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Food was so mid and service was slow. Honestly worse than a 3am Denny's experience. Too much good food in Chicago to waste on a place like this. Save your time and money and find somewhere else to eat.
Stopped in around 11ish on a Saturday morning. There was a 10 minute wait to get a table. Our waitress seemed pretty nice, but was incredibly busy so didn't have time to check on us often. They were pretty understaffed. Food also took a while to come and then we weren't checked on again until we flagged our waitress down to pay our check. The food was pretty good, but a bit overpriced for what it is. They also don't mention that the Coke products are cans (so no refills) instead of fountain. The pancakes were on the dense and chewy side and my friend got mini waffles with her meal and said they lacked flavor and had a weird texture. My omelette was delicious and perfectly cooked, the house potatoes were flavorful and very tasty. She also had bacon and eggs, which she said were pretty standard, but nothing special. She did say her iced latte was very good! They try to seem fancier than they are with cholula over franks, ketchup and syrup in cups, cans over drafts but overall I'd say this was diner breakfast for a fancier brunch price.
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
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.
I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area, the food was absolutely amazing. I ordered the Dubai choclate pancakes and expected them to be extremely sweet however it was very balanced. They were cooked perfectly and were so fluffy with plenty of chocolate both inside and on top. We had also ordered eggs and French toast which looked and tasted delicious. The latte here was just as enjoyable since it wasn't too bitter or too sweet. The service as well was really nice, our server was really sweet, attentive and very helpful. The tables were very clean and the place had a very peaceful vibe unlike many other diners. If you're in the area and want a warm & tasty meal, I would 100% recommend stopping by.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Everything was delicious,the staff was friendly,food was hot,the place was clean and fresh smelling.the ambiance was open with well lit.
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!
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.
3 months ago
12 days ago
Stax is a great quick breakfast spot after attending a nearby church. I had the lavender lemon pancakes and they were delicious. I love that they have fresh squeezed juices as well. read more
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
Stopped in around 11ish on a Saturday morning. There was a 10 minute wait to get a table. Our waitress seemed pretty nice, but was incredibly busy so didn't have time to check on us often. They were pretty understaffed. Food also took a while to come and then we weren't checked on again until we flagged our waitress down to pay our check. The food was pretty good, but a bit overpriced for what it is. They also don't mention that the Coke products are cans (so no refills) instead of fountain. The pancakes were on the dense and chewy side and my friend got mini waffles with her meal and said they lacked flavor and had a weird texture. My omelette was delicious and perfectly cooked, the house potatoes were flavorful and very tasty. She also had bacon and eggs, which she said were pretty standard, but nothing special. She did say her iced latte was very good! They try to seem fancier than they are with cholula over franks, ketchup and syrup in cups, cans over drafts but overall I'd say this was diner breakfast for a fancier brunch price. read more
8 months ago
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
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
4 months ago
I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area, the food was absolutely amazing. I ordered the Dubai choclate pancakes and expected them to be extremely sweet however it was very balanced. They were cooked perfectly and were so fluffy with plenty of chocolate both inside and on top. We had also ordered eggs and French toast which looked and tasted delicious. The latte here was just as enjoyable since it wasn't too bitter or too sweet. The service as well was really nice, our server was really sweet, attentive and very helpful. The tables were very clean and the place had a very peaceful vibe unlike many other diners. If you're in the area and want a warm & tasty meal, I would 100% recommend stopping by. read more
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
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
2 months ago
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
4 months ago
I got the oatmeal coconut banana pancakes and they were amazing!! They were light and fluffy. 10/10 recommend :) 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
3 months ago
1 year ago
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
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
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
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
3 years ago
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
10 months ago
Their pancakes are the absolute best!!! My friend's breakfast sandwich was also excellent! read more
10 months ago
Service was good, food was alright burger over cooked, pancakes were delicious and fluffy, ambiance is okay read more
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
1 year ago
2 years ago
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
1 year ago
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
3 years ago
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
1 year ago
9 months ago
5 years ago
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
4 years ago
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
4 years ago
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
2 years ago
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
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More info about Stax Cafe
522 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
River West, Noble Square, West Town
Directions
(312) 877-5055
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https://www.staxcafe.com
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Both locations have street parking and the spot directly in front are metered. If you do a bit of looking you can find a spot.
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7 reviews that are not currently recommended
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