This place! Been looking for a breakfast diner like this for a while. No frills, great food and…read morelots of variety. The counter service is set up like your old school lunchroom cafeteria. Takes me back to grade school. They take your order up front where the chefs cook your food right in front of you. You then take your tray and scoot on over, add beverages and whatever else to your order and at the end of the line - you pay. Everyone was super nice and friendly - gives off that old school diner where everyone is family. Just got a basic breakfast meal that consisted of eggs, sausage, and a side of pancakes. Ordered some bacon on the side. Everything was really good and the sausage was deliciously crisp and had that "snap". The pancakes were soft and fluffy. The price is also very reasonable. Also, they have Barack Obama breakfast specials. So cool as it looks like our former President frequently ate here as he has pictures up on their wall with the workers. I highly recommend and will be back.

If you are ever in Chicago make sure to stop at Valois for a cheap yet delicious, wholesome,…read morehearty, breakfast that is so good even former United States president Barack Obama loves this place with some of his breakfast favorites! This is the place to go for true breakfast lovers that the whole family will enjoy! Valois is special because it is one of the oldest cafeteria style restaurants in the United States started in 1921 by French Canadian William Valois. When you walk in, the place stays busy, you actual see the food being prepared in front of you, and they offer lots of great breakfast options in a casual cafeteria like setting with a homely feel. Be ready to have cash on you because Valois only takes cash but there is an atm machine inside. Valois offers amazing breakfast specials such as steak and eggs, omelettes, breakfast sandwiches, waffles, and pancakes but also has alot of al la carte menu items or side orders you can add on such as extra bacon strips, side of oatmeal, grits, etc to truly satisfy your breakfast cravings! I love getting their french toast while my husband loves piling up on eggs, bacon, and sausage! They even have some lunch items like salads, wraps, and different specials of the day like hamburger steak with onions. My husband and I enjoy coming to Valois (Hyde Park) location close to the University of Chicago because the service is fast and friendly, the food is great, and has a lively yet cozy atmosphere! You can't go wrong giving Valois a try for a wonderful breakfast that won't break your bank account and fills your soul up with joy!

One of the best breakfasts I've ever had...hands down…read more It's simple. It's pretty. It's vibey. It's good, like really good. Best omelette I've ever had. Facts. It's an omelette I wouldn't have normally chosen for myself but I got it and it was amazing. Someone knows technique and flavors back in the kitchen. So Good. The warm welcome when we walked in was a very nice start to it all. So glad we walked in. Go. Look at the menu beforehand. Yes the cinnamon rolls are amazing. The sourdough was some of best I've had. The house made jam was delicious. It's all very good. Such a vibey, cool spot. Absolutely 10/10 recommend

Mainly went here to try the beignets but also wanted to try other things. The biscuit and grits…read morewere great!! The food came out really quickly and the service was friendly. The cafe is a lot bigger than I had expected so it makes for a great place to sit and do some work. I didn't care much for the coffee unfortunately.

We celebrated our friend's 60th birthday with Sunday brunch at Truth Be Told, located on the…read moreUniversity of Chicago campus and connected to The Study at University of Chicago. The restaurant has a warm tavern-style aesthetic--inviting, comfortable, and perfect for a relaxed celebration. Our waitress was very friendly, attentive, and genuinely personable, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The brunch menu blends English and American influences, offering something for everyone. We tried the Scotch pancakes, which were quite good, and overall everyone at the table enjoyed their meals. The atmosphere was pleasant and unhurried--we never felt rushed, allowing us to truly enjoy the food, conversation, and celebration. A great spot for brunch gatherings .

We stumbled upon this place because there happened to be an open parking spot on the street…read more Located on UIC's campus and near the Museum of Science and Industry. British themed menu so chips does equal fries. I had a delicious grilled cheese that had an egg on top it. I enjoyed it but it was definitely quite messy. My boyfriend got the chicken salad sandwich. It does have curry in it so wasn't his favorite but he didn't hate it. I wouldn't hurry back but if you're in the area, I would recommend checking this place out.

The service was amazing. Our server was very attentive and the manager was extremely polite. The…read morefood was impeccable and I would definitely recommend this place for anyone who is looking for a soul food restaurant.

I can see why Virtue is a highly rated spot in Chicago. The food and service were extremely good. I…read moredidn't try a specialty cocktail but I did my go to of a side car and it was made just right. If you're thinking about going to Virtue think no further. I would try happy hour so you can try more things and get a better bang for your buck! The ambiance is also very nice. Almost like you're in a family members home.

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.

A gem in on the south side of Chicago! Randomly came across Dirty Tiff's Cafe while walking around…read moreand we are always up for soul or Jamaican food! We were greeted by Tiff herself, just sooo very welcoming, sweet, and provided great recommendations! All entrees come with rice/peas (Jamaican style w/ a sweet/savory sauce( and your choice of two sides. There is something for anyone's tastebuds! I ordered the fried fish; very crispy w/ collared greens and mac and cheese! Other two friends ordered the jerk chicken and fried chicken. The plate sizes are big enough to share so order a few things and try everything! There are high top chairs to eat inside and carry out is available! Definitely a go to!

The food was good. I ordered two jerk chicken tacos, a half dark jerk dinner with rice and peas,…read moreyams and Mac and cheese. Everything was good but I personally don't care for rice and beans that aren't savory! The rice and beans had a sweetness that I didn't care for. The jerk chicken was tender and very good. Solid Mac and cheese and yams. The jerk chicken taco was decent but why all the yellow part of the lettuce to the tacos? Seems like you guys are cutting corners! The yellow part of lettuce is bitter and shouldn't be used!

Great food and vibes. I'm glad they finally renovated this restaurant. It was overdue a faceliftread more

Today was my 3rd time coming, since the 90's. The 1st two times was great but today being the 3rd,…read morenot so much. We had breakfast and our Waitress was named Barbara. While eating breakfast we noticed some people were getting dinner, so we decided to order dinner then, since we had a lot of running around to do. I ordered the fried chicken with mac & cheese, yams, & dressing. My wife ordered fried chicken, mac & cheese, greens, and dressing. My daughter had the baked chicken, dressing, greens, & mac and cheese. My daughter's dinner was the only one made correct, mine had mashed potatoes, instead of yams and no dressing. My wife's dinner had no dressing. Everthing is on my reciept tho. I tried calling, but it was after 5pm when I saw my dinner. I'll call again tomorrow

This is a GREAT Hyde Park neighborhood Greek restaurant with delicious food, great service and a…read morevibrant atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoy having brunch here. Tried something different today--Salonica Omelette with spinach added. Feta, gyro meat, o IIs & green peppers. Highly recommended

Honestly, I wanted to like this place--because who doesn't love a good old-school diner? But this…read moreexperience was very disappointing. First, it's good to note that if your entire party isn't present, they won't let you sit down. That was a little annoying, but okay--rules are rules. Once we were finally seated, the overall atmosphere didn't feel very welcoming. I didn't feel uncomfortable, just not particularly invited either. For this to be a Greek restaurant, the menu felt very Americanized, which I wasn't expecting. I found myself conflicted about what to order. I ended up getting a variety of dishes since I was there to film a video about the restaurant. I tried the homemade chili and their Greek lemon egg soup. The chili was served hot, but overall it was very bland and definitely needed more seasoning--at least for my taste. The lemon egg soup was interesting, but not my cup of tea. My friend ordered the patty melt, which was basically a burger on toasted buns. She said it was okay but, once again, needed seasoning. The turkey club was probably the best thing we tried, though it was a bit dry for my liking. The second-best item was the shredded lamb sandwich--the lamb was tender, the pickled onions were good, and the chimichurri added nice flavor, but even that dish could have used more seasoning. We also ordered the chicken pesto wrap, which surprisingly came with a side of Mexican rice and beans--an odd combination. Unfortunately, that too was greasy and bland. The biggest disappointment for me was the eggplant Parmesan. I love eggplant Parmesan, but I had a gut feeling I shouldn't have ordered it--and I should've listened. The eggplant slices were way too thick, and the spaghetti underneath was overcooked. When I finally cut into the eggplant and took a bite, it was the worst eggplant I've ever had. It tasted like water, oil, and bland tomato sauce. I've made eggplant parmesan before and you gave to extract the water from the eggplant before frying otherwise it's so nasty. This place has obviously been around for a long time and clearly has a loyal customer base. But honestly, those customers must really enjoy bland food. There seemed to be a certain crowd that typically doesn't season their food much, so I suppose it makes sense. As for me, I just know I won't be back.

Fried Catfish and Chicken Wings excellent. I need to go to the restaurant in person because I was…read moregiven the food.

Food is prepared as requested most times and order staff are very polite. I mostly have items…read moredelivered and probably would not choose to eat at the location.

I loved everything about this restaurant. Yes, the wait is long, so only go if time is not an…read moreissue. When I tell you I'm in love, I'm in love the decor, the music, the exposed brick, live plants, tea pot collection, book shelves with actual books and varied seating. It was all a cool, laid-back vibe. It is very community oriented with regulars hanging at seats next to end tables. The food was like my momma's from the 1970's. Toast under the broiler with butter, bacon tasted just like hers. The chai was THE BEST, I've had, including some Indian spots. They have a Jamaican rum coffee I will try next. The chef came out and apologized for everything taking so long, but she said she doesn't believe in food sitting on a grill and cooks everything to order (which is why it tasted like my momma's!)

Collard green gumbo was mostly liquid hardly no gumbo ingredients barely any collards. Sautéed…read morezucchini and squash was ok. Smoothie was ok.