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Pick Me Up Cafe
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Vegan American (New), Vegan [Edit]
3408 N Clark St(between Newport Ave & Roscoe St)
Chicago, IL 60657
Neighborhood: Lakeview
(773) 248-6613
- Nearest Transit:
-
Addison-Red (Red Line)
Belmont (Brown Line, Purple Line, Red Line)
Southport (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 3 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Ben C. said: "Swank. That's it. Nuff said. Surprisingly there wasn't a long line or wait to get in at about 12AM on a Friday night...which was great. When you walk in, the first thing you'll notice is the decor and lighting. It is low lit and…" read more »
492 reviews for Pick Me Up Cafe
Review Highlights
"And yes, the cheese fries are damn good."
(in 61 reviews)
"Great place to end a late late night or for brunch."
(in 75 reviews)
"The buffalo tofu is awesome, truly a bomb ass dish."
(in 11 reviews)
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492 reviews in English
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Review from Alec H.
East Bay, CA
2/6/2012
Went to Chicago during a highly touristy time, I guess, and waited in line for just about everything. Went to plenty of touristy places too, which I guess was my bad. But this place had no wait, was calm, and was totally somewhere I'd go all the time if I lived nearby.
Excellent coffee and great breakfast. Awesome spot to hang out before a game. -
Review from Matthew S.
Chicago, IL
1/4/2012
I don't know why, but I upon walking inside this establishment - I kind of thought I might see Courtney Love passed out under a table.
I didn't though.
This was a New Years Day adventure for me. After a very pleasant NYE celebration - a few of us decided to have breakfast the next morning. After running down our options, I was eager to try the PMU Cafe, because I'd never been there.
The atmosphere - hmmm, how to describe it? It reminded me of a garage where teen age boys might rehearse for their "rock band", mix in a little "after" from an episode of Hoarders, and to spice it up - add Christmas lights.
Was I apprehensive? Yes. Did my friends encourage me to just enjoy the atmosphere and wait for the food? Yes.
I had a three cheese omelet, potatoes, and wheat toast. And coffee. Our waitress was a very tattoo'd girl, with geek glasses and an amazingly sweet personality. I really enjoyed myself. It was really the perfect place to have breakfast on New Years Day.
The place was very busy - and there were tables of singletons, and groups of friends. A really great vibe.
A motherly woman came to bus our table - and offered to box up what we hadn't finished. She actually took the plates away and brought back the boxes. I've gotten very used to the waitress just bringing a box to the table. The extra touch of "we're waiting on you" was well received.
Don't judge a book by its cover! I probably would have never picked this place on my own....based solely on its lack of stacked vintage books and needle-points hanging on the walls.
Hurray for Pick Me Up Cafe! -
Review from Nick N.
Riverside, IL
1/3/2012
Dis place is great because it is friendly to vegans and non alike. Dey offer some really great menu items like build your own sandwiches, cheese fries, kaluha pancakes, and a full espresso bar of real quality drinks.
One ting I gotta say is dat dey do have a tendency to mix up orders. It has happened on more dan one occasion with more dan one server. Dey will fix it for you however, which is very nice.
Outside of dat minor setback it is dee fun place to go for food late night or whenevers. -
Review from Alley K.
North Chicago, IL
2/9/2012
Pick me up cafe is always a great place to stop by. I'll take the train from Great Lakes to Chicago JUST for this place. I highly recommend the French toast. :) Only downside is occasionally the staff are a little on the not so friendly side, but the food makes up for it. 5 stars.
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Review from Ingrid C.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/4/2012
I still love the place... but whats going on with the service?!?!?!?!
I had an angry waitress KICK ME OUT cause I took a table without waiting to be seated even though there was no host, no line and one empty table waiting for me and my friend!!! It was late or I should say early (around 5 am) after a freak easy at the Metro and I understand if she was tired, but I was too!!! We just wanted to sit down and enjoy a good breakfast. Well she was aggravated by the fact that we sat down and asked us to leave since we "apparently couldn't wait to be seated" we left and I was bummed cause as I said before; I LOVE pick me up!!! but such a great place with awesome environment might be in need of friendlier, less dramatic and more polite waitresses!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/6/2011
I just LOVE their schedule!! I come from a place where coffee shops (other than Starbucks) are all… Read more »
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Review from Phoenix D.
Chicago, IL
2/3/2012
Grilled cheese and cheese fries.....the perfect meal and I refuse to stray from it.
The whole grain bread is always toasted to perfection and topped with a delicious combination of cheeses and thick slices of tomato.
A regulars tip: instead of paying the extra $5 for a side of their AMAZING cheese fries just ask for your complimentary sandwich side (which can be anything from their sides menu but I always choose fries...) to be topped with cheese (.50 cents) and DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: order a side of their homemade ranch sauce (.75 cents). The sauce is amazing with both the sandwich and the fries.
Totally worth the calorie splurge....one of my favorite spots in Chicago! -
Review from anthony b.
Westchester, IL
2/2/2012
I love this place. Always my go to late night or morning. Great veggie options. Also have meat options if you're into that kind of stuff. Their coffee is awesome. Even when they are busy the wait for a table is never too bad. Can be fun late on night on the weekends watching all the drunk assholes stumble out of the bars across the street and watch them make morons of themselves.
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Review from Lauren G.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2011
Who doesn't need a good Pick Me Up after a Friday night out? Lucky for me, Pick Me Up Cafe was right there to rid me of my morning-after-drinking (.. let's be honest, afternoon,) syndrome - with something WAY less greasy and more delicious than my typical hangover dining picks.
Over the course of the meal, there were 3 main, notable things that made me fall in love:
- Soy Eggnog Latte with a Shot of Jameson. This was the choice of my partner in dine. The thought of a hot, frothy egg nog drink kind of crept me out, but Oh My Gosh was this hot concoction mouth-watering. It was like a tummy-warming snickerdoodle and the perfect way to start out our dining day. Not to mention, the friendly waitress was more than happy to reheat the leftovers after it had cooled from too much chatting. And the 2nd round was still delish.
- Tons of Vegan and Vegetable-filled plates. Me being a veggie lover and friend being a vegan, all of these delightful veggie options were amazing. So many to choose from: breakfast, lunch and dinner options. She went with a tofu scramble and I went with a veggie eggs benedict. Needless to say, we had no left overs... not because we didn't get enough food, but because we definitely wanted to eat it all.
- Friendly wait staff. So friendly I ended up paying a 40% tip. And I'm not exactly the richest lady on the street, we'll just say that.
Other qualities that made me feel great:
- Mimosa specials (and the daily drink flavor was peach. Um, yum.)
- Late hours (Open 24 hours on the weekends too!)
Let's just say this: The friendly staff combined with the unique food and drink menu definitely put the Pick Me Up Cafe on my list of restaurant venues to return to. -
Review from Dave W.
Chicago, IL
12/25/2011
Pick me up is good for any meal, but I most often come for breakfast.
The omelettes are by far my favorite with the GORP taking first place. Once I had a huge appetite and overly sweet tooth that led me to the chocolate chip pancakes... There was so much amazing melted chocolate in the huge cakes I could barely chew them. It was the consistency of peanut butter. Which to me is a good thing because I love peanut butter too. Adding syrup to the mix created a sugary heaven that would turn a smaller person diabetic.
Out of a half a dozen trips to this joint I have only had to wait for seating once, the music selection is usually pretty good, and it is clean.
Service has always been wonderful, they are quick, courteous, and give good recommendations.
The only downside is the occasional hipster(s) seated close by, subjecting you to their ironic conversations, but that is another can of worms... -
Review from Seth F.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2012
The Pick Me Up is great. Or not. Depends on when you're there and how the staff happen to be feeling that day. Somehow it manages to be a really unique, local place with all the warmth of a cookie-cutter national chain. On my last visit the food was good but the service was not. It's the only place where I've ever been asked to leave as soon as they got my money, so that they could seat someone else. I wished that they'd been in that much of a hurry to bring our food and take our order in the first place.
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Review from K T.
Chicago, IL
11/19/2011
Good brunch spot. Sandwiched conveniently between both the Belmont and Addison stops - I think equidistant to either L's.
Sort of dive-y looking from the outside - didnt see much of the inside as we sat right in front. Friendly, fast service & good food. Had some very delicious and unhealthy eggs benedict & and my friend seemed to enjoy her breakfast chorizo burrito very much. Good crispy hash browns (not the shredded kind). Plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Good mimosas & bloody marys too. Not horribly over-priced. Typical Chicago prices of 8 to 11 bucks on average per plate. Drinks not way overpriced either. Didn't seem to skimp on the alcohol.
While nothing absolutely stunning or mind blowing here, would definitely go back for a solid, tasty meal and friendly service. -
Review from Greg T.
Elk Grove Village, IL
11/30/2011
Greg: It's been a while since I came to the Pick Me Up Cafe, but it left an indellible impression as a cozy diner both hip and comfortable. Magnetic Fields and Belle and Sebastian quietly played from restaurant stereos. Halloween decorations were fun and decorative, and not ostentatious.
As for the food, Karen and I shared some breakfast meal which was great. What I remember in detail was the sugary deliciousness of the soy mocha. A extra pump of chocolate beautifully whirled into the dark beauty. I'm not usually one with a sweettooth, but like a ravenous Gallum I found myself captured by it's seduction and finished the majority of it. -
Review from Anemone T.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2012
This place has saved me several times when I needed to take out-of-towners for a snack past midnight. The worst thing about Pick Me Up is the view to the bikini-clad hustlers with fur boots across the street.
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Review from Jenny H.
10/27/2011
We stumbled upon this place at 1am on a weeknight. It seemed like the place had a certain charm from outside looking in.
We were seated in a booth and shared a kahlua-laced cappuccino milkshake. Best alcoholic milkshake-- creamy, sweet, and surprisingly complex with a subtle hint of caramel. I ordered the chicken tostada and loved the hearty portions. It literally looked like a pile, which made it a fun challenge of eating.
There were a handful of people reading late into the night, some quietly conversing over coffee, others like us having a late meal. If only there was a place like this closer to my 'hood, otherwise, I wouldn't mind stopping in for more yumminess off the menu. Maybe even try the Zombie-- a caffeinated mammoth of three shots and two cups of coffee. A definite pick me up. -
Review from Julie C.
Schaumburg, IL
11/14/2011
I came here late after a concert, and there was a very long wait that I don't think was worth it. Pick Me Up Cafe has a varied menu, with vegetarian and vegan options, and lots of choices as far as breakfast, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. The prices weren't bad, the service was quick and pretty good, and it's not like the food was terrible. It just left something to be desired.
My toast was hard, and the bacon was too greasy and kind of tasteless. The eggs were okay. The home fries were really spicy. Overall, the food was just average. I didn't understand why the place was so packed. It is an interesting spot for people-watching, though, and it's good for groups.
I'm always on the lookout for good breakfast places, but I don't think I was impressed enough to come back to Pick Me Up Cafe. -
Review from swati b.
Chicago, IL
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here for lunch on a random weekday with a friend, love that they have a quiet little patio area in the back.
This place has a great variety in their menu, breakfast, lunch, brunch, vegan, non-vegan, coffee, dessert...
Service was OUTSTANDING!
Food was pretty good, I had the vegan version of eggs benedict on a sandwich which was pretty good..the potatoes needed a little more salt but otherwise was delicious!
The caramel apple cheesecake was amazing!
will have to come back here for more! -
Review from Petras D.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here with the missus. We ordered breakfast; she the 2 eggs hasbrowns extra crispy, sausage no toast and coffeee - myself; the vegan eggs benedict, extra crispy hassbrowns, wheat toast and a water.
THe food arrived soon enough but we both agreed about 2 bites in...."mmm, not that great." She likened it to a Golden fill-in-the-blank, I said that was being generous. If you're going to toute yourself as a vegan/vegetarian cafe then those dishes which are specified for said target group should be perfectly executed, instead we have an odd sauce smothering over cooked tofu and mushy vegetables.
2 stars because the staff was friendly ,but the food sucks frankly so I'll not be a patron again. -
Review from Kelly M.
12/4/2011
I went to Chicago to visit a friend in August and we walked by here but it was really busy so we decided to eat elsewhere. In October I came here with some friends of mine after a show and we all loved the food. My one friend's boyfriend got french toast, the portions were mammoth. I got a barbequed beef thing that was vegan that left me too full for desert. The design of the building is weird and it was really busy so the service wasn't that great and the food took forever to come out. I've still recommended this place to friend visiting Chicago and I've added it to my "Stuff to do when I am in Chicago" list. No really, I have a list.
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Review from Victoria V.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Seitan sammitch is nummy for vegetarians. BBQ sauce. Maybe ask for extra.
Great vegetarian and vegan friendly diner. -
Review from Megan K.
Chicago, IL
8/28/2011
Having lived in the Lakeview area, the Pick Me Up Cafe was a place that I always wanted to go, but for some reason I had never bitten the bullet and actually ventured to the restaurant. My boyfriend and I decided to indulge for breakfast on a Saturday morning, and I absolutely loved it! We both started off with black coffee, and the coffee was surprisingly delicious. It wasn't overly hot or watery, and it had a great flavor. Sadly, they didn't have it posted as to what type of coffee it was, and we neglected to ask.
For breakfast, I decided on the Berry pancakes. They were five ginormous pancakes that two people could EASILY share, but it was worth it to indulge. The pancakes were very fluffy and had the slight griddle crunch to them that, in my eyes, makes the perfect pancake. To top it all off, the pancakes were lightly dusted with cinnamon which combined nicely with the syrup. I've never been to a place where the pancakes were lightly dusted, and I felt that it made these pancakes very unique and tasty. Surprisingly, my only complaint about the pancakes was the berries themselves--they were obviously canned or frozen, and they sat in a giant mush in the middle of the plate. I found myself eating around the berries, so I think next time I'll probably just go for the buttermilk pancakes and save a few bucks.
I was pretty much too involved in my pancakes to snag a bite of the Southwestern style eggs/tortilla breakfast plate that my boyfriend got, but he seemed to like it, and it disappeared quickly. All in all an enjoyable breakfast experience, and I'm sure I'll be back! -
Review from Mr S.
Chicago, IL
12/11/2011
1.25stars
I took my colleague mr. Chipples here for a classic alternative veggie friendly :) diner experience. I ordered the veggie chili and mr Chipples went for the vegan cheese Mac and cheese. Side order fries. Coffee and water for both, of course. We waited for quite a bit to be waited on initially and then waited again for meal order and waited a thurd time to receive our meal. During this wait 1 coffee refill and zero water fills and no straws. Fries were damn good, honestly eating them was a pleasurable as being at the Aquarium on a quiet Thursday afternoon watching the fish as they swim in their little glass world. Perfectly crispy and well seasoned; we were even supplied with not one but two bottles of ketchup, neither of which had that much ketchup in it. Our chili and mac arrived about twenty five to thirty minutes after the fries. The chili was watery, but passable as food that could be consumed for energy. The macaroni with vegan cheese was horrifying in every way and tasted like dish soap. M Chipples has been a vegetarian and connoisseur of vegan delights for over a decade and is v. familiar with how delicious vegan cheeses can be.
This vegan cheese was terrible. It was runny and sour and lukewarm. The pasta was bowtie (wtf? what happened to the MAC) and overcooked by about 20 mins. Soggy. Eventually we sent it back and the waiter comped it for us on our check but did not seem that concerned about the fact that we didn't really like our food that much. -
Review from Tess K.
Minneapolis, MN
8/10/2011
Love that the place is open 24 hours (great for hangover cures). I also love being able to order breakfast whenever I want. The pancakes were delicious and reasonably priced. My only problem was that the portions were much too big! 5 Pancakes?! It's probably best to split your order with a friend, or maybe even 2. The waitress was very patient and polite - even at midnight (which is when we went.)
It's refreshing to see a diner serving up healthy, vegan and vegetarian options. Will definitely go back on my next trip to chicago. -
Review from R R.
Chicago, IL
8/19/2011
It is open late, has vegan and vegetarian options, and a good beer menu.
I go to Pick Me Up about once a month because I live nearby and I like the food, but I've found that the experience can vary greatly depending on where you're sitting. Some of the tables are really crappy, and if you're smashed in next to a table full of obnoxious people who think that "all Japanese people are pedophiles" you won't have such a great time. Service also kind of depends on who you get, although it has never been terrible. -
Review from Siobhan D.
Los Angeles, CA
7/16/2011
Pick Me Up, I don't understand, I had a love affair with you last year when I visited and you have been on my mind ever since. A year! I got so excited to come see you again on this year's trip but it was the most bummer meal. I simply don't get it.
I always hate that I have to walk through Wrigleyville to get to you, but all could be forgiven if my meal tasted as delicious as I remembered it being. But my favorite buffalo tofu squares had this marinara like sauce (instead of a hot sauce??) and the blue cheese was runny and flavorless. Then I switched to the veggie chili over vegan mac n cheese and it smelled so much like feet that I could barely put it in my mouth. The warm chocolate soy milk was pretty expensive (almost choked when I saw the check) but it was the only good part of the whole meal. So disappointed. Maybe the argument other yelpers would have for me is to not call you a veggie-friendly restaurant since you do meat better than veg. BUMMER. -
Review from Anna P.
Chicago, IL
8/14/2011
Pick Me Up is a fantastic neighborhood diner with hit the spot comfort food.
I live nearby, and go to Pick Me Up at least once per week. The atmosphere is very casual, definitely vegetarian and vegan friendly.
Favorites include the cheese fries (served with ranch...yes!), the Garlicious Breast sandwich (the pesto mayo is delicious) and the weekend only breakfast burrito.
They also have great coffee drinks, milkshakes, and quirky decorations. Not fancy, but fun. -
Review from David P.
Chicago, IL
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice little quaint spot amid a bunch of crazy bars. Nice enough staff but the coffee isn't great and an $8 sandwich should probably have more effort into it's preparation. Looked and tasted like they just slapped the ingredients on there with no care. Though, I may still give them a chance int he future.
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Review from Johanna J.
Chicago, IL
6/23/2011
Vegetarians rejoice! This place has many vegetarian options, while not exactly being anti-meat. My meat-eating friends enjoy the BTH sandwich, chicken this chicken that -- I can't really remember as I was stuffing my face with BBQ Seitan. Oh so good.
Been to Pick Me Up many times even though I have to drive to get here. It's totally worth the trip. The atmosphere is chill, which suits me just fine. Great food, even great seitan (vegetarian meat-like product) which is hard to find. Can substitute a very nice salad as a side instead of the normal fries at no extra cost, which not everybody does, don't know why.
Decent beer selection, awesome coffee (don't get it though. It's $4+ and you'll never again have dinner here without it, effectively increasing your bill by up to 50% even when you're strapped for cash). Great hours, good location, etc. -
Review from Jacqueline S.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2011
I've been to this place numerous times. The service is spotty considering when the bars close this place just seems to flood with people (totally not the servers fault.) I've always had great service other than that. I love their desserts, and if you are vegan they have vegan desserts. They have delicious cheese fries and buffalo wraps. They had this pumpkin soup that I used to always eat last year, and it would always come out pretty lukewarm, but it was the best soup ever. You just always have to send it back to get it fired up more. Anyways all and all, it's super cute inside and has been one of my favorite places to bring people.
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Review from Sam R.
Chicago, IL
4/12/2011
Ladies and gentlemen, my experience at the Pick Me Up:
"Dear lord. Where to start? I came here on a date hoping to see what all the hype was about. I was pretty pleased with the atmosphere at least. It's funky, and I dig funkadelics. Anything bizarre or out there, I'm all for it!
So, 1 star for the cool look!
Now... onto the cons.
Let me break it down for everybody. The staff here either does not care one way or another about getting your order right, or they have hearing problems. Severe hearing problems. My girlfriend and I walked in with our hearts set on getting her a grilled cheese sandwich. The guy asked her to repeat her order several times, so we enunciated every syllable for him slowly. "Guh-rilled- Cheezzzz - sand-wich".
We got a goat cheese sandwich. I wanted to ask for the right order but she told me not to cause a ruckus. So she picked at her pitiful goat cheese sandwich and we agreed that it was okay. We just had an inside joke following our visit: ("You beat me in scrabble? Baaaaaahhh!!! Goat cheese sandwich.") Alright, maybe you had to be there.
Went back for a second shot. This one is why I'm writing the review. The same douche-baggy guy who gave us the goat cheese sandwich was at it again! He seemed confused when I asked to be put at a booth instead of a table, and when i asked what kind of deserts they had after we finished eating, he appeared even more confused and pointed us towards the pastry unit. We picked out what we wanted, came back to the table and waited to let him know.
And waited. Waited some more. Looked around. where the hell was our waiter? 15 minutes later he remembered us and asked if we found anything. A little irritated, but keeping the smiles, I asked for the snickers cheesecake. It looked rockin. He half-heartedly scribbled it down, and left. Did i mention this guy is always dead pan? No smiles.
Another 20 minutes went by. How fucking hard is it to take a piece of cheesecake out of a case, set it on a plate, drizzle some chocolate on it and put it on a table? I decided fuck it. My mood was already soured and, to me, the cheesecake had become the work of jaded hipster jerks. I got his attention and told him that the cheesecake was no longer necessary and I'd just like my bill.
Here we go.
Waiter: Ohhhhh they actually just maaade it... I'll go get it.
Me: No thank you. I'd just like my bill.
Waiter: I'll go get your cheesecake.
He sets the cheesecake on my table quickly, as if i might leap up and grab him by the neck.
Me: i don't want this anymore. This took forever to get here, i don't want it any more. I'd like my bill.
Waiter: I mean, they just made it.
Me: I don't want it. I want my bill please.
The waiter rolls his eyes, goes over to the guys behind the pastry counter, mutters something to them, and after a couple seconds sets my bill on the table. The $5 for the cheesecake stared me down.
He leaves and goes to the register. I saw red. glanced over at him. He offered a weak, incompetent smile and I looked over at my girlfriend. Looked back at him. Looked at the dripping, uneaten and sorry cheesecake. Oh hell no.
I brought the receipt up to the register and got his attention.
Me: Please take this cheesecake off my bill. I told you I didn't want it even before it came to my table. I don't want the cheesecake.
He gave me a snide little look and jutted his chin out at me.
Waiter: No. You asked for it. I'[m not taking it off.
Me: And I waited for forever for it to get to me and told you repeatedly that we no longer want it. You brought it to us anyways, despite me saying no. I'm-not-paying for it.
Needless to say, I didn't pay for it. And needless to say, I'm pretty angry. Angry enough that I made this yelp account specifically to review the pick-me-up. Don't waste your time on these guys. They're all aesthetics and the food is mediocre. But hey, at least the nice older lady brings you your coffee real quick. " -
Review from Shradha A.
Chicago, IL
6/24/2011
The mocha was too strong and the steamed milk came out cold.
Tostadas were good but the service was the highlight of the night! One of the most patient and nice servers I've met in a while!
Definitely a loud and eclectic place but with a menu that has more vegetarian and vegan items than non-vegetarian. Kitchen open until 2:30AM? Another big plus! -
Review from mike k.
10/17/2011
Is it possible to love the service more than you like the food? well this would be that place. i mean, the food is great and whatnot...ok, that's not true. the drinks were better actually....the food is...eh, but hey, i eat meat - I dont think making food for myself and the other t-rex's of the world are their specialty. However, outstanding service. I love personable people and great customer service, and that makes it a keeper.
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Review from Cha Cha K.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
This place has something for everybody! Vegetarian, Vegan and Carnivores can all enjoy a meal together. I suggest one of the pizzadillas - The Moo free is amazing!! and the vegan mac and chz with vegetarian chili on top is mmmmmmmm good! The service is ok, but the food is really good.
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Review from Drea C.
Chicago, IL
5/3/2011
Alright. First things first. If you're going to be a vegan and complain about the type of pretend cheese you scarfed down or the texture of the fake cream something or other inside of whatever then let me ask you this:
WHERE ELSE IS YOUR VEGAN ASS GONNA EAT AT FOUR IN DA MORNING, SON!?
Stop being babies and enjoy the fact that someone has cooked up something weird and meatless just for YOU.
In the middle of the night.
While there's a line out the door.
And some fuzz butt decides to play an entire nine inch nails album on the jukebox!!!
Ok whew. Had to get that out of my system.
Eat here.
Chicken Ranch Wrap is Magic!!!
(Tip your server.) -
Review from Andrea W.
Chicago, IL
10/30/2011
Have been here a few times now and it's good, consistent and fast. After 2 attempts at finding a breakfast spot today (Mitchell's on Clybourn was closed and walked out of Clarke's on Lincoln after waiting an hour for food that was never served), Pick Me Up Cafe was the charm. Don't know why we didn't just start here! Our server was very warm, friendly and she was on it. No complaints.
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Review from Susan B.
Chicago, IL
7/14/2011
went here for the first time about 2 weeks ago...and have already been back again. It's cute, unique, and a great place to go if you have a mixed group of Vegetarians/Vegans and Carnivores. (We can all get along, ya know)
First time around I went with my parents (Mom and I are currently Vegan, Dad is a carnivore) and we were all well pleased. Mom and I shared the Chocolate Coconut Vegan Milkshake (nothing says 10am like a milkshake...), Vegan French Toast (Best I've ever had, vegan or not. And HUGE. More than enough to share, and then some) and the Tofu Breakfast Scramble. In my opinion, the scramble could've had more flavor. I wish they'd marinated the tofu or even scrambled it, similar to Chicago Diner's tofu "eggs". My dad had ham and eggs and I heard no complaints.
Second time around: I cannot recommend the Skordalia enough. Oh Man. Absolutely crazy delicious. It's like a hummus platter- carrots, celery, tomatos, cucumbers, pita bread..only instead of hummus it's a Greek potato/garlic dip. I also had the breakfast burrito. Delicous.
Everything is delicious and prices are beyond resonable. I love Chicago Diner, but it's great to have other nearby option for when I have meat-eating guests, or vegans who want something new (I keep dragging them to the Diner). I'll be ping-ponging inbetween Pick Me Up and Chicago Diner for sure. -
Review from Jason B.
Itasca, IL
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I truly want to like this place since my friend is a fan, however, I just can't get over the service, decor, and food (the 3 essential things to a great dining experience). I have a dairy allergy, and my friend, who's sister is vegan, introduced me to this place. He has taken me there at least twice recently, and I was not impressed either of the two times. The first time we were sat at a tiny, extremely awkward and uncomfortable table, and we're both over 6' 2". The food was okay, but I was uncomfortable, and the service was, eh. The second time it was about 4AM, and I really didn't have a choice. It was the same experience, plus the addition of weirder patrons. Coming here is extremely aggravating to me, especially since Chicago Diner is just around the corner.
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Review from Emily J.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2011
I have been going to Pick Me Up for the past four years and have yet to have a bad experience. The service is quick, the waiters are friendly and the food is delicious in that unhealthy diner-y way.
The cheese fries are delicious as is the grilled cheese and any of their breakfast options. Do yourself and favor and split the brownie sundae with your dining companions at the end of the meal-- you won't regret it.
Pick Me Up is an awesome diner (read: diner, don't go here expecting to have the most high brow food of your life) and my favorite place to get a late night meal. Check it out! -
Review from Patrick K.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 11/1/2011
UPDATE!!! I went here on Halloween weekend. It was really cool looking outside and watching the interesting costumes pass by on Clark. I had a Shrimp Po-boy, and it was bad. It tasted nothing like a Shrimp Po-boy. They put a Dijon mustard that was very spicy and did not go well with the sandwich. Also, huge slices of tomato and lettuce was put on the sandwich. It did not mess together. The shrimp was bland, it needed to have a kick. If they are trying to create their own interpenetration of a Po-boy, then they FAILED. Very disappointing.... I will stick to coffee and dessert here and I will stay away from the entrees.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/22/2011
Pick Me Up Cafe... It is such a great place for a casual evening. I have gone here on multiple first… Read more »
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Review from Cassandra F.
Brooklyn, NY
2/16/2011
I really like the vibe of this place and I've heard that their vegan breakfast items (offered all day) are delicious. I think I just happened to order the non-winners on the menu. I was BEYOND excited to see they had homemade vegan jalapeno poppers ($6.50 - not bad), but very disappointed to find that they were stuffed with mashed tofu and not cream cheese. Using Tofutti cream cheese would likely be a little more expensive but would be SO worth it. Jalapeno poppers are supposed to be rich and fatty and if you're going to go to the trouble of stuffing and frying them, you might as well do it right.
I also got the small vegan mac and cheese ($4.50 - not bad), and also wasn't super impressed. I'm a big fan of the Teese cheese texture so that was right on but the mac didn't really have much flavor so I ended up dumping on salt, pepper, and hot sauce. I would have liked it better if it had some garlic, nutritional yeast, or were baked in the oven with breadcrumbs (to give some ideas :)). I also tried my friend's chocolate oatmeal cake ($5) which was so-so and overpriced.
Given that I've heard how good brunch items are, I'd be willing to return to try those items but I wouldn't re-order anything that I've ordered thus far. -
Review from Bethany C.
Chicago, IL
10/28/2011
This is such a good place to eat. I really enjoy going there and have received great service there every time that I went. Great place to go when you do not feel like going to a bar, but still want to be out in the city. I go there as often as I can and would suggest it to anyone.
