Six years later and this place is still so good! They accommodated 7 of us and a baby quite nicely considering the place is tiny. We were able to make reservations too, which was very convenient. I built my own omelet with ham off the bone, spicy black beans, and jalapenos. On the side I got a biscuit, cheesy f'n grits and bacon. The bacon was meh though, nothing to write home about. Check them out though, for real. That biscuit is LIFE! read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Build your own with cheese grits and a side of bacon. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I guess the restaurant is being rehabbed. My experience was underwhelming! Ordered the grits the texture was great but they had a lot of salt. Replaced it with the home potatoes they tasted as they were sitting on the grill and served I received them within seconds this let me know they were not cooked fresh. I received a dirty coffee cup although the coffee was good. I did enjoy my eggs and country sausage.The biscuits I could take it or leave it.I have heard a lot of great things of this restaurant but I just didn't experience it. read more

This place is absolutely amazing! Great food & great service!! The owner is so kind & I appreciate taking the extra safety precautions. 10/10 recommend!! read more

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Great food, fast service with a smile! The eggs were fluffy and French toast was delicious!!!

This is a small cafe and if you do not want to wait in line you need to get there before 10 am on Sunday for brunch. The portions are big and that is nice if you want to share or have some leftovers for later. The staff is very friendly and they can help you if you do not know what you want, also try the special of the day. The hot chocolate and the caramel latte are very good. The only thing that I can complain about this place is that you will get out of there smelling frying food. I would recommend the Sweet Maple Special 2 eggs any style, with side of bacon or country sausage, home fries or grits, and your choice of biscuit or toast with bone-in ham or turkey sausage read more

Service is great! My son loves their biscuits. Their cinnamon roll pancakes are really good as well! read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Breakfast today was Way South Eggs - 2 eggs (I ordered mine poached) atop a corn tortilla topped with melted cheddar, swimming in black beans. Inside seating is currently closed due to COVID, but they have a nice patio and it was a pleasant place to eat on a warm spring morning. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a business meeting crack of dawn and we were literally the first customers to walk in the door....I had old fashioned oatmeal with fresh fruit, others had egg white omlette, steak and eggs. Old fashioned breakfast place nothing outstanding! read more

The food and atmosphere were great for brunch, classic diner meets dive space. And the service was great once we got seated. The only set back was the non reservation system of waiting in line. We waited over 30 mins to get a table, but once we did it was great. read more

Sweet Maple is always a guaranteed win! The biscuits are absolutely perfect. My favorite thing to order is the sausage gravy and biscuits with 2 eggs. It's the perfect breakfast! The only issue is the wait. You call, they say 20 min wait. You wait for 45 minutes. When you finally get a table, the others that are starving and staring at you! Go on a Wednesday. Weekends are too crowded!! read more

#BrunchStruggle ***I have NO issue waiting 10-15mins for a table seating two people. HOWEVER...I DO have an ISSUE when another patron comes in after me...asked if we were on the list...learns it would 20-25min wait for a table for two...& SEATED before us. #NeverWillReturnAgain #IbegNoBitchToTakeMyMoney read more

I used to love eating here, but had to stop going because they have very few gluten free options for breakfast. #sad

Sweet Maple Cafe is one of a few breakfast and brunch options on Taylor Street in the Little Italy neighborhood. However, it is the only one with an outsized reputation and bit of hype surrounding it. The big question that needs to be answered is whether or not the hype behind this local favorite is well earned or is it just that, hype? I am sorry to report that the hype is pretty much just hype. There is nothing too bad about Sweet Maple Cafe. It is, in fact, a charming little breakfast/brunch spot with that has good, but not great food. The last time I was there (I have been there a total of two times), my experience was so-so and the food was decent. First I will discuss the negatives. One, the service was just ok. My waitress was friendly and my food came out in a, more or less, acceptable time frame. However, points were lost for my initial experience. I entered the restaurant seeking to dine in. I waited behind a person getting a to go order for about 5-8 minuets. That, in and of itself, is not much of an issue, but when I approached the hostess, she told me there was no need for my wait. There should have been some sort of signage directing me that I could take my own seat or staff member should have seated me before my wait. Two, the menu, for a diner, is a bit limited. While they do have a few unique dishes (mostly fish sections), the overall options were limited. The typical diner has a huge array of menu items and a ton of different choices. Sweet Maple Cafe does not. Three, the decor is drab on uninteresting. The walls are beige and they remind me of a generic apartment paint job. On closer inspection, the walls are covered with a rustic wallpaper. However, the color of the wallpaper and the dim yellowish lighting give the restaurant's dining room a depressing feel. Decor is not the most important element of a restaurant, but it can definitely set the tone and mood. Sweet Maple Cafe is not without positives. Please do not get me wrong, this is not a bad restaurant, but it simply does not live up to the often lofty expectations and praise that I have so often seen heaped on it. One, the food was good (not great). I ordered a dish of breakfast potatoes (sorry I do not recall the name) with cheese and veggies. It was a good size and it me filled up. Two, it was a good value. My whole meal with tax and tip was under $11.00. For what I got, it was a great deal. As stated, Sweet Maple Cafe is not a bad restaurant, it just doesn't live up to all of hype surrounding it. I would never tell you to avoid it, but I will say this one of few places to have breakfast or Brunch in Little Italy and that you should adjust your expectations when when eating here. I would also recommend against waiting too long for a seat. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Sweet Maple Cafe is a hidden gem. The food was fresh although it didn't really stand out. I had the French toast and fried chicken breakfast sandwich. I could tell that everything was made in-house. The service was the best part. Will return to see what else they have to offer. read more

I've been coming to this cute little breakfast spot in little Italy for over 5 years now and I say it's stayed as sweet as ever! The French toast is to die for and you can't ever go wrong with their pancakes. And nothing hits the spot like a good hot chocolate. They offer to-go and though I really miss dining in (their staff is incredible), glad Sweet Maple has mapled it through the pandemic. Also... this place is black owned so I highly recommend going and supporting this place!! read more

Reasonable prices, generous portions, and fast service despite the long wait to get a table (especially fast refills on the coffee). I don't normally eat biscuits, but they were delicious here. This place is very crowded on the weekends and parking can be difficult. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Breakfast - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This charming cafe offers delicious fare for all dietary needs. I had the vegan omelette. The service was fast and friendly we got seated immediately. The ambience is also very warm and inviting. read more

I have seen people visiting this restaurant quite often in Instagram stories and I happen to go to this place recently with a friend. We went early morning, so the line was not that long. The decor of this place is absolutely beautiful. Food was good but nothing exceptional about it. Overall all is good. read more

Brunching at Sweet Maple Cafe on a Sunday morning was quite delicious! Seven adult and one not-so-adult diners had an 11am reservation (it seems they'll take them for larger parties!). Be careful which door you try to enter through though. Someone else was trying to enter the restaurant through the neighboring door and that wasn't really working for them. It's cozy inside with minimal decor. Their focus is on putting out homestyle food and they've got that down pat. The crew tried a little of everything - omelets, poached eggs, cheesy grits, buttermilk pancakes, biscuits and more. The buttermilk pancakes hit the table and their fantastic aroma wowed everyone! Pancakes were served with the butter and real maple syrup on the side. These were worth the trip. Their sweet milk biscuit was ginormous for what I thought was one serving. It was flakey and just right. The bacon was nothing to write about. Really it was just average bacon. I also had an Arnold Palmer that was served without enough ice and warm tea. That was sort of a miss. Service was good and no one rushed us along which was appreciated. We knew people were waiting and didn't intentionally linger, but we somehow missed the check hitting the table so we were probably there a little longer than they intended. Street parking was easy enough and free on Sundays. The cafe is easy to find which is good because I need to go back. I really want to try their chicken breakfast tacos with spicy black beans and a slice of carrot cake. Soon. I'll let you know how that goes. read more

Sweet Maple, Sweet Maple! Wow. How you blew me away. I knew you would when I stepped in your doors. I could feel the southern love that would come into my meal! I ordered one large OJ, one hot cider, a plate of bacon, and the special pancake of the day - cinnamon roll! Oh, those pancakes. It was so good. Love in my tummy for hours. This will be my go-to. My girl always gets sweet milk biscuits. I'm not a biscuit girl but many guests around us also had this plate. Looked good. Note, Only take one bill at the table. The location is small, so get there early and place your name down for seating. It was busy, so Sweet Maple knows how to get you right! read more

Oh my goodness. This place is a gem. I love love loved every bite. I ordered a custom omelet with Italian sausage, spinach, potatoes and mozzarella cheese. It came with a biscuit that tasted like a cornbread-biscuit hybrid and some potatoes. Delicious. Coffee hit the spot. Refills were on point. I came in and was waiting for friends. Tables were available working 20 minutes. Honestly the service is excellent. I only come to Chicago about once a month. I will definitely be bringing other friends here. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Omelet with potatoes. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A nice classic breakfast with the best homey ambiance. A neighborhood staple I've been going here since I was a kid and now I take my kids. My favorite is their hot chocolate. It's no fuss breakfast the tables are close and it's packed on busy days you may have to wait in line (standing) but the service is great they get you in and out and you leave happy and full. read more

Although this is my first check in, this is one of our favorite breakfast joints. We find the atmosphere to be warm and welcoming. The staff is super friendly. And the food is most delicious. There's always a crowd. We love the biscuits--get them! I'm having the salmon croquettes! Can't wait! read more

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Hands down my favorite breakfast spot ever. Their biscuits still dance in my dreams. The place is quaint but so worth the wait. Everytime Im in chicago, I have to stop atleast once. Portions are hearty and full of southern style love. It feels like youre eating at grandmas house. read more

I just love Sweet Maple. The food is always delish and the service is great. Depending on the day and time, there can be a wait as it is not a large restaurant. read more

We went there for breakfast today and we enjoyed it. It was our first time there, so we tried a variety of things. To start, our waitress was great. Just the perfect blend of patient and helpful. I wish I had gotten her name... one of the stars I'm giving is for the service. For food alone it'd be 3 stars. When we got there, we had to wait for about 5-10 minutes, which wasn't bad at all. The restaurant itself is a small place. Food-wise vegetarian breakfast options were somewhat limited. Pancakes are on the menu so that's the main thing. They pancakes we're good. One order comes with two pancakes. Big ones. Also tried some breakfast tacos. They were pretty good too. I liked the seasoned black beans. We upgraded the home fries that came with the tacos to be pick a pepper fries, which was good, because otherwise we would've had way too many. I don't know why they don't have bagels, but I some toast instead. Oh, and coffee. It was fine. The waitress kept refills coming for me and even offered me some to go. I recommend sweet maple. Thanks for a great breakfast experience. read more

Small business but Food was great...veggie omelette was a hit...potatoes were well seasoned...no indoor dining but they did have dining on their patio... read more

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This is a ok place. I order the pancakes which were rather large And was a small amount of syrup and if I wanted more had to pay. Don't like being nicked and dimed. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Needed a little more - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not fancy at all, but fresh and DELICIOUS breakfast food!! Friendly customers, friendly staff. Had omelettes, delicious toast, yummy pancakes and fresh OJ. Can't wait to go back! read more

If I ever come back to Chicago this is a spot that I know I have to come back to! The person who carried herself as the owner (not sure if she was or not) was kind and thoughtful. I got white hot chocolate and the maple Opolis omelette and damn that was to die for. I had various versions of home fries but the ones here are phenomenal! The onions in them make every bite worth stuffing your face. My friend got the cinnamon pancakes that the waiter recommended and I say even though you are full get that shit! The fluffiest mouth watering pancakes. You would think it would be too sweet or sugary but that wasn't the case. Definitely would come back to some delicious food and warm vibes here. read more

As usual, crowded....but that's because it's good food..great owner, good service...excellent establishment read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Their egg and cheese biscuit helped me get through the pandemic! Wonderful place on Taylor Street for breakfast or brunch.

A throwback breakfast and brunch joint that transports you to grandmas house if you were a kid 50 years ago. The inside feels like a large living room from another era. I love this vibe here. Food is high quality. Breakfast portions are massive. I usually get a three egg omelette that comes with a choice of bread and side. I get the house fries (DELICIOUS) and white toast. Their hot chocolate is also a favorite of mine - probably because it comes in a tall glass with LOADS of whipped cream :D Taking a star off because they have a strict policy of one credit card per table and for some reason you must add tip before you pay... WEIRD. Also sometimes their coffee is cold. Sweet Maple Cafe, with just a little effort you can become a 5 star spot for me. Its not big things to change. But the choice is yours... and yours alone. For now i'm enjoying myself. P.S. = Free Parking across the street read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went to Sweet Maples years ago and it was AMAZING. We went this morning and ummmm here's my updated review. My how things have changed. The cooks in the back are...different. The unseasoned food, the girl walking around like she was trying to hurry people up to finish their food, the biscuits were dry and they were cold, the eggs weren't medium scrambled, they were runny... we decided to try the pork chops. I don't eat pork chops but they "sounded good". Well, they weren't. Hubby enjoyed the pumpkin spice pancake but they gave him a very small amount of syrup in a plastic take our container and said it was extra to get extra syrup. A total waste of $50. read more

The most consistent restaurant in the city! Very charming & good food & service. The ambience feels like grandma's house in the country.

Well, I will say I would like this place so much better if the food came out hot instead of warm, I really don't like warm potatoes. I like my catfish hot but something happened and we're not sure what it was but we think it was the apple cider my buddy that I went to breakfast with today got sick And was regurgitating all his food and he believes it was from the cider. We had to make note that the glass was cracked and we let the waitress know that the glass cup that the cider came in was cracked but I didn't get sick and we had basically the same thing he had eggs and I had grits with home fries, and catfish and multigrain bread and I did say the water tasted funny because I have learned that too get water with ice because a lot of restaurants don't do well with ice and he did drink all his water which did have ice so I don't know but I said we won't go back for a while maybe about a year and like I said, I really do enjoy my food hot !!!!!! Not warm when it comes out read more

Yummy brunch spot! I usually come for there cinnamon roll pancakes, but I just learned they discontinued them so I tried a few new things. I ordered apple pancakes with Texas style potatoes on the side. It was alright. read more

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Highly recommended place, and it's near 5 star rating agrees. Being from out of town, it's definitely a hole-in-the-wall kind of place, with a Chicago feel. We are giving three starts because when we walked in we were told there was a 5min wait. No big deal. 20min roll by and a larger party enters behind and were then sat with 5 min, ahead of us. Food was out of this world fantastic! Our waitress was friendly and attentive. 5-Star recommend as long as you have extra time to spare. read more

Ordered takeout from here and everything was delicious. I got the blueberry pancakes, turkey sausage patties, and scrambled eggs. I would order from here again when I'm in the area! read more

The waitress and the service that was provided was great! The pancakes did not taste like the same recipe in years past. I was disappointed. read more