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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: UptownEach Wednesday until the end of the year, take-out customers get 5 courses for the price of 3 (only $18!) from our fabulous prix fixe menu.
Announced 1 week agoLawrence (Red)
Mon. 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Tue. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wed-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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I was up early on a Sunday and took myself to breakfast. I really liked the warm vibe when I walked in. I had a special, the goat cheese and asparagus fritters with feta chive dipping sauce, which comes with scrambled eggs and hash browns (one note, I consider them breakfast potatoes, not hash browns, but they were still good).
Easy parking, not very crowded, I lingered with a book and wasn't bothered.
Good food + good cause=new spot for brunch.
Cafe Too. Featured on Check! Please. Just as I predicted last month. Forget Nostradamus. You better check with Johnny T if you wanna know the future. Cubs? Will lose. Arod and Kate Hudson? Won't last. Octomom showing out? You may rely on it. Will you find fortune and fame? Concentrate and ask again.
The cards never lie!! Call me now! ...cleo...
Cafe Too might be made of magic. The place is preternaturally bright and homey. The waitstaff are… Read more »
Great mission & great food!
I had some delicious cranberry walnut pancakes & the special pumpkin chai latte and...mmmm! The pancakes were delicious & the chai was so good I did what I never do-- I had a second. My husband created his own omlete & it was enourmous. He really enjoyed it, but couldn't quite make it to the end. The breakfast potatoes were a regular & sweet potato combo, and those were great. The prices were so reasonable that I thought they made a mistake on our bill!
Service was a little slow, but the only had one server & one hostess, and they were consistantly full. I never waited long for anything that made it seem more than "relaxed."
I really love what they do there. I will continue to go back & support it, because they are actually helping their community. They are giving people the tools to help themselves to a better life, and putting out a quality product. I wish more businesses would follow their example.
A wonderful place doing wonderful things for the community. They are run by a non-profit and they help the homeless learn restaurant skills on the job during a rotation. The service here is second to none. The menu changes weekly and the food is excellent. I had a 3 course meal at the incredible price of only $18. I also tried each course of my boyfriends 3 course as well. Everything was perfect with the exception of the proteins being over cooked (my pork loin and his salmon). I would definitely eat here again. Also note the portions are a very reasonable size yet we all left well stuffed.
I like this place and will definitely be back. We ate breakfast (brunch) here on Halloween. I had the special Pecan & Cranberry Paincakes (pain-cakes -- get it?) + they were delish. I ordered a side of eggs over hard, and they came over-easy, but I ate them anyway.
My husband's omelet was huge, and, apparently, good. Oh, yes, and a server who checks back + keeps the coffee coming...we like her very, very much.
Today was one of those lazy ass days. Christopher got back last night from his driving trip. We were both really hungry this morning, so I suggested Cafe Too, because I had just bookmarked it last night.
First off to calm the nerves of anyone who might have read the review from the 20 something white bread girl from the burbs.... this area is not that scary. Twenty years ago, yes the case could be made, but now, heck, even the alley was clean. Use the same caution and common sense you would in any urban setting and you will be fine.
Now, as to the Cafe.... bright, clean, airy, and staffed by a great bunch of people who deserve this wonderful opportunity. We sat inside to get a broader experience of what the place is all about. It reflects all that is good in reaching out to others. Not only is the staff friendly, but I think the atmosphere and what they are accomplishing brings out the best in the customers as well. There is no better feeling , IMHO, than do do something for others. It casts a glow of well being over everything it touches.
As to the food,we had the brunch today. Both of us ordered the biscuits and gravy platter. It came with very nicely scrambled eggs and a choice of bacon or sausage and sides of either fresh fruit salad or their hash browns. The food was nicely presented and generous portions too, but it wasn't food that left us hungering for more. It was a bit lacking in seasoning. In general though it was not bad. We certainly finished it all. I got the fresh fruit side, and asked our server if they could go easy on the honey dew melon because I am allergic to it. She prepared it herself and made sure there was none in it at all. I got so much fruit salad I took most of it home.
We will be back many times I am sure, especially to try the dinner menu. This restaurant is a wonderful concept and I wish them nothing but success in the future.
An awesome deal that you can feel good about too!
Cafe Too offers a prix-fixe dinner menu from Th-Sa each week. The menu changes each week and features either 3 courses for $18 or 5 courses for $24. There are several selections for each course and if you choose three courses you can choose which three you would like. You can also check online to see what is currently being offered. Plus if you join their online newsletter you get 10% off your meal!
Every item that I have had here has been delicious and inventive. The restaurant is BYOB and there is no corkage fee, which is lovely. The staff is friendly and the food is thoughtfully prepared.
THE FACTS:
$18 three course, $24 five course per person
Offered all night Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Get an additional 10% by joining their mailing list and bringing in a copy
BYOB with no corkage fee
Had the bisquits and gravy platter with the choice of sausage (turkey based) and hash browns. It was tasty but I did add a little hot sauce to the eggs and hash browns to liven it up a little. Service was good and surounds nice.
I've been here for dinner probably 4-5 times and it's one of my favorite restaurants. It's BYOB with no corkage fee and you have the choice of either getting 3 courses for $18 or 5 courses for $24. It's a non-profit that does something for homeless people though I'm not quite sure what it is they do.
I've had better 5 course meals (for double the price and not BYOB) but typically I absolutely love at least threee of the courses.
They have a cute patio outside that you can sit on but they won't let you bring alcohol out there, which is probably for the best since there are so many crackheads around there who would probably take it.
Overall, great value for the money. I've only ever been there for dinner but I hear their brunch is good too.
I know you might have to wait for coffee. I know it seems like the menu items come and go. But there is just something about a breakfast with a side of "doing something better than just feeding yourself" that makes this place special.
Patio is open (hallelujah, summer is here!), water comes with lemon, and service ALWAYS comes with a smile.
Bring the champers (BYO, hello!), good attitude, sit back, and enjoy your brunch with a side of giving back.
I love brunch. I love Inspiration Cafe. Wait, I can brunch and it will benefit Inspiration Cafe?… Read more »
A yummy brunch Uptown with Husband today to celebrate his No-More-Working-on-Sundays! I had the bagel/cream cheese with a side of bacon, he had eggs benedict; we shared the blueberry pancakes. Everything was stellar and well seasoned.
While it's not on a particularly savory street Uptown, it's nice to see places like Cafe Too opening up and thriving. It is run by the Inspiration Corporation, which offers a restaurant skills training program aimed at getting students entry-level jobs in food service. Their aim is to end homelessness, quite the noble undertaking.
So have something tasty, at a place that does good in the community. How can you go wrong?
This place was great! It is definitely a gem in the middle of re-gentrification in Uptown. It is so well priced that it doesn't break the budget and it's BYOB. You can't beat that.
I had the blueberry pancakes which I believe were a little bit of heaven. This is a wonderful brunch place. The decor and atmosphere are so cute with a sleek and bistro feel.
They only start serving dinner at 5, but we had tickets to a play and they let us come in 15 minutes before 5 and place our order to make sure we'd have enough time to eat.
We ordered the 3-course meal and the food was excellent, but what I really liked was the service. Granted, we were the only party for most of the hour, but still... Immediate attention, without the hovering.
Just as an example, the kitchen forgot to make one of the desserts...so to make up for it, they brought out, one by one, ALL THREE of tonight's dessert options!
It's also worth mentioning that the place is a steal. This kind of atmosphere and food this great at $18 for 3 courses and BYOB without any corckage fees is impossible to find anywhere else even on a week night.
I can't wait to try their brunch!
I've been trying to get to this place for such a long time. Does anyone else have those friends who when you invite them, or present them with an idea, can't help but change or "control" it? Well, I had enough of that, and this past Sunday made a two-mile walk from home to the lakefront to have brunch at Cafe Too, with my three favorite friends, me, myself, and I!
On the way, through the leafy canopies of Eastwood and Leland Aves., I saw a Peregrin falcon sitting in a tree, eating his brunch, some unlucky rodent or small bird, I guess. I know. This has nothing to do with Cafe Too. Pardon my naturalist digression.
Cafe Too has an outdoor patio, and I managed to cop a seat out there upon arrival-about 10AM on a Sunday. The staff was the most gracious and welcoming I'd encountered in awhile. Very well-staffed place, you can tell. And eager to please. The brunch choices were incredible. And as a standard-issue Libra, I had a difficult time choosing. I went with an offering I had never seen elsewhere: pulled pork quesadillas, with scrambled eggs, and a black bean, tomato, corn salsa. It vas voon-der-bar! And their coffee is strong and robust. All for about $10.00.
While in that neighbohood. I encountered so many people on the street talking to themselves (and no Bluetooth involved), I couldn't help thinking, if they paired off, it would at least look like they were having a conversation with someone!
I will be back to Cafe Too real soon, solo or with my co-dependents...
OK -- I already loved this place. I have been going here since it opened for lunch and loooove the Turkey Bacon Avocado Wrap. The breakfast/brunches are also delish and very affordable. Plus, you're doing something good for humanity by supporting this nonprofit. The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating.
Now, I love it even more. At night on the weekends, it becomes super fancy with its Prix Fixe meals! My parents had gone before, but I'm kinda cheap/broke, so still thought $18 for 3 courses and $24 for 5 courses was out of my price range. Then, my mom told me it was BYOB. I was in! My boyfriend, parents, and I went to Cafe Too on Saturday night for the Prix Fixe. I'm attaching some pictures. The food was sooo good and the presentation was gorgeous. BYOB just made the experience perfect.
Reservations probably aren't necessary for dinner, but the place is small, so I err on the side of caution and always make reservations.
Four women working at two different non-profits in the Chicago metropolitan area come together for lunch. The only appropriate spot for such a meeting - Cafe Too. Cafe Too is part of the Inspiration Corporation - a non profit that aims to minimize homelessness through supportive services, employment and housing programs. According to the website, "Cafe Too is a 13-week restaurant skills training program designed to provide students with the tools they need to secure and retain entry-level jobs in the food service industry. The intensive training focuses on basic culinary skills and concepts, following and taking direction, teamwork, food sanitation and safety, and restaurant service. An employment specialist helps students develop job-readiness skills, and each student is tested to receive a City of Chicago food service sanitation management certificate. Trainees gain hands-on experience preparing and serving meals to the paying public at our Cafe Too restaurant during the internship period of the program. The internship gives students real-life work experience and, when successfully completed, a reference for future employers. Job placement assistance expedites their entry into employment, where students can immediately apply and develop their newly acquired skills."
The quality of food and service was truly inspirational. I had the roasted portabello mushroom wrap (which was HUGE) with a side of the sweet potato fries. I had to have the other half of my wrap put in a to-go container and ate it the next day! My lunch mates also had the black bean burger and the falafel platter - which was one of the specials of the day. Our lunch experience was phenomenal and we were able to get a lot of work done in the bright open space.
I definitely look forward to coming back for brunch or dinner sometime. It's a great organization to support - but more importantly, the food is good!
I've been to Cafe Too once before for brunch and definitely had nothing bad to say about that visit... But today was absolutely amazing!
Ann was our server and she was super-friendly, helpful, and funny. She listened to us, happily re-explained the specials when we didn't catch everything {it all sounded soooo good!} and was quick. Someone walking by to grab a menu came by with their dog and Ann ran in really quickly to get the dog a bowl of water! Honestly, for me it's rare to see such a thing with people who work in customer service these days. I was completely impressed with her.
I had one of the specials - the ginger-glazed tilapia which was AMAZING! I believe it was topped with caramelized onions and definitely with green beans, cucumbers, and carrots underneath the tilapia. Delicious.
My boyfriend had what I believe was a rosemary chicken sandwich {another special} with a side salad which was also very good.
I personally like the lunches better than brunch, but I also probably have not experienced enough of the brunch menu. Nonetheless, this is a really great place even if it is in a sketchy part of the neighborhood.
The email went out to my friends: "Eat brunch. Do good." And so we did.
Five of us met here at 11 on a Saturday morning for brunch and were seated immediately. I have mixed feelings on that, it's so great to be able to take a group to a brunch place without reservations and not have to wait (*cough* M. Henry) but I'm such a fan of what Cafe Too is doing that I want more people to go there.
Cafe Too is BYOB so we'd brought a bottle of champagne, planning to have mimosas. Almost as soon as we placed the bottle on the table, the staff came over to give us glasses. Sadly, three of my five friends didn't want to drink and the two of us didn't feel like finishing a bottle of champagne at 11 in the morning, so back in the backpack the bottle went. Losers. Still, you have to appreciate that kind of service.
As far as the food goes, I had an iced coffee and fruit and yogurt parfait so I'm probably not the best to gauge food quality. I did enjoy both. My friends all selected more complicated (and cooked) dishes and all said that they enjoyed them and that they'd definitely go back. And Cafe Too is cheap. Cheap, cheap, cheap. Or maybe Andersonville has just warped my concept of what brunch should cost.
Immediate seating, good food, great service, affordable, and socially responsible? Five stars, no question.
I just had brunch at Cafe Too this past Sunday with a group of friends and fell in love with this little gem. Cafe Too is a cute little restaurant in Uptown that focuses on contemporary cuisines. The cafe is part of Inspiration Corporation and helps individuals that might have had a rough time and want to better themselves by studying the culinary arts.
I ordered the eggs benedict with hash brown as my side, highly recommended by a friend. Wow, those might have been the best eggs benedict I've had in a long long time. I was extremely impressed with the presentation and superb taste of each bite. Once I found out the workers were students trying to better their skills in the culinary world I thought what a great idea, however the food might not be that great. I'm happy to report back that I was wrong. My friends enjoyed their dishes as well and best of all we enjoyed some great mimosas.
What they serve mimosas? NOPE. But they are BYOB. So, that made the brunch experience even better. We brought 3 bottles of Champagne for 5 people and had a party. I love going to brunch but a tab can get expensive really fast if you have to purchase each alcoholic drink separately, however if you can attend a BYOB place then you can drink your day away and not worry about the bill.
Have I convinced you? Great food, great cause, and BYOB. What can be better? Oh yeah, the prices are extremely reasonable. We split the bill and it ended up being $12 per person and that included gratuity.
Supporting great organizations AND delicious brunch? Sign me up!
As a gal who lives south of Division, I rarely get to Uptown, but the lure of brunch/gossip is too good to turn down. So I dragged my hungover and hungry self up to Cafe Too for what turned out to be a better than expected brunching experience.
Cafe Too is my kinda place. It's very clean, very bright and very, very comfortable. The white table cloths, simple place settings and lots of seating by the windows looking out onto Sheridan are welcoming and cheery.
And the food is nothing to scoff at! While it's fairly standard issue: omelets, bagels and lox... the usual. But it's done nicely. I liked the "build your own omelet" menu item, and I loved that you can get an egg white only omelet. My tasty combo of turkey sausage, cheddar and spinach was lovely. The hash browns are crispy. The coffee is hot. The OJ is fresh. What more can you ask for?
Cafe Too is also one of the best brunch deals in town. Brunch for two, including 2 coffees, 2 omelets and 2 mammoth glasses of OJ came to about $25. Can't beat that!!!
Slowly becoming well-known and acknowledged, Cafe Too is the perfect spot to grab an eclectic bite to eat while giving back to the community. It's always pleasant to know what you spend on your food is assisting those less fortunate by having them earn some money and work experience versus being spent unconsciously by those who are already wealthy. Believe it or not, they somehow keep prices low and reasonable! *Nudge to all other Chicago restaurants*
I was finally in the area to grab brunch here and was very pleased. The decor is modern with canvas canopies drooping on the ceiling, unique back-lit walls, and fresh pussywillows on the table to celebrate spring in the Midwestern prairies. The hosts seem to cover their butts by saying the wait is 3 times the actual time, so don't be deterred. Just grab a cup of their coffee or check out their unique tea varieties which has little magnetic cups to smell each flavor individually off a platter. C2 offers about 5 specials that are constantly changing so be sure to peek in the right corner when you step in the door.
This morning I was in a blah-bland mood and just got the Egg Your Way scrambled with bacon and a side of fruit. I have no idea what their secret is but the bacon was finger-lickin' tasty. This is coming from someone who usually avoids pork. I also can't believe that I skipped out on choosing hashbrowns over the fruit dish but I did. My boyfriend had the Breakfast Burrito which seemed to be the popular entree of the morning (well next to the chilaquiles which they ran out of). It was really delicious with diced hashbrowns with sweet potato, eggs, onion, cheese, flank steak topped with avocado slices and a side of blackbean sour cream salsa. Delicioso!
I hope to check this place out for their dinner 3- and 5-course meals at bargain prices. C2 is a great addition to the historic and culturally diverse Uptown neighborhood. Oh and they also have a front patio to dine.
Sunday morning brunch. Hearing great things about this place, we headed north and after a bit of searching, found Cafe Too. It is not well marked, but we found it. Maybe we were still a little under the influence from Saturday night. Whatever. I ordered the Banana Stuffed French toast and S.O. ordered the Frittata Rosso omelet with spicy chicken sausage, green pepps, onions and cheese. The F.T. was pretty sinfully yummy, and before I knew it, I had wolfed it all down. The hash brown potatoes were way to over cooked, and didn't even look appetizing. The omelet contents were oozing out all sides and tasted delicious.
I guess I was so hungry, I missed that this place helps people that are down on their luck and assists them in learning work skills. Awesome.
Great value for what you get and even better service.
I was sadly underwhelmed by this breakfast/brunch spot. After reading all of the great reviews, I was super thrilled to try this spot for some yummy breakfast/and help support the local scene.
However, the street Cafe Too is on is super scary sketchy. It was a cross between crazies/pervs/crackheads at 9 a.m on a Sunday. Lovely. Nothing better for two 20 something white bread girls...
So, needless to say, we didn't eat outside by the patio. It's very small and modern inside. Decorations were minimalist and nice. Coffee was strong and tasty. Food selections were really small, but prices were super reasonable. We each had breakfast and coffee and left spending $21.00 with tip. But the food was just ok. It was lukewarm basically. My friend had the bisquits and gravy platter with eggs and sausage and potatoes, and it was nothing special at all. Bland really. I ordered the quiche special, and the eggs were wet and runny, there was barely any crust and it was really boring. But at $4, the price was great. Not worth it though.
I wouldn't eat here again. Service was attentive, decor great, food average and the area is like night of the living dead with zombies walking around coked out of their minds. Swell. I think maybe we just had an off day. Or at least I hope so.
Located in my old hood, this little café is a popular brunch spot for folk in the area, though it isn't well known. But as it is in many parts of the city, parking can be a challenge.
They have daily specials and a nice menu selection, but are BYOB so you'll need to bring your "hair O dog" if needed. It is very affordable.
Service is also good, but none of these reasons aren't the most important to patronize this establishment. It is part of Inspiration Corporation which core goal is to end homelessness. One way they do it is employ hundreds of homeless and low-income individuals gain the skills to succeed in the workforce and increase self sufficiency. Café Too helps these individuals through training, culinary training, job placement and more and that is the biggest reason I support this establishment.
My biggest problem with lunch at Cafe Too- everything on the menu looked SO good! I wanted it all, but finally decided on:
crab cake salad- lunch special
tomato basil soup- needed some warming up
sweet potato fries- for the table (yeah right i'll share ;))
The soup was good, but once I started eating it I realized I wasn't really in the mood for soup. What I was in the mood for...sweet potato fries! They were thick, covered with lots of oil...and delicious! I was nice and shared...although I didn't want to.
The crab cake salad was nice too; the balsamic vinaigrette dressing on top of it was a good choice.
I'll come back to try the brunch menu especially after Colleen C told me there is rarely a wait. I hope they have the sweet potato fries on their brunch menu!
I am all for supporting great organizations. The owner, who is also the owner of Inspiration Cafe, is doing wonders (amazing things) for Uptown. Kudos for her!!!
Eating at this restaurant since last year, I have tried the fruit salad and their chicken sausage Frittata Rosso. Friend had the banana stuffed French Toast. We both truly enjoyed our orders.
I have nothing bad to say about this place what so ever. Definitely would go back!!!
Hmm . . . .I may have come on an off day or maybe I should have ordered the special of the day, but on my recent visit, Cafe Too was just "A-Ok."
Not that there is anything wrong with "A-Ok"- other than I was hoping for an "as good as it gets" experience. We came on a Sunday morning for their brunch. The place was about half full and we were promptly given menus and told of that day's specials.
Lots of choices on the menu, from giant omelette's, to french toast to the quiche of the day and their descriptions all sounded wonderful (of course I was hungry so that may have helped!)
I had the Eggs Benedict. While one of the two eggs was perfectly prepared, the other egg was actually hard boiled. No runny yolk at all. Rather then send it back I ate it, but I still can't figure out how two eggs cooked for the same order could have such a difference in doneness, unless they precook (stage) their eggs. Very odd.
Other than that mis-step-Cafe Too was good. I had brought a bottle of Veuve to celebrate a birthday, and we were immediately presented with champagne flutes and orange juice (for those who wanted mimosas). The servers were friendly and the bathroom was spotless. And the price? Cheap for the amount of food that you get.
If you drive- my suggestion would be don't. Parking in this area is a bit of a nightmare. I finally found a spot a few blocks away but only after driving around for awhile.
This area is a little challenging- so if you want to keep the party going after brunch- you will probably have to walk down to Broadway and go to one of the bars there, as there really isn't anything in the near vicinity .
I'll give it another try cuz I'm guessing my food was a fluke given all the great reviews on Yelp. And I love the whole concept of the place.
Whole Wheat Bagel: Toasted
Large spread of thick cream cheese
Slices of fresh cucumber
A thin layer of fresh smoked salmon.
The Salmon Bagel Sandwich at Cafe Too: $6.
Fantastic. Another reason to come back here. I'm shooting to try each menu item by March...ha!
Also, never a wait. I guess I shouldn't say that, as I don't want to have to wait...but I will share. I guess. Ok. LOX! Do it.
Crab Cake Benedict?
A 12-egg (ok, 3...but it's huge) omelette?
Strong, hot coffee.
Warm, friendly,…
Read more »
Went here with a friend for dinner and ordered the 3 course prix fix for $18. Add the BYOB to that, and this place is a bargain and a half. Our meal was fresh and yummy from start to finish and the portions were just right. I will definitely be back to try their brunch some weekend!
Ok, the food in this place is a solid 3.5-4 stars but the cost, presentation and cause bump it up to 5. I came here for brunch and had an omelette with spinach, tomato and goat cheese with a side of black bean salsa, my manfriend had the huevos rancheros, and we shared a plate of biscuits and gravy. Don't judge us, we are fatties.
It all looked really pretty, the place was nice and light and clean, and the prices were more than fair. I think the only problem I had was that everything was just a little bit on the bland side. It was definitely solid: the gravy had big pieces of sausage, the tortillas in the huevos rancheros were like home-made crispy pastry shells, and everything was definitely fresh. I just felt like I could salt, pepper, hot sauce, and herb the shit out of everything.
Still, 5 stars for the concept. Apparently the place serves as a means to teach the homeless to get into the food service industry (or something like that.) I'm all in for people doing good things not-for-profit, especially when it fills my belly for cheap.
Perfectly good food, pleasant waitstaff, nice interior. My Eggs Benedict was delicious, my 7 star companion's omelette was generous and tasty. Side of bacon and sausage - yum. The price was probably the best thing - very reasonable $20 breakfast for two.
What it wasn't, was anything spectacular. The food was fresh and well presented, it just wasn't anything I'd clamor to go back and revisit. The area is still a little shady, and if you're up for some after-breakfast wandering and browsing (as we were) there just isn't all that much to find interesting in the neighborhood . . . yet.
The menu didn't have anything I'd not eaten before - that's what racks up the stars with me. Although . . . it would be a great place to take my parents when they visit . . . it could have value as a place older parents would like.
concept: awesome
service: suuuuuuper friendly
price: extremely reasonable
interior: cute, clean, modern
food: ranging from kick ass to blech
in case u don't already know the deal, cafe too is an employment service geared toward helping the homeless to gain employment in the service industry. awesome! they offer coffee and breakfasty items, lunch and dinner. we decided to come in for dinner. they offer a 3 course meal for $18 or 5 courses for $24. we chose the 5 course so we could try as much food as humanly possible.
1st course: appetizers
me: blackened chicken skewers with remoulade
the skewers were fine, but unexciting. the remoulade tasted suspiciously similar to 1000 island. hrmm?
my mans: salted cod on toasted bread
ok, but the bread needed a little more crunch to stand up to the cod, it got a bit soggy.
2nd course: soup
me: spicy black bean
perfect consistency and a nice kick
my mans: chilled buttermilk and dill with beets
hot pink and AWESOME. we were both dubious, but the soup had a slightly sweet flavor from the beets that worked perfectly!
3rd course: salad
me: mixed greens with eggplant, feta and vinegrette
nicely balanced and perfectly salty
my mans: spinach, avocado and candied pecans
nice combination of textures and flavors
4th course: entrees
me: polenta with mixed summer veggies
my polenta was fried, which i found odd, and the veggies were pureed. i think i was expecting something different. either way, the puree was too acidic and slightly over salted. the polenta was good despite the frying.
my mans: salmon with teeny taters (that wasn't the actual name)
the salmon was overcooked and underseasoned. :( bad combo. the potatoes were excellent though.
5th course: dessert
me: corn cake with brown sugar ice cream and carmelized pineapple
the corn cake was savory, the ice cream and fruit were sweet. it was perfect.
my mans: blueberries and strawberries in cream with a shortbread cookie
terrible. absolutely awful. the cookie had a horrible chemical taste that i equated to pressboard and lighter fluid.
still, a great concept backed by great people. i'll definitely be back... but i won't have the shortbread!
A friend and I visited Cafe Too today for Sunday Brunch. We got there about a half hour before they closed at 2:00 (we didn't realize that they were closing until after we had ordered).
At this hour the restaurant was pretty sparsely populated - I felt kind of bad, but then thought of how Orange is packed right up until closing time. Also, if they wanted to close at 1:30, they'd have closing time at 1:30!
I ordered the french toast with the Crème anglaise, strawberries and blueberries, as well as a glass of pink grapefruit juice. It was really good!
The menu looked nice, but a bit small. There were a number of tempting sounding daily specials though.
The space was very cute and cozy - a fine place for brunch. There wasn't anything extremely memorable or special about the food, but it all tasted good!
What a gem of a place in Uptown. I've been spoiled lately with excellent brunch options in the city so Cafe Too had to stand out for me and it did just that. How?
Their food is really good and we should consider a couple things. One, they are pretty creative and just don't sit on the laurels of the standard menu. The culinary student chefs do a great job of varying what's offered and execute it pretty well too. On the day I went, they offered a quiche with Italian sausage and chicken ... it was simply delicious, nicely proportion and economically priced at 4 dollars!
That brings me to another point, their brunch prices are cheap and certainly a good bang for the buck. Eggs Benedict start at $6, Pancakes at $4, French Toast at $6 and coffee under $2. If anything, trying this place won't hit you hard in the wallet ... after all, aren't we in a recession?
I should note that Cafe Too is part of the Inspiration Corporation that helps homelessness in the community. Great food at a place that gives back!
I think this place is truly and Inspiration. I know cheesy! But seriously, the concept really great! The food is pretty terrific too. I have been there on several occasions and the lunch dishes with the sweet potato fries are great! Brunch is no exception...
Very clean and the decor is very cool. My only suggestion would be to make the windows smaller to avoid watching the crazies on the street! (and that too is changing from year to year).
Overall great place it is on my list of favorites!
I had brunch with a friend I hadn't seen in quite some time at Cafe Too yesterday! It was lovely!
She had the Juevos Rancheros (which I tried and will most certainly be ordering on my next visit). I had the Frittata Rosso. Both were excellent, as was the orange juice and the service.
Added bonus: giving your business to this organization helps people hit by homeless and poverty learn job skills. And they take so much pride in their work! A truly worthwhile cause!
All for about $9 per person, plus tax.
If you're looking for a great meal with friends or even a significant other, Cafe Too is a good spot....especially if you are on a budget (It's BYOB). Recently, I went there with some friend to enjoy their $18 price fixe menu (3 courses) and it was very good. I highly recommend the peanut crusted salmon, even though I did scrape a couple peanuts off the salmon. A bit overpowering. I also tried their citris crepes, even though I'm a chocoholic. I feel like I should have gone with the chocolate. The sweet cream in the crepes was a little too sweet for me, especially mixed with the small pieces of tangerine.
One great thing to note...the atmosphere is great! For an open space, the noise is limited and you can easily have a conversation across the table without having to raise your voice.
I went here with a friend because she had a coupon for a buy one get one breakfast sandwich. Arrived a little after 8 AM and the only other person in there was a newspaper sales dude. Later a lot of other people came for takeout. Great ambiance with crisp white tablecloths and napkins. There are windows all along the front entrance so it's very bright inside. Artwork is displayed on the walls and is for sale. The waiter was friendly and prompt.
My friend and I got the "Build Your Own Breakfast Sandwich." You choose your bread, meat, eggs and cheese. I got a croissant with bacon, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese. It came with a couple slices of strawberry and orange. The sandwich was excellent - very filling and perfectly toasted. We loved it and will definitely be back! Especially because they have free wi-fi and it's about a five minute walk from my apartment.
On their menus: "Dine Well. Do Good...Our food is prepared and served by students in our culinary arts program which helps men and women to achieve self-sufficiency." Very cool.
move over, holiday club. the new best eggs benedict in my hood is at cafe too. and it's cheaper. and it's BYOB.
i want to eat here every sunday. the hashbrowns were perfection. the hollandaise was just the right flavor (and there was planty of it for my potatoes). $6?!!!
only downside- one toilet. and the lock on that door is not very responsive. my lovely breakfast was almost ruined when i walked in on an 80+ year old memaw who proceeded to give me the stink eye for the remainder of our stay......
Bright, relaxed atmosphere, delicious breakfast, friendly staff... can't ask for more! Went with a group of people for a birthday brunch and everything was delicious. The crabcake benedict was superb, and I adored the chorizo egg dish. The berries french toast was a bit on the sweet side, but that can be tempered by just getting the creme anglaise on the side next time. Portions were just the right size, and most of the dishes were between $4 and $8 at most. The coffee was really good too.
The wait staff was very friendly and helpful.
Best part about it is that it's a non-profit restaurant that helps the homeless to learn valuable work skills. Don't know how many people realize that. The earnings go toward Inspiration Corporation. Even better :)
Added bonus: free wi-fi and fantastic baked goods for a quick breakfast.
Weekend Specials
Neighborhood: Irving Park
$2.00 Tacos/$4 Margaritas on…
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Community Service/Non-Profit
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Diners
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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