Couture Café - CLOSED

3.5 star rating
44 reviews Rating Details

Categories: Creperies, Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea  [Edit]

2568 N Clark St
(between Deming Pl & Wrightwood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
(773) 857-2638
Attire:
Casual
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Price Range:
$$
Good for Groups:
No
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good For:
Dessert, Lunch, Breakfast
Alcohol:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   

user photo
"It's eccletic and trendy and has FREE WI-FI." (in 7 reviews)
user photo
"The honey cherry mascarpone cheese crepe is DELICIOUS." (in 28 reviews)
user photo
"I ordered the Nutella crepe with strawberry." (in 8 reviews)
  Loading...
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites' | Facebook Friends'

44 reviews in English

  • Review from fadi a.

    •  
    • 12 friends
    • 13 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    1/29/2010

    Ok, I definitely appreciate our traditional panera style coffee/sandwhich  non fancy places as much as the next person.  But sometimes I love fashion, shiny floors and boutique styling combined with delicious Intelligentsia coffee.  You've probably heard about the ambiance from everyone, well I say its nice wonderful break from your other cafe's (I mean they have magazines you can get lost in when your not surfing the web on their free wifi) and cozy seating you can easily kill a couple of hours in while having great conversation with friends.

    Let's talk food for a second. I have not had a bad meal here. I enjoy all of their crepes and for about $10 or $11, I can enjoy a delicious crepe (which comes with a side salad) and a cup of Mocha while hanging  out reading or surfing the web.  I'd say its not a bad deal. And for all you creative types out there, there is plenty of energy here to inspire!

  • Review from Helen C.

    London

    UK
    1.0 star rating
    3/22/2009

    I walked from the river to here and suddenly realised I was starving, so picked here of all the plethora of places on this stretch of street. I wish I'd stayed hungry.

    I was just utterly dejected by the time I left.

    First I asked for a medium latte with extra espresso. What I got was a large cup of dishwater. I have made my peace with the fact it'as nigh-on ipossible to get good strong coffee here (I know, I need to get to Intelligentsia, everyone says), but this was beyond bad. It had foam that was like some kind of fungi. I would've assumed it was filter coffee if I hadn'tgot a delicious mouthful of grounds at the bottom of the cup. And for that privilege - $4.

    My panini was barely warm. It was tasty, but it's the first meal I've had here that didn't fill me up so I felt a bit cheated. I could understand if they were top notch ingredients, but there's no need to be sparing with pre-grilled and reheated chicken and mayonnaise, surely.

    All the magazines were a good year or more out of date, so I didn't really get the 'couture' concept - if you were interested in fashion, 2 year-old Vogues aren't going to do it for you. Though it might explain the portion sizes. It's definitely got an identity crisis.

    Seriously disappointing. A couple of people have said it's good to go if you need to sit and work or read, which is true I guess as it's a reasonably nice space, but I'd still want drinkable coffee for less than $4 a cup.

  • Review from Alison M.

    •  
    • 129 friends
    • 413 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    5/6/2008

    I pass this place every time I walk home from work, and marketing geniuses that they are, they are usually passing out free samples.  So, of course, I got lured in for dinner.  

    This is definitely a new take on a crepe restaurant. It seems... dare I say... healthy?  The crepes are very thin, not eggy at all and aren't laden with cream or cheese based sauces.  They're also served with a side salad of nice dark leafy greens and a light vinaigrette dressing.  

    I had the Mediterranean and American crepes-- the American was filled with BBQ pork and was pretty tasty, but my favorite was the Mediterranean, which was filled with spinach, sun dried tomatoes, olives, and feta.  Any of the filling that spilled out, I just added to the little side salad.

    I finished off my meal with the cherry/marscapone crepe.  Sooo good.  (Probably not as healthy as the meal itself, but oh well).  They have really good coffee took, but next time I come back I'll bring a bottle of wine, as they're a BYOB.

  • Review from John Powell P.

    •  
    • 20 friends
    • 56 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    5/21/2008

    Okay. So I was totally turned off by the high fashion, runway theme of this place. It just screamed pretension and mediocre, overpriced food. I'm in the area quite often, and the thought to try this spot out had always passed my mind but I always settle for going to somewhere a little less showy. My friend and I eventually made our way here because we had an undeniable craving for crepes, and we were too lazy to walk anywhere else.

    We were not only surprised by the amazingly friendly service, but also the food totally delivered. We were lucky to make it for the brunch menu, and everything sounded good. Even the items on the regular menu were oh-so-tempting. We settled on splitting two brunch crepes, and instead of the regular crepes - we opted for the healthier buckwheat crepes. The crepe fillings were delicious. I don't remember what we got but one had egg, veggies, and goat cheese, and the other had apples, raspberry vinaigrette, and goat cheese. Can you tell that we needed a goat cheese fix? While we could have used a little more goat cheese, we totally devoured our crepes. The buckwheat crepes were a good choice too. They were perfect and didn't taste grainy.

    Our server Anna was great as well. Super personable and gave us great suggestions. I'm glad that we decided to visit this place. It totally de-mystified the idea of a "couture" crepe.

    Btw. The sticks of gum at each table are a nice touch.

  • Review from Michael P.

    Louisville, KY

    4.0 star rating
    8/27/2008

    I'm a really big fan of this place.  Though their dinners are always great, the dessert is the best.  The nutella crepes and the fresh berries and cream is really a great, unique alternative to ice cream.  Plus you can impress your constituents by looking, I dunno, cultured or somethin'.  The staff is always friendly, which is rare in Chicago, I think.

    Sure, it's a bit pricey, but that's Lincoln Park.  I don't mind paying the price knowing the security that comes with always getting a great crepe.  Oh, and Intelligentsia completely owns.

    I wish I knew why Nicolas Z. down there felt so angry at this place, and I wanted to respond.  But seeing that this is the one and only place he reviewed, perhaps he had a vendetta.  I think the other 20+ positive reviews for a place that hasn't been open six months say enough.

  • Review from Heather K.

    •  
    • 86 friends
    • 275 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    6/2/2008

    I'm a crepe lover so I wanted to adore this place and unfortunately I didn't. But I see potential for greatness in the future, which is why I will definitely go back...just under different circumstances. Let me explain:

    Went with a group (6 of us total) for lunch and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a large enough area to open up so we could move tables together. (Each table seats 2, basically) Fine, not a problem at all, and the waitresses were very helpful in shuffling around the seating for us. We got a round of coffees and put in our lunch order. It became really clear at this time that Couture is a coffeeshop that happens to serve food, and not a restaurant that happens to serve coffee.

    Examples:
    - we ended up with 3 or 4 waitresses and there was a bit of miscommunication as a result
    - Cream/sugar wasn't brought to the table for coffee, you had to go over to the serving station (a la Starbucks) to get that stuff
    - Had to ask specifically for a glass of water for everyone
    - Everyone's meals were brought out at different times, and they would have forgotten one of the entrees if we hadn't reminded them that we were still waiting. Final entree came out after everyone else had finished their meals.
    - One of the crepes was missing a featured ingredient
    - When placing my order, I asked if chicken could be added to my crepe...a separate plate of chicken came out with my dish, it wasn't mixed in! why? so weird!

    Onto the food:
    - They had some awesome specials, one of which was an avocado, cheese and roasted red pepper crepe (this is what I attempted to add chicken too, to make it a bit more filling for lunch). It was DELICIOUS.
    - The portobello, bacon, mozz and spinach crepe was also very tasty.
    - They use "sweet" crepes for their savory dishes (as opposed to wheat crepes), so just a heads up if you're picky about that sort of thing.

    I don't want to give the impression that the meal was a total bust - because the waitstaff was super nice and the food was mostly delicious. But things were just a little *too* laid back and inconsistent. With that in mind I will definitely come back here with my computer and hang out, grab a coffee and desert crepe, or go for lunch if I'm eating by myself or with one other person. But as an "organized" dining experience, it just wasn't great.

  • Review from Ben K.

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    6/24/2009

    Really?  You have a full menu?  Are you sure?  I've lived across the street from you for over 6 months and I didn't know you were more than just a coffeeshop with bizarre ultramodern decor.

    I had a grilled chicken pesto panini and I have to say it was awesome.  Grilled crispy panini bread with oozing melty mozzarella, super tasty white meat chicken, a thin but not invisible layer of roasted red peppers and an awesome pesto spread that packed a little garlic punch to boot.  I will definitely get this sandwich again.  It also came with a small salad of field greens in a light vinaigrette that was unremarkable if not unwelcome.

    I like this place.  I will be back, but I will not be back if I am in a hurry because my sandwich took about 20 minutes despite the fact that there were about 5 people in here.  It was also $10 for my sandwich and a can of soda.

  • Review from Amy N.

    •  
    • 13 friends
    • 71 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    5/9/2008

    Overpriced, yes!  Hence only 4 stars.  But the service, the variety, how comfortable and spacious the seatings is (as opposed to the neighboring well-known competition), I guess the couple of extra bucks is worth it.

    Hubby had snicker wannabe which was so very sweet and overpowered my crepe au chocolate with chocolate mousse and fresh raspberries.  Both were great tho, don't get me wrong.  We wish that they made the crepes in the pan upon ordering rather than using a pre-made crepe that they took out of the fridge. C'est la vie!

  • Review from Tiffany S.

    •  
    • 82 friends
    • 137 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    11/10/2008

    I really do love this place... It's an excellent place for me to sit and work with my laptop, and the breakfast crepes are super delicious.

    As a new business, I think they are trying to work out some kinks and figure out what type of place they really are.  Is it a coffee shop?  Is it a diner?  Is it just a place for individuals?

    The crepes are great, a lot better than the majority of places that I've eaten at in Chicago.  The only downside is that this place is expensive, you can't get out of here with a decent meal for for less than $12 (if you include the crepe and the drink).  

    The servers are really nice, which for me, makes up for the disorganization.  As long as they are pleasant, and there aren't any glaring errors, I'm ok with waiting a little bit longer for something really tasty.

  • Review from Clayton R.

    •  
    • 8 friends
    • 16 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    5.0 star rating
    7/2/2009

    Really dug this place.  Our server, a woman with short blond hair, was very welcoming.  The food was great - Small portions, but like sushi, you walk away satisfied and not over stuffed.

    Best of all, no corkage fee BYOB.  Sat down with our case of beer, and  our server was adamant that we could hang out as long as we wanted.

  • Review from Jin Sheen Y.

    •  
    • 56 friends
    • 51 reviews

    St. Charles, MO

    4.0 star rating
    4/15/2009

    I like the menu - it is refreshing to eat something more modern!

    The soup for today was ginger carrot and it was yummy.

    More important, free WIFI, good books and a very easy environment that allows me to just sit and do my work.

    The food was not too pricey, the service was excellent (They didn't' bother me too much).

    I'd give it a thumbs up. :)

  • Review from Ann G.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 62 reviews

    Minneapolis, MN

    4.0 star rating
    8/3/2008

    I got exactly what I ordered, it tasted great and the smoothie was delicious. I came hungry and walked away full. I wasn't there for the 'atmosphere', I was there for conversation with a friend and it was a great venue for that.

    I would definitely return.

  • Review from Irma A.

    •  
    • 5 friends
    • 17 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    4/16/2008

    I liked this place.  Cool decor...they had tables which had magazines in them!  The tables are glass and have a little shelf/drawer section in which they display magazines.
    The staff is very friendly...they actually smile (gasp) and say hello and speak pleasantly with you.  There was a woman outside giving out free samples and she even said goodbye and wished me a nice day when I left.
    I had the iced tea.  I didn't even have to add sugar or splenda to it.  Not that it was sweet or anything...It just tasted good.  It was made just right.
    Plus they have free Wi-fi here!  And you don't need a code.  I had my Palm pilot with me and got on no problem.
    So why didn't I give this place 5 stars?  Because while I was there, they were playing some godawful music and playing it WAY too LOUD! Other than that, I really loved this place.  I would go back again despite the music.

  • Review from Brigid C.

    •  
    • 4 friends
    • 17 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    4/6/2008

    Walked into this place the other night after having empanada's next door. The staff was really friendly and welcoming and the interior is very stylish and sleek. The tables are glass and have current magazines in them for customers to read, there were also different packs of gum... kind of a cool touch.

    I ordered a dessert crepe with marscapone and cherries and an orange marmalade dressing. It was pretty good, but my god for NINE DOLLARS?? not that good!!

    So, overall, a cute place to go with a girlfriend and chit chat over gossip magazines, but maybe split a crepe to keep the cost a little lower.

  • Review from Valerie B.

    •  
    • 11 friends
    • 20 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    8/31/2009

    Good food.
    I used to work across the street from this place and wanted to check it out since it was a new place. The chefs were really cool and helpful.  I started with a chicken pesto panini after work and it was really good so I went back later to try the crepes.
    I love crepes so of course I loved this place. Believe it  or not, I had my first taste of Nutella here.  I've tried the banana with nutella crepes as well as with strawberries and they were both good.

    The last time I checked, they also had free wi-fi there.

    My only problem with the place was the seating which I thought was too close together. There's also old magazines underneath the glass table which reminds me of a nail shop.
    The wait staff could have also been a little bit more on the ball.

  • Review from Erica P.

    •  
    • 2 friends
    • 17 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    8/3/2008

    We really enjoyed this cafe, couture and all. Though the white walls seem minimalistic, the crepes that we ordered were not, they were fantastic. The staff was very friendly, we ordered and then went to sit at a table. I love that they have magazines underneath each glass table-top - it gave us something to discuss and laugh at while we waited. Basically this supposedly "stuffy" place is really just laid back and relaxing.

    The three of us ordered the Fresh Berries and Creme, the Chicken and Hummus, and the Smoked Salmon Crepes. The ingredients were fresh, nothing frozen, and the crepes were light - just the way they are supposed to be! No heavy syrups or garnishes. Crepes are not meant to be a button-popping experience.

  • Review from Chris L.

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    3/29/2008

    I've tired both their "meal" and dessert crepes here.  If you're looking for a quick bite or different atmosphere then you might want to check this place out.  But if you're looking for authentic crepes or a good value, then you're better off going to Le Creperie up the street.  

    The atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty cool.  Definitely "couture" compared to neighboring establishments, they have these great tables with magazines that serve as the decor but you can also read them too.  Staff was friendly and attentive.

    The two crepes I had definitely had that "bisquick" taste and for $8 I was disappointed with that.  The meal crepes do come with a side salad though but I still think its overpriced.

    If they want to charge that much for a crepe I would recommend they become byob or sell alcohol.  Otherwise, the place is alright but overpriced.

  • Review from MsAnthro P.

    •  
    • 44 friends
    • 194 reviews

    Bloomington, IN

    2.0 star rating
    8/2/2008

    Like others, I was definitely turned off by the "couture" reference and the less than reasonable prices. Still I thought I might give it a shot one day. I've since reconsidered due to the fact that I've passed by several times and been offered samples of the crepes. In the past few weeks, I've tried about six samples. The crepes are soggy, spongy, cold and flavorless and the ingredients are equally bland and unappealing. If they're hoping to drum up business by handing that crap out to passersby, they might want to increase the quality, texture and flavor. As it stands, I wouldn't consider spending between $7-$11 for these things.

    If you're in the neighborhood and craving crepes, you're far better off heading a few blocks south to the Crepe and Coffee Palace, where you can get a freshly made crepe with fresh and flavorful ingredients.

  • Review from Jenny H.

    •  
    • 28 friends
    • 216 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    9/4/2008

    Pricey, but good.  The honey cherry mascarpone cheese crepe is DELICIOUS!  They also serve Intelligentsia coffee and smoothies.  Yum!  I've only tried sweet crepes here, but my boyfriend has had a few savory.  The savory crepes I've seen have been huge, and they come with a side salad.  

    The only issue I have with Couture Crepe is the service.  The girls are super friendly, but they don't seem very organized.  On our first visit, we ordered at the counter and then sat down.  On our second visit, we were seated before ordering.  It also takes quite a while to get our drinks, food, and then the check (we were the only table in the place at the time).  Hopefully they will work out all of the kinks soon.

  • Review from Kristi W.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 6 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    11/20/2008

    Cute place.  Service was good, albeit slow (takes a looooong time to make a crepe apparently).  But I had the time and they had magazines so, no big deal.

    Unfortunately, I didn't like my crepe.  It was proscuitto, spinach, goat cheese and fig preserves.  How they managed to make that flavorless I will never know, and I got to pay a premium for the pleasure.

    I'm giving it three stars because, as other reviewers have said, they're pretty new and working out the kinks.  My advice would be to pare down the menu and do a few things really really well.

    I may go back and try one of the dessert crepes....or I may go to one of the other crepe places within a 1/4 mile of this one.  Basically I'm indifferent....

  • Review from Trey M.

    •  
    • 81 friends
    • 33 reviews

    Peoria, IL

    2.0 star rating
    8/16/2009

    Food and coffee.  Sounds harmless enough.  I guess I've been spoiled by all the vegetarian places in Chicago; I was expecting this one to be as well.  The menu was pretty cool if you eat meat, but I had a hard time finding anything on the vegetarian side.

    Whatever, I can roll with that.

    The problem is that the staff was WAYY too laid back.  They were sitting there reading most of the time, which made me think they don't really care about the place, which made me not really care about the place.  Also, the music was terrible.  I mean, "Today" by The Smashing Pumpkins is a cool song for its time, but bluh.

    I'm changing it from one star to two.  They had free wi-fi.

  • Review from Mary T.

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    11/23/2009

    Couture (koo-too r), adjective: being, having, or suggesting the style, quality, etc., of a fashion designer; very fashionable: the couture look.

    Couture fail. This place is not, I repeat NOT stylish or fashionable. It's not ugly, but it's not very inviting, sleek, or even trendy. The ambiance is not inviting and rather disjointed. The following things should be addressed, in my opinion, if they want to move toward being fashionable:

    1) 86 the fluorescent lighting. Yech, no one looks good or fashionable under it.
    2) The couch type seating is fine, but the fabric needs to be updated. It looked like something my parents would choose for their den, and trust me they are not trendsetters.
    3) Buff or replace the old, dirty floor tiles. The grout is black with dirt and has so much gunk in it, it's spread to the tile. Grody.
    4) Update/replace the laminate, there are visible dings and chipped spots on the tables and the prep area - fix it, it looks tacky.
    5) I like the idea of providing reading material, but replace that ugly, awkward shelf the books sit on. Also, toss the old magazines, magazines from last year are...SO last year.
    6) Halloween was nearly a month ago, it's time for the witch with the pumpkin head to go, and hopefully never return again.
    7) Staff should dress the part. In other words no baseball caps, ratty jeans, or duct tape splints on their fingers.
    8) Change the music.

    Decor and ambiance aside, I didn't hate this place. I didn't love it, but it was decent. I decided to duck in here and treat myself to some crepes after scoring the dress I needed and with minimal damage to my credit card.

    I had my heart set on sweet crepes, so I pretty much ignored the savory crepes, panini and other items. I ordered the Nutella crepe with strawberry. Presentation was decent, but I think they also need invest in some new dishes; these dishes looked well worn, clean, but worn. The crepe was good, priced reasonably, and there was a generous amount of filling.

    Service was aloof. Upon entering I wasn't sure if I ordered from the register or if there was table service. The blasé "sure you can have a seat" didn't inspire confidence that table service was SOP either.

    I know I was critical about the things Couture has gotten wrong, but there also are a number they've gotten right. Prices are reasonable, the menu is fairly robust, there's free wi-fi, Intelligentsia coffee and it's BYOB.

    TIP: I wouldn't recommend this place for groups, there are few tables and they all seem to be 2-tops.

  • Review from Jennifer B.

    •  
    • 20 friends
    • 365 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    1.0 star rating
    Updated - 6/13/2008

    Still pretentious and over priced, yet no longer tasty. I went here on a Wednesday night with a group of four other people and even though we were the only ones in the place and even though it took about 25 minutes for our five crepes to arrive they were all freezing! When one member of my party asked to have his heated up they microwaved it! They do not cook the crepes fresh and bring them to you warm. And $9.95 for a crepe with a table spoon of chocolate cream and a teaspoon of raspberry jelly? I think not. Hands down the worst crepe place in the city.

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 3.0 star rating
      5/24/2008

      A little pretentious, a little over priced, but still tasty. The desert crepes are very good (try… Read more »

  • Review from Kim E.

    •  
    • 152 friends
    • 20 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    5/12/2009

    I absolutely love this place! From the customer service to the crepes, smoothies or the panini's... even the music... it's just plain fabulous. It's eccletic and trendy and has FREE WI-FI ... it is seemingly French or Euro with the art and set-up of tables with any and every different kind of magazine! Travel, Cosmo, Vogue - you name it. PERFECT place for a GNO (girls night out). Couches, 2 person tables and a mini outdoorish seating area for your choosing... Trendy colorful art to match any kind of music of your choosing. This cafe is for the artsy, eccletic, open-minded type who is up for trying something new!!! Do try it. The food is fabulous and reminded me of my days in Paris!!

  • Review from Jules H.

    •  
    • 8 friends
    • 32 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    5.0 star rating
    2/22/2009

    My rating is based more for the service than the food, which is great also.  I bring my laptop and work from here sometimes to get out of the house.  You can stay for a few hours without the pressure of turning the tabel over.  The soups are also delicious.  Even though the crepes aren;t what you find a Le Creperie, I don't feel as guilty eating them since they are loaded with veggies and come with a salad!

  • Review from Andrea c.

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    1/21/2009

    ok ok, so my boyfriend and i woke up last saturday morning with a very random hankering (yes hankering) for crepes. we decided to try this place because the items on the menu looked delicious. the menu did not disappoint.
    we each tried a savory crepe (he had scrambled eggs bacony goodness, i had one with goat cheese and other heavenly ingredients), some coffee (intelligencia is the house blend...yum), and a dessert creppe to top off our already bursting stomachs (we chose nutella, peanut butter and bananas...yum!).

    i would say overall, yes, couture cafe can be a little pricy (especially if you order as much food as we did), but you do get a great deal of food for your buck. i think this place is BYOB because some people near us were making their own mimosas...and im always for the BYOB option. staff was super friendly and it was crowded, so id say couture cafe should keep up what theyre doing!

  • Review from Priya V.

    •  
    • 5 friends
    • 18 reviews

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    3/31/2008

    I tried this place out over the weekend and got a crepe with nutella and strawberries. I thought it was great! It wasn't overly sweet and yet it was filling. It tasted very 'natural' and I didn't feel like I just ate a couple of donuts. I would definitely go back again.

  • Review from Anna R.

    •  
    • 7 friends
    • 16 reviews

    Atlanta, GA

    4.0 star rating
    8/1/2008

    Why are people dissing this place?? I too was really turned off by the "couture" vibe but wandered in looking for a place with free wifi that wasn't conditional 30 mins (aka caribou) or 2hrs (argo.) I walked in and they were so nice, even asked me what type of music I wanted playing!!! Granted I tend to tune out the music so I didn't care but I've NEVER had someone ask that! The crepe was yummy...I got one of the "sales rack" so it was decently priced. I'm subtracting a star because the savories are super expensive. But overall it did a great job as being a great study spot!

  • Review from Maria P.

    •  
    • 26 friends
    • 175 reviews

    Glen Ellyn, IL

    4.0 star rating
    8/26/2008

    I'm always looking for a place to meet up with a friend and have a cup of coffee or a smoothie. This cafe is great because they not only have great coffee (Their lattes rock!) but they also have a variety of crepes. My personal favorite is the crepe served with warm nutella and bananas. Atmosphere wise, this place could use a little help. But the staff is very friendly and it seems like you can always get a table.

  • Review from Patti B.

    •  
    • 21 friends
    • 84 reviews

    Evanston, IL

    3.0 star rating
    Updated - 8/27/2008

    Been back a few times and the crepes just haven't been as good as the first pulled pork crepe I had. I'm afraid we only go there for smoothies now, which is a shame because the people there are so nice and I want to love it.

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 4.0 star rating
      7/27/2008

      Like some other Yelpers, we were first lured in here by free samples outside the door. We'd just… Read more »

  • Review from Ann V.

    •  
    • 7 friends
    • 1 review

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    8/17/2009

    Stumbled upon Couture Cafe today on my way to Noble Tree Coffee and decided to stop in.  I enjoyed the hip yet quiet atmosphere and decided to stay.  Some key things that caught my eye walking by was the menu on the front door, free wi-fi and BYOB.  There coffee is good, as well as their panini's.  The booths are comfortable and the set up is kind of neat with the clear tables and magazines underneath for each table to read.  Artwork on the wall is cool too.  Only bad thing seemed to be the loud humming of the refridgerator and the lighting could be a little better to warm the place up a bit.  Next time I will have to try the crepes as that's what they seem known for.

  • Review from Chris C.

    •  
    • 1 friend
    • 9 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    1.0 star rating
    10/15/2008

    I wanted to like this place when it opened.  And I gave it a few tries.  But unfortunately, this place is not for me.  It is often busy though, so obviously some people like it.

    First of all, the vibe is not for me.  I expect there are many who would like it, but it's not for me.  Think "Now is the time on Sprockets that we daaaaance."

    More importantly, I don't like the taste of the crepes.  I have had a few different kinds, and I don't get the impression much thought was put into the menu.  They seem kind of thrown together, and the tastes don't work well together at all.  I strongly prefer the crepes at the two other nearby crepe places on Clark.  I also think the food is way overpriced.

    If I had to go back, I would get the dessert crepe with ice cream and banana.  It is nowhere near as good as the banana sara at the other place up the street, but it is the best I tried at Couture.

    I won't be going to this place anymore, but as I mentioned above, it's often busy - so obviously some people like it.

  • Review from Lezah G.

    •  
    • 24 friends
    • 82 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    7/24/2008

    Crepes were tasty.  Waitstaff  were  very nice and friendly.  I think this place can't decide if it wants to be a local hangout for people to come alone w/their laptops or a dining establishment.  It's a better atmosphere for people dining solo.  Prices are too high but for coffee and a dessert crepe, it's fine.  They could do a little work and earn another star or two.  It would not be a big stretch.  They are on the right track but need to make a few corrections

  • Review from Angie E.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 18 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    1.0 star rating
    5/9/2008

    Way overpriced!  The food was horrible.  My friend and I only had the savory crepes.  The food was so bad and so overpriced that we will not go back to even try the sweet crepes.  The music was too loud.  We felt like we were out at a dance club.

    The service was okay.  The server who was out on the sidewalk was much friendly than the one who actually served us.

    I wasn't that impressed with the decor.  It seems like this place is trying way to hard to be "couture" and european.

    A much better place to get a crepe is Icosium Cafe in Andersonville.

  • Review from Stella Y.

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    8/31/2009

    4++ Mmm came here with my pal and he was right, great place to chill, get your tea, and lunch. Had some great crepes, tea and just a nice sweet time chillaxin'...Try their soup du jour and you can't go wrong here at the Couture Crepe Cafe!! xo

  • Review from Stephanie L.

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    Updated - 1/15/2010

    Ok so I ended up here on a Sunday when Dunlays had a wait for brunch and I was starving.  I will say that this place is never busy.  Walked in and ordered a coffee and looked over the menu.  I ordered the egg scramble with toast instead of crepes.  The coffee was really good.  Although, I just dont think the service is that great.  They brought my coffee with cream, no napkins, no silverware...I accidentally spilled some of the cream and it kind of made a mess because I had nothing to wipe it up with...a little annoying.  The food seemed to take quite long for eggs and not busy.  The waiter apologized but I dont know what the hold up was.  The food...it was surprisingly ok.  It was a decent portion for a pretty good price.  I may try it again sometime but the service is definitley sub par...they are always nice though.  Also took forever to fill up my water...huge pet peeve

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 2.0 star rating
      10/29/2009

      Went here today for a change of pace.  Interesting little spot. I walked in and didnt know whether… Read more »

  • Review from ras j.

    •  
    • 13 friends
    • 31 reviews

    Denver, CO

    2.0 star rating
    9/20/2009

    I finally decided to try this place due to it's menu add on the front door for the 3.95 breakfast stimulus panini. It turns out that they don't do it on the weekend so I was left with the breakfast scramble and toast for 6.95. I also ordered a to go coffee in my own cup. Usually places give you a discount for being environmental and saving them a cup but not here. It should be illegal to call it a scramble without potatoes.. I probably won't go back. I could get the same down the street with twice as much food. No wonder it was empty on a sunday morning when all the other places are packed with hungover lincoln parkians...

  • Review from Julie K.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 19 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    5.0 star rating
    10/5/2009

    The first time I came here was when I was meeting a coworker for a lunch meeting. It was the perfect place- low-key and quaint. I highly recommend the gazpacho.

  • Review from Bob H.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 10 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    1.0 star rating
    3/7/2010

    ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!  As of 3/7/10, this restaurant is closed and the windows have been papered with no further information.  It has always been tough for restaurants to survive but especially when there's continuing downturn in the economy.

    Americans are becoming more frugal now and this may continue in the forseeable future.  So the thought of dropping $11 for a crepe in a storefront cafe did not go over well regardless of how interesting the decor was.  This restaurant didn't distinguish itself from any other restaurants that sell "crap" susette, panninis and coffee.  What always wins out is excellent food, great service and a reasonable price (value).  If you are missing any of those elements despite how you re-invent yourself, your business has a high likelihood of failure.

    I am sure the next restaurants to close will be the Meatloaf Cafe and Homemade Pizza restaurants which are several blocks south of the shuttered Couture Cafe...I never see any patrons at those places when I go by.  I stopped briefly in each place to look at the menu and they were extremely high priced---$35-$40 for a whole meatloaf; the pizzas were homemade but uncooked. Yikes.

  • Review from yakob j.

    •  
    • 2 friends
    • 39 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    1/16/2010

    Great 7.00 lunch special, includes soup , half sandwich , and salad. The place has a weird atmosphere , attempting to blend a white modern clean sheek w/ a cafe style feel poorly executed. I'd hate to harsh but it's not somewhere I'd take anyone to.  Good for the fast casual lunch on the go. The service is always great.

1 to 40 of 44 (14 Filtered) |  
Page: 1 2
Write a Review

Deals Nearby

More »

People Viewed This After Searching For...

Chicago Classifieds