Carlos was the server of the big party we were part of today and he did a phenomenal job. The ambience was fun and lively and the whole restaurant sang happy birthday to my friend. The food exceptionally delicious. The steak was superb! My favorite!! Overall super delicious and tasty The coffee black had so much flavor even opens up more flavors when adding honey to it. No need for milk for m. read more

See all

Expect a long wait during prime dining times, but the food was worth it! Servers were friendly and food came out in a timely matter. I would love to come back and try other items on the menu read more

Stax Cafe - Prosciutto Avocado Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Never underestimate a delicious classic American breakfast. I came back to Chicago for a weekend to see a friend. I was a regular at Stax when I lived there before the Teachers' Union takeover. They have amazing orange juice! Strange to say, but never underestimate a good glass of orange juice. Their coffee was average diner coffee, which is ok! I'm not a coffee snob; there are enough of those around who frankly presume an erudition they don't possess. But it was a good cup of coffee. Now they have a really, really exceptional breakfast menu, but I walked in with the intention of ordering blueberry pancakes because that's what I had a taste for. I got them. They were excellent. They were a big stack of 3 big, fluffy pancakes with blueberry compote in the middle. My huge critique here is that they give you a shitload of little butter packets that you have to individually open up and slather on your pancakes. Come on, guys! Seriously? This is a frickin' diner! Give us a proper butter plate so that we can easily put butter on it. It looked ridiculous showing all the butter wrappers on the table. They were good cakes...fluffy and flavorful. I woud recommend using a better maple syrup too. I also ordered their pork sausage. That was really exceptional. One order was two very large links of sausage which I shared with my dog. The service was good, and no regrets. Not exceptional, but never underestimate a good sturdy breakfast diner. read more

See all

This place is very cute and the food was actually pretty good! I got the Taylor street frittata and Dubai chocolate pancakes with it which were both very good! We also got French toast, but I didn't really like it because it felt too eggy for me. Overall, I actually really enjoyed the breakfast and will be back! read more

See all

Stax is where you go when you're looking for a great classic breakfast, large portions, all for a really good price. The service is always friendly and the food comes out fast! The restaurant has a fun ambiance and the decor makes you feel right at home. I love getting some chocolate chip pancakes with house potatoes on the side. No frills, just great food. read more

Stax Cafe - Chocolate Chip - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wowwww! Just got to Chicago and our friend suggested stax. What a lovely welcome because the Monte cristo waffle and coconut banana oatmeal pancakes were SO GOOD! The Dubai chocolate French toast was PHENOMENAL!! Don't miss it, as it was on special. Honorable mentions are the Bloody Mary, the amazing spiced up fries and the service was quick and pleasant. We will be back! read more

See all

Had the food delivered and was not disappointed at all. The strawberry orange juice was absolutely amazing. The mini order or pancakes was the perfect portion and the yogurt parfait was so huge, I ate it for lunch too. Great bang for your buck and everything was delicious! read more

First thing.....they do not accept substitutions! If you are someone who likes to mix things up this is not the place for you. The food itself was good and the portions were large. The server was exceptional which explains the 4 stars vs 3 stars. read more

See all

Everything was delicious,the staff was friendly,food was hot,the place was clean and fresh smelling.the ambiance was open with well lit. read more

Stax Cafe - Oatmeal waffles with apples - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Their pancakes are the absolute best!!! My friend's breakfast sandwich was also excellent! read more

Stax Cafe - Dubai chocolate pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent food and service. The omelette was so delicious and the pancakes were fluffy. The menu is massive, so it was hard to choose options. I will be coming back the next time I'm in town, to try more delicious items. read more

Stax Cafe - Mini Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Service was good, food was alright burger over cooked, pancakes were delicious and fluffy, ambiance is okay read more

Stax Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

the food was made fresh! All the food was deliciou! it's a bit expensive but so worth it!!The service was so good they were all bilingual!! it was very clean! The bathrooms smelt so good and clean! read more

Delicious food. Nice interior. Good coffee. A little bit of a wait but worth it. Service was friendly- ish lol. read more

Food and service was good and the ambiance was great! They sell drinks too just in case! read more

Stax Cafe - Disregard the message on the photo but the food was good those pancakes were massive. And the service was pretty fast as well - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a treat to find affordable diner style food in West Loop! We had a lovely visit from start to finish at this cute spot. The restaurant was packed and pleasantly chatty during brunch prime-time, but the wait moved quickly and we were seated within 20 minutes. The menu had a creative flair on the nostalgic diner breakfast we all know and love- we were all getting flustered trying to decide what to order! When game time for ordering came, I decided on the healthy start pancakes with a side of extra crispy bacon, while my friends ordered the avocado smashed breakfast sandwich and the veggie skillet. Everyone seemed to really like their dishes, but the pancakes were outstanding! Fluffy and moist, they were loaded with blueberries and perfectly complemented by the creamy yogurt and crunchy oat topping. The bacon was addictively crispy and everything came out piping hot. Cannot recommend Stax enough if you're in the mood for a good old-fashioned brunch with a twist! read more

See all

We saw this place literally waking down the street and decided to grab some food. It was a Sunday morning and it was definitely packed inside. There's tons of indoor and outdoor seating so it's perfect for a sunny day! The service was super quick and we were in and out of the restaurant in less than an hour, which was amazing! I got the Stax chopped salad and my friend got the honey ricotta French toast. The salad was truly one of the best I've ever had. There was lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, pickled onions, garbanzo beans, feta, and the yummiest dressing. It was SO FRESH! I hate when my salads taste anything less than straight of out a garden, and this one was just perfect. I also added grilled chicken on top and it seriously made for such a filling and delicious salad!! The French toast had a bunch of berries, ricotta, honey, and pistachios. I'm not a big fan of French toast but this one was a game changer. It was just the right amount of sweet which was complimented perfectly by the berries on top. The pistachio was such an incredible touch. I was in LOVE! If you guys ever see this place, please go inside and you will not be disappointed! Some of the best brunch food in the city, for sure! read more

Stax Cafe - Stax chopped salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

One of our favorite go to brunch spots especially after a busy night shift. The sriracha egg sandwich is my favorite thing. I love that you can add mini pancakes to your orders. (The mini pancakes are HUGE). Coffee is great and so is the service. Totally worth a try! read more

I wish I could give this place 10 stars. The service is phenomenal. We bought our 2.5 and 9 month old and they were very accommodating with seating. We loved how cute it is inside! Our food was sooooo good! I would definitely get the breakfast stitches sandwich everytime. I got the sauce on the side and forgot to take a picture. My husband got the starving student and my little guy got the pancakes and we had some to take home!Go here for amazing food and service! read more

Stax Cafe - Cutie pie pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The food is delicious!!! The breakfast tacos are full of flavor and the breakfast potatoes are spot on. I also had a side of 2 pancakes and they are fluffy, sweet, and a great treat. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because it's very loud inside and not a very ambient environment. read more

Stax Cafe - Mini Egg Tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

absolutely loved the food and ambiance here. everyone was super welcoming and friendly. waited about 10 minutes to be seated and got straight to ordering drinks. orange juice and coffee were very well made and the orange juice was super freshly squeezed. food- french toast 10/10 no complaints. right amount of sweetness and good choice of bread and just overall really good. breakfast burrito 10/10, was not expecting it to be this good. i loved it. the potatoes were also super seasoned. we will be back read more

See all

Food is full of flavor. The strawberry orange juice is a must try every time you visit. The only disappointing factor was how much the burrito had shrunk from the previous year. read more

In short: plentiful options, delicious food, friendly yet slow service. I've always enjoyed the food at Stax, something for every kind of brunch craving, from large portions of omelettes to delicious pancakes that are cooked just right. This time around, I tried to blend my savory with my sweet tooth, by getting a half stack of the "healthy" blueberry and yogurt oatmeal pancakes, and a side of the house potatoes. The pancakes were excellent, nice and fluffy with a textured exterior, with oats, honey, and greek yogurt the perfect topping. The potatoes, with a little help from some extra salt and pepper, were fresh and tasty, the peppers and onions a nice touch. I may have wanted my potatoes a bit crispier, but that's just preference. Both of these for $13 before tip? Where else are you going to get this fresh and well-executed a dish for that price, especially in the area. My server was super nice and friendly, and even offered the half portion of pancakes to kind of help me have it both ways. But, it was far from busy on a Friday morning, and from sitting down to getting my check, it was nearly 80 minutes. Now, I had nowhere to go on a relaxing day off, but that is a considerable amount of time for a solo brunch meal and payment. Overall, though, Stax remains in my rotation for delicious and varying brunch options. read more

Stax Cafe - Blueberry Oatmeal Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place was a great breakfast spot and we got seated right away during a busy Sunday brunch time. Parking is fairly limited during the busy hours but luckily got a spot within walking distance. The server was awesome and super informative. We ordered raspberry Nutella French toast, lemon ricotta pancakes, and lumberjack skillet. All of the food ended up coming within 15 minutes - very impressive! We absolutely loved the raspberry Nutella French toast - highly recommend! The server handed us our bill and even gave us a handshake at the end, very nice touch of service! read more

See all

Breakfast & Lunch options to fulfill every palate. Super pretty inside and a great place to have an informal meeting.

The food is AWESOME!! I always get the healthy start pancakes and they always hit every single time. The portions are generous, location is convenient, ambience is awesome, and service is wonderful. Bonus points for the Dubai chocolate pancakes!! read more

I've been to the UIC location but first time to the one near Grand Ave. Let's just say my experience was phenomenal. This cafe is bright, modern and spacious. It offers booth, table and outdoor patio seating (facing west). Staff are quick and aplenty so you won't be sitting with much of a wait. They have considerably large menu that makes it difficult to choose a dish. But across omlettes, sandwiches, mains, etc you really can't go wrong. I loved their Spanish Omelette which came with toast and house potatoes. All very good and what impressed me is that the waiter brought out condiments without asking. They are attentive and friendly! Thanks for a great meal ツ Note: Cafe closes @ 3pm. read more

While we were visiting Chicago over Easter weekend, we sought out a fun spot for Easter brunch. Stax Cafe seemed to get some solid reviews, so we gave it a shot. The host was super energetic and kind, and the whole spot was decked out in Easter decorations. The waitstaff started out super attentive and kind, but then just sort of disappeared. Every time we saw her, she was nice, but she was just gone for super long stretches of time. Not the worst by any means, but we likely would have ordered more drinks if she was around. And, there was really nobody there, which might be a telling sign for Easter Sunday brunch. In terms of food, the menu looked sooooo promising! I don't know if they were having an off day or what, but the food had virtually ZERO flavor. How do you serve up a Monte Cristo Waffle (buttermilk waffle sandwich with grilled ham & swiss, with raspberry preserves & over easy egg) and have no flavor? The preserves came through but the rest was just bland. Since we don't live in Chicago, there won't be an opportunity for redemption. read more

Service was friendly, coffee was good, my frittata was little bland but potatoes were delicious. Husband had the Spanish Harlem omelette which was delicious. Was a comfortable and cozy place for brunch after an early flight. read more

Oh sweet morning deliciousness. I've had a taste of your dishes and now I will never get over you. We were spending the weekend downtown and was looking for a classic Chicago weekend breakfast. You know what I'm talking about. We were in the loop and found that Stax was right off of the blue line - ridiculously easy to get to. We had amazing French toast, peppered steak and peanut butter chocolate pancakes. For me, the chocolate was too much - but that is more my weirdness of too much chocolate rather than the dish. If you're a chocoholic, get it! The second morning DH got a spicy morning dish while I went for the veggie omelet. I surprised myself my eating the whole damn thing! So ridiculously good! It was a lovely fall day so we sat outside but there's plenty of indoor eating as well. A cool relaxed vibe where I would gladly meet up with friends for a great weekend brunch. We showed up around 9 and were seated right away. By 10 there was definitely a wait. Happy eating! read more

See all

Fluffy waffles! Good variety on the menu. Kid friendly. It's gets very busy so be ready to get on the waitlist. The food came out fairly fast though for a party of 8 people. The Taylor street omelet tasted a bit odd and the portion seemed a tad small. They plated it so that roasted potatoes were surrounded the omelet so it looks big in the picture but it really wasn't. The side of sausages was a good - they give you 2 plump links. The side of fruit was good variety and good portion. Overall it was okay. I will admit I caught a cold from the place in the 1.5 hour I was there. I just felt myself getting sick from something there. Oddly my toddler and dad didn't get sick but just me. read more

Stax Cafe - Taylor street fritada - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here on a weekend and the wait was about 15/20 minutes, not too bad. I was skeptical about coming because the food just looks a little simple and basic, nothing too crazy. I wasn't too impressed but I wasn't disappointed either! read more

Stax Cafe - Omelette and diced potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A very cute brunch spot on the outskirts of downtown Chicago. For some sides, you have the option to choose between pancakes, toast, and waffles. I would personally choose the mini waffles because not only are they cute, but they are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside (especially if you eat them fresh). I came here for lunch on Monday and it was practically empty - I'm not sure if it's worth the wait if there was a huge line out the door. ..... VEGGIE SKILLET: 4/5 a very standard and solid skillet. doesn't say on the menu itself, but it also comes with two eggs on top. honestly, I primarily ordered this because I wanted mini waffles... MINI WAFFLES: 4/5 could be fluffier on the inside, but overall delicious and you have your choice between three to four different waffle flavors - ask your server as they may change it daily or seasonally read more

Stax Cafe - Mini waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Very cozy, bustling breakfast and lunch stop with unique items that you won't find anywhere else. "Adult" coffees with artisan design are very popular as are twisted breakfast items, like egg tacos. I got an "adult" cheese sandwich which was unbelievable and my wife got a chopped house salad that she fell in love with. Both of us would order what we got again. They close at 3 so you have to get in before the bell but it's well worth it. Parking is super easy and there were a lot of kids when we were there, so it's family friendly as well. read more

Food so good, service ok.. we went close to their closing time. Great spot for tourists like I was.

Lovely atmosphere, terrific service, and a really awesome menu that left me ready to revisit soon! We tried a few different pancakes including the chocolate peanut butter - awesome - plus the omelettes were expertly made and the potatoes were fresh with perfect texture (not dry or overdone by any stretch). Great coffee, and my partner's eggs Benedict slapped. Will visit again for sure and you should too! read more

The food options are delicious. Coffee is good. Nice ambiance. Parking a little tricky just allow yourself time to find Parking. Service is kind. Nice neighborhood to go for a walk right after. read more

Cute little spot in the corner. They have a lot of options for breakfast and lunch. The service is great and the food comes out fast. We got the chilaquiles and honey ricotta French toast. Both were delicious. They have regular coffee or lattes which is great because most breakfast spots only have basic coffee. read more

Stax Cafe - Chilaquiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Stax was relatively dissapointing to me considering the good reviews and equal pricepoint to other restaurants. It is just not a good representation of the quality of food that you can get in Chicago. I had ordered a greasy breakfast wrap and black pepper bacon for takeout and the only thing that I really enjoyed were the included potatoes. The side of bacon that I paid for was absolutely terrible--far overseasoned and sold at an offensive pricepoint for what you get. This extended into the wrap somehow too. The bacon far overpowered the entire dish and I could not taste anything else, so I just put hot sauce on it and tried to get it down. After everything, I was still left hungry. I was not too happy with my coffee either, which was primarily why I had decided to order breakfast in the first place. Competitors will give you a larger cup for the same price and will prepare it how you ask. Maybe others will have a better experience than me, but I have had far better experiences elsewhere. read more

Stax Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A pretty standard, quick, casual brunch spot in the River West area! I tried the honey ricotta French toast which was a unique item and something I enjoyed. There was a little too much mint for my liking but would def recommend if you're looking for a sweeter brunch item. read more

Stax Cafe - Honey ricotta French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois