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Eastgate Café
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Sandwiches Restaurants American (New) Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, American (New) [Edit]
102 Harrison St(between Lyman Ave & Taylor Ave)
Oak Park, IL 60304
(708) 660-9091
- Nearest Transit:
-
Austin-Blue (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 6:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 8 am - 11 pm
Sun 8 am - 8 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
38 reviews for Eastgate Café
Review Highlights
"Very cute cafe in the Oak Park arts district."
(in 5 reviews)
"Very European feeling small garden level cafe."
(in 7 reviews)
"Atmosphere - Plenty of outdoor seating along Harrison with..."
(in 3 reviews)
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38 reviews in English
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Review from Kristina N.
Gainesville, FL
10/2/2011
Eastgate is a cozy neighborhood cafe. I stop in here about once a week since moving to the Arts District Neighborhood. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, rarely loud, upbeat but not obnoxious music, and free internet! The staff are genuinely friendly and attentive. The have both indoor and outdoor seating - both are comfortable. The outdoor area is kept clean and tidy.
Coffee and a blueberry muffin in the morning are just under three bucks - a good deal and both are fantastic! The lunch and dinner items are generously sized and always delicious. I recommend the pulled pork, veggie lasagna, and tomato ravioli soup. Only way to make this place better - a frequent coffee or dessert card! -
Review from Pete D.
Oak Park, IL
11/14/2011
Food and service were decent, atmosphere is cozy and informal. When we came in they were playing bad classic rock, but we asked them nicely to change it, and they did.
I was neither hot nor cold on the place, I will most likely give it another try. -
Review from Jeff S.
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Another neat little gem in Oak Park we found (ala Yelp) for a quiet lunch in between open house visits in the area. I'm not sure the menu is quite large enough to hold my interest after a few visits, but our first trip was a good experience.
Going in I wasn't expecting much and the menu didn't do much to change my expectations as it was pretty basic soup and sandwichess. But the daily specials menu looked promising, even after finding out they were out of the pulled pork. :(
Ended up with an excellent sausage plate with cheesy potatoes and a nice arugala salad. The sausage had just the right pinch of spicy heat and was grilled perfectly. -
Review from Irina H.
1/30/2012
For a coffee shop, it has a nice atmosphere and is a great place to park with your laptop, if that's all you want to do, but it doesn't have much to offer for morning people. The coffee is just average, and there is literally nothing to eat except for these Barbie-sized pastries that they offer for 3 plus coffee for $4.75 (when all 3 equal 1 normal sized pastry anywhere else). From the other reviews, it sounds like a better place for lunch or dinner.
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Review from Carrie C.
Oak Park, IL
1/15/2012
I've been here 3 times. I love this little cafe. I can't truly call myself a vegetarian because I do eat meat about once a month, but for the other 30 days I do roll herbivore style. I love their veggie sandwich. They slice the vegetables thin and layer, so you're not getting big bite of cucumber or tomato. You're able to taste all the vegetables together along with the tasty sauce. The outdoor seating is adorable with the little strung lights between the trees. I think it's a family operation and the atmosphere is homey, small, and unhurried. My husband and I brought a card game there one night. It was great to just chill, eat, play, and talk.
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Review from Esther K.
7/21/2011
A sweet sweet little cafe tucked away into an apartment building. As I walked in one of the owner's young sons ran into the kitchen through the back screen door exclaiming, "It is SO hot out there!" I fell in love with the homey, down-to-earth warmth that emanates from this spot.
I had an iced latte (deliciously refreshing) and the avocado pontchartrain- I wish it had come with more avocado, but overall very tasty with wonderful dressing. The menu also includes heftier food items, like steak and hamburgers, and they even serve beer and wine! I'm always impressed when little places offer so much, though the price is a bit more expensive. The decor is lovely and the space very clean and open, but the tables are a bit too small to be conducive to studying. I also wished the air conditioning had been a bit stronger, as I came here in the midst of Chicago's July heatwave!
Love that they start a tab for you instead of paying when you order, and the barista was sweet and friendly. Would return! -
Review from Daina B.
7/3/2011 2 photos
I woke up today and wanted to go to the pool so my husband suggested we take a bike ride and check out Eastgate for lunch before swimming.
First off, this places is adorable. I love the set-up on the inside. Very cozy. It reminded me of some european cafes I've been to. I could picture myself coming here in the fall and winter for a nice bowl of soup or some hot chocolate or tea. The outside patio area is just as cute, they've dressed it up with beautiful flowers and sculture planters.
Anyway - on to the food. I had the roast beef sandwich, delicious! My husband had the cheeseburger, it was pretty good but we though it needed mayo or some sort of sauce. The ingredients tasted nice and fresh. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our food, and the experience was fantastic.
Can't wait to come back here later this summer to enjoy a dinner with some wine on their patio and cozy up here in the fall/winter.Listed in: I dig, Oak Park, Romancing the Stone
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Review from Emily Y.
7/10/2011
Four stars for the blueberry muffins! They're little and delicious. (You can have two and not feel like a glutton!) ...and just to prove our mutual affection: the cafe and I are on a call-in system. I call in to see if they have any, and if they don't, they put some in the oven so they're ready by the time I arrive. I feel prima donna and high-maintenance, but THEY suggested this system (on more than one occasion), so I've acquiesced to being treated like royalty...
It's a quaint little cafe with a really nice owner (she really keeps tabs on her staff!), I agree with other patrons who were charmed by the "drink now, pay when you leave" style.
One note for students: It's hard to study inside because of the small tables - and after awhile the chairs aren't very comfortable. So while I'd stop for coffee or a bite to eat, I wouldn't stay to study. -
Review from Julie C.
Oak Park, IL
9/23/2011
When you call a place a cafe, a lot of people think it's just coffee and pastries, but Eastgate has much more than that. I highly recommend their lunch and dinner menus--the soups, salads, and sandwiches are all great, and have a little something more than what you get elsewhere.
Also, the little shop in the front of the shop is adorable, and has lots of nice gift ideas! -
Review from K S.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2011
I had never been here before today, and had walked by it many times.
I must say the woman that works there, the woman with an accent... she is really sweet. A really nice lady.
I had excellent service and the coffee was good and this is coming from a coffee snob.
I ate a chocolate chip cookie AND a cinnamon roll - they let me sit outside for as long as I wanted and were so genuinely friendly. It really made my day.
Thank you to the kind woman working on a sunny Tuesday. This morning my car was broken into, for the 4th time since I've been in Chicago. It was really really nice to have such kind service today. -
Review from Julia K.
Oak Park, IL
10/21/2011
I was probably expecting too much, but the Oak Leaves did a very accurate review of this place and I should have paid closer attention. It is a sweet place and the owners seem nice, but overall I was disappointed. My DH ordered the hot chocolate which, sadly, was water with powdered hot chocolate and canned whipped cream. The tea I ordered was fine but you can't mess up hot water and a tea bag. Oh wait, you can--offer Jewel brand honey. We were disappointed in the petit fours which were actually listed as macaroons and were a dollar per piece for the tiny things! Overall, really, really disappointing.
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Review from Jelena Z.
Updated - 4/3/2010 1 photo
Eastgate is hands down my favorite spot for a cup of coffee in the Oak Park Arts District.
The staff is so friendly! To get a latte and then be told, 'you can just pay when you're finished-- no hurry!' is... well something you never hear anymore.
There's plenty of small tables in the dining area to grab a bite with a friend or linger with a book or your laptop. And, I really appreciate that it's not too loud in here so either convo or concentration is easy.
And I was correct about the Eastern European influence-- the owner hails from Belgrade. Check out their website for coming events such as the sold-out Balkan night they're hosting in a couple of weeks.Listed in: Alfresco? Al Yesco!, Soup it up!, I'm Feelin' Bookish., Oak Park Faves!, Cafés of Life, Life of Cafés.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/14/2009
Charming café located in the thick of the Oak Park arts district. The space is part bookstore, part… Read more »
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Review from Rhonda G.
12/7/2008
Very cute cafe in the Oak Park arts district.Small menu but this place is great for a light lunch or snack. It's definitely warm and cozy and inviting and all of that good stuff. I had minestrone soup and it was perfect for a cold day. If I lived upstairs from this place I would definitely walk down in my jams and make myself at home. Maybe I'll do that anyway..catch the bus in my jams, like a weirdo.
Check it out!Listed in: Oak Park, COFFEE, TEA, and Me, burbs the word
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Review from Lisa D.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2009
Very European feeling small garden level cafe.
We had brunch. The lobster bisque was amazing and the hearty tomato soup not bad either. I had some kind of egg casserole with spinach and filo dough-not a diet friendly place, for sure.
The service is excellent. The owners take your order at the counter and then bring your food to you. The tables are tiny and seated in what feels like a living room. It's very cozy. -
Review from Linda S.
Evanston, IL
7/19/2011
Great food AND live music - how can you go wrong?
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Review from K. E.
Oak Park, IL
11/19/2010
Very nice surprise, this place. Tiny tucked away half-underground, but cozy, and good southern light on a chilly fall afternoon. My friend and I liked the soups and sandwiches we ordered. Very laid-back service. A great place to sit and talk, and a nice alternative to the Buzz (not that we don't love the Buzz), just a very different atmosphere. I will definitely go back here again. I'd like to try more of the menu items. The food has a homemade flair, seems very high quality.
My one complaint was with another customer, who was talking on his cell phone. He was sitting all the way across the room, but his speaking volume was so disruptive that I finally asked him to lower his voice. He did, without protest. Whew. But I wish one of the people working there had handled it. -
Review from Jayson F.
Oak Park, IL
8/17/2008
1. Service - The service is excellent. The person at the register will deliver to your table, and will always offer up information on what the special is. I've never had anything but friendly service.
2. Quality - The coffee is EXCELLENT. Really high quality stuff made by a local Chicago company.
3. Value - a bit pricey. This is my one complaint.
4. Atmosphere - Plenty of outdoor seating along Harrison with an easy view of the art shops. -
Review from Brooke J.
Cincinnati, OH
4/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love my little local neighborhood cafe. It's charming and low-key, with wifi that doesn't go out, good coffee and excellent potato salad. I haven't checked out the live music yet but I plan on it; ukulele night sounds intriguing. The server seemed rather bored, but the owner stopped by later and he was friendly, interested and clearly wants to encourage return customers.
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Review from Kathy R.
Highland, IN
3/16/2010
This place rocks! I have a shop in the Oak Park Arts District, a block away. Somedays, I practically live there. If I'm in the money on any given week, I will forget the grocery store and have them prepare all my food. My big fave is the steak sandwich. AWESOME.
I think that people have mistaken this cafe for a coffeehouse, which it is not. It may look like that, because of the European flavor of the place, but the main focus is on the food, which is fresh and delicious every time.
Make sure to try the homemade soups and the cookies and fancy desserts. It's all good here.
I'm a clean-freak too, and their bathroom says it all. It SPARKLES.
Keep up the good work, Eastgate! -
Review from Mrs T.
Oak Park, IL
Updated - 9/12/2010
I went again!
The owner added a few new items to the menu... and our food was fabulous. My fiance had a Hungarian sausage that came with potatoes. He loved it. The waitress described it as a mix between a Polish sausage and a Italian sausage. It was sweet and spicy (flavors of spicy without excessive spicyness). When he started eating, she came back to inquire about the actual taste of the food and if she'd described it correctly. (She had. And it was wonderful).
I had a steak sandwich. It was two steak patties on a large piece of garlic toast. It came with potato pancakes.
I also had a mocha. This place has excellent mochas if you're looking for something that's creamy and sweet.
We left extremely pleased.
Mosquitoes are gone :-)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/15/2010
This is a really cute Cafe. I've gone twice-- and the owner is extremely personable. On my first… Read more »
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Review from Bryan M.
Oak Park, IL
2/7/2011
Soup, salad, and dessert were great!
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Review from GiGi W.
Oak Park, IL
11/4/2009
From the git go, Eastgate Cafe's owners have always been warm and inviting which reflects on the decor of this European-like cafe. From the moment you enter, there is a most welcoming feeling!
The owners take special care of each customer, always asking if everything is ok, how's the food, etc. A real personal touch. Their gift shop has an array of very unique items...I always end up buying something! And the food is excellent, and excellent portions too! I love their occasional specials....kiebanitza (sp?, well, phonetic sp.), beef goulash. Yum!
Besides feeling 'right at home', the owners have been most welcoming of my ukulele group who's been meeting there every Thursday night for over a year. They've been most accommodating to us, as well as other social groups and clubs I've seen meeting there on a regular basis.
When no groups are meeting, you can hear French, Jazz or Latin music playing softly overhead.
Love, love this place and everyone there~! -
Review from Angela D.
Oak Park, IL
3/9/2010 2 photos
They've really stepped up their game! We recently met here for an Oak Park Tweet-Up and I was impressed with the expanded menu. When we first ate there a couple of years ago the menu consisted coffees, teas, sodas, of a very limited array of cookies and just a few cold sandwiches. Now they have soups, hot sandwiches, great fresh salads, a large array of baked goods and more. Everything we had was DELICIOUS, fresh, and DELICIOUS :) My husband ordered a steak sandwich and they went and grilled it fresh outside, and it was COLD that day. Service is always really friendly and prompt. Seating is more plentiful than you would guess from the outside too!
I was suprised that a salad, sandwich, soda and coffe came out to $24 but oh well, I like supporting local places so I can suck it up ocasionally. Love their outdoor seating when it is warm, just wish there was more of it but not a ton of outdoor space on that street. They also have a great little section chock full of gifts: food, teas, small kitchen accessories, stationary, etc.
Right in the heart of the Harrison Street Art district too, so before or after your meal you can hit a number of galleries, a thrift store, bead shop, record store. pet store, and more. -
Review from Jaime R.
Berwyn, IL
9/10/2010
Great little, family-owned cafe located in the beautiful Art District in Oak Park. Beautifully decorated to give is a home feeling. The staff is ubber friendly and the prices are great. Tons of street parking. Outside seating area. On certain nights there music playing inside or outside. I recommend the Americano.
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Review from Terra S.
Oak Park, IL
3/2/2011
Hidden jewel in Oak Park. Great hamburgers! Food is always very fresh, delicious, and the owners are very welcoming.
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Review from Amber C.
Chicago, IL
2/3/2011
My mom hosted my bridal shower here. They did a great job!! The service was personal and you can tell the owners love their business. The food was outstanding and my friends and family all had a great time. Consider this place if you are hosting an event like a shower. Its perfect!
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Review from Lisa B.
Oak Park, IL
10/4/2008
This is a cute spot, perfect for a ladies' lunch. Part gift shop, part cafe, it feels like it should be in Europe. I ordered a salad and a cookie, and it ran to $10 -- a little too pricey for food that isn't organic or brought in from France that morning.
Listed in: It's a beautiful day in my…
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Review from Samira G.
Oak Park, IL
4/28/2009
This place is adorable and the owner is very friendly and warm. The food is excellent and very fresh. I eat a lot of veggies so it was refreshing to eat a veggie sandwich that was actually good. My favorite thing about this place is that it is comfortable and quiet. If you are having a bad day and don't want to be around people but don't mind going out, I'd go here. I think they have live musicians here sometimes too. It is a good alternative to Buzz especially if they are too crowded.
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Review from Tina C.
Oak Park, IL
10/7/2009
The place is very small, and full of things I think that older people would enjoy. I"m 34, and thought it was a bit to "old" for me. Their esspresso coffee comes out of a machine that uses POWDERED MILK....Um, that really isn't good coffee to me. Cookies are good, but nothing special. If they were homemade, then it would be something to talk about. IF you are a wine person, DO NOT BUY THE WINE. It's MUCH to warm, and way to bitter. Beer is good though, but how could you mess that up? If you are 80 years old, I would recomend this place. I mean there isn't any music or any fun at this place. SNORE
Listed in: Worst places to eat around…, Coffee
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Review from Marlene S.
Oak Park, IL
7/20/2009
Five of us had dinner there on Sat. night and met for book group. Great table service on Sat. nights. (Otherwise you order at the counter.) Ample selection of foods from the menu and specials. Iced coffee and mandarin salad were yummy. Cake looked good, but was a little stale. This is a great place to hang out. We were there for about 3 hours!
Listed in: Cheap Eats
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Review from J. L. S.
Oak Park, IL
3/13/2011
This place is wonderful! From the outside it looks a little nondescript, but when you step inside it feels as if you have entered a quaint European cafe. Perfect place to study, have a coffee date or grab a quick bite to eat. I've been finishing a midterm the last few days and have made my rounds at all of the free WiFi places in the area. It is so nice to find a place with an adult feel, in a rated G sort of way. Specifically no loud tweens and teens who are way too loud and obsessed about something insignificant! I had the cheeseburger which was so good, with wonderful sides. The au gratin potatoes melt in your mouth with their buttery -cheesy goodness. I will most definitely be back to this bit of Europe within Oak Park!
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Review from Mary ann C.
Oak Park, IL
9/3/2010
I have stopped here many times for soup! Yes, I am a huge fan of soup, and I love the soup at Eastgate. My favorite is the chicken pablano, but this is not offered very frequently. The lobster bisque and spinach artichoke soups are delicious too. Eager to try something different sometime...but the soup is sooo great!
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Review from c d.
Oak Park, IL
4/18/2010
Stopped in here for a quick bite to eat. What a cozy place! In addition to the menu they offer, they also sell unique gift items.
I ate a turkey sandwich that was delicious. The roll was fresh and the turkey was too. It was cut very thick, the carved variety. Sandwiches come with potato salad, it was tender and creamy with a hint of sweetness.
I look forward to heading back for coffee and to try some different menu items. The friendly serviced was a delight! -
Review from Katrina M.
Chicago, IL
5/2/2010 1 photo
Dropped in on a weekday afternoon to get my coffee fix. The staff was so friendly and welcoming. The place is a bit small, but I was able to find a corner seat for my laptop and I. Unlimited coffee refills & you get a coffee card "Buy 6 & Either your 7th Coffee FREE or $2 OFF on Purchase of $5 or more." NICE!
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Review from Jennifer L.
Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL
8/26/2009
I was so excited when this cafe opened up by home but after several visits I'm left unimpressed with the food and service.
My boyfriend and I stopped there for mochas, which were really hot chocolate. We asked the owner how many shots were in the beverage and got a snapped response that there were two- which we couldn't find. I will add though that I really appreciated that the owner was around checking in on the customers, it made it a more personable place.
The iced tea is fine, as is their latte, but it depends who makes it. Yesterday my roommate ordered "a non-fat latte" and she had to explain to the guy that it was skim milk with espresso. Then, he served it to her in an iced coffee cup with a straw. Very bizarre.
I've had their cookies- very tasty.
The drip brew is simply okay. It was really nice to sit and have a cup of coffee and use their wireless Internet.
The environment is top notch, which makes the fact that the coffee isn't great depressing. This is the perfect place to want to sit with friends and chill, but like I said, if you're in for the coffee, you're in for a let down. -
Review from Lee C.
Denver, CO
9/17/2009
This is a cute cafe in the Art's District on Harrison St. in Oak Park. It's some what easy to blow because it's not in the thick of the other businessess. It looks like it was an converted condo, there's a small entry way and counter and then what looks like it was the living room is the main part of it. It's extremely clean and nicely decorated. I've gone there for coffee and for take out and found both to be great. For $11 I took out a full salad, half slab of ribs, bread and a huge double backed potato. I found it affordable and tasty. This looks like it would be a great place for a couple date night or just to get away on a Sunday morning to read the paper. Definitely check it out.
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Review from A B.
Oak Park, IL
4/4/2011
The restaurant has a cozy setting and great food but the service can be pretty bad later in the evening. The hours posted clearly indicate that they are open until 9:00 PM but if you walk in around 7:30 PM good luck getting anyone to take your order without being treated like you walked in 15 minutes before closing. I understand that it is a small restaurant with only one employee later at night but if you are unable to provide decent service at those hours then you should really adjust your business hours. The restaurant really doesn't seem to have any seating policy so if I'm in there late I'll usually wait until someone at the front desk acknowledges me before I go and sit down. At least that way you have made your presence known and hopefully someone will come into the dining area and take your order quickly. The owners are really polite and so is the majority of the staff. The crowd is usually quiet except for Ukulele night, which could be fun if you're interested in that kind of thing but it's definitely something that you want to avoid if you're looking for a relaxing dinner. They also have outdoor dining on the sidewalk which is very relaxing on a nice night. By the way, since it is a small café, the tables are really small and barely provide enough room for two people to eat comfortably so don't bring a large group of people unless you don't mind being dispersed. To sum things up, I would definitely recommend going there for dinner with no more than three people before 7:30 PM on any night other than Ukulele night.
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Review from Kristina C.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2010
The setting is very intimate and cozy and I was very impressed with the service. We went there to see a small folk/guitar act and afterward ordered the steak and potato dinner. Outstanding. The waitress made sure our wine glasses were never empty and the owner came to the table to make sure that all was well. I would certainly go to this establishment again.
