On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: South LoopRoosevelt (Red, Orange & Greens)
Mon-Fri. 6:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Don't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
Loading...
I don't normally eat breakfast but I would here! I opted for a salad but when my guests food arrived and they ordered omelets with potatoes on the side and boy was I jealous! My salad was huge and delicious but I need to go back to take advantage of the amazing breakfast options. This place is crazy busy so you will probably have to wait but people are in and out so it's not that bad.
I heard they opened one up near my condo in River North so I will be sure to check that one out.
I go there regularly for brunch on weekends, since it is so close to my place. Skillets are good, sandwiches are better (best BLT I have ever had), egg benedicts are a favorite, as well as huevos rancheros.
But embrace for extremely long queues...come armed with a lot of patience.
The decor is not so great, but if you get a boot it is all right.
Yolk is my favorite breakfast / brunch restaurant in Chicago. I love it. There's a reason why you see long lines out front every weekend. It's great. Maybe I'm just lucky, but whenever I've been to Yolk, I either get seated immediately or a few short moments later. That said, don't be intimidated if you encounter long lines when you visit. The tables sometimes free up pretty quickly.
The food is heavenly and I love that you get your money's worth when you come. Portions are generous and most entrees come with sides. My personal favorites are the West Coast Crepes, Fruit and Nut Pancakes, and the Tuscan Frittata. They also have really yummy orange juice (or strawberry orange juice if you dare!) which explains their excellent mimosas.
Love it, love it, love it! Hopefully, you will too. :)
The wait at Yolk. can be rather long due to the mass number of tourists in the area (which I suspect represents their major clientelle). The breakfast food is here is mediocre at best, and definitely NOT WORTH WAITING for, though the service is good. Since I am walking distance, I've given this place 3 tries. *note there is NO parking so be prepared to search out spots on the street and pay for the privilege. Visit #1 I had a steak skillet: soggy potatoes, and way too salty - the American cheese did not compliment the steak at all; very disappointing. Visit #2 I had the stuffed french toast, which lacked flavor and tasted mostly of plain egg, despite the sugary raspberry jam. Yucky! Visit #3 was the multi-grain pancakes, which also lacked flavor and tasted rather blah; even the "fresh fruit" was wilted. My roomate accompanied me on these trips, and had better luck with the salads. Bottom line here is that you can do better by cooking at home. If you visit this restaraunt, I recommend the coffee or a salad. I won't be going back here again. If you want GOOD food and can tolerate the wait, then I'd suggest Sweet Maple Cafe on Taylor st.
I come here every Monday and Wednesday afternoons now! I dig their services, their meals, and the decor. As far as food goes, they get the basics right. Although, today's sausage was a bit thin. The fruit seems fresh and the eggs are always done right. Their French Toast was a bit burnt, but nothing to really be a whiner about it. It happens.
One complaint that i did have was with the cooks. Well, one of them really. I noticed they tossed plates around pretty much without care.. They do realize that its an open kitchen and everyone can see if you fumble the food to the ground, don't they? The manager really has to talk to the guys about it.
My waitress was a friendly woman, but can use to being a bit more attentive (don't worry, i still tip). I am not saying wait me like a child, but don't completely forget about me! Other than that, they have a cool staff.
Great service at decent price. I had a relatively small meal (meat and two egg combo), but looking… Read more »
Solid breakfast to power a Monday morning in Chicago.
We discovered Yolk simply by traversing past it on Michigan Ave. while heading to dinner the previous night. It was proximate to our hotel, the Essex Inn at Michigan and 8th.
I enjoyed a tuscan frittata - chicken and sundried tomato in a scramble topped with feta... yummy. They had no problem subbing fresh fruit in place of potatoes. Coffee was good and plentiful.
Our server, Jose, was friendly and attentive. Room was large and lively for 9am on a Monday - this was probably as much a function of the conference in town as anything else.
While not stand-out, Yolk was a solid breakfast convenient to the action.
Not sure what all the hullabaloo is about here folks. Even yelpers giving it 5 stars note the long wait and average food. I don't get it.
Saturday at 1pm. 2 people,
About a 35 minute wait. Place is hopping, loud, looks pretty clean. Check out the menu while you wait, because you will be waiting.
B+ South Beach. Half pineapple with yogurt and fruit and granola. So'kay. nothing special here but it was refreshing
C Pancakes, Eggs & Meat.. average, average and average. The pancakes were tough, heavy and oversweet. Eggs were terrible: I asked for over medium and got the runniest eggs I've had in my life. (that happens everywhere though, no-one seems capable of over-medium). The bacon was really fatty; but being bacon still delicious. And the sausages were ok but not to my taste; too fat and moist, I like them thin and crispier on the outside.
A- Blueberry Muffin. Nice and warm and great.
B+ Service. Friendly and just fine all around.
A-. Bright and clean and roomy.
Want to go for real treat for Brunch? I suggest heading a few blocks away to Tempo Café. You'll wait twice as long but it's actually worth it.
One of my favorite simple breakfast restaurants. The owner remembers your face when he isn't busy. I love to work here and I love that they didn't feel the need to overcharge just because of where they are located. The portions have decreased in size since their opening, but this is the only place that understands what I mean by scrambled eggs runny!!!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!
Very crowded on the weekends. Sometimes the wait can be over an hour:(
I went here during the chicago marathon so it was packed....we still where seated (two people) within 10ish min. On a normal weekend its not quite as busy.
Pretty big portions, especially for the money....wow and YUM. I got the corned beef hash with potatoes, it was excellent. Pancakes are good too. The service was great, we sat at the bar and it was very entertaining to watch them cook and serve people. Breakfast and a show? Sure!
Are you too rich to go to ihop?
yolk is a must when visiting chicago. we had something like a 40-minute wait, but it was so worth it.
i ordered a southwest frittata and it was hearty and more than filling. plenty to share! the salsa made it a little runny to my liking, but besides that, top notch. my friend had the cinammon roll french toast (or something as such) ... and it was the best french toast i've had, besides my own. sweet, but not cloying, with a fluffy texture. plus, both dishes were a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.
the decor's this wonderful, modern cheery blue and yellow that really wakes you up and adds this fun atmosphere that makes yolk a great place for kids, i think, though the wait might be too much for them.
Yummy!! Breakfast is my favorite meal if the day and now Yolk will be on the weekly rotation :) Their food was great, server was friendly, and nothing better then looking at Michigan Ave from the window. I would imagine that it gets really busy on the weekends, I was there on a Tuesday at 10 AM and it was pretty busy - FYI. I had the Southwest Frittata - it was great - perfect amount of fire. And had it with Egg Beaters (they also do egg whites). Enjoy
Thursday was a friends birthday and I wanted to treat her to brunch or lunch and I thought of Yolk because it is a little nicer of a place than she would normally go, and I remembered that they had good food and friendly service.
We got a late start, didn't wonder in here till about two o clock. I was hungry, I skipped breakfast thinking we were going to get an earlier start because we were also planing on going to the Shedd.
Anyway we were shown to a table and handed menus right away. My friend was amazed by the decor, it was just funny to see her reaction.It took us a while to choose since they have a pretty big selection. She went with the Texas something or other omelet and i went with the country skillet.
Everything was fab the pancakes that we choose as the side were fluffy and sweet. My skillet was awesome. Had generous portions of ham, bacon and sausage, and the red potatoes were nice and soft and salty. They also topped it with just enough cheese and my eggs were cooked just like I wanted em. It also came with a side of saw mill gravy. It had a perfect flavor to it. Once I fished up the eggs I just poured the gravy over the rest of my taters and meat YUM! My friend loved her choice and I got a little taste of it, It had just a little kick to it.
The waitress we had was super friendly and checked on us a few times while we ate and gave us coffee refills without us having to ask for them which is great in my book of things that make for awesome service.
When it came for the check she asked if we were paying together or needed two checks. I said "Well its her birthday so I'm buying" She said "oh I wish I would have known before I brought the check would you like a little dessert or something?"
How nice was that? She went off and just a couple minutes wait later she brought out a crepe that had fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and was filled with Nutella! There was even a candle in it! It was such a thoughtful gesture that I had to mention it. Lets not forget too, that it was an excellent crepe!
(I still think the prices are a little wonky but in my opinion you really get what you pay for in this case! )
I had a really good experience here yesterday mid morning.
The decor is really warm/inviting and…
Read more »
I've been to Yolk twice and ever since I have steered anyone looking for breakfast in that area to Yolk. For good reason.
The food here is not only phenomenal, it's served in incredibly generous portions and quickly. The egg fritattas all good. I've either ordered them or tasted them off of other peoples plates. The belgian waffle was delicious (although could have used a litte more powdered sugar treatment than what I received).
The service has always been friendly and pretty quick, so I have no complaints and I really like the decor. Funky diner meets half finished restaurant? Not sure how to describe it exactly. Haha.
The only word of warning I have about Yolk is that the line is almost always long, so plan on eating there taking a while. We went during the week once for a late brunch and still waited nearly half an hour.
Brunch at Yolk? After three visits, I'm long overdue for a review... but since it's Friday, I'll keep it shorter than my usual details.
Food Choices - Standard breakfast fare. The strawberry orange juice stands out as something different, and it's freshly made/squeezed/juiced for extra deliciousness.
Food Quality - Excellent. Eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, french toast... it's all done to perfection. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu!
Price Point - For a uber-trendy hip breakfast place to be, this price is respectable. You're not getting any great deals by any means, but it's acceptable.
Food Quantity - Let me tell you, I always leave here stuffed. I tend to be an omelette eater (and they are big) followed with the side of pancakes it comes with (which are light and fluffy) and then I roll over, pay the check, and roll to my car.
Verdict: Excellent brunch place with standard American style choices with a few innovative twists thrown in (banana bread french toast with peanut butter? Talk about dessert for breakfast). The only drawback? There's always a massive line to wait to get in... alas, this is what happens when the quality is good and the place becomes uber-hip-trendy.
Ode to the Orange French Toast:
Hint of orange spice
Melting savory sweetness
If love had a taste...
Yes, I may have an altogether unhealthy relationship with food but I know what I like and I went back two days in a row for the Orange French Toast.
The first day I'd had the waffle which was good but my friend had the Orange French Toast and I had food envy so I HAD to get my own plate. For some reason spending the entire day there eating breakfast didn't appeal to her, hence the reason for the return trip the next day.
I didn't mind the wait. The first day we sat at the counter which I think is more fun, just watching them put the orders together was amazing.
The coffee was good, I wish I'd tried the banana bread french toast.. .but that just all that more reason to return to Chicago.
I'm a big fan of unique brunch spots in Chicago and Yolk is no exception! The cute name and decor really draw you in, so now it's all about the food and it was time to see if they lived up to it's name, and they did!
Like typical breakfast spots, Yolk offers the typical pancakes, waffles and omlettes. But what they do offer are a few unique twists on your classic favorites. I ordered the banana nut French toast and it was quite tasty and satisfying for brunch! It tasted just like friend banana bread and who can resist banana bread?!
While there is nothing very unique that's sets apart Yolk from the dozens of other brunch places in the city, the food is good, service is great and you won't be waiting in line for hours! Parking isn't too hard to find either. We were able to find parking only a mere block away and didn't have to park in a garage! Recommended!
What is all the fuss about? Long lines, bland food, high prices - and for this people wait forever? Oh, and the "fresh" squeezed orange/strawberry juice that I see poured from a sealed jug ... I guess it was squeezed from the jug . . .
I lived in this building for over 2 years and only ventured downstairs when a hangover or the weather dictated and they never failed to disappoint. Even with my 10% tenant discount, breakfast for 2 was always $30 worth of tastess crap. Oh, who said they had the best eggs benedict in the city? Clearly someone without functioning taste buds.
I'm always on the lookout for a good breakfast and this fits the bill well! I had the salmon and eggs and was impressed by the nice big fillet. The service was fast and everything was well cooked. I felt it was a good amount of food for the price.
My only complaint about this location is the noise. The restuarant was only half full but sounded packed due to the ceiling layout/construction.
Woohoo I love Brunch places...but my one problem with them: the wait. Seriously, open up more brunch places, they're obviously popular!
A friend and I went at about 11:25 on a Saturday. We waited until about 12:10. Kind of annoying. However we were smart and stopped at Starbuck's for a drink for our walk and to sip on while we waited.
Once we were seated we sat at the counter. Our waiter was extremely pleasant but our food order took FOREVER. I know it's busy but people who sat down next to us AFTER us got their food a good 15-20 minutes before us. We both ordered Frittatas w/ the Yolk pancakes. I got the Tuscan Frittata and it was delicious. Too much goat cheese, but great flavor. My banana yolk pancakes were to die for. Best part of the meal.
Since our food took so long our waiter graciously gave us a free nutelle crepe w/ strawberries. It was a perfect ending to a fun brunch.
Yolk is worth a visit. Just be patient and go with an appetite :)
Pretty consistent brunch when I'm craving a little cholesterol. The only thing I don't appreciate about this place is the wait. It's soooo long! But, If you're in the area,not in a rush and hungry for some huevos, pancakes or hash, you can't go wrong here.
I stopped in after an event in Grant Park. It was a cold & rainy spring morning, so I expected a lighter brunch crowd but the place was packed inside with people waiting for tables. We had a party of 3 and ended up waiting maybe 1/2 hour for a table, so not a terrible wait. Although I don't think I would go back on a nice day between 9-12, I have a feeling the line would have been out the door and around the block.
The food was good, but it was also your standard brunch fair, nothing to make it stand out from a dozen other brunch spots in the city. The portion sizes were big though which I like, so plenty for sharing or leftovers. The service was a little slow, and given that it was packed and people were waiting, I was a bit surprised by that. I figured it would be very fast so they could move people through quickly to free up tables.
If I'm in the neighborhood again, I would definitely stop in. But I can't say I'll go out of my way to have brunch here. There are other spots much closer to home with the same or better quality of food where I won't fear I'll have to wait an hour or two just to get seated!
This place was fantastic. I found it in a local paper when I was there this weekend. I wasnt really sure what to expect but it was close enough to go to the Field Museum and all of those sites near there! I had the Tuscan Frittata (Chicken, Sundried Tomatoes, Onions, and Basil) with Egg Whites and a side of pancakes. It was around $9 and I was left full. My friend had the Meat and Eggs Combo for around $8.50 which included 2 eggs, 2pcs of meat, and 2 pancakes (or toast or english muffin). She really liked it as well!
We got there just before 9:00am, about 20 people waiting, and we only had a 15 minutes wait! It was well worth it because the food was fantastic. The ambience was entertaining and it left me full for the entire day.
I noticed that when we left around 10:00am, there were about 50 people waiting outside to get in... so I suggest going early, getting a to go menu to look at so you know what you want to order when you get there, and don't be in a rush... it was worth the wait!
The food was fair. I think people like it because the servings are huge and the food is palatable. I ordered some omelette with avocado in it because it sounded unique and it was fine. I made the mistake of ordering it with a side of pancakes, not expecting it to come with a whole order of pancakes. Also, I ordered these special strawberry/chocolate pancakes although I worried that might be too sweet. I worried they'd be plain pancakes covered in strawberries and chocolate syrup. Then I noticed they were described as pancakes with bits of chocolate and strawberry in the batter and I thought, that sounds interesting. Unfortunately, what I got is what I was afraid of getting: a plate of pancakes topped with strawberries and Hershey's chocolate syrup. Um, yuck.
The food was fine. Not worth the wait. The portions are too large for any human being who isn't involved in some kind of intense physical training. There are some things I liked about the space and it's decent enough but Chicago is full of breakfast places and this one just didn't do it for me.
Once again I found myself with the intrepid David R. discussing our latest dining attempts and it turned out that Yolk was one that neither of us had experienced yet.
Enter: a cavernous space full of bright yellow paint, bouncing decibels, rushing waitstaff, and a host with a PA (a powerful weapon indeed). We waited something like 15-20 minutes in the open, airy waiting area until we were shown our seat at the verrrrrrrry back of the space. The very last table, in the very far corner. That's fine, it may have been a bit quieter back there anyway.
Greeted: our server was prompt and patient when we asked she return to get our orders once we were ready (David). After she walked away I was poured the worst cup of coffee I have had in a very long time - diners and fast food joints included. Seriously, this stuff was just awful. Not burned, not old, just bad.
Fed: Eggs Benedict - the egg dish by which all brunch egg dishes are judged. Now, poached eggs are by their natures, *just* over the edge of cooked. These were on the wrong side of that edge. Runny whites, to the point I scraped the runny bits off to the side to be avoided. The home fries were good, passable, but some weren't cooked all the way through. The fruit on the other hand, was fresh and very tasty. So was the fresh squeezed OJ. Oh, and the cinnamon roll was I think, better than Ann Sather's.
Settled: The prices are pretty much on par with every other brunch spot around town so I can't complain about that part. Bottom line is that Yolk is built for quick turnaround and volume so unfortunately it seems that quality of ingredients and patience to cook them take a back seat. Frankly, I can't get behind that so with regret, I must say that my first time at Yolk will also be my last.
Your mother and I were talking over coffee the other morning. She worries that you don't eat properly - especially breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day, according to 9 out of 10 moms.*
I was telling her about how I really enjoyed having my first breakfast meal in Chicago at this place. After showering, I took a morning constitution (aka a walk) 3 blocks south from the Hilton Chicago to arrive at a warmly lit, sunny yellow-and-blue palace of an eatery.
The Midwestern hostess was perky, giving me a cheery "Good morning!" and asked if I wanted a table or seat at the counter. Since I wanted to spy on the kitchen, I opted for the counter.
The booths, tables and chairs were mainly blond wood and evoked an Ikea feel. Since I didn't need the Ikea-like chair to last 30 years or get passed down to future generations, it was fine enough since I only needed it to last for an hour as I ate my meal.
My server was a no-nonsense gal in her 20s. Pleasant, prompt, and eager to work. If only we could all have co-workers that could be described as such. But, I digress. I ordered the French toast combo platter: two eggs, two strips of bacon, two sausage links, and two slices of French toast for $7.49. Matched it with a cup of coffee ($2.49).
Another Yelper was kind enough to take a "glamour shot" photo of said French toast combo - it really does look like that in reality and tastes even better. The plate was accompanied by a ramekin of butter; the sausage links were flavorful, meaty, and smoky - these were a perfect pair-up to the French toast.
The bacon was a little soggy for my taste but did I put them down? Nope - unless "down" means down my mouth. The scrambled eggs were fluffy but I forgot to ask for egg beaters instead at no extra charge. Ah, my doctor is going to love my cholesterol reading.
I left full, happy, and with an increased cholesterol reading. As for your eating breakfast, what should I tell your mother? She worries, you know.
* I have no scientific basis for this statistic. I only really survey one mom: mine. She gives me plenty of advice.
First breakfast out with Dad on our father daughter labor day weekend extravaganza. Hiked over from Michigan and Delaware. Food was average but the place is hopping and our server was great. I think dad had a little crush. I had the two eggs and pancakes with fruit. Ordered the eggs over medium and they were definitely over easy, the pancakes were ok but the fruit was good. Dad had an enormous omelet that was OK but his potatoes were mighty tasty, lot of salt though.
Nice change from the touristy stuff, you're definitely eating with the locals but pretty average food.
This place is a brunch factory. Both the cavernous space and expressionless waitstaff are devoid of personality. They have a PA system for the host to call the next party, and there is a large, bare area at the front JUST for people to stand and wait. The food was decent, but pretty plain. Why do people flock here? Just because it's the only brunch joint within a 1.5-mile radius? I guess that somebody has to feed all those 20- and 30-something South Loopers after Friday and Saturday nights' revels.
I got a Texas fajita omelette: eggs, cheddar, diced chicken, onions, green peppers: enjoyable but not special. I will say that the fruit (cantaloupe, pineapple, orange slices, and watermelon) was very fresh and good. Also, the cinnamon roll was, while on the drier side, very tasty as well, with a non-sugary buttercream icing. I liked the pecan sticky bun too, despite its dryness. (Yeah, I got the sticky bun to go but I ate it a half-hour later because I have no self-control. [sad face])
Our waitress was AWOL most of the time, as my water glass sat there as bone-dry as my poor parched throat. Sometimes we take table water for granted, but in the summer, man, I NEED that stuff.
Opening at 7am with our group arriving at 8:45 the place was jammed - but thankfully parking was close-by and cheap - with a line so long I expected good things and surprisingly we were seated in less than 15 minutes.
Having already browsed the pastry case and seated in the middle of the large room I must say I was impressed by the food but taken back by the noise level - between the close packed tables, loud voices, and clatter of utensils I simply found the music unnecessary - even if it was Neko Case who is superb. Greeted by our friendly server our water was filled and drink orders were taken along with an order for three pastry appetizers. Arriving in short order my sister's tea selection, my coffee, and mom/aunt's orange juices were all good and my coffee was kept refilled quite adequately - thankfully I brought my own nutrasweet, though as Yolk had only Splenda and Equal.
Following the beverages were our pastries. Starting first with the blueberry muffin - lets just say it was still warm, super buttery with hints of vanilla, and loaded with very fresh blueberries - all told I liked it ($2) better than my Blueberry Baba at Spiaggia the night before.
The second pastry was their "famous" cinnamon roll. While I can't say I've heard of their cinnamon roll before (as compared to Ann Sather's) I will state now that it has replaced Omega as my favorite cinnamon roll to date. Creamy and luscious with heavy hints of cinnamon, vanilla, and butter the frosting was an additionally wonderful addition with its sour cream cheese essence lingering throughout the palate - I need to taste Sather's on my next trip to see if it even compares.
The third pastry - homage to the previously mentioned LA meal - was a griddle grilled Pecan Roll. While good and perfectly prepared with a crispy/buttery exterior I simply must state that after the cinnamon roll it didn't have a chance. Good, but not "amazing" - just get the cinnamon roll, it costs less too.
Sharing our appetizers around we were all primed for the main event and once again Yolk produced quite quickly - we had our mains within 20 minutes of seating and lingered over them for some time without feeling rushed at all. Starting with my option - mostly because I always wait to see what everyone else orders before making my decision (in order to maximize tasting options) - Semi-sweet Chocolate and Strawberry Cakes. While tasty, I personally found the cakes to be a bit doughy and (like Bongo Room the day before) more like McDonald's Hotcakes than I'd prefer. Draped with a small dollop of whipped cream and even less chocolate I was fortunate that the strawberries were of good quality - but regardless the dish required a lot of extra syrup to be as tasty as hoped.
The next dish, one of the two I'd wanted to order but was glad others had chosen so that I could sample, was my sister's Cinnamon Roll French Toast - essentially one of Yolks previously mentioned awesome cinnamon rolls cut lengthwise and griddled. Without adding any additional cream cheese frosting aside from that which topped the original I'm not really sure why there was a $4 increase to simply pan fry this item and my sister noted that the top layer was way too sweet while the rest was way too bland. The taste I had was quite tasty and well complimented by the maple syrup, but I'd stick to the plain cinnamon roll sans grilling.
Ordered by my mother, Cheese Blintzes with Raspberry and Sourcream was a dish I'd not have ordered, but she didn't want something "too sweet." Very well formed and appropriately airy crepes were served filled with creamy cheese and along with fresh sour (and I mean SOUR) cream and a wonderful raspberry compote. Not a fan of sour cream in general I took one taste of the dish with sour cream and reconfirmed my belief. Thankfully my mother opted to top each Blintz individually I did re-taste the dish sans sour cream when she couldn't finish and did appreciate the quality of the presentation and how the creamy cheese mellowed the sweet compote.
The final selection, the dish I'd planned to order on browsing the online menu, was ordered by my aunt - Peanut Butter Banana Nut Bread French Toast. Thick cut and crisply fried banana bread, a small degree of egginess, strong hints of cinnamon, and all the better when topped with Peanut Butter. My only complaint would actually be the quality of the Peanut Butter - clearly a canned/jarred non-natural I would've much preferred something with less added sweetness.
When it was all said and done I do believe Yolk was our cheapest meal of the weekend and I enjoyed the experience moreso than our meal at Spiaggia the night before - despite the packed seating I didn't get elbowed once! With that noted, I can't say I'd return to Yolk on future trips simply because better options exist - specifically Bongo Room and m.henry.
South Loop brunch destination? Yolk, of course!
THE perfect place to hold a 'catching up session' with my SEVERLY missed ex-coworker who left for glamorous DC. *tear*
Good news - my friend only had to wait 10 minutes for a table! (Yes, on a Saturday at NOON!) Awesomeness as we were starving and low on time. Yolk's menu boasts a TON of yummy lookin' options - especially this stuffed french toast, cinnamon french toast, chocolate crepes. Sugar coma, for sure!
I was tempted to indulge, but opted for the pancakes w/ fresh fruit. Yes, I ordered it with MULTI-GRAIN batter. Please do not hate - it was actually REALLY delicious! The pancake batter had bits of banana in it....and they were topped with sweet, fresh strawberries! Add a little bit of butter and syrup...heaven! Oh, and their freshly squeezed lemonade is a delightful treat, too!
Service here was really good - fast, friendly, to the point. The decor is cute - with vibrant blue and yellow paint all over the walls. And it's HUGE in here. It's a little deceiving from the outside!
Parking Tip - My friend found a fun little lot on Wabash and 11th that charges ONLY $10 on weekends! Great find - especially if you're lookin' to explore South Loop a little. I should start givin' this 'hood my love...
Great Brunch place that does it right!!!!! I take those visiting from out of town there- since many of them stay near Millennium Park etc....It's a great place to start before a long day at all the Museums:)
The french toast is AWESOME and they do their eggs dishes well too. If going on the weekend- be prepared for the wait or go after 1pm.
Finally I made it through the doors (and the wait) to dine at the of-late Chicago brunch institution that is Yolk. This expansive retro-modern breakfast/lunch diner has been on my list of places to try for at least a year now. Problem is I live up in Lakeview, it's down in the South Loop (until just recently, now they're in River North too). It's a bit of a trek to go get a Sunday brunch, only to then wait the obligatory 45 minutes to an hour to get a table. But duty called, and the stars aligned...
The space is cool, it's a little loud but it was packed, and it's a large space. Service was prompt and perfunctory. I didn't make friends with our waiter, but who wants to anyway? Psychos think a waiter should tell you his name and make small talk. I just want service and a smile.
The menu options were expansive-- they even have a Good Morning Burger for those of you who don't have the ability to say "No" to yourself ever. We ordered the California Omelet and the West Coast Crepes, obviously for our addiction to avocados and because they were some of the vegetarian options on the menu. Both came with a side of fruit or potatoes, and either toast, english muffin, or pancakes. Naturally, pancakes were chosen. Both dishes were pretty good, but nothing to write home about. Solid ingredients, but not a lot of thought put into presentation or how to combine different flavors to elevate the sensations. The crepes were especially bland and I had to add a lot of salt and pepper. They could have used a chipotle sauce, for instance. The homestyle potatoes were undercooked also, with less flavor than I expected considering the waiter said he really liked them.
The side of pancakes were very good, however, and maybe that's the item to go for here. I'm sure just a couple eggs over easy with a stack of pancakes are the way to go here.
The prices were standard for Chicago, especially in the Loop. About $18 a person after coffee, tax and tip. I thought the portion sizes were a little much, though. I know it's weird to complain about getting too much food, but I'd much rather get a more focused dish, with more attention paid to ingredients, preparation, and presentation, than get more filler. I literally felt full for the next eight hours. I mean, I still feel full, and I would love to eat dinner, but... yeah, I could have restrained myself, but I hate to waste food. Anyway, if you love to engorge yourself, you'll like Yolk.
I decided to give Yolk a try after hearing great things about it. I'm not big on brunch fare, but this place was pretty good. Our server was nice, which always makes the experience more pleasant. I would recommend ordering one of the combos that are variations of french toast, eggs, and sausage. It's the best bang for your buck, and it seems that this is Yolk's forte. I ordered orange butter crepes, and it wasn't that good. But the french toast and pancakes are definitely delicious, and the over-easy eggs were more runny than usual, which I like.
I'm not a big fan of brunch food, but my experience at Yolk was pretty good, minus the epic wait. Go on a weekday to avoid the wait.
Hefty servings. Served fruit with my omelette to ease heartburn. Nice, open kitchen in a cheery, colorfully decorated brunch/lunch spot. Self(?) proclaimed "best Eggs Benedict in Chicago"...duno about the best, but they were definitely good. Waitress did seem like she was in a rush to clear our table even though we showed up for a late breakfast/lunch on a weekday. I can definitely see this place get crazy and unpleasant on the weekends, but on this day, it was dandy.
We came in at 2pm on a Saturday after a morning full of moving. We were hungry. I mean HUNGRY. I had eyes twice the size of my stomach, and everything on the menu looked fantastic. I really wanted a sweet breakfast, but needed some sustenance.
So I had the Garden Omelette. I had it prepared with egg whites only with fresh fruit. It was a little bland and unflavorful, but a little salt and pepper made it a yummy and healthy breakfast full of fruit, vegetables and lean protein.
Service is fast, and the restaurant is always busy. I don't know if I'd come back... maybe for the eggs benedict??
Liked it...didn't love it...probably won't trek out here again. Had the Santa Fe Skillet. Was good-ish...nothing special...not horrible. The coffee tasted burnt. The service was 'meh' . The meal was 'meh'. I've had way more exciting brunch experiences. But it wasn't the worst brunch experience either.
Dunno if it was worth the 30 minutes for a table.
This very quant little place is great, especially on the weekdays when there are less people. The food is fantastic, offering a large quantity of fresh food at a very decent price. The Eggs Benedict is said to be the best in the city there, and it is by far the best that I have had. The kitchen is open to view and the cooks are working hard, putting food up quickly. The owner of the place is usually working the window in the kitchen on the weekends making sure the food is out quick. The tables are turned rather quickly and every wait seems pretty short and always worth it!
Clean
Great food
Diverse menu
Quick to turn tables
Well priced
Huge portions
BYO
Great pancakes, french toast, and fresh squeezed juices. Was my first time and everything I ordered was piping hot and pretty good. The wait staff was right on the mark also, but I was by myself... so could be different.
On the other hand, its a very large space which holds a lot of people, so the place is very loud. The wait to get a seat was outrageous, I was solo and it took 40 minutes just to cop a seat at the counter - this is why I'm giving Yolk 3 stars (3.5, if possible) I would have left, but I had already paid for parking, so I was gonna wait it out.
Has the vibe of a tourist hang out or something founded on idol worship... hmmm. Since the food was pretty good, I'll definitely head to the other location to sample their omelets.
One thing that did bother me: I was sitting at the counter, so I could see the cooks pretty clearly. It must have been pretty hot back there as one guy was sweating and he had a towel to wipe the sweat... my question: where did the sweat he didn't manage to wipe go??? ewwww don't even wanna no.
Oh how brunch is really my favorite meal of the day and week-end!!! I am happy to wait 45 minutes for their succulent eggs!
Be prepared to wait - I won't mislead anyone here but promise that the food is sooo worth it. I love their California Omlette and Hot Ricky Omlette. It is a great place to come with friends. Love that they give you flavored creams - hey it's a nice touch. This is one of my favorite breakfast places due to the amount of choices they offer.
Okay, darlings, first rule of dining out in the city: if you go anywhere in the loop, you will most likely have to wait. So, please, for the love of God, if you decide to do this, do not bitch about the consequences.
Yes, there is often a wait, generally on the weekends; however, this place is very close to my apartment and I go quite frequently. I've had to wait maybe three times for a table. You need to be wise about when you go, honestly. We often go on weekdays toward the end of the brunch times (but be careful, they close at 3).
One of my favorite meals on the planet is Eggs Benedict. Yolk does them fantastically. I love the fruit I get on the side; even in the dead of winter it stays fairly fresh. My fiance always gets the corned beef hash, and I often steal bites from it. My brother enjoys Diabetic comas, so he gets the cinnamon bun french toast and a large O.J. I had the BLT the last time I was there, and it was also pretty good.
All in all, yeah, there are often waiters who look like they leave directly from the restaurant to go to their classes at Columbia. This is part of the charm of the South Loop, as I also know several Columbia students I don't mind (my fiance is one of them). I've only had one less than stellar sever at Yolk, and she wasn't terrible, more a bit flippant.
All in all, I enjoy Yolk. Their ingredients are often fresh and the portions are large. Give it a chance. Just remember that you're traveling to a restaurant which closes at 3 (one of the main downfalls of breakfast joints) and is in the Loop -- not the burbs.
Six Bucks Before Six
Neighborhood: South Loop
Host a Party at Angelina
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Neighborhood: South Loop
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: South Loop
Category: Diners
Neighborhood: West Loop
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Juice Bars & Smoothies
A list of neighborhood places, both good and bad,…
If I can't get breakfast in bed... These are the…
Whether to bond with the girls or to recover from…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
This is a list of a lot of the places my…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Where I find the best omlette, pancakes, french…
I LOVE brunch. Brunchy brunchy brunch! Down into…
