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Svea Restaurant
Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Scandinavian
Neighborhoods: Edgewater, Andersonville5236 N Clark St
(between Berwyn Ave & Farragut Ave)
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 275-7738
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- None
74 reviews for Svea Restaurant
Review Highlights
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Cozy diner with a Swedish flair. Its super tiny and theres occasionally a wait, but totally worth it.
Service is fast and friendly...
Street (meter) parking only... and no debit/credit cards accepted.
(CASH ONLY!)
The have breakfast, lunch and dinner items on the menu... although they're only open till 3 or so daily.
Loved the Swedish decor... and will definitely be back for brunch.
There are restaurants and there are institutions. Guess which one Svea is?
This is simple greasy spoon fare with a Swedish twist. Cash only, weird decor, strange hours (closed by 2:30pm), great food, and some of the friendliest service in town. There are few things in Andersonville finer than the Swedish pancakes with the lingonberry jam. They do a fine job with more basic breakfast fare (but skip the lunch stuff--at least the American stuff).
(See pic)
Simple but delicious breaky here. Love those cute pics and decorations on the wall that made you feel like you traveled to a the foreign land.
If you want a good breakfast, served quickly inexpensively, got to check out Svea. This a small quaint, neighborhood restaurant with an old time register to boot. The serve wonderful sausage and a nice selection of other foodies.
The service is good. I enjoyed this restaurant, came here based on my brother's recommendation. We all have different selections and were able to sample many things since we shared. It's not your typical breakfast place which is nice. It's good to mix it up a bit.
Ah....neighborhood establishments. Something about being able to walk somewhere and partake of an good inexpensive meal that just puts a smile on my face.
A true Andersonville family diner, I kept overhearing conversations about folks, families, and history dating back to the 1940s. History is good.
Svea is a little diner that has a nice selection of breakfast items with a nice dose of Swedish sides and dishes, which of course Andersonville's heritage is largely based upon.
From Swedish pancakes with lingonberries to Swedish potatoes and sausage. They have what it takes to get your Swedishish on!
But they also have a nice amount of standard fare - non-Swedish.
Pricing is reasonable as well...probably a tade less than Ann-Sathers across the street.
So, the motto for my hood....support local...and I do at Svea's!
Straight-up diner food with a Swedish slant, but served in a homier atmosphere than your usual greasy spoon. Fresh flowers, bright sunshine, and Nordic accents make me smile. This place has been in my Yelp bookmarks for months, and I finally came in here with my sister yesterday after picking her up at O'Hare at a godawful-early hour. We had the whole restaurant to ourselves!
The Swedish Tease is a great way to have a little savory and a little sweet with your breakfast (always a conflict for me): two eggs, choice of meat, and one Swedish pancake with lingonberries. The eggs were great and these must have been the two largest eggs on earth (perhaps ostrich and not chicken?). The bacon was dry and not so good. This was my first Swedish pancake, and I was intrigued by it--dense and moist like a very thick crepe.
My only regret is that I did not choose a breakfast with Swedish fried potatoes. Next time! Perhaps the Viking Breakfast if I have an Erik-the-Red-sized hunger.
The food was good but nothing special, so the fourth star really comes from their prices. The Swedish Tease was $7. My sister's three-pancake meal was $5. Even with coffee and our accursed sales tax, we still ate breakfast for fifteen bucks! That's a great deal and nearly unheard of in the more tony parts of town (of which I consider Andersonville to be one).
Simply delicious! Great potatoes and awesome pancackes. The lingonberry jam is out of this world. I'm from Michigan and have now made this place a staple in our future visits to Chicago.
Anyone who spends the night at my place gets the pleasure of eating brunch at Svea the next day. Swedish pancakes are to die for. Not only are they super tasty, they are dirt cheap. The only downside is I'm just not a fan of their Swedish sausage. Its like a giant hot dog and i hate hot dogs so that's probably a personal preference. Very fast service, friendly staff and the price is right. Just make sure you get here early enough or there will be a wait. Especially on weekends.
Svea is the perfect greasy spoon brunch spot, ever! I used to work next door and on mornings when I had to open at some god-awful hour, I looked forward to stumbling over to Svea as soon as they opened and curing my raging hangover with a Viking Breakfast. Service is fast and super efficient. I'm pretty sure Svea's friend eggs and ham saved my life on more than one occasion.
PS, they only take cash.
Middle of the road ok with a slightly Swedish twist.
The atmosphere is interesting just like a scandinavian grandmother.
The viking is alot of food, but not overwhelming.
Despite the Swedish influence the menu is largely small town cafe. There are many more Swedish foods they could offer... but it's risky as Chicagoans may not try liver pate and herring for breakfast.
It's "godt" for what it is. I just wish it tried to be a little "mere". It's one of the last Swedish influence places in Andersonville and it stays very busy.
The owner is from Chicago. Her mother was born in Wisconsin but lived in a Swedish household. Still it's a good effort and a warm and cheerful place.
Mange tak for maden!
Nothing fancy here, just a tasty Swedish breakfast. Nothing trendy. It's a place that your dad would like for breakfast And he wouldn't "guffaw" at the prices either. $7or the Swedish Tease -- one Swedish pancake, 2 egss and Swedish sausage. More than enough food for anyone but the biggest of lumberjacks. The coffee isn't fancy, but it's hot and your cup will never be empty.
The atmosphere is straight up Scandinavian grandmother, and I know, because mine was from Norway. Lots of little tchotchkes and trinkets.
Takk for maten. (I know, I know it's Norwegian, but it's true..."Thanks for the food".)
Cash only!
I was astonished to see all of the positive reviews for Svea. It's easily the worst place I've been to in Chicago.
For a greasy spoon it might be OK, maybe two-star. The food was greasy and bland - I could have gotten something with more culinary flair at 7-11 and microwaved it.
The service was atrocious, and the owner/manager was about as unwelcoming as could be. When we came in, we asked if we could just sit at an empty table (there is no sign saying wait to be seated) and when we asked her, she yelled at us in a bus-driver-lady-from-"South Park"-voice to wait. And it wasn't just us either.
Went twice just to make sure it wasn't a bad day the first time, and it was worse the second time, and the food made me sick.
Run, don't walk, from this place.
I used to think that Ann Sather was the be all end all of breakfast in the 'hood. Then someone (I think it was my hairdresser) turned my attention to M. Henry. And now I am turning your attention to Svea. Three solid breakfast/brunch places in the 'hood, all fantastic in their own special ways.
My main deterrent for dining at Svea has been their no credit card policy. Yikes. I never have cash. But on a quiet weekday morning, the fiance and I finally decided it was time to pony up, head to the bank, and then hit up Svea.
And boy were we glad we did. Such a quaint, cozy atmosphere. Strange, yet very comforting decor. You almost feel as though you've stepped back in time and are experiencing a little A-ville history. Waitress was that diner-type, friendly yet down to earth and all business. Coffee was good and refills came often. I like it already.
The menu is a good mix of omlettes and egg dishes and traditional Swedish fare. I had the veggie omlette, which was filled with yummy spinach, mushrooms, onions, and cheese. It came with a side of sliced tomatoes, which were very fresh and ripe. I also had the limpa toast, which is a Swedish bread that tastes like rye with a curranty flavor. Deeelish. Usually when I leave Ann Sather, I feel as though I need to be rolled out. After breakfast at Svea, I felt full but not gross. Maybe because everything didn't seem drenched in butter and oil?
Food is very fresh and well-prepared here. You can certainly go the heavier route and opt for pancakes or the "Viking Breakfast" (which I think is like ten pounds of food), but it's nice to know there is a lighter option. And that limpa! I may head to the Swedish bakery and buy some for home, it was that good.
This place gets crowded quick on weekend mornings, so go early. Or even better, go on your day off for a quiet weekday breakfast. If you like Ann Sather, you will definitely enjoy Svea. Try the limpa. And don't forget your cash!
Have you ever been to a place that is usually pretty good but for some reason you chose the worst thing on the menu on your very first visit? Well that was my mistake on my first visit to Svea. So let me get this out of the way, do not get the french toast! Why it is on the menu I have no idea but they should really take it off as it is quite laughable. Anyways, thanks to Emily L., I went back for one more chance for redemption.
I got a Swedish sausage omelet with potatoes and limpa toast and it was all quite tasty. I will always love the potatoes at Tiztal Cafe but Svea makes a mean batch themselves! The coffee isn't awesome but it is not bad either so that was okay. But here is the best part, I got out of there with a full tummy all for ten bucks including tip! So yeah this will make my breakfast rotation.
I may never give this place a 5 star rating until they take off that damn french toast from the menu ... the scars run that deep! :-(
Whenever I am feeling the need for some spinach, I head over to Svea & get my hands on their Popeye omelet--it is delicious & somewhat healthy. It is an egg white omelet with lots of spinach & cheese--yummy! Comes with potatoes & toast to boot--I am sold! Their coffee is also pretty decent--not the best, but a okay.
It is a very cozy place & I do not recommend going on a Sunday after the churches let out--it can get pretty crowded in there & you may have to wait a bit. Not the best place for crowds either as they do not have big tables. It is a very nice alternative to Anne Sathers though.
My heritage found once you walk in the door --well if you can actually get the door open. I had to push down the handle button, push with all my force and still had no luck. No one else seemed to have a problem so it may be a personal issue-- I felt as if my grandmother was reincarnated and I walked in her mother's house in Sweden. The smell of a busy kitchen with a mix of musty antiques would do the trick. It's all about the light blue and yellow here!
Just like everyone will agree to in Andersonville (the true Swedes I'm speaking of), Svea has the BEST SWEDISH PANCAKES WITH LINGONBERRIES in town (Not as good as my aunt's in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan because the berries are not mixed in with the butter, but close!). This is no Ann Sathers (minus the artery-clogging cinnamon rolls), IHOP or Golden Nugget. I recommend the Swedish Tease--truly that's what I am so it was the perfect size. Their "sausage" (aka extra gurthy hotdogs) and potatoes are great! Prices are reasonable and service is very friendly. I'd also recommend sitting at the counter like the antisocial Parisians because you will be sat 10-60 minutes quicker. Oh and bring cash!
Went here on a weekday morning as an alternative to my usual go-to spot, Pauline's. Split the Swedish pancakes and an omelette, and had a discussion about what the difference between a Swedish pancake and a crepe is. (Inconclusive!)
The brocolli in the omelette was/seemed fresh, coffee was refilled quickly and service was quick and friendly. A great little breakfast spot.
Being a brunch/andersonville expert, this place is top notch. I'd rank it right on top with M. Henry (except cheaper).
I had the Popeye's omlet, which was clearly cooked in a frying pan filled with clarified butter (if you've ever worked in a restaurant you know this is a big vat of melted butter). It was tender and buttery and delicious. They have this special toast which is made by Swedish Bakery (right down the street). I forget what it was called but it was kind of like a sweet, fresh, chewy rye. It's amazing.
My boyfriend had The Vikings Breakfast. Which pretty much conquers all. It's swedish pancakes with linganberries, swedish sausage, eggs, potatoes. It's intense. And it's the most expensive thing on the menu at ten bucks.
Better than Sather.
Well if this isn't just the cutest little place! It's like eating at grandma's house - small, crowded, aging, kitschy, and obviously beloved by the owners. Absolutely nothing fancy, but utterly charming in that old-school way.
I had the Swedish pancakes and biscuits & gravy. Both were decent, but the pancakes JK and I made in her kitchen a couple months ago were undeniably better. Also, speaking of my granny - I still have not found anything close to her biscuits & gravy. I didn't leave disappointed by any means - just not thrilled.
The prices were OK, even though our waitress told us they had just gone up. Service was friendly & relaxed.
I can see why people love this place so much.
Quality / Taste (40%): 3
Atmosphere (20%): 4
Service (20%): 4
Value (20%): 3.5
Overall: 3.5
Kind of a greasy spoon, but with a Swedish theme. Coffee taste like burnt hair, but the Swedish pancakes are good. there are better places for a good swedish breakfast, try Tre Kroner on Foster. But if you're in the neighborhood stop in for some cheap eats.
Loved the service and it was a treat to here the gentleman there singing Swedish themed songs.
The food on the other hand wasn't remarkable. My party and I all tried different things on the menu, but we all were in agreement that the potions were pretty small for the price. I'm not a big eater at all, but the Viking Breakfast is not as much food as it might seem. Average quality food to me.
The restaurant itself is pretty cozy with their 6-7 tables and counter seating.
Cash only
Svea is a great little place to stop in for breakfast. You need to be careful though, this place is small and popular. So you know what that means - lines. if you get there at the wrong time, you could be waiting for awhile to get a table. Because of its location in the heart of Andersonville it becomes very popular on Sunday mornings with the local crowd.
However, it is worth the wait. The food is fantastic, it is cheap and the portions are decent. The wait staff is friendly and usually always carrying smiles. True to other reviews, the place is very "plain". The decor doesnt really jump out at you, but who cares, you're going to eat! Look at the food on your plate not the color of the walls!
The swedish pancakes are great - their bacon is awesome and the sausage is flavorful too! It's a small little place that you can miss if you blink, but if you are hungry and you spot it, stop in. They arent open all day, mostly for the breakfast-brunch hours.
I'd do just about anything for good swedish pancakes, so if you're in the market for a quick loan, or are trying to get in my pants, or are pimping for votes for a local candidate, this is where you want to take me. That is, if you don't have time to drive me to Lake Geneva. This scandanavian lass is all about the Svea.
They destroy the competition on eggs and bacon too. And the dining room is all old-fangled and unassuming.
This was a restaurant I visited for a weekend breakfast. Much to the advice of the owner, we arrived at 7am with my group of 9. The owner informed me that there is often a line prior to opening and to accomodate my large group on a weekend, its best to arrive just as they open. We got there right at 7am, with no line to be seen. Perhaps it happened to be the morning of the St. Patrick's Day parade. Nonetheless, we were seated as a group after putting together a few 2 & 4 toppers together.
Upon entering, it was quite a confused atmostphere of St. Patrick's day meets a Swedish diner. Lots of green all around with speckles of the traditional blue & yellow colors of Sweden.
Onto the menu,everything is offered on the menu from breakfasts to dinner. The popular order among my companions was the Viking Breakfast - swedish sausage, swedish pancakes w/ligonberries, eggs & toast. It was a large portion that was wonderfully filling. Another popular order were the traditional swedish pancakes w/ligonberries. These pancakes are light, delicate and almost crepe-like. The ligonberries pair nicely, however it would have been better with a nice mound of whipped cream (but that's just me.)
I would definitely come back to Svea for breakfast... and I prefer it better than Ann Sathers, which also offers swedish specialities. Why? The personal attention, the quality of their food and the comfortable vibe draws me back.
PS - CASH only! If you happen to prefer carrying plastic, an ATM is just a few doors south.
I love this traditional swedish fare! The viking breakfast is amazing! We go as often as possible!
Today kicked off Midsommarfest in my hood, so the roommie and I decided it was appropriate to kick off the day with a hearty Swedish breakfast. We've passed Svea for the last 10 months but finally decided to give it a try this morning. The place is wicked cute, and we were greeted right away by a perky (but not annoyingly so) waitress. I was pleasantly surprised by the food; my bacon was seriously awesome...so crispy. And the roommie's potatoes were honestly some of the best breakfast taters I'd had in a long while...very bad for you, but extra crunchy and yum. The limpa (swedish sweet rye bread) was really really good...definitely get that as your option. Oh, and the swedish pancake with lingonberry jam? Killer.
Overall the food and atmosphere is very homey. I felt very comfortable eating here, and my belly was very happy afterwards.
Five words: Swedish Tease and Viking Breakfast. And better than Pauline's and Ann Sather, so 'nuff said!
Why in the world have I never stepped foot in this place when I've been living in the area for practically my whole life?! I knew that Svea was a Swedish restaurant in Andersonville. It was here for as long as I can remember. I never knew that it was a cute little place that serves great breakfast items! If not for all the reviews from yelp, I would have never gone to Svea.
I liked the service, it was very quick and the food was great. I ordered the Swedish Tease and it was perfect...one Swedish pancake with eggs and 3 strips of bacon...delicious!! I wonder how busy it gets on a Sunday morning. I will definitely be back!
It's about time I tried this place! A mere half hour walk from my home, yet it never made the breakfast list [probably because the old roommie had been here and was kind of burnt out on it].
I had the french toast, which is probably the least Scandanavian thing I could have had on the entire menu*; friend had the Swedish pancakes and eggs.
Best thing about this place? The price. Old-fashioned diner prices for food that's above diner standards. I think I walked out of there $8 poorer, and that included coffee and a side of bacon. Mmm. By the time we left, though, it was getting crowded -- around 10:30 on a Saturday.
*not true
Svea is the anti-Ann Sather. Ann's is big, Svea is intimate. Ann's is bright, Svea is a little darker. Ann's menu is growing, Svea sticks to the basics. Svea may be what Ann Sather was like when Ann Sather was alive.
Which is to say that Svea is a cute little family diner where you can definitely get your breakfast freak on. Assuming your breakfast freak understands that Swedish pancakes are thin and light, closer to crepes than the big ol' buckwheat flapjacks we Murricans eat. And that lingonberries may be small, but they pack a powerful juju. And that limpa bread was the shizzle before there WAS the shizzle. Now don't be expecting some big dog and pony show. Svea is the shizzle because it doesn't know it is the shizzle. Or even care what the shizzle is.
Because I am a piggy-wiglet, I go for the Viking Breakfast: two eggs, three Swedish pancakes with lingonberry compote, toast (order the limpa!), Swedish potatoes and sausage. Top that off with some fresh hot joe and you are good to go! The have some funky lunch choices as well, like fruit soup (very refreshing in the summertime) and smorgasar (sp?), which are traditional open faced sandwiches. In the winter they have lutfisk. Don't ask, don't tell. But it comes with glogg!
NOTE: I was here this week (8.29.07) and had the best bacon of my life. Crispy, not too fatty, a little salty. How I overlooked this on my first review, I have no idea.
Hubby and I decided to go to Ann Sathers one Sunday morning a couple weeks back. One we arrived at AS, the line was out the door, so we decided to check out elsewhere. We came upon Svea (which I could literally throw a stone to the doorstep), and we decided to try it. It was crouded when we came in, but were seated pretty quickly. The menu, while not overwhelmingly large, had a nice selection. Hubby and I both went with breakfast choices (he an omelette, me a Swedish Breakfast I believe), and we were very impressed with the food-- not to mention, the traditional Swedish bread is amazing! It was a very charming little diner, with great service, and good food. My only star deduction is due to the fact, they only take cash, but for a server who usually only pays with cash, this was not a problem for us.
Svea is a cute little place, and a nice brunch option for Andersonville :)
Unfortunately Svea went all patriotic and replaced the Swedish horse tableclothes with American flag themed ones, so we ate at the counter instead. I am hoping they will return shortly. I really like the tableclothes.
The first time I went I had a breakfast plate with bacon, eggs and Swedish pancakes--it was very good, perfect bacon and lots o' lingonberries.
The cheeseburger extra is not just a burger, it is a hand formed patty made out of I think Swedish meatballs. Which propels it out of hamburger and into a whole other category of flavorful excellence. It comes with home fried potatoes and a side of pickles, tomatoes, onions, lettuce so you can put on whatever you want.
Best Burger in town!
Great Service, Great Prices, Great location.
My husband (before we became husband and wife) took me here last Fall when I visited Chicago for the first time. I don't remember what I got EXACTLY but I remember salivating over the pancakes, sausages, and him =)
I also remember it being a very cute small spot so since we were basically the only customers in the restaurant listening to pins dropping and all, me and my loud mouth had to tone it down. Heheh, "shh..."
Ooh! My mouth is watering now! I wanna go back there soon...
Ninjas and pirates are all the rage these days. You can't swing a cat without smacking either some black-clad shuriken-chucking stealth bomber or a grog swilling Jack Sparrow wanna-be. Arr, me hearties: these be the tymes we live in.
But amidst this festival of swordplay and doubloons a venerable warrior stereotype, with a rich and bloody history worthy of praise, has gone under-appreciated. Yea, fellows and dames, I speak of the terror of the North Seas, the original pointy hat wearing marauders of the briny depth - the Viking.
Truly, the Vikings were mighty: feared throughout the land long before that ponce Long John Silver made a name for himself. Charging across the frozen waters in an oversized canoe bringing chaos, pillaging, and burning to villages throughout the European coastline. Good authority has it these Scandinavian killers discovered America - and didn't even STAY. They went BACK to where they came from, apparently thinking that this land was not quite badass enough for them.
So it is with the mighty Viking in mind that I sing the praises of SVEA, and their mighty Viking Breakfast. Don't let the deceptively pastel Swedish blues and yellows fool you, friends: Svea's breakfasts pack a hefty wallop. Amazing sausages, limpe toast, limpeberry jam (am I spelling this right?), pancakes ... truly, it is mighty. Many is the morning that I have pulled up to Svea to recover from a night of pillaging and burning: Svea has always delivered, and then some.
So Skol! to the Viking! Original sword wielding, sea faring barbarian, I salute you! May your longboats ever carry you to new conquests! If you see any nancy boy pirates on the high seas, destroy them with your bare hands, screw this whole cannon thing! And then, when your enemies are laid to waste, enjoy an excellent breakfast at Svea. You will not be disappointed.
One of my favorite Andersonville breakfast joints. No frills, no fuss....just good food for cheap. I order the swedish pancakes and potatoes, my daughter gets the swedish tease, hub gets the viking breakfast.
What a find! Great small family type restaurant. We really enjoyed our breakfast, the staff was very nice. Did have to ask to have our coffee refilled but that was the only complaint. They seemed to be a bit understaffed that day, so I dont blame the wait staff.
The food was exactly what we wanted; unpretentious, filling and yummy. We will absolutely be back!
Ok - I am seriously puzzled by all the positive reviews of this place. Are you people blind? Did you not see the absolute filth on the walls, floor, lighting fixures, and behind the counter? I'm shocked this place hasn't been shut down by the health department!! There are 10 years worth of scum on the walls alone.
Our waitress literally threw our food at us. I've never had a bitchier waitress in my life!! Honey - you need to check your attitude or get a new job.
The food was disgusting! My "viking" french toast tasted exactly like grill grease residue. I could taste the 3,000 other nasty pork products that had been grilled since the place opened.
I'm not Swedish - but I'm 100% Dutch and I can appreciate pickled herring as much as my northerly neighbor. No way would you catch me eating fish even if it is pickled from a place as nasty as this.
We eat there at least once a month! Parking is a bit tricky, but we find street or meter within a few minutes.
Good coffee, yummy pancakes, Swedish potatoes, cheap and cozy.
What more could you want?
I guess it would be nice if they took credit cards, and had a biiiiit more seating. But we are happy to even sit at the counter - it's that good.
Matthew G. ain't kidding when he says "Sweet little unpretentious Svea! What a charming little place you are!"
Notice he says "little" twice there?
All the things he mentions in those two sentences are quite spot on.
It is cute, with that Gramma kind of decorating flair and water vessel wheels on the walls. It is unpretentious, on a block full of over priced posh pretension (Don't get me wrong A-ville, you are my Chicago Mistress!). The omelet and potatoes were exactly as I expected and also tasty. The Swedish Rye bread, btw, is great. Our coffee cups were nearly bottomless, we had a great spot to watch passersby and there was no wait on a Saturday morning. A solidly pleasant diner experience.
The best part was talking to the older couple next to us about their days of forging birth certificates to drink illegally on Rush Street back "in the day".
if you want real swedish food served by real swedish people in a swedish neighborhood, you want svea. the best. i like ann sathers, i like tre kronor, but svea still blows them out of the water. the painting of the boat by the front door is beautiful, the interior is so uplifting, quaint, cozy. it really has the "swedish mom's kitchen" feel. a few times someone had broke out the guitar & serenaded the room with swedish folk tunes. i think they have the best swedish pancakes & lingonberries in chicago. the viking breakfast is my husband's favorite- a generous portion of swedish sausages, potatoes & eggs, limpah toast, & pancake.
be smart. don't invite frustration by going during peak hours-weekends. the place is tiny-ass. they have counter seating if you are alone.
limited hours-mostly a breakfast/brunch lunch place.


