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Cafe Society
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants American (Traditional) Restaurants Mexican Italian, American (Traditional), Mexican [Edit]
1801 S Indiana Ave(between 18th St & Cullerton St)
Chicago, IL 60616
Neighborhood: Near Southside
(312) 842-4210
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 7 am - 7 pm
Thu-Sat 7 am - 9 pm
Sun 7 am - 3 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
62 reviews for Cafe Society
Review Highlights
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"They have a huge outdoor patio which I havn't had time for..." In 4 reviews -
"The owner is super nice, and the hardest-working man in the..." In 3 reviews -
"Very dog friendly--we'll certainly go back." In 4 reviews
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62 reviews in English
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Review from George A.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2012
Pretty cool place with fresh food!
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Review from Tristan M.
Chicago, IL
3/4/2012
what the hell. i wanted so bad to like you. but your food left much to be desired.
i ordered bacon and tomato on the grilled cheese texas toast. i got home to find a slice of american cheese on two thick slices of buttered bread. cafe society you owe me some bacon.....
the girlfriend got a tuna salad sandwich. it was okay. although for $7 i make a much beter tuna salad....
we tried to steal some creamer to go but you didn't have any. no biggie, just sayin'....
I will probably still come to you because you're the only place nearby. But I would come to you every other day if you had some better food and remembered to put my bacon on. -
Review from RJ A.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
In a neighborhood that needs a steady diner, this could be it...unfortantely it falls short in a key category.
I have lived across the street, literally 25 feet away for almost two years. When we first moved in, they had excellent pizza by the slice.Their spinach pizza was out of this world. Now they only having cheese and pepperoni by the slice, which has driven me away from their pizzas and towards other menu items. They are all pretty solid. (I usually get a brunch skillet or a philly cheesesteak.)
My biggest single complaint about this place is that they have totally inconsistent hours. I just tried to go there 3:30p today, sunday. They have a Big sign outside that says "Open all day." Yet, I Get inside only to be informed that the grill is off...Uhh? Definitely not all day. This is not an isolated incident.
Highlight: Bears Game Day special is awesome. -
Review from Marina K.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2012
I wanted to leave it as a private message to the owner but unfortunately could not find an email address.
Great to have a neighborhood owner run cafe but:
they need to learn how to make coffee, (cappucino does not come from powder with sugar) , get a real coffee machine and a real barrista
their food needs to be healthier and fresher and organic
lower their prices -
Review from John F.
Chicago, IL
2/14/2012
Walking by with my gf and we decided to stop. Right from the get the owner, Jorge, was extremely friendly. We ordered the 12" Chicken Carbonara pizza. He must've really liked us because he gave us a 14" and even threw in free fountain drinks. The pizza came out and we were blown away. So good. The alfredo sauce and bacon made that pie. Jorge came over and asked us how everything was. He was very pleasant. We most certainly will be back
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Review from Mandy R.
Chicago, IL
3/6/2012
Jorge the owner is nice but his food TRUELY SUCKS. If you have to eat there please stay away from their breakfast pastries. They are stale and have been sitting out for well over a week and are pricey. What happened to fresh. They felt like i was eating bad cookies. How can anyone sell stale muffins, scones etc. These items sit on the shelve for well over a week and they are completely dried out. They reheat it and it makes it even dryer. I will never eat here.
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Review from Sarah Z.
Chicago, IL
7/3/2011
The walk to the Cafe Society is gorgeous. Although once you get there you should probably just turn around.
The coffee was good, hot, tasted fresh and was refillable it was definitely over priced ($2.50). I got french-toast, and it was toasty- more like over toasted... in other words it was burnt. It didn't have a very delicious flavor either. I was very disappointed.
The outside dining area is nice (what outside eating area isn't nice?) the inside, however, lacked in decor. It is also has an awkward space for ordering... a baby carriage kept getting in my way and the owner was less than considerate about it. I'm already a pretty awkward person and small spaces with crowds is not my idea of a good time. To be frank there wasn't even a crowd- it was just crowded because it is such a small area. UGH!
The Cafe Society has a long way to go. It could use a lot of help. I realize that the location is great if you are near by but don't go out of your way to get here. -
Review from Linda H.
6/13/2011
Every time I go here I wonder why I don't visit more often. It's a neighborhood gem tucked in a lovely tree-lined residential area. There is a great outdoor seating area (dog friendly!) , and a nice indoor area with big windows.
You order at the counter and there are chalk boards with some items written on it, but also a paper menu with a lot more stuff on it...so it is a bit quirky/confusing (like, can you order a sandwich from the paper menu in the morning, or just breakfast from the chalkboard menu?).
Anyway, one of my favorite things is the breakfast burrito...filled with lots of fresh roasted veggies and served with a good salsa. Yesterday, I just had a chocolate chip scone and coffee and it was great. BF had the skirt steak torta and raved about it. Salads being served looked great, as do the skillets. They have pizza now too, which I have never tried, but have heard good things about it. Quesadillas are good (pretty hard to screw up a quesadilla though) and I once had THE best piece of blueberry cheesecake there (and since have never seen them have blueberry cheesecake).
The owner is super nice, and the hardest-working man in the South Loop...but other people working there are not particularly friendly. Service can be very slow, but I have come to expect that now and I just enjoy my coffee until the food finally arrives.
So if you're in the 'hood, check it out for breakfast or lunch (and I think they are open some nights for dinner now too?)....also a great place to hang when they have jazz on the patio certain summer evenings. There really is no other place like it! -
Review from Christine F.
Chicago, IL
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
My husband and my friend's partner were running a 10 mile race, so naturally we gravitated toward somewhere that would serve delicious, fattening breakfasts.
We walked into Cafe Society and ordered at the counter (she ordered pancakes and I ordered a breakfast burrito) and we sat down at a table across the hallway.
Our food was up fast, with super smiley service.
My burrito was OK. I'm not sure I understand the fascination with putting squash in a burrito. It's just not my favorite vegetable. The eggs:cheese:vegetable ratio was well done, though. It was a gigantic burrito, I was able to eat about half before I needed to stop.
My friend enjoyed her pancakes quite a bit. I should get those next time I'm here. -
Review from SoLo M.
Chicago, IL
8/28/2011
Summer place (outside area) - 4.5 stars, Winter place (inside) - 3 stars.
Good coffee, beautiful outdoor patio (unlimited wifi), great food (they have what I call NY slice pizza, but great brunch and dinner items) and great service. Order inside, they will bring the food out to you. Also, some light music playing outside.
During the colder months, the inside seating area is clean and comfortable, but just doesnt have that MODERN kick to it. Also the order area and the seating area are split by the hallway that leads to the local kids indoor playhouse. Which if you are there during the day and siting inside can at times be loud with the kids running around, but very manageable to get work done. Owner is the best in the South Loop. -
Review from Sam Y.
Chicago, IL
5/17/2011
Food's somewhat average but the location location location. It's got a wonderful outdoor seating area in the summer and offer live music on Sundays. Very relaxing and a terrific place to absorbs some vitamin Ds!
As far as the food... it's not bad... but nothing too memorable. -
Review from Michael B.
Chicago, IL
12/11/2011
Cafe Society is a great neighborhood place for the South Loop. It's convenient to visit the Women's Garden, Glessner House and Park District while grabbing a decent meal, brunch or a slice of pizza. I last went to enjoy the outdoor patio which is lined with trees and sometimes has live music. The best is on the weekends when Chef Jorge grills ribs outside- $16 for a full slab with sides, which I split with my wife, and BYOB, no corkage. Bring a red Zinfandel!
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Review from Laurie O.
South Loop, Chicago, IL
We like the food and service. Close to home to grab a quick bite on days when I don't want to cook.
Update: Bono from U2 stopped in and ordered a pepperoni pizza, root beer and water before taking stage on July 5th at Solider Field. -
Review from Evan S.
Chicago, IL
8/22/2010
How can anybody honestly say the food here is good? I went there today with my roommate and all of the food was dreadful.
1. Crepe came out lukewarm at best and the berries they threw in clearly came right from the freezer because those were still cold.
2. I definitely did not get the 4 eggs I ordered--it might have been two at most. They were way over cooked and had a poor texture.
3. They managed to mess up a fruit smoothie--which is impossible for me to understand. It was watery.
4. Bacon was literally burnt--not crispy, but charred black on most parts.
5. Incredibly overpriced. I got my "four" eggs, a slice of toast, and 3 terribly pieces of bacon with some coffee and it cost $12. Seriously, that is how much it cost. On top of that, it took over 30 minutes to get our food and it wasn't just us that had this problem. Plenty of people went to complain and one of the workers had to get on a microphone outside to 'explain' that it takes so long because they cook things from scratch. I was perplexed since I don't know what breakfast place anywhere doesn't cook eggs from scratch (maybe McDonald's?), but I wasn't buying the BS at all.
Take your business to Yolk! or The Drake or some other reasonable establishment for brunch on the weekend. The food is just not very good and is horribly overpriced. I am baffled at people talking about the great food. I live a block away from this place and despite literally everybody in my building telling me that it is awful, I gave it a try since I didn't feel like driving. My already low expectations were not met. -
Review from Mindie K.
Phoenix, AZ
8/28/2010
My bf and I wandered into this place the other day. The owner was super nice and we enjoyed sitting outside in the summer breeze. Those were the only positive things...
We ordered a turkey burger, veggie crepes and salad, and all of it was pretty bad. And overpriced.
Not planning on going back. -
Review from West Side Tommy B.
Chicago, IL
6/26/2010
This joint is inconsistent; one time you stop and the chow is good and the next time the same dish is terrible. Yesterday my wife and I stopped and got veggie and turkey wraps and there was literally ONE transparently thin slice of turkey in the wrap. I was gonna complain but my wife restrained me and said to Hell with 'em, we just won't eat here anymore.
And we're not gonna eat there anymore though we'll still stop for iced coffee once in awhile after our daily bike ride.
Service is very slow by the way, even when the place isn't crowded which is odd since there's plenty of help around. The jasper that runs this joint needs to get his act together. -
Review from andy a.
Chicago, IL
2/16/2009
WARNING - Gross True Story Below
Okay, so this hole-in-the-wall coffee and sandwich place is near me. I have been there many many times. So why only 2 stars? I say, "why not 1 star?"
2 stars, because it's near me. if I need a coffee or a very moist and delicious scone, I will go there. In fact, all the baked goods are yummy, and are probably made somewhere else, which as you will read, I feel matters. The staff is pretty perfunctory and unfriendly, but they may smile at you once out of 10 times.
Any more than 2 stars may make a person think they should choose it over any other coffee place in Chicago. I believe that would be morally wrong of me to imply.
They have these, um, what are they called, "Tortas?" These are wheat bun sandwiches, served hot, often with a fried egg thrown on top of whatever type you ordered. They taste good, but I would not recommend them. I have a problem with these.
Why? Because the day after eating one, I ended up in the hospital after a night of throwing up and in dire need of several new pints of blood via transfusion. I nearly passed out on my bathroom floor, and never woke up again.
I have thought back, and considered everything I ate. So far as I can tell, the Cafe Society meal was the only thing that could have caused the small cut in my esophagus that ended up bleeding into my stomach for the next 26 hours. There had been a little bone that I picked out of my sandwich. I guess I missed another one. There was no proof, because I went sraight to the ICU for three days. To obtain proof, my girlfriend or parents (who flew to Chicago when I was taken to the hospital) would have had to sift through my toilet that was filled up with dark coagulated blood and stomach acid.
I'm not saying that everything they make is deadly, but they don't seem to care that much. What happened to me was probably just bad luck, but I can't eat at cafe society anymore, and I thought I should share my story.
The baked goods are made elsewhere, so I will sometimes get them. -
Review from Sean D.
Chicago, IL
1/14/2008
Great local breakfast/lunch place in the South Loop. This place is the best in the summer as they have a huge outdoor patio with tables set up and live music on the weekends. Very good coffee (not as bitter as Starbucks) and friendly staff.
The Chicago Park District recently purchased the Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, which includes the cafe on the first floor, so hopefully the cafe can stay and we won't have to deal with the Orchid nightclub. -
Review from Greg S.
Chicago, IL
10/10/2011
Lovely outdoor dining, great for breakfast in good weather. The skillet was delicious and even looked like a piece of art. Very fast service, delicious coffee.
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Review from Amy F.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2010
Reasons to go:
The MMMtastic Iced Thai Coffee
Large patio for warm weather sipping/dining
Friendly service
Why you might reconsider:
Food quality is inconsistent. (Pizza is ok.)
Pastries & Baked goods are dry - skip em
Free WiFi is great... if its working -
Review from Jen C.
Chicago, IL
8/10/2008
3.5 stars...
More stars for:
-over a dozen outdoor tables! some in the shade, some in the sun, some with umbrellas and some without
-live music
-nice ambiance, great place to chill
-denver omelette was yummy!
-water bowl for dogs passing by or hangin' outside with their owners in the outdoor seating area
Less stars for:
-slow service... I think maybe they are just understaffed. They really should have at least one server for the outside to help clean up tables and help with the little things. It seems like one of the ladies who helps put your food plates together also tries to serve and clean tables up too. So...don't expect great service when you go...otherwise you will be quite frustrated! So just go to chill, relax, and enjoy the scene. :)
-the texas toast grilled cheese sandwich... i was expecting some delicious buttery, garlic-y yummy goodness. But really it's just your basic grilled cheese sandwich on thick toast that comes with skinny fries (love it!). So that was disappointing and could've been better - but maybe b/c I was craving something greasier. :)
Overall:
We will probably be back for a relaxing, lazy Sunday brunch!! Check it out! :)Listed in: Places To Bring Your Dog!
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Review from Lynette S.
Roslindale, MA
8/20/2009
In the prairie neighborhood.
good for take-out or eat-outside at the tables.
huge menu,
nothing fancy, no waiters and waitresses. staff was cranky except for the owner? manager? who helped us out afterward. they initially looked at me like i was crazy b/c i wanted to sample the chicken salad. (i know i am a lil picky but it really isnt too much to ask)
the food is great. i got a yummy chicken salad sandwich and my friend got a grilled veggie sandwich. they have tons of coffees, thai iced coffee etc etc.
the service seemed slow but b/c they are made to order. we were in a a rush...
we stopped there on the way to tour the clarke and glessner house museums. -
Review from MJ B.
Chicago, IL
8/23/2009
Inviting patio reminds me of Europe. Great live jazz on Sunday. Super-friendly owner dedicated to the neighborhood.
We had 3 dishes:
1. Strawberry/blueberry crepe--tasty, but more like a sundae with a little crepe than a true crepe-frozen strawberries--2.5 stars
2. Guacamole chicken wrap--huge and good--3.5 stars
3. Denver omelet--really great-well-balanced and flavorful--4 stars
The coffee is fine, bottomless cup. I agree with comments that it's a few dollars more per dish than it should be, but to have such a huge variety of items on the menu, I imagine the inventory costs are very high.
Very dog friendly--we'll certainly go back. -
Review from mark s.
Denver, CO
11/8/2006
Great little lunch place, especially in the summer when the patio is open and the jazz band (or boombox) is playing. i like the family atmosphere. check out the water bowl outside labeled 'dogs only - no cats please'.
if you're hungry, the tortas are awesome. otherwise, the chicken & vegetable wrap or beef & feta wrap will treat you right. don't forget a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. -
Review from Bettina S.
Chicago, IL
7/6/2010
Cafe Society is my reliable go-to spot when I forget to bring my lunch to work. The food is pretty good, although I am pretty boring and usually get the veggie wrap with turkey every time. I also tried the taco salad with chicken, and when it came, it was nothing like what I'd envisioned, but delicious all the same.
The outdoor seating area is lovely despite the music which sounded like "Love FM" and the little birds that think they own the patio and your plate. I still like this place and am happy it's in the neighborhood. -
Review from Kate C.
Chicago, IL
5/28/2011
Oh my, I'm in love with the brunch skillet! A bed of cheesy potatoes with onions, covered with a perfectly cooked, thin yet fluffy omelet and sprinkled with chorizo and freshly sliced tomatoes with a side of toast and coffee for around 8 bucks. We can't get enough of it! We walk our dogs down on weekend mornings and sit on the beautiful patio and enjoy what I think is currently the best breakfast in the South Loop! I haven't tried anything else here, I only have eyes for the chorizo breakfast skillet!
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Review from wade t.
Chicago, IL
9/28/2008
Nice little place. I always forget it's there. I've also forgotten about the pothole in the eastbound bike lane right in front only about the last five times I've ridden past and was ogling the outdoor seating area. Bulls eye!
We weren't looking for anything fancy. Just Sunday breakfast, good coffee and a nice place to sit and eat and not get involved with all the brunch hubbub. Had to go with the alfresco option. Lots of dogs, very aggressive birds, and kids combine for great entertainment. Order at the counter, settle up and they run the food and bus the dishes.
Also check out the nice gardens on the grounds of the Clarke House (part of the historical Prairie Avenue district) which I'm pretty sure connects via brick walkway to the south end of the patio. Get it to go and sit by the fountain. (note...no dogs allowed in there) Stroll over to Burnham Harbor to walk it off and pick out what boat you'd buy when you finally get rich.
Not nearly as bad as a few of these reviews make it out to be. Oh...and fix that flagpole before it kills somebody! How long's that thing been like that? -
Review from Amy N.
Chicago, IL
10/22/2008
Pluses:
1) Outdoor lay back seating
2) Owner is super nice
3) Dog and stroller friendly
4) Occasional live music
Minuses:
1) Employee (other than owner) are not so friendly
2) Slow service
3) Bit expensive for the nothing-to-write-home kinda food
The killer:
1) All those full dumpsters just off to the side of the outdoor seating makes the entrance of the bunny park next door stinky and full of insects. -
Review from ken T.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
Mama mia, this guy has a goldmine here. There is nothing at all of this kind in this strip, south of 18th street. Nothing.
And boy, he knows it.
I would come here every day - if he used a less offensive vegetable oil to deep fry his food.
Coffee is good tho, and pastries fresh and delicious. -
Review from isa b.
Chicago, IL
3/29/2011
As far as pizza goes this place rocks. We ordered 4 pies and it reminded me of my favorites: New York and Miami pizzas. Thin, more chewy than crispy, full flavored, lots of cheese.
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Review from Escape C.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2008
This place is all about the outdoors!! When it is nice outside you won't find a better place in the city to sit back, relax, read the paper all while having breakfast, lunch, or more recently dinner. It's dog friendly which is also a plus, and the owner is the sweetest guy ever!
Now the downside..... the service is the slowest I have ever experience in my life. And unfortunately the food is not great. Its truly just so so, I could probably make the same things they serve at home and it'd taste about the same.
BUT all in all if you just want to have a leisurely meal, sip a cup of coffee cause you don't have anywhere to rush off to, it really is a nice oasis in the city. -
Review from Ashley M.
Chicago, IL
2/21/2011
We first went here last summer with the dog and loved the huge outdoor patio! It was great and we were able to lounge around and let the dog enjoy the outside. Had lunch there recently for the first time (usually we just have coffee) and were just not that sure about it. Their paper menu on the window allowed us to get an idea of what we wanted. Then we got inside and there were 4 other chalkboards with even more options. I was overwhelmed! Settled on a lunch special with a ham sandwich and chicken and rice soup. Wanted a hot sandwich, but didn't know I had to ask for it, so it was just a simple cold cut with veggies. The soup didn't have much chicken or rice but was filled with a colorful garden of veggies too. The boyfriend got the breakfast burrito which was huge, but filled with too many ingredients. Not sure if we will go back for food, but definitely for coffee with the pooch.
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Review from savannah i.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2008
Cafe Society is in my new neighborhood. It is a small neighborhood cafe with quaint outdoor seating & also and indoor room that is located in a separate room from which the food is ordered & made.
I have to agree with the following reviews below:
guacamole chicken wrap is great!
service is slow
more expensive than it should be
also, the drip brew coffee is nothing great, lattes & mochas are more enjoyable here. Take advantage of the plate specials as you get more for your money. -
Review from Trina P.
Chicago, IL
5/8/2010
I can't believe how good the pizza is. I've lived in the neighborhood for years and have gone here periodically because of the convenience and friendliness of the staff. When I saw they were adding pizza to the menu, I have to admit I was skeptical but I have to say it really is very good.
The layout of the place isn't great because there isn't much space but the outdoor seating area is stellar.
I also recommend the coffee. And their breakfast options are great - I recently had a spinach and feta omelette which was really good.
Only complaint is their hours can be unpredictable. They tend to be open longer when the weather is good. -
Review from valerie h.
Chicago, IL
9/2/2008
I go to cafe society a few days a week on my way to work for my usual cafe mocha. This is the BEST mocha ever! They use Ghirardelli chocolate = to die for! I also ordered sandwich platters for a work event and everyone loved them and asked where they were from. They have a huge outdoor patio which I havn't had time for but is always packed on the weekends. Good food, great service.
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Review from Matthew A.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2009 2 photos
Had a great afternoon lunch here the other day. An excellent, LARGE, sandwich wrap, and my wife had a 4 layer white chocolate mocha coffee which the owner claimed we would find no place else in the city and to tell him if we did. It looked awesome - see my picture! It was cold, so we were inside, but I would imagine that outside would be an excellent place to read a paper and sit in the morning.
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Review from Christine S.
Chicago, IL
7/6/2008
I really love this place and it's only 2 blocks from my place so I will definately be going there again. The service is a bit slow, but you can't beat sitting outside listening to music and eating a great breakfast and esprsso. What a gem!
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from P P.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2011
Ok so living so close to this place, I really wanted to make it my 'daily' coffee/ snack stop...ok maybe not daily but my 'regular' spot. First of all, the food is just ok. Their salads are fresh but everything else on their menu is just 'ok'. Like another yelper mentioned, this is a good place to go during summertime for their outdoor seating area. Comfy and shaded but nothing fancy. Also, the fact that they close early is also a negative in my book:(.
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Review from chris c.
Chicago, IL
8/17/2008
went there for brunch. food is not that good. service (time to get the food) is super slow. I think the prices are a bit high for what it is.
only redeeming quality is outdoor patio (with music). we there with friends and dog. very dog friendly. -
Review from Cason M.
Chicago, IL
7/27/2009
I love small places where people know your name. They are all very nice there and all the brunch foods are delicious. I love the coffee. I love sitting outdoors on the courtyard. It's wonderful. It's a great weekend spot to relax and chat with friends and have great food.
