef explodes if he accidentally goes against the ticket and fucks something up. But, oh, the ticket never lies, stupid customer! "OK," I said, "it just, uh, looks weird....it's usually different." So the server points at the pieces of ham which are OBVIOUSLY SLICED AND ADDED TO THE TOP OF THE DISH SEPARATELY FROM THE OTHER INGREDIENTS, and says "Oh, it's because you had it with ham." Then he leaves. Whatever. I've had it with ham before and it hasn't fucked the whole dish. I ended up scraping everything to the side and eating what hadn't been tarnished by the dog barf excuse for gravy, which wasn't much. And I paid for it and left and whined all the way home about how the Devil had his dong dipped in everything I loved, because the universe HATES MEEEE. It's funny, I'd been willing to forgive the time we went and one of our group ordered the chicken fried steak, which came out bleeding all over the plate and squawking and mooing. They fixed that up pretty quick, so I was going to overlook that. Just before we ordered this time, someone said to me "I can't believe you haven't Yelped this place yet, you love this place!" Well. Now we know that love is a very strong word, which should be reserved for places that don't sacrifice quality just to get butts in and out faster. That crap gravy ruined my day. It will be a long time before I put my day in Flying Saucer's hands again, and if I do, I'm'a go back there and stand next to the guy making the gravy and give him some tips. Like don't let the Devil spit in it, perhaps? read more

It was our first time at Flying Saucer, three moms, three toddlers and I have to say we all agreed that we weren't pleased with our experience. I think they make the pretense of being a kid-friendly place but the vibe is super not kid-friendly. I've been to actual full-scale restaurants with bars that treated kids better than this tiny hole-in-the-wall diner. Our kids stayed seated the whole time, with the exception of going to the restroom to wash their hands. We monitored their voice levels and made sure they were well behaved. My issues were as follows: -The waiter scowled at us when we walked in and although we were saying we'd like to sit by the window where there was more space, he made us sit right in front of the door. -I asked for a glass of water that we drank down to the last drop and it never got refilled. -We were the only group with kids and as soon as we sat down, they cranked up the music as if to indicate they needed to cover up the sound of our annoying kids. -We just came from Garfield Park Conservatory and my friend had accidentally left behind her son's little bean sprout seed that they had planted in a little planter and, not even five minutes after we left and turned back to retrieve it, the waiter had thrown it out! -He automatically added 20% gratuity to our total bill, which was a bit surprising since we were only 3 adults and 3 tikes. I typically tip more than 20% when I bring my kid anywhere just to make up for the crumbs dropped on the floor but it's his prerogative. It always annoys me when service is automatically added but if, hey, they are going to decide how much I'm going to tip, that's what they're going to get. It's pretty much always less than what I would have given. -The waiter never gave a single smile. Now, I'm not expecting to be treated like royalty...I just expect to be treated like a friend. When I come to your place of business, I want to be made to feel welcome. I read a reviewer, a friend of the business, who pretty much blamed the customers for their complaints about this place and that's just a huge turn-off. It shouldn't just be the "in-crowd" and the "hipsters" who get treated well...it should be anyone who comes. The reviewer basically said the servers are treating you like "peers." But that's just not true...my peers treat me way better than that..we treat each other with respect and greet each other with warmth. We don't treat each other like annoyances. That's not a peer. In terms of the food: -My chicken burger/sandwich, which the waiter recommended over the veagan burger, was dried and burnt. The bacon on it was good though! -My son's mac and cheese was delicious! read more

A quick summary: not coming back. I was in the area and in need of breakfast. The glowing yelp reviews brought me here. It started out well. I was greeted happily by a man as I entered the establishment and was immediately offered good coffee and cream. I ordered easily enough and received a coffee refill right when my mug was half full. Nice! Then the food came. I ordered their version of Eggs Benedict, with artichoke hearts, spinach, a sun-dried tomato hollandaise, and a side of home fries. The potatoes were cooked OK, but were...well, season-less isn't the word because they tasted weird. The eggs were overcooked (proper Benedicts are a 4 minute poach or slightly runny) and I bit into a shell. It was a brown eggshell, so for fans of brown eggs, here's your spot. All in all, a two-star meal. My server was the icing on the crap cake. She twice trash talked about customers to a fellow employee in earshot of other customers, even when one of those customers complimented them before leaving. That's just unprofessional! She also never acknowledged me, asked if I needed anything (FYI, I wanted a muffin to go), or thanked me when I paid - she just flung my change on the counter and twirled away. You know, it's little things that take 10 seconds total to make someone want to come back. So, all in all, nice atmosphere, mediocre food, bad service. Fellow Yelpers, you've never led me astray. What happened, this time? read more

The food was just OK, nothing worth coming back for. Coffee (bottomless) was good. For me, austere service is acceptable as long as it's efficient, but this place was just abrasive to the point one might think it was a joke. The staff are a bunch of too cool for school hipster millennials (as am I). There are too many good places in Chicago to eat to put up with their crap. read more

One of the worst breakfast places ever. I walked in and sat at the counter. It was several minutes before anyone acknowledged me, even though there were numerous staff walking behind the small counter. What I believe was the owner (his picture was on the shirts they were selling) said "Are you the laundry guy?" I said "Sorry I am not" he just walked away, did not offer me coffee or a menu or anything. After several more minutes I flagged someone down and finally got some service, and ordered. The biscuits for the biscuits and gravy were hard/stale. I was served water with no ice. Typically an order of toast is 2 slices, I got 1. The eggs were cooked properly, but the potatoes and hash they were served with were quite under cooked. Wow... this was not a good meal. They don't take credit cards, which is just a minor annoyance and I did know in advance. Parking was easy on an early Sat morning. I also think the prices are quite high for the amount of food I received as well. I would recommend ANY place else. read more

Terrible service. Decent food. What a bummer. Tried bringing my boyfriends mother here TWO times. The first I thought "maybe the waiter is having a bad day" so we tried again. It was right up the street and convenient. NOPE. Just BAD. Bad attitudes. Waiter was abrasive, took forever to get things we needed and we felt like an annoyance. I was embarrassed we had chosen to bring her there AGAIN. But I do like to give places multiple tries. Been there a few times, not on my accord and it;s always been the same. Just such a BLAH experience. My friend warned me before I moved into the area, "just don't go". I didn't get it until I went. Okay, yah, theres just no reason to go. Plenty of other amazing brunch places with better service. The food is good brunch food (nothing to write home about), and the decor is kind of cutesy. They just need to hire better wait staff I just want hold em and shake em "SMILE ITS OKAY TO SMILE!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!" read more

Vegans and vegetarians. Lots of great options for us. I recommend the vegan breakfast burrito. It's totally satisfying , especially when paired with home fries. It's the kind of breakfast that gives you energy and makes you feel ready for the day. Lattes are served in pint glasses and they have soy and almond milk. Also, and yes they only accept cash. Whatever. read more

The neighborhood raves about this place. I gave it two tries and the employees where stuffy each time and the last time they where down right rude. I understand they are a small business but when my wife and I went there and brought our friend they treated us like we were trash. My friend was late and after we reserved a seat, since our friend was not around they reluctantly gave us a seat. They moved us three times after giving us our drinks then made us stand until our friend arrived. Then they acted as if we were rude. we were polite even though they were rude and they still acted like we were a nuisance. Never again. The only reason I gave them two stars is that their food is really good, but not worth the rudeness. Oh, I think if I were a hipster they might have treated me better. So dress really hip! I have since went back (I live down the street) I have discovered that the employees are just very temperamental. One or two of the waitresses are pleasant, but that does not make up for the few who are EXTREMELY rude. Again their food is good but we constantly leave there disappointed at the service. We (my wife and I) want to like the place, but we won't be going back after our last experience. read more

If the number of tattoos you have were somehow proportionate to your ability to cook, then the Flying Saucer would be one of the best diners on the planet. Unfortunately, we live in the really real world, where tattoos (I have a few of my own) are a great way of expressing oneself, but aren't conducive to a good plate of breakfast. I have this habit of holding people to a high standard, so when I sit down to a new diner restaurant outside the comforting bosom of the South, I will 9/10 give their gravy a shot. Nobody makes better sawmill gravy than my dad, he's followed close in second by my girlfriend (whose vegetarian sausage gravy is actually better, but, ya know, I grew up with my dad's), and it goes on from there. So I thought that I'd go for the big guns right off the bat and try out the Flying Saucer's sausage gravy and biscuits. So we sit for a while, the girl and I, making idle chit chat, looking over the paper, sipping our coffee, and finally our food arrives. I have a side of eggs to go with my biscuits and gravy, so I go through my ritual of adding some pepper to it all, then I gear up with fork in hand. I am so hungry at this point that I fail to notice the complete lack of steam coming off the food. The food wasn't exactly cold, but it wasn't hot either. Having been a server, I could tell that what had happened was the food had been prepared and then the server had forgotten it, probably because she was too busy jawing with the guy that I think was the cook but may have in fact been a bum from off the street, and so it just sat in the window getting cold. It was at least on the side of warm that allowed me to eat it, but I really wish I hadn't. The biscuits were hard as a rock, the eggs were utterly flavorless, and the gravy just tasted, well...bad. The Flying Saucer is within sight of the front door of my apartment. I could walk there and back any morning when I'm hungover, which is at least one morning a week. But instead, I choose to get in my car and drive up California to the Cozy Corner. The guy from Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives can have as much of this joint as he wants. read more

Why, why why??? are people waiting in line for half an hour to get in here? We decided to give brunch a whirl. I got the vegan bowl, the boys got the meat bowl and all of us were disappointed by what we got. As for mine, everything in the bowl was a different temperature (hot egg, cold vegetables, lukewarm everything else) and fairly flavorless. I took a couple bites and put it in a box because SISTER PANTS here knows how to cook. I put that mess in a frying pan with truffle oil and sriracha, crisped it up, and transformed it into the glorious one-pot orgasm it was meant to be. Hey FS-- that truffle oil and sriracha suggestion is free! If you want some other ideas, hit me up and I can drop some knowledge on you for a nominal fee! read more

I LOVE this place. It is truly a gem of the neighborhood. The food is great, the staff is friendly and amazing, and it is the only place I go to at least once a week, if I'm in town. read more

I hate this place. I have eaten there twice, and both times received the WORST service I have ever had. I guess if you aren't wearing the required hipster uniform (ugly sweater, tight jeans, bad hair, misplaced and ugly tattoos) you get horrible service. Our table was a dry island in a sea of coffee-drinkers. I believe we saw our waitress ONCE. Food was cold when we got it, my eggs were undercooked, and my friend's "chicken gravy" was an abortion. One star for the French toast....even cold, it was good. I'll never eat here again. Rockabilly people like good service too, hepper than thou assholes. read more

Good food, quality service and music/vibe. Very grateful it's in the nabe. Good coffee. Comfortable seating and can't wait to go back.

Despite the comments on here regarding the horrible service and general hipster snobbery, my husband and I decided that Flying Saucer was just too darned close to our apartment to pass up. We went there this past Friday morning for breakfast. It was about 11:00. Did we receive a hello? No. What did we receive? "You can sit there," "there" being seating to which the server was motioning. We sat down and had menus thrown down on the counter. No "how are you doing." No "can I get you something to drink?" No "are you going to need a few minutes to order?" All we received, ten minutes after being seated was "what do you want?" We ordered and got the pleasure of someone walking in, receiving the same poor service and commenting "service with a smile" in a very sarcastic voice. I was pleased. The server heard it and sneered at him. When our order arrived the server put it down on the counter and walked away. No "do you need anything else?" or "need a refill on your drinks?" I had to get my own ketchup and hot sauce from another table as none was offered to me. The server did not come back at any point during the meal except to take away the plates and put our bill on the counter. We walked away feeling thoroughly annoyed. I served all through college and would NEVER have given someone as crappy of service as I received. It was extremely offputting. Sure, the food is pretty good and it came out quickly. No complaints there, but the service was so poor that we will probably never go back. I'll check out Nellie's down the street the other way. read more

I visit this place often and am typically never disappointed, but also, never really impressed. I live in the neighborhood, so I can say that the "too cool to be pleasant" vibe of the Saucer is understandable. However, I must also add that though the food is pretty good, the service and hospitality standards leave something to be desired (save for a couple of their staff including their new guy). Hence the reason for ending up smack dead in the middle of a 5 star yelp review. If you visit, the sampler is pretty good, as is their oatmeal (only available on weekends), but I most enjoy their additional options (side of avocado, bowl of fruit, side of egg whites). They also have a cool selection of beverages, but don't expect any ice or any temp above lukewarm in your request for tap water. read more

Do not believe the glowing reviews. This place doesn't deserve the positive praise and here's why. First, they only take cash. Second (and most importantly) the people who work there are obnoxiously rude, "cooler than thou" hipsters who don't know anything about being kind or giving decent service. And finally, the food isn't that great (I've been there only once before but it was a long time ago and the service was bad then - just try to get more water). My friend and I were going to meet there for lunch at 1 p.m. today but she was running a couple minutes late. Although packed, there was a table for 2 available but the waitress insisted on having me sit at the counter. She claimed there were no available tables. Then, when a party of 3 arrived she moved me again so that they could sit at the counter. I had to ask for a menu and when I asked about their "cash only" policy I got a dead-pan, negative reaction from another server. I walked out, called my friend and we went to Bite instead on Western. They had amazing food, excellent service, and a much cleaner/more appealing atmosphere. Just as I was walking away from Flying Saucer I saw that the waitress put a party of 2 at the table she claimed was unavailable. You just don't treat people this way. read more

This place is the best. PERIOD. I'm a vegetarian and I always have a hard time ordering because I can eat everything and it's all amazing (except for the sampler plate. the vegan chorizo is incredible, but the dish itself isn't worth the $9. If you're looking to try both the sweet and savory, I'd suggest splitting two dishes with a friend.). So even though it takes me forever to order, the waitstaff are always nice and just bring me more coffee. I drink about a gallon every time I go, which is often, so if the coffee is slow getting to you, it's probably cause I drank it all. My favorite thing is the black bean cakes. It's also the perfect amount of food. Most everybody gets the trucker or flying bowl. they're pretty yummy too. check the chalk board for the specials, no one's going to tell you (which I hate about most restaurants anyway). There's usually something delicious on there, like coconut french toast or scrambled eggs with lox. They get really packed for brunch, so be prepared to wait. You have to stick your head in, be patient, and wait for the waitstaff to see you and get your name as there's no host. Don't forget CASH. read more

The service here was sub par at best. The waiter was neither friendly nor attentive. After being seated he avoided contact for a good 15 minutes before even coming over to us, keep in mind this place only seats roughly 30 people and there were probably only 9 other people there. Upon coming to the table to "greet" us his pretentious demeanor came off super condescending when he asked what he could get for us, as if we were inconveniencing him. The food was decent but we weren't even asked how anything was till after we were both finished. Then it took the waiter another 10 minutes just to bring us the bill after we had asked for it. Long story short, I do not know if the waiter had a problem with us or if he just didnt like the idea of hustling for his money, at one point he blatantly responded with a "NO" to a group of men who showed upon their request to add a seat for friends showing up. He even told them he wouldn't return to the table till the last person got there, as if they might not want something to drink while waiting I should note that I am a bartender and a server for the past 11 years, and this was by far the worst service I have experienced in a long time. For the sake of saving your brunch seek other places. read more

Hmmm. I'd read good things about this place (namely on Yelp), I'm always a fan of patronizing restaurants that make an effort to offer vegan options, and I like to get out of my restaurant rut, so I took my Pa there for brunch today. I was none too impressed. While we were seated quickly, it took a good 15 minutes for our server to acknowledge our presence. When he finally did, my dad ordered the blueberry pancakes, I ordered the big ol' vegetarian breakfast bowl (the name escapes me), and we both got orange juice. The juice was excellent, our dishes only so-so. The veggie bowl was quite oily and lacked flavor. The sauteed tofu was a bit bland as well. I should have stuck with my first choice - the tofu sweet potato hash. I may be willing to try this place out again, but likely won't go out of my way. read more

Well, they certainly don't serve bourbon which is an automatic 20% point reduction... On the other hand, the food is good... not great, but good. Their eggs (as a side order) aren't really all that great... kind of boring. The atmosphere is alright, seems like a good haunt for the counterculture types... if that floats yer boat. I do like their pancakes quite a bit, which is a huge plus... but the lack of bourbon just simply disappoints me. Not a bad place though... so check it out, just make sure to go there before about 2:30pm because they close at 3:00pm. Oh and they stopped accepting credit cards, so be sure to bring that nasty-ass disease ridden cash. read more

I'm not sure there are enough synonyms for the word "love" that I could use here. Because I LOVE their tofu and sweet potato hash. I'm not sure what the flavoring is in the sauce that's on it - it kind of looks like soy sauce, but it's sweeter with just a hint of bitter - but it's incredible. And in with the tofu and sweet potatoes is kale! Kale! I chose the spiced apples once as a side, and they're not that fabulous. The mixed greens are pretty good, however. I've also had their sausage biscuits & gravy. The first time I got it, it was 5 stars - tasty and spicy. The second time it was a bit more bland. But the home fries/potatoes that came with it? Tasty x3. I will give the sausage biscuits & gravy a third try and if it's bland again, I think I'm trying the french toast. A friend last weekend actually DID get the french toast - there's always a french toast special on the weekends it seems - and it looked incredible. The bread is thick, and I think his had coconut and pineapple pieces on top of it. Aaaaaaaaand, I'm really completely *not* a coffee drinker, but the coffee they have here? Metropolis? So tasty. I get it every time. Also, I rather like their policy of not giving you water unless you ask because, let's face it, how often have you gone to a restaurant that gives you water to start and you take two sips of it and then proceed with your coke/margarita/beer/whatever? Lastly, I always feel great leaving this place. Like, heathy. Not weighted-down-when-am-I-going-to-have-to-use-the-bathroom-because-of-this-meal crappy. read more

I'm convinced my experience will be better next time I go. Don't get me wrong, the last trip was not exactly bad. My girlfriend and I visited the other day early afternoon on a Saturday. There were only a few people in there dining. The service was prompt and great. However, the food came out as if reheated. My girlfriend had a dish containing refried beans. They looked/tasted as if they had be re-refried. My dish was delicious, but wasn't very hot. Everyone I've spoken with prior to going has said that Flying Saucer is 'hit-or-miss'. I feel like I fell right in the middle of this. The food was great, I just think we missed the rush where the heat and freshness of the dishes we ordered would have been spot on! Overall, I'm definitely going back. I'm convinced this place will knock it out of the park next time. I've just moved into the neighborhood and need a great go-to diner. Come on guys! ;) The decor in there is charming and the staff was friendly. I'd suggest giving it a try. read more

I work in the Garfield Park area a co-worker mentioned Flying Saucer fairly often. Simply driving by my partner and I have always put off by the grimy windows and banal plant life adorning the windows, finally one morning we gave in and went in. It was quite empty. One customer other than us, we assumed we'd have good service and get our food quickly. After being instructed to sit where we like we chose one of the more comfortable looking spots, all is fine. After about 5 minutes the waiter comes by and takes our drink order. Simple enough, coffee and tea. We wait another 5 minutes before getting the luke-warm drinks. How does it take that long for a cup of coffee in a dead restaurant? The wait, the decor, the drinks, this could all be acceptable except for the repulsive matrix-like food experience that happened next. We look over the menu, most of which seems decent enough for a vegetarian/vegan friendly place. We both choose something simple, advertised on the menu as two eggs with toast and your choice of side. However, when we order we're then told that of all the sides listed, we can only choose two. Potatoes, or mixed greens. My partner ordered the potatoes, so for the sake of diversity I go for the greens. Why not? Well, I'll tell you why not. It wasn't sauteed spinach or some other green one might associate with breakfast, no, it was a salad. At 7:30 am, a salad. A bowl of mesclun greens with basalmic dressing. Delicious for dinner or lunch, revolting for breakfast. The rest of the order topped it off. Eggs tasted grainy and powdered, and the toast was cold and soggy. We figured by ordering the simplest thing possible we'd get a decent sample of the food there, but I truly hope that what we were served isn't what so many others on Yelp are giving 5 stars. It was barely edible and shocking enough that we would never return to find out if they are stronger on some other dishes. Do yourself and others a favor, drive another 5 minutes to Earwax in Wicker Park. read more

Over the years, I've never had a really bad meal here. As the neighborhood continues to gentrify, the waits on the weekends are increasing, but still not too bad. Fairly inexpensive, $20 should more than cover brunch for two. Slacker, hipster wait staff (some things never change), so don't expect speedy service, but it's generally pretty friendly. Specials tend to be very good and sell out early. 3 stars for the food as it can be kind of bland, but they're always nice about bringing hot sauce/salsa. An an extra star for longevity (you should have seen the neighborhood when they opened!) and for being locally owned despite their beverage snobbery (why can't you carry Coca Cola? Why?). read more

This place gets a fourth star because once I went in there around valentines day, and they gave me a cookie that said "i have baggage." That rocked. And maybe it's slightly true.. I ordered biscuits and gravy once, with vegetarian gravy. The gravy was good, but the biscuits were way too dry . I think the tacos are simply phenominal here, with seitan and fresh guacamole, tomatoes and lettuce. Good coffee, and I love the ample sunlight coming in. This place is also supportive of local artists and have my good friend Dmitry's artwork on the wall, which always makes me happy. :) Cash only. Oh yes, and I also like how you have to ask for water here, so that they can conserve water. I think all places should do this. read more

I have tried so hard to like thee flying saucer. But the 3 tries I've given you have been very unpleasant experiences. All 3 times I have had horrible service and mediocre food. The most recent visit began by the server not listening to our orders and not bring out our orders with the extra side I wanted. My pancakes were raw and uneatable. We were also in the middle of the meal when the server checked back on our food (15 minutes after served) then dropped our check without a word. It was rude and inhospitable. So with a combination of bland, uncooked and a rude wait staff I believe that I have to rate this brunch spot a 1star. I hope they revamp their service standards. read more