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Cafe La Sera - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Sandwiches Food Coffee & Tea Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
1143 N Wells St(between Division St & Elm St)
Chicago, IL 60610
Neighborhood: Near North Side
(312) 274-0442
- Nearest Transit:
-
Clark/division (Red Line)
Chicago-brown (Brown Line, Purple 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
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Cafe La Sera
Review Highlights
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"The Julius Meinl coffee was an excellent." In 7 reviews -
"...stuff on the menu, including a few basic Ethiopian dishes." In 3 reviews -
"I have been dreaming of baked brie ever since I left." In 3 reviews
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Yvonne B.
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a cool place! M brought me here after stopping at House of Glunz for some wine. Cafe La Sera is BYOB. M eagerly told me about how the owner is dedicated to her restaurant and how M wants only to support and promote her business.
Cafe La Sera looks like a casual cafe, but the decor is much more sophisticated with luxurious furniture and African-style paintings.
The owner waited on us and brought us a flat bread pizza, baked brie, and Zengo's Chopped Salad. Yum yum yum! Everything was really scrumptious. I loved the light, crispy texture of the pizza crust. The roasted red peppers on the pizza tied in with the same ingredient on the chopped salad. The brie came with a savory spinach butter, crackers, apples, and grapes.
I watched other diners get coffee drinks and sip outdoors. I saw that there was a shelf of coffee and some other products along a wall. There was a case with some cheesecake desserts. All of this was not in the cards for my visit, but maybe next time.Listed in: Around the Gold Coast, Dates, Cafés
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Review from Susan D.
2/12/2011
I had walked by this place a lot since it is on the street where I live. I'd planned on visiting but then got more motivated when a friend was visiting and I got a http://restaurant.com coupon. You have to spend $35 for the $25 coupon so that was a challenge, because the prices are quite reasonable.
The menu seems to have something for everyone - there are some exotic Ethiopian dishes and regular fare, as well. They also serve traditional breakfast all day, which is handy to know - and lunch items and sandwiches.
We started with the hummus and pita appetizer which was delicious. Then we shared a bowl of meatball soup which was just wonderful. Some of the best soup and hummus I've ever had -- and I've had a lot.
I ordered the beef kebob -- but it didn't come on a stick. It was very flavorful, but not what I was expecting. More like chunks of well seasoned beef on a bed of tomato sauce, with crunchy bread toast cubes. My pal ordered a lamb wrap which was very good. There was plenty of food (too much, really) -- and we could have ordered one entree to share.
The service was a bit slower than I would have thought, given that there was no one else in there at the end of the night. And we waited to pay the check because we weren't given one -- finally we went to the counter to pay. It wouldn't have mattered so much, but we were on our way down Wells to Second City so then had to rush. -
Review from Alicia S.
4/21/2011
I think this place could be really good if they got their act together.
Unfortunately, today being my first time there, I was only semi-impressed.
I ordered the Lemon Herb Salmon Salad
"we are out of salmon"
I ordered the Shrimp Salad
"we are out of shrimp"
I ended up getting the Taouk on Rice, which was good..but very standard Ethiopian dish...so nothing exciting.
My friend got the French Chicken Sandwich, which looked good but isn't very creative...it's chicken...on french bread.
We had a http://Restaurant.com certificate, so we ordered coffee to go before the end of lunch.
I ordered Turkish Coffee
"we ordered our turkish coffee 6 months ago and it never came...so we're out"
Okay...is anyone noticing a trend here?
Also, it was FREEZING when we sat down, and when I went to the bathroom I learned why...their backdoor leads to an adjacent indoor parking garage..and it was WIDE open!
Needless to say, if I hadn't had the certificate I would have left an unhappy camper.
I WOULD come back to try breakfast, since I have heard more about that then lunch, but we will see.
Good luck! -
Review from Jessica M.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2011 4 photos
I highly recommend getting the http://www.restaurant.com coupon in which you can purchase a $25 gift certificate for only $3. I went with two friends for dinner and we ordered: baked brie, lamb wrap, kitfo wrap, and tibs wrap. Our total, including tip, came to approximately $50.
The baked brie was awesome; the cheese was soft and smooth, and it went well with the pleasantly crusted bread. My lamb wrap was more Americanized Ethiopian whereas the other two wraps were more authentic. It's worth a try if you're hoping to try something new.
My friends weren't too fond of the spongy, sour Ethiopian bread or having to eat with their hands. The waitress came by and insisted that that everybody should enjoy the meal without knife and fork to get the best of the Ethiopian cuisine and culture. -
Review from Amy H.
10/8/2010
I was meeting my favorite Yelper, Unity O., for coffee and picked La Sera because of it's location.
I had never had Julius Meinl coffee before, to Unity's dismay, and I liked it. Our server was very attentive and made sure our cups were filled but gave us the space we needed for our girlie chat. I was in the mood for a little snack, so I had the mediterranean chicken salad which was very good. There wasn't anything too special about. It was just chicken breast on top of a salad, but it hit the spot and was a nice light dinner. -
Review from Monica L.
Chicago, IL
11/5/2010 2 photos
This place is confusing. I was in the area looking for a place with FREE WIFI and stumbled upon CAFE La Sera. I was intrigued, especially since it didn't look like a coffeeshop (I know, I know. Cafe doesn't necessarily mean COFFEE but still).
I returned with a friend, to celebrate taking our board exams. I ordered (with lots of excitement) the Lamb Wrap, grilled lamb on a skewer wrapped in a tortilla bread with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and yogurt sauce. Funny because even after listing all those ingredients, I don't remember tasting a lot of them. The lamb was very...grindy and dry. It was as if I flew to Greece, ordered lamb, and instead got the alley cat's chewed up leftovers. Scratch the flying to Greece part, just think alley cat's leftovers. $10.95...wasted.
My friend ordered the Roasted Veggie Wrap which tasted WAY better than what I had. For $3 less, you get a grilled flat bread with roasted portabellas, eggplant, zucchini, red peppers, red onions, spinach, and herb goat cheese all wrapped inside. For that I'm giving this place 2 stars. VEGGIE DISH SAVES THE DAY.
As for the Ethiopian coffee for $3.20, it just tasted like really strong coffee to me. Nothing really stood out other than the fact that it was beautifully presented. Like, Genie's bottle kind of presentation (see photo). -
Review from Virginia W.
Chicago, IL
3/7/2011
I have been dreaming of baked brie ever since I left!
I highly recommend the http://restaurant.com coupon and using a discount code on the site. It's usually "FORK" and you can get a $25 gift certificate for $3.00... score!
I had no problems with the service, and the food was excellent. I already mentioned the baked brie, but the hummus, paninis, cookies and smoothies are fantastic as well! I definitely intend to return! -
Review from Karen T.
2/2/2009
Nice bathroom and décor, many open meters for parking.
That's pretty much the positive I've got on the place, in less than 10 words. And I'm verbose by nature so you know this was pretty blah.
The "chicken with vegetable" soup turned out to be spicy vegetable soup, maybe with chicken broth, but alas, no chicken to be found within. And although the Julius Meinl brand was everywhere from their coffee saucers to the tip can, it certainly wasn't in their café au lait - and I assure you of that, as I was actually in the Wien Julius Meinl 5 months ago.
The music was Easy Listening - I heard Marie Digby, Jack Johnson, Maroon 5, Leona Lewis and the like pop up. I'm not picky so it was pleasant to my ears, but it was the sort of stuff my boyfriend would have blocked out after 10 seconds.
Also, their wifi didn't work. Boooo. I mean, if you Yelp a cafe for wifi, and visit it only to find the wifi is not functional, it's a pretty big disappointment. -
Review from Mandee M.
Chicago, IL
6/8/2007
So I stumbled across this place today, and loved it! The Tuna Melt was very flavorful, but didn't have that fish taste that other tuna salads are known for. It was served open faced on a toasted slice of sourdough and topped with provolone. it came with a small side salad of fresh greens tomatoes and balsamic dressing. I had the Chine Jasmine Pearl tea and it was great. They also have some very tempting looking desserts, but I passed since I was meeting someone later for dessert later this afternoon. I think including my tip I only spent like around $18.00 which is a little more pricey than some places, but it was still good for the quality of the food. I would highly recommend this place to someone wanting a little nicer place to grab a sandwich, salad, or soup.
Note: They were also featured at the Chicago Turkish Festival on Daley Plaza just a week or so ago. -
Review from Brad C.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2010
It's hard to say if I had bad service when really I didn't have any service at all. Today was a great day so three of us grabbed a seat outside. After a few minutes of looking over the menu we placed our orders and got our waters. About 15 minutes later we saw the people near us get their good and it looked pretty good. Then another 30 minutes went by and our food hadn't come out and glasses of water were empty. I then saw a group of guys who I saw about 30 minutes before walking back towards us with Quiznos cups. They had walked passed us, ordered and had eaten and our now walking back to work all while we were still sitting there with empty water cups and no food. At this point we got up and left.
It sounds like others have had similar service experiences, which is sad because the food did sound good. But you won't see me back here. -
Review from Maria C.
Boca Raton, FL
7/15/2007
We were walking around that area and stumbled across this place. It was a great surprise because the place is so cute and exactly what we were looking for.
However the waitress let us order 2 sandwiches and a salad to split without telling us that the sandwiches came with a big side salad. So in the end, my husband and I got stuck with 1 lb of spinach in front of us.
She also took too long to bring me my diet coke (the place wasn't even full) and by the time she got there, I had finished lunch.
It is a cute place with very good options. We want to go back and try it again. -
Review from Jonathan A.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2010
I second Brad C.'s review. This is the first time I've ever gotten up and walked out of a restaurant, though I've wanted to many times in the past.
Never received our food, nor water refilled after the order was taken a good 45 min after ordering sandwiches.
The worst part is that we were only one of maybe 3 groups there during lunch.
Too bad. I guess I'll just cross it off my list. -
Review from Stuart K.
Chicago, IL
7/19/2011
Sitting in cafe sera as I write this review. It appears to be a coffee shop. My espresso is excellent. Looks like they carry many coffees here, mine is a yummy Julius Meinl. The croissant is the single worst pastry I've ever tasted. It is stale, and has the texture of a grocery store bagel. So frustrating. Excellent coffee, crap pastry. Not sure if I'll be back.
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Review from Zac B.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 8/13/2008
Well every two-star deserves a second chance if you ask me, especially if it's the only non-chain coffee shop within close walking distance of my work.
The inside is actually quite plush, with leather seats and a small couch even. This is where you can drift away and play on your laptop with their free wi-fi.
Food is still so-so. I tried a spinach and feta stuffed pastry, kind of like a croissant or bun. It was tasty, but would have been better if they heated longer. The Mocha Frappe was a homemadey feeling Frappacino. I guess if they matched the original Frap too closely they'd get sued by the 3000 ton dragon that is Starbucks, but it wasn't as good either way.
The music in this place is probably the most bizarre aspect of the place. I'd expect more relaxing tunes or something middle eastern since this place's food definitely has an arab bent, but instead pumping out of the speakers are American pop hits from the 80s, 90s, and 00s. Currently playing is that "In Over My Head" song, and another notable favorite was one of Alanis Morissette's worst pieces of crap, "Thank You." This is what happens when businesses buy into shitty Muzak/Serius/XFM contracts.
Overall though this is a pretty relaxing spot with a nice open front window letting in plenty of light. Lots of caffeine at your disposal and snacks that are more or less edible, like most all coffee shops and cafes.
Service is still a little too timid.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/2/2008
Tried to like this little generic non-chain coffee shop/cafe, but it just doesn't really have IT.
… Read more »
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Review from Dawn L.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2009
I don't understand why this place isn't busier - there have been weeks where I practically lived at La Sera. There aren't a lot of locally-owned places in the area that offer free internet, so it's worth making the extra effort to head here. I see the same staff every time I walk in, and they're always friendly.
The cafe has a full menu covering entrees (the salmon is pretty good), wraps (get the lamp wrap, which is seriously amazing), breakfast items, soups, and appetizers, and there's an excellent complement of espresso drinks and smoothies. There's patio seating in the summer and a comfortable, wood interior if it's too cold to venture outside (or you feel like hiding indoors for some reason).
Seriously people, unless it's 4:00am and La Sera is closed, there's no excuse for going to the neighborhood Starbucks. Support a local business that does the cafe thing far better than the 'Bucks ever will. -
Review from Anna A.
Chicago, IL
7/5/2009
This is the only "chill" cafe in the 60610. Good variety of tasty food for reasonable prices. Good selection of fresh teas. Good coffee beverages, I believe they use Illy coffee.
Free wifi and BYOB allowed.
A great place to read, catch up on Facebook, play a board game, or share your projections of the national economic crisis with fellow scholars . -
Review from Tom S.
Chicago, IL
12/2/2010
December 2, 2010
after reading all the reviews on the Yelp website, my wife and I decided to give La Sera a try for lunch. We just can't find anything negative to report on this restaurant.
1. The restaurant appeared to be very clean hand he took over was very nice.
2. The music selection is very good (soothing)
3. The staff was at our table immediately and we thought they were very friendly.
4. There seemed to be something for everybody on the menu.
The Julius Meinl coffee was an excellent
5. Both of us ordered from the exotic entrées that came with a soup. We enjoyed the lunch very much and we expect to return again
Tommy S. -
Review from Michael S.
Chicago, IL
5/2/2011
I find the negative reviews of this place baffling--you walk in, fully expecting a nondescript coffee shop whatever, and instead you get the only place in the city (possibly the country) where you can get Ethiopian coffee (they basically invented the stuff, you know), Ethiopian food (it's a touch dumbed-down, but still), and Turkish (or Serbian, or Greek, or whatever you like) coffee--what's not to like? And the staff is very nice, and it's in that weird grungy area before you get to Old Town, where frankly there's just not much else to be had--for what it is, it's great. Definitely worth a trip.
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Review from David D.
Chicago, IL
7/29/2011
The food is off the chain, the people are friendly, and the place has a real laid back and local feel to it, which is a rarity in the neighborhood. It's BYOB with no flash, but if you're looking for great food and a place to talk over a cup of excellent coffee, you're in business (and you can sit outside!).
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Review from Grace F.
Chicago, IL
9/30/2009
I love Ethiopian food but it was always such a trek from River North to the North-side...I heard that there was a little coffee shop/ cafe that also had some basic Ethiopian dishes...I finally tried it and mmmmmm..I have been twice this week...Now, I don't need to go far for one of my favorite cuisines....Lucky Me....
I must add...my boyfriend has picked it up for me twice, so
I have no decor or ambiance to add but the food, oh the food, was some of the best Ethio fare that I have ever had.... -
Review from Lisa W.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2011
I LOVED THIS RESTAURANT! It was really cozy and laid back. The food was amazing and the staff was so nice. It is a great place to go with a small group of friends!
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Review from Kara C.
Chicago, IL
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Review from Laura D.
Chicago, IL
10/5/2010
I've been here several times and I've always had a good experience. They serve Julius Meinl Austrian coffee and their food is tasty. Their prices are very reasonable too. I too, would rather support a small business owner than a corporate chain.
Yes, they're slightly laid back in their service but it's a coffee house that has small dishes. It isn't Chez Ooh Lah Lah! The owners/staff are consistently polite and nice to have a chat with.
If I'm in a need to get on the move a bit quicker, I simply tell them when I come in. Not too long ago in Chicagoland, the customer went to the register to pay when they were finished rather than have your server "take that for you"! I haven't any dilemma with this mode of operating at all. -
Review from Vanessa d.
Chicago, IL
1/2/2011
I went there on a whim. I was not impressed. The service was lackluster (and we were the only people in the restaurant) and the food was lackluster. I highly doubt that I would go back.
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Review from Jake E.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2009
I truly believe that this is a hidden jewel for breakfast in Old Town. The service is friendly and laid back, it's not too crowded, and the breakfasts, such as eggs with goat cheese are delicious - a bargain at less than $10. If you want a fast, friendly and quality breakfast, I haven't found a better place - It's way better than a chain like Nookies.
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Review from W H.
Carlsbad, CA
11/19/2010
I had the La Sera omelet and it was very good. Nice flavors and spices. The Julius Meninl coffee was great not over roasted like some chain coffee house brew. Service is laid back, but friendly which I prefer.
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Review from Lora S.
Chicago, IL
4/25/2010
I just came from Cafe La Sera. I had a brunch with three of my girlfriends, and we loved it there. I have to agree with the other reviewers who said it's refreshing to find a place in this area that isn't obsessed with turning your table and getting you out the door. It looks like they get a good amount of business without getting annoyingly busy.
Atmosphere/Service:
It's a cute place. Very clean. The tables aren't claustrophobically close like other restaurants in this area. They serve their coffee and tea in latte mugs which probably doesn't matter to most people but I enjoyed it. Our server was very friendly. She was attentive but did not rush us at all. My friend wasn't very hungry, but the server pointed out their pastries which we either missed on the menu or were not on the menu. That was nice of her.
I probably shouldn't give a full 5 stars since I didn't check out their WiFi and have only eaten breakfast there, but I also don't think they deserve less than 5 stars for my experience today.
I'll update my review after I get to check this place out as a study space. That does of course mean that I will have to get around to studying.
FOOD: My friend who wasn't too hungry ordered a coffee and the spinach pastry. The spinach pastry was served warm. she said it was good and filling. My other two friends ordered the french toast which they didn't even realize came with eggs at first. It was french toast sprinkled with powdered sugar with roasted potatoes and fresh fruit on the side. So much food for under $10. They were both happy with their choices.
I ordered the LA SERA BREAKFAST and the MILKY WAY LATTE. I definitely recommend both. I had two eggs scrambled with provolone cheese, portabella mushrooms, and fresh tomatoes. It was delicious! I barely talked once the food showed up because I was so obsessed with my food. I love to get omelettes, because I am terrible at making them on my own, so that was another nice bonus. My dish also came withsourdough toast as well as roasted potatoes and fresh fruit (fresh fruit = pineapple and grapes). I don't know if other people feel this way, but I definitely appreciated the fact that the grapes were sliced in half. Being the klutz that I am, it saved me from the embarrassment of trying to stab the grapes with my fork which would result in me knocking them on the floor. (I realize that picking up the grapes is also a valid option, but I prefer not to touch my food if I don't have to. And yes, these are the things I think about when I go out to eat). I enjoyed the Milky Way latte. If you're a sugar addict like I am, it's a nice two-fer since you get both your sugar fix and your caffeine fix in one big latte mug.
Price: Four of us ate and each ordered tea or coffee and our bill was under $40 which I think is pretty great for this area for a sit-down breakfast. I think I ended up spending about $15 which still ain't too shabby. It was definitely worth the money, especially since I probably could have split my breakfast with someone else if I weren't so starving.
I can't wait to go back and check out their other food and check it out as a potential study space.
I recommend the LA SERA BREAKFAST and MILKY WAY LATTE. This place is RELAXING, and it's a great VALUE. -
Review from Junie B.
Chicago, IL
7/26/2010
I come here very often and have yet to have bad food or service. It's a standard for me because of the location. I do a lot in that area, so they know my face in there. First of all, their menu isn't that big which leaves few options. However, everything I've had is good so no biggie there. I frequently get the tuna melt or the yogurt parfait. Coffee is Julius Meinl so you're good on caffeinated beverages. Big tea selection. It's cozy in the winter and quiet outdoor seating in the summer. The service is always friendly and warm. I'm almost never in a huge hurry, don't like servers to hover, and never have problems going up to the register to pay for a meal, so I can't speak to the restaurant goer that demands rigorous special attention. They also sell Meinl coffee in bulk as well as a couple other brands from around the world. La Sera is consistently a good little spot. Thanks.
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Review from Saudade C.
Chicago, IL
3/30/2010
Amazing Turkish coffee, tea, and homemade lentil soup! This is the best cafe in downtown Chicago with fresh, reasonable gourmet sandwiches. It's too bad Chicago doesn't have more places like Cafe La Sera where you can take your time, and enjoy yourself for hours without being interrupted. The breakfast on Sundays are also wonderful!
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Review from Jen K.
Chicago, IL
9/5/2008
We stopped by Cafe La Sera for a quick lunch. It took almost a half an hour just to get the water out to us. The salads that we ordered came out another half hour later. The salad we got with the "jumbo" shrimp actually turned out to be 4 small shrimp. I would not recommend this cafe to anyone.
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Review from Jon D.
Chicago, IL
6/15/2009
Stopped by here Sunday morning when we were too lazy to make pancakes. The coffee was outstanding, the food flavorful and very reasonably priced, and the atmosphere was welcoming and warm. Service was quick and very friendly. Great little place, my only regret is that I don't live closer.
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Review from Kendra M.
Chicago, IL
9/28/2009
BYO, Ethiopian Food, relaxing cafe atmosphere!
Really, there are no ethiopian places in Old Town, Gold Coast, River North Area. Finally I found one near my place. La Sera's employees are always kind and more than willing to accommodate. The last time I went in for take out, the woman remembered me from when a friend and I were there for dinner, remembered what I had ordered. Though it wasn't exactly how I wanted it, she customized my order so it was appropriate for one person! She was so kind... rarely you find this in any place in the city- this level of customer care.
About the food... LOVE IT! I thought I had to go to the far north side to get this great of Ethiopian... now iI can get my fix at a temptingly close location! -
Review from Melanie J.
Chicago, IL
8/9/2010
I finally stopped in at La Sera after months of walking past it en route to some thing or another. I was floored by how good the food was, and how clean and bright the restaurant is. Free wifi, too. Only a few tables were full (around 2:30pm Sunday afternoon), which is a good for me/bad for them situation - usually I avoid Wells Street restaurants on Sundays because of the brunch crowds. They have a good variety of stuff on the menu, including a few basic Ethiopian dishes. I ended up getting the lentil and spinach wrap in injera bread, which was really so tasty that I think I may have to go back and have it again today. The service was attentive without being pushy. I'll definitely be bringing my friends to this place, it's nice to have a little cafe in Old Town that isn't full of that Old Town crowd.
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Review from Birdie S.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2009
I eat here at least once a week as it is one of the few decent places to eat in this neighborhood that is not super pricey and not subway. I love their lentil soup, and paired with their paninis, makes for a very filling, tasty, and healthy $8.95 lunch special. It used to be run by some turkish guys, but over the summer got bought by two ethiopian sisters who have been great at maintaining the menu and service. since there are already some great turkish selections on the menu (lamb kebabs, etc.), i encouraged them to put some ethiopian selections on the menu - which they finally did a couple of weeks ago. YUM. now you can get ethiopian food south of 5400 N. block. breakfast here is also great (i love the La Sera breakfast - eggs with bleu cheese, caramelized onions and dried cranberries - YUM) with their wonderful selection of teas.
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Review from Joe C.
Chicago, IL
4/16/2009 1 Check-in Here
Great local, non-chain coffee shop. I've has several items off the menu, always left very full and happy. Usually lots of metered parking in the area, two blocks from the red line. A great breakfast place. I don't consider the prices to be as much as Yelp claims (more of a $$ to me).
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Review from Heidi S.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2010
I love this place! And, I am pretty picky when it comes to cafes. But the food is amazing, and the wifi is free, what more do you need? My friend and I sat here and talked/did homework for about 6 hours, and they never gave us a dirty look. The staff was nice, and understanding of studying. Quiet cafe, never full to brim, and in summer they put tables outside. Definitely will be back!
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Review from M R.
Chicago, IL
5/31/2011
Sat outside with the dogs. Food was great. Actually surprised how good it was. I'll definitely hit it up again!
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Review from Emily D.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2009
I came into this coffee shop because it is the only local coffee place in the Gold Coast area, and I'd rather check out something local than Starbucks. Plus, I read the reviews here and they were quite positive.
The coffee was amazing, but the service was less than lackluster. I went into the cafe to get some work done. The place was pretty empty. After asking for a spot with an outlet and setting up my computer, I tried to get a free wi-fi signal. After about 15 minutes, the server finally came over to take my order and I asked if they had free wi-fi. She then informed me that I would need a code. Eventually, she came over with it.
I waited for about 20 minutes for my simple order of yogurt and coffee to arrive. Then, I never received a refill on my water (I think I was purposely passed up, despite the fact that I put my glass out where they could see it, because she looked right at it and then went on to refill everyone else's water). No one ever checked to see if I needed anything else, and I had to flag someone down to get my bill.
On the way out, I smiled at my server, and she merely glowered at me. I was not impressed. I tipped well, was very friendly, and wasn't an imposition as they were not that busy. I doubt that I will go back. -
Review from Leah M.
Chicago, IL
6/11/2007
Normally my breakfast comes from a pouch (oatmeal). I decided life's too short for this to continue. Over the weekend, I popped into Cafe La Sera during the Wells St. Art Fair for a cup of coffee. Had never even noticed the place before, took a quick glance at their menu and saw that they serve eggs over blue cheese, dried cranberries, and caramelized onions. Done; the next day I went in for breakfast. The space/staff are unbelieveably pleasant, it has a family-run feel to it, even though most of the employees are in their early 20s. The eggs were OK but not great- blue cheese and over easy eggs aren't the best combo, next time I'd ask for scrambled. I met one of the chefs, Leslie, whom I ended up talking to for a while. For some reason, I was craving cake at 10am so I got a slice of white chocolate layer cake which was tasty but not mind-blowing (the cake was very light- I prefer denser, and the frosting wasn't quite as creamy as I like- tasted kinda like a cake from the Jewel bakery. Go here for the staff- they're wonderful. Seems like this place needs some time to grow into itself, but it's the kind of place you'd want to be a regular at.
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Review from Laura W.
Chicago, IL
11/27/2010
Dined here for the first time today and was so disappointed. It was just 2 of us, and we were going in for a late breakfast (around 12:30PM). It took us about 45 minutes to get our food- and we only got omlettes! They messed up the order on one of the plates. It took them about 30 minutes to give us a glass of water. Cute atmosphere if you want to go for coffee and spend the afternoon, but not good for a meal, especially when you're hungry!
