My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025! Restaurant: 43/50 Month tried: August Favorite dish: Pancakes, Veggie Sandwich I love this bright and happy cafe. Thought at first it was just a breakfast and lunch diner, but it turns out they have so much more than that including a full bar open into the night! My first visit, I had a veggie sandwich with caramelized onions that I absolutely loved. It was huge and messy and perfect. Second visit, I got chocolate chip pancakes, and no hate to our server, but we probably should have been warned that one order of pancakes feeds a small army. I literally got 3 days of breakfasts out of them. And I was happy about it because they were delicious!! Also, their london fog is crazy good. Now that I own a house in the neighborhood, I will be back here again and again and again. read more

More than a cafe, with table service and full meals this place appears to be more of a restaurant. 4 of us came her at 2:30 on a Sunday. I got a coffee, and a tofu buffalo wrap. My son got a milkshake and chocolate chip pancakes à la mode. He loved it all. My partner got the vegan sloppy Joe and fries and said it was "messy and good". It was good. read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - Milkshake - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow. I wish I had paid attention to our server's name, but she was outstanding! She was kind and friendly and gave us great service during our entire visit. My friend ordered the vegan banana nut French toast, and I got the vegan tostadas. They both came with a ton of food, all delicious! read more

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I got the Vegan Santa Fe Scram, with a vegan bagel. The pictured butter is vegan! Solid option, especially late at night. Each of the tables features unique, quirky art, and there are a ton of vegan and vegetable options. Severs were all super friendly, and they let me pay with Apple Pay when I realized I forgot my wallet. I don't think people *work* a ton here, but a few people had their laptops out while they were eating. But I don't think this is a place that's meant for working from home. There's Xfinity WiFi though, and I think they might have WiFi for customers, but I'm not sure. read more

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Rating: (3.5/5) Location: Pick Me Up Café - 4882 N Clark St, Chicago (Avondale) Finding a vegan-friendly brunch spot can be a challenge, but my friend and I had a great experience at Pick Me Up Café's new Avondale location. I'm cutting back on meat, and she's vegan, so we needed a place that worked for both of us. We hadn't been to Pick Me Up in years and decided to give it another try--glad we did! Right away, I appreciated that the artsy, 90s diner vibe from their old Belmont space is still alive here. The decor is fun and nostalgic, and the large tables make it feel just as inviting for a casual date as it does for a brunch with friends. We were helped by a few different staff members, all of whom were friendly and attentive. We started with drinks--I had a decaf coffee with honey and cream, and my friend ordered the spotted tea, which came as authentic loose-leaf. That detail made her really happy. For food, I went with two eggs and home fries (nicely seasoned with peppers and onions), turkey sausage patties as a meat alternative, and a side of apple cinnamon pancakes. I'm not usually a huge pancake person (shout out to Original House of Pancakes), but these were solid and the portion was huge--definitely meant to share. My friend ordered the vegan scrambler, which the kitchen kindly adjusted when she asked for the tofu to be scrambled a bit firmer. She was also happy with how accommodating they were. She tried the vegan French toast too--very tasty, but it came out in five massive slices that looked like half a loaf of bread! We both felt it would be nice if French toast or pancakes could be ordered as smaller side options. One small miss: even though she ordered vegan, the French toast was served with butter. Maybe it was vegan butter--but no one confirmed either way, and that kind of clarity really matters for vegan diners. Overall, our brunch was satisfying and relaxed. Most items are super shareable, so it's great for splitting with friends. We couldn't finish everything! While I wouldn't say the food blew us away flavor-wise, it was solid and hit the mark. I'd rate our experience a 3.5 out of 5. It's one of the more reliable, creative vegan-friendly brunch spots in the city, and I'd definitely go back. read more

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The MOST delicious breakfast and coffee drinks. My bacon benny was absolutely perfect with crispy chunks of bacon, perfectly poached eggs, and savory creamy hollandaise. Served with tons of crispy, fresh potatoes. Yum! So many things sounded good, it was hard to choose. A lovely spot with vegetarian and vegan options. Friendly service, Where's Waldo tables, just a lovely breakfast. read more

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The surprise sleeper of our trip to Chicago. I thought I was looking at three to four stars. I was wrong. * * * The Pick Me Up Cafe is a hippie cafe Uptown. It looks like every hippie cafe you have ever seen. The menu is the same as that of every hippie cafe you have ever seen. A lot of breakfast items. A stir fry or three. A bunch of healthy salads. Some carnivorous entrees along with the tofu items. A touch of Mexican for those who want Mexican and a touch of Asian for those who want Asian. A handful of sandwiches. These folks offer personal pizzas for those people who want personal pizzas. You could be in Ann Arbor, Michigan or the Research Triangle in North Carolina or Nowheresville, Vermont. You have eaten here a hundred times. * * * When I sat down at the Pick Me Up Cafe, I looked at the decor. I looked at the menu. It was deja vu all over again. My lovely wife wanted to eat here ... But if I could have snuck out, Gotten a hot dog or some dim sum and Snuck back in again, I would have certainly been tempted to try. My prison break would have been a bad idea. This place is outstanding. * * * Surprise One: Dishes are massive. This place can give Havana Harry's in Miami some serious competition for the most absolutely enormous servings in America. Hippie Cafes tend to give you restrained portions consistent with saving the planet. You are here to preserve our natural legacy of plant and animal life. Eat the small amount on your plate and then fill yourself up either with coffee or piety. On a particularly sanctimonious day, you do both. No need for ecologically minded austerities at Pick Me Up. Your plates will weigh two and a half tons You will weigh two and a half tons after you finish. The owners of Havana Harry's in Miami could probably finish their serving at Pick Me Up - but that is because they are world class professionals in the category of big meals. Samuel C. is a growing boy. He likes restaurants that allow him to grow even more. * * * Surprise Two: The cooking at Pick Me Up is Really Really Really Really Good. There are Hippie Cafes with good kitchens - but even allowing for that, Pick Me Up Cafe is a standout. The clear first prize winner was my wife's vegan tofu scramble. I couldn't keep my fork out of her plate - which was just as well since there was enough vegan tofu scramble there for three days worth of breakfast. I don't know what they stir fried the tofu in but the flavor was insane. (This was the second time this week I had had utterly irresistible tofu. JJ Thai's Street Food in West Town puts out an absolutely wicked Thai style fried tofu.) Even with my own massive plates, I was covering both of our meals. My own dish was vegan nachos with vegan chorizo for the protein. This should be awful. You eat this in a fashion model place in Santa Monica, it will be awful. It was INSANE. They had some provider of vegan chorizo that was an absolute worldbeater. This being a hippie cafe, no jalapeno slices out the can for this kitchen. The plate was drowning in freshly sliced jalapenos. These were superior jalapenos full of pepper flavor. (Yeah - they were what Mexican farmers call 'girl jalapenos', jalapenos bred to be mild for the American market.) But mild did NOT equal tasteless. They were like a better version of green peppers. And hot sauce easily solved the problem of adding fire. Plus the plate was massive. In my lifetime I have seen miniscule servings of nachos. The champion of small was one arty place in Western France that served me four - count em four - nacho chips. Each one was a) a perfect equilateral triangle with b) a perfect semicircle of refried beans on top of that, c) one perfectly circular canned jalapeno centered on top of that and d) a contrasting equilateral triangle of color coordinated melted yellow cheese underneath the beans. I didn't get a meal. But I could have wrapped up those nachos, taken them back to the states and sold those nachos to a gallery. They could have reasonably passed for a Josef Albers. I have seen huge servings of awful nachos. Cheapo bar dumps a whole bag of tortilla chips on a plate, dumps some stuff on top, runs it under the broiler and unloads it on the patron. At Pick Me Up, You get gigantic amounts of really really good nachos. I am not exaggerating to say my plate must have been at least half a foot high and stacked from end to end on a platter. There was also a salad. It was your basic nice fresh vegetable and homemade ranch dressing salad. With the proviso that the salad was about the size of the apartment building with our Airbnb. I am glad I got the small side salad. I suspect the full salad is the size of Cook County. They also do insane Peanut Lattes. I expect by now no reader of this review is surprised by that. * * * Overall, I have one and only one regret. I wish I had saved room for dessert. Life does have some limits. read more

I usually really love this place, but I was disappointed last night. I waited for a half hour for my food while all my friends got their food. I did not receive a discount. The food was delicious as always and the server was nice about it, but it was just not a great situation. Not the end of the world, just felt that I should share. I do not mean to be a Karen and I really do love this place! read more

This was my first visit to the café. It has a fun and funky vibe. My group of four were all happy with their meals. I opted for breakfast and selected veggies in an omelette, two slices of gluten-free bread and a side salad. It was a very good amount of food and I ended up bringing half of it home. It was tasty, the service was quick and the server was friendly. The other people in my group ordered soup and sandwiches. They were all very happy with their selections as well. I would recommend this place and would definitely go back again. read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - Inlet with veggies, gluten free bread and side salad. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall the experience was good. We had 2 vegan scrambles and a short stack of pancakes. While we appreciated the number of vegan breakfast options, they were just okay and the kahlua pancakes weren't all that special. Service and wait times were great. If we are ever back in the area, we'd go back for breakfast, but we probably wouldn't make a special trip. read more

Cozy little cafe on the Northside near Uptown and Edgewater. I'm already a big fan of this cafe that has delicious vegan forward breakfast entrees that really hit the spot. (Please note that I am not a vegan and they have non-vegan options). I had this delish vegan scramble that really filled me up! Service is great and they keep the coffee flowing. My friend and I had a longer business meeting and got to stay as long as we needed.. #vegan #breakfast #cafe read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This quaint cafe has great coffee and good food. I thought our waitress was gonna run her legs off - fast, courteous, and personable. My mocha royale was an indulgence I did not regret. Alongside my Clown Combo, a perfect carb overload. If you're expecting a bougie brunch spot, you'll be disappointed. But if you're expecting a want a cafe that's a notch above what you'd find on the corner, with great service and yummy food, this is your spot! read more

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The food's excellent but I'm curious if anyone else's allergies start acting up when they sit down. Not sure if it's their cleaning products or what's in the air but I sneeze every time I visit. read more

I've been going here for over 20 years. Ever since it was in Wrigleyville and just can't believe how much it changed. No one even said hello when I walked in the door. No one was friendly the entire time except the guy making the drinks. I got a sandwich that was just bread, turkey, and cheese, and it came out to $20.50 then the brownie seemed about half the sizes it normally was yet still the same price. I live in Pilsen and I usually love making the trip up to Andersonville, going to pick me up was always a treat. but with how everything went tonight, I think it's time. I just accept that it's never gonna be how it used to be. read more

The single best plate of pancakes I can remember. Dense, soft, yet perfectly crispy on the outside. Outrageously good.

The decor of this place is very eclectic. However don't let that stop you from trying some great tasty food. Cafe Americano 3/5: decent roast of coffee Cheeze fries ,: these are topped with vegan cheese. They were delicious and surprisingly I like the vegan cheese. 3.5/5 Buffalo tofu salad : 4/5 generous and huge portions of Buffalo tofu What kept this from being a 5 out of five was the amount of dressing they give you it could have been a little bit more. Everything was fresh. Peanut butter chocolate cake 5/5 all i am going to says is : get this cake!! You won't regret it if you like peanut butter and chocolate. read more

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We went yesterday for the second time. Our first visit was about a year ago and we left satisfied. That was not our experience yesterday however. The food was comparable to a 2am Denny's visit. I don't know how you screw up bbq chicken pizza, oh I know. Put half a pound of frozen rubbery chicken on two flour tortillas with greasy cheese and call it "pizza". I have zero clue how you screw up pancakes but they were the worst pancakes I've ever had. If you enjoy a mushy ball of flour these are for you. I've had better from a box bisquik's off a drug store shelf. We should have just stopped at the local Walgreens for dinner. The table was filthy and they gave us plastic cups to drink out of with soapy water on them. All of that for the low price of $70! Our waitress didn't seem to care one bit that we barely touched our food. Just a good old fashioned shagging without lube. Skip this disaster. read more

Was seated outside. The ambience was wonderful! I can't have dairy or soy, and the waitress was extremely accommodating and willing to go the extra mile to ask about it all. Even with my restrictions, there were still a good amount of things I could eat! There was even a chocolate peanut butter rice crispy treat that I could have. Would and will go again. :) read more

I was in the neighborhood and looking for someplace with free wi-fi. This place was nice enough. The light is very low, and it can be a bit noisy, depending on the crowd. This is one of those places where the booth seats are low compared to the tables, or maybe the tables are high compared to the seats. The food was okay. I thought it was maybe a tad overpriced. I just had a snack, and didn't really explore the menu fully. I'd go back. I'd like to see how it is on a different day at a different time, and maybe try something else. I just got cheese fries because I wanted something to nibble on, and they were okay. They use actual melted cheddar instead of sauce, which was good. read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - Cheese fries. It's not a sauce; it's cheddar melted over the fries. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pick me up cafe's name is exactly how the experience felt. You feel very welcomed and they treat you like you are family and want you to have the best experience possible. I will say I haven't had vegan pizza, nachos or a cake ever and I will say I was very pleased. Nachos are large enough that it could have been a meal on its own. If you try pick me up cafe you won't be disappointed! read more

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Cool hipster feeling and nearly vegetarian cafe. It has something for almost anyone's breakfast and lunch. Pick Me Up Cafe is one of the places that gets overlooked close to Andersonville on Clark Street. Mostly good prices considering the quality and how big the portions are. There's lots that's already vegan or can be modified to fit needs and preferences. After looking up the vegan places for breakfast, we came here. It's not totally a vegetarian restaurant, but they have lots of options. The breakfast menu is the main thing. It's full of things for everyone. The tofu scrambles are good for egg substitutes. It's about $11 for a meal. Plenty enough for meat eaters too. I got the Vegan Tofu Scramble. This is scrambled tofu mixed with cilantro, garlic, green peppers, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, red peppers, and tomatoes. Comes with choice of bread. Get a bagel or toast. Filling meal. She got the Vegan Pancakes. Big stack full and fluffy. This was good for not that much, cheaper than many other places with this kind of stuff. Go here at breakfast or at lunch. It also has lunch items such as sandwiches. There's plenty to get at any time for vegans and vegetarians. read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - Latte And Vegan Tofu Scramble - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great Customer Service and Very Clean Bathroom, Restaurant. The Nachos were Good but I prefer the Nachos at Chicago Dinner. Perfect Portion Size, and Affordable Pricing. I ordered Bottled Root-beer as well. The cheese had an after taste and I didn't like the chips. I love the salsa and fresh avocado on the nachos. The entire staff was very kind and much better welcoming vibe for dining in compared to Chicago Diner! read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - Nachos - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a great little diner. Breakfast all day. Nice people. Lots of options. Cute and laid back.

The best vegan pancakes I've had! But also the worst vegan Mac I've ever seen. It was soupy, and rotini. We told the server that was disgusting, and she said it's perfectly fine and would not take it back, so we deducted it from the tip. Worst customer service ever by that server. Everyone else was great. The food was borderline gross except for the pancakes. Soooo good. read more

This hybrid hipster cafe/diner was a highlight of a recent weekend in town. Fantastic breakfast and lunch selections, the portions are huge and the quality of the food is excellent. Lots of vegan selections and they are very accommodating at tailoring your dietary/allergy needs. They even serve cocktails. (and a sign acknowledging they do have malort) The 3-egg omelette was fluffy, huge and delicious with a generous portion of home fries on the side. Iced coffee rounded off a perfect breakfast. Also at the table was a grilled peach salad that was amazing. Topped off with chicken, it was meal in itself. Returned for lunch the next day. They were out of their shrimp ceviche special (which left me disappointed...but what 'diner' does shrimp ceviche??) The ranch chicken wrap was a generous portion. I'm glad I asked for a side of their wing sauce. It's a little different, on the smoky side. But a great accompaniment to the ranch. The pasta salad is amazing. Wheat spirals with red and green peppers, onions, and it a was phenomenal side. If the weather's nice, the al fresco tables are fantastic, even with a relatively busy sidewalk. The interior is eclectic, but the acoustics make it a bit loud when it's busy. That said, if the volume of conversation (a testament to how popular the food is) is the only knock on a place, it's worth trying out for yourself. read more

Love this little spot! Great menu with many veg and vegan items. We Love the cheese fries! Milkshakes are the best. They also serve alcohol and plenty of street parking out front. Kid friendly and kitchy decor. read more

I had an ok meal at Pick Me Up Cafe. I arrived at about 11:30 am on a Sunday and was quoted a 30 min wait for two people. It actually only took about 15 min to be seated! However, once we were seated, we waited another 15 min for a server to come to our table, and actually had to ask the hostess to send someone over. The food took about 30 min to arrive once we ordered. The iced coffee was good, and a bargain priced at $2.75! I had the tofu Benedict. I love eggs Benedict and was excited to try a vegan version. I have two complaints: 1. It came out cold and 2. The tofu was cubes (instead of scrambled or crumbled), which made it difficult to eat. There were a ton of peppers and tomatoes, and the sauce was good but not super flavorful. My friend had the Buffalo chicken wrap, which she said was tasty. The fries had seasoning on them. Free street parking out front on Sunday! read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - Tofu Benedict - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friends and I used to come here all the time back when they were in Lakeview. I've tried almost half of their menu. Everything's solid, but some items are better than others. My go-to is usually the veggie burger. My friend and I came to their new location on a Friday night and sat inside because outdoor seating was full. I got the chicken rub down which was great! That's probably my new go-to. My friend got the tofu wrap which she said she liked. Some pointers: the veggie chili is more like black bean soup, and the desserts sometimes look better than they taste. And the cheesecake is kinda weird. read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - Chicken Rub Down - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had lunch with a friend here. Great service. Great food. Had the vegan mozzarella sticks! Yummmmy. The gnocchi and pecan pie. The service was great and food was great read more

The food here is always top notch. Service is fast and friendly. Good place to sit outside and people watch.

I absolutely love pick me up café! It's a great spot both for getting together with friends and family or even a great spot to go for a solo homework date. They have great vegetarian and vegan options and a wide selection of drinks, including coffee beverages, as well as cocktails. read more

Looks like PMUC is still riding the rave reviews that it had from their previous location. We were so disappointed with our experience. My Benedict was dry and boring, wife's meal was almost too spicy to eat, and our last second add in of a short stack (due to no kids menu) did not arrive till after we had finished our meal. Considering the timing where there were not many diners a short stack should have been quick. When I asked our server where they were and if not started to cancel they claimed that they were almost ready, then took far longer than a hotcake to bake. Crazy part is a table that ordered 7 min after our late order got their full meals 5 min before we got our extra. Our server was far more busy with side work than serving it seemed. RE the new location, they tried but the old space was unique, quirky and fun. New, they tried but it is had to make a sterile box as much fun. Music was so loud too. read more

Huge menu selection at affordable prices for breakfast, lunch, and brunch. Two of my favorite things was the extensive amount of veg and vegan options as well as the tea selection- it was almost impossible to choose what tea I wanted because they all sounded so unique and scrumptious. I settled on a lox and bagel platter with a side of two eggs and a coconut almond green tea. The tea smelled divine as it steeped. Unfortunately, having arrived relatively early for brunch before the rush, was expecting service to be a bit speedier. However, our party of 2 waited over half an hour for our entrees. When served, my entree was completely cold, eggs over cooked (hard and fried, not medium as requested) and toasted bagel was cold as if never toasted. I only say this to inform that service could take a while and be sure to be patient. I could see everyone working hard, so kudos. I'll be back. There's so much more tea to try! Ps: they're open late! Til 10! And have bar/ alcohol offerings. read more

This place was great for brunch. We were able to walk in and get seated right away. The staff was suu it per friendly. Our server worked with me and my annoying dietary restrictions. Food was yum! read more

Okay sometimes the food quality changes a bit but we still go very consistently. Sometimes their specials are great especially in April. The shrimp poboy is bomb. Services can be spotty even usually ordering to go. It's a cute interior though and a nice brunch spot. read more

My review is based off customer service and the turn around time for food. Came for lunch arrived at 2:30 pm ordered food about 10 minutes in and waited over 40 minutes just for a appetizer. The utensils were not clean and the place is definitely under staffed. Waited over a hour for avocado toast and side salad which ended up taking to go. The server even offer a discount for the inconvenience. I don't understand the hype on Yelp but This place for sure is one to avoid as of today. Maybe years ago it was the go to spot but if you want to eat in a normal time span then ur better off ordering Uber eats then to dine in this place read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - Vegan chili cheese fries - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Our first time to the new location. It's a smaller than the old location but still had the eclectic feel. Our server was friendly and helpful with questions about drink selections. I ordered the candy cane pancakes and my husband ordered the vegan santa fe scram. Always love ordering whatever pancakes are on special and we usually split some of our food up. It's all delicious. read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

~Monica's T.A.S.T.E. Test~ Taste: I ordered the vegan benedict and added goat cheese as well as an almond milk latte. The benedict was AMAZING and didn't need the goat cheese to make it creamy and delicious. The flavors they create here are ridiculous and the veggies cooked perfectly. It came with potatoes which were good and crunchy. The latte really hit the spot and made the breakfast complete. Atmosphere: Lots of corners cut out for nooks of seating which made every table more intimate and the noise level low. That's pretty amazing considering it was very busy and the whole time we were there the wait was 15-30 minutes deep. The walls are full of decorations or cool paintings and they had a counter stuffed with traditional and vegan desserts. Service: Our waiter was very helpful and gave us time to order. We didnt feel rushed at all which is highly appreciated in a breakfast place where normally as soon as you get your food it comes with the check. Tab: While prices are stereotypical brunch prices, the flavor and portion it comes with is WELL worth it. Extra wow factor: They have the biggest selection of vegan, vegetarian, and traditional items with meat you could imagine. It allowed every diet in our group to have multiple choices. Does it pass the T.A.S.T.E test? Hands down top 3 favorite breakfast places in Chicago. I wish they were up in Evanston because I would go all the time! read more

Pick Me Up Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Meh. Cool art on the walls but not kid friendly. Food was good but not stellar. Service was pretty good. read more

Cute place with good food. Forgot what I had but it was a good sized portion and was delicious.