Willow Cafe and Bistro is an effective, if average, cafe in Lincoln Square offering decent food in a breezy, excellent location. Our family gathered at this location for brunch on a Sunday in the late morning. I had the cappuccino ($4.50) which was small but potent, with good flavor made from proper espresso. Accompanying this was the Breakfast Burrito ($15) - a flour tortilla surrounding eggs, sausage, avocado, and cheese. No burrito is without fault however, with this rolled restaurant wrap filled with far too many potatoes - the cardinal sin of any breakfast burrito. More eggs or meat would go a long way to improving the meal. While the salsa did somewhat redeem the burrito from excess dryness, I left slightly disappointed. We lastly shared the raspberry roulade which was excellent; spongy cake with a sugar crust surrounding tart raspberries and sweet crème, a delicious finish that saved the meal from three star territory. Our server was effective and attentive, but not extraordinary. The environment, as stated, is great, with the restaurant clean and its patio flanking an open pedestrian area with live music and lots of space for children to play, perfect for a breezy fall day. Prices were reasonable but not excellent, as stated above. Overall, Willow offers a decent brunch in a great location. Pass on the burrito, don't skip the pastries, and I'm sure you'll be pleased. Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Value: 4/5 read more

Willow Cafe And Bistro - Breakfast Burrito - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What an awful service Hostess did not know what she was doing Waiter was rude We ordered sandwiches and it took 45 minutes Waiter told because is was graduation and Mother's Day LOL inside restaurant half of the tables were empty You should have gotten the clue Both sandwiches were served on whit bread not sourdough Don't recommend!!!!!!! read more

How disappointing. I was looking forward to lunch there. I had the Caesars salad to start, which was okay--although hardly "classic"---but alas, the restaurant cannot offer fresh ground pepper. Seriously? On a caesar salad? On one that was already missing anchovies and parmesan? Then the real bit of a disaster was the roast chicken. It was teeny tiny which is probably one reason it was suffocatingly dry and tough. Even the dark meat. The skin had an unappealing gloss and was not crispy. The accompanying vegetable, plain, sliced, cold, overcooked carrot spears were simply awful. The promised accompaniment of mashed potatoes turned out to be a cold smear of mashed sweet potato, hiding under the dead carrots. Everything was under salted, under-spiced, un-sauced, flavorless and ultimately unappetizing. This in addition to having a waiter who seemed vague and unfocussed, talking in a flat and whispy tone, and un-attentive to the table, made the whole experience, well, creepy. read more

We stopped in when in town for an author event with the Book Cellar. Lovely location and great service. The food was delicious and the drinks were lovely. We didn't get to try and of the bakery treats, but the looked amazing. Overall we very much enjoyed our quick dinner before the show. read more

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Really enjoyed sitting outside for brunch at Willow Cafe and Bistro! I got the pesto and eggs and it was a great serving size and quality of food. I got a side of bacon and they gave me 4 pieces! Our waiter was super nice and brought us water pretty consistently through the meal. read more

Willow Cafe And Bistro - Pesto & Eggs - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is good for a nice outdoor patio dining experience right on the plaza. They have a bunch of refreshing cocktails on the menu and some good vegetarian options. Unfortunately, the vegan burger was sold out, but I got the normal vegetarian one instead. The cheese curds were also very good. read more

Willow Cafe And Bistro - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was in the area looking for a coffee shop to kill a couple hours at when I realized everything shuts down by 6 pm or so. Luckily, Willow Cafe was open (til 8, I believe)! The front of the location is a little grab and go type bakery spot. They have nice bar-style window seating, and outlets for laptops. I enjoyed an elderberry hibiscus iced tea and grabbed a couple pastries for friends. They have an awesome assortment of pastries, cakes, cookies and similar items in the front, which is really nice, plus a full (and delicious-sounding) coffee bar! Like a caramel apple-butter latte? YES PLZ. I obviously need to come back when it's morning and I want caffeine! The back of the business, meanwhile, is an ADORABLEEEE restaurant! Another reason to come back! Deff check out this cute spot on the corner of the square next time you're around! read more

We were attending the concert at Giddings and excited to support a local business. I ordered the 3 filet mignon sliders only to receive 3 overcooked mini smash burgers. When I went back, I was informed its ground filet mignon. How very sad. If it was in fact filet, it tasted like a burger. And I'm not sure why would one choose to make a ground beef patty out of filet mignon. If you do, I would note that on the menu as it felt like false advertising. They offered to refund my money, but that was not the point. read more

Willow Cafe And Bistro - Filet Mignon Slider - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Willow Cafe is a really nice addition to Lincoln Square. I only once visited Cafe Selmarie and it was over a decade ago, but I think that Willow is a worthy successor. The front section of the cafe is a counter service bakery, and they also sell coffee and stuff here. I've picked up a few cakes and a sparkling blackberry lemonade which is delicious. The restaurant menu is good as well. I had takeout from there one afternoon and their sandwiches and burgers are great. They have a nice outdoor space so I wouldn't mind having lunch or a leisurely dinner with a friend sometime. And I will be back for the sparking blackberry lemonade, which really hits the spot on a warm summer evening! read more

They're located actually in Lincoln Square, by the fountain. We were seated outside on the patio which is very nice. We watched school kids walk by and retired gentlemen sitting on the bench. We were brought water right away, and our waiter came out shortly to take our drink orders. Even though the menu only says coffee or cappuccino, they are able to make espresso drinks, and they have decaf! We ordered one slice each of the two daily quiches - spinach tomato and Lorraine. Both were very light, rich and flavorful and served with a delicious salad. (Unfortunately, the spinach was a bit salty for us - but we are on low salt diets). Our waiter came to check on us twice, and the check came promptly. They have a pastry counter at the front with more seating in the back. We will definitely stop by again when in the area. read more

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Lovely ambiance, and the person who helped me at the counter was so kind that he actually made my day a little better! People seemed to genuinely be enjoying their food. Unfortunately, the sachertorte slice I ordered was dry. I was also told it was raspberry, but the fruit flavor was barely perceptible, and sachertorte is usually apricot, so I'm honestly not sure what I ate. That being said, it's a cute place with good reviews, so I'll go back another time to try something else. read more

Service with the new ownership is slow on a good day! Most days it is also met with a dismissive attitude by the employees

A worthy successor to Cafe Selmarie, in no small part because the bakery offerings remain identical!

This place is not Cafe Selmarie! The service is poor, as we were served our food and the server walked away before we could ask him for silverware. Mussels were good, but slightly salty and served with plain toasted bread. The smash burger was dry but the garlic aioli helped a bit. Brussel sprout were underdone and bland with pepper being the primary spice, not crispy. We got a Mocha cake for dessert and it was dry. It was the last piece and probably should not have been served. I may stop back later in the summer to see if I just caught them on a bad night. read more

Great food, super fast service, best omelets on the planet! Love this place. Counter seating is classic old school

We have had the salmon and risotto with asparagus, and mushrooms which is very tasty along with the lemon chicken and mash potatoes and gravy and capers which is my personal favorite ! Yum the waiter was extremely prompt and friendly. He recognized us from being there previously which is always a plus when it feels like you are eating as family. The European manner of restaurant going involves the familiar aspect of being known and their knowing your preferences. This charming restaurant in Lincoln square (right off the square) where there is often a musician playing. The whole experience is charming read more

I ordered the Smoked Salmon Plate which consisted of less than an ounce of salmon and a few ounces of greens for $18.00. What a disappointment. I have never been served less food at a restaurant. I would never go back there. Zvi W read more

When Cafe Selmarie closed, I worried the place succeeding it wouldn't be as good as Selmarie. But I'd say so far, that Willow Cafe has been a good successor. I had only eaten a meal here once, but I really enjoyed the food I got. And same with the food that my mom got. Had stopped by a few extra times for picking up some sort of pastry, and I haven't been disappointed. They appear to have kept most if not all of the Cafe Selmarie workers, which is another good sign. So I'd say you won't be disappointed coming here, if you liked Selmarie. read more

I was so sad when Cafe Selmarie closed, but Willow is quite similar (menu) and just as lovely! The service was a bit slow, but it was a gorgeous day on the patio, so it was still pleasant experience. read more

I finally checked out the restaurant that went into Cafe Selmarie's former location, and I am so glad I did. There are some familiar faces on staff, and also in the kitchen, which is awesome because it means there are some Selmarie items on the menu, in addition to some great new things. I had to stick with the classics and ordered the chicken salad sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. While not exactly like the original Selmarie versions, they were pretty darn close, and I enjoyed them immensely. The other new menu offerings looked great too. I was too full for dessert but was thrilled to see some Selmarie favorites are still available, including the amazing sacher torte: YES!!!! The space is almost exactly like the old Selmarie space, just with a different coat of paint and none of the fun original art on the walls, unfortunately. Service was good, although I must say it was pretty slow for a Monday night, but we didn't mind too much. And the value was amazing considering what we had. I look forward to coming back here for some old favorites and also to sample something new: the smash burger and truffle fries look pretty epic. read more

Willow Cafe And Bistro - THE SACHER TORTE, THE SACHER TORTE, HOORAY, HOORAY!!!! - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I ordered the feta avocado toast. The server asked me if i wanted tomato and i said no (no tomato was listed on the feta toast). When the food came out the food runner put essentially a salad on top of bread in front of me....NOT what i ordered. i told her 'i ordered the feta toast' and quickly and kindly she apologized and took it back. Then our server came back to the table and started challenging me on the order. saying 'i asked if you wanted tomato and you said no.' well obviously i didn't want tomato.... it doesn't come on the FETA toast. they brought me out the toast and cold fries because they did not remake the entire dish. upon looking at the bill, I also noticed that we were charged $.75 for "flavored syrup" in my cappuccino... When all I asked for was cinnamon. I didn't realize that ordering cinnamon on a cappuccino is an extra charge. When we were leaving, we paid with the QR code on the receipt and started to leave and he came running up to us accusing us of not paying.... but if he check the system he would've seen we did pay. will not go back. read more

It's often the small details that separate a great restaurant from an average one. Value for the money, not so much. You don't even get toast with your omelette. My coffee was empty the entire meal and only refilled after I asked. Like I said, lots of little stuff. The bathroom was filthy. I won't go back; there are plenty of places where I can get better food and service for the same price. read more

People were very nice, but my food was nearly inedible. Needed to eat vegan & got the tomato avocado toast, which had almost no avocado, 2 cherry tomatoes and oddly a huge amount of overdressed lettuce. The bread was also limp and it cost $15. I would not return. read more

Still has the great European ambience of Selmarie but food and service have taken a hit. Service can be slow, sparse, or indifferent. Desserts seem to be too old and dry to sell sometimes. Savory food is still average, as it was before. read more

I didn't go into the restaurant, I stayed in the cafe/pastry area, but there was not much space there. The bearish was angry about being there and as beautiful as the pastry's were, they had minimal flavor, which was very disappointing for the price. I won't be back. read more

The food was decent, but the cookies were not particularly tasty, they were kinda hard and way overpriced.

Great dinner spot for a multigenerational group, checked all our boxes - great menu (and food!), cocktails, cozy atmosphere looking into sparkling Lincoln Square. And service was excellent. read more

As I sat down at Willow, the table next to me told the server that their raspberry tart was bad and had it removed from the bill. When my partner and I ordered, there was a communication problem between the server and the kitchen. The kitchen did not make my partner's pesto eggs, and we had to wait. The sausage patty on the plate had no seasoning or flavor. At the table next to us, a family sent back a dirty glass. Basically, problems seemed to be all over the place. The food was not worth it. read more

The coffee and deserts are good, great location and ambiance, but the service needs huge improvement. It looks like there are two teams, the one at the counter another for the seated areas, working in isolation. We made our orders as we walked in, but if you want to seat, you need to wait for the hostess and in our case, she happened to be away for about 10 min. The people at the counter would not let us sit because we had to wait for the hostess and when the hostess came, she did not want to let us sit because we have ordered. After some discussion, she let us sit, not in a nice way...Dear owner or manager, a team building activity with your staff may be an eye opener and a game changer. read more

We were sad when Cafe Selmarie closed as it was one of our go-tos. However, looking at the menu and baked goods it looks like they're keeping the Selmarie tradition going. read more

Nice menu with some upgrades that respect the Cafe Selmarie legacy. The service is mostly friendly, with some notable exceptions when they are understaffed. I'm looking forward to continuing to enjoy the Willow Cafe! read more

Food was ok, service was lacking. I'm also disappointed they are not supportive of closing Lincoln Square to cars and creating a pedestrian plaza. read more

Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of the food but my friend and I ordered the burger with a side of brussel sprouts and a Turkey club sandwich with a side of German potato salad. They were both delicious! We were both long time fans of Cafe Selmarie but heard Willow offered similar items. There is some overlap but the recipes do seem different---but still delicious nonetheless! And the pastries case seems to offer all the classic former staples we all know and love. I'm glad Willow is here to seemingly continue Selmarie's legacy. We'll definitely be visiting again! read more

Willow Cafe And Bistro - menu - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nothing about this place is good, from the food, to the service, to the attitude. Because we ordered at the counter instead of having table service, we were told we couldn't sit at an outdoor table. I hadn't noticed the scone I ordered was gluten-free; it tasted awful, including an aftertaste. When I complained about how bad it was, the woman told me it was my fault for not seeing it was gluten-free, completely ignoring the fact the scone was terrible. In addition, prices for the food and drink (a coffee and tea), were way too high. Avoid this place. read more

Let me start by saying that this cafe/bistro bakery has some really big shoes to fill, the previous tenants left the world wanting more. Upon entering you walk into the bakery and coffee shop, have to walk through it to the hostess who seemed sorta bored and bothered. The baristas were friendly and helped us through a clunky setup and ended up recommending the pastry mentioned below. We were seated outside, it was a lovely early summer Chicago afternoon, it was delightful. We were given water, silver rolls and menus, it took awhile for anyone to acknowledge us. We put in our orders, Bloody Marys were delicious but when they came a bird had pooped on our table and I used my one napkin to clean it up. It was happening while our server was standing there. I wadded up my napkin and asked for a new one, she left the poop napkin and said sure, the food came and I asked her again if she could please get me a napkin, the busboy came by, asked him he never did. The waitress finally came back with 3 little cocktail napkins and was ready to walk away without bussing the poop napkin So the good news is that we really enjoyed the food! The hollandaise was divine, poach of the eggs was masterful! The German potato salad, clearly a nod to the roots of the street was good, basically a dressed +bacon version of the breakfast potatoes, which I'm not mad at at all! The true blessing of the entire experience was taking home one of the most delicious pastries I've had in an eternity! It was a strawberry cream Swiss roll, the likes of I haven't had since the pastry shops of Europe! I hope they get it together and spend some time training the front of house because whoever the kitchen magician is deserves more respect. read more

This place is okay. I got a chef salad wherein everything was already diced and mixed in. So, the salad came out with a "lovely" yellow tinge due to the yolk being already mixed in. Doing this also allows them to put minimal protein into the salad because you don't get to see the egg or chicken on top. It was a passable but disappointing salad. The service was great and friendly. The atmosphere was nice. But like, if I order a chef salad, it should come not pre-diced, light on protein and stained yellow. read more

Service was good. Food was the problem. My partner order the traditional breakfast with sausage for protein. Something just tasted off with the sausage and it was pretty hard to bite through. I got the breakfast sandwich, nothing bad to say about it. As for the drinks, our coffee was great on this cold morning. read more

Used to love the bakery back before the new owners. Decide to try it out today. The bakery was fully stocked with a ton of variety. But... no one was behind the counter and there was a person ahead of me in line. The manager and two servers were at the podium discussing another customer's bill. Three people? No one to help us buy your baked goods? Cool, saved me $20 and a bunch of unnecessary calories. Thanks! read more

Came here the other day to check out the new digs since Selmarie. I really liked the openness of the space and the coffee bar in front. It had a very cozy yet modern bistro feel. I just had a coffee drink (perfect!), but will have to come back and eat and sit outside. So glad something good opened right there, especially given the history. read more

For those who loved Café Selmarie, rest assured. The new Willow Cafe and Bistro is lovely. According to the staff, it was a friendly transition to the new owner - possibly a friend or good acquaintance. Many of the items in the bakery are familiar and the coffee hasn't changed. read more

Willow Cafe And Bistro - Storefront and patio - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois