This was the the best breakfast place I have ever been to! The food was amazing, my whole family enjoyed the meal dearly. You have many options to chose from, but I enjoyed the French toast. Perfectly done, and it was just the perfect bite for a morning brunch. The servers were very nice and the service was very quick considering the amount of people there. You might consider some of their flavors odd, but I can assure you they work perfectly. They have a good kids menu and great coffee. This is a must do restaurant.
(5)
Gustavo A.
Very good breakfast place. The potatoes are amazing. I love how you can build your own omelette with so many ingredient options available. The greek sausage is very tasty. Awesome service and especially good coffee and mocha.
(5)
Emily S.
We have tried this place 2 times about 2 years apart. Both times we struggled to find something on the menu that looked worth ordering. Their kids menu is decent, my husband loved their breakfast potatoes and I thought their apricot jam was amazing. However it is very mexican-breakfast flair and I'm not a huge fan of that style. My omelet was a little runny in the middle not bad enough to send back or anything, just to make it not quite good. I thought the potatoes were too oily. The pancakes had a nice vanilla flavor but were pretty dry (I don't user syrup) and the french toast was good, though very lightly battered. Our waitress was nice but aloof, the busboys were diligent with the water refills (so great!) and they gave us crayons and a placemat to color for the kid. All in all it was fine, but there are so many places in the city - in this neighborhood - to get great breakfasts that this one just isn't worth the time.
(2)
Joanne W.
My cohort and I arrived late on a Saturday afternoon to grab a bite before running errands. We arrived an hour before closing (1:30 or so). The place was pretty empty so we were seated right away. We immediately noticed the chalkboard of specials for the day. Suddenly, a bright light beamed down onto the menu board while the birds chirped an angelic song... FRIED CHICKEN BREAST ON A WAFFLE WITH TWO POACHED EGGS, BACON AND CREAM OF POTATO LEEK GRAVY. We thought, surely The Almighty is looking down upon us today. Needless to say, an order of that special was brought out to us along with the Florentine Crab Benedict which consisted of crab crabs, poached eggs, garlic spinach atop corn cakes and topped with chipotle hollandaise. Can I get an amen? I quite enjoyed both entrees (mine was the Benedict in case you were wondering). I tried the chicken and waffle and thought it was sinfully good. No problems with service - quick and attentive for the non rush hour. I also enjoyed the art work in this joint. Pancakes: You're stuffed up! French Toast: You're a hot mess! My first visit to Marmalade probably won't be my last.
(4)
Cassidy S.
Hit this place for the first time on Halloween. I ordered two entrees with a friend and planned to split - the Euro Brunch Plate and the Chocolate French Toast special. My coffee was delicious, as was my friend's OJ, but the food left much to be desired. The crepe on the brunch plate was tasty (especially the butternut squash/bacon combo) but the potatoes were terrible. A thick layer of crispy ash covered the outside, and somehow they were undercooked. The chocolate french toast was so heavy - almost like eating chocolate cake at 11AM - and it was covered with a "creme anglaise" which had become sticky and thin. Should have played it safe and gotten the regular french toast, I guess. Overall, I won't make this place my first choice for breakfast.
(2)
Jessica G.
My dining party made sure to order diverse dishes in order to sample the breadth of the Marmalade menu. Everything was flawless! My Cubano French toast sounded like it might be overwhelming, but the flavors complimented each other perfectly. The Mexican Breakfast combo was a feast. Homemade tortillas! Great service, great atmosphere, loved the Rodrigo y Gabriella and Gipsy Kings soundtrack.
(5)
Lupe D.
Food is actually 3 1/2 stars, but food presentation and customer service is more like 4 or 4 1/2 stars. For my boyfriend, his food was more like a 4 1/2. I've been wanting to try Marmalade for a while. Finally stopped in last week. We went in pretty early to avoid the brunch rush (early is 8am-ish) and we had our choice of seats. Place is very cute, I can see how, if at full capacity, this place could feel very cramped...but we had plenty of space. Our servers were super friendly - one server was being trained - she was very sweet, tried her best. The girl who was training her was off the charts great. They have their specials - and that was a mouthful to remember! I ordered the Fruity something pancakes - basically two pancakes, creme anglaise in between the layers and mangoes and cherries with a sauce around the pancakes. Also topped with these crunchy sugared oats and a generous amount of powdered sugar. First of all - it was beautiful when it arrived - CLICK CLICK - took some pictures. I tasted the mango and it was delicious. Tasted the crunchy top - SO GOOD - the creme anglaise with the pancake - so delish! so yummy and custardy! But then I get to the bottom pancake and it was a soggy mess... :-( It soaked up all the cherry/mango sauce - me no likey. Maybe it's just my personal preference, but I don't like mushy pancakes... My boyfriend had the midwestern omelette. Not going to lie I can't remember what was in it other than eggs, white cheddar and bacon (I don't like omelettes so I don't pay attention), but I do remember that it came with potatoes and toast which he proclaimed to be the best toast in the land and pretty much devoured his meal saying it was amazing. Coffee was pretty good, strong, but good. The restaurant had a really nice neighborhood/family vibe when we were there. A lot of moms with their babies just hanging out. I will definitely be returning and bringing my son to check out this place - he's a breakfast guy, I know he'll love it!
(4)
Sarah P.
I can't believe I have lived 4 blocks away from Marmalade for almost a year and haven't tried this place until this past weekend! A-MAZing! I went with my mom and we both had several options in my mind from checking out the menu online. However, we didn't try any of them since the specials sounded so great! We ordered and shared two items from the specials menu which I hope to see there again: 1. Omelet with artichoke, roasted tomatoes, goat cheese, topped with pesto. 2. Pumpkin french toast with creme de leche, roasted pecans, pumpkin cream, and cranberries (plus a sprinkling of other fresh fruit) made with their homemade pumpkin bread. Our server was nice although disappeared for a while when we were hoping to get our check. The manager/maybe owner walked around checking on tables and seating people and was very nice. While we were paying at the front, I asked for a bag since we took the rest of our meals to go. He walked back to get a bag and seemed to be taking a while... he came back with a pumpkin cranberry muffin for us... just because! How nice... and the muffin was delicious! No wait for a table - we went on a Sunday but also got there around 9 am, before the usual brunch rush. I will definitely be going back ASAP!
(5)
Kristin M.
This is probably closer to 3.5, but I'm rounding up. It's no M. Henry, but it's a solid spot for brunch. I had never ventured into Le Sabre (when I want breakfast at an aesthetically questionable establishment, I go to G.Nugg, thank you very much) but Marmalade looks great from the outside-in. It's warm and cozy and I'd love to have that mirror in my house! Anyways, to the food! I had the Jason's omelette special with chicken sausage, goat cheese, sweet potato and topped with a red wine reduction. It was delicious, a perfect fall omelette. My friend had the artichoke, spinach and goat cheese omelette which he described as ok, but the flavors mixed together so you couldn't pick out the artichoke flavor from the mix. The potatoes were DE-LICIOUS. They came in a huge portion of generously seasoned chunky goodness. I didn't add salt (which is rare for me), they were that good. My friend also wanted me to mention he enjoyed his multigrain toast (I wish they buttered the toast for you, but whatever). Re drinks, the juice is not fresh squeezed which, for $4, it really should be. The menu had so many great options, I will definitely be back to try more. Well done Marmalade.
(4)
Tim G.
We love Marmalade for breakfast. On our most recent visit (wife, son, his wife, and yours truly) we enjoyed a mix of omelets and pancakes. Wife had multi-grain cakes, son had eggs and toast, d-i-l got the Mayan omelet, and I chose one of the daily specials, an omelet Romano, with pancetta (bacon), fresh mozzarella, spinach, and covered w a pesto. It was delicious. There are always a number of daily specials to choose from, and plenty of choices from the menu to satisfy your taste. Omelets are served w a side of the Marmalade potatoes, similar to hash browns, but w wedges instead of shredded, and the best seasoning you'll ever taste. Service was very good. Prices are quite reasonable for the amount of food served. A good value.
(5)
Allison V.
I went here for a lunch date with a friend. I went with the breakfast special which included eggs to my liking, homemade guacamole, spicy chiliquiles, fried potatoes, cheese quesadillas, and some fruit. Everything blended so well together. the potatoes had a great charred seasoned flavoring. EVERYTHING was AWESOME! I also got to try the sweet plantains which were a nice finish to a great brunch. The waitress seemed knowledgable about the foods they offered even though I was a bit distracted by her choice of attire. I will definitely be back. Bike parking on street.
(4)
Claudia D.
Perfectly prepared poached eggs in the Florentine Crab Bennie per the husband, however, he found the crabcakes to be too mushy in texture althpugh the flavor was good. Perfectly prepared over easy eggs on my Mexican Combination. Very good bottomless cups of coffee. Fresh orange and fresh pineapple slices accompanied both dishes. The potatoes were delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned. The chiliquiles were prepared with the Mayan salsa and were scrumptious. We shared an and fig scone that was disappointingly lacking in fig flavor. Parking on the street was easy on Wednesday at 1 PM. Our server was very sweet, knowledgeable, and appropriately attentive. The busboy kept our coffee cups and water glasses filled. We requested that our scone be slightly warmed and the waitress was happy to do it for us. We'll be back, during the week, again, if we're in the neighborhood, and there's no room at Glenn's Diner.
(3)
David R.
"NO SUBSTITUTIONS OR OMISSIONS" It's right there on the menu, as well as noted in many of the Yelp reviews. I only saw this after my wife and I had decided to breakfast here, but we didn't change our plans. It really irks me though. If I don't want the extraneous sour cream on a dish, why can't I omit it? Or ask for my dish easy on the cheese? Not cool. The food was all right: Pancho Villa skillet (potatoes, eggs, chorizo, corn, tomatoes, poblanos, chihuahua and pepperjack cheeses), which was oily and dominated by the chorizo, and an excellent hotcake on the side. And our waitress was sweet as pie. But in addition to the fascist omission and credit card policies, the reticent hostess and several other little details about this place rubbed me the wrong way. They may seem small, but they added up to give the impression that these people either don't care or don't pay attention. For example: my menu had little bits of debris under the plastic cover; the four specials were spread across two separate chalkboards on opposite sides of the dining room, plus they contained spelling and punctuation errors; in the restroom, there was a hand-written sign above the light switch, but it was so smudged that I couldn't make out if it was telling me to turn it off or not to turn it off. And--this is really nitpicking now--it's April but the incense in the bathroom is a pumpkin spice flavor. Eh. I guess that I was already predisposed to annoyance by the substitution/omission policy, so I noticed every other little shortcoming. Bottom line: the food is good, but they don't seem to take care of their place, and they definitely don't seem to buy into the bedrock idea of "Give the customers what they want." So we'll give our future breakfast business to establishments that do.
(2)
Unity O.
It pains me to do this since I am a lover of all things brunch. However, after 2 visits, I am done with this place. There are just so many other options out there (and in the same hood) to spend my hard earned $$. Also options that will make substitutions on there dishes or omit something that I do not like. I fail to understand how difficult it is to not add sour cream to a dish when it is simply a garnish & also it is going to be thrown away because I won't eat it (how wasteful). It eludes me as to why they won't make substitutions at all or why they make paying for your meal a hassle (no more than 2 cc per check...really?). I find this especially hard when there are just so many other options out there and in a day when dietary restrictions are high. I gave it 2 stars because the food is actually decent. Nothing mind blowing, but good & prepared well. You also get a decent sized portion with any dish you order. Plus, they have a decent cup of coffee which is ever so important when enjoying brunch. Also, the atmosphere is great...you can tell they put work & thought into the decor. Feels warm & inviting. Also 2 stars due to the service for some reason they always feel rushed & chaotic...they don't exactly make you feel welcome. I will say this...try them if you are in the hood, but don't go out of your way to check them out.
(2)
Heather P.
Oh Marmalade, how I wish I could give you more stars. You had so much going for you...location, perfect for walking to on a weekend morning. No wait on a Sunday - that's unheard of!!! Polite staff - what more could you ask for, you say???? Well I'll tell you...better coffee for one. My coffee tasted burnt like it had been sitting out for a while, blech. My other issue was that everything on the menu sounded so delectable but unfortunately out of a table of four people who were completely taken with the scrumptious sounding descriptions of our soon-to-be brunch plates - we were all left wanting more. I had the special plate so you would think, well it should be special. It wasn't. The sausage was okay, just okay. The potatoes were tasty and good. My biggest complaint was that the flatbread was underneath my eggs and sauce so that equated to a soggy, droopy mess of mushy bread. All the ingredients just melded together into an unrecognizable flavor. My fiance had the diablo omelet and again, we were totally sold on the idea of jerk spices in an omelet with mango salsa and avocado with cream cheese. Sadly, it just didn't work for us. The shrimp seemed odd and out of place. The cream cheese would have been great on a bagel (which they don't have by the way), just didn't really mesh with the eggs. I'm so sorry, Marmalade. You had been on my radar for a while. I read and heard lots of good things about you. I guess you really just can't believe everything you read or hear. With that said, I have a Travelzoo certificate I bought so I will give you one more shot and I had my eye on a cinnamon toast bread pudding so there is still hope that you might be redeemed.
(2)
Veronica M.
Went for breakfast alone the other day - greated at the door, given choice of seats, tea brought immediatly to me. Also my blonde waitress asked if I wanted more hot water for my tea - good service!! Had a skillet with large potatoes, pulled seasoned chicken, eggs, salsa and sour cream, very good with just right amount of "kick" spice! Only down side, never informed of the chalkboard specials till after I ordered heard the hostess explain, I would have liked the special instead - nice place, friendly, good brunchspot - wish they had a full time eggs benidict on the menu though.......
(3)
J R.
Yes its different, I appreciated that but I think its way over priced. They charged me $4.00 for a "large" glass of orange juice that in reality was a small cup. I think little things like this shut small businesses down. Its called being greedy and greed doesn't succeed. Anyway food was okay. I am mexican so I know how to make chilaquiles and all they did was put chips on a plate and pour green chile over it. Had to eat the "chips" with my hands because they were too crunchy to grab with a fork. I do think the presentation of the food was very nice though and the place was pretty and clean but for the amount I paid I rather have gone somewhere much better.. I also didn't enjoy watching management flirt with all the pretty young girls that work there. Made me feel uncomfortable so I could imagine how they feel. ..
(3)
Kate B.
Extremely cute, comfortable atmosphere. I really liked the Damen Slimline for lunch. The coleslaw is made in house and you can really tell, it's very fresh and not over-drenched in sauce. As for breakfast the chilaquiles are to die for! What I didn't appreciate: while they are listed under the egg section and the disclaimer says "All egg dishes served with a side of Marmalade's own specially seasoned oven roasted potatoes, as well as your choice of toast"...I was charged for a side when I asked about my toast. I understand it's a tofu scramble and not eggs, but if you put it in the section that says toast comes with it, I want my toast and I want it included. (-1) The one other thing is what most other reviews brought up, no substitutions. I so badly want to try the Mexican Breakfast Combo but, oh wait, I hate sour cream with a passion. Same for the Chef's Salad - there is an option to get it with tofu instead of chicken or shrimp, but what's the point if there's bacon on it anyway?! By being this strict you're really losing what would be regular business from me, Marmalade. (-1) The portions are generous. I just wish they had better options...it's like the vegan-friendliness was only halfway thought out. Bonus: they know how to pull their espresso.
(3)
Fawn J.
I've been here a few times and have had mixed experiences, but overall, I really like it and will continue going here. The only negative I've had is two times I've been in they have run out of something we ordered. The first time I chalked it up to being a new restaurant and trying to figure out the kinks, the second time it was slightly more annoying. But what I have ended up with has always been great. The service is friendly and casual. They provide great service to the toddler I usually have in tow, always bringing him his own cup right away, serving him food he likes, talking to him, drawing with him, etc. The clincher is the free cookie they always seem to give us on our way out. Little guy loves it. haha, they really know how to get you to come back!
(4)
Chris Dallas G.
We had a wonderful time here one Sunday morning for brunch. The service was a little slow but the place was packed to the gills. My partner and I shared a plate thinking it was going to be larger than it was simply from the description. Even though it wasn't as large as we thought it was going to be, we still didn't leave hungry, we were pleasantly satisfied with the savory meal, and we plan on returning soon.
(4)
Carol L.
This past week I tried their Marmalade French Toast and it as very , very good.
(5)
Meredith R.
I visited Marmalade for the first time today, a Sunday, at noon. Even though it was a popular brunch day/time, and the place was busy, our wait for a table was short, and the place was relaxing and quiet. My friends and I all LOVED the food (the potatoes were my favorite!), and we'll definitely be back for more!
(4)
Kennen M.
I am just not feeling this place. This was a second time here and this last time was more memorable because things just didn't go well. This place is small and a tad noisy/energetic. This is not a place to bring strollers or large groups of people - don't even try it, you will hate yourself and everyone around you will hate you. I was hankering for some hearty breakfast food and the menu didn't appeal to me. Many of the dishes had a Mexican flare to it so it is obvious the cooks are Latino. I don't mind some Latino influences but when the majority of the dishes/skillets have sour cream, guac, salsa, pulled chicken or anything that isn't traditional breakfasty foods and you can't omit or substitute - bad news. I ordered a skillet, it had guac on it, but only a thumbnail size (why even bother) and unfortunately the most delicious part of the skillet. The pulled chicken was mildly warm over giant hunks of potatoes topped with over easy eggs that were so under cooked that the yolk was swimming in its clear, raw egg white pool. I didn't complain to the waitress because I was so icked out by it, replacing it wouldn't have made me eat it. I am the type of person who eats everything and I was grossed out by this. I had other issues with the food but my fingers would get tired of typing. On the bright side, my server seemed nice but a bit overwhelmed at the demands of the job and communication with the kitchen. I ended my half eaten breakfast with a check for the two of us for $40. Not a cheap joint! Gawd, I miss LeSabre where I could wake up, throw on some pants, walk down the street, order, eat, pay $9 (with nice tip and coffee) and be back home within 30 minutes.
(2)
Philly G.
A little bit of a wait. Too small for parties over 4 people. Food was really good. Byob. Doesn't split check among cards
(4)
Nancy C.
Their menu is enticing, their execution is awful. Felt sick after leaving. What it is: clean, cute and overpriced. What it is NOT: delicious, consumer friendly(no splitting checks OR cards, no substitutions OR omissions), inviting.
(1)
Marshall G.
If you don't give this place 5 stars then you have no taste. Sorry if that offends you but it's the truth. I want the creative-chef of Marmalade to have an attractive daughter, train her to be just as good a chef as he and then send her out into the field to meet me; she and I meet and really hit it off, fall in love and get married and I get to live with the food from this place in my home for the rest of my life. That is my winning ticket. On a more serious note, this place is unbelievable. The menu is loaded with so many tastey sounding choices that the worst part about coming here is trying to decide which one dish you're going to order. Ideally, you'll want to go here with someone who you feel comfortable sharing food with so that you can order what sounds the best to you, convince them to order your second choice and then hope they aren't a big eater so you can eat a little of the dish they get. There is usually a wait and the items are a little pricey but as I've made clear; the food and wait are surely worth your hard-earned money and your count down to edible-harmony. I love you Marmalade, with all my stomach.
(5)
Nell S.
Food was decent but not amazing. I got the Euro brunch plate - heavily seasoned potatoes were actually pretty good, eggs tasted great, but the butternut squash crepe was disappointing. I didn't finish any of it. My friend got the raspberry/peach mascarpone pancakes, and there was so much juice (versus a real syrup) on the plate that the bottom pancake was a soggy mush mess. Service was lacking. Front desk neither takes names for a table wait or seats people; the manager does this (micromanage much?). He had the list with him somewhere else and I had to wait 5 minutes for him to leave what he was doing to even put in my name. We were sat almost right away, but we watched several other parties of 2 stare longingly at empty tables while they waited for the manager to reappear and seat people. Definitely a vibe of bad management in the air. It was oddly tense. Most importantly though, about 3 hours after breakfast I became massively and cripplingly ill. I hadn't eaten anything else that day. I'm not 100% sure that it's food poisoning but it sure feels that way. So obviously I won't be back. It would have been 2-3 stars without the illness simply for the soggy 'cakes and the strange vibe, but since I'm still not right a day later gotta drop you to 1 and go back to the Golden Nugget for future brunching. Sorry!
(1)
Kim S.
Oh, Marmelade.. First and foremost... the food is really, really good here. Unfortunately, waitstaff never seems to be too happy about working! I've been back 4 times now, because the food is that good, but I gotta say I'd very much appreciate a better atmosphere when I go.
There was a wait for brunch on the weekend and I wish the hostesses had better organization over the seating plan so that people waiting we're seated faster. Nevertheless, the French toast berry special was amazing!
(4)
Israel D.
Just a great place to eat. The food is really good.
(5)
Dennis L.
Delicious food in a comfortable atmosphere! My wife and I visited Marmalade for a quick lunch, and we really enjoyed the experience. She ordered the Efrain's Diablo Omeletta, which tasted great. I ordered the Skirt Steak Sandwich with fries. I appreciated the quality components of my meal. The fries were fresh and definitely house made. The blue cheese crumbles on my sandwich tied it together wonderfully. Overall, a great breakfast/lunch/brunch option. Notes: No separate checks, no multiple credit cards, present any vouchers/coupons upfront.
(4)
O P.
I think this place is very tasty. Brunch all over Andersonville is so great, it's nice to see something on the other side. Great food,great service, unique menu. Only issue that kept me from 5 stars is their splitting checks policy- they don't do it. I understand their policy of charging extra if you're splitting a plate-who wants people ordering one plate and a Ton of coffee & then sitting in their restaurant for two hours taking up space? But not splitting checks is something that's disadvantageous to the restaurant- I think a lot of people don't carry cash- at least the ones who are brunching on a regular basis- so when you can't split checks it's a little inconvenient for your patrons. I'm not asking for splitting checks 6 ways, but splitting down the middle....I know it's not difficult. Especially with the POS system they have. I only bring it to attention bc i def have thought twice about stopping in, unplanned with friends, bc I didn't have cash on me! So make sure you've got cash or one person in your party is willing to drop their card for everyone!
(4)
Al G.
I have always seen lines outside this restaurant and was eager to try it. Today i finally did and was not disappointed. The staff are friendly, professional and certainly accommodating. Food was excellent, specifically their seasoned potatoes and their fresh fruit compotes. Omelette's have a great twist in that they are not your standard variety that can be found in any other breakfast place. A must go to spot for breakfast or brunch!
(4)
Reviewer M.
Came for the first time today! Don't know why we waited so long! Great food (we had the Mexican combo, the angus burger) , plenty of friendly and attentive staff, good but paired down selection of entrees, good coffee, clean and fast! Would come again!
(5)
Megan A.
Stopped into Marmalade with my boyfriend after moving back up to the North Side. It was the perfect day for a brunch place, and having to catch the train right down the street made it all that much more perfect. It was busy, but not crowded, and we were sat right away. After peeking at all the specials on the board, and looking over the menu we decided on a benedict - crab cake - and french toast. The service was impeccable, evenly paced, not overwhelming, and inviting. We really just enjoyed watching everything move around the restaurant, and then enjoying out food. It was seriously the best silent food eating moment we have had together - so delicious. My cup always had coffee in it, which is essential to me. On our way out, the owner Gus, who had sat us and greeted us at the beginning, talked with us about our experience. He is a very genuine and compassionate person. It really makes a difference when an owner takes the time to make sure everything in his restaurant is running correctly, and to a tea. He even gave us some free baked goods, which I enjoyed on my own later - soo yummy! this will become my new neighborhood breakfast place!
(5)
Antoinette R.
The food was okay, maybe slightly better. We came here after reading about them on the Best Breakfasts in Chicago, eh. It was only two of us, so we didn't have to wait long at all. We were having a hard time deciding what we wanted so we asked our server for any recommendations which turned into her reading the specials off of the boards. She didn't say anything about what she likes and why (I like that info from a server). Melissa's French Toast was good and the same for my husbands Bonaparte. I give it two stars for the reason that I feel like this place is way too full of itself. Yeah they are stepping out to do inventive dishes, but their service really brings it down a notch. Our server wasn't overly friendly and the server in the next section didn't smile once. She also told a table that was finishing their coffee after a Sunday brunch that they needed to leave because other people were waiting. Seriously? I get that you want to turn your tables quite frequently, but this is Sunday brunch, people generally get chatty. I was really annoyed at that point and had decided that I will not be coming back after today. Secondly, I feel that there are way too many signs around the restaurant demanding what the customer can/cannot do. No split checks, no split credit cards. In that sense, I'd rather it be a CASH only place.
(2)
Amanda B.
I love brunch. I love all of Marmalade's brunch meals, they're always bursting with flavor. You can't beat their potatoes. I always get whatever special they have that week. It's small place so it gets overpacked during weekend brunch hours, but it's worth the wait. Fun staff and atmosphere.
(4)
Ilbra I.
My fiance and I wanted a new breakfast joint so we decided to check out Marmalade. It looked very promising; there were lots of people inside and out and we thought man this place must be great if it's this packed. Boy were we wrong! We walked in and there were two tables left. We were seated and spotted the two boards with all the specials on them, which was very helpful. Our waitress greeted us after we had been sitting there for 10 minutes. She didn't smile once and to me she seemed upset. She recited the specials, that were written on the board, as if she was a robot. The girl lacked personality whereas other waitresses were smiling and joking around with their customers. The food descriptions looked soooooo good and we couldn't wait to dig in but unfortunately the food was average. My fiance ordered the pancakes (3 for $6.50) and they were the driest pancakes he'd ever had. We don't mind paying the premium prices as long as the food was worth it. I had the Midwest Omelette and it was the only thing that I enjoyed. The house fries were nasty. They were dry, oily, and tasted like fish. The whole time my fiance and I were eating, the bus boys were the only ones who would come to the table. They brought us our food, poured us water, and took away our plates. Our waitress never once came by to check up on us. Now the place was packed but there were enough waitresses to go around. She could have stopped by for a minute to make sure everything was okay. We had to take ketchup and hot sauce from a free table next to us. We left there unsatisfied and upset. This place is a joke. There are so many other places that can deliver a much better dining experience.
(2)
Megan G.
The first time I went here, I was in love. I had a breakfast skillet with chipolte chicken, potatoes, and scrambled egg. The food was amazing. The service was quick and polite - even on a busy Sunday I was able to get in without much of a wait. So a few weeks ago, I thought I would repeat this experience and go again for a late lunch. I think it was again on a Sunday. There was a slight wait, not big deal. Then I was seated and ordered a juice. My waitress brought the juice but then never came back. I sat for 20 minutes without her coming back. I was so hungry that I didn't feel like grabbing her attention or making a complaint. I told the hostess what happened and then I went and got Mexican down the street. I really want to like this place but Sunday brunch is not a time to have bad service. I might go back on a weekday sometime.
(3)
Lisa C.
I have two girlfriends who live in the area and we decided to stop by at 9am on Sunday morning. Two-thirds of the party ordered off of their Sunday brunch menu, with one order of the Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll French Toast (my selection) and an order of the Smoked Salmon Napoleon. My friend got their signature French Toast, the Lady Marmalade. All of us were happy with our selections and the portions were more than generous. Even though I can eat like a total pig, it was way more than I could finish. I think the huge portions combined with the unbelievably sweet dishes make it nearly impossible to finish, even for the most gluttonous of gluttons. I would have a few tips for someone who wants to try Marmalade: 1. Order something sweet. If you want something savory, you should probably go somewhere else. The place is called Marmalade, people. You don't go to Hooters for the salad. 2. If you decide to go on the weekend, get there before 9:30. We got there a little after 9am on a Sunday and our party of three was seated immediately. The same could not be said for the people who got there around the time we were ready to leave (10am-ish). 3. Awesome coffee in huge mugs. It tastes even better while people watching from a table by the window. 4. Apparently this place is BYOB, so if you need a little Bailey's in your coffee to put some spring in your step, you can do that too.
(4)
Susan C.
I usually don't venture out for brunch. I love it, as I love all meals, but find that my weeks get so busy I'll forego brunch time happenings so I can get a little R&R. Enter another equally busy friend who loves brunch. The siren call of eggs benedict across from a long lost kickballer was too much to resist. Marmalade was a good choice. We just beat the rush (tip= arrive by 10:15, at 10:35 the place goes from moderately full to packed with a line) and settled down to regularly filled coffee mugs and new takes on old dishes. My friend tore through his Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll and I opted for the Smoked Salmon Napoleon. I have to admit that I'd rather have the traditional english muffin, but I still pleased with the combination of some of my favorite foods (avocado, cream cheese, smoked salmon, hollandaise sauce ((cream cheese seemed a little bit like one element too much, but I was excited to try it)). I would absolutely go back and try other dishes.
(3)
Erin D.
Stopped in here last Saturday before I ran that Blackhawks 5K thing, my friends asked me " are you sure you want to eat before you run" my reply, "yeah".... I'm thinking, I've been wanting to try this place and I didn't want to wait after the race. We got in, got a table and the service was top notch. The problem was trying to decide what to eat before a 5K. I finally said a few choice words and decided on the stuffed pancakes. ha. I mean really, time check, I still had a little under two hours before I had to run. No problem. What came back from the kitchen was two pancakes with raspberries and cream and oh my...it was good. It was so good, I finished it all. Yep. I love this place. Definitely will be returning. And as for my 5K. Yeah, I'll admit, I wasn't feelin all that hot but I set a new PR for myself.
(5)
Tim S.
Marmalade was great, me and my girlfriend went there after a pretty long night of drinking and we were in need of some good brunch. It closes as 3pm and showed up at 2:30pm and they treated us like we were the first guest of the day. Our waitress was an older woman but she ranks up there with one of the best I have ever had, she was helpful and very knowledgeable about the menu, she gave great suggestions and treated us great. I got the Pollo Loco and it was the perfect meal for a guy with a hangover (and someone without one too) the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist, eggs were done correctly and the salsa verde was delicious. Also there potatoes are pretty good too (just add hot sauce). My girlfriend got the Florentine Crab Benedict and she was also very happy. On our way out Gus (I think that was his name) was very nice to us and asked us to come back soon..... I defiantly will, Marmalade is not just a place on the way to Glenns dinner, but a place that might just be better!
(4)
David A.
Great food delicious and great service, I have been there 5 times and gets better and better.
(5)
David J.
My wife and I had brunch at Marmalade this past weekend and we both enjoyed everything we ordered. We got seats quickly after just waiting a few minutes while they cleared a couple tables. We ordered two skim Lattes that were very good and I enjoyed the Euro Brunch Plate and my wife loved her Diablo Omeletta. Our waitress was very friendly and the busboys were great making sure we had water. I look forward to trying some of the Benedict's next time.
(5)
Elizabeth K.
AMAZING BREAKFAST! It looks like a whole lot of nothing from the outside but the food is fantastic. I had the Artichoke Omeletta (spinach, goat cheese, tomato, pesto, yummy) and my friend had the Mayan Omeletta - both incredibly delicious and the perfect portion size. The owner/manager checked on us during our meal to make sure everything was good - it was - and even gifted us with a couple huge muffins (made in-house at the restaurant, consumed in my home shortly thereafter, even though I wasn't even hungry...just that good). Such a great spot, I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Michael G.
We were looking for a new place for breakfast this morning and my wife remembered that my brother and sister-in-law had recently tried Marmalade and liked it. In fact my brother talked about the brisket hash as some of the best he's ever had. We arrived around 11:30 am and we were seated right away with no wait. The wait staff was great, attentive and well informed about the various specials. Luckily one of the specials was the Chef's Hash that my brother recommended, and which I ordered. My wife decided to try the classic eggs benedict. We were both rewarded with one of the best breakfasts we've had in Chicago. The brisket hash was moist and very flavorful. The eggs benedict included off-the-bone ham with a great smokey flavor and without the overly salty taste that many hams have. The real star of the meal was the breakfast potatoes which were awesome. Not sure what the secret spices were, but they really made the dish. Only one thing prevented us from rating this as 5 stars. In fact we struggled with how to rate this restaurant overall because the food and service was so excellent. However while we were there the restaurant manager (owner?) displayed some of the most disturbing and unprofessional behavior we have ever seen in a restaurant. Apparently something must have gone wrong with one the waitresses and he was loudly berating her in front of all the customers. He then proceeded to continue with this vocal management style as he told the hostesses how they were screwing up the reservation list. Overall it made for an uncomfortable end of what began as a great experience. After thinking about, it we decided on a 4 star rating to reward and support the hard working wait and kitchen staff. Hopefully the manager will find another line of work somewhere else. Or if he was the ownner, perhaps he'll hire a more professional manager before his poor behavior drives other customers away.
(4)
Kristi L.
The ignorant owner is PREJUDICED and RUDE. The owner was present during my visit and was rather loud the whole time. He talked down to his staff too. I was trying to get work done, so I tried to tune him out, but one derogatory comment directed towards a staff member made my blood boil. At the end of my meal, I told him Carolina (my server) was excellent and that the food was good. I brought up the issue of the volume of his voice and his negative and offensive comment. I realize the customer is not always right, but in this situation I was looking for, "I'm sorry. That comment was uncalled for and it will never happen again," or something to that effect. A sincere apology would have resulted in repeat business. Instead, he got extremely defensive and said he didn't offend anyone. I told him he offended me and he literally shrugged his shoulders. Charming. I cannot stress enough how great the staff was when I was there, attentive, friendly, professional, prompt, etc. My server was excellent and the other server on the floor stopped by to check on me and fill my water. There is great teamwork and prompt service there. My french toast was pretty good, not the best, but definitely good. Oh, they also have soy milk, which you cannot find everywhere. I feel bad for these employees, though. I would love to go back and send people I know in the area their way. Unfortunately, they are cursed with a disrespectful and narrow-minded owner with poor customer service skills, whom I do not feel deserves to benefit in a monetary way from my business, nor that of anyone I know. There are plenty of great restaurants nearby (I feel others have figured that out too, because there were only two other tables in the restaurant besides myself). Such a shame, it is a short walk from me. Their loss and my first (and hopefully only) one star rating.
(1)
Wil T.
Decided to dine solo. Stopped in on a Saturday after 2pm which to my recollection is after the brunch rush. There were about 3 open 4 toppers and 1 six topper tables that were open. Also there was nobody but me waiting for a table. I was told by the hostess that I would have to wait until a 2 topper opened up. WTH?!? I can understand if there are people waiting and it was busy, but really that's poor customer service. I walked down the street to Glen's Diner. Got a table right away (4 topper) and I was able to make substitutions to my order as well. I guess Marmalade makes business from taking in the overflow from Glen's during the busy brunch rush. Very parasitic business model, it's just a matter of time before enough people get tired of this place.
(1)
David G.
One of the great thing about being between jobs is you get to explore great breakfast places during non busy hours. I went to Marmalade at 10:00 AM on a Monday with two underemployed friends. It was virtually empty and the service was quick and attentive. Being the pancake connoisseur that I am I was tempted to get my usual, but opted for the french toast with berries and cream with a side of apple wood bacon. It was very similar to the breakfast I had at M. Henry. The french toast was very good, stacked up and topped with a very generous amount of fresh sliced strawberries. The bacon was a perfect complement. My friends ordered a croissant sandwich that was on the specials menu listed on a blackboard on the wall. I also feel I need to add that you can get breakfast churros. I have to especially mention the coffee. It was so good, I had to ask the waitress what kind it was and she threw an Italian name at me that I already forgot, I'm ashamed to say. Needless to say the coffee was excellent. I ended up spending about $14 total for my breakfast, which is very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I am impressed, and ecstatic that a great brunch place has opened in my neighborhood.
(5)
Esther A.
Starting with the good: 1) I knew from other Yelp reviews that an early brunch was definitely the way to go. At 10:30 AM on a Saturday, the restaurant was busy, but we were seated right away, which made me happy. 2) Service was *excellent.* Our waitress was friendly, responsive, and super on point. 3) Lots of really tempting-sounding items on the menu. Definitely had a hard time choosing between options. 4) Presentation on the food, when it arrived, was beautiful--lovely, colorfully composed plates bright with (edible) flowers and berries. The less good: 1) There's something not quite right about the atmosphere and decor of the place. I wish it was brighter and cozier than it is. It still seems to have a lingering sad malaise left over from when it was Le Sabre. Also, we sat by the window, and the sills were kind of dirty (a few tiny dead bugs and dead leaves from the plants on the sills), which grossed me out a bit. 2) My French toast hadn't been soaked in egg long enough, so instead of the soft, custard-y texture I expected, they were very bread-y and dry. Still flavorful, due to the roasted peach and brie topping, but the mouth-feel was way off. All in all, though, Marmalade was good enough that we'll probably be back to try some of the other yummy-sounding items on the menu. (As an FYI, they don't spit checks or accept multiple credit cards, so plan accordingly.)
(3)
Carlos V.
Decided to try this place out since it was new in the neighborhood. Oh how I wish I didn't! It was hands down the worst breakfast experience I have had in awhile. 1. We walked in on a Saturday morning and noticed there was not a wait. There also wasn't a host to greet us or a sign that said "Host will be with you" or "Please seat yourself". So we just kind of stood there unsure what to do. After a couple of minutes, an older gentleman (owner perhaps?) finally noticed us and took us to our seat. 2. We immediately noticed the 2 large boards with the specials for the day and began to read them, trying to figure out what to order. Soon after, our waitress greeted us and began to recite the same specials that were on the board. I interrupted her as politely as I could and told her that the specials were on the board behind her. She then said "Just in case you can't see them" and continued to recite every single special. 3. Soon after another gentleman approached our table (manager?) and began to recite the EXACT SAME SPECIALS in greater detail. I just wanted some time to look at the menu to decide what to order!! 4. I ordered the cinnamon French toast with a side of "Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage". Unfortunately I do not like my breakfast sausage or bacon "Apple Smoked" but there were no other bacon or sausage options on the menu. 5. The French Toast was so dry that it was barely edible. Blech. 6. There was too much staff walking around with nothing to do (including the older owner type gentleman). The result is they constantly stare at you while you are eating your food. I was so uncomfortable. Needless to say I will not be back.
(1)
Rohan S.
We continue to go and always enjoy our experience. My wife enjoys the pumpkin French toast and the Mexican combo is awesome. Get the Mayan style if you like your food spicy.
(5)
Corey R.
First off, in a word: Outstanding. I had wanted to try Marmalade since I walked by and saw the "opening soon" signs. I came to Yelp just to get an idea of people's favorite menu items and see some initial comments. There are lots of reviews here complaining about the service. If that was an issue before, it's certainly been addressed. Our service was great. The waitress was friendly and attentive, even when we could have been "problem customers". See, the wife and I arrived 45 minutes before our two friends and their not-quite-two-year-old. Our fault, bad communication on our parts. Staff couldn't have been nicer about it. When we realized our friends wouldn't be there for a while, we offered to pay for the coffee we started and give them the table back. The waitress just smiled and said, "no worries. sit, relax, I'll bring you some more coffee." Certainly NOT the turn-n-burn attitude other reviewers claimed to have received. So, the food. Wow. Everyone loved their food! I had the peached and rasberried pancakes. FYI, it also had blueberries and strawberries along with some amazing mascarpone cream. The crunchy granola on top gave it great texture. Brilliant idea! My wife had the diablo omeletta which they cooked with less oil and with egg whites, per her request. It was very good, too, especially the roasted potatoes that come on the side. The kid-sized pancakes were perfect, too. I literally have no complaints about our trip to Marmalade. Service, food, atmosphere, kid-friendliness, coffee, etc. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Brandon Z.
Literally so many issues, I need to decide where to start... First. I'll just say I'm glad I didn't bring friends or family, because I think they would have disowned me after taking them there. I'll start with service. To provide some context, the place wasn't full, but it wasn't completely empty. I think I counted 3 waiters/waitresses, which seemed appropriate when we arrived, and absurd when we left. I'm fairly confident that our girl is new, probably her first waitressing job, so I'm willing to give her some slack. That said, this place is only a week and a half old, and the poor girl could use some training and help. Here's a list of issues with the service: - Wasn't told the specials (maybe we weren't special enough...) - Brought toast (which was warmed bread- no toasting was done) literally five minutes before she brought the rest of the food. Put the bread back in, toast it some more and bring it with the food! - After we finished and our table was cleared, we literally waited 10 minutes for the check. Of course I had to flag her down for it, because apparently she forgot that some people like to pay for their meals. - The cashier dude is a PRO at walking around aimlessly, making it seem like he has things to do when he isn't taking people's money. Dude, make yourself useful and help your staff out. - Same goes for the manager. He was slightly annoying about asking everyone that left what they had, how it was, etc. Definitely good he's asking for feedback, but again, help your people out and maybe give a better experience. OK, so that's not the end of the world. With awesome food, I could live with the above service issues. After all, this place is new, and I'm a very patient person. But the food was just so, MEH. The coffee wasn't very good, the OJ wasn't cold and didn't taste that great, my 'toast' was small and literally felt microwaved instead of toasted. Their signature potatoes weren't bad, but they had so much damn seasoning on them, like practically a dry rub. We got bacon, which was also not really all that cooked (can I have SOME crispiness to the bacon?). My plain scrambled eggs were fine. My girlfriend's pancakes were pretty decent, though the 'marmalade' that was used we think was nothing more than the jelly they served with my toast. They play 80's music, which is just weird. There is no decor, just painted walls, which normally I think places have too much going on, but this just felt like an empty space. We will likely never go back, with our favorite spot Over Easy being about the same distance from our apartment and light years better. I do hope they improve things and stay in the neighborhood, and maybe then we'll try them one more time.
(1)
Karen A.
I picked a weekday to check this place out, since I noticed on weekends its got lots of crowds. Now I know why people were waiting. Sitting on the cozy corner of Montrose and Damen Marmalade (occupying the former space of the old school Le Sabre restaurant) this neighborhood breakfast/lunch espresso bar is just what the area needed. And the breakfast is damn good. A lot of specials-hard to choose- and good coffee. I had an amazing artichoke pesto mozerella omelette-with fantastic crispy potatoes and a sweet garnish of fresh mango and orange. There are a plethora of pancakes and croissants and other good stuff. I'm going back for more tomorrow......
(4)
Ross C.
I miss Le Sabre. I really do. My girlfriend and I were literally the last costumers to eat there. We went on a random day and they said they were closing. We were disappointed. Then they explained that they were closing for good. We were really disappointed! The chef kindly offered to stay open for the restaurants two final costumers. We were honored. Now, on to Marmalade. We were pleased to hear that Marmalade is owned by the same family that owned Le Sabre! Bonus points already. I had Efraim's Diablo Omelette. And omelette with spicy jerk chicken, guacamole, and cream cheese?! Are they serious?! I was feeling adventurous and gave it a try. It was awesome. I also tried a pancake. It was tasty, light and fluffy. I'll definitely be a frequent customer at Marmalade.
(5)
Brian J.
The interior was bright and cheerful, a marked improvement over the medieval darkness of the esrablishment across the street where my companion and I initially tried to have brunch. The head chef's Signature Dish, the Diablos Omeletta, was a psychedelic flavor adventure stuffed with spicy jerk shrimp, cream cheese, and avocado and covered in mango chutney. The eponymous marmalade that it was served with was also no joke. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
G. F.
Please allow me to start by saying that I'm rating Marmelade based on the 5-minute experience I had there. I went there with my mother and 2-year-old son this morning(a Wednesday) and tried to sit outside. We found it odd that the only tables they had outside were the two-person tables (they're barely big enough for two people, for what it's worth) so we did what any party more than 2 would do: put two tables together. The waitress immediately came out and told us that they don't put tables together as policy due to the small space they cram the tables into. So just know that you can't sit outside there if you have two or more people with you. We would have understood that it's just their policy except that the place was nearly empty and only one table was occupied outside and they were paying their bill! After we already started putting the tables back she said, "maybe I can go ask the 'big guy' if we can allow it". We did not even want to stay after that feeling as though they were being difficult with a few people trying to give their new business a chance when it was nearly empty. I'm giving two stars since we didn't try the food and she did apologized when we left...but who wants to stay for a meal after fighting to get a table big enough for your group when we were practically the only ones there? Go to Lulu Belle's of you want people who are nothing if not accommodating.
(2)
Danielle B.
Horrible service, however, the busser kept our waters full and table clean...if only he could have been our server! The food was cold and nothing to write home about...not to mention an extremely long wait for it! On the way out we observed another unhappy patron complaining to the manager...the manger was very rude and unprofessional in how he handled the situation, which only added to my negative experience with this joint.
(1)
Dan S.
Fantastic water and service. Recommend the Fat Mexican. Cleanest bathroom in the city
(4)
Nikki F.
My husband (& son) took me out to brunch at Marmalade this weekend for Mother's Day. We had a lovely meal, even though I was a little hesitant about going after reading a handful of negative reviews here. People complain about the no substitutions policy. I get it; it's kind of annoying. But, seriously, there are so many options that it's really difficult to not find something for everyone! There's the regular menu, there's specials on the table, there's blackboard specials... A lot of choices to keep most people happy. The service was perfectly adequate. Not over-the-top bubbly, but the hostess welcomed us, we were seated quickly, and our waitress was friendly. We could have used more coffee refills (coffee there was great!), but that's about my only complaint. The food itself was delicious. I had the crab cake benedict & wow was it yummy. The chipotle sauce & the corn bread worked so well together. The potatoes were a bit much for my taste (just covered is seasoning), but it could be that the main attraction was so good (& the portions so big) that I didn't have much room for them anyways. My husband had the Efrain's diablo omeletta, which was also delicious (& not overly drenched in sour cream or sauce). I was really impressed by their fruit bowl, which we ordered for my son -- there was papaya, blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, & melons (a far cry from the typical grapes & honeydew). I'm lucky this place is in my neighborhood & will definitely be back.
(4)
Kevin Z.
Great specials, and interesting menu, homemade everything. Service is great too.
(5)
Chris H.
This is my second time here (first for brunch, and now for lunch), and both experiences were less than satisfying. I will start out that our server was nice and attentive. Our drinks were always full. That is why I gave a few of the stars. Today I ordered the prosciutto panini. After waiting 30 minutes, the server came out and informed me that they were out of prosciutto (the main ingredient in the sandwich). I understand restaurants run out of product, but the waitstaff needs to be informed so the customer can be alerted upon ordering...or even better, when they first see the menu.
(3)
John S.
We had lunch here today. Service was good, waitress was attentive and on top of everything. The manager seemed to be micro-managing and creating issues where there were none. I ordered "stuffed french toast". I got french toast that had nothing stuffed in it. It was ok, but not worth the $9. My friend got the brie baguette, it was "decent" he said, but not worth the $9 it cost either. Probably won't go back.
(2)
Aaron C.
This is my breakfast spot. Service is great, coffee is up to par, prices are decent, and the food is good eats. Every weekend they have some great new specials that are always good to try. They also have a great regular breakfast menu to choose from. What separates this breakfast from any other? The breakfast potatoes! So good...so filling...need more but am so full. I also want to give a shout out to staff that is always accommodating. There may be a wait if you don't get there early....which is a good thing if you think about it. Think of it as a sign you're at the right place.
(4)
Chcogal C.
You know those places where they value their customers? Where the customer is always right? Well, this is not that place. My friend ordered a chopped salad and what came was a mound of bacon and ham in the shape of an upside down bucket, with little to no lettuce and a very unappetizing presentation that looked nothing like the menu described "chopped" salad. When she tried to send it back was told that the chef made this for her and therefore could not comp her or offer something in its place. Really? Well instead of losing out on the cost of one salad, they lost long standing customers who had previously told all their friends to come by...... A lesson worth far more than $13. Never trust an owner/chef who makes his rude waitstaff deliver crazy customer service on his behalf,and has more negative "rules" on the receipts than friendliness.
(1)
Eileen G.
LOVE THIS PLACE! One of our favorite for breakfast or weekend brunch. Good variety of food and excellent service. Everyone is friendly and the food is amazing.
(5)
Dan K.
Decent food, but this review is more about the staff. Our waitress was a little slow to get to us, despite there only being a few people in the place, which is fine... we weren't in a huge rush, and we weren't starving. They then brought out a cappuccino when it was supposed to be an iced latte. Again, not a huge deal because they quickly replaced it. But that's two strikes. The third strike is a huge one. The guy who appeared to be the manager, or perhaps the owner, was being a complete dick to the waitresses. Shortly after we sat down, he said "get me this......... now!" to one of his employees. Then later, I heard him say to one waitress "this is your section... I told you this 30 minutes ago. I don't want to tell you again." And to another, "do you know which section is yours? Yes? Point to it." If you want to be a treat your employees like shit, that's your prerogative. That makes you an asshole, and it is what it is. If you do it loudly in front of your customers, that makes you a complete idiot. I'm not going to give my money to a business that's run like that. I won't be back, and I hope that the waitresses find a better place to work so that they can say the same.
(2)
Emma D.
I live two blocks from Marmalade and have been eagerly awaiting its opening. I was hoping for a go-to spot where I could get a healthy salad for lunch a few times a week--and the one called the Summer Salad on their menu IS delicious, but at over $10 after tax, it's a tad much for everyday ($8.50 after tax would be more like it). At breakfast, too, I've found the prices to be $1 or $2 more than what the experience is (so far) worth. The service is exactly as others have described: friendly enough, but things aren't always running smoothly. The room is clean and new-looking, but the use of several different sherbert-y paint colors do not add up to an interior with the kind of personality people love in a good breakfast spot. Still, I hope Marmalade can work out the kinks and stick around. Think about offering a to-go counter with easy-to-order beverages and a few lower-cost breakfast items (not just pastries, but something with eggs) for people on their way to work. Set up a spot where customers can hang out while awaiting carryout orders. Liven up the walls--maybe talk to Lillstreet about installing rotating shows that reflect the neighborhood's vibe. Good luck!
(3)
Jeremy M.
The food definitely shows some M-Henry (love them) influence, but it was a $40 breakfast that didn't quite live up to M-Henry. Prices for plates were OK, but we ordered a side of bacon to share to get something savory on the table, and a cup of fruit for my kid in addition to the scrambled egg, two coffees, and pow: $40. Service wasn't the ultra-professional machine you'd get at M-Henry, but it also wasn't as bad as some of the earlier reviewers said. Maybe they've worked out some of the kinks. Waitstaff was on cruise control though. Bring the crowds to sharpen your staff. Portions were a bit outsized, except for the oatmeal served in a little crock traditionally used by greek diners for french onion soup. My fruity pancakes were very good, but I'd have been happier with 75% of the portion for 80% of the price. Same with the side of bacon and the fruit cup. Get rid of the crocks for the steel cut oatmeal and serve it in a real bowl. Give the prices a shave, and let the customers queue up a little. Overall, I think this place deserves three or four stars if they could iron out the rest of the kinks. That would bring Marmalade on-par with my other breakfast indulgence options. Add something je-ne-sais-quoi and I'll come back with five stars. Hint: I find that candied bitter oranges will pair with the darnedest things. I was surprised nothing like that was on the menu. No chef; no art; no five stars from me. For the price, I'd rather eat at M-Henry or stay closer with Pannenkoken.
(2)
Alice R.
Came here for breakfast. Staff is friendly and helpful. Loved the signature marmelade french toast! Will come back here again!
(4)
Kris R.
i wasn't expecting much from this place bc of the reviews so i kept my expectations low. every sunday my family and i have brunch, so it was a good change of pace to come here. it was about 9a brunch time. i was the first to arrive so i put in a table for 4. it wasn't crowded but i couldn't be seated til the rest of my party arrived. okay, cool, but it's not crowded. and the hostess was NOT very friendly and could barely look me in the eye. she did whatever it was possible to communicate to me in as few words as possible. this is a pet peeve of mine, i'm realizing. if the hostess sucks, marmalade, youve got it wrong. a hostess/receptionist is the first person to make a good impression as he/she receives people for the first time. if you suck at being friendly, this is the wrong job for you. anyway, my sister and nieces arrive. they order waffles and pancakes and i order the bread pudding. a pretty sweet breakfast for me, but i was in the mood. the BP was pretty good. not the best, but good and it hit the spot. the pancakes and waffles were really cakey and dry. when i cut the pancakes into pieces for my niece, they were crumbling apart. my other niece stopped eating her waffle bc it was "too thick". the one thing that was EXCELLENT was their bacon. i mean, you could have fed me plate after plate of it. really, the best breakfast bacon i've had in a while. i MIGHT come back to try a savory dish, but i dont know. it's not in my hood and i wasn't impressed.
(3)
Charlene S.
I had high expectations for this place...being in the Chicago Mag top breakfasts. I am a breakfast/ brunch girl. When? Sunday at about 11:40 am. There was a huge crowd outside so the hubs went in and checked out what the wait was. The guy at the door said there were 2-two-somes in front of us, but he couldn't give us a time. I don't know if I would've waited the 1/2 hour, but it was pleasant enough outside and we did go at a prime time. Still... the guy should have told us an approximate time. Maybe we could've walked down the street a bit instead of just hanging out doing nothing while the hubs arranged his fantasy football draft via phone. Where? Seated by the window and with the people coming in and out, there was a draft. I never took my jacket off. The menu had some very appetizing choices and the specials board was unique. I ordered a hot chocolate but the waitress brought 2, 1 for each of us. The hubs didn't want one but after pointing it out the waitress who offered the 2nd one for free, he welcomed it. I think $2.75 is a bit steep for a cup of Swiss valley and water. +++++I ordered the Chef's specialty, the diablo omelette. It had jerk cajuned shrimp, cream cheese, avocado and some mango, red pepper salsa. It was delicious. The shrimp cooked perfectly, not overcooked or rubbery. The hubs ordered the florentine and crab cake benedict. It was delicious and moist and cooked well. The egg was nice and runny like he likes it. The potatoes were ok. Cut too big and overspiced, but a bit tasty. I don't care if the plating is like M. Henry. I enjoyed the mango and orange. The multigrain toast was delish!!! Chewy, hot, crisp. -BOOO-----I was intrigued by the coconut caramel hotcake. But for $9.75 opted out of it and got 1 hotcake on the side for a couple bucks, I think. $2 x 2 does not equal $9.75. The hotcake was DRY and had a crust on it that was brittle enough to break away. BOOOOO. The brittle crust did not allow any of the maple syrup to work its way in. I'm so glad I didn't get the bigger order. I would try this place again but hopefully on a morning no so busy.
(3)
Ingrid H.
Trust me. The breakfast quesadillas will put you in quite the predicament, having to decide between (a) hopping out of your seat and M.C. Hammering all around the joint, telling everybody about how damn good your dish is, and (b) remaining calm and in your seat so that you can finish what you can of this very filling meal before it gets cold. I chose the latter of the two options, but I can't promise that I'll have the self-control to manage that feat, again. Note: I'm a veg head, so I swapped out the chorizo for the veggie sausage; delicious! Y'all, has anyone seen my balloon pants, y'all?
(4)
Janet N.
I thought I would treat myself to breakfast today so I stopped here having been before and it was a good experience. So being alone can be a challenge to get attention but today was even worse! I was seated right away which is great but sat for almost 10minutes (why you ask? I was hungry) then I asked the perky waitperson on the table next to me who had my table. She did not know but did get someone?? whodid not appear too pleased. I got a lame apology and did say how long I was waiting received with a blank stare. I got my food quickly. And as another table of 4 sat down I saw my wait person go to them immediately. Now wait people you see why women alone do not tip well. This is a prime example of WHY!
(2)
Restaurant Vigilant E.
Gone is the greasy spoon that was Le Sabre...their stomach churning, wall paper paste will haunt humanity no more! In it's place, a bright lunch/brunch/breakfast place called Marmalade. Let me just say...I personally do not really like breakfast food, and the concept of brunch is something I loathe. That said, I understand other people like brunch...and if I had to choose, I would likely pick marmalade for brunch. The menu is innovative and diverse, while still being manageable, and they have gone seemingly out of their way to appeal to everyone in a pretty effective manner. While I don't see it on their online menu, I always order this crazy big croissant sandwich....fluffy eggs, bacon and cheese...breakfast food yes, but in sandwich form, the stigma I often attach to breakfast seems to evaporate. I have been their twice and really probably should branch out on their menu, trying something else...but it is REALLY good. Bottom line is this, if you go their for breakfast/brunch or lunch, you'll walk away happy. This place, in my experience, is a pretty sure bet...it's two nearest competitors: Glenns and Fountainhead...really can't stack up when competing with Marmalade in the breakfast/brunch/lunch arena. Service here I have never had an issue with. The place is clean and bright, even if it is a little non-descript.
(3)
Katie H.
Did I like Marmalade? Yes. Would I pick it instead of Over Easy or mHenry? Hmmm... probably not. But I would recommend giving it a try. The service is slightly rocky - not unfriendly, but a little slow and confusing at times. Check out the specials board which contains a LOT of different items not on the menu - it's almost like there are 2 separate menus. I went for the pumpkin french toast and it truly was sinfully delicious - really more of a dessert than a breakfast, but that didn't stop me from chowing down. My husband had a cappuccino (very good) and one of the Mexican-ish breakfast dishes which he enjoyed, although not as much as Over Easy's sassy eggs. Bottom line: you may have a shorter wait here than at some of the other neighborhood brunch spots, but you won't have to compromise too much on the food. We'll probably be back again.
(3)
Katie R.
i'm sorry to say the food is just not that great here. there's a nice selection and service was fine (though our waitress was literally reading from her specials list because she couldn't remember what was in each dish - i don't know if this is a deduction, just kind of odd, but to give her credit there were a lot of specials). i had the brioche cinnamon french toast and though it was presented beautifully, it didn't taste as great as it looked. i had it with the berries (fresh and delicious) and vanilla cream - overall the dish was over-the-top sweet. i think there could have been a much better balance with a light and refreshing creme fraiche instead of the vanilla cream. my friend didn't seem overly wow-ed by her omelet and i definitely wasn't by my side of soy sausage. my friend had a side of tempeh which tasted good but was VERY over-salted. bonus points for offering veggie options, though. i don't know if their OJ is fresh-squeezed as we didn't order it, but the fact that they have v8 is a deduction in my book. any great breakfast place that claims to have a juice bar better have ALL fresh juice, in my opinion. also, whoever was running the register (manager of some sort?) was extremely rude! there are too many places that treat you wonderfully to eat bad food then be scorned. sorry marmalade, but you have some fierce brunch competitors out there that have it down to the nitty-gritty and you need to step up your game.
(2)
Caren F.
I'd give negative five if I could. I was so excited to try this brunch spot, but after the appalling customer service my group experienced this morning, I will never return--and will encourage others not to give this place their money. I go to brunch every. single. weekend. and happily fork over too much money for a good brunch experience. So it is a shame that the manager "doesn't have time" for his customers. He just lost four potential loyal customers. But seems he's too smug and busy to care. Marmalade makes sure that things are easy for them. Signs scream out that there are no substitutions on specials, no split checks. Ok, fine. We'll play by your rules. After being told that her two first choice entrees could not be made without pork, my friend settled on an egg item. It came out prepared incorrectly. Because it had to be remade, she asked if they could please put the sauce on the side when they remake it. She was told no. (this was not a special, by the way, so was not theoretically subject to their rules) Not only was she told no, she was told that the manager refused to put any other item on our ticket. EXCUSE ME? She was literally told she was not allowed to order anything else. When she asked to speak with him, our waitress (poor girl, stuck in the middle) returned to tell us that he said we could come back tomorrow to talk to him!! WHAT?! So she should sit here now, not eat, and come back tomorrow? Who does he think he is? She had to literally get up from the table, find the manager, who barked "i don't have time for this," TO HER FACE, before he reluctantly agreed to just let her get something else. Which was disgusting. The food was seriously bad. I ate two bites of my eggs, which were swimming in oil. Even without the atrocious attitude from the manager, I'd never return. Upcharge for fruit instead of potatoes (which wasn't mentioned), full charge for my friend's sub-par fourth choice entree that they initially refused her. I'm sad for the waitress who has to work for this manager. But patrons can choose to dine elsewhere.
Perfect brunch experience! Vegetarian friendly, they will sub tasty veggie for any meat for free. Also has a nice little kids menu which is pretty rare in Chicago. I had the Florentine Crab Benedict which had a high quality crab cake although the egg was a little overcooked. My wife had the smoked salmon napoleon which she loved, but she was jealous of my potatoes which were much better than her salad! Her poached eggs were perfectly cooked BTW. We shared the Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll French Toast with our two friends. The fresh fruit and icing was perfect company for our savory breakfasts.
(5)
Steve W.
Fantastic food - dismal service. This place is still new. And therefore since the food was so good, I'm willing to overlook the really bad service that we got. 4 of us went there for breakfast this past weekend. The place was full, but that should be expected as the people of Chicago love their breakfast. Our waitress had a very nice attitude and was at our table pretty quickly - but then she never came back. We never got our coffee. Another server brought out our food and we had to ask for him to go get our toast....which wasn't really toast, it was warm bread. As under-staffed as they appeared, they had one guy whose ONLY job was putting bread in the toaster, and it still came out as warm bread! After enjoying our food, our table was cleared promptly by their busser, but again, our waitress was MIA and after waiting for at least 10 minutes we had to walk up to the register to get our check. The manager apologized, but he wasn't really helping his staff either. Appeared to be micro-managing, but not doing any real work himself. Anyways, the breakfast food was fantastic. So good that despite all the crap we dealt with, we'll go back and give them another chance in a few months.
(2)
ben w.
Good food, good portions, great coffee and good service. Lots of dishes with lots of stuff in them, potatoes in the egg dishes, skillets, are way too big and hard to eat. Very pricey, 22 bucks with tip for a skillet and coffee.
(3)
Mary T.
I was here today for lunch. Funnily enough I had the same brie baguette as Jon R. and the bread was hard as a rock. I sent it back and they were very nice about it and gave me a new sandwich on different bread. And they kindly took it off the bill and apologized four times at least. I thought the place was good but not outstanding. They are new so maybe a few things to work out yet. They told me that the reason the bread was hard was because it was a new supplier, so some kinks obv. I'm happy they're here as the other choices around here are two dismal pizza joints and a hot dog stand. I was here ONCE when it was a diner and I think the room is very much the same only they have done a really nice job of redecorating.
(3)
harry b.
Like my last review of another spot, Marmalade was well worth the wait (30 min on a Sunday at 9:30AM for a 4 top on a day of a local charity run). Attentive, friendly service kept our drinks topped off and brought our food out very quickly. Both sweet and savory items looked and tasted amazing. I had the Cubano brioche French toast with guava marmalade and granola - out of this world! Everyone's entree, drink, tax & tip came to $16/person. Can't wait to go back again!
(5)
Dulce P.
I went here with my friend and unfortunately we had to wait half hour but the food was good. I felt a little rushed, given it was Sunday brunch time. I will still go back and try new plates.
(3)
Ali H.
I'm giving Marmalade 3 stars with plans for a return in the near future and a possibility to increase their rating. It was exactly what a 3-star review indicates: A-OK. First off, when a brunch place advertises to have a former M. Henry chef, they had best be careful. That might be something I wouldn't advertise right away- talk about setting the bar high! The menu was pretty simple. The savory chef-specialty was an omelet with shrimp and avocado and this was probably the best thing I tried. The sweet specialty, the stuffed french toast, was sadly pretty boring and blah. Also, the portion was huge. We had 8 pieces! The flavors were pretty bland, and I don't know, for it being the big specialty, I was expecting something better. I think any average sweet dish at M. Henry is better than this. I kept thinking about the mango cranberry french toast I had the last time I was there and being sad about the state of affairs at Marmalade. Anyway, the staff was very pleasant. The space is cute and I like the location. Just don't expect to have your socks knocked off by the food, and if you want something creative and fresh I'd stick to one of the old standards.
(3)
Jill B.
The El Picante Benedict was amazing. I mean so incredibly good. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Nikkie H.
First off let me say that I never went to Le Sabre, so I can't compare, but I do know I like this place. It is bright, decorated nicely...no complaints there. My friend and I were seated almost immediately and our server was fairly prompt. We did see the manager walking around, and it was a tad off-putting because he clearly was micro-managing. Instead of "how is everything so far" he asked if our order was taken. It was almost like he didn't trust the wait staff. I will say the table next to us who was there before we were seated, had a mix up with their order. Maybe his checking was justified... In any case, my friend and I both ordered the Mayan Omeletta and shared the apple smoked sausage. Between the omelette (er, omeletta), the sausage, homemade toast, potatoes and coffee there was absolutely nothing I would change. It was all so good. This place will be hopping once word gets out, but I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)
Marcia F.
Love this place. Today, I met some dear friends for breakfast and we were having so much fun we stayed a long time. After about 2 hours, the manager kindly asked us if we could move over one table as they had a big party coming in. We sheepishly realized we had been holding a table too long and said we'd just walk and talk. He hadn't asked us to leave, mind you, just to move one table over. But as we walked out he handed us a bag of fresh muffins for our "trouble." That's the kind of service that makes you come back. And the food's great too.
(5)
Eugene C.
It's a large, clean space with very attentive service with an emphasis on Latino cuisine. The owner or GM obviously runs a tight ship as I saw him attend to everyone that walked in the door. I got the Vegan Chilaquiles and it was very good in taste and presentation yet slightly pricier than it should be. I appreciate the effort but I wish they had more vegan options. If you're into meat, they won't disappoint. It's a solid breakfast / brunch place in Ravenswood which seems good for a solo or group food excursion.
(4)
Heather C.
From beginning to end, including atmosphere, service, and food, our experience at Marmelade was absolutely delightful! We went on a whim to meet with an old friend and were able to have great conversation and great food. Our waitress was prompt and patient. She enticed our interest in specials without being pushy. Food was served quickly and looked amazing. The menu is full of creative variations of breakfast favorites. "The Lady Marmelade" was sweet and light with perfectly ripe strawberries! The toast was served with a side of guava marmelade that made my tongue sing for joy. Our side of fruit was above and beyond with pears, plums, blueberries and more! The artichoke omelette was packed with complementing flavors. The portions were large and shareable, however, you won't want to. Adding to the pleasure of the experience was the generous hospitality of the servers. The owner was present and made us feel like valued customers even though we were there for the first time and from out of state. We will be recommending to all our local friends and wishing we hadn't moved so far away.
(5)
Richie D.
Line out the door with a 20 minute wait, but we were sat within 5 minutes. The two owners are always very friendly and make sure you know the daily specials (on one of two chalkboards). The ambiance is very simple and family-friendly which fits well in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood neighborhood. There is comical artwork on the walls, like a cartoon pancakes telling the french toast "You're stuffed up" while the french toast responds, "You're a hot mess!" Marmalade serves Cafe Ambria Italian coffee concoctions too. The menu, however, possesses a New American vibe with Mexican influences, even Jamaica is offered as a drink. Every time I step in here I'm swayed towards ordering the delicious sounding specials. On my first visit I had the Polenta Muffin baked with Bacon, Egg and Cheese served on a bed of fresh greens. Second visit, I went with the Euro Brunch Plate of Butternut Squash, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Leek And Scallions Wrapped Crepe, Two Eggs, House Potatoes and Cranberry Cognac Chicken Sausage. I was more impressed the first time around with service and the flavors (can't say I cared for the crepe, but the cranberry cognac chicken sausage made up for it). As with many brunch places like Marmalade, it seems like good olde comfort breakfast items are always seduced into becoming more 'fancy'. To me, Marmalade seems to also be in a bit of an identity crisis with New American/Mexican cuisine, Greek music playing on the speakers and an Italian cafe atmosphere... I'll return a third time since the food is always tasty, plus I promised myself that I would order their cute ceramic pot of Old Fashioned Steel Cut Oatmeal served up with cranberries, sour cherries, golden raisins, fresh apples topped with melted brown sugar alongside a bowl of mixed fruit (keep in mind it's only served weekdays between 7 am and 11 am). Marmalade, I'll see you soon.
(4)
Casey C.
Thank the gods for this place. A new brunch in my neighborhood (where there are already excellent brunch places) is always good. But this is easily in my top 2 brunch places in all of chicago! Everything is delicious and the wait staff is EXCELLENT. Its almost always busy on the weekends, but the staff always are personable and fast. The owner is an awesome man who always is checking in on tables, and has often given my boyfriend and I some take home goodies free of charge! I couldn't be happier with this place!! Please go!
(5)
N. S.
I was pleasantly surprised. I like brunch, but I never think places are worth waiting, and after seeing crowds outside this place for several months, I was less than enthusiastic. Anyway - despite the large groups waiting outside this morning, our party of two was seated in less than half of of the 20-minutes time quoted by the hostess. Service was very friendly and helpful. Menu had a good balance of sweet and savory dishes, and I look forward to trying some more of them. I had the confusingly-named "Euro Brunch" plate, which didn't really match its name. I don't think it was the right choice for me: the potatoes were overseasoned and too dry, the chicken sausage was bland, overcooked, and seemed like an afterthought on that plate, BUT, my eggs were poached perfectly, and the crepe was really tasty. My companion's sweet dish was delicious, too, as was the coffee. In short, I wasn't blown away, and I certainly wouldn't wait more than 15 minutes or so, but I enjoyed it and will definitely be back to try some more dishes.
(4)
Lauren P.
Food was pretty good. Lots of great options. The chef's special omelette was super tasty. But ... Service was slow and disappointing. My friend asked for an omission of one garnish ingredient (not a substitution) and was charged almost $2 extra. She questioned the addt'l charge and was told it was bc changes to specials makes the chef upset. OK. However, our bill was eventually adjusted. Those with any dietary restrictions or food allergies - requests for subs, etc. do not seem welcome & staff was reluctant to accommodate. Signage for 'will not do' is prevalent & read as unwelcoming. Seems like a like an easy fix they could choose to improve. I love brunch but ... As mentioned by others reviewers, brunch options are vast in Chicago. While the food was good, the service needs to improve before I'd go back to try the red velvet French toast.
(2)
Cristal R.
I went here with my boyfriend for the first time over the weekend and it was absolute perfection! I got the El Diablo Benedict and it was amazing. I would've given it 5 stars but I was a little disappointed with the waitresses. They weren't dressed very nice and they could use a little work as far as etiquette goes. One of the girls had really low rise jeans so her lower back was exposed and she had facial piercings that were distracting and unprofessional. I think appearance is extremely important when trying to run a nice establishment. But this will definitely not keep me from returning for another beautifully prepared breakfast.
(4)
Jose F.
I will spare you the nice talk about "the presentation and ambience" because I trust you'll read other reviews besides mine. Being that we enjoyed the food before, today we returned for more of that savory faire. However, we were met with a tolerable wait of approximately 15 minutes and subsequent race to order/eat/pay so others may have a meal too. The stoppage of time came as our food was brought and we had expectations met. Two observations though: (1) the cowboy skillet that is usually delicious had potatoes that were over-spiced and more importantly, the steak strips were cut well but way too rare. (2) the very busy waitstaff were cordial and deserving of generous tip/s BUT, I witnessed something very uncomfortable as the restaurant manager publicly humiliated one of the staff as she accidentally bumped into him while bringing food to a table. Again, I am a fan of the restaurant but bottom-line to the ownership, take reservations or hire more help if you're "overwhelmed" by the good business.
(4)
Colleen A.
My husband and I finally made it to Marmalade's today. In short: we probably won't go back... As someone who has a habit of eating the same food for breakfast every day (oatmeal with fruit), I can say that I look forward to mixing it up occasionally. We went about 9:30 and were seated right away. My first impression was that it was really stuffy inside; no air conditioning although an open window probably would've sufficed. We were seated right in front of the kitchen which can add to the energy of the place but can also detract from conversation. I'm not a fan. We were given water right away (great) and our server came over immediately. She didn't tell us any of the specials and since the "specials boards" are scattered literally all over the restaurant, we didn't even notice one board until after we ordered. The service was just so-so, she was a little too oppressive. I felt like we barely turned the menu over to look at the second side and she was back asking if we wanted to order. Chill out, it's not like the place was hurting to turn over tables. I did think the tables were really, really tiny for even just 2 people. Between the table tent that lists specials, creamer bowl, sugar, etc. we barely had room for our food. This was even more evident when they brought my toast and just kind of put it down on top of my silverware until I moved things around. They needed to be reminded we should get toast with an order and they didn't originally have any cream on the table (easy to fix, but I didn't like that I felt like I had to be on top of it). Once we ordered (I got the artichoke omelet, husband got the mexican omelet) our food was ready and out in under 10 min. Not bad...Mine was overly salty and to be fair, that is the artichoke. I like the option to substitute fruit instead of potatoes (not sure if they charged for it though). Husband's potatoes were greasy and tasted kind of stale. He said his omelet was so-so and remarked that it had mushrooms (his arch enemy) and he didn't recall reading that on the menu. Bonus points for good coffee and splenda, though! Nothing to complain about specifically, but nothing to write home about either. The place could use some sort of rugs or something to help muffle the noise...but that's just me. The busboys were great about refilling coffee/water/clearing plates. The server just seemed a little overbearing. She dropped our check, ($35 including tip), and that was that. I didn't feel like we could sit and read the paper we brought, which is irritating since that's what we wanted to do. It just seemed more like eat, pay, leave. Not eat, sip coffee, read the paper, pay, leave. Which I don't understand since the place was not busy...but with the stale/warm air, we were okay with leaving. All told: I wouldn't recommend it, but it wasn't the worst I've ever had either.
(2)
Maggie P.
Stopped here for brunch with the soon to be husband. I was excited to try Marmalade and was less than impressed with the food. Or at least with my dish. I had the El Picante Benedict, two homemade tortillas with chorizo, poached eggs "fresh avocado" and "Mayan" sauce, with a side of plantains and Mexican rice. The avocados were less than fresh and must have been sliced first thing in the morning because they were already browned by the time they were placed on my plate. There was no plantain in sight and I'm still trying to figure out where the Mayan sauce was on that dish. Now on to the husband's dish, he likes things simple, scrambled eggs with oven roasted potatoes and a side of pancakes. He enjoyed his dish and I will say those potatoes were tasty. The coffee was good and the service was great. And that's it in a nutshell.
(2)
Shawn R.
Marmalade is by far the closest breakfast option to our place so I was excited to learn that they were going for the "step above greasy spoon" kind of breakfast; if I want grease on a plate, I already have the Lincoln, Alps, and Golden Angel for that. We finally got a chance to check it out this past Saturday (July 16) for a late brunch. Service was good to very good; very cute red head server was attentive and informative, owner dropped by a few times to check in... it was near close and not very busy when we got there so that might have played a role since it seems they go into the weeds if it's busy per other reviews. The menu is a bit short; I really prefer a roll-your-own omelet option instead of having to pick from a few heavily-customized options. So I went with the two-egg basic breakfast, wife got the rapini omelet, we split some pancakes for "dessert". My eggs were fine if under-seasoned; wife says her omelet was same, like they forgot to use any salt in the cooking. Stiil, not bad but not quite the gourmet level they're going for. The house potatoes need tweaking; way too seasoned, and way too dry. The bit of fresh fruit on the plate was nice, I like that with my breakfast. The side of toast was a single piece of marbled rye each, not very thoroughly toasted. I consider marbled rye an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, but that might just be me. The pancakes were too much; I realize that they're considered a stand-alone full breakfast, but even for that, they're very thick and not so much fluffy as cakey. Again, for a "gourmet' breakfast place I would expect some nice whipped butter, copiously available, instead of just little foil/plastic tubs of it to use. Coffee was better than average and brought out and refilled in a timely fashion. As we were getting ready to leave, the server handed us and the other few tables remaining a to-go box with a muffin and some cookies in it. They do fresh pastries/cookies on site and I guess their philosophy is "end of day, give away", which is a very nice touch. Haven't had the muffin yet, but the cookie was... odd. Edible, not terrible, but weirdly textured for a basic chocolate chip. So, in the end, I'll probably still make the longer trek and endure the lines for Over Easy, as, overall, their breakfast experience is, end to end, still heads and shoulders above anything else nearby including Marmalade. That said, Marmalade is brand new, already a step up from that dump LeSabre it replaced, and close enough and decent enough already to where I'll definitely swing by again in a few months to see if they've gotten better.
(3)
Phil S.
Updated to 3 stars based on a recent visit. Getting better and its definitely family friendly, which is a bonus for us.
(3)
Jerry B.
No wait at about 11:00 on a Friday. Excellent Caramel Coconut Hotcakes. House potatoes were also very good. Nice cozy, casual atmosphere. Coffee is terrific. Service a little slow, but will go back for the french toast (or maybe the Euro brunch plate). Maybe everything is good here. Street parking easy.
(4)
Jill V.
Another delicious breakfast place in Chicago! Prices are bit on the high side, but I'll forgive them since it's so delicious.
(4)
Zahra H.
Yea, so if you're having a wonderful day and going out with a best friend to have breakfast - this is the place to go. You know why? Because the manager, the fat one, is rude as fuck, he charges you for an entree when you told the waitress no pork and comes out with pork, and tops it all off with a "go fuck yourself" goodbye -verbatim from the manager. Oh also, the best part, he openly admitted (in front of other customers as well) that he doesn't throw away leftovers and uses them for other dishes. This was the worst experience I have ever had with any restaurant. This manager (or whoever he is) needs to give up his position in the restaurant and let someone who has customer service or *just* people skills run it for him. You don't swear at your customers and tell them to "Go fuck yourselves" when we're trying to understand why you're charging us for an entree that was brought out with the wrong ingredients. Don't tell me I didn't warn all of you. P.S This is my 2nd yelp review for here. I only went back after the first horrible experience because I still had to use my travelzoo voucher which I walked out on (without ordering and waiting over an hour) last time because of his belligerent yelling at us and other customers.
(1)
scott B.
We loved LeSabre and going here today was bittersweet. All the old booths were taken out. I wonder what happened to those tables with those crossed sabres? We went for breakfast early. The place was crowded already and there was a wait list by around 9. We do like that they open at 7. This place should do the business. Maybe it will draw people from Over Easy and it will be easier to get a table there. Wishful thinking. I ordered the stuffed french toast and is was good, but it was too sweet for me. I trend more savory. I think I'll try the hotcakes next time. She had the Mayan Omeletta. Very good. I loved the House Potatoes that came on the side. She thought they were just okay. Very kid friendly. Service was friendly, fast and efficient. Prices are a tad more, but not out of line with Over Easy and Ravenswood Grill. We will be coming back here, but we will most likely go to Ravenswood Grill and Over Easy because they are closer to us. I think Ravenswood Grill does a little more for around the same price, but the food comes out much faster here. It's awesome to have so many great breakfast options within walking distance. One very minor thing: I like Sweet & Low in my coffee and they did not have any. I've run into this at times and have learned to have a few extra packets. Bring your own if you prefer pink (BYOP).
(4)
michele m.
I'm a fan, because the food is excellent, and they have daily interesting specials. The only thing I wish they would do differently is except credit card splitting. These days most of us don't carry cash, please change this soon, or you will turn off alot of people.
(4)
Bobby D.
Yeah, I love trying out Brunch places. Brought my gf here because we aren't the morning type. Let's just saw this place isn't my top pick. Over all horrible experience. What kind of employees use profanity around their customers. Anyways, food looked AND tasted like it was old and microwaved. My gf tried their pancakes. She said they tasted like water. My sausage and bacon was burnt. Yeah, never again. I'll go to Ihop next time.
(1)
Rita L.
Tried this place for the first time today and it was FANTASTIC!!! Not your typical bacon and eggs breakfast spot. Think gourmet breakfast with neighborhood feel! This place really takes time into using fresh high quality ingredients. My boyfriend and I agreed that the potatoes were hands down some of the best we've tasted at any diner in the city. The dry rub looks as if it may be over-seasoned but this wasn't the case at all. They were a delicious compliment to my "build your own" omelet (which I added spinach, ham off the bone and fresh mozzarella). Great big portions too! THEY HAVE ORGANIC ASSAM TEA! Yay! Nice cozy contemporary feel. Throughout our meal, we overheard several tables talk about their meals with delight. Great energy and a very attentive server. Rumor has it this place fills up FAST. Luckily we came after 1p...place was still busy but we got a table almost immediately. Easy street parking (mostly metered). The 6 mile drive was worth it! We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)
Miranda L.
Gus and company always take the best care of us! Amazing and creative dishes, great coffee, awesome service. Of all the brunch spots we have tried in Chicago, this is definitely our favorite (and thankfully we only live 1 block away). Their breakfast potatoes are out of this world; I think I dreamed of them for a week after my first bite. Check it out!
(5)
Emily S.
Marmalade is a decent lunch spot. I wasn't overly impressed with the ambiance and menu.
(3)
Beth N.
Everyone at Marmalade was very friendly. They were extremely accommodating of our group's two strollers. We got there at 2:30 on a Sunday, and it was pretty empty (we didn't realize until later that they closed at 3!) Consequently, they were out of a few of the brunch items. Overall, everyone seemed to like their food. It wasn't anything amazing, and in our opinion just a little overpriced. I'd go back because they are kid friendly and welcoming.
(3)
Sarah M.
They have newly decorated the place well, and it has a bright, clean look, with lots of windows and natural sunlight. Gus, the owner, came over and introduced himself, which I always feel means a lot, and he couldn't have been warmer or nicer. He seems like he really cares about his new restaurant and his customers. The breakfast and lunch menus have a great selection of all kinds of interesting dishes, both savory and sweet. I had French Toast with strawberries and creme anglais. They make their own brioche for the French Toast. It was very, very good and it was a generous portion. It was not TOO sweet, which is important to me. They also have another one, a Stuffed French Toast. It looks amazing on the menu, but would have been too sweet for me. The male waiter I had was very welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They were busy this morning, and they only opened on Tuesday! The only negative was that I felt the menu was a bit overpriced. The chef used to be at M.Henry, but this place is not quite as good as M.Henry, which I feel is one of THE best there is. Prices at Marmalade should be a bit lower... Happy they are in the neighborhood....they are a great addition to this area. I wish Gus and his team success in their new venture. Welcome to the 'hood!
(4)
Mary S.
I was not overly impressed, nor overly put-off by Marmalade. A few negative things that I initially noticed: there are absolutely no bike racks outside. Every pole down the street had two bikes locked to them. They play crappy 80's music. You cannot split checks. There is nothing on the menu or the specials board that indicates you can substitute a soy product for the meat options on the menu. As a vegetarian it would really open the menu up to have that option. They were out of the Tempeh strips, which is always annoying when you go to a restaurant and see something you want to try on the menu. Those are not all deal breakers, though, just annoyances. The food was actually pretty good, though the Shroom Benedict seemed way messier than a benedict should have been. The potatoes and coffee were both above average. The guy who sat us was up in our business way too much, though. I really wished that he would have let us enjoy our meal instead of interrupting every ten minutes to ask us how it was. Just a tad overpriced, but nothing outrageous. A nice space, but it seemed lacking somehow. I think that since there is nothing to see out of the windows it would be nice to have a more visually stimulating environment inside. I will definitely go back, but it will not be a 'go-to' brunch spot.
(3)
Nichole K.
Yummy! The food was good. Our service was excellent. We had a crab cake benedict that was really good. Plus how can you not love fresh squeezed OJ.
(5)
Stephanie C.
I have dined at Marmalade several times and always loved the food and the atmosphere. However, after this morning's appalling customer service experience, I will never return, and I would encourage anyone to think twice before spending your money there. I was having brunch with 3 other friends and granted, a few of us have some dietary restrictions, so we had some special but absolutely reasonable requests with our orders. One friend ordered an eggs benedict dish with the eggs over-hard. When the dish came out with eggs over-easy, she politely asked them to re-make the dish as she originally requested and asked if it would be possible to please put the benedict sauce on the side since they were going to re-make it anyway. Rather than admitting the mistake and re-making the dish, the manager said not only would they not re-make it, but she wasn't allowed to order anything else..... Excuse me? They were actually refusing her as a customer. The rest of us sat there in shock. Were they serious?!?! She wasn't allowed to order ANYTHING? And when we politely asked for the manager to come to our table to speak with him, he told our server that he was "too busy" to deal with us and we should come back tomorrow if we wanted to talk to him. It was the rudest and most unbelievable customer service I have ever experienced. Isn't it your JOB as the manager to at least come over and talk to your patrons? What else could you be doing that was more important? So after my friend got up from the table and tracked down the manager, he finally agreed to let her order something else instead. Looking back, I wish that all 4 of us would have simply walked out. Needless to say, none of us will never eat there again.
(1)
jess e.
(I think sometimes I'm too nice in my stars, my fella just said "3 that's generous! the food was ok, the service inadequate and I felt like I was rushed out, they just wanted the money out of my pocket.) Eh. It's no Le Sabre. Le Sabre knew what it was. The waitress knew what it was. Everyone knew what it was. Marmalade...I don't even think they know what marmalade is. (I'm trying very hard not to quote The Princess Bride right now) My french toast said it was stuffed with strawberry marmalade. Which of course drew comments from my (very British) fella who scoffed that it couldn't be because marmalade is made with citrus peel. But after consulting the internet it's been said that in other countries marmalade can be a jam. Fine. Just bring me a lovely plate of french toast with gooey jam-y chunks of strawberries. I wish I could say that's what I got. But I didn't. There wasn't even a seed of a strawberry to be seen on that plate. In between the french toast was what we will be generous and call a thin strawberry sauce, the raspberry coulis on top overpowered everything. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't get it again. Sometimes with sweet sauces less is more, and when you are told it's a marmalade you expect something at least with a passing acquaintance to marmalade. My fella got potatoes and poached eggs. He had to ask them to drain the water out of the poached egg bowl, and when it came back he still took my saucer away to pour the rest of the water out of the dish. The roasted potatoes taste as if they've been roasted in Wyler's beef bullion cubes, or had beef bullion powder sprinkled over the top. The apple wood smoked bacon we ordered was greasy, hanging off the plate almost resting on the table and a yellowish shade. I'm sure there was a bit of apple wood smoke to it, but not enough. Service was well....we got there and the girl ringing people up was also the hostess. So that can be a problem when they are busy. We were told we could have a table when it was cleared, but instead of seating us at it I was told to go over because it's cleared and she'd be over in a bit. She never came over and when the waitress came for the drink order, we didn't have menus. The owner (?) showed up and started playing host for a little bit later on. We were seated and ordered well before the couple sitting behind us and they still got served first. Everyone kept trying to take our plates away and made us feel a little rushed even though we left the restaurant in under an hour. You have to bring your own check up which adds confusion to the front since it's right by where people are waiting and the front door. That was no problem when it was Le Sabre cause there was no line and everyone knew what was expected. It's half way between a diner and some place trying to be better then that. The food sounds fancy and overwrought, the prices are higher, but the service isn't better. At least at a diner the waitress are fun and if not truly care, at least can pretend to care, if their customers are enjoying themselves. And if you are lucky enough to live close to that diner they won't care if you show up hungover in your pjs. There is only one building between us and the restaurant and I'm sure I'll try it again, but I have a feeling more often then not I'll take a walk up Damen and go someplace else.
(3)
Grace M.
I tried this place this weekend with my family and I was kind of disappointed. The service was rocky. I ordered off the menu for my kids and they were out of the sides. I asked them for something else and of course they charged me for that. The other items that we ordered were so so and had too much going on. I was really looking forward to eating here and will not return.
(1)
Jordan F.
I went here for the first time this past Sunday with my boyfriend. After passing by a few times and always seeing a crowd, we decided to go around 8 a.m.-perfect timing! We were seated immediately, the staff were all very friendly and the atmosphere was very welcoming and not overly cramped. I had the Lady Marmalade, he had The Bonaparte & a side of French Toast. Everything was simply amazing. The Lady Marmalade was sweet but zesty-I'm not one for overly sweet things, The Bonaparte was delicious too, the croissant wasn't overly flaky. We left feeling satisfied but not overly stuffed and sloth-like, and with plenty of left overs. Marmalade adds a unique twist to traditional breakfast favorites, I will for sure be back for more!
(5)
Angie L.
Went there on Easter and it was dead. Both my husband and I ordered something with chorizo. It was almost inedible. They did not drain the chorizo so there were puddles of grease on our plates. I asked for extra napkins just so we could try and remove it. Service wasn't great. We sat by the door which they had open. I had put on my coat because I was cold and another table asked to be moved because they were cold yet the door stayed open. You have to pay at the register which our server never told us so we ended up sitting there waiting an extra 10 minutes until we saw someone else get up and go to the register. We went here after I read that it was one of the top 15 restaurants in Chicago for brunch. That just can't be possible.
(2)
Patricia C.
The food was fantastic (had the shroom Benedict and the cinnamon roll), unfortunately after the waitress left the check my friend was finishing her coffee and we were there only a short time and were discussing leaving when our waitress walked up and said, " you need to leave bc we have a line and we close in an hour"...wow, now we are respectful of those waiting but we didn't think it was asking to much to be able to finish our drinks. Understand the need to move tables and they accomplished their mission to do it and more as we won't be coming back.
(2)
Mary S.
I was looking for something new that I could enjoy as much as my vegetarian friend. I was at this restaurant a few months ago and was not planning on returning. I did remember that it was very vegetarian friendly so decided to give it a second try. I'm so glad I did. She had an avocado and pesto omelet which she insisted that I try because it was so delicious. (It was). It came with a side of homemade strawberry jam . I enjoyed a grilled brie with bacon. I requested that it be on a croissant and they were happy to accommodate my request. The service was excellent. The prices were very fair and I can't wait to come back again.
(4)
Genious C.
Great service and delicious food....best french toast I've ever had. It's worth the drive from the west loop. Will return.
(4)
Lauren P.
what a pleasant surprise! my roommate and i stopped in sunday morning for an impromptu brunch. we weren't expecting much. maybe it's the ghost of le sabre. maybe it's the cheesy burgundy and orange color scheme of the sign. (yes that's dumb. but true.) we were seated relatively quickly even though there seemed to be a lot of people milling around out front. yeah! then we waited for about 10 minutes for the waitress to show up and give us menus. boo. (in the end, they lost a star for the service. the waitress seamed a little spacey and talked so quietly we kept having to ask her to repeat things. she also seemed a little overwhelmed by the size of her section. also big negative. you have to pay at the counter and we asked if we could split our check and they host was such a butt about it. 'notice our little mascot here' he said pointing to the front of the register, 'he says, no split checks.' like he was talking to a child. even the freaking golden nugget can split checks. it's not hard. get with it.) anyway....! once we got the menus we were really excited about their options. lots of interesting dishes! i had a hard time choosing between the pear french toast and smoked salmon napolean. i ended up going savory and it was delish! smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados and poached eggs between fluffy crispy puff pastry. and this is weird but i was obsessed with the dressing that came on the side salad. who cares that much about dressing? i do i guess. i gobbled the whole salad when usually it would've been ignored for the more glamorous main dish. my roommate's was great too! a fancy mcgriddle...scrambled eggs, some fancy cheese, zucchini and bacon between french toast. minimum. i'll definitely check it out again! so glad to have a new brunch place in the hood!
(4)
April M.
i love this place! really great food and really awesome service every time. went in with my friends for some brunch and really loved my dish. every one was very friendly there. will definitely be back.
(5)
Kara K.
Holy crap, amazing. My friends and I were looking for a good brunch place within walking distance of my friend's apartment and we found it with Marmalade. We arrived and put our name in. We probably waited about 15-20 minutes for a table, but I'm sure those who arrived after us waited quite a bit longer. (If you're a party of two, it seemed like you would have a MUCH shorter wait.) The menu is extensive - plenty of hearty choices as well as sweet ones. I had such a difficult time deciding between the almond french toast (daily special) or the mayan omeletta. In the end I went with the mayan omeletta as I knew it was something I'd probably not find at any brunch places in Columbus. My omelette was great, so flavorful and a very large portion. I was able to omit the green peppers. The no substitutions/omissions rule was only with respect to the skillets. The only part of my plate I wasn't wild about were the potatoes, but my omelette more than made up for it. The service was great. I believe my water glass was refilled four times --- it never got below 3/4 full! They don't let you split checks, but it wasn't a problem for us as I'd already planned on picking up the tab anyway.
(5)
Jodi R.
Yum yum. One of the many things that makes Marmalade a winner is that they have menu options for meat eaters and non meat eaters. They also offer an inexpensive kids menu where not everything is deep fried. Example- yogurt topped w fruit & granola. The line moves fast. Our Sunday am wait was under 5 min. Staff couldn't be friendlier & more attentive. They remembered my child when we went back two weeks later. Crab Eggs Benedict was the best I have ever had. Very substantial portion. Veggie chilaquiles are something I would order again. I look forward to returning and ordering everything on the menu that doesn't contain meat. Art work, with food puns, is painted by one of the waiters. Space is clean & bright. Funny that several yelpers compare this to m Henry which in my experience is average food ( at best) service with an attitude, long lines & high prices.
(5)
gretchen b.
Found Marmalade in the Chicago Magazine's breakfast special. We arrived 9:45 Sunday morning and had a 10 min wait. I'm usually a sweet breakfast girl, but branched out for the savory omelet special. It was amazing!!! The menu is full of creative brunch options, as well as standard breakfast choices. They had a nice kids menu as well. It was a bit more $$$ than our typical breakfast ... ok, a lot more. We had 2 kids pancakes, kids bacon, 2 omelet specials, 2 coffees & choc milk. With tip we topped $45. I would def return, but more likely for brunch w/my friends than my fam of four. One other thing, the owner was on the floor and was super friendly and personable. Gus was a delight!
(4)
Elizabeth H.
I had been wanting to go to Marmalade for a while; it looked so cute sitting there on Damen and Montrose. So finally I took my boyfriend there for an early Friday-morning breakfast. There were maybe 2 other people in the place (ok, they had just opened 20 minutes earlier). The staff was very friendly and attentive. I'm assuming the owner/manager sat us at our table? He seemed nice enough (based on other reviews that I have read, maybe he waits to be an a-hole til he has an audience...eek!) I ordered the Bonaparte; nothing fancy but delish croissant. Potatoes were tasty but entirely too big. My bf ordered the Pancho Villa skillet. I had a bite, it had a good flavor but again, the potatoes were really weighing that thing down; I don't know about you but when I think skillet, I think everything is nice and crispy and meshed together well?! The potatoes just took up too much darn space. Overall, glad I branched out a bit and tried something new. I'd be back, maybe after I try a few more new-to-me places.
(3)
M G.
This place was fine, not great, not horrible but just ok. It was overpriced for what you got. They don't split checks which makes it a pain when you go with friends. The oven roasted house potatoes were over done. Disappointed they didn't have any real sausage on the menu. I was confused as to what kind of person they are trying to cater to. They have tempeh strips and both veggie sausage and chicken sausage. It would be nice if they were to have some classic breakfast stand by's such as pancakes or regular french toast. With other restaurants having better food and prices, I don't plan on going back anytime soon.
(2)
Matt V.
I consider myself a breakfast snob. And, if I'm going out for breakfast/brunch, I want it to fall into one of two categories: Over-the-Top Inventive and Delicious or Greasy Spoon, Diner Style. Marmalade manages to take the negatives of each of these experiences and combine them into one unpleasant one. They try to be creative and inventive, but leave you remembering how much better OverEasy does it, just down the street. They tried to dress up the old Le Sabre, but the decor strikes out as well, not quite right. Mostly it feels like a dingy diner with new paint and slightly better food for twice the price. The service leaves something to be desired and in the winter it is freezing cold in there. My eggs and utensils were both noticeably chilled; not a great feeling. There are about 5-6 other places to go in the neighborhood, including Fountainhead brunch (right across the street) and all of them will leave you feeling better in the end.
(2)
Tiffany S.
I love this place, especially with the new addition of the patio!! ( you know how us Chicagoans love to take advantage of the great weather while it's here.) We live in the neighborhood and were so excited to see a brunch place go in. The food has never disappointed us. The staff is always friendly, and the owner is totally a learn your name, friendly, down home kinda guy. If you ever go on the weekend or on a day that the special is the cinnamon roll French toast, TRY IT! Seriously I think it's the best brunch item I have ever had! Deelish!! I also love that they are so sweet to my daughter. Sometime you can walk into a place, they see your kid and their eyes start rolling. This is NOT that kinda place! They are totally kid friendly! In short: great staff and management, great food, kid friendly and in a beautiful neighborhood. What's not to love? Check it out!
(5)
Lourdes D.
We had a great first-time visit. The restaurant was fairly crowded, but we were told it would be a short wait and it was. One of the owners, Gus, checked on us several times to make sure everything was okay with our meal. We brought our two children with us and I was pleased with their kids' menu. I thanked Gus for having a nice selection for the kids and he said, "Of course, half of our customers are kids during the weekend!" I had the marmalade crepes and my husband had an egg dish (sorry, forgot what it was called). We all enjoyed our food and the service was great. As I was saying goodbye to Gus, he told us to wait and then he packed up some muffins and cookies for us to take home!!! What a nice guy. We live in the neighborhood so we will be back. Thanks, Gus!! If you can't stand the wait at Overeasy, then this is a great alternative. Give it a try!
(4)
Susie P.
Had a fantastic breakfast this morning with a co-worker! Gus could not have treated us better and we LOVED the food! Try the homemade scones, they are out of this world! Kudos to the great food, excellent service, and fabulous Chef... can't wait to go back!
(5)
Ben E.
After a few friends had urged me to try this place I finally gave it a try this weekend. As my girlfriend and I entered the restaurant it was clear that the tables near the door were not an option. It was so cold that no one wanted to sit near the door. We were told by the hostess that the wait would be 20 minutes for a "warm" table as she called it. As we stood there and surveyed the restaurant and reviewed the menu we noticed that there were two open 4 top tables in plain sight. When a party of three walked in 10 minutes after us, they were immediately sat at one of the open 4 top tables. Seriously? I can understand restaurants not taking up large tables (5 or more) for a party of two but c'mon. When we asked about the remaining 4 top table the hostess said that they do not sit 2 people at a table for four on the weekend. I guess they would rather have a table ready just in case 3 people walk in rather than sit two people immediately with money in hand. The worst part was this place was only open for another hour. Needless to say we didn't even sit down and try it. Not a good policy to have customers ready to eat and sit there and stare at empty tables being held just in case..... There are too many great brunch spots that know how to treat their patrons. Skip it!
(1)
John S.
Came here with a friend, got the Mexican Breakfast Combo. Comes with eggs anyway you like them cooked, house potatoes, two cheese quesadillas, some chips stuff and some fruit. I upgraded to chicken quesadillas and it was honestly the best thing on the plate. Really loved their potatoes as well, the chips were whatever. Service was good, didn't want too long for food. They gave us free scones since they were closing for the day, that was pretty awesome. Definitely would come back here, I was seriously full for like 8 hours.
(5)
Zack F.
I understand when restaurants have a policy against seating people before their whole party has arrived. When you are busy and popular, it makes a lot of sense. Enter Marmalade and their 8:30am, only three other people are here but you still can't sit down yet cause your party hasn't arrived policy. There's no one here. I could be drinking coffee and buying beignets, but instead I'm standing awkwardly outside a largely empty restaurant. The food was excellent and our server was the best. So, I feel a bit better about the experience.
(3)
Jeannie P.
Tried Marmalade for the first time on a recent vacation to Chicago. Definitely pluses and minuses to this place. The food was amazing. I had the Efrain Diablo omlet (it also comes with country potatoes). A very unique combination of shrimp, eggs, peppers & avocado. I loved every bite. They will not split checks. They will also not accept more than 1 credit card per check. If you go, make sure that you have cash or a generous friend to pick up the entire tab. Great location but this place is small so expect to wait a while (outside) if they're busy. The bathroom was not very clean and the toilet paper was on the floor - gross. Service was ok. Our server was pleasant enough but not overly friendly and she didn't check on us very often. The food was brought out in a reasonable amount of time so no major complaints. They have a very limited selection of jam for your toast or muffin. Nothing red. It was very strange. Overall, the taste of the food outweighs any of the smaller items. I would definitely return.
(4)
Aimee M.
The sweets are sweet and the savories are savory. Marmalade certainly tunes in to everyone's breakfast/brunch dilemma. The menu has some great options like french toast, omelets, benedicts, chilaquiles and chicken/waffles, but also check out their specials. I was plenty pleased with the breakfast combo I chose. I opted for the chorizo skillet (spicy and savory) and the beignets (sweet). The skillet is full of breakfast potatoes, topped with chorizo and queso fresco (I omitted the spicy pepper jack by request) with 2 eggs your choice. This skillet was huge, a little greasy, but it's chorizo. I could only finish a quarter of it and brought it home for a second meal. It was spicy, flavorful and well-made. The beignets were also delicious. Not overly sweet but deliciously light and puffy. It comes with a raspberry sauce and a cappuccino sauce for dipping. A nice sized order where leftovers also leave the table for an afternoon snack. Coffee refills aplenty. The super friendly server asked if I wanted coffee to go to--how lovely was that? Cute place, bright and airy. The price was certainly right considering I got 2.5 meals out of one visit.
(4)
Honey M.
I loved this place!!! It's small but the food is delicious. Portions are big so come hungry. Our server Gosia was very attentive to our needs despite the Memorial Day rush. I'd definitely revisit this place
(5)
XTreats X.
Giving marmalade 4 stars instead of 3 because they are doing some unique dishes! They aren't the best but they are unique and worth the experience. I tried their rendition of chicken and waffles. The bacon potato leek gravy was good (didn't surpass your traditional sausage gravy but it was good.). The waffle was a little plain. Crab cake Benedict was good as well. I wish I tried one of their sweet dishes (french toast etc) they look great. Oh & staff was great
(4)
RJ G.
Definitely have to come back here. Its a quaint little brunch spot that does breakfast right. I had the lady marmalade which was slices of brioche made french toast style with a marmalade compote. Delish! Also had the maple chicken sausage which was sweet, and i love sweet. My friend order the chilaquiles and they were pretty tasty as well. Chihuahua cheese on chips with eggs, avocado, veggies and potatos. Done right. The menu is large and is ever changing. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice brunch spot. Next time ill have to try the cuban sandwich.
(4)
Shahzad A.
I really like the creative approach the chef takes to his food. Every week he has specials that are usually very good. The chef has stopped by our table a few times and has asked for feedback which is very nice. I highly recommend trying this place out.
(5)
Michelle H.
Best vegan chilaquiles in the city! The tofu is actually seasoned well, which is surprisingly hard to find in Chicago. It's great to have an option at a place where I can go with non-vegan friends.
(5)
Emily D.
LOVED Marmalade! Tried it for Sunday brunch a few weeks ago and I'm still thinking about the Mexican Combo I ordered. The sauce on the dish was incredible. I can't wait to go back. When we wee there the owner came by to ask how everything was - such a nice staff, too. I recommend a visit.
(5)
Brock W.
Poor service + average/overpriced food (so many other options) = a place to avoid for Sunday brunch. It's a cute place, just hope they can get some of their service issues together because the food isn't good enough, nor priced right, to overcome the service.
(2)
J H.
really yummy! let's see...french toast was amazing, and HUGE! I thought it might be overpriced but you definitely get what you pay for :) the side was too small for the price though. but, friendly waitress, short wait even though it was busy, chill atmosphere, delicious.
(5)
Nicole M.
Marmalade is a good spot to take kids on a Saturday or Sunday morning -- the place opens early, the service is friendly and prompt, and the food is tasty. It's not the most incredible brunch (my favs for that would be Big Jones or Tweet), but it's in our neighborhood and the fact that I can take my toddler there at 8 a.m. and get a cup of strong coffee and good meal is golden in my book. My primary reason for liking this place is the family-friendly vibe, but the food is good as well. I'm a fan of the Mayan Omeletta (not for those with weak stomachs) and the French Toast (though it's never as crispy on the outside as I'd like, it usually comes with a hearty side of berries).
(3)
Jay S.
There is no accounting for personal taste, and there is no accounting for personal experience. People like what they like, and sometimes people have bad experiences, without it necessarily being a generally applicable quality indicator or trend. Having said this, for me, Marmalade is hard to beat, and I go here quite often. It's rare for me that so many items on the menu are so irresistibly yummy, and I have never had a bad experience here, or been treated poorly. So many of the staples on the menu are so very very tasty, and yet, I often find myself going with one of the specials, because I trust them to be good and they basically always are. Throughout my many visits to Marmalade, there has been one constant however: the absolutely sublime coffee, Caffè Umbria by the Bizzarri family from Seattle. Forget Metropolis, forget Intelligensia - Caffè Umbria is what coffee is about. But then again, there is no accounting for personal taste. Which is why the five stars are mine, and I stand behind them all the way. Are they yours as well? You'll have to find out.
(5)
Harold H.
Have been here a few times. I order the savory dishes. Was a big fan of the Marmalade burger. Most of the other stuff was decent, but over salted. Usually not an issue for me, but today's food coma had me laid out for over 5 hours. I still haven't recovered. Seriously, those house potatoes are going to be hit or miss for a lot of people.
(3)
Hanna D.
Brunch is my FAVORITE meal ever. I'll try any place once, and I tried this place twice, just for good measure, bad idea. I should have stopped at the door when the hostess told me to pick a seat (even though there was a wait) and was more occupied with her lip gloss and her reflection in her phone screen. She was still occupied with this same task when we came up to pay our bill.... The next warning sign was the waitress. Now, when I go out to brunch, I NEED my coffee asap. I can't function without it, let alone read a menu. We ordered coffee, it didn't come for at least 10 minutes, and then the sugar shaker....was full of salt!!! Took another 10 minutes to get the bus boy over & 5 more minutes to get a new coffee & a new sugar shaker. Our waitress came to the table a total of 2 times, to get our order & to bring the check. The food was a total buzz kill. The menu makes it sound delicious, but when it gets on my fork its just soggy, and poorly put together. The flavors are bland & lack the extra vaa-voom that the menu made it sound like it had. I ordered hot cakes with raspberries & peaches (which is a my favorite fruit combo). The fruit was no where close to fresh, and it was cold fruit on top of HOTcakes. So either it was from the freezer a few days ago, or from a can. I was expecting it to either be fresh or possibly had been warmed in a pot & macerated. Another MAJOR complaint is that this place is not group friendly! They have a strict "no split checks' rule, nor can you split between cash & card. As a waitress, I understand the frustration of splitting checks & the costs associated with running multiples, but maybe allow 2 cards per tab or something. I can't bring my friends or family & split a bill.
(1)
Beth M.
I love breakfast, my husband prefers to eat it at home so getting him to go out for it isn't any easy feat, but we had a day off and decided to try this spot without having to wait in line over the weekend. Thank God we didn't wait in line as I would've been even more disappointed. 1) the manager or Godfather of the place is so strange, he trolls around when he's not lurking at everyone from his perch at the register. Heard him yelling at the folks working back in the kitchen. Not pleasant. 2) Saw a delivery of Boca Burgers yet the menu said the veggie burger was homemade. 3) They charge you $1.50 for substitutions. Had planned on getting the Euro Brunch plate, but it came with sausage which I don't like, but I wasn't willing to pay $1.50 for the right to sub it out. 4) They also do not split checks nor do they accept multiple credit cards. 5) Atmosphere is like a semi-rehabbed greasy spoon (never went to the old spot, but seems like they just painted it and did a few other cosmetic things. Music was too loud (it wasn't crowded) and sounded like the CD was skipping, very repetitive. 5) And now to the food...I had ordered a mushroom skillet special which wasn't so special. Could barely eat the eggs over the mountain of potato hunks. Also, it said it had mozzarella in it...which it did, but they were literally globs of mozzarella smushed in amongst the potatoes. My husband ordered another omelette that looked better than my globs, but which he said was just "fair." The menu said egg dishes came with it, mine didn't....I didn't ask about it either figuring I'd have a piece of my husband's. Um, no. He only got one piece. Who serves just one piece of toast? Weird and cheap. Anyway, I would not go back to Marmalade. I just hope that all the people who love it stay away from Over Easy so we can go there instead. So much better!!
(2)
Rivka G.
I live right around the corner from M. Henry so it's hard to justify trying new brunch places when one of the best brunches in Chicago is 100 paces from my doorstep. However, I'm a brunch addict and always looking for new, delicious spots, so the hubbie and I ventured out to Marmalade to check it out on a Sunday morning. Overall, it was a good experience, but I had a few gripes that were hard to overlook. Here's the scoop: Pros: - Even though there was a hoard of people waiting outside when we arrived at 11am, the wait wasn't too long. - After being seated, a man (I'm assuming the owner) came over and gave us a run-down of the menu and what their specialties were prior to our waitress coming over which made us feel loved. - The waitress was friendly enough. - The breakfast potatoes rocked. Mmmmmmm! - The multi-grain bread was really delicious. And they sell loafs to take home! Cons: - This place seems like they are trying to mimic M. Henry. The plating is similar (down to serving fresh mango, orange slices and cooked plantains on the plate). It's the same story with the seasoning of the breakfast potatoes (although I do have to admit I think their potatoes are slightly better than M. Henry's). - I felt like I was being penalized for being a vegetarian. Many of the dishes I wanted to try had chorizo in them. I got the Mayan Omletta and the hubbie got the Breakfast burrito. After telling the waitress we were vegetarian, she said they could replace the chorizo with vegetarian sausage, so we did that. But when the bill came, we were charged an extra $1.50 for this. To be fair, the menu says that you may be charged $1.50 for any substitutions, but does veggie sausage really cost that much more than chorizo? - I wish there wwere more fillings inside my omeletta. It could have done with more beans, salsa, etc.). The egg to filling ratio wasn't quite right. - It took a while to get coffee refills. - When the bill came, it seemed a bit high. It turns out they charged us $11.50 for the extra chorizo instead of $1.50. When we brought this to the cashier's attention, she didn't apologize, just said, "oh, OK", and fixed it. Not cool. Especially since they were charging us for the chorizo in the first place. Final Verdict: While the food was good enough, the prices (especially with the tack-on of the vegetarian substitution cost) do not warrant the trip over here.
(3)
Jessie L.
My best friend and I went here for breakfast today as the first stop on our girls-day-out. I will soon be moving close by, so wanted to try some places in the new neighborhood! We didn't really know what to expect, since neither of us had been here before, but were pleasantly surprised with the food and atmosphere. The fruit that came with our meals was pretty impressive- chunks of juicy mango, pear, etc. The service was a little slow, but a man (who I'm guessing was the manager) sat us and was very polite to us, and even gave us a scone and muffin on the house before we left! I'll definitely be back :)
(4)
Nick L.
I love Glenn's Diner in the Lincoln Square area, but Marmalade is now another favorite brunch spot. The menu is interesting and delicious. For the most part, the service is good (depending on which server you get). The homemade jams are oustanding! You can even buy some jam to go. The italian omelet, greek skillet, and banana loaf are all out of this world.
(4)
David F.
If you aim to have bland run of the mill breakfast......aim lower and you will arrive at Marmalade, if not for the nice waitress it would of been a lone star.
(2)
Shannyn N.
Stopped in to Marmalade on a beautiful Sunday after finding our destination, Troquet, to be closed and being told Glenn's wait was going to be 45 minutes...and SO glad we did! My friend and I were greeted by the owner, Gus, who was SO nice and told us we could sit anywhere we prefer on the patio and he'd meet us out there with coffee, water and menus. He was delivering our coffee as a busser was resetting the table and the server (Dino) was dropping off menus, which we were delighted to read thoroughly while we sipped our delicious coffee. The menu is incredibly enticing, we actually had two cups of coffee while we decided! They have a build-your-own-omelette menu, which had a wonderful ingredients list full of interesting seasonal vegetables and artisan cheeses (I'm a big fan of cheese...) They had an unbelievable sweet menu with Red Velvet French Toast and Nutella Crepes (which we did try for dessert and OMG!!) Every dish that was delivered to a table looked so good we were like kids in a candy shop. They also had really nice specials, which I decided to give a try. I had the "Sicilian Benedict", an italian twist on the classic Eggs Bennie with asparagus wrapped in prosciutto over perfectly poached eggs and some kind of homemade flatbread (so good) all drizzled with a special type of sauce (didn't get the name of it, but I could've eaten it like soup, yummy) and the most amazing breakfast potatoes I've ever had! (I typically don't love breakfast potatoes, but these were well seasoned, and perfectly cooked!) My friend built her own omelette with apple chicken sausage, goat cheese, red & green pepper and onion. She loved it. I read some of the other reviews and do have to agree on a few points, it's a bummer that they can't split checks or make substitutions but that's not terribly abnormal for a Sunday Brunch in the city and things like this can be forgiven with a nice experience and great service, which we absolutely had. The hostess was definitely not the worlds friendliest, which is too bad because every single person we encountered was lovely, maybe she just needs a lesson in friendly customer service because a first impression of space usually begins at the hostess stand...so it's not surprising to see negative reviews. If the experience begins on the wrong foot, it's hard to overlook any other misgivings. We took some fresh baked goods from the bakery case to-go for later and we were not disappointed! We shared a chocolate chip muffin and some other goodies with friends of ours we met up with later and they were so happy that they said they were going to have brunch there next weekend, I think I'll have to join them. I need to try more of that amazing menu!
(5)
N D.
A little about me: 1) I LOVE LOVE LOVE brunch 2) In spite of that or probably because of that, I am super picky and selective about what I would call a great brunch restaurant. 3) To illustrate how picky I am - I have lived in six cities (and visited many others). Out of all those cities, I've only found four brunch restaurants to get excited about. Two are in San Francisco and two are in Los Angeles. Only one of those four truly has my heart (26 Beach in Venice Beach). Oh and I've tried about 15 highly rated restaurants in the city I currently live in and haven't found a single one that I care about. Poor me. 4) When my husband and I visited Chicago last weekend, I finally found a place that just might be tied with my all time favorite brunch restaurant ever - MARMALADE! The reason that I only say "might" is that I don't live in Chicago and only had a chance to try two of their dishes (my husband's and my own). The dish I ordered was perfection. A little about Marmalade: 1) The atmosphere was warm and inviting (and we were lucky because we got a seat just minutes before a line up started). 2) The waitress and the owners were absolutely lovely. They cheerfully greeted us, made us feel welcome and the service was great. 3) I ordered the El Picante Benedict which was kind of like a hybrid between eggs benedict and huevos rancheros. It was exquisite. The tortillas, fresh avocado and spicy chorizo were scrumptious. I was hesitant about the Mayan sauce because I hadn't heard of it so I asked for it on the side. I didn't need to though because it was delicious and the perfect companion for my meal. They really paid attention to detail with this one, carefully selecting ingredients and sides to make everything come together perfectly. It even came with a side of sweet, fried plantains! What?!? I freaking love plantains and never get them for breakfast. Yay! 4) My husband's dish came with slices of fresh, juicy, delicious mango! Not your typical, boring cup of cubed melons that most restaurants offer as a fruit side. 5) My husband ordered the Mayan Omeletta and loved his meal too. At one point during the meal, my husband looked up at me and said "I've never seen you eat like this before. You haven't breathed." I went to town on my breakfast and then made a move on his. I love you Marmalade!
(5)
Nick Q.
I don't know how anybody can give this place a bad review because my fiance and I have been here half a dozen times since moving into the area and we absolutely love it. It's such a great place that we make a point of taking anybody visiting us to get breakfast here. First let's start with the atmosphere. The place is such a cute little breakfast place and really sets the tone for a nice Saturday or Sunday morning breakfast. Yes, it may be crazy busy, but that's fine. The atmosphere is still very enjoyable. Then there's the food. OMG, the food. Everything I have tried here has been great. Some is better than others, but that's to be expected. Everybody has their differing tastes. The Bonaparte is fantastic, as is the breakfast burrito. The peached and raspberry pancakes are to die for. I've tried a few other dishes that are also good, but these three are my favorites to date. The owner is awesome. If you take the time to chat with him a bit (he's too busy for much more than small conversation) you'll find him to be a very nice guy. I've heard people say he's hard on his workers...but hey, look how busy they are and tell me how you can keep up with that without being a little tough. He remembers us every time we come in and makes a point of stopping by to chat and see how we're doing. When he heard my fiance told him she was looking for a new job in the food industry he even offered to keep an ear out for her and let her know if he heard about anything she might be interested in. The only negative thing I could think of for this place is the wait. However, it's not their fault other than that they're so good that tons of people want to eat there. It's not like they can kick people out the door to make room for others. This would lead to a much more negative atmosphere. Honestly, in my opinion, any wait (and I've waited awhile before on the weekend) is worth it to eat here.
(5)
Emily B.
I'm going to go middle of the road on this first review because I didn't have my usual critical, observational boots on. Having New Years' Day breakfast with my friend, her husband, and baby, the energy was focused on keeping baby happy and talking about said baby. They were super accommodating for the baby with a full house that morning. Can't remember what I had, but do remember it had a nice kick, they had a ridiculous amount of menu options as well as specials (which were tricky to see based one where we were seated), and our server was super friendly and attentive.
(3)
KM I.
Oh how I love breakfast food! I could eat cereal and pancakes for every meal of every day. Marmalade didn't quite strike me as the "comfort food" breakfast food kind of place. Items on the menu have a Mexican twist and are either sweet or savory. I opted for the crepes and thought they were okay. The service was very nice and accommodating, but I wasn't blown away enough by the food options unfortunately.
(3)
Jillian D.
friendly. that's a great word to describe this new addition to the neighborhood. from the host/owner's warm welcome as he escorted us to our table, to our waiter's delivery - both verbal (explaining the menu) and physical (ready refills of coffee; bringing our much anticipated dishes out just as we ordered), to the host/owner's banter as we paid. i do think they are a little heavy handed with the creme anglaise (there are other sauces to choose from). but the food is beautifully presented, warm and tasty. can't be the location either! i am glad a small business took over this corner spot instead of a chain.
(4)
Lisa W.
Found a new favorite brunch spot! Went here on a Sunday morning at 10am and was seated within 5 min. The place was pretty crowded and a little noisy but that's typical for Sunday brunch spots in Chicago. I ordered the Crab Benedict and it was spectacular ! The crab was Soo good and not fishy at all. It comes with poached eggs on top and is served over a cornbread instead of an English muffin. It also came with a heaping portion of roasted potatoes. My friend had a made your own omelette and his portions were generous as well. We also split one of the specials which was a sampler of their 4 French toasts. They were red velvet, carrot, lemon poppyseed and I forget the other but they were all to die for! The toppings on each were delicious! The service was great. We always had refills on our coffee. The waitress told us all about the specials and was very attentive throughout our meal. I definitely recommend this place!
(4)
ashoor y.
OMG! you have to try this place. I hear the guy that was at M. Henry is now the chef. They have some great, new, and fresh breakfast ideas. I had the Manny's Diablo, with jerk shrimp...yes shrimp!!! It was awesome!! The owner treated me to an order of their "made from scratch" French toast...let me tell you, I didnt want to get out of the chair!!! You gotta try it.
(5)
Roberto G.
To make it simple .... Awesome !! The BYOB was a ++
(5)
MK D.
The best french brioche toast - The Lady Marmalade!!!
(5)
Jez E.
Thank you, Marmalade, for kindly, carefully and deliciously accommodating our gluten-free needs. We had just left Fountainhead, who could not do the same, and we were upset and hungry. Not only did we not get sick after eating your food, but we had a very tasty meal and excellent service. Great food - creative and fresh ingredients, cooked very well. We will be back many times! Cheers!
(4)
James M.
Don't walk... Run to this place! It's LeSabre (the next generation). I lived in this area for years, and loved LeSabre (the restaurant that used to occupy the space). I remember being very upset when it closed, only to find out that it was being revamped. The owners nephew has now taken over and it's better than ever! Had the breakfast burrito, it was out of this world! The wait staff was very pleasant. It's great for in and out eating, and great to hang, visit, and eat as well. It's a must!!!
(5)
Holly M.
2.5 stars...if I could. Marmalade is ok. I greatly enjoyed their super salty tempeh strips on the side, but the omelette I ordered wasn't that fantastic. It had a sickening amount of cheese in it and just wasn't flavorful. My V8 juice was a bit warm, too. It's your typical quick diner food and there are warnings everywhere saying they won't accept two credit cards or split checks. However our waitress was nice and the manager even came outside to see if my friend and I were doing ok. Marmalade is still pretty new so I'll probably return again, perhaps for lunch.
(2)
Brittany V.
I went to Marmalade this morning for breakfast and had a pretty decent experience. They were serving both lunch and breakfast by the time we got there, and there was a good selection to choose from. We barely waited for a table, and was greeted immediately by someone who explained the specials to us. I opted to get the vegan chilequiles, which were awesome. Not too spicy, with just the right amount of food. And the tofu scramble that came on top was awesome. My breakfast companions got the special Salmon Benedict and the Mayan Omlettee, and they both enjoyed those. I think the only thing that was lacking in my experience is that I would have liked a little more personality from our waitress. She was fine and prompt, but she seemed bored by being there. Prices are also a bit high for breakfast, but I can tell they do use really fresh ingredients, so I will let it slide. I also wish there was a little music going on! I don't know if I just couldn't hear it, but I am a fan of a little tune-age happening while I'm eating. I will probably be back to Marmalade in the future, if only to try the more sweet dishes that seem to be more popular.
(3)
Melissa H.
Went here on a Travelzoo deal. 2 people eat for $15 and it includes 2 drinks. Quite possibly the best latte I've ever had. Service, food and menu was unique and different from normal breakfast places that serve the same thing. A hidden find in Chicago. Street/metered parking wasn't difficult to find a spot on a Saturday morning.
(4)
Jeff C.
In short: Great, great spot for breakfast. We haven't tried them for lunch yet. Diverse menu, fresh fruit and salads, nice people. This place has excellent, well rounded dishes. Even when ordering something as simple as 2 eggs it comes with sliced mangos, sliced orange and cherry tomatoes next to their house potatoes and multigrain toast. Their omelettes are really tasty too, and while we haven't had their french toast or pancakes yet they look amazing. They always have a few fresh pastry trays full of muffins, scones and cookies too. Good, good stuff. Marmalade is pretty new at this point and so are some of the waitstaff, but don't let that steer you away. The waitstaff, busboys, managers and even cooks are all really nice and after 3 meals there since they opened we've never had even the tiniest of problems. They've been pretty full on weekends but we've never waited more than 20 minutes for a table. I'd rather wait a few minutes because they're busy (and busy because they're good) than see them empty. Overall, it's really nice to have found a breakfast spot with such a diverse menu and great food that doesn't leave you feeling as though you just ate a brick. They've obviously put a lot of time and effort into making their dishes very balanced. Some of the not-so-great reviews here are way, way too hard on Marmalade. If you're a total princess and can't be even a little understanding when you're not treated as though you're the -only- person in the entire restaurant, stay home. For the rest of us, Marmalade is excellent. Oh, and the "sliced hard unripe peaches" one reviewer complained about are MANGOS. It's not the restaurant's fault that you don't know what a mango is.
(5)
Jaime P.
It was fairly crowded for brunch on new years day, and I didn't experience the service problems some other reviewers did. The waitress wasn't particularly nice or helpful, but she wasn't mean or inattentive. Average. I would have given this place a three if not for a couple of things. 1 - spice rubbed potatoes do not go with everything, people. Especially when there is pretty clearly cumin on them which is a very distinctive spice. It surely doesn't go very well with sun-dried tomato hollandaise. These potatoes are on almost every dish no matter how they may clash with the other ingredients. Just weird. I had the shroom benedict (one of I think 5 bennies on the menu), and unlike another reviewer, I thought the fried shroom was the best thing about the dish. Also the spinach was well done. However, the tomatoes on the dish were tasteless and mushy. The hollandaise was probably good, I don't know, it was barely there (is this a bennie or what??) and worst of all, really huge misstep, the eggs were overpoached. The yolks were cooked through. The two most appealing things about the benedict are the hollandaise and the runny egg yolks, and they were both not great. You are a breakfast/brunch place. Overpoaching is not ok. Overpoaching is never ok. But especially for a breakfast place. If the eggs are clearly overpoached, don't put them on my plate. Every experienced brunch chef can spot an overpoach from a mile away. If you have to bring out the other people's orders to my table and I have to wait 3 minutes for proper eggs, I will gladly wait. Still, despite that, the atmosphere was cute, and the ideas of the dishes are good. It was crowded, so mistakes will happen. Which is why I will give it one more chance, and hope for a better result next time. If the same thing happens, I wouldn't return. Not for $15 tab for mediocre brunch.
(2)
James D.
We have been to this breakfast/lunch place a few times now and breakfast is fantastic. Have yet to order from the lunch menu because I'm partial to French toast and pancakes. The last visit I had pumpkin French toast. Omg. Amazing. The service has been reasonable, not stellar which is why it falls short of 5 stars for me.
(4)
rodd g.
I have never written one of these but this place is amazing. Best most creative breakfast menu ever. I will be back often.
(5)
J B.
Packed on weekends! Only open til 2:30PM!!
(4)
Victoria W.
I guess the new owners at Marmalade are listening to your feedback, because when I went for breakfast with 3 others at 10 on a Saturday morning, everything went smoothly. The server (the girl from Ireland) was on the ball, the manager guy was facilitating and apologizing for any waits (the place was full) and the food was tasty. We didn't try any of the sweet stuff, so I can only recommend the omelets. The only disappointing thing was that no one asked if we wanted refills on beverages (which are on the pricey side). Roseann pretty much covered all the bases...
(4)
Marinel C.
The place is super cute. Menu looks amazing, food looks nice when it came out, but the taste...meh. I had the chocolate french toast. It's is not brioche as the menu stated, but chocolate cake with a vanilla frosting in between layers. My teeth hurt just thinking about it - way too sugary. My husband had the apple french toast. It had more apples than french toast. It literally looked like two whole apples cut up on his plate. And now for the coffee. Yuck. And they don't serve cream, it's non dairy creamer. The orange juice tasted like watered down Minute-Maid. The only thing I appreciated was that the fruit plate had strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, mangos, pineapple and melons. Lots of fresh fruit. And $45 dollars for two adults and a toddler? No thanks.
(2)
Adam R.
Great menu but food wasn't that hot and service was mediocre. Definitely be back though.
(4)
Michael V.
Its decent. I expected more. I had the vegan chilaquiles and it was drenched in the tomato sauce. The lady had the classico omelette and that was aight. Mom dukes got the lady marmalade and it was pretty good. Pops got the Mayan omelette and it was a little salty. Breakfast for 4 ran $60 and it definitely didn't reflect the experience. The staff and service was great. All in all the French toast was the highlight , good coffee and solid staff. I'm giving 3 stars because the service was sincere and they even gave my daughter a cookie out of the cookie jar. And whenever the baby is happy I'm happy. Dumb it down a little guys, your menu is high-tech. Incorporate some tried and true Chicago breakfast staples. We're not the fattest city for no reason. Give me bacon not tempeh bacon. Get the food to match the price or vice versa and we've got a winner.
(3)
Michael A.
Mayan omelette and the cajun shrimp chef's special were both really good. Menu looks like it has dozens of interesting combinations I'm anxious to try, especially there versions of eggs benedict.... The brioche French Toast was just okay. Service staff are friendly but you'll have a long wait time if you go on a Saturday or Sunday, if you have more than 2 people...
(4)
Dana G.
I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews. The special artichoke heart omelet with roasted tomatoes and goat cheese was amazing---and I don't even love omelets. The crab cake benedict was less exciting but still good, and I thought the service was impeccable. If anything, our coffee was filled too frequently.
(4)
Renee S.
This place is great. Not sure what other reviews are talking about. Food is awesome, service is awesome and they are super nice! Fresh food including the fruity fluffy pancakes, fresh salads and soups! We brought our friends from Minneapolis here and they all loved it! We have been there 3 times already and always great service!
(4)
Katie M.
This is hands down my favorite brunch and lunch place!! I have been here over two dozen times and will continue to go.. Marmalade never disappoints and everything I have ever ordered is always amazing!! The owner, Gus, is always so nice and wants to make sure everyone in his place is happy! The service is great! I will forever recommend this place!
(5)
Malleana R.
Best breakfast I've had that didn't come from my kitchen in a long time ! Great service ! Great smoothies !
(5)
Jodi B.
Delicious food! I had the vegan chiliquiles, and they had so much flavor and just a little kick. Yum!
(5)
Hope H.
They provided very friendly service and Azteca omelette with salsa verde as their special was very tasty. Ravenswood crepes are not too sweet. I really like the seasoning they use for side potatoes with the omelette and the potatoes were cooked just right. I will definitely come back again to try other dishes on the menu.
(4)
Jason M.
Awesome breakfast spot. I had the Right Stuff and the potatoes, and holy cow it was fantastic! I've been back with my wife and family several times, and the food is always great. I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Kassi B.
The food is pretty okay. And maybe that's all you care about. If so, enjoy! I, however, cannot stand going to this place. I have had the same server the last few times and was completely underwhelmed. I'm sure I'll keep going because it's so close to my job, but seriously I'd prefer competent smiling faces serving my eggs.
(3)
Andrew S.
Best breakfast in the neighborhood! This is by far my favorite spot on the north side of Chicago for breakfast or brunch. The food is incredibly fresh, with rotating specials, and the staff is always affable and friendly. You won't be disappointed with any omelette choice, and the actual marmalade they make will blow your socks off. Try going later in the morning/early afternoon to bypass the wait, or hit it up during the week day if you're playing hooky from work. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Tom Z.
One of the worst experiences I've had at a restaurant. Outrageous prices (almost $4 for a side of syrup?! Almost $3 for an extra egg?!), horrible service (a friend came by and we wanted to get a seat for her, but in asking our waitress who barely cared to pay attention to my question she wasn't sure, so asked the owner or boss that proceeded to quickly grunt no), the ketchup they give you is barely a packets worth in a nice metal container so we had to ask for plenty more), food did not warrant the prices, no substitutions, and no splitting the bill. What are we tipping for? Bad service and payment processing? It's a little brunch place, but you would think it was a high end fancy dinner restaurant based on the snobby attitudes and atmosphere of this place. Never going back again.
(1)
Tricia W.
We go here because it's 2 blocks from the house. We always leave irritated. Service is super slow and the waitresses are mentally compiling their grocery lists or something. As others have mentioned, forget getting out of here quickly. Even on a weekday when there's 1-2 other tables. Orders are frequently wrong, and once we were given an entire breakfast plate we didn't order (waitress dumped and left without a word). We were told when she came back 15 minutes later that it was a gift from the chef....um ok. I was going to give them 3 stars but then I remembered they charge $4 for a side of bacon.
(2)
Will C.
It took me so long to get to Marmalade and I can't figure out why. Picture one of the trendier restaurants of any of the ones popping up around Chicago claiming to strive for great ingredients, expertly prepared, and only pretending to follow through on it. Marmalade does all that, without needing to brag about it or pat themselves on the back. I don't see much press about them and the reason is obvious.. The food speaks for itself. Gosia (hope I'm spelling that right) was my server and she was a breath of fresh air. I have years of server experience and it's always my philosophy to treat guests as old friends having dinner at my home; familiar and caring. She did this without missing a beat. My girlfriend complimented her necklaces and she stopped to talk to us a little about them. This kind of service seems to almost get beaten out of people in Chicago and to see it still thriving here tells me it is run extremely well by someone who knows what they're doing. The menu is very original, my Spartan omelette was absolutely incredible. The kitchen is FAST without sacrificing quality. The coffee is good for a dark roast. This is no third-wave coffee shop or anything so that's fine. I haven't tried the espresso (and if you read any of my other reviews I always like to go in depth about the coffee) but I'll get back to you on it. It's BOLD but flavorful coffee. Stands up well to cream and a little sugar. I'll say this they brew it right on the money. I don't know why you're reading still unless you've already made your way there and you're finishing up reading this while eating your toast with guava marmalade. I hope that's the case. If not, maybe you should put your phone away and go to Marmalade.
(5)
Douglas B.
Wifey and I have been here a few times and I want to give it 4 stars, but as the rating says... its A-OK. The place is solid, solid 3 stars. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, the food is good. I feel it is a bit over priced for what you get, it's not something that's blowing me out of the water. It does get pretty busy on the weekends so be prepare to wait a bit during prime time. But they do a nice job of getting you seated as soon as they can. They do have some off the wall concoctions that honestly don't sound very appetizing to me, I like simple food. Some of the specials they have just have way too many ingredients in them, does not call my attention. I will leave it up to you to try it, heck you might like the specials they have. They are a solid restaurant, i really don't have any complaints. Everything tastes right, its good food, but nothing that I will rush to go get or line up for all the time. you might want to do it :D
(3)
Bless M.
Definitely one of my favorite breakfast places. Friendly staff and fresh food. A bit pricey but I love the french toast!
(4)
Jon R.
After years of coming here, Marmalade is still my favorite brunch place. The food is always incredible. There is always something new and interesting to try on the specials menu. Gus and Efrain have some amazing flavor combinations no matter if you are in the mood for sweet or savory or spicy. If you go on the weekend, you might have to wait for a seat because it can be a bit of a madhouse, but stick around and give it a try. Your tastebuds will thank you. You can see from the mixed yelps that you will either love this place (most people) or hate it (overprivileged crybaby prima donnas). Don't let the naysayers cheat you out of a delicious and creative meal.
(5)
Bernard L.
I have been here many times and I can't believe I haven't written a review yet. The owner Carlos has always been kind and gracious to everyone that walls in the door. A lot of places get real busy and you see the owner yelling at the employees as the pressure builds, but not Carlos. I appreciate that in a business and I think that shows in the food. They fit a lot of tables in a small space, but you don't feel cramped at all. Their brunch specials are to die for and almost always have some type of beef or pork dish. I recently had the chicken and waffles, which were great. The chicken was lightly breaded and moist and the waffles was crispy. I airways enjoy coming here fur brunch because I'm never disappointed.
(5)
Dan G.
Really good brunch/breakfast spot. Creative menu that is always changing. There is a Latin flair to the menu which keeps the food exciting. The specials are always worth a try. From pancakes to Benedicts to sandwiches I have been satisfied with everything I have had there. Fresh squeezed juices and good espresso are also a plus in my book. The service is friendly and the owner/manager always makes sure you are doing good. The last time I went I tried their take on biscuits and gravy. It came with a gravy smothered corn flake crusted boneless chicken breast and 3 little biscuits. Really creative and tasty. Those biscuits had little pieces of bacon in it and were legit. Overall it is worth the wait you run into on the weekends. It is brunch turned to 11. Can't wait to come back.
(4)
Executive Chef Ronnie B.
When you first walk into a new restaurant thing never been to before and the owner personally greet you and Pat you on the back like you're his best friend there something special to be said about that. The food was classic yet gourmet at the same time and it that's hard to find especially down to the whole wheat bread they put all the sandwiches on which is remarkable. The manager is seem to be was our server which I loved because he took our order & delivered our food in there was a server assistant dealing with all the details the customers might need like water silverware refills etc. I will be back here without a doubt & zero hesitation. For the record I had the jerk chicken club I believe it was called & It may have been the best chicken club I've ever eaten and this is coming from an executive chef. What I love most about this place is that Guss does nothing but brunch lunch & espresso and do it extremely extremely well. Gus coming from two contractors & a Chef which pride ourselves on quality....hats off to you Guss!!
(5)
Andrew B.
Ordered eggs over hard and was surprised that what I received was exactly that. Most places I've been to lately will bring a maximum of eggs over medium. So the kitchen knows what's up and that's always a good sign. I wouldn't get the savory creeps again, but that's personal taste. *no separate checks *one credit card per group *american express not accepted (visa, MasterCard or discover ok)
(5)
Ryan F.
Great neighborhood BYOB brunch option. I went today and had the Papi Chulo and it was excellent. They only allow one card per table which is kinda 1995 so perhaps they should change it up. I did notice that the table to my left and right had their food sent back as the waiter made some errors with their entrees. Overall great food!
(4)
R.A. H.
Been here several times. First review. Always something new to try at this place but at the same time having some great always available staples. Great use of flavor, texture and fabulous presentation. Location convenience also is a bonus. Ambiance is nicely casual. Family friendly. On this visit, I tried the Papi Chulo. Slow cooked pulled chicken sauteed in tomato chipotle sauce and salsa verde, with queso fresco and Chihuahua cheese topped with sour cream, guacamole and salsa verde. A dish to truly awaken the senses. Dishes aren't huge, which is nice, but more than enough to satisfy.
(5)
Roger M.
Helmed by a former chef at M. Henry, this joint pleases but not if you expect to be treated as if Beyonce and Jay-Z walked in, which is the vibe I get from reading the poor reviews. Gus the manager is friendly and accommodating. If he seems curt, it's because he's running the place like a tight ship and his work pays off. Their dishes are elevated, not standard breakfast fare so don't expect The Cracker Barrel. There's a twist to breakfast standards such as french toast, pancakes, benedicts and omelettes. If you want boring, go somewhere else but if you want your tastebuds wowed, by all means run inside. Most items are latin-inspired and executed well; the Azteca Omelette is crazy good with great flavors. Cubano french toast is a taste of the Caribbean on your plate. Lots of sweet and savory items guaranteed to satisfy everyone. Waitstaff is very efficient and the reason they scramble like F-14 jet fighters off to a dogfight. You won't wait longer than 15 mins at most times. The plus is that they have kept the business in the family since it was the neighborhood mainstay, LeSabre.
(5)
Benjamin B.
Marmalade is a great local establishment for brunch on the weekends. I had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. There is a high noise level, but it just adds to the ambiance. The waiter was friendly and the food was delicious. I had pancakes with bacon. The food tasted fresh and I enjoyed every bite.
(4)
Kaitlin K.
The food was AMAZING! I ordered a very well priced build your own omelette that had delicious flavors and spices! (I suggest black beans and pepper jack cheese!) They also serve fancy coffee drinks to enjoy with plenty of tasty breakfast/brunch options. I'm a vegetarian, my mom is a picky eater, and my dad's diet consists of mostly meat, so finding a restaurant that offers good food at good prices that meets my family's needs is difficult. Marmalade had a variety of options, vegan and vegetarian friendly and all well-made and well-priced. This is a great place for EVERYONE. I cannot WAIT to go back!!!
(5)
Justine G.
I would definitely come back to this neighborhood joint because not only is the food really good but also the staff and owner and very personable. It's also the kind of menu where you want to come back and try all the other yummy options. Definitely get the apple cider!
(4)
Karla U.
This place is cool. Since its a breakfast place it is crazy busy but they try their best to accommodate you. They have great options for breakfast and brunch. You will be surprised you can eat! :P Great food, juices, and lattes . Staff nice as well and attentive.
(5)
Christopher R.
Went here with friends because we needed a place that had vegan options (2 of us vegan, 2 omnivore). I was excited to go since there were tons of reviews here that suggest it's great for vegans... well. It's OK for vegans. Only ONE actual item on the menu is vegan - the chilequiles. There are a couple of vegan sides as well. Vegetarians rejoice - this place has tons for you. I was a little disheartened that there was only one vegan option and not in the mood to build a meal out of sides. And then... I asked for a mimosa - standard fare at brunch... but they don't have any alcohol :-( We are not off to a good start. Then I notice the "No splitting checks, No splitting card transactions sign." Ugh... I tell my friends, "This food better be amazing or I'm going to go insane!" Then the food arrived...and WOAH... it was SO GOOD!!! Dare I say AMAZING!! Everyone loved what they ordered. The Vegan chilequiles were perfect and the breakfast potatoes were killer. Also, the service was really great. Very friendly folks and no one's water glass (remember... no mimosas) was never more than half empty (er..half full?). Solid 4 stars because the food is really that good. But to get that 5th star... I would have loved the option of drinks, combine the sides into a plate special for another vegan option in the main dishes, and for the build an omeletta add the option of making a tofu scramble :-) Seriously, food is amazing and I definitely will be back.
(4)
Javier S.
Best brunch in Ravenswood, Lincoln Square area. Was in this morning and enjoyed a Caribbean Club and as usual French toast special, today's was a carrot loaf and an Oreo type. I can't get over how great Marmalade is.
(5)
Nickie P.
Great spot for brunch! I had a hard time deciding what to order because everything looked good -- I ended up with the Mayan omelette, which was great. Everything came in super large portions and was really great.
(5)
Joe L.
Simply amazing. Went in for breakfast and was welcomed by a hospitable team of servers and a manager. It was relatively busy, which is a good sign for a Monday morning. I got the Pollo Loco which I HIGHLY recommend. Lovely moist shredded chicken cooked in tomato and chipotle mixture, mounded over a crispy tortilla topped with two poached eggs (they were slightly over cooked) guacamole, sour cream, salsa verde, and queso fresco. It also came with their breakfast potatoes which were amazing as well. Potatoes, scallions, diced red peppers, all of them perfectly cooked. I can not wait to go back and try the other things I was fighting between. Just as a note, you can not split the tab here. So only one credit card for the table.
(5)
Sofia G.
One of my favorite breakfast spots! Everything I've tried here is delicious: guava french toast, the crepes, the aztec omelette, hash and eggs, the funghi omelette... Never a wrong dish! And the service is always friendly!
(5)
Kathleen C.
Marmalade was a nice change from the usual spots...which are overly packed and typically not that amazing. Marmalade was friendly and cute, with no frills decor and really nice staff. We visited for brunch and only had a few minute wait. The menu is MASSIVE! It has a zillion things listed. I opted for the two eggs any style with potatoes and toast. The eggs were perfectly done, but skip the cheese - it's a waste and I wasn't expecting it to come out as it did. The toast options didn't include white (I know, it's not as healthy, but for some reason, I really like white toast with my eggs...multigrain was pretty good, though). The potoates were good, though I wasn't expecting them to have little bits of peppers in them. They also were a bit crispy, though not as hot as I would have expected on the inside. I also ordered a side of one hotcake. This was the only disappointing part as I had to ask for it when it didn't arrive and then it took at least 20 min to come out (pretty good, though). Everyone else devoured their meals, so obviously the food is pretty good. I don't think it was anything over the top, but it did hit the spot. Service was the part that really took a beating here. They came to refill coffees and skipped mine...next time the coffee refill was on it's way, I had to hand over my cup so that no one forgot. Also, there seemed to be quite a bit of confusion with the order....it was a bit busy, and the server was really nice, but I was a tad frustrated about the overall service level. Pretty good spot. Food - 4 Service - 2 Atmosphere - 3 Bathrooms - 3 Value - 5
(3)
Meg R.
We come here often. It's our neighborhood breakfast spot. Well it was anyways. The food is normally good. Service good enough. Never had a problem until this morning. Our waitress with super long hair didn't have it pulled back. And every time she put something on our table her hair dipped in our water. There were 4 of us. So the two of us that were on the outside of the table this kept happening. So gross!!! So then we kept watching her and she was at the kitchen window. Grabbing her hair putting her fingers through it. Then she grabbed our food off the line!!! Sooo gross. Our last straw was when she was clearing our plates and her hair went into my almost empty latte cup. We all saw it. We just shook our heads and got out of there. We won't be back. That's for sure. We are all in the industry and one of the number one health code rules is pull your hair back! Especially when it's down to your butt!
(1)
Carla E.
OMG THIS PLACE IS BAE!!! I have been there couple times and they make me fall in love more and more each time!!! i recommend the papi chulo, it has that delicious flavor!!!!!
(5)
Bert T.
They really don't want my business! The sign on the door says they are open until 2:30. I arrived at 1:55 and asked to be seated. The owner said NO, because they were closing In half an hour. I said, "you know you are losing a customer. Are you OK with that?' He said, "I'm fine with that." Well -- OK then. Buh BYE!
(1)
Natalia R.
Me and my husband went to Marmalade today for breakfast. We came here a couple of times before that and the experience was ok, average I would say. Today was the worst. I'm going to point out the things that are most annoying: Noise: the place is small and usually pretty busy - I guess this is the reason it's VERY VERY noisy. You can hardly have a conversation there. Food: average. The french toast wasn't anything special, seemed a little dry. Waiters: they seem very stressed and they run around like crazy and obviously try really hard to clean tables and sit people down. This makes it difficult to relax. Imagine sitting at a small table for two in the middle of the restaurant when someone constantly runs (literally, runs) back and forth past to your table. Service: when we sat down waiter came quickly and took our orders, he was nice and patient. When we had our first coffees we had to wait for a long time for a refilll. We both finished coffees BUT the waiter only offerred a refill to my husband, ignored me, and disappeared so quickly I didn't ahve a chance to say anything. It took me a very long time to get someone's attention again to get a refill of my coffee. They were very quick to bring us the check though. Hmm... didn't surprise me at all. This is the place where they want you to quickly order, eat and get out ASAP. We will never come back.
(2)
Gino W.
Voulez-vous manger avec moi ce jour? Voulez-vous manger avec moi? Okay, so that may be a bit much. No, it wasn't. I love ethnic food and one thing I will admit that American restaurants get right is breakfast. I was hesitant to go to Marmalade because of some of the reviews, but sometimes you have to check things out for yourself. Breakfast bliss all around for the start of my birthday. Cafe au lait. Eggs scrambled well with cream cheese. Cubano French toast. The cafe au lait was not bitter, not in the least. I drank it without any sugar and said silently, "Intelligentia, you have competition." By the second cup, I was saying, "Intelligentia what?" Nothing spectacular about cream cheese in my eggs, as that is a staple for my desired preparation of eggs. Where I wanted to stand up and sing "Gino Marmalade," was with the Cubano French toast. I would gladly have enjoyed a petite mort after the first bite of the French toast in guava marmalade with a cream anglaise, topped with strawberries, guava, and granola.
(4)
Michael N.
Marmalade is one of those city restaurants that Ashley and I drive 30+ miles for. It is not conveniently located for us...at all. We have to take 94 down to Irving Park, then east to Damen, then up to Montrose. But....it's worth it. I would walk 500 miles for those breakfast potatoes. I would trudge through sludge for their breakfast skillets. There is no distance that could keep me from Marmalade. It has become a holiday restaurant for us. We went there on Memorial Day, and then on Labor Day. I wish there was another Monday holiday coming up so we could go back soon. Their servers are fast and friendly. It is a smaller restaurant, so there is usually a wait. But once you walk in, the smell of deliciousness fills your booger holes and you tell yourself "60 minute wait? That's ok." Jk, the longest we waited was probably 15 minutes. The portions are enormous too. It is a little pricey for breakfast, but it is really awesome. There aren't many, but Marmalade is one of the reasons why I envy people who live in Chicago.
(5)
Elise W.
I'm a little sad to write this review. I've been to this restaurant twice previously, and had a great experience with both service and food. However this Sunday was different. I was with a group of 4 and we called ahead to find out wait times. The person on the phone told us there wasn't a wait - well when we got there 10 minutes later, the line was out the door and it was over a half hour. My friend said that we had just called and a staff member later whispered to her that the manager told her to lie to us about the wait on the phone. This really turned all of us off, but we decided to stay since I had previously enjoyed my experiences here. Our waitress, I have to say, was really friendly, so that part of service was o.k. We ordered our food - I got one of the benedicts and asked for hollandaise on the side. When it came, however, the plate was drowning in it. Not a big deal, I asked them to fix it. However, it came back to me a minute later with streak marks from where they obviously took a towel and wiped the sauce off - it was still on the bread and the whole plate of food was cold. The poached eggs were cold and hardened in the middle. By this point, I did not want to send it back again - so I just dealt with it. My friend ordered french toast and she said the bread was stale. Super disappointing. I realize the restaurant was really busy, but they should still care about the food they put out and management should definitely not lie to customers in order to try and get more business. I unfortunately will not be back after this experience.
(2)
Chris M.
This place is outstanding! Our friends invited us to join them for Sunday brunch, so glad they did. The service was warm, friendly, attentive, and impeccable. The food was diverse and superb. They offer the traditional breakfast and lunch options but with their own unique interpretation. Marmalade also offers many unique dishes - too many to try in one visit - so a great reason to go back. Highlights of our first trip: french toast flight, the crabmeat eggs benedict and beignets.
(5)
Lauren R.
Marmalade is our default on Mondays when Over Easy isn't open. At Over Easy, we arrive at 7am with the morning crowd, and are out with a full, happy belly by 7:30 at the extreme latest. At Marmalade, we arrive at their 7:30 opening time, and cross our fingers to be out by 8:30 after being 1 of 2 tables occupied at that time. The food is good, except for the greasy potatoes, and the water is constantly refilled. The staff is just slower, with no clear drive to improve, and they make it VERY clear that they will not be inconvenienced to split a check for you. Signs are everywhere.
(3)
Hannah C.
This place had a wait, but they were managing it very well. Four of us went in and all of us loved it. I got killer french toast, boyfriend got a Mexican-inspired potato dish. None of us was disappointed. Service was quite good given how busy they were! Seriously, this was so good I sort of don't want to review it so that it doesn't get any busier. But I will say this: when in doubt, try one of the Mexican dishes - they won't disappoint.
(5)
Alessandra S.
What a gem! A solid brunch spot with an abundance of choices, you honestly can't go wrong. Bring your vegetarian friends! Bring your vegan friends! Bring your hungover friends! Bring your kids! This place accommodates all. The place is always packed when I go for brunch on the weekends, yet somehow they manage to seat me within 15 minutes of walking in each time I've gone. So far, I've had The Lady Marmalade, Pollo Loco, and their steak omelette. Everything was wonderful, but I think they do Mexican breakfast items particularly well. Their house potatoes are exploding with flavor and taste great alone or accompanying any item on the menu. Service was friendly and prompt. They look like they are having a good time, and that's always fun to see. Honestly, the only problem is that everything sounds good and it is much too hard to choose only one item. The only way to solve this problem is for me to go back until I've tried everything! Challenge happily accepted.
(5)
Ari A.
Foodgasm. Do I need to say much else? The memorable dishes from this fine tornado morning were Pollo Loco, Aztec Omelette, and Mexican Breakfast Combo. If you think you can finish the Aztec Omelette, think again. The weirdest thing about the Mexican Breakfast Combo was the sunny side up eggs, and the Pollo Loco had the perfect amount of pulled chicken drizzled in yolk. Yeah this place will leave your mouth watering. Space is limited, but the staff is great at ensuring you always have a drink in hand, even if you're waiting outside in the bitter cold. Nothing wrong with a morning coke for a breakfast of Champions. Come hungry, leave full. *Bring cash if you're splitting the bill with friends!
(4)
Jessica G.
Will not be back. I gave this place another try (against my better judgement) and was sadly disappointed. I ordered the chilequiles which come with scrambled tofu, and asked if I could get that with scrambled egg instead. Waitress said no problem. ...Then waitress came back and said they would give me both tofu and egg, and I said, "no thank you, I just want egg - no want tofu." She said OK, it will be $1 for the substitution. No problem! We wait for our meal, wincing along to the way-too-loud and staticy music. My dish arrives - hilequiles sadly forlorn on a plate, with an egg on the side - not mixed as a scramble as it should have been. Ok, ok - I did request a change. The salsa was tasty, and the egg was a scrambled egg (can't easily mess that up) but that was the end of it. The chips were tough and unpleasant, potatoes hard as stone and inedible. Then the bill arrives, and I was charged $2.50 for an egg on the side. Excuse me? I don't mind paying for something changed, but when I'm told a price, I expect you to charge me what you said. Sure, it's only $1.50, but it's the principle of the thing. I paid it, but I will not be back. I can tolerate rude waitstaff, but paired with bad food, it's definitely scratched off my go-to list of Chicago eats.
(1)
Kevin G.
Ate here after running a 5k last Saturday. I ordered the Simply French Toast. Calling this dish "simple" is definitely accurate. The french toast completely lacked flavor. Aside from the parts that I poured maple syrup on, the french toast tasted like regular bread. Definitely not good. My girlfriend ordered an omelet with potatoes. The potatoes were good. There are plenty of breakfast spots in Chicago where you can get a good breakfast. This place is not one of them.
(2)
Natan Y.
It was my first time eating there. I have seen a barrage of reviews so I figured this place was good... I asked the waitress who was really nice what she recommended. She recommended a polenta bacon plate with quesodilla.... I didn't like it. It tasted like leftover Thanksgiving. The quesodilla was filled with goat cheese and grapes?(I know gross) I dunno it was creative and we'll presented however no bacon in the polenta.. in fact that's something there menu lacks. I feel like this is a place for women to get breakfast or vegans they forget about our carnivorous needs. You need a more diverse menu that offers plates of meat. It was actually the first time I can remember a breakfast restaurant had no steak. I will most likely not be back however the sweet potatoes were delightful.
(3)
Luli S.
Bad service. Sat down and asked the server for specials she said they are on the boards. One of the boards was facing on a wall that protruded beyond our table which meant we would of had to walk around just to know the specials. Thanks a lot Stephanie. Just pd for my coffee and left. Service sux!
(1)
Mark T.
The unusual weekday off from work called for brunch. I'm usually the type of person that would go for someplace new, that I've heard about but have never tried before. Luckily Marmalade was nearby so my sis and I decided to check this place out. We were familiar with the neighborhood that Marmalade now sits since this place is nearby the very first house that we moved to when the family decided to live in the city. Since I'm the younger of the two, I was very little at the time. I had a vague recollection but my sister remembered this place to be another type of restaurant. Anyways, back to the review. We had just missed the breakfast hour so we decided to tackle the brunch specials. I had the Florentine Crab Benedict : crab cakes and poached eggs, with sauteed garlic spinach, dill sour cream, and spicy chipotle hollandaise on top of our homemade cornbread; served with our chef's potatoes. Granted, these weren't as good as mom's crab cakes, but they were still good enough for my taste buds. I could never decide what opinion I have about poached eggs in general, but somehow they went well with the dish. I was expecting more from the cornbread, but the portion size was the right amount and I was glad for that. The wait staff was excellent and the kitchen to table time was great. if this was a weekend, I fully expect this place to be packed; the food was that good. The space itself is somewhat small, but it's brightly lit and the paintings on the walls are a nice touch (loved the "Lady Marmalade" painting especially). I have zero problems coming back here!
(4)
Leanne A.
This was a welcome addition to Ravenswood when it opened. The nearby brunch options before were Fountainhead (more gastropub fair) Selmarie (quite a bit further away) Julius Meinl (more cafe than brunchy) Tiny Lounge (more bar than brunch)...so ya, Marmalade is the only real breakfast and brunch choice. I love the cozy vibe. It's like a clean, modern diner. I agree with others that the sweet options are better than the savory. They have awesome french toast dishes that are covered in fresh berries. The first time I went, I thought it tasted very similar to m. henry. Lo and behold, the menu was designed by the same chef. So all those who think Marmalade is "copying" m. henry....um it's not. It's kind of like a mini off shoot. That's the whole point. Oh, and the outdoor seats are a perfect way to enjoy brunch here if it's not too chilly.
(4)
Allen B.
I remember when this place used to be LeSabre. I miss that place, but I'm sure they've gone on to bigger and better things. Anyways, Marmalade --what a nice place. I don't know how else to explain it, maybe it was the service, maybe it was the warm greeting that my girlfriend and I received upon entry, maybe it was the cleanliness. I don't know. I....just....don't.....know. But regardless, Marmalade is definitely a quaint breakfast spot that we will hit up again. The service was fast and friendly and the owner (I believe he might have been the owner) greeted us at the door which made our breakfast experience that much better. Go check this place out and if you see me there, make sure you say hi. =)
(4)
Michael D.
I really wish I could give this place more stars. The food is really, really good. I've had the Mayan Omelette, which is delicious. They used very fresh ingredients and the flavor was great - the crepes are excellent too. The drawbacks: * Service is slow, especially on weekends. It gets really crowded, but that isn't an excuse-- hire more waiters * The coffee isn't great. For a brunch place, this is surprising. Also, they put out non-dairy creamer on the table... I had to request half and half from the kitchen. Waiter seemed a little irritated about having to do this. * NO SPLIT CHECKS. Extremely obnoxious. I really have to rack my brain thinking of places in Chicago that do this... it seems to me that the credit card transaction fee is worth not irritating the customers. Also, judging by the reviews, I'm not the only one who was annoyed
(3)
Vanessa R.
We were doing some shopping in Northcenter and thought we should finally stop by this place to check it out for brunch. We were pleasantly surprised there was no wait, but I think I now know why. Food is not very good. I really wanted to love this place as it's in the neighborhood, and is great for people with dietary restrictions as they have gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options. In my case, I loved that they have their gluten free items clearly marked with a "GF" on their menu so you don't have to grill the server with a ton of questions. I ordered the vegan/gluten free chilaquiles with onions, baby spinach, red and green peppers over an organic tofu scramble with a green salsa. Since all egg dishes come with a side, I opted for the oven roasted potatoes. Chilaquiles are kind of hard to mess up, and to date I don't think I have ever not left my plate clean eating these, but these were hard to swallow. The chips tasted like they were straight out of a bag, salsa was not spicy at all or flavorful (like the salsa verde you can buy in a can), the tofu scramble also lacked any flavor at all, and the worst part was the potatoes on the side - they tasted awful, as if they were coated in a cheese sauce or something (which was not possible because this was a vegan dish). I thought I was overreacting and had my husband try them and he agreed they tasted really bizarre, pretty much inedible. Husband ordered a skillet as well and was underwhelmed as well. Another thing I was really put off by: multiple times all over the menus, it clearly states in all caps that no substitutions can be made, no exceptions, on any dish. This lack of flexibility in ordering stinks. Overall the food just didn't cut it at all and I was underwhelmed by the lack of non-egg gluten free options where not a single non-egg gluten free option was available (e.g. crepes, waffles, pancakes). Bummer.
(2)
Laura L.
Perfectly fine. It's nice to see a brunch menu that goes beyond the basic 'omelet and french toast'. Major kudos for that. On execution, I felt it fell just a little short. It certainly was not bad, it just left me on the cusp of completely impressed. The service was pretty great, wish I could remember our waitresses name - even went to check on the receipt but it said Bob, which I doubt was HER name. - I got the shrimp omelet which was very flavorful (though there were some wetness to the egg that I found unappealing) but the potatoes were kind of just weird. - The marmalade and chutney were delightful. - My husband's chicken from the chicken and biscuit also had a bit of an odd flavor to it that I couldn't quite place. Overall, it felt very reminiscent of Tweet to me, but a step below. Obviously not BAD though, or it wouldn't have received 4 stars.
(4)
Marie B.
So, we've passed this place up several times to go to Glenn's dinner. We decided to switch it up a bit and try Marmalade. It...was...Fantastic! Another great brunch place to add onto our amazing Chicago brunch list. I had the Italian (I forgot the real name) omlette special, so good. Fresh basil was a plus. Their house potatoes had the perfect amount of seasoning and spice. The jam was amazing, so amazing that we bought some to take home! Their coffee was yummy too.. Must Try!
(4)
LaDarian D.
French toast & Omelette selections are wide & fantastic. Services is good & friendly. It's always an enjoyable experience. Not a potato fan much, but the home fries are awesome
(5)
Ashley S.
Shut the front door. This place. Breakfast, I mean how good can it get? I'll tell you how good it can get....think of something that makes you really happy, cotton candy at the fair, a walk on a sunny Spring day....what makes me happy..a mexican combination platter from Marmalade. This may have been the best dish I've ever eaten. It was perfection. It's a really good thing I don't live in the area, I would be 1,000LBS. The plate consisted of a delicious homemade guacamole, a wonderful chile sauce over lightly crisp tortilla chips, 2 cheese quesadillas, 2 eggs(your choice) and the most amazing breakfast potatoes I've ever eaten! Oh. My. Gosh. I need to go back there now....except it's 4:37pm and I don't think they're open, so I guess I'll have to wait....but trust me when I say I will be back and I will dominate that plate again.
(5)
Lauren O.
Finally got to try this place out! It is usually very crowded and honestly I don't have the patience to wait. But on a crappy, snowy, Monday around 11:30am it worked out perfectly for us. There was a decent crowd of people but not overly crowded and we didn't have to wait. Everything on the menu looks amazing.I went with the Mexican Breakfast Combo. The potatoes were delicious. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly. The chilaquiles were topped with slasa verde & fresh guacamole....just the right amount of spicy. The quesadillas were nice & cheesy. Everything was really good but it was just too much food for me. I def left a lot on my plate. The man had the Efrain's Diablo Omeletta. He was quiet as a mouse eating and ate every last morsel of it. His also came with potatoes. Nothing was left on his plate. We eye balled everyone else's food around us and agreed that we would def be going back. The lunch options also sounded good but we were in the mood for breakfast. Either way we'll be back!
(4)
Jacob J.
Almost a year later and I'm still a fan with more visits under my belt. People need to stop reading reviews.. LoL ( I speak of waiting times). There are times in the day that I want a sweet treat and have tried stopping by just for their sweet plantains only to find a twenty minute wait on seating. I've stated this once, which will be repeated, I've had plantains at other restaurants and found them to be over cooked, dried out, etc. They are good here. Recently I stopped in again and brought newbies which are now turned on to the Marmalade following. Dining with two is fun but with four offers your eyes a feast. This time round we all ordered different items. Sweet, savories, hearty and more. I tell ya, their spicy chiliquiles is bomb! if it weren't for the inclusion of eggs, I could have this twice a week. On the menu its mentioned as a vegan, but I often ask for them to meat it out. Eggs and maybe a side of some good breakfast meat. Marmalade's menu is ever changing with a few items being standard on their menu, find newer mentions in chalk on boards. I would suggest dining with someone interested in ordering opposite of you so that both can try a bit of sweet or savory. Service is decent, good but not perfect depending on whom you get. I haven't had a complaint yet but I think they could hold back from offering so much coffee so often. (Of course this is merely a request of my own experiences, whereas others may see it as being on their toes.) At other times, the coffee is frequent but other items are forgotten. If visiting find lots of street parking nearby and definitely call ahead for wait times.
(4)
Reagan W.
We went here for an anniversary brunch.. Very laid back. Food was very good and came out in a timely manner. Their outside seating is too close to one another though.
(4)
Jerry C.
I don't eat pork so I asked to substitute with chicken on the bennie but was told No! No problem in future as I will eat elsewhere.
(1)
Lily P.
Went here for the first time, and I must say not a very friendly atmosphere. The hostess were NOT pleasant and gave us a look of: um no Mexicans allowed...Yes, I said it because that is how it happen. If she only knew, who she was walking in that restaurant she wouldn't act that way. Now, I am simply placing a phone call to my well know Chicago Land Food Critic and let him know of my experience. Needless to say; took my business somewhere else to the Egghead Diner, NOW that is service with a smile!!!
(1)
Samantha R.
Absolutely love this place! (: first time here, food was amazing and the customer service is great.
(5)
EDELMA A.
Went in for lunch after finding out Fountainhead wasn't open. We wanted salads and decided to order two that were on the menu. It's got to be difficult to mess up a salad, but they managed to mess up two. The sirloin steak on my salad was like eating beef jerky, and the beets on the other salad looked pruney and from the bottom of the barrel. Really disappointed, had high hopes. If we return, we'll stick to the breakfast.
(1)
Jennifer K.
The food here is so good that I am disappointed to leave a review like this. When I was in last week, I had the unpleasant experience of listening to the manager/owner (I think) yelling at his staff. It is so unacceptable to dress down staff in front of a line of customers. And it is stressful for customers! A Sunday morning should not include yelling. And after he was done yelling at the hostess, he was loud and rude throughout the restaurant. This made me really not want to go back.
(2)
sidney l.
Was at here earlier and now I realize why this place place is great. The reason the use real butter and clean ingredients not like some other breakfast spots that use everything out of a can or that synthetic frying oil that most places uses.
(5)
Tresa M.
I'm always surprised that this doesn't have more stars. I have eaten here many times and have never had a negative experience. The Pollo Loco is delicious. They have many Mexican style breakfast dishes and overall, they are very good. The service is good, could be faster, but food is solid. Waits on the weekends aren't too long and the prices are fair.
(4)
Susan S.
Augh! I just want to pack this restaurant in my purse and bring it back to St Louis as a souvenir! I have absolutely nothing negative to say (and one eye brow raising thing to say) about this excellent restaurant. First of all, the only problem you'll have is deciding which direction to take your order. Do you want savory or sweet? I am a savory breakfast eater but always manage to score a bite of sweet from the DH or kids. Too bad they weren't with me this time. I ordered a Mexican style eggs benedict with poached eggs, chorizo, avocado, insanely corny corn tortillas, and a maravillosa sauce. The serving size was just right---not too much, not too little. The coffee was hot and plentiful and the server happily brought us milk for our coffee. The only negative comment I would make is that one of the servers was wearing those Lululemon see through tights. WE REALLY COULD SEE EVERYTHING! It was weird!
(5)
Cassie V.
Came here for brunch with my family, it's one of my parents go to breakfast places. The hostess was very accommodating when my step requested a table change. And service was awesome throughout, our coffee was always refreshed, table was cleared quickly (not rushing us, but giving us room), and the food was delicious. They have a harvest hash special going on right now that includes brisket...brisket for breakfast is never a wrong way to go. Two people in my party got it, and were pleased. I got mama Maria's enchiladas and they were a sweet deliciousness that came with eggs. Not spicy but they give you hot sauce, if you need the kick. They're americano was also superb. Beware that it's a small Chicago space, so there is only a few perfect seats in the house, ie away from the door or the kitchen, but don't let this sway you if you want to experience the food. I will be back!
(4)
Erick N.
My wife and I were joined with a friend this morning for a post-run brunch (while post-run for my wife, seeing that it was in the 40s earlier today with drizzle and wind I smartly opted to sleep in and forgo my morning run). We had a rather pleasant (though certainly not spectacular) brunch and all of us enjoyed our entrees. Marmalade is nothing fancy on the inside and does not possess much ambiance, but wow - they have quite an appetizing menu. This is not a boring breakfast/brunch place with predictable fare but they have some interesting choices and a nice balance of sweet and savory. As I was feeling guilty for skipping out on my run I almost opted for their healthy pancakes made with more grains than I could count, but there were far too many tempting options for my willpower to overcome. Just when I thought I had my choice narrowed down our server informed of us additional specials (that also sounded quite good, such as a BBQ Pork Benedict on brioche). The menu appeared to be a fusion of American and Mexican cuisine. After seeking some advice form our server (Carolina) I ordered the El Picante Benedict which consists of a Hodge-podge of goodies such as homemade tortillas, sweet plantains, spicy chorizo, poached eggs, Mexican rice, corn, black beans, avocado slices, queso fresco and Mayan sauce. In lieu of missing my run I had them hold the sour cream (seemed like a fair trade off... after all I could have ordered the Oreo Raspberry Hotcakes, the Cinnamon Bread Pudding or the Strawberry Rhubarb French Toast). While prices are a bit higher than most casual brunch locales (my dish was $11.50) portions were quite generous and everything was pretty darn good. The coffee was decent as well. Some recent reviews had mentioned spotty and slow service, but this was not the case this morning. Our server was extremely attentive, friendly (and was rather pleasant on the eyes to boot). She checked in with us frequently and our coffees never became more than half empty before they were topped off. We arrived a little after 9:00am, so it probably helped that we beat the late morning rush (Marmalade was fairly crowded, but not yet full). I certainly would not mind coming back here and trying out some of the other intriguing menu items.
(4)
Mahesh S.
This is quickly becoming one of our favorite breakfast places to go to. The food is really good and the wait staff is amazing. Unless you are a party of 2 or less expect a wait time of anywhere between 15-30 minutes. Price is probably 30% more than other comparable places. Plenty of street parking around the area. I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)
KC F.
This place was so good. I really enjoyed their brunch and can't wait to head back to try other menu items (papaya french toast?!). There seemed to be a constant wait for tables but it moved quickly. Would recommend!
(5)
Michael U.
Arriving early, only perhaps forty-five minutes after Marmalade had opened its doors and again allocating free parking without difficulty but on our arrival to the doors we were instantly struck by just how packed the restaurant was-literally every seat was filled and parties of eight, four, and two preceded us on the wait list. Debating whether or not we wanted to stay the hostess informed us that in her opinion the wait would be "no more than fifteen minutes" and deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt we were pleasantly surprised when a number of patrons all seemed to finish their meal at once leaving us a nice seat near the window and with full view of the kitchen a mere ten minutes later. With the restaurant clearly busy and menu present on the table as we arrived I took some time browsing the bakery items before returning to my seat and from this point forward we would wait while watching what may be the most inefficient restaurant in the history of overcrowded brunch spots. With servers racing here and there refilling drinks, bussing tables, serving foods, brewing labor intensive espressos, seating patrons, and just trying to keep up it would be at least fifteen minutes after we were seated before our server would even notice us to take drink orders-water only-before again racing off without taking our order. Finally returning only after she'd bussed a table and served another we finally had the opportunity to place our orders...and wait , wait, and wait some more with empty water glasses until our orders arrived. Chuckling at the clever paintings and number of persons now waiting outside while musing about how much more efficient the restaurant could be by simply adding a dedicated bus-boy and barista/bakery worker the first item to arrive at our table would prove nearly worth the wait-a Sweet Potato and sour Cherry Muffin dense and moist with flavors of cinnamon and cloves punctuated by large cherries impressively ripe for this time of year. A bit small for the $3.50 price tag this was still a good muffin and the streusel topping plenty sweet to offset the slight savory notes of the sweet potato. Now nearly fifty minutes post-seating our main courses would finally arrive and although each was complicated none was as much so as the "Jason's Omelette," a three egg fold absolutely stuffed with sweet potato, butternut squash, pumpkin, caramelized onions, cranberries, cognac chicken sausage, goat cheese and topped with a red wine reduction. A difficult flavor to describe though largely predominated by the boozy notes of the wine and cognac melding with the savory notes from the cheese and the onions I'm really not sure that I "liked" this kitchen sink approach, though it was definitely novel and something I could envision myself making on the morning before I left on vacation to use up various odds and ends in my fridge. Moving next to the sweets, my sister's selection was the "Mango and blueberry cinnamon roll presented cut in half served with warm mangos and blueberries, smothered with cream cheese icing and sprinkled with granola." Again an interesting option and arriving large and colorful this dish began and ended with the cinnamon roll, a decent representation that I had expected to be cooked something like French toast (a la Yolk,) which was simply plated and topped with the aforementioned ingredients - all a bit out of season and not particularly sweet without the addition of the icing. Overall a bit disappointing especially given the price I think Marmalade would be better served to alter the ingredients seasonally or to rethink the preparation of the cinnamon roll (or both.) For the final selection my choice for the morning would be "Breakfast Gingerbread Pudding," the best option of the morning by far with the dense gingerbread perfectly soaked but toasted on the top and served piping hot. Good on its own the pudding was additionally complimented by the addition of raspberry marmalade, orange marmalade, and thick crème anglaise. A small portion overall but substantially sweet I would strongly recommend this dish to anyone and to Marmalade I'd recommend serving it all week long instead of only during weekend brunch as it was without a doubt their most well conceptualized and executed item. With my sister and her friend now bordering on running late for their tour of Crucial Design studio the delivery of our check would again be delayed but once it arrived we were encouraged to pay up front at the hostess stand - another design flaw as this is also where people waiting for a seat are forced to stand - but in this case a lucky occurrence as the restaurant's owner was standing there eliciting feedback - opinions I was more than willing to give and opinions that he was happy to receive noting that they were in the process of streamlining the service procedures and that they were "still learning what works" - a good practice for any restaurant, especially in a strong market.
(3)
Troy E.
Marmalade has always been a solid breakfast option for me, wifey, and the little one. I'm pretty easy, consistently order eggs, potatoes, sausage, wheat toast.... If my eggs are hot, I'm a happy camper. The potatoes are fantastic, crispy edges, a little kick, great flavor. My wife seems to dabble into the more creative menu items, and has always had good things to say. Today, I veered off the map and had the multigrain pancakes. I was worried they would be dry and tasteless, but they were fluffy and sweet. My toddler has been crazy for apples recently. I asked if apples were included in the kids fruit cup, server said "yes", ended up being peaches, pears, pineapple, strawberries. Not a huge issue, but I wouldn't have ordered if I were told "no". The server acknowledged there were no apples when delivering to the table, and pointed out that there were pears. Also ordered three pancakes, only recd two. The server was proactive, noticed before I did and recovered, but added "we will only charge for two". The check came and I was charged for all three. Again, not a huge issue, but not following through on recoveries is the most important part. While signing the check, the busser took my almost finished plate without asking if we were finished. I'll return, food is always a hit, but it sort of bothered me that both small technicalities experienced were noticed by the staff, but not really corrected.
(4)
Leah C.
chilaquiles, i've missed you... and i cleared my plate of the delicious vegan version. this dish in itself will keep me coming back. we shared a pumpkin muffin which satiated our hunger at most. just like every other brunch spot in chicago, expect a wait but on a nice day, it's a fun/non congested neighborhood to stroll before your table is ready . we were able to tetris in our newest accessory - a stroller - fairly easily amongst the tables, which is key these days. service was quick and flawless (also key for us these days when we're on a feeding schedule :) )
(4)
Kathy A.
I love this place. I have been here a few times and plan on going more often. The food is great, service is excellent and enjoy the variety of food options. I recently became vegan and was excited to see they had vegan options. My meal was so delicious and the manager was pleasant.
(5)
Marco H.
I've walked past this place many times and there's always been a long line...so i kept walking. But luckily on my day off, there wasn't a wait, so I figured I'd try Marmalade. It was delicious, starting with the coffee. Normally I have low expectations for getting a decent cup of joe, but Marmalade's was actually quite good. Feeling famished, I went for the Papi Chullo: a tasty combination of slow cooked pulled chicken, tomato chipotle sauce, salsa verde on top of a bed of potatoes and guacamole. It's a winner (and a good hangover breakfast). My wife ordered the french toast, which was also really good. I'll definitely be back to try The Fat Mexican (yes a real dish on the menu).
(4)
Ginger F.
They're open late now on the weekends. I headed over there on a recent Friday night. It was myself two other people - the new hours are off to a shaky start. I had the pumpkin French toast and it was pretty awful. It wasn't French toast...it was two slices of pumpkin bread with some kind of super sugary glaze drizzled over it. It wasn't even warm. Just bleh. I've had other decent things there - nothing extraordinary.
(3)
Megan R.
I've been here probably 5 times now and every time I'm left in food heaven. Service can be hit or miss, and the place itself, while it looks nice, had its challenges (been here twice with the heat broken in cold weather). But the menu? Amazing. I always do sweet brunches, so I've had the lady marmalade (tasty), the pumpkin French toast (to die for- they use rich pumpkin bread as the base) red velvet French toast (best I've ever had), sweet potato pancakes or French toast (so good), and a handful of the weekend specials. Always good. Shorter wait than most places. I highly recommend it
(4)
Dhruv P.
I just read about this place 2 days ago on Thrillist and fwd'd to my good friend and fellow yelp (non-elite) Monica. We, along with fellow elites Ali, Sonali and a nonyelper, were to meet up for our now defunct EAT meeting. Monica was coming from LA and catching up with us so we planned to do brunch initially at M Henry, for 10 am, even though we were scared that lines could keep us out on the sidewalk for quite some time. But after getting the email, we thought this place would be fun and were able to score a reservation. The inside was much larger than what it looked on the outside (it looks like a building that squatted in a alley - except its a corner storefront). We were offered drinks right away and the waitress kept us informed (let us know when she was coming back after refilling water/coffee for orders). I got the signature stuffed French toast. It's sweet enough and tasty BUT it's being stuffed is a misnomer. Its more like a French toast sandwich with jam "stuffed" in between the slices. And if you're ordering it, after all, its their signature item (not sure why), be advised to split it with someone else. The portion is quite enough to feed a hungry hippo, if the aforementioned hippo liked sweet toast instead of marbles. There were 8 triangles, or 4 bread slices. Most places are 50-75% of this serving. From others, briefly of course, since they will post on yelp, was that the vegan Spanish inspired dish with tofu scramble really stood out from the other dishes and I'll order it next time I come. This place is a good place to get brunch. But it's not as creative as m Henry. I'm torn giving it 4 stars - It's more like 3.5 stars. Its a great addition to the neighborhood. It's better than Bakin' & Eggs I went to a couple weeks ago. The dishes I tried were good and tasty and service was pleasent. But I had higher expectations from a chef at M Henry. And if I had a choice between this and Julius Meinl a little westward, I would choice Julius Meinl in a heartbeat.
(4)
Elle F.
Food and service were good, but they don't let you split a check between 2 different credit cards. Totally ridiculous.
(3)
Claire H.
This dump does not even deserve one star. The service was horrendous, the food worse. We waited 40 minutes for our food, and when my salad arrived it tasted spoiled. I told the server, at which point the owner arrived at our table. His behavior was atrocious at best. And his bullying behavior to wait staff worse. I feel sorry for anyone who steps foot in this dirty, smelly restaurant ( and by the way, the bathroom was filthy and the kitchen even worse. There is a view from the hallway by the bathroom). I wished the server good luck and said I hope that he is nicer to his staff than he is to his customers, to which she replied, "No comment. This job will have to do for now."
(1)
Michael S.
I had a craving for an omelette with chorizo so I walked up the street from my place to Marmalade. Have eaten here several times before and everything that I've eaten was great except for the pancakes that were a little bit dry, My favorite is the Azteca omelette. The first time that I ordered it was fantastic. The last time it wasn't as good. I commented to my server about it she said that they removed jalapeños from it so I know why it wasn't as good. This time I ordered an omelette with caramelized onions, mozzarella and chorizo. The omelette was pretty OK but it wasn't as fluffy as I thought it would be but still tasted pretty good. The potatoes were a little to seasoned for me but I enjoyed them just the same. My server was very nice and attentive. It helps that I was the only one here. Overall I like this place and will come back mainly because it is right up the street from me.
(4)
Kristina W.
Marmalade is one of my favorite breakfast spots in the city. It ranks right up there with Bongo Room!
(5)
Brent W.
perfect Fall late morning al fresco dining. We grabbed a two top outside and looked over the fairly generous brek and brunch menu, it's hard to not find something that appeals to any appetite. She the corned beef hash, over three times ordering this dish, "it never disappoints". A rookie myself went w one of the skillet specials, chipotle roasted pulled chicken, roasted breakfast potatoes (some of the best ever) some veggies w. (way over easy) ordered over medium eggs. All said, fantastic.
(4)
Christine V.
The best breakfast I have had the pleasure of eating at a restaurant. Where do I begin? I saw great looking food coming from the kitchen while waiting to be seated with my husband, my brother and his fiancee (hey mike and ashley!) But one dish in particular was special. It had roasted, spiced potatoes, scrambled eggs, tortilla chips doused in a chili/chipotle sauce so they were still crispy but kind of soft, guacamole, and 2 mini triangles of quesadillas. I knew it was what I was going to order but still studied the menu. The options were awesome and anything I would have ordered would have been delicious, I am sure of it. The place was very busy so I don't be surprised if you have to wait a bit before getting a table.
(5)
Joram C.
I love this place, I come here almost every weekend. The service is great, the food is tasty, the coffee is good ( and bottomless) and it doesnt get too overrun with hip urban parents trying to raise their kids to one day be more liberal that you could ever fathom to be. The bonaparte is my favorite, but even the vegan chilaquiles are good. Im not much of a sweets guy, but the peachy raspberry pancakes flat out kick ass for breakfast. Also, I like that the owner is part of the family that used to run LeSabre, and has kept everything in the family. Also, the breakfast potatoes are like crack. Marmalade rules.
(5)
Amanda M.
This place was a huge miss. The service was terrible, our waitress was the quiet Hispanic girl. She didn't know the specials, and had a hard time reading the board, and when we asked for a recommendation between breads, she didn't know anything about the bread. The food was mediocre for the price, and are there really juices?! No juice menu for a "Juice Bar" and the orange juice my boyfriend did order, was totally from a cardboard container! What a HUGE disappointment.
(1)
Kimbele S.
finally visited this neighborhood place a few weeks ago. i was overwhelmed by their fantastic 'lady marmalade' (french toast on brioche with apricot marmalade, maple cream, and strawberry blackberry coulis....sweet jeebus). it was out of this world good. my husband was underwhelmed by his 'diablo omelette', which touted spicy jerk shrimp, but was in fact quite mild. anyway, we brought a couple people with us the second time. only one of the dishes at our table was fantastic--the rest was super bla. my husband struck out again, ordering the quiche. it was UNBELIEVABLE that someone could've looked at that thing and served it. while it may have once resembled quiche, it looked like it sat under a heat lamp for 3 hours. super gross. for some dumb reason he ate the entire thing without commenting to the server, even though he hated it, which is why i'm mentioning it here. i really think even a single super lousy dish on a menu is descriptive of an entire restaurant. you simply can't have consideration for some but not all dishes and hope to be successful...not in this city. finally, bear in mind that not only are there no separate checks...but you CANNOT split the bill on 2 credit cards. i can't understand why a restaurant...in CHICAGO, no less...has this policy. my money is much better spent at overeasy north on damen.
(2)
B C.
This one slipped under my breakfast radar for too long. The exterior of the restaurant is low key enough that it didn't call out to me on my daily trek to the el. On Saturday mornings, though, it's packed. The inside is cheerful and colorful and swarming with customers. We made it through the 11:30am line in about 20 minutes. Inside, Chef Efrain has his name on everything: menus, artwork, signature dishes...he's the big guy on campus and after I had his shrimp-diablo omelette, I agree he's due some good street cred. Our table also had his Aztec omelette (on special), comprised of a laundry list of ingredients that synergized into a egg-based Voltron with deliciousness superpowers. Big portions on every dish too, by the way. You'll walk home patting your belly with one hand and holding leftover-boxes in the other. Our waitress did a phenomenal job keeping up with the several packed tables under her watch, and everyone's coffee was kept filled throughout the meal. This place is a great Ravenswood breakfast spot, and so good I'd bring along visitors from out of town.
(5)
Rits T.
I can't believe I just got a chance to try this place. I live in the neighborhood for 3 YEARS, 3 YEARS. It took me 3 YERAS! I should have known this place before I tried everywhere else. This place is a bomb. Must try!
(5)
Natalia V.
The food here is decadent. I had no idea how many Latin twists would be on this breakfast menu and me being Latina loved it!!!Traditional breakfast items we all know and love with a Latin flair, for example guava French toast or jerk shrimp omelette with chipotle sauce queso fresco and guacamole. Ugh every menu item sounded like a party in your mouth and the at home experience you get from eating it is unforgettable. Def worth the trip here
(5)
Roseann M.
Want to have a nice breakfast/brunch/lunch at Marmalade without waiting for a table? Go on Monday morning. No problem getting a nice spot to sit! And you get excellent, professional service, from host/manager, server, and a busser who keeps your coffee cup full of hot delicious coffee. Go to Marmalade with an appetite. Like so many of these cute yuppie-style places, the prices are kind of high, but you do get a great big serving. I had the Bonaparte, which was applewood-smoked bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, on a croissant. No, this entree would not be on the Weight Watchers approved list - you'd blow through your whole week of extra points on this alone! And, it comes with potatoes. I was hungry. I mean, really hungry. Even so, staring at this huge croissant piled high with breakfast food, I had to ask the waitress, how do people eat this thing? Do they pick it up with both hands and take a big bite, or do they use knife and fork? She suggested using utensils, and brought me a steak knife so I could cut through the bacon better. That worked just fine. The whole thing was absolutely delicious. Yes, I ate the whole thing! Not all the potatoes, that would be way too much. I'll probably have some dinner later in the evening, but this, for me, was a lot of food. Had I not been up already for more than 5 hours, with nothing in my tummy but coffee, I doubt I could have eaten as much as I did. Five-star rating. I even found free parking nearby on a side street. Good food, good service, pleasant atmosphere, and free parking - hey, that rates 5 stars for me! FYI, there was a sign in the window that said Marmalade is now closed on Tuesdays. Well, I'm just happy they're open on Mondays. I actually swung by Cinnamon Cafe on Lawrence and Over Easy on Damen first, and they were both closed. Keep Marmalade in mind for your weekday breakfast. You won't regret it!
(5)
Mari C.
What a fabulous place! I went there for the first time this morning and had a great experience. I went with a friend and my boyfriend and we got to sit outside which was so great. My boyfriend got the mexican breakfast dish, my friend got the omelet with shrimp, and I got the benedict with salmon, avocado, and poached eggs. We all LOVED our meals. The service was fast and the price is not bad. I would for sure recommend and go again.
(5)
Veena P.
So flavorful! I would definitely go back. The staff was very friendly, and the portions were big! I got the Mexican breakfast combo with the Mayan sauce (yummy!) I wish I had taken a picture of it. Go here!
(5)
Philly I.
The Northside has a plethora of overpriced breakfast/brunch places who serve mediocre food. Add Marmalade to that long list. If you are interested in overpaying for eggs, pancakes, and/or french toast (and sometimes waiting in line for it), then Marmalade is the perfect place for you.
(1)
Christy L.
I have a new brunch place to add into the rotation! Marmalade now ranks as my #2 brunch destination in the City (in case you're wondering, Zed 451 tops the list). For food alone, I'd give Marmalade 4.5 stars. The menu is the most extensive I've seen in Chicago. It has the standards - omelette's, pancakes, and French toast - as well as "foodie" type choices - the aforementioned souped up with interesting combinations as well as skillets, Mexican breakfasts, crepes, Benedict's. Definitely something for everyone. And what we tried, all was prepared well. I had a 'shroom skillet served over perfectly seasoned, crispy potatoes (and I usually don't even like potatoes). We shared a savory breakfast, the "Nutella" crepe. If you're enticed by this choice because of the Nutella, skip it. We barely tasted any Nutella, BUT it was a very well-prepared, berry-filled crepe. Service and ambiance definitely have room for improvement. Marmalade does not take reservations, which means you probably will end up waiting if you arrive during prime brunch time. We arrived at 12:15 and waited about half an hour to be seated. Then, once we were at our table, service was incredibly slow (though polite, unlike other Yelp reviews). I'm not sure why the kitchen was so slow as it's not a big space though suspect that it may have to do with the huge menu. In terms of decor, it's pretty simple, though my friend assured me it is a huge step up from the restaurant that used to occupy this space. In summary, if you want excellent, affordable food, have plenty of time for brunch, and don't care about ambiance, check out Marmalade!
(4)
Andre W.
Word to Ralph C for recommending and taking me to this joint! We walked in at about noon this past Sunday and it was just a 10 minute wait (I was told Saturdays are a bit easier to walk in and grab a table). They have chalkboards up that list their daily specials and new dishes. I looked at the menu and noticed a number of delicious items. I decided to go with the Bonaparte ($8.50) which is scrambled eggs (egg whites in my case), bacon and cheddar cheese on a croissant. That was a nice sized breakfast sandwich and very delicious. The sandwich came with their special in-house potatoes which were huge and delicious as well. I also ordered a side of apple maple chicken sausage which was packed with flavor and very savory. Their freshly squeezed OJ was awesome as well. The manager came out and chatted with us as well...he is really a nice guy and made sure we were happy with our meal. As I said before, lots of goodies on the menu which is why I will be returning. In the warmer months they will have the outside patio in effect which is definitely an incentive to come back.
(5)
Jennifer N.
Mid way through my vegan chilaquiles, I declared to my friend that I could easily eat this multiple times per week here. The tortillas were perfectly drenched in salsa verde. The tofu scramble was full of flavor, and the side of potatoes were cooked and seasoned perfectly. As we sat and chatted on a Saturday morning (when it was quite busy), we didn't feel rushed to leave- but instead being offered more water and coffee. I watched the thick stacks of pancakes being delivered to the table next to us and thought about my future orders. But honestly, a day later as I write this, I am waiting for the next time I can get those vegan chilaquiles !
(5)
Dallas F.
I was not impressed. This review is really more of a 2.5, so I rounded up. I recently went to brunch at Marmalade on a busy Saturday afternoon and everything from service to food was wholly underwhelming. Of course, being a breakfast/brunch establishment weekends are super busy and patrons can expect a wait. That I was prepared for but for some reason it seemed like the restaurant was not. Everything seemed a bit chaotic and it felt like it was their opening weekend. After about a twenty minute wait, we are taken to our seat. Our server comes over and asks for our drink order and if we were ready to order food. Um, no. We just sat down. In general our service was a bit flighty. Not horrible, but could use serious improvement. When it comes to the food, I was definitely let down. I ordered the vegan chilaquiles and was served a plate of over-seasoned mushy randomness. Everything tasted the same even though it consisted of a tofu scramble, corn chips, potatoes, and salsa. It was overpowering. The tiny dab of guacamole on top was the only good thing about it. I'm really glad I was not really hungry or I would have been even more disappointed than I was.
(3)
Ellie K.
I love that Marmalade is right around down the street from me. Everything I have had here is great be it a sweet or savory dish. I went here once with my parents, once with my boyfriend and then did takeout. Each time the service was great and the food was even better. The portions are enormous. I recommend sharing a full meal and then ordering a side if you are there with one other person. Warning: It,like all other brunch places, gets very crowded on the weekends. I don't recommend coming here with a party of more than 6 (max). Lastly, I'm disappointed by some of the nasty reviews (Susan L.). I think we can critique the food without insulting Marmalade's loyal fans!
(4)
H H.
3.5 stars. It was pretty good, but not the most amazing breakfast ever. Been there a few times and depends on what you order. Coffee is good!
(3)
Susan L.
2 visits, 2 disgusting meals, 0 clean plates This place is like a cheap knock-off DVD with the title misspelled--you think it'll probably be okay but you get home and the DVD won't play...however, the main difference with Marmalade is that you're not paying "knock off" prices. For those of you who think this place is great, I salute you and thank you for not clogging up truly wonderful brunch places. Eat your hearts out with this bad food. I will never be back. And if you want details, here they are: 1. Confusing conglomeration of ingredients--each plate needs to take off 1 accessory flavor before leaving the kitchen 2. Inability to re-create delicious dishes of other restaurants, and leaving the consumer even more disappointed (harvest omelet, breakfast bread pudding=direct knock off of M Henry!) 3. OILY (yes, oily) AND watery omelet--how do they do that? At least it wasn't burned, but it did leave an orange puddle on the plate....mmmmmmmh....appetizing!
(1)
Jon D.
I had a great experience here. Saturday morning, around 10:15am, party of four, and sat immediately. The waitress made a few visits for drinks (we'd all gotten up to use the restroom at different times) and explained the chalkboard specials, all of which sounded appetizing. She memorized a lot of information, was polite, and very prompt (until it started getting busy). It seems like there's a lot of sweets on the menu, and the French Toast flight I split with my buddy was outstanding. Maybe a little TOO sweet at times, but still a nice breakfast desert. The omelete I had was a great size, they had Greek sausage (+) and the potatoes were well cooked. Everyone at the table was happy with their meals, and when the bill came we weren't overwhelmed by it. I've been everywhere on the brunch scale, this place just had a nice little neighborhood feel. Reading some of the other reviews, I'm a bit shocked. Marms didn't try to be super fancy, or anything, its just trying to be a good little breakfast place, and it pulls it off super well. Clean, the only issue is you can't split on cards.
(4)
S. P.
I have been here a few times for brunch. The menu is decent. They have the typical kind of fare such as french toast, pancakes, skillets, omelettes, breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros, etc. The service has never been great. I have had to ask for my check at the front before because my server disappeared. If you are able to go around the block and down the street to Glenn's it is better. One tip- please do not get the breakfast quayle if it ever shows up on the menu again.
(3)
Jelena Z.
Not that Chicago actually needs another brunch spot, but this one's a good one. Late morning on a Thursday, Marmalade wasn't empty but wasn't packed either... one of the perks of working from home is getting to try new restaurants at non-peak times versus waiting over an hour to brunch on the weekends. However, I'm really not a breakfast girl (despite the tempting offerings on Marmalade's menu) so I went with the Mediterranean sandwich with its grilled chicken, hummus, ham off the bone, lettuce and feta cheese in a pita. And... it was delicious. The hummus is housemade and complements the hand-carved ham perfectly. I was afraid the ham would be a bit too much but I finished every last bit and I'd do it again. Though, I may have to break my lunch over breakfast rule for a stab at the chef's signature omelet, the Diablo (spicy jerk shrimp, onions, cilantro, cream cheese and fresh avocado topped with mango chutney). Easy parking is the icing on the cake... or, the marmalade on my toast. See you soon!
(4)
Kurt P.
Here is a place that no longer cares about the customer. I tried to come here for brunch and they basically told us to go. We had a large group and knew we would have to wait but after about 35 minutes they continued to seat groups who just arrived. We told them four times at least we could be broken into groups of twos. The manager said we can't seat you that way and you should take your group to fountainhead because nobody eats there. Also $9 for three eggs with cheese, really?
(1)
Lizz M.
I've heard many good things about Marmalade, and when my bff asked where we should go to brunch, I quickly suggested this place. It ended up being five of us going on a Sunday morning around 11am. The place was busy, but not too packed. The patio was fairly empty, so we offered to sit out there. Our hostess quickly rejected this idea, mumbling something about not wanting to trouble the servers to go out there (when there were already people eating out there). Uhm, okay, whatever. I personally don't care for eating outside and if the server issue were the case, I'd rather get good service. We waited for an indoor table and were seated fairly quickly. The no substitutions and no omissions thing really bugs me. And here's why. My bff ordered an artichoke omelet which had pesto on top of it, and if I were ordering this, I'd order the pesto on the side--why? Well, I knew this would happen, a giant pile of pesto on her omelet. Did she order pesto with a side of omelet? No. Also, nine times out of ten, there's an ingredient in a dish I would want to take out, or have less of, it's just my preference, and you know what? I'm PAYING to have that preference. Anyway, rant aside, I ordered the breakfast burrito, which was actually pretty tasty. It came with a side of potatoes, which, meh. How is it possible to have overly-seasoned food still taste bland? I'm not sure. The portion sizes are gigantic, so I appreciate that as I had lunch for the next day. I had a taste of another friend's pancakes which were pretty yummy, too. So at the end of our meal, we noticed that the patio had filled up with the same amount of servers. I still don't understand! Would I go back? Eh, I don't think so. But I think you could try and see for yourself. If you're okay with spotty service and not customizing your food, this might be the place for you.
(3)
Alexandra S.
Delicious creative food, good service, nice cafe vibe. Fresh squeezed juice and daily special was great. The only bad thing I can say about this place is that they charge a split plate fee, they don't split checks and they don't split cards. Other than that would definitely come back!
(4)
conrad d.
I will forever be dumbfounded by the diners who, after experiencing some delay in service during a notoriously busy time slot, immediately rush to their computer to pound out their jilted and vitriolic reviews. Oh, did your meal arrive not precisely as ordered? However did you roust yourself from the Stygian nightmare that is receiving a plate with bacon on it, especially after you specifically informed the waiter, and everyone else in the restaurant, that you were a strict lacto-ovo pescatarian? Moving on. Marmalade's offerings are a welcome addition to Chicago's already stellar breakfast scene. The dishes are interesting and delicious and well presented. I heartily recommend the french toast dishes, as many of them are accompanied with house-made marmalades. The egg dishes are spicy and flavorful and pair well with the namesake sweet dishes. After multiple visits, I have yet to witness any of the crippling, trauma-inducing service problems some of my peers have, with the manager on more than one occasion personally stopping by to inquire about my dining experience. Go here. Take a deep breath. Enjoy your brunch.
(5)
Heather H.
Booo! That's actually what I said after leaving this place. I had been looking forward to trying them out since I pass by it on a pretty regular basis. The dozen or so empty tables on a Sunday at 1 should have given the indication that this may not be a great breakfast joint. But, it was marathon Sunday, so maybe all those regulars are out running the streets of Chicago leaving my hungover ass with plenty of available seating. Looked over the menu, and I decided on the Shroom Benedict, I ordered it with the hollandaise being on the side figuring 1/2 teaspoon of the stuff wouldn't be too bad for me. HA. I ended up taking a picture of the dish because not only didn't it look appetizing, it didn't taste good either, not at all. Actually, I have to say this was one of the worst breakfast dishes I've ever eaten. The only reason they get 2 stars is my husband liked his omelet. Here are my complaints: 1. The potatoes suck! And they seriously put the equivalent of 3 large baking potatoes on my plate. They were cold, mushy, and had a bad spice rub on them. Not good. 2. They offer tempeh or veggie sauce as a side. While this may seem like a plus for a vegetarian, they were out of the veggie sausage I tried to order, so I elected the tempeh. I've had tempeh before, and this was not good tempeh, this was poo tempeh. 3. The mushroom that my eggs sat on was... wait for it, DEEP FRIED! Are you effing kidding me? On one respect, I blame myself that I didn't see that the menu said the mushroom was breaded. I think if I had seen that, I wouldn't have ordered this shitty dish for $11. However, on the other hand, just because something is breaded doesn't necessarily mean it has to be deep fried. They could have baked it. Either way, it didn't work, and made it into a dry lopsided mushroom, and everything piled on said mushroom fell off because of the greasy stiff teetering shroom. 4. The hollandaise sauce they brought out for me was ice cold. As in, I'll grab this from the fridge and not warm it up. GROSS. By the time I flagged down any staff to warm it up, and once they brought it back, the eggs were cold. Which leads me to... 5. The service blows. When we sat down, we were told the waitress would let us know the specials. When she asked if we were ready to order, and we inquired about the specials, she actually rolled her eyes at us. Horrible service, waiting forever, which is unacceptable when the place isn't even that busy. Neither my coffee nor my husbands ice tea was ever refilled. And after sitting for 15 minutes with an empty table, the waitress came by and said, "I gave you your check, right?" Um, NO. Why would be be sitting here with empty glasses and an empty table if we had our check?! And smile, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't kill you. To sum it up, Boooooooooooooooooo!
(2)
Megan S.
I didn't want to give any stars! The manager was the rudest person I have ever encountered in 36 years of eating out! For a place that offers regular brunch food you can find anywhere he shouldn't really act like such a jerk! My party of 8 left and went across the street to fountainhead which had great service and food!
(1)
Taylor K.
This place is the best. My wife and I have run pretty much through the entire breakfast menu and we love it all. We used to hit a new breakfast spot on Mondays (due to our hairdresser schedules) and finally came here based on a few client recommendations. Now we come here just about every week. The chef and our waitress, Carolina (who is awesome!), started to figure out that we couldn't really come on the weekends. So, they occasionally send out some weekend brunch items that we otherwise couldn't get. Are you kidding me? Who does that? We are hooked! My only beef is that now when we go to breakfast anywhere else we wish we had just gone to Marmalade. Our favorites are the Chicken & Waffle, the Chilaquilas (sub chorizo for tofu), and the Berry Crunch French Toast!
(5)
Fadi F.
If i only could leave zero stars! this place is the worst. Horrible manager who keeps yelling at servers and employees. Our food came an HOUR later after we have ordered!. Then the manager comes and apologizes by saying "oh we are the only place open around here for breakfast" which is a lie cause there are way better places to go like Glenns Diner, FountainHead and Trouqet, which are way better than Marmalade. Just dont go to Marmalade
(1)
LB D.
This is a perfect brunch spot for the 'hood if you haven't been yet! Since they opened, they've revamped the menu and the improvements have been great! Favorites include anything with their cured ham (in-house specialty). The only dish I'd caution against are the egg benedicts because they use (or at least used to use...) a sort of flavorless cornbread-style bread as a base instead of an English muffin. It's not a cheap spot, persay, but the unique menu items make this absolutely worth your money.
(4)
Alicia M.
I wasn't going to give this place another chance, but I'm really glad I tried it again! The first time I tried Marmalade, my main beef was with the potatoes (hash browns). If you've read my other reviews on any restaurants, you know I love me some potatoes. Marmalade's potatoes are not my thing. I realize people either love them or hate them. I am a hater. They're over-seasoned. But I suppose all hash browns can't be the same at every restaurant. On my first visit here I had the pancakes and they were a little dry, but nice and fluffy. I wasn't blown away by them and personally I think greasy spoon diners do better pancakes (I like them buttery and skinny!). I decided to try an egg dish on my second visit. I had an egg white Omelet with peppers, mushrooms and veggie sausage. It was SO GOOD! I even made myself enjoy the potatoes. I was initially annoyed that they didn't have english muffins but I'm pretty sure my toast was made from scratch. I know the jam was home made. It was so tasty! I also took time to actually look at the menu instead of just defaulting to my favorite everyday breakfast items. There are a lot of creative things on there that I'm excited to come back and try. In closing, I have to add that I respect the manager/owner for being so involved in everyday operations. He works his butt off and walks around making sure that everything is perfect. It shows! They really do have excellent service
(4)
Melanie S.
...Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da.. Naturally this song immediately came to mind youtube.com/watch?v=pF2o… , but the first thing I noticed about Marmalade was that the menu appears to be a complete ripoff of m henry. I know there's only so many different things you can do with eggs and pancakes, but c'mon-- a fried egg sandwich with gorgonzola, tomatoes and thyme on sourdough, pancakes with berries and granola, crepes with a warm fruit melange (even the word 'melange' is right off of m henry's menu)? The only thing missing was the breakfast bread pudding. I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, huh Marmalade? Anyway, despite the blatant plagiarism, the food was still good, and the wait is nowhere as epic as m henry (at least not when I was there). My mommy and I both started with freshly squeezed orange juice, but I was dismayed to see them pouring it out of a gallon-sized jug. I know that many food service companies sell juice that is touted as "freshly-squeezed," but I'm sorry, if someone isn't back there juicing the oranges themselves just before they reach my table, then it's not, and it doesn't taste like it either. I opted for the Bonaparte, a sandwich of fluffy scrambled eggs, applewood-smoked bacon and Vermont cheddar on a croissant. The sandwich came with roasted potatoes. To that I also ordered a single hotcake just so I could sample it. Mom ordered the crepe with "warm fruit melange" and she was pretty happy with it. I snuck a bite and concurred. The peaches and blueberries in the filling were nice and sweet and more importantly, not mushy. I dug my sandwich, which was much too large to eat in one sitting. The eggs were perfectly cooked (not an easy feat imho), the bacon was crispy, and the croissant soft and buttery. A highly enjoyable sandwich. The accompanying potatoes had an interesting seasoning but I thought they were a little bland. The single hotcake came sans powdered sugar, as requested, as well as a few berries artfully tossed on the plate. It was dense but fluffy, and I would happily eat an entire order of these. Service was friendly and efficient. The coffee flowed, our water glasses never sat empty, and plates were cleared swiftly. One thing to note, especially if you're with a large group - they don't split checks or credit cards payments. That's a little archaic and inconvenient, so consider yourself warned and plan ahead.
(3)
Jerry M.
Been here several times, excellent service and great food at a reasonable price. Super cute waitress there who i have a huge crush on helps as well :) Check it out! Cheers
(5)
Jake J.
We enjoyed a great brunch with our daughter here this past Sunday and everything was great. The food was really good and service was friendly and fast. There was a little bit of a wait when we arrived but that is to be expected in Chicago on Sunday.
(5)
Chelsea B.
This place is amazing. Everyone at our table ordered something different for breakfast and it was all amazing! Great place for breakfast or brunch.
(5)
Sara H.
Outstanding food! Creative menu! YUMMMMM! I have been here three times in the last week, and I am now sad that I did not stop in sooner. Something about the logo/colors reminded me too much of the droopy diner that used to be in this space. But man, it's nothing like that place. The artichoke omeletta will knock your socks off: Everything is so fresh and flavorful. The house potatoes are a staple. When combined with the perfectly-fried plantains, it's like a little party in your mouth. The vegan chilaquiles? Awesome. But you better be prepared for some heat. They do NOT mess around with either the green OR the red sauce: Both of them give a very strong burn to the old tongue. It subsides after you take a few bites of other things, but with each new bite it certainly lets you know it's still there. I'd like a little milder sauce, but I have a feeling I'm probably in the minority. I haven't tried the sweet stuff, but my friends who have cleaned their plates, so I think that's a good sign. And, they make killer specials each day, including a polenta dish. How many restaurants can say that? I'm definitely coming back!
(4)
Matt G.
Thank God LeSabre is now dead. Nice thing is that Marmalade does the space justice. Roomy interior, decently appointed and well-done. I liked the varied menu that allows me to bring meat-eaters to vegans to the place. Had the tilapia baguette special and was surprised by the volume of food that I got. Well seasoned, and just a bit spicy, it hit the mark on nearly every level. Service was more than adequate and good strong coffee, filled regularly. Only gripe... and it's small, was that with that menu choice, I could have used more than one single napkin. They might have taken note when swinging by to check in on me. Also, not sure the name sounds hip. Reminds me of an 80 year old lady... who eats marmalade these days anyway???
(4)
Mike P.
RIP, Le Sabre! You were our favorite, little greasy spoon. But rest easy knowing a good, if not completely different breakfast joint opened in your place. While the menu is completely different and noticeably more sophisticated, or what some would call fufu, the folks that run the joint are a decent lot. Always ready to greet you kindly, keep your coffee fresh, and take the time to explain the specials, even giving commentary. Such a recommendation pointed me to the artichoke, roasted tomato, and goat cheese omelet. Something I didn't know I'd like, but completely enjoyed! Also, the kid's menu is a hit with my baby, so you score major points there. While I will miss my typical plate o' grease from Le Sabre, I'm looking forward to heading back to Marmalade for another fresh breakfast.
(4)
Andrea R.
I was running late (the norm ever since I became a mom) to meet the fabulous Jelena Z so I was thrilled that it was easy peasy to find a parking spot on the street. There's lots of good stuff to choose from this menu. I opted for the mayan omletta and potatoes. Our somewhat flighty waitress brought out the wrong order at first, but once my food arrived it was well worth the wait because this was the best omelet I've had in a long time. On the way out we chatted with the chef (and really sweet manager/owner) and apparently he created the omelet it for Feast*, another favorite brunch spot, back in the day. I probably won't make it to Marmalade often since it's a bit far from where I live and I have problems getting to places in my neighborhood on time these days. ---------------------------------- * yelp.com/biz/feast-chica…
(4)
Tricia W.
We go here because it's 2 blocks from the house. We always leave irritated. Service is super slow and the waitresses are mentally compiling their grocery lists or something. As others have mentioned, forget getting out of here quickly. Even on a weekday when there's 1-2 other tables. Orders are frequently wrong, and once we were given an entire breakfast plate we didn't order (waitress dumped and left without a word). We were told when she came back 15 minutes later that it was a gift from the chef....um ok. I was going to give them 3 stars but then I remembered they charge $4 for a side of bacon.
(2)
Malleana R.
Best breakfast I've had that didn't come from my kitchen in a long time ! Great service ! Great smoothies !
(5)
Will C.
It took me so long to get to Marmalade and I can't figure out why. Picture one of the trendier restaurants of any of the ones popping up around Chicago claiming to strive for great ingredients, expertly prepared, and only pretending to follow through on it. Marmalade does all that, without needing to brag about it or pat themselves on the back. I don't see much press about them and the reason is obvious.. The food speaks for itself. Gosia (hope I'm spelling that right) was my server and she was a breath of fresh air. I have years of server experience and it's always my philosophy to treat guests as old friends having dinner at my home; familiar and caring. She did this without missing a beat. My girlfriend complimented her necklaces and she stopped to talk to us a little about them. This kind of service seems to almost get beaten out of people in Chicago and to see it still thriving here tells me it is run extremely well by someone who knows what they're doing. The menu is very original, my Spartan omelette was absolutely incredible. The kitchen is FAST without sacrificing quality. The coffee is good for a dark roast. This is no third-wave coffee shop or anything so that's fine. I haven't tried the espresso (and if you read any of my other reviews I always like to go in depth about the coffee) but I'll get back to you on it. It's BOLD but flavorful coffee. Stands up well to cream and a little sugar. I'll say this they brew it right on the money. I don't know why you're reading still unless you've already made your way there and you're finishing up reading this while eating your toast with guava marmalade. I hope that's the case. If not, maybe you should put your phone away and go to Marmalade.
(5)
Douglas B.
Wifey and I have been here a few times and I want to give it 4 stars, but as the rating says... its A-OK. The place is solid, solid 3 stars. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, the food is good. I feel it is a bit over priced for what you get, it's not something that's blowing me out of the water. It does get pretty busy on the weekends so be prepare to wait a bit during prime time. But they do a nice job of getting you seated as soon as they can. They do have some off the wall concoctions that honestly don't sound very appetizing to me, I like simple food. Some of the specials they have just have way too many ingredients in them, does not call my attention. I will leave it up to you to try it, heck you might like the specials they have. They are a solid restaurant, i really don't have any complaints. Everything tastes right, its good food, but nothing that I will rush to go get or line up for all the time. you might want to do it :D
(3)
Bless M.
Definitely one of my favorite breakfast places. Friendly staff and fresh food. A bit pricey but I love the french toast!
(4)
Jon R.
After years of coming here, Marmalade is still my favorite brunch place. The food is always incredible. There is always something new and interesting to try on the specials menu. Gus and Efrain have some amazing flavor combinations no matter if you are in the mood for sweet or savory or spicy. If you go on the weekend, you might have to wait for a seat because it can be a bit of a madhouse, but stick around and give it a try. Your tastebuds will thank you. You can see from the mixed yelps that you will either love this place (most people) or hate it (overprivileged crybaby prima donnas). Don't let the naysayers cheat you out of a delicious and creative meal.
(5)
Bernard L.
I have been here many times and I can't believe I haven't written a review yet. The owner Carlos has always been kind and gracious to everyone that walls in the door. A lot of places get real busy and you see the owner yelling at the employees as the pressure builds, but not Carlos. I appreciate that in a business and I think that shows in the food. They fit a lot of tables in a small space, but you don't feel cramped at all. Their brunch specials are to die for and almost always have some type of beef or pork dish. I recently had the chicken and waffles, which were great. The chicken was lightly breaded and moist and the waffles was crispy. I airways enjoy coming here fur brunch because I'm never disappointed.
(5)
Dan G.
Really good brunch/breakfast spot. Creative menu that is always changing. There is a Latin flair to the menu which keeps the food exciting. The specials are always worth a try. From pancakes to Benedicts to sandwiches I have been satisfied with everything I have had there. Fresh squeezed juices and good espresso are also a plus in my book. The service is friendly and the owner/manager always makes sure you are doing good. The last time I went I tried their take on biscuits and gravy. It came with a gravy smothered corn flake crusted boneless chicken breast and 3 little biscuits. Really creative and tasty. Those biscuits had little pieces of bacon in it and were legit. Overall it is worth the wait you run into on the weekends. It is brunch turned to 11. Can't wait to come back.
(4)
Executive Chef Ronnie B.
When you first walk into a new restaurant thing never been to before and the owner personally greet you and Pat you on the back like you're his best friend there something special to be said about that. The food was classic yet gourmet at the same time and it that's hard to find especially down to the whole wheat bread they put all the sandwiches on which is remarkable. The manager is seem to be was our server which I loved because he took our order & delivered our food in there was a server assistant dealing with all the details the customers might need like water silverware refills etc. I will be back here without a doubt & zero hesitation. For the record I had the jerk chicken club I believe it was called & It may have been the best chicken club I've ever eaten and this is coming from an executive chef. What I love most about this place is that Guss does nothing but brunch lunch & espresso and do it extremely extremely well. Gus coming from two contractors & a Chef which pride ourselves on quality....hats off to you Guss!!
(5)
Andrew B.
Ordered eggs over hard and was surprised that what I received was exactly that. Most places I've been to lately will bring a maximum of eggs over medium. So the kitchen knows what's up and that's always a good sign. I wouldn't get the savory creeps again, but that's personal taste. *no separate checks *one credit card per group *american express not accepted (visa, MasterCard or discover ok)
(5)
Ryan F.
Great neighborhood BYOB brunch option. I went today and had the Papi Chulo and it was excellent. They only allow one card per table which is kinda 1995 so perhaps they should change it up. I did notice that the table to my left and right had their food sent back as the waiter made some errors with their entrees. Overall great food!
(4)
Jodi B.
Delicious food! I had the vegan chiliquiles, and they had so much flavor and just a little kick. Yum!
(5)
Hope H.
They provided very friendly service and Azteca omelette with salsa verde as their special was very tasty. Ravenswood crepes are not too sweet. I really like the seasoning they use for side potatoes with the omelette and the potatoes were cooked just right. I will definitely come back again to try other dishes on the menu.
(4)
Jason M.
Awesome breakfast spot. I had the Right Stuff and the potatoes, and holy cow it was fantastic! I've been back with my wife and family several times, and the food is always great. I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Andrew S.
Best breakfast in the neighborhood! This is by far my favorite spot on the north side of Chicago for breakfast or brunch. The food is incredibly fresh, with rotating specials, and the staff is always affable and friendly. You won't be disappointed with any omelette choice, and the actual marmalade they make will blow your socks off. Try going later in the morning/early afternoon to bypass the wait, or hit it up during the week day if you're playing hooky from work. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Tom Z.
One of the worst experiences I've had at a restaurant. Outrageous prices (almost $4 for a side of syrup?! Almost $3 for an extra egg?!), horrible service (a friend came by and we wanted to get a seat for her, but in asking our waitress who barely cared to pay attention to my question she wasn't sure, so asked the owner or boss that proceeded to quickly grunt no), the ketchup they give you is barely a packets worth in a nice metal container so we had to ask for plenty more), food did not warrant the prices, no substitutions, and no splitting the bill. What are we tipping for? Bad service and payment processing? It's a little brunch place, but you would think it was a high end fancy dinner restaurant based on the snobby attitudes and atmosphere of this place. Never going back again.
(1)
Kassi B.
The food is pretty okay. And maybe that's all you care about. If so, enjoy! I, however, cannot stand going to this place. I have had the same server the last few times and was completely underwhelmed. I'm sure I'll keep going because it's so close to my job, but seriously I'd prefer competent smiling faces serving my eggs.
(3)
Kate L.
This was the the best breakfast place I have ever been to! The food was amazing, my whole family enjoyed the meal dearly. You have many options to chose from, but I enjoyed the French toast. Perfectly done, and it was just the perfect bite for a morning brunch. The servers were very nice and the service was very quick considering the amount of people there. You might consider some of their flavors odd, but I can assure you they work perfectly. They have a good kids menu and great coffee. This is a must do restaurant.
(5)
Gustavo A.
Very good breakfast place. The potatoes are amazing. I love how you can build your own omelette with so many ingredient options available. The greek sausage is very tasty. Awesome service and especially good coffee and mocha.
(5)
R.A. H.
Been here several times. First review. Always something new to try at this place but at the same time having some great always available staples. Great use of flavor, texture and fabulous presentation. Location convenience also is a bonus. Ambiance is nicely casual. Family friendly. On this visit, I tried the Papi Chulo. Slow cooked pulled chicken sauteed in tomato chipotle sauce and salsa verde, with queso fresco and Chihuahua cheese topped with sour cream, guacamole and salsa verde. A dish to truly awaken the senses. Dishes aren't huge, which is nice, but more than enough to satisfy.
(5)
Roger M.
Helmed by a former chef at M. Henry, this joint pleases but not if you expect to be treated as if Beyonce and Jay-Z walked in, which is the vibe I get from reading the poor reviews. Gus the manager is friendly and accommodating. If he seems curt, it's because he's running the place like a tight ship and his work pays off. Their dishes are elevated, not standard breakfast fare so don't expect The Cracker Barrel. There's a twist to breakfast standards such as french toast, pancakes, benedicts and omelettes. If you want boring, go somewhere else but if you want your tastebuds wowed, by all means run inside. Most items are latin-inspired and executed well; the Azteca Omelette is crazy good with great flavors. Cubano french toast is a taste of the Caribbean on your plate. Lots of sweet and savory items guaranteed to satisfy everyone. Waitstaff is very efficient and the reason they scramble like F-14 jet fighters off to a dogfight. You won't wait longer than 15 mins at most times. The plus is that they have kept the business in the family since it was the neighborhood mainstay, LeSabre.
(5)
Benjamin B.
Marmalade is a great local establishment for brunch on the weekends. I had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. There is a high noise level, but it just adds to the ambiance. The waiter was friendly and the food was delicious. I had pancakes with bacon. The food tasted fresh and I enjoyed every bite.
(4)
Kaitlin K.
The food was AMAZING! I ordered a very well priced build your own omelette that had delicious flavors and spices! (I suggest black beans and pepper jack cheese!) They also serve fancy coffee drinks to enjoy with plenty of tasty breakfast/brunch options. I'm a vegetarian, my mom is a picky eater, and my dad's diet consists of mostly meat, so finding a restaurant that offers good food at good prices that meets my family's needs is difficult. Marmalade had a variety of options, vegan and vegetarian friendly and all well-made and well-priced. This is a great place for EVERYONE. I cannot WAIT to go back!!!
(5)
Christopher R.
Went here with friends because we needed a place that had vegan options (2 of us vegan, 2 omnivore). I was excited to go since there were tons of reviews here that suggest it's great for vegans... well. It's OK for vegans. Only ONE actual item on the menu is vegan - the chilequiles. There are a couple of vegan sides as well. Vegetarians rejoice - this place has tons for you. I was a little disheartened that there was only one vegan option and not in the mood to build a meal out of sides. And then... I asked for a mimosa - standard fare at brunch... but they don't have any alcohol :-( We are not off to a good start. Then I notice the "No splitting checks, No splitting card transactions sign." Ugh... I tell my friends, "This food better be amazing or I'm going to go insane!" Then the food arrived...and WOAH... it was SO GOOD!!! Dare I say AMAZING!! Everyone loved what they ordered. The Vegan chilequiles were perfect and the breakfast potatoes were killer. Also, the service was really great. Very friendly folks and no one's water glass (remember... no mimosas) was never more than half empty (er..half full?). Solid 4 stars because the food is really that good. But to get that 5th star... I would have loved the option of drinks, combine the sides into a plate special for another vegan option in the main dishes, and for the build an omeletta add the option of making a tofu scramble :-) Seriously, food is amazing and I definitely will be back.
(4)
Javier S.
Best brunch in Ravenswood, Lincoln Square area. Was in this morning and enjoyed a Caribbean Club and as usual French toast special, today's was a carrot loaf and an Oreo type. I can't get over how great Marmalade is.
(5)
Nickie P.
Great spot for brunch! I had a hard time deciding what to order because everything looked good -- I ended up with the Mayan omelette, which was great. Everything came in super large portions and was really great.
(5)
Joe L.
Simply amazing. Went in for breakfast and was welcomed by a hospitable team of servers and a manager. It was relatively busy, which is a good sign for a Monday morning. I got the Pollo Loco which I HIGHLY recommend. Lovely moist shredded chicken cooked in tomato and chipotle mixture, mounded over a crispy tortilla topped with two poached eggs (they were slightly over cooked) guacamole, sour cream, salsa verde, and queso fresco. It also came with their breakfast potatoes which were amazing as well. Potatoes, scallions, diced red peppers, all of them perfectly cooked. I can not wait to go back and try the other things I was fighting between. Just as a note, you can not split the tab here. So only one credit card for the table.
(5)
John S.
Came here with a friend, got the Mexican Breakfast Combo. Comes with eggs anyway you like them cooked, house potatoes, two cheese quesadillas, some chips stuff and some fruit. I upgraded to chicken quesadillas and it was honestly the best thing on the plate. Really loved their potatoes as well, the chips were whatever. Service was good, didn't want too long for food. They gave us free scones since they were closing for the day, that was pretty awesome. Definitely would come back here, I was seriously full for like 8 hours.
(5)
Zack F.
I understand when restaurants have a policy against seating people before their whole party has arrived. When you are busy and popular, it makes a lot of sense. Enter Marmalade and their 8:30am, only three other people are here but you still can't sit down yet cause your party hasn't arrived policy. There's no one here. I could be drinking coffee and buying beignets, but instead I'm standing awkwardly outside a largely empty restaurant. The food was excellent and our server was the best. So, I feel a bit better about the experience.
(3)
Jeannie P.
Tried Marmalade for the first time on a recent vacation to Chicago. Definitely pluses and minuses to this place. The food was amazing. I had the Efrain Diablo omlet (it also comes with country potatoes). A very unique combination of shrimp, eggs, peppers & avocado. I loved every bite. They will not split checks. They will also not accept more than 1 credit card per check. If you go, make sure that you have cash or a generous friend to pick up the entire tab. Great location but this place is small so expect to wait a while (outside) if they're busy. The bathroom was not very clean and the toilet paper was on the floor - gross. Service was ok. Our server was pleasant enough but not overly friendly and she didn't check on us very often. The food was brought out in a reasonable amount of time so no major complaints. They have a very limited selection of jam for your toast or muffin. Nothing red. It was very strange. Overall, the taste of the food outweighs any of the smaller items. I would definitely return.
(4)
Eugene C.
It's a large, clean space with very attentive service with an emphasis on Latino cuisine. The owner or GM obviously runs a tight ship as I saw him attend to everyone that walked in the door. I got the Vegan Chilaquiles and it was very good in taste and presentation yet slightly pricier than it should be. I appreciate the effort but I wish they had more vegan options. If you're into meat, they won't disappoint. It's a solid breakfast / brunch place in Ravenswood which seems good for a solo or group food excursion.
(4)
Justine G.
I would definitely come back to this neighborhood joint because not only is the food really good but also the staff and owner and very personable. It's also the kind of menu where you want to come back and try all the other yummy options. Definitely get the apple cider!
(4)
Karla U.
This place is cool. Since its a breakfast place it is crazy busy but they try their best to accommodate you. They have great options for breakfast and brunch. You will be surprised you can eat! :P Great food, juices, and lattes . Staff nice as well and attentive.
(5)
Aimee M.
The sweets are sweet and the savories are savory. Marmalade certainly tunes in to everyone's breakfast/brunch dilemma. The menu has some great options like french toast, omelets, benedicts, chilaquiles and chicken/waffles, but also check out their specials. I was plenty pleased with the breakfast combo I chose. I opted for the chorizo skillet (spicy and savory) and the beignets (sweet). The skillet is full of breakfast potatoes, topped with chorizo and queso fresco (I omitted the spicy pepper jack by request) with 2 eggs your choice. This skillet was huge, a little greasy, but it's chorizo. I could only finish a quarter of it and brought it home for a second meal. It was spicy, flavorful and well-made. The beignets were also delicious. Not overly sweet but deliciously light and puffy. It comes with a raspberry sauce and a cappuccino sauce for dipping. A nice sized order where leftovers also leave the table for an afternoon snack. Coffee refills aplenty. The super friendly server asked if I wanted coffee to go to--how lovely was that? Cute place, bright and airy. The price was certainly right considering I got 2.5 meals out of one visit.
(4)
Honey M.
I loved this place!!! It's small but the food is delicious. Portions are big so come hungry. Our server Gosia was very attentive to our needs despite the Memorial Day rush. I'd definitely revisit this place
(5)
XTreats X.
Giving marmalade 4 stars instead of 3 because they are doing some unique dishes! They aren't the best but they are unique and worth the experience. I tried their rendition of chicken and waffles. The bacon potato leek gravy was good (didn't surpass your traditional sausage gravy but it was good.). The waffle was a little plain. Crab cake Benedict was good as well. I wish I tried one of their sweet dishes (french toast etc) they look great. Oh & staff was great
(4)
RJ G.
Definitely have to come back here. Its a quaint little brunch spot that does breakfast right. I had the lady marmalade which was slices of brioche made french toast style with a marmalade compote. Delish! Also had the maple chicken sausage which was sweet, and i love sweet. My friend order the chilaquiles and they were pretty tasty as well. Chihuahua cheese on chips with eggs, avocado, veggies and potatos. Done right. The menu is large and is ever changing. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice brunch spot. Next time ill have to try the cuban sandwich.
(4)
Shahzad A.
I really like the creative approach the chef takes to his food. Every week he has specials that are usually very good. The chef has stopped by our table a few times and has asked for feedback which is very nice. I highly recommend trying this place out.
(5)
Michelle H.
Best vegan chilaquiles in the city! The tofu is actually seasoned well, which is surprisingly hard to find in Chicago. It's great to have an option at a place where I can go with non-vegan friends.
(5)
Kathleen C.
Marmalade was a nice change from the usual spots...which are overly packed and typically not that amazing. Marmalade was friendly and cute, with no frills decor and really nice staff. We visited for brunch and only had a few minute wait. The menu is MASSIVE! It has a zillion things listed. I opted for the two eggs any style with potatoes and toast. The eggs were perfectly done, but skip the cheese - it's a waste and I wasn't expecting it to come out as it did. The toast options didn't include white (I know, it's not as healthy, but for some reason, I really like white toast with my eggs...multigrain was pretty good, though). The potoates were good, though I wasn't expecting them to have little bits of peppers in them. They also were a bit crispy, though not as hot as I would have expected on the inside. I also ordered a side of one hotcake. This was the only disappointing part as I had to ask for it when it didn't arrive and then it took at least 20 min to come out (pretty good, though). Everyone else devoured their meals, so obviously the food is pretty good. I don't think it was anything over the top, but it did hit the spot. Service was the part that really took a beating here. They came to refill coffees and skipped mine...next time the coffee refill was on it's way, I had to hand over my cup so that no one forgot. Also, there seemed to be quite a bit of confusion with the order....it was a bit busy, and the server was really nice, but I was a tad frustrated about the overall service level. Pretty good spot. Food - 4 Service - 2 Atmosphere - 3 Bathrooms - 3 Value - 5
(3)
Meg R.
We come here often. It's our neighborhood breakfast spot. Well it was anyways. The food is normally good. Service good enough. Never had a problem until this morning. Our waitress with super long hair didn't have it pulled back. And every time she put something on our table her hair dipped in our water. There were 4 of us. So the two of us that were on the outside of the table this kept happening. So gross!!! So then we kept watching her and she was at the kitchen window. Grabbing her hair putting her fingers through it. Then she grabbed our food off the line!!! Sooo gross. Our last straw was when she was clearing our plates and her hair went into my almost empty latte cup. We all saw it. We just shook our heads and got out of there. We won't be back. That's for sure. We are all in the industry and one of the number one health code rules is pull your hair back! Especially when it's down to your butt!
(1)
Carla E.
OMG THIS PLACE IS BAE!!! I have been there couple times and they make me fall in love more and more each time!!! i recommend the papi chulo, it has that delicious flavor!!!!!
(5)
Bert T.
They really don't want my business! The sign on the door says they are open until 2:30. I arrived at 1:55 and asked to be seated. The owner said NO, because they were closing In half an hour. I said, "you know you are losing a customer. Are you OK with that?' He said, "I'm fine with that." Well -- OK then. Buh BYE!
(1)
Natalia R.
Me and my husband went to Marmalade today for breakfast. We came here a couple of times before that and the experience was ok, average I would say. Today was the worst. I'm going to point out the things that are most annoying: Noise: the place is small and usually pretty busy - I guess this is the reason it's VERY VERY noisy. You can hardly have a conversation there. Food: average. The french toast wasn't anything special, seemed a little dry. Waiters: they seem very stressed and they run around like crazy and obviously try really hard to clean tables and sit people down. This makes it difficult to relax. Imagine sitting at a small table for two in the middle of the restaurant when someone constantly runs (literally, runs) back and forth past to your table. Service: when we sat down waiter came quickly and took our orders, he was nice and patient. When we had our first coffees we had to wait for a long time for a refilll. We both finished coffees BUT the waiter only offerred a refill to my husband, ignored me, and disappeared so quickly I didn't ahve a chance to say anything. It took me a very long time to get someone's attention again to get a refill of my coffee. They were very quick to bring us the check though. Hmm... didn't surprise me at all. This is the place where they want you to quickly order, eat and get out ASAP. We will never come back.
(2)
Gino W.
Voulez-vous manger avec moi ce jour? Voulez-vous manger avec moi? Okay, so that may be a bit much. No, it wasn't. I love ethnic food and one thing I will admit that American restaurants get right is breakfast. I was hesitant to go to Marmalade because of some of the reviews, but sometimes you have to check things out for yourself. Breakfast bliss all around for the start of my birthday. Cafe au lait. Eggs scrambled well with cream cheese. Cubano French toast. The cafe au lait was not bitter, not in the least. I drank it without any sugar and said silently, "Intelligentia, you have competition." By the second cup, I was saying, "Intelligentia what?" Nothing spectacular about cream cheese in my eggs, as that is a staple for my desired preparation of eggs. Where I wanted to stand up and sing "Gino Marmalade," was with the Cubano French toast. I would gladly have enjoyed a petite mort after the first bite of the French toast in guava marmalade with a cream anglaise, topped with strawberries, guava, and granola.
(4)
Michael N.
Marmalade is one of those city restaurants that Ashley and I drive 30+ miles for. It is not conveniently located for us...at all. We have to take 94 down to Irving Park, then east to Damen, then up to Montrose. But....it's worth it. I would walk 500 miles for those breakfast potatoes. I would trudge through sludge for their breakfast skillets. There is no distance that could keep me from Marmalade. It has become a holiday restaurant for us. We went there on Memorial Day, and then on Labor Day. I wish there was another Monday holiday coming up so we could go back soon. Their servers are fast and friendly. It is a smaller restaurant, so there is usually a wait. But once you walk in, the smell of deliciousness fills your booger holes and you tell yourself "60 minute wait? That's ok." Jk, the longest we waited was probably 15 minutes. The portions are enormous too. It is a little pricey for breakfast, but it is really awesome. There aren't many, but Marmalade is one of the reasons why I envy people who live in Chicago.
(5)
Elise W.
I'm a little sad to write this review. I've been to this restaurant twice previously, and had a great experience with both service and food. However this Sunday was different. I was with a group of 4 and we called ahead to find out wait times. The person on the phone told us there wasn't a wait - well when we got there 10 minutes later, the line was out the door and it was over a half hour. My friend said that we had just called and a staff member later whispered to her that the manager told her to lie to us about the wait on the phone. This really turned all of us off, but we decided to stay since I had previously enjoyed my experiences here. Our waitress, I have to say, was really friendly, so that part of service was o.k. We ordered our food - I got one of the benedicts and asked for hollandaise on the side. When it came, however, the plate was drowning in it. Not a big deal, I asked them to fix it. However, it came back to me a minute later with streak marks from where they obviously took a towel and wiped the sauce off - it was still on the bread and the whole plate of food was cold. The poached eggs were cold and hardened in the middle. By this point, I did not want to send it back again - so I just dealt with it. My friend ordered french toast and she said the bread was stale. Super disappointing. I realize the restaurant was really busy, but they should still care about the food they put out and management should definitely not lie to customers in order to try and get more business. I unfortunately will not be back after this experience.
(2)
Chris M.
This place is outstanding! Our friends invited us to join them for Sunday brunch, so glad they did. The service was warm, friendly, attentive, and impeccable. The food was diverse and superb. They offer the traditional breakfast and lunch options but with their own unique interpretation. Marmalade also offers many unique dishes - too many to try in one visit - so a great reason to go back. Highlights of our first trip: french toast flight, the crabmeat eggs benedict and beignets.
(5)
Lauren R.
Marmalade is our default on Mondays when Over Easy isn't open. At Over Easy, we arrive at 7am with the morning crowd, and are out with a full, happy belly by 7:30 at the extreme latest. At Marmalade, we arrive at their 7:30 opening time, and cross our fingers to be out by 8:30 after being 1 of 2 tables occupied at that time. The food is good, except for the greasy potatoes, and the water is constantly refilled. The staff is just slower, with no clear drive to improve, and they make it VERY clear that they will not be inconvenienced to split a check for you. Signs are everywhere.
(3)
Hannah C.
This place had a wait, but they were managing it very well. Four of us went in and all of us loved it. I got killer french toast, boyfriend got a Mexican-inspired potato dish. None of us was disappointed. Service was quite good given how busy they were! Seriously, this was so good I sort of don't want to review it so that it doesn't get any busier. But I will say this: when in doubt, try one of the Mexican dishes - they won't disappoint.
(5)
Alessandra S.
What a gem! A solid brunch spot with an abundance of choices, you honestly can't go wrong. Bring your vegetarian friends! Bring your vegan friends! Bring your hungover friends! Bring your kids! This place accommodates all. The place is always packed when I go for brunch on the weekends, yet somehow they manage to seat me within 15 minutes of walking in each time I've gone. So far, I've had The Lady Marmalade, Pollo Loco, and their steak omelette. Everything was wonderful, but I think they do Mexican breakfast items particularly well. Their house potatoes are exploding with flavor and taste great alone or accompanying any item on the menu. Service was friendly and prompt. They look like they are having a good time, and that's always fun to see. Honestly, the only problem is that everything sounds good and it is much too hard to choose only one item. The only way to solve this problem is for me to go back until I've tried everything! Challenge happily accepted.
(5)
Ari A.
Foodgasm. Do I need to say much else? The memorable dishes from this fine tornado morning were Pollo Loco, Aztec Omelette, and Mexican Breakfast Combo. If you think you can finish the Aztec Omelette, think again. The weirdest thing about the Mexican Breakfast Combo was the sunny side up eggs, and the Pollo Loco had the perfect amount of pulled chicken drizzled in yolk. Yeah this place will leave your mouth watering. Space is limited, but the staff is great at ensuring you always have a drink in hand, even if you're waiting outside in the bitter cold. Nothing wrong with a morning coke for a breakfast of Champions. Come hungry, leave full. *Bring cash if you're splitting the bill with friends!
(4)
Jessica G.
Will not be back. I gave this place another try (against my better judgement) and was sadly disappointed. I ordered the chilequiles which come with scrambled tofu, and asked if I could get that with scrambled egg instead. Waitress said no problem. ...Then waitress came back and said they would give me both tofu and egg, and I said, "no thank you, I just want egg - no want tofu." She said OK, it will be $1 for the substitution. No problem! We wait for our meal, wincing along to the way-too-loud and staticy music. My dish arrives - hilequiles sadly forlorn on a plate, with an egg on the side - not mixed as a scramble as it should have been. Ok, ok - I did request a change. The salsa was tasty, and the egg was a scrambled egg (can't easily mess that up) but that was the end of it. The chips were tough and unpleasant, potatoes hard as stone and inedible. Then the bill arrives, and I was charged $2.50 for an egg on the side. Excuse me? I don't mind paying for something changed, but when I'm told a price, I expect you to charge me what you said. Sure, it's only $1.50, but it's the principle of the thing. I paid it, but I will not be back. I can tolerate rude waitstaff, but paired with bad food, it's definitely scratched off my go-to list of Chicago eats.
(1)
Kevin G.
Ate here after running a 5k last Saturday. I ordered the Simply French Toast. Calling this dish "simple" is definitely accurate. The french toast completely lacked flavor. Aside from the parts that I poured maple syrup on, the french toast tasted like regular bread. Definitely not good. My girlfriend ordered an omelet with potatoes. The potatoes were good. There are plenty of breakfast spots in Chicago where you can get a good breakfast. This place is not one of them.
(2)
Natan Y.
It was my first time eating there. I have seen a barrage of reviews so I figured this place was good... I asked the waitress who was really nice what she recommended. She recommended a polenta bacon plate with quesodilla.... I didn't like it. It tasted like leftover Thanksgiving. The quesodilla was filled with goat cheese and grapes?(I know gross) I dunno it was creative and we'll presented however no bacon in the polenta.. in fact that's something there menu lacks. I feel like this is a place for women to get breakfast or vegans they forget about our carnivorous needs. You need a more diverse menu that offers plates of meat. It was actually the first time I can remember a breakfast restaurant had no steak. I will most likely not be back however the sweet potatoes were delightful.
(3)
Luli S.
Bad service. Sat down and asked the server for specials she said they are on the boards. One of the boards was facing on a wall that protruded beyond our table which meant we would of had to walk around just to know the specials. Thanks a lot Stephanie. Just pd for my coffee and left. Service sux!
(1)
Mark T.
The unusual weekday off from work called for brunch. I'm usually the type of person that would go for someplace new, that I've heard about but have never tried before. Luckily Marmalade was nearby so my sis and I decided to check this place out. We were familiar with the neighborhood that Marmalade now sits since this place is nearby the very first house that we moved to when the family decided to live in the city. Since I'm the younger of the two, I was very little at the time. I had a vague recollection but my sister remembered this place to be another type of restaurant. Anyways, back to the review. We had just missed the breakfast hour so we decided to tackle the brunch specials. I had the Florentine Crab Benedict : crab cakes and poached eggs, with sauteed garlic spinach, dill sour cream, and spicy chipotle hollandaise on top of our homemade cornbread; served with our chef's potatoes. Granted, these weren't as good as mom's crab cakes, but they were still good enough for my taste buds. I could never decide what opinion I have about poached eggs in general, but somehow they went well with the dish. I was expecting more from the cornbread, but the portion size was the right amount and I was glad for that. The wait staff was excellent and the kitchen to table time was great. if this was a weekend, I fully expect this place to be packed; the food was that good. The space itself is somewhat small, but it's brightly lit and the paintings on the walls are a nice touch (loved the "Lady Marmalade" painting especially). I have zero problems coming back here!
(4)
Leanne A.
This was a welcome addition to Ravenswood when it opened. The nearby brunch options before were Fountainhead (more gastropub fair) Selmarie (quite a bit further away) Julius Meinl (more cafe than brunchy) Tiny Lounge (more bar than brunch)...so ya, Marmalade is the only real breakfast and brunch choice. I love the cozy vibe. It's like a clean, modern diner. I agree with others that the sweet options are better than the savory. They have awesome french toast dishes that are covered in fresh berries. The first time I went, I thought it tasted very similar to m. henry. Lo and behold, the menu was designed by the same chef. So all those who think Marmalade is "copying" m. henry....um it's not. It's kind of like a mini off shoot. That's the whole point. Oh, and the outdoor seats are a perfect way to enjoy brunch here if it's not too chilly.
(4)
Sofia G.
One of my favorite breakfast spots! Everything I've tried here is delicious: guava french toast, the crepes, the aztec omelette, hash and eggs, the funghi omelette... Never a wrong dish! And the service is always friendly!
(5)
Allen B.
I remember when this place used to be LeSabre. I miss that place, but I'm sure they've gone on to bigger and better things. Anyways, Marmalade --what a nice place. I don't know how else to explain it, maybe it was the service, maybe it was the warm greeting that my girlfriend and I received upon entry, maybe it was the cleanliness. I don't know. I....just....don't.....know. But regardless, Marmalade is definitely a quaint breakfast spot that we will hit up again. The service was fast and friendly and the owner (I believe he might have been the owner) greeted us at the door which made our breakfast experience that much better. Go check this place out and if you see me there, make sure you say hi. =)
(4)
Michael D.
I really wish I could give this place more stars. The food is really, really good. I've had the Mayan Omelette, which is delicious. They used very fresh ingredients and the flavor was great - the crepes are excellent too. The drawbacks: * Service is slow, especially on weekends. It gets really crowded, but that isn't an excuse-- hire more waiters * The coffee isn't great. For a brunch place, this is surprising. Also, they put out non-dairy creamer on the table... I had to request half and half from the kitchen. Waiter seemed a little irritated about having to do this. * NO SPLIT CHECKS. Extremely obnoxious. I really have to rack my brain thinking of places in Chicago that do this... it seems to me that the credit card transaction fee is worth not irritating the customers. Also, judging by the reviews, I'm not the only one who was annoyed
(3)
Reagan W.
We went here for an anniversary brunch.. Very laid back. Food was very good and came out in a timely manner. Their outside seating is too close to one another though.
(4)
Jerry C.
I don't eat pork so I asked to substitute with chicken on the bennie but was told No! No problem in future as I will eat elsewhere.
(1)
Lily P.
Went here for the first time, and I must say not a very friendly atmosphere. The hostess were NOT pleasant and gave us a look of: um no Mexicans allowed...Yes, I said it because that is how it happen. If she only knew, who she was walking in that restaurant she wouldn't act that way. Now, I am simply placing a phone call to my well know Chicago Land Food Critic and let him know of my experience. Needless to say; took my business somewhere else to the Egghead Diner, NOW that is service with a smile!!!
(1)
Samantha R.
Absolutely love this place! (: first time here, food was amazing and the customer service is great.
(5)
Vanessa R.
We were doing some shopping in Northcenter and thought we should finally stop by this place to check it out for brunch. We were pleasantly surprised there was no wait, but I think I now know why. Food is not very good. I really wanted to love this place as it's in the neighborhood, and is great for people with dietary restrictions as they have gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options. In my case, I loved that they have their gluten free items clearly marked with a "GF" on their menu so you don't have to grill the server with a ton of questions. I ordered the vegan/gluten free chilaquiles with onions, baby spinach, red and green peppers over an organic tofu scramble with a green salsa. Since all egg dishes come with a side, I opted for the oven roasted potatoes. Chilaquiles are kind of hard to mess up, and to date I don't think I have ever not left my plate clean eating these, but these were hard to swallow. The chips tasted like they were straight out of a bag, salsa was not spicy at all or flavorful (like the salsa verde you can buy in a can), the tofu scramble also lacked any flavor at all, and the worst part was the potatoes on the side - they tasted awful, as if they were coated in a cheese sauce or something (which was not possible because this was a vegan dish). I thought I was overreacting and had my husband try them and he agreed they tasted really bizarre, pretty much inedible. Husband ordered a skillet as well and was underwhelmed as well. Another thing I was really put off by: multiple times all over the menus, it clearly states in all caps that no substitutions can be made, no exceptions, on any dish. This lack of flexibility in ordering stinks. Overall the food just didn't cut it at all and I was underwhelmed by the lack of non-egg gluten free options where not a single non-egg gluten free option was available (e.g. crepes, waffles, pancakes). Bummer.
(2)
Laura L.
Perfectly fine. It's nice to see a brunch menu that goes beyond the basic 'omelet and french toast'. Major kudos for that. On execution, I felt it fell just a little short. It certainly was not bad, it just left me on the cusp of completely impressed. The service was pretty great, wish I could remember our waitresses name - even went to check on the receipt but it said Bob, which I doubt was HER name. - I got the shrimp omelet which was very flavorful (though there were some wetness to the egg that I found unappealing) but the potatoes were kind of just weird. - The marmalade and chutney were delightful. - My husband's chicken from the chicken and biscuit also had a bit of an odd flavor to it that I couldn't quite place. Overall, it felt very reminiscent of Tweet to me, but a step below. Obviously not BAD though, or it wouldn't have received 4 stars.
(4)
Marie B.
So, we've passed this place up several times to go to Glenn's dinner. We decided to switch it up a bit and try Marmalade. It...was...Fantastic! Another great brunch place to add onto our amazing Chicago brunch list. I had the Italian (I forgot the real name) omlette special, so good. Fresh basil was a plus. Their house potatoes had the perfect amount of seasoning and spice. The jam was amazing, so amazing that we bought some to take home! Their coffee was yummy too.. Must Try!
(4)
LaDarian D.
French toast & Omelette selections are wide & fantastic. Services is good & friendly. It's always an enjoyable experience. Not a potato fan much, but the home fries are awesome
(5)
Ashley S.
Shut the front door. This place. Breakfast, I mean how good can it get? I'll tell you how good it can get....think of something that makes you really happy, cotton candy at the fair, a walk on a sunny Spring day....what makes me happy..a mexican combination platter from Marmalade. This may have been the best dish I've ever eaten. It was perfection. It's a really good thing I don't live in the area, I would be 1,000LBS. The plate consisted of a delicious homemade guacamole, a wonderful chile sauce over lightly crisp tortilla chips, 2 cheese quesadillas, 2 eggs(your choice) and the most amazing breakfast potatoes I've ever eaten! Oh. My. Gosh. I need to go back there now....except it's 4:37pm and I don't think they're open, so I guess I'll have to wait....but trust me when I say I will be back and I will dominate that plate again.
(5)
Lauren O.
Finally got to try this place out! It is usually very crowded and honestly I don't have the patience to wait. But on a crappy, snowy, Monday around 11:30am it worked out perfectly for us. There was a decent crowd of people but not overly crowded and we didn't have to wait. Everything on the menu looks amazing.I went with the Mexican Breakfast Combo. The potatoes were delicious. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly. The chilaquiles were topped with slasa verde & fresh guacamole....just the right amount of spicy. The quesadillas were nice & cheesy. Everything was really good but it was just too much food for me. I def left a lot on my plate. The man had the Efrain's Diablo Omeletta. He was quiet as a mouse eating and ate every last morsel of it. His also came with potatoes. Nothing was left on his plate. We eye balled everyone else's food around us and agreed that we would def be going back. The lunch options also sounded good but we were in the mood for breakfast. Either way we'll be back!
(4)
Jacob J.
Almost a year later and I'm still a fan with more visits under my belt. People need to stop reading reviews.. LoL ( I speak of waiting times). There are times in the day that I want a sweet treat and have tried stopping by just for their sweet plantains only to find a twenty minute wait on seating. I've stated this once, which will be repeated, I've had plantains at other restaurants and found them to be over cooked, dried out, etc. They are good here. Recently I stopped in again and brought newbies which are now turned on to the Marmalade following. Dining with two is fun but with four offers your eyes a feast. This time round we all ordered different items. Sweet, savories, hearty and more. I tell ya, their spicy chiliquiles is bomb! if it weren't for the inclusion of eggs, I could have this twice a week. On the menu its mentioned as a vegan, but I often ask for them to meat it out. Eggs and maybe a side of some good breakfast meat. Marmalade's menu is ever changing with a few items being standard on their menu, find newer mentions in chalk on boards. I would suggest dining with someone interested in ordering opposite of you so that both can try a bit of sweet or savory. Service is decent, good but not perfect depending on whom you get. I haven't had a complaint yet but I think they could hold back from offering so much coffee so often. (Of course this is merely a request of my own experiences, whereas others may see it as being on their toes.) At other times, the coffee is frequent but other items are forgotten. If visiting find lots of street parking nearby and definitely call ahead for wait times.
(4)
EDELMA A.
Went in for lunch after finding out Fountainhead wasn't open. We wanted salads and decided to order two that were on the menu. It's got to be difficult to mess up a salad, but they managed to mess up two. The sirloin steak on my salad was like eating beef jerky, and the beets on the other salad looked pruney and from the bottom of the barrel. Really disappointed, had high hopes. If we return, we'll stick to the breakfast.
(1)
Jennifer K.
The food here is so good that I am disappointed to leave a review like this. When I was in last week, I had the unpleasant experience of listening to the manager/owner (I think) yelling at his staff. It is so unacceptable to dress down staff in front of a line of customers. And it is stressful for customers! A Sunday morning should not include yelling. And after he was done yelling at the hostess, he was loud and rude throughout the restaurant. This made me really not want to go back.
(2)
sidney l.
Was at here earlier and now I realize why this place place is great. The reason the use real butter and clean ingredients not like some other breakfast spots that use everything out of a can or that synthetic frying oil that most places uses.
(5)
Tresa M.
I'm always surprised that this doesn't have more stars. I have eaten here many times and have never had a negative experience. The Pollo Loco is delicious. They have many Mexican style breakfast dishes and overall, they are very good. The service is good, could be faster, but food is solid. Waits on the weekends aren't too long and the prices are fair.
(4)
Susan S.
Augh! I just want to pack this restaurant in my purse and bring it back to St Louis as a souvenir! I have absolutely nothing negative to say (and one eye brow raising thing to say) about this excellent restaurant. First of all, the only problem you'll have is deciding which direction to take your order. Do you want savory or sweet? I am a savory breakfast eater but always manage to score a bite of sweet from the DH or kids. Too bad they weren't with me this time. I ordered a Mexican style eggs benedict with poached eggs, chorizo, avocado, insanely corny corn tortillas, and a maravillosa sauce. The serving size was just right---not too much, not too little. The coffee was hot and plentiful and the server happily brought us milk for our coffee. The only negative comment I would make is that one of the servers was wearing those Lululemon see through tights. WE REALLY COULD SEE EVERYTHING! It was weird!
(5)
Cassie V.
Came here for brunch with my family, it's one of my parents go to breakfast places. The hostess was very accommodating when my step requested a table change. And service was awesome throughout, our coffee was always refreshed, table was cleared quickly (not rushing us, but giving us room), and the food was delicious. They have a harvest hash special going on right now that includes brisket...brisket for breakfast is never a wrong way to go. Two people in my party got it, and were pleased. I got mama Maria's enchiladas and they were a sweet deliciousness that came with eggs. Not spicy but they give you hot sauce, if you need the kick. They're americano was also superb. Beware that it's a small Chicago space, so there is only a few perfect seats in the house, ie away from the door or the kitchen, but don't let this sway you if you want to experience the food. I will be back!
(4)
Erick N.
My wife and I were joined with a friend this morning for a post-run brunch (while post-run for my wife, seeing that it was in the 40s earlier today with drizzle and wind I smartly opted to sleep in and forgo my morning run). We had a rather pleasant (though certainly not spectacular) brunch and all of us enjoyed our entrees. Marmalade is nothing fancy on the inside and does not possess much ambiance, but wow - they have quite an appetizing menu. This is not a boring breakfast/brunch place with predictable fare but they have some interesting choices and a nice balance of sweet and savory. As I was feeling guilty for skipping out on my run I almost opted for their healthy pancakes made with more grains than I could count, but there were far too many tempting options for my willpower to overcome. Just when I thought I had my choice narrowed down our server informed of us additional specials (that also sounded quite good, such as a BBQ Pork Benedict on brioche). The menu appeared to be a fusion of American and Mexican cuisine. After seeking some advice form our server (Carolina) I ordered the El Picante Benedict which consists of a Hodge-podge of goodies such as homemade tortillas, sweet plantains, spicy chorizo, poached eggs, Mexican rice, corn, black beans, avocado slices, queso fresco and Mayan sauce. In lieu of missing my run I had them hold the sour cream (seemed like a fair trade off... after all I could have ordered the Oreo Raspberry Hotcakes, the Cinnamon Bread Pudding or the Strawberry Rhubarb French Toast). While prices are a bit higher than most casual brunch locales (my dish was $11.50) portions were quite generous and everything was pretty darn good. The coffee was decent as well. Some recent reviews had mentioned spotty and slow service, but this was not the case this morning. Our server was extremely attentive, friendly (and was rather pleasant on the eyes to boot). She checked in with us frequently and our coffees never became more than half empty before they were topped off. We arrived a little after 9:00am, so it probably helped that we beat the late morning rush (Marmalade was fairly crowded, but not yet full). I certainly would not mind coming back here and trying out some of the other intriguing menu items.
(4)
Mahesh S.
This is quickly becoming one of our favorite breakfast places to go to. The food is really good and the wait staff is amazing. Unless you are a party of 2 or less expect a wait time of anywhere between 15-30 minutes. Price is probably 30% more than other comparable places. Plenty of street parking around the area. I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)
KC F.
This place was so good. I really enjoyed their brunch and can't wait to head back to try other menu items (papaya french toast?!). There seemed to be a constant wait for tables but it moved quickly. Would recommend!
(5)
Michael U.
Arriving early, only perhaps forty-five minutes after Marmalade had opened its doors and again allocating free parking without difficulty but on our arrival to the doors we were instantly struck by just how packed the restaurant was-literally every seat was filled and parties of eight, four, and two preceded us on the wait list. Debating whether or not we wanted to stay the hostess informed us that in her opinion the wait would be "no more than fifteen minutes" and deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt we were pleasantly surprised when a number of patrons all seemed to finish their meal at once leaving us a nice seat near the window and with full view of the kitchen a mere ten minutes later. With the restaurant clearly busy and menu present on the table as we arrived I took some time browsing the bakery items before returning to my seat and from this point forward we would wait while watching what may be the most inefficient restaurant in the history of overcrowded brunch spots. With servers racing here and there refilling drinks, bussing tables, serving foods, brewing labor intensive espressos, seating patrons, and just trying to keep up it would be at least fifteen minutes after we were seated before our server would even notice us to take drink orders-water only-before again racing off without taking our order. Finally returning only after she'd bussed a table and served another we finally had the opportunity to place our orders...and wait , wait, and wait some more with empty water glasses until our orders arrived. Chuckling at the clever paintings and number of persons now waiting outside while musing about how much more efficient the restaurant could be by simply adding a dedicated bus-boy and barista/bakery worker the first item to arrive at our table would prove nearly worth the wait-a Sweet Potato and sour Cherry Muffin dense and moist with flavors of cinnamon and cloves punctuated by large cherries impressively ripe for this time of year. A bit small for the $3.50 price tag this was still a good muffin and the streusel topping plenty sweet to offset the slight savory notes of the sweet potato. Now nearly fifty minutes post-seating our main courses would finally arrive and although each was complicated none was as much so as the "Jason's Omelette," a three egg fold absolutely stuffed with sweet potato, butternut squash, pumpkin, caramelized onions, cranberries, cognac chicken sausage, goat cheese and topped with a red wine reduction. A difficult flavor to describe though largely predominated by the boozy notes of the wine and cognac melding with the savory notes from the cheese and the onions I'm really not sure that I "liked" this kitchen sink approach, though it was definitely novel and something I could envision myself making on the morning before I left on vacation to use up various odds and ends in my fridge. Moving next to the sweets, my sister's selection was the "Mango and blueberry cinnamon roll presented cut in half served with warm mangos and blueberries, smothered with cream cheese icing and sprinkled with granola." Again an interesting option and arriving large and colorful this dish began and ended with the cinnamon roll, a decent representation that I had expected to be cooked something like French toast (a la Yolk,) which was simply plated and topped with the aforementioned ingredients - all a bit out of season and not particularly sweet without the addition of the icing. Overall a bit disappointing especially given the price I think Marmalade would be better served to alter the ingredients seasonally or to rethink the preparation of the cinnamon roll (or both.) For the final selection my choice for the morning would be "Breakfast Gingerbread Pudding," the best option of the morning by far with the dense gingerbread perfectly soaked but toasted on the top and served piping hot. Good on its own the pudding was additionally complimented by the addition of raspberry marmalade, orange marmalade, and thick crème anglaise. A small portion overall but substantially sweet I would strongly recommend this dish to anyone and to Marmalade I'd recommend serving it all week long instead of only during weekend brunch as it was without a doubt their most well conceptualized and executed item. With my sister and her friend now bordering on running late for their tour of Crucial Design studio the delivery of our check would again be delayed but once it arrived we were encouraged to pay up front at the hostess stand - another design flaw as this is also where people waiting for a seat are forced to stand - but in this case a lucky occurrence as the restaurant's owner was standing there eliciting feedback - opinions I was more than willing to give and opinions that he was happy to receive noting that they were in the process of streamlining the service procedures and that they were "still learning what works" - a good practice for any restaurant, especially in a strong market.
(3)
Troy E.
Marmalade has always been a solid breakfast option for me, wifey, and the little one. I'm pretty easy, consistently order eggs, potatoes, sausage, wheat toast.... If my eggs are hot, I'm a happy camper. The potatoes are fantastic, crispy edges, a little kick, great flavor. My wife seems to dabble into the more creative menu items, and has always had good things to say. Today, I veered off the map and had the multigrain pancakes. I was worried they would be dry and tasteless, but they were fluffy and sweet. My toddler has been crazy for apples recently. I asked if apples were included in the kids fruit cup, server said "yes", ended up being peaches, pears, pineapple, strawberries. Not a huge issue, but I wouldn't have ordered if I were told "no". The server acknowledged there were no apples when delivering to the table, and pointed out that there were pears. Also ordered three pancakes, only recd two. The server was proactive, noticed before I did and recovered, but added "we will only charge for two". The check came and I was charged for all three. Again, not a huge issue, but not following through on recoveries is the most important part. While signing the check, the busser took my almost finished plate without asking if we were finished. I'll return, food is always a hit, but it sort of bothered me that both small technicalities experienced were noticed by the staff, but not really corrected.
(4)
Leah C.
chilaquiles, i've missed you... and i cleared my plate of the delicious vegan version. this dish in itself will keep me coming back. we shared a pumpkin muffin which satiated our hunger at most. just like every other brunch spot in chicago, expect a wait but on a nice day, it's a fun/non congested neighborhood to stroll before your table is ready . we were able to tetris in our newest accessory - a stroller - fairly easily amongst the tables, which is key these days. service was quick and flawless (also key for us these days when we're on a feeding schedule :) )
(4)
Kathy A.
I love this place. I have been here a few times and plan on going more often. The food is great, service is excellent and enjoy the variety of food options. I recently became vegan and was excited to see they had vegan options. My meal was so delicious and the manager was pleasant.
(5)
Marco H.
I've walked past this place many times and there's always been a long line...so i kept walking. But luckily on my day off, there wasn't a wait, so I figured I'd try Marmalade. It was delicious, starting with the coffee. Normally I have low expectations for getting a decent cup of joe, but Marmalade's was actually quite good. Feeling famished, I went for the Papi Chullo: a tasty combination of slow cooked pulled chicken, tomato chipotle sauce, salsa verde on top of a bed of potatoes and guacamole. It's a winner (and a good hangover breakfast). My wife ordered the french toast, which was also really good. I'll definitely be back to try The Fat Mexican (yes a real dish on the menu).
(4)
Ginger F.
They're open late now on the weekends. I headed over there on a recent Friday night. It was myself two other people - the new hours are off to a shaky start. I had the pumpkin French toast and it was pretty awful. It wasn't French toast...it was two slices of pumpkin bread with some kind of super sugary glaze drizzled over it. It wasn't even warm. Just bleh. I've had other decent things there - nothing extraordinary.
(3)
Megan R.
I've been here probably 5 times now and every time I'm left in food heaven. Service can be hit or miss, and the place itself, while it looks nice, had its challenges (been here twice with the heat broken in cold weather). But the menu? Amazing. I always do sweet brunches, so I've had the lady marmalade (tasty), the pumpkin French toast (to die for- they use rich pumpkin bread as the base) red velvet French toast (best I've ever had), sweet potato pancakes or French toast (so good), and a handful of the weekend specials. Always good. Shorter wait than most places. I highly recommend it
(4)
Dhruv P.
I just read about this place 2 days ago on Thrillist and fwd'd to my good friend and fellow yelp (non-elite) Monica. We, along with fellow elites Ali, Sonali and a nonyelper, were to meet up for our now defunct EAT meeting. Monica was coming from LA and catching up with us so we planned to do brunch initially at M Henry, for 10 am, even though we were scared that lines could keep us out on the sidewalk for quite some time. But after getting the email, we thought this place would be fun and were able to score a reservation. The inside was much larger than what it looked on the outside (it looks like a building that squatted in a alley - except its a corner storefront). We were offered drinks right away and the waitress kept us informed (let us know when she was coming back after refilling water/coffee for orders). I got the signature stuffed French toast. It's sweet enough and tasty BUT it's being stuffed is a misnomer. Its more like a French toast sandwich with jam "stuffed" in between the slices. And if you're ordering it, after all, its their signature item (not sure why), be advised to split it with someone else. The portion is quite enough to feed a hungry hippo, if the aforementioned hippo liked sweet toast instead of marbles. There were 8 triangles, or 4 bread slices. Most places are 50-75% of this serving. From others, briefly of course, since they will post on yelp, was that the vegan Spanish inspired dish with tofu scramble really stood out from the other dishes and I'll order it next time I come. This place is a good place to get brunch. But it's not as creative as m Henry. I'm torn giving it 4 stars - It's more like 3.5 stars. Its a great addition to the neighborhood. It's better than Bakin' & Eggs I went to a couple weeks ago. The dishes I tried were good and tasty and service was pleasent. But I had higher expectations from a chef at M Henry. And if I had a choice between this and Julius Meinl a little westward, I would choice Julius Meinl in a heartbeat.
(4)
Elle F.
Food and service were good, but they don't let you split a check between 2 different credit cards. Totally ridiculous.
(3)
Chelsea B.
This place is amazing. Everyone at our table ordered something different for breakfast and it was all amazing! Great place for breakfast or brunch.
(5)
Michael S.
I had a craving for an omelette with chorizo so I walked up the street from my place to Marmalade. Have eaten here several times before and everything that I've eaten was great except for the pancakes that were a little bit dry, My favorite is the Azteca omelette. The first time that I ordered it was fantastic. The last time it wasn't as good. I commented to my server about it she said that they removed jalapeños from it so I know why it wasn't as good. This time I ordered an omelette with caramelized onions, mozzarella and chorizo. The omelette was pretty OK but it wasn't as fluffy as I thought it would be but still tasted pretty good. The potatoes were a little to seasoned for me but I enjoyed them just the same. My server was very nice and attentive. It helps that I was the only one here. Overall I like this place and will come back mainly because it is right up the street from me.
(4)
Kristina W.
Marmalade is one of my favorite breakfast spots in the city. It ranks right up there with Bongo Room!
(5)
Brent W.
perfect Fall late morning al fresco dining. We grabbed a two top outside and looked over the fairly generous brek and brunch menu, it's hard to not find something that appeals to any appetite. She the corned beef hash, over three times ordering this dish, "it never disappoints". A rookie myself went w one of the skillet specials, chipotle roasted pulled chicken, roasted breakfast potatoes (some of the best ever) some veggies w. (way over easy) ordered over medium eggs. All said, fantastic.
(4)
Christine V.
The best breakfast I have had the pleasure of eating at a restaurant. Where do I begin? I saw great looking food coming from the kitchen while waiting to be seated with my husband, my brother and his fiancee (hey mike and ashley!) But one dish in particular was special. It had roasted, spiced potatoes, scrambled eggs, tortilla chips doused in a chili/chipotle sauce so they were still crispy but kind of soft, guacamole, and 2 mini triangles of quesadillas. I knew it was what I was going to order but still studied the menu. The options were awesome and anything I would have ordered would have been delicious, I am sure of it. The place was very busy so I don't be surprised if you have to wait a bit before getting a table.
(5)
Jennifer N.
Mid way through my vegan chilaquiles, I declared to my friend that I could easily eat this multiple times per week here. The tortillas were perfectly drenched in salsa verde. The tofu scramble was full of flavor, and the side of potatoes were cooked and seasoned perfectly. As we sat and chatted on a Saturday morning (when it was quite busy), we didn't feel rushed to leave- but instead being offered more water and coffee. I watched the thick stacks of pancakes being delivered to the table next to us and thought about my future orders. But honestly, a day later as I write this, I am waiting for the next time I can get those vegan chilaquiles !
(5)
Kimbele S.
finally visited this neighborhood place a few weeks ago. i was overwhelmed by their fantastic 'lady marmalade' (french toast on brioche with apricot marmalade, maple cream, and strawberry blackberry coulis....sweet jeebus). it was out of this world good. my husband was underwhelmed by his 'diablo omelette', which touted spicy jerk shrimp, but was in fact quite mild. anyway, we brought a couple people with us the second time. only one of the dishes at our table was fantastic--the rest was super bla. my husband struck out again, ordering the quiche. it was UNBELIEVABLE that someone could've looked at that thing and served it. while it may have once resembled quiche, it looked like it sat under a heat lamp for 3 hours. super gross. for some dumb reason he ate the entire thing without commenting to the server, even though he hated it, which is why i'm mentioning it here. i really think even a single super lousy dish on a menu is descriptive of an entire restaurant. you simply can't have consideration for some but not all dishes and hope to be successful...not in this city. finally, bear in mind that not only are there no separate checks...but you CANNOT split the bill on 2 credit cards. i can't understand why a restaurant...in CHICAGO, no less...has this policy. my money is much better spent at overeasy north on damen.
(2)
B C.
This one slipped under my breakfast radar for too long. The exterior of the restaurant is low key enough that it didn't call out to me on my daily trek to the el. On Saturday mornings, though, it's packed. The inside is cheerful and colorful and swarming with customers. We made it through the 11:30am line in about 20 minutes. Inside, Chef Efrain has his name on everything: menus, artwork, signature dishes...he's the big guy on campus and after I had his shrimp-diablo omelette, I agree he's due some good street cred. Our table also had his Aztec omelette (on special), comprised of a laundry list of ingredients that synergized into a egg-based Voltron with deliciousness superpowers. Big portions on every dish too, by the way. You'll walk home patting your belly with one hand and holding leftover-boxes in the other. Our waitress did a phenomenal job keeping up with the several packed tables under her watch, and everyone's coffee was kept filled throughout the meal. This place is a great Ravenswood breakfast spot, and so good I'd bring along visitors from out of town.
(5)
Rits T.
I can't believe I just got a chance to try this place. I live in the neighborhood for 3 YEARS, 3 YEARS. It took me 3 YERAS! I should have known this place before I tried everywhere else. This place is a bomb. Must try!
(5)
Natalia V.
The food here is decadent. I had no idea how many Latin twists would be on this breakfast menu and me being Latina loved it!!!Traditional breakfast items we all know and love with a Latin flair, for example guava French toast or jerk shrimp omelette with chipotle sauce queso fresco and guacamole. Ugh every menu item sounded like a party in your mouth and the at home experience you get from eating it is unforgettable. Def worth the trip here
(5)
Roseann M.
Want to have a nice breakfast/brunch/lunch at Marmalade without waiting for a table? Go on Monday morning. No problem getting a nice spot to sit! And you get excellent, professional service, from host/manager, server, and a busser who keeps your coffee cup full of hot delicious coffee. Go to Marmalade with an appetite. Like so many of these cute yuppie-style places, the prices are kind of high, but you do get a great big serving. I had the Bonaparte, which was applewood-smoked bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, on a croissant. No, this entree would not be on the Weight Watchers approved list - you'd blow through your whole week of extra points on this alone! And, it comes with potatoes. I was hungry. I mean, really hungry. Even so, staring at this huge croissant piled high with breakfast food, I had to ask the waitress, how do people eat this thing? Do they pick it up with both hands and take a big bite, or do they use knife and fork? She suggested using utensils, and brought me a steak knife so I could cut through the bacon better. That worked just fine. The whole thing was absolutely delicious. Yes, I ate the whole thing! Not all the potatoes, that would be way too much. I'll probably have some dinner later in the evening, but this, for me, was a lot of food. Had I not been up already for more than 5 hours, with nothing in my tummy but coffee, I doubt I could have eaten as much as I did. Five-star rating. I even found free parking nearby on a side street. Good food, good service, pleasant atmosphere, and free parking - hey, that rates 5 stars for me! FYI, there was a sign in the window that said Marmalade is now closed on Tuesdays. Well, I'm just happy they're open on Mondays. I actually swung by Cinnamon Cafe on Lawrence and Over Easy on Damen first, and they were both closed. Keep Marmalade in mind for your weekday breakfast. You won't regret it!
(5)
Mari C.
What a fabulous place! I went there for the first time this morning and had a great experience. I went with a friend and my boyfriend and we got to sit outside which was so great. My boyfriend got the mexican breakfast dish, my friend got the omelet with shrimp, and I got the benedict with salmon, avocado, and poached eggs. We all LOVED our meals. The service was fast and the price is not bad. I would for sure recommend and go again.
(5)
Veena P.
So flavorful! I would definitely go back. The staff was very friendly, and the portions were big! I got the Mexican breakfast combo with the Mayan sauce (yummy!) I wish I had taken a picture of it. Go here!
(5)
Philly I.
The Northside has a plethora of overpriced breakfast/brunch places who serve mediocre food. Add Marmalade to that long list. If you are interested in overpaying for eggs, pancakes, and/or french toast (and sometimes waiting in line for it), then Marmalade is the perfect place for you.
(1)
Christy L.
I have a new brunch place to add into the rotation! Marmalade now ranks as my #2 brunch destination in the City (in case you're wondering, Zed 451 tops the list). For food alone, I'd give Marmalade 4.5 stars. The menu is the most extensive I've seen in Chicago. It has the standards - omelette's, pancakes, and French toast - as well as "foodie" type choices - the aforementioned souped up with interesting combinations as well as skillets, Mexican breakfasts, crepes, Benedict's. Definitely something for everyone. And what we tried, all was prepared well. I had a 'shroom skillet served over perfectly seasoned, crispy potatoes (and I usually don't even like potatoes). We shared a savory breakfast, the "Nutella" crepe. If you're enticed by this choice because of the Nutella, skip it. We barely tasted any Nutella, BUT it was a very well-prepared, berry-filled crepe. Service and ambiance definitely have room for improvement. Marmalade does not take reservations, which means you probably will end up waiting if you arrive during prime brunch time. We arrived at 12:15 and waited about half an hour to be seated. Then, once we were at our table, service was incredibly slow (though polite, unlike other Yelp reviews). I'm not sure why the kitchen was so slow as it's not a big space though suspect that it may have to do with the huge menu. In terms of decor, it's pretty simple, though my friend assured me it is a huge step up from the restaurant that used to occupy this space. In summary, if you want excellent, affordable food, have plenty of time for brunch, and don't care about ambiance, check out Marmalade!
(4)
Andre W.
Word to Ralph C for recommending and taking me to this joint! We walked in at about noon this past Sunday and it was just a 10 minute wait (I was told Saturdays are a bit easier to walk in and grab a table). They have chalkboards up that list their daily specials and new dishes. I looked at the menu and noticed a number of delicious items. I decided to go with the Bonaparte ($8.50) which is scrambled eggs (egg whites in my case), bacon and cheddar cheese on a croissant. That was a nice sized breakfast sandwich and very delicious. The sandwich came with their special in-house potatoes which were huge and delicious as well. I also ordered a side of apple maple chicken sausage which was packed with flavor and very savory. Their freshly squeezed OJ was awesome as well. The manager came out and chatted with us as well...he is really a nice guy and made sure we were happy with our meal. As I said before, lots of goodies on the menu which is why I will be returning. In the warmer months they will have the outside patio in effect which is definitely an incentive to come back.
(5)
Kurt P.
Here is a place that no longer cares about the customer. I tried to come here for brunch and they basically told us to go. We had a large group and knew we would have to wait but after about 35 minutes they continued to seat groups who just arrived. We told them four times at least we could be broken into groups of twos. The manager said we can't seat you that way and you should take your group to fountainhead because nobody eats there. Also $9 for three eggs with cheese, really?
(1)
Dallas F.
I was not impressed. This review is really more of a 2.5, so I rounded up. I recently went to brunch at Marmalade on a busy Saturday afternoon and everything from service to food was wholly underwhelming. Of course, being a breakfast/brunch establishment weekends are super busy and patrons can expect a wait. That I was prepared for but for some reason it seemed like the restaurant was not. Everything seemed a bit chaotic and it felt like it was their opening weekend. After about a twenty minute wait, we are taken to our seat. Our server comes over and asks for our drink order and if we were ready to order food. Um, no. We just sat down. In general our service was a bit flighty. Not horrible, but could use serious improvement. When it comes to the food, I was definitely let down. I ordered the vegan chilaquiles and was served a plate of over-seasoned mushy randomness. Everything tasted the same even though it consisted of a tofu scramble, corn chips, potatoes, and salsa. It was overpowering. The tiny dab of guacamole on top was the only good thing about it. I'm really glad I was not really hungry or I would have been even more disappointed than I was.
(3)
Ellie K.
I love that Marmalade is right around down the street from me. Everything I have had here is great be it a sweet or savory dish. I went here once with my parents, once with my boyfriend and then did takeout. Each time the service was great and the food was even better. The portions are enormous. I recommend sharing a full meal and then ordering a side if you are there with one other person. Warning: It,like all other brunch places, gets very crowded on the weekends. I don't recommend coming here with a party of more than 6 (max). Lastly, I'm disappointed by some of the nasty reviews (Susan L.). I think we can critique the food without insulting Marmalade's loyal fans!
(4)
H H.
3.5 stars. It was pretty good, but not the most amazing breakfast ever. Been there a few times and depends on what you order. Coffee is good!
(3)
Susan L.
2 visits, 2 disgusting meals, 0 clean plates This place is like a cheap knock-off DVD with the title misspelled--you think it'll probably be okay but you get home and the DVD won't play...however, the main difference with Marmalade is that you're not paying "knock off" prices. For those of you who think this place is great, I salute you and thank you for not clogging up truly wonderful brunch places. Eat your hearts out with this bad food. I will never be back. And if you want details, here they are: 1. Confusing conglomeration of ingredients--each plate needs to take off 1 accessory flavor before leaving the kitchen 2. Inability to re-create delicious dishes of other restaurants, and leaving the consumer even more disappointed (harvest omelet, breakfast bread pudding=direct knock off of M Henry!) 3. OILY (yes, oily) AND watery omelet--how do they do that? At least it wasn't burned, but it did leave an orange puddle on the plate....mmmmmmmh....appetizing!
(1)
Jon D.
I had a great experience here. Saturday morning, around 10:15am, party of four, and sat immediately. The waitress made a few visits for drinks (we'd all gotten up to use the restroom at different times) and explained the chalkboard specials, all of which sounded appetizing. She memorized a lot of information, was polite, and very prompt (until it started getting busy). It seems like there's a lot of sweets on the menu, and the French Toast flight I split with my buddy was outstanding. Maybe a little TOO sweet at times, but still a nice breakfast desert. The omelete I had was a great size, they had Greek sausage (+) and the potatoes were well cooked. Everyone at the table was happy with their meals, and when the bill came we weren't overwhelmed by it. I've been everywhere on the brunch scale, this place just had a nice little neighborhood feel. Reading some of the other reviews, I'm a bit shocked. Marms didn't try to be super fancy, or anything, its just trying to be a good little breakfast place, and it pulls it off super well. Clean, the only issue is you can't split on cards.
(4)
S. P.
I have been here a few times for brunch. The menu is decent. They have the typical kind of fare such as french toast, pancakes, skillets, omelettes, breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros, etc. The service has never been great. I have had to ask for my check at the front before because my server disappeared. If you are able to go around the block and down the street to Glenn's it is better. One tip- please do not get the breakfast quayle if it ever shows up on the menu again.
(3)
Jelena Z.
Not that Chicago actually needs another brunch spot, but this one's a good one. Late morning on a Thursday, Marmalade wasn't empty but wasn't packed either... one of the perks of working from home is getting to try new restaurants at non-peak times versus waiting over an hour to brunch on the weekends. However, I'm really not a breakfast girl (despite the tempting offerings on Marmalade's menu) so I went with the Mediterranean sandwich with its grilled chicken, hummus, ham off the bone, lettuce and feta cheese in a pita. And... it was delicious. The hummus is housemade and complements the hand-carved ham perfectly. I was afraid the ham would be a bit too much but I finished every last bit and I'd do it again. Though, I may have to break my lunch over breakfast rule for a stab at the chef's signature omelet, the Diablo (spicy jerk shrimp, onions, cilantro, cream cheese and fresh avocado topped with mango chutney). Easy parking is the icing on the cake... or, the marmalade on my toast. See you soon!
(4)
Jessica G.
My dining party made sure to order diverse dishes in order to sample the breadth of the Marmalade menu. Everything was flawless! My Cubano French toast sounded like it might be overwhelming, but the flavors complimented each other perfectly. The Mexican Breakfast combo was a feast. Homemade tortillas! Great service, great atmosphere, loved the Rodrigo y Gabriella and Gipsy Kings soundtrack.
(5)
Lizz M.
I've heard many good things about Marmalade, and when my bff asked where we should go to brunch, I quickly suggested this place. It ended up being five of us going on a Sunday morning around 11am. The place was busy, but not too packed. The patio was fairly empty, so we offered to sit out there. Our hostess quickly rejected this idea, mumbling something about not wanting to trouble the servers to go out there (when there were already people eating out there). Uhm, okay, whatever. I personally don't care for eating outside and if the server issue were the case, I'd rather get good service. We waited for an indoor table and were seated fairly quickly. The no substitutions and no omissions thing really bugs me. And here's why. My bff ordered an artichoke omelet which had pesto on top of it, and if I were ordering this, I'd order the pesto on the side--why? Well, I knew this would happen, a giant pile of pesto on her omelet. Did she order pesto with a side of omelet? No. Also, nine times out of ten, there's an ingredient in a dish I would want to take out, or have less of, it's just my preference, and you know what? I'm PAYING to have that preference. Anyway, rant aside, I ordered the breakfast burrito, which was actually pretty tasty. It came with a side of potatoes, which, meh. How is it possible to have overly-seasoned food still taste bland? I'm not sure. The portion sizes are gigantic, so I appreciate that as I had lunch for the next day. I had a taste of another friend's pancakes which were pretty yummy, too. So at the end of our meal, we noticed that the patio had filled up with the same amount of servers. I still don't understand! Would I go back? Eh, I don't think so. But I think you could try and see for yourself. If you're okay with spotty service and not customizing your food, this might be the place for you.
(3)
Alexandra S.
Delicious creative food, good service, nice cafe vibe. Fresh squeezed juice and daily special was great. The only bad thing I can say about this place is that they charge a split plate fee, they don't split checks and they don't split cards. Other than that would definitely come back!
(4)
conrad d.
I will forever be dumbfounded by the diners who, after experiencing some delay in service during a notoriously busy time slot, immediately rush to their computer to pound out their jilted and vitriolic reviews. Oh, did your meal arrive not precisely as ordered? However did you roust yourself from the Stygian nightmare that is receiving a plate with bacon on it, especially after you specifically informed the waiter, and everyone else in the restaurant, that you were a strict lacto-ovo pescatarian? Moving on. Marmalade's offerings are a welcome addition to Chicago's already stellar breakfast scene. The dishes are interesting and delicious and well presented. I heartily recommend the french toast dishes, as many of them are accompanied with house-made marmalades. The egg dishes are spicy and flavorful and pair well with the namesake sweet dishes. After multiple visits, I have yet to witness any of the crippling, trauma-inducing service problems some of my peers have, with the manager on more than one occasion personally stopping by to inquire about my dining experience. Go here. Take a deep breath. Enjoy your brunch.
(5)
Heather H.
Booo! That's actually what I said after leaving this place. I had been looking forward to trying them out since I pass by it on a pretty regular basis. The dozen or so empty tables on a Sunday at 1 should have given the indication that this may not be a great breakfast joint. But, it was marathon Sunday, so maybe all those regulars are out running the streets of Chicago leaving my hungover ass with plenty of available seating. Looked over the menu, and I decided on the Shroom Benedict, I ordered it with the hollandaise being on the side figuring 1/2 teaspoon of the stuff wouldn't be too bad for me. HA. I ended up taking a picture of the dish because not only didn't it look appetizing, it didn't taste good either, not at all. Actually, I have to say this was one of the worst breakfast dishes I've ever eaten. The only reason they get 2 stars is my husband liked his omelet. Here are my complaints: 1. The potatoes suck! And they seriously put the equivalent of 3 large baking potatoes on my plate. They were cold, mushy, and had a bad spice rub on them. Not good. 2. They offer tempeh or veggie sauce as a side. While this may seem like a plus for a vegetarian, they were out of the veggie sausage I tried to order, so I elected the tempeh. I've had tempeh before, and this was not good tempeh, this was poo tempeh. 3. The mushroom that my eggs sat on was... wait for it, DEEP FRIED! Are you effing kidding me? On one respect, I blame myself that I didn't see that the menu said the mushroom was breaded. I think if I had seen that, I wouldn't have ordered this shitty dish for $11. However, on the other hand, just because something is breaded doesn't necessarily mean it has to be deep fried. They could have baked it. Either way, it didn't work, and made it into a dry lopsided mushroom, and everything piled on said mushroom fell off because of the greasy stiff teetering shroom. 4. The hollandaise sauce they brought out for me was ice cold. As in, I'll grab this from the fridge and not warm it up. GROSS. By the time I flagged down any staff to warm it up, and once they brought it back, the eggs were cold. Which leads me to... 5. The service blows. When we sat down, we were told the waitress would let us know the specials. When she asked if we were ready to order, and we inquired about the specials, she actually rolled her eyes at us. Horrible service, waiting forever, which is unacceptable when the place isn't even that busy. Neither my coffee nor my husbands ice tea was ever refilled. And after sitting for 15 minutes with an empty table, the waitress came by and said, "I gave you your check, right?" Um, NO. Why would be be sitting here with empty glasses and an empty table if we had our check?! And smile, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't kill you. To sum it up, Boooooooooooooooooo!
(2)
Megan S.
I didn't want to give any stars! The manager was the rudest person I have ever encountered in 36 years of eating out! For a place that offers regular brunch food you can find anywhere he shouldn't really act like such a jerk! My party of 8 left and went across the street to fountainhead which had great service and food!
(1)
Taylor K.
This place is the best. My wife and I have run pretty much through the entire breakfast menu and we love it all. We used to hit a new breakfast spot on Mondays (due to our hairdresser schedules) and finally came here based on a few client recommendations. Now we come here just about every week. The chef and our waitress, Carolina (who is awesome!), started to figure out that we couldn't really come on the weekends. So, they occasionally send out some weekend brunch items that we otherwise couldn't get. Are you kidding me? Who does that? We are hooked! My only beef is that now when we go to breakfast anywhere else we wish we had just gone to Marmalade. Our favorites are the Chicken & Waffle, the Chilaquilas (sub chorizo for tofu), and the Berry Crunch French Toast!
(5)
Fadi F.
If i only could leave zero stars! this place is the worst. Horrible manager who keeps yelling at servers and employees. Our food came an HOUR later after we have ordered!. Then the manager comes and apologizes by saying "oh we are the only place open around here for breakfast" which is a lie cause there are way better places to go like Glenns Diner, FountainHead and Trouqet, which are way better than Marmalade. Just dont go to Marmalade
(1)
LB D.
This is a perfect brunch spot for the 'hood if you haven't been yet! Since they opened, they've revamped the menu and the improvements have been great! Favorites include anything with their cured ham (in-house specialty). The only dish I'd caution against are the egg benedicts because they use (or at least used to use...) a sort of flavorless cornbread-style bread as a base instead of an English muffin. It's not a cheap spot, persay, but the unique menu items make this absolutely worth your money.
(4)
Alicia M.
I wasn't going to give this place another chance, but I'm really glad I tried it again! The first time I tried Marmalade, my main beef was with the potatoes (hash browns). If you've read my other reviews on any restaurants, you know I love me some potatoes. Marmalade's potatoes are not my thing. I realize people either love them or hate them. I am a hater. They're over-seasoned. But I suppose all hash browns can't be the same at every restaurant. On my first visit here I had the pancakes and they were a little dry, but nice and fluffy. I wasn't blown away by them and personally I think greasy spoon diners do better pancakes (I like them buttery and skinny!). I decided to try an egg dish on my second visit. I had an egg white Omelet with peppers, mushrooms and veggie sausage. It was SO GOOD! I even made myself enjoy the potatoes. I was initially annoyed that they didn't have english muffins but I'm pretty sure my toast was made from scratch. I know the jam was home made. It was so tasty! I also took time to actually look at the menu instead of just defaulting to my favorite everyday breakfast items. There are a lot of creative things on there that I'm excited to come back and try. In closing, I have to add that I respect the manager/owner for being so involved in everyday operations. He works his butt off and walks around making sure that everything is perfect. It shows! They really do have excellent service
(4)
Melanie S.
...Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da.. Naturally this song immediately came to mind youtube.com/watch?v=pF2o… , but the first thing I noticed about Marmalade was that the menu appears to be a complete ripoff of m henry. I know there's only so many different things you can do with eggs and pancakes, but c'mon-- a fried egg sandwich with gorgonzola, tomatoes and thyme on sourdough, pancakes with berries and granola, crepes with a warm fruit melange (even the word 'melange' is right off of m henry's menu)? The only thing missing was the breakfast bread pudding. I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, huh Marmalade? Anyway, despite the blatant plagiarism, the food was still good, and the wait is nowhere as epic as m henry (at least not when I was there). My mommy and I both started with freshly squeezed orange juice, but I was dismayed to see them pouring it out of a gallon-sized jug. I know that many food service companies sell juice that is touted as "freshly-squeezed," but I'm sorry, if someone isn't back there juicing the oranges themselves just before they reach my table, then it's not, and it doesn't taste like it either. I opted for the Bonaparte, a sandwich of fluffy scrambled eggs, applewood-smoked bacon and Vermont cheddar on a croissant. The sandwich came with roasted potatoes. To that I also ordered a single hotcake just so I could sample it. Mom ordered the crepe with "warm fruit melange" and she was pretty happy with it. I snuck a bite and concurred. The peaches and blueberries in the filling were nice and sweet and more importantly, not mushy. I dug my sandwich, which was much too large to eat in one sitting. The eggs were perfectly cooked (not an easy feat imho), the bacon was crispy, and the croissant soft and buttery. A highly enjoyable sandwich. The accompanying potatoes had an interesting seasoning but I thought they were a little bland. The single hotcake came sans powdered sugar, as requested, as well as a few berries artfully tossed on the plate. It was dense but fluffy, and I would happily eat an entire order of these. Service was friendly and efficient. The coffee flowed, our water glasses never sat empty, and plates were cleared swiftly. One thing to note, especially if you're with a large group - they don't split checks or credit cards payments. That's a little archaic and inconvenient, so consider yourself warned and plan ahead.
(3)
Jerry M.
Been here several times, excellent service and great food at a reasonable price. Super cute waitress there who i have a huge crush on helps as well :) Check it out! Cheers
(5)
Jake J.
We enjoyed a great brunch with our daughter here this past Sunday and everything was great. The food was really good and service was friendly and fast. There was a little bit of a wait when we arrived but that is to be expected in Chicago on Sunday.
(5)
Claire H.
This dump does not even deserve one star. The service was horrendous, the food worse. We waited 40 minutes for our food, and when my salad arrived it tasted spoiled. I told the server, at which point the owner arrived at our table. His behavior was atrocious at best. And his bullying behavior to wait staff worse. I feel sorry for anyone who steps foot in this dirty, smelly restaurant ( and by the way, the bathroom was filthy and the kitchen even worse. There is a view from the hallway by the bathroom). I wished the server good luck and said I hope that he is nicer to his staff than he is to his customers, to which she replied, "No comment. This job will have to do for now."
(1)
Sara H.
Outstanding food! Creative menu! YUMMMMM! I have been here three times in the last week, and I am now sad that I did not stop in sooner. Something about the logo/colors reminded me too much of the droopy diner that used to be in this space. But man, it's nothing like that place. The artichoke omeletta will knock your socks off: Everything is so fresh and flavorful. The house potatoes are a staple. When combined with the perfectly-fried plantains, it's like a little party in your mouth. The vegan chilaquiles? Awesome. But you better be prepared for some heat. They do NOT mess around with either the green OR the red sauce: Both of them give a very strong burn to the old tongue. It subsides after you take a few bites of other things, but with each new bite it certainly lets you know it's still there. I'd like a little milder sauce, but I have a feeling I'm probably in the minority. I haven't tried the sweet stuff, but my friends who have cleaned their plates, so I think that's a good sign. And, they make killer specials each day, including a polenta dish. How many restaurants can say that? I'm definitely coming back!
(4)
Matt G.
Thank God LeSabre is now dead. Nice thing is that Marmalade does the space justice. Roomy interior, decently appointed and well-done. I liked the varied menu that allows me to bring meat-eaters to vegans to the place. Had the tilapia baguette special and was surprised by the volume of food that I got. Well seasoned, and just a bit spicy, it hit the mark on nearly every level. Service was more than adequate and good strong coffee, filled regularly. Only gripe... and it's small, was that with that menu choice, I could have used more than one single napkin. They might have taken note when swinging by to check in on me. Also, not sure the name sounds hip. Reminds me of an 80 year old lady... who eats marmalade these days anyway???
(4)
Mike P.
RIP, Le Sabre! You were our favorite, little greasy spoon. But rest easy knowing a good, if not completely different breakfast joint opened in your place. While the menu is completely different and noticeably more sophisticated, or what some would call fufu, the folks that run the joint are a decent lot. Always ready to greet you kindly, keep your coffee fresh, and take the time to explain the specials, even giving commentary. Such a recommendation pointed me to the artichoke, roasted tomato, and goat cheese omelet. Something I didn't know I'd like, but completely enjoyed! Also, the kid's menu is a hit with my baby, so you score major points there. While I will miss my typical plate o' grease from Le Sabre, I'm looking forward to heading back to Marmalade for another fresh breakfast.
(4)
Andrea R.
I was running late (the norm ever since I became a mom) to meet the fabulous Jelena Z so I was thrilled that it was easy peasy to find a parking spot on the street. There's lots of good stuff to choose from this menu. I opted for the mayan omletta and potatoes. Our somewhat flighty waitress brought out the wrong order at first, but once my food arrived it was well worth the wait because this was the best omelet I've had in a long time. On the way out we chatted with the chef (and really sweet manager/owner) and apparently he created the omelet it for Feast*, another favorite brunch spot, back in the day. I probably won't make it to Marmalade often since it's a bit far from where I live and I have problems getting to places in my neighborhood on time these days. ---------------------------------- * yelp.com/biz/feast-chica…
(4)
Emily S.
We have tried this place 2 times about 2 years apart. Both times we struggled to find something on the menu that looked worth ordering. Their kids menu is decent, my husband loved their breakfast potatoes and I thought their apricot jam was amazing. However it is very mexican-breakfast flair and I'm not a huge fan of that style. My omelet was a little runny in the middle not bad enough to send back or anything, just to make it not quite good. I thought the potatoes were too oily. The pancakes had a nice vanilla flavor but were pretty dry (I don't user syrup) and the french toast was good, though very lightly battered. Our waitress was nice but aloof, the busboys were diligent with the water refills (so great!) and they gave us crayons and a placemat to color for the kid. All in all it was fine, but there are so many places in the city - in this neighborhood - to get great breakfasts that this one just isn't worth the time.
(2)
Joanne W.
My cohort and I arrived late on a Saturday afternoon to grab a bite before running errands. We arrived an hour before closing (1:30 or so). The place was pretty empty so we were seated right away. We immediately noticed the chalkboard of specials for the day. Suddenly, a bright light beamed down onto the menu board while the birds chirped an angelic song... FRIED CHICKEN BREAST ON A WAFFLE WITH TWO POACHED EGGS, BACON AND CREAM OF POTATO LEEK GRAVY. We thought, surely The Almighty is looking down upon us today. Needless to say, an order of that special was brought out to us along with the Florentine Crab Benedict which consisted of crab crabs, poached eggs, garlic spinach atop corn cakes and topped with chipotle hollandaise. Can I get an amen? I quite enjoyed both entrees (mine was the Benedict in case you were wondering). I tried the chicken and waffle and thought it was sinfully good. No problems with service - quick and attentive for the non rush hour. I also enjoyed the art work in this joint. Pancakes: You're stuffed up! French Toast: You're a hot mess! My first visit to Marmalade probably won't be my last.
(4)
Cassidy S.
Hit this place for the first time on Halloween. I ordered two entrees with a friend and planned to split - the Euro Brunch Plate and the Chocolate French Toast special. My coffee was delicious, as was my friend's OJ, but the food left much to be desired. The crepe on the brunch plate was tasty (especially the butternut squash/bacon combo) but the potatoes were terrible. A thick layer of crispy ash covered the outside, and somehow they were undercooked. The chocolate french toast was so heavy - almost like eating chocolate cake at 11AM - and it was covered with a "creme anglaise" which had become sticky and thin. Should have played it safe and gotten the regular french toast, I guess. Overall, I won't make this place my first choice for breakfast.
(2)
Joram C.
I love this place, I come here almost every weekend. The service is great, the food is tasty, the coffee is good ( and bottomless) and it doesnt get too overrun with hip urban parents trying to raise their kids to one day be more liberal that you could ever fathom to be. The bonaparte is my favorite, but even the vegan chilaquiles are good. Im not much of a sweets guy, but the peachy raspberry pancakes flat out kick ass for breakfast. Also, I like that the owner is part of the family that used to run LeSabre, and has kept everything in the family. Also, the breakfast potatoes are like crack. Marmalade rules.
(5)
Lupe D.
Food is actually 3 1/2 stars, but food presentation and customer service is more like 4 or 4 1/2 stars. For my boyfriend, his food was more like a 4 1/2. I've been wanting to try Marmalade for a while. Finally stopped in last week. We went in pretty early to avoid the brunch rush (early is 8am-ish) and we had our choice of seats. Place is very cute, I can see how, if at full capacity, this place could feel very cramped...but we had plenty of space. Our servers were super friendly - one server was being trained - she was very sweet, tried her best. The girl who was training her was off the charts great. They have their specials - and that was a mouthful to remember! I ordered the Fruity something pancakes - basically two pancakes, creme anglaise in between the layers and mangoes and cherries with a sauce around the pancakes. Also topped with these crunchy sugared oats and a generous amount of powdered sugar. First of all - it was beautiful when it arrived - CLICK CLICK - took some pictures. I tasted the mango and it was delicious. Tasted the crunchy top - SO GOOD - the creme anglaise with the pancake - so delish! so yummy and custardy! But then I get to the bottom pancake and it was a soggy mess... :-( It soaked up all the cherry/mango sauce - me no likey. Maybe it's just my personal preference, but I don't like mushy pancakes... My boyfriend had the midwestern omelette. Not going to lie I can't remember what was in it other than eggs, white cheddar and bacon (I don't like omelettes so I don't pay attention), but I do remember that it came with potatoes and toast which he proclaimed to be the best toast in the land and pretty much devoured his meal saying it was amazing. Coffee was pretty good, strong, but good. The restaurant had a really nice neighborhood/family vibe when we were there. A lot of moms with their babies just hanging out. I will definitely be returning and bringing my son to check out this place - he's a breakfast guy, I know he'll love it!
(4)
Sarah P.
I can't believe I have lived 4 blocks away from Marmalade for almost a year and haven't tried this place until this past weekend! A-MAZing! I went with my mom and we both had several options in my mind from checking out the menu online. However, we didn't try any of them since the specials sounded so great! We ordered and shared two items from the specials menu which I hope to see there again: 1. Omelet with artichoke, roasted tomatoes, goat cheese, topped with pesto. 2. Pumpkin french toast with creme de leche, roasted pecans, pumpkin cream, and cranberries (plus a sprinkling of other fresh fruit) made with their homemade pumpkin bread. Our server was nice although disappeared for a while when we were hoping to get our check. The manager/maybe owner walked around checking on tables and seating people and was very nice. While we were paying at the front, I asked for a bag since we took the rest of our meals to go. He walked back to get a bag and seemed to be taking a while... he came back with a pumpkin cranberry muffin for us... just because! How nice... and the muffin was delicious! No wait for a table - we went on a Sunday but also got there around 9 am, before the usual brunch rush. I will definitely be going back ASAP!
(5)
Kristin M.
This is probably closer to 3.5, but I'm rounding up. It's no M. Henry, but it's a solid spot for brunch. I had never ventured into Le Sabre (when I want breakfast at an aesthetically questionable establishment, I go to G.Nugg, thank you very much) but Marmalade looks great from the outside-in. It's warm and cozy and I'd love to have that mirror in my house! Anyways, to the food! I had the Jason's omelette special with chicken sausage, goat cheese, sweet potato and topped with a red wine reduction. It was delicious, a perfect fall omelette. My friend had the artichoke, spinach and goat cheese omelette which he described as ok, but the flavors mixed together so you couldn't pick out the artichoke flavor from the mix. The potatoes were DE-LICIOUS. They came in a huge portion of generously seasoned chunky goodness. I didn't add salt (which is rare for me), they were that good. My friend also wanted me to mention he enjoyed his multigrain toast (I wish they buttered the toast for you, but whatever). Re drinks, the juice is not fresh squeezed which, for $4, it really should be. The menu had so many great options, I will definitely be back to try more. Well done Marmalade.
(4)
Tim G.
We love Marmalade for breakfast. On our most recent visit (wife, son, his wife, and yours truly) we enjoyed a mix of omelets and pancakes. Wife had multi-grain cakes, son had eggs and toast, d-i-l got the Mayan omelet, and I chose one of the daily specials, an omelet Romano, with pancetta (bacon), fresh mozzarella, spinach, and covered w a pesto. It was delicious. There are always a number of daily specials to choose from, and plenty of choices from the menu to satisfy your taste. Omelets are served w a side of the Marmalade potatoes, similar to hash browns, but w wedges instead of shredded, and the best seasoning you'll ever taste. Service was very good. Prices are quite reasonable for the amount of food served. A good value.
(5)
Allison V.
I went here for a lunch date with a friend. I went with the breakfast special which included eggs to my liking, homemade guacamole, spicy chiliquiles, fried potatoes, cheese quesadillas, and some fruit. Everything blended so well together. the potatoes had a great charred seasoned flavoring. EVERYTHING was AWESOME! I also got to try the sweet plantains which were a nice finish to a great brunch. The waitress seemed knowledgable about the foods they offered even though I was a bit distracted by her choice of attire. I will definitely be back. Bike parking on street.
(4)
Claudia D.
Perfectly prepared poached eggs in the Florentine Crab Bennie per the husband, however, he found the crabcakes to be too mushy in texture althpugh the flavor was good. Perfectly prepared over easy eggs on my Mexican Combination. Very good bottomless cups of coffee. Fresh orange and fresh pineapple slices accompanied both dishes. The potatoes were delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned. The chiliquiles were prepared with the Mayan salsa and were scrumptious. We shared an and fig scone that was disappointingly lacking in fig flavor. Parking on the street was easy on Wednesday at 1 PM. Our server was very sweet, knowledgeable, and appropriately attentive. The busboy kept our coffee cups and water glasses filled. We requested that our scone be slightly warmed and the waitress was happy to do it for us. We'll be back, during the week, again, if we're in the neighborhood, and there's no room at Glenn's Diner.
(3)
David R.
"NO SUBSTITUTIONS OR OMISSIONS" It's right there on the menu, as well as noted in many of the Yelp reviews. I only saw this after my wife and I had decided to breakfast here, but we didn't change our plans. It really irks me though. If I don't want the extraneous sour cream on a dish, why can't I omit it? Or ask for my dish easy on the cheese? Not cool. The food was all right: Pancho Villa skillet (potatoes, eggs, chorizo, corn, tomatoes, poblanos, chihuahua and pepperjack cheeses), which was oily and dominated by the chorizo, and an excellent hotcake on the side. And our waitress was sweet as pie. But in addition to the fascist omission and credit card policies, the reticent hostess and several other little details about this place rubbed me the wrong way. They may seem small, but they added up to give the impression that these people either don't care or don't pay attention. For example: my menu had little bits of debris under the plastic cover; the four specials were spread across two separate chalkboards on opposite sides of the dining room, plus they contained spelling and punctuation errors; in the restroom, there was a hand-written sign above the light switch, but it was so smudged that I couldn't make out if it was telling me to turn it off or not to turn it off. And--this is really nitpicking now--it's April but the incense in the bathroom is a pumpkin spice flavor. Eh. I guess that I was already predisposed to annoyance by the substitution/omission policy, so I noticed every other little shortcoming. Bottom line: the food is good, but they don't seem to take care of their place, and they definitely don't seem to buy into the bedrock idea of "Give the customers what they want." So we'll give our future breakfast business to establishments that do.
(2)
Unity O.
It pains me to do this since I am a lover of all things brunch. However, after 2 visits, I am done with this place. There are just so many other options out there (and in the same hood) to spend my hard earned $$. Also options that will make substitutions on there dishes or omit something that I do not like. I fail to understand how difficult it is to not add sour cream to a dish when it is simply a garnish & also it is going to be thrown away because I won't eat it (how wasteful). It eludes me as to why they won't make substitutions at all or why they make paying for your meal a hassle (no more than 2 cc per check...really?). I find this especially hard when there are just so many other options out there and in a day when dietary restrictions are high. I gave it 2 stars because the food is actually decent. Nothing mind blowing, but good & prepared well. You also get a decent sized portion with any dish you order. Plus, they have a decent cup of coffee which is ever so important when enjoying brunch. Also, the atmosphere is great...you can tell they put work & thought into the decor. Feels warm & inviting. Also 2 stars due to the service for some reason they always feel rushed & chaotic...they don't exactly make you feel welcome. I will say this...try them if you are in the hood, but don't go out of your way to check them out.
(2)
Israel D.
Just a great place to eat. The food is really good.
(5)
Heather P.
Oh Marmalade, how I wish I could give you more stars. You had so much going for you...location, perfect for walking to on a weekend morning. No wait on a Sunday - that's unheard of!!! Polite staff - what more could you ask for, you say???? Well I'll tell you...better coffee for one. My coffee tasted burnt like it had been sitting out for a while, blech. My other issue was that everything on the menu sounded so delectable but unfortunately out of a table of four people who were completely taken with the scrumptious sounding descriptions of our soon-to-be brunch plates - we were all left wanting more. I had the special plate so you would think, well it should be special. It wasn't. The sausage was okay, just okay. The potatoes were tasty and good. My biggest complaint was that the flatbread was underneath my eggs and sauce so that equated to a soggy, droopy mess of mushy bread. All the ingredients just melded together into an unrecognizable flavor. My fiance had the diablo omelet and again, we were totally sold on the idea of jerk spices in an omelet with mango salsa and avocado with cream cheese. Sadly, it just didn't work for us. The shrimp seemed odd and out of place. The cream cheese would have been great on a bagel (which they don't have by the way), just didn't really mesh with the eggs. I'm so sorry, Marmalade. You had been on my radar for a while. I read and heard lots of good things about you. I guess you really just can't believe everything you read or hear. With that said, I have a Travelzoo certificate I bought so I will give you one more shot and I had my eye on a cinnamon toast bread pudding so there is still hope that you might be redeemed.
(2)
Veronica M.
Went for breakfast alone the other day - greated at the door, given choice of seats, tea brought immediatly to me. Also my blonde waitress asked if I wanted more hot water for my tea - good service!! Had a skillet with large potatoes, pulled seasoned chicken, eggs, salsa and sour cream, very good with just right amount of "kick" spice! Only down side, never informed of the chalkboard specials till after I ordered heard the hostess explain, I would have liked the special instead - nice place, friendly, good brunchspot - wish they had a full time eggs benidict on the menu though.......
(3)
J R.
Yes its different, I appreciated that but I think its way over priced. They charged me $4.00 for a "large" glass of orange juice that in reality was a small cup. I think little things like this shut small businesses down. Its called being greedy and greed doesn't succeed. Anyway food was okay. I am mexican so I know how to make chilaquiles and all they did was put chips on a plate and pour green chile over it. Had to eat the "chips" with my hands because they were too crunchy to grab with a fork. I do think the presentation of the food was very nice though and the place was pretty and clean but for the amount I paid I rather have gone somewhere much better.. I also didn't enjoy watching management flirt with all the pretty young girls that work there. Made me feel uncomfortable so I could imagine how they feel. ..
(3)
Amanda M.
This place was a huge miss. The service was terrible, our waitress was the quiet Hispanic girl. She didn't know the specials, and had a hard time reading the board, and when we asked for a recommendation between breads, she didn't know anything about the bread. The food was mediocre for the price, and are there really juices?! No juice menu for a "Juice Bar" and the orange juice my boyfriend did order, was totally from a cardboard container! What a HUGE disappointment.
(1)
Kate B.
Extremely cute, comfortable atmosphere. I really liked the Damen Slimline for lunch. The coleslaw is made in house and you can really tell, it's very fresh and not over-drenched in sauce. As for breakfast the chilaquiles are to die for! What I didn't appreciate: while they are listed under the egg section and the disclaimer says "All egg dishes served with a side of Marmalade's own specially seasoned oven roasted potatoes, as well as your choice of toast"...I was charged for a side when I asked about my toast. I understand it's a tofu scramble and not eggs, but if you put it in the section that says toast comes with it, I want my toast and I want it included. (-1) The one other thing is what most other reviews brought up, no substitutions. I so badly want to try the Mexican Breakfast Combo but, oh wait, I hate sour cream with a passion. Same for the Chef's Salad - there is an option to get it with tofu instead of chicken or shrimp, but what's the point if there's bacon on it anyway?! By being this strict you're really losing what would be regular business from me, Marmalade. (-1) The portions are generous. I just wish they had better options...it's like the vegan-friendliness was only halfway thought out. Bonus: they know how to pull their espresso.
(3)
Fawn J.
I've been here a few times and have had mixed experiences, but overall, I really like it and will continue going here. The only negative I've had is two times I've been in they have run out of something we ordered. The first time I chalked it up to being a new restaurant and trying to figure out the kinks, the second time it was slightly more annoying. But what I have ended up with has always been great. The service is friendly and casual. They provide great service to the toddler I usually have in tow, always bringing him his own cup right away, serving him food he likes, talking to him, drawing with him, etc. The clincher is the free cookie they always seem to give us on our way out. Little guy loves it. haha, they really know how to get you to come back!
(4)
Chris Dallas G.
We had a wonderful time here one Sunday morning for brunch. The service was a little slow but the place was packed to the gills. My partner and I shared a plate thinking it was going to be larger than it was simply from the description. Even though it wasn't as large as we thought it was going to be, we still didn't leave hungry, we were pleasantly satisfied with the savory meal, and we plan on returning soon.
(4)
Carol L.
This past week I tried their Marmalade French Toast and it as very , very good.
(5)
Meredith R.
I visited Marmalade for the first time today, a Sunday, at noon. Even though it was a popular brunch day/time, and the place was busy, our wait for a table was short, and the place was relaxing and quiet. My friends and I all LOVED the food (the potatoes were my favorite!), and we'll definitely be back for more!
(4)
Kennen M.
I am just not feeling this place. This was a second time here and this last time was more memorable because things just didn't go well. This place is small and a tad noisy/energetic. This is not a place to bring strollers or large groups of people - don't even try it, you will hate yourself and everyone around you will hate you. I was hankering for some hearty breakfast food and the menu didn't appeal to me. Many of the dishes had a Mexican flare to it so it is obvious the cooks are Latino. I don't mind some Latino influences but when the majority of the dishes/skillets have sour cream, guac, salsa, pulled chicken or anything that isn't traditional breakfasty foods and you can't omit or substitute - bad news. I ordered a skillet, it had guac on it, but only a thumbnail size (why even bother) and unfortunately the most delicious part of the skillet. The pulled chicken was mildly warm over giant hunks of potatoes topped with over easy eggs that were so under cooked that the yolk was swimming in its clear, raw egg white pool. I didn't complain to the waitress because I was so icked out by it, replacing it wouldn't have made me eat it. I am the type of person who eats everything and I was grossed out by this. I had other issues with the food but my fingers would get tired of typing. On the bright side, my server seemed nice but a bit overwhelmed at the demands of the job and communication with the kitchen. I ended my half eaten breakfast with a check for the two of us for $40. Not a cheap joint! Gawd, I miss LeSabre where I could wake up, throw on some pants, walk down the street, order, eat, pay $9 (with nice tip and coffee) and be back home within 30 minutes.
(2)
Philly G.
A little bit of a wait. Too small for parties over 4 people. Food was really good. Byob. Doesn't split check among cards
(4)
Nancy C.
Their menu is enticing, their execution is awful. Felt sick after leaving. What it is: clean, cute and overpriced. What it is NOT: delicious, consumer friendly(no splitting checks OR cards, no substitutions OR omissions), inviting.
(1)
Dennis L.
Delicious food in a comfortable atmosphere! My wife and I visited Marmalade for a quick lunch, and we really enjoyed the experience. She ordered the Efrain's Diablo Omeletta, which tasted great. I ordered the Skirt Steak Sandwich with fries. I appreciated the quality components of my meal. The fries were fresh and definitely house made. The blue cheese crumbles on my sandwich tied it together wonderfully. Overall, a great breakfast/lunch/brunch option. Notes: No separate checks, no multiple credit cards, present any vouchers/coupons upfront.
(4)
Marshall G.
If you don't give this place 5 stars then you have no taste. Sorry if that offends you but it's the truth. I want the creative-chef of Marmalade to have an attractive daughter, train her to be just as good a chef as he and then send her out into the field to meet me; she and I meet and really hit it off, fall in love and get married and I get to live with the food from this place in my home for the rest of my life. That is my winning ticket. On a more serious note, this place is unbelievable. The menu is loaded with so many tastey sounding choices that the worst part about coming here is trying to decide which one dish you're going to order. Ideally, you'll want to go here with someone who you feel comfortable sharing food with so that you can order what sounds the best to you, convince them to order your second choice and then hope they aren't a big eater so you can eat a little of the dish they get. There is usually a wait and the items are a little pricey but as I've made clear; the food and wait are surely worth your hard-earned money and your count down to edible-harmony. I love you Marmalade, with all my stomach.
(5)
Nell S.
Food was decent but not amazing. I got the Euro brunch plate - heavily seasoned potatoes were actually pretty good, eggs tasted great, but the butternut squash crepe was disappointing. I didn't finish any of it. My friend got the raspberry/peach mascarpone pancakes, and there was so much juice (versus a real syrup) on the plate that the bottom pancake was a soggy mush mess. Service was lacking. Front desk neither takes names for a table wait or seats people; the manager does this (micromanage much?). He had the list with him somewhere else and I had to wait 5 minutes for him to leave what he was doing to even put in my name. We were sat almost right away, but we watched several other parties of 2 stare longingly at empty tables while they waited for the manager to reappear and seat people. Definitely a vibe of bad management in the air. It was oddly tense. Most importantly though, about 3 hours after breakfast I became massively and cripplingly ill. I hadn't eaten anything else that day. I'm not 100% sure that it's food poisoning but it sure feels that way. So obviously I won't be back. It would have been 2-3 stars without the illness simply for the soggy 'cakes and the strange vibe, but since I'm still not right a day later gotta drop you to 1 and go back to the Golden Nugget for future brunching. Sorry!
(1)
Kim S.
Oh, Marmelade.. First and foremost... the food is really, really good here. Unfortunately, waitstaff never seems to be too happy about working! I've been back 4 times now, because the food is that good, but I gotta say I'd very much appreciate a better atmosphere when I go.
There was a wait for brunch on the weekend and I wish the hostesses had better organization over the seating plan so that people waiting we're seated faster. Nevertheless, the French toast berry special was amazing!
(4)
O P.
I think this place is very tasty. Brunch all over Andersonville is so great, it's nice to see something on the other side. Great food,great service, unique menu. Only issue that kept me from 5 stars is their splitting checks policy- they don't do it. I understand their policy of charging extra if you're splitting a plate-who wants people ordering one plate and a Ton of coffee & then sitting in their restaurant for two hours taking up space? But not splitting checks is something that's disadvantageous to the restaurant- I think a lot of people don't carry cash- at least the ones who are brunching on a regular basis- so when you can't split checks it's a little inconvenient for your patrons. I'm not asking for splitting checks 6 ways, but splitting down the middle....I know it's not difficult. Especially with the POS system they have. I only bring it to attention bc i def have thought twice about stopping in, unplanned with friends, bc I didn't have cash on me! So make sure you've got cash or one person in your party is willing to drop their card for everyone!
(4)
Al G.
I have always seen lines outside this restaurant and was eager to try it. Today i finally did and was not disappointed. The staff are friendly, professional and certainly accommodating. Food was excellent, specifically their seasoned potatoes and their fresh fruit compotes. Omelette's have a great twist in that they are not your standard variety that can be found in any other breakfast place. A must go to spot for breakfast or brunch!
(4)
Reviewer M.
Came for the first time today! Don't know why we waited so long! Great food (we had the Mexican combo, the angus burger) , plenty of friendly and attentive staff, good but paired down selection of entrees, good coffee, clean and fast! Would come again!
(5)
Megan A.
Stopped into Marmalade with my boyfriend after moving back up to the North Side. It was the perfect day for a brunch place, and having to catch the train right down the street made it all that much more perfect. It was busy, but not crowded, and we were sat right away. After peeking at all the specials on the board, and looking over the menu we decided on a benedict - crab cake - and french toast. The service was impeccable, evenly paced, not overwhelming, and inviting. We really just enjoyed watching everything move around the restaurant, and then enjoying out food. It was seriously the best silent food eating moment we have had together - so delicious. My cup always had coffee in it, which is essential to me. On our way out, the owner Gus, who had sat us and greeted us at the beginning, talked with us about our experience. He is a very genuine and compassionate person. It really makes a difference when an owner takes the time to make sure everything in his restaurant is running correctly, and to a tea. He even gave us some free baked goods, which I enjoyed on my own later - soo yummy! this will become my new neighborhood breakfast place!
(5)
Antoinette R.
The food was okay, maybe slightly better. We came here after reading about them on the Best Breakfasts in Chicago, eh. It was only two of us, so we didn't have to wait long at all. We were having a hard time deciding what we wanted so we asked our server for any recommendations which turned into her reading the specials off of the boards. She didn't say anything about what she likes and why (I like that info from a server). Melissa's French Toast was good and the same for my husbands Bonaparte. I give it two stars for the reason that I feel like this place is way too full of itself. Yeah they are stepping out to do inventive dishes, but their service really brings it down a notch. Our server wasn't overly friendly and the server in the next section didn't smile once. She also told a table that was finishing their coffee after a Sunday brunch that they needed to leave because other people were waiting. Seriously? I get that you want to turn your tables quite frequently, but this is Sunday brunch, people generally get chatty. I was really annoyed at that point and had decided that I will not be coming back after today. Secondly, I feel that there are way too many signs around the restaurant demanding what the customer can/cannot do. No split checks, no split credit cards. In that sense, I'd rather it be a CASH only place.
(2)
Amanda B.
I love brunch. I love all of Marmalade's brunch meals, they're always bursting with flavor. You can't beat their potatoes. I always get whatever special they have that week. It's small place so it gets overpacked during weekend brunch hours, but it's worth the wait. Fun staff and atmosphere.
(4)
Ilbra I.
My fiance and I wanted a new breakfast joint so we decided to check out Marmalade. It looked very promising; there were lots of people inside and out and we thought man this place must be great if it's this packed. Boy were we wrong! We walked in and there were two tables left. We were seated and spotted the two boards with all the specials on them, which was very helpful. Our waitress greeted us after we had been sitting there for 10 minutes. She didn't smile once and to me she seemed upset. She recited the specials, that were written on the board, as if she was a robot. The girl lacked personality whereas other waitresses were smiling and joking around with their customers. The food descriptions looked soooooo good and we couldn't wait to dig in but unfortunately the food was average. My fiance ordered the pancakes (3 for $6.50) and they were the driest pancakes he'd ever had. We don't mind paying the premium prices as long as the food was worth it. I had the Midwest Omelette and it was the only thing that I enjoyed. The house fries were nasty. They were dry, oily, and tasted like fish. The whole time my fiance and I were eating, the bus boys were the only ones who would come to the table. They brought us our food, poured us water, and took away our plates. Our waitress never once came by to check up on us. Now the place was packed but there were enough waitresses to go around. She could have stopped by for a minute to make sure everything was okay. We had to take ketchup and hot sauce from a free table next to us. We left there unsatisfied and upset. This place is a joke. There are so many other places that can deliver a much better dining experience.
(2)
Megan G.
The first time I went here, I was in love. I had a breakfast skillet with chipolte chicken, potatoes, and scrambled egg. The food was amazing. The service was quick and polite - even on a busy Sunday I was able to get in without much of a wait. So a few weeks ago, I thought I would repeat this experience and go again for a late lunch. I think it was again on a Sunday. There was a slight wait, not big deal. Then I was seated and ordered a juice. My waitress brought the juice but then never came back. I sat for 20 minutes without her coming back. I was so hungry that I didn't feel like grabbing her attention or making a complaint. I told the hostess what happened and then I went and got Mexican down the street. I really want to like this place but Sunday brunch is not a time to have bad service. I might go back on a weekday sometime.
(3)
Lisa C.
I have two girlfriends who live in the area and we decided to stop by at 9am on Sunday morning. Two-thirds of the party ordered off of their Sunday brunch menu, with one order of the Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll French Toast (my selection) and an order of the Smoked Salmon Napoleon. My friend got their signature French Toast, the Lady Marmalade. All of us were happy with our selections and the portions were more than generous. Even though I can eat like a total pig, it was way more than I could finish. I think the huge portions combined with the unbelievably sweet dishes make it nearly impossible to finish, even for the most gluttonous of gluttons. I would have a few tips for someone who wants to try Marmalade: 1. Order something sweet. If you want something savory, you should probably go somewhere else. The place is called Marmalade, people. You don't go to Hooters for the salad. 2. If you decide to go on the weekend, get there before 9:30. We got there a little after 9am on a Sunday and our party of three was seated immediately. The same could not be said for the people who got there around the time we were ready to leave (10am-ish). 3. Awesome coffee in huge mugs. It tastes even better while people watching from a table by the window. 4. Apparently this place is BYOB, so if you need a little Bailey's in your coffee to put some spring in your step, you can do that too.
(4)
Susan C.
I usually don't venture out for brunch. I love it, as I love all meals, but find that my weeks get so busy I'll forego brunch time happenings so I can get a little R&R. Enter another equally busy friend who loves brunch. The siren call of eggs benedict across from a long lost kickballer was too much to resist. Marmalade was a good choice. We just beat the rush (tip= arrive by 10:15, at 10:35 the place goes from moderately full to packed with a line) and settled down to regularly filled coffee mugs and new takes on old dishes. My friend tore through his Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll and I opted for the Smoked Salmon Napoleon. I have to admit that I'd rather have the traditional english muffin, but I still pleased with the combination of some of my favorite foods (avocado, cream cheese, smoked salmon, hollandaise sauce ((cream cheese seemed a little bit like one element too much, but I was excited to try it)). I would absolutely go back and try other dishes.
(3)
Erin D.
Stopped in here last Saturday before I ran that Blackhawks 5K thing, my friends asked me " are you sure you want to eat before you run" my reply, "yeah".... I'm thinking, I've been wanting to try this place and I didn't want to wait after the race. We got in, got a table and the service was top notch. The problem was trying to decide what to eat before a 5K. I finally said a few choice words and decided on the stuffed pancakes. ha. I mean really, time check, I still had a little under two hours before I had to run. No problem. What came back from the kitchen was two pancakes with raspberries and cream and oh my...it was good. It was so good, I finished it all. Yep. I love this place. Definitely will be returning. And as for my 5K. Yeah, I'll admit, I wasn't feelin all that hot but I set a new PR for myself.
(5)
Tim S.
Marmalade was great, me and my girlfriend went there after a pretty long night of drinking and we were in need of some good brunch. It closes as 3pm and showed up at 2:30pm and they treated us like we were the first guest of the day. Our waitress was an older woman but she ranks up there with one of the best I have ever had, she was helpful and very knowledgeable about the menu, she gave great suggestions and treated us great. I got the Pollo Loco and it was the perfect meal for a guy with a hangover (and someone without one too) the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist, eggs were done correctly and the salsa verde was delicious. Also there potatoes are pretty good too (just add hot sauce). My girlfriend got the Florentine Crab Benedict and she was also very happy. On our way out Gus (I think that was his name) was very nice to us and asked us to come back soon..... I defiantly will, Marmalade is not just a place on the way to Glenns dinner, but a place that might just be better!
(4)
David A.
Great food delicious and great service, I have been there 5 times and gets better and better.
(5)
David J.
My wife and I had brunch at Marmalade this past weekend and we both enjoyed everything we ordered. We got seats quickly after just waiting a few minutes while they cleared a couple tables. We ordered two skim Lattes that were very good and I enjoyed the Euro Brunch Plate and my wife loved her Diablo Omeletta. Our waitress was very friendly and the busboys were great making sure we had water. I look forward to trying some of the Benedict's next time.
(5)
Danielle B.
Horrible service, however, the busser kept our waters full and table clean...if only he could have been our server! The food was cold and nothing to write home about...not to mention an extremely long wait for it! On the way out we observed another unhappy patron complaining to the manager...the manger was very rude and unprofessional in how he handled the situation, which only added to my negative experience with this joint.
(1)
Dan S.
Fantastic water and service. Recommend the Fat Mexican. Cleanest bathroom in the city
(4)
Michael G.
We were looking for a new place for breakfast this morning and my wife remembered that my brother and sister-in-law had recently tried Marmalade and liked it. In fact my brother talked about the brisket hash as some of the best he's ever had. We arrived around 11:30 am and we were seated right away with no wait. The wait staff was great, attentive and well informed about the various specials. Luckily one of the specials was the Chef's Hash that my brother recommended, and which I ordered. My wife decided to try the classic eggs benedict. We were both rewarded with one of the best breakfasts we've had in Chicago. The brisket hash was moist and very flavorful. The eggs benedict included off-the-bone ham with a great smokey flavor and without the overly salty taste that many hams have. The real star of the meal was the breakfast potatoes which were awesome. Not sure what the secret spices were, but they really made the dish. Only one thing prevented us from rating this as 5 stars. In fact we struggled with how to rate this restaurant overall because the food and service was so excellent. However while we were there the restaurant manager (owner?) displayed some of the most disturbing and unprofessional behavior we have ever seen in a restaurant. Apparently something must have gone wrong with one the waitresses and he was loudly berating her in front of all the customers. He then proceeded to continue with this vocal management style as he told the hostesses how they were screwing up the reservation list. Overall it made for an uncomfortable end of what began as a great experience. After thinking about, it we decided on a 4 star rating to reward and support the hard working wait and kitchen staff. Hopefully the manager will find another line of work somewhere else. Or if he was the ownner, perhaps he'll hire a more professional manager before his poor behavior drives other customers away.
(4)
Kristi L.
The ignorant owner is PREJUDICED and RUDE. The owner was present during my visit and was rather loud the whole time. He talked down to his staff too. I was trying to get work done, so I tried to tune him out, but one derogatory comment directed towards a staff member made my blood boil. At the end of my meal, I told him Carolina (my server) was excellent and that the food was good. I brought up the issue of the volume of his voice and his negative and offensive comment. I realize the customer is not always right, but in this situation I was looking for, "I'm sorry. That comment was uncalled for and it will never happen again," or something to that effect. A sincere apology would have resulted in repeat business. Instead, he got extremely defensive and said he didn't offend anyone. I told him he offended me and he literally shrugged his shoulders. Charming. I cannot stress enough how great the staff was when I was there, attentive, friendly, professional, prompt, etc. My server was excellent and the other server on the floor stopped by to check on me and fill my water. There is great teamwork and prompt service there. My french toast was pretty good, not the best, but definitely good. Oh, they also have soy milk, which you cannot find everywhere. I feel bad for these employees, though. I would love to go back and send people I know in the area their way. Unfortunately, they are cursed with a disrespectful and narrow-minded owner with poor customer service skills, whom I do not feel deserves to benefit in a monetary way from my business, nor that of anyone I know. There are plenty of great restaurants nearby (I feel others have figured that out too, because there were only two other tables in the restaurant besides myself). Such a shame, it is a short walk from me. Their loss and my first (and hopefully only) one star rating.
(1)
Wil T.
Decided to dine solo. Stopped in on a Saturday after 2pm which to my recollection is after the brunch rush. There were about 3 open 4 toppers and 1 six topper tables that were open. Also there was nobody but me waiting for a table. I was told by the hostess that I would have to wait until a 2 topper opened up. WTH?!? I can understand if there are people waiting and it was busy, but really that's poor customer service. I walked down the street to Glen's Diner. Got a table right away (4 topper) and I was able to make substitutions to my order as well. I guess Marmalade makes business from taking in the overflow from Glen's during the busy brunch rush. Very parasitic business model, it's just a matter of time before enough people get tired of this place.
(1)
David G.
One of the great thing about being between jobs is you get to explore great breakfast places during non busy hours. I went to Marmalade at 10:00 AM on a Monday with two underemployed friends. It was virtually empty and the service was quick and attentive. Being the pancake connoisseur that I am I was tempted to get my usual, but opted for the french toast with berries and cream with a side of apple wood bacon. It was very similar to the breakfast I had at M. Henry. The french toast was very good, stacked up and topped with a very generous amount of fresh sliced strawberries. The bacon was a perfect complement. My friends ordered a croissant sandwich that was on the specials menu listed on a blackboard on the wall. I also feel I need to add that you can get breakfast churros. I have to especially mention the coffee. It was so good, I had to ask the waitress what kind it was and she threw an Italian name at me that I already forgot, I'm ashamed to say. Needless to say the coffee was excellent. I ended up spending about $14 total for my breakfast, which is very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I am impressed, and ecstatic that a great brunch place has opened in my neighborhood.
(5)
Esther A.
Starting with the good: 1) I knew from other Yelp reviews that an early brunch was definitely the way to go. At 10:30 AM on a Saturday, the restaurant was busy, but we were seated right away, which made me happy. 2) Service was *excellent.* Our waitress was friendly, responsive, and super on point. 3) Lots of really tempting-sounding items on the menu. Definitely had a hard time choosing between options. 4) Presentation on the food, when it arrived, was beautiful--lovely, colorfully composed plates bright with (edible) flowers and berries. The less good: 1) There's something not quite right about the atmosphere and decor of the place. I wish it was brighter and cozier than it is. It still seems to have a lingering sad malaise left over from when it was Le Sabre. Also, we sat by the window, and the sills were kind of dirty (a few tiny dead bugs and dead leaves from the plants on the sills), which grossed me out a bit. 2) My French toast hadn't been soaked in egg long enough, so instead of the soft, custard-y texture I expected, they were very bread-y and dry. Still flavorful, due to the roasted peach and brie topping, but the mouth-feel was way off. All in all, though, Marmalade was good enough that we'll probably be back to try some of the other yummy-sounding items on the menu. (As an FYI, they don't spit checks or accept multiple credit cards, so plan accordingly.)
(3)
Carlos V.
Decided to try this place out since it was new in the neighborhood. Oh how I wish I didn't! It was hands down the worst breakfast experience I have had in awhile. 1. We walked in on a Saturday morning and noticed there was not a wait. There also wasn't a host to greet us or a sign that said "Host will be with you" or "Please seat yourself". So we just kind of stood there unsure what to do. After a couple of minutes, an older gentleman (owner perhaps?) finally noticed us and took us to our seat. 2. We immediately noticed the 2 large boards with the specials for the day and began to read them, trying to figure out what to order. Soon after, our waitress greeted us and began to recite the same specials that were on the board. I interrupted her as politely as I could and told her that the specials were on the board behind her. She then said "Just in case you can't see them" and continued to recite every single special. 3. Soon after another gentleman approached our table (manager?) and began to recite the EXACT SAME SPECIALS in greater detail. I just wanted some time to look at the menu to decide what to order!! 4. I ordered the cinnamon French toast with a side of "Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage". Unfortunately I do not like my breakfast sausage or bacon "Apple Smoked" but there were no other bacon or sausage options on the menu. 5. The French Toast was so dry that it was barely edible. Blech. 6. There was too much staff walking around with nothing to do (including the older owner type gentleman). The result is they constantly stare at you while you are eating your food. I was so uncomfortable. Needless to say I will not be back.
(1)
Rohan S.
We continue to go and always enjoy our experience. My wife enjoys the pumpkin French toast and the Mexican combo is awesome. Get the Mayan style if you like your food spicy.
(5)
Corey R.
First off, in a word: Outstanding. I had wanted to try Marmalade since I walked by and saw the "opening soon" signs. I came to Yelp just to get an idea of people's favorite menu items and see some initial comments. There are lots of reviews here complaining about the service. If that was an issue before, it's certainly been addressed. Our service was great. The waitress was friendly and attentive, even when we could have been "problem customers". See, the wife and I arrived 45 minutes before our two friends and their not-quite-two-year-old. Our fault, bad communication on our parts. Staff couldn't have been nicer about it. When we realized our friends wouldn't be there for a while, we offered to pay for the coffee we started and give them the table back. The waitress just smiled and said, "no worries. sit, relax, I'll bring you some more coffee." Certainly NOT the turn-n-burn attitude other reviewers claimed to have received. So, the food. Wow. Everyone loved their food! I had the peached and rasberried pancakes. FYI, it also had blueberries and strawberries along with some amazing mascarpone cream. The crunchy granola on top gave it great texture. Brilliant idea! My wife had the diablo omeletta which they cooked with less oil and with egg whites, per her request. It was very good, too, especially the roasted potatoes that come on the side. The kid-sized pancakes were perfect, too. I literally have no complaints about our trip to Marmalade. Service, food, atmosphere, kid-friendliness, coffee, etc. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Brandon Z.
Literally so many issues, I need to decide where to start... First. I'll just say I'm glad I didn't bring friends or family, because I think they would have disowned me after taking them there. I'll start with service. To provide some context, the place wasn't full, but it wasn't completely empty. I think I counted 3 waiters/waitresses, which seemed appropriate when we arrived, and absurd when we left. I'm fairly confident that our girl is new, probably her first waitressing job, so I'm willing to give her some slack. That said, this place is only a week and a half old, and the poor girl could use some training and help. Here's a list of issues with the service: - Wasn't told the specials (maybe we weren't special enough...) - Brought toast (which was warmed bread- no toasting was done) literally five minutes before she brought the rest of the food. Put the bread back in, toast it some more and bring it with the food! - After we finished and our table was cleared, we literally waited 10 minutes for the check. Of course I had to flag her down for it, because apparently she forgot that some people like to pay for their meals. - The cashier dude is a PRO at walking around aimlessly, making it seem like he has things to do when he isn't taking people's money. Dude, make yourself useful and help your staff out. - Same goes for the manager. He was slightly annoying about asking everyone that left what they had, how it was, etc. Definitely good he's asking for feedback, but again, help your people out and maybe give a better experience. OK, so that's not the end of the world. With awesome food, I could live with the above service issues. After all, this place is new, and I'm a very patient person. But the food was just so, MEH. The coffee wasn't very good, the OJ wasn't cold and didn't taste that great, my 'toast' was small and literally felt microwaved instead of toasted. Their signature potatoes weren't bad, but they had so much damn seasoning on them, like practically a dry rub. We got bacon, which was also not really all that cooked (can I have SOME crispiness to the bacon?). My plain scrambled eggs were fine. My girlfriend's pancakes were pretty decent, though the 'marmalade' that was used we think was nothing more than the jelly they served with my toast. They play 80's music, which is just weird. There is no decor, just painted walls, which normally I think places have too much going on, but this just felt like an empty space. We will likely never go back, with our favorite spot Over Easy being about the same distance from our apartment and light years better. I do hope they improve things and stay in the neighborhood, and maybe then we'll try them one more time.
(1)
Karen A.
I picked a weekday to check this place out, since I noticed on weekends its got lots of crowds. Now I know why people were waiting. Sitting on the cozy corner of Montrose and Damen Marmalade (occupying the former space of the old school Le Sabre restaurant) this neighborhood breakfast/lunch espresso bar is just what the area needed. And the breakfast is damn good. A lot of specials-hard to choose- and good coffee. I had an amazing artichoke pesto mozerella omelette-with fantastic crispy potatoes and a sweet garnish of fresh mango and orange. There are a plethora of pancakes and croissants and other good stuff. I'm going back for more tomorrow......
(4)
Ross C.
I miss Le Sabre. I really do. My girlfriend and I were literally the last costumers to eat there. We went on a random day and they said they were closing. We were disappointed. Then they explained that they were closing for good. We were really disappointed! The chef kindly offered to stay open for the restaurants two final costumers. We were honored. Now, on to Marmalade. We were pleased to hear that Marmalade is owned by the same family that owned Le Sabre! Bonus points already. I had Efraim's Diablo Omelette. And omelette with spicy jerk chicken, guacamole, and cream cheese?! Are they serious?! I was feeling adventurous and gave it a try. It was awesome. I also tried a pancake. It was tasty, light and fluffy. I'll definitely be a frequent customer at Marmalade.
(5)
Brian J.
The interior was bright and cheerful, a marked improvement over the medieval darkness of the esrablishment across the street where my companion and I initially tried to have brunch. The head chef's Signature Dish, the Diablos Omeletta, was a psychedelic flavor adventure stuffed with spicy jerk shrimp, cream cheese, and avocado and covered in mango chutney. The eponymous marmalade that it was served with was also no joke. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
G. F.
Please allow me to start by saying that I'm rating Marmelade based on the 5-minute experience I had there. I went there with my mother and 2-year-old son this morning(a Wednesday) and tried to sit outside. We found it odd that the only tables they had outside were the two-person tables (they're barely big enough for two people, for what it's worth) so we did what any party more than 2 would do: put two tables together. The waitress immediately came out and told us that they don't put tables together as policy due to the small space they cram the tables into. So just know that you can't sit outside there if you have two or more people with you. We would have understood that it's just their policy except that the place was nearly empty and only one table was occupied outside and they were paying their bill! After we already started putting the tables back she said, "maybe I can go ask the 'big guy' if we can allow it". We did not even want to stay after that feeling as though they were being difficult with a few people trying to give their new business a chance when it was nearly empty. I'm giving two stars since we didn't try the food and she did apologized when we left...but who wants to stay for a meal after fighting to get a table big enough for your group when we were practically the only ones there? Go to Lulu Belle's of you want people who are nothing if not accommodating.
(2)
Elizabeth K.
AMAZING BREAKFAST! It looks like a whole lot of nothing from the outside but the food is fantastic. I had the Artichoke Omeletta (spinach, goat cheese, tomato, pesto, yummy) and my friend had the Mayan Omeletta - both incredibly delicious and the perfect portion size. The owner/manager checked on us during our meal to make sure everything was good - it was - and even gifted us with a couple huge muffins (made in-house at the restaurant, consumed in my home shortly thereafter, even though I wasn't even hungry...just that good). Such a great spot, I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Nikki F.
My husband (& son) took me out to brunch at Marmalade this weekend for Mother's Day. We had a lovely meal, even though I was a little hesitant about going after reading a handful of negative reviews here. People complain about the no substitutions policy. I get it; it's kind of annoying. But, seriously, there are so many options that it's really difficult to not find something for everyone! There's the regular menu, there's specials on the table, there's blackboard specials... A lot of choices to keep most people happy. The service was perfectly adequate. Not over-the-top bubbly, but the hostess welcomed us, we were seated quickly, and our waitress was friendly. We could have used more coffee refills (coffee there was great!), but that's about my only complaint. The food itself was delicious. I had the crab cake benedict & wow was it yummy. The chipotle sauce & the corn bread worked so well together. The potatoes were a bit much for my taste (just covered is seasoning), but it could be that the main attraction was so good (& the portions so big) that I didn't have much room for them anyways. My husband had the Efrain's diablo omeletta, which was also delicious (& not overly drenched in sour cream or sauce). I was really impressed by their fruit bowl, which we ordered for my son -- there was papaya, blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, & melons (a far cry from the typical grapes & honeydew). I'm lucky this place is in my neighborhood & will definitely be back.
(4)
Kevin Z.
Great specials, and interesting menu, homemade everything. Service is great too.
(5)
Chris H.
This is my second time here (first for brunch, and now for lunch), and both experiences were less than satisfying. I will start out that our server was nice and attentive. Our drinks were always full. That is why I gave a few of the stars. Today I ordered the prosciutto panini. After waiting 30 minutes, the server came out and informed me that they were out of prosciutto (the main ingredient in the sandwich). I understand restaurants run out of product, but the waitstaff needs to be informed so the customer can be alerted upon ordering...or even better, when they first see the menu.
(3)
John S.
We had lunch here today. Service was good, waitress was attentive and on top of everything. The manager seemed to be micro-managing and creating issues where there were none. I ordered "stuffed french toast". I got french toast that had nothing stuffed in it. It was ok, but not worth the $9. My friend got the brie baguette, it was "decent" he said, but not worth the $9 it cost either. Probably won't go back.
(2)
Aaron C.
This is my breakfast spot. Service is great, coffee is up to par, prices are decent, and the food is good eats. Every weekend they have some great new specials that are always good to try. They also have a great regular breakfast menu to choose from. What separates this breakfast from any other? The breakfast potatoes! So good...so filling...need more but am so full. I also want to give a shout out to staff that is always accommodating. There may be a wait if you don't get there early....which is a good thing if you think about it. Think of it as a sign you're at the right place.
(4)
Chcogal C.
You know those places where they value their customers? Where the customer is always right? Well, this is not that place. My friend ordered a chopped salad and what came was a mound of bacon and ham in the shape of an upside down bucket, with little to no lettuce and a very unappetizing presentation that looked nothing like the menu described "chopped" salad. When she tried to send it back was told that the chef made this for her and therefore could not comp her or offer something in its place. Really? Well instead of losing out on the cost of one salad, they lost long standing customers who had previously told all their friends to come by...... A lesson worth far more than $13. Never trust an owner/chef who makes his rude waitstaff deliver crazy customer service on his behalf,and has more negative "rules" on the receipts than friendliness.
(1)
Eileen G.
LOVE THIS PLACE! One of our favorite for breakfast or weekend brunch. Good variety of food and excellent service. Everyone is friendly and the food is amazing.
(5)
Dan K.
Decent food, but this review is more about the staff. Our waitress was a little slow to get to us, despite there only being a few people in the place, which is fine... we weren't in a huge rush, and we weren't starving. They then brought out a cappuccino when it was supposed to be an iced latte. Again, not a huge deal because they quickly replaced it. But that's two strikes. The third strike is a huge one. The guy who appeared to be the manager, or perhaps the owner, was being a complete dick to the waitresses. Shortly after we sat down, he said "get me this......... now!" to one of his employees. Then later, I heard him say to one waitress "this is your section... I told you this 30 minutes ago. I don't want to tell you again." And to another, "do you know which section is yours? Yes? Point to it." If you want to be a treat your employees like shit, that's your prerogative. That makes you an asshole, and it is what it is. If you do it loudly in front of your customers, that makes you a complete idiot. I'm not going to give my money to a business that's run like that. I won't be back, and I hope that the waitresses find a better place to work so that they can say the same.
(2)
Emma D.
I live two blocks from Marmalade and have been eagerly awaiting its opening. I was hoping for a go-to spot where I could get a healthy salad for lunch a few times a week--and the one called the Summer Salad on their menu IS delicious, but at over $10 after tax, it's a tad much for everyday ($8.50 after tax would be more like it). At breakfast, too, I've found the prices to be $1 or $2 more than what the experience is (so far) worth. The service is exactly as others have described: friendly enough, but things aren't always running smoothly. The room is clean and new-looking, but the use of several different sherbert-y paint colors do not add up to an interior with the kind of personality people love in a good breakfast spot. Still, I hope Marmalade can work out the kinks and stick around. Think about offering a to-go counter with easy-to-order beverages and a few lower-cost breakfast items (not just pastries, but something with eggs) for people on their way to work. Set up a spot where customers can hang out while awaiting carryout orders. Liven up the walls--maybe talk to Lillstreet about installing rotating shows that reflect the neighborhood's vibe. Good luck!
(3)
Jeremy M.
The food definitely shows some M-Henry (love them) influence, but it was a $40 breakfast that didn't quite live up to M-Henry. Prices for plates were OK, but we ordered a side of bacon to share to get something savory on the table, and a cup of fruit for my kid in addition to the scrambled egg, two coffees, and pow: $40. Service wasn't the ultra-professional machine you'd get at M-Henry, but it also wasn't as bad as some of the earlier reviewers said. Maybe they've worked out some of the kinks. Waitstaff was on cruise control though. Bring the crowds to sharpen your staff. Portions were a bit outsized, except for the oatmeal served in a little crock traditionally used by greek diners for french onion soup. My fruity pancakes were very good, but I'd have been happier with 75% of the portion for 80% of the price. Same with the side of bacon and the fruit cup. Get rid of the crocks for the steel cut oatmeal and serve it in a real bowl. Give the prices a shave, and let the customers queue up a little. Overall, I think this place deserves three or four stars if they could iron out the rest of the kinks. That would bring Marmalade on-par with my other breakfast indulgence options. Add something je-ne-sais-quoi and I'll come back with five stars. Hint: I find that candied bitter oranges will pair with the darnedest things. I was surprised nothing like that was on the menu. No chef; no art; no five stars from me. For the price, I'd rather eat at M-Henry or stay closer with Pannenkoken.
(2)
Alice R.
Came here for breakfast. Staff is friendly and helpful. Loved the signature marmelade french toast! Will come back here again!
(4)
Kris R.
i wasn't expecting much from this place bc of the reviews so i kept my expectations low. every sunday my family and i have brunch, so it was a good change of pace to come here. it was about 9a brunch time. i was the first to arrive so i put in a table for 4. it wasn't crowded but i couldn't be seated til the rest of my party arrived. okay, cool, but it's not crowded. and the hostess was NOT very friendly and could barely look me in the eye. she did whatever it was possible to communicate to me in as few words as possible. this is a pet peeve of mine, i'm realizing. if the hostess sucks, marmalade, youve got it wrong. a hostess/receptionist is the first person to make a good impression as he/she receives people for the first time. if you suck at being friendly, this is the wrong job for you. anyway, my sister and nieces arrive. they order waffles and pancakes and i order the bread pudding. a pretty sweet breakfast for me, but i was in the mood. the BP was pretty good. not the best, but good and it hit the spot. the pancakes and waffles were really cakey and dry. when i cut the pancakes into pieces for my niece, they were crumbling apart. my other niece stopped eating her waffle bc it was "too thick". the one thing that was EXCELLENT was their bacon. i mean, you could have fed me plate after plate of it. really, the best breakfast bacon i've had in a while. i MIGHT come back to try a savory dish, but i dont know. it's not in my hood and i wasn't impressed.
(3)
Charlene S.
I had high expectations for this place...being in the Chicago Mag top breakfasts. I am a breakfast/ brunch girl. When? Sunday at about 11:40 am. There was a huge crowd outside so the hubs went in and checked out what the wait was. The guy at the door said there were 2-two-somes in front of us, but he couldn't give us a time. I don't know if I would've waited the 1/2 hour, but it was pleasant enough outside and we did go at a prime time. Still... the guy should have told us an approximate time. Maybe we could've walked down the street a bit instead of just hanging out doing nothing while the hubs arranged his fantasy football draft via phone. Where? Seated by the window and with the people coming in and out, there was a draft. I never took my jacket off. The menu had some very appetizing choices and the specials board was unique. I ordered a hot chocolate but the waitress brought 2, 1 for each of us. The hubs didn't want one but after pointing it out the waitress who offered the 2nd one for free, he welcomed it. I think $2.75 is a bit steep for a cup of Swiss valley and water. +++++I ordered the Chef's specialty, the diablo omelette. It had jerk cajuned shrimp, cream cheese, avocado and some mango, red pepper salsa. It was delicious. The shrimp cooked perfectly, not overcooked or rubbery. The hubs ordered the florentine and crab cake benedict. It was delicious and moist and cooked well. The egg was nice and runny like he likes it. The potatoes were ok. Cut too big and overspiced, but a bit tasty. I don't care if the plating is like M. Henry. I enjoyed the mango and orange. The multigrain toast was delish!!! Chewy, hot, crisp. -BOOO-----I was intrigued by the coconut caramel hotcake. But for $9.75 opted out of it and got 1 hotcake on the side for a couple bucks, I think. $2 x 2 does not equal $9.75. The hotcake was DRY and had a crust on it that was brittle enough to break away. BOOOOO. The brittle crust did not allow any of the maple syrup to work its way in. I'm so glad I didn't get the bigger order. I would try this place again but hopefully on a morning no so busy.
(3)
Ingrid H.
Trust me. The breakfast quesadillas will put you in quite the predicament, having to decide between (a) hopping out of your seat and M.C. Hammering all around the joint, telling everybody about how damn good your dish is, and (b) remaining calm and in your seat so that you can finish what you can of this very filling meal before it gets cold. I chose the latter of the two options, but I can't promise that I'll have the self-control to manage that feat, again. Note: I'm a veg head, so I swapped out the chorizo for the veggie sausage; delicious! Y'all, has anyone seen my balloon pants, y'all?
(4)
Janet N.
I thought I would treat myself to breakfast today so I stopped here having been before and it was a good experience. So being alone can be a challenge to get attention but today was even worse! I was seated right away which is great but sat for almost 10minutes (why you ask? I was hungry) then I asked the perky waitperson on the table next to me who had my table. She did not know but did get someone?? whodid not appear too pleased. I got a lame apology and did say how long I was waiting received with a blank stare. I got my food quickly. And as another table of 4 sat down I saw my wait person go to them immediately. Now wait people you see why women alone do not tip well. This is a prime example of WHY!
(2)
Restaurant Vigilant E.
Gone is the greasy spoon that was Le Sabre...their stomach churning, wall paper paste will haunt humanity no more! In it's place, a bright lunch/brunch/breakfast place called Marmalade. Let me just say...I personally do not really like breakfast food, and the concept of brunch is something I loathe. That said, I understand other people like brunch...and if I had to choose, I would likely pick marmalade for brunch. The menu is innovative and diverse, while still being manageable, and they have gone seemingly out of their way to appeal to everyone in a pretty effective manner. While I don't see it on their online menu, I always order this crazy big croissant sandwich....fluffy eggs, bacon and cheese...breakfast food yes, but in sandwich form, the stigma I often attach to breakfast seems to evaporate. I have been their twice and really probably should branch out on their menu, trying something else...but it is REALLY good. Bottom line is this, if you go their for breakfast/brunch or lunch, you'll walk away happy. This place, in my experience, is a pretty sure bet...it's two nearest competitors: Glenns and Fountainhead...really can't stack up when competing with Marmalade in the breakfast/brunch/lunch arena. Service here I have never had an issue with. The place is clean and bright, even if it is a little non-descript.
(3)
Katie H.
Did I like Marmalade? Yes. Would I pick it instead of Over Easy or mHenry? Hmmm... probably not. But I would recommend giving it a try. The service is slightly rocky - not unfriendly, but a little slow and confusing at times. Check out the specials board which contains a LOT of different items not on the menu - it's almost like there are 2 separate menus. I went for the pumpkin french toast and it truly was sinfully delicious - really more of a dessert than a breakfast, but that didn't stop me from chowing down. My husband had a cappuccino (very good) and one of the Mexican-ish breakfast dishes which he enjoyed, although not as much as Over Easy's sassy eggs. Bottom line: you may have a shorter wait here than at some of the other neighborhood brunch spots, but you won't have to compromise too much on the food. We'll probably be back again.
(3)
Katie R.
i'm sorry to say the food is just not that great here. there's a nice selection and service was fine (though our waitress was literally reading from her specials list because she couldn't remember what was in each dish - i don't know if this is a deduction, just kind of odd, but to give her credit there were a lot of specials). i had the brioche cinnamon french toast and though it was presented beautifully, it didn't taste as great as it looked. i had it with the berries (fresh and delicious) and vanilla cream - overall the dish was over-the-top sweet. i think there could have been a much better balance with a light and refreshing creme fraiche instead of the vanilla cream. my friend didn't seem overly wow-ed by her omelet and i definitely wasn't by my side of soy sausage. my friend had a side of tempeh which tasted good but was VERY over-salted. bonus points for offering veggie options, though. i don't know if their OJ is fresh-squeezed as we didn't order it, but the fact that they have v8 is a deduction in my book. any great breakfast place that claims to have a juice bar better have ALL fresh juice, in my opinion. also, whoever was running the register (manager of some sort?) was extremely rude! there are too many places that treat you wonderfully to eat bad food then be scorned. sorry marmalade, but you have some fierce brunch competitors out there that have it down to the nitty-gritty and you need to step up your game.
(2)
Caren F.
I'd give negative five if I could. I was so excited to try this brunch spot, but after the appalling customer service my group experienced this morning, I will never return--and will encourage others not to give this place their money. I go to brunch every. single. weekend. and happily fork over too much money for a good brunch experience. So it is a shame that the manager "doesn't have time" for his customers. He just lost four potential loyal customers. But seems he's too smug and busy to care. Marmalade makes sure that things are easy for them. Signs scream out that there are no substitutions on specials, no split checks. Ok, fine. We'll play by your rules. After being told that her two first choice entrees could not be made without pork, my friend settled on an egg item. It came out prepared incorrectly. Because it had to be remade, she asked if they could please put the sauce on the side when they remake it. She was told no. (this was not a special, by the way, so was not theoretically subject to their rules) Not only was she told no, she was told that the manager refused to put any other item on our ticket. EXCUSE ME? She was literally told she was not allowed to order anything else. When she asked to speak with him, our waitress (poor girl, stuck in the middle) returned to tell us that he said we could come back tomorrow to talk to him!! WHAT?! So she should sit here now, not eat, and come back tomorrow? Who does he think he is? She had to literally get up from the table, find the manager, who barked "i don't have time for this," TO HER FACE, before he reluctantly agreed to just let her get something else. Which was disgusting. The food was seriously bad. I ate two bites of my eggs, which were swimming in oil. Even without the atrocious attitude from the manager, I'd never return. Upcharge for fruit instead of potatoes (which wasn't mentioned), full charge for my friend's sub-par fourth choice entree that they initially refused her. I'm sad for the waitress who has to work for this manager. But patrons can choose to dine elsewhere.
Perfect brunch experience! Vegetarian friendly, they will sub tasty veggie for any meat for free. Also has a nice little kids menu which is pretty rare in Chicago. I had the Florentine Crab Benedict which had a high quality crab cake although the egg was a little overcooked. My wife had the smoked salmon napoleon which she loved, but she was jealous of my potatoes which were much better than her salad! Her poached eggs were perfectly cooked BTW. We shared the Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll French Toast with our two friends. The fresh fruit and icing was perfect company for our savory breakfasts.
(5)
Steve W.
Fantastic food - dismal service. This place is still new. And therefore since the food was so good, I'm willing to overlook the really bad service that we got. 4 of us went there for breakfast this past weekend. The place was full, but that should be expected as the people of Chicago love their breakfast. Our waitress had a very nice attitude and was at our table pretty quickly - but then she never came back. We never got our coffee. Another server brought out our food and we had to ask for him to go get our toast....which wasn't really toast, it was warm bread. As under-staffed as they appeared, they had one guy whose ONLY job was putting bread in the toaster, and it still came out as warm bread! After enjoying our food, our table was cleared promptly by their busser, but again, our waitress was MIA and after waiting for at least 10 minutes we had to walk up to the register to get our check. The manager apologized, but he wasn't really helping his staff either. Appeared to be micro-managing, but not doing any real work himself. Anyways, the breakfast food was fantastic. So good that despite all the crap we dealt with, we'll go back and give them another chance in a few months.
(2)
ben w.
Good food, good portions, great coffee and good service. Lots of dishes with lots of stuff in them, potatoes in the egg dishes, skillets, are way too big and hard to eat. Very pricey, 22 bucks with tip for a skillet and coffee.
(3)
Mary T.
I was here today for lunch. Funnily enough I had the same brie baguette as Jon R. and the bread was hard as a rock. I sent it back and they were very nice about it and gave me a new sandwich on different bread. And they kindly took it off the bill and apologized four times at least. I thought the place was good but not outstanding. They are new so maybe a few things to work out yet. They told me that the reason the bread was hard was because it was a new supplier, so some kinks obv. I'm happy they're here as the other choices around here are two dismal pizza joints and a hot dog stand. I was here ONCE when it was a diner and I think the room is very much the same only they have done a really nice job of redecorating.
(3)
harry b.
Like my last review of another spot, Marmalade was well worth the wait (30 min on a Sunday at 9:30AM for a 4 top on a day of a local charity run). Attentive, friendly service kept our drinks topped off and brought our food out very quickly. Both sweet and savory items looked and tasted amazing. I had the Cubano brioche French toast with guava marmalade and granola - out of this world! Everyone's entree, drink, tax & tip came to $16/person. Can't wait to go back again!
(5)
ashoor y.
OMG! you have to try this place. I hear the guy that was at M. Henry is now the chef. They have some great, new, and fresh breakfast ideas. I had the Manny's Diablo, with jerk shrimp...yes shrimp!!! It was awesome!! The owner treated me to an order of their "made from scratch" French toast...let me tell you, I didnt want to get out of the chair!!! You gotta try it.
(5)
Roberto G.
To make it simple .... Awesome !! The BYOB was a ++
(5)
MK D.
The best french brioche toast - The Lady Marmalade!!!
(5)
Ali H.
I'm giving Marmalade 3 stars with plans for a return in the near future and a possibility to increase their rating. It was exactly what a 3-star review indicates: A-OK. First off, when a brunch place advertises to have a former M. Henry chef, they had best be careful. That might be something I wouldn't advertise right away- talk about setting the bar high! The menu was pretty simple. The savory chef-specialty was an omelet with shrimp and avocado and this was probably the best thing I tried. The sweet specialty, the stuffed french toast, was sadly pretty boring and blah. Also, the portion was huge. We had 8 pieces! The flavors were pretty bland, and I don't know, for it being the big specialty, I was expecting something better. I think any average sweet dish at M. Henry is better than this. I kept thinking about the mango cranberry french toast I had the last time I was there and being sad about the state of affairs at Marmalade. Anyway, the staff was very pleasant. The space is cute and I like the location. Just don't expect to have your socks knocked off by the food, and if you want something creative and fresh I'd stick to one of the old standards.
(3)
Jill B.
The El Picante Benedict was amazing. I mean so incredibly good. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Nikkie H.
First off let me say that I never went to Le Sabre, so I can't compare, but I do know I like this place. It is bright, decorated nicely...no complaints there. My friend and I were seated almost immediately and our server was fairly prompt. We did see the manager walking around, and it was a tad off-putting because he clearly was micro-managing. Instead of "how is everything so far" he asked if our order was taken. It was almost like he didn't trust the wait staff. I will say the table next to us who was there before we were seated, had a mix up with their order. Maybe his checking was justified... In any case, my friend and I both ordered the Mayan Omeletta and shared the apple smoked sausage. Between the omelette (er, omeletta), the sausage, homemade toast, potatoes and coffee there was absolutely nothing I would change. It was all so good. This place will be hopping once word gets out, but I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)
Marcia F.
Love this place. Today, I met some dear friends for breakfast and we were having so much fun we stayed a long time. After about 2 hours, the manager kindly asked us if we could move over one table as they had a big party coming in. We sheepishly realized we had been holding a table too long and said we'd just walk and talk. He hadn't asked us to leave, mind you, just to move one table over. But as we walked out he handed us a bag of fresh muffins for our "trouble." That's the kind of service that makes you come back. And the food's great too.
(5)
Dulce P.
I went here with my friend and unfortunately we had to wait half hour but the food was good. I felt a little rushed, given it was Sunday brunch time. I will still go back and try new plates.
(3)
Heather C.
From beginning to end, including atmosphere, service, and food, our experience at Marmelade was absolutely delightful! We went on a whim to meet with an old friend and were able to have great conversation and great food. Our waitress was prompt and patient. She enticed our interest in specials without being pushy. Food was served quickly and looked amazing. The menu is full of creative variations of breakfast favorites. "The Lady Marmelade" was sweet and light with perfectly ripe strawberries! The toast was served with a side of guava marmelade that made my tongue sing for joy. Our side of fruit was above and beyond with pears, plums, blueberries and more! The artichoke omelette was packed with complementing flavors. The portions were large and shareable, however, you won't want to. Adding to the pleasure of the experience was the generous hospitality of the servers. The owner was present and made us feel like valued customers even though we were there for the first time and from out of state. We will be recommending to all our local friends and wishing we hadn't moved so far away.
(5)
Richie D.
Line out the door with a 20 minute wait, but we were sat within 5 minutes. The two owners are always very friendly and make sure you know the daily specials (on one of two chalkboards). The ambiance is very simple and family-friendly which fits well in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood neighborhood. There is comical artwork on the walls, like a cartoon pancakes telling the french toast "You're stuffed up" while the french toast responds, "You're a hot mess!" Marmalade serves Cafe Ambria Italian coffee concoctions too. The menu, however, possesses a New American vibe with Mexican influences, even Jamaica is offered as a drink. Every time I step in here I'm swayed towards ordering the delicious sounding specials. On my first visit I had the Polenta Muffin baked with Bacon, Egg and Cheese served on a bed of fresh greens. Second visit, I went with the Euro Brunch Plate of Butternut Squash, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Leek And Scallions Wrapped Crepe, Two Eggs, House Potatoes and Cranberry Cognac Chicken Sausage. I was more impressed the first time around with service and the flavors (can't say I cared for the crepe, but the cranberry cognac chicken sausage made up for it). As with many brunch places like Marmalade, it seems like good olde comfort breakfast items are always seduced into becoming more 'fancy'. To me, Marmalade seems to also be in a bit of an identity crisis with New American/Mexican cuisine, Greek music playing on the speakers and an Italian cafe atmosphere... I'll return a third time since the food is always tasty, plus I promised myself that I would order their cute ceramic pot of Old Fashioned Steel Cut Oatmeal served up with cranberries, sour cherries, golden raisins, fresh apples topped with melted brown sugar alongside a bowl of mixed fruit (keep in mind it's only served weekdays between 7 am and 11 am). Marmalade, I'll see you soon.
(4)
Casey C.
Thank the gods for this place. A new brunch in my neighborhood (where there are already excellent brunch places) is always good. But this is easily in my top 2 brunch places in all of chicago! Everything is delicious and the wait staff is EXCELLENT. Its almost always busy on the weekends, but the staff always are personable and fast. The owner is an awesome man who always is checking in on tables, and has often given my boyfriend and I some take home goodies free of charge! I couldn't be happier with this place!! Please go!
(5)
N. S.
I was pleasantly surprised. I like brunch, but I never think places are worth waiting, and after seeing crowds outside this place for several months, I was less than enthusiastic. Anyway - despite the large groups waiting outside this morning, our party of two was seated in less than half of of the 20-minutes time quoted by the hostess. Service was very friendly and helpful. Menu had a good balance of sweet and savory dishes, and I look forward to trying some more of them. I had the confusingly-named "Euro Brunch" plate, which didn't really match its name. I don't think it was the right choice for me: the potatoes were overseasoned and too dry, the chicken sausage was bland, overcooked, and seemed like an afterthought on that plate, BUT, my eggs were poached perfectly, and the crepe was really tasty. My companion's sweet dish was delicious, too, as was the coffee. In short, I wasn't blown away, and I certainly wouldn't wait more than 15 minutes or so, but I enjoyed it and will definitely be back to try some more dishes.
(4)
Lauren P.
Food was pretty good. Lots of great options. The chef's special omelette was super tasty. But ... Service was slow and disappointing. My friend asked for an omission of one garnish ingredient (not a substitution) and was charged almost $2 extra. She questioned the addt'l charge and was told it was bc changes to specials makes the chef upset. OK. However, our bill was eventually adjusted. Those with any dietary restrictions or food allergies - requests for subs, etc. do not seem welcome & staff was reluctant to accommodate. Signage for 'will not do' is prevalent & read as unwelcoming. Seems like a like an easy fix they could choose to improve. I love brunch but ... As mentioned by others reviewers, brunch options are vast in Chicago. While the food was good, the service needs to improve before I'd go back to try the red velvet French toast.
(2)
Jillian D.
friendly. that's a great word to describe this new addition to the neighborhood. from the host/owner's warm welcome as he escorted us to our table, to our waiter's delivery - both verbal (explaining the menu) and physical (ready refills of coffee; bringing our much anticipated dishes out just as we ordered), to the host/owner's banter as we paid. i do think they are a little heavy handed with the creme anglaise (there are other sauces to choose from). but the food is beautifully presented, warm and tasty. can't be the location either! i am glad a small business took over this corner spot instead of a chain.
(4)
Lisa W.
Found a new favorite brunch spot! Went here on a Sunday morning at 10am and was seated within 5 min. The place was pretty crowded and a little noisy but that's typical for Sunday brunch spots in Chicago. I ordered the Crab Benedict and it was spectacular ! The crab was Soo good and not fishy at all. It comes with poached eggs on top and is served over a cornbread instead of an English muffin. It also came with a heaping portion of roasted potatoes. My friend had a made your own omelette and his portions were generous as well. We also split one of the specials which was a sampler of their 4 French toasts. They were red velvet, carrot, lemon poppyseed and I forget the other but they were all to die for! The toppings on each were delicious! The service was great. We always had refills on our coffee. The waitress told us all about the specials and was very attentive throughout our meal. I definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Colleen A.
My husband and I finally made it to Marmalade's today. In short: we probably won't go back... As someone who has a habit of eating the same food for breakfast every day (oatmeal with fruit), I can say that I look forward to mixing it up occasionally. We went about 9:30 and were seated right away. My first impression was that it was really stuffy inside; no air conditioning although an open window probably would've sufficed. We were seated right in front of the kitchen which can add to the energy of the place but can also detract from conversation. I'm not a fan. We were given water right away (great) and our server came over immediately. She didn't tell us any of the specials and since the "specials boards" are scattered literally all over the restaurant, we didn't even notice one board until after we ordered. The service was just so-so, she was a little too oppressive. I felt like we barely turned the menu over to look at the second side and she was back asking if we wanted to order. Chill out, it's not like the place was hurting to turn over tables. I did think the tables were really, really tiny for even just 2 people. Between the table tent that lists specials, creamer bowl, sugar, etc. we barely had room for our food. This was even more evident when they brought my toast and just kind of put it down on top of my silverware until I moved things around. They needed to be reminded we should get toast with an order and they didn't originally have any cream on the table (easy to fix, but I didn't like that I felt like I had to be on top of it). Once we ordered (I got the artichoke omelet, husband got the mexican omelet) our food was ready and out in under 10 min. Not bad...Mine was overly salty and to be fair, that is the artichoke. I like the option to substitute fruit instead of potatoes (not sure if they charged for it though). Husband's potatoes were greasy and tasted kind of stale. He said his omelet was so-so and remarked that it had mushrooms (his arch enemy) and he didn't recall reading that on the menu. Bonus points for good coffee and splenda, though! Nothing to complain about specifically, but nothing to write home about either. The place could use some sort of rugs or something to help muffle the noise...but that's just me. The busboys were great about refilling coffee/water/clearing plates. The server just seemed a little overbearing. She dropped our check, ($35 including tip), and that was that. I didn't feel like we could sit and read the paper we brought, which is irritating since that's what we wanted to do. It just seemed more like eat, pay, leave. Not eat, sip coffee, read the paper, pay, leave. Which I don't understand since the place was not busy...but with the stale/warm air, we were okay with leaving. All told: I wouldn't recommend it, but it wasn't the worst I've ever had either.
(2)
Maggie P.
Stopped here for brunch with the soon to be husband. I was excited to try Marmalade and was less than impressed with the food. Or at least with my dish. I had the El Picante Benedict, two homemade tortillas with chorizo, poached eggs "fresh avocado" and "Mayan" sauce, with a side of plantains and Mexican rice. The avocados were less than fresh and must have been sliced first thing in the morning because they were already browned by the time they were placed on my plate. There was no plantain in sight and I'm still trying to figure out where the Mayan sauce was on that dish. Now on to the husband's dish, he likes things simple, scrambled eggs with oven roasted potatoes and a side of pancakes. He enjoyed his dish and I will say those potatoes were tasty. The coffee was good and the service was great. And that's it in a nutshell.
(2)
Shawn R.
Marmalade is by far the closest breakfast option to our place so I was excited to learn that they were going for the "step above greasy spoon" kind of breakfast; if I want grease on a plate, I already have the Lincoln, Alps, and Golden Angel for that. We finally got a chance to check it out this past Saturday (July 16) for a late brunch. Service was good to very good; very cute red head server was attentive and informative, owner dropped by a few times to check in... it was near close and not very busy when we got there so that might have played a role since it seems they go into the weeds if it's busy per other reviews. The menu is a bit short; I really prefer a roll-your-own omelet option instead of having to pick from a few heavily-customized options. So I went with the two-egg basic breakfast, wife got the rapini omelet, we split some pancakes for "dessert". My eggs were fine if under-seasoned; wife says her omelet was same, like they forgot to use any salt in the cooking. Stiil, not bad but not quite the gourmet level they're going for. The house potatoes need tweaking; way too seasoned, and way too dry. The bit of fresh fruit on the plate was nice, I like that with my breakfast. The side of toast was a single piece of marbled rye each, not very thoroughly toasted. I consider marbled rye an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, but that might just be me. The pancakes were too much; I realize that they're considered a stand-alone full breakfast, but even for that, they're very thick and not so much fluffy as cakey. Again, for a "gourmet' breakfast place I would expect some nice whipped butter, copiously available, instead of just little foil/plastic tubs of it to use. Coffee was better than average and brought out and refilled in a timely fashion. As we were getting ready to leave, the server handed us and the other few tables remaining a to-go box with a muffin and some cookies in it. They do fresh pastries/cookies on site and I guess their philosophy is "end of day, give away", which is a very nice touch. Haven't had the muffin yet, but the cookie was... odd. Edible, not terrible, but weirdly textured for a basic chocolate chip. So, in the end, I'll probably still make the longer trek and endure the lines for Over Easy, as, overall, their breakfast experience is, end to end, still heads and shoulders above anything else nearby including Marmalade. That said, Marmalade is brand new, already a step up from that dump LeSabre it replaced, and close enough and decent enough already to where I'll definitely swing by again in a few months to see if they've gotten better.
(3)
Phil S.
Updated to 3 stars based on a recent visit. Getting better and its definitely family friendly, which is a bonus for us.
(3)
Jerry B.
No wait at about 11:00 on a Friday. Excellent Caramel Coconut Hotcakes. House potatoes were also very good. Nice cozy, casual atmosphere. Coffee is terrific. Service a little slow, but will go back for the french toast (or maybe the Euro brunch plate). Maybe everything is good here. Street parking easy.
(4)
Jill V.
Another delicious breakfast place in Chicago! Prices are bit on the high side, but I'll forgive them since it's so delicious.
(4)
Zahra H.
Yea, so if you're having a wonderful day and going out with a best friend to have breakfast - this is the place to go. You know why? Because the manager, the fat one, is rude as fuck, he charges you for an entree when you told the waitress no pork and comes out with pork, and tops it all off with a "go fuck yourself" goodbye -verbatim from the manager. Oh also, the best part, he openly admitted (in front of other customers as well) that he doesn't throw away leftovers and uses them for other dishes. This was the worst experience I have ever had with any restaurant. This manager (or whoever he is) needs to give up his position in the restaurant and let someone who has customer service or *just* people skills run it for him. You don't swear at your customers and tell them to "Go fuck yourselves" when we're trying to understand why you're charging us for an entree that was brought out with the wrong ingredients. Don't tell me I didn't warn all of you. P.S This is my 2nd yelp review for here. I only went back after the first horrible experience because I still had to use my travelzoo voucher which I walked out on (without ordering and waiting over an hour) last time because of his belligerent yelling at us and other customers.
(1)
scott B.
We loved LeSabre and going here today was bittersweet. All the old booths were taken out. I wonder what happened to those tables with those crossed sabres? We went for breakfast early. The place was crowded already and there was a wait list by around 9. We do like that they open at 7. This place should do the business. Maybe it will draw people from Over Easy and it will be easier to get a table there. Wishful thinking. I ordered the stuffed french toast and is was good, but it was too sweet for me. I trend more savory. I think I'll try the hotcakes next time. She had the Mayan Omeletta. Very good. I loved the House Potatoes that came on the side. She thought they were just okay. Very kid friendly. Service was friendly, fast and efficient. Prices are a tad more, but not out of line with Over Easy and Ravenswood Grill. We will be coming back here, but we will most likely go to Ravenswood Grill and Over Easy because they are closer to us. I think Ravenswood Grill does a little more for around the same price, but the food comes out much faster here. It's awesome to have so many great breakfast options within walking distance. One very minor thing: I like Sweet & Low in my coffee and they did not have any. I've run into this at times and have learned to have a few extra packets. Bring your own if you prefer pink (BYOP).
(4)
michele m.
I'm a fan, because the food is excellent, and they have daily interesting specials. The only thing I wish they would do differently is except credit card splitting. These days most of us don't carry cash, please change this soon, or you will turn off alot of people.
(4)
Bobby D.
Yeah, I love trying out Brunch places. Brought my gf here because we aren't the morning type. Let's just saw this place isn't my top pick. Over all horrible experience. What kind of employees use profanity around their customers. Anyways, food looked AND tasted like it was old and microwaved. My gf tried their pancakes. She said they tasted like water. My sausage and bacon was burnt. Yeah, never again. I'll go to Ihop next time.
(1)
Rita L.
Tried this place for the first time today and it was FANTASTIC!!! Not your typical bacon and eggs breakfast spot. Think gourmet breakfast with neighborhood feel! This place really takes time into using fresh high quality ingredients. My boyfriend and I agreed that the potatoes were hands down some of the best we've tasted at any diner in the city. The dry rub looks as if it may be over-seasoned but this wasn't the case at all. They were a delicious compliment to my "build your own" omelet (which I added spinach, ham off the bone and fresh mozzarella). Great big portions too! THEY HAVE ORGANIC ASSAM TEA! Yay! Nice cozy contemporary feel. Throughout our meal, we overheard several tables talk about their meals with delight. Great energy and a very attentive server. Rumor has it this place fills up FAST. Luckily we came after 1p...place was still busy but we got a table almost immediately. Easy street parking (mostly metered). The 6 mile drive was worth it! We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)
Miranda L.
Gus and company always take the best care of us! Amazing and creative dishes, great coffee, awesome service. Of all the brunch spots we have tried in Chicago, this is definitely our favorite (and thankfully we only live 1 block away). Their breakfast potatoes are out of this world; I think I dreamed of them for a week after my first bite. Check it out!
(5)
Emily D.
LOVED Marmalade! Tried it for Sunday brunch a few weeks ago and I'm still thinking about the Mexican Combo I ordered. The sauce on the dish was incredible. I can't wait to go back. When we wee there the owner came by to ask how everything was - such a nice staff, too. I recommend a visit.
(5)
Brock W.
Poor service + average/overpriced food (so many other options) = a place to avoid for Sunday brunch. It's a cute place, just hope they can get some of their service issues together because the food isn't good enough, nor priced right, to overcome the service.
(2)
J H.
really yummy! let's see...french toast was amazing, and HUGE! I thought it might be overpriced but you definitely get what you pay for :) the side was too small for the price though. but, friendly waitress, short wait even though it was busy, chill atmosphere, delicious.
(5)
Nicole M.
Marmalade is a good spot to take kids on a Saturday or Sunday morning -- the place opens early, the service is friendly and prompt, and the food is tasty. It's not the most incredible brunch (my favs for that would be Big Jones or Tweet), but it's in our neighborhood and the fact that I can take my toddler there at 8 a.m. and get a cup of strong coffee and good meal is golden in my book. My primary reason for liking this place is the family-friendly vibe, but the food is good as well. I'm a fan of the Mayan Omeletta (not for those with weak stomachs) and the French Toast (though it's never as crispy on the outside as I'd like, it usually comes with a hearty side of berries).
(3)
Jay S.
There is no accounting for personal taste, and there is no accounting for personal experience. People like what they like, and sometimes people have bad experiences, without it necessarily being a generally applicable quality indicator or trend. Having said this, for me, Marmalade is hard to beat, and I go here quite often. It's rare for me that so many items on the menu are so irresistibly yummy, and I have never had a bad experience here, or been treated poorly. So many of the staples on the menu are so very very tasty, and yet, I often find myself going with one of the specials, because I trust them to be good and they basically always are. Throughout my many visits to Marmalade, there has been one constant however: the absolutely sublime coffee, Caffè Umbria by the Bizzarri family from Seattle. Forget Metropolis, forget Intelligensia - Caffè Umbria is what coffee is about. But then again, there is no accounting for personal taste. Which is why the five stars are mine, and I stand behind them all the way. Are they yours as well? You'll have to find out.
(5)
Hanna D.
Brunch is my FAVORITE meal ever. I'll try any place once, and I tried this place twice, just for good measure, bad idea. I should have stopped at the door when the hostess told me to pick a seat (even though there was a wait) and was more occupied with her lip gloss and her reflection in her phone screen. She was still occupied with this same task when we came up to pay our bill.... The next warning sign was the waitress. Now, when I go out to brunch, I NEED my coffee asap. I can't function without it, let alone read a menu. We ordered coffee, it didn't come for at least 10 minutes, and then the sugar shaker....was full of salt!!! Took another 10 minutes to get the bus boy over & 5 more minutes to get a new coffee & a new sugar shaker. Our waitress came to the table a total of 2 times, to get our order & to bring the check. The food was a total buzz kill. The menu makes it sound delicious, but when it gets on my fork its just soggy, and poorly put together. The flavors are bland & lack the extra vaa-voom that the menu made it sound like it had. I ordered hot cakes with raspberries & peaches (which is a my favorite fruit combo). The fruit was no where close to fresh, and it was cold fruit on top of HOTcakes. So either it was from the freezer a few days ago, or from a can. I was expecting it to either be fresh or possibly had been warmed in a pot & macerated. Another MAJOR complaint is that this place is not group friendly! They have a strict "no split checks' rule, nor can you split between cash & card. As a waitress, I understand the frustration of splitting checks & the costs associated with running multiples, but maybe allow 2 cards per tab or something. I can't bring my friends or family & split a bill.
(1)
Harold H.
Have been here a few times. I order the savory dishes. Was a big fan of the Marmalade burger. Most of the other stuff was decent, but over salted. Usually not an issue for me, but today's food coma had me laid out for over 5 hours. I still haven't recovered. Seriously, those house potatoes are going to be hit or miss for a lot of people.
(3)
Rivka G.
I live right around the corner from M. Henry so it's hard to justify trying new brunch places when one of the best brunches in Chicago is 100 paces from my doorstep. However, I'm a brunch addict and always looking for new, delicious spots, so the hubbie and I ventured out to Marmalade to check it out on a Sunday morning. Overall, it was a good experience, but I had a few gripes that were hard to overlook. Here's the scoop: Pros: - Even though there was a hoard of people waiting outside when we arrived at 11am, the wait wasn't too long. - After being seated, a man (I'm assuming the owner) came over and gave us a run-down of the menu and what their specialties were prior to our waitress coming over which made us feel loved. - The waitress was friendly enough. - The breakfast potatoes rocked. Mmmmmmm! - The multi-grain bread was really delicious. And they sell loafs to take home! Cons: - This place seems like they are trying to mimic M. Henry. The plating is similar (down to serving fresh mango, orange slices and cooked plantains on the plate). It's the same story with the seasoning of the breakfast potatoes (although I do have to admit I think their potatoes are slightly better than M. Henry's). - I felt like I was being penalized for being a vegetarian. Many of the dishes I wanted to try had chorizo in them. I got the Mayan Omletta and the hubbie got the Breakfast burrito. After telling the waitress we were vegetarian, she said they could replace the chorizo with vegetarian sausage, so we did that. But when the bill came, we were charged an extra $1.50 for this. To be fair, the menu says that you may be charged $1.50 for any substitutions, but does veggie sausage really cost that much more than chorizo? - I wish there wwere more fillings inside my omeletta. It could have done with more beans, salsa, etc.). The egg to filling ratio wasn't quite right. - It took a while to get coffee refills. - When the bill came, it seemed a bit high. It turns out they charged us $11.50 for the extra chorizo instead of $1.50. When we brought this to the cashier's attention, she didn't apologize, just said, "oh, OK", and fixed it. Not cool. Especially since they were charging us for the chorizo in the first place. Final Verdict: While the food was good enough, the prices (especially with the tack-on of the vegetarian substitution cost) do not warrant the trip over here.
(3)
Jessie L.
My best friend and I went here for breakfast today as the first stop on our girls-day-out. I will soon be moving close by, so wanted to try some places in the new neighborhood! We didn't really know what to expect, since neither of us had been here before, but were pleasantly surprised with the food and atmosphere. The fruit that came with our meals was pretty impressive- chunks of juicy mango, pear, etc. The service was a little slow, but a man (who I'm guessing was the manager) sat us and was very polite to us, and even gave us a scone and muffin on the house before we left! I'll definitely be back :)
(4)
Nick L.
I love Glenn's Diner in the Lincoln Square area, but Marmalade is now another favorite brunch spot. The menu is interesting and delicious. For the most part, the service is good (depending on which server you get). The homemade jams are oustanding! You can even buy some jam to go. The italian omelet, greek skillet, and banana loaf are all out of this world.
(4)
David F.
If you aim to have bland run of the mill breakfast......aim lower and you will arrive at Marmalade, if not for the nice waitress it would of been a lone star.
(2)
Shannyn N.
Stopped in to Marmalade on a beautiful Sunday after finding our destination, Troquet, to be closed and being told Glenn's wait was going to be 45 minutes...and SO glad we did! My friend and I were greeted by the owner, Gus, who was SO nice and told us we could sit anywhere we prefer on the patio and he'd meet us out there with coffee, water and menus. He was delivering our coffee as a busser was resetting the table and the server (Dino) was dropping off menus, which we were delighted to read thoroughly while we sipped our delicious coffee. The menu is incredibly enticing, we actually had two cups of coffee while we decided! They have a build-your-own-omelette menu, which had a wonderful ingredients list full of interesting seasonal vegetables and artisan cheeses (I'm a big fan of cheese...) They had an unbelievable sweet menu with Red Velvet French Toast and Nutella Crepes (which we did try for dessert and OMG!!) Every dish that was delivered to a table looked so good we were like kids in a candy shop. They also had really nice specials, which I decided to give a try. I had the "Sicilian Benedict", an italian twist on the classic Eggs Bennie with asparagus wrapped in prosciutto over perfectly poached eggs and some kind of homemade flatbread (so good) all drizzled with a special type of sauce (didn't get the name of it, but I could've eaten it like soup, yummy) and the most amazing breakfast potatoes I've ever had! (I typically don't love breakfast potatoes, but these were well seasoned, and perfectly cooked!) My friend built her own omelette with apple chicken sausage, goat cheese, red & green pepper and onion. She loved it. I read some of the other reviews and do have to agree on a few points, it's a bummer that they can't split checks or make substitutions but that's not terribly abnormal for a Sunday Brunch in the city and things like this can be forgiven with a nice experience and great service, which we absolutely had. The hostess was definitely not the worlds friendliest, which is too bad because every single person we encountered was lovely, maybe she just needs a lesson in friendly customer service because a first impression of space usually begins at the hostess stand...so it's not surprising to see negative reviews. If the experience begins on the wrong foot, it's hard to overlook any other misgivings. We took some fresh baked goods from the bakery case to-go for later and we were not disappointed! We shared a chocolate chip muffin and some other goodies with friends of ours we met up with later and they were so happy that they said they were going to have brunch there next weekend, I think I'll have to join them. I need to try more of that amazing menu!
(5)
Jez E.
Thank you, Marmalade, for kindly, carefully and deliciously accommodating our gluten-free needs. We had just left Fountainhead, who could not do the same, and we were upset and hungry. Not only did we not get sick after eating your food, but we had a very tasty meal and excellent service. Great food - creative and fresh ingredients, cooked very well. We will be back many times! Cheers!
(4)
James M.
Don't walk... Run to this place! It's LeSabre (the next generation). I lived in this area for years, and loved LeSabre (the restaurant that used to occupy the space). I remember being very upset when it closed, only to find out that it was being revamped. The owners nephew has now taken over and it's better than ever! Had the breakfast burrito, it was out of this world! The wait staff was very pleasant. It's great for in and out eating, and great to hang, visit, and eat as well. It's a must!!!
(5)
Beth M.
I love breakfast, my husband prefers to eat it at home so getting him to go out for it isn't any easy feat, but we had a day off and decided to try this spot without having to wait in line over the weekend. Thank God we didn't wait in line as I would've been even more disappointed. 1) the manager or Godfather of the place is so strange, he trolls around when he's not lurking at everyone from his perch at the register. Heard him yelling at the folks working back in the kitchen. Not pleasant. 2) Saw a delivery of Boca Burgers yet the menu said the veggie burger was homemade. 3) They charge you $1.50 for substitutions. Had planned on getting the Euro Brunch plate, but it came with sausage which I don't like, but I wasn't willing to pay $1.50 for the right to sub it out. 4) They also do not split checks nor do they accept multiple credit cards. 5) Atmosphere is like a semi-rehabbed greasy spoon (never went to the old spot, but seems like they just painted it and did a few other cosmetic things. Music was too loud (it wasn't crowded) and sounded like the CD was skipping, very repetitive. 5) And now to the food...I had ordered a mushroom skillet special which wasn't so special. Could barely eat the eggs over the mountain of potato hunks. Also, it said it had mozzarella in it...which it did, but they were literally globs of mozzarella smushed in amongst the potatoes. My husband ordered another omelette that looked better than my globs, but which he said was just "fair." The menu said egg dishes came with it, mine didn't....I didn't ask about it either figuring I'd have a piece of my husband's. Um, no. He only got one piece. Who serves just one piece of toast? Weird and cheap. Anyway, I would not go back to Marmalade. I just hope that all the people who love it stay away from Over Easy so we can go there instead. So much better!!
(2)
Nick Q.
I don't know how anybody can give this place a bad review because my fiance and I have been here half a dozen times since moving into the area and we absolutely love it. It's such a great place that we make a point of taking anybody visiting us to get breakfast here. First let's start with the atmosphere. The place is such a cute little breakfast place and really sets the tone for a nice Saturday or Sunday morning breakfast. Yes, it may be crazy busy, but that's fine. The atmosphere is still very enjoyable. Then there's the food. OMG, the food. Everything I have tried here has been great. Some is better than others, but that's to be expected. Everybody has their differing tastes. The Bonaparte is fantastic, as is the breakfast burrito. The peached and raspberry pancakes are to die for. I've tried a few other dishes that are also good, but these three are my favorites to date. The owner is awesome. If you take the time to chat with him a bit (he's too busy for much more than small conversation) you'll find him to be a very nice guy. I've heard people say he's hard on his workers...but hey, look how busy they are and tell me how you can keep up with that without being a little tough. He remembers us every time we come in and makes a point of stopping by to chat and see how we're doing. When he heard my fiance told him she was looking for a new job in the food industry he even offered to keep an ear out for her and let her know if he heard about anything she might be interested in. The only negative thing I could think of for this place is the wait. However, it's not their fault other than that they're so good that tons of people want to eat there. It's not like they can kick people out the door to make room for others. This would lead to a much more negative atmosphere. Honestly, in my opinion, any wait (and I've waited awhile before on the weekend) is worth it to eat here.
(5)
N D.
A little about me: 1) I LOVE LOVE LOVE brunch 2) In spite of that or probably because of that, I am super picky and selective about what I would call a great brunch restaurant. 3) To illustrate how picky I am - I have lived in six cities (and visited many others). Out of all those cities, I've only found four brunch restaurants to get excited about. Two are in San Francisco and two are in Los Angeles. Only one of those four truly has my heart (26 Beach in Venice Beach). Oh and I've tried about 15 highly rated restaurants in the city I currently live in and haven't found a single one that I care about. Poor me. 4) When my husband and I visited Chicago last weekend, I finally found a place that just might be tied with my all time favorite brunch restaurant ever - MARMALADE! The reason that I only say "might" is that I don't live in Chicago and only had a chance to try two of their dishes (my husband's and my own). The dish I ordered was perfection. A little about Marmalade: 1) The atmosphere was warm and inviting (and we were lucky because we got a seat just minutes before a line up started). 2) The waitress and the owners were absolutely lovely. They cheerfully greeted us, made us feel welcome and the service was great. 3) I ordered the El Picante Benedict which was kind of like a hybrid between eggs benedict and huevos rancheros. It was exquisite. The tortillas, fresh avocado and spicy chorizo were scrumptious. I was hesitant about the Mayan sauce because I hadn't heard of it so I asked for it on the side. I didn't need to though because it was delicious and the perfect companion for my meal. They really paid attention to detail with this one, carefully selecting ingredients and sides to make everything come together perfectly. It even came with a side of sweet, fried plantains! What?!? I freaking love plantains and never get them for breakfast. Yay! 4) My husband's dish came with slices of fresh, juicy, delicious mango! Not your typical, boring cup of cubed melons that most restaurants offer as a fruit side. 5) My husband ordered the Mayan Omeletta and loved his meal too. At one point during the meal, my husband looked up at me and said "I've never seen you eat like this before. You haven't breathed." I went to town on my breakfast and then made a move on his. I love you Marmalade!
(5)
Emily B.
I'm going to go middle of the road on this first review because I didn't have my usual critical, observational boots on. Having New Years' Day breakfast with my friend, her husband, and baby, the energy was focused on keeping baby happy and talking about said baby. They were super accommodating for the baby with a full house that morning. Can't remember what I had, but do remember it had a nice kick, they had a ridiculous amount of menu options as well as specials (which were tricky to see based one where we were seated), and our server was super friendly and attentive.
(3)
KM I.
Oh how I love breakfast food! I could eat cereal and pancakes for every meal of every day. Marmalade didn't quite strike me as the "comfort food" breakfast food kind of place. Items on the menu have a Mexican twist and are either sweet or savory. I opted for the crepes and thought they were okay. The service was very nice and accommodating, but I wasn't blown away enough by the food options unfortunately.
(3)
Holly M.
2.5 stars...if I could. Marmalade is ok. I greatly enjoyed their super salty tempeh strips on the side, but the omelette I ordered wasn't that fantastic. It had a sickening amount of cheese in it and just wasn't flavorful. My V8 juice was a bit warm, too. It's your typical quick diner food and there are warnings everywhere saying they won't accept two credit cards or split checks. However our waitress was nice and the manager even came outside to see if my friend and I were doing ok. Marmalade is still pretty new so I'll probably return again, perhaps for lunch.
(2)
Brittany V.
I went to Marmalade this morning for breakfast and had a pretty decent experience. They were serving both lunch and breakfast by the time we got there, and there was a good selection to choose from. We barely waited for a table, and was greeted immediately by someone who explained the specials to us. I opted to get the vegan chilequiles, which were awesome. Not too spicy, with just the right amount of food. And the tofu scramble that came on top was awesome. My breakfast companions got the special Salmon Benedict and the Mayan Omlettee, and they both enjoyed those. I think the only thing that was lacking in my experience is that I would have liked a little more personality from our waitress. She was fine and prompt, but she seemed bored by being there. Prices are also a bit high for breakfast, but I can tell they do use really fresh ingredients, so I will let it slide. I also wish there was a little music going on! I don't know if I just couldn't hear it, but I am a fan of a little tune-age happening while I'm eating. I will probably be back to Marmalade in the future, if only to try the more sweet dishes that seem to be more popular.
(3)
Melissa H.
Went here on a Travelzoo deal. 2 people eat for $15 and it includes 2 drinks. Quite possibly the best latte I've ever had. Service, food and menu was unique and different from normal breakfast places that serve the same thing. A hidden find in Chicago. Street/metered parking wasn't difficult to find a spot on a Saturday morning.
(4)
James D.
We have been to this breakfast/lunch place a few times now and breakfast is fantastic. Have yet to order from the lunch menu because I'm partial to French toast and pancakes. The last visit I had pumpkin French toast. Omg. Amazing. The service has been reasonable, not stellar which is why it falls short of 5 stars for me.
(4)
rodd g.
I have never written one of these but this place is amazing. Best most creative breakfast menu ever. I will be back often.
(5)
J B.
Packed on weekends! Only open til 2:30PM!!
(4)
Victoria W.
I guess the new owners at Marmalade are listening to your feedback, because when I went for breakfast with 3 others at 10 on a Saturday morning, everything went smoothly. The server (the girl from Ireland) was on the ball, the manager guy was facilitating and apologizing for any waits (the place was full) and the food was tasty. We didn't try any of the sweet stuff, so I can only recommend the omelets. The only disappointing thing was that no one asked if we wanted refills on beverages (which are on the pricey side). Roseann pretty much covered all the bases...
(4)
Jeff C.
In short: Great, great spot for breakfast. We haven't tried them for lunch yet. Diverse menu, fresh fruit and salads, nice people. This place has excellent, well rounded dishes. Even when ordering something as simple as 2 eggs it comes with sliced mangos, sliced orange and cherry tomatoes next to their house potatoes and multigrain toast. Their omelettes are really tasty too, and while we haven't had their french toast or pancakes yet they look amazing. They always have a few fresh pastry trays full of muffins, scones and cookies too. Good, good stuff. Marmalade is pretty new at this point and so are some of the waitstaff, but don't let that steer you away. The waitstaff, busboys, managers and even cooks are all really nice and after 3 meals there since they opened we've never had even the tiniest of problems. They've been pretty full on weekends but we've never waited more than 20 minutes for a table. I'd rather wait a few minutes because they're busy (and busy because they're good) than see them empty. Overall, it's really nice to have found a breakfast spot with such a diverse menu and great food that doesn't leave you feeling as though you just ate a brick. They've obviously put a lot of time and effort into making their dishes very balanced. Some of the not-so-great reviews here are way, way too hard on Marmalade. If you're a total princess and can't be even a little understanding when you're not treated as though you're the -only- person in the entire restaurant, stay home. For the rest of us, Marmalade is excellent. Oh, and the "sliced hard unripe peaches" one reviewer complained about are MANGOS. It's not the restaurant's fault that you don't know what a mango is.
(5)
Jaime P.
It was fairly crowded for brunch on new years day, and I didn't experience the service problems some other reviewers did. The waitress wasn't particularly nice or helpful, but she wasn't mean or inattentive. Average. I would have given this place a three if not for a couple of things. 1 - spice rubbed potatoes do not go with everything, people. Especially when there is pretty clearly cumin on them which is a very distinctive spice. It surely doesn't go very well with sun-dried tomato hollandaise. These potatoes are on almost every dish no matter how they may clash with the other ingredients. Just weird. I had the shroom benedict (one of I think 5 bennies on the menu), and unlike another reviewer, I thought the fried shroom was the best thing about the dish. Also the spinach was well done. However, the tomatoes on the dish were tasteless and mushy. The hollandaise was probably good, I don't know, it was barely there (is this a bennie or what??) and worst of all, really huge misstep, the eggs were overpoached. The yolks were cooked through. The two most appealing things about the benedict are the hollandaise and the runny egg yolks, and they were both not great. You are a breakfast/brunch place. Overpoaching is not ok. Overpoaching is never ok. But especially for a breakfast place. If the eggs are clearly overpoached, don't put them on my plate. Every experienced brunch chef can spot an overpoach from a mile away. If you have to bring out the other people's orders to my table and I have to wait 3 minutes for proper eggs, I will gladly wait. Still, despite that, the atmosphere was cute, and the ideas of the dishes are good. It was crowded, so mistakes will happen. Which is why I will give it one more chance, and hope for a better result next time. If the same thing happens, I wouldn't return. Not for $15 tab for mediocre brunch.
(2)
Marinel C.
The place is super cute. Menu looks amazing, food looks nice when it came out, but the taste...meh. I had the chocolate french toast. It's is not brioche as the menu stated, but chocolate cake with a vanilla frosting in between layers. My teeth hurt just thinking about it - way too sugary. My husband had the apple french toast. It had more apples than french toast. It literally looked like two whole apples cut up on his plate. And now for the coffee. Yuck. And they don't serve cream, it's non dairy creamer. The orange juice tasted like watered down Minute-Maid. The only thing I appreciated was that the fruit plate had strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, mangos, pineapple and melons. Lots of fresh fruit. And $45 dollars for two adults and a toddler? No thanks.
(2)
Adam R.
Great menu but food wasn't that hot and service was mediocre. Definitely be back though.
(4)
Michael V.
Its decent. I expected more. I had the vegan chilaquiles and it was drenched in the tomato sauce. The lady had the classico omelette and that was aight. Mom dukes got the lady marmalade and it was pretty good. Pops got the Mayan omelette and it was a little salty. Breakfast for 4 ran $60 and it definitely didn't reflect the experience. The staff and service was great. All in all the French toast was the highlight , good coffee and solid staff. I'm giving 3 stars because the service was sincere and they even gave my daughter a cookie out of the cookie jar. And whenever the baby is happy I'm happy. Dumb it down a little guys, your menu is high-tech. Incorporate some tried and true Chicago breakfast staples. We're not the fattest city for no reason. Give me bacon not tempeh bacon. Get the food to match the price or vice versa and we've got a winner.
(3)
Michael A.
Mayan omelette and the cajun shrimp chef's special were both really good. Menu looks like it has dozens of interesting combinations I'm anxious to try, especially there versions of eggs benedict.... The brioche French Toast was just okay. Service staff are friendly but you'll have a long wait time if you go on a Saturday or Sunday, if you have more than 2 people...
(4)
Dana G.
I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews. The special artichoke heart omelet with roasted tomatoes and goat cheese was amazing---and I don't even love omelets. The crab cake benedict was less exciting but still good, and I thought the service was impeccable. If anything, our coffee was filled too frequently.
(4)
Renee S.
This place is great. Not sure what other reviews are talking about. Food is awesome, service is awesome and they are super nice! Fresh food including the fruity fluffy pancakes, fresh salads and soups! We brought our friends from Minneapolis here and they all loved it! We have been there 3 times already and always great service!
(4)
Katie M.
This is hands down my favorite brunch and lunch place!! I have been here over two dozen times and will continue to go.. Marmalade never disappoints and everything I have ever ordered is always amazing!! The owner, Gus, is always so nice and wants to make sure everyone in his place is happy! The service is great! I will forever recommend this place!
(5)
Emily S.
Marmalade is a decent lunch spot. I wasn't overly impressed with the ambiance and menu.
(3)
Beth N.
Everyone at Marmalade was very friendly. They were extremely accommodating of our group's two strollers. We got there at 2:30 on a Sunday, and it was pretty empty (we didn't realize until later that they closed at 3!) Consequently, they were out of a few of the brunch items. Overall, everyone seemed to like their food. It wasn't anything amazing, and in our opinion just a little overpriced. I'd go back because they are kid friendly and welcoming.
(3)
Sarah M.
They have newly decorated the place well, and it has a bright, clean look, with lots of windows and natural sunlight. Gus, the owner, came over and introduced himself, which I always feel means a lot, and he couldn't have been warmer or nicer. He seems like he really cares about his new restaurant and his customers. The breakfast and lunch menus have a great selection of all kinds of interesting dishes, both savory and sweet. I had French Toast with strawberries and creme anglais. They make their own brioche for the French Toast. It was very, very good and it was a generous portion. It was not TOO sweet, which is important to me. They also have another one, a Stuffed French Toast. It looks amazing on the menu, but would have been too sweet for me. The male waiter I had was very welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They were busy this morning, and they only opened on Tuesday! The only negative was that I felt the menu was a bit overpriced. The chef used to be at M.Henry, but this place is not quite as good as M.Henry, which I feel is one of THE best there is. Prices at Marmalade should be a bit lower... Happy they are in the neighborhood....they are a great addition to this area. I wish Gus and his team success in their new venture. Welcome to the 'hood!
(4)
Mary S.
I was not overly impressed, nor overly put-off by Marmalade. A few negative things that I initially noticed: there are absolutely no bike racks outside. Every pole down the street had two bikes locked to them. They play crappy 80's music. You cannot split checks. There is nothing on the menu or the specials board that indicates you can substitute a soy product for the meat options on the menu. As a vegetarian it would really open the menu up to have that option. They were out of the Tempeh strips, which is always annoying when you go to a restaurant and see something you want to try on the menu. Those are not all deal breakers, though, just annoyances. The food was actually pretty good, though the Shroom Benedict seemed way messier than a benedict should have been. The potatoes and coffee were both above average. The guy who sat us was up in our business way too much, though. I really wished that he would have let us enjoy our meal instead of interrupting every ten minutes to ask us how it was. Just a tad overpriced, but nothing outrageous. A nice space, but it seemed lacking somehow. I think that since there is nothing to see out of the windows it would be nice to have a more visually stimulating environment inside. I will definitely go back, but it will not be a 'go-to' brunch spot.
(3)
Nichole K.
Yummy! The food was good. Our service was excellent. We had a crab cake benedict that was really good. Plus how can you not love fresh squeezed OJ.
(5)
Stephanie C.
I have dined at Marmalade several times and always loved the food and the atmosphere. However, after this morning's appalling customer service experience, I will never return, and I would encourage anyone to think twice before spending your money there. I was having brunch with 3 other friends and granted, a few of us have some dietary restrictions, so we had some special but absolutely reasonable requests with our orders. One friend ordered an eggs benedict dish with the eggs over-hard. When the dish came out with eggs over-easy, she politely asked them to re-make the dish as she originally requested and asked if it would be possible to please put the benedict sauce on the side since they were going to re-make it anyway. Rather than admitting the mistake and re-making the dish, the manager said not only would they not re-make it, but she wasn't allowed to order anything else..... Excuse me? They were actually refusing her as a customer. The rest of us sat there in shock. Were they serious?!?! She wasn't allowed to order ANYTHING? And when we politely asked for the manager to come to our table to speak with him, he told our server that he was "too busy" to deal with us and we should come back tomorrow if we wanted to talk to him. It was the rudest and most unbelievable customer service I have ever experienced. Isn't it your JOB as the manager to at least come over and talk to your patrons? What else could you be doing that was more important? So after my friend got up from the table and tracked down the manager, he finally agreed to let her order something else instead. Looking back, I wish that all 4 of us would have simply walked out. Needless to say, none of us will never eat there again.
(1)
Cristal R.
I went here with my boyfriend for the first time over the weekend and it was absolute perfection! I got the El Diablo Benedict and it was amazing. I would've given it 5 stars but I was a little disappointed with the waitresses. They weren't dressed very nice and they could use a little work as far as etiquette goes. One of the girls had really low rise jeans so her lower back was exposed and she had facial piercings that were distracting and unprofessional. I think appearance is extremely important when trying to run a nice establishment. But this will definitely not keep me from returning for another beautifully prepared breakfast.
(4)
Jose F.
I will spare you the nice talk about "the presentation and ambience" because I trust you'll read other reviews besides mine. Being that we enjoyed the food before, today we returned for more of that savory faire. However, we were met with a tolerable wait of approximately 15 minutes and subsequent race to order/eat/pay so others may have a meal too. The stoppage of time came as our food was brought and we had expectations met. Two observations though: (1) the cowboy skillet that is usually delicious had potatoes that were over-spiced and more importantly, the steak strips were cut well but way too rare. (2) the very busy waitstaff were cordial and deserving of generous tip/s BUT, I witnessed something very uncomfortable as the restaurant manager publicly humiliated one of the staff as she accidentally bumped into him while bringing food to a table. Again, I am a fan of the restaurant but bottom-line to the ownership, take reservations or hire more help if you're "overwhelmed" by the good business.
(4)
jess e.
(I think sometimes I'm too nice in my stars, my fella just said "3 that's generous! the food was ok, the service inadequate and I felt like I was rushed out, they just wanted the money out of my pocket.) Eh. It's no Le Sabre. Le Sabre knew what it was. The waitress knew what it was. Everyone knew what it was. Marmalade...I don't even think they know what marmalade is. (I'm trying very hard not to quote The Princess Bride right now) My french toast said it was stuffed with strawberry marmalade. Which of course drew comments from my (very British) fella who scoffed that it couldn't be because marmalade is made with citrus peel. But after consulting the internet it's been said that in other countries marmalade can be a jam. Fine. Just bring me a lovely plate of french toast with gooey jam-y chunks of strawberries. I wish I could say that's what I got. But I didn't. There wasn't even a seed of a strawberry to be seen on that plate. In between the french toast was what we will be generous and call a thin strawberry sauce, the raspberry coulis on top overpowered everything. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't get it again. Sometimes with sweet sauces less is more, and when you are told it's a marmalade you expect something at least with a passing acquaintance to marmalade. My fella got potatoes and poached eggs. He had to ask them to drain the water out of the poached egg bowl, and when it came back he still took my saucer away to pour the rest of the water out of the dish. The roasted potatoes taste as if they've been roasted in Wyler's beef bullion cubes, or had beef bullion powder sprinkled over the top. The apple wood smoked bacon we ordered was greasy, hanging off the plate almost resting on the table and a yellowish shade. I'm sure there was a bit of apple wood smoke to it, but not enough. Service was well....we got there and the girl ringing people up was also the hostess. So that can be a problem when they are busy. We were told we could have a table when it was cleared, but instead of seating us at it I was told to go over because it's cleared and she'd be over in a bit. She never came over and when the waitress came for the drink order, we didn't have menus. The owner (?) showed up and started playing host for a little bit later on. We were seated and ordered well before the couple sitting behind us and they still got served first. Everyone kept trying to take our plates away and made us feel a little rushed even though we left the restaurant in under an hour. You have to bring your own check up which adds confusion to the front since it's right by where people are waiting and the front door. That was no problem when it was Le Sabre cause there was no line and everyone knew what was expected. It's half way between a diner and some place trying to be better then that. The food sounds fancy and overwrought, the prices are higher, but the service isn't better. At least at a diner the waitress are fun and if not truly care, at least can pretend to care, if their customers are enjoying themselves. And if you are lucky enough to live close to that diner they won't care if you show up hungover in your pjs. There is only one building between us and the restaurant and I'm sure I'll try it again, but I have a feeling more often then not I'll take a walk up Damen and go someplace else.
(3)
Grace M.
I tried this place this weekend with my family and I was kind of disappointed. The service was rocky. I ordered off the menu for my kids and they were out of the sides. I asked them for something else and of course they charged me for that. The other items that we ordered were so so and had too much going on. I was really looking forward to eating here and will not return.
(1)
Jordan F.
I went here for the first time this past Sunday with my boyfriend. After passing by a few times and always seeing a crowd, we decided to go around 8 a.m.-perfect timing! We were seated immediately, the staff were all very friendly and the atmosphere was very welcoming and not overly cramped. I had the Lady Marmalade, he had The Bonaparte & a side of French Toast. Everything was simply amazing. The Lady Marmalade was sweet but zesty-I'm not one for overly sweet things, The Bonaparte was delicious too, the croissant wasn't overly flaky. We left feeling satisfied but not overly stuffed and sloth-like, and with plenty of left overs. Marmalade adds a unique twist to traditional breakfast favorites, I will for sure be back for more!
(5)
Angie L.
Went there on Easter and it was dead. Both my husband and I ordered something with chorizo. It was almost inedible. They did not drain the chorizo so there were puddles of grease on our plates. I asked for extra napkins just so we could try and remove it. Service wasn't great. We sat by the door which they had open. I had put on my coat because I was cold and another table asked to be moved because they were cold yet the door stayed open. You have to pay at the register which our server never told us so we ended up sitting there waiting an extra 10 minutes until we saw someone else get up and go to the register. We went here after I read that it was one of the top 15 restaurants in Chicago for brunch. That just can't be possible.
(2)
Patricia C.
The food was fantastic (had the shroom Benedict and the cinnamon roll), unfortunately after the waitress left the check my friend was finishing her coffee and we were there only a short time and were discussing leaving when our waitress walked up and said, " you need to leave bc we have a line and we close in an hour"...wow, now we are respectful of those waiting but we didn't think it was asking to much to be able to finish our drinks. Understand the need to move tables and they accomplished their mission to do it and more as we won't be coming back.
(2)
Mary S.
I was looking for something new that I could enjoy as much as my vegetarian friend. I was at this restaurant a few months ago and was not planning on returning. I did remember that it was very vegetarian friendly so decided to give it a second try. I'm so glad I did. She had an avocado and pesto omelet which she insisted that I try because it was so delicious. (It was). It came with a side of homemade strawberry jam . I enjoyed a grilled brie with bacon. I requested that it be on a croissant and they were happy to accommodate my request. The service was excellent. The prices were very fair and I can't wait to come back again.
(4)
Genious C.
Great service and delicious food....best french toast I've ever had. It's worth the drive from the west loop. Will return.
(4)
Lauren P.
what a pleasant surprise! my roommate and i stopped in sunday morning for an impromptu brunch. we weren't expecting much. maybe it's the ghost of le sabre. maybe it's the cheesy burgundy and orange color scheme of the sign. (yes that's dumb. but true.) we were seated relatively quickly even though there seemed to be a lot of people milling around out front. yeah! then we waited for about 10 minutes for the waitress to show up and give us menus. boo. (in the end, they lost a star for the service. the waitress seamed a little spacey and talked so quietly we kept having to ask her to repeat things. she also seemed a little overwhelmed by the size of her section. also big negative. you have to pay at the counter and we asked if we could split our check and they host was such a butt about it. 'notice our little mascot here' he said pointing to the front of the register, 'he says, no split checks.' like he was talking to a child. even the freaking golden nugget can split checks. it's not hard. get with it.) anyway....! once we got the menus we were really excited about their options. lots of interesting dishes! i had a hard time choosing between the pear french toast and smoked salmon napolean. i ended up going savory and it was delish! smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados and poached eggs between fluffy crispy puff pastry. and this is weird but i was obsessed with the dressing that came on the side salad. who cares that much about dressing? i do i guess. i gobbled the whole salad when usually it would've been ignored for the more glamorous main dish. my roommate's was great too! a fancy mcgriddle...scrambled eggs, some fancy cheese, zucchini and bacon between french toast. minimum. i'll definitely check it out again! so glad to have a new brunch place in the hood!
(4)
April M.
i love this place! really great food and really awesome service every time. went in with my friends for some brunch and really loved my dish. every one was very friendly there. will definitely be back.
(5)
Kara K.
Holy crap, amazing. My friends and I were looking for a good brunch place within walking distance of my friend's apartment and we found it with Marmalade. We arrived and put our name in. We probably waited about 15-20 minutes for a table, but I'm sure those who arrived after us waited quite a bit longer. (If you're a party of two, it seemed like you would have a MUCH shorter wait.) The menu is extensive - plenty of hearty choices as well as sweet ones. I had such a difficult time deciding between the almond french toast (daily special) or the mayan omeletta. In the end I went with the mayan omeletta as I knew it was something I'd probably not find at any brunch places in Columbus. My omelette was great, so flavorful and a very large portion. I was able to omit the green peppers. The no substitutions/omissions rule was only with respect to the skillets. The only part of my plate I wasn't wild about were the potatoes, but my omelette more than made up for it. The service was great. I believe my water glass was refilled four times --- it never got below 3/4 full! They don't let you split checks, but it wasn't a problem for us as I'd already planned on picking up the tab anyway.
(5)
Jodi R.
Yum yum. One of the many things that makes Marmalade a winner is that they have menu options for meat eaters and non meat eaters. They also offer an inexpensive kids menu where not everything is deep fried. Example- yogurt topped w fruit & granola. The line moves fast. Our Sunday am wait was under 5 min. Staff couldn't be friendlier & more attentive. They remembered my child when we went back two weeks later. Crab Eggs Benedict was the best I have ever had. Very substantial portion. Veggie chilaquiles are something I would order again. I look forward to returning and ordering everything on the menu that doesn't contain meat. Art work, with food puns, is painted by one of the waiters. Space is clean & bright. Funny that several yelpers compare this to m Henry which in my experience is average food ( at best) service with an attitude, long lines & high prices.
(5)
gretchen b.
Found Marmalade in the Chicago Magazine's breakfast special. We arrived 9:45 Sunday morning and had a 10 min wait. I'm usually a sweet breakfast girl, but branched out for the savory omelet special. It was amazing!!! The menu is full of creative brunch options, as well as standard breakfast choices. They had a nice kids menu as well. It was a bit more $$$ than our typical breakfast ... ok, a lot more. We had 2 kids pancakes, kids bacon, 2 omelet specials, 2 coffees & choc milk. With tip we topped $45. I would def return, but more likely for brunch w/my friends than my fam of four. One other thing, the owner was on the floor and was super friendly and personable. Gus was a delight!
(4)
Elizabeth H.
I had been wanting to go to Marmalade for a while; it looked so cute sitting there on Damen and Montrose. So finally I took my boyfriend there for an early Friday-morning breakfast. There were maybe 2 other people in the place (ok, they had just opened 20 minutes earlier). The staff was very friendly and attentive. I'm assuming the owner/manager sat us at our table? He seemed nice enough (based on other reviews that I have read, maybe he waits to be an a-hole til he has an audience...eek!) I ordered the Bonaparte; nothing fancy but delish croissant. Potatoes were tasty but entirely too big. My bf ordered the Pancho Villa skillet. I had a bite, it had a good flavor but again, the potatoes were really weighing that thing down; I don't know about you but when I think skillet, I think everything is nice and crispy and meshed together well?! The potatoes just took up too much darn space. Overall, glad I branched out a bit and tried something new. I'd be back, maybe after I try a few more new-to-me places.
(3)
M G.
This place was fine, not great, not horrible but just ok. It was overpriced for what you got. They don't split checks which makes it a pain when you go with friends. The oven roasted house potatoes were over done. Disappointed they didn't have any real sausage on the menu. I was confused as to what kind of person they are trying to cater to. They have tempeh strips and both veggie sausage and chicken sausage. It would be nice if they were to have some classic breakfast stand by's such as pancakes or regular french toast. With other restaurants having better food and prices, I don't plan on going back anytime soon.
(2)
Matt V.
I consider myself a breakfast snob. And, if I'm going out for breakfast/brunch, I want it to fall into one of two categories: Over-the-Top Inventive and Delicious or Greasy Spoon, Diner Style. Marmalade manages to take the negatives of each of these experiences and combine them into one unpleasant one. They try to be creative and inventive, but leave you remembering how much better OverEasy does it, just down the street. They tried to dress up the old Le Sabre, but the decor strikes out as well, not quite right. Mostly it feels like a dingy diner with new paint and slightly better food for twice the price. The service leaves something to be desired and in the winter it is freezing cold in there. My eggs and utensils were both noticeably chilled; not a great feeling. There are about 5-6 other places to go in the neighborhood, including Fountainhead brunch (right across the street) and all of them will leave you feeling better in the end.
(2)
Tiffany S.
I love this place, especially with the new addition of the patio!! ( you know how us Chicagoans love to take advantage of the great weather while it's here.) We live in the neighborhood and were so excited to see a brunch place go in. The food has never disappointed us. The staff is always friendly, and the owner is totally a learn your name, friendly, down home kinda guy. If you ever go on the weekend or on a day that the special is the cinnamon roll French toast, TRY IT! Seriously I think it's the best brunch item I have ever had! Deelish!! I also love that they are so sweet to my daughter. Sometime you can walk into a place, they see your kid and their eyes start rolling. This is NOT that kinda place! They are totally kid friendly! In short: great staff and management, great food, kid friendly and in a beautiful neighborhood. What's not to love? Check it out!
(5)
Lourdes D.
We had a great first-time visit. The restaurant was fairly crowded, but we were told it would be a short wait and it was. One of the owners, Gus, checked on us several times to make sure everything was okay with our meal. We brought our two children with us and I was pleased with their kids' menu. I thanked Gus for having a nice selection for the kids and he said, "Of course, half of our customers are kids during the weekend!" I had the marmalade crepes and my husband had an egg dish (sorry, forgot what it was called). We all enjoyed our food and the service was great. As I was saying goodbye to Gus, he told us to wait and then he packed up some muffins and cookies for us to take home!!! What a nice guy. We live in the neighborhood so we will be back. Thanks, Gus!! If you can't stand the wait at Overeasy, then this is a great alternative. Give it a try!
(4)
Susie P.
Had a fantastic breakfast this morning with a co-worker! Gus could not have treated us better and we LOVED the food! Try the homemade scones, they are out of this world! Kudos to the great food, excellent service, and fabulous Chef... can't wait to go back!
(5)
Ben E.
After a few friends had urged me to try this place I finally gave it a try this weekend. As my girlfriend and I entered the restaurant it was clear that the tables near the door were not an option. It was so cold that no one wanted to sit near the door. We were told by the hostess that the wait would be 20 minutes for a "warm" table as she called it. As we stood there and surveyed the restaurant and reviewed the menu we noticed that there were two open 4 top tables in plain sight. When a party of three walked in 10 minutes after us, they were immediately sat at one of the open 4 top tables. Seriously? I can understand restaurants not taking up large tables (5 or more) for a party of two but c'mon. When we asked about the remaining 4 top table the hostess said that they do not sit 2 people at a table for four on the weekend. I guess they would rather have a table ready just in case 3 people walk in rather than sit two people immediately with money in hand. The worst part was this place was only open for another hour. Needless to say we didn't even sit down and try it. Not a good policy to have customers ready to eat and sit there and stare at empty tables being held just in case..... There are too many great brunch spots that know how to treat their patrons. Skip it!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kate L.
This was the the best breakfast place I have ever been to! The food was amazing, my whole family enjoyed the meal dearly. You have many options to chose from, but I enjoyed the French toast. Perfectly done, and it was just the perfect bite for a morning brunch. The servers were very nice and the service was very quick considering the amount of people there. You might consider some of their flavors odd, but I can assure you they work perfectly. They have a good kids menu and great coffee. This is a must do restaurant.
(5)Gustavo A.
Very good breakfast place. The potatoes are amazing. I love how you can build your own omelette with so many ingredient options available. The greek sausage is very tasty. Awesome service and especially good coffee and mocha.
(5)Emily S.
We have tried this place 2 times about 2 years apart. Both times we struggled to find something on the menu that looked worth ordering. Their kids menu is decent, my husband loved their breakfast potatoes and I thought their apricot jam was amazing. However it is very mexican-breakfast flair and I'm not a huge fan of that style. My omelet was a little runny in the middle not bad enough to send back or anything, just to make it not quite good. I thought the potatoes were too oily. The pancakes had a nice vanilla flavor but were pretty dry (I don't user syrup) and the french toast was good, though very lightly battered. Our waitress was nice but aloof, the busboys were diligent with the water refills (so great!) and they gave us crayons and a placemat to color for the kid. All in all it was fine, but there are so many places in the city - in this neighborhood - to get great breakfasts that this one just isn't worth the time.
(2)Joanne W.
My cohort and I arrived late on a Saturday afternoon to grab a bite before running errands. We arrived an hour before closing (1:30 or so). The place was pretty empty so we were seated right away. We immediately noticed the chalkboard of specials for the day. Suddenly, a bright light beamed down onto the menu board while the birds chirped an angelic song... FRIED CHICKEN BREAST ON A WAFFLE WITH TWO POACHED EGGS, BACON AND CREAM OF POTATO LEEK GRAVY. We thought, surely The Almighty is looking down upon us today. Needless to say, an order of that special was brought out to us along with the Florentine Crab Benedict which consisted of crab crabs, poached eggs, garlic spinach atop corn cakes and topped with chipotle hollandaise. Can I get an amen? I quite enjoyed both entrees (mine was the Benedict in case you were wondering). I tried the chicken and waffle and thought it was sinfully good. No problems with service - quick and attentive for the non rush hour. I also enjoyed the art work in this joint. Pancakes: You're stuffed up! French Toast: You're a hot mess! My first visit to Marmalade probably won't be my last.
(4)Cassidy S.
Hit this place for the first time on Halloween. I ordered two entrees with a friend and planned to split - the Euro Brunch Plate and the Chocolate French Toast special. My coffee was delicious, as was my friend's OJ, but the food left much to be desired. The crepe on the brunch plate was tasty (especially the butternut squash/bacon combo) but the potatoes were terrible. A thick layer of crispy ash covered the outside, and somehow they were undercooked. The chocolate french toast was so heavy - almost like eating chocolate cake at 11AM - and it was covered with a "creme anglaise" which had become sticky and thin. Should have played it safe and gotten the regular french toast, I guess. Overall, I won't make this place my first choice for breakfast.
(2)Jessica G.
My dining party made sure to order diverse dishes in order to sample the breadth of the Marmalade menu. Everything was flawless! My Cubano French toast sounded like it might be overwhelming, but the flavors complimented each other perfectly. The Mexican Breakfast combo was a feast. Homemade tortillas! Great service, great atmosphere, loved the Rodrigo y Gabriella and Gipsy Kings soundtrack.
(5)Lupe D.
Food is actually 3 1/2 stars, but food presentation and customer service is more like 4 or 4 1/2 stars. For my boyfriend, his food was more like a 4 1/2. I've been wanting to try Marmalade for a while. Finally stopped in last week. We went in pretty early to avoid the brunch rush (early is 8am-ish) and we had our choice of seats. Place is very cute, I can see how, if at full capacity, this place could feel very cramped...but we had plenty of space. Our servers were super friendly - one server was being trained - she was very sweet, tried her best. The girl who was training her was off the charts great. They have their specials - and that was a mouthful to remember! I ordered the Fruity something pancakes - basically two pancakes, creme anglaise in between the layers and mangoes and cherries with a sauce around the pancakes. Also topped with these crunchy sugared oats and a generous amount of powdered sugar. First of all - it was beautiful when it arrived - CLICK CLICK - took some pictures. I tasted the mango and it was delicious. Tasted the crunchy top - SO GOOD - the creme anglaise with the pancake - so delish! so yummy and custardy! But then I get to the bottom pancake and it was a soggy mess... :-( It soaked up all the cherry/mango sauce - me no likey. Maybe it's just my personal preference, but I don't like mushy pancakes... My boyfriend had the midwestern omelette. Not going to lie I can't remember what was in it other than eggs, white cheddar and bacon (I don't like omelettes so I don't pay attention), but I do remember that it came with potatoes and toast which he proclaimed to be the best toast in the land and pretty much devoured his meal saying it was amazing. Coffee was pretty good, strong, but good. The restaurant had a really nice neighborhood/family vibe when we were there. A lot of moms with their babies just hanging out. I will definitely be returning and bringing my son to check out this place - he's a breakfast guy, I know he'll love it!
(4)Sarah P.
I can't believe I have lived 4 blocks away from Marmalade for almost a year and haven't tried this place until this past weekend! A-MAZing! I went with my mom and we both had several options in my mind from checking out the menu online. However, we didn't try any of them since the specials sounded so great! We ordered and shared two items from the specials menu which I hope to see there again: 1. Omelet with artichoke, roasted tomatoes, goat cheese, topped with pesto. 2. Pumpkin french toast with creme de leche, roasted pecans, pumpkin cream, and cranberries (plus a sprinkling of other fresh fruit) made with their homemade pumpkin bread. Our server was nice although disappeared for a while when we were hoping to get our check. The manager/maybe owner walked around checking on tables and seating people and was very nice. While we were paying at the front, I asked for a bag since we took the rest of our meals to go. He walked back to get a bag and seemed to be taking a while... he came back with a pumpkin cranberry muffin for us... just because! How nice... and the muffin was delicious! No wait for a table - we went on a Sunday but also got there around 9 am, before the usual brunch rush. I will definitely be going back ASAP!
(5)Kristin M.
This is probably closer to 3.5, but I'm rounding up. It's no M. Henry, but it's a solid spot for brunch. I had never ventured into Le Sabre (when I want breakfast at an aesthetically questionable establishment, I go to G.Nugg, thank you very much) but Marmalade looks great from the outside-in. It's warm and cozy and I'd love to have that mirror in my house! Anyways, to the food! I had the Jason's omelette special with chicken sausage, goat cheese, sweet potato and topped with a red wine reduction. It was delicious, a perfect fall omelette. My friend had the artichoke, spinach and goat cheese omelette which he described as ok, but the flavors mixed together so you couldn't pick out the artichoke flavor from the mix. The potatoes were DE-LICIOUS. They came in a huge portion of generously seasoned chunky goodness. I didn't add salt (which is rare for me), they were that good. My friend also wanted me to mention he enjoyed his multigrain toast (I wish they buttered the toast for you, but whatever). Re drinks, the juice is not fresh squeezed which, for $4, it really should be. The menu had so many great options, I will definitely be back to try more. Well done Marmalade.
(4)Tim G.
We love Marmalade for breakfast. On our most recent visit (wife, son, his wife, and yours truly) we enjoyed a mix of omelets and pancakes. Wife had multi-grain cakes, son had eggs and toast, d-i-l got the Mayan omelet, and I chose one of the daily specials, an omelet Romano, with pancetta (bacon), fresh mozzarella, spinach, and covered w a pesto. It was delicious. There are always a number of daily specials to choose from, and plenty of choices from the menu to satisfy your taste. Omelets are served w a side of the Marmalade potatoes, similar to hash browns, but w wedges instead of shredded, and the best seasoning you'll ever taste. Service was very good. Prices are quite reasonable for the amount of food served. A good value.
(5)Allison V.
I went here for a lunch date with a friend. I went with the breakfast special which included eggs to my liking, homemade guacamole, spicy chiliquiles, fried potatoes, cheese quesadillas, and some fruit. Everything blended so well together. the potatoes had a great charred seasoned flavoring. EVERYTHING was AWESOME! I also got to try the sweet plantains which were a nice finish to a great brunch. The waitress seemed knowledgable about the foods they offered even though I was a bit distracted by her choice of attire. I will definitely be back. Bike parking on street.
(4)Claudia D.
Perfectly prepared poached eggs in the Florentine Crab Bennie per the husband, however, he found the crabcakes to be too mushy in texture althpugh the flavor was good. Perfectly prepared over easy eggs on my Mexican Combination. Very good bottomless cups of coffee. Fresh orange and fresh pineapple slices accompanied both dishes. The potatoes were delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned. The chiliquiles were prepared with the Mayan salsa and were scrumptious. We shared an and fig scone that was disappointingly lacking in fig flavor. Parking on the street was easy on Wednesday at 1 PM. Our server was very sweet, knowledgeable, and appropriately attentive. The busboy kept our coffee cups and water glasses filled. We requested that our scone be slightly warmed and the waitress was happy to do it for us. We'll be back, during the week, again, if we're in the neighborhood, and there's no room at Glenn's Diner.
(3)David R.
"NO SUBSTITUTIONS OR OMISSIONS" It's right there on the menu, as well as noted in many of the Yelp reviews. I only saw this after my wife and I had decided to breakfast here, but we didn't change our plans. It really irks me though. If I don't want the extraneous sour cream on a dish, why can't I omit it? Or ask for my dish easy on the cheese? Not cool. The food was all right: Pancho Villa skillet (potatoes, eggs, chorizo, corn, tomatoes, poblanos, chihuahua and pepperjack cheeses), which was oily and dominated by the chorizo, and an excellent hotcake on the side. And our waitress was sweet as pie. But in addition to the fascist omission and credit card policies, the reticent hostess and several other little details about this place rubbed me the wrong way. They may seem small, but they added up to give the impression that these people either don't care or don't pay attention. For example: my menu had little bits of debris under the plastic cover; the four specials were spread across two separate chalkboards on opposite sides of the dining room, plus they contained spelling and punctuation errors; in the restroom, there was a hand-written sign above the light switch, but it was so smudged that I couldn't make out if it was telling me to turn it off or not to turn it off. And--this is really nitpicking now--it's April but the incense in the bathroom is a pumpkin spice flavor. Eh. I guess that I was already predisposed to annoyance by the substitution/omission policy, so I noticed every other little shortcoming. Bottom line: the food is good, but they don't seem to take care of their place, and they definitely don't seem to buy into the bedrock idea of "Give the customers what they want." So we'll give our future breakfast business to establishments that do.
(2)Unity O.
It pains me to do this since I am a lover of all things brunch. However, after 2 visits, I am done with this place. There are just so many other options out there (and in the same hood) to spend my hard earned $$. Also options that will make substitutions on there dishes or omit something that I do not like. I fail to understand how difficult it is to not add sour cream to a dish when it is simply a garnish & also it is going to be thrown away because I won't eat it (how wasteful). It eludes me as to why they won't make substitutions at all or why they make paying for your meal a hassle (no more than 2 cc per check...really?). I find this especially hard when there are just so many other options out there and in a day when dietary restrictions are high. I gave it 2 stars because the food is actually decent. Nothing mind blowing, but good & prepared well. You also get a decent sized portion with any dish you order. Plus, they have a decent cup of coffee which is ever so important when enjoying brunch. Also, the atmosphere is great...you can tell they put work & thought into the decor. Feels warm & inviting. Also 2 stars due to the service for some reason they always feel rushed & chaotic...they don't exactly make you feel welcome. I will say this...try them if you are in the hood, but don't go out of your way to check them out.
(2)Heather P.
Oh Marmalade, how I wish I could give you more stars. You had so much going for you...location, perfect for walking to on a weekend morning. No wait on a Sunday - that's unheard of!!! Polite staff - what more could you ask for, you say???? Well I'll tell you...better coffee for one. My coffee tasted burnt like it had been sitting out for a while, blech. My other issue was that everything on the menu sounded so delectable but unfortunately out of a table of four people who were completely taken with the scrumptious sounding descriptions of our soon-to-be brunch plates - we were all left wanting more. I had the special plate so you would think, well it should be special. It wasn't. The sausage was okay, just okay. The potatoes were tasty and good. My biggest complaint was that the flatbread was underneath my eggs and sauce so that equated to a soggy, droopy mess of mushy bread. All the ingredients just melded together into an unrecognizable flavor. My fiance had the diablo omelet and again, we were totally sold on the idea of jerk spices in an omelet with mango salsa and avocado with cream cheese. Sadly, it just didn't work for us. The shrimp seemed odd and out of place. The cream cheese would have been great on a bagel (which they don't have by the way), just didn't really mesh with the eggs. I'm so sorry, Marmalade. You had been on my radar for a while. I read and heard lots of good things about you. I guess you really just can't believe everything you read or hear. With that said, I have a Travelzoo certificate I bought so I will give you one more shot and I had my eye on a cinnamon toast bread pudding so there is still hope that you might be redeemed.
(2)Veronica M.
Went for breakfast alone the other day - greated at the door, given choice of seats, tea brought immediatly to me. Also my blonde waitress asked if I wanted more hot water for my tea - good service!! Had a skillet with large potatoes, pulled seasoned chicken, eggs, salsa and sour cream, very good with just right amount of "kick" spice! Only down side, never informed of the chalkboard specials till after I ordered heard the hostess explain, I would have liked the special instead - nice place, friendly, good brunchspot - wish they had a full time eggs benidict on the menu though.......
(3)J R.
Yes its different, I appreciated that but I think its way over priced. They charged me $4.00 for a "large" glass of orange juice that in reality was a small cup. I think little things like this shut small businesses down. Its called being greedy and greed doesn't succeed. Anyway food was okay. I am mexican so I know how to make chilaquiles and all they did was put chips on a plate and pour green chile over it. Had to eat the "chips" with my hands because they were too crunchy to grab with a fork. I do think the presentation of the food was very nice though and the place was pretty and clean but for the amount I paid I rather have gone somewhere much better.. I also didn't enjoy watching management flirt with all the pretty young girls that work there. Made me feel uncomfortable so I could imagine how they feel. ..
(3)Kate B.
Extremely cute, comfortable atmosphere. I really liked the Damen Slimline for lunch. The coleslaw is made in house and you can really tell, it's very fresh and not over-drenched in sauce. As for breakfast the chilaquiles are to die for! What I didn't appreciate: while they are listed under the egg section and the disclaimer says "All egg dishes served with a side of Marmalade's own specially seasoned oven roasted potatoes, as well as your choice of toast"...I was charged for a side when I asked about my toast. I understand it's a tofu scramble and not eggs, but if you put it in the section that says toast comes with it, I want my toast and I want it included. (-1) The one other thing is what most other reviews brought up, no substitutions. I so badly want to try the Mexican Breakfast Combo but, oh wait, I hate sour cream with a passion. Same for the Chef's Salad - there is an option to get it with tofu instead of chicken or shrimp, but what's the point if there's bacon on it anyway?! By being this strict you're really losing what would be regular business from me, Marmalade. (-1) The portions are generous. I just wish they had better options...it's like the vegan-friendliness was only halfway thought out. Bonus: they know how to pull their espresso.
(3)Fawn J.
I've been here a few times and have had mixed experiences, but overall, I really like it and will continue going here. The only negative I've had is two times I've been in they have run out of something we ordered. The first time I chalked it up to being a new restaurant and trying to figure out the kinks, the second time it was slightly more annoying. But what I have ended up with has always been great. The service is friendly and casual. They provide great service to the toddler I usually have in tow, always bringing him his own cup right away, serving him food he likes, talking to him, drawing with him, etc. The clincher is the free cookie they always seem to give us on our way out. Little guy loves it. haha, they really know how to get you to come back!
(4)Chris Dallas G.
We had a wonderful time here one Sunday morning for brunch. The service was a little slow but the place was packed to the gills. My partner and I shared a plate thinking it was going to be larger than it was simply from the description. Even though it wasn't as large as we thought it was going to be, we still didn't leave hungry, we were pleasantly satisfied with the savory meal, and we plan on returning soon.
(4)Carol L.
This past week I tried their Marmalade French Toast and it as very , very good.
(5)Meredith R.
I visited Marmalade for the first time today, a Sunday, at noon. Even though it was a popular brunch day/time, and the place was busy, our wait for a table was short, and the place was relaxing and quiet. My friends and I all LOVED the food (the potatoes were my favorite!), and we'll definitely be back for more!
(4)Kennen M.
I am just not feeling this place. This was a second time here and this last time was more memorable because things just didn't go well. This place is small and a tad noisy/energetic. This is not a place to bring strollers or large groups of people - don't even try it, you will hate yourself and everyone around you will hate you. I was hankering for some hearty breakfast food and the menu didn't appeal to me. Many of the dishes had a Mexican flare to it so it is obvious the cooks are Latino. I don't mind some Latino influences but when the majority of the dishes/skillets have sour cream, guac, salsa, pulled chicken or anything that isn't traditional breakfasty foods and you can't omit or substitute - bad news. I ordered a skillet, it had guac on it, but only a thumbnail size (why even bother) and unfortunately the most delicious part of the skillet. The pulled chicken was mildly warm over giant hunks of potatoes topped with over easy eggs that were so under cooked that the yolk was swimming in its clear, raw egg white pool. I didn't complain to the waitress because I was so icked out by it, replacing it wouldn't have made me eat it. I am the type of person who eats everything and I was grossed out by this. I had other issues with the food but my fingers would get tired of typing. On the bright side, my server seemed nice but a bit overwhelmed at the demands of the job and communication with the kitchen. I ended my half eaten breakfast with a check for the two of us for $40. Not a cheap joint! Gawd, I miss LeSabre where I could wake up, throw on some pants, walk down the street, order, eat, pay $9 (with nice tip and coffee) and be back home within 30 minutes.
(2)Philly G.
A little bit of a wait. Too small for parties over 4 people. Food was really good. Byob. Doesn't split check among cards
(4)Nancy C.
Their menu is enticing, their execution is awful. Felt sick after leaving. What it is: clean, cute and overpriced. What it is NOT: delicious, consumer friendly(no splitting checks OR cards, no substitutions OR omissions), inviting.
(1)Marshall G.
If you don't give this place 5 stars then you have no taste. Sorry if that offends you but it's the truth. I want the creative-chef of Marmalade to have an attractive daughter, train her to be just as good a chef as he and then send her out into the field to meet me; she and I meet and really hit it off, fall in love and get married and I get to live with the food from this place in my home for the rest of my life. That is my winning ticket. On a more serious note, this place is unbelievable. The menu is loaded with so many tastey sounding choices that the worst part about coming here is trying to decide which one dish you're going to order. Ideally, you'll want to go here with someone who you feel comfortable sharing food with so that you can order what sounds the best to you, convince them to order your second choice and then hope they aren't a big eater so you can eat a little of the dish they get. There is usually a wait and the items are a little pricey but as I've made clear; the food and wait are surely worth your hard-earned money and your count down to edible-harmony. I love you Marmalade, with all my stomach.
(5)Nell S.
Food was decent but not amazing. I got the Euro brunch plate - heavily seasoned potatoes were actually pretty good, eggs tasted great, but the butternut squash crepe was disappointing. I didn't finish any of it. My friend got the raspberry/peach mascarpone pancakes, and there was so much juice (versus a real syrup) on the plate that the bottom pancake was a soggy mush mess. Service was lacking. Front desk neither takes names for a table wait or seats people; the manager does this (micromanage much?). He had the list with him somewhere else and I had to wait 5 minutes for him to leave what he was doing to even put in my name. We were sat almost right away, but we watched several other parties of 2 stare longingly at empty tables while they waited for the manager to reappear and seat people. Definitely a vibe of bad management in the air. It was oddly tense. Most importantly though, about 3 hours after breakfast I became massively and cripplingly ill. I hadn't eaten anything else that day. I'm not 100% sure that it's food poisoning but it sure feels that way. So obviously I won't be back. It would have been 2-3 stars without the illness simply for the soggy 'cakes and the strange vibe, but since I'm still not right a day later gotta drop you to 1 and go back to the Golden Nugget for future brunching. Sorry!
(1)Kim S.
Oh, Marmelade.. First and foremost... the food is really, really good here. Unfortunately, waitstaff never seems to be too happy about working! I've been back 4 times now, because the food is that good, but I gotta say I'd very much appreciate a better atmosphere when I go.
(3)Ty W.
Marmalade is a nice little breakfast joint. Friendly, helpful staff and good food. I ordered the Azteca Omelette (a special) which came with potatoes and toast. Great flavors in the omelette (a mix of chicken sausage, salsas, cheese, peppers, sour cream etc) and they serve a decent cup of coffee as well. The potatoes are sautéed in what I assume to be a special mixture of seasonings and served extra crispy. Extremely tasty. Check this place out the next time you're in the area.
(4)Rachel O.
There was a wait for brunch on the weekend and I wish the hostesses had better organization over the seating plan so that people waiting we're seated faster. Nevertheless, the French toast berry special was amazing!
(4)Israel D.
Just a great place to eat. The food is really good.
(5)Dennis L.
Delicious food in a comfortable atmosphere! My wife and I visited Marmalade for a quick lunch, and we really enjoyed the experience. She ordered the Efrain's Diablo Omeletta, which tasted great. I ordered the Skirt Steak Sandwich with fries. I appreciated the quality components of my meal. The fries were fresh and definitely house made. The blue cheese crumbles on my sandwich tied it together wonderfully. Overall, a great breakfast/lunch/brunch option. Notes: No separate checks, no multiple credit cards, present any vouchers/coupons upfront.
(4)O P.
I think this place is very tasty. Brunch all over Andersonville is so great, it's nice to see something on the other side. Great food,great service, unique menu. Only issue that kept me from 5 stars is their splitting checks policy- they don't do it. I understand their policy of charging extra if you're splitting a plate-who wants people ordering one plate and a Ton of coffee & then sitting in their restaurant for two hours taking up space? But not splitting checks is something that's disadvantageous to the restaurant- I think a lot of people don't carry cash- at least the ones who are brunching on a regular basis- so when you can't split checks it's a little inconvenient for your patrons. I'm not asking for splitting checks 6 ways, but splitting down the middle....I know it's not difficult. Especially with the POS system they have. I only bring it to attention bc i def have thought twice about stopping in, unplanned with friends, bc I didn't have cash on me! So make sure you've got cash or one person in your party is willing to drop their card for everyone!
(4)Al G.
I have always seen lines outside this restaurant and was eager to try it. Today i finally did and was not disappointed. The staff are friendly, professional and certainly accommodating. Food was excellent, specifically their seasoned potatoes and their fresh fruit compotes. Omelette's have a great twist in that they are not your standard variety that can be found in any other breakfast place. A must go to spot for breakfast or brunch!
(4)Reviewer M.
Came for the first time today! Don't know why we waited so long! Great food (we had the Mexican combo, the angus burger) , plenty of friendly and attentive staff, good but paired down selection of entrees, good coffee, clean and fast! Would come again!
(5)Megan A.
Stopped into Marmalade with my boyfriend after moving back up to the North Side. It was the perfect day for a brunch place, and having to catch the train right down the street made it all that much more perfect. It was busy, but not crowded, and we were sat right away. After peeking at all the specials on the board, and looking over the menu we decided on a benedict - crab cake - and french toast. The service was impeccable, evenly paced, not overwhelming, and inviting. We really just enjoyed watching everything move around the restaurant, and then enjoying out food. It was seriously the best silent food eating moment we have had together - so delicious. My cup always had coffee in it, which is essential to me. On our way out, the owner Gus, who had sat us and greeted us at the beginning, talked with us about our experience. He is a very genuine and compassionate person. It really makes a difference when an owner takes the time to make sure everything in his restaurant is running correctly, and to a tea. He even gave us some free baked goods, which I enjoyed on my own later - soo yummy! this will become my new neighborhood breakfast place!
(5)Antoinette R.
The food was okay, maybe slightly better. We came here after reading about them on the Best Breakfasts in Chicago, eh. It was only two of us, so we didn't have to wait long at all. We were having a hard time deciding what we wanted so we asked our server for any recommendations which turned into her reading the specials off of the boards. She didn't say anything about what she likes and why (I like that info from a server). Melissa's French Toast was good and the same for my husbands Bonaparte. I give it two stars for the reason that I feel like this place is way too full of itself. Yeah they are stepping out to do inventive dishes, but their service really brings it down a notch. Our server wasn't overly friendly and the server in the next section didn't smile once. She also told a table that was finishing their coffee after a Sunday brunch that they needed to leave because other people were waiting. Seriously? I get that you want to turn your tables quite frequently, but this is Sunday brunch, people generally get chatty. I was really annoyed at that point and had decided that I will not be coming back after today. Secondly, I feel that there are way too many signs around the restaurant demanding what the customer can/cannot do. No split checks, no split credit cards. In that sense, I'd rather it be a CASH only place.
(2)Amanda B.
I love brunch. I love all of Marmalade's brunch meals, they're always bursting with flavor. You can't beat their potatoes. I always get whatever special they have that week. It's small place so it gets overpacked during weekend brunch hours, but it's worth the wait. Fun staff and atmosphere.
(4)Ilbra I.
My fiance and I wanted a new breakfast joint so we decided to check out Marmalade. It looked very promising; there were lots of people inside and out and we thought man this place must be great if it's this packed. Boy were we wrong! We walked in and there were two tables left. We were seated and spotted the two boards with all the specials on them, which was very helpful. Our waitress greeted us after we had been sitting there for 10 minutes. She didn't smile once and to me she seemed upset. She recited the specials, that were written on the board, as if she was a robot. The girl lacked personality whereas other waitresses were smiling and joking around with their customers. The food descriptions looked soooooo good and we couldn't wait to dig in but unfortunately the food was average. My fiance ordered the pancakes (3 for $6.50) and they were the driest pancakes he'd ever had. We don't mind paying the premium prices as long as the food was worth it. I had the Midwest Omelette and it was the only thing that I enjoyed. The house fries were nasty. They were dry, oily, and tasted like fish. The whole time my fiance and I were eating, the bus boys were the only ones who would come to the table. They brought us our food, poured us water, and took away our plates. Our waitress never once came by to check up on us. Now the place was packed but there were enough waitresses to go around. She could have stopped by for a minute to make sure everything was okay. We had to take ketchup and hot sauce from a free table next to us. We left there unsatisfied and upset. This place is a joke. There are so many other places that can deliver a much better dining experience.
(2)Megan G.
The first time I went here, I was in love. I had a breakfast skillet with chipolte chicken, potatoes, and scrambled egg. The food was amazing. The service was quick and polite - even on a busy Sunday I was able to get in without much of a wait. So a few weeks ago, I thought I would repeat this experience and go again for a late lunch. I think it was again on a Sunday. There was a slight wait, not big deal. Then I was seated and ordered a juice. My waitress brought the juice but then never came back. I sat for 20 minutes without her coming back. I was so hungry that I didn't feel like grabbing her attention or making a complaint. I told the hostess what happened and then I went and got Mexican down the street. I really want to like this place but Sunday brunch is not a time to have bad service. I might go back on a weekday sometime.
(3)Lisa C.
I have two girlfriends who live in the area and we decided to stop by at 9am on Sunday morning. Two-thirds of the party ordered off of their Sunday brunch menu, with one order of the Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll French Toast (my selection) and an order of the Smoked Salmon Napoleon. My friend got their signature French Toast, the Lady Marmalade. All of us were happy with our selections and the portions were more than generous. Even though I can eat like a total pig, it was way more than I could finish. I think the huge portions combined with the unbelievably sweet dishes make it nearly impossible to finish, even for the most gluttonous of gluttons. I would have a few tips for someone who wants to try Marmalade: 1. Order something sweet. If you want something savory, you should probably go somewhere else. The place is called Marmalade, people. You don't go to Hooters for the salad. 2. If you decide to go on the weekend, get there before 9:30. We got there a little after 9am on a Sunday and our party of three was seated immediately. The same could not be said for the people who got there around the time we were ready to leave (10am-ish). 3. Awesome coffee in huge mugs. It tastes even better while people watching from a table by the window. 4. Apparently this place is BYOB, so if you need a little Bailey's in your coffee to put some spring in your step, you can do that too.
(4)Susan C.
I usually don't venture out for brunch. I love it, as I love all meals, but find that my weeks get so busy I'll forego brunch time happenings so I can get a little R&R. Enter another equally busy friend who loves brunch. The siren call of eggs benedict across from a long lost kickballer was too much to resist. Marmalade was a good choice. We just beat the rush (tip= arrive by 10:15, at 10:35 the place goes from moderately full to packed with a line) and settled down to regularly filled coffee mugs and new takes on old dishes. My friend tore through his Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll and I opted for the Smoked Salmon Napoleon. I have to admit that I'd rather have the traditional english muffin, but I still pleased with the combination of some of my favorite foods (avocado, cream cheese, smoked salmon, hollandaise sauce ((cream cheese seemed a little bit like one element too much, but I was excited to try it)). I would absolutely go back and try other dishes.
(3)Erin D.
Stopped in here last Saturday before I ran that Blackhawks 5K thing, my friends asked me " are you sure you want to eat before you run" my reply, "yeah".... I'm thinking, I've been wanting to try this place and I didn't want to wait after the race. We got in, got a table and the service was top notch. The problem was trying to decide what to eat before a 5K. I finally said a few choice words and decided on the stuffed pancakes. ha. I mean really, time check, I still had a little under two hours before I had to run. No problem. What came back from the kitchen was two pancakes with raspberries and cream and oh my...it was good. It was so good, I finished it all. Yep. I love this place. Definitely will be returning. And as for my 5K. Yeah, I'll admit, I wasn't feelin all that hot but I set a new PR for myself.
(5)Tim S.
Marmalade was great, me and my girlfriend went there after a pretty long night of drinking and we were in need of some good brunch. It closes as 3pm and showed up at 2:30pm and they treated us like we were the first guest of the day. Our waitress was an older woman but she ranks up there with one of the best I have ever had, she was helpful and very knowledgeable about the menu, she gave great suggestions and treated us great. I got the Pollo Loco and it was the perfect meal for a guy with a hangover (and someone without one too) the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist, eggs were done correctly and the salsa verde was delicious. Also there potatoes are pretty good too (just add hot sauce). My girlfriend got the Florentine Crab Benedict and she was also very happy. On our way out Gus (I think that was his name) was very nice to us and asked us to come back soon..... I defiantly will, Marmalade is not just a place on the way to Glenns dinner, but a place that might just be better!
(4)David A.
Great food delicious and great service, I have been there 5 times and gets better and better.
(5)David J.
My wife and I had brunch at Marmalade this past weekend and we both enjoyed everything we ordered. We got seats quickly after just waiting a few minutes while they cleared a couple tables. We ordered two skim Lattes that were very good and I enjoyed the Euro Brunch Plate and my wife loved her Diablo Omeletta. Our waitress was very friendly and the busboys were great making sure we had water. I look forward to trying some of the Benedict's next time.
(5)Elizabeth K.
AMAZING BREAKFAST! It looks like a whole lot of nothing from the outside but the food is fantastic. I had the Artichoke Omeletta (spinach, goat cheese, tomato, pesto, yummy) and my friend had the Mayan Omeletta - both incredibly delicious and the perfect portion size. The owner/manager checked on us during our meal to make sure everything was good - it was - and even gifted us with a couple huge muffins (made in-house at the restaurant, consumed in my home shortly thereafter, even though I wasn't even hungry...just that good). Such a great spot, I'll definitely be back.
(5)Michael G.
We were looking for a new place for breakfast this morning and my wife remembered that my brother and sister-in-law had recently tried Marmalade and liked it. In fact my brother talked about the brisket hash as some of the best he's ever had. We arrived around 11:30 am and we were seated right away with no wait. The wait staff was great, attentive and well informed about the various specials. Luckily one of the specials was the Chef's Hash that my brother recommended, and which I ordered. My wife decided to try the classic eggs benedict. We were both rewarded with one of the best breakfasts we've had in Chicago. The brisket hash was moist and very flavorful. The eggs benedict included off-the-bone ham with a great smokey flavor and without the overly salty taste that many hams have. The real star of the meal was the breakfast potatoes which were awesome. Not sure what the secret spices were, but they really made the dish. Only one thing prevented us from rating this as 5 stars. In fact we struggled with how to rate this restaurant overall because the food and service was so excellent. However while we were there the restaurant manager (owner?) displayed some of the most disturbing and unprofessional behavior we have ever seen in a restaurant. Apparently something must have gone wrong with one the waitresses and he was loudly berating her in front of all the customers. He then proceeded to continue with this vocal management style as he told the hostesses how they were screwing up the reservation list. Overall it made for an uncomfortable end of what began as a great experience. After thinking about, it we decided on a 4 star rating to reward and support the hard working wait and kitchen staff. Hopefully the manager will find another line of work somewhere else. Or if he was the ownner, perhaps he'll hire a more professional manager before his poor behavior drives other customers away.
(4)Kristi L.
The ignorant owner is PREJUDICED and RUDE. The owner was present during my visit and was rather loud the whole time. He talked down to his staff too. I was trying to get work done, so I tried to tune him out, but one derogatory comment directed towards a staff member made my blood boil. At the end of my meal, I told him Carolina (my server) was excellent and that the food was good. I brought up the issue of the volume of his voice and his negative and offensive comment. I realize the customer is not always right, but in this situation I was looking for, "I'm sorry. That comment was uncalled for and it will never happen again," or something to that effect. A sincere apology would have resulted in repeat business. Instead, he got extremely defensive and said he didn't offend anyone. I told him he offended me and he literally shrugged his shoulders. Charming. I cannot stress enough how great the staff was when I was there, attentive, friendly, professional, prompt, etc. My server was excellent and the other server on the floor stopped by to check on me and fill my water. There is great teamwork and prompt service there. My french toast was pretty good, not the best, but definitely good. Oh, they also have soy milk, which you cannot find everywhere. I feel bad for these employees, though. I would love to go back and send people I know in the area their way. Unfortunately, they are cursed with a disrespectful and narrow-minded owner with poor customer service skills, whom I do not feel deserves to benefit in a monetary way from my business, nor that of anyone I know. There are plenty of great restaurants nearby (I feel others have figured that out too, because there were only two other tables in the restaurant besides myself). Such a shame, it is a short walk from me. Their loss and my first (and hopefully only) one star rating.
(1)Wil T.
Decided to dine solo. Stopped in on a Saturday after 2pm which to my recollection is after the brunch rush. There were about 3 open 4 toppers and 1 six topper tables that were open. Also there was nobody but me waiting for a table. I was told by the hostess that I would have to wait until a 2 topper opened up. WTH?!? I can understand if there are people waiting and it was busy, but really that's poor customer service. I walked down the street to Glen's Diner. Got a table right away (4 topper) and I was able to make substitutions to my order as well. I guess Marmalade makes business from taking in the overflow from Glen's during the busy brunch rush. Very parasitic business model, it's just a matter of time before enough people get tired of this place.
(1)David G.
One of the great thing about being between jobs is you get to explore great breakfast places during non busy hours. I went to Marmalade at 10:00 AM on a Monday with two underemployed friends. It was virtually empty and the service was quick and attentive. Being the pancake connoisseur that I am I was tempted to get my usual, but opted for the french toast with berries and cream with a side of apple wood bacon. It was very similar to the breakfast I had at M. Henry. The french toast was very good, stacked up and topped with a very generous amount of fresh sliced strawberries. The bacon was a perfect complement. My friends ordered a croissant sandwich that was on the specials menu listed on a blackboard on the wall. I also feel I need to add that you can get breakfast churros. I have to especially mention the coffee. It was so good, I had to ask the waitress what kind it was and she threw an Italian name at me that I already forgot, I'm ashamed to say. Needless to say the coffee was excellent. I ended up spending about $14 total for my breakfast, which is very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I am impressed, and ecstatic that a great brunch place has opened in my neighborhood.
(5)Esther A.
Starting with the good: 1) I knew from other Yelp reviews that an early brunch was definitely the way to go. At 10:30 AM on a Saturday, the restaurant was busy, but we were seated right away, which made me happy. 2) Service was *excellent.* Our waitress was friendly, responsive, and super on point. 3) Lots of really tempting-sounding items on the menu. Definitely had a hard time choosing between options. 4) Presentation on the food, when it arrived, was beautiful--lovely, colorfully composed plates bright with (edible) flowers and berries. The less good: 1) There's something not quite right about the atmosphere and decor of the place. I wish it was brighter and cozier than it is. It still seems to have a lingering sad malaise left over from when it was Le Sabre. Also, we sat by the window, and the sills were kind of dirty (a few tiny dead bugs and dead leaves from the plants on the sills), which grossed me out a bit. 2) My French toast hadn't been soaked in egg long enough, so instead of the soft, custard-y texture I expected, they were very bread-y and dry. Still flavorful, due to the roasted peach and brie topping, but the mouth-feel was way off. All in all, though, Marmalade was good enough that we'll probably be back to try some of the other yummy-sounding items on the menu. (As an FYI, they don't spit checks or accept multiple credit cards, so plan accordingly.)
(3)Carlos V.
Decided to try this place out since it was new in the neighborhood. Oh how I wish I didn't! It was hands down the worst breakfast experience I have had in awhile. 1. We walked in on a Saturday morning and noticed there was not a wait. There also wasn't a host to greet us or a sign that said "Host will be with you" or "Please seat yourself". So we just kind of stood there unsure what to do. After a couple of minutes, an older gentleman (owner perhaps?) finally noticed us and took us to our seat. 2. We immediately noticed the 2 large boards with the specials for the day and began to read them, trying to figure out what to order. Soon after, our waitress greeted us and began to recite the same specials that were on the board. I interrupted her as politely as I could and told her that the specials were on the board behind her. She then said "Just in case you can't see them" and continued to recite every single special. 3. Soon after another gentleman approached our table (manager?) and began to recite the EXACT SAME SPECIALS in greater detail. I just wanted some time to look at the menu to decide what to order!! 4. I ordered the cinnamon French toast with a side of "Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage". Unfortunately I do not like my breakfast sausage or bacon "Apple Smoked" but there were no other bacon or sausage options on the menu. 5. The French Toast was so dry that it was barely edible. Blech. 6. There was too much staff walking around with nothing to do (including the older owner type gentleman). The result is they constantly stare at you while you are eating your food. I was so uncomfortable. Needless to say I will not be back.
(1)Rohan S.
We continue to go and always enjoy our experience. My wife enjoys the pumpkin French toast and the Mexican combo is awesome. Get the Mayan style if you like your food spicy.
(5)Corey R.
First off, in a word: Outstanding. I had wanted to try Marmalade since I walked by and saw the "opening soon" signs. I came to Yelp just to get an idea of people's favorite menu items and see some initial comments. There are lots of reviews here complaining about the service. If that was an issue before, it's certainly been addressed. Our service was great. The waitress was friendly and attentive, even when we could have been "problem customers". See, the wife and I arrived 45 minutes before our two friends and their not-quite-two-year-old. Our fault, bad communication on our parts. Staff couldn't have been nicer about it. When we realized our friends wouldn't be there for a while, we offered to pay for the coffee we started and give them the table back. The waitress just smiled and said, "no worries. sit, relax, I'll bring you some more coffee." Certainly NOT the turn-n-burn attitude other reviewers claimed to have received. So, the food. Wow. Everyone loved their food! I had the peached and rasberried pancakes. FYI, it also had blueberries and strawberries along with some amazing mascarpone cream. The crunchy granola on top gave it great texture. Brilliant idea! My wife had the diablo omeletta which they cooked with less oil and with egg whites, per her request. It was very good, too, especially the roasted potatoes that come on the side. The kid-sized pancakes were perfect, too. I literally have no complaints about our trip to Marmalade. Service, food, atmosphere, kid-friendliness, coffee, etc. I will definitely be back.
(5)Brandon Z.
Literally so many issues, I need to decide where to start... First. I'll just say I'm glad I didn't bring friends or family, because I think they would have disowned me after taking them there. I'll start with service. To provide some context, the place wasn't full, but it wasn't completely empty. I think I counted 3 waiters/waitresses, which seemed appropriate when we arrived, and absurd when we left. I'm fairly confident that our girl is new, probably her first waitressing job, so I'm willing to give her some slack. That said, this place is only a week and a half old, and the poor girl could use some training and help. Here's a list of issues with the service: - Wasn't told the specials (maybe we weren't special enough...) - Brought toast (which was warmed bread- no toasting was done) literally five minutes before she brought the rest of the food. Put the bread back in, toast it some more and bring it with the food! - After we finished and our table was cleared, we literally waited 10 minutes for the check. Of course I had to flag her down for it, because apparently she forgot that some people like to pay for their meals. - The cashier dude is a PRO at walking around aimlessly, making it seem like he has things to do when he isn't taking people's money. Dude, make yourself useful and help your staff out. - Same goes for the manager. He was slightly annoying about asking everyone that left what they had, how it was, etc. Definitely good he's asking for feedback, but again, help your people out and maybe give a better experience. OK, so that's not the end of the world. With awesome food, I could live with the above service issues. After all, this place is new, and I'm a very patient person. But the food was just so, MEH. The coffee wasn't very good, the OJ wasn't cold and didn't taste that great, my 'toast' was small and literally felt microwaved instead of toasted. Their signature potatoes weren't bad, but they had so much damn seasoning on them, like practically a dry rub. We got bacon, which was also not really all that cooked (can I have SOME crispiness to the bacon?). My plain scrambled eggs were fine. My girlfriend's pancakes were pretty decent, though the 'marmalade' that was used we think was nothing more than the jelly they served with my toast. They play 80's music, which is just weird. There is no decor, just painted walls, which normally I think places have too much going on, but this just felt like an empty space. We will likely never go back, with our favorite spot Over Easy being about the same distance from our apartment and light years better. I do hope they improve things and stay in the neighborhood, and maybe then we'll try them one more time.
(1)Karen A.
I picked a weekday to check this place out, since I noticed on weekends its got lots of crowds. Now I know why people were waiting. Sitting on the cozy corner of Montrose and Damen Marmalade (occupying the former space of the old school Le Sabre restaurant) this neighborhood breakfast/lunch espresso bar is just what the area needed. And the breakfast is damn good. A lot of specials-hard to choose- and good coffee. I had an amazing artichoke pesto mozerella omelette-with fantastic crispy potatoes and a sweet garnish of fresh mango and orange. There are a plethora of pancakes and croissants and other good stuff. I'm going back for more tomorrow......
(4)Ross C.
I miss Le Sabre. I really do. My girlfriend and I were literally the last costumers to eat there. We went on a random day and they said they were closing. We were disappointed. Then they explained that they were closing for good. We were really disappointed! The chef kindly offered to stay open for the restaurants two final costumers. We were honored. Now, on to Marmalade. We were pleased to hear that Marmalade is owned by the same family that owned Le Sabre! Bonus points already. I had Efraim's Diablo Omelette. And omelette with spicy jerk chicken, guacamole, and cream cheese?! Are they serious?! I was feeling adventurous and gave it a try. It was awesome. I also tried a pancake. It was tasty, light and fluffy. I'll definitely be a frequent customer at Marmalade.
(5)Brian J.
The interior was bright and cheerful, a marked improvement over the medieval darkness of the esrablishment across the street where my companion and I initially tried to have brunch. The head chef's Signature Dish, the Diablos Omeletta, was a psychedelic flavor adventure stuffed with spicy jerk shrimp, cream cheese, and avocado and covered in mango chutney. The eponymous marmalade that it was served with was also no joke. Can't wait to come back!
(5)G. F.
Please allow me to start by saying that I'm rating Marmelade based on the 5-minute experience I had there. I went there with my mother and 2-year-old son this morning(a Wednesday) and tried to sit outside. We found it odd that the only tables they had outside were the two-person tables (they're barely big enough for two people, for what it's worth) so we did what any party more than 2 would do: put two tables together. The waitress immediately came out and told us that they don't put tables together as policy due to the small space they cram the tables into. So just know that you can't sit outside there if you have two or more people with you. We would have understood that it's just their policy except that the place was nearly empty and only one table was occupied outside and they were paying their bill! After we already started putting the tables back she said, "maybe I can go ask the 'big guy' if we can allow it". We did not even want to stay after that feeling as though they were being difficult with a few people trying to give their new business a chance when it was nearly empty. I'm giving two stars since we didn't try the food and she did apologized when we left...but who wants to stay for a meal after fighting to get a table big enough for your group when we were practically the only ones there? Go to Lulu Belle's of you want people who are nothing if not accommodating.
(2)Danielle B.
Horrible service, however, the busser kept our waters full and table clean...if only he could have been our server! The food was cold and nothing to write home about...not to mention an extremely long wait for it! On the way out we observed another unhappy patron complaining to the manager...the manger was very rude and unprofessional in how he handled the situation, which only added to my negative experience with this joint.
(1)Dan S.
Fantastic water and service. Recommend the Fat Mexican. Cleanest bathroom in the city
(4)Nikki F.
My husband (& son) took me out to brunch at Marmalade this weekend for Mother's Day. We had a lovely meal, even though I was a little hesitant about going after reading a handful of negative reviews here. People complain about the no substitutions policy. I get it; it's kind of annoying. But, seriously, there are so many options that it's really difficult to not find something for everyone! There's the regular menu, there's specials on the table, there's blackboard specials... A lot of choices to keep most people happy. The service was perfectly adequate. Not over-the-top bubbly, but the hostess welcomed us, we were seated quickly, and our waitress was friendly. We could have used more coffee refills (coffee there was great!), but that's about my only complaint. The food itself was delicious. I had the crab cake benedict & wow was it yummy. The chipotle sauce & the corn bread worked so well together. The potatoes were a bit much for my taste (just covered is seasoning), but it could be that the main attraction was so good (& the portions so big) that I didn't have much room for them anyways. My husband had the Efrain's diablo omeletta, which was also delicious (& not overly drenched in sour cream or sauce). I was really impressed by their fruit bowl, which we ordered for my son -- there was papaya, blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, & melons (a far cry from the typical grapes & honeydew). I'm lucky this place is in my neighborhood & will definitely be back.
(4)Kevin Z.
Great specials, and interesting menu, homemade everything. Service is great too.
(5)Chris H.
This is my second time here (first for brunch, and now for lunch), and both experiences were less than satisfying. I will start out that our server was nice and attentive. Our drinks were always full. That is why I gave a few of the stars. Today I ordered the prosciutto panini. After waiting 30 minutes, the server came out and informed me that they were out of prosciutto (the main ingredient in the sandwich). I understand restaurants run out of product, but the waitstaff needs to be informed so the customer can be alerted upon ordering...or even better, when they first see the menu.
(3)John S.
We had lunch here today. Service was good, waitress was attentive and on top of everything. The manager seemed to be micro-managing and creating issues where there were none. I ordered "stuffed french toast". I got french toast that had nothing stuffed in it. It was ok, but not worth the $9. My friend got the brie baguette, it was "decent" he said, but not worth the $9 it cost either. Probably won't go back.
(2)Aaron C.
This is my breakfast spot. Service is great, coffee is up to par, prices are decent, and the food is good eats. Every weekend they have some great new specials that are always good to try. They also have a great regular breakfast menu to choose from. What separates this breakfast from any other? The breakfast potatoes! So good...so filling...need more but am so full. I also want to give a shout out to staff that is always accommodating. There may be a wait if you don't get there early....which is a good thing if you think about it. Think of it as a sign you're at the right place.
(4)Chcogal C.
You know those places where they value their customers? Where the customer is always right? Well, this is not that place. My friend ordered a chopped salad and what came was a mound of bacon and ham in the shape of an upside down bucket, with little to no lettuce and a very unappetizing presentation that looked nothing like the menu described "chopped" salad. When she tried to send it back was told that the chef made this for her and therefore could not comp her or offer something in its place. Really? Well instead of losing out on the cost of one salad, they lost long standing customers who had previously told all their friends to come by...... A lesson worth far more than $13. Never trust an owner/chef who makes his rude waitstaff deliver crazy customer service on his behalf,and has more negative "rules" on the receipts than friendliness.
(1)Eileen G.
LOVE THIS PLACE! One of our favorite for breakfast or weekend brunch. Good variety of food and excellent service. Everyone is friendly and the food is amazing.
(5)Dan K.
Decent food, but this review is more about the staff. Our waitress was a little slow to get to us, despite there only being a few people in the place, which is fine... we weren't in a huge rush, and we weren't starving. They then brought out a cappuccino when it was supposed to be an iced latte. Again, not a huge deal because they quickly replaced it. But that's two strikes. The third strike is a huge one. The guy who appeared to be the manager, or perhaps the owner, was being a complete dick to the waitresses. Shortly after we sat down, he said "get me this......... now!" to one of his employees. Then later, I heard him say to one waitress "this is your section... I told you this 30 minutes ago. I don't want to tell you again." And to another, "do you know which section is yours? Yes? Point to it." If you want to be a treat your employees like shit, that's your prerogative. That makes you an asshole, and it is what it is. If you do it loudly in front of your customers, that makes you a complete idiot. I'm not going to give my money to a business that's run like that. I won't be back, and I hope that the waitresses find a better place to work so that they can say the same.
(2)Emma D.
I live two blocks from Marmalade and have been eagerly awaiting its opening. I was hoping for a go-to spot where I could get a healthy salad for lunch a few times a week--and the one called the Summer Salad on their menu IS delicious, but at over $10 after tax, it's a tad much for everyday ($8.50 after tax would be more like it). At breakfast, too, I've found the prices to be $1 or $2 more than what the experience is (so far) worth. The service is exactly as others have described: friendly enough, but things aren't always running smoothly. The room is clean and new-looking, but the use of several different sherbert-y paint colors do not add up to an interior with the kind of personality people love in a good breakfast spot. Still, I hope Marmalade can work out the kinks and stick around. Think about offering a to-go counter with easy-to-order beverages and a few lower-cost breakfast items (not just pastries, but something with eggs) for people on their way to work. Set up a spot where customers can hang out while awaiting carryout orders. Liven up the walls--maybe talk to Lillstreet about installing rotating shows that reflect the neighborhood's vibe. Good luck!
(3)Jeremy M.
The food definitely shows some M-Henry (love them) influence, but it was a $40 breakfast that didn't quite live up to M-Henry. Prices for plates were OK, but we ordered a side of bacon to share to get something savory on the table, and a cup of fruit for my kid in addition to the scrambled egg, two coffees, and pow: $40. Service wasn't the ultra-professional machine you'd get at M-Henry, but it also wasn't as bad as some of the earlier reviewers said. Maybe they've worked out some of the kinks. Waitstaff was on cruise control though. Bring the crowds to sharpen your staff. Portions were a bit outsized, except for the oatmeal served in a little crock traditionally used by greek diners for french onion soup. My fruity pancakes were very good, but I'd have been happier with 75% of the portion for 80% of the price. Same with the side of bacon and the fruit cup. Get rid of the crocks for the steel cut oatmeal and serve it in a real bowl. Give the prices a shave, and let the customers queue up a little. Overall, I think this place deserves three or four stars if they could iron out the rest of the kinks. That would bring Marmalade on-par with my other breakfast indulgence options. Add something je-ne-sais-quoi and I'll come back with five stars. Hint: I find that candied bitter oranges will pair with the darnedest things. I was surprised nothing like that was on the menu. No chef; no art; no five stars from me. For the price, I'd rather eat at M-Henry or stay closer with Pannenkoken.
(2)Alice R.
Came here for breakfast. Staff is friendly and helpful. Loved the signature marmelade french toast! Will come back here again!
(4)Kris R.
i wasn't expecting much from this place bc of the reviews so i kept my expectations low. every sunday my family and i have brunch, so it was a good change of pace to come here. it was about 9a brunch time. i was the first to arrive so i put in a table for 4. it wasn't crowded but i couldn't be seated til the rest of my party arrived. okay, cool, but it's not crowded. and the hostess was NOT very friendly and could barely look me in the eye. she did whatever it was possible to communicate to me in as few words as possible. this is a pet peeve of mine, i'm realizing. if the hostess sucks, marmalade, youve got it wrong. a hostess/receptionist is the first person to make a good impression as he/she receives people for the first time. if you suck at being friendly, this is the wrong job for you. anyway, my sister and nieces arrive. they order waffles and pancakes and i order the bread pudding. a pretty sweet breakfast for me, but i was in the mood. the BP was pretty good. not the best, but good and it hit the spot. the pancakes and waffles were really cakey and dry. when i cut the pancakes into pieces for my niece, they were crumbling apart. my other niece stopped eating her waffle bc it was "too thick". the one thing that was EXCELLENT was their bacon. i mean, you could have fed me plate after plate of it. really, the best breakfast bacon i've had in a while. i MIGHT come back to try a savory dish, but i dont know. it's not in my hood and i wasn't impressed.
(3)Charlene S.
I had high expectations for this place...being in the Chicago Mag top breakfasts. I am a breakfast/ brunch girl. When? Sunday at about 11:40 am. There was a huge crowd outside so the hubs went in and checked out what the wait was. The guy at the door said there were 2-two-somes in front of us, but he couldn't give us a time. I don't know if I would've waited the 1/2 hour, but it was pleasant enough outside and we did go at a prime time. Still... the guy should have told us an approximate time. Maybe we could've walked down the street a bit instead of just hanging out doing nothing while the hubs arranged his fantasy football draft via phone. Where? Seated by the window and with the people coming in and out, there was a draft. I never took my jacket off. The menu had some very appetizing choices and the specials board was unique. I ordered a hot chocolate but the waitress brought 2, 1 for each of us. The hubs didn't want one but after pointing it out the waitress who offered the 2nd one for free, he welcomed it. I think $2.75 is a bit steep for a cup of Swiss valley and water. +++++I ordered the Chef's specialty, the diablo omelette. It had jerk cajuned shrimp, cream cheese, avocado and some mango, red pepper salsa. It was delicious. The shrimp cooked perfectly, not overcooked or rubbery. The hubs ordered the florentine and crab cake benedict. It was delicious and moist and cooked well. The egg was nice and runny like he likes it. The potatoes were ok. Cut too big and overspiced, but a bit tasty. I don't care if the plating is like M. Henry. I enjoyed the mango and orange. The multigrain toast was delish!!! Chewy, hot, crisp. -BOOO-----I was intrigued by the coconut caramel hotcake. But for $9.75 opted out of it and got 1 hotcake on the side for a couple bucks, I think. $2 x 2 does not equal $9.75. The hotcake was DRY and had a crust on it that was brittle enough to break away. BOOOOO. The brittle crust did not allow any of the maple syrup to work its way in. I'm so glad I didn't get the bigger order. I would try this place again but hopefully on a morning no so busy.
(3)Ingrid H.
Trust me. The breakfast quesadillas will put you in quite the predicament, having to decide between (a) hopping out of your seat and M.C. Hammering all around the joint, telling everybody about how damn good your dish is, and (b) remaining calm and in your seat so that you can finish what you can of this very filling meal before it gets cold. I chose the latter of the two options, but I can't promise that I'll have the self-control to manage that feat, again. Note: I'm a veg head, so I swapped out the chorizo for the veggie sausage; delicious! Y'all, has anyone seen my balloon pants, y'all?
(4)Janet N.
I thought I would treat myself to breakfast today so I stopped here having been before and it was a good experience. So being alone can be a challenge to get attention but today was even worse! I was seated right away which is great but sat for almost 10minutes (why you ask? I was hungry) then I asked the perky waitperson on the table next to me who had my table. She did not know but did get someone?? whodid not appear too pleased. I got a lame apology and did say how long I was waiting received with a blank stare. I got my food quickly. And as another table of 4 sat down I saw my wait person go to them immediately. Now wait people you see why women alone do not tip well. This is a prime example of WHY!
(2)Restaurant Vigilant E.
Gone is the greasy spoon that was Le Sabre...their stomach churning, wall paper paste will haunt humanity no more! In it's place, a bright lunch/brunch/breakfast place called Marmalade. Let me just say...I personally do not really like breakfast food, and the concept of brunch is something I loathe. That said, I understand other people like brunch...and if I had to choose, I would likely pick marmalade for brunch. The menu is innovative and diverse, while still being manageable, and they have gone seemingly out of their way to appeal to everyone in a pretty effective manner. While I don't see it on their online menu, I always order this crazy big croissant sandwich....fluffy eggs, bacon and cheese...breakfast food yes, but in sandwich form, the stigma I often attach to breakfast seems to evaporate. I have been their twice and really probably should branch out on their menu, trying something else...but it is REALLY good. Bottom line is this, if you go their for breakfast/brunch or lunch, you'll walk away happy. This place, in my experience, is a pretty sure bet...it's two nearest competitors: Glenns and Fountainhead...really can't stack up when competing with Marmalade in the breakfast/brunch/lunch arena. Service here I have never had an issue with. The place is clean and bright, even if it is a little non-descript.
(3)Katie H.
Did I like Marmalade? Yes. Would I pick it instead of Over Easy or mHenry? Hmmm... probably not. But I would recommend giving it a try. The service is slightly rocky - not unfriendly, but a little slow and confusing at times. Check out the specials board which contains a LOT of different items not on the menu - it's almost like there are 2 separate menus. I went for the pumpkin french toast and it truly was sinfully delicious - really more of a dessert than a breakfast, but that didn't stop me from chowing down. My husband had a cappuccino (very good) and one of the Mexican-ish breakfast dishes which he enjoyed, although not as much as Over Easy's sassy eggs. Bottom line: you may have a shorter wait here than at some of the other neighborhood brunch spots, but you won't have to compromise too much on the food. We'll probably be back again.
(3)Katie R.
i'm sorry to say the food is just not that great here. there's a nice selection and service was fine (though our waitress was literally reading from her specials list because she couldn't remember what was in each dish - i don't know if this is a deduction, just kind of odd, but to give her credit there were a lot of specials). i had the brioche cinnamon french toast and though it was presented beautifully, it didn't taste as great as it looked. i had it with the berries (fresh and delicious) and vanilla cream - overall the dish was over-the-top sweet. i think there could have been a much better balance with a light and refreshing creme fraiche instead of the vanilla cream. my friend didn't seem overly wow-ed by her omelet and i definitely wasn't by my side of soy sausage. my friend had a side of tempeh which tasted good but was VERY over-salted. bonus points for offering veggie options, though. i don't know if their OJ is fresh-squeezed as we didn't order it, but the fact that they have v8 is a deduction in my book. any great breakfast place that claims to have a juice bar better have ALL fresh juice, in my opinion. also, whoever was running the register (manager of some sort?) was extremely rude! there are too many places that treat you wonderfully to eat bad food then be scorned. sorry marmalade, but you have some fierce brunch competitors out there that have it down to the nitty-gritty and you need to step up your game.
(2)Caren F.
I'd give negative five if I could. I was so excited to try this brunch spot, but after the appalling customer service my group experienced this morning, I will never return--and will encourage others not to give this place their money. I go to brunch every. single. weekend. and happily fork over too much money for a good brunch experience. So it is a shame that the manager "doesn't have time" for his customers. He just lost four potential loyal customers. But seems he's too smug and busy to care. Marmalade makes sure that things are easy for them. Signs scream out that there are no substitutions on specials, no split checks. Ok, fine. We'll play by your rules. After being told that her two first choice entrees could not be made without pork, my friend settled on an egg item. It came out prepared incorrectly. Because it had to be remade, she asked if they could please put the sauce on the side when they remake it. She was told no. (this was not a special, by the way, so was not theoretically subject to their rules) Not only was she told no, she was told that the manager refused to put any other item on our ticket. EXCUSE ME? She was literally told she was not allowed to order anything else. When she asked to speak with him, our waitress (poor girl, stuck in the middle) returned to tell us that he said we could come back tomorrow to talk to him!! WHAT?! So she should sit here now, not eat, and come back tomorrow? Who does he think he is? She had to literally get up from the table, find the manager, who barked "i don't have time for this," TO HER FACE, before he reluctantly agreed to just let her get something else. Which was disgusting. The food was seriously bad. I ate two bites of my eggs, which were swimming in oil. Even without the atrocious attitude from the manager, I'd never return. Upcharge for fruit instead of potatoes (which wasn't mentioned), full charge for my friend's sub-par fourth choice entree that they initially refused her. I'm sad for the waitress who has to work for this manager. But patrons can choose to dine elsewhere.
(1)Gary C.
It's a Monday morning and we are in our old neighborhood driving down Montrose when I spot this place. I don't think it was here a few years ago but I can say if we still lived on the northside, I'd put it into our breakfast/brunch rotation list. A clean place, nice décor, good service and an interesting menu with daily specials. I had the Mayan Omelletta filled with chorizo and ton of other things, it was spicy in a good way, I only wish the breakfast potatoes were a little crispier but they were still acceptable.
(3)Dave G.
Perfect brunch experience! Vegetarian friendly, they will sub tasty veggie for any meat for free. Also has a nice little kids menu which is pretty rare in Chicago. I had the Florentine Crab Benedict which had a high quality crab cake although the egg was a little overcooked. My wife had the smoked salmon napoleon which she loved, but she was jealous of my potatoes which were much better than her salad! Her poached eggs were perfectly cooked BTW. We shared the Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll French Toast with our two friends. The fresh fruit and icing was perfect company for our savory breakfasts.
(5)Steve W.
Fantastic food - dismal service. This place is still new. And therefore since the food was so good, I'm willing to overlook the really bad service that we got. 4 of us went there for breakfast this past weekend. The place was full, but that should be expected as the people of Chicago love their breakfast. Our waitress had a very nice attitude and was at our table pretty quickly - but then she never came back. We never got our coffee. Another server brought out our food and we had to ask for him to go get our toast....which wasn't really toast, it was warm bread. As under-staffed as they appeared, they had one guy whose ONLY job was putting bread in the toaster, and it still came out as warm bread! After enjoying our food, our table was cleared promptly by their busser, but again, our waitress was MIA and after waiting for at least 10 minutes we had to walk up to the register to get our check. The manager apologized, but he wasn't really helping his staff either. Appeared to be micro-managing, but not doing any real work himself. Anyways, the breakfast food was fantastic. So good that despite all the crap we dealt with, we'll go back and give them another chance in a few months.
(2)ben w.
Good food, good portions, great coffee and good service. Lots of dishes with lots of stuff in them, potatoes in the egg dishes, skillets, are way too big and hard to eat. Very pricey, 22 bucks with tip for a skillet and coffee.
(3)Mary T.
I was here today for lunch. Funnily enough I had the same brie baguette as Jon R. and the bread was hard as a rock. I sent it back and they were very nice about it and gave me a new sandwich on different bread. And they kindly took it off the bill and apologized four times at least. I thought the place was good but not outstanding. They are new so maybe a few things to work out yet. They told me that the reason the bread was hard was because it was a new supplier, so some kinks obv. I'm happy they're here as the other choices around here are two dismal pizza joints and a hot dog stand. I was here ONCE when it was a diner and I think the room is very much the same only they have done a really nice job of redecorating.
(3)harry b.
Like my last review of another spot, Marmalade was well worth the wait (30 min on a Sunday at 9:30AM for a 4 top on a day of a local charity run). Attentive, friendly service kept our drinks topped off and brought our food out very quickly. Both sweet and savory items looked and tasted amazing. I had the Cubano brioche French toast with guava marmalade and granola - out of this world! Everyone's entree, drink, tax & tip came to $16/person. Can't wait to go back again!
(5)Dulce P.
I went here with my friend and unfortunately we had to wait half hour but the food was good. I felt a little rushed, given it was Sunday brunch time. I will still go back and try new plates.
(3)Ali H.
I'm giving Marmalade 3 stars with plans for a return in the near future and a possibility to increase their rating. It was exactly what a 3-star review indicates: A-OK. First off, when a brunch place advertises to have a former M. Henry chef, they had best be careful. That might be something I wouldn't advertise right away- talk about setting the bar high! The menu was pretty simple. The savory chef-specialty was an omelet with shrimp and avocado and this was probably the best thing I tried. The sweet specialty, the stuffed french toast, was sadly pretty boring and blah. Also, the portion was huge. We had 8 pieces! The flavors were pretty bland, and I don't know, for it being the big specialty, I was expecting something better. I think any average sweet dish at M. Henry is better than this. I kept thinking about the mango cranberry french toast I had the last time I was there and being sad about the state of affairs at Marmalade. Anyway, the staff was very pleasant. The space is cute and I like the location. Just don't expect to have your socks knocked off by the food, and if you want something creative and fresh I'd stick to one of the old standards.
(3)Jill B.
The El Picante Benedict was amazing. I mean so incredibly good. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)Nikkie H.
First off let me say that I never went to Le Sabre, so I can't compare, but I do know I like this place. It is bright, decorated nicely...no complaints there. My friend and I were seated almost immediately and our server was fairly prompt. We did see the manager walking around, and it was a tad off-putting because he clearly was micro-managing. Instead of "how is everything so far" he asked if our order was taken. It was almost like he didn't trust the wait staff. I will say the table next to us who was there before we were seated, had a mix up with their order. Maybe his checking was justified... In any case, my friend and I both ordered the Mayan Omeletta and shared the apple smoked sausage. Between the omelette (er, omeletta), the sausage, homemade toast, potatoes and coffee there was absolutely nothing I would change. It was all so good. This place will be hopping once word gets out, but I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)Marcia F.
Love this place. Today, I met some dear friends for breakfast and we were having so much fun we stayed a long time. After about 2 hours, the manager kindly asked us if we could move over one table as they had a big party coming in. We sheepishly realized we had been holding a table too long and said we'd just walk and talk. He hadn't asked us to leave, mind you, just to move one table over. But as we walked out he handed us a bag of fresh muffins for our "trouble." That's the kind of service that makes you come back. And the food's great too.
(5)Eugene C.
It's a large, clean space with very attentive service with an emphasis on Latino cuisine. The owner or GM obviously runs a tight ship as I saw him attend to everyone that walked in the door. I got the Vegan Chilaquiles and it was very good in taste and presentation yet slightly pricier than it should be. I appreciate the effort but I wish they had more vegan options. If you're into meat, they won't disappoint. It's a solid breakfast / brunch place in Ravenswood which seems good for a solo or group food excursion.
(4)Heather C.
From beginning to end, including atmosphere, service, and food, our experience at Marmelade was absolutely delightful! We went on a whim to meet with an old friend and were able to have great conversation and great food. Our waitress was prompt and patient. She enticed our interest in specials without being pushy. Food was served quickly and looked amazing. The menu is full of creative variations of breakfast favorites. "The Lady Marmelade" was sweet and light with perfectly ripe strawberries! The toast was served with a side of guava marmelade that made my tongue sing for joy. Our side of fruit was above and beyond with pears, plums, blueberries and more! The artichoke omelette was packed with complementing flavors. The portions were large and shareable, however, you won't want to. Adding to the pleasure of the experience was the generous hospitality of the servers. The owner was present and made us feel like valued customers even though we were there for the first time and from out of state. We will be recommending to all our local friends and wishing we hadn't moved so far away.
(5)Richie D.
Line out the door with a 20 minute wait, but we were sat within 5 minutes. The two owners are always very friendly and make sure you know the daily specials (on one of two chalkboards). The ambiance is very simple and family-friendly which fits well in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood neighborhood. There is comical artwork on the walls, like a cartoon pancakes telling the french toast "You're stuffed up" while the french toast responds, "You're a hot mess!" Marmalade serves Cafe Ambria Italian coffee concoctions too. The menu, however, possesses a New American vibe with Mexican influences, even Jamaica is offered as a drink. Every time I step in here I'm swayed towards ordering the delicious sounding specials. On my first visit I had the Polenta Muffin baked with Bacon, Egg and Cheese served on a bed of fresh greens. Second visit, I went with the Euro Brunch Plate of Butternut Squash, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Leek And Scallions Wrapped Crepe, Two Eggs, House Potatoes and Cranberry Cognac Chicken Sausage. I was more impressed the first time around with service and the flavors (can't say I cared for the crepe, but the cranberry cognac chicken sausage made up for it). As with many brunch places like Marmalade, it seems like good olde comfort breakfast items are always seduced into becoming more 'fancy'. To me, Marmalade seems to also be in a bit of an identity crisis with New American/Mexican cuisine, Greek music playing on the speakers and an Italian cafe atmosphere... I'll return a third time since the food is always tasty, plus I promised myself that I would order their cute ceramic pot of Old Fashioned Steel Cut Oatmeal served up with cranberries, sour cherries, golden raisins, fresh apples topped with melted brown sugar alongside a bowl of mixed fruit (keep in mind it's only served weekdays between 7 am and 11 am). Marmalade, I'll see you soon.
(4)Casey C.
Thank the gods for this place. A new brunch in my neighborhood (where there are already excellent brunch places) is always good. But this is easily in my top 2 brunch places in all of chicago! Everything is delicious and the wait staff is EXCELLENT. Its almost always busy on the weekends, but the staff always are personable and fast. The owner is an awesome man who always is checking in on tables, and has often given my boyfriend and I some take home goodies free of charge! I couldn't be happier with this place!! Please go!
(5)N. S.
I was pleasantly surprised. I like brunch, but I never think places are worth waiting, and after seeing crowds outside this place for several months, I was less than enthusiastic. Anyway - despite the large groups waiting outside this morning, our party of two was seated in less than half of of the 20-minutes time quoted by the hostess. Service was very friendly and helpful. Menu had a good balance of sweet and savory dishes, and I look forward to trying some more of them. I had the confusingly-named "Euro Brunch" plate, which didn't really match its name. I don't think it was the right choice for me: the potatoes were overseasoned and too dry, the chicken sausage was bland, overcooked, and seemed like an afterthought on that plate, BUT, my eggs were poached perfectly, and the crepe was really tasty. My companion's sweet dish was delicious, too, as was the coffee. In short, I wasn't blown away, and I certainly wouldn't wait more than 15 minutes or so, but I enjoyed it and will definitely be back to try some more dishes.
(4)Lauren P.
Food was pretty good. Lots of great options. The chef's special omelette was super tasty. But ... Service was slow and disappointing. My friend asked for an omission of one garnish ingredient (not a substitution) and was charged almost $2 extra. She questioned the addt'l charge and was told it was bc changes to specials makes the chef upset. OK. However, our bill was eventually adjusted. Those with any dietary restrictions or food allergies - requests for subs, etc. do not seem welcome & staff was reluctant to accommodate. Signage for 'will not do' is prevalent & read as unwelcoming. Seems like a like an easy fix they could choose to improve. I love brunch but ... As mentioned by others reviewers, brunch options are vast in Chicago. While the food was good, the service needs to improve before I'd go back to try the red velvet French toast.
(2)Cristal R.
I went here with my boyfriend for the first time over the weekend and it was absolute perfection! I got the El Diablo Benedict and it was amazing. I would've given it 5 stars but I was a little disappointed with the waitresses. They weren't dressed very nice and they could use a little work as far as etiquette goes. One of the girls had really low rise jeans so her lower back was exposed and she had facial piercings that were distracting and unprofessional. I think appearance is extremely important when trying to run a nice establishment. But this will definitely not keep me from returning for another beautifully prepared breakfast.
(4)Jose F.
I will spare you the nice talk about "the presentation and ambience" because I trust you'll read other reviews besides mine. Being that we enjoyed the food before, today we returned for more of that savory faire. However, we were met with a tolerable wait of approximately 15 minutes and subsequent race to order/eat/pay so others may have a meal too. The stoppage of time came as our food was brought and we had expectations met. Two observations though: (1) the cowboy skillet that is usually delicious had potatoes that were over-spiced and more importantly, the steak strips were cut well but way too rare. (2) the very busy waitstaff were cordial and deserving of generous tip/s BUT, I witnessed something very uncomfortable as the restaurant manager publicly humiliated one of the staff as she accidentally bumped into him while bringing food to a table. Again, I am a fan of the restaurant but bottom-line to the ownership, take reservations or hire more help if you're "overwhelmed" by the good business.
(4)Colleen A.
My husband and I finally made it to Marmalade's today. In short: we probably won't go back... As someone who has a habit of eating the same food for breakfast every day (oatmeal with fruit), I can say that I look forward to mixing it up occasionally. We went about 9:30 and were seated right away. My first impression was that it was really stuffy inside; no air conditioning although an open window probably would've sufficed. We were seated right in front of the kitchen which can add to the energy of the place but can also detract from conversation. I'm not a fan. We were given water right away (great) and our server came over immediately. She didn't tell us any of the specials and since the "specials boards" are scattered literally all over the restaurant, we didn't even notice one board until after we ordered. The service was just so-so, she was a little too oppressive. I felt like we barely turned the menu over to look at the second side and she was back asking if we wanted to order. Chill out, it's not like the place was hurting to turn over tables. I did think the tables were really, really tiny for even just 2 people. Between the table tent that lists specials, creamer bowl, sugar, etc. we barely had room for our food. This was even more evident when they brought my toast and just kind of put it down on top of my silverware until I moved things around. They needed to be reminded we should get toast with an order and they didn't originally have any cream on the table (easy to fix, but I didn't like that I felt like I had to be on top of it). Once we ordered (I got the artichoke omelet, husband got the mexican omelet) our food was ready and out in under 10 min. Not bad...Mine was overly salty and to be fair, that is the artichoke. I like the option to substitute fruit instead of potatoes (not sure if they charged for it though). Husband's potatoes were greasy and tasted kind of stale. He said his omelet was so-so and remarked that it had mushrooms (his arch enemy) and he didn't recall reading that on the menu. Bonus points for good coffee and splenda, though! Nothing to complain about specifically, but nothing to write home about either. The place could use some sort of rugs or something to help muffle the noise...but that's just me. The busboys were great about refilling coffee/water/clearing plates. The server just seemed a little overbearing. She dropped our check, ($35 including tip), and that was that. I didn't feel like we could sit and read the paper we brought, which is irritating since that's what we wanted to do. It just seemed more like eat, pay, leave. Not eat, sip coffee, read the paper, pay, leave. Which I don't understand since the place was not busy...but with the stale/warm air, we were okay with leaving. All told: I wouldn't recommend it, but it wasn't the worst I've ever had either.
(2)Maggie P.
Stopped here for brunch with the soon to be husband. I was excited to try Marmalade and was less than impressed with the food. Or at least with my dish. I had the El Picante Benedict, two homemade tortillas with chorizo, poached eggs "fresh avocado" and "Mayan" sauce, with a side of plantains and Mexican rice. The avocados were less than fresh and must have been sliced first thing in the morning because they were already browned by the time they were placed on my plate. There was no plantain in sight and I'm still trying to figure out where the Mayan sauce was on that dish. Now on to the husband's dish, he likes things simple, scrambled eggs with oven roasted potatoes and a side of pancakes. He enjoyed his dish and I will say those potatoes were tasty. The coffee was good and the service was great. And that's it in a nutshell.
(2)Shawn R.
Marmalade is by far the closest breakfast option to our place so I was excited to learn that they were going for the "step above greasy spoon" kind of breakfast; if I want grease on a plate, I already have the Lincoln, Alps, and Golden Angel for that. We finally got a chance to check it out this past Saturday (July 16) for a late brunch. Service was good to very good; very cute red head server was attentive and informative, owner dropped by a few times to check in... it was near close and not very busy when we got there so that might have played a role since it seems they go into the weeds if it's busy per other reviews. The menu is a bit short; I really prefer a roll-your-own omelet option instead of having to pick from a few heavily-customized options. So I went with the two-egg basic breakfast, wife got the rapini omelet, we split some pancakes for "dessert". My eggs were fine if under-seasoned; wife says her omelet was same, like they forgot to use any salt in the cooking. Stiil, not bad but not quite the gourmet level they're going for. The house potatoes need tweaking; way too seasoned, and way too dry. The bit of fresh fruit on the plate was nice, I like that with my breakfast. The side of toast was a single piece of marbled rye each, not very thoroughly toasted. I consider marbled rye an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, but that might just be me. The pancakes were too much; I realize that they're considered a stand-alone full breakfast, but even for that, they're very thick and not so much fluffy as cakey. Again, for a "gourmet' breakfast place I would expect some nice whipped butter, copiously available, instead of just little foil/plastic tubs of it to use. Coffee was better than average and brought out and refilled in a timely fashion. As we were getting ready to leave, the server handed us and the other few tables remaining a to-go box with a muffin and some cookies in it. They do fresh pastries/cookies on site and I guess their philosophy is "end of day, give away", which is a very nice touch. Haven't had the muffin yet, but the cookie was... odd. Edible, not terrible, but weirdly textured for a basic chocolate chip. So, in the end, I'll probably still make the longer trek and endure the lines for Over Easy, as, overall, their breakfast experience is, end to end, still heads and shoulders above anything else nearby including Marmalade. That said, Marmalade is brand new, already a step up from that dump LeSabre it replaced, and close enough and decent enough already to where I'll definitely swing by again in a few months to see if they've gotten better.
(3)Phil S.
Updated to 3 stars based on a recent visit. Getting better and its definitely family friendly, which is a bonus for us.
(3)Jerry B.
No wait at about 11:00 on a Friday. Excellent Caramel Coconut Hotcakes. House potatoes were also very good. Nice cozy, casual atmosphere. Coffee is terrific. Service a little slow, but will go back for the french toast (or maybe the Euro brunch plate). Maybe everything is good here. Street parking easy.
(4)Jill V.
Another delicious breakfast place in Chicago! Prices are bit on the high side, but I'll forgive them since it's so delicious.
(4)Zahra H.
Yea, so if you're having a wonderful day and going out with a best friend to have breakfast - this is the place to go. You know why? Because the manager, the fat one, is rude as fuck, he charges you for an entree when you told the waitress no pork and comes out with pork, and tops it all off with a "go fuck yourself" goodbye -verbatim from the manager. Oh also, the best part, he openly admitted (in front of other customers as well) that he doesn't throw away leftovers and uses them for other dishes. This was the worst experience I have ever had with any restaurant. This manager (or whoever he is) needs to give up his position in the restaurant and let someone who has customer service or *just* people skills run it for him. You don't swear at your customers and tell them to "Go fuck yourselves" when we're trying to understand why you're charging us for an entree that was brought out with the wrong ingredients. Don't tell me I didn't warn all of you. P.S This is my 2nd yelp review for here. I only went back after the first horrible experience because I still had to use my travelzoo voucher which I walked out on (without ordering and waiting over an hour) last time because of his belligerent yelling at us and other customers.
(1)scott B.
We loved LeSabre and going here today was bittersweet. All the old booths were taken out. I wonder what happened to those tables with those crossed sabres? We went for breakfast early. The place was crowded already and there was a wait list by around 9. We do like that they open at 7. This place should do the business. Maybe it will draw people from Over Easy and it will be easier to get a table there. Wishful thinking. I ordered the stuffed french toast and is was good, but it was too sweet for me. I trend more savory. I think I'll try the hotcakes next time. She had the Mayan Omeletta. Very good. I loved the House Potatoes that came on the side. She thought they were just okay. Very kid friendly. Service was friendly, fast and efficient. Prices are a tad more, but not out of line with Over Easy and Ravenswood Grill. We will be coming back here, but we will most likely go to Ravenswood Grill and Over Easy because they are closer to us. I think Ravenswood Grill does a little more for around the same price, but the food comes out much faster here. It's awesome to have so many great breakfast options within walking distance. One very minor thing: I like Sweet & Low in my coffee and they did not have any. I've run into this at times and have learned to have a few extra packets. Bring your own if you prefer pink (BYOP).
(4)michele m.
I'm a fan, because the food is excellent, and they have daily interesting specials. The only thing I wish they would do differently is except credit card splitting. These days most of us don't carry cash, please change this soon, or you will turn off alot of people.
(4)Bobby D.
Yeah, I love trying out Brunch places. Brought my gf here because we aren't the morning type. Let's just saw this place isn't my top pick. Over all horrible experience. What kind of employees use profanity around their customers. Anyways, food looked AND tasted like it was old and microwaved. My gf tried their pancakes. She said they tasted like water. My sausage and bacon was burnt. Yeah, never again. I'll go to Ihop next time.
(1)Rita L.
Tried this place for the first time today and it was FANTASTIC!!! Not your typical bacon and eggs breakfast spot. Think gourmet breakfast with neighborhood feel! This place really takes time into using fresh high quality ingredients. My boyfriend and I agreed that the potatoes were hands down some of the best we've tasted at any diner in the city. The dry rub looks as if it may be over-seasoned but this wasn't the case at all. They were a delicious compliment to my "build your own" omelet (which I added spinach, ham off the bone and fresh mozzarella). Great big portions too! THEY HAVE ORGANIC ASSAM TEA! Yay! Nice cozy contemporary feel. Throughout our meal, we overheard several tables talk about their meals with delight. Great energy and a very attentive server. Rumor has it this place fills up FAST. Luckily we came after 1p...place was still busy but we got a table almost immediately. Easy street parking (mostly metered). The 6 mile drive was worth it! We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)Miranda L.
Gus and company always take the best care of us! Amazing and creative dishes, great coffee, awesome service. Of all the brunch spots we have tried in Chicago, this is definitely our favorite (and thankfully we only live 1 block away). Their breakfast potatoes are out of this world; I think I dreamed of them for a week after my first bite. Check it out!
(5)Emily S.
Marmalade is a decent lunch spot. I wasn't overly impressed with the ambiance and menu.
(3)Beth N.
Everyone at Marmalade was very friendly. They were extremely accommodating of our group's two strollers. We got there at 2:30 on a Sunday, and it was pretty empty (we didn't realize until later that they closed at 3!) Consequently, they were out of a few of the brunch items. Overall, everyone seemed to like their food. It wasn't anything amazing, and in our opinion just a little overpriced. I'd go back because they are kid friendly and welcoming.
(3)Sarah M.
They have newly decorated the place well, and it has a bright, clean look, with lots of windows and natural sunlight. Gus, the owner, came over and introduced himself, which I always feel means a lot, and he couldn't have been warmer or nicer. He seems like he really cares about his new restaurant and his customers. The breakfast and lunch menus have a great selection of all kinds of interesting dishes, both savory and sweet. I had French Toast with strawberries and creme anglais. They make their own brioche for the French Toast. It was very, very good and it was a generous portion. It was not TOO sweet, which is important to me. They also have another one, a Stuffed French Toast. It looks amazing on the menu, but would have been too sweet for me. The male waiter I had was very welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They were busy this morning, and they only opened on Tuesday! The only negative was that I felt the menu was a bit overpriced. The chef used to be at M.Henry, but this place is not quite as good as M.Henry, which I feel is one of THE best there is. Prices at Marmalade should be a bit lower... Happy they are in the neighborhood....they are a great addition to this area. I wish Gus and his team success in their new venture. Welcome to the 'hood!
(4)Mary S.
I was not overly impressed, nor overly put-off by Marmalade. A few negative things that I initially noticed: there are absolutely no bike racks outside. Every pole down the street had two bikes locked to them. They play crappy 80's music. You cannot split checks. There is nothing on the menu or the specials board that indicates you can substitute a soy product for the meat options on the menu. As a vegetarian it would really open the menu up to have that option. They were out of the Tempeh strips, which is always annoying when you go to a restaurant and see something you want to try on the menu. Those are not all deal breakers, though, just annoyances. The food was actually pretty good, though the Shroom Benedict seemed way messier than a benedict should have been. The potatoes and coffee were both above average. The guy who sat us was up in our business way too much, though. I really wished that he would have let us enjoy our meal instead of interrupting every ten minutes to ask us how it was. Just a tad overpriced, but nothing outrageous. A nice space, but it seemed lacking somehow. I think that since there is nothing to see out of the windows it would be nice to have a more visually stimulating environment inside. I will definitely go back, but it will not be a 'go-to' brunch spot.
(3)Nichole K.
Yummy! The food was good. Our service was excellent. We had a crab cake benedict that was really good. Plus how can you not love fresh squeezed OJ.
(5)Stephanie C.
I have dined at Marmalade several times and always loved the food and the atmosphere. However, after this morning's appalling customer service experience, I will never return, and I would encourage anyone to think twice before spending your money there. I was having brunch with 3 other friends and granted, a few of us have some dietary restrictions, so we had some special but absolutely reasonable requests with our orders. One friend ordered an eggs benedict dish with the eggs over-hard. When the dish came out with eggs over-easy, she politely asked them to re-make the dish as she originally requested and asked if it would be possible to please put the benedict sauce on the side since they were going to re-make it anyway. Rather than admitting the mistake and re-making the dish, the manager said not only would they not re-make it, but she wasn't allowed to order anything else..... Excuse me? They were actually refusing her as a customer. The rest of us sat there in shock. Were they serious?!?! She wasn't allowed to order ANYTHING? And when we politely asked for the manager to come to our table to speak with him, he told our server that he was "too busy" to deal with us and we should come back tomorrow if we wanted to talk to him. It was the rudest and most unbelievable customer service I have ever experienced. Isn't it your JOB as the manager to at least come over and talk to your patrons? What else could you be doing that was more important? So after my friend got up from the table and tracked down the manager, he finally agreed to let her order something else instead. Looking back, I wish that all 4 of us would have simply walked out. Needless to say, none of us will never eat there again.
(1)jess e.
(I think sometimes I'm too nice in my stars, my fella just said "3 that's generous! the food was ok, the service inadequate and I felt like I was rushed out, they just wanted the money out of my pocket.) Eh. It's no Le Sabre. Le Sabre knew what it was. The waitress knew what it was. Everyone knew what it was. Marmalade...I don't even think they know what marmalade is. (I'm trying very hard not to quote The Princess Bride right now) My french toast said it was stuffed with strawberry marmalade. Which of course drew comments from my (very British) fella who scoffed that it couldn't be because marmalade is made with citrus peel. But after consulting the internet it's been said that in other countries marmalade can be a jam. Fine. Just bring me a lovely plate of french toast with gooey jam-y chunks of strawberries. I wish I could say that's what I got. But I didn't. There wasn't even a seed of a strawberry to be seen on that plate. In between the french toast was what we will be generous and call a thin strawberry sauce, the raspberry coulis on top overpowered everything. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't get it again. Sometimes with sweet sauces less is more, and when you are told it's a marmalade you expect something at least with a passing acquaintance to marmalade. My fella got potatoes and poached eggs. He had to ask them to drain the water out of the poached egg bowl, and when it came back he still took my saucer away to pour the rest of the water out of the dish. The roasted potatoes taste as if they've been roasted in Wyler's beef bullion cubes, or had beef bullion powder sprinkled over the top. The apple wood smoked bacon we ordered was greasy, hanging off the plate almost resting on the table and a yellowish shade. I'm sure there was a bit of apple wood smoke to it, but not enough. Service was well....we got there and the girl ringing people up was also the hostess. So that can be a problem when they are busy. We were told we could have a table when it was cleared, but instead of seating us at it I was told to go over because it's cleared and she'd be over in a bit. She never came over and when the waitress came for the drink order, we didn't have menus. The owner (?) showed up and started playing host for a little bit later on. We were seated and ordered well before the couple sitting behind us and they still got served first. Everyone kept trying to take our plates away and made us feel a little rushed even though we left the restaurant in under an hour. You have to bring your own check up which adds confusion to the front since it's right by where people are waiting and the front door. That was no problem when it was Le Sabre cause there was no line and everyone knew what was expected. It's half way between a diner and some place trying to be better then that. The food sounds fancy and overwrought, the prices are higher, but the service isn't better. At least at a diner the waitress are fun and if not truly care, at least can pretend to care, if their customers are enjoying themselves. And if you are lucky enough to live close to that diner they won't care if you show up hungover in your pjs. There is only one building between us and the restaurant and I'm sure I'll try it again, but I have a feeling more often then not I'll take a walk up Damen and go someplace else.
(3)Grace M.
I tried this place this weekend with my family and I was kind of disappointed. The service was rocky. I ordered off the menu for my kids and they were out of the sides. I asked them for something else and of course they charged me for that. The other items that we ordered were so so and had too much going on. I was really looking forward to eating here and will not return.
(1)Jordan F.
I went here for the first time this past Sunday with my boyfriend. After passing by a few times and always seeing a crowd, we decided to go around 8 a.m.-perfect timing! We were seated immediately, the staff were all very friendly and the atmosphere was very welcoming and not overly cramped. I had the Lady Marmalade, he had The Bonaparte & a side of French Toast. Everything was simply amazing. The Lady Marmalade was sweet but zesty-I'm not one for overly sweet things, The Bonaparte was delicious too, the croissant wasn't overly flaky. We left feeling satisfied but not overly stuffed and sloth-like, and with plenty of left overs. Marmalade adds a unique twist to traditional breakfast favorites, I will for sure be back for more!
(5)Angie L.
Went there on Easter and it was dead. Both my husband and I ordered something with chorizo. It was almost inedible. They did not drain the chorizo so there were puddles of grease on our plates. I asked for extra napkins just so we could try and remove it. Service wasn't great. We sat by the door which they had open. I had put on my coat because I was cold and another table asked to be moved because they were cold yet the door stayed open. You have to pay at the register which our server never told us so we ended up sitting there waiting an extra 10 minutes until we saw someone else get up and go to the register. We went here after I read that it was one of the top 15 restaurants in Chicago for brunch. That just can't be possible.
(2)Patricia C.
The food was fantastic (had the shroom Benedict and the cinnamon roll), unfortunately after the waitress left the check my friend was finishing her coffee and we were there only a short time and were discussing leaving when our waitress walked up and said, " you need to leave bc we have a line and we close in an hour"...wow, now we are respectful of those waiting but we didn't think it was asking to much to be able to finish our drinks. Understand the need to move tables and they accomplished their mission to do it and more as we won't be coming back.
(2)Mary S.
I was looking for something new that I could enjoy as much as my vegetarian friend. I was at this restaurant a few months ago and was not planning on returning. I did remember that it was very vegetarian friendly so decided to give it a second try. I'm so glad I did. She had an avocado and pesto omelet which she insisted that I try because it was so delicious. (It was). It came with a side of homemade strawberry jam . I enjoyed a grilled brie with bacon. I requested that it be on a croissant and they were happy to accommodate my request. The service was excellent. The prices were very fair and I can't wait to come back again.
(4)Genious C.
Great service and delicious food....best french toast I've ever had. It's worth the drive from the west loop. Will return.
(4)Lauren P.
what a pleasant surprise! my roommate and i stopped in sunday morning for an impromptu brunch. we weren't expecting much. maybe it's the ghost of le sabre. maybe it's the cheesy burgundy and orange color scheme of the sign. (yes that's dumb. but true.) we were seated relatively quickly even though there seemed to be a lot of people milling around out front. yeah! then we waited for about 10 minutes for the waitress to show up and give us menus. boo. (in the end, they lost a star for the service. the waitress seamed a little spacey and talked so quietly we kept having to ask her to repeat things. she also seemed a little overwhelmed by the size of her section. also big negative. you have to pay at the counter and we asked if we could split our check and they host was such a butt about it. 'notice our little mascot here' he said pointing to the front of the register, 'he says, no split checks.' like he was talking to a child. even the freaking golden nugget can split checks. it's not hard. get with it.) anyway....! once we got the menus we were really excited about their options. lots of interesting dishes! i had a hard time choosing between the pear french toast and smoked salmon napolean. i ended up going savory and it was delish! smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados and poached eggs between fluffy crispy puff pastry. and this is weird but i was obsessed with the dressing that came on the side salad. who cares that much about dressing? i do i guess. i gobbled the whole salad when usually it would've been ignored for the more glamorous main dish. my roommate's was great too! a fancy mcgriddle...scrambled eggs, some fancy cheese, zucchini and bacon between french toast. minimum. i'll definitely check it out again! so glad to have a new brunch place in the hood!
(4)April M.
i love this place! really great food and really awesome service every time. went in with my friends for some brunch and really loved my dish. every one was very friendly there. will definitely be back.
(5)Kara K.
Holy crap, amazing. My friends and I were looking for a good brunch place within walking distance of my friend's apartment and we found it with Marmalade. We arrived and put our name in. We probably waited about 15-20 minutes for a table, but I'm sure those who arrived after us waited quite a bit longer. (If you're a party of two, it seemed like you would have a MUCH shorter wait.) The menu is extensive - plenty of hearty choices as well as sweet ones. I had such a difficult time deciding between the almond french toast (daily special) or the mayan omeletta. In the end I went with the mayan omeletta as I knew it was something I'd probably not find at any brunch places in Columbus. My omelette was great, so flavorful and a very large portion. I was able to omit the green peppers. The no substitutions/omissions rule was only with respect to the skillets. The only part of my plate I wasn't wild about were the potatoes, but my omelette more than made up for it. The service was great. I believe my water glass was refilled four times --- it never got below 3/4 full! They don't let you split checks, but it wasn't a problem for us as I'd already planned on picking up the tab anyway.
(5)Jodi R.
Yum yum. One of the many things that makes Marmalade a winner is that they have menu options for meat eaters and non meat eaters. They also offer an inexpensive kids menu where not everything is deep fried. Example- yogurt topped w fruit & granola. The line moves fast. Our Sunday am wait was under 5 min. Staff couldn't be friendlier & more attentive. They remembered my child when we went back two weeks later. Crab Eggs Benedict was the best I have ever had. Very substantial portion. Veggie chilaquiles are something I would order again. I look forward to returning and ordering everything on the menu that doesn't contain meat. Art work, with food puns, is painted by one of the waiters. Space is clean & bright. Funny that several yelpers compare this to m Henry which in my experience is average food ( at best) service with an attitude, long lines & high prices.
(5)gretchen b.
Found Marmalade in the Chicago Magazine's breakfast special. We arrived 9:45 Sunday morning and had a 10 min wait. I'm usually a sweet breakfast girl, but branched out for the savory omelet special. It was amazing!!! The menu is full of creative brunch options, as well as standard breakfast choices. They had a nice kids menu as well. It was a bit more $$$ than our typical breakfast ... ok, a lot more. We had 2 kids pancakes, kids bacon, 2 omelet specials, 2 coffees & choc milk. With tip we topped $45. I would def return, but more likely for brunch w/my friends than my fam of four. One other thing, the owner was on the floor and was super friendly and personable. Gus was a delight!
(4)Elizabeth H.
I had been wanting to go to Marmalade for a while; it looked so cute sitting there on Damen and Montrose. So finally I took my boyfriend there for an early Friday-morning breakfast. There were maybe 2 other people in the place (ok, they had just opened 20 minutes earlier). The staff was very friendly and attentive. I'm assuming the owner/manager sat us at our table? He seemed nice enough (based on other reviews that I have read, maybe he waits to be an a-hole til he has an audience...eek!) I ordered the Bonaparte; nothing fancy but delish croissant. Potatoes were tasty but entirely too big. My bf ordered the Pancho Villa skillet. I had a bite, it had a good flavor but again, the potatoes were really weighing that thing down; I don't know about you but when I think skillet, I think everything is nice and crispy and meshed together well?! The potatoes just took up too much darn space. Overall, glad I branched out a bit and tried something new. I'd be back, maybe after I try a few more new-to-me places.
(3)M G.
This place was fine, not great, not horrible but just ok. It was overpriced for what you got. They don't split checks which makes it a pain when you go with friends. The oven roasted house potatoes were over done. Disappointed they didn't have any real sausage on the menu. I was confused as to what kind of person they are trying to cater to. They have tempeh strips and both veggie sausage and chicken sausage. It would be nice if they were to have some classic breakfast stand by's such as pancakes or regular french toast. With other restaurants having better food and prices, I don't plan on going back anytime soon.
(2)Matt V.
I consider myself a breakfast snob. And, if I'm going out for breakfast/brunch, I want it to fall into one of two categories: Over-the-Top Inventive and Delicious or Greasy Spoon, Diner Style. Marmalade manages to take the negatives of each of these experiences and combine them into one unpleasant one. They try to be creative and inventive, but leave you remembering how much better OverEasy does it, just down the street. They tried to dress up the old Le Sabre, but the decor strikes out as well, not quite right. Mostly it feels like a dingy diner with new paint and slightly better food for twice the price. The service leaves something to be desired and in the winter it is freezing cold in there. My eggs and utensils were both noticeably chilled; not a great feeling. There are about 5-6 other places to go in the neighborhood, including Fountainhead brunch (right across the street) and all of them will leave you feeling better in the end.
(2)Tiffany S.
I love this place, especially with the new addition of the patio!! ( you know how us Chicagoans love to take advantage of the great weather while it's here.) We live in the neighborhood and were so excited to see a brunch place go in. The food has never disappointed us. The staff is always friendly, and the owner is totally a learn your name, friendly, down home kinda guy. If you ever go on the weekend or on a day that the special is the cinnamon roll French toast, TRY IT! Seriously I think it's the best brunch item I have ever had! Deelish!! I also love that they are so sweet to my daughter. Sometime you can walk into a place, they see your kid and their eyes start rolling. This is NOT that kinda place! They are totally kid friendly! In short: great staff and management, great food, kid friendly and in a beautiful neighborhood. What's not to love? Check it out!
(5)Lourdes D.
We had a great first-time visit. The restaurant was fairly crowded, but we were told it would be a short wait and it was. One of the owners, Gus, checked on us several times to make sure everything was okay with our meal. We brought our two children with us and I was pleased with their kids' menu. I thanked Gus for having a nice selection for the kids and he said, "Of course, half of our customers are kids during the weekend!" I had the marmalade crepes and my husband had an egg dish (sorry, forgot what it was called). We all enjoyed our food and the service was great. As I was saying goodbye to Gus, he told us to wait and then he packed up some muffins and cookies for us to take home!!! What a nice guy. We live in the neighborhood so we will be back. Thanks, Gus!! If you can't stand the wait at Overeasy, then this is a great alternative. Give it a try!
(4)Susie P.
Had a fantastic breakfast this morning with a co-worker! Gus could not have treated us better and we LOVED the food! Try the homemade scones, they are out of this world! Kudos to the great food, excellent service, and fabulous Chef... can't wait to go back!
(5)Ben E.
After a few friends had urged me to try this place I finally gave it a try this weekend. As my girlfriend and I entered the restaurant it was clear that the tables near the door were not an option. It was so cold that no one wanted to sit near the door. We were told by the hostess that the wait would be 20 minutes for a "warm" table as she called it. As we stood there and surveyed the restaurant and reviewed the menu we noticed that there were two open 4 top tables in plain sight. When a party of three walked in 10 minutes after us, they were immediately sat at one of the open 4 top tables. Seriously? I can understand restaurants not taking up large tables (5 or more) for a party of two but c'mon. When we asked about the remaining 4 top table the hostess said that they do not sit 2 people at a table for four on the weekend. I guess they would rather have a table ready just in case 3 people walk in rather than sit two people immediately with money in hand. The worst part was this place was only open for another hour. Needless to say we didn't even sit down and try it. Not a good policy to have customers ready to eat and sit there and stare at empty tables being held just in case..... There are too many great brunch spots that know how to treat their patrons. Skip it!
(1)John S.
Came here with a friend, got the Mexican Breakfast Combo. Comes with eggs anyway you like them cooked, house potatoes, two cheese quesadillas, some chips stuff and some fruit. I upgraded to chicken quesadillas and it was honestly the best thing on the plate. Really loved their potatoes as well, the chips were whatever. Service was good, didn't want too long for food. They gave us free scones since they were closing for the day, that was pretty awesome. Definitely would come back here, I was seriously full for like 8 hours.
(5)Zack F.
I understand when restaurants have a policy against seating people before their whole party has arrived. When you are busy and popular, it makes a lot of sense. Enter Marmalade and their 8:30am, only three other people are here but you still can't sit down yet cause your party hasn't arrived policy. There's no one here. I could be drinking coffee and buying beignets, but instead I'm standing awkwardly outside a largely empty restaurant. The food was excellent and our server was the best. So, I feel a bit better about the experience.
(3)Jeannie P.
Tried Marmalade for the first time on a recent vacation to Chicago. Definitely pluses and minuses to this place. The food was amazing. I had the Efrain Diablo omlet (it also comes with country potatoes). A very unique combination of shrimp, eggs, peppers & avocado. I loved every bite. They will not split checks. They will also not accept more than 1 credit card per check. If you go, make sure that you have cash or a generous friend to pick up the entire tab. Great location but this place is small so expect to wait a while (outside) if they're busy. The bathroom was not very clean and the toilet paper was on the floor - gross. Service was ok. Our server was pleasant enough but not overly friendly and she didn't check on us very often. The food was brought out in a reasonable amount of time so no major complaints. They have a very limited selection of jam for your toast or muffin. Nothing red. It was very strange. Overall, the taste of the food outweighs any of the smaller items. I would definitely return.
(4)Aimee M.
The sweets are sweet and the savories are savory. Marmalade certainly tunes in to everyone's breakfast/brunch dilemma. The menu has some great options like french toast, omelets, benedicts, chilaquiles and chicken/waffles, but also check out their specials. I was plenty pleased with the breakfast combo I chose. I opted for the chorizo skillet (spicy and savory) and the beignets (sweet). The skillet is full of breakfast potatoes, topped with chorizo and queso fresco (I omitted the spicy pepper jack by request) with 2 eggs your choice. This skillet was huge, a little greasy, but it's chorizo. I could only finish a quarter of it and brought it home for a second meal. It was spicy, flavorful and well-made. The beignets were also delicious. Not overly sweet but deliciously light and puffy. It comes with a raspberry sauce and a cappuccino sauce for dipping. A nice sized order where leftovers also leave the table for an afternoon snack. Coffee refills aplenty. The super friendly server asked if I wanted coffee to go to--how lovely was that? Cute place, bright and airy. The price was certainly right considering I got 2.5 meals out of one visit.
(4)Honey M.
I loved this place!!! It's small but the food is delicious. Portions are big so come hungry. Our server Gosia was very attentive to our needs despite the Memorial Day rush. I'd definitely revisit this place
(5)XTreats X.
Giving marmalade 4 stars instead of 3 because they are doing some unique dishes! They aren't the best but they are unique and worth the experience. I tried their rendition of chicken and waffles. The bacon potato leek gravy was good (didn't surpass your traditional sausage gravy but it was good.). The waffle was a little plain. Crab cake Benedict was good as well. I wish I tried one of their sweet dishes (french toast etc) they look great. Oh & staff was great
(4)RJ G.
Definitely have to come back here. Its a quaint little brunch spot that does breakfast right. I had the lady marmalade which was slices of brioche made french toast style with a marmalade compote. Delish! Also had the maple chicken sausage which was sweet, and i love sweet. My friend order the chilaquiles and they were pretty tasty as well. Chihuahua cheese on chips with eggs, avocado, veggies and potatos. Done right. The menu is large and is ever changing. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice brunch spot. Next time ill have to try the cuban sandwich.
(4)Shahzad A.
I really like the creative approach the chef takes to his food. Every week he has specials that are usually very good. The chef has stopped by our table a few times and has asked for feedback which is very nice. I highly recommend trying this place out.
(5)Michelle H.
Best vegan chilaquiles in the city! The tofu is actually seasoned well, which is surprisingly hard to find in Chicago. It's great to have an option at a place where I can go with non-vegan friends.
(5)Emily D.
LOVED Marmalade! Tried it for Sunday brunch a few weeks ago and I'm still thinking about the Mexican Combo I ordered. The sauce on the dish was incredible. I can't wait to go back. When we wee there the owner came by to ask how everything was - such a nice staff, too. I recommend a visit.
(5)Brock W.
Poor service + average/overpriced food (so many other options) = a place to avoid for Sunday brunch. It's a cute place, just hope they can get some of their service issues together because the food isn't good enough, nor priced right, to overcome the service.
(2)J H.
really yummy! let's see...french toast was amazing, and HUGE! I thought it might be overpriced but you definitely get what you pay for :) the side was too small for the price though. but, friendly waitress, short wait even though it was busy, chill atmosphere, delicious.
(5)Nicole M.
Marmalade is a good spot to take kids on a Saturday or Sunday morning -- the place opens early, the service is friendly and prompt, and the food is tasty. It's not the most incredible brunch (my favs for that would be Big Jones or Tweet), but it's in our neighborhood and the fact that I can take my toddler there at 8 a.m. and get a cup of strong coffee and good meal is golden in my book. My primary reason for liking this place is the family-friendly vibe, but the food is good as well. I'm a fan of the Mayan Omeletta (not for those with weak stomachs) and the French Toast (though it's never as crispy on the outside as I'd like, it usually comes with a hearty side of berries).
(3)Jay S.
There is no accounting for personal taste, and there is no accounting for personal experience. People like what they like, and sometimes people have bad experiences, without it necessarily being a generally applicable quality indicator or trend. Having said this, for me, Marmalade is hard to beat, and I go here quite often. It's rare for me that so many items on the menu are so irresistibly yummy, and I have never had a bad experience here, or been treated poorly. So many of the staples on the menu are so very very tasty, and yet, I often find myself going with one of the specials, because I trust them to be good and they basically always are. Throughout my many visits to Marmalade, there has been one constant however: the absolutely sublime coffee, Caffè Umbria by the Bizzarri family from Seattle. Forget Metropolis, forget Intelligensia - Caffè Umbria is what coffee is about. But then again, there is no accounting for personal taste. Which is why the five stars are mine, and I stand behind them all the way. Are they yours as well? You'll have to find out.
(5)Harold H.
Have been here a few times. I order the savory dishes. Was a big fan of the Marmalade burger. Most of the other stuff was decent, but over salted. Usually not an issue for me, but today's food coma had me laid out for over 5 hours. I still haven't recovered. Seriously, those house potatoes are going to be hit or miss for a lot of people.
(3)Hanna D.
Brunch is my FAVORITE meal ever. I'll try any place once, and I tried this place twice, just for good measure, bad idea. I should have stopped at the door when the hostess told me to pick a seat (even though there was a wait) and was more occupied with her lip gloss and her reflection in her phone screen. She was still occupied with this same task when we came up to pay our bill.... The next warning sign was the waitress. Now, when I go out to brunch, I NEED my coffee asap. I can't function without it, let alone read a menu. We ordered coffee, it didn't come for at least 10 minutes, and then the sugar shaker....was full of salt!!! Took another 10 minutes to get the bus boy over & 5 more minutes to get a new coffee & a new sugar shaker. Our waitress came to the table a total of 2 times, to get our order & to bring the check. The food was a total buzz kill. The menu makes it sound delicious, but when it gets on my fork its just soggy, and poorly put together. The flavors are bland & lack the extra vaa-voom that the menu made it sound like it had. I ordered hot cakes with raspberries & peaches (which is a my favorite fruit combo). The fruit was no where close to fresh, and it was cold fruit on top of HOTcakes. So either it was from the freezer a few days ago, or from a can. I was expecting it to either be fresh or possibly had been warmed in a pot & macerated. Another MAJOR complaint is that this place is not group friendly! They have a strict "no split checks' rule, nor can you split between cash & card. As a waitress, I understand the frustration of splitting checks & the costs associated with running multiples, but maybe allow 2 cards per tab or something. I can't bring my friends or family & split a bill.
(1)Beth M.
I love breakfast, my husband prefers to eat it at home so getting him to go out for it isn't any easy feat, but we had a day off and decided to try this spot without having to wait in line over the weekend. Thank God we didn't wait in line as I would've been even more disappointed. 1) the manager or Godfather of the place is so strange, he trolls around when he's not lurking at everyone from his perch at the register. Heard him yelling at the folks working back in the kitchen. Not pleasant. 2) Saw a delivery of Boca Burgers yet the menu said the veggie burger was homemade. 3) They charge you $1.50 for substitutions. Had planned on getting the Euro Brunch plate, but it came with sausage which I don't like, but I wasn't willing to pay $1.50 for the right to sub it out. 4) They also do not split checks nor do they accept multiple credit cards. 5) Atmosphere is like a semi-rehabbed greasy spoon (never went to the old spot, but seems like they just painted it and did a few other cosmetic things. Music was too loud (it wasn't crowded) and sounded like the CD was skipping, very repetitive. 5) And now to the food...I had ordered a mushroom skillet special which wasn't so special. Could barely eat the eggs over the mountain of potato hunks. Also, it said it had mozzarella in it...which it did, but they were literally globs of mozzarella smushed in amongst the potatoes. My husband ordered another omelette that looked better than my globs, but which he said was just "fair." The menu said egg dishes came with it, mine didn't....I didn't ask about it either figuring I'd have a piece of my husband's. Um, no. He only got one piece. Who serves just one piece of toast? Weird and cheap. Anyway, I would not go back to Marmalade. I just hope that all the people who love it stay away from Over Easy so we can go there instead. So much better!!
(2)Rivka G.
I live right around the corner from M. Henry so it's hard to justify trying new brunch places when one of the best brunches in Chicago is 100 paces from my doorstep. However, I'm a brunch addict and always looking for new, delicious spots, so the hubbie and I ventured out to Marmalade to check it out on a Sunday morning. Overall, it was a good experience, but I had a few gripes that were hard to overlook. Here's the scoop: Pros: - Even though there was a hoard of people waiting outside when we arrived at 11am, the wait wasn't too long. - After being seated, a man (I'm assuming the owner) came over and gave us a run-down of the menu and what their specialties were prior to our waitress coming over which made us feel loved. - The waitress was friendly enough. - The breakfast potatoes rocked. Mmmmmmm! - The multi-grain bread was really delicious. And they sell loafs to take home! Cons: - This place seems like they are trying to mimic M. Henry. The plating is similar (down to serving fresh mango, orange slices and cooked plantains on the plate). It's the same story with the seasoning of the breakfast potatoes (although I do have to admit I think their potatoes are slightly better than M. Henry's). - I felt like I was being penalized for being a vegetarian. Many of the dishes I wanted to try had chorizo in them. I got the Mayan Omletta and the hubbie got the Breakfast burrito. After telling the waitress we were vegetarian, she said they could replace the chorizo with vegetarian sausage, so we did that. But when the bill came, we were charged an extra $1.50 for this. To be fair, the menu says that you may be charged $1.50 for any substitutions, but does veggie sausage really cost that much more than chorizo? - I wish there wwere more fillings inside my omeletta. It could have done with more beans, salsa, etc.). The egg to filling ratio wasn't quite right. - It took a while to get coffee refills. - When the bill came, it seemed a bit high. It turns out they charged us $11.50 for the extra chorizo instead of $1.50. When we brought this to the cashier's attention, she didn't apologize, just said, "oh, OK", and fixed it. Not cool. Especially since they were charging us for the chorizo in the first place. Final Verdict: While the food was good enough, the prices (especially with the tack-on of the vegetarian substitution cost) do not warrant the trip over here.
(3)Jessie L.
My best friend and I went here for breakfast today as the first stop on our girls-day-out. I will soon be moving close by, so wanted to try some places in the new neighborhood! We didn't really know what to expect, since neither of us had been here before, but were pleasantly surprised with the food and atmosphere. The fruit that came with our meals was pretty impressive- chunks of juicy mango, pear, etc. The service was a little slow, but a man (who I'm guessing was the manager) sat us and was very polite to us, and even gave us a scone and muffin on the house before we left! I'll definitely be back :)
(4)Nick L.
I love Glenn's Diner in the Lincoln Square area, but Marmalade is now another favorite brunch spot. The menu is interesting and delicious. For the most part, the service is good (depending on which server you get). The homemade jams are oustanding! You can even buy some jam to go. The italian omelet, greek skillet, and banana loaf are all out of this world.
(4)David F.
If you aim to have bland run of the mill breakfast......aim lower and you will arrive at Marmalade, if not for the nice waitress it would of been a lone star.
(2)Shannyn N.
Stopped in to Marmalade on a beautiful Sunday after finding our destination, Troquet, to be closed and being told Glenn's wait was going to be 45 minutes...and SO glad we did! My friend and I were greeted by the owner, Gus, who was SO nice and told us we could sit anywhere we prefer on the patio and he'd meet us out there with coffee, water and menus. He was delivering our coffee as a busser was resetting the table and the server (Dino) was dropping off menus, which we were delighted to read thoroughly while we sipped our delicious coffee. The menu is incredibly enticing, we actually had two cups of coffee while we decided! They have a build-your-own-omelette menu, which had a wonderful ingredients list full of interesting seasonal vegetables and artisan cheeses (I'm a big fan of cheese...) They had an unbelievable sweet menu with Red Velvet French Toast and Nutella Crepes (which we did try for dessert and OMG!!) Every dish that was delivered to a table looked so good we were like kids in a candy shop. They also had really nice specials, which I decided to give a try. I had the "Sicilian Benedict", an italian twist on the classic Eggs Bennie with asparagus wrapped in prosciutto over perfectly poached eggs and some kind of homemade flatbread (so good) all drizzled with a special type of sauce (didn't get the name of it, but I could've eaten it like soup, yummy) and the most amazing breakfast potatoes I've ever had! (I typically don't love breakfast potatoes, but these were well seasoned, and perfectly cooked!) My friend built her own omelette with apple chicken sausage, goat cheese, red & green pepper and onion. She loved it. I read some of the other reviews and do have to agree on a few points, it's a bummer that they can't split checks or make substitutions but that's not terribly abnormal for a Sunday Brunch in the city and things like this can be forgiven with a nice experience and great service, which we absolutely had. The hostess was definitely not the worlds friendliest, which is too bad because every single person we encountered was lovely, maybe she just needs a lesson in friendly customer service because a first impression of space usually begins at the hostess stand...so it's not surprising to see negative reviews. If the experience begins on the wrong foot, it's hard to overlook any other misgivings. We took some fresh baked goods from the bakery case to-go for later and we were not disappointed! We shared a chocolate chip muffin and some other goodies with friends of ours we met up with later and they were so happy that they said they were going to have brunch there next weekend, I think I'll have to join them. I need to try more of that amazing menu!
(5)N D.
A little about me: 1) I LOVE LOVE LOVE brunch 2) In spite of that or probably because of that, I am super picky and selective about what I would call a great brunch restaurant. 3) To illustrate how picky I am - I have lived in six cities (and visited many others). Out of all those cities, I've only found four brunch restaurants to get excited about. Two are in San Francisco and two are in Los Angeles. Only one of those four truly has my heart (26 Beach in Venice Beach). Oh and I've tried about 15 highly rated restaurants in the city I currently live in and haven't found a single one that I care about. Poor me. 4) When my husband and I visited Chicago last weekend, I finally found a place that just might be tied with my all time favorite brunch restaurant ever - MARMALADE! The reason that I only say "might" is that I don't live in Chicago and only had a chance to try two of their dishes (my husband's and my own). The dish I ordered was perfection. A little about Marmalade: 1) The atmosphere was warm and inviting (and we were lucky because we got a seat just minutes before a line up started). 2) The waitress and the owners were absolutely lovely. They cheerfully greeted us, made us feel welcome and the service was great. 3) I ordered the El Picante Benedict which was kind of like a hybrid between eggs benedict and huevos rancheros. It was exquisite. The tortillas, fresh avocado and spicy chorizo were scrumptious. I was hesitant about the Mayan sauce because I hadn't heard of it so I asked for it on the side. I didn't need to though because it was delicious and the perfect companion for my meal. They really paid attention to detail with this one, carefully selecting ingredients and sides to make everything come together perfectly. It even came with a side of sweet, fried plantains! What?!? I freaking love plantains and never get them for breakfast. Yay! 4) My husband's dish came with slices of fresh, juicy, delicious mango! Not your typical, boring cup of cubed melons that most restaurants offer as a fruit side. 5) My husband ordered the Mayan Omeletta and loved his meal too. At one point during the meal, my husband looked up at me and said "I've never seen you eat like this before. You haven't breathed." I went to town on my breakfast and then made a move on his. I love you Marmalade!
(5)Nick Q.
I don't know how anybody can give this place a bad review because my fiance and I have been here half a dozen times since moving into the area and we absolutely love it. It's such a great place that we make a point of taking anybody visiting us to get breakfast here. First let's start with the atmosphere. The place is such a cute little breakfast place and really sets the tone for a nice Saturday or Sunday morning breakfast. Yes, it may be crazy busy, but that's fine. The atmosphere is still very enjoyable. Then there's the food. OMG, the food. Everything I have tried here has been great. Some is better than others, but that's to be expected. Everybody has their differing tastes. The Bonaparte is fantastic, as is the breakfast burrito. The peached and raspberry pancakes are to die for. I've tried a few other dishes that are also good, but these three are my favorites to date. The owner is awesome. If you take the time to chat with him a bit (he's too busy for much more than small conversation) you'll find him to be a very nice guy. I've heard people say he's hard on his workers...but hey, look how busy they are and tell me how you can keep up with that without being a little tough. He remembers us every time we come in and makes a point of stopping by to chat and see how we're doing. When he heard my fiance told him she was looking for a new job in the food industry he even offered to keep an ear out for her and let her know if he heard about anything she might be interested in. The only negative thing I could think of for this place is the wait. However, it's not their fault other than that they're so good that tons of people want to eat there. It's not like they can kick people out the door to make room for others. This would lead to a much more negative atmosphere. Honestly, in my opinion, any wait (and I've waited awhile before on the weekend) is worth it to eat here.
(5)Emily B.
I'm going to go middle of the road on this first review because I didn't have my usual critical, observational boots on. Having New Years' Day breakfast with my friend, her husband, and baby, the energy was focused on keeping baby happy and talking about said baby. They were super accommodating for the baby with a full house that morning. Can't remember what I had, but do remember it had a nice kick, they had a ridiculous amount of menu options as well as specials (which were tricky to see based one where we were seated), and our server was super friendly and attentive.
(3)KM I.
Oh how I love breakfast food! I could eat cereal and pancakes for every meal of every day. Marmalade didn't quite strike me as the "comfort food" breakfast food kind of place. Items on the menu have a Mexican twist and are either sweet or savory. I opted for the crepes and thought they were okay. The service was very nice and accommodating, but I wasn't blown away enough by the food options unfortunately.
(3)Jillian D.
friendly. that's a great word to describe this new addition to the neighborhood. from the host/owner's warm welcome as he escorted us to our table, to our waiter's delivery - both verbal (explaining the menu) and physical (ready refills of coffee; bringing our much anticipated dishes out just as we ordered), to the host/owner's banter as we paid. i do think they are a little heavy handed with the creme anglaise (there are other sauces to choose from). but the food is beautifully presented, warm and tasty. can't be the location either! i am glad a small business took over this corner spot instead of a chain.
(4)Lisa W.
Found a new favorite brunch spot! Went here on a Sunday morning at 10am and was seated within 5 min. The place was pretty crowded and a little noisy but that's typical for Sunday brunch spots in Chicago. I ordered the Crab Benedict and it was spectacular ! The crab was Soo good and not fishy at all. It comes with poached eggs on top and is served over a cornbread instead of an English muffin. It also came with a heaping portion of roasted potatoes. My friend had a made your own omelette and his portions were generous as well. We also split one of the specials which was a sampler of their 4 French toasts. They were red velvet, carrot, lemon poppyseed and I forget the other but they were all to die for! The toppings on each were delicious! The service was great. We always had refills on our coffee. The waitress told us all about the specials and was very attentive throughout our meal. I definitely recommend this place!
(4)ashoor y.
OMG! you have to try this place. I hear the guy that was at M. Henry is now the chef. They have some great, new, and fresh breakfast ideas. I had the Manny's Diablo, with jerk shrimp...yes shrimp!!! It was awesome!! The owner treated me to an order of their "made from scratch" French toast...let me tell you, I didnt want to get out of the chair!!! You gotta try it.
(5)Roberto G.
To make it simple .... Awesome !! The BYOB was a ++
(5)MK D.
The best french brioche toast - The Lady Marmalade!!!
(5)Jez E.
Thank you, Marmalade, for kindly, carefully and deliciously accommodating our gluten-free needs. We had just left Fountainhead, who could not do the same, and we were upset and hungry. Not only did we not get sick after eating your food, but we had a very tasty meal and excellent service. Great food - creative and fresh ingredients, cooked very well. We will be back many times! Cheers!
(4)James M.
Don't walk... Run to this place! It's LeSabre (the next generation). I lived in this area for years, and loved LeSabre (the restaurant that used to occupy the space). I remember being very upset when it closed, only to find out that it was being revamped. The owners nephew has now taken over and it's better than ever! Had the breakfast burrito, it was out of this world! The wait staff was very pleasant. It's great for in and out eating, and great to hang, visit, and eat as well. It's a must!!!
(5)Holly M.
2.5 stars...if I could. Marmalade is ok. I greatly enjoyed their super salty tempeh strips on the side, but the omelette I ordered wasn't that fantastic. It had a sickening amount of cheese in it and just wasn't flavorful. My V8 juice was a bit warm, too. It's your typical quick diner food and there are warnings everywhere saying they won't accept two credit cards or split checks. However our waitress was nice and the manager even came outside to see if my friend and I were doing ok. Marmalade is still pretty new so I'll probably return again, perhaps for lunch.
(2)Brittany V.
I went to Marmalade this morning for breakfast and had a pretty decent experience. They were serving both lunch and breakfast by the time we got there, and there was a good selection to choose from. We barely waited for a table, and was greeted immediately by someone who explained the specials to us. I opted to get the vegan chilequiles, which were awesome. Not too spicy, with just the right amount of food. And the tofu scramble that came on top was awesome. My breakfast companions got the special Salmon Benedict and the Mayan Omlettee, and they both enjoyed those. I think the only thing that was lacking in my experience is that I would have liked a little more personality from our waitress. She was fine and prompt, but she seemed bored by being there. Prices are also a bit high for breakfast, but I can tell they do use really fresh ingredients, so I will let it slide. I also wish there was a little music going on! I don't know if I just couldn't hear it, but I am a fan of a little tune-age happening while I'm eating. I will probably be back to Marmalade in the future, if only to try the more sweet dishes that seem to be more popular.
(3)Melissa H.
Went here on a Travelzoo deal. 2 people eat for $15 and it includes 2 drinks. Quite possibly the best latte I've ever had. Service, food and menu was unique and different from normal breakfast places that serve the same thing. A hidden find in Chicago. Street/metered parking wasn't difficult to find a spot on a Saturday morning.
(4)Jeff C.
In short: Great, great spot for breakfast. We haven't tried them for lunch yet. Diverse menu, fresh fruit and salads, nice people. This place has excellent, well rounded dishes. Even when ordering something as simple as 2 eggs it comes with sliced mangos, sliced orange and cherry tomatoes next to their house potatoes and multigrain toast. Their omelettes are really tasty too, and while we haven't had their french toast or pancakes yet they look amazing. They always have a few fresh pastry trays full of muffins, scones and cookies too. Good, good stuff. Marmalade is pretty new at this point and so are some of the waitstaff, but don't let that steer you away. The waitstaff, busboys, managers and even cooks are all really nice and after 3 meals there since they opened we've never had even the tiniest of problems. They've been pretty full on weekends but we've never waited more than 20 minutes for a table. I'd rather wait a few minutes because they're busy (and busy because they're good) than see them empty. Overall, it's really nice to have found a breakfast spot with such a diverse menu and great food that doesn't leave you feeling as though you just ate a brick. They've obviously put a lot of time and effort into making their dishes very balanced. Some of the not-so-great reviews here are way, way too hard on Marmalade. If you're a total princess and can't be even a little understanding when you're not treated as though you're the -only- person in the entire restaurant, stay home. For the rest of us, Marmalade is excellent. Oh, and the "sliced hard unripe peaches" one reviewer complained about are MANGOS. It's not the restaurant's fault that you don't know what a mango is.
(5)Jaime P.
It was fairly crowded for brunch on new years day, and I didn't experience the service problems some other reviewers did. The waitress wasn't particularly nice or helpful, but she wasn't mean or inattentive. Average. I would have given this place a three if not for a couple of things. 1 - spice rubbed potatoes do not go with everything, people. Especially when there is pretty clearly cumin on them which is a very distinctive spice. It surely doesn't go very well with sun-dried tomato hollandaise. These potatoes are on almost every dish no matter how they may clash with the other ingredients. Just weird. I had the shroom benedict (one of I think 5 bennies on the menu), and unlike another reviewer, I thought the fried shroom was the best thing about the dish. Also the spinach was well done. However, the tomatoes on the dish were tasteless and mushy. The hollandaise was probably good, I don't know, it was barely there (is this a bennie or what??) and worst of all, really huge misstep, the eggs were overpoached. The yolks were cooked through. The two most appealing things about the benedict are the hollandaise and the runny egg yolks, and they were both not great. You are a breakfast/brunch place. Overpoaching is not ok. Overpoaching is never ok. But especially for a breakfast place. If the eggs are clearly overpoached, don't put them on my plate. Every experienced brunch chef can spot an overpoach from a mile away. If you have to bring out the other people's orders to my table and I have to wait 3 minutes for proper eggs, I will gladly wait. Still, despite that, the atmosphere was cute, and the ideas of the dishes are good. It was crowded, so mistakes will happen. Which is why I will give it one more chance, and hope for a better result next time. If the same thing happens, I wouldn't return. Not for $15 tab for mediocre brunch.
(2)James D.
We have been to this breakfast/lunch place a few times now and breakfast is fantastic. Have yet to order from the lunch menu because I'm partial to French toast and pancakes. The last visit I had pumpkin French toast. Omg. Amazing. The service has been reasonable, not stellar which is why it falls short of 5 stars for me.
(4)rodd g.
I have never written one of these but this place is amazing. Best most creative breakfast menu ever. I will be back often.
(5)J B.
Packed on weekends! Only open til 2:30PM!!
(4)Victoria W.
I guess the new owners at Marmalade are listening to your feedback, because when I went for breakfast with 3 others at 10 on a Saturday morning, everything went smoothly. The server (the girl from Ireland) was on the ball, the manager guy was facilitating and apologizing for any waits (the place was full) and the food was tasty. We didn't try any of the sweet stuff, so I can only recommend the omelets. The only disappointing thing was that no one asked if we wanted refills on beverages (which are on the pricey side). Roseann pretty much covered all the bases...
(4)Marinel C.
The place is super cute. Menu looks amazing, food looks nice when it came out, but the taste...meh. I had the chocolate french toast. It's is not brioche as the menu stated, but chocolate cake with a vanilla frosting in between layers. My teeth hurt just thinking about it - way too sugary. My husband had the apple french toast. It had more apples than french toast. It literally looked like two whole apples cut up on his plate. And now for the coffee. Yuck. And they don't serve cream, it's non dairy creamer. The orange juice tasted like watered down Minute-Maid. The only thing I appreciated was that the fruit plate had strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, mangos, pineapple and melons. Lots of fresh fruit. And $45 dollars for two adults and a toddler? No thanks.
(2)Adam R.
Great menu but food wasn't that hot and service was mediocre. Definitely be back though.
(4)Michael V.
Its decent. I expected more. I had the vegan chilaquiles and it was drenched in the tomato sauce. The lady had the classico omelette and that was aight. Mom dukes got the lady marmalade and it was pretty good. Pops got the Mayan omelette and it was a little salty. Breakfast for 4 ran $60 and it definitely didn't reflect the experience. The staff and service was great. All in all the French toast was the highlight , good coffee and solid staff. I'm giving 3 stars because the service was sincere and they even gave my daughter a cookie out of the cookie jar. And whenever the baby is happy I'm happy. Dumb it down a little guys, your menu is high-tech. Incorporate some tried and true Chicago breakfast staples. We're not the fattest city for no reason. Give me bacon not tempeh bacon. Get the food to match the price or vice versa and we've got a winner.
(3)Michael A.
Mayan omelette and the cajun shrimp chef's special were both really good. Menu looks like it has dozens of interesting combinations I'm anxious to try, especially there versions of eggs benedict.... The brioche French Toast was just okay. Service staff are friendly but you'll have a long wait time if you go on a Saturday or Sunday, if you have more than 2 people...
(4)Dana G.
I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews. The special artichoke heart omelet with roasted tomatoes and goat cheese was amazing---and I don't even love omelets. The crab cake benedict was less exciting but still good, and I thought the service was impeccable. If anything, our coffee was filled too frequently.
(4)Renee S.
This place is great. Not sure what other reviews are talking about. Food is awesome, service is awesome and they are super nice! Fresh food including the fruity fluffy pancakes, fresh salads and soups! We brought our friends from Minneapolis here and they all loved it! We have been there 3 times already and always great service!
(4)Katie M.
This is hands down my favorite brunch and lunch place!! I have been here over two dozen times and will continue to go.. Marmalade never disappoints and everything I have ever ordered is always amazing!! The owner, Gus, is always so nice and wants to make sure everyone in his place is happy! The service is great! I will forever recommend this place!
(5)Malleana R.
Best breakfast I've had that didn't come from my kitchen in a long time ! Great service ! Great smoothies !
(5)Jodi B.
Delicious food! I had the vegan chiliquiles, and they had so much flavor and just a little kick. Yum!
(5)Hope H.
They provided very friendly service and Azteca omelette with salsa verde as their special was very tasty. Ravenswood crepes are not too sweet. I really like the seasoning they use for side potatoes with the omelette and the potatoes were cooked just right. I will definitely come back again to try other dishes on the menu.
(4)Jason M.
Awesome breakfast spot. I had the Right Stuff and the potatoes, and holy cow it was fantastic! I've been back with my wife and family several times, and the food is always great. I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)Kassi B.
The food is pretty okay. And maybe that's all you care about. If so, enjoy! I, however, cannot stand going to this place. I have had the same server the last few times and was completely underwhelmed. I'm sure I'll keep going because it's so close to my job, but seriously I'd prefer competent smiling faces serving my eggs.
(3)Andrew S.
Best breakfast in the neighborhood! This is by far my favorite spot on the north side of Chicago for breakfast or brunch. The food is incredibly fresh, with rotating specials, and the staff is always affable and friendly. You won't be disappointed with any omelette choice, and the actual marmalade they make will blow your socks off. Try going later in the morning/early afternoon to bypass the wait, or hit it up during the week day if you're playing hooky from work. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Tom Z.
One of the worst experiences I've had at a restaurant. Outrageous prices (almost $4 for a side of syrup?! Almost $3 for an extra egg?!), horrible service (a friend came by and we wanted to get a seat for her, but in asking our waitress who barely cared to pay attention to my question she wasn't sure, so asked the owner or boss that proceeded to quickly grunt no), the ketchup they give you is barely a packets worth in a nice metal container so we had to ask for plenty more), food did not warrant the prices, no substitutions, and no splitting the bill. What are we tipping for? Bad service and payment processing? It's a little brunch place, but you would think it was a high end fancy dinner restaurant based on the snobby attitudes and atmosphere of this place. Never going back again.
(1)Tricia W.
We go here because it's 2 blocks from the house. We always leave irritated. Service is super slow and the waitresses are mentally compiling their grocery lists or something. As others have mentioned, forget getting out of here quickly. Even on a weekday when there's 1-2 other tables. Orders are frequently wrong, and once we were given an entire breakfast plate we didn't order (waitress dumped and left without a word). We were told when she came back 15 minutes later that it was a gift from the chef....um ok. I was going to give them 3 stars but then I remembered they charge $4 for a side of bacon.
(2)Will C.
It took me so long to get to Marmalade and I can't figure out why. Picture one of the trendier restaurants of any of the ones popping up around Chicago claiming to strive for great ingredients, expertly prepared, and only pretending to follow through on it. Marmalade does all that, without needing to brag about it or pat themselves on the back. I don't see much press about them and the reason is obvious.. The food speaks for itself. Gosia (hope I'm spelling that right) was my server and she was a breath of fresh air. I have years of server experience and it's always my philosophy to treat guests as old friends having dinner at my home; familiar and caring. She did this without missing a beat. My girlfriend complimented her necklaces and she stopped to talk to us a little about them. This kind of service seems to almost get beaten out of people in Chicago and to see it still thriving here tells me it is run extremely well by someone who knows what they're doing. The menu is very original, my Spartan omelette was absolutely incredible. The kitchen is FAST without sacrificing quality. The coffee is good for a dark roast. This is no third-wave coffee shop or anything so that's fine. I haven't tried the espresso (and if you read any of my other reviews I always like to go in depth about the coffee) but I'll get back to you on it. It's BOLD but flavorful coffee. Stands up well to cream and a little sugar. I'll say this they brew it right on the money. I don't know why you're reading still unless you've already made your way there and you're finishing up reading this while eating your toast with guava marmalade. I hope that's the case. If not, maybe you should put your phone away and go to Marmalade.
(5)Douglas B.
Wifey and I have been here a few times and I want to give it 4 stars, but as the rating says... its A-OK. The place is solid, solid 3 stars. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, the food is good. I feel it is a bit over priced for what you get, it's not something that's blowing me out of the water. It does get pretty busy on the weekends so be prepare to wait a bit during prime time. But they do a nice job of getting you seated as soon as they can. They do have some off the wall concoctions that honestly don't sound very appetizing to me, I like simple food. Some of the specials they have just have way too many ingredients in them, does not call my attention. I will leave it up to you to try it, heck you might like the specials they have. They are a solid restaurant, i really don't have any complaints. Everything tastes right, its good food, but nothing that I will rush to go get or line up for all the time. you might want to do it :D
(3)Bless M.
Definitely one of my favorite breakfast places. Friendly staff and fresh food. A bit pricey but I love the french toast!
(4)Jon R.
After years of coming here, Marmalade is still my favorite brunch place. The food is always incredible. There is always something new and interesting to try on the specials menu. Gus and Efrain have some amazing flavor combinations no matter if you are in the mood for sweet or savory or spicy. If you go on the weekend, you might have to wait for a seat because it can be a bit of a madhouse, but stick around and give it a try. Your tastebuds will thank you. You can see from the mixed yelps that you will either love this place (most people) or hate it (overprivileged crybaby prima donnas). Don't let the naysayers cheat you out of a delicious and creative meal.
(5)Bernard L.
I have been here many times and I can't believe I haven't written a review yet. The owner Carlos has always been kind and gracious to everyone that walls in the door. A lot of places get real busy and you see the owner yelling at the employees as the pressure builds, but not Carlos. I appreciate that in a business and I think that shows in the food. They fit a lot of tables in a small space, but you don't feel cramped at all. Their brunch specials are to die for and almost always have some type of beef or pork dish. I recently had the chicken and waffles, which were great. The chicken was lightly breaded and moist and the waffles was crispy. I airways enjoy coming here fur brunch because I'm never disappointed.
(5)Dan G.
Really good brunch/breakfast spot. Creative menu that is always changing. There is a Latin flair to the menu which keeps the food exciting. The specials are always worth a try. From pancakes to Benedicts to sandwiches I have been satisfied with everything I have had there. Fresh squeezed juices and good espresso are also a plus in my book. The service is friendly and the owner/manager always makes sure you are doing good. The last time I went I tried their take on biscuits and gravy. It came with a gravy smothered corn flake crusted boneless chicken breast and 3 little biscuits. Really creative and tasty. Those biscuits had little pieces of bacon in it and were legit. Overall it is worth the wait you run into on the weekends. It is brunch turned to 11. Can't wait to come back.
(4)Executive Chef Ronnie B.
When you first walk into a new restaurant thing never been to before and the owner personally greet you and Pat you on the back like you're his best friend there something special to be said about that. The food was classic yet gourmet at the same time and it that's hard to find especially down to the whole wheat bread they put all the sandwiches on which is remarkable. The manager is seem to be was our server which I loved because he took our order & delivered our food in there was a server assistant dealing with all the details the customers might need like water silverware refills etc. I will be back here without a doubt & zero hesitation. For the record I had the jerk chicken club I believe it was called & It may have been the best chicken club I've ever eaten and this is coming from an executive chef. What I love most about this place is that Guss does nothing but brunch lunch & espresso and do it extremely extremely well. Gus coming from two contractors & a Chef which pride ourselves on quality....hats off to you Guss!!
(5)Andrew B.
Ordered eggs over hard and was surprised that what I received was exactly that. Most places I've been to lately will bring a maximum of eggs over medium. So the kitchen knows what's up and that's always a good sign. I wouldn't get the savory creeps again, but that's personal taste. *no separate checks *one credit card per group *american express not accepted (visa, MasterCard or discover ok)
(5)Ryan F.
Great neighborhood BYOB brunch option. I went today and had the Papi Chulo and it was excellent. They only allow one card per table which is kinda 1995 so perhaps they should change it up. I did notice that the table to my left and right had their food sent back as the waiter made some errors with their entrees. Overall great food!
(4)R.A. H.
Been here several times. First review. Always something new to try at this place but at the same time having some great always available staples. Great use of flavor, texture and fabulous presentation. Location convenience also is a bonus. Ambiance is nicely casual. Family friendly. On this visit, I tried the Papi Chulo. Slow cooked pulled chicken sauteed in tomato chipotle sauce and salsa verde, with queso fresco and Chihuahua cheese topped with sour cream, guacamole and salsa verde. A dish to truly awaken the senses. Dishes aren't huge, which is nice, but more than enough to satisfy.
(5)Roger M.
Helmed by a former chef at M. Henry, this joint pleases but not if you expect to be treated as if Beyonce and Jay-Z walked in, which is the vibe I get from reading the poor reviews. Gus the manager is friendly and accommodating. If he seems curt, it's because he's running the place like a tight ship and his work pays off. Their dishes are elevated, not standard breakfast fare so don't expect The Cracker Barrel. There's a twist to breakfast standards such as french toast, pancakes, benedicts and omelettes. If you want boring, go somewhere else but if you want your tastebuds wowed, by all means run inside. Most items are latin-inspired and executed well; the Azteca Omelette is crazy good with great flavors. Cubano french toast is a taste of the Caribbean on your plate. Lots of sweet and savory items guaranteed to satisfy everyone. Waitstaff is very efficient and the reason they scramble like F-14 jet fighters off to a dogfight. You won't wait longer than 15 mins at most times. The plus is that they have kept the business in the family since it was the neighborhood mainstay, LeSabre.
(5)Benjamin B.
Marmalade is a great local establishment for brunch on the weekends. I had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. There is a high noise level, but it just adds to the ambiance. The waiter was friendly and the food was delicious. I had pancakes with bacon. The food tasted fresh and I enjoyed every bite.
(4)Kaitlin K.
The food was AMAZING! I ordered a very well priced build your own omelette that had delicious flavors and spices! (I suggest black beans and pepper jack cheese!) They also serve fancy coffee drinks to enjoy with plenty of tasty breakfast/brunch options. I'm a vegetarian, my mom is a picky eater, and my dad's diet consists of mostly meat, so finding a restaurant that offers good food at good prices that meets my family's needs is difficult. Marmalade had a variety of options, vegan and vegetarian friendly and all well-made and well-priced. This is a great place for EVERYONE. I cannot WAIT to go back!!!
(5)Justine G.
I would definitely come back to this neighborhood joint because not only is the food really good but also the staff and owner and very personable. It's also the kind of menu where you want to come back and try all the other yummy options. Definitely get the apple cider!
(4)Karla U.
This place is cool. Since its a breakfast place it is crazy busy but they try their best to accommodate you. They have great options for breakfast and brunch. You will be surprised you can eat! :P Great food, juices, and lattes . Staff nice as well and attentive.
(5)Christopher R.
Went here with friends because we needed a place that had vegan options (2 of us vegan, 2 omnivore). I was excited to go since there were tons of reviews here that suggest it's great for vegans... well. It's OK for vegans. Only ONE actual item on the menu is vegan - the chilequiles. There are a couple of vegan sides as well. Vegetarians rejoice - this place has tons for you. I was a little disheartened that there was only one vegan option and not in the mood to build a meal out of sides. And then... I asked for a mimosa - standard fare at brunch... but they don't have any alcohol :-( We are not off to a good start. Then I notice the "No splitting checks, No splitting card transactions sign." Ugh... I tell my friends, "This food better be amazing or I'm going to go insane!" Then the food arrived...and WOAH... it was SO GOOD!!! Dare I say AMAZING!! Everyone loved what they ordered. The Vegan chilequiles were perfect and the breakfast potatoes were killer. Also, the service was really great. Very friendly folks and no one's water glass (remember... no mimosas) was never more than half empty (er..half full?). Solid 4 stars because the food is really that good. But to get that 5th star... I would have loved the option of drinks, combine the sides into a plate special for another vegan option in the main dishes, and for the build an omeletta add the option of making a tofu scramble :-) Seriously, food is amazing and I definitely will be back.
(4)Javier S.
Best brunch in Ravenswood, Lincoln Square area. Was in this morning and enjoyed a Caribbean Club and as usual French toast special, today's was a carrot loaf and an Oreo type. I can't get over how great Marmalade is.
(5)Nickie P.
Great spot for brunch! I had a hard time deciding what to order because everything looked good -- I ended up with the Mayan omelette, which was great. Everything came in super large portions and was really great.
(5)Joe L.
Simply amazing. Went in for breakfast and was welcomed by a hospitable team of servers and a manager. It was relatively busy, which is a good sign for a Monday morning. I got the Pollo Loco which I HIGHLY recommend. Lovely moist shredded chicken cooked in tomato and chipotle mixture, mounded over a crispy tortilla topped with two poached eggs (they were slightly over cooked) guacamole, sour cream, salsa verde, and queso fresco. It also came with their breakfast potatoes which were amazing as well. Potatoes, scallions, diced red peppers, all of them perfectly cooked. I can not wait to go back and try the other things I was fighting between. Just as a note, you can not split the tab here. So only one credit card for the table.
(5)Sofia G.
One of my favorite breakfast spots! Everything I've tried here is delicious: guava french toast, the crepes, the aztec omelette, hash and eggs, the funghi omelette... Never a wrong dish! And the service is always friendly!
(5)Kathleen C.
Marmalade was a nice change from the usual spots...which are overly packed and typically not that amazing. Marmalade was friendly and cute, with no frills decor and really nice staff. We visited for brunch and only had a few minute wait. The menu is MASSIVE! It has a zillion things listed. I opted for the two eggs any style with potatoes and toast. The eggs were perfectly done, but skip the cheese - it's a waste and I wasn't expecting it to come out as it did. The toast options didn't include white (I know, it's not as healthy, but for some reason, I really like white toast with my eggs...multigrain was pretty good, though). The potoates were good, though I wasn't expecting them to have little bits of peppers in them. They also were a bit crispy, though not as hot as I would have expected on the inside. I also ordered a side of one hotcake. This was the only disappointing part as I had to ask for it when it didn't arrive and then it took at least 20 min to come out (pretty good, though). Everyone else devoured their meals, so obviously the food is pretty good. I don't think it was anything over the top, but it did hit the spot. Service was the part that really took a beating here. They came to refill coffees and skipped mine...next time the coffee refill was on it's way, I had to hand over my cup so that no one forgot. Also, there seemed to be quite a bit of confusion with the order....it was a bit busy, and the server was really nice, but I was a tad frustrated about the overall service level. Pretty good spot. Food - 4 Service - 2 Atmosphere - 3 Bathrooms - 3 Value - 5
(3)Meg R.
We come here often. It's our neighborhood breakfast spot. Well it was anyways. The food is normally good. Service good enough. Never had a problem until this morning. Our waitress with super long hair didn't have it pulled back. And every time she put something on our table her hair dipped in our water. There were 4 of us. So the two of us that were on the outside of the table this kept happening. So gross!!! So then we kept watching her and she was at the kitchen window. Grabbing her hair putting her fingers through it. Then she grabbed our food off the line!!! Sooo gross. Our last straw was when she was clearing our plates and her hair went into my almost empty latte cup. We all saw it. We just shook our heads and got out of there. We won't be back. That's for sure. We are all in the industry and one of the number one health code rules is pull your hair back! Especially when it's down to your butt!
(1)Carla E.
OMG THIS PLACE IS BAE!!! I have been there couple times and they make me fall in love more and more each time!!! i recommend the papi chulo, it has that delicious flavor!!!!!
(5)Bert T.
They really don't want my business! The sign on the door says they are open until 2:30. I arrived at 1:55 and asked to be seated. The owner said NO, because they were closing In half an hour. I said, "you know you are losing a customer. Are you OK with that?' He said, "I'm fine with that." Well -- OK then. Buh BYE!
(1)Natalia R.
Me and my husband went to Marmalade today for breakfast. We came here a couple of times before that and the experience was ok, average I would say. Today was the worst. I'm going to point out the things that are most annoying: Noise: the place is small and usually pretty busy - I guess this is the reason it's VERY VERY noisy. You can hardly have a conversation there. Food: average. The french toast wasn't anything special, seemed a little dry. Waiters: they seem very stressed and they run around like crazy and obviously try really hard to clean tables and sit people down. This makes it difficult to relax. Imagine sitting at a small table for two in the middle of the restaurant when someone constantly runs (literally, runs) back and forth past to your table. Service: when we sat down waiter came quickly and took our orders, he was nice and patient. When we had our first coffees we had to wait for a long time for a refilll. We both finished coffees BUT the waiter only offerred a refill to my husband, ignored me, and disappeared so quickly I didn't ahve a chance to say anything. It took me a very long time to get someone's attention again to get a refill of my coffee. They were very quick to bring us the check though. Hmm... didn't surprise me at all. This is the place where they want you to quickly order, eat and get out ASAP. We will never come back.
(2)Gino W.
Voulez-vous manger avec moi ce jour? Voulez-vous manger avec moi? Okay, so that may be a bit much. No, it wasn't. I love ethnic food and one thing I will admit that American restaurants get right is breakfast. I was hesitant to go to Marmalade because of some of the reviews, but sometimes you have to check things out for yourself. Breakfast bliss all around for the start of my birthday. Cafe au lait. Eggs scrambled well with cream cheese. Cubano French toast. The cafe au lait was not bitter, not in the least. I drank it without any sugar and said silently, "Intelligentia, you have competition." By the second cup, I was saying, "Intelligentia what?" Nothing spectacular about cream cheese in my eggs, as that is a staple for my desired preparation of eggs. Where I wanted to stand up and sing "Gino Marmalade," was with the Cubano French toast. I would gladly have enjoyed a petite mort after the first bite of the French toast in guava marmalade with a cream anglaise, topped with strawberries, guava, and granola.
(4)Michael N.
Marmalade is one of those city restaurants that Ashley and I drive 30+ miles for. It is not conveniently located for us...at all. We have to take 94 down to Irving Park, then east to Damen, then up to Montrose. But....it's worth it. I would walk 500 miles for those breakfast potatoes. I would trudge through sludge for their breakfast skillets. There is no distance that could keep me from Marmalade. It has become a holiday restaurant for us. We went there on Memorial Day, and then on Labor Day. I wish there was another Monday holiday coming up so we could go back soon. Their servers are fast and friendly. It is a smaller restaurant, so there is usually a wait. But once you walk in, the smell of deliciousness fills your booger holes and you tell yourself "60 minute wait? That's ok." Jk, the longest we waited was probably 15 minutes. The portions are enormous too. It is a little pricey for breakfast, but it is really awesome. There aren't many, but Marmalade is one of the reasons why I envy people who live in Chicago.
(5)Elise W.
I'm a little sad to write this review. I've been to this restaurant twice previously, and had a great experience with both service and food. However this Sunday was different. I was with a group of 4 and we called ahead to find out wait times. The person on the phone told us there wasn't a wait - well when we got there 10 minutes later, the line was out the door and it was over a half hour. My friend said that we had just called and a staff member later whispered to her that the manager told her to lie to us about the wait on the phone. This really turned all of us off, but we decided to stay since I had previously enjoyed my experiences here. Our waitress, I have to say, was really friendly, so that part of service was o.k. We ordered our food - I got one of the benedicts and asked for hollandaise on the side. When it came, however, the plate was drowning in it. Not a big deal, I asked them to fix it. However, it came back to me a minute later with streak marks from where they obviously took a towel and wiped the sauce off - it was still on the bread and the whole plate of food was cold. The poached eggs were cold and hardened in the middle. By this point, I did not want to send it back again - so I just dealt with it. My friend ordered french toast and she said the bread was stale. Super disappointing. I realize the restaurant was really busy, but they should still care about the food they put out and management should definitely not lie to customers in order to try and get more business. I unfortunately will not be back after this experience.
(2)Chris M.
This place is outstanding! Our friends invited us to join them for Sunday brunch, so glad they did. The service was warm, friendly, attentive, and impeccable. The food was diverse and superb. They offer the traditional breakfast and lunch options but with their own unique interpretation. Marmalade also offers many unique dishes - too many to try in one visit - so a great reason to go back. Highlights of our first trip: french toast flight, the crabmeat eggs benedict and beignets.
(5)Lauren R.
Marmalade is our default on Mondays when Over Easy isn't open. At Over Easy, we arrive at 7am with the morning crowd, and are out with a full, happy belly by 7:30 at the extreme latest. At Marmalade, we arrive at their 7:30 opening time, and cross our fingers to be out by 8:30 after being 1 of 2 tables occupied at that time. The food is good, except for the greasy potatoes, and the water is constantly refilled. The staff is just slower, with no clear drive to improve, and they make it VERY clear that they will not be inconvenienced to split a check for you. Signs are everywhere.
(3)Hannah C.
This place had a wait, but they were managing it very well. Four of us went in and all of us loved it. I got killer french toast, boyfriend got a Mexican-inspired potato dish. None of us was disappointed. Service was quite good given how busy they were! Seriously, this was so good I sort of don't want to review it so that it doesn't get any busier. But I will say this: when in doubt, try one of the Mexican dishes - they won't disappoint.
(5)Alessandra S.
What a gem! A solid brunch spot with an abundance of choices, you honestly can't go wrong. Bring your vegetarian friends! Bring your vegan friends! Bring your hungover friends! Bring your kids! This place accommodates all. The place is always packed when I go for brunch on the weekends, yet somehow they manage to seat me within 15 minutes of walking in each time I've gone. So far, I've had The Lady Marmalade, Pollo Loco, and their steak omelette. Everything was wonderful, but I think they do Mexican breakfast items particularly well. Their house potatoes are exploding with flavor and taste great alone or accompanying any item on the menu. Service was friendly and prompt. They look like they are having a good time, and that's always fun to see. Honestly, the only problem is that everything sounds good and it is much too hard to choose only one item. The only way to solve this problem is for me to go back until I've tried everything! Challenge happily accepted.
(5)Ari A.
Foodgasm. Do I need to say much else? The memorable dishes from this fine tornado morning were Pollo Loco, Aztec Omelette, and Mexican Breakfast Combo. If you think you can finish the Aztec Omelette, think again. The weirdest thing about the Mexican Breakfast Combo was the sunny side up eggs, and the Pollo Loco had the perfect amount of pulled chicken drizzled in yolk. Yeah this place will leave your mouth watering. Space is limited, but the staff is great at ensuring you always have a drink in hand, even if you're waiting outside in the bitter cold. Nothing wrong with a morning coke for a breakfast of Champions. Come hungry, leave full. *Bring cash if you're splitting the bill with friends!
(4)Jessica G.
Will not be back. I gave this place another try (against my better judgement) and was sadly disappointed. I ordered the chilequiles which come with scrambled tofu, and asked if I could get that with scrambled egg instead. Waitress said no problem. ...Then waitress came back and said they would give me both tofu and egg, and I said, "no thank you, I just want egg - no want tofu." She said OK, it will be $1 for the substitution. No problem! We wait for our meal, wincing along to the way-too-loud and staticy music. My dish arrives - hilequiles sadly forlorn on a plate, with an egg on the side - not mixed as a scramble as it should have been. Ok, ok - I did request a change. The salsa was tasty, and the egg was a scrambled egg (can't easily mess that up) but that was the end of it. The chips were tough and unpleasant, potatoes hard as stone and inedible. Then the bill arrives, and I was charged $2.50 for an egg on the side. Excuse me? I don't mind paying for something changed, but when I'm told a price, I expect you to charge me what you said. Sure, it's only $1.50, but it's the principle of the thing. I paid it, but I will not be back. I can tolerate rude waitstaff, but paired with bad food, it's definitely scratched off my go-to list of Chicago eats.
(1)Kevin G.
Ate here after running a 5k last Saturday. I ordered the Simply French Toast. Calling this dish "simple" is definitely accurate. The french toast completely lacked flavor. Aside from the parts that I poured maple syrup on, the french toast tasted like regular bread. Definitely not good. My girlfriend ordered an omelet with potatoes. The potatoes were good. There are plenty of breakfast spots in Chicago where you can get a good breakfast. This place is not one of them.
(2)Natan Y.
It was my first time eating there. I have seen a barrage of reviews so I figured this place was good... I asked the waitress who was really nice what she recommended. She recommended a polenta bacon plate with quesodilla.... I didn't like it. It tasted like leftover Thanksgiving. The quesodilla was filled with goat cheese and grapes?(I know gross) I dunno it was creative and we'll presented however no bacon in the polenta.. in fact that's something there menu lacks. I feel like this is a place for women to get breakfast or vegans they forget about our carnivorous needs. You need a more diverse menu that offers plates of meat. It was actually the first time I can remember a breakfast restaurant had no steak. I will most likely not be back however the sweet potatoes were delightful.
(3)Luli S.
Bad service. Sat down and asked the server for specials she said they are on the boards. One of the boards was facing on a wall that protruded beyond our table which meant we would of had to walk around just to know the specials. Thanks a lot Stephanie. Just pd for my coffee and left. Service sux!
(1)Mark T.
The unusual weekday off from work called for brunch. I'm usually the type of person that would go for someplace new, that I've heard about but have never tried before. Luckily Marmalade was nearby so my sis and I decided to check this place out. We were familiar with the neighborhood that Marmalade now sits since this place is nearby the very first house that we moved to when the family decided to live in the city. Since I'm the younger of the two, I was very little at the time. I had a vague recollection but my sister remembered this place to be another type of restaurant. Anyways, back to the review. We had just missed the breakfast hour so we decided to tackle the brunch specials. I had the Florentine Crab Benedict : crab cakes and poached eggs, with sauteed garlic spinach, dill sour cream, and spicy chipotle hollandaise on top of our homemade cornbread; served with our chef's potatoes. Granted, these weren't as good as mom's crab cakes, but they were still good enough for my taste buds. I could never decide what opinion I have about poached eggs in general, but somehow they went well with the dish. I was expecting more from the cornbread, but the portion size was the right amount and I was glad for that. The wait staff was excellent and the kitchen to table time was great. if this was a weekend, I fully expect this place to be packed; the food was that good. The space itself is somewhat small, but it's brightly lit and the paintings on the walls are a nice touch (loved the "Lady Marmalade" painting especially). I have zero problems coming back here!
(4)Leanne A.
This was a welcome addition to Ravenswood when it opened. The nearby brunch options before were Fountainhead (more gastropub fair) Selmarie (quite a bit further away) Julius Meinl (more cafe than brunchy) Tiny Lounge (more bar than brunch)...so ya, Marmalade is the only real breakfast and brunch choice. I love the cozy vibe. It's like a clean, modern diner. I agree with others that the sweet options are better than the savory. They have awesome french toast dishes that are covered in fresh berries. The first time I went, I thought it tasted very similar to m. henry. Lo and behold, the menu was designed by the same chef. So all those who think Marmalade is "copying" m. henry....um it's not. It's kind of like a mini off shoot. That's the whole point. Oh, and the outdoor seats are a perfect way to enjoy brunch here if it's not too chilly.
(4)Allen B.
I remember when this place used to be LeSabre. I miss that place, but I'm sure they've gone on to bigger and better things. Anyways, Marmalade --what a nice place. I don't know how else to explain it, maybe it was the service, maybe it was the warm greeting that my girlfriend and I received upon entry, maybe it was the cleanliness. I don't know. I....just....don't.....know. But regardless, Marmalade is definitely a quaint breakfast spot that we will hit up again. The service was fast and friendly and the owner (I believe he might have been the owner) greeted us at the door which made our breakfast experience that much better. Go check this place out and if you see me there, make sure you say hi. =)
(4)Michael D.
I really wish I could give this place more stars. The food is really, really good. I've had the Mayan Omelette, which is delicious. They used very fresh ingredients and the flavor was great - the crepes are excellent too. The drawbacks: * Service is slow, especially on weekends. It gets really crowded, but that isn't an excuse-- hire more waiters * The coffee isn't great. For a brunch place, this is surprising. Also, they put out non-dairy creamer on the table... I had to request half and half from the kitchen. Waiter seemed a little irritated about having to do this. * NO SPLIT CHECKS. Extremely obnoxious. I really have to rack my brain thinking of places in Chicago that do this... it seems to me that the credit card transaction fee is worth not irritating the customers. Also, judging by the reviews, I'm not the only one who was annoyed
(3)Vanessa R.
We were doing some shopping in Northcenter and thought we should finally stop by this place to check it out for brunch. We were pleasantly surprised there was no wait, but I think I now know why. Food is not very good. I really wanted to love this place as it's in the neighborhood, and is great for people with dietary restrictions as they have gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options. In my case, I loved that they have their gluten free items clearly marked with a "GF" on their menu so you don't have to grill the server with a ton of questions. I ordered the vegan/gluten free chilaquiles with onions, baby spinach, red and green peppers over an organic tofu scramble with a green salsa. Since all egg dishes come with a side, I opted for the oven roasted potatoes. Chilaquiles are kind of hard to mess up, and to date I don't think I have ever not left my plate clean eating these, but these were hard to swallow. The chips tasted like they were straight out of a bag, salsa was not spicy at all or flavorful (like the salsa verde you can buy in a can), the tofu scramble also lacked any flavor at all, and the worst part was the potatoes on the side - they tasted awful, as if they were coated in a cheese sauce or something (which was not possible because this was a vegan dish). I thought I was overreacting and had my husband try them and he agreed they tasted really bizarre, pretty much inedible. Husband ordered a skillet as well and was underwhelmed as well. Another thing I was really put off by: multiple times all over the menus, it clearly states in all caps that no substitutions can be made, no exceptions, on any dish. This lack of flexibility in ordering stinks. Overall the food just didn't cut it at all and I was underwhelmed by the lack of non-egg gluten free options where not a single non-egg gluten free option was available (e.g. crepes, waffles, pancakes). Bummer.
(2)Laura L.
Perfectly fine. It's nice to see a brunch menu that goes beyond the basic 'omelet and french toast'. Major kudos for that. On execution, I felt it fell just a little short. It certainly was not bad, it just left me on the cusp of completely impressed. The service was pretty great, wish I could remember our waitresses name - even went to check on the receipt but it said Bob, which I doubt was HER name. - I got the shrimp omelet which was very flavorful (though there were some wetness to the egg that I found unappealing) but the potatoes were kind of just weird. - The marmalade and chutney were delightful. - My husband's chicken from the chicken and biscuit also had a bit of an odd flavor to it that I couldn't quite place. Overall, it felt very reminiscent of Tweet to me, but a step below. Obviously not BAD though, or it wouldn't have received 4 stars.
(4)Marie B.
So, we've passed this place up several times to go to Glenn's dinner. We decided to switch it up a bit and try Marmalade. It...was...Fantastic! Another great brunch place to add onto our amazing Chicago brunch list. I had the Italian (I forgot the real name) omlette special, so good. Fresh basil was a plus. Their house potatoes had the perfect amount of seasoning and spice. The jam was amazing, so amazing that we bought some to take home! Their coffee was yummy too.. Must Try!
(4)LaDarian D.
French toast & Omelette selections are wide & fantastic. Services is good & friendly. It's always an enjoyable experience. Not a potato fan much, but the home fries are awesome
(5)Ashley S.
Shut the front door. This place. Breakfast, I mean how good can it get? I'll tell you how good it can get....think of something that makes you really happy, cotton candy at the fair, a walk on a sunny Spring day....what makes me happy..a mexican combination platter from Marmalade. This may have been the best dish I've ever eaten. It was perfection. It's a really good thing I don't live in the area, I would be 1,000LBS. The plate consisted of a delicious homemade guacamole, a wonderful chile sauce over lightly crisp tortilla chips, 2 cheese quesadillas, 2 eggs(your choice) and the most amazing breakfast potatoes I've ever eaten! Oh. My. Gosh. I need to go back there now....except it's 4:37pm and I don't think they're open, so I guess I'll have to wait....but trust me when I say I will be back and I will dominate that plate again.
(5)Lauren O.
Finally got to try this place out! It is usually very crowded and honestly I don't have the patience to wait. But on a crappy, snowy, Monday around 11:30am it worked out perfectly for us. There was a decent crowd of people but not overly crowded and we didn't have to wait. Everything on the menu looks amazing.I went with the Mexican Breakfast Combo. The potatoes were delicious. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly. The chilaquiles were topped with slasa verde & fresh guacamole....just the right amount of spicy. The quesadillas were nice & cheesy. Everything was really good but it was just too much food for me. I def left a lot on my plate. The man had the Efrain's Diablo Omeletta. He was quiet as a mouse eating and ate every last morsel of it. His also came with potatoes. Nothing was left on his plate. We eye balled everyone else's food around us and agreed that we would def be going back. The lunch options also sounded good but we were in the mood for breakfast. Either way we'll be back!
(4)Jacob J.
Almost a year later and I'm still a fan with more visits under my belt. People need to stop reading reviews.. LoL ( I speak of waiting times). There are times in the day that I want a sweet treat and have tried stopping by just for their sweet plantains only to find a twenty minute wait on seating. I've stated this once, which will be repeated, I've had plantains at other restaurants and found them to be over cooked, dried out, etc. They are good here. Recently I stopped in again and brought newbies which are now turned on to the Marmalade following. Dining with two is fun but with four offers your eyes a feast. This time round we all ordered different items. Sweet, savories, hearty and more. I tell ya, their spicy chiliquiles is bomb! if it weren't for the inclusion of eggs, I could have this twice a week. On the menu its mentioned as a vegan, but I often ask for them to meat it out. Eggs and maybe a side of some good breakfast meat. Marmalade's menu is ever changing with a few items being standard on their menu, find newer mentions in chalk on boards. I would suggest dining with someone interested in ordering opposite of you so that both can try a bit of sweet or savory. Service is decent, good but not perfect depending on whom you get. I haven't had a complaint yet but I think they could hold back from offering so much coffee so often. (Of course this is merely a request of my own experiences, whereas others may see it as being on their toes.) At other times, the coffee is frequent but other items are forgotten. If visiting find lots of street parking nearby and definitely call ahead for wait times.
(4)Reagan W.
We went here for an anniversary brunch.. Very laid back. Food was very good and came out in a timely manner. Their outside seating is too close to one another though.
(4)Jerry C.
I don't eat pork so I asked to substitute with chicken on the bennie but was told No! No problem in future as I will eat elsewhere.
(1)Lily P.
Went here for the first time, and I must say not a very friendly atmosphere. The hostess were NOT pleasant and gave us a look of: um no Mexicans allowed...Yes, I said it because that is how it happen. If she only knew, who she was walking in that restaurant she wouldn't act that way. Now, I am simply placing a phone call to my well know Chicago Land Food Critic and let him know of my experience. Needless to say; took my business somewhere else to the Egghead Diner, NOW that is service with a smile!!!
(1)Samantha R.
Absolutely love this place! (: first time here, food was amazing and the customer service is great.
(5)EDELMA A.
Went in for lunch after finding out Fountainhead wasn't open. We wanted salads and decided to order two that were on the menu. It's got to be difficult to mess up a salad, but they managed to mess up two. The sirloin steak on my salad was like eating beef jerky, and the beets on the other salad looked pruney and from the bottom of the barrel. Really disappointed, had high hopes. If we return, we'll stick to the breakfast.
(1)Jennifer K.
The food here is so good that I am disappointed to leave a review like this. When I was in last week, I had the unpleasant experience of listening to the manager/owner (I think) yelling at his staff. It is so unacceptable to dress down staff in front of a line of customers. And it is stressful for customers! A Sunday morning should not include yelling. And after he was done yelling at the hostess, he was loud and rude throughout the restaurant. This made me really not want to go back.
(2)sidney l.
Was at here earlier and now I realize why this place place is great. The reason the use real butter and clean ingredients not like some other breakfast spots that use everything out of a can or that synthetic frying oil that most places uses.
(5)Tresa M.
I'm always surprised that this doesn't have more stars. I have eaten here many times and have never had a negative experience. The Pollo Loco is delicious. They have many Mexican style breakfast dishes and overall, they are very good. The service is good, could be faster, but food is solid. Waits on the weekends aren't too long and the prices are fair.
(4)Susan S.
Augh! I just want to pack this restaurant in my purse and bring it back to St Louis as a souvenir! I have absolutely nothing negative to say (and one eye brow raising thing to say) about this excellent restaurant. First of all, the only problem you'll have is deciding which direction to take your order. Do you want savory or sweet? I am a savory breakfast eater but always manage to score a bite of sweet from the DH or kids. Too bad they weren't with me this time. I ordered a Mexican style eggs benedict with poached eggs, chorizo, avocado, insanely corny corn tortillas, and a maravillosa sauce. The serving size was just right---not too much, not too little. The coffee was hot and plentiful and the server happily brought us milk for our coffee. The only negative comment I would make is that one of the servers was wearing those Lululemon see through tights. WE REALLY COULD SEE EVERYTHING! It was weird!
(5)Cassie V.
Came here for brunch with my family, it's one of my parents go to breakfast places. The hostess was very accommodating when my step requested a table change. And service was awesome throughout, our coffee was always refreshed, table was cleared quickly (not rushing us, but giving us room), and the food was delicious. They have a harvest hash special going on right now that includes brisket...brisket for breakfast is never a wrong way to go. Two people in my party got it, and were pleased. I got mama Maria's enchiladas and they were a sweet deliciousness that came with eggs. Not spicy but they give you hot sauce, if you need the kick. They're americano was also superb. Beware that it's a small Chicago space, so there is only a few perfect seats in the house, ie away from the door or the kitchen, but don't let this sway you if you want to experience the food. I will be back!
(4)Erick N.
My wife and I were joined with a friend this morning for a post-run brunch (while post-run for my wife, seeing that it was in the 40s earlier today with drizzle and wind I smartly opted to sleep in and forgo my morning run). We had a rather pleasant (though certainly not spectacular) brunch and all of us enjoyed our entrees. Marmalade is nothing fancy on the inside and does not possess much ambiance, but wow - they have quite an appetizing menu. This is not a boring breakfast/brunch place with predictable fare but they have some interesting choices and a nice balance of sweet and savory. As I was feeling guilty for skipping out on my run I almost opted for their healthy pancakes made with more grains than I could count, but there were far too many tempting options for my willpower to overcome. Just when I thought I had my choice narrowed down our server informed of us additional specials (that also sounded quite good, such as a BBQ Pork Benedict on brioche). The menu appeared to be a fusion of American and Mexican cuisine. After seeking some advice form our server (Carolina) I ordered the El Picante Benedict which consists of a Hodge-podge of goodies such as homemade tortillas, sweet plantains, spicy chorizo, poached eggs, Mexican rice, corn, black beans, avocado slices, queso fresco and Mayan sauce. In lieu of missing my run I had them hold the sour cream (seemed like a fair trade off... after all I could have ordered the Oreo Raspberry Hotcakes, the Cinnamon Bread Pudding or the Strawberry Rhubarb French Toast). While prices are a bit higher than most casual brunch locales (my dish was $11.50) portions were quite generous and everything was pretty darn good. The coffee was decent as well. Some recent reviews had mentioned spotty and slow service, but this was not the case this morning. Our server was extremely attentive, friendly (and was rather pleasant on the eyes to boot). She checked in with us frequently and our coffees never became more than half empty before they were topped off. We arrived a little after 9:00am, so it probably helped that we beat the late morning rush (Marmalade was fairly crowded, but not yet full). I certainly would not mind coming back here and trying out some of the other intriguing menu items.
(4)Mahesh S.
This is quickly becoming one of our favorite breakfast places to go to. The food is really good and the wait staff is amazing. Unless you are a party of 2 or less expect a wait time of anywhere between 15-30 minutes. Price is probably 30% more than other comparable places. Plenty of street parking around the area. I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)KC F.
This place was so good. I really enjoyed their brunch and can't wait to head back to try other menu items (papaya french toast?!). There seemed to be a constant wait for tables but it moved quickly. Would recommend!
(5)Michael U.
Arriving early, only perhaps forty-five minutes after Marmalade had opened its doors and again allocating free parking without difficulty but on our arrival to the doors we were instantly struck by just how packed the restaurant was-literally every seat was filled and parties of eight, four, and two preceded us on the wait list. Debating whether or not we wanted to stay the hostess informed us that in her opinion the wait would be "no more than fifteen minutes" and deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt we were pleasantly surprised when a number of patrons all seemed to finish their meal at once leaving us a nice seat near the window and with full view of the kitchen a mere ten minutes later. With the restaurant clearly busy and menu present on the table as we arrived I took some time browsing the bakery items before returning to my seat and from this point forward we would wait while watching what may be the most inefficient restaurant in the history of overcrowded brunch spots. With servers racing here and there refilling drinks, bussing tables, serving foods, brewing labor intensive espressos, seating patrons, and just trying to keep up it would be at least fifteen minutes after we were seated before our server would even notice us to take drink orders-water only-before again racing off without taking our order. Finally returning only after she'd bussed a table and served another we finally had the opportunity to place our orders...and wait , wait, and wait some more with empty water glasses until our orders arrived. Chuckling at the clever paintings and number of persons now waiting outside while musing about how much more efficient the restaurant could be by simply adding a dedicated bus-boy and barista/bakery worker the first item to arrive at our table would prove nearly worth the wait-a Sweet Potato and sour Cherry Muffin dense and moist with flavors of cinnamon and cloves punctuated by large cherries impressively ripe for this time of year. A bit small for the $3.50 price tag this was still a good muffin and the streusel topping plenty sweet to offset the slight savory notes of the sweet potato. Now nearly fifty minutes post-seating our main courses would finally arrive and although each was complicated none was as much so as the "Jason's Omelette," a three egg fold absolutely stuffed with sweet potato, butternut squash, pumpkin, caramelized onions, cranberries, cognac chicken sausage, goat cheese and topped with a red wine reduction. A difficult flavor to describe though largely predominated by the boozy notes of the wine and cognac melding with the savory notes from the cheese and the onions I'm really not sure that I "liked" this kitchen sink approach, though it was definitely novel and something I could envision myself making on the morning before I left on vacation to use up various odds and ends in my fridge. Moving next to the sweets, my sister's selection was the "Mango and blueberry cinnamon roll presented cut in half served with warm mangos and blueberries, smothered with cream cheese icing and sprinkled with granola." Again an interesting option and arriving large and colorful this dish began and ended with the cinnamon roll, a decent representation that I had expected to be cooked something like French toast (a la Yolk,) which was simply plated and topped with the aforementioned ingredients - all a bit out of season and not particularly sweet without the addition of the icing. Overall a bit disappointing especially given the price I think Marmalade would be better served to alter the ingredients seasonally or to rethink the preparation of the cinnamon roll (or both.) For the final selection my choice for the morning would be "Breakfast Gingerbread Pudding," the best option of the morning by far with the dense gingerbread perfectly soaked but toasted on the top and served piping hot. Good on its own the pudding was additionally complimented by the addition of raspberry marmalade, orange marmalade, and thick crème anglaise. A small portion overall but substantially sweet I would strongly recommend this dish to anyone and to Marmalade I'd recommend serving it all week long instead of only during weekend brunch as it was without a doubt their most well conceptualized and executed item. With my sister and her friend now bordering on running late for their tour of Crucial Design studio the delivery of our check would again be delayed but once it arrived we were encouraged to pay up front at the hostess stand - another design flaw as this is also where people waiting for a seat are forced to stand - but in this case a lucky occurrence as the restaurant's owner was standing there eliciting feedback - opinions I was more than willing to give and opinions that he was happy to receive noting that they were in the process of streamlining the service procedures and that they were "still learning what works" - a good practice for any restaurant, especially in a strong market.
(3)Troy E.
Marmalade has always been a solid breakfast option for me, wifey, and the little one. I'm pretty easy, consistently order eggs, potatoes, sausage, wheat toast.... If my eggs are hot, I'm a happy camper. The potatoes are fantastic, crispy edges, a little kick, great flavor. My wife seems to dabble into the more creative menu items, and has always had good things to say. Today, I veered off the map and had the multigrain pancakes. I was worried they would be dry and tasteless, but they were fluffy and sweet. My toddler has been crazy for apples recently. I asked if apples were included in the kids fruit cup, server said "yes", ended up being peaches, pears, pineapple, strawberries. Not a huge issue, but I wouldn't have ordered if I were told "no". The server acknowledged there were no apples when delivering to the table, and pointed out that there were pears. Also ordered three pancakes, only recd two. The server was proactive, noticed before I did and recovered, but added "we will only charge for two". The check came and I was charged for all three. Again, not a huge issue, but not following through on recoveries is the most important part. While signing the check, the busser took my almost finished plate without asking if we were finished. I'll return, food is always a hit, but it sort of bothered me that both small technicalities experienced were noticed by the staff, but not really corrected.
(4)Leah C.
chilaquiles, i've missed you... and i cleared my plate of the delicious vegan version. this dish in itself will keep me coming back. we shared a pumpkin muffin which satiated our hunger at most. just like every other brunch spot in chicago, expect a wait but on a nice day, it's a fun/non congested neighborhood to stroll before your table is ready . we were able to tetris in our newest accessory - a stroller - fairly easily amongst the tables, which is key these days. service was quick and flawless (also key for us these days when we're on a feeding schedule :) )
(4)Kathy A.
I love this place. I have been here a few times and plan on going more often. The food is great, service is excellent and enjoy the variety of food options. I recently became vegan and was excited to see they had vegan options. My meal was so delicious and the manager was pleasant.
(5)Marco H.
I've walked past this place many times and there's always been a long line...so i kept walking. But luckily on my day off, there wasn't a wait, so I figured I'd try Marmalade. It was delicious, starting with the coffee. Normally I have low expectations for getting a decent cup of joe, but Marmalade's was actually quite good. Feeling famished, I went for the Papi Chullo: a tasty combination of slow cooked pulled chicken, tomato chipotle sauce, salsa verde on top of a bed of potatoes and guacamole. It's a winner (and a good hangover breakfast). My wife ordered the french toast, which was also really good. I'll definitely be back to try The Fat Mexican (yes a real dish on the menu).
(4)Ginger F.
They're open late now on the weekends. I headed over there on a recent Friday night. It was myself two other people - the new hours are off to a shaky start. I had the pumpkin French toast and it was pretty awful. It wasn't French toast...it was two slices of pumpkin bread with some kind of super sugary glaze drizzled over it. It wasn't even warm. Just bleh. I've had other decent things there - nothing extraordinary.
(3)Megan R.
I've been here probably 5 times now and every time I'm left in food heaven. Service can be hit or miss, and the place itself, while it looks nice, had its challenges (been here twice with the heat broken in cold weather). But the menu? Amazing. I always do sweet brunches, so I've had the lady marmalade (tasty), the pumpkin French toast (to die for- they use rich pumpkin bread as the base) red velvet French toast (best I've ever had), sweet potato pancakes or French toast (so good), and a handful of the weekend specials. Always good. Shorter wait than most places. I highly recommend it
(4)Dhruv P.
I just read about this place 2 days ago on Thrillist and fwd'd to my good friend and fellow yelp (non-elite) Monica. We, along with fellow elites Ali, Sonali and a nonyelper, were to meet up for our now defunct EAT meeting. Monica was coming from LA and catching up with us so we planned to do brunch initially at M Henry, for 10 am, even though we were scared that lines could keep us out on the sidewalk for quite some time. But after getting the email, we thought this place would be fun and were able to score a reservation. The inside was much larger than what it looked on the outside (it looks like a building that squatted in a alley - except its a corner storefront). We were offered drinks right away and the waitress kept us informed (let us know when she was coming back after refilling water/coffee for orders). I got the signature stuffed French toast. It's sweet enough and tasty BUT it's being stuffed is a misnomer. Its more like a French toast sandwich with jam "stuffed" in between the slices. And if you're ordering it, after all, its their signature item (not sure why), be advised to split it with someone else. The portion is quite enough to feed a hungry hippo, if the aforementioned hippo liked sweet toast instead of marbles. There were 8 triangles, or 4 bread slices. Most places are 50-75% of this serving. From others, briefly of course, since they will post on yelp, was that the vegan Spanish inspired dish with tofu scramble really stood out from the other dishes and I'll order it next time I come. This place is a good place to get brunch. But it's not as creative as m Henry. I'm torn giving it 4 stars - It's more like 3.5 stars. Its a great addition to the neighborhood. It's better than Bakin' & Eggs I went to a couple weeks ago. The dishes I tried were good and tasty and service was pleasent. But I had higher expectations from a chef at M Henry. And if I had a choice between this and Julius Meinl a little westward, I would choice Julius Meinl in a heartbeat.
(4)Elle F.
Food and service were good, but they don't let you split a check between 2 different credit cards. Totally ridiculous.
(3)Claire H.
This dump does not even deserve one star. The service was horrendous, the food worse. We waited 40 minutes for our food, and when my salad arrived it tasted spoiled. I told the server, at which point the owner arrived at our table. His behavior was atrocious at best. And his bullying behavior to wait staff worse. I feel sorry for anyone who steps foot in this dirty, smelly restaurant ( and by the way, the bathroom was filthy and the kitchen even worse. There is a view from the hallway by the bathroom). I wished the server good luck and said I hope that he is nicer to his staff than he is to his customers, to which she replied, "No comment. This job will have to do for now."
(1)Michael S.
I had a craving for an omelette with chorizo so I walked up the street from my place to Marmalade. Have eaten here several times before and everything that I've eaten was great except for the pancakes that were a little bit dry, My favorite is the Azteca omelette. The first time that I ordered it was fantastic. The last time it wasn't as good. I commented to my server about it she said that they removed jalapeños from it so I know why it wasn't as good. This time I ordered an omelette with caramelized onions, mozzarella and chorizo. The omelette was pretty OK but it wasn't as fluffy as I thought it would be but still tasted pretty good. The potatoes were a little to seasoned for me but I enjoyed them just the same. My server was very nice and attentive. It helps that I was the only one here. Overall I like this place and will come back mainly because it is right up the street from me.
(4)Kristina W.
Marmalade is one of my favorite breakfast spots in the city. It ranks right up there with Bongo Room!
(5)Brent W.
perfect Fall late morning al fresco dining. We grabbed a two top outside and looked over the fairly generous brek and brunch menu, it's hard to not find something that appeals to any appetite. She the corned beef hash, over three times ordering this dish, "it never disappoints". A rookie myself went w one of the skillet specials, chipotle roasted pulled chicken, roasted breakfast potatoes (some of the best ever) some veggies w. (way over easy) ordered over medium eggs. All said, fantastic.
(4)Christine V.
The best breakfast I have had the pleasure of eating at a restaurant. Where do I begin? I saw great looking food coming from the kitchen while waiting to be seated with my husband, my brother and his fiancee (hey mike and ashley!) But one dish in particular was special. It had roasted, spiced potatoes, scrambled eggs, tortilla chips doused in a chili/chipotle sauce so they were still crispy but kind of soft, guacamole, and 2 mini triangles of quesadillas. I knew it was what I was going to order but still studied the menu. The options were awesome and anything I would have ordered would have been delicious, I am sure of it. The place was very busy so I don't be surprised if you have to wait a bit before getting a table.
(5)Joram C.
I love this place, I come here almost every weekend. The service is great, the food is tasty, the coffee is good ( and bottomless) and it doesnt get too overrun with hip urban parents trying to raise their kids to one day be more liberal that you could ever fathom to be. The bonaparte is my favorite, but even the vegan chilaquiles are good. Im not much of a sweets guy, but the peachy raspberry pancakes flat out kick ass for breakfast. Also, I like that the owner is part of the family that used to run LeSabre, and has kept everything in the family. Also, the breakfast potatoes are like crack. Marmalade rules.
(5)Amanda M.
This place was a huge miss. The service was terrible, our waitress was the quiet Hispanic girl. She didn't know the specials, and had a hard time reading the board, and when we asked for a recommendation between breads, she didn't know anything about the bread. The food was mediocre for the price, and are there really juices?! No juice menu for a "Juice Bar" and the orange juice my boyfriend did order, was totally from a cardboard container! What a HUGE disappointment.
(1)Kimbele S.
finally visited this neighborhood place a few weeks ago. i was overwhelmed by their fantastic 'lady marmalade' (french toast on brioche with apricot marmalade, maple cream, and strawberry blackberry coulis....sweet jeebus). it was out of this world good. my husband was underwhelmed by his 'diablo omelette', which touted spicy jerk shrimp, but was in fact quite mild. anyway, we brought a couple people with us the second time. only one of the dishes at our table was fantastic--the rest was super bla. my husband struck out again, ordering the quiche. it was UNBELIEVABLE that someone could've looked at that thing and served it. while it may have once resembled quiche, it looked like it sat under a heat lamp for 3 hours. super gross. for some dumb reason he ate the entire thing without commenting to the server, even though he hated it, which is why i'm mentioning it here. i really think even a single super lousy dish on a menu is descriptive of an entire restaurant. you simply can't have consideration for some but not all dishes and hope to be successful...not in this city. finally, bear in mind that not only are there no separate checks...but you CANNOT split the bill on 2 credit cards. i can't understand why a restaurant...in CHICAGO, no less...has this policy. my money is much better spent at overeasy north on damen.
(2)B C.
This one slipped under my breakfast radar for too long. The exterior of the restaurant is low key enough that it didn't call out to me on my daily trek to the el. On Saturday mornings, though, it's packed. The inside is cheerful and colorful and swarming with customers. We made it through the 11:30am line in about 20 minutes. Inside, Chef Efrain has his name on everything: menus, artwork, signature dishes...he's the big guy on campus and after I had his shrimp-diablo omelette, I agree he's due some good street cred. Our table also had his Aztec omelette (on special), comprised of a laundry list of ingredients that synergized into a egg-based Voltron with deliciousness superpowers. Big portions on every dish too, by the way. You'll walk home patting your belly with one hand and holding leftover-boxes in the other. Our waitress did a phenomenal job keeping up with the several packed tables under her watch, and everyone's coffee was kept filled throughout the meal. This place is a great Ravenswood breakfast spot, and so good I'd bring along visitors from out of town.
(5)Rits T.
I can't believe I just got a chance to try this place. I live in the neighborhood for 3 YEARS, 3 YEARS. It took me 3 YERAS! I should have known this place before I tried everywhere else. This place is a bomb. Must try!
(5)Natalia V.
The food here is decadent. I had no idea how many Latin twists would be on this breakfast menu and me being Latina loved it!!!Traditional breakfast items we all know and love with a Latin flair, for example guava French toast or jerk shrimp omelette with chipotle sauce queso fresco and guacamole. Ugh every menu item sounded like a party in your mouth and the at home experience you get from eating it is unforgettable. Def worth the trip here
(5)Roseann M.
Want to have a nice breakfast/brunch/lunch at Marmalade without waiting for a table? Go on Monday morning. No problem getting a nice spot to sit! And you get excellent, professional service, from host/manager, server, and a busser who keeps your coffee cup full of hot delicious coffee. Go to Marmalade with an appetite. Like so many of these cute yuppie-style places, the prices are kind of high, but you do get a great big serving. I had the Bonaparte, which was applewood-smoked bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, on a croissant. No, this entree would not be on the Weight Watchers approved list - you'd blow through your whole week of extra points on this alone! And, it comes with potatoes. I was hungry. I mean, really hungry. Even so, staring at this huge croissant piled high with breakfast food, I had to ask the waitress, how do people eat this thing? Do they pick it up with both hands and take a big bite, or do they use knife and fork? She suggested using utensils, and brought me a steak knife so I could cut through the bacon better. That worked just fine. The whole thing was absolutely delicious. Yes, I ate the whole thing! Not all the potatoes, that would be way too much. I'll probably have some dinner later in the evening, but this, for me, was a lot of food. Had I not been up already for more than 5 hours, with nothing in my tummy but coffee, I doubt I could have eaten as much as I did. Five-star rating. I even found free parking nearby on a side street. Good food, good service, pleasant atmosphere, and free parking - hey, that rates 5 stars for me! FYI, there was a sign in the window that said Marmalade is now closed on Tuesdays. Well, I'm just happy they're open on Mondays. I actually swung by Cinnamon Cafe on Lawrence and Over Easy on Damen first, and they were both closed. Keep Marmalade in mind for your weekday breakfast. You won't regret it!
(5)Mari C.
What a fabulous place! I went there for the first time this morning and had a great experience. I went with a friend and my boyfriend and we got to sit outside which was so great. My boyfriend got the mexican breakfast dish, my friend got the omelet with shrimp, and I got the benedict with salmon, avocado, and poached eggs. We all LOVED our meals. The service was fast and the price is not bad. I would for sure recommend and go again.
(5)Veena P.
So flavorful! I would definitely go back. The staff was very friendly, and the portions were big! I got the Mexican breakfast combo with the Mayan sauce (yummy!) I wish I had taken a picture of it. Go here!
(5)Philly I.
The Northside has a plethora of overpriced breakfast/brunch places who serve mediocre food. Add Marmalade to that long list. If you are interested in overpaying for eggs, pancakes, and/or french toast (and sometimes waiting in line for it), then Marmalade is the perfect place for you.
(1)Christy L.
I have a new brunch place to add into the rotation! Marmalade now ranks as my #2 brunch destination in the City (in case you're wondering, Zed 451 tops the list). For food alone, I'd give Marmalade 4.5 stars. The menu is the most extensive I've seen in Chicago. It has the standards - omelette's, pancakes, and French toast - as well as "foodie" type choices - the aforementioned souped up with interesting combinations as well as skillets, Mexican breakfasts, crepes, Benedict's. Definitely something for everyone. And what we tried, all was prepared well. I had a 'shroom skillet served over perfectly seasoned, crispy potatoes (and I usually don't even like potatoes). We shared a savory breakfast, the "Nutella" crepe. If you're enticed by this choice because of the Nutella, skip it. We barely tasted any Nutella, BUT it was a very well-prepared, berry-filled crepe. Service and ambiance definitely have room for improvement. Marmalade does not take reservations, which means you probably will end up waiting if you arrive during prime brunch time. We arrived at 12:15 and waited about half an hour to be seated. Then, once we were at our table, service was incredibly slow (though polite, unlike other Yelp reviews). I'm not sure why the kitchen was so slow as it's not a big space though suspect that it may have to do with the huge menu. In terms of decor, it's pretty simple, though my friend assured me it is a huge step up from the restaurant that used to occupy this space. In summary, if you want excellent, affordable food, have plenty of time for brunch, and don't care about ambiance, check out Marmalade!
(4)Andre W.
Word to Ralph C for recommending and taking me to this joint! We walked in at about noon this past Sunday and it was just a 10 minute wait (I was told Saturdays are a bit easier to walk in and grab a table). They have chalkboards up that list their daily specials and new dishes. I looked at the menu and noticed a number of delicious items. I decided to go with the Bonaparte ($8.50) which is scrambled eggs (egg whites in my case), bacon and cheddar cheese on a croissant. That was a nice sized breakfast sandwich and very delicious. The sandwich came with their special in-house potatoes which were huge and delicious as well. I also ordered a side of apple maple chicken sausage which was packed with flavor and very savory. Their freshly squeezed OJ was awesome as well. The manager came out and chatted with us as well...he is really a nice guy and made sure we were happy with our meal. As I said before, lots of goodies on the menu which is why I will be returning. In the warmer months they will have the outside patio in effect which is definitely an incentive to come back.
(5)Jennifer N.
Mid way through my vegan chilaquiles, I declared to my friend that I could easily eat this multiple times per week here. The tortillas were perfectly drenched in salsa verde. The tofu scramble was full of flavor, and the side of potatoes were cooked and seasoned perfectly. As we sat and chatted on a Saturday morning (when it was quite busy), we didn't feel rushed to leave- but instead being offered more water and coffee. I watched the thick stacks of pancakes being delivered to the table next to us and thought about my future orders. But honestly, a day later as I write this, I am waiting for the next time I can get those vegan chilaquiles !
(5)Dallas F.
I was not impressed. This review is really more of a 2.5, so I rounded up. I recently went to brunch at Marmalade on a busy Saturday afternoon and everything from service to food was wholly underwhelming. Of course, being a breakfast/brunch establishment weekends are super busy and patrons can expect a wait. That I was prepared for but for some reason it seemed like the restaurant was not. Everything seemed a bit chaotic and it felt like it was their opening weekend. After about a twenty minute wait, we are taken to our seat. Our server comes over and asks for our drink order and if we were ready to order food. Um, no. We just sat down. In general our service was a bit flighty. Not horrible, but could use serious improvement. When it comes to the food, I was definitely let down. I ordered the vegan chilaquiles and was served a plate of over-seasoned mushy randomness. Everything tasted the same even though it consisted of a tofu scramble, corn chips, potatoes, and salsa. It was overpowering. The tiny dab of guacamole on top was the only good thing about it. I'm really glad I was not really hungry or I would have been even more disappointed than I was.
(3)Ellie K.
I love that Marmalade is right around down the street from me. Everything I have had here is great be it a sweet or savory dish. I went here once with my parents, once with my boyfriend and then did takeout. Each time the service was great and the food was even better. The portions are enormous. I recommend sharing a full meal and then ordering a side if you are there with one other person. Warning: It,like all other brunch places, gets very crowded on the weekends. I don't recommend coming here with a party of more than 6 (max). Lastly, I'm disappointed by some of the nasty reviews (Susan L.). I think we can critique the food without insulting Marmalade's loyal fans!
(4)H H.
3.5 stars. It was pretty good, but not the most amazing breakfast ever. Been there a few times and depends on what you order. Coffee is good!
(3)Susan L.
2 visits, 2 disgusting meals, 0 clean plates This place is like a cheap knock-off DVD with the title misspelled--you think it'll probably be okay but you get home and the DVD won't play...however, the main difference with Marmalade is that you're not paying "knock off" prices. For those of you who think this place is great, I salute you and thank you for not clogging up truly wonderful brunch places. Eat your hearts out with this bad food. I will never be back. And if you want details, here they are: 1. Confusing conglomeration of ingredients--each plate needs to take off 1 accessory flavor before leaving the kitchen 2. Inability to re-create delicious dishes of other restaurants, and leaving the consumer even more disappointed (harvest omelet, breakfast bread pudding=direct knock off of M Henry!) 3. OILY (yes, oily) AND watery omelet--how do they do that? At least it wasn't burned, but it did leave an orange puddle on the plate....mmmmmmmh....appetizing!
(1)Jon D.
I had a great experience here. Saturday morning, around 10:15am, party of four, and sat immediately. The waitress made a few visits for drinks (we'd all gotten up to use the restroom at different times) and explained the chalkboard specials, all of which sounded appetizing. She memorized a lot of information, was polite, and very prompt (until it started getting busy). It seems like there's a lot of sweets on the menu, and the French Toast flight I split with my buddy was outstanding. Maybe a little TOO sweet at times, but still a nice breakfast desert. The omelete I had was a great size, they had Greek sausage (+) and the potatoes were well cooked. Everyone at the table was happy with their meals, and when the bill came we weren't overwhelmed by it. I've been everywhere on the brunch scale, this place just had a nice little neighborhood feel. Reading some of the other reviews, I'm a bit shocked. Marms didn't try to be super fancy, or anything, its just trying to be a good little breakfast place, and it pulls it off super well. Clean, the only issue is you can't split on cards.
(4)S. P.
I have been here a few times for brunch. The menu is decent. They have the typical kind of fare such as french toast, pancakes, skillets, omelettes, breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros, etc. The service has never been great. I have had to ask for my check at the front before because my server disappeared. If you are able to go around the block and down the street to Glenn's it is better. One tip- please do not get the breakfast quayle if it ever shows up on the menu again.
(3)Jelena Z.
Not that Chicago actually needs another brunch spot, but this one's a good one. Late morning on a Thursday, Marmalade wasn't empty but wasn't packed either... one of the perks of working from home is getting to try new restaurants at non-peak times versus waiting over an hour to brunch on the weekends. However, I'm really not a breakfast girl (despite the tempting offerings on Marmalade's menu) so I went with the Mediterranean sandwich with its grilled chicken, hummus, ham off the bone, lettuce and feta cheese in a pita. And... it was delicious. The hummus is housemade and complements the hand-carved ham perfectly. I was afraid the ham would be a bit too much but I finished every last bit and I'd do it again. Though, I may have to break my lunch over breakfast rule for a stab at the chef's signature omelet, the Diablo (spicy jerk shrimp, onions, cilantro, cream cheese and fresh avocado topped with mango chutney). Easy parking is the icing on the cake... or, the marmalade on my toast. See you soon!
(4)Kurt P.
Here is a place that no longer cares about the customer. I tried to come here for brunch and they basically told us to go. We had a large group and knew we would have to wait but after about 35 minutes they continued to seat groups who just arrived. We told them four times at least we could be broken into groups of twos. The manager said we can't seat you that way and you should take your group to fountainhead because nobody eats there. Also $9 for three eggs with cheese, really?
(1)Lizz M.
I've heard many good things about Marmalade, and when my bff asked where we should go to brunch, I quickly suggested this place. It ended up being five of us going on a Sunday morning around 11am. The place was busy, but not too packed. The patio was fairly empty, so we offered to sit out there. Our hostess quickly rejected this idea, mumbling something about not wanting to trouble the servers to go out there (when there were already people eating out there). Uhm, okay, whatever. I personally don't care for eating outside and if the server issue were the case, I'd rather get good service. We waited for an indoor table and were seated fairly quickly. The no substitutions and no omissions thing really bugs me. And here's why. My bff ordered an artichoke omelet which had pesto on top of it, and if I were ordering this, I'd order the pesto on the side--why? Well, I knew this would happen, a giant pile of pesto on her omelet. Did she order pesto with a side of omelet? No. Also, nine times out of ten, there's an ingredient in a dish I would want to take out, or have less of, it's just my preference, and you know what? I'm PAYING to have that preference. Anyway, rant aside, I ordered the breakfast burrito, which was actually pretty tasty. It came with a side of potatoes, which, meh. How is it possible to have overly-seasoned food still taste bland? I'm not sure. The portion sizes are gigantic, so I appreciate that as I had lunch for the next day. I had a taste of another friend's pancakes which were pretty yummy, too. So at the end of our meal, we noticed that the patio had filled up with the same amount of servers. I still don't understand! Would I go back? Eh, I don't think so. But I think you could try and see for yourself. If you're okay with spotty service and not customizing your food, this might be the place for you.
(3)Alexandra S.
Delicious creative food, good service, nice cafe vibe. Fresh squeezed juice and daily special was great. The only bad thing I can say about this place is that they charge a split plate fee, they don't split checks and they don't split cards. Other than that would definitely come back!
(4)conrad d.
I will forever be dumbfounded by the diners who, after experiencing some delay in service during a notoriously busy time slot, immediately rush to their computer to pound out their jilted and vitriolic reviews. Oh, did your meal arrive not precisely as ordered? However did you roust yourself from the Stygian nightmare that is receiving a plate with bacon on it, especially after you specifically informed the waiter, and everyone else in the restaurant, that you were a strict lacto-ovo pescatarian? Moving on. Marmalade's offerings are a welcome addition to Chicago's already stellar breakfast scene. The dishes are interesting and delicious and well presented. I heartily recommend the french toast dishes, as many of them are accompanied with house-made marmalades. The egg dishes are spicy and flavorful and pair well with the namesake sweet dishes. After multiple visits, I have yet to witness any of the crippling, trauma-inducing service problems some of my peers have, with the manager on more than one occasion personally stopping by to inquire about my dining experience. Go here. Take a deep breath. Enjoy your brunch.
(5)Heather H.
Booo! That's actually what I said after leaving this place. I had been looking forward to trying them out since I pass by it on a pretty regular basis. The dozen or so empty tables on a Sunday at 1 should have given the indication that this may not be a great breakfast joint. But, it was marathon Sunday, so maybe all those regulars are out running the streets of Chicago leaving my hungover ass with plenty of available seating. Looked over the menu, and I decided on the Shroom Benedict, I ordered it with the hollandaise being on the side figuring 1/2 teaspoon of the stuff wouldn't be too bad for me. HA. I ended up taking a picture of the dish because not only didn't it look appetizing, it didn't taste good either, not at all. Actually, I have to say this was one of the worst breakfast dishes I've ever eaten. The only reason they get 2 stars is my husband liked his omelet. Here are my complaints: 1. The potatoes suck! And they seriously put the equivalent of 3 large baking potatoes on my plate. They were cold, mushy, and had a bad spice rub on them. Not good. 2. They offer tempeh or veggie sauce as a side. While this may seem like a plus for a vegetarian, they were out of the veggie sausage I tried to order, so I elected the tempeh. I've had tempeh before, and this was not good tempeh, this was poo tempeh. 3. The mushroom that my eggs sat on was... wait for it, DEEP FRIED! Are you effing kidding me? On one respect, I blame myself that I didn't see that the menu said the mushroom was breaded. I think if I had seen that, I wouldn't have ordered this shitty dish for $11. However, on the other hand, just because something is breaded doesn't necessarily mean it has to be deep fried. They could have baked it. Either way, it didn't work, and made it into a dry lopsided mushroom, and everything piled on said mushroom fell off because of the greasy stiff teetering shroom. 4. The hollandaise sauce they brought out for me was ice cold. As in, I'll grab this from the fridge and not warm it up. GROSS. By the time I flagged down any staff to warm it up, and once they brought it back, the eggs were cold. Which leads me to... 5. The service blows. When we sat down, we were told the waitress would let us know the specials. When she asked if we were ready to order, and we inquired about the specials, she actually rolled her eyes at us. Horrible service, waiting forever, which is unacceptable when the place isn't even that busy. Neither my coffee nor my husbands ice tea was ever refilled. And after sitting for 15 minutes with an empty table, the waitress came by and said, "I gave you your check, right?" Um, NO. Why would be be sitting here with empty glasses and an empty table if we had our check?! And smile, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't kill you. To sum it up, Boooooooooooooooooo!
(2)Megan S.
I didn't want to give any stars! The manager was the rudest person I have ever encountered in 36 years of eating out! For a place that offers regular brunch food you can find anywhere he shouldn't really act like such a jerk! My party of 8 left and went across the street to fountainhead which had great service and food!
(1)Taylor K.
This place is the best. My wife and I have run pretty much through the entire breakfast menu and we love it all. We used to hit a new breakfast spot on Mondays (due to our hairdresser schedules) and finally came here based on a few client recommendations. Now we come here just about every week. The chef and our waitress, Carolina (who is awesome!), started to figure out that we couldn't really come on the weekends. So, they occasionally send out some weekend brunch items that we otherwise couldn't get. Are you kidding me? Who does that? We are hooked! My only beef is that now when we go to breakfast anywhere else we wish we had just gone to Marmalade. Our favorites are the Chicken & Waffle, the Chilaquilas (sub chorizo for tofu), and the Berry Crunch French Toast!
(5)Fadi F.
If i only could leave zero stars! this place is the worst. Horrible manager who keeps yelling at servers and employees. Our food came an HOUR later after we have ordered!. Then the manager comes and apologizes by saying "oh we are the only place open around here for breakfast" which is a lie cause there are way better places to go like Glenns Diner, FountainHead and Trouqet, which are way better than Marmalade. Just dont go to Marmalade
(1)LB D.
This is a perfect brunch spot for the 'hood if you haven't been yet! Since they opened, they've revamped the menu and the improvements have been great! Favorites include anything with their cured ham (in-house specialty). The only dish I'd caution against are the egg benedicts because they use (or at least used to use...) a sort of flavorless cornbread-style bread as a base instead of an English muffin. It's not a cheap spot, persay, but the unique menu items make this absolutely worth your money.
(4)Alicia M.
I wasn't going to give this place another chance, but I'm really glad I tried it again! The first time I tried Marmalade, my main beef was with the potatoes (hash browns). If you've read my other reviews on any restaurants, you know I love me some potatoes. Marmalade's potatoes are not my thing. I realize people either love them or hate them. I am a hater. They're over-seasoned. But I suppose all hash browns can't be the same at every restaurant. On my first visit here I had the pancakes and they were a little dry, but nice and fluffy. I wasn't blown away by them and personally I think greasy spoon diners do better pancakes (I like them buttery and skinny!). I decided to try an egg dish on my second visit. I had an egg white Omelet with peppers, mushrooms and veggie sausage. It was SO GOOD! I even made myself enjoy the potatoes. I was initially annoyed that they didn't have english muffins but I'm pretty sure my toast was made from scratch. I know the jam was home made. It was so tasty! I also took time to actually look at the menu instead of just defaulting to my favorite everyday breakfast items. There are a lot of creative things on there that I'm excited to come back and try. In closing, I have to add that I respect the manager/owner for being so involved in everyday operations. He works his butt off and walks around making sure that everything is perfect. It shows! They really do have excellent service
(4)Melanie S.
...Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da.. Naturally this song immediately came to mind youtube.com/watch?v=pF2o… , but the first thing I noticed about Marmalade was that the menu appears to be a complete ripoff of m henry. I know there's only so many different things you can do with eggs and pancakes, but c'mon-- a fried egg sandwich with gorgonzola, tomatoes and thyme on sourdough, pancakes with berries and granola, crepes with a warm fruit melange (even the word 'melange' is right off of m henry's menu)? The only thing missing was the breakfast bread pudding. I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, huh Marmalade? Anyway, despite the blatant plagiarism, the food was still good, and the wait is nowhere as epic as m henry (at least not when I was there). My mommy and I both started with freshly squeezed orange juice, but I was dismayed to see them pouring it out of a gallon-sized jug. I know that many food service companies sell juice that is touted as "freshly-squeezed," but I'm sorry, if someone isn't back there juicing the oranges themselves just before they reach my table, then it's not, and it doesn't taste like it either. I opted for the Bonaparte, a sandwich of fluffy scrambled eggs, applewood-smoked bacon and Vermont cheddar on a croissant. The sandwich came with roasted potatoes. To that I also ordered a single hotcake just so I could sample it. Mom ordered the crepe with "warm fruit melange" and she was pretty happy with it. I snuck a bite and concurred. The peaches and blueberries in the filling were nice and sweet and more importantly, not mushy. I dug my sandwich, which was much too large to eat in one sitting. The eggs were perfectly cooked (not an easy feat imho), the bacon was crispy, and the croissant soft and buttery. A highly enjoyable sandwich. The accompanying potatoes had an interesting seasoning but I thought they were a little bland. The single hotcake came sans powdered sugar, as requested, as well as a few berries artfully tossed on the plate. It was dense but fluffy, and I would happily eat an entire order of these. Service was friendly and efficient. The coffee flowed, our water glasses never sat empty, and plates were cleared swiftly. One thing to note, especially if you're with a large group - they don't split checks or credit cards payments. That's a little archaic and inconvenient, so consider yourself warned and plan ahead.
(3)Jerry M.
Been here several times, excellent service and great food at a reasonable price. Super cute waitress there who i have a huge crush on helps as well :) Check it out! Cheers
(5)Jake J.
We enjoyed a great brunch with our daughter here this past Sunday and everything was great. The food was really good and service was friendly and fast. There was a little bit of a wait when we arrived but that is to be expected in Chicago on Sunday.
(5)Chelsea B.
This place is amazing. Everyone at our table ordered something different for breakfast and it was all amazing! Great place for breakfast or brunch.
(5)Sara H.
Outstanding food! Creative menu! YUMMMMM! I have been here three times in the last week, and I am now sad that I did not stop in sooner. Something about the logo/colors reminded me too much of the droopy diner that used to be in this space. But man, it's nothing like that place. The artichoke omeletta will knock your socks off: Everything is so fresh and flavorful. The house potatoes are a staple. When combined with the perfectly-fried plantains, it's like a little party in your mouth. The vegan chilaquiles? Awesome. But you better be prepared for some heat. They do NOT mess around with either the green OR the red sauce: Both of them give a very strong burn to the old tongue. It subsides after you take a few bites of other things, but with each new bite it certainly lets you know it's still there. I'd like a little milder sauce, but I have a feeling I'm probably in the minority. I haven't tried the sweet stuff, but my friends who have cleaned their plates, so I think that's a good sign. And, they make killer specials each day, including a polenta dish. How many restaurants can say that? I'm definitely coming back!
(4)Matt G.
Thank God LeSabre is now dead. Nice thing is that Marmalade does the space justice. Roomy interior, decently appointed and well-done. I liked the varied menu that allows me to bring meat-eaters to vegans to the place. Had the tilapia baguette special and was surprised by the volume of food that I got. Well seasoned, and just a bit spicy, it hit the mark on nearly every level. Service was more than adequate and good strong coffee, filled regularly. Only gripe... and it's small, was that with that menu choice, I could have used more than one single napkin. They might have taken note when swinging by to check in on me. Also, not sure the name sounds hip. Reminds me of an 80 year old lady... who eats marmalade these days anyway???
(4)Mike P.
RIP, Le Sabre! You were our favorite, little greasy spoon. But rest easy knowing a good, if not completely different breakfast joint opened in your place. While the menu is completely different and noticeably more sophisticated, or what some would call fufu, the folks that run the joint are a decent lot. Always ready to greet you kindly, keep your coffee fresh, and take the time to explain the specials, even giving commentary. Such a recommendation pointed me to the artichoke, roasted tomato, and goat cheese omelet. Something I didn't know I'd like, but completely enjoyed! Also, the kid's menu is a hit with my baby, so you score major points there. While I will miss my typical plate o' grease from Le Sabre, I'm looking forward to heading back to Marmalade for another fresh breakfast.
(4)Andrea R.
I was running late (the norm ever since I became a mom) to meet the fabulous Jelena Z so I was thrilled that it was easy peasy to find a parking spot on the street. There's lots of good stuff to choose from this menu. I opted for the mayan omletta and potatoes. Our somewhat flighty waitress brought out the wrong order at first, but once my food arrived it was well worth the wait because this was the best omelet I've had in a long time. On the way out we chatted with the chef (and really sweet manager/owner) and apparently he created the omelet it for Feast*, another favorite brunch spot, back in the day. I probably won't make it to Marmalade often since it's a bit far from where I live and I have problems getting to places in my neighborhood on time these days. ---------------------------------- * yelp.com/biz/feast-chica…
(4)Tricia W.
We go here because it's 2 blocks from the house. We always leave irritated. Service is super slow and the waitresses are mentally compiling their grocery lists or something. As others have mentioned, forget getting out of here quickly. Even on a weekday when there's 1-2 other tables. Orders are frequently wrong, and once we were given an entire breakfast plate we didn't order (waitress dumped and left without a word). We were told when she came back 15 minutes later that it was a gift from the chef....um ok. I was going to give them 3 stars but then I remembered they charge $4 for a side of bacon.
(2)Malleana R.
Best breakfast I've had that didn't come from my kitchen in a long time ! Great service ! Great smoothies !
(5)Will C.
It took me so long to get to Marmalade and I can't figure out why. Picture one of the trendier restaurants of any of the ones popping up around Chicago claiming to strive for great ingredients, expertly prepared, and only pretending to follow through on it. Marmalade does all that, without needing to brag about it or pat themselves on the back. I don't see much press about them and the reason is obvious.. The food speaks for itself. Gosia (hope I'm spelling that right) was my server and she was a breath of fresh air. I have years of server experience and it's always my philosophy to treat guests as old friends having dinner at my home; familiar and caring. She did this without missing a beat. My girlfriend complimented her necklaces and she stopped to talk to us a little about them. This kind of service seems to almost get beaten out of people in Chicago and to see it still thriving here tells me it is run extremely well by someone who knows what they're doing. The menu is very original, my Spartan omelette was absolutely incredible. The kitchen is FAST without sacrificing quality. The coffee is good for a dark roast. This is no third-wave coffee shop or anything so that's fine. I haven't tried the espresso (and if you read any of my other reviews I always like to go in depth about the coffee) but I'll get back to you on it. It's BOLD but flavorful coffee. Stands up well to cream and a little sugar. I'll say this they brew it right on the money. I don't know why you're reading still unless you've already made your way there and you're finishing up reading this while eating your toast with guava marmalade. I hope that's the case. If not, maybe you should put your phone away and go to Marmalade.
(5)Douglas B.
Wifey and I have been here a few times and I want to give it 4 stars, but as the rating says... its A-OK. The place is solid, solid 3 stars. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, the food is good. I feel it is a bit over priced for what you get, it's not something that's blowing me out of the water. It does get pretty busy on the weekends so be prepare to wait a bit during prime time. But they do a nice job of getting you seated as soon as they can. They do have some off the wall concoctions that honestly don't sound very appetizing to me, I like simple food. Some of the specials they have just have way too many ingredients in them, does not call my attention. I will leave it up to you to try it, heck you might like the specials they have. They are a solid restaurant, i really don't have any complaints. Everything tastes right, its good food, but nothing that I will rush to go get or line up for all the time. you might want to do it :D
(3)Bless M.
Definitely one of my favorite breakfast places. Friendly staff and fresh food. A bit pricey but I love the french toast!
(4)Jon R.
After years of coming here, Marmalade is still my favorite brunch place. The food is always incredible. There is always something new and interesting to try on the specials menu. Gus and Efrain have some amazing flavor combinations no matter if you are in the mood for sweet or savory or spicy. If you go on the weekend, you might have to wait for a seat because it can be a bit of a madhouse, but stick around and give it a try. Your tastebuds will thank you. You can see from the mixed yelps that you will either love this place (most people) or hate it (overprivileged crybaby prima donnas). Don't let the naysayers cheat you out of a delicious and creative meal.
(5)Bernard L.
I have been here many times and I can't believe I haven't written a review yet. The owner Carlos has always been kind and gracious to everyone that walls in the door. A lot of places get real busy and you see the owner yelling at the employees as the pressure builds, but not Carlos. I appreciate that in a business and I think that shows in the food. They fit a lot of tables in a small space, but you don't feel cramped at all. Their brunch specials are to die for and almost always have some type of beef or pork dish. I recently had the chicken and waffles, which were great. The chicken was lightly breaded and moist and the waffles was crispy. I airways enjoy coming here fur brunch because I'm never disappointed.
(5)Dan G.
Really good brunch/breakfast spot. Creative menu that is always changing. There is a Latin flair to the menu which keeps the food exciting. The specials are always worth a try. From pancakes to Benedicts to sandwiches I have been satisfied with everything I have had there. Fresh squeezed juices and good espresso are also a plus in my book. The service is friendly and the owner/manager always makes sure you are doing good. The last time I went I tried their take on biscuits and gravy. It came with a gravy smothered corn flake crusted boneless chicken breast and 3 little biscuits. Really creative and tasty. Those biscuits had little pieces of bacon in it and were legit. Overall it is worth the wait you run into on the weekends. It is brunch turned to 11. Can't wait to come back.
(4)Executive Chef Ronnie B.
When you first walk into a new restaurant thing never been to before and the owner personally greet you and Pat you on the back like you're his best friend there something special to be said about that. The food was classic yet gourmet at the same time and it that's hard to find especially down to the whole wheat bread they put all the sandwiches on which is remarkable. The manager is seem to be was our server which I loved because he took our order & delivered our food in there was a server assistant dealing with all the details the customers might need like water silverware refills etc. I will be back here without a doubt & zero hesitation. For the record I had the jerk chicken club I believe it was called & It may have been the best chicken club I've ever eaten and this is coming from an executive chef. What I love most about this place is that Guss does nothing but brunch lunch & espresso and do it extremely extremely well. Gus coming from two contractors & a Chef which pride ourselves on quality....hats off to you Guss!!
(5)Andrew B.
Ordered eggs over hard and was surprised that what I received was exactly that. Most places I've been to lately will bring a maximum of eggs over medium. So the kitchen knows what's up and that's always a good sign. I wouldn't get the savory creeps again, but that's personal taste. *no separate checks *one credit card per group *american express not accepted (visa, MasterCard or discover ok)
(5)Ryan F.
Great neighborhood BYOB brunch option. I went today and had the Papi Chulo and it was excellent. They only allow one card per table which is kinda 1995 so perhaps they should change it up. I did notice that the table to my left and right had their food sent back as the waiter made some errors with their entrees. Overall great food!
(4)Jodi B.
Delicious food! I had the vegan chiliquiles, and they had so much flavor and just a little kick. Yum!
(5)Hope H.
They provided very friendly service and Azteca omelette with salsa verde as their special was very tasty. Ravenswood crepes are not too sweet. I really like the seasoning they use for side potatoes with the omelette and the potatoes were cooked just right. I will definitely come back again to try other dishes on the menu.
(4)Jason M.
Awesome breakfast spot. I had the Right Stuff and the potatoes, and holy cow it was fantastic! I've been back with my wife and family several times, and the food is always great. I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)Andrew S.
Best breakfast in the neighborhood! This is by far my favorite spot on the north side of Chicago for breakfast or brunch. The food is incredibly fresh, with rotating specials, and the staff is always affable and friendly. You won't be disappointed with any omelette choice, and the actual marmalade they make will blow your socks off. Try going later in the morning/early afternoon to bypass the wait, or hit it up during the week day if you're playing hooky from work. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Tom Z.
One of the worst experiences I've had at a restaurant. Outrageous prices (almost $4 for a side of syrup?! Almost $3 for an extra egg?!), horrible service (a friend came by and we wanted to get a seat for her, but in asking our waitress who barely cared to pay attention to my question she wasn't sure, so asked the owner or boss that proceeded to quickly grunt no), the ketchup they give you is barely a packets worth in a nice metal container so we had to ask for plenty more), food did not warrant the prices, no substitutions, and no splitting the bill. What are we tipping for? Bad service and payment processing? It's a little brunch place, but you would think it was a high end fancy dinner restaurant based on the snobby attitudes and atmosphere of this place. Never going back again.
(1)Kassi B.
The food is pretty okay. And maybe that's all you care about. If so, enjoy! I, however, cannot stand going to this place. I have had the same server the last few times and was completely underwhelmed. I'm sure I'll keep going because it's so close to my job, but seriously I'd prefer competent smiling faces serving my eggs.
(3)Kate L.
This was the the best breakfast place I have ever been to! The food was amazing, my whole family enjoyed the meal dearly. You have many options to chose from, but I enjoyed the French toast. Perfectly done, and it was just the perfect bite for a morning brunch. The servers were very nice and the service was very quick considering the amount of people there. You might consider some of their flavors odd, but I can assure you they work perfectly. They have a good kids menu and great coffee. This is a must do restaurant.
(5)Gustavo A.
Very good breakfast place. The potatoes are amazing. I love how you can build your own omelette with so many ingredient options available. The greek sausage is very tasty. Awesome service and especially good coffee and mocha.
(5)R.A. H.
Been here several times. First review. Always something new to try at this place but at the same time having some great always available staples. Great use of flavor, texture and fabulous presentation. Location convenience also is a bonus. Ambiance is nicely casual. Family friendly. On this visit, I tried the Papi Chulo. Slow cooked pulled chicken sauteed in tomato chipotle sauce and salsa verde, with queso fresco and Chihuahua cheese topped with sour cream, guacamole and salsa verde. A dish to truly awaken the senses. Dishes aren't huge, which is nice, but more than enough to satisfy.
(5)Roger M.
Helmed by a former chef at M. Henry, this joint pleases but not if you expect to be treated as if Beyonce and Jay-Z walked in, which is the vibe I get from reading the poor reviews. Gus the manager is friendly and accommodating. If he seems curt, it's because he's running the place like a tight ship and his work pays off. Their dishes are elevated, not standard breakfast fare so don't expect The Cracker Barrel. There's a twist to breakfast standards such as french toast, pancakes, benedicts and omelettes. If you want boring, go somewhere else but if you want your tastebuds wowed, by all means run inside. Most items are latin-inspired and executed well; the Azteca Omelette is crazy good with great flavors. Cubano french toast is a taste of the Caribbean on your plate. Lots of sweet and savory items guaranteed to satisfy everyone. Waitstaff is very efficient and the reason they scramble like F-14 jet fighters off to a dogfight. You won't wait longer than 15 mins at most times. The plus is that they have kept the business in the family since it was the neighborhood mainstay, LeSabre.
(5)Benjamin B.
Marmalade is a great local establishment for brunch on the weekends. I had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. There is a high noise level, but it just adds to the ambiance. The waiter was friendly and the food was delicious. I had pancakes with bacon. The food tasted fresh and I enjoyed every bite.
(4)Kaitlin K.
The food was AMAZING! I ordered a very well priced build your own omelette that had delicious flavors and spices! (I suggest black beans and pepper jack cheese!) They also serve fancy coffee drinks to enjoy with plenty of tasty breakfast/brunch options. I'm a vegetarian, my mom is a picky eater, and my dad's diet consists of mostly meat, so finding a restaurant that offers good food at good prices that meets my family's needs is difficult. Marmalade had a variety of options, vegan and vegetarian friendly and all well-made and well-priced. This is a great place for EVERYONE. I cannot WAIT to go back!!!
(5)Christopher R.
Went here with friends because we needed a place that had vegan options (2 of us vegan, 2 omnivore). I was excited to go since there were tons of reviews here that suggest it's great for vegans... well. It's OK for vegans. Only ONE actual item on the menu is vegan - the chilequiles. There are a couple of vegan sides as well. Vegetarians rejoice - this place has tons for you. I was a little disheartened that there was only one vegan option and not in the mood to build a meal out of sides. And then... I asked for a mimosa - standard fare at brunch... but they don't have any alcohol :-( We are not off to a good start. Then I notice the "No splitting checks, No splitting card transactions sign." Ugh... I tell my friends, "This food better be amazing or I'm going to go insane!" Then the food arrived...and WOAH... it was SO GOOD!!! Dare I say AMAZING!! Everyone loved what they ordered. The Vegan chilequiles were perfect and the breakfast potatoes were killer. Also, the service was really great. Very friendly folks and no one's water glass (remember... no mimosas) was never more than half empty (er..half full?). Solid 4 stars because the food is really that good. But to get that 5th star... I would have loved the option of drinks, combine the sides into a plate special for another vegan option in the main dishes, and for the build an omeletta add the option of making a tofu scramble :-) Seriously, food is amazing and I definitely will be back.
(4)Javier S.
Best brunch in Ravenswood, Lincoln Square area. Was in this morning and enjoyed a Caribbean Club and as usual French toast special, today's was a carrot loaf and an Oreo type. I can't get over how great Marmalade is.
(5)Nickie P.
Great spot for brunch! I had a hard time deciding what to order because everything looked good -- I ended up with the Mayan omelette, which was great. Everything came in super large portions and was really great.
(5)Joe L.
Simply amazing. Went in for breakfast and was welcomed by a hospitable team of servers and a manager. It was relatively busy, which is a good sign for a Monday morning. I got the Pollo Loco which I HIGHLY recommend. Lovely moist shredded chicken cooked in tomato and chipotle mixture, mounded over a crispy tortilla topped with two poached eggs (they were slightly over cooked) guacamole, sour cream, salsa verde, and queso fresco. It also came with their breakfast potatoes which were amazing as well. Potatoes, scallions, diced red peppers, all of them perfectly cooked. I can not wait to go back and try the other things I was fighting between. Just as a note, you can not split the tab here. So only one credit card for the table.
(5)John S.
Came here with a friend, got the Mexican Breakfast Combo. Comes with eggs anyway you like them cooked, house potatoes, two cheese quesadillas, some chips stuff and some fruit. I upgraded to chicken quesadillas and it was honestly the best thing on the plate. Really loved their potatoes as well, the chips were whatever. Service was good, didn't want too long for food. They gave us free scones since they were closing for the day, that was pretty awesome. Definitely would come back here, I was seriously full for like 8 hours.
(5)Zack F.
I understand when restaurants have a policy against seating people before their whole party has arrived. When you are busy and popular, it makes a lot of sense. Enter Marmalade and their 8:30am, only three other people are here but you still can't sit down yet cause your party hasn't arrived policy. There's no one here. I could be drinking coffee and buying beignets, but instead I'm standing awkwardly outside a largely empty restaurant. The food was excellent and our server was the best. So, I feel a bit better about the experience.
(3)Jeannie P.
Tried Marmalade for the first time on a recent vacation to Chicago. Definitely pluses and minuses to this place. The food was amazing. I had the Efrain Diablo omlet (it also comes with country potatoes). A very unique combination of shrimp, eggs, peppers & avocado. I loved every bite. They will not split checks. They will also not accept more than 1 credit card per check. If you go, make sure that you have cash or a generous friend to pick up the entire tab. Great location but this place is small so expect to wait a while (outside) if they're busy. The bathroom was not very clean and the toilet paper was on the floor - gross. Service was ok. Our server was pleasant enough but not overly friendly and she didn't check on us very often. The food was brought out in a reasonable amount of time so no major complaints. They have a very limited selection of jam for your toast or muffin. Nothing red. It was very strange. Overall, the taste of the food outweighs any of the smaller items. I would definitely return.
(4)Eugene C.
It's a large, clean space with very attentive service with an emphasis on Latino cuisine. The owner or GM obviously runs a tight ship as I saw him attend to everyone that walked in the door. I got the Vegan Chilaquiles and it was very good in taste and presentation yet slightly pricier than it should be. I appreciate the effort but I wish they had more vegan options. If you're into meat, they won't disappoint. It's a solid breakfast / brunch place in Ravenswood which seems good for a solo or group food excursion.
(4)Justine G.
I would definitely come back to this neighborhood joint because not only is the food really good but also the staff and owner and very personable. It's also the kind of menu where you want to come back and try all the other yummy options. Definitely get the apple cider!
(4)Karla U.
This place is cool. Since its a breakfast place it is crazy busy but they try their best to accommodate you. They have great options for breakfast and brunch. You will be surprised you can eat! :P Great food, juices, and lattes . Staff nice as well and attentive.
(5)Aimee M.
The sweets are sweet and the savories are savory. Marmalade certainly tunes in to everyone's breakfast/brunch dilemma. The menu has some great options like french toast, omelets, benedicts, chilaquiles and chicken/waffles, but also check out their specials. I was plenty pleased with the breakfast combo I chose. I opted for the chorizo skillet (spicy and savory) and the beignets (sweet). The skillet is full of breakfast potatoes, topped with chorizo and queso fresco (I omitted the spicy pepper jack by request) with 2 eggs your choice. This skillet was huge, a little greasy, but it's chorizo. I could only finish a quarter of it and brought it home for a second meal. It was spicy, flavorful and well-made. The beignets were also delicious. Not overly sweet but deliciously light and puffy. It comes with a raspberry sauce and a cappuccino sauce for dipping. A nice sized order where leftovers also leave the table for an afternoon snack. Coffee refills aplenty. The super friendly server asked if I wanted coffee to go to--how lovely was that? Cute place, bright and airy. The price was certainly right considering I got 2.5 meals out of one visit.
(4)Honey M.
I loved this place!!! It's small but the food is delicious. Portions are big so come hungry. Our server Gosia was very attentive to our needs despite the Memorial Day rush. I'd definitely revisit this place
(5)XTreats X.
Giving marmalade 4 stars instead of 3 because they are doing some unique dishes! They aren't the best but they are unique and worth the experience. I tried their rendition of chicken and waffles. The bacon potato leek gravy was good (didn't surpass your traditional sausage gravy but it was good.). The waffle was a little plain. Crab cake Benedict was good as well. I wish I tried one of their sweet dishes (french toast etc) they look great. Oh & staff was great
(4)RJ G.
Definitely have to come back here. Its a quaint little brunch spot that does breakfast right. I had the lady marmalade which was slices of brioche made french toast style with a marmalade compote. Delish! Also had the maple chicken sausage which was sweet, and i love sweet. My friend order the chilaquiles and they were pretty tasty as well. Chihuahua cheese on chips with eggs, avocado, veggies and potatos. Done right. The menu is large and is ever changing. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice brunch spot. Next time ill have to try the cuban sandwich.
(4)Shahzad A.
I really like the creative approach the chef takes to his food. Every week he has specials that are usually very good. The chef has stopped by our table a few times and has asked for feedback which is very nice. I highly recommend trying this place out.
(5)Michelle H.
Best vegan chilaquiles in the city! The tofu is actually seasoned well, which is surprisingly hard to find in Chicago. It's great to have an option at a place where I can go with non-vegan friends.
(5)Kathleen C.
Marmalade was a nice change from the usual spots...which are overly packed and typically not that amazing. Marmalade was friendly and cute, with no frills decor and really nice staff. We visited for brunch and only had a few minute wait. The menu is MASSIVE! It has a zillion things listed. I opted for the two eggs any style with potatoes and toast. The eggs were perfectly done, but skip the cheese - it's a waste and I wasn't expecting it to come out as it did. The toast options didn't include white (I know, it's not as healthy, but for some reason, I really like white toast with my eggs...multigrain was pretty good, though). The potoates were good, though I wasn't expecting them to have little bits of peppers in them. They also were a bit crispy, though not as hot as I would have expected on the inside. I also ordered a side of one hotcake. This was the only disappointing part as I had to ask for it when it didn't arrive and then it took at least 20 min to come out (pretty good, though). Everyone else devoured their meals, so obviously the food is pretty good. I don't think it was anything over the top, but it did hit the spot. Service was the part that really took a beating here. They came to refill coffees and skipped mine...next time the coffee refill was on it's way, I had to hand over my cup so that no one forgot. Also, there seemed to be quite a bit of confusion with the order....it was a bit busy, and the server was really nice, but I was a tad frustrated about the overall service level. Pretty good spot. Food - 4 Service - 2 Atmosphere - 3 Bathrooms - 3 Value - 5
(3)Meg R.
We come here often. It's our neighborhood breakfast spot. Well it was anyways. The food is normally good. Service good enough. Never had a problem until this morning. Our waitress with super long hair didn't have it pulled back. And every time she put something on our table her hair dipped in our water. There were 4 of us. So the two of us that were on the outside of the table this kept happening. So gross!!! So then we kept watching her and she was at the kitchen window. Grabbing her hair putting her fingers through it. Then she grabbed our food off the line!!! Sooo gross. Our last straw was when she was clearing our plates and her hair went into my almost empty latte cup. We all saw it. We just shook our heads and got out of there. We won't be back. That's for sure. We are all in the industry and one of the number one health code rules is pull your hair back! Especially when it's down to your butt!
(1)Carla E.
OMG THIS PLACE IS BAE!!! I have been there couple times and they make me fall in love more and more each time!!! i recommend the papi chulo, it has that delicious flavor!!!!!
(5)Bert T.
They really don't want my business! The sign on the door says they are open until 2:30. I arrived at 1:55 and asked to be seated. The owner said NO, because they were closing In half an hour. I said, "you know you are losing a customer. Are you OK with that?' He said, "I'm fine with that." Well -- OK then. Buh BYE!
(1)Natalia R.
Me and my husband went to Marmalade today for breakfast. We came here a couple of times before that and the experience was ok, average I would say. Today was the worst. I'm going to point out the things that are most annoying: Noise: the place is small and usually pretty busy - I guess this is the reason it's VERY VERY noisy. You can hardly have a conversation there. Food: average. The french toast wasn't anything special, seemed a little dry. Waiters: they seem very stressed and they run around like crazy and obviously try really hard to clean tables and sit people down. This makes it difficult to relax. Imagine sitting at a small table for two in the middle of the restaurant when someone constantly runs (literally, runs) back and forth past to your table. Service: when we sat down waiter came quickly and took our orders, he was nice and patient. When we had our first coffees we had to wait for a long time for a refilll. We both finished coffees BUT the waiter only offerred a refill to my husband, ignored me, and disappeared so quickly I didn't ahve a chance to say anything. It took me a very long time to get someone's attention again to get a refill of my coffee. They were very quick to bring us the check though. Hmm... didn't surprise me at all. This is the place where they want you to quickly order, eat and get out ASAP. We will never come back.
(2)Gino W.
Voulez-vous manger avec moi ce jour? Voulez-vous manger avec moi? Okay, so that may be a bit much. No, it wasn't. I love ethnic food and one thing I will admit that American restaurants get right is breakfast. I was hesitant to go to Marmalade because of some of the reviews, but sometimes you have to check things out for yourself. Breakfast bliss all around for the start of my birthday. Cafe au lait. Eggs scrambled well with cream cheese. Cubano French toast. The cafe au lait was not bitter, not in the least. I drank it without any sugar and said silently, "Intelligentia, you have competition." By the second cup, I was saying, "Intelligentia what?" Nothing spectacular about cream cheese in my eggs, as that is a staple for my desired preparation of eggs. Where I wanted to stand up and sing "Gino Marmalade," was with the Cubano French toast. I would gladly have enjoyed a petite mort after the first bite of the French toast in guava marmalade with a cream anglaise, topped with strawberries, guava, and granola.
(4)Michael N.
Marmalade is one of those city restaurants that Ashley and I drive 30+ miles for. It is not conveniently located for us...at all. We have to take 94 down to Irving Park, then east to Damen, then up to Montrose. But....it's worth it. I would walk 500 miles for those breakfast potatoes. I would trudge through sludge for their breakfast skillets. There is no distance that could keep me from Marmalade. It has become a holiday restaurant for us. We went there on Memorial Day, and then on Labor Day. I wish there was another Monday holiday coming up so we could go back soon. Their servers are fast and friendly. It is a smaller restaurant, so there is usually a wait. But once you walk in, the smell of deliciousness fills your booger holes and you tell yourself "60 minute wait? That's ok." Jk, the longest we waited was probably 15 minutes. The portions are enormous too. It is a little pricey for breakfast, but it is really awesome. There aren't many, but Marmalade is one of the reasons why I envy people who live in Chicago.
(5)Elise W.
I'm a little sad to write this review. I've been to this restaurant twice previously, and had a great experience with both service and food. However this Sunday was different. I was with a group of 4 and we called ahead to find out wait times. The person on the phone told us there wasn't a wait - well when we got there 10 minutes later, the line was out the door and it was over a half hour. My friend said that we had just called and a staff member later whispered to her that the manager told her to lie to us about the wait on the phone. This really turned all of us off, but we decided to stay since I had previously enjoyed my experiences here. Our waitress, I have to say, was really friendly, so that part of service was o.k. We ordered our food - I got one of the benedicts and asked for hollandaise on the side. When it came, however, the plate was drowning in it. Not a big deal, I asked them to fix it. However, it came back to me a minute later with streak marks from where they obviously took a towel and wiped the sauce off - it was still on the bread and the whole plate of food was cold. The poached eggs were cold and hardened in the middle. By this point, I did not want to send it back again - so I just dealt with it. My friend ordered french toast and she said the bread was stale. Super disappointing. I realize the restaurant was really busy, but they should still care about the food they put out and management should definitely not lie to customers in order to try and get more business. I unfortunately will not be back after this experience.
(2)Chris M.
This place is outstanding! Our friends invited us to join them for Sunday brunch, so glad they did. The service was warm, friendly, attentive, and impeccable. The food was diverse and superb. They offer the traditional breakfast and lunch options but with their own unique interpretation. Marmalade also offers many unique dishes - too many to try in one visit - so a great reason to go back. Highlights of our first trip: french toast flight, the crabmeat eggs benedict and beignets.
(5)Lauren R.
Marmalade is our default on Mondays when Over Easy isn't open. At Over Easy, we arrive at 7am with the morning crowd, and are out with a full, happy belly by 7:30 at the extreme latest. At Marmalade, we arrive at their 7:30 opening time, and cross our fingers to be out by 8:30 after being 1 of 2 tables occupied at that time. The food is good, except for the greasy potatoes, and the water is constantly refilled. The staff is just slower, with no clear drive to improve, and they make it VERY clear that they will not be inconvenienced to split a check for you. Signs are everywhere.
(3)Hannah C.
This place had a wait, but they were managing it very well. Four of us went in and all of us loved it. I got killer french toast, boyfriend got a Mexican-inspired potato dish. None of us was disappointed. Service was quite good given how busy they were! Seriously, this was so good I sort of don't want to review it so that it doesn't get any busier. But I will say this: when in doubt, try one of the Mexican dishes - they won't disappoint.
(5)Alessandra S.
What a gem! A solid brunch spot with an abundance of choices, you honestly can't go wrong. Bring your vegetarian friends! Bring your vegan friends! Bring your hungover friends! Bring your kids! This place accommodates all. The place is always packed when I go for brunch on the weekends, yet somehow they manage to seat me within 15 minutes of walking in each time I've gone. So far, I've had The Lady Marmalade, Pollo Loco, and their steak omelette. Everything was wonderful, but I think they do Mexican breakfast items particularly well. Their house potatoes are exploding with flavor and taste great alone or accompanying any item on the menu. Service was friendly and prompt. They look like they are having a good time, and that's always fun to see. Honestly, the only problem is that everything sounds good and it is much too hard to choose only one item. The only way to solve this problem is for me to go back until I've tried everything! Challenge happily accepted.
(5)Ari A.
Foodgasm. Do I need to say much else? The memorable dishes from this fine tornado morning were Pollo Loco, Aztec Omelette, and Mexican Breakfast Combo. If you think you can finish the Aztec Omelette, think again. The weirdest thing about the Mexican Breakfast Combo was the sunny side up eggs, and the Pollo Loco had the perfect amount of pulled chicken drizzled in yolk. Yeah this place will leave your mouth watering. Space is limited, but the staff is great at ensuring you always have a drink in hand, even if you're waiting outside in the bitter cold. Nothing wrong with a morning coke for a breakfast of Champions. Come hungry, leave full. *Bring cash if you're splitting the bill with friends!
(4)Jessica G.
Will not be back. I gave this place another try (against my better judgement) and was sadly disappointed. I ordered the chilequiles which come with scrambled tofu, and asked if I could get that with scrambled egg instead. Waitress said no problem. ...Then waitress came back and said they would give me both tofu and egg, and I said, "no thank you, I just want egg - no want tofu." She said OK, it will be $1 for the substitution. No problem! We wait for our meal, wincing along to the way-too-loud and staticy music. My dish arrives - hilequiles sadly forlorn on a plate, with an egg on the side - not mixed as a scramble as it should have been. Ok, ok - I did request a change. The salsa was tasty, and the egg was a scrambled egg (can't easily mess that up) but that was the end of it. The chips were tough and unpleasant, potatoes hard as stone and inedible. Then the bill arrives, and I was charged $2.50 for an egg on the side. Excuse me? I don't mind paying for something changed, but when I'm told a price, I expect you to charge me what you said. Sure, it's only $1.50, but it's the principle of the thing. I paid it, but I will not be back. I can tolerate rude waitstaff, but paired with bad food, it's definitely scratched off my go-to list of Chicago eats.
(1)Kevin G.
Ate here after running a 5k last Saturday. I ordered the Simply French Toast. Calling this dish "simple" is definitely accurate. The french toast completely lacked flavor. Aside from the parts that I poured maple syrup on, the french toast tasted like regular bread. Definitely not good. My girlfriend ordered an omelet with potatoes. The potatoes were good. There are plenty of breakfast spots in Chicago where you can get a good breakfast. This place is not one of them.
(2)Natan Y.
It was my first time eating there. I have seen a barrage of reviews so I figured this place was good... I asked the waitress who was really nice what she recommended. She recommended a polenta bacon plate with quesodilla.... I didn't like it. It tasted like leftover Thanksgiving. The quesodilla was filled with goat cheese and grapes?(I know gross) I dunno it was creative and we'll presented however no bacon in the polenta.. in fact that's something there menu lacks. I feel like this is a place for women to get breakfast or vegans they forget about our carnivorous needs. You need a more diverse menu that offers plates of meat. It was actually the first time I can remember a breakfast restaurant had no steak. I will most likely not be back however the sweet potatoes were delightful.
(3)Luli S.
Bad service. Sat down and asked the server for specials she said they are on the boards. One of the boards was facing on a wall that protruded beyond our table which meant we would of had to walk around just to know the specials. Thanks a lot Stephanie. Just pd for my coffee and left. Service sux!
(1)Mark T.
The unusual weekday off from work called for brunch. I'm usually the type of person that would go for someplace new, that I've heard about but have never tried before. Luckily Marmalade was nearby so my sis and I decided to check this place out. We were familiar with the neighborhood that Marmalade now sits since this place is nearby the very first house that we moved to when the family decided to live in the city. Since I'm the younger of the two, I was very little at the time. I had a vague recollection but my sister remembered this place to be another type of restaurant. Anyways, back to the review. We had just missed the breakfast hour so we decided to tackle the brunch specials. I had the Florentine Crab Benedict : crab cakes and poached eggs, with sauteed garlic spinach, dill sour cream, and spicy chipotle hollandaise on top of our homemade cornbread; served with our chef's potatoes. Granted, these weren't as good as mom's crab cakes, but they were still good enough for my taste buds. I could never decide what opinion I have about poached eggs in general, but somehow they went well with the dish. I was expecting more from the cornbread, but the portion size was the right amount and I was glad for that. The wait staff was excellent and the kitchen to table time was great. if this was a weekend, I fully expect this place to be packed; the food was that good. The space itself is somewhat small, but it's brightly lit and the paintings on the walls are a nice touch (loved the "Lady Marmalade" painting especially). I have zero problems coming back here!
(4)Leanne A.
This was a welcome addition to Ravenswood when it opened. The nearby brunch options before were Fountainhead (more gastropub fair) Selmarie (quite a bit further away) Julius Meinl (more cafe than brunchy) Tiny Lounge (more bar than brunch)...so ya, Marmalade is the only real breakfast and brunch choice. I love the cozy vibe. It's like a clean, modern diner. I agree with others that the sweet options are better than the savory. They have awesome french toast dishes that are covered in fresh berries. The first time I went, I thought it tasted very similar to m. henry. Lo and behold, the menu was designed by the same chef. So all those who think Marmalade is "copying" m. henry....um it's not. It's kind of like a mini off shoot. That's the whole point. Oh, and the outdoor seats are a perfect way to enjoy brunch here if it's not too chilly.
(4)Sofia G.
One of my favorite breakfast spots! Everything I've tried here is delicious: guava french toast, the crepes, the aztec omelette, hash and eggs, the funghi omelette... Never a wrong dish! And the service is always friendly!
(5)Allen B.
I remember when this place used to be LeSabre. I miss that place, but I'm sure they've gone on to bigger and better things. Anyways, Marmalade --what a nice place. I don't know how else to explain it, maybe it was the service, maybe it was the warm greeting that my girlfriend and I received upon entry, maybe it was the cleanliness. I don't know. I....just....don't.....know. But regardless, Marmalade is definitely a quaint breakfast spot that we will hit up again. The service was fast and friendly and the owner (I believe he might have been the owner) greeted us at the door which made our breakfast experience that much better. Go check this place out and if you see me there, make sure you say hi. =)
(4)Michael D.
I really wish I could give this place more stars. The food is really, really good. I've had the Mayan Omelette, which is delicious. They used very fresh ingredients and the flavor was great - the crepes are excellent too. The drawbacks: * Service is slow, especially on weekends. It gets really crowded, but that isn't an excuse-- hire more waiters * The coffee isn't great. For a brunch place, this is surprising. Also, they put out non-dairy creamer on the table... I had to request half and half from the kitchen. Waiter seemed a little irritated about having to do this. * NO SPLIT CHECKS. Extremely obnoxious. I really have to rack my brain thinking of places in Chicago that do this... it seems to me that the credit card transaction fee is worth not irritating the customers. Also, judging by the reviews, I'm not the only one who was annoyed
(3)Reagan W.
We went here for an anniversary brunch.. Very laid back. Food was very good and came out in a timely manner. Their outside seating is too close to one another though.
(4)Jerry C.
I don't eat pork so I asked to substitute with chicken on the bennie but was told No! No problem in future as I will eat elsewhere.
(1)Lily P.
Went here for the first time, and I must say not a very friendly atmosphere. The hostess were NOT pleasant and gave us a look of: um no Mexicans allowed...Yes, I said it because that is how it happen. If she only knew, who she was walking in that restaurant she wouldn't act that way. Now, I am simply placing a phone call to my well know Chicago Land Food Critic and let him know of my experience. Needless to say; took my business somewhere else to the Egghead Diner, NOW that is service with a smile!!!
(1)Samantha R.
Absolutely love this place! (: first time here, food was amazing and the customer service is great.
(5)Vanessa R.
We were doing some shopping in Northcenter and thought we should finally stop by this place to check it out for brunch. We were pleasantly surprised there was no wait, but I think I now know why. Food is not very good. I really wanted to love this place as it's in the neighborhood, and is great for people with dietary restrictions as they have gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options. In my case, I loved that they have their gluten free items clearly marked with a "GF" on their menu so you don't have to grill the server with a ton of questions. I ordered the vegan/gluten free chilaquiles with onions, baby spinach, red and green peppers over an organic tofu scramble with a green salsa. Since all egg dishes come with a side, I opted for the oven roasted potatoes. Chilaquiles are kind of hard to mess up, and to date I don't think I have ever not left my plate clean eating these, but these were hard to swallow. The chips tasted like they were straight out of a bag, salsa was not spicy at all or flavorful (like the salsa verde you can buy in a can), the tofu scramble also lacked any flavor at all, and the worst part was the potatoes on the side - they tasted awful, as if they were coated in a cheese sauce or something (which was not possible because this was a vegan dish). I thought I was overreacting and had my husband try them and he agreed they tasted really bizarre, pretty much inedible. Husband ordered a skillet as well and was underwhelmed as well. Another thing I was really put off by: multiple times all over the menus, it clearly states in all caps that no substitutions can be made, no exceptions, on any dish. This lack of flexibility in ordering stinks. Overall the food just didn't cut it at all and I was underwhelmed by the lack of non-egg gluten free options where not a single non-egg gluten free option was available (e.g. crepes, waffles, pancakes). Bummer.
(2)Laura L.
Perfectly fine. It's nice to see a brunch menu that goes beyond the basic 'omelet and french toast'. Major kudos for that. On execution, I felt it fell just a little short. It certainly was not bad, it just left me on the cusp of completely impressed. The service was pretty great, wish I could remember our waitresses name - even went to check on the receipt but it said Bob, which I doubt was HER name. - I got the shrimp omelet which was very flavorful (though there were some wetness to the egg that I found unappealing) but the potatoes were kind of just weird. - The marmalade and chutney were delightful. - My husband's chicken from the chicken and biscuit also had a bit of an odd flavor to it that I couldn't quite place. Overall, it felt very reminiscent of Tweet to me, but a step below. Obviously not BAD though, or it wouldn't have received 4 stars.
(4)Marie B.
So, we've passed this place up several times to go to Glenn's dinner. We decided to switch it up a bit and try Marmalade. It...was...Fantastic! Another great brunch place to add onto our amazing Chicago brunch list. I had the Italian (I forgot the real name) omlette special, so good. Fresh basil was a plus. Their house potatoes had the perfect amount of seasoning and spice. The jam was amazing, so amazing that we bought some to take home! Their coffee was yummy too.. Must Try!
(4)LaDarian D.
French toast & Omelette selections are wide & fantastic. Services is good & friendly. It's always an enjoyable experience. Not a potato fan much, but the home fries are awesome
(5)Ashley S.
Shut the front door. This place. Breakfast, I mean how good can it get? I'll tell you how good it can get....think of something that makes you really happy, cotton candy at the fair, a walk on a sunny Spring day....what makes me happy..a mexican combination platter from Marmalade. This may have been the best dish I've ever eaten. It was perfection. It's a really good thing I don't live in the area, I would be 1,000LBS. The plate consisted of a delicious homemade guacamole, a wonderful chile sauce over lightly crisp tortilla chips, 2 cheese quesadillas, 2 eggs(your choice) and the most amazing breakfast potatoes I've ever eaten! Oh. My. Gosh. I need to go back there now....except it's 4:37pm and I don't think they're open, so I guess I'll have to wait....but trust me when I say I will be back and I will dominate that plate again.
(5)Lauren O.
Finally got to try this place out! It is usually very crowded and honestly I don't have the patience to wait. But on a crappy, snowy, Monday around 11:30am it worked out perfectly for us. There was a decent crowd of people but not overly crowded and we didn't have to wait. Everything on the menu looks amazing.I went with the Mexican Breakfast Combo. The potatoes were delicious. My scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly. The chilaquiles were topped with slasa verde & fresh guacamole....just the right amount of spicy. The quesadillas were nice & cheesy. Everything was really good but it was just too much food for me. I def left a lot on my plate. The man had the Efrain's Diablo Omeletta. He was quiet as a mouse eating and ate every last morsel of it. His also came with potatoes. Nothing was left on his plate. We eye balled everyone else's food around us and agreed that we would def be going back. The lunch options also sounded good but we were in the mood for breakfast. Either way we'll be back!
(4)Jacob J.
Almost a year later and I'm still a fan with more visits under my belt. People need to stop reading reviews.. LoL ( I speak of waiting times). There are times in the day that I want a sweet treat and have tried stopping by just for their sweet plantains only to find a twenty minute wait on seating. I've stated this once, which will be repeated, I've had plantains at other restaurants and found them to be over cooked, dried out, etc. They are good here. Recently I stopped in again and brought newbies which are now turned on to the Marmalade following. Dining with two is fun but with four offers your eyes a feast. This time round we all ordered different items. Sweet, savories, hearty and more. I tell ya, their spicy chiliquiles is bomb! if it weren't for the inclusion of eggs, I could have this twice a week. On the menu its mentioned as a vegan, but I often ask for them to meat it out. Eggs and maybe a side of some good breakfast meat. Marmalade's menu is ever changing with a few items being standard on their menu, find newer mentions in chalk on boards. I would suggest dining with someone interested in ordering opposite of you so that both can try a bit of sweet or savory. Service is decent, good but not perfect depending on whom you get. I haven't had a complaint yet but I think they could hold back from offering so much coffee so often. (Of course this is merely a request of my own experiences, whereas others may see it as being on their toes.) At other times, the coffee is frequent but other items are forgotten. If visiting find lots of street parking nearby and definitely call ahead for wait times.
(4)EDELMA A.
Went in for lunch after finding out Fountainhead wasn't open. We wanted salads and decided to order two that were on the menu. It's got to be difficult to mess up a salad, but they managed to mess up two. The sirloin steak on my salad was like eating beef jerky, and the beets on the other salad looked pruney and from the bottom of the barrel. Really disappointed, had high hopes. If we return, we'll stick to the breakfast.
(1)Jennifer K.
The food here is so good that I am disappointed to leave a review like this. When I was in last week, I had the unpleasant experience of listening to the manager/owner (I think) yelling at his staff. It is so unacceptable to dress down staff in front of a line of customers. And it is stressful for customers! A Sunday morning should not include yelling. And after he was done yelling at the hostess, he was loud and rude throughout the restaurant. This made me really not want to go back.
(2)sidney l.
Was at here earlier and now I realize why this place place is great. The reason the use real butter and clean ingredients not like some other breakfast spots that use everything out of a can or that synthetic frying oil that most places uses.
(5)Tresa M.
I'm always surprised that this doesn't have more stars. I have eaten here many times and have never had a negative experience. The Pollo Loco is delicious. They have many Mexican style breakfast dishes and overall, they are very good. The service is good, could be faster, but food is solid. Waits on the weekends aren't too long and the prices are fair.
(4)Susan S.
Augh! I just want to pack this restaurant in my purse and bring it back to St Louis as a souvenir! I have absolutely nothing negative to say (and one eye brow raising thing to say) about this excellent restaurant. First of all, the only problem you'll have is deciding which direction to take your order. Do you want savory or sweet? I am a savory breakfast eater but always manage to score a bite of sweet from the DH or kids. Too bad they weren't with me this time. I ordered a Mexican style eggs benedict with poached eggs, chorizo, avocado, insanely corny corn tortillas, and a maravillosa sauce. The serving size was just right---not too much, not too little. The coffee was hot and plentiful and the server happily brought us milk for our coffee. The only negative comment I would make is that one of the servers was wearing those Lululemon see through tights. WE REALLY COULD SEE EVERYTHING! It was weird!
(5)Cassie V.
Came here for brunch with my family, it's one of my parents go to breakfast places. The hostess was very accommodating when my step requested a table change. And service was awesome throughout, our coffee was always refreshed, table was cleared quickly (not rushing us, but giving us room), and the food was delicious. They have a harvest hash special going on right now that includes brisket...brisket for breakfast is never a wrong way to go. Two people in my party got it, and were pleased. I got mama Maria's enchiladas and they were a sweet deliciousness that came with eggs. Not spicy but they give you hot sauce, if you need the kick. They're americano was also superb. Beware that it's a small Chicago space, so there is only a few perfect seats in the house, ie away from the door or the kitchen, but don't let this sway you if you want to experience the food. I will be back!
(4)Erick N.
My wife and I were joined with a friend this morning for a post-run brunch (while post-run for my wife, seeing that it was in the 40s earlier today with drizzle and wind I smartly opted to sleep in and forgo my morning run). We had a rather pleasant (though certainly not spectacular) brunch and all of us enjoyed our entrees. Marmalade is nothing fancy on the inside and does not possess much ambiance, but wow - they have quite an appetizing menu. This is not a boring breakfast/brunch place with predictable fare but they have some interesting choices and a nice balance of sweet and savory. As I was feeling guilty for skipping out on my run I almost opted for their healthy pancakes made with more grains than I could count, but there were far too many tempting options for my willpower to overcome. Just when I thought I had my choice narrowed down our server informed of us additional specials (that also sounded quite good, such as a BBQ Pork Benedict on brioche). The menu appeared to be a fusion of American and Mexican cuisine. After seeking some advice form our server (Carolina) I ordered the El Picante Benedict which consists of a Hodge-podge of goodies such as homemade tortillas, sweet plantains, spicy chorizo, poached eggs, Mexican rice, corn, black beans, avocado slices, queso fresco and Mayan sauce. In lieu of missing my run I had them hold the sour cream (seemed like a fair trade off... after all I could have ordered the Oreo Raspberry Hotcakes, the Cinnamon Bread Pudding or the Strawberry Rhubarb French Toast). While prices are a bit higher than most casual brunch locales (my dish was $11.50) portions were quite generous and everything was pretty darn good. The coffee was decent as well. Some recent reviews had mentioned spotty and slow service, but this was not the case this morning. Our server was extremely attentive, friendly (and was rather pleasant on the eyes to boot). She checked in with us frequently and our coffees never became more than half empty before they were topped off. We arrived a little after 9:00am, so it probably helped that we beat the late morning rush (Marmalade was fairly crowded, but not yet full). I certainly would not mind coming back here and trying out some of the other intriguing menu items.
(4)Mahesh S.
This is quickly becoming one of our favorite breakfast places to go to. The food is really good and the wait staff is amazing. Unless you are a party of 2 or less expect a wait time of anywhere between 15-30 minutes. Price is probably 30% more than other comparable places. Plenty of street parking around the area. I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)KC F.
This place was so good. I really enjoyed their brunch and can't wait to head back to try other menu items (papaya french toast?!). There seemed to be a constant wait for tables but it moved quickly. Would recommend!
(5)Michael U.
Arriving early, only perhaps forty-five minutes after Marmalade had opened its doors and again allocating free parking without difficulty but on our arrival to the doors we were instantly struck by just how packed the restaurant was-literally every seat was filled and parties of eight, four, and two preceded us on the wait list. Debating whether or not we wanted to stay the hostess informed us that in her opinion the wait would be "no more than fifteen minutes" and deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt we were pleasantly surprised when a number of patrons all seemed to finish their meal at once leaving us a nice seat near the window and with full view of the kitchen a mere ten minutes later. With the restaurant clearly busy and menu present on the table as we arrived I took some time browsing the bakery items before returning to my seat and from this point forward we would wait while watching what may be the most inefficient restaurant in the history of overcrowded brunch spots. With servers racing here and there refilling drinks, bussing tables, serving foods, brewing labor intensive espressos, seating patrons, and just trying to keep up it would be at least fifteen minutes after we were seated before our server would even notice us to take drink orders-water only-before again racing off without taking our order. Finally returning only after she'd bussed a table and served another we finally had the opportunity to place our orders...and wait , wait, and wait some more with empty water glasses until our orders arrived. Chuckling at the clever paintings and number of persons now waiting outside while musing about how much more efficient the restaurant could be by simply adding a dedicated bus-boy and barista/bakery worker the first item to arrive at our table would prove nearly worth the wait-a Sweet Potato and sour Cherry Muffin dense and moist with flavors of cinnamon and cloves punctuated by large cherries impressively ripe for this time of year. A bit small for the $3.50 price tag this was still a good muffin and the streusel topping plenty sweet to offset the slight savory notes of the sweet potato. Now nearly fifty minutes post-seating our main courses would finally arrive and although each was complicated none was as much so as the "Jason's Omelette," a three egg fold absolutely stuffed with sweet potato, butternut squash, pumpkin, caramelized onions, cranberries, cognac chicken sausage, goat cheese and topped with a red wine reduction. A difficult flavor to describe though largely predominated by the boozy notes of the wine and cognac melding with the savory notes from the cheese and the onions I'm really not sure that I "liked" this kitchen sink approach, though it was definitely novel and something I could envision myself making on the morning before I left on vacation to use up various odds and ends in my fridge. Moving next to the sweets, my sister's selection was the "Mango and blueberry cinnamon roll presented cut in half served with warm mangos and blueberries, smothered with cream cheese icing and sprinkled with granola." Again an interesting option and arriving large and colorful this dish began and ended with the cinnamon roll, a decent representation that I had expected to be cooked something like French toast (a la Yolk,) which was simply plated and topped with the aforementioned ingredients - all a bit out of season and not particularly sweet without the addition of the icing. Overall a bit disappointing especially given the price I think Marmalade would be better served to alter the ingredients seasonally or to rethink the preparation of the cinnamon roll (or both.) For the final selection my choice for the morning would be "Breakfast Gingerbread Pudding," the best option of the morning by far with the dense gingerbread perfectly soaked but toasted on the top and served piping hot. Good on its own the pudding was additionally complimented by the addition of raspberry marmalade, orange marmalade, and thick crème anglaise. A small portion overall but substantially sweet I would strongly recommend this dish to anyone and to Marmalade I'd recommend serving it all week long instead of only during weekend brunch as it was without a doubt their most well conceptualized and executed item. With my sister and her friend now bordering on running late for their tour of Crucial Design studio the delivery of our check would again be delayed but once it arrived we were encouraged to pay up front at the hostess stand - another design flaw as this is also where people waiting for a seat are forced to stand - but in this case a lucky occurrence as the restaurant's owner was standing there eliciting feedback - opinions I was more than willing to give and opinions that he was happy to receive noting that they were in the process of streamlining the service procedures and that they were "still learning what works" - a good practice for any restaurant, especially in a strong market.
(3)Troy E.
Marmalade has always been a solid breakfast option for me, wifey, and the little one. I'm pretty easy, consistently order eggs, potatoes, sausage, wheat toast.... If my eggs are hot, I'm a happy camper. The potatoes are fantastic, crispy edges, a little kick, great flavor. My wife seems to dabble into the more creative menu items, and has always had good things to say. Today, I veered off the map and had the multigrain pancakes. I was worried they would be dry and tasteless, but they were fluffy and sweet. My toddler has been crazy for apples recently. I asked if apples were included in the kids fruit cup, server said "yes", ended up being peaches, pears, pineapple, strawberries. Not a huge issue, but I wouldn't have ordered if I were told "no". The server acknowledged there were no apples when delivering to the table, and pointed out that there were pears. Also ordered three pancakes, only recd two. The server was proactive, noticed before I did and recovered, but added "we will only charge for two". The check came and I was charged for all three. Again, not a huge issue, but not following through on recoveries is the most important part. While signing the check, the busser took my almost finished plate without asking if we were finished. I'll return, food is always a hit, but it sort of bothered me that both small technicalities experienced were noticed by the staff, but not really corrected.
(4)Leah C.
chilaquiles, i've missed you... and i cleared my plate of the delicious vegan version. this dish in itself will keep me coming back. we shared a pumpkin muffin which satiated our hunger at most. just like every other brunch spot in chicago, expect a wait but on a nice day, it's a fun/non congested neighborhood to stroll before your table is ready . we were able to tetris in our newest accessory - a stroller - fairly easily amongst the tables, which is key these days. service was quick and flawless (also key for us these days when we're on a feeding schedule :) )
(4)Kathy A.
I love this place. I have been here a few times and plan on going more often. The food is great, service is excellent and enjoy the variety of food options. I recently became vegan and was excited to see they had vegan options. My meal was so delicious and the manager was pleasant.
(5)Marco H.
I've walked past this place many times and there's always been a long line...so i kept walking. But luckily on my day off, there wasn't a wait, so I figured I'd try Marmalade. It was delicious, starting with the coffee. Normally I have low expectations for getting a decent cup of joe, but Marmalade's was actually quite good. Feeling famished, I went for the Papi Chullo: a tasty combination of slow cooked pulled chicken, tomato chipotle sauce, salsa verde on top of a bed of potatoes and guacamole. It's a winner (and a good hangover breakfast). My wife ordered the french toast, which was also really good. I'll definitely be back to try The Fat Mexican (yes a real dish on the menu).
(4)Ginger F.
They're open late now on the weekends. I headed over there on a recent Friday night. It was myself two other people - the new hours are off to a shaky start. I had the pumpkin French toast and it was pretty awful. It wasn't French toast...it was two slices of pumpkin bread with some kind of super sugary glaze drizzled over it. It wasn't even warm. Just bleh. I've had other decent things there - nothing extraordinary.
(3)Megan R.
I've been here probably 5 times now and every time I'm left in food heaven. Service can be hit or miss, and the place itself, while it looks nice, had its challenges (been here twice with the heat broken in cold weather). But the menu? Amazing. I always do sweet brunches, so I've had the lady marmalade (tasty), the pumpkin French toast (to die for- they use rich pumpkin bread as the base) red velvet French toast (best I've ever had), sweet potato pancakes or French toast (so good), and a handful of the weekend specials. Always good. Shorter wait than most places. I highly recommend it
(4)Dhruv P.
I just read about this place 2 days ago on Thrillist and fwd'd to my good friend and fellow yelp (non-elite) Monica. We, along with fellow elites Ali, Sonali and a nonyelper, were to meet up for our now defunct EAT meeting. Monica was coming from LA and catching up with us so we planned to do brunch initially at M Henry, for 10 am, even though we were scared that lines could keep us out on the sidewalk for quite some time. But after getting the email, we thought this place would be fun and were able to score a reservation. The inside was much larger than what it looked on the outside (it looks like a building that squatted in a alley - except its a corner storefront). We were offered drinks right away and the waitress kept us informed (let us know when she was coming back after refilling water/coffee for orders). I got the signature stuffed French toast. It's sweet enough and tasty BUT it's being stuffed is a misnomer. Its more like a French toast sandwich with jam "stuffed" in between the slices. And if you're ordering it, after all, its their signature item (not sure why), be advised to split it with someone else. The portion is quite enough to feed a hungry hippo, if the aforementioned hippo liked sweet toast instead of marbles. There were 8 triangles, or 4 bread slices. Most places are 50-75% of this serving. From others, briefly of course, since they will post on yelp, was that the vegan Spanish inspired dish with tofu scramble really stood out from the other dishes and I'll order it next time I come. This place is a good place to get brunch. But it's not as creative as m Henry. I'm torn giving it 4 stars - It's more like 3.5 stars. Its a great addition to the neighborhood. It's better than Bakin' & Eggs I went to a couple weeks ago. The dishes I tried were good and tasty and service was pleasent. But I had higher expectations from a chef at M Henry. And if I had a choice between this and Julius Meinl a little westward, I would choice Julius Meinl in a heartbeat.
(4)Elle F.
Food and service were good, but they don't let you split a check between 2 different credit cards. Totally ridiculous.
(3)Chelsea B.
This place is amazing. Everyone at our table ordered something different for breakfast and it was all amazing! Great place for breakfast or brunch.
(5)Michael S.
I had a craving for an omelette with chorizo so I walked up the street from my place to Marmalade. Have eaten here several times before and everything that I've eaten was great except for the pancakes that were a little bit dry, My favorite is the Azteca omelette. The first time that I ordered it was fantastic. The last time it wasn't as good. I commented to my server about it she said that they removed jalapeños from it so I know why it wasn't as good. This time I ordered an omelette with caramelized onions, mozzarella and chorizo. The omelette was pretty OK but it wasn't as fluffy as I thought it would be but still tasted pretty good. The potatoes were a little to seasoned for me but I enjoyed them just the same. My server was very nice and attentive. It helps that I was the only one here. Overall I like this place and will come back mainly because it is right up the street from me.
(4)Kristina W.
Marmalade is one of my favorite breakfast spots in the city. It ranks right up there with Bongo Room!
(5)Brent W.
perfect Fall late morning al fresco dining. We grabbed a two top outside and looked over the fairly generous brek and brunch menu, it's hard to not find something that appeals to any appetite. She the corned beef hash, over three times ordering this dish, "it never disappoints". A rookie myself went w one of the skillet specials, chipotle roasted pulled chicken, roasted breakfast potatoes (some of the best ever) some veggies w. (way over easy) ordered over medium eggs. All said, fantastic.
(4)Christine V.
The best breakfast I have had the pleasure of eating at a restaurant. Where do I begin? I saw great looking food coming from the kitchen while waiting to be seated with my husband, my brother and his fiancee (hey mike and ashley!) But one dish in particular was special. It had roasted, spiced potatoes, scrambled eggs, tortilla chips doused in a chili/chipotle sauce so they were still crispy but kind of soft, guacamole, and 2 mini triangles of quesadillas. I knew it was what I was going to order but still studied the menu. The options were awesome and anything I would have ordered would have been delicious, I am sure of it. The place was very busy so I don't be surprised if you have to wait a bit before getting a table.
(5)Jennifer N.
Mid way through my vegan chilaquiles, I declared to my friend that I could easily eat this multiple times per week here. The tortillas were perfectly drenched in salsa verde. The tofu scramble was full of flavor, and the side of potatoes were cooked and seasoned perfectly. As we sat and chatted on a Saturday morning (when it was quite busy), we didn't feel rushed to leave- but instead being offered more water and coffee. I watched the thick stacks of pancakes being delivered to the table next to us and thought about my future orders. But honestly, a day later as I write this, I am waiting for the next time I can get those vegan chilaquiles !
(5)Kimbele S.
finally visited this neighborhood place a few weeks ago. i was overwhelmed by their fantastic 'lady marmalade' (french toast on brioche with apricot marmalade, maple cream, and strawberry blackberry coulis....sweet jeebus). it was out of this world good. my husband was underwhelmed by his 'diablo omelette', which touted spicy jerk shrimp, but was in fact quite mild. anyway, we brought a couple people with us the second time. only one of the dishes at our table was fantastic--the rest was super bla. my husband struck out again, ordering the quiche. it was UNBELIEVABLE that someone could've looked at that thing and served it. while it may have once resembled quiche, it looked like it sat under a heat lamp for 3 hours. super gross. for some dumb reason he ate the entire thing without commenting to the server, even though he hated it, which is why i'm mentioning it here. i really think even a single super lousy dish on a menu is descriptive of an entire restaurant. you simply can't have consideration for some but not all dishes and hope to be successful...not in this city. finally, bear in mind that not only are there no separate checks...but you CANNOT split the bill on 2 credit cards. i can't understand why a restaurant...in CHICAGO, no less...has this policy. my money is much better spent at overeasy north on damen.
(2)B C.
This one slipped under my breakfast radar for too long. The exterior of the restaurant is low key enough that it didn't call out to me on my daily trek to the el. On Saturday mornings, though, it's packed. The inside is cheerful and colorful and swarming with customers. We made it through the 11:30am line in about 20 minutes. Inside, Chef Efrain has his name on everything: menus, artwork, signature dishes...he's the big guy on campus and after I had his shrimp-diablo omelette, I agree he's due some good street cred. Our table also had his Aztec omelette (on special), comprised of a laundry list of ingredients that synergized into a egg-based Voltron with deliciousness superpowers. Big portions on every dish too, by the way. You'll walk home patting your belly with one hand and holding leftover-boxes in the other. Our waitress did a phenomenal job keeping up with the several packed tables under her watch, and everyone's coffee was kept filled throughout the meal. This place is a great Ravenswood breakfast spot, and so good I'd bring along visitors from out of town.
(5)Rits T.
I can't believe I just got a chance to try this place. I live in the neighborhood for 3 YEARS, 3 YEARS. It took me 3 YERAS! I should have known this place before I tried everywhere else. This place is a bomb. Must try!
(5)Natalia V.
The food here is decadent. I had no idea how many Latin twists would be on this breakfast menu and me being Latina loved it!!!Traditional breakfast items we all know and love with a Latin flair, for example guava French toast or jerk shrimp omelette with chipotle sauce queso fresco and guacamole. Ugh every menu item sounded like a party in your mouth and the at home experience you get from eating it is unforgettable. Def worth the trip here
(5)Roseann M.
Want to have a nice breakfast/brunch/lunch at Marmalade without waiting for a table? Go on Monday morning. No problem getting a nice spot to sit! And you get excellent, professional service, from host/manager, server, and a busser who keeps your coffee cup full of hot delicious coffee. Go to Marmalade with an appetite. Like so many of these cute yuppie-style places, the prices are kind of high, but you do get a great big serving. I had the Bonaparte, which was applewood-smoked bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, on a croissant. No, this entree would not be on the Weight Watchers approved list - you'd blow through your whole week of extra points on this alone! And, it comes with potatoes. I was hungry. I mean, really hungry. Even so, staring at this huge croissant piled high with breakfast food, I had to ask the waitress, how do people eat this thing? Do they pick it up with both hands and take a big bite, or do they use knife and fork? She suggested using utensils, and brought me a steak knife so I could cut through the bacon better. That worked just fine. The whole thing was absolutely delicious. Yes, I ate the whole thing! Not all the potatoes, that would be way too much. I'll probably have some dinner later in the evening, but this, for me, was a lot of food. Had I not been up already for more than 5 hours, with nothing in my tummy but coffee, I doubt I could have eaten as much as I did. Five-star rating. I even found free parking nearby on a side street. Good food, good service, pleasant atmosphere, and free parking - hey, that rates 5 stars for me! FYI, there was a sign in the window that said Marmalade is now closed on Tuesdays. Well, I'm just happy they're open on Mondays. I actually swung by Cinnamon Cafe on Lawrence and Over Easy on Damen first, and they were both closed. Keep Marmalade in mind for your weekday breakfast. You won't regret it!
(5)Mari C.
What a fabulous place! I went there for the first time this morning and had a great experience. I went with a friend and my boyfriend and we got to sit outside which was so great. My boyfriend got the mexican breakfast dish, my friend got the omelet with shrimp, and I got the benedict with salmon, avocado, and poached eggs. We all LOVED our meals. The service was fast and the price is not bad. I would for sure recommend and go again.
(5)Veena P.
So flavorful! I would definitely go back. The staff was very friendly, and the portions were big! I got the Mexican breakfast combo with the Mayan sauce (yummy!) I wish I had taken a picture of it. Go here!
(5)Philly I.
The Northside has a plethora of overpriced breakfast/brunch places who serve mediocre food. Add Marmalade to that long list. If you are interested in overpaying for eggs, pancakes, and/or french toast (and sometimes waiting in line for it), then Marmalade is the perfect place for you.
(1)Christy L.
I have a new brunch place to add into the rotation! Marmalade now ranks as my #2 brunch destination in the City (in case you're wondering, Zed 451 tops the list). For food alone, I'd give Marmalade 4.5 stars. The menu is the most extensive I've seen in Chicago. It has the standards - omelette's, pancakes, and French toast - as well as "foodie" type choices - the aforementioned souped up with interesting combinations as well as skillets, Mexican breakfasts, crepes, Benedict's. Definitely something for everyone. And what we tried, all was prepared well. I had a 'shroom skillet served over perfectly seasoned, crispy potatoes (and I usually don't even like potatoes). We shared a savory breakfast, the "Nutella" crepe. If you're enticed by this choice because of the Nutella, skip it. We barely tasted any Nutella, BUT it was a very well-prepared, berry-filled crepe. Service and ambiance definitely have room for improvement. Marmalade does not take reservations, which means you probably will end up waiting if you arrive during prime brunch time. We arrived at 12:15 and waited about half an hour to be seated. Then, once we were at our table, service was incredibly slow (though polite, unlike other Yelp reviews). I'm not sure why the kitchen was so slow as it's not a big space though suspect that it may have to do with the huge menu. In terms of decor, it's pretty simple, though my friend assured me it is a huge step up from the restaurant that used to occupy this space. In summary, if you want excellent, affordable food, have plenty of time for brunch, and don't care about ambiance, check out Marmalade!
(4)Andre W.
Word to Ralph C for recommending and taking me to this joint! We walked in at about noon this past Sunday and it was just a 10 minute wait (I was told Saturdays are a bit easier to walk in and grab a table). They have chalkboards up that list their daily specials and new dishes. I looked at the menu and noticed a number of delicious items. I decided to go with the Bonaparte ($8.50) which is scrambled eggs (egg whites in my case), bacon and cheddar cheese on a croissant. That was a nice sized breakfast sandwich and very delicious. The sandwich came with their special in-house potatoes which were huge and delicious as well. I also ordered a side of apple maple chicken sausage which was packed with flavor and very savory. Their freshly squeezed OJ was awesome as well. The manager came out and chatted with us as well...he is really a nice guy and made sure we were happy with our meal. As I said before, lots of goodies on the menu which is why I will be returning. In the warmer months they will have the outside patio in effect which is definitely an incentive to come back.
(5)Kurt P.
Here is a place that no longer cares about the customer. I tried to come here for brunch and they basically told us to go. We had a large group and knew we would have to wait but after about 35 minutes they continued to seat groups who just arrived. We told them four times at least we could be broken into groups of twos. The manager said we can't seat you that way and you should take your group to fountainhead because nobody eats there. Also $9 for three eggs with cheese, really?
(1)Dallas F.
I was not impressed. This review is really more of a 2.5, so I rounded up. I recently went to brunch at Marmalade on a busy Saturday afternoon and everything from service to food was wholly underwhelming. Of course, being a breakfast/brunch establishment weekends are super busy and patrons can expect a wait. That I was prepared for but for some reason it seemed like the restaurant was not. Everything seemed a bit chaotic and it felt like it was their opening weekend. After about a twenty minute wait, we are taken to our seat. Our server comes over and asks for our drink order and if we were ready to order food. Um, no. We just sat down. In general our service was a bit flighty. Not horrible, but could use serious improvement. When it comes to the food, I was definitely let down. I ordered the vegan chilaquiles and was served a plate of over-seasoned mushy randomness. Everything tasted the same even though it consisted of a tofu scramble, corn chips, potatoes, and salsa. It was overpowering. The tiny dab of guacamole on top was the only good thing about it. I'm really glad I was not really hungry or I would have been even more disappointed than I was.
(3)Ellie K.
I love that Marmalade is right around down the street from me. Everything I have had here is great be it a sweet or savory dish. I went here once with my parents, once with my boyfriend and then did takeout. Each time the service was great and the food was even better. The portions are enormous. I recommend sharing a full meal and then ordering a side if you are there with one other person. Warning: It,like all other brunch places, gets very crowded on the weekends. I don't recommend coming here with a party of more than 6 (max). Lastly, I'm disappointed by some of the nasty reviews (Susan L.). I think we can critique the food without insulting Marmalade's loyal fans!
(4)H H.
3.5 stars. It was pretty good, but not the most amazing breakfast ever. Been there a few times and depends on what you order. Coffee is good!
(3)Susan L.
2 visits, 2 disgusting meals, 0 clean plates This place is like a cheap knock-off DVD with the title misspelled--you think it'll probably be okay but you get home and the DVD won't play...however, the main difference with Marmalade is that you're not paying "knock off" prices. For those of you who think this place is great, I salute you and thank you for not clogging up truly wonderful brunch places. Eat your hearts out with this bad food. I will never be back. And if you want details, here they are: 1. Confusing conglomeration of ingredients--each plate needs to take off 1 accessory flavor before leaving the kitchen 2. Inability to re-create delicious dishes of other restaurants, and leaving the consumer even more disappointed (harvest omelet, breakfast bread pudding=direct knock off of M Henry!) 3. OILY (yes, oily) AND watery omelet--how do they do that? At least it wasn't burned, but it did leave an orange puddle on the plate....mmmmmmmh....appetizing!
(1)Jon D.
I had a great experience here. Saturday morning, around 10:15am, party of four, and sat immediately. The waitress made a few visits for drinks (we'd all gotten up to use the restroom at different times) and explained the chalkboard specials, all of which sounded appetizing. She memorized a lot of information, was polite, and very prompt (until it started getting busy). It seems like there's a lot of sweets on the menu, and the French Toast flight I split with my buddy was outstanding. Maybe a little TOO sweet at times, but still a nice breakfast desert. The omelete I had was a great size, they had Greek sausage (+) and the potatoes were well cooked. Everyone at the table was happy with their meals, and when the bill came we weren't overwhelmed by it. I've been everywhere on the brunch scale, this place just had a nice little neighborhood feel. Reading some of the other reviews, I'm a bit shocked. Marms didn't try to be super fancy, or anything, its just trying to be a good little breakfast place, and it pulls it off super well. Clean, the only issue is you can't split on cards.
(4)S. P.
I have been here a few times for brunch. The menu is decent. They have the typical kind of fare such as french toast, pancakes, skillets, omelettes, breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros, etc. The service has never been great. I have had to ask for my check at the front before because my server disappeared. If you are able to go around the block and down the street to Glenn's it is better. One tip- please do not get the breakfast quayle if it ever shows up on the menu again.
(3)Jelena Z.
Not that Chicago actually needs another brunch spot, but this one's a good one. Late morning on a Thursday, Marmalade wasn't empty but wasn't packed either... one of the perks of working from home is getting to try new restaurants at non-peak times versus waiting over an hour to brunch on the weekends. However, I'm really not a breakfast girl (despite the tempting offerings on Marmalade's menu) so I went with the Mediterranean sandwich with its grilled chicken, hummus, ham off the bone, lettuce and feta cheese in a pita. And... it was delicious. The hummus is housemade and complements the hand-carved ham perfectly. I was afraid the ham would be a bit too much but I finished every last bit and I'd do it again. Though, I may have to break my lunch over breakfast rule for a stab at the chef's signature omelet, the Diablo (spicy jerk shrimp, onions, cilantro, cream cheese and fresh avocado topped with mango chutney). Easy parking is the icing on the cake... or, the marmalade on my toast. See you soon!
(4)Jessica G.
My dining party made sure to order diverse dishes in order to sample the breadth of the Marmalade menu. Everything was flawless! My Cubano French toast sounded like it might be overwhelming, but the flavors complimented each other perfectly. The Mexican Breakfast combo was a feast. Homemade tortillas! Great service, great atmosphere, loved the Rodrigo y Gabriella and Gipsy Kings soundtrack.
(5)Lizz M.
I've heard many good things about Marmalade, and when my bff asked where we should go to brunch, I quickly suggested this place. It ended up being five of us going on a Sunday morning around 11am. The place was busy, but not too packed. The patio was fairly empty, so we offered to sit out there. Our hostess quickly rejected this idea, mumbling something about not wanting to trouble the servers to go out there (when there were already people eating out there). Uhm, okay, whatever. I personally don't care for eating outside and if the server issue were the case, I'd rather get good service. We waited for an indoor table and were seated fairly quickly. The no substitutions and no omissions thing really bugs me. And here's why. My bff ordered an artichoke omelet which had pesto on top of it, and if I were ordering this, I'd order the pesto on the side--why? Well, I knew this would happen, a giant pile of pesto on her omelet. Did she order pesto with a side of omelet? No. Also, nine times out of ten, there's an ingredient in a dish I would want to take out, or have less of, it's just my preference, and you know what? I'm PAYING to have that preference. Anyway, rant aside, I ordered the breakfast burrito, which was actually pretty tasty. It came with a side of potatoes, which, meh. How is it possible to have overly-seasoned food still taste bland? I'm not sure. The portion sizes are gigantic, so I appreciate that as I had lunch for the next day. I had a taste of another friend's pancakes which were pretty yummy, too. So at the end of our meal, we noticed that the patio had filled up with the same amount of servers. I still don't understand! Would I go back? Eh, I don't think so. But I think you could try and see for yourself. If you're okay with spotty service and not customizing your food, this might be the place for you.
(3)Alexandra S.
Delicious creative food, good service, nice cafe vibe. Fresh squeezed juice and daily special was great. The only bad thing I can say about this place is that they charge a split plate fee, they don't split checks and they don't split cards. Other than that would definitely come back!
(4)conrad d.
I will forever be dumbfounded by the diners who, after experiencing some delay in service during a notoriously busy time slot, immediately rush to their computer to pound out their jilted and vitriolic reviews. Oh, did your meal arrive not precisely as ordered? However did you roust yourself from the Stygian nightmare that is receiving a plate with bacon on it, especially after you specifically informed the waiter, and everyone else in the restaurant, that you were a strict lacto-ovo pescatarian? Moving on. Marmalade's offerings are a welcome addition to Chicago's already stellar breakfast scene. The dishes are interesting and delicious and well presented. I heartily recommend the french toast dishes, as many of them are accompanied with house-made marmalades. The egg dishes are spicy and flavorful and pair well with the namesake sweet dishes. After multiple visits, I have yet to witness any of the crippling, trauma-inducing service problems some of my peers have, with the manager on more than one occasion personally stopping by to inquire about my dining experience. Go here. Take a deep breath. Enjoy your brunch.
(5)Heather H.
Booo! That's actually what I said after leaving this place. I had been looking forward to trying them out since I pass by it on a pretty regular basis. The dozen or so empty tables on a Sunday at 1 should have given the indication that this may not be a great breakfast joint. But, it was marathon Sunday, so maybe all those regulars are out running the streets of Chicago leaving my hungover ass with plenty of available seating. Looked over the menu, and I decided on the Shroom Benedict, I ordered it with the hollandaise being on the side figuring 1/2 teaspoon of the stuff wouldn't be too bad for me. HA. I ended up taking a picture of the dish because not only didn't it look appetizing, it didn't taste good either, not at all. Actually, I have to say this was one of the worst breakfast dishes I've ever eaten. The only reason they get 2 stars is my husband liked his omelet. Here are my complaints: 1. The potatoes suck! And they seriously put the equivalent of 3 large baking potatoes on my plate. They were cold, mushy, and had a bad spice rub on them. Not good. 2. They offer tempeh or veggie sauce as a side. While this may seem like a plus for a vegetarian, they were out of the veggie sausage I tried to order, so I elected the tempeh. I've had tempeh before, and this was not good tempeh, this was poo tempeh. 3. The mushroom that my eggs sat on was... wait for it, DEEP FRIED! Are you effing kidding me? On one respect, I blame myself that I didn't see that the menu said the mushroom was breaded. I think if I had seen that, I wouldn't have ordered this shitty dish for $11. However, on the other hand, just because something is breaded doesn't necessarily mean it has to be deep fried. They could have baked it. Either way, it didn't work, and made it into a dry lopsided mushroom, and everything piled on said mushroom fell off because of the greasy stiff teetering shroom. 4. The hollandaise sauce they brought out for me was ice cold. As in, I'll grab this from the fridge and not warm it up. GROSS. By the time I flagged down any staff to warm it up, and once they brought it back, the eggs were cold. Which leads me to... 5. The service blows. When we sat down, we were told the waitress would let us know the specials. When she asked if we were ready to order, and we inquired about the specials, she actually rolled her eyes at us. Horrible service, waiting forever, which is unacceptable when the place isn't even that busy. Neither my coffee nor my husbands ice tea was ever refilled. And after sitting for 15 minutes with an empty table, the waitress came by and said, "I gave you your check, right?" Um, NO. Why would be be sitting here with empty glasses and an empty table if we had our check?! And smile, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't kill you. To sum it up, Boooooooooooooooooo!
(2)Megan S.
I didn't want to give any stars! The manager was the rudest person I have ever encountered in 36 years of eating out! For a place that offers regular brunch food you can find anywhere he shouldn't really act like such a jerk! My party of 8 left and went across the street to fountainhead which had great service and food!
(1)Taylor K.
This place is the best. My wife and I have run pretty much through the entire breakfast menu and we love it all. We used to hit a new breakfast spot on Mondays (due to our hairdresser schedules) and finally came here based on a few client recommendations. Now we come here just about every week. The chef and our waitress, Carolina (who is awesome!), started to figure out that we couldn't really come on the weekends. So, they occasionally send out some weekend brunch items that we otherwise couldn't get. Are you kidding me? Who does that? We are hooked! My only beef is that now when we go to breakfast anywhere else we wish we had just gone to Marmalade. Our favorites are the Chicken & Waffle, the Chilaquilas (sub chorizo for tofu), and the Berry Crunch French Toast!
(5)Fadi F.
If i only could leave zero stars! this place is the worst. Horrible manager who keeps yelling at servers and employees. Our food came an HOUR later after we have ordered!. Then the manager comes and apologizes by saying "oh we are the only place open around here for breakfast" which is a lie cause there are way better places to go like Glenns Diner, FountainHead and Trouqet, which are way better than Marmalade. Just dont go to Marmalade
(1)LB D.
This is a perfect brunch spot for the 'hood if you haven't been yet! Since they opened, they've revamped the menu and the improvements have been great! Favorites include anything with their cured ham (in-house specialty). The only dish I'd caution against are the egg benedicts because they use (or at least used to use...) a sort of flavorless cornbread-style bread as a base instead of an English muffin. It's not a cheap spot, persay, but the unique menu items make this absolutely worth your money.
(4)Alicia M.
I wasn't going to give this place another chance, but I'm really glad I tried it again! The first time I tried Marmalade, my main beef was with the potatoes (hash browns). If you've read my other reviews on any restaurants, you know I love me some potatoes. Marmalade's potatoes are not my thing. I realize people either love them or hate them. I am a hater. They're over-seasoned. But I suppose all hash browns can't be the same at every restaurant. On my first visit here I had the pancakes and they were a little dry, but nice and fluffy. I wasn't blown away by them and personally I think greasy spoon diners do better pancakes (I like them buttery and skinny!). I decided to try an egg dish on my second visit. I had an egg white Omelet with peppers, mushrooms and veggie sausage. It was SO GOOD! I even made myself enjoy the potatoes. I was initially annoyed that they didn't have english muffins but I'm pretty sure my toast was made from scratch. I know the jam was home made. It was so tasty! I also took time to actually look at the menu instead of just defaulting to my favorite everyday breakfast items. There are a lot of creative things on there that I'm excited to come back and try. In closing, I have to add that I respect the manager/owner for being so involved in everyday operations. He works his butt off and walks around making sure that everything is perfect. It shows! They really do have excellent service
(4)Melanie S.
...Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da.. Naturally this song immediately came to mind youtube.com/watch?v=pF2o… , but the first thing I noticed about Marmalade was that the menu appears to be a complete ripoff of m henry. I know there's only so many different things you can do with eggs and pancakes, but c'mon-- a fried egg sandwich with gorgonzola, tomatoes and thyme on sourdough, pancakes with berries and granola, crepes with a warm fruit melange (even the word 'melange' is right off of m henry's menu)? The only thing missing was the breakfast bread pudding. I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, huh Marmalade? Anyway, despite the blatant plagiarism, the food was still good, and the wait is nowhere as epic as m henry (at least not when I was there). My mommy and I both started with freshly squeezed orange juice, but I was dismayed to see them pouring it out of a gallon-sized jug. I know that many food service companies sell juice that is touted as "freshly-squeezed," but I'm sorry, if someone isn't back there juicing the oranges themselves just before they reach my table, then it's not, and it doesn't taste like it either. I opted for the Bonaparte, a sandwich of fluffy scrambled eggs, applewood-smoked bacon and Vermont cheddar on a croissant. The sandwich came with roasted potatoes. To that I also ordered a single hotcake just so I could sample it. Mom ordered the crepe with "warm fruit melange" and she was pretty happy with it. I snuck a bite and concurred. The peaches and blueberries in the filling were nice and sweet and more importantly, not mushy. I dug my sandwich, which was much too large to eat in one sitting. The eggs were perfectly cooked (not an easy feat imho), the bacon was crispy, and the croissant soft and buttery. A highly enjoyable sandwich. The accompanying potatoes had an interesting seasoning but I thought they were a little bland. The single hotcake came sans powdered sugar, as requested, as well as a few berries artfully tossed on the plate. It was dense but fluffy, and I would happily eat an entire order of these. Service was friendly and efficient. The coffee flowed, our water glasses never sat empty, and plates were cleared swiftly. One thing to note, especially if you're with a large group - they don't split checks or credit cards payments. That's a little archaic and inconvenient, so consider yourself warned and plan ahead.
(3)Jerry M.
Been here several times, excellent service and great food at a reasonable price. Super cute waitress there who i have a huge crush on helps as well :) Check it out! Cheers
(5)Jake J.
We enjoyed a great brunch with our daughter here this past Sunday and everything was great. The food was really good and service was friendly and fast. There was a little bit of a wait when we arrived but that is to be expected in Chicago on Sunday.
(5)Claire H.
This dump does not even deserve one star. The service was horrendous, the food worse. We waited 40 minutes for our food, and when my salad arrived it tasted spoiled. I told the server, at which point the owner arrived at our table. His behavior was atrocious at best. And his bullying behavior to wait staff worse. I feel sorry for anyone who steps foot in this dirty, smelly restaurant ( and by the way, the bathroom was filthy and the kitchen even worse. There is a view from the hallway by the bathroom). I wished the server good luck and said I hope that he is nicer to his staff than he is to his customers, to which she replied, "No comment. This job will have to do for now."
(1)Sara H.
Outstanding food! Creative menu! YUMMMMM! I have been here three times in the last week, and I am now sad that I did not stop in sooner. Something about the logo/colors reminded me too much of the droopy diner that used to be in this space. But man, it's nothing like that place. The artichoke omeletta will knock your socks off: Everything is so fresh and flavorful. The house potatoes are a staple. When combined with the perfectly-fried plantains, it's like a little party in your mouth. The vegan chilaquiles? Awesome. But you better be prepared for some heat. They do NOT mess around with either the green OR the red sauce: Both of them give a very strong burn to the old tongue. It subsides after you take a few bites of other things, but with each new bite it certainly lets you know it's still there. I'd like a little milder sauce, but I have a feeling I'm probably in the minority. I haven't tried the sweet stuff, but my friends who have cleaned their plates, so I think that's a good sign. And, they make killer specials each day, including a polenta dish. How many restaurants can say that? I'm definitely coming back!
(4)Matt G.
Thank God LeSabre is now dead. Nice thing is that Marmalade does the space justice. Roomy interior, decently appointed and well-done. I liked the varied menu that allows me to bring meat-eaters to vegans to the place. Had the tilapia baguette special and was surprised by the volume of food that I got. Well seasoned, and just a bit spicy, it hit the mark on nearly every level. Service was more than adequate and good strong coffee, filled regularly. Only gripe... and it's small, was that with that menu choice, I could have used more than one single napkin. They might have taken note when swinging by to check in on me. Also, not sure the name sounds hip. Reminds me of an 80 year old lady... who eats marmalade these days anyway???
(4)Mike P.
RIP, Le Sabre! You were our favorite, little greasy spoon. But rest easy knowing a good, if not completely different breakfast joint opened in your place. While the menu is completely different and noticeably more sophisticated, or what some would call fufu, the folks that run the joint are a decent lot. Always ready to greet you kindly, keep your coffee fresh, and take the time to explain the specials, even giving commentary. Such a recommendation pointed me to the artichoke, roasted tomato, and goat cheese omelet. Something I didn't know I'd like, but completely enjoyed! Also, the kid's menu is a hit with my baby, so you score major points there. While I will miss my typical plate o' grease from Le Sabre, I'm looking forward to heading back to Marmalade for another fresh breakfast.
(4)Andrea R.
I was running late (the norm ever since I became a mom) to meet the fabulous Jelena Z so I was thrilled that it was easy peasy to find a parking spot on the street. There's lots of good stuff to choose from this menu. I opted for the mayan omletta and potatoes. Our somewhat flighty waitress brought out the wrong order at first, but once my food arrived it was well worth the wait because this was the best omelet I've had in a long time. On the way out we chatted with the chef (and really sweet manager/owner) and apparently he created the omelet it for Feast*, another favorite brunch spot, back in the day. I probably won't make it to Marmalade often since it's a bit far from where I live and I have problems getting to places in my neighborhood on time these days. ---------------------------------- * yelp.com/biz/feast-chica…
(4)Emily S.
We have tried this place 2 times about 2 years apart. Both times we struggled to find something on the menu that looked worth ordering. Their kids menu is decent, my husband loved their breakfast potatoes and I thought their apricot jam was amazing. However it is very mexican-breakfast flair and I'm not a huge fan of that style. My omelet was a little runny in the middle not bad enough to send back or anything, just to make it not quite good. I thought the potatoes were too oily. The pancakes had a nice vanilla flavor but were pretty dry (I don't user syrup) and the french toast was good, though very lightly battered. Our waitress was nice but aloof, the busboys were diligent with the water refills (so great!) and they gave us crayons and a placemat to color for the kid. All in all it was fine, but there are so many places in the city - in this neighborhood - to get great breakfasts that this one just isn't worth the time.
(2)Joanne W.
My cohort and I arrived late on a Saturday afternoon to grab a bite before running errands. We arrived an hour before closing (1:30 or so). The place was pretty empty so we were seated right away. We immediately noticed the chalkboard of specials for the day. Suddenly, a bright light beamed down onto the menu board while the birds chirped an angelic song... FRIED CHICKEN BREAST ON A WAFFLE WITH TWO POACHED EGGS, BACON AND CREAM OF POTATO LEEK GRAVY. We thought, surely The Almighty is looking down upon us today. Needless to say, an order of that special was brought out to us along with the Florentine Crab Benedict which consisted of crab crabs, poached eggs, garlic spinach atop corn cakes and topped with chipotle hollandaise. Can I get an amen? I quite enjoyed both entrees (mine was the Benedict in case you were wondering). I tried the chicken and waffle and thought it was sinfully good. No problems with service - quick and attentive for the non rush hour. I also enjoyed the art work in this joint. Pancakes: You're stuffed up! French Toast: You're a hot mess! My first visit to Marmalade probably won't be my last.
(4)Cassidy S.
Hit this place for the first time on Halloween. I ordered two entrees with a friend and planned to split - the Euro Brunch Plate and the Chocolate French Toast special. My coffee was delicious, as was my friend's OJ, but the food left much to be desired. The crepe on the brunch plate was tasty (especially the butternut squash/bacon combo) but the potatoes were terrible. A thick layer of crispy ash covered the outside, and somehow they were undercooked. The chocolate french toast was so heavy - almost like eating chocolate cake at 11AM - and it was covered with a "creme anglaise" which had become sticky and thin. Should have played it safe and gotten the regular french toast, I guess. Overall, I won't make this place my first choice for breakfast.
(2)Joram C.
I love this place, I come here almost every weekend. The service is great, the food is tasty, the coffee is good ( and bottomless) and it doesnt get too overrun with hip urban parents trying to raise their kids to one day be more liberal that you could ever fathom to be. The bonaparte is my favorite, but even the vegan chilaquiles are good. Im not much of a sweets guy, but the peachy raspberry pancakes flat out kick ass for breakfast. Also, I like that the owner is part of the family that used to run LeSabre, and has kept everything in the family. Also, the breakfast potatoes are like crack. Marmalade rules.
(5)Lupe D.
Food is actually 3 1/2 stars, but food presentation and customer service is more like 4 or 4 1/2 stars. For my boyfriend, his food was more like a 4 1/2. I've been wanting to try Marmalade for a while. Finally stopped in last week. We went in pretty early to avoid the brunch rush (early is 8am-ish) and we had our choice of seats. Place is very cute, I can see how, if at full capacity, this place could feel very cramped...but we had plenty of space. Our servers were super friendly - one server was being trained - she was very sweet, tried her best. The girl who was training her was off the charts great. They have their specials - and that was a mouthful to remember! I ordered the Fruity something pancakes - basically two pancakes, creme anglaise in between the layers and mangoes and cherries with a sauce around the pancakes. Also topped with these crunchy sugared oats and a generous amount of powdered sugar. First of all - it was beautiful when it arrived - CLICK CLICK - took some pictures. I tasted the mango and it was delicious. Tasted the crunchy top - SO GOOD - the creme anglaise with the pancake - so delish! so yummy and custardy! But then I get to the bottom pancake and it was a soggy mess... :-( It soaked up all the cherry/mango sauce - me no likey. Maybe it's just my personal preference, but I don't like mushy pancakes... My boyfriend had the midwestern omelette. Not going to lie I can't remember what was in it other than eggs, white cheddar and bacon (I don't like omelettes so I don't pay attention), but I do remember that it came with potatoes and toast which he proclaimed to be the best toast in the land and pretty much devoured his meal saying it was amazing. Coffee was pretty good, strong, but good. The restaurant had a really nice neighborhood/family vibe when we were there. A lot of moms with their babies just hanging out. I will definitely be returning and bringing my son to check out this place - he's a breakfast guy, I know he'll love it!
(4)Sarah P.
I can't believe I have lived 4 blocks away from Marmalade for almost a year and haven't tried this place until this past weekend! A-MAZing! I went with my mom and we both had several options in my mind from checking out the menu online. However, we didn't try any of them since the specials sounded so great! We ordered and shared two items from the specials menu which I hope to see there again: 1. Omelet with artichoke, roasted tomatoes, goat cheese, topped with pesto. 2. Pumpkin french toast with creme de leche, roasted pecans, pumpkin cream, and cranberries (plus a sprinkling of other fresh fruit) made with their homemade pumpkin bread. Our server was nice although disappeared for a while when we were hoping to get our check. The manager/maybe owner walked around checking on tables and seating people and was very nice. While we were paying at the front, I asked for a bag since we took the rest of our meals to go. He walked back to get a bag and seemed to be taking a while... he came back with a pumpkin cranberry muffin for us... just because! How nice... and the muffin was delicious! No wait for a table - we went on a Sunday but also got there around 9 am, before the usual brunch rush. I will definitely be going back ASAP!
(5)Kristin M.
This is probably closer to 3.5, but I'm rounding up. It's no M. Henry, but it's a solid spot for brunch. I had never ventured into Le Sabre (when I want breakfast at an aesthetically questionable establishment, I go to G.Nugg, thank you very much) but Marmalade looks great from the outside-in. It's warm and cozy and I'd love to have that mirror in my house! Anyways, to the food! I had the Jason's omelette special with chicken sausage, goat cheese, sweet potato and topped with a red wine reduction. It was delicious, a perfect fall omelette. My friend had the artichoke, spinach and goat cheese omelette which he described as ok, but the flavors mixed together so you couldn't pick out the artichoke flavor from the mix. The potatoes were DE-LICIOUS. They came in a huge portion of generously seasoned chunky goodness. I didn't add salt (which is rare for me), they were that good. My friend also wanted me to mention he enjoyed his multigrain toast (I wish they buttered the toast for you, but whatever). Re drinks, the juice is not fresh squeezed which, for $4, it really should be. The menu had so many great options, I will definitely be back to try more. Well done Marmalade.
(4)Tim G.
We love Marmalade for breakfast. On our most recent visit (wife, son, his wife, and yours truly) we enjoyed a mix of omelets and pancakes. Wife had multi-grain cakes, son had eggs and toast, d-i-l got the Mayan omelet, and I chose one of the daily specials, an omelet Romano, with pancetta (bacon), fresh mozzarella, spinach, and covered w a pesto. It was delicious. There are always a number of daily specials to choose from, and plenty of choices from the menu to satisfy your taste. Omelets are served w a side of the Marmalade potatoes, similar to hash browns, but w wedges instead of shredded, and the best seasoning you'll ever taste. Service was very good. Prices are quite reasonable for the amount of food served. A good value.
(5)Allison V.
I went here for a lunch date with a friend. I went with the breakfast special which included eggs to my liking, homemade guacamole, spicy chiliquiles, fried potatoes, cheese quesadillas, and some fruit. Everything blended so well together. the potatoes had a great charred seasoned flavoring. EVERYTHING was AWESOME! I also got to try the sweet plantains which were a nice finish to a great brunch. The waitress seemed knowledgable about the foods they offered even though I was a bit distracted by her choice of attire. I will definitely be back. Bike parking on street.
(4)Claudia D.
Perfectly prepared poached eggs in the Florentine Crab Bennie per the husband, however, he found the crabcakes to be too mushy in texture althpugh the flavor was good. Perfectly prepared over easy eggs on my Mexican Combination. Very good bottomless cups of coffee. Fresh orange and fresh pineapple slices accompanied both dishes. The potatoes were delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned. The chiliquiles were prepared with the Mayan salsa and were scrumptious. We shared an and fig scone that was disappointingly lacking in fig flavor. Parking on the street was easy on Wednesday at 1 PM. Our server was very sweet, knowledgeable, and appropriately attentive. The busboy kept our coffee cups and water glasses filled. We requested that our scone be slightly warmed and the waitress was happy to do it for us. We'll be back, during the week, again, if we're in the neighborhood, and there's no room at Glenn's Diner.
(3)David R.
"NO SUBSTITUTIONS OR OMISSIONS" It's right there on the menu, as well as noted in many of the Yelp reviews. I only saw this after my wife and I had decided to breakfast here, but we didn't change our plans. It really irks me though. If I don't want the extraneous sour cream on a dish, why can't I omit it? Or ask for my dish easy on the cheese? Not cool. The food was all right: Pancho Villa skillet (potatoes, eggs, chorizo, corn, tomatoes, poblanos, chihuahua and pepperjack cheeses), which was oily and dominated by the chorizo, and an excellent hotcake on the side. And our waitress was sweet as pie. But in addition to the fascist omission and credit card policies, the reticent hostess and several other little details about this place rubbed me the wrong way. They may seem small, but they added up to give the impression that these people either don't care or don't pay attention. For example: my menu had little bits of debris under the plastic cover; the four specials were spread across two separate chalkboards on opposite sides of the dining room, plus they contained spelling and punctuation errors; in the restroom, there was a hand-written sign above the light switch, but it was so smudged that I couldn't make out if it was telling me to turn it off or not to turn it off. And--this is really nitpicking now--it's April but the incense in the bathroom is a pumpkin spice flavor. Eh. I guess that I was already predisposed to annoyance by the substitution/omission policy, so I noticed every other little shortcoming. Bottom line: the food is good, but they don't seem to take care of their place, and they definitely don't seem to buy into the bedrock idea of "Give the customers what they want." So we'll give our future breakfast business to establishments that do.
(2)Unity O.
It pains me to do this since I am a lover of all things brunch. However, after 2 visits, I am done with this place. There are just so many other options out there (and in the same hood) to spend my hard earned $$. Also options that will make substitutions on there dishes or omit something that I do not like. I fail to understand how difficult it is to not add sour cream to a dish when it is simply a garnish & also it is going to be thrown away because I won't eat it (how wasteful). It eludes me as to why they won't make substitutions at all or why they make paying for your meal a hassle (no more than 2 cc per check...really?). I find this especially hard when there are just so many other options out there and in a day when dietary restrictions are high. I gave it 2 stars because the food is actually decent. Nothing mind blowing, but good & prepared well. You also get a decent sized portion with any dish you order. Plus, they have a decent cup of coffee which is ever so important when enjoying brunch. Also, the atmosphere is great...you can tell they put work & thought into the decor. Feels warm & inviting. Also 2 stars due to the service for some reason they always feel rushed & chaotic...they don't exactly make you feel welcome. I will say this...try them if you are in the hood, but don't go out of your way to check them out.
(2)Israel D.
Just a great place to eat. The food is really good.
(5)Heather P.
Oh Marmalade, how I wish I could give you more stars. You had so much going for you...location, perfect for walking to on a weekend morning. No wait on a Sunday - that's unheard of!!! Polite staff - what more could you ask for, you say???? Well I'll tell you...better coffee for one. My coffee tasted burnt like it had been sitting out for a while, blech. My other issue was that everything on the menu sounded so delectable but unfortunately out of a table of four people who were completely taken with the scrumptious sounding descriptions of our soon-to-be brunch plates - we were all left wanting more. I had the special plate so you would think, well it should be special. It wasn't. The sausage was okay, just okay. The potatoes were tasty and good. My biggest complaint was that the flatbread was underneath my eggs and sauce so that equated to a soggy, droopy mess of mushy bread. All the ingredients just melded together into an unrecognizable flavor. My fiance had the diablo omelet and again, we were totally sold on the idea of jerk spices in an omelet with mango salsa and avocado with cream cheese. Sadly, it just didn't work for us. The shrimp seemed odd and out of place. The cream cheese would have been great on a bagel (which they don't have by the way), just didn't really mesh with the eggs. I'm so sorry, Marmalade. You had been on my radar for a while. I read and heard lots of good things about you. I guess you really just can't believe everything you read or hear. With that said, I have a Travelzoo certificate I bought so I will give you one more shot and I had my eye on a cinnamon toast bread pudding so there is still hope that you might be redeemed.
(2)Veronica M.
Went for breakfast alone the other day - greated at the door, given choice of seats, tea brought immediatly to me. Also my blonde waitress asked if I wanted more hot water for my tea - good service!! Had a skillet with large potatoes, pulled seasoned chicken, eggs, salsa and sour cream, very good with just right amount of "kick" spice! Only down side, never informed of the chalkboard specials till after I ordered heard the hostess explain, I would have liked the special instead - nice place, friendly, good brunchspot - wish they had a full time eggs benidict on the menu though.......
(3)J R.
Yes its different, I appreciated that but I think its way over priced. They charged me $4.00 for a "large" glass of orange juice that in reality was a small cup. I think little things like this shut small businesses down. Its called being greedy and greed doesn't succeed. Anyway food was okay. I am mexican so I know how to make chilaquiles and all they did was put chips on a plate and pour green chile over it. Had to eat the "chips" with my hands because they were too crunchy to grab with a fork. I do think the presentation of the food was very nice though and the place was pretty and clean but for the amount I paid I rather have gone somewhere much better.. I also didn't enjoy watching management flirt with all the pretty young girls that work there. Made me feel uncomfortable so I could imagine how they feel. ..
(3)Amanda M.
This place was a huge miss. The service was terrible, our waitress was the quiet Hispanic girl. She didn't know the specials, and had a hard time reading the board, and when we asked for a recommendation between breads, she didn't know anything about the bread. The food was mediocre for the price, and are there really juices?! No juice menu for a "Juice Bar" and the orange juice my boyfriend did order, was totally from a cardboard container! What a HUGE disappointment.
(1)Kate B.
Extremely cute, comfortable atmosphere. I really liked the Damen Slimline for lunch. The coleslaw is made in house and you can really tell, it's very fresh and not over-drenched in sauce. As for breakfast the chilaquiles are to die for! What I didn't appreciate: while they are listed under the egg section and the disclaimer says "All egg dishes served with a side of Marmalade's own specially seasoned oven roasted potatoes, as well as your choice of toast"...I was charged for a side when I asked about my toast. I understand it's a tofu scramble and not eggs, but if you put it in the section that says toast comes with it, I want my toast and I want it included. (-1) The one other thing is what most other reviews brought up, no substitutions. I so badly want to try the Mexican Breakfast Combo but, oh wait, I hate sour cream with a passion. Same for the Chef's Salad - there is an option to get it with tofu instead of chicken or shrimp, but what's the point if there's bacon on it anyway?! By being this strict you're really losing what would be regular business from me, Marmalade. (-1) The portions are generous. I just wish they had better options...it's like the vegan-friendliness was only halfway thought out. Bonus: they know how to pull their espresso.
(3)Fawn J.
I've been here a few times and have had mixed experiences, but overall, I really like it and will continue going here. The only negative I've had is two times I've been in they have run out of something we ordered. The first time I chalked it up to being a new restaurant and trying to figure out the kinks, the second time it was slightly more annoying. But what I have ended up with has always been great. The service is friendly and casual. They provide great service to the toddler I usually have in tow, always bringing him his own cup right away, serving him food he likes, talking to him, drawing with him, etc. The clincher is the free cookie they always seem to give us on our way out. Little guy loves it. haha, they really know how to get you to come back!
(4)Chris Dallas G.
We had a wonderful time here one Sunday morning for brunch. The service was a little slow but the place was packed to the gills. My partner and I shared a plate thinking it was going to be larger than it was simply from the description. Even though it wasn't as large as we thought it was going to be, we still didn't leave hungry, we were pleasantly satisfied with the savory meal, and we plan on returning soon.
(4)Carol L.
This past week I tried their Marmalade French Toast and it as very , very good.
(5)Meredith R.
I visited Marmalade for the first time today, a Sunday, at noon. Even though it was a popular brunch day/time, and the place was busy, our wait for a table was short, and the place was relaxing and quiet. My friends and I all LOVED the food (the potatoes were my favorite!), and we'll definitely be back for more!
(4)Kennen M.
I am just not feeling this place. This was a second time here and this last time was more memorable because things just didn't go well. This place is small and a tad noisy/energetic. This is not a place to bring strollers or large groups of people - don't even try it, you will hate yourself and everyone around you will hate you. I was hankering for some hearty breakfast food and the menu didn't appeal to me. Many of the dishes had a Mexican flare to it so it is obvious the cooks are Latino. I don't mind some Latino influences but when the majority of the dishes/skillets have sour cream, guac, salsa, pulled chicken or anything that isn't traditional breakfasty foods and you can't omit or substitute - bad news. I ordered a skillet, it had guac on it, but only a thumbnail size (why even bother) and unfortunately the most delicious part of the skillet. The pulled chicken was mildly warm over giant hunks of potatoes topped with over easy eggs that were so under cooked that the yolk was swimming in its clear, raw egg white pool. I didn't complain to the waitress because I was so icked out by it, replacing it wouldn't have made me eat it. I am the type of person who eats everything and I was grossed out by this. I had other issues with the food but my fingers would get tired of typing. On the bright side, my server seemed nice but a bit overwhelmed at the demands of the job and communication with the kitchen. I ended my half eaten breakfast with a check for the two of us for $40. Not a cheap joint! Gawd, I miss LeSabre where I could wake up, throw on some pants, walk down the street, order, eat, pay $9 (with nice tip and coffee) and be back home within 30 minutes.
(2)Philly G.
A little bit of a wait. Too small for parties over 4 people. Food was really good. Byob. Doesn't split check among cards
(4)Nancy C.
Their menu is enticing, their execution is awful. Felt sick after leaving. What it is: clean, cute and overpriced. What it is NOT: delicious, consumer friendly(no splitting checks OR cards, no substitutions OR omissions), inviting.
(1)Dennis L.
Delicious food in a comfortable atmosphere! My wife and I visited Marmalade for a quick lunch, and we really enjoyed the experience. She ordered the Efrain's Diablo Omeletta, which tasted great. I ordered the Skirt Steak Sandwich with fries. I appreciated the quality components of my meal. The fries were fresh and definitely house made. The blue cheese crumbles on my sandwich tied it together wonderfully. Overall, a great breakfast/lunch/brunch option. Notes: No separate checks, no multiple credit cards, present any vouchers/coupons upfront.
(4)Marshall G.
If you don't give this place 5 stars then you have no taste. Sorry if that offends you but it's the truth. I want the creative-chef of Marmalade to have an attractive daughter, train her to be just as good a chef as he and then send her out into the field to meet me; she and I meet and really hit it off, fall in love and get married and I get to live with the food from this place in my home for the rest of my life. That is my winning ticket. On a more serious note, this place is unbelievable. The menu is loaded with so many tastey sounding choices that the worst part about coming here is trying to decide which one dish you're going to order. Ideally, you'll want to go here with someone who you feel comfortable sharing food with so that you can order what sounds the best to you, convince them to order your second choice and then hope they aren't a big eater so you can eat a little of the dish they get. There is usually a wait and the items are a little pricey but as I've made clear; the food and wait are surely worth your hard-earned money and your count down to edible-harmony. I love you Marmalade, with all my stomach.
(5)Nell S.
Food was decent but not amazing. I got the Euro brunch plate - heavily seasoned potatoes were actually pretty good, eggs tasted great, but the butternut squash crepe was disappointing. I didn't finish any of it. My friend got the raspberry/peach mascarpone pancakes, and there was so much juice (versus a real syrup) on the plate that the bottom pancake was a soggy mush mess. Service was lacking. Front desk neither takes names for a table wait or seats people; the manager does this (micromanage much?). He had the list with him somewhere else and I had to wait 5 minutes for him to leave what he was doing to even put in my name. We were sat almost right away, but we watched several other parties of 2 stare longingly at empty tables while they waited for the manager to reappear and seat people. Definitely a vibe of bad management in the air. It was oddly tense. Most importantly though, about 3 hours after breakfast I became massively and cripplingly ill. I hadn't eaten anything else that day. I'm not 100% sure that it's food poisoning but it sure feels that way. So obviously I won't be back. It would have been 2-3 stars without the illness simply for the soggy 'cakes and the strange vibe, but since I'm still not right a day later gotta drop you to 1 and go back to the Golden Nugget for future brunching. Sorry!
(1)Kim S.
Oh, Marmelade.. First and foremost... the food is really, really good here. Unfortunately, waitstaff never seems to be too happy about working! I've been back 4 times now, because the food is that good, but I gotta say I'd very much appreciate a better atmosphere when I go.
(3)Ty W.
Marmalade is a nice little breakfast joint. Friendly, helpful staff and good food. I ordered the Azteca Omelette (a special) which came with potatoes and toast. Great flavors in the omelette (a mix of chicken sausage, salsas, cheese, peppers, sour cream etc) and they serve a decent cup of coffee as well. The potatoes are sautéed in what I assume to be a special mixture of seasonings and served extra crispy. Extremely tasty. Check this place out the next time you're in the area.
(4)Rachel O.
There was a wait for brunch on the weekend and I wish the hostesses had better organization over the seating plan so that people waiting we're seated faster. Nevertheless, the French toast berry special was amazing!
(4)O P.
I think this place is very tasty. Brunch all over Andersonville is so great, it's nice to see something on the other side. Great food,great service, unique menu. Only issue that kept me from 5 stars is their splitting checks policy- they don't do it. I understand their policy of charging extra if you're splitting a plate-who wants people ordering one plate and a Ton of coffee & then sitting in their restaurant for two hours taking up space? But not splitting checks is something that's disadvantageous to the restaurant- I think a lot of people don't carry cash- at least the ones who are brunching on a regular basis- so when you can't split checks it's a little inconvenient for your patrons. I'm not asking for splitting checks 6 ways, but splitting down the middle....I know it's not difficult. Especially with the POS system they have. I only bring it to attention bc i def have thought twice about stopping in, unplanned with friends, bc I didn't have cash on me! So make sure you've got cash or one person in your party is willing to drop their card for everyone!
(4)Al G.
I have always seen lines outside this restaurant and was eager to try it. Today i finally did and was not disappointed. The staff are friendly, professional and certainly accommodating. Food was excellent, specifically their seasoned potatoes and their fresh fruit compotes. Omelette's have a great twist in that they are not your standard variety that can be found in any other breakfast place. A must go to spot for breakfast or brunch!
(4)Reviewer M.
Came for the first time today! Don't know why we waited so long! Great food (we had the Mexican combo, the angus burger) , plenty of friendly and attentive staff, good but paired down selection of entrees, good coffee, clean and fast! Would come again!
(5)Megan A.
Stopped into Marmalade with my boyfriend after moving back up to the North Side. It was the perfect day for a brunch place, and having to catch the train right down the street made it all that much more perfect. It was busy, but not crowded, and we were sat right away. After peeking at all the specials on the board, and looking over the menu we decided on a benedict - crab cake - and french toast. The service was impeccable, evenly paced, not overwhelming, and inviting. We really just enjoyed watching everything move around the restaurant, and then enjoying out food. It was seriously the best silent food eating moment we have had together - so delicious. My cup always had coffee in it, which is essential to me. On our way out, the owner Gus, who had sat us and greeted us at the beginning, talked with us about our experience. He is a very genuine and compassionate person. It really makes a difference when an owner takes the time to make sure everything in his restaurant is running correctly, and to a tea. He even gave us some free baked goods, which I enjoyed on my own later - soo yummy! this will become my new neighborhood breakfast place!
(5)Antoinette R.
The food was okay, maybe slightly better. We came here after reading about them on the Best Breakfasts in Chicago, eh. It was only two of us, so we didn't have to wait long at all. We were having a hard time deciding what we wanted so we asked our server for any recommendations which turned into her reading the specials off of the boards. She didn't say anything about what she likes and why (I like that info from a server). Melissa's French Toast was good and the same for my husbands Bonaparte. I give it two stars for the reason that I feel like this place is way too full of itself. Yeah they are stepping out to do inventive dishes, but their service really brings it down a notch. Our server wasn't overly friendly and the server in the next section didn't smile once. She also told a table that was finishing their coffee after a Sunday brunch that they needed to leave because other people were waiting. Seriously? I get that you want to turn your tables quite frequently, but this is Sunday brunch, people generally get chatty. I was really annoyed at that point and had decided that I will not be coming back after today. Secondly, I feel that there are way too many signs around the restaurant demanding what the customer can/cannot do. No split checks, no split credit cards. In that sense, I'd rather it be a CASH only place.
(2)Amanda B.
I love brunch. I love all of Marmalade's brunch meals, they're always bursting with flavor. You can't beat their potatoes. I always get whatever special they have that week. It's small place so it gets overpacked during weekend brunch hours, but it's worth the wait. Fun staff and atmosphere.
(4)Ilbra I.
My fiance and I wanted a new breakfast joint so we decided to check out Marmalade. It looked very promising; there were lots of people inside and out and we thought man this place must be great if it's this packed. Boy were we wrong! We walked in and there were two tables left. We were seated and spotted the two boards with all the specials on them, which was very helpful. Our waitress greeted us after we had been sitting there for 10 minutes. She didn't smile once and to me she seemed upset. She recited the specials, that were written on the board, as if she was a robot. The girl lacked personality whereas other waitresses were smiling and joking around with their customers. The food descriptions looked soooooo good and we couldn't wait to dig in but unfortunately the food was average. My fiance ordered the pancakes (3 for $6.50) and they were the driest pancakes he'd ever had. We don't mind paying the premium prices as long as the food was worth it. I had the Midwest Omelette and it was the only thing that I enjoyed. The house fries were nasty. They were dry, oily, and tasted like fish. The whole time my fiance and I were eating, the bus boys were the only ones who would come to the table. They brought us our food, poured us water, and took away our plates. Our waitress never once came by to check up on us. Now the place was packed but there were enough waitresses to go around. She could have stopped by for a minute to make sure everything was okay. We had to take ketchup and hot sauce from a free table next to us. We left there unsatisfied and upset. This place is a joke. There are so many other places that can deliver a much better dining experience.
(2)Megan G.
The first time I went here, I was in love. I had a breakfast skillet with chipolte chicken, potatoes, and scrambled egg. The food was amazing. The service was quick and polite - even on a busy Sunday I was able to get in without much of a wait. So a few weeks ago, I thought I would repeat this experience and go again for a late lunch. I think it was again on a Sunday. There was a slight wait, not big deal. Then I was seated and ordered a juice. My waitress brought the juice but then never came back. I sat for 20 minutes without her coming back. I was so hungry that I didn't feel like grabbing her attention or making a complaint. I told the hostess what happened and then I went and got Mexican down the street. I really want to like this place but Sunday brunch is not a time to have bad service. I might go back on a weekday sometime.
(3)Lisa C.
I have two girlfriends who live in the area and we decided to stop by at 9am on Sunday morning. Two-thirds of the party ordered off of their Sunday brunch menu, with one order of the Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll French Toast (my selection) and an order of the Smoked Salmon Napoleon. My friend got their signature French Toast, the Lady Marmalade. All of us were happy with our selections and the portions were more than generous. Even though I can eat like a total pig, it was way more than I could finish. I think the huge portions combined with the unbelievably sweet dishes make it nearly impossible to finish, even for the most gluttonous of gluttons. I would have a few tips for someone who wants to try Marmalade: 1. Order something sweet. If you want something savory, you should probably go somewhere else. The place is called Marmalade, people. You don't go to Hooters for the salad. 2. If you decide to go on the weekend, get there before 9:30. We got there a little after 9am on a Sunday and our party of three was seated immediately. The same could not be said for the people who got there around the time we were ready to leave (10am-ish). 3. Awesome coffee in huge mugs. It tastes even better while people watching from a table by the window. 4. Apparently this place is BYOB, so if you need a little Bailey's in your coffee to put some spring in your step, you can do that too.
(4)Susan C.
I usually don't venture out for brunch. I love it, as I love all meals, but find that my weeks get so busy I'll forego brunch time happenings so I can get a little R&R. Enter another equally busy friend who loves brunch. The siren call of eggs benedict across from a long lost kickballer was too much to resist. Marmalade was a good choice. We just beat the rush (tip= arrive by 10:15, at 10:35 the place goes from moderately full to packed with a line) and settled down to regularly filled coffee mugs and new takes on old dishes. My friend tore through his Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll and I opted for the Smoked Salmon Napoleon. I have to admit that I'd rather have the traditional english muffin, but I still pleased with the combination of some of my favorite foods (avocado, cream cheese, smoked salmon, hollandaise sauce ((cream cheese seemed a little bit like one element too much, but I was excited to try it)). I would absolutely go back and try other dishes.
(3)Erin D.
Stopped in here last Saturday before I ran that Blackhawks 5K thing, my friends asked me " are you sure you want to eat before you run" my reply, "yeah".... I'm thinking, I've been wanting to try this place and I didn't want to wait after the race. We got in, got a table and the service was top notch. The problem was trying to decide what to eat before a 5K. I finally said a few choice words and decided on the stuffed pancakes. ha. I mean really, time check, I still had a little under two hours before I had to run. No problem. What came back from the kitchen was two pancakes with raspberries and cream and oh my...it was good. It was so good, I finished it all. Yep. I love this place. Definitely will be returning. And as for my 5K. Yeah, I'll admit, I wasn't feelin all that hot but I set a new PR for myself.
(5)Tim S.
Marmalade was great, me and my girlfriend went there after a pretty long night of drinking and we were in need of some good brunch. It closes as 3pm and showed up at 2:30pm and they treated us like we were the first guest of the day. Our waitress was an older woman but she ranks up there with one of the best I have ever had, she was helpful and very knowledgeable about the menu, she gave great suggestions and treated us great. I got the Pollo Loco and it was the perfect meal for a guy with a hangover (and someone without one too) the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist, eggs were done correctly and the salsa verde was delicious. Also there potatoes are pretty good too (just add hot sauce). My girlfriend got the Florentine Crab Benedict and she was also very happy. On our way out Gus (I think that was his name) was very nice to us and asked us to come back soon..... I defiantly will, Marmalade is not just a place on the way to Glenns dinner, but a place that might just be better!
(4)David A.
Great food delicious and great service, I have been there 5 times and gets better and better.
(5)David J.
My wife and I had brunch at Marmalade this past weekend and we both enjoyed everything we ordered. We got seats quickly after just waiting a few minutes while they cleared a couple tables. We ordered two skim Lattes that were very good and I enjoyed the Euro Brunch Plate and my wife loved her Diablo Omeletta. Our waitress was very friendly and the busboys were great making sure we had water. I look forward to trying some of the Benedict's next time.
(5)Danielle B.
Horrible service, however, the busser kept our waters full and table clean...if only he could have been our server! The food was cold and nothing to write home about...not to mention an extremely long wait for it! On the way out we observed another unhappy patron complaining to the manager...the manger was very rude and unprofessional in how he handled the situation, which only added to my negative experience with this joint.
(1)Dan S.
Fantastic water and service. Recommend the Fat Mexican. Cleanest bathroom in the city
(4)Michael G.
We were looking for a new place for breakfast this morning and my wife remembered that my brother and sister-in-law had recently tried Marmalade and liked it. In fact my brother talked about the brisket hash as some of the best he's ever had. We arrived around 11:30 am and we were seated right away with no wait. The wait staff was great, attentive and well informed about the various specials. Luckily one of the specials was the Chef's Hash that my brother recommended, and which I ordered. My wife decided to try the classic eggs benedict. We were both rewarded with one of the best breakfasts we've had in Chicago. The brisket hash was moist and very flavorful. The eggs benedict included off-the-bone ham with a great smokey flavor and without the overly salty taste that many hams have. The real star of the meal was the breakfast potatoes which were awesome. Not sure what the secret spices were, but they really made the dish. Only one thing prevented us from rating this as 5 stars. In fact we struggled with how to rate this restaurant overall because the food and service was so excellent. However while we were there the restaurant manager (owner?) displayed some of the most disturbing and unprofessional behavior we have ever seen in a restaurant. Apparently something must have gone wrong with one the waitresses and he was loudly berating her in front of all the customers. He then proceeded to continue with this vocal management style as he told the hostesses how they were screwing up the reservation list. Overall it made for an uncomfortable end of what began as a great experience. After thinking about, it we decided on a 4 star rating to reward and support the hard working wait and kitchen staff. Hopefully the manager will find another line of work somewhere else. Or if he was the ownner, perhaps he'll hire a more professional manager before his poor behavior drives other customers away.
(4)Kristi L.
The ignorant owner is PREJUDICED and RUDE. The owner was present during my visit and was rather loud the whole time. He talked down to his staff too. I was trying to get work done, so I tried to tune him out, but one derogatory comment directed towards a staff member made my blood boil. At the end of my meal, I told him Carolina (my server) was excellent and that the food was good. I brought up the issue of the volume of his voice and his negative and offensive comment. I realize the customer is not always right, but in this situation I was looking for, "I'm sorry. That comment was uncalled for and it will never happen again," or something to that effect. A sincere apology would have resulted in repeat business. Instead, he got extremely defensive and said he didn't offend anyone. I told him he offended me and he literally shrugged his shoulders. Charming. I cannot stress enough how great the staff was when I was there, attentive, friendly, professional, prompt, etc. My server was excellent and the other server on the floor stopped by to check on me and fill my water. There is great teamwork and prompt service there. My french toast was pretty good, not the best, but definitely good. Oh, they also have soy milk, which you cannot find everywhere. I feel bad for these employees, though. I would love to go back and send people I know in the area their way. Unfortunately, they are cursed with a disrespectful and narrow-minded owner with poor customer service skills, whom I do not feel deserves to benefit in a monetary way from my business, nor that of anyone I know. There are plenty of great restaurants nearby (I feel others have figured that out too, because there were only two other tables in the restaurant besides myself). Such a shame, it is a short walk from me. Their loss and my first (and hopefully only) one star rating.
(1)Wil T.
Decided to dine solo. Stopped in on a Saturday after 2pm which to my recollection is after the brunch rush. There were about 3 open 4 toppers and 1 six topper tables that were open. Also there was nobody but me waiting for a table. I was told by the hostess that I would have to wait until a 2 topper opened up. WTH?!? I can understand if there are people waiting and it was busy, but really that's poor customer service. I walked down the street to Glen's Diner. Got a table right away (4 topper) and I was able to make substitutions to my order as well. I guess Marmalade makes business from taking in the overflow from Glen's during the busy brunch rush. Very parasitic business model, it's just a matter of time before enough people get tired of this place.
(1)David G.
One of the great thing about being between jobs is you get to explore great breakfast places during non busy hours. I went to Marmalade at 10:00 AM on a Monday with two underemployed friends. It was virtually empty and the service was quick and attentive. Being the pancake connoisseur that I am I was tempted to get my usual, but opted for the french toast with berries and cream with a side of apple wood bacon. It was very similar to the breakfast I had at M. Henry. The french toast was very good, stacked up and topped with a very generous amount of fresh sliced strawberries. The bacon was a perfect complement. My friends ordered a croissant sandwich that was on the specials menu listed on a blackboard on the wall. I also feel I need to add that you can get breakfast churros. I have to especially mention the coffee. It was so good, I had to ask the waitress what kind it was and she threw an Italian name at me that I already forgot, I'm ashamed to say. Needless to say the coffee was excellent. I ended up spending about $14 total for my breakfast, which is very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I am impressed, and ecstatic that a great brunch place has opened in my neighborhood.
(5)Esther A.
Starting with the good: 1) I knew from other Yelp reviews that an early brunch was definitely the way to go. At 10:30 AM on a Saturday, the restaurant was busy, but we were seated right away, which made me happy. 2) Service was *excellent.* Our waitress was friendly, responsive, and super on point. 3) Lots of really tempting-sounding items on the menu. Definitely had a hard time choosing between options. 4) Presentation on the food, when it arrived, was beautiful--lovely, colorfully composed plates bright with (edible) flowers and berries. The less good: 1) There's something not quite right about the atmosphere and decor of the place. I wish it was brighter and cozier than it is. It still seems to have a lingering sad malaise left over from when it was Le Sabre. Also, we sat by the window, and the sills were kind of dirty (a few tiny dead bugs and dead leaves from the plants on the sills), which grossed me out a bit. 2) My French toast hadn't been soaked in egg long enough, so instead of the soft, custard-y texture I expected, they were very bread-y and dry. Still flavorful, due to the roasted peach and brie topping, but the mouth-feel was way off. All in all, though, Marmalade was good enough that we'll probably be back to try some of the other yummy-sounding items on the menu. (As an FYI, they don't spit checks or accept multiple credit cards, so plan accordingly.)
(3)Carlos V.
Decided to try this place out since it was new in the neighborhood. Oh how I wish I didn't! It was hands down the worst breakfast experience I have had in awhile. 1. We walked in on a Saturday morning and noticed there was not a wait. There also wasn't a host to greet us or a sign that said "Host will be with you" or "Please seat yourself". So we just kind of stood there unsure what to do. After a couple of minutes, an older gentleman (owner perhaps?) finally noticed us and took us to our seat. 2. We immediately noticed the 2 large boards with the specials for the day and began to read them, trying to figure out what to order. Soon after, our waitress greeted us and began to recite the same specials that were on the board. I interrupted her as politely as I could and told her that the specials were on the board behind her. She then said "Just in case you can't see them" and continued to recite every single special. 3. Soon after another gentleman approached our table (manager?) and began to recite the EXACT SAME SPECIALS in greater detail. I just wanted some time to look at the menu to decide what to order!! 4. I ordered the cinnamon French toast with a side of "Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage". Unfortunately I do not like my breakfast sausage or bacon "Apple Smoked" but there were no other bacon or sausage options on the menu. 5. The French Toast was so dry that it was barely edible. Blech. 6. There was too much staff walking around with nothing to do (including the older owner type gentleman). The result is they constantly stare at you while you are eating your food. I was so uncomfortable. Needless to say I will not be back.
(1)Rohan S.
We continue to go and always enjoy our experience. My wife enjoys the pumpkin French toast and the Mexican combo is awesome. Get the Mayan style if you like your food spicy.
(5)Corey R.
First off, in a word: Outstanding. I had wanted to try Marmalade since I walked by and saw the "opening soon" signs. I came to Yelp just to get an idea of people's favorite menu items and see some initial comments. There are lots of reviews here complaining about the service. If that was an issue before, it's certainly been addressed. Our service was great. The waitress was friendly and attentive, even when we could have been "problem customers". See, the wife and I arrived 45 minutes before our two friends and their not-quite-two-year-old. Our fault, bad communication on our parts. Staff couldn't have been nicer about it. When we realized our friends wouldn't be there for a while, we offered to pay for the coffee we started and give them the table back. The waitress just smiled and said, "no worries. sit, relax, I'll bring you some more coffee." Certainly NOT the turn-n-burn attitude other reviewers claimed to have received. So, the food. Wow. Everyone loved their food! I had the peached and rasberried pancakes. FYI, it also had blueberries and strawberries along with some amazing mascarpone cream. The crunchy granola on top gave it great texture. Brilliant idea! My wife had the diablo omeletta which they cooked with less oil and with egg whites, per her request. It was very good, too, especially the roasted potatoes that come on the side. The kid-sized pancakes were perfect, too. I literally have no complaints about our trip to Marmalade. Service, food, atmosphere, kid-friendliness, coffee, etc. I will definitely be back.
(5)Brandon Z.
Literally so many issues, I need to decide where to start... First. I'll just say I'm glad I didn't bring friends or family, because I think they would have disowned me after taking them there. I'll start with service. To provide some context, the place wasn't full, but it wasn't completely empty. I think I counted 3 waiters/waitresses, which seemed appropriate when we arrived, and absurd when we left. I'm fairly confident that our girl is new, probably her first waitressing job, so I'm willing to give her some slack. That said, this place is only a week and a half old, and the poor girl could use some training and help. Here's a list of issues with the service: - Wasn't told the specials (maybe we weren't special enough...) - Brought toast (which was warmed bread- no toasting was done) literally five minutes before she brought the rest of the food. Put the bread back in, toast it some more and bring it with the food! - After we finished and our table was cleared, we literally waited 10 minutes for the check. Of course I had to flag her down for it, because apparently she forgot that some people like to pay for their meals. - The cashier dude is a PRO at walking around aimlessly, making it seem like he has things to do when he isn't taking people's money. Dude, make yourself useful and help your staff out. - Same goes for the manager. He was slightly annoying about asking everyone that left what they had, how it was, etc. Definitely good he's asking for feedback, but again, help your people out and maybe give a better experience. OK, so that's not the end of the world. With awesome food, I could live with the above service issues. After all, this place is new, and I'm a very patient person. But the food was just so, MEH. The coffee wasn't very good, the OJ wasn't cold and didn't taste that great, my 'toast' was small and literally felt microwaved instead of toasted. Their signature potatoes weren't bad, but they had so much damn seasoning on them, like practically a dry rub. We got bacon, which was also not really all that cooked (can I have SOME crispiness to the bacon?). My plain scrambled eggs were fine. My girlfriend's pancakes were pretty decent, though the 'marmalade' that was used we think was nothing more than the jelly they served with my toast. They play 80's music, which is just weird. There is no decor, just painted walls, which normally I think places have too much going on, but this just felt like an empty space. We will likely never go back, with our favorite spot Over Easy being about the same distance from our apartment and light years better. I do hope they improve things and stay in the neighborhood, and maybe then we'll try them one more time.
(1)Karen A.
I picked a weekday to check this place out, since I noticed on weekends its got lots of crowds. Now I know why people were waiting. Sitting on the cozy corner of Montrose and Damen Marmalade (occupying the former space of the old school Le Sabre restaurant) this neighborhood breakfast/lunch espresso bar is just what the area needed. And the breakfast is damn good. A lot of specials-hard to choose- and good coffee. I had an amazing artichoke pesto mozerella omelette-with fantastic crispy potatoes and a sweet garnish of fresh mango and orange. There are a plethora of pancakes and croissants and other good stuff. I'm going back for more tomorrow......
(4)Ross C.
I miss Le Sabre. I really do. My girlfriend and I were literally the last costumers to eat there. We went on a random day and they said they were closing. We were disappointed. Then they explained that they were closing for good. We were really disappointed! The chef kindly offered to stay open for the restaurants two final costumers. We were honored. Now, on to Marmalade. We were pleased to hear that Marmalade is owned by the same family that owned Le Sabre! Bonus points already. I had Efraim's Diablo Omelette. And omelette with spicy jerk chicken, guacamole, and cream cheese?! Are they serious?! I was feeling adventurous and gave it a try. It was awesome. I also tried a pancake. It was tasty, light and fluffy. I'll definitely be a frequent customer at Marmalade.
(5)Brian J.
The interior was bright and cheerful, a marked improvement over the medieval darkness of the esrablishment across the street where my companion and I initially tried to have brunch. The head chef's Signature Dish, the Diablos Omeletta, was a psychedelic flavor adventure stuffed with spicy jerk shrimp, cream cheese, and avocado and covered in mango chutney. The eponymous marmalade that it was served with was also no joke. Can't wait to come back!
(5)G. F.
Please allow me to start by saying that I'm rating Marmelade based on the 5-minute experience I had there. I went there with my mother and 2-year-old son this morning(a Wednesday) and tried to sit outside. We found it odd that the only tables they had outside were the two-person tables (they're barely big enough for two people, for what it's worth) so we did what any party more than 2 would do: put two tables together. The waitress immediately came out and told us that they don't put tables together as policy due to the small space they cram the tables into. So just know that you can't sit outside there if you have two or more people with you. We would have understood that it's just their policy except that the place was nearly empty and only one table was occupied outside and they were paying their bill! After we already started putting the tables back she said, "maybe I can go ask the 'big guy' if we can allow it". We did not even want to stay after that feeling as though they were being difficult with a few people trying to give their new business a chance when it was nearly empty. I'm giving two stars since we didn't try the food and she did apologized when we left...but who wants to stay for a meal after fighting to get a table big enough for your group when we were practically the only ones there? Go to Lulu Belle's of you want people who are nothing if not accommodating.
(2)Elizabeth K.
AMAZING BREAKFAST! It looks like a whole lot of nothing from the outside but the food is fantastic. I had the Artichoke Omeletta (spinach, goat cheese, tomato, pesto, yummy) and my friend had the Mayan Omeletta - both incredibly delicious and the perfect portion size. The owner/manager checked on us during our meal to make sure everything was good - it was - and even gifted us with a couple huge muffins (made in-house at the restaurant, consumed in my home shortly thereafter, even though I wasn't even hungry...just that good). Such a great spot, I'll definitely be back.
(5)Nikki F.
My husband (& son) took me out to brunch at Marmalade this weekend for Mother's Day. We had a lovely meal, even though I was a little hesitant about going after reading a handful of negative reviews here. People complain about the no substitutions policy. I get it; it's kind of annoying. But, seriously, there are so many options that it's really difficult to not find something for everyone! There's the regular menu, there's specials on the table, there's blackboard specials... A lot of choices to keep most people happy. The service was perfectly adequate. Not over-the-top bubbly, but the hostess welcomed us, we were seated quickly, and our waitress was friendly. We could have used more coffee refills (coffee there was great!), but that's about my only complaint. The food itself was delicious. I had the crab cake benedict & wow was it yummy. The chipotle sauce & the corn bread worked so well together. The potatoes were a bit much for my taste (just covered is seasoning), but it could be that the main attraction was so good (& the portions so big) that I didn't have much room for them anyways. My husband had the Efrain's diablo omeletta, which was also delicious (& not overly drenched in sour cream or sauce). I was really impressed by their fruit bowl, which we ordered for my son -- there was papaya, blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, & melons (a far cry from the typical grapes & honeydew). I'm lucky this place is in my neighborhood & will definitely be back.
(4)Kevin Z.
Great specials, and interesting menu, homemade everything. Service is great too.
(5)Chris H.
This is my second time here (first for brunch, and now for lunch), and both experiences were less than satisfying. I will start out that our server was nice and attentive. Our drinks were always full. That is why I gave a few of the stars. Today I ordered the prosciutto panini. After waiting 30 minutes, the server came out and informed me that they were out of prosciutto (the main ingredient in the sandwich). I understand restaurants run out of product, but the waitstaff needs to be informed so the customer can be alerted upon ordering...or even better, when they first see the menu.
(3)John S.
We had lunch here today. Service was good, waitress was attentive and on top of everything. The manager seemed to be micro-managing and creating issues where there were none. I ordered "stuffed french toast". I got french toast that had nothing stuffed in it. It was ok, but not worth the $9. My friend got the brie baguette, it was "decent" he said, but not worth the $9 it cost either. Probably won't go back.
(2)Aaron C.
This is my breakfast spot. Service is great, coffee is up to par, prices are decent, and the food is good eats. Every weekend they have some great new specials that are always good to try. They also have a great regular breakfast menu to choose from. What separates this breakfast from any other? The breakfast potatoes! So good...so filling...need more but am so full. I also want to give a shout out to staff that is always accommodating. There may be a wait if you don't get there early....which is a good thing if you think about it. Think of it as a sign you're at the right place.
(4)Chcogal C.
You know those places where they value their customers? Where the customer is always right? Well, this is not that place. My friend ordered a chopped salad and what came was a mound of bacon and ham in the shape of an upside down bucket, with little to no lettuce and a very unappetizing presentation that looked nothing like the menu described "chopped" salad. When she tried to send it back was told that the chef made this for her and therefore could not comp her or offer something in its place. Really? Well instead of losing out on the cost of one salad, they lost long standing customers who had previously told all their friends to come by...... A lesson worth far more than $13. Never trust an owner/chef who makes his rude waitstaff deliver crazy customer service on his behalf,and has more negative "rules" on the receipts than friendliness.
(1)Eileen G.
LOVE THIS PLACE! One of our favorite for breakfast or weekend brunch. Good variety of food and excellent service. Everyone is friendly and the food is amazing.
(5)Dan K.
Decent food, but this review is more about the staff. Our waitress was a little slow to get to us, despite there only being a few people in the place, which is fine... we weren't in a huge rush, and we weren't starving. They then brought out a cappuccino when it was supposed to be an iced latte. Again, not a huge deal because they quickly replaced it. But that's two strikes. The third strike is a huge one. The guy who appeared to be the manager, or perhaps the owner, was being a complete dick to the waitresses. Shortly after we sat down, he said "get me this......... now!" to one of his employees. Then later, I heard him say to one waitress "this is your section... I told you this 30 minutes ago. I don't want to tell you again." And to another, "do you know which section is yours? Yes? Point to it." If you want to be a treat your employees like shit, that's your prerogative. That makes you an asshole, and it is what it is. If you do it loudly in front of your customers, that makes you a complete idiot. I'm not going to give my money to a business that's run like that. I won't be back, and I hope that the waitresses find a better place to work so that they can say the same.
(2)Emma D.
I live two blocks from Marmalade and have been eagerly awaiting its opening. I was hoping for a go-to spot where I could get a healthy salad for lunch a few times a week--and the one called the Summer Salad on their menu IS delicious, but at over $10 after tax, it's a tad much for everyday ($8.50 after tax would be more like it). At breakfast, too, I've found the prices to be $1 or $2 more than what the experience is (so far) worth. The service is exactly as others have described: friendly enough, but things aren't always running smoothly. The room is clean and new-looking, but the use of several different sherbert-y paint colors do not add up to an interior with the kind of personality people love in a good breakfast spot. Still, I hope Marmalade can work out the kinks and stick around. Think about offering a to-go counter with easy-to-order beverages and a few lower-cost breakfast items (not just pastries, but something with eggs) for people on their way to work. Set up a spot where customers can hang out while awaiting carryout orders. Liven up the walls--maybe talk to Lillstreet about installing rotating shows that reflect the neighborhood's vibe. Good luck!
(3)Jeremy M.
The food definitely shows some M-Henry (love them) influence, but it was a $40 breakfast that didn't quite live up to M-Henry. Prices for plates were OK, but we ordered a side of bacon to share to get something savory on the table, and a cup of fruit for my kid in addition to the scrambled egg, two coffees, and pow: $40. Service wasn't the ultra-professional machine you'd get at M-Henry, but it also wasn't as bad as some of the earlier reviewers said. Maybe they've worked out some of the kinks. Waitstaff was on cruise control though. Bring the crowds to sharpen your staff. Portions were a bit outsized, except for the oatmeal served in a little crock traditionally used by greek diners for french onion soup. My fruity pancakes were very good, but I'd have been happier with 75% of the portion for 80% of the price. Same with the side of bacon and the fruit cup. Get rid of the crocks for the steel cut oatmeal and serve it in a real bowl. Give the prices a shave, and let the customers queue up a little. Overall, I think this place deserves three or four stars if they could iron out the rest of the kinks. That would bring Marmalade on-par with my other breakfast indulgence options. Add something je-ne-sais-quoi and I'll come back with five stars. Hint: I find that candied bitter oranges will pair with the darnedest things. I was surprised nothing like that was on the menu. No chef; no art; no five stars from me. For the price, I'd rather eat at M-Henry or stay closer with Pannenkoken.
(2)Alice R.
Came here for breakfast. Staff is friendly and helpful. Loved the signature marmelade french toast! Will come back here again!
(4)Kris R.
i wasn't expecting much from this place bc of the reviews so i kept my expectations low. every sunday my family and i have brunch, so it was a good change of pace to come here. it was about 9a brunch time. i was the first to arrive so i put in a table for 4. it wasn't crowded but i couldn't be seated til the rest of my party arrived. okay, cool, but it's not crowded. and the hostess was NOT very friendly and could barely look me in the eye. she did whatever it was possible to communicate to me in as few words as possible. this is a pet peeve of mine, i'm realizing. if the hostess sucks, marmalade, youve got it wrong. a hostess/receptionist is the first person to make a good impression as he/she receives people for the first time. if you suck at being friendly, this is the wrong job for you. anyway, my sister and nieces arrive. they order waffles and pancakes and i order the bread pudding. a pretty sweet breakfast for me, but i was in the mood. the BP was pretty good. not the best, but good and it hit the spot. the pancakes and waffles were really cakey and dry. when i cut the pancakes into pieces for my niece, they were crumbling apart. my other niece stopped eating her waffle bc it was "too thick". the one thing that was EXCELLENT was their bacon. i mean, you could have fed me plate after plate of it. really, the best breakfast bacon i've had in a while. i MIGHT come back to try a savory dish, but i dont know. it's not in my hood and i wasn't impressed.
(3)Charlene S.
I had high expectations for this place...being in the Chicago Mag top breakfasts. I am a breakfast/ brunch girl. When? Sunday at about 11:40 am. There was a huge crowd outside so the hubs went in and checked out what the wait was. The guy at the door said there were 2-two-somes in front of us, but he couldn't give us a time. I don't know if I would've waited the 1/2 hour, but it was pleasant enough outside and we did go at a prime time. Still... the guy should have told us an approximate time. Maybe we could've walked down the street a bit instead of just hanging out doing nothing while the hubs arranged his fantasy football draft via phone. Where? Seated by the window and with the people coming in and out, there was a draft. I never took my jacket off. The menu had some very appetizing choices and the specials board was unique. I ordered a hot chocolate but the waitress brought 2, 1 for each of us. The hubs didn't want one but after pointing it out the waitress who offered the 2nd one for free, he welcomed it. I think $2.75 is a bit steep for a cup of Swiss valley and water. +++++I ordered the Chef's specialty, the diablo omelette. It had jerk cajuned shrimp, cream cheese, avocado and some mango, red pepper salsa. It was delicious. The shrimp cooked perfectly, not overcooked or rubbery. The hubs ordered the florentine and crab cake benedict. It was delicious and moist and cooked well. The egg was nice and runny like he likes it. The potatoes were ok. Cut too big and overspiced, but a bit tasty. I don't care if the plating is like M. Henry. I enjoyed the mango and orange. The multigrain toast was delish!!! Chewy, hot, crisp. -BOOO-----I was intrigued by the coconut caramel hotcake. But for $9.75 opted out of it and got 1 hotcake on the side for a couple bucks, I think. $2 x 2 does not equal $9.75. The hotcake was DRY and had a crust on it that was brittle enough to break away. BOOOOO. The brittle crust did not allow any of the maple syrup to work its way in. I'm so glad I didn't get the bigger order. I would try this place again but hopefully on a morning no so busy.
(3)Ingrid H.
Trust me. The breakfast quesadillas will put you in quite the predicament, having to decide between (a) hopping out of your seat and M.C. Hammering all around the joint, telling everybody about how damn good your dish is, and (b) remaining calm and in your seat so that you can finish what you can of this very filling meal before it gets cold. I chose the latter of the two options, but I can't promise that I'll have the self-control to manage that feat, again. Note: I'm a veg head, so I swapped out the chorizo for the veggie sausage; delicious! Y'all, has anyone seen my balloon pants, y'all?
(4)Janet N.
I thought I would treat myself to breakfast today so I stopped here having been before and it was a good experience. So being alone can be a challenge to get attention but today was even worse! I was seated right away which is great but sat for almost 10minutes (why you ask? I was hungry) then I asked the perky waitperson on the table next to me who had my table. She did not know but did get someone?? whodid not appear too pleased. I got a lame apology and did say how long I was waiting received with a blank stare. I got my food quickly. And as another table of 4 sat down I saw my wait person go to them immediately. Now wait people you see why women alone do not tip well. This is a prime example of WHY!
(2)Restaurant Vigilant E.
Gone is the greasy spoon that was Le Sabre...their stomach churning, wall paper paste will haunt humanity no more! In it's place, a bright lunch/brunch/breakfast place called Marmalade. Let me just say...I personally do not really like breakfast food, and the concept of brunch is something I loathe. That said, I understand other people like brunch...and if I had to choose, I would likely pick marmalade for brunch. The menu is innovative and diverse, while still being manageable, and they have gone seemingly out of their way to appeal to everyone in a pretty effective manner. While I don't see it on their online menu, I always order this crazy big croissant sandwich....fluffy eggs, bacon and cheese...breakfast food yes, but in sandwich form, the stigma I often attach to breakfast seems to evaporate. I have been their twice and really probably should branch out on their menu, trying something else...but it is REALLY good. Bottom line is this, if you go their for breakfast/brunch or lunch, you'll walk away happy. This place, in my experience, is a pretty sure bet...it's two nearest competitors: Glenns and Fountainhead...really can't stack up when competing with Marmalade in the breakfast/brunch/lunch arena. Service here I have never had an issue with. The place is clean and bright, even if it is a little non-descript.
(3)Katie H.
Did I like Marmalade? Yes. Would I pick it instead of Over Easy or mHenry? Hmmm... probably not. But I would recommend giving it a try. The service is slightly rocky - not unfriendly, but a little slow and confusing at times. Check out the specials board which contains a LOT of different items not on the menu - it's almost like there are 2 separate menus. I went for the pumpkin french toast and it truly was sinfully delicious - really more of a dessert than a breakfast, but that didn't stop me from chowing down. My husband had a cappuccino (very good) and one of the Mexican-ish breakfast dishes which he enjoyed, although not as much as Over Easy's sassy eggs. Bottom line: you may have a shorter wait here than at some of the other neighborhood brunch spots, but you won't have to compromise too much on the food. We'll probably be back again.
(3)Katie R.
i'm sorry to say the food is just not that great here. there's a nice selection and service was fine (though our waitress was literally reading from her specials list because she couldn't remember what was in each dish - i don't know if this is a deduction, just kind of odd, but to give her credit there were a lot of specials). i had the brioche cinnamon french toast and though it was presented beautifully, it didn't taste as great as it looked. i had it with the berries (fresh and delicious) and vanilla cream - overall the dish was over-the-top sweet. i think there could have been a much better balance with a light and refreshing creme fraiche instead of the vanilla cream. my friend didn't seem overly wow-ed by her omelet and i definitely wasn't by my side of soy sausage. my friend had a side of tempeh which tasted good but was VERY over-salted. bonus points for offering veggie options, though. i don't know if their OJ is fresh-squeezed as we didn't order it, but the fact that they have v8 is a deduction in my book. any great breakfast place that claims to have a juice bar better have ALL fresh juice, in my opinion. also, whoever was running the register (manager of some sort?) was extremely rude! there are too many places that treat you wonderfully to eat bad food then be scorned. sorry marmalade, but you have some fierce brunch competitors out there that have it down to the nitty-gritty and you need to step up your game.
(2)Caren F.
I'd give negative five if I could. I was so excited to try this brunch spot, but after the appalling customer service my group experienced this morning, I will never return--and will encourage others not to give this place their money. I go to brunch every. single. weekend. and happily fork over too much money for a good brunch experience. So it is a shame that the manager "doesn't have time" for his customers. He just lost four potential loyal customers. But seems he's too smug and busy to care. Marmalade makes sure that things are easy for them. Signs scream out that there are no substitutions on specials, no split checks. Ok, fine. We'll play by your rules. After being told that her two first choice entrees could not be made without pork, my friend settled on an egg item. It came out prepared incorrectly. Because it had to be remade, she asked if they could please put the sauce on the side when they remake it. She was told no. (this was not a special, by the way, so was not theoretically subject to their rules) Not only was she told no, she was told that the manager refused to put any other item on our ticket. EXCUSE ME? She was literally told she was not allowed to order anything else. When she asked to speak with him, our waitress (poor girl, stuck in the middle) returned to tell us that he said we could come back tomorrow to talk to him!! WHAT?! So she should sit here now, not eat, and come back tomorrow? Who does he think he is? She had to literally get up from the table, find the manager, who barked "i don't have time for this," TO HER FACE, before he reluctantly agreed to just let her get something else. Which was disgusting. The food was seriously bad. I ate two bites of my eggs, which were swimming in oil. Even without the atrocious attitude from the manager, I'd never return. Upcharge for fruit instead of potatoes (which wasn't mentioned), full charge for my friend's sub-par fourth choice entree that they initially refused her. I'm sad for the waitress who has to work for this manager. But patrons can choose to dine elsewhere.
(1)Gary C.
It's a Monday morning and we are in our old neighborhood driving down Montrose when I spot this place. I don't think it was here a few years ago but I can say if we still lived on the northside, I'd put it into our breakfast/brunch rotation list. A clean place, nice décor, good service and an interesting menu with daily specials. I had the Mayan Omelletta filled with chorizo and ton of other things, it was spicy in a good way, I only wish the breakfast potatoes were a little crispier but they were still acceptable.
(3)Dave G.
Perfect brunch experience! Vegetarian friendly, they will sub tasty veggie for any meat for free. Also has a nice little kids menu which is pretty rare in Chicago. I had the Florentine Crab Benedict which had a high quality crab cake although the egg was a little overcooked. My wife had the smoked salmon napoleon which she loved, but she was jealous of my potatoes which were much better than her salad! Her poached eggs were perfectly cooked BTW. We shared the Mango and Blueberry Cinnamon Roll French Toast with our two friends. The fresh fruit and icing was perfect company for our savory breakfasts.
(5)Steve W.
Fantastic food - dismal service. This place is still new. And therefore since the food was so good, I'm willing to overlook the really bad service that we got. 4 of us went there for breakfast this past weekend. The place was full, but that should be expected as the people of Chicago love their breakfast. Our waitress had a very nice attitude and was at our table pretty quickly - but then she never came back. We never got our coffee. Another server brought out our food and we had to ask for him to go get our toast....which wasn't really toast, it was warm bread. As under-staffed as they appeared, they had one guy whose ONLY job was putting bread in the toaster, and it still came out as warm bread! After enjoying our food, our table was cleared promptly by their busser, but again, our waitress was MIA and after waiting for at least 10 minutes we had to walk up to the register to get our check. The manager apologized, but he wasn't really helping his staff either. Appeared to be micro-managing, but not doing any real work himself. Anyways, the breakfast food was fantastic. So good that despite all the crap we dealt with, we'll go back and give them another chance in a few months.
(2)ben w.
Good food, good portions, great coffee and good service. Lots of dishes with lots of stuff in them, potatoes in the egg dishes, skillets, are way too big and hard to eat. Very pricey, 22 bucks with tip for a skillet and coffee.
(3)Mary T.
I was here today for lunch. Funnily enough I had the same brie baguette as Jon R. and the bread was hard as a rock. I sent it back and they were very nice about it and gave me a new sandwich on different bread. And they kindly took it off the bill and apologized four times at least. I thought the place was good but not outstanding. They are new so maybe a few things to work out yet. They told me that the reason the bread was hard was because it was a new supplier, so some kinks obv. I'm happy they're here as the other choices around here are two dismal pizza joints and a hot dog stand. I was here ONCE when it was a diner and I think the room is very much the same only they have done a really nice job of redecorating.
(3)harry b.
Like my last review of another spot, Marmalade was well worth the wait (30 min on a Sunday at 9:30AM for a 4 top on a day of a local charity run). Attentive, friendly service kept our drinks topped off and brought our food out very quickly. Both sweet and savory items looked and tasted amazing. I had the Cubano brioche French toast with guava marmalade and granola - out of this world! Everyone's entree, drink, tax & tip came to $16/person. Can't wait to go back again!
(5)ashoor y.
OMG! you have to try this place. I hear the guy that was at M. Henry is now the chef. They have some great, new, and fresh breakfast ideas. I had the Manny's Diablo, with jerk shrimp...yes shrimp!!! It was awesome!! The owner treated me to an order of their "made from scratch" French toast...let me tell you, I didnt want to get out of the chair!!! You gotta try it.
(5)Roberto G.
To make it simple .... Awesome !! The BYOB was a ++
(5)MK D.
The best french brioche toast - The Lady Marmalade!!!
(5)Ali H.
I'm giving Marmalade 3 stars with plans for a return in the near future and a possibility to increase their rating. It was exactly what a 3-star review indicates: A-OK. First off, when a brunch place advertises to have a former M. Henry chef, they had best be careful. That might be something I wouldn't advertise right away- talk about setting the bar high! The menu was pretty simple. The savory chef-specialty was an omelet with shrimp and avocado and this was probably the best thing I tried. The sweet specialty, the stuffed french toast, was sadly pretty boring and blah. Also, the portion was huge. We had 8 pieces! The flavors were pretty bland, and I don't know, for it being the big specialty, I was expecting something better. I think any average sweet dish at M. Henry is better than this. I kept thinking about the mango cranberry french toast I had the last time I was there and being sad about the state of affairs at Marmalade. Anyway, the staff was very pleasant. The space is cute and I like the location. Just don't expect to have your socks knocked off by the food, and if you want something creative and fresh I'd stick to one of the old standards.
(3)Jill B.
The El Picante Benedict was amazing. I mean so incredibly good. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)Nikkie H.
First off let me say that I never went to Le Sabre, so I can't compare, but I do know I like this place. It is bright, decorated nicely...no complaints there. My friend and I were seated almost immediately and our server was fairly prompt. We did see the manager walking around, and it was a tad off-putting because he clearly was micro-managing. Instead of "how is everything so far" he asked if our order was taken. It was almost like he didn't trust the wait staff. I will say the table next to us who was there before we were seated, had a mix up with their order. Maybe his checking was justified... In any case, my friend and I both ordered the Mayan Omeletta and shared the apple smoked sausage. Between the omelette (er, omeletta), the sausage, homemade toast, potatoes and coffee there was absolutely nothing I would change. It was all so good. This place will be hopping once word gets out, but I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)Marcia F.
Love this place. Today, I met some dear friends for breakfast and we were having so much fun we stayed a long time. After about 2 hours, the manager kindly asked us if we could move over one table as they had a big party coming in. We sheepishly realized we had been holding a table too long and said we'd just walk and talk. He hadn't asked us to leave, mind you, just to move one table over. But as we walked out he handed us a bag of fresh muffins for our "trouble." That's the kind of service that makes you come back. And the food's great too.
(5)Dulce P.
I went here with my friend and unfortunately we had to wait half hour but the food was good. I felt a little rushed, given it was Sunday brunch time. I will still go back and try new plates.
(3)Heather C.
From beginning to end, including atmosphere, service, and food, our experience at Marmelade was absolutely delightful! We went on a whim to meet with an old friend and were able to have great conversation and great food. Our waitress was prompt and patient. She enticed our interest in specials without being pushy. Food was served quickly and looked amazing. The menu is full of creative variations of breakfast favorites. "The Lady Marmelade" was sweet and light with perfectly ripe strawberries! The toast was served with a side of guava marmelade that made my tongue sing for joy. Our side of fruit was above and beyond with pears, plums, blueberries and more! The artichoke omelette was packed with complementing flavors. The portions were large and shareable, however, you won't want to. Adding to the pleasure of the experience was the generous hospitality of the servers. The owner was present and made us feel like valued customers even though we were there for the first time and from out of state. We will be recommending to all our local friends and wishing we hadn't moved so far away.
(5)Richie D.
Line out the door with a 20 minute wait, but we were sat within 5 minutes. The two owners are always very friendly and make sure you know the daily specials (on one of two chalkboards). The ambiance is very simple and family-friendly which fits well in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood neighborhood. There is comical artwork on the walls, like a cartoon pancakes telling the french toast "You're stuffed up" while the french toast responds, "You're a hot mess!" Marmalade serves Cafe Ambria Italian coffee concoctions too. The menu, however, possesses a New American vibe with Mexican influences, even Jamaica is offered as a drink. Every time I step in here I'm swayed towards ordering the delicious sounding specials. On my first visit I had the Polenta Muffin baked with Bacon, Egg and Cheese served on a bed of fresh greens. Second visit, I went with the Euro Brunch Plate of Butternut Squash, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Leek And Scallions Wrapped Crepe, Two Eggs, House Potatoes and Cranberry Cognac Chicken Sausage. I was more impressed the first time around with service and the flavors (can't say I cared for the crepe, but the cranberry cognac chicken sausage made up for it). As with many brunch places like Marmalade, it seems like good olde comfort breakfast items are always seduced into becoming more 'fancy'. To me, Marmalade seems to also be in a bit of an identity crisis with New American/Mexican cuisine, Greek music playing on the speakers and an Italian cafe atmosphere... I'll return a third time since the food is always tasty, plus I promised myself that I would order their cute ceramic pot of Old Fashioned Steel Cut Oatmeal served up with cranberries, sour cherries, golden raisins, fresh apples topped with melted brown sugar alongside a bowl of mixed fruit (keep in mind it's only served weekdays between 7 am and 11 am). Marmalade, I'll see you soon.
(4)Casey C.
Thank the gods for this place. A new brunch in my neighborhood (where there are already excellent brunch places) is always good. But this is easily in my top 2 brunch places in all of chicago! Everything is delicious and the wait staff is EXCELLENT. Its almost always busy on the weekends, but the staff always are personable and fast. The owner is an awesome man who always is checking in on tables, and has often given my boyfriend and I some take home goodies free of charge! I couldn't be happier with this place!! Please go!
(5)N. S.
I was pleasantly surprised. I like brunch, but I never think places are worth waiting, and after seeing crowds outside this place for several months, I was less than enthusiastic. Anyway - despite the large groups waiting outside this morning, our party of two was seated in less than half of of the 20-minutes time quoted by the hostess. Service was very friendly and helpful. Menu had a good balance of sweet and savory dishes, and I look forward to trying some more of them. I had the confusingly-named "Euro Brunch" plate, which didn't really match its name. I don't think it was the right choice for me: the potatoes were overseasoned and too dry, the chicken sausage was bland, overcooked, and seemed like an afterthought on that plate, BUT, my eggs were poached perfectly, and the crepe was really tasty. My companion's sweet dish was delicious, too, as was the coffee. In short, I wasn't blown away, and I certainly wouldn't wait more than 15 minutes or so, but I enjoyed it and will definitely be back to try some more dishes.
(4)Lauren P.
Food was pretty good. Lots of great options. The chef's special omelette was super tasty. But ... Service was slow and disappointing. My friend asked for an omission of one garnish ingredient (not a substitution) and was charged almost $2 extra. She questioned the addt'l charge and was told it was bc changes to specials makes the chef upset. OK. However, our bill was eventually adjusted. Those with any dietary restrictions or food allergies - requests for subs, etc. do not seem welcome & staff was reluctant to accommodate. Signage for 'will not do' is prevalent & read as unwelcoming. Seems like a like an easy fix they could choose to improve. I love brunch but ... As mentioned by others reviewers, brunch options are vast in Chicago. While the food was good, the service needs to improve before I'd go back to try the red velvet French toast.
(2)Jillian D.
friendly. that's a great word to describe this new addition to the neighborhood. from the host/owner's warm welcome as he escorted us to our table, to our waiter's delivery - both verbal (explaining the menu) and physical (ready refills of coffee; bringing our much anticipated dishes out just as we ordered), to the host/owner's banter as we paid. i do think they are a little heavy handed with the creme anglaise (there are other sauces to choose from). but the food is beautifully presented, warm and tasty. can't be the location either! i am glad a small business took over this corner spot instead of a chain.
(4)Lisa W.
Found a new favorite brunch spot! Went here on a Sunday morning at 10am and was seated within 5 min. The place was pretty crowded and a little noisy but that's typical for Sunday brunch spots in Chicago. I ordered the Crab Benedict and it was spectacular ! The crab was Soo good and not fishy at all. It comes with poached eggs on top and is served over a cornbread instead of an English muffin. It also came with a heaping portion of roasted potatoes. My friend had a made your own omelette and his portions were generous as well. We also split one of the specials which was a sampler of their 4 French toasts. They were red velvet, carrot, lemon poppyseed and I forget the other but they were all to die for! The toppings on each were delicious! The service was great. We always had refills on our coffee. The waitress told us all about the specials and was very attentive throughout our meal. I definitely recommend this place!
(4)Colleen A.
My husband and I finally made it to Marmalade's today. In short: we probably won't go back... As someone who has a habit of eating the same food for breakfast every day (oatmeal with fruit), I can say that I look forward to mixing it up occasionally. We went about 9:30 and were seated right away. My first impression was that it was really stuffy inside; no air conditioning although an open window probably would've sufficed. We were seated right in front of the kitchen which can add to the energy of the place but can also detract from conversation. I'm not a fan. We were given water right away (great) and our server came over immediately. She didn't tell us any of the specials and since the "specials boards" are scattered literally all over the restaurant, we didn't even notice one board until after we ordered. The service was just so-so, she was a little too oppressive. I felt like we barely turned the menu over to look at the second side and she was back asking if we wanted to order. Chill out, it's not like the place was hurting to turn over tables. I did think the tables were really, really tiny for even just 2 people. Between the table tent that lists specials, creamer bowl, sugar, etc. we barely had room for our food. This was even more evident when they brought my toast and just kind of put it down on top of my silverware until I moved things around. They needed to be reminded we should get toast with an order and they didn't originally have any cream on the table (easy to fix, but I didn't like that I felt like I had to be on top of it). Once we ordered (I got the artichoke omelet, husband got the mexican omelet) our food was ready and out in under 10 min. Not bad...Mine was overly salty and to be fair, that is the artichoke. I like the option to substitute fruit instead of potatoes (not sure if they charged for it though). Husband's potatoes were greasy and tasted kind of stale. He said his omelet was so-so and remarked that it had mushrooms (his arch enemy) and he didn't recall reading that on the menu. Bonus points for good coffee and splenda, though! Nothing to complain about specifically, but nothing to write home about either. The place could use some sort of rugs or something to help muffle the noise...but that's just me. The busboys were great about refilling coffee/water/clearing plates. The server just seemed a little overbearing. She dropped our check, ($35 including tip), and that was that. I didn't feel like we could sit and read the paper we brought, which is irritating since that's what we wanted to do. It just seemed more like eat, pay, leave. Not eat, sip coffee, read the paper, pay, leave. Which I don't understand since the place was not busy...but with the stale/warm air, we were okay with leaving. All told: I wouldn't recommend it, but it wasn't the worst I've ever had either.
(2)Maggie P.
Stopped here for brunch with the soon to be husband. I was excited to try Marmalade and was less than impressed with the food. Or at least with my dish. I had the El Picante Benedict, two homemade tortillas with chorizo, poached eggs "fresh avocado" and "Mayan" sauce, with a side of plantains and Mexican rice. The avocados were less than fresh and must have been sliced first thing in the morning because they were already browned by the time they were placed on my plate. There was no plantain in sight and I'm still trying to figure out where the Mayan sauce was on that dish. Now on to the husband's dish, he likes things simple, scrambled eggs with oven roasted potatoes and a side of pancakes. He enjoyed his dish and I will say those potatoes were tasty. The coffee was good and the service was great. And that's it in a nutshell.
(2)Shawn R.
Marmalade is by far the closest breakfast option to our place so I was excited to learn that they were going for the "step above greasy spoon" kind of breakfast; if I want grease on a plate, I already have the Lincoln, Alps, and Golden Angel for that. We finally got a chance to check it out this past Saturday (July 16) for a late brunch. Service was good to very good; very cute red head server was attentive and informative, owner dropped by a few times to check in... it was near close and not very busy when we got there so that might have played a role since it seems they go into the weeds if it's busy per other reviews. The menu is a bit short; I really prefer a roll-your-own omelet option instead of having to pick from a few heavily-customized options. So I went with the two-egg basic breakfast, wife got the rapini omelet, we split some pancakes for "dessert". My eggs were fine if under-seasoned; wife says her omelet was same, like they forgot to use any salt in the cooking. Stiil, not bad but not quite the gourmet level they're going for. The house potatoes need tweaking; way too seasoned, and way too dry. The bit of fresh fruit on the plate was nice, I like that with my breakfast. The side of toast was a single piece of marbled rye each, not very thoroughly toasted. I consider marbled rye an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, but that might just be me. The pancakes were too much; I realize that they're considered a stand-alone full breakfast, but even for that, they're very thick and not so much fluffy as cakey. Again, for a "gourmet' breakfast place I would expect some nice whipped butter, copiously available, instead of just little foil/plastic tubs of it to use. Coffee was better than average and brought out and refilled in a timely fashion. As we were getting ready to leave, the server handed us and the other few tables remaining a to-go box with a muffin and some cookies in it. They do fresh pastries/cookies on site and I guess their philosophy is "end of day, give away", which is a very nice touch. Haven't had the muffin yet, but the cookie was... odd. Edible, not terrible, but weirdly textured for a basic chocolate chip. So, in the end, I'll probably still make the longer trek and endure the lines for Over Easy, as, overall, their breakfast experience is, end to end, still heads and shoulders above anything else nearby including Marmalade. That said, Marmalade is brand new, already a step up from that dump LeSabre it replaced, and close enough and decent enough already to where I'll definitely swing by again in a few months to see if they've gotten better.
(3)Phil S.
Updated to 3 stars based on a recent visit. Getting better and its definitely family friendly, which is a bonus for us.
(3)Jerry B.
No wait at about 11:00 on a Friday. Excellent Caramel Coconut Hotcakes. House potatoes were also very good. Nice cozy, casual atmosphere. Coffee is terrific. Service a little slow, but will go back for the french toast (or maybe the Euro brunch plate). Maybe everything is good here. Street parking easy.
(4)Jill V.
Another delicious breakfast place in Chicago! Prices are bit on the high side, but I'll forgive them since it's so delicious.
(4)Zahra H.
Yea, so if you're having a wonderful day and going out with a best friend to have breakfast - this is the place to go. You know why? Because the manager, the fat one, is rude as fuck, he charges you for an entree when you told the waitress no pork and comes out with pork, and tops it all off with a "go fuck yourself" goodbye -verbatim from the manager. Oh also, the best part, he openly admitted (in front of other customers as well) that he doesn't throw away leftovers and uses them for other dishes. This was the worst experience I have ever had with any restaurant. This manager (or whoever he is) needs to give up his position in the restaurant and let someone who has customer service or *just* people skills run it for him. You don't swear at your customers and tell them to "Go fuck yourselves" when we're trying to understand why you're charging us for an entree that was brought out with the wrong ingredients. Don't tell me I didn't warn all of you. P.S This is my 2nd yelp review for here. I only went back after the first horrible experience because I still had to use my travelzoo voucher which I walked out on (without ordering and waiting over an hour) last time because of his belligerent yelling at us and other customers.
(1)scott B.
We loved LeSabre and going here today was bittersweet. All the old booths were taken out. I wonder what happened to those tables with those crossed sabres? We went for breakfast early. The place was crowded already and there was a wait list by around 9. We do like that they open at 7. This place should do the business. Maybe it will draw people from Over Easy and it will be easier to get a table there. Wishful thinking. I ordered the stuffed french toast and is was good, but it was too sweet for me. I trend more savory. I think I'll try the hotcakes next time. She had the Mayan Omeletta. Very good. I loved the House Potatoes that came on the side. She thought they were just okay. Very kid friendly. Service was friendly, fast and efficient. Prices are a tad more, but not out of line with Over Easy and Ravenswood Grill. We will be coming back here, but we will most likely go to Ravenswood Grill and Over Easy because they are closer to us. I think Ravenswood Grill does a little more for around the same price, but the food comes out much faster here. It's awesome to have so many great breakfast options within walking distance. One very minor thing: I like Sweet & Low in my coffee and they did not have any. I've run into this at times and have learned to have a few extra packets. Bring your own if you prefer pink (BYOP).
(4)michele m.
I'm a fan, because the food is excellent, and they have daily interesting specials. The only thing I wish they would do differently is except credit card splitting. These days most of us don't carry cash, please change this soon, or you will turn off alot of people.
(4)Bobby D.
Yeah, I love trying out Brunch places. Brought my gf here because we aren't the morning type. Let's just saw this place isn't my top pick. Over all horrible experience. What kind of employees use profanity around their customers. Anyways, food looked AND tasted like it was old and microwaved. My gf tried their pancakes. She said they tasted like water. My sausage and bacon was burnt. Yeah, never again. I'll go to Ihop next time.
(1)Rita L.
Tried this place for the first time today and it was FANTASTIC!!! Not your typical bacon and eggs breakfast spot. Think gourmet breakfast with neighborhood feel! This place really takes time into using fresh high quality ingredients. My boyfriend and I agreed that the potatoes were hands down some of the best we've tasted at any diner in the city. The dry rub looks as if it may be over-seasoned but this wasn't the case at all. They were a delicious compliment to my "build your own" omelet (which I added spinach, ham off the bone and fresh mozzarella). Great big portions too! THEY HAVE ORGANIC ASSAM TEA! Yay! Nice cozy contemporary feel. Throughout our meal, we overheard several tables talk about their meals with delight. Great energy and a very attentive server. Rumor has it this place fills up FAST. Luckily we came after 1p...place was still busy but we got a table almost immediately. Easy street parking (mostly metered). The 6 mile drive was worth it! We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)Miranda L.
Gus and company always take the best care of us! Amazing and creative dishes, great coffee, awesome service. Of all the brunch spots we have tried in Chicago, this is definitely our favorite (and thankfully we only live 1 block away). Their breakfast potatoes are out of this world; I think I dreamed of them for a week after my first bite. Check it out!
(5)Emily D.
LOVED Marmalade! Tried it for Sunday brunch a few weeks ago and I'm still thinking about the Mexican Combo I ordered. The sauce on the dish was incredible. I can't wait to go back. When we wee there the owner came by to ask how everything was - such a nice staff, too. I recommend a visit.
(5)Brock W.
Poor service + average/overpriced food (so many other options) = a place to avoid for Sunday brunch. It's a cute place, just hope they can get some of their service issues together because the food isn't good enough, nor priced right, to overcome the service.
(2)J H.
really yummy! let's see...french toast was amazing, and HUGE! I thought it might be overpriced but you definitely get what you pay for :) the side was too small for the price though. but, friendly waitress, short wait even though it was busy, chill atmosphere, delicious.
(5)Nicole M.
Marmalade is a good spot to take kids on a Saturday or Sunday morning -- the place opens early, the service is friendly and prompt, and the food is tasty. It's not the most incredible brunch (my favs for that would be Big Jones or Tweet), but it's in our neighborhood and the fact that I can take my toddler there at 8 a.m. and get a cup of strong coffee and good meal is golden in my book. My primary reason for liking this place is the family-friendly vibe, but the food is good as well. I'm a fan of the Mayan Omeletta (not for those with weak stomachs) and the French Toast (though it's never as crispy on the outside as I'd like, it usually comes with a hearty side of berries).
(3)Jay S.
There is no accounting for personal taste, and there is no accounting for personal experience. People like what they like, and sometimes people have bad experiences, without it necessarily being a generally applicable quality indicator or trend. Having said this, for me, Marmalade is hard to beat, and I go here quite often. It's rare for me that so many items on the menu are so irresistibly yummy, and I have never had a bad experience here, or been treated poorly. So many of the staples on the menu are so very very tasty, and yet, I often find myself going with one of the specials, because I trust them to be good and they basically always are. Throughout my many visits to Marmalade, there has been one constant however: the absolutely sublime coffee, Caffè Umbria by the Bizzarri family from Seattle. Forget Metropolis, forget Intelligensia - Caffè Umbria is what coffee is about. But then again, there is no accounting for personal taste. Which is why the five stars are mine, and I stand behind them all the way. Are they yours as well? You'll have to find out.
(5)Hanna D.
Brunch is my FAVORITE meal ever. I'll try any place once, and I tried this place twice, just for good measure, bad idea. I should have stopped at the door when the hostess told me to pick a seat (even though there was a wait) and was more occupied with her lip gloss and her reflection in her phone screen. She was still occupied with this same task when we came up to pay our bill.... The next warning sign was the waitress. Now, when I go out to brunch, I NEED my coffee asap. I can't function without it, let alone read a menu. We ordered coffee, it didn't come for at least 10 minutes, and then the sugar shaker....was full of salt!!! Took another 10 minutes to get the bus boy over & 5 more minutes to get a new coffee & a new sugar shaker. Our waitress came to the table a total of 2 times, to get our order & to bring the check. The food was a total buzz kill. The menu makes it sound delicious, but when it gets on my fork its just soggy, and poorly put together. The flavors are bland & lack the extra vaa-voom that the menu made it sound like it had. I ordered hot cakes with raspberries & peaches (which is a my favorite fruit combo). The fruit was no where close to fresh, and it was cold fruit on top of HOTcakes. So either it was from the freezer a few days ago, or from a can. I was expecting it to either be fresh or possibly had been warmed in a pot & macerated. Another MAJOR complaint is that this place is not group friendly! They have a strict "no split checks' rule, nor can you split between cash & card. As a waitress, I understand the frustration of splitting checks & the costs associated with running multiples, but maybe allow 2 cards per tab or something. I can't bring my friends or family & split a bill.
(1)Harold H.
Have been here a few times. I order the savory dishes. Was a big fan of the Marmalade burger. Most of the other stuff was decent, but over salted. Usually not an issue for me, but today's food coma had me laid out for over 5 hours. I still haven't recovered. Seriously, those house potatoes are going to be hit or miss for a lot of people.
(3)Rivka G.
I live right around the corner from M. Henry so it's hard to justify trying new brunch places when one of the best brunches in Chicago is 100 paces from my doorstep. However, I'm a brunch addict and always looking for new, delicious spots, so the hubbie and I ventured out to Marmalade to check it out on a Sunday morning. Overall, it was a good experience, but I had a few gripes that were hard to overlook. Here's the scoop: Pros: - Even though there was a hoard of people waiting outside when we arrived at 11am, the wait wasn't too long. - After being seated, a man (I'm assuming the owner) came over and gave us a run-down of the menu and what their specialties were prior to our waitress coming over which made us feel loved. - The waitress was friendly enough. - The breakfast potatoes rocked. Mmmmmmm! - The multi-grain bread was really delicious. And they sell loafs to take home! Cons: - This place seems like they are trying to mimic M. Henry. The plating is similar (down to serving fresh mango, orange slices and cooked plantains on the plate). It's the same story with the seasoning of the breakfast potatoes (although I do have to admit I think their potatoes are slightly better than M. Henry's). - I felt like I was being penalized for being a vegetarian. Many of the dishes I wanted to try had chorizo in them. I got the Mayan Omletta and the hubbie got the Breakfast burrito. After telling the waitress we were vegetarian, she said they could replace the chorizo with vegetarian sausage, so we did that. But when the bill came, we were charged an extra $1.50 for this. To be fair, the menu says that you may be charged $1.50 for any substitutions, but does veggie sausage really cost that much more than chorizo? - I wish there wwere more fillings inside my omeletta. It could have done with more beans, salsa, etc.). The egg to filling ratio wasn't quite right. - It took a while to get coffee refills. - When the bill came, it seemed a bit high. It turns out they charged us $11.50 for the extra chorizo instead of $1.50. When we brought this to the cashier's attention, she didn't apologize, just said, "oh, OK", and fixed it. Not cool. Especially since they were charging us for the chorizo in the first place. Final Verdict: While the food was good enough, the prices (especially with the tack-on of the vegetarian substitution cost) do not warrant the trip over here.
(3)Jessie L.
My best friend and I went here for breakfast today as the first stop on our girls-day-out. I will soon be moving close by, so wanted to try some places in the new neighborhood! We didn't really know what to expect, since neither of us had been here before, but were pleasantly surprised with the food and atmosphere. The fruit that came with our meals was pretty impressive- chunks of juicy mango, pear, etc. The service was a little slow, but a man (who I'm guessing was the manager) sat us and was very polite to us, and even gave us a scone and muffin on the house before we left! I'll definitely be back :)
(4)Nick L.
I love Glenn's Diner in the Lincoln Square area, but Marmalade is now another favorite brunch spot. The menu is interesting and delicious. For the most part, the service is good (depending on which server you get). The homemade jams are oustanding! You can even buy some jam to go. The italian omelet, greek skillet, and banana loaf are all out of this world.
(4)David F.
If you aim to have bland run of the mill breakfast......aim lower and you will arrive at Marmalade, if not for the nice waitress it would of been a lone star.
(2)Shannyn N.
Stopped in to Marmalade on a beautiful Sunday after finding our destination, Troquet, to be closed and being told Glenn's wait was going to be 45 minutes...and SO glad we did! My friend and I were greeted by the owner, Gus, who was SO nice and told us we could sit anywhere we prefer on the patio and he'd meet us out there with coffee, water and menus. He was delivering our coffee as a busser was resetting the table and the server (Dino) was dropping off menus, which we were delighted to read thoroughly while we sipped our delicious coffee. The menu is incredibly enticing, we actually had two cups of coffee while we decided! They have a build-your-own-omelette menu, which had a wonderful ingredients list full of interesting seasonal vegetables and artisan cheeses (I'm a big fan of cheese...) They had an unbelievable sweet menu with Red Velvet French Toast and Nutella Crepes (which we did try for dessert and OMG!!) Every dish that was delivered to a table looked so good we were like kids in a candy shop. They also had really nice specials, which I decided to give a try. I had the "Sicilian Benedict", an italian twist on the classic Eggs Bennie with asparagus wrapped in prosciutto over perfectly poached eggs and some kind of homemade flatbread (so good) all drizzled with a special type of sauce (didn't get the name of it, but I could've eaten it like soup, yummy) and the most amazing breakfast potatoes I've ever had! (I typically don't love breakfast potatoes, but these were well seasoned, and perfectly cooked!) My friend built her own omelette with apple chicken sausage, goat cheese, red & green pepper and onion. She loved it. I read some of the other reviews and do have to agree on a few points, it's a bummer that they can't split checks or make substitutions but that's not terribly abnormal for a Sunday Brunch in the city and things like this can be forgiven with a nice experience and great service, which we absolutely had. The hostess was definitely not the worlds friendliest, which is too bad because every single person we encountered was lovely, maybe she just needs a lesson in friendly customer service because a first impression of space usually begins at the hostess stand...so it's not surprising to see negative reviews. If the experience begins on the wrong foot, it's hard to overlook any other misgivings. We took some fresh baked goods from the bakery case to-go for later and we were not disappointed! We shared a chocolate chip muffin and some other goodies with friends of ours we met up with later and they were so happy that they said they were going to have brunch there next weekend, I think I'll have to join them. I need to try more of that amazing menu!
(5)Jez E.
Thank you, Marmalade, for kindly, carefully and deliciously accommodating our gluten-free needs. We had just left Fountainhead, who could not do the same, and we were upset and hungry. Not only did we not get sick after eating your food, but we had a very tasty meal and excellent service. Great food - creative and fresh ingredients, cooked very well. We will be back many times! Cheers!
(4)James M.
Don't walk... Run to this place! It's LeSabre (the next generation). I lived in this area for years, and loved LeSabre (the restaurant that used to occupy the space). I remember being very upset when it closed, only to find out that it was being revamped. The owners nephew has now taken over and it's better than ever! Had the breakfast burrito, it was out of this world! The wait staff was very pleasant. It's great for in and out eating, and great to hang, visit, and eat as well. It's a must!!!
(5)Beth M.
I love breakfast, my husband prefers to eat it at home so getting him to go out for it isn't any easy feat, but we had a day off and decided to try this spot without having to wait in line over the weekend. Thank God we didn't wait in line as I would've been even more disappointed. 1) the manager or Godfather of the place is so strange, he trolls around when he's not lurking at everyone from his perch at the register. Heard him yelling at the folks working back in the kitchen. Not pleasant. 2) Saw a delivery of Boca Burgers yet the menu said the veggie burger was homemade. 3) They charge you $1.50 for substitutions. Had planned on getting the Euro Brunch plate, but it came with sausage which I don't like, but I wasn't willing to pay $1.50 for the right to sub it out. 4) They also do not split checks nor do they accept multiple credit cards. 5) Atmosphere is like a semi-rehabbed greasy spoon (never went to the old spot, but seems like they just painted it and did a few other cosmetic things. Music was too loud (it wasn't crowded) and sounded like the CD was skipping, very repetitive. 5) And now to the food...I had ordered a mushroom skillet special which wasn't so special. Could barely eat the eggs over the mountain of potato hunks. Also, it said it had mozzarella in it...which it did, but they were literally globs of mozzarella smushed in amongst the potatoes. My husband ordered another omelette that looked better than my globs, but which he said was just "fair." The menu said egg dishes came with it, mine didn't....I didn't ask about it either figuring I'd have a piece of my husband's. Um, no. He only got one piece. Who serves just one piece of toast? Weird and cheap. Anyway, I would not go back to Marmalade. I just hope that all the people who love it stay away from Over Easy so we can go there instead. So much better!!
(2)Nick Q.
I don't know how anybody can give this place a bad review because my fiance and I have been here half a dozen times since moving into the area and we absolutely love it. It's such a great place that we make a point of taking anybody visiting us to get breakfast here. First let's start with the atmosphere. The place is such a cute little breakfast place and really sets the tone for a nice Saturday or Sunday morning breakfast. Yes, it may be crazy busy, but that's fine. The atmosphere is still very enjoyable. Then there's the food. OMG, the food. Everything I have tried here has been great. Some is better than others, but that's to be expected. Everybody has their differing tastes. The Bonaparte is fantastic, as is the breakfast burrito. The peached and raspberry pancakes are to die for. I've tried a few other dishes that are also good, but these three are my favorites to date. The owner is awesome. If you take the time to chat with him a bit (he's too busy for much more than small conversation) you'll find him to be a very nice guy. I've heard people say he's hard on his workers...but hey, look how busy they are and tell me how you can keep up with that without being a little tough. He remembers us every time we come in and makes a point of stopping by to chat and see how we're doing. When he heard my fiance told him she was looking for a new job in the food industry he even offered to keep an ear out for her and let her know if he heard about anything she might be interested in. The only negative thing I could think of for this place is the wait. However, it's not their fault other than that they're so good that tons of people want to eat there. It's not like they can kick people out the door to make room for others. This would lead to a much more negative atmosphere. Honestly, in my opinion, any wait (and I've waited awhile before on the weekend) is worth it to eat here.
(5)N D.
A little about me: 1) I LOVE LOVE LOVE brunch 2) In spite of that or probably because of that, I am super picky and selective about what I would call a great brunch restaurant. 3) To illustrate how picky I am - I have lived in six cities (and visited many others). Out of all those cities, I've only found four brunch restaurants to get excited about. Two are in San Francisco and two are in Los Angeles. Only one of those four truly has my heart (26 Beach in Venice Beach). Oh and I've tried about 15 highly rated restaurants in the city I currently live in and haven't found a single one that I care about. Poor me. 4) When my husband and I visited Chicago last weekend, I finally found a place that just might be tied with my all time favorite brunch restaurant ever - MARMALADE! The reason that I only say "might" is that I don't live in Chicago and only had a chance to try two of their dishes (my husband's and my own). The dish I ordered was perfection. A little about Marmalade: 1) The atmosphere was warm and inviting (and we were lucky because we got a seat just minutes before a line up started). 2) The waitress and the owners were absolutely lovely. They cheerfully greeted us, made us feel welcome and the service was great. 3) I ordered the El Picante Benedict which was kind of like a hybrid between eggs benedict and huevos rancheros. It was exquisite. The tortillas, fresh avocado and spicy chorizo were scrumptious. I was hesitant about the Mayan sauce because I hadn't heard of it so I asked for it on the side. I didn't need to though because it was delicious and the perfect companion for my meal. They really paid attention to detail with this one, carefully selecting ingredients and sides to make everything come together perfectly. It even came with a side of sweet, fried plantains! What?!? I freaking love plantains and never get them for breakfast. Yay! 4) My husband's dish came with slices of fresh, juicy, delicious mango! Not your typical, boring cup of cubed melons that most restaurants offer as a fruit side. 5) My husband ordered the Mayan Omeletta and loved his meal too. At one point during the meal, my husband looked up at me and said "I've never seen you eat like this before. You haven't breathed." I went to town on my breakfast and then made a move on his. I love you Marmalade!
(5)Emily B.
I'm going to go middle of the road on this first review because I didn't have my usual critical, observational boots on. Having New Years' Day breakfast with my friend, her husband, and baby, the energy was focused on keeping baby happy and talking about said baby. They were super accommodating for the baby with a full house that morning. Can't remember what I had, but do remember it had a nice kick, they had a ridiculous amount of menu options as well as specials (which were tricky to see based one where we were seated), and our server was super friendly and attentive.
(3)KM I.
Oh how I love breakfast food! I could eat cereal and pancakes for every meal of every day. Marmalade didn't quite strike me as the "comfort food" breakfast food kind of place. Items on the menu have a Mexican twist and are either sweet or savory. I opted for the crepes and thought they were okay. The service was very nice and accommodating, but I wasn't blown away enough by the food options unfortunately.
(3)Holly M.
2.5 stars...if I could. Marmalade is ok. I greatly enjoyed their super salty tempeh strips on the side, but the omelette I ordered wasn't that fantastic. It had a sickening amount of cheese in it and just wasn't flavorful. My V8 juice was a bit warm, too. It's your typical quick diner food and there are warnings everywhere saying they won't accept two credit cards or split checks. However our waitress was nice and the manager even came outside to see if my friend and I were doing ok. Marmalade is still pretty new so I'll probably return again, perhaps for lunch.
(2)Brittany V.
I went to Marmalade this morning for breakfast and had a pretty decent experience. They were serving both lunch and breakfast by the time we got there, and there was a good selection to choose from. We barely waited for a table, and was greeted immediately by someone who explained the specials to us. I opted to get the vegan chilequiles, which were awesome. Not too spicy, with just the right amount of food. And the tofu scramble that came on top was awesome. My breakfast companions got the special Salmon Benedict and the Mayan Omlettee, and they both enjoyed those. I think the only thing that was lacking in my experience is that I would have liked a little more personality from our waitress. She was fine and prompt, but she seemed bored by being there. Prices are also a bit high for breakfast, but I can tell they do use really fresh ingredients, so I will let it slide. I also wish there was a little music going on! I don't know if I just couldn't hear it, but I am a fan of a little tune-age happening while I'm eating. I will probably be back to Marmalade in the future, if only to try the more sweet dishes that seem to be more popular.
(3)Melissa H.
Went here on a Travelzoo deal. 2 people eat for $15 and it includes 2 drinks. Quite possibly the best latte I've ever had. Service, food and menu was unique and different from normal breakfast places that serve the same thing. A hidden find in Chicago. Street/metered parking wasn't difficult to find a spot on a Saturday morning.
(4)James D.
We have been to this breakfast/lunch place a few times now and breakfast is fantastic. Have yet to order from the lunch menu because I'm partial to French toast and pancakes. The last visit I had pumpkin French toast. Omg. Amazing. The service has been reasonable, not stellar which is why it falls short of 5 stars for me.
(4)rodd g.
I have never written one of these but this place is amazing. Best most creative breakfast menu ever. I will be back often.
(5)J B.
Packed on weekends! Only open til 2:30PM!!
(4)Victoria W.
I guess the new owners at Marmalade are listening to your feedback, because when I went for breakfast with 3 others at 10 on a Saturday morning, everything went smoothly. The server (the girl from Ireland) was on the ball, the manager guy was facilitating and apologizing for any waits (the place was full) and the food was tasty. We didn't try any of the sweet stuff, so I can only recommend the omelets. The only disappointing thing was that no one asked if we wanted refills on beverages (which are on the pricey side). Roseann pretty much covered all the bases...
(4)Jeff C.
In short: Great, great spot for breakfast. We haven't tried them for lunch yet. Diverse menu, fresh fruit and salads, nice people. This place has excellent, well rounded dishes. Even when ordering something as simple as 2 eggs it comes with sliced mangos, sliced orange and cherry tomatoes next to their house potatoes and multigrain toast. Their omelettes are really tasty too, and while we haven't had their french toast or pancakes yet they look amazing. They always have a few fresh pastry trays full of muffins, scones and cookies too. Good, good stuff. Marmalade is pretty new at this point and so are some of the waitstaff, but don't let that steer you away. The waitstaff, busboys, managers and even cooks are all really nice and after 3 meals there since they opened we've never had even the tiniest of problems. They've been pretty full on weekends but we've never waited more than 20 minutes for a table. I'd rather wait a few minutes because they're busy (and busy because they're good) than see them empty. Overall, it's really nice to have found a breakfast spot with such a diverse menu and great food that doesn't leave you feeling as though you just ate a brick. They've obviously put a lot of time and effort into making their dishes very balanced. Some of the not-so-great reviews here are way, way too hard on Marmalade. If you're a total princess and can't be even a little understanding when you're not treated as though you're the -only- person in the entire restaurant, stay home. For the rest of us, Marmalade is excellent. Oh, and the "sliced hard unripe peaches" one reviewer complained about are MANGOS. It's not the restaurant's fault that you don't know what a mango is.
(5)Jaime P.
It was fairly crowded for brunch on new years day, and I didn't experience the service problems some other reviewers did. The waitress wasn't particularly nice or helpful, but she wasn't mean or inattentive. Average. I would have given this place a three if not for a couple of things. 1 - spice rubbed potatoes do not go with everything, people. Especially when there is pretty clearly cumin on them which is a very distinctive spice. It surely doesn't go very well with sun-dried tomato hollandaise. These potatoes are on almost every dish no matter how they may clash with the other ingredients. Just weird. I had the shroom benedict (one of I think 5 bennies on the menu), and unlike another reviewer, I thought the fried shroom was the best thing about the dish. Also the spinach was well done. However, the tomatoes on the dish were tasteless and mushy. The hollandaise was probably good, I don't know, it was barely there (is this a bennie or what??) and worst of all, really huge misstep, the eggs were overpoached. The yolks were cooked through. The two most appealing things about the benedict are the hollandaise and the runny egg yolks, and they were both not great. You are a breakfast/brunch place. Overpoaching is not ok. Overpoaching is never ok. But especially for a breakfast place. If the eggs are clearly overpoached, don't put them on my plate. Every experienced brunch chef can spot an overpoach from a mile away. If you have to bring out the other people's orders to my table and I have to wait 3 minutes for proper eggs, I will gladly wait. Still, despite that, the atmosphere was cute, and the ideas of the dishes are good. It was crowded, so mistakes will happen. Which is why I will give it one more chance, and hope for a better result next time. If the same thing happens, I wouldn't return. Not for $15 tab for mediocre brunch.
(2)Marinel C.
The place is super cute. Menu looks amazing, food looks nice when it came out, but the taste...meh. I had the chocolate french toast. It's is not brioche as the menu stated, but chocolate cake with a vanilla frosting in between layers. My teeth hurt just thinking about it - way too sugary. My husband had the apple french toast. It had more apples than french toast. It literally looked like two whole apples cut up on his plate. And now for the coffee. Yuck. And they don't serve cream, it's non dairy creamer. The orange juice tasted like watered down Minute-Maid. The only thing I appreciated was that the fruit plate had strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, mangos, pineapple and melons. Lots of fresh fruit. And $45 dollars for two adults and a toddler? No thanks.
(2)Adam R.
Great menu but food wasn't that hot and service was mediocre. Definitely be back though.
(4)Michael V.
Its decent. I expected more. I had the vegan chilaquiles and it was drenched in the tomato sauce. The lady had the classico omelette and that was aight. Mom dukes got the lady marmalade and it was pretty good. Pops got the Mayan omelette and it was a little salty. Breakfast for 4 ran $60 and it definitely didn't reflect the experience. The staff and service was great. All in all the French toast was the highlight , good coffee and solid staff. I'm giving 3 stars because the service was sincere and they even gave my daughter a cookie out of the cookie jar. And whenever the baby is happy I'm happy. Dumb it down a little guys, your menu is high-tech. Incorporate some tried and true Chicago breakfast staples. We're not the fattest city for no reason. Give me bacon not tempeh bacon. Get the food to match the price or vice versa and we've got a winner.
(3)Michael A.
Mayan omelette and the cajun shrimp chef's special were both really good. Menu looks like it has dozens of interesting combinations I'm anxious to try, especially there versions of eggs benedict.... The brioche French Toast was just okay. Service staff are friendly but you'll have a long wait time if you go on a Saturday or Sunday, if you have more than 2 people...
(4)Dana G.
I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews. The special artichoke heart omelet with roasted tomatoes and goat cheese was amazing---and I don't even love omelets. The crab cake benedict was less exciting but still good, and I thought the service was impeccable. If anything, our coffee was filled too frequently.
(4)Renee S.
This place is great. Not sure what other reviews are talking about. Food is awesome, service is awesome and they are super nice! Fresh food including the fruity fluffy pancakes, fresh salads and soups! We brought our friends from Minneapolis here and they all loved it! We have been there 3 times already and always great service!
(4)Katie M.
This is hands down my favorite brunch and lunch place!! I have been here over two dozen times and will continue to go.. Marmalade never disappoints and everything I have ever ordered is always amazing!! The owner, Gus, is always so nice and wants to make sure everyone in his place is happy! The service is great! I will forever recommend this place!
(5)Emily S.
Marmalade is a decent lunch spot. I wasn't overly impressed with the ambiance and menu.
(3)Beth N.
Everyone at Marmalade was very friendly. They were extremely accommodating of our group's two strollers. We got there at 2:30 on a Sunday, and it was pretty empty (we didn't realize until later that they closed at 3!) Consequently, they were out of a few of the brunch items. Overall, everyone seemed to like their food. It wasn't anything amazing, and in our opinion just a little overpriced. I'd go back because they are kid friendly and welcoming.
(3)Sarah M.
They have newly decorated the place well, and it has a bright, clean look, with lots of windows and natural sunlight. Gus, the owner, came over and introduced himself, which I always feel means a lot, and he couldn't have been warmer or nicer. He seems like he really cares about his new restaurant and his customers. The breakfast and lunch menus have a great selection of all kinds of interesting dishes, both savory and sweet. I had French Toast with strawberries and creme anglais. They make their own brioche for the French Toast. It was very, very good and it was a generous portion. It was not TOO sweet, which is important to me. They also have another one, a Stuffed French Toast. It looks amazing on the menu, but would have been too sweet for me. The male waiter I had was very welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They were busy this morning, and they only opened on Tuesday! The only negative was that I felt the menu was a bit overpriced. The chef used to be at M.Henry, but this place is not quite as good as M.Henry, which I feel is one of THE best there is. Prices at Marmalade should be a bit lower... Happy they are in the neighborhood....they are a great addition to this area. I wish Gus and his team success in their new venture. Welcome to the 'hood!
(4)Mary S.
I was not overly impressed, nor overly put-off by Marmalade. A few negative things that I initially noticed: there are absolutely no bike racks outside. Every pole down the street had two bikes locked to them. They play crappy 80's music. You cannot split checks. There is nothing on the menu or the specials board that indicates you can substitute a soy product for the meat options on the menu. As a vegetarian it would really open the menu up to have that option. They were out of the Tempeh strips, which is always annoying when you go to a restaurant and see something you want to try on the menu. Those are not all deal breakers, though, just annoyances. The food was actually pretty good, though the Shroom Benedict seemed way messier than a benedict should have been. The potatoes and coffee were both above average. The guy who sat us was up in our business way too much, though. I really wished that he would have let us enjoy our meal instead of interrupting every ten minutes to ask us how it was. Just a tad overpriced, but nothing outrageous. A nice space, but it seemed lacking somehow. I think that since there is nothing to see out of the windows it would be nice to have a more visually stimulating environment inside. I will definitely go back, but it will not be a 'go-to' brunch spot.
(3)Nichole K.
Yummy! The food was good. Our service was excellent. We had a crab cake benedict that was really good. Plus how can you not love fresh squeezed OJ.
(5)Stephanie C.
I have dined at Marmalade several times and always loved the food and the atmosphere. However, after this morning's appalling customer service experience, I will never return, and I would encourage anyone to think twice before spending your money there. I was having brunch with 3 other friends and granted, a few of us have some dietary restrictions, so we had some special but absolutely reasonable requests with our orders. One friend ordered an eggs benedict dish with the eggs over-hard. When the dish came out with eggs over-easy, she politely asked them to re-make the dish as she originally requested and asked if it would be possible to please put the benedict sauce on the side since they were going to re-make it anyway. Rather than admitting the mistake and re-making the dish, the manager said not only would they not re-make it, but she wasn't allowed to order anything else..... Excuse me? They were actually refusing her as a customer. The rest of us sat there in shock. Were they serious?!?! She wasn't allowed to order ANYTHING? And when we politely asked for the manager to come to our table to speak with him, he told our server that he was "too busy" to deal with us and we should come back tomorrow if we wanted to talk to him. It was the rudest and most unbelievable customer service I have ever experienced. Isn't it your JOB as the manager to at least come over and talk to your patrons? What else could you be doing that was more important? So after my friend got up from the table and tracked down the manager, he finally agreed to let her order something else instead. Looking back, I wish that all 4 of us would have simply walked out. Needless to say, none of us will never eat there again.
(1)Cristal R.
I went here with my boyfriend for the first time over the weekend and it was absolute perfection! I got the El Diablo Benedict and it was amazing. I would've given it 5 stars but I was a little disappointed with the waitresses. They weren't dressed very nice and they could use a little work as far as etiquette goes. One of the girls had really low rise jeans so her lower back was exposed and she had facial piercings that were distracting and unprofessional. I think appearance is extremely important when trying to run a nice establishment. But this will definitely not keep me from returning for another beautifully prepared breakfast.
(4)Jose F.
I will spare you the nice talk about "the presentation and ambience" because I trust you'll read other reviews besides mine. Being that we enjoyed the food before, today we returned for more of that savory faire. However, we were met with a tolerable wait of approximately 15 minutes and subsequent race to order/eat/pay so others may have a meal too. The stoppage of time came as our food was brought and we had expectations met. Two observations though: (1) the cowboy skillet that is usually delicious had potatoes that were over-spiced and more importantly, the steak strips were cut well but way too rare. (2) the very busy waitstaff were cordial and deserving of generous tip/s BUT, I witnessed something very uncomfortable as the restaurant manager publicly humiliated one of the staff as she accidentally bumped into him while bringing food to a table. Again, I am a fan of the restaurant but bottom-line to the ownership, take reservations or hire more help if you're "overwhelmed" by the good business.
(4)jess e.
(I think sometimes I'm too nice in my stars, my fella just said "3 that's generous! the food was ok, the service inadequate and I felt like I was rushed out, they just wanted the money out of my pocket.) Eh. It's no Le Sabre. Le Sabre knew what it was. The waitress knew what it was. Everyone knew what it was. Marmalade...I don't even think they know what marmalade is. (I'm trying very hard not to quote The Princess Bride right now) My french toast said it was stuffed with strawberry marmalade. Which of course drew comments from my (very British) fella who scoffed that it couldn't be because marmalade is made with citrus peel. But after consulting the internet it's been said that in other countries marmalade can be a jam. Fine. Just bring me a lovely plate of french toast with gooey jam-y chunks of strawberries. I wish I could say that's what I got. But I didn't. There wasn't even a seed of a strawberry to be seen on that plate. In between the french toast was what we will be generous and call a thin strawberry sauce, the raspberry coulis on top overpowered everything. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't get it again. Sometimes with sweet sauces less is more, and when you are told it's a marmalade you expect something at least with a passing acquaintance to marmalade. My fella got potatoes and poached eggs. He had to ask them to drain the water out of the poached egg bowl, and when it came back he still took my saucer away to pour the rest of the water out of the dish. The roasted potatoes taste as if they've been roasted in Wyler's beef bullion cubes, or had beef bullion powder sprinkled over the top. The apple wood smoked bacon we ordered was greasy, hanging off the plate almost resting on the table and a yellowish shade. I'm sure there was a bit of apple wood smoke to it, but not enough. Service was well....we got there and the girl ringing people up was also the hostess. So that can be a problem when they are busy. We were told we could have a table when it was cleared, but instead of seating us at it I was told to go over because it's cleared and she'd be over in a bit. She never came over and when the waitress came for the drink order, we didn't have menus. The owner (?) showed up and started playing host for a little bit later on. We were seated and ordered well before the couple sitting behind us and they still got served first. Everyone kept trying to take our plates away and made us feel a little rushed even though we left the restaurant in under an hour. You have to bring your own check up which adds confusion to the front since it's right by where people are waiting and the front door. That was no problem when it was Le Sabre cause there was no line and everyone knew what was expected. It's half way between a diner and some place trying to be better then that. The food sounds fancy and overwrought, the prices are higher, but the service isn't better. At least at a diner the waitress are fun and if not truly care, at least can pretend to care, if their customers are enjoying themselves. And if you are lucky enough to live close to that diner they won't care if you show up hungover in your pjs. There is only one building between us and the restaurant and I'm sure I'll try it again, but I have a feeling more often then not I'll take a walk up Damen and go someplace else.
(3)Grace M.
I tried this place this weekend with my family and I was kind of disappointed. The service was rocky. I ordered off the menu for my kids and they were out of the sides. I asked them for something else and of course they charged me for that. The other items that we ordered were so so and had too much going on. I was really looking forward to eating here and will not return.
(1)Jordan F.
I went here for the first time this past Sunday with my boyfriend. After passing by a few times and always seeing a crowd, we decided to go around 8 a.m.-perfect timing! We were seated immediately, the staff were all very friendly and the atmosphere was very welcoming and not overly cramped. I had the Lady Marmalade, he had The Bonaparte & a side of French Toast. Everything was simply amazing. The Lady Marmalade was sweet but zesty-I'm not one for overly sweet things, The Bonaparte was delicious too, the croissant wasn't overly flaky. We left feeling satisfied but not overly stuffed and sloth-like, and with plenty of left overs. Marmalade adds a unique twist to traditional breakfast favorites, I will for sure be back for more!
(5)Angie L.
Went there on Easter and it was dead. Both my husband and I ordered something with chorizo. It was almost inedible. They did not drain the chorizo so there were puddles of grease on our plates. I asked for extra napkins just so we could try and remove it. Service wasn't great. We sat by the door which they had open. I had put on my coat because I was cold and another table asked to be moved because they were cold yet the door stayed open. You have to pay at the register which our server never told us so we ended up sitting there waiting an extra 10 minutes until we saw someone else get up and go to the register. We went here after I read that it was one of the top 15 restaurants in Chicago for brunch. That just can't be possible.
(2)Patricia C.
The food was fantastic (had the shroom Benedict and the cinnamon roll), unfortunately after the waitress left the check my friend was finishing her coffee and we were there only a short time and were discussing leaving when our waitress walked up and said, " you need to leave bc we have a line and we close in an hour"...wow, now we are respectful of those waiting but we didn't think it was asking to much to be able to finish our drinks. Understand the need to move tables and they accomplished their mission to do it and more as we won't be coming back.
(2)Mary S.
I was looking for something new that I could enjoy as much as my vegetarian friend. I was at this restaurant a few months ago and was not planning on returning. I did remember that it was very vegetarian friendly so decided to give it a second try. I'm so glad I did. She had an avocado and pesto omelet which she insisted that I try because it was so delicious. (It was). It came with a side of homemade strawberry jam . I enjoyed a grilled brie with bacon. I requested that it be on a croissant and they were happy to accommodate my request. The service was excellent. The prices were very fair and I can't wait to come back again.
(4)Genious C.
Great service and delicious food....best french toast I've ever had. It's worth the drive from the west loop. Will return.
(4)Lauren P.
what a pleasant surprise! my roommate and i stopped in sunday morning for an impromptu brunch. we weren't expecting much. maybe it's the ghost of le sabre. maybe it's the cheesy burgundy and orange color scheme of the sign. (yes that's dumb. but true.) we were seated relatively quickly even though there seemed to be a lot of people milling around out front. yeah! then we waited for about 10 minutes for the waitress to show up and give us menus. boo. (in the end, they lost a star for the service. the waitress seamed a little spacey and talked so quietly we kept having to ask her to repeat things. she also seemed a little overwhelmed by the size of her section. also big negative. you have to pay at the counter and we asked if we could split our check and they host was such a butt about it. 'notice our little mascot here' he said pointing to the front of the register, 'he says, no split checks.' like he was talking to a child. even the freaking golden nugget can split checks. it's not hard. get with it.) anyway....! once we got the menus we were really excited about their options. lots of interesting dishes! i had a hard time choosing between the pear french toast and smoked salmon napolean. i ended up going savory and it was delish! smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados and poached eggs between fluffy crispy puff pastry. and this is weird but i was obsessed with the dressing that came on the side salad. who cares that much about dressing? i do i guess. i gobbled the whole salad when usually it would've been ignored for the more glamorous main dish. my roommate's was great too! a fancy mcgriddle...scrambled eggs, some fancy cheese, zucchini and bacon between french toast. minimum. i'll definitely check it out again! so glad to have a new brunch place in the hood!
(4)April M.
i love this place! really great food and really awesome service every time. went in with my friends for some brunch and really loved my dish. every one was very friendly there. will definitely be back.
(5)Kara K.
Holy crap, amazing. My friends and I were looking for a good brunch place within walking distance of my friend's apartment and we found it with Marmalade. We arrived and put our name in. We probably waited about 15-20 minutes for a table, but I'm sure those who arrived after us waited quite a bit longer. (If you're a party of two, it seemed like you would have a MUCH shorter wait.) The menu is extensive - plenty of hearty choices as well as sweet ones. I had such a difficult time deciding between the almond french toast (daily special) or the mayan omeletta. In the end I went with the mayan omeletta as I knew it was something I'd probably not find at any brunch places in Columbus. My omelette was great, so flavorful and a very large portion. I was able to omit the green peppers. The no substitutions/omissions rule was only with respect to the skillets. The only part of my plate I wasn't wild about were the potatoes, but my omelette more than made up for it. The service was great. I believe my water glass was refilled four times --- it never got below 3/4 full! They don't let you split checks, but it wasn't a problem for us as I'd already planned on picking up the tab anyway.
(5)Jodi R.
Yum yum. One of the many things that makes Marmalade a winner is that they have menu options for meat eaters and non meat eaters. They also offer an inexpensive kids menu where not everything is deep fried. Example- yogurt topped w fruit & granola. The line moves fast. Our Sunday am wait was under 5 min. Staff couldn't be friendlier & more attentive. They remembered my child when we went back two weeks later. Crab Eggs Benedict was the best I have ever had. Very substantial portion. Veggie chilaquiles are something I would order again. I look forward to returning and ordering everything on the menu that doesn't contain meat. Art work, with food puns, is painted by one of the waiters. Space is clean & bright. Funny that several yelpers compare this to m Henry which in my experience is average food ( at best) service with an attitude, long lines & high prices.
(5)gretchen b.
Found Marmalade in the Chicago Magazine's breakfast special. We arrived 9:45 Sunday morning and had a 10 min wait. I'm usually a sweet breakfast girl, but branched out for the savory omelet special. It was amazing!!! The menu is full of creative brunch options, as well as standard breakfast choices. They had a nice kids menu as well. It was a bit more $$$ than our typical breakfast ... ok, a lot more. We had 2 kids pancakes, kids bacon, 2 omelet specials, 2 coffees & choc milk. With tip we topped $45. I would def return, but more likely for brunch w/my friends than my fam of four. One other thing, the owner was on the floor and was super friendly and personable. Gus was a delight!
(4)Elizabeth H.
I had been wanting to go to Marmalade for a while; it looked so cute sitting there on Damen and Montrose. So finally I took my boyfriend there for an early Friday-morning breakfast. There were maybe 2 other people in the place (ok, they had just opened 20 minutes earlier). The staff was very friendly and attentive. I'm assuming the owner/manager sat us at our table? He seemed nice enough (based on other reviews that I have read, maybe he waits to be an a-hole til he has an audience...eek!) I ordered the Bonaparte; nothing fancy but delish croissant. Potatoes were tasty but entirely too big. My bf ordered the Pancho Villa skillet. I had a bite, it had a good flavor but again, the potatoes were really weighing that thing down; I don't know about you but when I think skillet, I think everything is nice and crispy and meshed together well?! The potatoes just took up too much darn space. Overall, glad I branched out a bit and tried something new. I'd be back, maybe after I try a few more new-to-me places.
(3)M G.
This place was fine, not great, not horrible but just ok. It was overpriced for what you got. They don't split checks which makes it a pain when you go with friends. The oven roasted house potatoes were over done. Disappointed they didn't have any real sausage on the menu. I was confused as to what kind of person they are trying to cater to. They have tempeh strips and both veggie sausage and chicken sausage. It would be nice if they were to have some classic breakfast stand by's such as pancakes or regular french toast. With other restaurants having better food and prices, I don't plan on going back anytime soon.
(2)Matt V.
I consider myself a breakfast snob. And, if I'm going out for breakfast/brunch, I want it to fall into one of two categories: Over-the-Top Inventive and Delicious or Greasy Spoon, Diner Style. Marmalade manages to take the negatives of each of these experiences and combine them into one unpleasant one. They try to be creative and inventive, but leave you remembering how much better OverEasy does it, just down the street. They tried to dress up the old Le Sabre, but the decor strikes out as well, not quite right. Mostly it feels like a dingy diner with new paint and slightly better food for twice the price. The service leaves something to be desired and in the winter it is freezing cold in there. My eggs and utensils were both noticeably chilled; not a great feeling. There are about 5-6 other places to go in the neighborhood, including Fountainhead brunch (right across the street) and all of them will leave you feeling better in the end.
(2)Tiffany S.
I love this place, especially with the new addition of the patio!! ( you know how us Chicagoans love to take advantage of the great weather while it's here.) We live in the neighborhood and were so excited to see a brunch place go in. The food has never disappointed us. The staff is always friendly, and the owner is totally a learn your name, friendly, down home kinda guy. If you ever go on the weekend or on a day that the special is the cinnamon roll French toast, TRY IT! Seriously I think it's the best brunch item I have ever had! Deelish!! I also love that they are so sweet to my daughter. Sometime you can walk into a place, they see your kid and their eyes start rolling. This is NOT that kinda place! They are totally kid friendly! In short: great staff and management, great food, kid friendly and in a beautiful neighborhood. What's not to love? Check it out!
(5)Lourdes D.
We had a great first-time visit. The restaurant was fairly crowded, but we were told it would be a short wait and it was. One of the owners, Gus, checked on us several times to make sure everything was okay with our meal. We brought our two children with us and I was pleased with their kids' menu. I thanked Gus for having a nice selection for the kids and he said, "Of course, half of our customers are kids during the weekend!" I had the marmalade crepes and my husband had an egg dish (sorry, forgot what it was called). We all enjoyed our food and the service was great. As I was saying goodbye to Gus, he told us to wait and then he packed up some muffins and cookies for us to take home!!! What a nice guy. We live in the neighborhood so we will be back. Thanks, Gus!! If you can't stand the wait at Overeasy, then this is a great alternative. Give it a try!
(4)Susie P.
Had a fantastic breakfast this morning with a co-worker! Gus could not have treated us better and we LOVED the food! Try the homemade scones, they are out of this world! Kudos to the great food, excellent service, and fabulous Chef... can't wait to go back!
(5)Ben E.
After a few friends had urged me to try this place I finally gave it a try this weekend. As my girlfriend and I entered the restaurant it was clear that the tables near the door were not an option. It was so cold that no one wanted to sit near the door. We were told by the hostess that the wait would be 20 minutes for a "warm" table as she called it. As we stood there and surveyed the restaurant and reviewed the menu we noticed that there were two open 4 top tables in plain sight. When a party of three walked in 10 minutes after us, they were immediately sat at one of the open 4 top tables. Seriously? I can understand restaurants not taking up large tables (5 or more) for a party of two but c'mon. When we asked about the remaining 4 top table the hostess said that they do not sit 2 people at a table for four on the weekend. I guess they would rather have a table ready just in case 3 people walk in rather than sit two people immediately with money in hand. The worst part was this place was only open for another hour. Needless to say we didn't even sit down and try it. Not a good policy to have customers ready to eat and sit there and stare at empty tables being held just in case..... There are too many great brunch spots that know how to treat their patrons. Skip it!
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