Oh yea, I can totally see why this spot is popular amongst Hyde Park folks! Friendly and helpful…read moreowners when I asked for recs. There's even a community board towards the bathroom, which gives this spot a community-based vibe. It's a quick, casual spot with several tables open for grabs when people leave. I got a traditional everything bagel w cream cheese to start the day, which had the RIGHT amt of cream cheese. Sometimes places give wayy too much, ruining the exp. I also ordered their popular Sumac Chicken sandwich on their Dutch Crunch bread, which was really good!! The bread had a slight sweetness to it that was satisfying and the flavors altogether were soo yummy. I waited ~12 min for my order, since they were rightfully packed. No outside food/drinks allowed if you're grabbing a table to eat. There's WiFi and a restroom in the back. Lots of neighborhood regulars. Bonus points that their food is halal for those w dietary restrictions. Great neighborhood spot!!

Stopped on a whim looking for a good local sandwich shop. The highlight was that bread was very…read moretasty and fresh. The Caesar salad was also flavorful. It had homemade croutons and sides of bread. Got a slice of the carrot cake and it was very moist. Not too sweet with cream cheese frosting. Raisins included, if that matters to you. We got the garlic chicken on French baguette. It was a creamy base and not something I would buy again. Glad we added cheese because there wasn't much to it. the other sandwich we bought was avocado turkey on Dutch crunch. It unfortunately had enough mayo to drown the restaurant. The amount of meat left much to be desired. We asked for chips which they had but only for online orders that came in. ??? Doesn't make sense to me. For 2 Sammie's, a salad and cake it was $45, just for a gauge of prices. The cashier was on the phone the entire time and couldn't hear what we said because of that. Kinda acted inconvenienced we were talking while he was on the phone. The restaurant is pretty chill and seemed like a workspace for people with art on the walls for sale. The art also had a thick layer of dust, and overall the dining room could use a good deep clean. The bathroom cleanliness was decent. This probably won't be another place I would seek out in the future.

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

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

First time at sweetgreen! It was a great experience! Hubby and I were in Woodlawn visiting family…read moreso we opted to hit Hyde Park for a bite to eat. He's been before but I hadn't. It's nice, clean and bright inside! We checked out the menu and I got the KBBQ Chicken Bowl and he had the Caesar Salad with tofu. Both were delicious! The young man who made our salads was real cool! Gave us great service!

A fantastic spot for a healthy lunch. I was visiting my best friend who lives near this location…read moreand needed a nourishing lunch option. It was so easy to walk here. There were plenty of indoor seating option available too. You are able to build your own bowl or order one of theirs. I decided to do the Harvest Bowl with a side of bread. The people who worked here were kind. My best friend and I ordered the same thing. I will say the bowls I saw other people get looked really delicious too. The natural lighting that flows into this space is very dreamy. I love how affordable the bowls are and how I had leftovers. I'd recommend coming here for a quick wholesome lunch.

Salmon burger is delicious . The sandwich is huge I could really split and eat. The jerk bowl is…read moregood as well but spicy .

I have been wanting to try Litehouse but could never decide on what I wanted to order. I ended up…read moregetting the Jerk Chicken Alfredo bowl with bell peppers added. The cashier was able to make recommendations and was super patient, which I appreciated. Our takeout order took about 15-20 minutes to make, but everything was fresh. You can also dine in as well, they do have seating and good music. We also got the Waffle Fries, Southwestern Bowl, and two strawberry lemonades. Total was about $50. I loved the Alfredo, it was super flavorful and I think would add even more things, plus a side of Alfredo sauce. The Southwestern bowl was good, but not as good as the Alfredo. I think it just depends on your preferences.

This place is great. It is small but really cozy with comfy chairs and a sofa. The food is made to…read moreride and absolutely delicious. The food can be made vegetarian or gluten free or with dairy and meat. You can order how you like. I highly recommend this place.

The service was great and the food was delicious. I enjoyed the Ambiance as I walked inside the…read morerestaurant.

This is the part where I wax poetic about how ill-designed dining is for solo diners, and how this…read moreis doubly if not quadruply true in Italian restaurants. I want to have the pasta, but this is meant to be shared amongst the table, not devoured by one person, but I digress. I walked in during what ended up being brunch, and while the regular menu was not technically available, the bar-server offered to ask the kitchen if I wanted something specific. That something was the Tuna Tartare, which the kitchen obliged (thank you very much). While a simple dish, it was executed supremely well. The olive oil was of such quality and robust flavor I asked the kitchen what brand they use, the avocado was at the peak of ripeness, and the house-made chips were oozing with homemade perfection. The fish was of high quality, and the ginger-orange gelatine added a subtle flavor and texture which was very unique, both as a flavor, but more so in execution! Now, to be fair, while this was not my favorite iteration of this dish, it doesn't take away from the quality and precision of execution. As my main, I ordered the Basil Pesto Brunch Gnocchi. The sauce was, true to form, very earthy, creamy, and basil-y without being overpowering. The gnocchi themselves were soft and pillowy, some of the best I'd had! The accoutrements of egg, sun-dried tomatoes, and mushrooms helped add new dimensions to the dish, adding those lightly meaty, acidic, and generally umami notes. The pork belly, meanwhile, was lost on me. Coming back to this review, I was frankly surprised they were included! Maybe this is me showing why I can't hack it as a professional, paid, restaurant critic, or maybe they were in fact, omitted. An area where Ascione Bistro shines is the service. The bar-server was friendly and attentive, and the food came out reasonably fast, especially since I could see into their kitchen, the pace of which reminds me of The Bear (don't worry, no yelling or profanity could be heard). Final verdict: Ascione appears to be a very busy spot, and for good reason. They have well executed, unique, and flavorful dishes, complemented by great service. If we pretend me not picking up on the pork belly is a 'me' issue, then the experience was flawless... except that I should have found more people to come with me, as the gnocchi loaded me with carbs, and I ended up taking half-ish home.

Ascione's kept popping up on GMaps, Resy and Yelp as a highly rated restaurant, so even though it…read morewas a 30 minute Uber ride, I decided to give it a try. The local area is very busy and the police presence is very obvious, so keep that in mind, but I'm glad I made the decision. The Hostess seated me immediately and took my drink order right away. My Server, Gaby, was quick and attentive so my Wedge Salad and Grilled Octopus was delivered to my table in record time considering how busy it was. The grilled octopus was perfectly cooked and flavored and the wedge was amazing. The only issue was that the wedge salad was so big I couldn't even finish it. To end the night I had a glass of Barolo and a slice of the "made-in-house" key lime pie. It was great and paired perfectly to complete the meal. I can definitely recommend Ascione's for a night out for dinner or a date night. It's not terribly loud and it's a relaxed vibe. I would also ask for Gaby, she is a great Server.

Stopped by here because we were waiting for a show to begin. It adjacent to the Medici Deli so I…read morewent through the wrong door initially. This place has a lot of personality: old wood finishes, "graffiti" on every reachable wall and sill. I wanted to follow the other reviews and get the calamari and the chili. The calamari was very good, but has a short shelf life. The chili was nice, but a little toothless. Also had the cubano which was rich in pickles which is always a plus. I guess, since it's claiming a deli in-residence, I'd try the deli sandwich specialities. I don't know when I can get out here next, but it looks like the pizza is supposed to be the next thing we try.

Unfortunately, our experience fell short of expectations. We accidentally spilled some water at the…read moretable and ended up cleaning it ourselves. Several staff members walked by and noticed, but no one offered assistance until I was finally able to get our server's attention. Our lemonade never arrived, and my meal came with pickles despite specifically requesting none. The food itself was underwhelming. We stopped in because we were already in the area, but it's not somewhere I'd go out of my way to visit again. The restaurant is in a college town, so it definitely has a younger, student-heavy crowd, but it is family friendly.

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

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

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

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

This is my first time having roti. I'm usually not a fan of Mediterranean food but this place…read morechanged it all for me. I got the skirt steak and brussels sprouts bowl. They ran out of the steamed brussels sprouts so they substituted it for the crispy brussels sprouts. It was a great choice! I substituted the white sauce for the green sauce. It added a whole different flavor to this meal. I'm sure it would've been better the other way too. The rice was cooked perfectly. The tomatoes complimented the skirt steak very well. The steak was nice juicy tender flavorful. The falafel was delicious as well. That was my first time having it. The flavor blew my mind. It tasted like a chicken tender. The service was good, very nice lady that took care of us. This establishment was very clean on the inside. Great area to walk to to get a quick bite to eat. I will definitely be coming back!

Really good and super quick service! The food was fresh and generous. Highly recommend for a quick…read morebite on the go!