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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: UptownLawrence (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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Cafe Too is one of those places I've always wanted to try. Well two of our favorite dinner companions suggested it, so it was meant to be! I read up on it before hand so I was aware of the Cafe's mission and program of helping those who are trying to make it back into the workforce. My husband hit the nail on the head about five minutes into our meal when he said "I would trust this place at rehabilitating someone more than our busted penal system." Cute.
The meals are prix fix, with the option of three courses for $18 or five courses for $24. The chef came out when we sat down to say hello to our dinner companion, Javed. (He has that effect on people!) He was very friendly in explaining the prix fix concept and also apologized that they had no vanilla ice cream for the night, so that meant no affogato or chocolate cake with ice cream. He did, however mention that in the summer months they usually make their ice cream, so I'll be back for that for sure! The night we were there it was 20 degrees outside, probably wouldn't be eating ice cream anyways, so it was easy to go with the three course option. I had crostini with brie and cranberries, simple and delicious. Next was a beautiful shaved fennel salad with mandarin oranges. Perfectly crisp with a light yogurt dressing. The big hit at the table was my entree of braised pork with poblanos, sweet potatoes and carmelized onions. Yum. Super good, and some nice heat. And I couldn't finish it so I'm definitely glad I went with the three course option. Hubby had chicken soup with wild rice that was cooked perfectly and nicely warm on that cold night. He and Javed got the farfalle with clams. Just the right amount of garlic and the clams were fresh and tender. Our other diner, Dineke, ordered the flatbread pizza with roasted veggies. She's not that into goat cheese, so the chef modified with a little cream cheese and parm. Delicious! And a very nice vegetarian option.
The dishes here are not crazy innovative, but some classics with a twist, some comfort foods that are a little dressed up, and there is amazing bread and olive oil on the table that just really steps it up above other places. It's the kind of olive oil I would serve at home; fruity, earthy, delicious. The kind that makes it worth the calories!
Our server Tracy was funny and sweet, totally on the ball. The staff were all super friendly when we left. I think this place is a gem.
PS, it's kinda chilly in there, and our friends said it always is, so wear a sweater. Or it could have just been the windy night!
Have you heard of Inspiration Cafe?* Well, Cafe Too is the other half of the equation. Every year Cafe Too helps individuals gain valuable employment skills in our endeavor to end homelessness in Chicago. (http://www.cafetoo.org/)
I love brunch, but I love BYOB brunch even more! Four of us arrived on a Saturday morning, armed with champagne and ready to stake our claim for a table. Shockingly, we were seated immediately.
The cafe is small, but bright, modern and friendly with fresh flowers gracing every table. Since it wasn't crowded we were able to have a leisurely brunch and never once felt rushed; quite unusual, kind of like seeing a unicorn strutting the streets of Chicago.
I ordered the blueberry buttermilk pancakes with a side of hash browns. The pancakes were good, but would have been better with more blueberries. The hash browns were an assortment of cubed regular and sweet potatoes; quite good, but I prefer a shredded potato.
Service was friendly and attentive, our supply of orange juice never ran dry. We got 4 meals, a few sides and OJ for under $40; what a steal! The cafe's menu changes constantly and they serve more than just brunch; I can't wait to return and try more dishes.
Before you get all "ooh, that sounds cool, but it's too far north, blah, blah, blah" know that it's very transit friendly. Several bus routes will get you close and the Lawrence red line stop is just a short walk. Now that you have no excuses, go fill your belly and support a great organization.
TIP: It's not a very big space, probably not ideal for groups of more than 4 on weekends.
* Inspiration Cafe provides restaurant-style meals, case management, support groups, life-skills training, financial assistance and other services to homeless men and women in a therapeutic community that promotes dignity and respect.(http://www.inspiration...)
2 Good
2 Be
4 Gotten
This is probably scribbled in your junior high yearbook or ribbon or whatever the hell your school gave out but it's how I feel about this place in a nutshell. Food was devine and pretty cheap (spinach and goat cheese eggs benedict with turkey sausage was awesome and only $8 ), staff was attentive, BYOB so mimosas were flowing freely and they only charged us $1.50 for like 3 large glasses of OJ.
Cute and cozy little spot that also gives something back to the community...what's not to love?
I have eaten here a number of times and have always been happy with the food and with the service. The staff is helpful when I (usually) cannot decide what to order. Plus its not the usual waiter/waitress saying "oh yeah, everything is good, etc." - the staff asks me what I like and then leads me in the right direction. I have yet to be disappointed.
Another plus - the bill always ends up being less than I expected because its not overpriced like many other restaurants can be. I guess I have grown accustomed to outrageously priced food. Thank God for a local place that isn't out to gouge its customers.
I will continue eating at Cafe Too and would hope that people who have never been, please give it a try.
Good concept. Maybe I was here on an off day, but the food took FOREVER for an omlet and another somewhat simple breakfast dish. The food was under-seasoned and my item was lukewarm (after waiting forever, I wasn't going to return it). Beverages could've been filled more often.
It's hard to know what you're getting since the staff changes every couple weeks. I would go back again, because I like the concept and the menu seems to be creative and a good value, but I could see myself being VERY tempted to go to TWEET cuz then I know what I would be getting.
Dine Well. Do Good.
that is the tagline for Cafe Too, and i couldn't have stated it better myself. this wonderful little uptown cafe gives job training to those who need a leg up in the world. what a fabulous concept! and the food, i must add, is delicious! you'll dine well - and can feel damn good about doing it too.
my friend jenny and i met for brunch there this morning. we instantly loved the sunny, quaint space - very intimate. the service was prompt and friendly. and the menu was perfect - just the right number of choices to have you salivating with indecisiveness, but not so overwhelming that you couldn't ultimately decide. and whatever you settle upon, it will be a winner for sure.
there's a standard menu, as well as that weekend's specials. jenny went with the build-your-own-omelet; i opted for the benedict special (roasted asparagus, tomato and goat cheese). as they were out of fresh fruit, we opted for the hash browns. tasty and plentiful. we both left full and satisfied, clamoring to return again soon!
Went here with friends during my birthday bash weekend. All of the food was fantastic, yet slightly under seasoned. Staff were very friendly considering their past! I would highly recommend this joint over the other one. Great menu selection! Will definitely be back to this place.
Great food with a heart.
It's a really lovely place for dates, and to dine with friends. It's small place, so you can't show up with 15 people.
I've been going off and on since it opened, and I'd recommend it.
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 »
I've been going to Cafe Too for a while now, and have really appreciated how much the place has grown in such a short amount of time. I appreciate the mission behind the Cafe just as much, if not more, than the food. I will gladly support any place that has such a thoughtful and giving attitude towards its community. The food is always tasty and the atmosphere is cheery and inviting. Definitely the place to go!
I cannot tell a lie: my husband and I have dubbed this area "Crazy Town". Why? Well... there's a lot of crazies. I have no idea why the concentration of crazy is high here but, such is life. We only live a few blocks away so the crazy appears not to scare us off.
No... we're not very PC. I know... we're trying.
The moral of this story... expect some crazy but, all in all, they're harmless.
Anyways, on to the review.
We woke up early this morning and, well, I was feeling hella lazy and didn't want to cook. We discussed our options. The Mr. brought up Cafe Too... we'd heard about it word of mouth... it was on Check, Please! recently... it's blocks from our house.
Now, when a place is on Check, Please! it's pretty much guaranteed that you will have a wait when you walk in the door. At Cafe Too this morning, that was not the case. We were one of three tables when we walked in. Sweeeeeet.
Waitress: sunny, friendly, helpful, attentive. You can't get any better than that.
Food: mmmmmmmmm. I had the (regular) eggs Benedict and the spouse had an omelet full of meat. Forget the fruit option... we both went potatoes.
Eggs Benedict: poached eggs were perfectly cooked. Hollandaise sauce was mmmm mmmm good (I hate hate hate a hollandaise sauce with too much lemon... citrus has no place in my morning meal).
Omelet: my husband is a walking heart attack... bacon, sausage and cheddar. Shockingly, and probably because it was our first time there, he let me try it. The bacon was crisp even inside the omelet... and that's just brilliant.
Breakfast potatoes: I never thought I would say this... there were sweet potatoes diced and mixed with the regular potatoes... and I still loved them. We speculate they deep fry their potatoes; crispy yet to greasy. Perfect.
The best part was we scored a booth by the window. While we're not normally the types that sit together on the same side of the booth, it was just so cozy we gave it a whirl. It was nice... sipping some tea after my meal, cozied up to my favorite person... people watching the crazies that went by...
a tiny restaurant that serves delicious food, good customer service while providing a great service to the community. I ordered the 3 course with app, soup and entree while my bf got the 5 course.
three fav parts of the night
-FRIED CHICKEN APP! no need to explain further
-beef masala dish-not really in a curry broth which was the reason why i didnt' order it, but definitely ate more than half of my bf's
-when my bf's beef pho was too salty and he traded it for the potato leek, the chef came out to personally apologize and gave us a free dessert (i was more than tempted to ask him to nix the free dessert and get another app...but i thought i should be more mature and accept the dessert) **as a side note, don't order the chocolate cake-tasted like ti came out of a box with some chocolate sauce. should've just asked for another app instead of the dessert.
all in all, loved the place. good food, VERY reasonable prices and BYOB
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.
We decided to try this yesterday based on the Yelp! Comments I had read. The issues we had with the food were simple, the sweet potato fries were all over cooked to the point they were black and could not be eaten, the catfish sandwich was done perfectly on the outside, and raw on the inside, the french onion soup was WAY salty, and the burger was ordered rare and came out very well done, almost as done as the fries... I ordered the steak sandwich, which aside from the fries, was OK. When we sent 2/3 of the order back to the kitchen, the catfish was never replaced with anything (the blame for this is with the server NOT the cafe), and the burger was cooked past medium, however it was at least eatable.
The pluses of this place include a FABULOUS salad dressing and great coffee and decent brewed tea.
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
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.
I went here yesterday with a friend and enjoyed my experience. Its a pretty small place, but we didn't have to wait for table. i got a a gingerbread latte and it was amazing. i got the biscuits and gravy and wasn't really impressed. the portion was huge. however, the gravy was spicy- ancho chile or something, but still bland. my friend got a tuna, avocado bacon wrap and it was also huge, but unimpressive. I will be back to try dinner, but it was an okay option for brunch. however, the mission and what this place does for the community is great!
Good food for a great deal! It's a small place with only a few tables so it doesn't get too loud. Our server was great although it took a while for the food to come out on a Thursday night. I had the empanadas with a spicy sauce for my app, beef brisket for my entree, and a caramel cheesecake. All three were really tasty especially for the cost! Added bonus- lots of street parking. Would definitely go back to try brunch or for another dinner.
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 »
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. And also by dining here, you are supporting their mission of training and employing the at risk and/or homeless population in the hospitality biz. Nice value-added karma for you!
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...
Been there a few times and always great. Plus the fact that they are helping train the homeless and low-income to help them later in life makes it all the more special. Anyways they change the menu each week, so can't really tell you to try something specific, but the food is all great, the staff even greater. They have a 3-course pre-fixe for $18 or 5-course pre-fixe for $24. Cheaper than an entree at other places, with much better food. Definitely go check it out when you have the chance... oh yeah it's BYOB.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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!!!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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!!!
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.
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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