I knew this was the right choice when I sat down and saw Dickinson's jam packets on the table. The thrills only continued from there. Fresh squeezed orange juice! Fresh squeezed lemonade, with only enough sugar to make it perfect. Friendly, cheerful service. I had a simple three-cheese omelet with home fries and a biscuit. I never order biscuits, but I was emboldened by their great taste in jam. I made exactly the right choice: I slathered, then bit into that huge, soft, pillowy scratch-made wonder, and I wanted to get one to go so I could lie down on it and take a nap. It was so good. The food I tried was terrific, the staff terrific, and it was clearly a local hit. There was a constant slow stream of patrons, with neither an empty table nor more than two parties waiting at the door. I am moving to Chicago, and I will become a regular. read more

My fiancé and I had a rare weekday off so we decided to celebrate with brunch at Sweet Maple Cafe. This was our first time there (and definitely won't be the last!). For COVID precautions, dining is currently all outdoors with disposable bowls and utensils. We ordered our food at the window outside and since seats are first come first serve, we had to wait a bit before a table cleared up. This place is very popular, so the wait time was a bit long and uncomfortable, but the staff were quick to clear up and disinfect the tables between each customer, which was really nice! We ordered a French toast as well as the 18th street to share, and we were very impressed by both dishes! The French toast is made from challah, which adds a beautiful fluffiness and slight sweetness to the French toast. Their 18th street had the perfect amount of salt and umami, without feeling too heavy or overpowering. The spicy chorizo sausages added a nice kick and I appreciated that it also came with a free biscuit! Price-wise, it's hard to beat! Overall, we were really impressed by the food and will be coming back to try the rest of their menu! read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Holiday French Toast - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Years ago I went to Sweet Maple for the first time and after finishing breakfast, I understood why it was always so busy. Fast forward to the present a d the same observation holds true. This breakfast spot is gold. I had pancakes, eggs scrambled well with fontina cheese, and Turkey sausage. The pancakes were substantial in size but fluffy. And unlike pancakes at a lot of restaurants, they didn't get cold as soon as they were brought to the table. Trying my eggs scrambled with something other than cheddar or American cheese was also a plus. As I mentioned, the restaurant fills up after 8:00 AM. That's the case for good reason: everything is so blooming delicious. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Scrambled Eggs and Sausage Patties - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious food, friendly staff, reasonable prices. Never disappointed, been here many times. Be prepared to wait on weekends, worth the wait. read more

I have always loved this restaurant, The French toast is by favorite. Sunday we stopped at Sweet Maple's for a quick breakfast before running some errands. We were both soooo disappointed. Everything on the plates were cold. The grits , eggs, French toast, etc. The only thing hot was my coffee. We didn't have the time nor energy to complain. It was not just us the table next to us complained too. I know it gets busy on a Sunday but cold eggs are not good. Hopefully someone will do a little quality control before serving the food. read more

Brought my bff here who is visiting from Houston. He ordered the Sweet Maple Special, I had Dr. Glenn's Scramble and we shared a half order of the Cinnamon Roll Pancake, which is one pretty large pancake. Neither one of us wanted to have the extra carbs that come with a full order of the pancakes (haha) so we decided to share. The food was really good. The pancake was defly my favorite. The top of it had this crunchy, carmelized part that cinnamon rolls have. The waitress recommended that we pour syrup on the top and I agree that I liked it that way, but my friend tried syrup on his half and loved it. He mentioned it to our waitress but she seemed annoyed. Lol. A great experience and would definitely go back. FYI- there is construction next door, but still easy access to the restaurant. read more

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This place is such a gem, it's so delicious and everyone who works there is so kind. The biscuit sandwich was to die for and the pancakes were awesome too. read more

I heard about Sweet Maple Cafe from my coworker, who said his girlfriend was obsessed with their cinnamon roll pancakes. Lucky for me and my friends, when we went last Sunday, it was the last day of their cinnamon roll pancakes. The pancakes were incredible - sweet breakfast items are my favorite, but can be tricky because sometimes establishments make them way too sweet. This cinnamon roll pancake was exquisitely made and the right balance of sweet and rich, without overwhelming me. Thinking about it now, I definitely wish I had ordered more of those instead of sampled my friend's food. I ordered the salmon croquettes, which were good, but not mindblowing. I liked their biscuit a lot, which came with the croquettes, and the potatoes on the side were also well seasoned and done. Definitely very tasty. I would go here again, but might check out their menu in advance for when their specials are intriguing. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Salmon cakes, comes with a side of potatoes, eggs, and a biscuit - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sweet Maple is one of our go-to spots when we travel to Chicago. The pancakes are impeccable and the atmosphere is quiet and quaint. It will always be on our top 3 breakfast spots in Chicago. read more

this place is mandatory anytime i go to chicago, always good food and cusromee service.

I had the taylor street omelet which was delicious. We had a large party with special requests. Eventually, they were all accommodated and we had a lovely meal. The prices were great. Loved supporting small local businesses in the area. read more

This place is not extremely fancy but you can tell there is a lot of history and price in between those four walls. The food was okay, not bad but not great. The meals were kind of bland. I'd try it again and order something different. Also, I could here the conversation of the employees and they were commenting on patrons- their orders, what or how much they are. It wasn't rude just kinda strange and semi uncomfortable. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Latte add strawberry - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place. OMG. My sister brought me here for breakfast last week and I'm coming again because I want it that bad. Southern breakfast at its finest! We had the scramble, home style fries, cheesy grits, biscuits and one of the breakfasts sandwiches with chicken. EVERYTHING WAS SO GOOD! Like so good. My mouth is watering as I write this. I highly recommend this gem. I can't believe I've been so close to it all this time and had no idea. read more

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There was a wait, but the food was worth it! It was cold so the outside section was not open... The inside is small but clean. The service was nice. read more

Soooooo much food!!!! Everything was great! I made my own omelette and shared a half order of their pancake of the day. It was more than enough food for one person! They are very generous with the portions. Although this place is very small, it felt very homey and comfortable. We were able to make reservations the same day and glad they were able to accommodate us. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We just happened to walk by this place and decided to stop in for breakfast, glad we did. They were pretty busy but we were able to get right in and order pretty quickly. I got the eggs Benedict which were absolutely perfect and delicious. I got a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice to go with it. My husband got an omlette and potatoes that he really liked. I don't like peppers and they were in the potatoes so I didn't really care for those but all in all, it was a good meal for a scent price. read more

Have been to Sweet Maple twice now and I think it's replaced my usual go to breakfast spot when I'm in town. The space is cozy and feels like an aunt's dining room. The owner is the sweetest and is often present and very hands on. I can tell the team is well taken care of as I've heard how long they've been together. The menu is extensive but everything is delightful. I tried the special pancake on my most recent visit which was a cinnamon roll pancake. It was cooked to perfection! Great coffee, excellent for a group of 3-4. I plan on slowly working my way through every menu item. Highly recommend. You must get the biscuits!!!! read more

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I love love love this restaurant. I had the Dr. Glenn's scramble and it was perfect, the eggs were fluffy, and the side of potatoes were flavorful! The biscuit melts in ur mouth. My boyfriend got the cinnamon roll pancakes and the biscuits & gravy. It was delicious. I don't even like pancakes but I'm coming back just for these cinnamon roll pancakes they're AMAZING. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting. The staff makes you feel right at home. This place makes you feel like you are dining at your great aunt's house because you can tell the food is made with love . This is my new favorite brunch spot. FYI: They are asking for proof of vaccination at the door so make sure you have a picture of it or the actual card itself read more

The food was ok potatoes were seasoned well but the owner was very rude. They have three signs two that say 2pm and one that said 1:30 which I didn't even see. So when we walked in we wanted the fish Friday so the hostess informed us they are closing soon I'm Like oh ok the sign states 2. He said yes I know I told her about that. We told him to tell her again because it's misleading and that's the only reason we came. He told her and she said I'm not Changing nothing and laughed in our faces. Then they both proceeded to laugh. I didn't find that funny at all. She just simply didn't care. The place is old no updates she hasn't put any money back into the place. Floor and walls all cracked up. Everything old! I was just overall unhappy but our waiter was very nice guy. I will never go back there again. read more

The wait alone is indication enough of how great this restaurant is. Everything we ordered was incredible and the cinnamon roll pancakes which are sadly seasonal were . I can't wait to come back and enjoy the amazing food again. It's also worth noting this restaurant has been in business for 25 years, let's support these small businesses y'all! read more

Stopped in for a late breakfast during the week and were seated right away. I got the pancake breakfast special and my sister got the French toast special. Both plates came with 2 eggs and a side of meat, we got bacon. The cinnamon roll pancakes (daily special) were amazing!!! So fluffy with a slight crisp from the griddle, and cream cheese icing. I would highly recommend getting the pancakes over the French toast! Coffee was good, and our server kept it coming. We will be back! read more

The food is excellent! The service leaves much to be desired when the owner is not present. The restaurant says it closes at 2PM, but they refuse patrons at 1:24PM. The kitchen closes about 1:15PM. read more

This was my first time trying the Friday Fish & Eggs Special. Overall, the portions were good the potatoes and fried fish needed more seasoning. This has been the common theme from all my dining experiences there non flavorful food. I'm not going to give up on this place. Next time I will be making a special request to add more seasoning to my food or I will bring my own seasoning. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Fish and Eggs - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I checked on Yelp for reviews prior just to see if I would like it. Indeed I did. Nice exterior, seats on the outside. You can tell this place gets jam packed. As soon as I entered I was greeted by a nice guy who told me to sit anywhere I like. It wasn't that busy...perfect!! As soon as I sat down the female server took drink order. Came back in 2 minutes and took food order, talk about fast service. The decor is nice, bathroom was clean, staff spoke as they passed by table. Food came out within 10 minutes. It was hot, delicious, on point. Coffee was good too. I ordered turkey sausage, egg whites, potatoes, & biscuit = yum. U will love this cute, friendly, delicious spot. Good job guys. Will be back soon. read more

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Have the biscuit!!!!! The food was so good!! Service was great and friendly!!! I wish we had found this earlier during our stay...they'd know me well. read more

Awesome! Have lived in the neighborhood a few years and this place is always hoppin - glad we stopped in early Sunday! The biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, and egg sandwich with sausage were all great. The biscuits were soft and flavorful, definitely don't miss those if you're on the fence! The gravy was not spicy, but there's Louisiana hot sauce on every table - great pairing for any gravy, imo. read more

Delicious ...and quick! Had the sweet mapleolopis omelet..sooo much food!! Coffee is served in a cup with a saucer.. sooo cute old school!! Staff is friendly and efficient.. never had to wait for more coffee!! I left FULL and definitely coming back.. all kinds of folks.. college students, old guys catching up with each other.. great ambiance!! read more

This cozy but excellent breakfast place has served up wonderful food for years. The ambience is quaint and reminds me of a simpler and gentler time. It also reminds me of a bed-and-breakfast with nice owners and good breakfast. The food is excellent and the servings are large. The service is quick and attentive. read more

Great southern breakfast comfort food!!! Nice ambiance in the vibrant UIC Tri-Taylor neighborhood in Chicago. Experienced professional service. Shot out owner Lorraine!!! read more

If I could give ten I would! I came here on a whim with a friend because we wanted to try something new. The worst part about the experience was the wait time, which can be good sometimes. Just think if the line is long then sometimes that means that the food is worth waiting for. And I'll tell you it was!!! The cinnamon roll pancakes we to die for. We also ordered, eggs which were nice and fluffy. The grits were on point because some places can be too thick/dry and some too gooey these were perfect. The "cut fries" potatoes were awesome, and salted perfectly. The place is small, but the service was great! The food was so good that I got a cinnamon roll pancake, and biscuit to go and they tasted just as good the day after for breakfast! read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We were in the neighborhood and decided to try this place for breakfast. I am so glad we picked Sweet Maple Cafe to to try. The interior was very vintage looking themed in the 40s i believe. They even had the period music playing. Our waitress was great! Everything was delicious and prepared in house. The cinnamon bun pancakes tasted like a cinnamon bun. The buttermilk pancakes were fluffy and amazing even the butter that went on the pancakes added to the quality of the meal. The porkchops were seasoned well and there breading was good. The homemade breakfast potatoes reminded me of my moms which I love. My husband said even the eggs were delicious. Oh just a quick tip their pop comes in a can with a cup of ice. We will defintely return when in the area for breakfast. read more

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This is the best breakfast spot in the city of Chicago. My ex took me here about three years ago when I used to visit and out of the good things that restaurant was one to come from it. I've taken all my friends and family that come to visit me this is my go to spot. This is the perfect southern blends of breakfast and creative breakfast items. My favorite item on the menu is the biscuits and also the cinnamon roll pancakes which are exquisite. If you're in Chicago you got to try this spot! read more

Oh my goodness! We chose well! We are visiting from out of town and struck gold finding this restaurant on Taylor! We walked from our hotel and knew we found the right place (Yelp reviews) when there was a line outside. We were seated pretty quickly (proof of vax required). Everyone was friendly and personable. The waitress gave good suggestions. My Dr Glenn Scramble w home fries and a biscuit was AMAZING! My son go an egg, sausage, cheese sandwich on a biscuit and a 1/2 order of banana pancakes, which all tasted heavenly! Smooth, delicious coffee and reasonable prices! The best breakfast in a very long time! We are so glad we found this local favorite! read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - Dr Glenn Scramble w home fries and a biscuit. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was so excited to go here since it's in the same community of my school... but I was sadly disappointed. The seating was limited the service was pretty fast. The food was terrible. The food.. I got pancakes with bacon the simplest thing you can order but somehow they messed it up. I got the not so plain butter milk pancakes, they were the most dense, flat, dry pancakes I've ever had. McDonalds pancakes (frozen) are better than them. A full order of pancakes only 2 is $8.25. I think they're over priced and totally not worth it. My BF ordered the holiday French toast and bacon he liked it. Overall, I will never visit again and I do not recommend. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - French Toast - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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

Cute brunch spot in university village! Love the location as there is usually parking on the street right in front or even on the side streets! We came in about an hour before closing on a Sunday afternoon and our wait was only about ten minutes for a party of 3! I got the 18th street scramble and our table get an order of the cinnamon swirl pancakes to try together. The cinnamon swirl pancakes were the highlight of the meal for everybody! The scramble was standard but still delicious but nothing to really write home about. I did enjoy the biscuits that they came with though! Not many brunch places in town offer biscuits at all, it's nice to have an option other than just toast and fits well into the southern theme. Price-wise, the dishes were pretty on par for city prices and probably cheaper than some places up north. Service was good and food came out at a good pace considering how cozy the place is. I would definitely consider coming back solely for those cinnamon swirl pancakes, make sure to try them out! read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Circa 20 years, when you walk in, you can tell by the interior they've been around for a long time and for a good reason. Everything perfectly cooked and good portion sizes. Really enjoyed the crispy soft potatoes, nicely seasoned, cooked with onions. Biscuits live up the hype. You really taste that they're made from scratch!! It could use a touch of salt. Vermont syrup is a must try too. read more

Sweet Maple Cafe - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Excellent friendly knowledgeable service. Cute subdued decor, including personal photographs of what looks to be a Southern country general store. Excellent coffee!!! The husband and I like to breakfast here. Excellent biscuits (ask for honey which is very traditional with biscuits of this caliber), oatmeal, plain and cheese grits, fresh fruit medley Sad to say, the husband says the eggs are too often overlooked. He's our resident egg expert. I think that the breakfast offerings are great. I highly recommend Sweet Maple. Remember, parking north and south of Taylor St is restricted to those with a residential zone permit. 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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