Meli Cafe

Yes, please. I would like a reservation for each day of the week. Creative menu with skill in the…read morekitchen. Be sure to call for reservations. Lots of energy in the dining are.

Some of the best food I've ever had. Every dish we had was amazing…read more Starting with the corn bread. They actually gave us enough butter to lather each bite. Great starter and loved the flavor. The chickpea fritters were absolutely delicious. Great textures and perfect balance of flavors. I was skeptical of this dish but it was absolutely delicious and wasn't dry at all. The goat empanadas were great. Loved the flavors. The whole thing could've been a bit more juicier since I just had the goat patties at Tatiana in ny, but these were also delicious. The goat confit dish was smaller than expected but not complaining since all our dishes turned out to be the perfect amount of food for 2. Goat was tender and the crust was also great. The apple tart dessert with cheese was absolutely scrumptious. The perfect balance of sweet and savory. Drinks were good. Would've liked to see a more creative drink menu considering how amazing the food was. Definitely must make a reservation. Would absolutely recommend this place.

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The Dearborn

4.4(2.8k reviews)

0.6 mi•The Loop

I've decided that this will officially be a staple lunch spot for me!…read more I was on a break from class when I stumbled across this little gem. Think of the quintessential restaurant scene in a movie where a business executive grabs a quick power lunch, surrounded by other professionals, before heading back to the office for that BIG meeting. It was exactly that! Meanwhile, I walked in wearing my school clothes, just looking for a good lunch. The atmosphere was great, the Wi-Fi was a plus, the food was delicious, and the cocktail menu was intriguing! I ordered the Dearborn Burger based on my waiter's recommendation, and it did not disappoint! It was cooked exactly to my liking and was SO juicy. The fries were perfectly crisp, just how I like them. And the MAN-LET'S-GO! cocktail? Exactly what I needed! It satisfied my mango craving and gave me that little boost I needed to get through the rest of my day. Between the atmosphere, the food, and the service, I can already tell this is going to become one of my regular spots. I will definitely be back frequently!

The service was wonderful. Our waiter was such a treat. The truffle fries are some of the best in…read morethe city. The ceviche was wonderful - very limey. The other food we ordered did not impress me. We ordered the hot honey pepperoni, the fried chicken starter, the burrata. Those were not my favorites - not bad just not special or stand out. The vibes are elevated corporate.

$12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

New Spring Menu

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Spring desserts

The Purple Pig

4.3(9.1k reviews)

1.1 mi•Near North Side

I really enjoyed my visit. The ambiance was good. And the food along with the service was great…read more Please note that they specialize in small plates. So the prices you pay isn't designed to have piles of food hanging off the plate. It's not that type of establishment before you rate it negatively. You should know that beforehand. The Half Duck was to die for. And I don't even eat duck like that. I'd recommend & will certainly go back.

This was a very mixed experience, which surprised me given the overwhelmingly positive reviews that…read morebrought us here. To start, the hostess was rude. It took her a while to acknowledge me standing there, and when she finally asked how she could help, I mentioned I had a reservation and began giving my name. She cut me off with, 'Please wait, I'm very busy.' After another five minutes, she finally took my name and asked my family and me to step fully outside, saying someone would come get us. We were finally seated fifteen minutes later--only after watching another party of three walk in without a reservation and get seated immediately. The appetizers and entrees were good, and our waiter was attentive, even apologizing for the rough start at the host stand. Things seemed to be turning around until we tried to order dessert. Despite being more than forty minutes from closing, our waiter returned to tell us, 'The chef refuses to make any more desserts.' This was that rare restaurant visit where the food itself was solid, but we won't be back. The service made it abundantly clear that our presence was an inconvenience.

The kitchen

Chicago style hot dog

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Squid Ink Chitarra

Boka

4.3(1.9k reviews)

2.8 mi•Lincoln Park

•$$$$

Boka was a special dining experience. The restaurant offers an intimate, cozy atmosphere, and the…read morestaff were wonderful. They were attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful with their recommendations. We opted in for the vegetarian tasting menu. Each course was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Nothing felt like an afterthought, and the menu offered an impressive variety of flavors and textures. We were super full at the end. The restaurant also prepared a special birthday menu with all the great dishes the chef made for us that day. Some of our favorites included the Cherry Tomato Tart, Smoked Turnip, Chestnut Ravioli, and Roasted Maitake Mushroom with Meyer lemon and black truffle. The Chocolate Tart and Elderflower Panna Cotta were the perfect finishing touches along with the birthday ice cream popsicle. Overall, Boka felt intimate, elevated, and impeccably executed. It was clear that tremendous thought went into every dish. This was a truly memorable meal, and we will be back :).

I got a bar seat reservation for the missus and I (two) at 7:15pm on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The…read morefront desk was courteous - they give you a key for your bags (looks like an ancient key) as part of bag check, and led us to our table at the leftmost side of the bar. The bar seating itself wasn't super crowded - but every booth and table looked like it was taken, so that was interesting. On my way to the bathroom I saw their numerous michelin years of guide and stars. It's noticeably missing 2026 - and after having dined here, I kind of get why. For a drink I got the local Eris Pedestrian cider. We debated getting the chef menu ($195/each) , but we ended up ordering a la carte: chicken liver mousse ($9/each, we ordered two), roasted veal sweetbreads ($30), black truffle chicken ($43), and roasted dry aged pork loin ($51). We later ordered a financiers for dessert (forgot the price). We were full after eating everything that we ordered, but given the lack of quality of the cuts of meat, the small portion sizes, and the extremely high cost, it's hard for me to recommend this place. If this is what Michelin star-quality food tastes like (at least in Chicago), the Michelin evaluators here have either no actual taste buds, or are awarding stars for "vibes" only. The vibes are fine - don't get me wrong - but the food here isn't anything worth writing home about. Dish by dish: mousse was decent, the veal was kinda dry, the chicken was very dry, and the pork loin, while decent, wasn't as special as we thought it'd be. Financiers was kinda sweet but it was actually the only part of the meal I truly enjoyed the bites of. The post-meal truffle thing was too sweet for the missus so I ate both. The cider was... Pedestrian, as the name implies. Definitely the most fitting name for the drink. The bathrooms are down the stairs - so it's terrible for those in wheelchairs or that are mobility challenged. The bathrooms themselves are high-quality - which is part of the experience, but idk if it's "worthy" of adding stars to a mediocre food experience.

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Chocolate Angel Food Cake

Cindy's Rooftop

4.1(2.9k reviews)

0.5 mi•The Loop

A friend and I stopped in for one last hoorah dinner before leaving Chicago, and it was the perfect…read moreway to end our trip! Christian provided fantastic service, and we had a lovely table with beautiful views of the city. We started with delicious drinks and decided to stay for dinner. We ordered the Cajun corn, fried chicken, and vodka rigatoni, and everything was absolutely delicious! The fried chicken was incredibly crispy and flavorful, the pasta was perfectly cooked, and the Cajun corn was the perfect finishing touch. Between the wonderful service, amazing food, and gorgeous city views, it was a fantastic dining experience and a memorable way to wrap up our Chicago adventure!

Cindy's Rooftop has beautiful views of the city. It's overlooking Millennium Park and The Bean…read more Perfect place to bring out of town visitors or if you just want to enjoy rooftop views. We definitely picked a beautiful fall day to come by. Came around 3pm on a Tuesday and they had a limited menu until 5pm. Ordered the cheese curds and arancini as appetizers. Both were tasty and the sauces were great. The smashburger and fries were really good too, and filling. Overall food was good but pricey. Guess you're paying for the downtown rooftop views with your food Our server was nice and attentive and my water glass was never empty.

1.1 mi•West Loop, Near West Side

Inside the rooftop bar and restaurant

Pink Moon Oysters* (Half Dozen)

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Jeppson's Malört

Au Cheval

4.4(9.6k reviews)

I read all the bad reviews before coming and... they were just hating, having a bad day, or have…read morenever eaten a burger before to be an objective judge! Because no way did we eat at the same place. WOW! It's only been a handful of times that I've had the urge to write a review while I'm still eating because of how amazing the experience is. The ambiance is bustling and will FOR SURE keep you awake as you fill your belly. And the burger? It's not just a burger, it's culinary art and a full on flavor experience. I was full well before my plate was empty, but I simply could not imagine reheating any part of it later. The egg was cooked to sunny-side perfection, and every bite was ridiculous. It's bar-style, so the fries came out first, hot and paired with a garlic aioli that absolutely did what it needed to do. Everyone moves with purpose. The food, the service, the atmosphere--this place is a well-oiled machine of greatness. 1000/10. Will absolutely be back.

The reservation system is up! Making it SO MUCH easier to get a table and get food, so definitely…read moretake advantage of that or be prepared to wait for a while. So the burgers are worth the hype! 5/5 A single is two smash patties, definitely get the bacon and the egg on top of the burger because that what makes it amazing!! So don't skip on it! The bacon is truly the highlight, as most will tell you, not too chewy but a melt in your mouth thick cut bacon! Burger was cooked perfectly to order and The only thing that was a disappointment was the fries. Just not that great, not enough salt, but also the texture was off. Not worth the $8 2/5 Overall, it was a great experiment and I'd totally recommend you trying!

Beers

Single Cheeseburger

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Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

Gretel

4.5(487 reviews)

4.6 mi•Logan Square

One of my favorite local restaurants and definitely a sleeper that I like to gatekeep. I've been…read moremany times over the years and they never disappoint. Delicious food, friendly service, and always leaving me to come back for more. Their sides are just as good as their main entrees...! My favorite is their fried chicken sandwich. They make a mean mac and cheese, and their fries are so crispy and yummy.

I've heard a lot of great things about Gretel so I was excited to finally try it! This review is…read morereally for 4.5 stars! We ordered a smorgasbord of items including the (infamous) burger (which lived up to the hype!), steak frites, and Mac and cheese and mashed potato sides. We also ordered a mocktail, something lime and coconut ish, which was truly outstanding. All the food was SO good, and the portions were really big which surprised (and delighted!) us. The server was very nice, perhaps not the most bubbly, but she was extremely accommodating regarding a dietary restriction which we appreciated. She was understanding and validating, which went a long way with us! This is such a great neighborhood spot with a menu so varied, there's something for everyone. Can't wait to return and try some ramen on a fall night soon!

1.0 mi•River North, Near North Side

Flowers

Outstanding butter & brine oysters from portsmouth maine

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Beautiful italian orange wine with great minerality

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

4.6(3.6k reviews)

•$$$$

I decided to check out this place for a weekday dinner WITHOUT reservations. I knew that having…read morereservations would make dining easier but I didn't plan in advance. I arrived around 6PM for a table, I was told I could go to the bar for bar seating or get my name on the list and wait. So I went to the bar but surprisingly, there were couple other parties waiting at the bar for a seating too. We actually waited about 45 minutes at the bar for seating, and then I received a text an hour later that a table would be ready. Since I was already seated at the bar, I kept my bar seating and forgo the table. So you might be able to get a table seating if you get your name on the list for a weekday dinner. I have to admit this place felt very dim, it feels darker - I supposed that tis the ambiance of a nicer, upscale restaurant. However, I have to admit they are laxed on the dress code. I don't actually know if there's a dress code although a lot of people are in more business casual/dressy attire. I wasn't in anything dressy though and no one said anything. As for the food, I think it is delicious. So we ordered 2 different steak dishes - the bone in aged rib eye and the steak & frites. I love the pairing salt that comes with it, it really tops it off for the steaks. We also ordered sides -- sides do not come with the steaks, they are purchased separately. However, the creamed spinach and the truffle mac and cheese were amazingly delicious. I still remembered the deliciousness as I am writing this review. The sides definitely tops it off. I think they do an excellent job cooking the steak, I love that they already cut it perfectly for me. This is an excellent steak place, great sides. It can get a little busy/crowded, but service is also pretty good. I think the staff does a good job overall given the craziness of this place. It seems like it is always packed. I see people in their "work attire" come here for drinks too and possibly for a bite to eat. I would definitely recommend this place to others -- if you don't want to wait for a table, plan ahead and book a reservation ahead of time. But this place is "casual" enough for you to stop in to grab some food if you're willing to wait.

Came here for a weekend in Chicago, heard so many good things about it including my chicago local…read morefriends. It's a dark chicago pub looking place with dim lighting and mood lighting, making it look exactly like you'd imagine. We came for walk in at 4 and were told we could sit at the bar immediately or wait for a table. We chose to wait for a table because we weren't fully hungry yet, and got a callback at 5, perfect for us. We ordered the sourdough, crab avocado salad, dry aged ribeye, fried chicken, and mac and cheese. Sourdough: 10/10- ate the entire loaf before we even got the appetizers. Salad: 10/10- amazing flavor and unique. We usually never order salad but this sounded so unique and didn't disappoint - creamy, acidic, perfect appetizer. Fried Chicken: 8/10- above average fried chicken on mashed potatoes. Well spiced but nothing to write home about. Ribeye: 10/10- great steak and honestly not bad pricing. Great crust and flavor, would definitely recommend to split for 2 since it's big. Mac and Cheese: 4/10- pasta was not hot and was undercooked. I usually like al dente but this pasta was hard. It was barely cheesy and was like a alfredo sauce more than cheesy, and the crust on top was lukewarm and stagnant like it had been sitting there. Overall great experience but avoid the mac and cheese.

1.1 mi•River North, Near North Side

Inside Upstairs

Bone Marrow

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Waiting area and first floor dining

No Vacancy

4.5(182 reviews)

Went in on a bears/packers game day as a packers fan. This is a bears friendly establishment…read more Had a great time. The staff and patrons were all very good sports. I'll definitely come back because the food and drinks matched the energy.

If you're coming here for drinks, it's probably a great vibe, but if you're coming for food, I…read morewould recommend elsewhere. I want to preface my review with the positives, Londyn was our server & was truly so kind, thorough, and friendly. The restaurant itself is clean & all tables have clear views of the TVs on game days. Now for the room for improvement- the food was very underwhelming. Being from the Chicago area previously, I regularly advocate for the Chicago food scene, and this unfortunately did not meet those standards. We ordered the Brussels sprouts, buffalo cauliflower, wings, and sesame ginger salad: -Brussel sprouts: tasted like they weren't seasoned just air fried and drenched in balsamic dressing -Buffalo cauliflower: soggy, unseasoned, runny buffalo sauce -Wings: PERFECTLY CRISPY, but no flavor (we ordered lemon pepper & buffalo) -Sesame ginger salad: sloppy mix of vegetables tossed in an overly sweet sauce with no sesame or ginger flavor in sight If you're not going to eat, this is probably a great spot, but from a food standpoint, there is room for improvement.

Blackened Fresh Florida Grouper Sandwich

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Pigs in a Blanket

Ema

4.3(2k reviews)

1.1 mi•Near North Side

Ema is special…read more It's Mediterranean with a California twist. Everything is very flavorful and each bite is memorable The pumpkin hummus was really good. It tasted almost like a pumpkin pie filling The bhel hummus was great too. With a ton of toppings. It has a citrusy flavor which was really pleasant The baba ghanoush was also incredible. Super smoky and flavorful. The pita that comes with the dips are also incredible. They've got zatar sprinkled on top The Greek salad was great. Tomatoes feta and olives with cucumber The halloumi kebab was really good. I was so full at this point I couldn't eat much but it comes with a really spicy sauce that is outstanding and also perfectly cooked basmati rice

I first tried Ema back in 2022 when I visited Chicago for the first time to attend the Northcoast…read morefestival. For some reason, I overlooked reviewing it then, but I never forgot it, so I was ecstatic when I found out my company's annual offsite team dinner would be hosted at Ema. Our group of 35 was pretty large, so we were split up amongst several tables, but it was nice getting to chat in smaller groups. Our drink orders were taken not long after we were seated, and the food and bevvies started to arrive in short order. I got to try way more during my business trip than I did 4 years ago, but regardless, I noted the quality of food that was served remained consistent over the years. Highlights for me included the salmon, Greek village spread, pita bread, chocolate torte, and honey cake. The salmon was so mild and tender, the Greek village spread taster local and refreshing, and the pita bread was seasoned to perfection and hands down the best I've ever had. The desserts were a surprisingly delicious end to the meal. I didn't think I could stomach more food, but somehow I rallied. I don't even like chocolate that well, but the chocolate torte really hit the spot, and the honey cake was a new-to-me decadent dessert. It reminded me of the flavor of honey grahams but in cake form. I've never had anything quite like it and am really glad I got to try it. Coming back to Ema after 4 years was better than I expected. I love Mediterranean food, and after 5 total trips to Chicago, I must say Ema is so far my favorite restaurant here. I'm not easy to please, but Ema serves up some of the best this city has to offer.

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Ema tables and bar

Tuna & Watermelon* june 2026.

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Inside

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31 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Derrick L.

13 years ago

Tried this place for dinner a couple nights ago... I have loved them for breakfast, so i assumed dinner would be a success. I have no complaints... My party started with the squash croquettes, very soft and delicate... We than had the octopus and calamari, very fresh and properly cooked... Our entrees consisted of their signature skirt steak, the Meli burger, the neopolitan sandwich and the reuben. We eat sandwiches everywhere, but this beef and corn beef sandwiches are some of the best I have ever had. What made the beef sandwich was the giardiniera, the corn beef was even better with their special secret sauce as our server informed us. She said the chef is pretty hush, hush, on what he puts in his sauces. We didnt mind because it will make us keep coming back for more giardiniera and secret sauce. What made the night perfect was the desserts... We opted for the bread pudding and carrot cake desserts. To put it mildly it was ORGASMIC, my girlfriends couldn't get enough. The pancakes had an amazing light texture, the carrot cake french toast was flavorful, and a perfect combination with the maple gelato they served with it. Great experience, Fantastic food, Breathtaking desserts... read more

James C.

13 years ago

2 Stars for my hot waitress Otheriwse, this place is awful. I never write these but after such a bad experience I had to warn people. First the owner (or manager? fat man with greasy hair!) is a pig. eyed my girl up and down and kept coming over and touching her arm and shoulder. she was so uncomfortable. next the food. so gross. i don't know who the dinner chef is but he needs to head back to school. my pasta was covered in oil, my sister has a cilantro allergy and told the waiter, only to get a dish covered in it and my girlfriend ordered a pasta dish that had 2 noodles and the rest was sauce and vegetables. not okay. on a personal note, showing off bottles of booze and then telling us we have to buy down the steeet was shady. do they have a partnership with the wine bar? they must because there was no reason to refuse to serve us when they had a full bar all in all i would never return and caution anyone else from going. if sexual harrasment and undercooked, un seasoned food is your thing then please go. otherwise avoid. read more

Miranda M.

13 years ago

I have been a loyal Meli fan for years and must say that this location does not dissapoint. Went there on a Sunday and the place was jamming...There was about a ten minute wait which we did not mind. The place as i said was slammed but the it didnt seem to phase the staff. The bartender seemed to be reading while working which was a bit odd, but he must of had some time to kill. The food was AMAZING....I am guessing meli has been able to keep its consistency, or their chef is just that good. Speaking of chefs, those bread pudding pancakes are to die for...so soft tasteful and mouthwatering. Today we had the bread pudding pancakes, the biscuits and gravy (I have to say best i have had in years) and the breakfast burrito...What made this burrito was their salsa. It is not red like everywhere else, but a spicy green one... Our server was fantastic... Overall Meli is continuing its success.... Great job chef, and a shout out to the rest of the staff... See you again read more

Miranda A.

13 years ago

Never again. I went to this restaurant for dinner a few nights ago and will NEVER return. To begin, the food was extremely greasy and covered in oil. I ordered a reueben sandwich that was dripping when I picked it up and my husband had the gnocchi which, after he ate about half of it, revealed a puddle of grease. When I told our server he said that "Chef Lee is the best cook" and said he couldn't do anything about it. Seriously!? Then I got the chance to meet the owner. I think his name was Yani? He was too busy yelling loudly at his manager and drinking at the bar to truly pay attention or for me to actually catch his name. An overweight Greek man, he seemed to hate all of his staff and was so disrespectful it was hard to not want to speak up. Then he went on a tirade about women and putting them in their place. My husband had to hold me down. To summarize: greasy, disgusting food and an owner who hates his staff and women. DO NOT EAT HERE. EVER!! read more

Karlin L.

10 years ago

I really like the all-white table setting; the natural light; and the light fixtures.egg was cooked perfectly.it's swanky for breakfast; Â i guess i like my midwestern breakfast hole in the walls.it seems like a super fancy place; but it's really just a great casual location of my still reigning champ of breakfast foods.our server was very inattentive and not very friendly.i have a problem the coffee was very good but the waitress only poured me one cup and did not really acknowledge that my cup was empty i guess she was too busy(it was not busy).they are located next door to the blake hotel and the interior is definitely very well appointed and a little more formal than the original location.food came out staggered which always leads to the polite "no; please start eating before your food gets cold" by the person still waiting.do not get the corn beef hash benedict.my girlfriends and i had a beautiful night out. read more

Karen L.

2 years ago

"Meli Cafe: where breakfast dreams come true... mostly. Picture this: berry crepes bursting with berries like it's a fruit explosion in your mouth. But then, the smoked salmon Benedict rolls in and... well, let's just say it needs a pep talk from Flavor Town. Poached eggs playing hide and seek under poached? Not the best game plan. But fear not, the breakfast sandwich swoops in to save the day, especially on rye bread. Kudos to the waitstaff though, they're like breakfast superheroes. Greek yogurt with nuts? Absolute perfection. Now, about those prices... yes, they're up there, but so are the portions. Sharing is caring here, folks. Meli Cafe: where hits and misses meet in a breakfast battleground, but the victories are worth it." read more

Yiani M.

13 years ago

So the manager (who is easily 19-20) made it clear to me they do not have a liquor license and cannot serve but that we can bring in wine from the 7-11 down the street. So legal. However a full bar and others being served seem to discredit this. As did my 16 year old daughter ordering a vodka at the bar and being served by someone named Brody. So that was great.....greatly illegal Not that it matters given the blatant disrewgard for the law at this place but my well done steak was delivered medium with blood every where. Asking for a new one I was told the chef doesn't take orders back. So let's all hope he is sober and can read when you go in (which i highly caution against) read more

Mona L.

8 years ago

Overall, amazing food for, what I consider, a very good price! I've been here twice. I believe their menu changes day-to-day. My first experience was really great-- the hostess was very welcoming and explained the menu in great detail. It wasn't busy at all during my first brunch. The second time I visited for brunch I had pointed to a meal a passer-by had and the waiter order me the wrong meal. I don't hold it against her bc she offered to re-order but I didn't want to wait, so I was fine with what she accidentally ordered me and it tasted really great. Will definitely be visiting again. read more

Ramses G.

2 years ago

This cafe is a real gem! The food tasted incredibly fresh and was cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of seasoning. What's even better is that it's all reasonably priced. The staff were also very friendly and welcoming, which always adds to the experience. I had the 10 oz steak with hash browns, and it was absolutely delicious. We also couldn't resist trying the creme brulee French toast, and wow - it was amazing! If you're in the area and looking for a fantastic spot for breakfast, I highly recommend checking this place out. read more

B K.

168

300

585

13 years ago

I was going to go with 4 stars, since the food was fairly solid, but then I realized the bill was a bit much and therefore it's a pretty bad value. Then, I compared this one to the Halsted location and realized the Halsted location was a much better value, better menu and equally as tasty. However, the reason I dropped this to two stars is because I looked at the dinner menu, which was plain to begin with, but when I saw an entree of gumbo priced at $29, I said wtf. No really, wtf are you smoking? read more

Miguel J.

11 years ago

This place is amazing! Ari, is amazing and we ate here 6 times, lunch, breakfast, and late dinner, all with excellent service, consistently spot on food, and bar drinks including said pressed juices at a discounted price compared to hipster shitholes. Relatively stuck up clown free, and the eastern european waitresses make the place a fresh of unpretentious deliciousness, boo to the hipster American clowns who gave this place bad reviews for service, go eat at Ihop you suburb creatures! read more

Amna K.

9 years ago

My cousin was in town and she loves brunch so we decided to go to Meli Cafe. Although it was crowded on late Saturday morning, it was well worth the wait! First off, I loved the omelets selection and the mocha coffee was delicious! We shared sweet cobbler crepe as well and it was to die for! If you are a brunch fan like me or want a fun place to bring an out of town guest, Meli Cafe should be on your list!! read more

Jamie M.

3 years ago

Delicious!! We ordered the breakfast tacos and the breakfast sandwich, both with hash browns. So much flavor!!! And the portions are HUGE. We sat outside and we it was just a lovely experience. Our server was pleasant and the busser was absolutely on top of the water refills. There are a ton of spots to eat breakfast in this area, but we're remembering Meli Cafe! We can't wait to come back. read more

Rose S.

7 years ago

Superior food, and abundant also.Very pleasant atmosphere and good service. I had the veggie omelet and coffee. Both were excellent, just the right mix of veggies and feta. And plenty of it, too. It comes with hash browns that were also excellent.Coffee was likewise a delight.It is not a cheap breakfast but if you are hungry it is a good value. read more

Catherine S.

10 years ago

Very good spot for Sunday brunch with a huge selection on the menu. The service is good and the food, at least the Chicken and Waffles was very tasty! If you are in Chicago visiting or a full-time resident, give Meli Cafe a try!! read more

Ralph A.

142

8 years ago

A great place to dine downtown, I love their breakfast specials. Love the prices, so affordable. The portions were pretty nice. Service is quite impersonal. The location is just perfect. read more

Courtney S.

7 years ago

Terrible customer service at our table . I looked around to check and see if it was anyone else receiving the service I did and it wasn't . I will never visit here again . read more

Miguel M.

8 years ago

I waited over 10 minutes in a restaurant that had a handful of people in it. Never got waited on. Only got the menu. Food is good here, but the service leaves you wanting. read more

Joy B.

10 years ago

Oh Em Gee!!!! Everything was delish! From the MudPuppy porter to the Chicken and Waffles, everything was unbelievably tasty. Definitely coming back. read more

Mike M.

125

13 years ago

Love the new location! This is a great place to eat. Prices are a little high, but service is good and food is great!

Meli Cafe - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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(2.9k reviews)

We enjoyed Yolk so much, we went back twice! The servers were attentive and welcoming, and the food…read morewas fresh and flavorful both times. The kids loved their meals and the hot chocolate was such a hit they enjoyed it each visit! Definitely a must-try spot when you're in the Chi. Great food, great service, and clearly good enough for a repeat visit!

We stopped by The Yolk for breakfast, and the avocado toast was easily the best thing we had. It…read morewas fresh, flavorful, and definitely the highlight of the meal. We also ordered lox and eggs, but unfortunately, the lox came cooked into the eggs, which was not what we expected and was pretty unpleasant. Another thing to note is that The Yolk does not serve alcohol. If you want mimosas, you have to go next door to purchase your own bottle of prosecco, and they'll provide the juice. Overall, the avocado toast was great, but the lox and eggs and lack of alcohol options especially when we were on vacation were disappointing.

NiX Restaurant

4.0

(20 reviews)

Restaurant is amazing with some of the best service I've had in years. They were so accomodating…read moreand hospitable. Food was always fresh and flavorful. We had breakfast and lunch here!! Located in the Millenium knickerbocker hotel right in the heart of downtown chicago. Me and my daughters enjoyed our stay there partly due to this restaurant !

Breakfast this morning was excellent. The poached eggs plate contained a yummy made in house…read moretomotillo sauce over perfectly cooked jammy eggs. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Definately the place to go if your in the neighborhood.

Pittsfield Cafe

3.9

(935 reviews)

Good food, generous portions, quick service. Loved the breakfast sausage links. Small tables…read morethough. Table of 4 was tight.

My younger daughter and i had lunch here on the recommendation of a walking tour guide from the…read moreCAC. Just happened to be walking by it on our way to the Field Museum and were wondering where we would eat, so we stopped in. Quaint little place inside the Pittsfield building. We were greeted and seated promptly. Decent sized menu and they serve breakfast all day, so it worked out well for us. I'm not a breakfast person, so i ordered the Pastrami sandwich, but my daughter ordered pancakes w/strawberries and sausage. Food came up quickly and it was good. We ate every morsel on both of our plate. Service was good as well. We'd return.

The Spoke & Bird

3.5

(604 reviews)

I really liked dining on The Spoke & Bird's patio. The outdoor space is huge and is dog-friendly,…read moreso I had a great time catching up with my friend and our dogs. They even have an entire dog menu with treats like beef patties and pup cups. They have QR codes to order at the tables, but ours didn't work, so we had to track down a server. The menu is expansive, but stuff sells out quickly. Our server was nice, but a few things in our order were wrong. She never came back to the table though, so we just went with it. I really enjoyed their seasonal coconut lime overnight oats. I wasn't sure what to think about lime in my oatmeal, but it was delicious! I had ordered a London Fog, but ended up with an iced latte. It wasn't what I ordered, but I still thought it was good. Overall, I'd come back here again since I appreciate that it is dog friendly.

I often stop by this place for a morning BLT, and it never disappoints. Quick, easy, and the food…read morealways feels like it's made with quality ingredients. I definitely won't be stopping my visits here anytime soon.

State and Lake Chicago Tavern

3.5

(636 reviews)

Service was great Got the buttermilk pancakes with…read morestrawberries. All fresh and delicious. Would definitely come back.

We stopped by State and Lake Tavern and had an okay experience overall. Service was a little slow,…read moreand when we first arrived, I actually had to ask if they were open. I ordered the turkey club, which was decent, although the fries weren't very hot. On the plus side, the beer was nice and cold! Overall, it was an okay meal, the service was attentive and timely. But it took a long time for the kitchen to prepare a sandwich with an empty dining room.

Midland Social Club

4.0

(18 reviews)

Bartenders were nice and friendly, food was good- nothing out of the ordinary. Space is cool and…read moremodern, bar surface was lit up and fun chandeliers and funky couches.

Absolutely stunning set up and decor. Very esthetically pleasing to the eye…read more Although, servers were very attentive, breakfast was a hard choice. Pancakes or french toast. How do I choose? It always works out, I chose the brioche french toast which came with sliced pears, orange liquor syrup, whipped citrus mascarpone, candied almonds and a sprinkle of granola. It was a tasty, textural mouthful. My friend chose the ricotta pancakes; with bruleed banana cream, peanut butter powder and oat nut streusel. It was different, glad I chose the french toast. Bacon and orange juice was also good. I did make the server aware that one of my slices of french toast was burnt and tucked neatly under a slice that wasn't. She said she would let the kitchen know. I am interested in returning for happy hour to try drinks and appetizers.

Apolonia

4.4

(346 reviews)

Apolonia absolutely deserves 5 stars for the brunch service. My daughter and I were looking for…read morebreakfast around 11:00 this past Sunday, only to find many places ended breakfast before that. Apologies was nearby our hotel, the Marriott Marquis. We started with a cappuccino and an O.J. Both were perfect and my daughter commented that it tasted like they had just fresh squeezed the oranges moments ago. We considered ordering the pastry tower, but instead opted to share three dishes. It eneded up being more food than we could finish. Portion sizes were big, especially for the quality and price. We shared 1 savory and 2 sweet dishes: the banana business croissant, the warm cinnamon roll, and the fritatta Espinosa. Each one completely impressed us and we're so delicious. We told the server we couldn't belive they were both baking high end pastries like this and preparing amazing savory dishes. Overall, our service was quick and friendly. The room was clean, spacious and modern. If I visit Chicago again from the East Coast, I would happily visit Apolonia again. I would love to try some of the brunch drinks and more items.

We were looking for somewhere to get dinner before a concert at Soldier Field and I'd had this…read moreplace bookmarked (mostly for their pastries which we didn't try but I liked this meal enough to go back and try those things). They were really fast and good at getting us out super promptly, which was appreciated. I didn't take a photo of everything we ate so I don't remember all of what we ordered. The food was good but a four stars because some items were really delicious (the black truffle bread and mussels toast for example, maybe some of the pastas) but some of the items were just fine (e.g., red prawn carpaccio). If Yelp did fractional stars, I'd probably do a 4.5 or 4.25, but because the food is more expensive I expect every dish to be more impressive. I found the pistachio dessert that a lot of people mentioned in the reviews to be underwhelming although fun to look at (however what I care about is taste).

Current

3.3

(73 reviews)

I'm staying at the hotel attached to the Current in the midst of this pandemic, and was starving so…read morejust came down for a snack and a drink. Staff was so so sweet--admitted they'd JUST reopened and were still familiarizing themselves with the new menu but friendly and talkative and made recommendations and even people-watched with me with things were slow.. Katie was my server. They also laughed at my jokes, which I'm pretty sure they felt obligated to do, but nonetheless this also made me happy. So I ordered the cheese and charcuterie board--and let me tell you, I will dream about this for the rest of my life. I wish I thought to take a picture before I consumed everything, but too late. The attached picture is just the remnants. A small toasted loaf, dates, small dill pickles hung out on one plate. The main plate had two different thin cuts of meat rolled up and three distinct types of cheeses. Also don't ask me what kind they were, because I couldn't tell you, but they were amazing and one was sharp and one was creamy and one was a little sweet and they all made me very happy! And then it came with three different toppings. An actual piece of honeycomb, which was amazing and probably pissed off a lot of bees, and two types of spicy/savory sweet jellies. So I just started exploring and mixing the sharp cheese with the sweet honey and the soft bread with a slice of the thin cut meat...The people walking by looked at me weird when they heard me moaning, but it was totally worth it. My drink was refilled before I even needed to ask, Katie came by several times to check on me and I tried to share a piece of the meat with a miniature dachshund wandering past but he wisely looked askance of the strange lady trying to bribe him with meat in exchange for pets (hey--it works for my husband--dont judge. You should see what he'd do for beef jerky. My husband. Not the dog) All in all, a perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon in Chicago with a great staff and fantastic food!!

The waiter for breakfast time (Asian male) is inattentive and slow to provide service. My family…read moreand I stayed at the hotel and 3 days in a row his service for breakfast time was extremely poor. This is to the point that on one day, we had a 1 hour time limit for breakfast, which is pretty standard I'd say, but the seating alone took 15 minutes and taking food order took another 15. We ended up having 10 minutes to eat on a one hour time allowance. Unfortunately cannot recommend if staying at the hotel due to poor timing and bad service.

Cafe On Oak

3.5

(24 reviews)

The best part about this place is how unique it is inside. It's got a bit of an old time feel, but…read moreit's clean and well-lit. It's inside the Drake Hotel. Depending where you sit, you can see a bit of the water. The menu is a bit pricey. $7 for coffee?! I am not a big eater so I opted for the breakfast sandwich at $12. The MM x JD Benedict dish was pretty amazing. Loved the two options and my husband said it tasted good. Our server was attentive and helpful, even filling my reusable water bottle with ice and water before we left.

When making a reservation at The Drake Hotel I made one with Breakfast included. Upon check in we…read morewere told the breakfast could be done at any of the restaurants in the hotel taking 15$ off each of our bills. We went to Cafe on Oak for our breakfast because they had what was pretty basic American fare. I ordered the Belgian Waffle and Iced tea. The Belgian Waffle was four small waffles. They were over cooked and dense. Husband got an omelette with ham, bacon and cheddar and a side of potatoes. His omelette was also over cooked and dry. Our breakfast with tip was 79$ So our reservation with breakfast included, cost an extra 50$ and the food was mediocre at best. The young man running around clearing tables and filling coffee was more than earning his pay. Our server never came back to check on us. Never got a tea refill once plates were dropped.

Hothouse

4.4

(34 reviews)