$2 Tacos and $4 Margaritas!! John's Place is a great little place located in cute little Roscoe Village. My friends and I frequent this place and usually have a great time. Just beware this place is VERY kid and baby friendly. So, you may have to gulp down your margarita's to the tune of screaming babies and a toddler's watchful eye. read more

I am so glad my mom and I went for dinner last night. She and I have always enjoyed they're brunch on weekends. But ever since my husband and I moved here a couple years ago, dinners had been hit or miss. The menu is different and they no longer have the hostess I complained about a couple years ago. Both servers are very nice that we have had. We always have our fave guy when we come for brunch...I'll get his name next time. Ok, onto the food: everything we have had for brunch, whether sweet or savory, has been delicious. They had Elvis pancakes once on special and they were amazing. For dinner last night we had Thai chicken soup, my mom and I both loved it. We also got burgers, which were very tasty. Mine was overlooked and my mom's was perfect. (We both ordered medium). But I prefer over to under so I was fine. Fries were good too. I love that we were able to sit outside and have our dinner before it got too chilly. I'm excited to put John's on my brunch AND dinner list now. read more

As a new residence to Roscoe Village John's Place was one of the first places we tried. I'm going to use the classic Yelp pros and cons list for this review. The pros are as follows: 1. They serve above average American which is a great alternative to bar food when relatives who aren't adventurous eaters come into town. 2. Both times I went servers were attentive and friendly. 3. Food came out relatively quickly. The cons are as follows: 1. It's a little on the pricey side for standard American fare. 2. Always a ton of kids. This is not a good option if you're looking for a quiet meal. In summary it's a decent neighborhood spot if you don't mind a lot of kids. read more

Really solid spot in the neighborhood. My wife and I had breakfast here last weekend. Both of our meals were great. Our server was just as great and was very attentive. He offered us a free drink since our order was taking a little while (which we didn't even think it was). Nice place!! read more

I ate brunch here with two friends. It is cute inside, but getting one of the three booths that actually give you some room is key. Otherwise, you are at tables eating on top of strangers. The omelettes were great. Our server competent and friendly, but I have to go with 3 stars because the pancakes were not good. The blueberries were frozen or canned or something. They were shriveled and sour. Ick . It ruined every part of the pancake it touched. Why serve them? The strawberries/banana fruit plate was fresh - why not switch it to that. Also, the pancakes themselves were average, meaning not fluffy. read more

Food is great, service is excellent. Everyone has always been warm and kind (we love Ashley!!!) and it's a great place to bring kids if you don't feel like cooking but want something quick, cheap and tasty. My only complaint is that every time we visit, the portion on the kids' mac & cheese shrinks yet the price remains the same. read more

The food is good and they often have specials that are great as well which keeps it interesting if you come here often. The servers are always friendly and the patio is great and stays busy in warm months. read more

There isn't a better neighborhood restaurant in the city. The tacos, the cheese curds, the chicken bowl, the burger - it's all fantastic!

Moving Day to Roscoe Village! In a sea of boxes the only thing louder than my pops' grumbling at putting together a TV stand was the rumbling of my stomach. I Yelped the closest place with burgers and drinks so I could treat my helpers. We took the quick two block walk to John's and sat right away. Service was friendly and attentive which I appreciated since I wanted to run back with hopes that someone finished unpacking for me. Side note: no one did A few of my helpers started out with a Spicy Bloody Mary. I am not a BM fan but it got they enjoyed it and looked pretty fun. I went with the Roscoe Burger based solely on the fact it had a jalapeno marmalade. The toppings were flavorful (marmalade, bacon-pimento cheese, and onion rings) and it was a decent size. I thought the meat lacked some flavor but maybe was overwhelmed by the toppings. Dad got the Cowboy Burger (which the waitress said is their best seller) which looked just as appetizing after a hard day's work. Others got salads, french toast, and then my one friend who just had another BM - all non-noteworthy stuff. Overall my verdict is that I would come back for a quick bite and the food was tasty. I am happy to have it close but the prices don't match the quality. $12 for a burger either has to be Kobe or come with some awesome sides. Fries, chips, or coleslaw don't cut it. But 3 stars isn't too shabby! read more

Still bringing me brunch-time sunshine. This time around I had the pumpkin "pie" pancakes...not too sweet. I wish I could have gotten a little more of the butter, but my waistline could probably do without. My boyfriend had the chilaquiles...delicious! Service was prompt and courteous...nothing over the top or lacking. John's place is warm and inviting. And yeah, there are lots of families there with little kids. But good parents keep them under control! read more

Stopped by for brunch and had a pleasant experience. My fiancé and I had plans originally to have brunch elsewhere but John's Place didn't have any wait which is nice for a Sunday and at the same token kind of odd. We shared a fried egg sandwich which was ok. The sandwich wasn't good or bad it was a regular sandwich nothing spectacular. We also shared the s'mores French toast and we're really happy with that. It was a huge portion so if you're gonna eat it alone you'll have left overs. The only thing I wasn't thrilled about was the service. Our waitress wasn't very attentive and my fiancé had to get up and actually hunt her down to ask for napkins. read more

John's Place - S'mores French toast .....so good! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First, this review is based only on the Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich. I understand from my friends that the apple and walnut salad is amazing and the tuna salad sandwich is delicious. The sandwich I had, however, was not good. It was too salty and too drenched in BBQ sauce. I suspect the sauce went a long way in making this sandwich terrible, so it should be an easy fix. The pickle and fries that came with the sandwich were delicious, however. read more

I live in the neighborhood and come in here all the time to sit on the patio with my pup to enjoy a glass of rosé and a nice meal. Wonderful staff and great food! This is one of my "go-to" spots for a quick dinner or a chill brunch. If you are looking for a spot that is dog friendly, laid back and usually available for a walk-in you'll enjoy John's! read more

When I promised my daughter the best, juiciest burger in Chicago there was only one place to go! John's place!

My fiance eats here all the time, since it's so close to his office. He's been raving about it & has pretty much eaten the whole menu. Today, since I had the day off, I met him for lunch there. It's a cute place & I really enjoyed it. It's great for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. I had the tofu sandwich & broccoli, and it was terrific. My fiance is a big fan of the salmon BLT & tuna melt that are sometimes on special, the turkey burger & chili from the every day menu, although he says everything's good so it's hard to pick a fave! read more

I've been here several times and the food here is always good! They have a great kids menu, dinner/lunch/breakfast menu, and their drinks are always delicious. However based on my visits here your experience will seriously be based on which server you have. If you get the blonde girl that takes 15 minutes to bring water just get up and leave. If you get the brunette one who's a bit older (sorry forgot your name!) go ahead and stay. You can be confident you will get great recommendations and great service. Again, if you get the young-ish blonde lady she will ask you to hurry up and pay your bill (because eating lunch with your niece and sister for 30 minutes is just too long) because she has to make her rehearsal.. You understand. read more

I usually do take out here because I do not work to far. The order was done very quickly and accomodated all my coworkers. I had ordered a cuban which by far was average. There was nothing exciting about it and the taste was pretty bland. My coworkers ordered salad which they stated was average as well. read more

John's Place - Cubano-roasted pulled pork, smoked ham, Swiss n mustard. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for brunch and was much happier with the selection. The prices were a bit high, but my goat cheese, leek, zuchini and other yummy stuff omlette was STUFFED with the good stuff. The pancakes were a little boring from what I saw (boyfriend's brother ordered them and they were "okay"), though the description on the menu was good. I'll go here again for brunch when the lines at the other RV brunch spots get too long. read more

I've dined at John's other location (Webster & Racine) several times, but just tried out the Roscoe location over the weekend. The Good: + drink specials. $4 Svedka drinks - yes please, keep 'em comin'. $3.50 beer specials - nice price. They always seem to have good drink specials. + attentive, friendly service. + decent/average prices. $5 big bowl of their 'soup of the day' was a comforting chicken vegetable soup that took me back to my youngin' days when Mom would make huge pots of soup like this. The Meh: I've experienced a sense of 'blah' when ordering food at John's in the past. I've yet to get a dish that really impressed me (other than the soup mentioned above...) Case in point: goat cheese quesadilla - sounded awesome, looked kind of sad, tasted okay-ish. (plain little tortilla folded over on a small plate topped with stale scallions - no sides, no garnish, nuthin'. There was a satisfactory amount of goat cheese, mushrooms and spinach inside...) I'd go back to John's to try other menu items - particularly their breakfast. I've seen a good number of other reviewers mention/complain about lots of kids in these restaurants. Yes, there were kids there even during our Friday night meal. The place has a 'family restaurant' vibe that must be appealing, and both locations have a lot of younger families living nearby. I'm okay with that, as long as parents respect other diners and take responsibility for their children. read more

Finally got a chance to try John's Place after moving to the neighborhood over 2 years ago. We were greeted warmly by the hostess and seated promptly in one of the big booths in the back. Hubby and I split a Southwest Salad and a Roscoe Burger, which was more than enough for the two of us. The salad had a great kick with the spice grilled chicken. I loved the pimento, bacon cheese, and onion rings on the burger, but the jalepeno marmalade was a little too spicy for me. The burger itself had a nice charred taste to it. For dessert, we split the salted caramel gelato, which was amazing! I also wanted to try the Blondie Bar, but didn't have room :( Great neighborhood joint that is definitely kid friendly (there were a stack of high chairs stored in the back) and fits right in Roscoe Village. read more

Excellent customer service, great food and a hidden gem. The silly donuts are a must have.

After conquering the Webster Ave location, the stroller brigade has unceremoniously turned this John's Place outpost into romper room. They have a stroller corral outside. The food is great. I love all 3 of the chopped salads. The pancakes are yum. The egg dishes are delish. But the crying begins to get to me by the time the bill comes... read more

Absolutely love it here. Very kid friendly. We usually go Sunday for breakfast and the food is always great. Very standard fare, exceptional service. They have a nice outdoor area too to eat outside. Try the chilaquiles. read more

Short review... Liked it but it was not memorable. Our experience was marred by a career mom with her kids at a nearby table who spent most of her meal talking to someone, conducting a boring, pointless conversation. For some reason I always expect this place to be fancier than it is. read more

My husband and I moved into the neighborhood last June. John's Place is within walking distance to our house and has quickly become our go-to spot to take our guests. We've been there for lunch and dinner and haven't been disappointed. My favorites are: The Cowboy burger Apple, Spinach, and Goat Cheese salad Sweet potato fries Next on my "must try" list: Pulled BBQ Pork sandwich Challah french toast Blueberry crumble panackes John's Place has "safe" fare for the picky eaters, as well as some variety for those who aren't. The menu is quite meat-centric, which I don't mind at all, but some may not like. Their specials are deals. My friends and I come here on Thursdays for their $4 glasses of wine and a good meal. We're never rushed, and can sit and chat for a long time. They have excellent service. I called for reservations for 12 the day before and they had everything ready to go the moment we got there. The only reason I knocked off a star is that it can get noisy. In the summer, eat outside on the patio and the problem is eliminated. read more

We stopped her for a quick lunch. We were seated and told the drink specials. ($4 glass of any wine) I ordered a burger, my boyfriend ordered the fish tacos. Food served up quick. Beer was served with a glass. There was a fruit fly that would not go away. I was not overly impressed with the food, price, or service. Everything was decent. read more

We were in town for my brother's bachelor party and stopped in here for brunch before heading out of town. As for the breakfast menu, they had some great options with creativity and your usual "eggs and bacon". I believe the concept is farm fresh food here. I am sure there is a difference but its probably more in your head. I can never tell in the taste department. The food was good- came out timely even with a new waitress and a large group. Portions are about right, not too much and just enough. Coffee was good- I am sure dirt water with caffeine in it would have been acceptable this day though. Overall, solid food. Nothing too exceptional. read more

Really solid place for typical American dinner cuisine or Mexican inspired brunch in Roscoe Village. Went to John's Place most recently for brunch on a Saturday morning around 9:30. The patio was full but there were plenty of seats inside. Our waitress was very friendly and did a good job taking care of us. The breakfast burrito (with chorizo of course) sounded delicious so that's what I ended up getting. Really good! Good portion size + breakfast potatoes for a good price. My friend's pancakes also looked and tasted good. I left John's full, satisfied and without spending mucho dinero. I've also had some really good burgers here in the past as well. The food won't blow you away necessarily, but it's a hell of a lot nicer than making it yourself! Good work, John. read more

First time in Chicago and I must say it was GREAT! Met the owner John and he's so nice and funny! The restaurant is so warm and cozy! Very happy! Food is AMAZING! I had the Roscoe burger with fries. The bun is butter and delicious! And the drinks special is sweet too! Will recommend anyone visiting to come here! read more

John's Place - In love with this place! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just OK. A nice place, nice staff, and a nice menu. But just nice, not great. The portions are smallish (breakfast) and nothing that I probably couldn't do with a little effort. I had the mexican hash with sourdough toast. A little heavier on the cheese than I might have liked. Not too much to eat for the price of the entree. Also had a shortstack of the pumpkin pancakes. Good... not great. Not much pumpkin butter to slather on them. Wife had the benedict with ham and gravy. A little skimpy on the gravy really. Asked for some more... another tiny little silver cup worth. That didn't help.... For the same money, I like Chalkboard. read more

I really wanted to like this place...But I just couldn't! We've walked past it a million times and finally went in a few weeks ago. It was a Saturday Morning and wasn't too crowded. Most people were pushing to be outside but I like me some AC so we were seated right away inside. And then we sat... and sat... and sat. Just as we contemplated leaving our waitress arrived... Two coffees and a Bloody Mary please (I had a rough night the night before!). Then we sat... and sat... and sat... "What is she, out picking the beans? Where's my damn cof... Oh, thanks for the coffee!" So We finally get our food. I ordered the Mexican Hash with two eggs over easy and a side of Bacon. It was tasty... it was good! The chicken was cut the same size as the potatoes so it was a surprise to your mouth which one you got. And the poblano peppers (one of my favorite things to cook with) gave it a nice spiciness. I loved the fact that they put the cheese on on the grill. Where were little grilled bits of cheese mixed in the all the gooeyness... however... Was was it like 5 bites and then gone! I wanted more. MORE! That portion size was so tiny. My companion got the Chilequiles with chorizo added to it. It was a good sized portion... but it wasn't good! There was no spice to the chorizo. It was just sorta blah! I mean... blah!! The side of bacon, ok... I mean, it is bacon. The Bloody Mary... watery with a kick in the end. It had no flavor at all. I didn't even drink it. So, done eating. Plates cleared by the attentive friendly bus men... and we sat... and sat... and sat... No waitress. Nothing. Finally one of the nice bus guys went to get her for us. Bad service and food that was not flavorful? I think I'll pass on John's Place next time. read more

John's Place on Roscoe has become a new go-to place for weekend brunch / lunch. When I wake up in the morning I oftentimes find myself craving a breakfast burrito from here... they are so so good! Just a tad bit spicy, not greasy or too eggy. Paired with a side of a single pumpkin pie pancake and I'm very happy. This pancake is one of the best pancakes I have ever had - tastes just like pumpkin pie and the maple butter and syrup topping just puts it over the top. I would highly recommend the burgers as well - the turkey burger and black jack especially. For a laid back neighborhood spot with reliably good brunch / lunch food and no wait for a table, this is the place to go in Roscoe Village. read more

I went to John's Place for the first time for dinner yesterday and I loved it. Their menu is really varied and has interesting, out of the ordinary dishes that someone actually put thought into, and that really made me happy. It also made me happy when they sat us far away from the small children who were throwing hummus veggies through the air. Thanks for that. We had the shrimp tostadas as an appetizer and they were great. And that red stuff they give you with the bread? I don't know exactly what it is, but I could pretty much just eat it with a spoon. Although the bread was really good too so I did that instead. Plus I didn't have a spoon. For my entree I had the BBQ pulled chicken melt on brioche. It was completely messy and awesome. It came really hot, but I was so hungry and it was so good, I burned the roof of my mouth and I don't regret it. The chicken was a nice variation from pulled pork. Sweet potato fries were good too- not the absolute best I've ever had, but definitely good. I can't wait to go back there and try the mango glazed pork... or the turkey meatloaf... or the salmon! Extremely affordable too. Good stuff. read more

TACO Wednesdays!!! (SHOUT OUT TO Andrea and Tita!!!!) Okay, now that I have that out of my system. . .I really enjoy Wednesdays at this location. Not only because I like the tacos @ $2, but because the $5 Margarettas are a good way to wash them down. The downside of Wednesdays at John's place, the screaming babies- UGH. Now, I'm all for family night, but it's hard to gossip with my girls with little Stevie crying all night. I realize that Roscoe Village is a family neighborhood, but can't you guys just go to John's place another day!? Here's the NITTY GRITTY aMbIaNcE= COMFORTABLE space, but small. sTafF= I LIKE the waitress that we always get (she laughs at my jokes.) pRiCe= FANTASTIC. Check out their website, they have specials daily. fOOd= love those TACOS and the MARGARETTAS (no lime, please) ***Side notes- it's much easier to find parking here then the Lincoln Park, but this place is smaller. They don't open until 5 p.m. read more

John's Place is a great neighborhood spot for a meal. It is not too expensive and the food is delicious - I highly recommend the fish tacos and the meatloaf. Yes, the BBQ meatloaf is excellent when you are in the mood for some comfort food. If you want to avoid the neighborhood kids - go a little bit later in the evening 7:30 or 8:00. The restaurant is intimate and when the weather is good, there is outdoor seating which isn't too bad since Roscoe is not a high traffic area and there are not any buses. The brunch on the weekend is very good as well. There are plenty of choices on the menu from eggs to pancakes and everything in between. The price is also reasonable compared to other breakfast/brunch places in the city. We feel like we get our money's worth with the brunch items on the menu - which is great since they are delicious! The pancakes and eggs are filling and tasty. Try a smoothie to go with your breakfast - they are delicious! read more

Another brunch place tested out and I give it four stars. After driving by this place countless times I figured it was about time to check it out. Overall I was really happy with the experience. The brunch menu is not as extensive as some other "brunch" places, but there were a nice variety of options that would please most palates. My friend and I got the Mexican hash, which was tasty. Two eggs, chicken, diced potatoes, chihuahua cheese and some other spices (I think). It was filling without making me feel like I could blow up. Always appreciated. Given that I have a ton of places to check off my brunch places list I probably won't be back soon, but if you're looking for a decent place, without a super long wait, that has ample outdoor seating, this is a good option. read more

Nice staff, very good food and portions are perfect! Not too small and not too big - meaning that you can finish without rolling out the door or having to throw loads of food away. We even had some dessert space! Overall really happy with our choice this evening read more

Well I thought the John's chicken salad was the best.......well I am going to have to vote for new favorite: DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING. Okay, I am NOT a big dessert person; I can probably count on one hand the times I have ordered dessert. But I was with other people who wanted to share desserts (let me blame them) and I was totally blown away. How do they make it so good? Are they going to hate me if I just go there to eat that? read more

If you want a quick bite, a burger, and some bland decorations, go to John's Place. I did enjoy the $4 wine list on fridays as well as the courteous staff. Vegetarian options are limited, but not terrible. The worst thing about this place is the amount of moms who bring their kids. It got a little out of hand. read more

This place is very convenientyl located down the street from my house. I came on a Thursday for 1/2 price wine-glasses. What a great deal!! I had one of the pinot noirs that was fantastic! I had a bowl of the mushroom and potato soup. It was nice and thick and very filling. My mom and I also split the spinach and goat cheese quesadilla. That, too, was very good. My sister tried their burger, which I believe they're know for and she really enjoyed it. They have other great specials on different nights of the week, which is always nice. Our waitress knew that we were pressed for time since we were going to a play and was very good about getting our food out promptly and getting the check to us in plenty of time. read more