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Ain't She Sweet Cafe
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Restaurants Sandwiches Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Sandwiches [Edit]
526 E 43rd St(between Vincennes Ave & Forrestville Ave)
Chicago, IL 60653
Neighborhood: Grand Boulevard
(773) 373-3530
- Nearest Transit:
-
43rd (Green Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pm
Sat 11 am - 5 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
39 reviews for Ain't She Sweet Cafe
Review Highlights
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"...colder months, I especially enjoy the tomato spinach bisque." In 3 reviews -
"My dad had the jerk chicken wrap and said it was delicious..." In 3 reviews -
"The tropical breezer fresh fruit smoothie is AMAZING." In 2 reviews
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39 reviews in English
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Review from Kimberly L.
IL
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I live in the area and there aren't too many other thriving businesses so it's absolutely shocking that I've never been here. But it's true. Now that I've sampled the amazing food, however, I hope to become a regular!
I came here with a friend because she works in the area and she had a Groupon burning a whole in her pocket. I was more than happy to help her spend her virtual dollars. So we mosied on over during lunch.
The scene: The restaurant is very nicely decorated with local photographs and art work. There's a nice mix of music playing on the sound system at just the right volume. It's sunny and friendly. The place was packed around noon but the line moved quickly and seats became available quickly.
The process: You grab your drinks from the cooler, order and pay at the counter, and grab a seat. All the magic happens right in front of your eyes. In a perfectly clean, orderly kitchen with pleasant employees. It's like a happiness factory!
The eating frenzy: We ordered a jerk chicken wrap and a veggie panini. A friendly man brought us the food and a small bag of chips. We split the order so we each could have a taste. And then the pigging out began. I bit into the panini and experienced vegetarian heaven. But then...the jerk chicken wrap. Sweet heavenly goodness, this was amazing. Like pure joy, right in your mouth!
The moral of the story: I've wasted enough precious time not knowing about this jerk chicken wrap of the Gods. You should not make the same mistake. Go now! -
Review from Sonya M.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2012
I bought a groupon for Ain't that Sweet and decided to try the jerk chicken wrap. I didn't like the jerk sauce so the sandwich wasn't very enjoyable but the ingredients were fresh and otherwise tasted pretty good. I think if I'd followed my first mind and bought the grilled chicken caesar wrap I would've enjoyed it much better.
The portion size is generous and you get a lot of food for your money. I ordered takeout but the inside of the restaurant was clean and nicely decorated. Ain't She Sweet is a definite gem in an otherwise struggling up-in-coming area.
The one drawback was the customer service. The guy at the counter wasn't very attentive and seemed to be more concerned with what was going on over my shoulder rather than what was coming out of my mouth.
Even still I'd give this place another chance and would recommend it to anyone passing through the area. -
Review from Jess I.
12/7/2011
Everything here is absolutely delicious. I was surprised too because both times I went my friend and I had Groupons. The tomato bisque is out of this world and the veggie sandwiches are also to die for. It's in a location that can be hard to find, so make sure to keep an eye out for it!
There are several tables inside and it's cute enough that it makes for a great lunch date with a friend or your significant other. The prices are good for what you get and the staff is lovely. I believe they make their soups from scratch which, right off the bat, had me crawling back for more.
Try this. -
Review from Chris C.
Chicago, IL
5/18/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This is one of the hidden gems in the environment. They have the best salad the fiesta ugh! And the Jerk Chicken wrap is amazing. If you are very try the signature sandwich it is amazing. The service can be a bit slow because it gets packed fast during lunch. But I have to say this place is really nice.
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Review from Dee J.
Chicago, IL
5/4/2012
I have never had a bad sandwich, wrap, dessert, smoothie or shake out of this place. Everyone is always pleasant and my food is aways on point!
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Review from Michelle V.
Chicago, IL
4/14/2012
Jerk chicken wrap was great and smoothies are good as well. We also had their turkey sandwich and it was just OK. I will definitely go back and try other items. It is a cute, friendly spot and prices are very reasonable.
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Review from Jessica J.
Chicago, IL
3/4/2012
Nice Store..Ok Sandwiches..A-OK salads. I purchased 3 groupons to this place, expecting to have some decent food, but what they gave me was just OK, nothing too fancy, or shall I say nothing that I couldn't prepare myself. And the time it took to get my food...Too long! I have one more Groupon to redeem, hopefully this one will atleast save this business on my "tried, but not going back list."
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Review from Jerry E.
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
wonderful vegetarian sandwich and smoothies; the whole family loved this place including my 16-year-old daughter.
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Review from Danielle B.
Evanston, IL
9/21/2011
I had heard a lot of good things about this place and I confirmed them today--it is a gem. Nicely decorated with unique art pieces, even the bathroom, which means a lot to me--I think you can tell a lot about a restaurant from the bathroom!
The food was good--creative and fresh cafe food. I had the fiesta salad. I've never had a salad that had so much fruit on it and somehow it worked. A tad sweet for my taste but that is just me. My kids shared a veggie panini and seemed to enjoy it. I was impressed that they managed to get broccoli into the sandwich mix. My dad had the jerk chicken wrap and said it was delicious--my husband recommended the wrap from his earlier visit.
These are only suggestions, not complaints: the waitstaff could be a little more inviting/instructive. It was our first time so we didnt know and there were no signs about where to sit or order, if they bring it out or if they have you pick it up at the counter. Its pretty obvious that you order at the register but the two guys behind the counter sort of hung back in the open kitchen and took my order from there. That was a little awkward but then he came out set our table and brought our food, which was a nice touch that I wasn't expecting--I thought it was a pick up deal.
Anyway, charming spot. Even my dad who doesn't like trying new things liked it. -
Review from Tawana W.
Chicago, IL
6/16/2011
Haven't been to the new location yet, so this review is based on the old Cottage Grove location. Cute space (we hosted a baby shower), the owner is very nice, the staff appropriately chatty.
I absolutely LOVE, 'Da Steve'....you should try it for yourself.
Its a simple sandwich shop that doesn't try to do too much. -
Review from Char Y.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2010
We came with a groupon and ordered:
jerk chicken wrap - ok, chicken too dry & mayo too spicy
da steve - ok, too sour due to the pickled vegetables
I thought the food was ok, but expensive. -
Review from Anne S.
5/2/2008
I think this cafe/sandwich shop/ice cream parlor is so cute. You could easily drive right past and never notice this place, but it's definitely worth stopping in if your in the area. I like to bike over to this cafe for lunch on the weekends. Their salads are nice, fresh, and simple, just the way I like them! The club sandwich is huge, and the wraps look so tasty (friends said they were good, but I haven't had one yet). I also really like their smoothies because they are not yogurt based (they'll add it if you want). The only bad thing is that the food does not come out instantly. They have to prepare everything, so it takes a lot longer than fast food. But I've discovered that you can easily call in advance, place an order, and pick it up!
If you are ever in the Bronzeville area you should check it out!Listed in: Top Restaurants, Great lunch spots
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Review from Cassie D.
3/3/2010
I love this place. What a wonderful addition to the community!
I eat lunch here probably once a week. It's as diet-friendly as you want it to be. The ingredients in the salads, sandwiches and smoothies are always fresh. In these colder months, I especially enjoy the tomato spinach bisque.
If you find yourself in the neighborhood, definitely pop in for a treat! -
Review from Allison E.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2009
This place is a wonderful local cafe owned and run by wonderful local folk. Also, they support local artists. They really are a community oriented establishment and not another corporate franchise. They do a really good job too. I will always prefer to give my money to places that are really supporting and engaging with their local community.
Additionally, they do have fantastic food. The sandwiches are HUGE. I mean really huge. Like 6 inches tall. and so delicious. It really is the perfect south side lunch spot. -
Review from Will D.
Chicago, IL
7/10/2011
We were running a financial aid workshop for our students (Chicago Scholars) at the Urban League and they recommended this place for lunch. I brought our staff and guest speaker here and we enjoyed it very much. Bright, open space, with good sandwich variety. We all enjoyed our selections. The jerk chicken got a rave. I had the Spartan, which was good.
Afterwards I decided to have some ice cream and ordered two scoops (about $3.00) which came out like five, scooped by the owner herself, who was very nice and clearly involved in running the place. A nice local spot. -
Review from Ian T.
Chicago, IL
Excellent! The service was great and the sandwich was big and delicious ! I would recommend "da steve" with extra hot peppers. I will definitely be returning there soon. Also the prices are great, check out the lunch specials. The sandwich was excellent but not the absolute best food I have ever ate HOWEVER, the service+price+taste combo easily pushes this into the 5-star zone.
P.S.
My wife loved the smoothie with a passion! -
Review from Tyler S.
Chicago, IL
2/22/2011
I like this place. I've been a few times and the sandwiches are good and you get a huge sandwich for what you pay. My only gripe is that I really like their smoothies and I usually get the same one every time I go but each time it tastes different from the last. So far it has been the BEST when the owner herself makes it. YUM!
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Review from Mrs. W.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2009 8 photos
I absolutely LOVE this place! The atmosphere, the customer service, the food, the smoothies...where do I begin? I have been coming to this restaurant since it opened and it is by far my favorite restaurant. They closed briefly, but a few weeks later I received a call from the staff that they were back open! My favorite sandwiches are the Chicken Caesar Wrap and the Steve. The tropical breezer fresh fruit smoothie is AMAZING! I just can't say enough about this place.
The owner and staff are very friendly too and they make you feel like family. Sometimes I have meetings here or just come to grab a bite to eat and check my email with their free wifi! They recently catered a staff meeting that I had and everyone raved about how yummy the food was. Now that they deliver, my colleagues and I order from here at least once a week!
If you are going to be in the Bronzeville area, you should definitely check this place out! -
Review from Lynnette H.
Chicago, IL
7/18/2011
I really enjoyed this cafe. I came with a friend for lunch. I had the Spartan panini (chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, & pesto sauce) and a piece of the chocolate cake. The panini was excellent!! Very fresh ingredients, including the yummy multigrain brain. The cake was not very flavorful or moist, but this was from an outside vendor. I tried my friend's tomato spinach bisque soup (I typically hate tomato soup) and was in heaven! It was sooo good!!. The space is small but cute. I definitely will be headed back.
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Review from Gerri H.
Chicago, IL
1/16/2011
One of the best restaurants in Bronzeville, providing healthier sandwich and wrap options to the area. We usually call in our order and pick it up 10 minutes later. While the panninis are great, I especially enjoy their wrap; specifically, their ceasar and jerk chicken wraps . They are made to order, filled with extremely fresh ingredients, and just plain taste good. You get a choice of the type of wrap (I'm partial to spinach), and most importantly, all wraps and sandwiches come with lays potato chips and a pickle! Give Ain't She Sweet a try!
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Review from Ana J.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Totally the place to be. So, quaint. The tomato spinach bisque was totally the best I ever had.
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Review from April W.
Bolingbrook, IL
2/14/2011
Great place different type of sandwiches ice cream from heaven
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Review from mary e.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2009
I was recently in Bronzeville with a friend to attend to a work event. I would ordinarily never notice this little sandwich shop since it's easy to drive right past (and I'm never in the area) but my friend made me stop in. Yum! The sandwich I had, a turkey BLT, was fantastic and huge. And I mean really, really big. It was delicious and super fresh. Honestly, the food here was fresher than anything I've had at any Subway. The owner is very health concious and uses whole wheat and turkey bacon. The inside is super cute also, with exposed brick and lots of art from local artists including paintings of our Pres, Barack Obama. I grabbed a free chocolate covered strawberry on my way out...yay!
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Review from Candice M.
Chicago, IL
9/12/2010
I love the food at this cafe. Excellent, fresh, consistent. The service is friendly and attentive and she is moving to a new larger restaurant space on 43rd, just north of Bronzeville Coffee. I highly recommend everyone try. Kid friendly restaurant.
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Review from Kiley R.
Chicago, IL
1/20/2011
I love this cafe! Stopped by this week and got my usual sweet fix! Can't wait to stop by again soon!
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Review from Reel A.
Chicago, IL
1/17/2009
I love this place. One of my favorite spots in Bronzeville. Ms. Strotter is a gracious and giving host. You often see her behind the counter greeting customers and taking orders. The food is excellent. The art on the walls are all from local artist in the community. The exposed brick is a nice touch. I love all of the food. The vegetarian wrap and egg salad sandwhich are my favorite.
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Review from Bradley S.
Uptown, Chicago, IL
7/22/2010
I stopped in for lunch today Groupon in hand. The proprietors made the right decision there as I will be back and will be recommending this spot for our school's catering rotation. I really enjoyed the Jerk Chicken Wrap. It had lots of chicken, fresh veggies, and a good (if modest) kick. I accompanied this with their raspberry lemonade Grove Mixer, slushy type thing. This was very light and refreshing on this hot humid day. The place is spotless and well decorated, a very inviting boit. The staff was, without exception, friendly and conscientious. Next time...the Chicken Caesar Wrap and the soups sound tempting come cooler climes.
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Review from Jessica D.
IL
3/3/2009
Yes, I received a phone call personally from the staff saying they have re-opened. Everyone should visit this cafe because it is a tasty treat!
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Review from Eugene E.
Chicago, IL
4/29/2009
Great place. Excellent vegetarian panini. Fresh ingredients. Also my friend commented on the turkey croissant and how good it was. Extremely friendly staff and the new idea of going to places because of WiFi to "try and get work done" never hurts.
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Review from Tish N.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
10/4/2009
My aunt's baby shower was hosted here. I really liked the space for a venue. I have a good friend getting married soon and this would make a perfect place for one of her showers. I'm definitely going back to try the food very soon. Also, the owner was on hand to answer any questions we had about the art on the walls and the venue.
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Review from Aaron C.
Chicago, IL
3/8/2010
The food is great! I like the cottage grove club and the wraps. I like that the bacon that they use, because its actually turkey bacon (no pork products cuz its unhealthy! :) )
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Review from Claire F.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2010
These sandwiches are great! Very large and the croissant is a bit greasy. That's the only thing I would change. The smoothie was amazing!
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Review from Phaedra L.
Chicago, IL
6/14/2010
Smoothies are Fab. Sandwiches are Fab. I love neighborhood joints.
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Review from Maurice E.
Chicago, IL
7/5/2011
turkey chili and tamale were the bomb thouroughly enjoyed will be back!!!!!
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Review from Dianne C.
Chicago, IL
2/20/2011
YEAH, I DID IT! I left Les Fleur de Lis after a bombed lunch, for dessert and coffee at Ain't She Sweet Cafe. The 3 people working barely looked up, at us for nearly 5 minutes. Looking askance, I notice some cool people in the window....the props that made us stop. Well, did we get slow, slovenly togo service? Yes we did. I opted out of ordering anything....ignore me, and I don't buy. My friend scanned and scanned...wanting to support this place for cool Black people....and bought ice cream, to go. Did it take a lot of delegating for staff to get theice cream? You betcha (Palin-esque). Will I go back or send anyone there? I think not (haughty). This place left me feeling dissed. And I am a customer. So........they don't need customers!
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Review from J J.
Chicago, IL
4/27/2009
I had an awesome peach smoothie from there. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. I am only giving it a 4 star because I have not tried anything else out there but the smoothie was definitely worth it.
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Review from Vicky B.
Chicago, IL
12/5/2009
Aint She Sweet is a great find in the Bronzeville area. I highly recommend their Reuben and Tuscany paninis. The Reuben had just the right combination of sauerkraut, dressing and mustard and the Tuscany had a very tasty pesto sauce. The usage of turkey pastrami and turkey ham was delicious and added to the flavor of the sandwich. I can't wait to try more of their menu, especially the smoothies and croissant sandwiches. The decor is very inviting and the service is friendly. Give Aint She Sweet Cafe a try, you won't be sorry :)
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Review from Christyn F.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/28/2010
Wish I would have bought more Groupons.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/23/2010
Since I don't eat pork and am trying to cut out beef, Aint She Sweet was a really good find. She is… Read more »
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Review from Kim B.
Chicago, IL
4/7/2008
Looking for a neighborhood spot to read your paper, have a sandwich or tasty treat? Then this is your spot. I stumbled across this cafe during a neighborhood event in 2006 and have been hooked ever since. They offer a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, homemade sweets, ice cream, smoothies, etc. My personal favorite is the Steve; a warm croissant with several different types of turkey, melted cheese, and ... we'll I'll stop there, you'll have to check it out for yourself. The owner is usually there working and is a wonderfully gracious person. The service is great and the atmosphere is cozy and warm. Everyone feels welcome.
