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    The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar

    3.8 (402 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar Photos

    Business Info

    THE SIT DOWN CAFE & SUSHI BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar

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    Sloane L.

    If you're looking for a quick, casual sushi meal, stop by the Sit Down Cafe. With friendly, fast service, a selection of creative rolls, and a nice cocktail and beverage menu, it's a great place for a casual lunch or dinner. It's somewhat utilitarian in decor, so ambiance isn't fancy, but it's a good option for a casual gathering.

    Menu
    Samuel D.

    The outdoor seating area is great on a nice warm day like today when I went. I enjoyed the seating and the wait staff. The menu was a fun mix of Italian and sushi! Was it the best sushi I ever had, no. But it was pretty good and well done.

    Basil Martini With Avocado Maki And Kappa Maki
    Steve A.

    Came to this Hyde Park restaurant recently and enjoyed the casual atmosphere. It still manages to have some pretty classy sounding drinks and food. The Sit Down is exactly that, a restaurant you sit at a table and you order from there. Has quite a big menu and many different cuisines to choose from and it can be hard making a choice. You can get pizza, sushi, and tons of other stuff. A lot to choose from seriously, and it can be hard to choose. It took us awhile to look through the entire menu. There's a cocktail list in addition to the food, so you can also get your drink on while eating from the large variety of options. It's about $13 for most cocktails. The Basil Martini is an herbal version of the classic, with cucumbers, lime juice, and St. Germain. For the food it has a lot to choose from. We got some of the maki rolls. It's about $5 for the cheapest. The Avocado Maki and Kappa Maki are among the ones that are vegetarian. Each tasted fresh. These came out fast and we thought maybe they came out too fast but these were good quality. Get some drinks and food in a casual atmosphere at some of the best prices around. It's a lot cheaper than many other places around here. This has cocktails, pizza, and sushi among other things.

    Feisty Flamingo
    Ellen C.

    I came by for lunch with a friend on a Thursday afternoon. It was pretty quiet and empty when we came (not surprisingly given the time and day), so we were given the option of choosing any seat we liked. The menu was PACKED - they have so many choices it took us a few minutes to decide what we wanted. As my friend put it, she had never seen a restaurant which offered both pizza and sushi. They also had a variety of salads and sandwiches on the menu, as well as combos and lunch specials. I ended up ordering the feisty flamingo. The roll was packed with shrimp tempura and avocado, with a bed of spicy crab layered on top and a dash of a sweet and spicy sauce. It was really delicious. I found it yummy to pair it with the sweet ginger as well. Also, they added a cute flower decoration on my plate! The staff were also super friendly. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and would come again!

    Wine flight
    Marshall M.

    Back in 2024 to say this is the some of the most consistent service I've ever received. This place is a go-to for date nights of all kinds or when I need my sushi itch scratched. I love it, it feels like home. I still get the pepperoni pizza with basil, switch up the martinis every time, and I'm obsessed with the super fresh Chicago Fire roll now. The Kamikaze is good too! Love this place, 12 years later!

    This is how crowded they were for 20 minutes waiting on a waiter!
    Torina B.

    Get it to go! They will have 10 employees walking around and you still will wait 20 minutes for a waiter! Then the manager called himself looking at the camera to see if I was telling the truth. He didn't apologize but came up to me as I was talking to someone else to tell me NO it was 11 minutes. What? What Business class he experienced is a wonder! To wait to place an order when your restaurant is half empty with more employees than customers? But you want to go at the customer? This used to be my spot! But I find new ones all the time. I don't pay for this mess. He definitely knows how to make you feel he can survive without your patronage and without it he will have to! Been going for years! Never again. Restaurants in that block close all the time. Word of mouth is powerful! He will learn that.

    Shrimp and Rice
    Jarquetta E.

    The Sit Down is my favorite Hyde Park eatery. I come for the vibes and food. It's calm and peace inducing. It's also delicious! The staff matches the vibes. This place is perfect.

    (From left to right) Super Crunchy Maki, Volcano Maki, and Hyde Park Maki
    Dalia H.

    I've been here twice and both times I left happy. The last time I came was at least 4 years ago, so it's safe to say they are consistent in their food. This past time I tried more than sushi. I would say, stick to the sushi here, but the apple and pecan salad I had was very good. It's a great place to eat in Hyde Park!

    Enjoyed the California Roll.
    Robert M.

    Came for lunch and was quickly seated. It was a nice restaurant that was very clean but had some background odor like a fish monger's store. I know they serve sushi, but I don't recall that strong at any other. Ordered Edamame and it came out very fast and was cooked really well. It was very delicious. I could have almost had a meal out of it. Next up, I split an order of the standard California Roll and it was right down the fairway. Just what you would expect and the ginger/wasabi were just as well appreciated. The highlight was the Chicken Club sandwich. It was way above and beyond what was expected. It wasn't really a sandwich. Maybe a panini or calzone would be more accurate. Whatever, it was a breading that was totally surrounding the meats/others as if it were all baked. Most importantly, it tasted great. The waitress was busy yet efficient. What I really appreciated was that the water guy was quite focused and our water rarely went down 1/4 of the way. That is ALWAYS appreciated.

    Pizza Vero Pizza
    Jordan D.

    Nice little sushi spot, I was pleased with the taste and the service. Never been to a sushi spot with pizza on the menu. All the sushi was pretty decent and the prices aren't that bad.

    Ridiculously good jambalaya!

    Great service! The staff is wonderful and management too! The Seaweed salad was ridiculously delicious! And the jambalaya was as good as any you'll find in New Orleans! Thank you for a great meal and aa

    My boo the Feisty Flamingo!!!  It's heaven!!!!!!!

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    2 years ago

    Good food and service. My go to for sushi in HP. Skip WF. Yummy Lychee Martini and lunch specials .

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    2 years ago

    The service was not great. And the food was good. But it just wasn't giving the vibe that they wanted service.

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    3 years ago

    Wider variety menu than the name might suggest. Good service, good food, very pleasant surprise and worth a visit.

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    4 years ago

    Since there aren't many options in the area, it's nice! I got the Chirashi, I liked it!

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    Page 1 of 11

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    Ascione Bistro - Meatballs

    Ascione Bistro

    4.3(411 reviews)
    0.4 miHyde Park
    $$

    This is the part where I wax poetic about how ill-designed dining is for solo diners, and how this…read moreis doubly if not quadruply true in Italian restaurants. I want to have the pasta, but this is meant to be shared amongst the table, not devoured by one person, but I digress. I walked in during what ended up being brunch, and while the regular menu was not technically available, the bar-server offered to ask the kitchen if I wanted something specific. That something was the Tuna Tartare, which the kitchen obliged (thank you very much). While a simple dish, it was executed supremely well. The olive oil was of such quality and robust flavor I asked the kitchen what brand they use, the avocado was at the peak of ripeness, and the house-made chips were oozing with homemade perfection. The fish was of high quality, and the ginger-orange gelatine added a subtle flavor and texture which was very unique, both as a flavor, but more so in execution! Now, to be fair, while this was not my favorite iteration of this dish, it doesn't take away from the quality and precision of execution. As my main, I ordered the Basil Pesto Brunch Gnocchi. The sauce was, true to form, very earthy, creamy, and basil-y without being overpowering. The gnocchi themselves were soft and pillowy, some of the best I'd had! The accoutrements of egg, sun-dried tomatoes, and mushrooms helped add new dimensions to the dish, adding those lightly meaty, acidic, and generally umami notes. The pork belly, meanwhile, was lost on me. Coming back to this review, I was frankly surprised they were included! Maybe this is me showing why I can't hack it as a professional, paid, restaurant critic, or maybe they were in fact, omitted. An area where Ascione Bistro shines is the service. The bar-server was friendly and attentive, and the food came out reasonably fast, especially since I could see into their kitchen, the pace of which reminds me of The Bear (don't worry, no yelling or profanity could be heard). Final verdict: Ascione appears to be a very busy spot, and for good reason. They have well executed, unique, and flavorful dishes, complemented by great service. If we pretend me not picking up on the pork belly is a 'me' issue, then the experience was flawless... except that I should have found more people to come with me, as the gnocchi loaded me with carbs, and I ended up taking half-ish home.

    Ascione's kept popping up on GMaps, Resy and Yelp as a highly rated restaurant, so even though it…read morewas a 30 minute Uber ride, I decided to give it a try. The local area is very busy and the police presence is very obvious, so keep that in mind, but I'm glad I made the decision. The Hostess seated me immediately and took my drink order right away. My Server, Gaby, was quick and attentive so my Wedge Salad and Grilled Octopus was delivered to my table in record time considering how busy it was. The grilled octopus was perfectly cooked and flavored and the wedge was amazing. The only issue was that the wedge salad was so big I couldn't even finish it. To end the night I had a glass of Barolo and a slice of the "made-in-house" key lime pie. It was great and paired perfectly to complete the meal. I can definitely recommend Ascione's for a night out for dinner or a date night. It's not terribly loud and it's a relaxed vibe. I would also ask for Gaby, she is a great Server.

    Photos
    Ascione Bistro - Interior design. Pretty great

    Interior design. Pretty great

    Ascione Bistro - Linguine ai Frutti di Mare

    Linguine ai Frutti di Mare

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    Cafe 53 - Spicy tuna avocado on wheat

    Cafe 53

    4.4(375 reviews)
    0.1 miHyde Park
    $$

    Oh yea, I can totally see why this spot is popular amongst Hyde Park folks! Friendly and helpful…read moreowners when I asked for recs. There's even a community board towards the bathroom, which gives this spot a community-based vibe. It's a quick, casual spot with several tables open for grabs when people leave. I got a traditional everything bagel w cream cheese to start the day, which had the RIGHT amt of cream cheese. Sometimes places give wayy too much, ruining the exp. I also ordered their popular Sumac Chicken sandwich on their Dutch Crunch bread, which was really good!! The bread had a slight sweetness to it that was satisfying and the flavors altogether were soo yummy. I waited ~12 min for my order, since they were rightfully packed. No outside food/drinks allowed if you're grabbing a table to eat. There's WiFi and a restroom in the back. Lots of neighborhood regulars. Bonus points that their food is halal for those w dietary restrictions. Great neighborhood spot!!

    Stopped on a whim looking for a good local sandwich shop. The highlight was that bread was very…read moretasty and fresh. The Caesar salad was also flavorful. It had homemade croutons and sides of bread. Got a slice of the carrot cake and it was very moist. Not too sweet with cream cheese frosting. Raisins included, if that matters to you. We got the garlic chicken on French baguette. It was a creamy base and not something I would buy again. Glad we added cheese because there wasn't much to it. the other sandwich we bought was avocado turkey on Dutch crunch. It unfortunately had enough mayo to drown the restaurant. The amount of meat left much to be desired. We asked for chips which they had but only for online orders that came in. ??? Doesn't make sense to me. For 2 Sammie's, a salad and cake it was $45, just for a gauge of prices. The cashier was on the phone the entire time and couldn't hear what we said because of that. Kinda acted inconvenienced we were talking while he was on the phone. The restaurant is pretty chill and seemed like a workspace for people with art on the walls for sale. The art also had a thick layer of dust, and overall the dining room could use a good deep clean. The bathroom cleanliness was decent. This probably won't be another place I would seek out in the future.

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    Cafe 53
    Cafe 53 - Garlic Chicken Sandwich

    Garlic Chicken Sandwich

    Cafe 53 - Menu (March 2026)

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    Menu (March 2026)

    Nella Pizza e Pasta

    Nella Pizza e Pasta

    4.1(386 reviews)
    0.4 miHyde Park
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    We've been longtime fans of Nella Pizza e Pasta and always look forward to stopping in when we're…read morein Hyde Park near the University of Chicago. The food--especially the pizza, pasta, and their Delizia alla Fragola--has consistently been excellent, and we've had many great experiences here over the years. Our most recent visit didn't go as expected. We ran into some confusion with menu pricing (items rang up higher than listed), a time-of-day pricing issue, and an awkward moment around cash payment that left us feeling a bit unsettled. But here's what really stood out: the manager reached out to us personally--both by phone and in writing--to apologize and make it right, emphasizing that this was not representative of their standards. That kind of care and accountability speaks volumes. Everyone has an off day. What matters is how it's handled--and Nella handled it with class. We'll absolutely be back.

    Late Review: This…read morewas my second time coming with family. We sat inside near the window, pretty tight inside, but it's more spacious in the summer because of their outdoor seating. The service is always great. I forgot his name, but he was wonderful (and handsome). The hosts were sweetie pies. Our food was tasty. I forgot the name of the other pizza but the Prosciutto & Ricola is the best one they have. Our desserts were delectable. If you're someone who likes a not-so-sweet treat, this is for you! Now, for the hard part. When we arrived, it was extremely loud. Not because of the volume of customers but because of one table. It was a group of parents & children, so understandably it's hard to keep kids quiet. However, I had to yell to talk with my auntie... right across from me. There was a mutual feeling throughout the restaurant as a table of elders alerted management a few times yet nothing was done. They took it upon themselves to go up to the table of parents and an altercation ensued. The HOST had to intervene because management was not doing their part... that's unacceptable. As someone who is passionate about restaurants and hospitality, your host should never have to play that role. I will return because I'm sure this was a one-off situation, but if there's a next time, I hope management handles it first. Overall: 6.5/10

    Photos
    Nella Pizza e Pasta
    Nella Pizza e Pasta - Margherita Pizza (with chilis added) 5/5 - Napolitan style

    Margherita Pizza (with chilis added) 5/5 - Napolitan style

    Nella Pizza e Pasta - Torta della nonna - 5/5 delicious!

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    Torta della nonna - 5/5 delicious!

    The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar - sushi - Updated May 2026

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