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Mon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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charm, decent pricing, AMAZING FOOD.
The place was so charming, with different art paintings and unique sculptors ( there were only a few) it also surprised me that there were writings all over the table and walls! none the less-- it wasn't even tacky.
We got the strawberry lemonade ( which I HIGHLY recommend) and steak burrito & cheeseburger. SO GOOD! They have a wide variety of food and it was all very good. I was scoping the other guests, and looks like they have really good salads and pizzas!
Definitely worth driving back to the south side!
Service was great too, very laid back !
My aunt and uncle took me here. I am absolutely in love with this place. The ambiance is perfect for families or for college students. I enjoyed eating a deep dish pizza. The prices are reasonable, especially if you do not want to spent too much money. I loved how the waiters and waitresses had t-shirts that said " Obama eats here." It makes you want to buy one.
Downside, it may be crowded on a weekend or a friday night.
Back in the day, when I first started waiting on tables, I had a regular customer that would always sit in my section. She was somewhere between Grandma and Great Grandma aged and she'd always start off with dessert, then her meal, then dessert again. One day I asked her why and she she said it was because you never know when you're gonna die, so you might as well make sure you get dessert in first.
On the 2 times I've been to Medici, I've adopted her way of life... only I strictly stick to the baked goods. Chocolate croissant? Yes, please. I'll take 3. Ooh- can you add a spinach and feta one too? Perfect.
This place is a little slice of heaven... okay, it'd be more heavenly if I could afford to eat more of it but I'll take what I can get.
I went here with a bunch of girl friends and had a blast. We had a cute booth that left us to have a nice quiet evening. The restaurant has a lot of character with graffiti all over the walls.
The food was delicious. There was a lot of variety from sandwiches to steak. I also noticed a lot of vegetarian options (and not just pasta). I had the spinach lasagna and really enjoyed it. The portions were all quite large so sharing can be done easily. Some of the other food that my friends ordered was amazing! A really large garbage salad, fettuccine Alfredo, and I drooled over the Mediterranean pasta. However, some of the people around us ordered pizzas that looked delicious.
One thing to take note of, no alcohol is served here. But you're welcome to bring your own. Don't be afraid to bring in a bottle of wine, completely acceptable. If you don't want alcohol, there is an amazing bakery that provide awesome coffee.
I really enjoyed this place and would go back in a heartbeat. There are so many other things I want to try.
One of the real gems of Hyde Park frequented by U of C students and people from the neighborhood. Cozy and casual atmosphere with the most delicious ooey gooey hot delicious pizza ever. Nice selection of vegetarian fare too.
I've spent countless hours in this place throughout the years. From scampering across the street for a slice of pizza after school when I was a wee lass to all the nights me, Anne S. and the rest of our friends would hang out and giggle in the booths and carve our names into the tables to the occasional dinner and brunch I'll have here now. Medici is a part of my personal history, for better or for worse.
They've always had a solid burger, decent pizzas (I love the thin crust margherita), and my favorite apple pie anywhere. I'd make special trips for their apple croissants as well, since they made my favorite of those too. I also really enjoy their chicken tenders and BBQ chicken and their lemonade is awesomeness in a glass (I especially like the Himbeersaft/raspberry one).
There was a time where I'd eaten everything on their menu, but they've been adding things over the past few years, and I must admit there's a few things I wouldn't mind testing out. I also enjoy their brunch. The delivery is also pretty good (though not the fastest in the area). Now they've got a special bakery addition that provides lots of yummy breads, pastries and the desserts from the menu.
Quite simply, Medici is a Hyde Park institution. Sure, there's better food around, but they provide such a broad variety and it's all decent enough that I'll keep coming back.
The Medici is a hotspot for University of Chicago students and Hyde Park residents alike who aren't particularly concerned with spending a little extra cash for a mediocre meal.
Though my opinion about the restaurant is lukewarm in general, I do enjoy their BBQ chicken pizza and their baked goat cheese appetizer. The crust on their pizza is not the greatest (it lacks flavor in a big way), but the toppings on the BBQ pizza makes up for the lackluster crust. It is loaded with chicken and a really tasty BBQ sauce. The baked goat cheese is incredibly as well, but mostly due to the tasty marinara sauce that it is adorned with. Unfortunately, the toast points that are served with the meal are disappointing, especially given the great bakery (actually part of the Med) that is just next door.
A quick note on the bakery: it is incredible! There is nothing else like it in Hyde Park. As apathetic as I am about the restaurant, I am ecstatic about the bakery. The sour cream buns are incredible, the cinnamon-raisin bread is delectable, and the fruit tarts are fantastic.
I just wish that the restaurant was as good as the bakery.
A place that made me rethink my normal opinion on not liking pepperoni on pizza? Yes, the pepperoni here is that damn good, and never thought I'd find the best pepperoni I've ever tried from eating here, nor encounter a strong contender for best pan pizza in Chicago. I'll go as far to say if you go to the Museum of Science and Industry, you have no proper excuses not to eat here, or at minimum go to their next-door bakery.
The pizza I'm alluding to above is their garbage pizza, topped with pepperoni, sausage, ground beef, canadian bacon, peppers, onions, and mushrooms. The mozzarella was perfect on the pizza, and the pepperoni was crisp, flavorful, and nicely oversized without being too large. The shakes are great here too, as I liked both my Grenandine Float(pomegranate soda with rainbow sherbet), and my friend's Fudge-Banana Nut Shake(vanilla ice cream, banana, hot fudge, pecans). Still too many menu items I've yet to try, and I feel after my first time eating in the restaurant portion, it's so depressing that I was so far behind in discovering Med for too many years. Forget Mellow Yellow! And did I mention you can write on the inside walls and tables, or their nice patio on the back of the 2nd floor?
What can I say, Med's bakery had already begun to become a regular staple of my HP trips in the last 1-2 years, and I will now employ my crappy persuasion powers whenever in the area with friends to eat in the regular restaurant. Wish the Normal, IL location had opened before I stopped attending Illinois State, but 'tis life.
Breakfast was AWESOME!!!!!
I have certainly become a fan of this quaint and charming bakery next to the restaurant. All the baked goods look delicious and very well crafted. I have had their lattes and chai tea which have both been wonderful. The apple croissant, though, that is somthing more than wonderful--FABULOUS.
The only down side of the place is the limited seating. Its quite a small place which makes it difficult to sit down and enjoy your coffee without being bombarded with customers waiting in line during the rush hours.
Other than that, the place is overall great.
My cousin was in town to see her brother who just started at U of C so we decided on the lore laden Medici. It was pretty good overall, service was very spotty but a good lunch experience nonetheless.
Started w. the Hummus which could have included more Pita and the carrots were noticeably un-fresh. She had the veggie skewers, good size portion and definitely tasty. I went with the Shrimp Fett with a chipotle tomato creme and it was excellent...just a hint of chipotle, just enough so you knew it was there but no so much to take away from the rest of the dish.
The vibe, ambiance was old world Italian with a decidedly Tag-infused attitude on the walls and tables....get your Gino's on, I say.
The Pan Pizza is the best in Chicago. Forget the BLAND "As Seen on TV" crap from Lou Malnatis. If you want Pan Pizza this is the one. Savory sauce, perfect crust, fresh toppings.
Also, the fresh lemonade and milkshakes are fantastic.
Breakfast Review.
I used to frequent the North Side location on Surf for breakfast, but today I was…
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I miss my weekend almond croissant and choclochino!! This was the best part about Hyde Park on the weekends. I love the staff at the bakery. They are all very friendly and personable. They even knew my dog on a first name basis and would come out and pet her regularly. They are like a family there and I love that!!!
Oh, the Med. The first restaurant every first year at University of Chicago is told to go to, the staple of 57th St.
Unfortunately, the Med has gone down in quality significantly, I think, in the last 2 or 3 years. The portions got smaller and the food got pricier.
Best bets for food are definitely the burgers - they're served on wonderful fresh-baked buns. The salads are also wonderful and big - best Caesar salad in Hyde Park. Skip the Mexican food and pasta. All in all, the food is fine, but nothing to write home about, at least not anymore.
The one exception to this are the milkshakes and floats, which are both unusual (the "Mexicana" cinnamon one is to die for) and truly tasty. So go in a late afternoon, grab a milkshake, breathe in the great atmosphere, write on the walls in permanent marker, and then go somewhere else for dinner.
Fellow Yelpers, today I fell in Love. With a capital L.
First I fell in love with adorable Hyde Park. (Yes, it was my first time.)
And then, Medici on 57th wandered into my life. (Ok, actually I wandered into theirs.)
My friend and I accidentally walked into the bakery first. I had to immediately leave because my brain started freaking out at all the delicious baked goods. I might have to come back for that.
We went next door to the restaurant, and I think I may have died and gone to heaven.
We were seated in a cute booth covered in graffiti - part of Medici's charm. We tried to leave our mark, but our pens sucked. But right in front of me was a man's note to the world - that his girlfriend had the most beautiful eyes in the universe. I mean, how can you not swoon over that? If you didn't just say "awwww!" you are dead inside.
We ordered a thin crust pizza with pepperoni and green peppers from our lacksidasical server (the only reason this place didn't get 5 stars). Folks, let me tell you right now - this is THE BEST pizza I've had in Chicago. If you like thin crust, you have GOT to make the trip down here, because it is SO worth it. The pepperoni is the biggest I have ever seen, and it is delicious. The green peppers were so fresh I think they have a garden out back. The crust OH MY GOD THE CRUST is to die for.
While I enjoy a nice thin crust, I have to admit the thick crust I spied at other tables looked amazing as well. Actually, ALL of the food I spied at other tables looked amazing. It will be hard to come back and try something different though, because that pizza was super delicious.
When we left we used the super cute restrooms - instead of marking them "men/women" they marked them "boys/girls" and the little people on the signs were cute. The coolest part about the bathroom area? One sink out in the open, and a wall covered in that awesome chalkboard paint with chalk for you to leave a message to the world. My message? "All we need is love."
Because really, that IS all we need.
Um, so I defaced a table. And I think I broke the server's pen.
So, yeah, that's how my meal ended. Ooops. The good news is that it seems defacing tables and the walls, and just about any flat surface seems to be encouraged! This was further evidenced when said server produced a lovely Sharpie to make my defacing of the table THAT much easier.
All anecdotes aside, the food is fantastic here. We started with the baked goat cheese, which is presented with some homemade toast. It was so good, we had to get more toast to polish it off.
We each tried an individual pizza for our entrees, which seemed to be a good bet. He tried the pan pizza ala garbage (it was called the garbage pizza, doi), and I had the Hans's smoked German ham. His was a bit too meaty (never thought I'd say THAT), but mine was just perfect with red onions, ham and Granny Smith apples.
We pined over the french fries and the onion rings we saw carried to other tables, so I envision a return trip. Most definitely, it will be to sit outside with a bottle of wine. It wasn't quite warm enough for us to venture out on the day we visited.
Service was pretty good, but could have been slightly more attentive. We ate a very late lunch/very early dinner, so we could have been between shifts. In any event, any forgetfulness was forgiven with the sweetness of our waiter and the root beers he continued to bring for my boyfriend.
Loved the lay-out of this place, loved that it's BYOB, and loved the writing on the walls. This is a great casual date place, a fantastic spot for a family meal, and a good spot for old friends to catch up. I can't wait to come back.
(Oh, and sorry about your pen, dude. But thanks for the Sharpie so I could really express myself on your table!)
My family loves to come here at least once a month. We make a trek from the suburbs to Hyde Park just to go to Medici's! My son loves coloring on the tables and chairs and the place is always bustling! Our favorites are the sweet ones :) Highly reccommend both the hot mexican chocolate and the mexican chocolate milk shake...to die for!
One of my girlfriends and I used to come here about once a month for the spinach lasagna. It's soooo good. We'd also split the ensalata kimba. That thing is also awesome. I mean granny smith apples, blue cheese, pecans... how could that not be awesome. And the lemonade, so refreshing. The space is pretty cool too. Rustic, artsy, graffitied. Service has always been good.
As for the bakery? Oh God. Bring on the sinfully scrumptious feta and spinach croissant. This thing is definitely going to be included in my last meal menu. I am so addicted to them that I absolutely cannot eat this in the bakery. If I did it would a vicious cycle of me ordering the croissant and a chocolino. I would sit down and demolish the delectable pastry and gulp down my coffee, get up, return to the counter and repeat my order, sit, eat, drink, reorder.... you get the idea. I'm pretty sure that this would continue until I ran out of money or they closed for the day. Whichever comes first. Oh right, I mentioned the chocolino. Espresso, chocolate milk, whipped cream. Know about it.
Oh, and if that cunt of a bartender who always manages to give me the warmest beer in the place (you know who you are) happens to be reading this, just know that you're phone number is permanently sharpied somewhere in here next to a description of you love anal in haiku form. HA!
I went here once several years ago with a friend, and just a couple of weeks ago with some coworkers. The only difference between then and now is Obama fever. Now you can buy a shirt that says, "The President eats here," or some such nonsense. Hey, I'm as much of an Obama-phile as anyone else, but I'll be damned if I let that sway my gustatory bearings. Remember: A Yelp review is a f*cking valuable thing. We can't be handing out five star reviews due to politics.
Luckily, Medici earns its five stars easily. It's just awesome. I had a steak salad--yes, I eat like a chubby, menopausal woman--and it was great from top to bottom: Perfectly cooked steak, appropriate amount of dressing, and it came in a timely manner. Though Medici was swamped with other diners we had little problem getting a table, too, which was appreciated, and our server was top tier. I'm a bit bummed I didn't get a coffee, but I'll have to check that out next time.
If you're skeptical about the South Side then Medici marks the perfect entree for you. Come on. Check it out. Then when you've found your sea legs start wandering around Hyde Park, Kenwood, Bridgeport, and Bronzeville. It's like a separate city within the city, and it never disappoints in my estimation.
I went here a few times when my best friend was a student at the U of C. I didn't understand the appeal but the U of C kids all seemed to love it. The food was all right (nothing to write home about) and the service was so-so. All of the U of C kids seemed to know each other. I thought the writing on the walls, tables, bathrooms, and everything else was a little bit silly but it seemed to fascinate many.
If you don't go to U of C you will probably feel like an outsider here. If you go to U of C, chances are you've probably been here many times and don't understand why I didn't like it here. :)
The Medici is a local standard. I suppose everyone who lives in Hyde Park has to visit at least once, just to say they have. Its not terrible. I think I've outgrown it though. The food is good., but the service is spotty. I like the upstairs space and I once attended a post-wedding brunch on the roof top deck that was simply lovely.
What I really love is the Medici bakery next door. The croissants are to die for. I like to pick one up on a nice morning and eat it in the park while reading the paper. Its perfect really.
I've eaten at the Medici a great many times since I first moved to HP in 1990. The best thing about this place is the atmosphere. It kind of reminds me of a Ratskeller. Most patrons run for the the highly coveted booths rather than the rickety tables and chairs in the middle of the restaurant. (They have a rooftop patio which is very pleasant in the warm weather.) The food is only so-so and the prices have gone way up compared to similar places on the North side. Don't bother with the specials; they just aren't that good and the $13.95 - $14.95 prices are WAY out of line (like everything else in HP). One of the best dishes I've had here is the Steak Salad, but ask for it with fresh spinach instead of regular lettuce; they'll substitute it at no extra charge. Their burgers are fine too, as are their shakes. The service is fine for a burger joint. One thing that totally annoys the hell out of me about the Medici is the bathroom. They remodeled it a few years ago and it's much better than it once was. HOWEVER, they did not replace the useless piece of crap hand dryer that has NEVER worked properly in the 19 years I've been coming here. (I'll try to remember to take a photo of this "antique" hand dryer next time I'm there.) After you wash your hands be prepared to wipe them on your pants as there are no paper towels.
When the father-in-law comes to Chicago, he wants his pizza. He was staying in Hyde Park, so we headed over to this place (ruling out the Edwardo's next door in favor of something local).
We asked the hostess before committing: does this place serve deep-dish pizza? She nodded emphatically, yes, pan pizza. So we asked again, after finding a take-out menu that nowhere used the words "deep" or "dish" but did say that "family size" pizzas were pan style only and were again cheerfully assured that these were deep-dish. But the correct answer to our question was "no."
When we took our seats and sought clarification from our disinterested server, we got the same weird interchange of pizza adjectives. So we ordered the one that was not a thin-crust. We also asked for a recommendation on a size to feed the three of us, as the menu doesn't qualify their sizes by inches or servings. We were told a large would cover it, and a family-size would give us plenty to take home. We got the family-size and obliterated it in one sitting. But this was partially because it was what I would refer to as a thin-crust pizza. We should have gone with our instincts on this one, sure. Also, a Chicago institution that sells pizzas should know what kinds of pizzas it sells.
We got the four-cheese, which I one might also call the blue-cheese-assault pizza. The sundried tomatoes were good, but in every bite our mouths were distracted by the outright war (wanted harmony, received an epic battle) between cheeses. Too rich, too salty. It distracted us from conversation. It demanded water, which we didn't get... until I tracked down our server (not a busy night) and kindly requested it. He went to go get some and disappeared for 20 minutes. My father-in-law tracked him down again, and eventually he sent a busser with a pitcher. At this point we were parched and downed our drinks pretty quickly... never to have them refilled again. I know we didn't buy a $4 non-refillable raspberry lemonade, but come on.
This place doesn't take AmEx (just like the commercials!) and yes, they let you write on their surfaces. But I'd just prefer that they serve me good food. But one thing I really appreciate is that there is another public sink outside the men's and women's bathrooms so you can wash your hands on the quick before eating. Thanks for encouraging hygiene!
I've been here twice and have not been "moved" either time to say, "I like this place". I returned on a second time to eat on the rooftop deck, perhaps this is why it gets 2 stars. The hostess originally stated that they didn't have any tables available on the rooftop -- without looking at anything, what I would assume would be through osmosis she said, oh yes, there is 1 table left. So we walked upstairs and met the "upstairs" hostess who took us to 1 of 2 available tables.
After being seated we get this server who seems to be annoyed he is working outside. I asked a few questions - which seemed to further annoy him. Somehow I placed an order for the "speciality" pizza (their term, not mine) -- BBQ chicken pizza. All I requested is that they not put the chicken on the pizza - keep the design except adding the chicken topping - he takes the order and comes back and says, we can't do substitutions on speciality pizzas. I knew based on what already occurred that having an in-depth conversation about this topic would get me nowhere so I just ordered the veggie burger and an Arnold Palmer (half tea/half lemonade).
The AP was absolutely the worst half tea/half lemonade I have ever had. Since it was not "free refills", one would assume they used fresh squeezed lemonade... perhaps so, but I am not sure why in the world it had carbonation to the degree of a regular can of pop?!? Still baffled by this.
The veggie burger I would not recommend. It was bland and not sure of what components they used to create the veggie burger but it falls at the bottom of the list of veggie burgers from restaurants. The bun was cold and thick, perhaps a potato bread - but I have had good potato bread before -- they could have at least toasted/warmed it up! It was quite dry and I had to take the bland veggie burger and just eat it alone with a fork and knife.
Finally, an adventure that landed me in beautiful Hyde Park.
1. BYOB
2. Hyde Park (as mentioned)
3. GREAT food.
4. Friendly Service.
5. HUGE summer patio on the second floor. (read: no rats scurrying about, like most Chicago patios!)
6. Lovely adjoining bakery. The spinach/cheese croissant? TO DIE FOR.
7. Strong kickapoo coffee.
Um, hello...this means BYOB brunch!? Bring my own champagne and make...MIMOSAS!? hell, yes.
Also, if you are planning a private party in the summer, I highly rec the upstairs with patio...mmmmm, patio. Seems like a million years away, but I will surely be back to sit on this patio...I don't care how long it takes me to get there :)
I'll be the girl with the champagne and the baked goods. Come say hello.
Thanks Colleen for office hours at Medici!
This is my first foray in Hyde Park and it was both memorable and fun. I love the setup at Medici. From the wood based decor to the two stories and patios, Medici has plenty of potential for more fun times ahead.
So the pastries lined up for us were pretty good to look at but I didn't partake in them as I had another bakery to go to afterwards for a croissant. Other Yelpers seem to like them though so I'm sure they are good.
Their drink selections were top notch. The coffee was pretty good and strong. I also had a specialty lemonade that was very good too. Others had various other drinks and were happy to have ordered them.
As for the service, they were very friendly, accommodating and attentive to our big group. So I plan to get back here when the weather is warmer and we'll see if my experience here is repeated ... I'm thinking outside patio action!
I came here on a desperate quest for chocolate croissants and coffee. A desperate and SUCCESSFUL quest too. Ok, their baked goods are heavy, sugary or cheesy, big and greasy, and their coffee is full of flavor. It is a waistline expansion sort of place. But that's ok, we're talking about pastry here.
For better or worse, I grew up in a neighborhood full of incredible french bakeries, so by those standards the Medici chocolate croissant was nothing special -- too heavy and breadlike, not light and airy. That said, anything involving chocolate and pastry is going to be happily devoured, and the strong tasty coffee was the perfect way to wash it down, on a cold spring walk around Hyde Park. Medicis reminds of why it's great to be alive, in the way all bakeries should.
OK- way overdue on this update.
Colleen C set up a great Office Hours here and Medici delivered very well! They had an assortment of pastries (always have been very good) and some coffee called Kickapoo- which was awesome!
The best part was- they proved me wrong with their service......... It was excellent! Friendly and attentive.
The space the Med has has always been good- and they put us alone upstairs which was great.
So why only 3 stars? I am a cynical SOB and don't believe that I would actually get that kind of service if I hadn't been there for a Yelp event when they knew there were some powerful, no- ALMIGHTY on line reviewers.
The good news for Medici though is, this simple event has actually changed my mind on going back there again. I will give Medici another shot at redemption (and more stars).
Typically I feel that a review needs to be based on a complete experience, and considering the Med… Read more »
Barack Obama eats here? Well then 5 stars.
Just kidding! I don't care about the clientele a place has, no matter how cool; the product, in this case food and service, is what earns a business stars.
I don't get to Hyde Park often (read ever), but I would like to change that. The neighborhood is really cute and this place is a little gem. There's wood everywhere; wood tables, wood booths, I think there's even some wood paneling on the walls, but it gets a lot of light too so it doesn't feel like you're dining with your grandpa at the Elks Lodge (no offense Elks). The place also has a dumb-waiter, which is so cool!
I came here for Yelp's Office Hours, we had the whole upstairs for our group. It was really nice, it gave us a great view of the whole place including a patio, which I'm sure is awesome in the summer.
I snuck a peek at the menu before the event, I'm ridiculously picky so I like to plan ahead to avoid the appearance of being high maintenance. The Mexican milkshake caught my eye afterall I'm Mexican and I like milkshakes, perfect, no? It was amazing, I think I sucked that puppy down in under 5 minutes flat!
I also tried some of the pastries they had out. I had an apple croissant, it was good, but the pastry portion was a little on the dry side. I would've tried more, but there were other croissants in my future so I restrained myself.
Service was stellar; warm, friendly and very attentive.
Bottom line: I'd love to come here and try some other things off the extensive drink menu and some food too of course. Maybe I can talk the girls into coming here for our monthly brunch!
TIP: Bring some Sharpie's so you can write on the walls, tables, booths, etc.
I came here with a crazy group of Yelpers to meet for this month's office hours. We had the entire upstairs to ourselves which was really nice because there was a good number of us hanging out and having fun. I really enjoyed the space and I think it would have been a nice place to sit down and have some food if we had been there for a sit-down event.
We had some super awesome servers helping us out - they took all of our drink orders promptly and made specialty coffee drinks for those who wanted them. I had some Irish breakfast tea which isn't really special, but I was impressed that they didn't pour the tea and then let the bag sit in the cup for five minutes before bringing it to me. I hate sour, over-steeped tea and this was well done. Nice job, Medici!
There were samples of bakery sweets for us to try and they were all delicious. Though I'm not super into pastries or sweets, I will admit that the cookies with the jelly in the middle were delicious. I also shared a croissant with Theresa C and we were very pleased.
The restaurant seemed to be hoppin but not totally packed, so it seems like a great place to go for dinner on the weekends. If you don't want to come in for dinner, go into the Medici Cafe and pick up a quick bite and some coffee. Their restaurant menu was huge, though I didn't do much perusal. A few Yelpers were telling me that the food is delicious so I'll come back to sample some of the things that Barack Obama himself enjoys eating. I never make it down to Hyde Park (yesterday was actually my first visit) but I'd come back to try the food here. Well done, Medici.
The pizza here is good, but it doesn't hold a candle to Uno's. This is Chicago, after all.
While my food wasn't bad - I had the half BBQ chicken, the thing that made this into a two star is the presence of a LARGE COCKROACH, which scurried impudently between our seats. I jumped out of my chair when I saw it, and could hardly resume eating.
It is a landmark at the University of Chicago though, and I do recommend a visit. Please don't sit near the walls...
Came here for The Office Hours event yesterday afternoon and as I walked inside, I realized I had been here before a couple of years ago and I just never remembered the name.
When we walked in and set up we were greeted by the very nice manager and her staff. They gave us the upstairs area, which was nice. We had a pretty good view, in which we were able to look out of the window onto 57th street. They really gave us first class treatment, bringing us water, coffee and the delicious treats. The croissant with spinach and cream cheese was nothing short of spectacular (Had about 3 of them!). The other treats looked great as well, but I just did not have room for any more good stuff.
Had fun chatting with fellow yelpers, new and old. Will definately return when I am in the HP area.
I was here yesterday for the office hours, so I'll admit I didn't have a typical experience here, but I liked it, probably enough to make the LONG trip back down to Hyde Park, at least a couple more times, for this place. The service was very good, I'm pretty sure they had assigned two or three people just to the yelp party and there weren't very many of us at the beginning. I had an Irish Breakfast tea, it was as good as tea can be, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The samples of baked goods were really good. There was some sort of little custard cup that was great and the brownie was super chocolatey. I really liked the atmosphere, there's customer writing all over the walls, the room was very sunny and open with lots of windows and I hear there is a patio that I will be checking out this summer.
I rarely have a reason to do anything in Hyde Park, but now I have a little place to stop when I visit the museum. YAY!
I fantastic place to eat and a great reason for me to make the trip to Hyde Park. I'm even considering a bike ride with the purpose of going to Medici as a destination.
It's rare that I get to come down to Hyde Park, but I always want to.
The food seems solid all around, from the burgers to the sandwiches and pizza to the fantastic variety of shakes and floats. The Mexicana shake was awesome.
The place itself and the staff has great personality and a cool vibe. A lot of U of C students, businessmen? politicians. You name it, everyone seems to eat here.
I can only comment on a few things about Medici since I was beyond fashionably late for Office Hours here.
The venue - really neat building! I loved how open and airy the second floor is. I did not get a good look downstairs. Great spot to grab a bite to eat before or after a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry.
The food - the croissant I ate was sooooo good. Crunchy on the outside and ewwy gooey buttery goodness on the inside.
I plan on coming back for a meal and staying more than 10 minutes sometime.
The Medici is a spot all true Hyde Parkers and U of C students alike hit at some point during their duration in the 60637. Really, isn't the "Obama eats here" memorabilia proof?
But actually, long before the self-proclaimed "skinny guy with the big ears" became famous, the Medici was well-known as one of the few year-round go-to spots in Hyde Park. Their himbeersaft lemonades are refreshing in summer, mexicana hot chocolates soothing in winter, and their pizzas and burgers are always a crowd-pleaser. Seriously, I doubt any other joint could feature a Garbage Burger this delicious.
My personal favorites: Baked Goat Cheese with Tomato sauce, the Mediterranean pizza with pesto on thin crust, and Mexicana milk shakes. I know, you're thinking of those sushi/thai/chinese places that try to do too much, but the Med actually succeeds in its multi-ethnic endeavors.
Remember to bring a Sharpie / white-out pen with you. As evidenced by the graffiti all over the walls and tables, they love doodlers. Just not in the bathrooms anymore (they redid them a while back and now have a chalkboard up for those who can't hold themselves back). And it makes the wait go by that much faster.
Though it by no means carries a Michelin star or any ritzy qualifications, it's got a certified stamp from patronage most loyal. Remember, the Med is not merely a haven to students who splurge from the usual ramen or bag of chips. It's an amalgamation of a casual dinner date cafe, a family dinner spot, and a warm bakery to wait in when you order take-out. These are hallowed grounds you tread upon at the Med, so pay homage politely, and then like so many before you...dig in!
Bakery = the BEST muffins I've ever had. The blueberry are amazing, and the banana chocolate chip are to die for. Also, cinnamon rolls are literally the best I've had anywhere. The croissants are not the best I've ever had, but they're really really good. Their coffee is great, too. It's a fair trade from a roaster in Wisconsin. Delicious.
As for the proper, sit-down restaurant that's attached, the food is mediocre. The atmosphere is nice, but I don't think the prices are worth the quality you get, honestly. A lot of their meal and sandwich items are bland, or combinations of items that are just a bit off. They have a big pizza menu, but it's so incredibly easy to find better pizza virtually anywhere else. We are in chicago, after all. Go somewhere else for dinner, and then *definitely* go back to the Med bakery for a coffee and dessert. :)
If someone said, about a restaurant, "George Bush eats here!" I'd probably avoid it, sneer while passing or systematically refuse to patronize any place connected to it via vendors. If a place says "Obama eats here!", well - I'm there, even if I have to walk blocks out of my way!
Obama eats here, and confirms my every stronger suspicion that the dude's a foodie. The pizza is delicious. Like REALLY delicious. I had the personal pizza with artichoke hearts, Canadian bacon and green olives (yes, a personal favorite combo of mine). The pizzas are obviously made to order, 'cos it took a bit to get to me - or maybe the service was a bit lax? More on that later.
The pizza was cooked well, but not overcooked. It didn't cause that phenomenon where the cheese is hot lava, burning the roof of your mouth, and then sticking to it while you attempt to maintain composure and not start screaming in pain in the dining room while inelegantly spitting the whole thing out. My delicate mouth appreciates this (shut up.). There wasn't too much cheese on it. The crust - ah, yes. Chewy and light. Not brittle and did not have that mealy, graham cracker crust texture that is so disappointing. The ingredients were well distributed - evenly, not just thrown together.
If the service was better, it could easily garner another star. However it was filled with a lackadasical college student waitstaff. This did not matter to me today, as I was not pressed for time - and maybe Obama would randomly walk in!! What? He was busy today? Oh, that's right, that whole leader of the free world thing he's working on now. Anyway, I had three different waitresses (and my mouth was jammed with pizza anyway, so I appreciated the solitude). I wondered if they were going to split the tip I left them, but hey - not my worry.
I was transported right back to 1974, the pizza joints I visited with my parents. This is what Gino's East tries to be - there is graffitti scrawled on the wall here, and carved in the tables, but it doesn't have that "trying too hard to be oh so cute and run down!" like Gino's. And then Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" started playing and it really WAS 1974.
I kind of even felt 13 years old, but *coughs* certainly didn't look it anymore, thank gawdess.
Growing up in Hyde Park the Med was a regular spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My favorite thing to do was to sit in a booth and write my name on the wall, while enjoying a garbage pizza and a chocolate shake. We were all a bit disappointed when they moved from their original spot on 57th street, but, much of the flavor and ambiance made it to the "new" spot a few blocks West. It was pretty much a rite of passage that you work at the Med if you could, and I put in my time here, as well as the now closed Harper Court location. It was like a family with Hans the ever-present leader of the clan who expected and demanded the best from his family and the food. Good times!
I don't get over there as much anymore, but, whenever I'm in the 'hood I stop in for a burger, or brunch on the weekends (seriously some of the best eggs benedict around) and enjoy the atmosphere. It's an acquired taste, the Med, which is staffed mostly with U of C students, some who have more book sense than people smarts, and it's reflected in their customer service. That's okay, though, as I'm not expecting white glove service at a college hang. Plus, Hyde Parker's are a little different, which makes them that much more lovable.
You have to make a point to have a chocolate croissant, a piece of apple pie, or one of the other delicious desserts at the hands of Gracie. I don't know if she's still there (I hope she is, what up Gracie!!) but if not I'm sure her recipe still lives on. 57th st. Medici, you'll always hold a special place in my heart.
The Med pretty much has something for everyone and the staff is always so friendly. Mostly U of C students are in to grab a bite, but there is also a mix of locals.
But I have to admit, this review is mostly for the bakery. Delicious! They have many breads, cookies, pastries, etc that you can enjoy. There are a few high top tables in the bakery so you can order and eat, but on a nice day I'd suggest ordering your treat of choice and going on a walk through the neighborhood.
Neighborhood: Greater Grand Crossing
Category: Soul Food
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Kenwood
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: University Village
Category: Delis
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