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Categories: Creperies, Coffee & Tea
Neighborhoods: Noble Square, River WestGrand (Blue O'Hare)
Mon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
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It's nice to finally find a cafe - not a bar/lounge - in Chicago that is open late (12:30am every day) for late bites/drinks or catching up on reading over several cups of latte.
Their menu, encompassing sandwiches, salads, soups, crepes, et al, is rather lengthy and comprehensive. I tried the Prague crepe last night and really liked it. It's also big enough to share.
A chill, casual ambiance and service -- I liked that they didn't rush us at all. We sat there chatting long beyond our last bite and sip. Gotta love and keep places like this around. They're a must in any metropolis!
This is my favorite place in Chicago, it has every ingredient necessary to chill and decompress: great food, board games (including a new Connect Four!), tasty coffee drinks and wine/beer, a Euro-vibe, a real Iguana bobbing to the chill music, no wait, street parking, and did I mention that EVERYTHING is reasonably priced?
Actually, disregard everything I just said - I don't want the crowds swaming in to yupp-ify my Euro-getaway.
I won't give a coffee shop a mark higher than two stars if they charge for WIFI. Join the 21st century.
Rates were like $3 for an hour, or $6 for 24 hours.
It cost me $6 to write this review.
The first thing I want to do when I sit down at a coffee shop is type in my credit card info. Really.
Hell, even ask me to spend like ten bucks or whatever and I'd be more inclined to remain not pissed off.
I used to live in the west loop, and Iguana was a short walk or bus ride away! They are open til 3 am, which is great for students! They started serving more wine recently and added some new appetizers.
Of course the crepes are fantastic, but my favorite thing there that i get every time is the carbonara. Once you have had the carbonara here, nowhere else can measure up! ive been trying to find one in the city thats nearly as good and havent found anything yet! Im not a coffee drinker but i like their mochas.
They also started displaying artwork that is for sale on the walls, so the decor is different every time you go.
Easy street parking on Ohio under the Kennedy, or else theres the 56 bus or the blue line.
Iguana Cafe's menu is longer than a David Foster Wallace novel, and the options are dizzying - yet all delightful. I'd have to say their specialty, crepes, actually edge out La Creperie. Sweet ones come adorned with a ginormous scoop of whipped cream and the savory ones aren't oversalted. Plus, the icing on the cake: they're all really reasonably priced.
I've been here both with friends and on a date, and the ambience is always appropriate. Iguana's atmosphere is reminiscent of West Mexico (Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan) with a "spring breaky" bar feel...and yet, it's simultaneously a hip European cafe where it's perfectly acceptable to sip away on a giant cappucino. The fusion is very trippy, very trendy but very fun. And I love the local artwork up on the walls for sale.
Watch out for the actual iguana in the glass display up in the left corner if you've got a reptile phobia...though if you're blind like me, you might miss it completely for the first few visits. And if you're a fan of crepes that titillate the taste buds, richly aromatic coffee, and chilling in a sultry locale, this River West spot is definitely worth repeat trips.
Decent spot for a great breakfast panini and a cozy atmosphere with an European flair....a live iguana overlooking the joint.
I used to go to the Iguana Cafe once or twice a week when I worked in River West. They have a solid selection of sandwiches, paninis, salads, and large appetizers. The sandwiches are very large and come with a side of potato or pasta salad. I used to save half for that day and the other half for the next day (or dinner). My favorites are the chicken caesar and meatloaf sandwich. Their pizza bread is awesome also.
Although I don't work in River West anymore, I like to go to the Iguana for a light breakfast or for a casual evening date. For breakfast they have a nice selection of croissant sandwiches, crepes and fruit bowls. For the evening, their wine selection isn't the creme de la creme, but their wines by the glass and bottles are cheap and easy to drink. I've gone on dates or just hung out with girlfriends at Iguana. It's a good place to share conversation and plates like the baked goat cheese and olive hummus.
I'd say the busiest hours are at lunch and in the evenings from 7-10. I highly recommend it for a cheap yet fun night out (or for a quick breakfast or lunch).
Dissapointed. No Fresh food, it is meant to be European and that is not European to have saran wrapped three day old muffins. 2 stars for the staff and the decor. 0 for the coffee and food. Chicago needs a coffee shop with fresh food.
Really!
This place is a hole in the wall.
I walked in this place one day cuz i was real hungry and the crepes deft hit the spot and from then on...my friends and i will eat here after classes or after a long day. it's a real treat, cuz where else can u find a place so reasonable priced! love it!
All their crepes are delicious, both the savory and sweet ones. They give a generous portion to each and you can tell all ingredients are fresh. Their sandwiches have always been solidly delicious too.
The service there is so friendly, efficient, and fast. Definitely a great place my husband and I go to every thursday night for a short "date night" after work just to chill and enjoy no-frills cheap and delicious light dinner.
Hey ya'll! Mike K. and I tried to go to Paramount Room for lunch, but I forgot to check the hours, and they were closed. :-(
So we just keep walking toward Halsted and came across the Iguana Cafe. First, I love the look and vibe of this place. If I made more than $18K a year I would want my loft to be just like it.
The layout is spacious and the waitress was very effervescent. We both had different baked pasta dishes which were both quite good. We will have to go back and try come more of the lunch menu, but for first impressions me likey.
Cool atmosphere. Real iguana on the rear wall far left. Freaks some ppl out, so for those that it does, make sure they can look at it - or they will continually turn around to see what it is doing (as if it going to jump out of the glass on their head).
Staff is nice, slightly "odd though" words can't really describe, but doesn't take away from the service - at the time I went I think they were short staffed, but overall ok. Nice chill spot to go with the late hours. Desserts and good food options.
I miss European style coffee and tea houses, and this place comes pretty darned close to recreating the atmosphere for me. Added bonus? Umm, nutella (!!!!) but also some rocking teas and coffees.
The coffee drinks are always expertly crafted, but I mainly come here for Iguana's orange and currant teas. The taste of these beverages is outstanding and reminds me of family get-togethers in cafes near my grandmother's house.
Although this is a creperie, I must admit I have never tried Iguana's crepes. The menu is diverse enough and the selections so tasty that I haven't quite worked my way down to the crepes.
If you're in the mood for something small and savory, definitely try Iguana's hummus, cheesy crab dip, or baked goat cheese. The portion sizes are big enough to split among friends or to have a meal on your own. The tiropita and vegetarian wrap are also very satisfying.
There are two reasons why Iguana doesn't get higher marks for me despite it's very low prices and high-quality beverages and food. One, the place is cramped. Tables are placed so very close together that sometimes I feel as if I am eating together with the people sitting next to me (so wait to hold your private conversations elsewhere). It is also difficult to distinguish between the section of the Cafe that is a cafe and the portion that is served by waitresses. Second, while the wait staff and baristas are always extremely friendly and hospitable, the wait for a drink or your food sometimes takes a bit longer than normal.
went recently and the weather was nice so they had the huge windows open. i love the open window feel kinda like in san fran. There was PLENTY of parking when i went and it was the convenient parking box so i didnt need a bag of quarters. sadly i didnt get the chance to try out the food despite all the great reviews on yelp about their food. their service was quick and friendly even though i was there for a meeting and only order 2 drinks for 3 people.
will definitely go back and try the food!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the Iguana Cafe. The atmosphere is super cool and it is awesome that they are a coffee house that also serves booze.
The food is really really good. I highly recommend the Turkey & Ranch Wrap. Sounds boring, but it is the best wrap I've ever had in my life. I always get it and I pat myself on the back for ordering it every time.
My only con is that the caged iguana really weirds me out. He acts like he wants to get out and kill us all, but whatever- he can't. I have to imagine that animal rights people would also probably have a few not-so-kind things to say about his existence there. He seems pretty cooped up.
Anyway, I love the food and atmosphere. The prices are beyond reasonable and the service is good. Two thumbs up!
great make your own sandwhich.
ahhhh, it is so nice to have a place on the way home from my office where I can find parking, stop in for a WONDERFUL take-out sandwich (tonight I had fresh mozzarella and swiss, hard boiled egg, kalamata olive and cucumber on multigrain bread, YUM!) . And since I usually work late, it's especially nice--- not many places make up wonderful fresh sandwich's to order at 10 PM.! I got in the "take-out only" habit there because before the smoking laws changed (yay) it was unusually way too smokey to eat in there, even in the "no smoking" section, but now It's cozy and breathable inside, and I keep meaning to come in when I have some time to sit down for a glass of wine and a crepe. The staff is very friendly and extremely efficient. What a great place!
House hunting can make you thirsty. While looking around in the hood, we decided to stop for a drink. My English Breakie tea came in a large mug. Hurrah for the environmental option! The cafe really reminded me of a European coffee house. I totally felt the vibe.
Service was good. I didn't eat any of the food but would definitely try it if I come back here. Hopefully, I will since I really love the townhouse we found.
Anyway, I was able to find street parking without a problem. I didn't try the WiFi and was bummed to see tha tyou have to pay.
Sweet place, mostly cause they have an iguana. It's too bad the guy is way up in a corner -- this place would get five stars if they let him roam around on the ground once in a while. A good place for getting some work done without feeling like you're stuck in a library/prison. Service has always been great, coffee and snacks are decent.
If there is one thing in life that I love to splurge on, its Nutella! I absolutely love, lovvvvve it!!!! And Iguana has plenty of it!! I've been to Iguana many times for a variety of things, mainly coffee on a late night, but I've never tried their crepes. This week, crepes were definitely on my mind. I managed to eat here twice this past week.
First visit I ordered a latte, creamy delicious potato soup and the 'Venice' - Fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes & roasted red peppers. It was huge and it was good!
My 2nd visit I had already eaten a meal earlier, so I planned to just have dessert. I ordered a latte - so foamy and good, along with the 'Sweet Bee' - Nutella, honey & banana. It was massive, mouth drooling, amazing, fantastic!!!! My friend kept staring at it and asking for tastes. I cannot stress how good it was! The 'Sweet Bee' comes highly recommended to all who love Nutella.
Only one distraction - The iguana in the glass cage that lives in the lofted area. Should I feel bad for him? He is also massive in size and seemed eager to get out... I couldn't help but feel for him. Does he have a name? I hope he gets out often??
I am so excited that I finally found my favorite cafe, I love this place! They have a great menu with a large wine list and their coffee tastes amazing! I can't wait to come back for lunch or dinner, from what I could see from other tables, it all looks delicious!!
PS I love pet iguana!
I agree with becky m.'s comments. The place was weird and the service was sketchy. The decor is weird except for the art on display which was rather good. There was some sort of boxed area in the back left side which I guess is supposed to resemble a fireplace but it was near the ceiling.
The menu was boring except for the crepes which I guess is there specialty. This was kind of weird since it's a turkish coffee house. Anyway, I didn't have the crepes so I can't comment on them. However, I was expecting some sort of brunch or breakfast menu but found only egg sandwiches made on either a croissant or bagel. I chose to have the ham scrambled egg sandwich on an everything bagel. I expected to receive actual scrambled eggs with ham but instead received a McDonald's style egg patty with a slice of deli ham.
I also ordered the fruit salad which was huge and well worth the money. It came in a huge bowl with strawberries, bananas, pears, apples and red grapes. The coffee was also good. I don't think I'll go back unless I have a taste for crepes.
Brightly colored walls with beautiful art all over the place to a slightly grating beat of non-stop drum and bass music.
I like that their offerings include a mix of coffee and nonalcoholic drinks, some booze, dessert and snacks - some of my favorite things. But the execution is kind of off. It's kind of hard to figure out where to sit if you are getting waitress service vs just getting yourself a cup of coffee and sitting down on your own, because all of the seating is lumped together. They could use some soft chairs and more comfy seating arrangements, instead of just hard chairs and small cafe tables.
My food was pretty average and a bit overpriced. My crepe was tough and I didn't finish it - and I rarely leave food to waste (exhibit a - my ass). I'd come back and try it again, but I wouldn't go out of my way - just gave me a general sense of trying to hard.
ALERT: If you are looking to find your own personal Oprah vajayjay moment, go to the bathroom here. There is a full length, floor length mirror right in front of the toilet. Oh. Hello there! Wow....
this is a good spot to go on dates theres no loud music and it's a pretty chillax enviroment and everyone is soo laid back and they have awsome wine selection and a great coconut sorbet.so if u come here make sure it's with someone u really like and u cant get sick
I just ate a Nutelle + crushed cookie crepe, and it was absolutely incredible. I'm very, very picky about crepes too. Most I've had in the US haven't been up to my standards, but this one definitely did. The Nutella made the biggest difference because I always ate Nutella crepes in France. I recommend sharing one with one or maybe two people. Two of us could barely finish one!
I am also drinking a mint mocha and it's pretty average.
I don't care too much for the atmosphere. 1) there's a TV. 2) tables are close together. 3) the music isn't so great, in my opinion.
I do like the art on the walls, the high ceilings, and the colors.
I think this place achieves what it's going for though. It reminds me of European coffeehouses, but I'm just much more of a fan of comfy places with more character (in that they are more worn-in/not so fancy.) But if you like fancy places and bathrooms with holes and writings on the wall would be uncomfortable, this place would be for you.
My server told me the Wifi cost, but I got onto some random network that I'm guessing isn't their's.
I've been to Iguana Cafe three times. And will definitely be going back there again. I've been looking for laid back coffee houses that are good to just chill and Iguana Cafe is awesome. Unlike your typical coffee house, Iguana has table service. So yes, you get a server and they serve proper food i.e. sandwiches, salads, etc. And you can totally bring your laptop there and chill. Or, bring good book with you to read. However, 1 star off for needng to pay for wifi. No one should pay for wifi especially if you're customer in a shop!
And omg, their crepes are amazing. If you don't want their standard crepes, you can do a make-your-own-crepe by choosing the individual ingredients that go into it. My banana+nutella+nuts crepe was awesome. The portion was huge and it's a good size to share.
Went there once for breakfast at 8am and was disappointed that they didn't serve crepes yet (they only start serving crepes at 11am). I went with the veggie oven-baked omelette. The server will tell you that it's a 25 min wait for the oven-baked omelette. I was starving by the time it arrived but holy crap, it was worth the wait. It was moist and flavorful. Not sure what you call it, but there even was the egg "au jus" (you get the idea....imagine steaming an egg and you get some liquid from the steamed egg) at the bottom of the plate.
This place seems like a solid contender. A group of four of us met here and everyone seemed happy with their meal choices, and the service was friendly and accommodating as everyone wanted to substitute or leave off something. I had a club sandwich that was decent, and later some waffle dessert thing that was pretty good. My only negative mark is their fake lemonade which tastes like lemon kool-aid at best.
Our visit to Iguana was definitely a fun one. We decided on the spot because it was 11pm and we wanted coffee. Knowing that few places would be open, we found the cafe on yelp and headed out. After a series of unfortunate CTA events, we ended up here around 12:45 or 1. We ordered drinks, the baked goat cheese, the mozzerella/basil/tomato plate, a nutella crepe and a canolli crepe. Everything we had was good. Nothing was INCREDIBLE, but everything was satisfying and delicious. It was also a decent amount of food and drinks (more than the 3 of us could finish) for under $40. Fun times.
I'm not particularly a fan of their food; I think it's pretty average. However, cool cafe atmosphere with a friendly staff. The tables are spaced out perfectly, and I could do my studying here if I wanted to. I ordered the pasta pesto once, and the pesto flavor was a bit too strong. Good size portion though. My boyfriend ordered the chicken wrap once, and the lettuce was a bit too soggy. Overall, a decent place to meet a friend for coffee to catch up or do your work at. Like I said, not too crazy about this place.
I'm a big fan of European-style cafes. In the mess America has fallen into with Starbucks on every corner and even McDonald's now serving lattes, it's nice that the idea of the sit-down quaint cozy cafe still exists. I especially love that it's open LATE NIGHT. It sucks that most of the nice cafes in Chicago close up at 9PM every night, when many just want to go out, sit, have coffee or a drink, and not be stuck in a bar or club.
Whenever I go I usually have Nescafe Frappes, thus taking me back to Greece. I've also had lattes as well and they were excellent quality. The food is also quite good. Everything from the entrees, to the sorbet, and especially the crepes. It's a definite must to try.
The service was speedy and friendly, and again I love that it's a quality cafe with a beautiful interior that's open LATE NIGHT. So when you're not in the mood to stay in, but the bars, clubs, and late night diners don't look appealing, check this place out.
Still love it.
I set up my "office" here today for several hours of meetings. My only gripe was the parking situation, as I purposefully picked this place because it has daytime parking, and all of the exits were blocked by construction or cars. BUGGER. I think my meter ate about $8!
Anyway. The food, phenomenal for the price. For breakfast I had the salmon, creme cheese and cuke bagel. It might be my most favorite breakfast of all time now...and $4.25. Seriously? It was like a Philly roll with a bagel instead of seaweed. Totally stellar. Toasted bagel, semi-melty cream cheese, long slices of crispy cucumber and fresh, raw salmon. Delightful. It rescued my haphazard morning.
Coffee: LARGE, and in a real mug. Thank you, heaven. Real cream that billows (the sign of freshness, so I'm told). Splenda. Recipe for success.
Lunch (told you I was here for a long time!) was a caesar salad with chicken, which was large, with fresh chix chunks, fresh cheese and toasty croutons, with a side of dressing. Really fresh and tasty...$6.25.
Really, the food is an outstanding value for what it is. Great service, laid back Euro coffeehouse feel.
NO FREE WIFI. (it is available, you just have to pay).
Mmmm, love the iguana forever.
ooooooo. Love the Iguana.
Hummus panini is perfection, and I'm not even a vegetarian!
Friendly…
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I love this place! I once spent 3 hours there!!! The appetizers are delicious. But I can't say much for the entrees since I've always ordered the smoked salmon salad, and trust me, that salad is to die for.
The coffee is great too but quite strong so don't drink too much towards the evening. This is definitely a place to check out for it's unique atmosphere and feel.
I lived by here for a year and half and never went. I always wanted to. I really should have.
Add two years to the clock and I'm back in town with some friends when we decide to swing by after gorging ourselves at La Scorola. A little pick-me-up Iguana caramel something-or-other and a peanut butter and gnutella crepe later...I couldn't move, but I was oh-so-happy!
I live in Seattle now, and this place reminded me of all the great coffee shops there. Trendy. Tasty. You should go.
After eating here with the fiance a number of times since the old review, I'm leaving it at four stars but changing my review of the pasta salad. It's great as a little side dish when it comes with the Italian sandwich, but it wasn't so hot when it stands alone, and I think it was due to the sheer quantity of oil in it. My arteries could only take so much.
The coffee is still delicious and the service is still meh. But go here! It looks shiny and pretentious and mega trendy but it really isn't once you're inside (though the acid jazz playing inside would suggest otherwise).
A great little lunch spot. It's a bit of a walk from where I work, but it's worth it every once in… Read more »
As I sit here at work on a Saturday...yes, a Saturday...I can't stop thinking about Iguana Cafe! I stumbled upon this lovely, European-ish cafe last night after a friend & I arrived too early to go into the Butterfly Social Club. I must admit, I'm quite glad we did.
It's a bit dark inside & a kind of strange menu, but it reminds me of my good ol' days of cafes in Europe so I can't really complain. As I just said the menu is strange, but very large so it seems as if there would be something for everyone. It ranges from salads & soups to crepes. Trust me, everything sounded delish!
I ended up with the hummus wrap, which was unreal. It was the perfect mixture of red pepper hummus, feta cheese, and tomatoes. Oh my Lord, I'm drooling...thank goodness no one else in the office! My friend had the pizza bread, which I thought was pretty good (bacon, green peppers, tomatoes, cheese). I wish this place wasn't so far from my casa because this would definitely be a place I would go to regularly & try something new every time!
There is life beyond Starbucks! Who knew a coffee house would have an extensive menu, a full wine bar, & provide an entertaining and sometimes fiesty Iguana? It's everything that Starbuck's lacks, and you'll enjoy it's artsy and relaxed atmosphere- perfect for a lazy weekend! I've been threatening to try the spinach pie (looks scrumptious)! After lunch, try splitting the peanut butter cup crepe with your guest~ not your average dessert, but oh so yummy!
This place is a great place to hang out with anyone. The crepes are very good! The coffee is great as well and everyone is very friendly. This is a great place to stop by to relax or talk with friends and family.
I ain't happy, I'm feelin' glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long the future is comin' on...
70 degrees, first time in April, sunshine, fresh daffodils planted, and Sunday afternoon tea with fat German cake; sitting down by big French windows, half lit room...well to do crowd, waitress and her dark southern European features...I'm feeling vivid wind blowing on my face from open windows, I'm a hustler of exam study books, GRE here I come...
I ain't happy, I'm feelin' glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long the future is comin' on...
Euphoria! Let there be more cafés! Except, no more iguana. Truly I felt for the iguana. Yes, I am claustrophobic. I have phobia for small species locked down in glass box with little space to explore. My nightmares consist mostly of narrow tunnels that suck air out of me. The epistemic violence of the image is worth thousand words. That is said I had Van Gogh in my mind (You know Café Terrace at Night?). From there my trait of thought is followed what once wise fella Wilde, that is Oscar said "That is all in your head...The streets of Pre-modern Tokyo survive only in London. When you go to Japan it is nothing like that, all you see is morbid crowd with fetishistic habit for European commodity and nothing like geisha's bright outfit nor samurai chef navigating through the traffic with dangling sword..." And perhaps, the café that Mr. Gogh saw the night he drew in all it all does not exist. Such were the thoughts while I listened to the brit hip pop; courtesy of Gorrilaz
Yeah, ha Ha!
Finally someone let me outta my cage
Now time for me is nothin' cuz I'm countin' no age
Nah, I couldn't be there, now you shouldn't be scared
I'm good at repairs (s'all simple), and I'm under your snare
Intangible (aww dawg), I bet you didn't think so I command you to
Panoramic view (you?)
I felt the need to update my review since I have visited Iguana Cafe a few more times with my (now) fiance.
I've tried something different each time from the menu and each time the food is more delicious than the last.
The raspberry mocha latte is still the best part, but then again I live on coffee and merely survive on food. Saying that, the food is awesome.
Zach M is right about the pasta salad. They use too much oil when ordered as a main rather than a side dish. But food-wise that's my only real complaint.
That and the fact that there isn't a bad thing on the whole menu and it takes me aaages to decide on what to enjoy each time. But such is life.
The iguana is oddly cute and when conversation lapses, iguana watching or commenting on the Med-inspired art on the walls are good topic renewers.
The service is slightly above average but still not amazing and the music can be a tad too loud occasionally, but I generally don't mind either fact.
I'm moving back to England soon, so I need to find a way to transport this place and pronto!!!
My boyfriend took me here once, assuring me I'd enjoy it. Luckily for him, he was right.
I had a…
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I have been searching high and low throughout this city for the perfect coffee shop to spend my evenings at doing work and studying. I came across Iguana Cafe earlier this year as friends recommended it for being a trendy and hip spot. As for it having a studious environment, I think not. The music was great-loungey and hip, but played very loud. They charge for WiFi so that is a drawback. Iguana is a great place to meet and socialize. The coffee is great along with the crepes. Free parking is also fairly available on the side street! Not going to lie though, I felt bad for the in caged Iguana :/
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: French
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