Good food and friendly staff! We finished everything on our plates and enjoyed our breakfast. It was lively and busy, though the seating felt pretty cramped. Getting in and out of the booth meant squeezing between chairs and being careful not to bump anything on neighboring tables. Would've liked a little more room, but the staff were welcoming and kind, which made a difference! read more

Tempo Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here for lunch with a friend Service was good staff was really friendly and ordered a great veggie skillet with a side of bacon Would definitely come back read more

Tempo Cafe - Veggie Poor Man's Skillet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really disappointing experience at Tempo Cafe. We arrived at 10:25 a.m. and the restaurant was not busy--several tables around us were completely empty when we ordered breakfast. After waiting about 30 minutes, our waitress finally came over and told us they had "made a mistake" with our order and that our food was coming out. Meanwhile, the empty tables around us were seated, ordered, received their food, and were eating before ours ever arrived. Our food finally came about 20 minutes after that, meaning we waited almost an hour for a basic breakfast in a restaurant that wasn't even busy. After all that, the food wasn't worth the wait. The omelette was basically scrambled eggs, the toast was burnt, and everything was extremely overpriced for the quality. What was most disappointing was that despite acknowledging they made a mistake and making us wait nearly an hour, nothing was taken off the bill and there was no real attempt to make it right. Definitely not worth the price or the wait. We won't be back. read more

This is my favorite American diner!! It's owned & run by a Greek family, so they have Greek toast, yum! Great breakfast, especially the omelettes (I'm not much of a sweet breakfast person so I don't know how the pancakes or waffles are). The VERY best cream of chicken w/rice soup that I have ever had, and that is my favorite soup, I'm a connoisseur. I am a soup maker and finally learned how to make it myself during COVID, it's that good! Also ham and turkey off the bone are awesome, good burger, fries are on their 'most popular' list but I haven't tried them. I've never had a bad meal there. read more

Service was Not good. Bus boy was way more attentive than our server. He never brought my milk coffee or water u til busboy asked us if needed anything. My order was wrong and son's chorizo burrito was sub par. Won't be coming back. Way better options oh and server watches what tip you put in. I'm a great tipper. He got $ read more

After all these years it's still the best Gold Coast near north side diner in the neighborhood. Been coming here for decades and recently moved back into the Gold Coast. Glad to see it hasn't changed. A classic Greek diner the best kind. Offings from breakfast and lunch sandwiches to Greek specialties. Always clean and the food is always on point. Where else can I go and get chicken liver with eggs? No where around the Gold Coast. Service is always straightforward and friendly. Many of the staff have been here decades. Great place if you're in the neighborhood. PS. homemade preserves with your toast at breakfast. read more

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Tempo cafe is one of the well known diner place in the neighbourhood. We didn't have a chance to try their breakfast, but we went in around 4pm for afternoon tea. We ordered a burger and tuna burger. Our meal comes with a cup of soup and fries, we enjoy the food. The burger were cooked to perfect, and very juicy. Similar to other diner place, the waiter are more than happy to refill your coffee if needed. read more

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Oh Tempo how I love your healthy breakfast options! Absolutely the best fluffiest egg white omelettes I've ever had!!! Always 10/10 ! But recently you've changed your really good breakfast potatoes to hash browns PLEASE bring back the old potatoes that were some of favorite breakfast potatoes I've ever had!! Hashbrowns were extremely greasy also read more

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I think my family came in with higher expectations, so we were kinda thrown off, but overall this is a great spot! Classic diner food with lots of options, great portions, and fair prices. The staff is kind, but the food is nothing extraordinary. read more

Tempo Cafe - Build Your Own Omelette - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went to Tempo on a Thursday morning. The wait time was approximately 30 minutes for two people. The restaurant is small and you will be sitting tight in your seat. Our server was friendly when she finally arrived at the table. We waited another 5 minutes or so before we were greeted. I ordered the morning glory waffle, turkey sausage and 1 egg scrambled with cheddar. The sausage and eggs where cooked well. The waffle came out cold. I requested whip cream, as I am not a huge fan of syrup. I got a small drop of whip cream not worth mentioning. Although everything was fresh and appealing I can't say I will be returning anytime soon. read more

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We got seated immediately on a Saturday which was really nice. The basic skillet was really good. The service was nice. Would definitely come back for a relaxing brunch again. read more

I have eaten at Tempo numerous times, and I've enjoyed the food. Unfortunately, my trip there a week ago left me skeptical of the chicken they served in the gyro, as it held both a foul order and taste. The waitresses took it back, but I was turned off by that point and simply placed an order for fries (because my company was still eating). Please be mindful, guests and owners, of the meat you're serving. And if something dreadful like that occurs, you should probably send the owner or cook out to check on the customer. read more

Tempo Cafe is a great, no frills diner in the Gold Coast. As with any diner, if you go there on a weekend morning it's going to be packed. However, if you're willing to put your name in early on Yelp or put your name in and wait a bit, it's worth it. Classic huge diner menu with whatever you want. Great omelets, Turkey club BLT, and coffee. read more

Tempo Cafe - Build Your Own Skillet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was good, service was FAST. On a Saturday morning, I've never been seated so fast, order placed, coffee in my hand and a meal in front of me within 20 minutes. They definitely get busy on the weekend and know how to handle the flow. It was maybe a little TOO fast because I was barely able to catch a breath and talk to my friend. The food was really good. My chorizo/mushroom/cheese skillet was very tasty. A lot of food and wasn't even able to finish it all. Ask for the spicy house sauce - it was wonderful!! The inside looked very festive and cute. Service was nice. read more

Tempo Cafe - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was delicious. Hospitality was insulting. We came for dinner. There was no one, I mean NO ONE in the dining room. Some people were eating in the outdoor seating area. It became very hot in the dining room. The west sun was beating down on us. No window treatments on any of the windows. No curtains, no shades, no blinds, nothing. My husband was wiping sweat from his brow, and my arm started to burn from the sun. We moved to another table, but we could not escape the sun. They refused to open the doors to the outdoor seating area to let fresh air in. Sweating, we finished our meals quickly and left quickly. You'd think that with no customers in the dining room except for us and only a few outside, they'd want to ensure our comfort so that we'd come back. Nope. We won't be back. read more

We first visited Tiempo Cafe back in 2017 solely because it was close to our hotel and it featured Illy Coffee. Over the last eight years, we've probably enjoyed meals here dozens of times when we come to Chicago. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, the food is absolutely solid, the prices are eminently fair and the portions are, to quote he who shall not be named, YUGE! When we stay downtown, our grandchildren love to join us for breakfast at Tiempo and the pancakes with blueberries and chocolate chips is #1 with them both. Plus, they love the milkshakes made with real ice cream. Things are always popping no matter what time of day you visit, and the smiles on every diner's face tell the story better than any written review. True Chicago place, with long time servers and cooks make Tiempo your best choice on the North side of the city. read more

Tempo Cafe - Happy campers enjoying a stack of pancakes with blueberries and chocolate chips, and milkshakes for breakfast with Nana and Pop Pop. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A classic. Always the best food and quality for a diner. Nostalgia vibes here every time

My 1st time at Tempo, I'm a Chgo. native- it's really not that big of a deal-prices are very inflated- it's just a regular diner, didn't notice anything special-my friend wanted an omelette w/o onions & the waitress said they couldn't do that. What?? just don't add the onions!! Bathrooms need to be checked and cleaned more often during the day-there was a big puddle of piss on the floor, very little toilet paper and floors needed to be mopped with something strong and also walls needed to be washed. Waitress was nice. read more

We had a good experience. My mom and I both ordered corned beef hash and eggs. The portion size was very good for the price.

Tempo has been here on the Gold Coast forever and when my daughter and I were thinking about lunching in the area, it came to mind. Tempo is a cute diner on the corner that serves up great breakfasts and is good for late evenings too. We had sandwiches that come with one of their soups (yummy) and fries. (Also good) Our waitress was sweet and service was excellent. I heard that the owner passed recently so I'm glad they're still there. read more

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I love quite close to this yummy cafe! Sat out on the patio with a friend and my dog. It was pretty packed but the service was fast and food was delicious. Nice little gem in downtown, would recommend! read more

Seems like a very popular spot. Lots of people waiting, but the service was awesome and fast What we ordered: Turkey Reuben: Very yum! Lots of flavors, and I love the open-face format. It was not overly saucy, and the sauerkraut flavors were strong Poor Man's Skillet: tasted okay. The eggs were a little bit too cooked for our liking read more

Tempo Cafe - Turkey Reuben Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I got takeout from here so I'll need to come back to the get the full ~ experience ~ but the pickup order was really easy and they were very fast with getting the food made. The portion size itself was huge and they gave bread and jelly on the side too! Food itself was so yummy but nothing too crazy to rave about! Excited to come back and try it out another time read more

Tempo Cafe - Corned Beef Hash and Eggs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this cafe!!!! Came here for breakfast both days I was in Chicago. I stayed in the Gold Coast- one of my favorite neighborhoods. Simple cafe with clean space. The staff are super friendly. The breakfast is exactly what I make at home without all the trouble of having to actually cook or clean dishes. The build your own omelet is delicious!!!! Huge portion and flavorful. Great for post workout meals!!!! read more

Tempo Cafe - Build Your Own Omelet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've lived in Chicago for the past 3-4 years and this was my first time at Tempo! I've heard incredible things so I had to give it a try. Tempo is your casual weekend brunch spot but ELEVATED. Luckily on Saturday morning we didn't have much of a wait, but you can definitely expect there to be one most weekends. Use their website to see what the wait times are! All their ingredients from their bread, vegetables, meats, and especially their homemade marmalade and salsa were fresh and full of flavor. My aunt got their fresh squeezed orange juice and she couldn't get enough of it! I decided to customize my own skillet and it did not disappoint. Simple, but executed to a T. They have these hashbrowns that are sliced potatoes? So good. I'll most definitely be back for what on my wish list (everything on the menu). Warning: salsa has a little heat to it! read more

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This is your typical Chicago coffee shop. We ate here two mornings while at a conference at Sofitel next door. Breakfast menu was great, and food was good. We thought the service was excellent. Coffee cups stayed full and warm. I love that big city cafe feel, so the ambiance was right up my alley. Good mix of booths and tables. Lots of people watching from window seats. Would return. read more

We just have for breakfast and brunch. They have a good selection with some healthier options, which I appreciate. The turkey sausage was good, as have been the egg dishes. Definitely a diner feel so don't expect upscale despite the neighborhood. Service was very fast - maybe too fast if you wanted to dally. read more

This restaurant was recommended to us for their brunch selection/menu selection. The menu offers a very large selection from sandwiches, skillets,pancakes and salads. They even have special for the day that you can ask for. I want to start off with saying on a Saturday it will be a wait so come prepared. There is a paid parking garage to park at which is way easier than trying to find parking on the street. On to the important part of the review, we ordered the poor man's skillet, eggs Benedict and FRESH orange (amazingggg). I can't wait to bring my family back to this place. Service was great, it is a busy place and loud so be prepared along with the wait time. It is worth the wait!!! No complaints Con: parking ( they do validate for the garage and it's actually cheaper 10 dollars for 12 hours) Ps: there is a yelp waitlist read more

Tempo Cafe - Eggs Benedict Poor Man's Skillet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great breakfast choices, served all day! Good diner food menu. I eat here at least once a week. Service is excellent, always! House-made orange marmalade! Endless coffee. Lentil and chicken noodle soup are good, the creamy chicken rice soup not so tasty. Wish they served Greek avgolemono soup! BLT, club sandwich, chef salad, gyro/tzaziki-yummy and a great burger with fries! Did I mention the excellent, experienced servers. read more

We came here as a party of 2 smack dab in the middle of the à Chicago marathon weekend. I added my name to the Yelp waitlist about 30 minutes in advance (and was very grateful that we did, because Tempo Cafe was PACKED) with folks carb-loading to run and their friends and fellow runners. While it was my first time here, I don't think it is this packed on a typical Saturday morning, but I could be wrong! They had outdoor seating set-up, but the weather was too chilly to sit outside. With our names on the waitlist, by the time we arrived at Tempo, we only needed to wait another 15 minutes before our name was called for a table. This cafe seems locally owned, and in addition to some classic breakfast/brunch items and sandwiches, it boasted some specialty Greek dishes as well. Their marmalade is house made and their servers worked as quickly as they could on a bustling morning. Service was friendly and prompt! We ordered: Iced latté Drip coffee Double shot of espresso Poor Man's Skillet Bacon & Egg Sandwich with a side of hash My order was the iced latte and the bacon & egg sando. I added American cheese to the scrambled eggs and a side of hash browns which was delicious! I realized all the ingredients on my plate would also make for a good BLT, so I ordered a side of mayonnaise and basically turned my meal into two: cheesy scrambled eggs with hash browns, and then a BLT with lettuce, tomatoes, and a pickle slab. It was a win-win with a mix of breakfast and lunch items, and I was proud of myself for this creative transformation-of-a-meal. My husband ordered the Poor Man's Skillet which was probably named in a saucy way - it was more like a skillet meant for royalty! Your choice of 3 eggs cooked your way on a mountain of hash browns, meat, and cheese. Get ready for a really hefty and unbreakable cheese pull. The energy here during Chicago marathon week was so fun! Busy, exciting, full of anticipation. Their staff managed the crowds well. I hope all the runners had a good race. I enjoyed the meal here, and it was a great stop before walking around in the neighborhood to do some shopping. We needed to walk off that heavy meal afterwards. I am a fan! I'd come back to try more of their lunch items (sandwiches, soups, and salads) and their Greek items for dinner like gyros and their Greek salad! I'm on IG: @gratuitousgourmande read more

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Great spot for a meal. Be sure to get a cup of soup. It is the best. Sandwiches, omelets, whatever, everything is delicious. Service is excellent and everyone is so nice. It's a great spot for a tasty meal. read more

Before you order the omelette, know it's a huge portion! Delicious and fresh ingredients with lots of Gluten free/Friendly options on their menu. Great servers with a cute patio area. Loved having brunch here and would recommend to anyone. read more

Tempo Cafe - Omelette over hashbrowns with fruit and GF toast. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Kid and family friendly. Comfortable booth seats and other tables with cushioned seating. The staff are very sweet and welcoming. We had the veggie skillet $17 which had fluffy eggs and plenty of vegetables. It was tasty and not salty. The fries (substitute w home fries that came w skillet for $1.50 extra) were nice and hot and mushy in the inside w a thin layer of crispy on the outside. They have their own orange marmalade to add to the fluffy and fresh sesame bordered bread. I love the bread! I love all the sesame seeds! The decor is warm and inviting w plenty of windows and lighting. It's right at the corner of State and Chestnut. Overall a pleasant experience and would return. read more

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Yum yum, can't wait to go back! In town for work and stopped by for breakfast with the team. Not a bad bite was had! Waffles light and fluffy but crisp, airy baked apple pancakes to die for, the best French toast I've ever had, omelette meant for sharing and great coffee. To top it all off, the service was top tier. Amazing time was had. read more

our server was very nice. unfortunately the food took a while. it was pretty good but not amazing. the atmosphere was nice. i would come back but im not dying to. read more

My wife and I visited Tempo Café on 12 May 2025 for brunch with some of her professional colleagues. The service was great and the food well-made. I ordered an omelette and she got a skillet meal. Everything was great and perfect for a brunch. Highly recommend the service and the food if you want breakfast/brunch food well-made in a casual atmosphere. read more

Pro tip - join the Yelp waitlist before you get there! Wish I would've known this and avoided 15 min wait in the crowded restaurant. However, the wait was worth it! I have been wanting to try this breakfast spot for a while now, and this chilly Sunday was the perfect day to do so. We were starving and ordered lots of food and bottomless coffee right away. Service is quick and to the point - no frills about it. The breakfast menu is slightly confusing because I couldn't tell the difference between the omelet, scrambler, and skillet - all sounded similar in menu descriptions. I went with the veggie skillet, eggs scrambled, added bacon, and this was delicious. Absolutely hit the spot, and I scarfed it down so quickly. Our apple stuffed pancakes (STUFFED is brilliant!) were so divine and a perfect dessert for our breakfast. French toast was tasty too! The coffee helped all of this deliciousness go down smoothly. I had to roll myself out of this establishment after our heavy meal, and it was perfect. It is slightly pricier than your average breakfast diner/restaurant though, but the big portions and tastiness make up for it! read more

Tempo Cafe - skillets with apple stuffed pancakes and french toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice little diner style restaurant. The coffee was good and they have a decent sized menu. The staff was very nice and worked together efficiently- it was impressive to watch them actually. I had the avocado toast because that's what my son wanted. It was okay, not the best I'd ever had but passable. The eggs were cooked nicely. My husband had a short stack with eggs and a side of bacon. The bacon was pretty good but I didn't love the pancakes. read more

Tempo Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here right after checking into my hotel since it was conveniently a few blocks away. It was a comfortable place to have a post-travel meal. Very cute interior with Illinois posters on the walls. Service was fantastic and food arrived about as quickly as it took me to decide what to order. Servers are very diligent about refilling coffee. I ordered a scrambler with tomato, spinach, and feta which came with hash browns and raisin toast. Everything was fresh and delicious. Prices are a great deal considering the portion sizes. I'd definitely come back here if I happened to visit the Gold Coast area again. read more

Tempo Cafe - Scrambler with tomato, spinach, feta, raisin toast, and hash browns - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We stopped here for breakfast one morning because it had some decent reviews and was very close to our hotel. 1. Atmosphere: Very busy diner vibe. Which actually helped to perk us up that morning. 1 Star 2. Service: As stated above, it was busy, but our waitress was quite attentive to our needs. 2 Stars 3. We went with Huevos Rancheros and a Scrambler Skillet. Both were decent. Salsa could definitely have been better and the skillet was a tad undercooked on the veggies. Overall though it was ok. 1/2 Star Overall: 3.5 Stars. Ok place for a quick pick me up breakfast. ------------------------ 1 Star-Wouldn't let my dog eat here 2 Star-Below average-usually something really struck me as being bad and I doubt I would ever return. 3 Star-Average-Might come back. Might not if there are better options. 4 Star-Above average-will definitely come back and try something new. 5 Star-Phenomenal-Will definitely return for such an amazing experience. read more

Tempo Cafe - Huevos Rancheros - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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