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Ann Sather's
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Food Bakeries Restaurants Scandinavian Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries, Scandinavian [Edit]
3416 N Southport Ave(at Newport Ave)
Chicago, IL 60657
Neighborhood: Lakeview
(773) 404-4475
- Nearest Transit:
-
Southport (Brown Line)
Paulina (Brown Line)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
81 reviews for Ann Sather's
Review Highlights
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"Possibly the best cinnamon rolls ever." In 48 reviews -
"I had the French Toast Fantasy because." In 3 reviews -
"Service was great and my cup was always full." In 3 reviews
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81 reviews in English
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Review from Keyla R.
I love a lazy weekend breakfast at Ann Sather's. The breakfast is the same bacon and eggs that you will get everywhere else. But they will throw cheese on those eggs if you ask. Yum!
The hash browns are the homestyle chunk potatoes with onions. But if you don't like onion, they are large enough pieces that you can easily pick them out.
But, let's be honest, none of us are here for the bacon and eggs, filling though they may be. We are here for the cinnamon rolls. Big, hot, fluffy squares of goodness, just oozing with that sugary white icing all over them. Oh, honey, are those babies good eating! You'll love them. And you can ask for some extras to take home. Nuke one for 10 seconds and they will be a hot and gooey as they were in the restaurant.
The only negative about this location is that it is a very small place inside. So on busy weekends seating can be tough. In the summer, the patio in front and on the side is open, but a word of warning...that side patio is right under the El. It's only the Brown line so the train isn't a constant annoyance, but it can still be damned loud as it goes by. So be warned if you are hung over. Still, I will deal with the rumbling, because those cinnamon rolls are quieting the only rumbling that matters to me...the one in my tummy!Listed in: The Morning After
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Review from Mike E.
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
For a place known for its cinnamon rolls, I was expecting greatness. Like divine greatness. But, Sather's did not give me anything close to that taste of the divine.
I was at an airport last week with my lady friend. We tried the McDonald's cinnamon rolls, and they were tastier than Ann Sather's. I'm just saying.
But there was some redemption: the portions are enormous, and my breakfast burrito was loaded with meat and eggs. The hash browns were basic, but I'll never really complain about well-seasoned potatoes.
If you're looking for something quick and hearty, Ann Sather's is a safe bet. But do not go there solely for the cinnamon rolls. -
Review from Liz K.
2/12/2012
Ann Sather's is a 4 out of 5 if you take it for what it is; an in-and-out breakfast/brunch/lunch place. I understand that some of the other locations may not be as such, but the Southport location is too small to be anything else. If you didn't know that when you were headed there (so basically, if you were me), then you would certainly realize it when you got there. I would estimate that it can seat about 30, but they are great about getting you in and out.
I thought it was incredible that with the breakfast/brunch entrees come with two sides, and that one of those options is not one but TWO of the huge cinnamon rolls...I mean really, one cinnamon roll could have been my entire breakfast. You MUST try one. There's no excuse not to.
I try smoked salmon eggs benedict wherever possible, and this was no exception. I will say that it wasn't the most appealing plate I've ever seen - the hollandaise was runnier than I expected and there were no extra frills on the plate, but once I took a bite, that was completely fine with me. The man friend really enjoyed his scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast combo.
The service was quick and friendly, but as it's an "in-and-out" kind of place, they aren't hanging around trying to be your bff. And that's fine. I'll most likely be back, and I can definitely see myself going back just to pick up some cinnamon rolls to eat at home. -
Review from Delna W.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
My first time here, I thought I was getting an amazing deal. With most egg entrées ($8-11) you get TWO sides, enabling you to indulge in the gastronomic paragon of american excess (do you really need cinnamon rolls and an omelet? I guess it depends on how much you drank last night...) And there is certainly something to be said for menu options that allow you to avoid the scourge of indecisiveness.
Unfortunately, the cliché of quality over quantity reigns supreme. Food here is truly mediocre; even the cinnamon rolls are not that great. Though moist in the middle, the outsides can tend to be a little dry, the icing is just a cloying, slightly lemony mess, and the cinnamon flavor is lacking.
Bottom line, especially if you are seated in the garage-esque annex in the back of this location, there are too many great brunch places around the city to waste your time and money here. -
Review from Helen S.
11/9/2011
This place is one of those things where you don't notice it much, until one day it sticks and suddenly it seems like everyone is talking about it. One of my best friends raved about it first, and then I saw this on Food Networks' Best Thing I Ever Ate. Soon, every time I heard the words "cinnamon rolls" I began to associate it with Ann Sather, which seemed like this magical, elusive place that I absolutely cannot miss.
Maybe I didn't enjoy my company - I came here with two complete strangers (don't ask how that happened). Or maybe I wasn't too hungry - I ordered an omelet and the cinnamon rolls were one of the sides, when I should've just ordered the rolls. Don't get me wrong because they weren't bad, although I liked Cinnabons better (they'll probably blacklist me for making this comparison now...). I was expecting some sort of blissful, cathartic release, and to feel like I never want to eat another cinnamon roll again if it isn't from Ann Sather's, but I didn't leave feeling this way.
I guess I definitely built it up too much in my mind, so I'm at fault. I didn't have a bad experience, but I just didn't think it was that great and my omelet was very average too.Listed in: The Michelins
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Review from Ngoc T.
Chicago, IL
7/28/2011
4 stars because they do have the greatest cinnamon rolls.
It is an overly rated restaurant. Everyone keeps bragging about going to Ann Sather's like it's the new hip and cool place for high school girls to hang out after school. Their breakfast food is average and what you'd expect. Decent sized. It's like a healthy diner placer, I suppose.
It can get very crowded. So, do me a favor: wake up at 6:30 am and go there to order a take-out of their cinnamon rolls for breakfast. You get their signature 2 rolls for $3! -
Review from Erick N.
8/1/2011
I have had brunch a couple of times at Ann Sather's and overall am underwhelmed. While I agree the cinnamon rolls are outstanding, I am scared to think how many calories they contain so they are not something I'd want to enjoy more than on a rare occasion (and preferably after a very long run).
Aside from the cinnamon rolls the menu is rather mundane and uninspiring and the main courses I have tried were very mediocre. Nothing special about the ambiance or service; no complaints, but again just ho-hum.
What I also found odd was one time we attempted to eat at Ann Sather's during a neighborhood parade and they had a "special holiday menu" (even though it was not a holiday) and the only thing "special" about the menu was it seemed they jacked up the price $2 to $3 on most of the dishes. As much as I searched and squinted my eyes I could not find anything else "special" about the menu, so our party on that occasion opted to take our business elsewhere. -
Review from Kate M.
12/31/2010
Eh, just ok. Definitely not the top of my breakfast joint list.
The menu is really small. It's disappointingly small. And yes, size does matter. I reluctantly tried the "swedish pancakes & meatballs", reluctantly because the meatballs are served in "brown gravy". When food is described by it's color, it frightens me. But I was brave, and they were delicious. The potato pancakes are ok, not great, but ok.
The service is always good and friendly. It's not a big place, so it gets busy quickly. I would not wait in line to eat here. Definitely not worth a wait. -
Review from Lauren V.
Just thinking of Ann Sather's cinnamon rolls just makes my mouth water! Everything else I've had here has been great as well, and comes in huge portions. They have a nice little outdoor seating area although they are right next to the El track so it can be a little noisy. The indoor seating area is a little cramped but the servers are friendly and we get our food fast, so we're happy!
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Review from Catherine W.
Fort Wayne, IN
11/6/2011
Ok breakfast. It was nice not to have to wait in a long line. Convenient location right near Brown line el station. Had the swedish meatballs and pancakes. The swedish potato sausage was so-so. Wouldn't make a special trip to eat here though.
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Review from Helena B.
11/15/2010
Don't let the lines concern you (it's Brunch in Lakeview, people, you have to come prepared), Ann Sather's manages to get you seated quickly without making you feel rushed once you are at your table.
As you've read, get the cinnamon rolls. Seriously, if you don't, you have to come back next Sunday 'cause ya messed up. They come as a "side" option for many of the breakfast specials, so just. do. it. Mmmm. With cinnamon rolls and bottomless coffee, I could seriously hang out here all morning. However, we are brunching, not lounging, so let's get to it.
I had the French Toast Fantasy because... well... Rachael Ray told me to (no, I don't watch her show(s), her recommendation is written on the menu). It's a french toast sandwich with Mascarpone cheese in the middle and granola and berries on top. While I could have done with a little less cheese, it offset the sweetness of the powdered sugar and french toast nicely (and, you can easily modify the sandwich innards by scraping some of the Mascarpone to the side).
Boyfriend went with the Southern Decadence - biscuits, eggs, and gravy. As a child of Dixie, I can assure you that these were spot-on. Made me miss Grandma a little, even. Aww.
Service was quick and attentive, food was quite good. It's obvious why Ann Sather's draws such a line.Listed in: Brunch
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Review from Laura L.
Chicago, IL
3/13/2012
im not sure..
the time in line to wait for the food doesn't seem worth it to me. i was expecting delicious breakfast epiphanies and was satisfied with standard brunch fare
maybe i have to try these cinnamon buns everyone reviews -
Review from Lindsay S.
Chicago, IL
12/16/2011
Cinnabon has the best cinnamon rolls ever, fyi. Ann Sather does have good food, and you get a lot for your money. I like this location because of the outdoor seating in the summer, and I have actually never been on the inside of the restaurant. I have gotten the omelets which are fine, but I really do like the oatmeal... one that has dried fruits and nuts in it and also is mixed with the rice porridge, but when I ordered it they didn't make rice porridge that day, which I thought was weird bc its on that dish as well as a side option... but it was still good without it. I like Ann Sather just fine, but there are better places for breakfast.
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Review from Sang H.
Chicago, IL
6/25/2011
Ann sathers cinnamon rolls are the greatest and I think almost everyone who has eaten here can agree.
The more amazing thing is, I had the benedict here and the eggs were cooked so perfectly. I really enjoyed this breakfast restaurant -
Review from Peter D.
Philadelphia, PA
1/6/2011
I came here on a Tuesday morning around 11AM and so there was relatively no one present except for two other females eating cinnamon buns.
I really, really liked Ann Sather and can see why it's such a Chicago staple.
I ordered a hot apple cider, which was delicious, and then proceeded to order two eggs and bacon with TWO sides of a monstrous, signature-style cinnamon bun and hash browns.
For about $9 you get a FILLING and DELICIOUS breakfast.
The service was very quick and our waiter was a very nice guy. If you come here when it's not busy you can expect the same service and quality.
I definitely will be back, maybe not this location, but the fact that it is literally across the street from the entrance to the Southport Brown Line stop, it's hard to beat.
I will say this, you can EASILY split the cinnamon bun with a friend, or eat it by yourself alone. They are that big, and so so good! -
Review from Kortney M.
Chicago, IL
3/27/2011
Its really just ok.
We walked in, were not greeted and were pushed aside as the servers walked out the door to get other customers. Finally the hostess greeted us, and we were seated right away which was great for noon on a Sunday.
I know the fact of getting "sides" with breakfast can be a bid odd of a thought, but man their cinnamon rolls are tasty! I ordered the Swedish breakfast sampler, and the only yummy thing was the pancake. The potato sausage was bland and had a weird texture, and the meatballs were in this cold brown gravy.
My guy got an omelet which looked very tasty and it was HUGE!
Drinks and coffee were refilled regularly but when it came time to get a to go box, the servers didn't want to give us one, they ignored us, and then finally gave us a tiny pie container for almost a whole omelet. -
Review from Jenna S.
Chicago, IL
6/30/2010
GET A CINNAMON ROLL. DO IT.
This location is A LOT more cramped than the location on Belmont, so I'd skip Southport altogether if it's not May-October. Their outdoor seating is nice and we didn't wait long, but I can't imagine how they cram anyone inside during the winter months. There didn't seem to be that many tables inside so if you don't live in this area, definitely go to the Belmont location.
Menu is large and there's daily specials that I highly recommend. Obviously, the Swedish Sampler is a go-to favorite meal of mine, but this time I opted for some eggs and bacon. Still really good and you always get your choice of two sides which makes any reasonable sized meal enormous. I opted for a side of hash browns and cinnamon rolls because I clearly wasn't watching my calorie or carbohydrate intake. How delicious...
Service was quick and friendly and we were in and out in about 45 minutes. Not bad for a breakfast on the run. Located near the L if you need to go downtown after your super-filling meal. Oh, and you can get cinnamon rolls to go. Get some. Now.Listed in: Mmm Mmmm... Brunch!
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Review from Jaz B.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2010
So I have heard about this place since last year and EVERYONE said it was amazing. Heck, some my aunt said it was the BEST place to eat breakfast. A good yelp friend of mine said it would not change my life and it was average, not the best. I was so curious to why everyone else I knew said it was the best and one person said it wasn't. I decided to try it out myself. I went on a Sunday morning---so many people, you would think they would be at church instead of here. The place itself was not big, after waiting 35 minutes, of course my friend and I were seated with four other people we had no idea.
We both sat there listening to the other people sitting next to us talking, a bit annoyed. We ordered--scrambled eggs, turkey sausage links, hash browns, fresh sqeeze orange juice and fruit salad. Everything was good, nothing outstanding---and it did not change my life. The cinnamon buns smelled delicious and they are delicious. Service was great and my cup was always full.
If you are looking for great cinnamon buns, this is the place! -
Review from Caroline M.
Chicago, IL
5/16/2008
I tend to get cranky if I don't get fed every few hours....and this place makes my tummy happy (and minimizes my cranky-ness).
Quick and friendly service.
Yummy cinnamon rolls.
Good coffee.
Inexpensive.
In my neighborhood.
I heart Ann Sather.Listed in: Addicted to Carbs, I'm a chick and I love brunch.
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Review from Garrett A.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2011
Cheap and friendly -- just like how I like my women. (Kidding, kidding.) Came here twice and both times they delivered to expectations. This is a simple, no-frills breakfast place; you get what you pay for. Their Southern Comfort breakfast was very filling, especially with the two sides. Any place that can make me full for $10 is worth coming back to!
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Review from Sixto M.
Chicago, IL
3/8/2009
I was walking on Southport with some friends looking for a place to eat lunch when we past by Ann Sather's. Here's how we decided to eat here:
Me: we can go here, or here, or here, or Ann Sather's.
Friend 1: ooh, I could go for a cinnamon roll
Friend 2: well, we all could, but let's go over here instead. I know we all love their cinnamon rolls.
Me: Actually, I've never been to an Ann Sather's before.
Friend 1 and 2 (simulataneously): WHAT?? We're going now.
And so we stepped into this cozy, warm little restaurant. As I said, I had never been to an Ann Sather's before, and neither one of my friends had ever been to this location. Here are a couple of things I/we learned:
-it was 12pm, and this location only serves breakfast. I don't know if they ever transition to a lunch/dinner menu, but when I asked if they serve lunch, our waitress said no.
-great cinnamon rolls! I wouldn't call them the BEST I've ever had, but definitely worth the price. Not 1, but 2 for $3 (or as one of your sides with an egg entree)
-while their menu doesn't explicitly mention it, they do have turkey alternatives (sausage and bacon)
-its a little bit pricey, but the portions are good and food is nicely done
-their fountain drinks are HUGE. I doubt you'll get a refill
All in all, a great intro into the style of Ann Sather's. Next time, I'll try the belmont location for lunch/dinner.Listed in: My New 'Hood: Lakeview!
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Review from Jess T.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2007
I routinely stopped in at this Baby Ann Sather's to pick up two (2) steaming hot cinnamon rolls and two (2) deliciously buttery biscuits. I could usually make it about four blocks before I tore into a biscuit, saving the cinnamon rolls for later. This location is considerably smaller than the "real" Ann Sather's on Belmont, but it's usually not super crowded, and the Southport area can be fun to cruise after breakfast. If you're still not convinced, listen to this: last time I visited Chicago, I walked fifteen blocks in the pouring rain in my CASHMERE sweater, just to buy my cinnamon buns + biscuits combo, ostensibly to take on the plane home.
Neither the cinnamon rolls nor the biscuits even made it to O'Hare, much less on the plane. -
Review from Aaron N.
10/6/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Just moved to Southport and had to visit this place because EVERYONE raved about how good it was. Ann Sather's is that serious. You want breakfast? You want Cinnamon Rolls? This place has it all and it's ALL good. The cinnamon rolls are ridiculous, but the the omelets and breakfast wraps are just as good.
This has been my go to place on the weekend mornings after a long night of partying and it will continue to be a a spot I love while I'm in the neighborhood. Pretty much this place is slamming and needs to be visited....by everyone. Boom! -
Review from Whitney L.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2010 1 photo
I've spent a year in Chicago and my boyfriend has been here for just under three, and neither of us have been graced by Ann Sather's goodness...until yesterday morning, that is.
We racked our brains for brunch options as we dragged ourselves out of bed at noon. It was Sunday and we were in Chicago- do we really have a choice?! We're sandwiched between two Ann locations - Belmont and Southport, but I opted for Southport for the outside seating.
We walked our happy butts over, excited for the possibility of stuffing ourselves into a weary-eyed nap state of mind, and we basically did just that.
We wanted outside seating, and after awkwardly standing around inside waiting for someone to recognize our presence for the moment (this seemed to take longer than necessary, as in the inside is quite cramped and I assume two more people's presence is pretty noticeable) and we were directed to wait outside until a table got cleared off. No biggie.
We waited a while for a server and for water, etc. Which, again, surprised me, seeing as this is a place with no more than 20 tables total. But, it's Sunday! Who cares if we wait.
What's this? Two cinnamon rolls are a SIDE on your meal? Plus another side? Heart attack station. I ordered a 'make your own' breakfast wrap with avacados (which later turned out to be guacamole...essentially the same, but if you're going to serve guac, say guac. Not avacado, please.), hashbrowns and cinnamon rolls. My dude ordered the veggie...egg...something. Hashbrowns and cinnamon rolls.
Rolls came out first. As a gooey, sticky, fattening appetizer. I ate one, savored the other for later. Then our food got delivered to the wrong table and sat in front of two girls who looked confused until the waiter came back and delivered it to us.
Our meals were pretty decent. Portions were HUGE. I ate half of my wrap and took the rest home plus my roll. BF did the same.
Overall, I was mostly entranced by the rolls and then enjoyed another one later at home. I don't know if Ann's will be my first place to rush back to for brunch...but for a pack of the rolls to keep lovingly at home: you know it. -
Review from Brett G.
Chicago, IL
6/11/2008
Breakfast until 2 PM - yes, thank you.
Eggs, omelettes, cinnamon rolls, swedish pancakes, fruit, granola, biscuits - there's seriously not enough time in the day for all the breakfast I want to eat.
It's inexpensive, smells a little too strongly of coffee (which I don't like), and quick and easy. Nothing too shabby there....Listed in: Off the Southport Brown Line
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Review from Yan G.
San Francisco, CA
8/27/2009
If you haven't had a chance to check out the movie "Waitress" with Keri Russell, I suggest you add it to your Netflix queue. It's a feel good movie about a poor waitress who later opened her own restaurant. Such is the story of Ann Sather, who, like Marie Callender, was a real person. If you don't believe me, look it up.
We came here on a Sunday around 10 am, which is probably just about the worst time to go to brunch. You quickly realize that you are not the only person who woke up grumpy and hungry. Incidentally, if you are hungry and grumpy, Ann Sather's gives you an opportunity to practice maintaining your composure. We had to wait about 15-20 minutes, which, I'd been told, was pretty lucky. Never fear, there is a Starbucks across the street, and you can get a coffee while waiting for your name to be called. That's what we did.
When they finally called us, we were escorted to the table towards the back. The place is tiny, and the tables are close together, so . . . try not to bump into anybody. Our waitress brought me coffee right after we sat down, which I always appreciate at breakfast (see my hungry and grumpy comment above). What I didn't appreciate, however, is the coffee itself. It tasted like it was made with a mix of Sanka and Folgers frozen crystals. I only managed to drink 2 small cups, about 1/2 of my normal breakfast coffee intake.
I wanted to stick with the basics: pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns and ham. I tried to find some "special" on the menu that would include all of these items, but I couldn't seem to.
(I'll now hold for your "Denny's Grand Slam" comments).
And we're back. Since I didn't want to order a $20 breakfast, I ordered 2 Swedish pancakes with 2 scrambled eggs ($8.95) and a side order of ham (3.50). I wasn't sure how different Swedish pancakes were from regular pancakes, but I decided to take the leap of faith. Swedish pancakes were as big as regular pancakes, but almost as thin as crepes. They came with a small cup of lingonberry jam, which was surprisingly good. I couldn't figure out whether I was eating a thick crepe or a thin pancake, and I am not going to lie: it bothered me a little. The scrambled eggs were very fluffy, and the ham steak was pretty good, too.
I had a bite of the famous cinnamon roll, and, frankly, I wasn't impressed. I've had much better cinnamon rolls, although $3 for 2 rolls is an amazing deal.
Overall, very decent breakfast in a cute setting. If Ann Sather's promises to do something about the coffee, I promise to come back the next time I am in Chicago. Deal?Listed in: I brake for breakfast!, CHAIN Reaction, Coffee Is For Closers
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Review from Britt W.
Irvine, CA
11/4/2009
Following the advice of people on the Food Network is hit and miss. I've figured out that you have to know who is making the recommendation and how his or her taste matches your own. Guy Fieri - far more hits than misses. Ted Allen of Queer Eye fame? Not so much.
So here I am in the Windy City determined to try at least one new breakfast spot. I check my Yelp bookmarks and remember on The Best Thing I Ever Ate (which is kind of like a sophisticated Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives) that Ted Allen said the best breakfast he's had was at Ann Sather's. Ted specifically mentioned the cinnamon rolls. Who doesn't love cinnamon rolls?
In all fairness this might not be the exact same Ann Sather's that Ted visited. I picked this location because it we right across the street from the Southport station of the brown line and it was the easiest to get to.
So how were the cinnamon rolls? Good but not great. I think that cinnamon rolls are best when they are still warm from the oven. These had been made a few hours before we arrived and didn't fall into the Best Thing I Ever Ate category for me. Darn you Ted Allen!!!
Funny side note though. I knew I couldn't survive on cinnamon rolls alone so I opted for an omelet where you could chose cinnamon rolls as a side. So when my omelet came out it was actually a breakfast burrito. It had all of the ingredients I ordered in my omelet but it was wrapped in a flour tortilla. About 15 years ago I went out to lunch at an El Salvadorian restaurant with some friends. I ordered a burrito and was brought an omelet. Little did I know at the time that in some Spanish speaking cultures scrambled eggs are sometimes called burritos. In a weird way I had come full circle in the burrito vs. omelet cultural clash.Listed in: Where Trojans Eat During the…
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Review from Ray L.
San Diego, CA
12/20/2006
My roomate told me this place had the best brunch and I was skeptical because it's a chain. However, he was damn right this place rocks. All the traditional foods like crepes, pancakes, eggs, sausages, cinnamon rolls = top notch.
They also have Swedish foods here but I haven't tried those because I go here for weekend brunch when people from out-of-town come. Sitting outside is a mixed bag, it's nice on a sunny day but it's right by the El-tracks and the flies can be annoying.
One time my water cup wasn't clean and that was kinda sick but the rest of the time it's great. Their sausage biscuits aren't as good as Bob Evan's but everything else is better. Prices are reasonable at about $5-$11. I usually spend roughly $10 here for a good brunch. -
Review from Michelle L.
Chicago, IL
8/31/2007
This place is just average. A decent place for Sunday morning breakfast out. Nothing too fancy...but the prices are a bit higher than your typical diner breakfast food. The wait wasn't too long at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning. The menu has a variety of options from breakfast burrito to speciality french toast to omlets.
The cinnamon rolls are fantastic and very large portions! -
Review from Sarah I.
Chicago, IL
7/11/2010
The cinnamon rolls were, I suppose, pretty good. That is the most enthusiastic thing I can say about my noon breakfast at Ann Sather on Southport. The rolls were pretty good, but not great. The bagel sandwich (with eggs, cheese and bacon) was bland, with what I felt was not enough egg filling between the somewhat limp and lifeless bagel halves. The hash browns (as the reviewer below mentions, they are not actually hash browns but home fries) were unmemorable. My boyfriend's applesauce was "meh" at best, and his scrambled eggs mediocre. The one thing I can say is that the orange juice was good.
Not sure why this place is so popular, but I was really disappointed in the blandness and lifelessness of the food. Not exciting, not tasty, and filling in a bad way... because you're full from food that you did not enjoy eating.
Would rather venture down to Hyde Park for breakfast at the Medici than walk the few blocks to this place. (You'll never have better breakfast potatoes, take my word for it.) Hopefully there are some better breakfast options nearby. -
Review from Onur U.
5/8/2009
I was looking forward to trying Ann Sather since it seems to have a good reputation and it's pretty close to my house. What a disappointment! The risk with brunch is that a lot of the food actually is really easy to make, so it's kind of hard to justify paying 10 bucks for an omelet unless it kicks a lot of ass. Sadly, the only thing at Ann Sather that kicked any ass at all was the cinnamon rolls. The salmon benedict was rubbery, the mexican omelette was runny, and the swedish waffles were stiff. Also, we joked the whole time about how you can slap the name Swedish on anything, because no one actually knows what Swedish food is. I'm guessing whatever it is, it wasn't what Ann Sather was serving when I was there.
Maybe other locations are better, but we definitely won't be going back to the Southport location.
Best dish: The cinnamon rolls are pretty good, but if I ever want them, I'll be taking that order to go. -
Review from Rachel E.
Chicago, IL
10/15/2007
I'm sorry, but I hate Ann Sather's. I think this makes me unamerican or something, but I'm allergic to pretty much everything in cinnamon rolls, and everything but the cinnamon rolls (from what i can gather--smelling the smells, and watching the ooey-gooey frosting drip onto the table cloth and look ooh soo yummy) is unremarkable.
Because I can't eat anything bread-like, I tend to make people wait until after pancake time, so that my "brunch" can be selected from a lunchier menu, and last time I decided to give Ann a chance, I went at burger time. Yum, a burger and fries. WRONG!!!! No fries. NO FRIES!?!? Just sage-y hash browns. What a downer.
So if you like cinnamon rolls, go for it. But if you're in the mood for anything else, go to Orange.
Disco brunch is kind of funny, though, so that's why the 2 stars. -
Review from Lynn N.
Alexandria, VA
8/23/2011 2 photos
Five star cinnamon buns (even better with coffee) and two to three-star brunch food overall. My friend ordered the steak Benedict and found it rather lackluster. Meanwhile, I went the ala carte route with two buns, a fruit bowl, and coffee. As previously stated, the warm cinnamon buns slathered in glazed frosting stole the show with their doughy sweetness. However, although the fruit looked beautiful, the watermelon (as the majority fruit) came out mealy and tasteless. Next time, I'll skip the healthy and head straight for the sugar and cinnamon.
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Review from Mary Cait W.
Chicago, IL
11/24/2009
If you're going to Ann Sather's, don't go to this one. Yes, the food is good, but this particular location is tiny and very crowded at prime brunch time (more crowded than other popular brunch places). My family was seated basically at the same table as another family, and my dad had to pull up a chair at the end of the table where the servers had to squeeze by him to get to other tables. That said, between my parents and me we had an omelet, Salmon benedict, and cinnamon rolls, and all of them were very tasty.
Go here to get their delicious cinnamon rolls, but get them to go. If you're planning on a sit-down brunch, go to one of the other locations. -
Review from Rob D.
Toledo, OH
7/5/2010
For a chain that fancy's itself a cinnamon roll place these miss the mark. I had thoughts of gooey fresh rolls; wrong. Cinnamon rolls were average at best, hard and missing much frosting. Not sure if I caught them on the wrong day or what, but I've had better from my local grocery store.
Another curve ball was their so called "hash browns"; I must warn all these are not hash browns, but actually home fires. Not sure how they made that mistake.
Omelet was fine, nothing extraordinary. Overall just really disappointed the cinnamon rolls weren't better. -
Review from Shannon H.
Chicago, IL
8/11/2010
I get it. I've been in retail. I know customer service sucks. I usually don't complain about restuarant service because I know how hard everyone is working, so I always cut people some slack and try to tip well. However, this was one experience was slack-cutting was not an option.
So, I walked in on a lovely weekend morning with my husband in tow, really excited about finally eating at Ann Sather's! We felt immediately awkward because no one greeted us, and instead a server pushed us out of the way to get outside. I wasn't upset, I just felt bad that I was in his way. And that's how I felt the entire time we were there, like I was in someone else's way. We don't go out to eat a lot, so I don't want to feel like someone is doing me a favor by seating me.
After we waved and got someone's attention, we were finally sat by the grumpiest woman ever. Grumpy forgot our menus, didn't bring any silver ware, forgot our coffee, and forgot our food. So we sat for a while and admired our surroundings, trying not to let Grumpaluffagus ruin our fun morning. The seating was pretty packed, but I just pretended like we were in Paris.
We were finally served, ate our food (which was just okay...) and asked for the check and boxes for the rest of our okay food. We didn't get boxes and we had to ask again for a check. I'm not one for wasting food, so I was upset that we couldn't get another box, however, I couldn't be in there anymore. It was like "What Not To Wear" but for an eatery. So, we peaced out and later laughed all of the weirdness.
All-in-all, it wasn't one disastrous thing that caused my low score, it was a bunch of poor service, not good food, and bad ambiance. -
Review from Brian C.
5/10/2009
I've been the location in Andersonville, which is a little bigger inside. I'm already familiar with the sticky buns (yum!, but overall as far as menu, there aren't too many unique dishes on the breakfast menu to keep me coming back. I might try one of the other locations just to experience a change of scene.
Other than that, everyone was friendly and food was very good. -
Review from Natalie S.
Chicago, IL
10/16/2009 1 Check-in Here
I really wish I could give this place more than 3 stars. I always have a good experience here but the food is just ok.
The servers are always attentive, friendly and quick. I never feel neglected here... my water glass is always full. When I've brought kids in, they're awesome and don't roll their eyes when we have a spill. I was just in there this week and had a great experience.
But the food... the best way I can describe it is high quality institutional fare. The eggs are always slightly chewy. The bicuits feel microwaved. It's not BAD... it's just not great either. It's one of the few places in the area you can get bicuits and gravy so that's a plus... but I've been to MUCH better diners.
I'll go back because it's convenient but if another breakfast spot opened up on southport, I'd celebrate. -
Review from Ang R.
Chicago, IL
7/14/2007
Possibly the best cinnamon rolls ever. I don't even like cinnamon rolls, and I liked these so much that I couldn't leave even one bite on the plate. The biscuits were also good, and I would advise going with someone else, and each one of you ordering one of the above, and sharing.
My omelette was pretty standard, though the addition of artichoke hearts was genius. I liked the hash browns, though they aren't really hash browns, so much as very tasty breakfast potatoes. The breakfast wrap that my boyfriend ate was extremely good as well.
All in all, nothing about this place. -
Review from Lara M.
Chicago, IL
10/18/2010
Two words. Cinnamon buns.
If these cinnamon buns do not put a smile on your face, well then..
Go hungry because the portions are huge! Not much atmosphere but the wait staff is attentive and the food is good.
