4. Restaurants

Sweet Maple Cafe

1339 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL, 60607
  • (312) 243-8908
  • Store is closed

Sweet Maple Cafe Menu

  • Soup Of The Day
  • Salads
  • Cafe Combos
  • Cafe Sandwiches
  • The Sweetest Ending

Healthy Meal suggestions for Sweet Maple Cafe

  • Soup Of The Day
  • Salads
  • Cafe Combos
  • Cafe Sandwiches
  • The Sweetest Ending

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Monique B.

    Small and quaint. I liked the homey feel of the place, but I'm glad we didn't have to wait too long for a seat. I am a huge breakfast potato lover, so the fact that you can get your breakfast potatoes with a variety of toppings and add ins made me a very happy girl. I had an omelette and it was really more like eggs wrapped around the filling options I chose, instead of cooked into the eggs. But they did give you a lot of both. The breakfast potatoes were great, and worth mentioning again. The coffee was also good. Service was good as well. The only thing I didn't like and didn't finish was the biscuit. I'm not a big fan of biscuits to begin with, but everyone in the restaurant had one, so I figured they were good and I should try them. They were just dry and doughy, stick to the toast. A good solid showing, so I'll come back sometime.

    (3)

  • Saimithra M.

    Let me start off by saying that this is nothing like the major chain breakfast places such as iHop and Denny's. The menu and the place itself are both quite small. The environment, although busy, is very cozy. The food is great, and it's definitely worth the price because of the large proportions. Their pancakes are huge and fill you up quickly! I recommend trying the chocolate chip pancakes if you have a sweet tooth. I am not such a big fan of their maple syrup, but the pancakes alone are great. The biscuits are also quite delicious! The only downside to this place is the wait time. It's always crowded, and there will be a wait time no matter when you go in. The food is worth the wait though! If you're a local, you must try Sweet Maple Cafe at least once. It's a great local place.

    (4)

  • Roli C.

    A local favorite! It's a shame to read the negativity below! The food is superb and the service is above par. Carolina and Sarah, thanks for your smile and instant connection on my visit! Major thumbs up!

    (5)

  • Andrew R.

    Sweet Maple Cafe is a great southern fusion breakfast in the heart of the UIC/Tri-Taylor neighborhood. I'm a daily patron who starts my work day with hearty dishes that includes homemade applesauce with fresh local apples. A shout out of appreciation to Karolina, Mayra & Sara for creating a pleasurable dining experience (even though I pick up) every day. You all take care of business! Thanks. Andrew Reynolds

    (5)

  • Kimberly A.

    The restaurant continues to wow me with each visit. I can say I've tried everything (almost :) delicious and prepared to perfection! Thank you to the staff and Laurene

    (5)

  • Elkin J.

    This place was awesome! Needed a table for 4 but our party did not arrive on time. Staff understood and did whatever they can to accommodate us when we were ready. Staff was extra helpful friendly and beautiful. .. definitely recommend this place for quick good cheap breakfast :D

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    Worth the wait! Delish delish delish! Out of towner came for breakfast and loved every bite. Really awesome potatoes to compliment crisp and tender bacon. French toast was just just just great. Can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Clara S.

    The home fries are ridiculously good! I had the biscuits and gravy as well. Best I've ever had. Service was great, too!

    (5)

  • Britney R.

    Went on a Saturday at 1pm, got right in. Ordered the Dr. Glenn's scramble with home fries and a biscuit. Everything was pretty good, especially the ham...yum! Lots of food so I was stuffed. The home fires could've used a bit more seasoning and I wish they had more than Smuckers to dress the biscuits....apple butter would've been perfect. All in all, I thought it was pretty tasty.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth Q.

    Stopped by for lunch - nice little diner place. Place was packed with people. Service was quick. Portions are pretty big for 1 person. Nothing fancy - I had a grilled cheese w/ fried egg inside, fries and fresh squeezed OJ.

    (3)

  • Anne M.

    PARKING- easy metered street parking around noon on a weekday, but may be more difficult during a weekend "brunch rush." COST- Affordable if you want to spend around $12-15 per person. We ordered French Toast, a skillet, 2 coffees, a side of potatoes, 2 eggs plus cheddar cheese, and a side of cheesy grits... Grand total $32 plus tip. Not too bad for a lot of food! ATMOSPHERE- very comfortable, jazz playing quietly in the background, very nice waitress. Definitely did NOT feel like I was in Chicago. It had the feel of a small cafe you might stop at while on vacation down south. There wasn't much effort to make the place fancy- the effort was in the cooking. All of this adds up to make a great breakfast/lunch/brunch place in my opinion! YUMMY- French toast- the custard batter made for an interesting flavor, thick slices, generous portion. Butter was soft and syrup was just the right amount of sweet 2 eggs scrambled w/ cheddar- I ordered mine well done, good solid consistency without the "fluff", which I prefer Pick a pepper potatoes- great flavor, like grandma made them for you in her kitchen! Generous amounts of green peppers, red peppers, onions, and jalapeños....had jalapeño flavor without the heat. MEH- I didn't care for the cheesy grits. Sort of watery, not enough cheese....definitely had better down south. TO RETURN OR NOT RETURN? I will definitely be back to Sweet Maple!

    (5)

  • Bruce D.

    I had the special Lemon Raspberry Pancakes. They were the best I ever had. In addition, the service was amazing. I would definitely asked to be seated at any table serviced by Kiko.

    (5)

  • Talia S.

    This brunch place is good but not excellent. I don't understand why so many people rave about the food... It's your average breakfast restaurant. Service was good, and the hot chocolate was not bad, but I wouldn't wait for more than 10 min for sweet maple cafe.

    (3)

  • Luis L.

    I love this place! I would recommend to anyone who's looking for a good homey breakfast. Everything is fresh and well prepared especially the biscuits.

    (5)

  • Reda K.

    Well it's old school looking on the inside. Really small. I Ordered cheddar grits,grain toast, scramble eggs and turkey link sausages. Well I really didn't taste the cheddar in my grits and my toast was really hard. And I think the egg was a small one with no taste and the turkey link no taste,Coffee cups are small I could barely put my finger in to drink my coffee ask for a bigger cup was told they didn't have any bigger cups.. This was the second time coming here the first time was a few years ago. I must have had a experience the first that's why I went back but this time it wasn't good at all. So I will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Laneka G.

    This place is really small and you awkwardly lurk near people eating while you wait. Because of the size of this place you will hear the conversations of those sitting near you and vice versa. I ordered the pancakes you get two plate size pancakes the top one is dusted with powdered sugar they have the sweet cream butter and they provide you with a lil tub of syrup so if you like to drench your pancakes in syrup beware. I enjoyed the pancakes they were prepared well. I also had the cheesy grits they were slightly lumpy but better than a lot of restaurants. The corned beef has was ok the corned beef was diced with diced potatoes they were kinda dry. The highlight of my meal was the hot chocolate. It's a bit messy at first cause it's piled high with whipped cream and you need to stir the chocolate . Overall it was an ok experience but I don't see myself returning any time soon.

    (3)

  • Alex M.

    THE PANCAKES! THE PANCAKES! Ok, so not entirely worth the hype BUT! like 85% worth the hype! If you're looking for a totally solid Southern-style breakfast joint, this is it. I thought everything was delicious but I don't know if I'm sold on the surprisingly long wait. Clearly people love this place. If you're looking for breakfast deliciosiocity, then this corner is great. Stax and Sweet Maple have you covered.

    (4)

  • Tiffany R.

    It's alright but I wasn't bowled over. Admittedly I don't eat meat so I may not be the best judge. Plus I hear they have salmon cakes and catfish on the weekend. I think my mom would like the place though. I had the healthy plate and the spinach taste like it was sauteed without adding anything. The presentation wasn't great. The wait was very nice and friendly.

    (2)

  • Nikki C.

    I been in this area now over 10 years I had sweet maples maybe 8 x total it is OK . I've had better and I've had worst. It's right in between for those who know a true southern stick to your ribs breakfast they do OK meeting those standards. i was just now bowled over about their breakfasts or other offerings it might just be me personally no big deal or dislike toward SMC.

    (3)

  • Terrel K.

    Food is good.but coffee cups are waaayyyy too small.my fingers barely fit into the cup.

    (4)

  • Olivia G.

    Super food. Disrespectful and rude service by the management. This morning, my colleague and I met for business over breakfast. While the food was outstanding, the management hovered and continually encouraged us to move on. We were told that Sweet Maple Cafe does not encourage business meetings in their establishment. It is unfortunate that a small business doesn't encourage partnership with other similar-minded businesses. This shortsighted view is what fuels the undercurrent of hostility that permeates Chicago. Instead of building a community, this behavior undermines collaboration. #EpicFail

    (1)

  • Kimberly M.

    I really enjoy Sweet Maple! Their pancakes are definitely in my top 4 pancakes in life list. Last time I had the 18th street scramble and loved it - it has a kick. I've gone on Sunday mornings only and have never waited over 10 minutes which I thought was surprising. I I will definitely continue to return.

    (5)

  • Cindy F.

    Omg best pancakes ever hahaha luv this place ill come back next weekend for another dosis of maple pancakes with strawberries :)

    (4)

  • Adriana R.

    I was visiting Chicago for the first time and I was looking for a good brunch spot near my hotel. I came across Sweet Maple Cafe and I was not disappointed. Freshly squeezed orange juice, home fries with grilled onions and pancakes the size of an entire plate. Yum Yum Yum! The host was also so nice and welcoming.

    (5)

  • susan c.

    Rough breakfast here today.....usually pretty good, we waited 45 mins for our orders, they were brought piece by piece. Yes it was busy, I noted the long wait on the check and the waitress wanted to argue with me about it!!!!!! Someone spilled milk on the floor, soiling a diner's briefcase, staff saw it, discussed, left it for quite a while. We like the food, some is unusual, gray gravy on biscuits, dry hash, they give one tiny container of syrup for huge pancakes and charge a dollar for additional, yes it's maple syrup, prices are high already. Got some attitude asking for coffee refill too. Will go to Jut's and Stax down the street instead.

    (3)

  • Vina O.

    LOVE their corned beef hash, it's the only thing I ever get when I'm here so I can't really comment on any of their other dishes. It's probably the best corned beef hash I've had in the city. :D The place gets really busy almost every day of the week. I'm knocking off a star because our server seemed like she was in a hurry to kick us out to could accommodate the growing line even though my friend was still drinking her coffee.

    (3)

  • chazz l.

    Like going inside of someone's home for a meal. Holiday French toast, ham it up heavenly home fries

    (4)

  • Alejandro T.

    Okay this place is very sweet. The atmosphere of the establishment is quite inviting, plus the decoration gives out the feeling of sitting at your grandparents' house waiting for a hot meal to come out of the kitchen. Good vibe. The place does get packed but they have a few plastic chairs for people to wait outside if they have to. It's worth the wait though. The service is amazing, 6 out of 5 stars there. Both our host and server were very attentive and answered all our questions. Our server checked on us and although we were indecisive for a long time she always seemed enthusiastic and cheerful, so we never felt rushed. Nice feeling. The food -and this is where the bubble gets burst- was above average but not amazing in lieu of the other aspects. The first bummer was that their espresso machine is not working so we had to say good-bye to our hot chocolate daydreams. Granted, that's not their fault, but there's no brunch without the coffee or hot chocolate right? For the meal itself, I had the Holiday French Toast with a side of biscuits with their spicy sausage and gravy. Here is where it gets tricky. Making french toasts is an art, because there's more to it than what meets the eye. Sure the ingredients are all simple but it is the style and the perfect touch of the chef that makes it either perfect or a complete fiasco. There are not many places out there that I believed have mastered the french toast technique, but, Sweet Maple Cafe makes the cut. Boy their french toasts are great! Totally approve, and recommend. Now, what bothers me is that the biscuits with sausage and gravy were just okay, they weren't particularly good, which is surprising considering they are remarkably easy to get right once the french toast technique has been mastered, but this was just a disappointment. Avoid this as a side... On another bright side, I got their chocolate milk, which was delicious, and my friend ordered their blueberry pancakes which were both filling and yummy. All their portions were very reasonable. Their prices are just above average, but all and all is a place I'd like to come back to :)

    (3)

  • Frank W.

    Everything is good on the menu! Been coming here many years and I've never been disappointed.

    (5)

  • Tammy P.

    Fabulous homemade biscuits-with or without yummy sausage gravy! The chicken egg & cheeser sandwich with the homemade apple sauce is great. Menu has variation and is a nice change of pace from regular breakfast fare. It is a small place so go early or anticipate a wait.

    (4)

  • Dionna B.

    So, I really want this place to be how it used to be. But over the years the omelette and egg dishes have become smaller and the service poorer. Most recently, to my dismay, I came in for weekend brunch and waited 40 min and then told that they were out of biscuits. Really? So many entrees are "bisquit-based". How do you run out of a menu item made of flour and water and you also sell them to go to make at home? I'm sitting there looking at dozens at at home biscuit mixes. Can you open one up and make some more? I guess not. I'm gonna have to find a new go to breakfast spot. Goodbye Sweet Maple.

    (1)

  • Roshni P.

    The only reason I took off a star is because of the ridiculous lines and they had a reserved table with no one sitting there for at least half an hour. If there is a line with a wait time of about an hour, it makes more sense to sit the customers first rather than waiting for a party to come. About the food, I'm not a big expert on breakfast food but this was delicious. I got an omelet that I customized myself with 4 toppings and it was great, and this is coming from someone who does not like the taste or even smell of eggs. It was a little pricey but for good quality food and the fact that you are in Chicago, it wasn't too unreasonable. The atmosphere is very inviting, even though it doesn't look that way from the outside. I might visit again on a special occasion, but definitely not on a Sunday morning when I'm starving.

    (4)

  • reuben b.

    We received speedy, helpful, attentive service on a Monday afternoon (which apparently is a great time to go). The food was just stupid good! I had an omelet packed with sun dried tomato,chopped mushrooms,bacon, ham, and a touch of basil,mmnn. The biscuits are the real deal, I also had the seasonal raspberry lemon pancakes along with their version of hashbrowns/ homefries, cooked to a golden (crispy on the outside, tender on the inside) perfection! My wife had some of the best grits I ever had! Not runny but smooth with just enough texture. We will definitely be going back soon!!

    (5)

  • Alex P.

    Good breakfast, nice service... disgusting decor on the inside. Decor makes you feel like you are sitting in someone's kitchen from 1982 that is in the process of renovation--but it's not. Sorry, but I cannot eat next to someone and almost feel the need to share conversation with the folk's next to me--that's how close things get here. Would not ever recommend to a friend unless if it were to be expanded/redecorated.

    (2)

  • Monica C.

    Great food. I would definitely return. I am a huge fan of good brunch and this spot has some really good breakfast/brunch choices. My only complaint here would be that it is super small and everybody who knows about this place wants to get in. The banana pancakes were divine...as well as the veggie hash, and the salmon cakes. This one's a keeper!

    (4)

  • Diana J.

    OMGOSH. This immediately became my favorite breakfast place in the city!! Their biscuits and gravy is just ridiculous. The spicy chorizo is actually spicy! I can't help but smile when I'm shoveling them into my mouth. Their coffee is strong and hearty, but not bitter. The fresh peach pancakes with fresh whip cream is also amazing. I want to try everything on this menu! Just wish it was bigger so my hungry tummy doesn't have to wait so long....

    (5)

  • First L.

    Umami was originally described here. Perhaps one of the finest breakfast establishments in Chicago. Come early and hungry.

    (5)

  • Jay I.

    I think this breatkfast place is pretty decent as expected. We ordered a chorizo-based egg dish and a taco breakfast. Both of them were pretty good. I also thought their biscuit was pretty tender and tasty (it's a shame I only put on butter but not the jelly. It was too big, and i totally forgot about it). I would definitely try other stuff later. I think the price is on the higher end as a plain brunch joint, but it's not bad.

    (4)

  • Melanie C.

    Luckily, we beat the line-up and didn't have to wait for a table. I felt right at home at this adorable cafe. The waitress was sweeter than pie itself. I had the special: peaches and cream pancakes. Why haven't I thought of this? I love peaches and I love pancakes so this was a winning combination. Amazing food. Good prices. Fantastic service. 'nuff said.

    (5)

  • Melanie S.

    I've always liked this place but have frequented it less and less over the years. The food is very good, but with so many other brunch options closer to my neck o' the woods, it had fallen off my radar. This place is charming, in a "grandma" kind of way. And it's small, with only about fifteen tables, and precious little room to wait. And believe me, you will wait. I usually don't mind waiting a bit for brunch but I refuse to wait in the cold for upwards of an hour, and that is generally the case at SWC. No bacon and eggs is worth getting frostbite, amiright? Still, a weekday off (thanks, NATO) and an appointment in the vicinity got me back to Sweet Maple, this time with my mom in tow. We arrived at about 11:30 last Monday. I was foolishly hoping that the breakfast crowd would be long gone and we'd beat the lunch crowd, but we still were still quoted about a twenty minute wait upon arrival. We were plenty hungry by then and our server (who was as sweet as their sweet milk biscuits) swiftly took our order. My mom ordered some healthy concoction of black beans, sliced tomatoes, sauteed spinach, and multigrain toast. It was an odd combination but she seemed to enjoy it. I went all out and ordered a breakfast sandwich with fried egg, cheese, and ham, an order of home fries and a blueberry pancake to split with mom. My sandwich came out sans ham, but was quickly rectified, and it was delicious. It comes on a fluffy biscuit and it's the perfect size. Their home fries were perfectly crispy, seasoned well, and cooked with some sweet onions which were a great enhancement. I thought the blueberry pancake was rather devoid of blueberries, but overall tasty (kudos to them for leaving off the powdered sugar at my request). Sweet Maple is a solid option for breakfast or brunch, but steel yourself for long waits, especially at peak times. 3.5 stars.

    (4)

  • Jay B.

    This is truly a 5 star place too eat at.. There is no need for a detailed review, long story- short we came we ate we Conquered.. Thy End

    (5)

  • Liz T.

    Don't miss this charming Chicago gem! Sweet Maple consistently serves delicious food in a casual, down-homey atmosphere. There is nothing more that I could ask!

    (5)

  • Jeevan J.

    Loved the place. From outside, looks like a shack, but is a bustling place inside. :) The choco-chip pancakes are awesome- and huge :) :)

    (5)

  • Katrina H.

    Love going here in the Early Morning for Breakfast. Her prices are a bit more than a normal place but hey it's in Little Italy and maybe her Taxes for the building are Off the chain.... I Love their pancakes. and you do get a lot for your money so well worth it. The staff is typically friendly but can be aloof when the place is overly crowded. I do NOT Like waiting and having to watch other people eat while I just Stand there.. waiting for a table..Maybe there will be another method during the winter months .

    (4)

  • Brad H.

    I like this place, being somewhat nostalgic going to UIC and living on Taylor St. But, this place is definitely worth a visit. Try to go on a weekday, because on Saturdays and Sundays the line is out the door. Very cozy place, and servers have always been friendly even though its kind of a circus inside. Biscuits are the main attraction for me. Cannot be remotely healthy, but are huge and tasty. They're also very cool with just stopping by, ordering a couple biscuits to go from the counter, and heading out. Would definitely recommend.

    (4)

  • dan l.

    This is the best breakfast in the city... Perhaps ever... I love this place...

    (5)

  • Tal S.

    Best pancakes I ever had! This is our new favorite brunch place in the city. The place is cozy, the service is lovely, friendly and not imposing, and the food was just so good it made sweet maple cafe worthy of my first review on yelp.

    (5)

  • K T.

    This place is very good. The food is worth five stars for their good-sized portions, fluffy eggs, and nice strong coffee. However, for this chi-town guy, the leisurely southern service takes a star off. There's relaxed, and then there's "do you not care that more people are waiting to sit than sitting" leisureliness. Example - I asked for cream, and it took a good 7 minutes as my waitress wandered around, chatting and such. I think there's a balance between not being rushed and being simply too slow, and this place is too slow. Having said that, I give huge props to anyplace that has REAL maple syrup as the default option. I have a real pet peave about the use of darkened high fructose corn syrup in place of one of mother nature's (and Canada's) greatest gifts. (On a sidenote, if you ever have a chance, do a taste test of syrups...from light B to Dark Amber...quite a fun time). I had pumpkin spiced pancakes which were quite good, though a bit strong for the aforementioned beloved maple syrup. So, go on a week day and avoid the lines so that you can control the definition of leisurely.

    (4)

  • Bill W.

    The food is consistently good (I like the Slacker Fries), the coffee is decent, and they're fast. If only it weren't slammed pretty much all the time. They don't have much room to wait (except for hovering over the people who look like they're taking their time, which is encouraged), so you can tell what kind of day it's going to be by looking at the crowd outside.

    (4)

  • Stacey F.

    ate breakfast there today. ooooo man, it was everything i could have ever wanted and more. i got the egg and cheeser biscuit with sausage and a side of home fries. do not leave without getting the home fries, seriously the best. my boyfriend got the jalepeno home fries, they were smoothered in cheese and had ham in them, yum. only complaint would be the long wait, but it was def worth it. best breakfast i have had in awhile. def going back!

    (5)

  • Ryan H.

    Met a friend here for brunch on a Sunday morning. When we arrived, we had to wait over 20 minutes to be seated. Once seated, the place seemed kind of cramped and it was way too loud to hold a conversation. I did enjoy to food and received decent service when we were seated. It's just that I think the place might be too small for the volume that they get. When I go to brunch I expect a certain atmosphere and this wasn't it.

    (2)

  • Ben S.

    Awesome biscuits, and always enough food on your plate to take some home with you. That's enough to get me to come back.

    (4)

  • A S.

    Really enjoyed the brunch here. Unassuming, unpretentious place with fabulous biscuits and cheese grits. Portions were just right...only down side is the neighborhood was a little out-of-the-way for me. Highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Lauren T.

    Food is delicious and is the perfect amount to fill you up. Lots of omelet options as well as other traditional breakfast items (thumbs up for the french toast). Not very expensive and great service. I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Dave P.

    I took a date to the sweet maple for a Saturday brunch, and it was perfect. There was a little bit of a wait, but that's what happens when such a tiny space comes with some great food. The food was just awesome. I love pancakes, and these were a great example that filled me up. Just plan on the wait - it sucks, but deal with it patiently.

    (4)

  • Norma C.

    One of my favorite breakfast places in the city. Fresh southern style breakfast cooking. Delicious! My only problem with Sweet Maple is the long lines and wait times. Parking is easy along the street.

    (4)

  • Lindsay B.

    If you aren't willing to wait for good food, then you probably don't really care about eating good food. When the people stop lining up down the block to get a table here, I'll probably stop coming too. I would eat this food standing up shoulder to shoulder if I had to. The home fries alone are worth it. and although I have never had a rude server here once, I would understand if they were anything less than pleasant because they have to deal with so many people, apparently a lot of whom like to waste their time complaining about things beyond their control.

    (5)

  • Anastasia Beaverhausen I.

    Now ive been a believer for about a year now. Everything ive had since going here has been delicious!...but being a creature of habit, i cant beat my eggs my style with a side of ham and sliced tomato and an endless supply of coffee. I KNOW, Boring in light of the options, but the staff help complete the experience because my server Rich, floods me with coffee the minute i sit and knows my order without question. SO when my parents, who are IMPOSSIBLE to please where in town, i ventured on the chance that perhaps S. Maples simple charm and good food might make them believers. To no surprise, their first impression was slightly taken aback at the lack of decor and the long wait, (after i explained the concept of a small ma & pa place, their nose slightly came down). Keep in mind, I've taken my parents to all sorts of places and it never fails, my mother inevitably starts getting that look on her face like she just smelled a stinky finger. So the bar is set high. As her scramble was set in front of her, i began to see the stinky finger coming around, and my father sat with his fingers interlaced over his belly as his breakfast was set before him. I was prepared for this, so i ordered the lemon raspberry pancakes in advance for the table and encouraged my mom to try them while i told my father to try his biscuit. Not before long, i saw my dad dipping his biscuit in his coffee (this was a good sign) and my mother double fisting between the pancakes and scramble. SUCCESS! When i heard my mother ask for to go boxes , i finally exhaled. Thanks S. Maple, keep up the great work.

    (5)

  • Sassy P.

    Great brunch with your beloved. I came here a few months ago by recommendation of a classmate. Expect to wait about 45 mins for a table. The great thing is you can put your name on the list and then walk around the neighborhood, since there isn't much room to wait in line. Just make sure you're back before they call you name, and if you're not, like me, just let them know and they'll give you the next available table. The decor inside feels homey. It's like an old house with the creaking floors. There aren't many tables, hence the reason it takes so long for a table. Cute place. A little expensive... The pancakes of the day are something to try. I had the pumpkin pancake and it was delicious. Eggs are average. Nothing too special... Recommended.

    (4)

  • Sharon L.

    Delicious, homestyle brunch with the best coffee in the city. Staff is wonderful. Try the Sunrise Omelet and Cheese Grits.

    (5)

  • Cameron C.

    Bias: I used to work here. I can honestly say though...I miss this food. I have wet dreams about the home fries and biscuits. Seriously, the home fries are out of this world. Space is VERY small and waits back up pretty quick. Staff does a great job of turning tables over and though it may not seem like it, employees care that there are hungry waiters. It's a tad pricey, but I would pay a boatload to be swirling my spoon in some cheddar grits right now! Best time to go is early morning (thanks caption obvious) on any day. Even the weekdays can bring in a packed house. Please try this place though, portions are hearty and packed with fat! Mmmmm. Oh, and dont forget to try the muffins at the counter, spectacular.

    (4)

  • MTML D.

    Sweet Maple Cafe, how and where do I start? My wife, stepdaughter, and I visited today on a Thursday. We got there about 9:00 am. The place was pleasantly buzzing, but we got in right away. The atmosphere was calm but lively. I first have to say to the people who think that this place is too small, I don't think so. I think that the size is perfect. It keeps Sweet Maple's charming like a little sidewalk cafe. The waitress was very good. She kept the coffee coming and her attitude was very pleasant. I read prior reviews that said the wait staff was not so nice, that is trash because these people are very accomodating and nice. NOW ON TO THE FOOD. I had the egg and cheeser which was a fried egg with your choice of cheese( I chose cheddar) and handled on both ends by their awesome biscuits. I also decided to try the pancakes because I read that they were good. I am a pancake critic to the 5th power and I have to say that these were the best pancakes that I have ever had. They do something with the batter and the vanilla in the cakes is like they went out back and scraped vanilla beans right then and came back and put it in the pancakes. The pancakes gave me the sensation that I was eating poundcake but thinner and lighter. Also I need to mention that they were huge. 2 pancakes the size of a small pizza. Needles to say I did not eat them all, my wife and stepdaughter helped. My wife does not care for pancakes and she loved these. My wife had an egg scramble with veggies and fresh salsa on the side:excellent. My stepdaughter had eggs with cheddar and two sausage patties:excellent. Last but not least, the home fries are off the bell. They are a must try when you get here. So to all the people who came here and did not like it; sorry but you either don't know good breakfast when it hits you in the face or you're just a whiner and no place is good enough for you. To all the people who have heard about this place and have not tried it; you need to get here ASAP for some good comfort food.

    (5)

  • Emily V.

    Well worth the wait (my husband and I waited 20 minutes when we arrived at 10am last Sunday), but it's important to anticipate waiting. The inside was a bit dingier than I expected, but clean. It did not affect my appetite. Plenty of water refills, and the coffee was great. We ordered buttermilk pancakes and the Sweet Maple Special (I think that's the name), which consisted of eggs, biscuit, sausage and grits. Pancakes are my favorite breakfast food, and these were awesome. Huge, buttermilky, fluffy, golden brown, and accompanied with real butter and REAL maple syrup. Real maple syrup at no extra cost is rare and wonderful. My glass of whole milk paired well with the pancakes, and I even brought home some leftovers. The grits were delicious, the biscuit was even better, and the eggs were scrambled well-done (as requested). Sausage links were nothing special, but also tasty. We paid $24 total and were extremely satisfied.

    (5)

  • Christian M.

    Best pancakes in Chicago hands down. Scrambled is awesome as well!

    (5)

  • Erwin F.

    My favorite place for breakfast in the city. Outstanding food, simple down to earth southern atmosphere. Makes me feel like I'm dining in Grandma's kitchen. And Grandma would never let you leave hungry.

    (5)

  • Naomi L.

    Good God the pancakes the coffee- perfect location when I visit UIC monthly.

    (5)

  • Eugene E.

    born + raised in "the south" - this place misses the southern beat. a few tips for ppl going which perhaps could be helpful 1) SMALL, quaint restaurant -- (which would lead one to think the food fits the atmosphere) 2) NO waiting area, waiting/seating outside on the sidewalk -- (on a crisp fall-like July Sunday this was *very welcomed*) 3) there are 15 tables inside *counted* -- (after waiting 1hr 10 minutes, which was the suggested wait-time) the host is cool/nice - the waitress was pleasant - the patrons were laid back - clearly anyone waiting 50 minutes plus has a certain knack for being particularly unbothered by time. the food - pancakes and french toast are served a la carte which can inch your bill up if you decide on eggs and/or meat/home fries. I ordered the pancakes (2 nice sized on a serving) + 2 eggs and home fries. the "buttermilk" pancakes finished with powdered sugar were just okay. not really buttery goodness, nor sweet, not a memorable taste or something I can describe back, short of being bland - just pancakes in which the cook knew when to take them off before being overdone. nothing to write "back-down south" about. I would argue anyone that likes the pancakes, enjoyed the powdered sugar more. the home fries I thought were done well... eggs - hard to mess up unless the order goes in wrong. *I heard the salmon cakes were okay and the veggie hash was whatever - and the biscuits, unfortunately another whatever overall, I would not bring my southern parents here - and not sure I would travel back to go to this place. If someone asked to go in the city, I would sigh and say okay - and eat before I meet them there. Not for the food, but for the wait so I would not pass out on the sidewalk due to hunger.

    (2)

  • Angela G.

    No wonder there is a line out the door for this place. The food is amazing. Restaurant is nothing fancy, but man the food is fantastic. Biscuits are to die for. Sausage gravy awesome, grits, what more could you ask for? Really good southern breakfast.

    (5)

  • Ryan P.

    It's good, super hillbilly inside, extremely slow service, and blah blah. It'll do if you want brunch, but you can do better.

    (3)

  • Heather L.

    This place is just so great. I love that it is a quaint place with really friendly staff and delicious food. I've had a few varieties of their pancakes and their cheddar grits - loved them all. Oh, and the hot chocolate and coffee drinks are also really good. The people who work here are just SO nice, as is the owner. I had such a good experience, that when the owner was raising money for charity through shirt sales, I scooped one right up. I would definitely where a Sweet Maple Cafe shirt because the place just totally rocks!

    (5)

  • D M.

    The food is good but rushed. They are stingy with the syrup on huge pancakes. I would be inclined to be "country" and bring my own bottle. 75 cents for a small container of extra syrup! I fell in love with the biscuits and I went back for a second time. I ordered 3 sweet milk biscuit to go. When I got home 1. They forgot the butter! 2. They gave me two corn muffin biscuits and one sweet milk. I was SO MAD! 3. All they could do for me was apologize. The corn muffin biscuits are NOT good! So for anyone ordering anything to go, be sure to check and double check your order.

    (2)

  • Tiff B.

    This is THE best place for a down home southern style breakfast. I love this place! Great grits. And let me tell you, you can't find great grits in many places in Chicago. They also have excellent pancakes and they're HUGE so you can really get by with just ordering one. The actual restaurant is very small with limited seating so there's usually a wait for a table. Which isn't so bad if you go during the summer and have the nice weather to sit out and wait in. But when it's cold outside, waiting outside for a table is the pits. The service is just so so. Never had an excellent server at Sweet Maple's. They're mostly just interested in getting your order and getting your food out quickly. Not much for pleasantries. Oh, and the coffee is good too. This is one of my favorite breakfast places.

    (5)

  • Marianne S.

    I love this place, mainly because it doesn't seem commercialized. It's homey. I've eaten here maybe three times already, and in all those instances, I noticed how the place fills up real quick. With people standing up, waiting for a table, it's actually hard to just sit, eat your breakfast at a slow pace, and enjoy. Two out of three, I felt hurried. With all that said, I would still go back. Food's really good. Service is okay. I work the night shift, and going there just always seems like a treat.

    (4)

  • Malinda J.

    The buttermilk pancakes are so so damn good! Best I've ever had actually! The biscuit was okay, a little too thick, would be much better if it was lighter and fluffier. Turkey sausage was average. The host/manager is so damn annoying, he reminds me of a wanna-be Tiger Woods. His friends were dining in that day and they were one ahead of us in the line and he just yapped until I felt like screaming, dude, go and do your job! One thing I have never seen before is a host seat a party sitting down at a table with other guests. He just gestured with his hands to the party waiting at the door and continued yapping with his friends. There's always a 1st to everything I guess. He clearly has no hosting skills AT ALL. He needs to go in the back in the kitchen somewhere and hire a sweet pretty hostess who is more attentive and knows how to do just a SIMPLE job . Next time I think I will get the pancakes to go and eat at home. Otherwise Tiger is going to hear a few words from me...

    (4)

  • Albert C.

    One of my favorite breakfast places during college and med school. Love the breakfast here, especially the omelettes and the sweet breakfast special. I'm sure the sandwiches are good too, but who wants to eat a sandwich when you can have breakfast for lunch instead?

    (4)

  • Sarah D.

    When this place first opened it was awesome. Now you have to get there as soon as it opens to eat with in an hour. The biscuits are AMAZING. Last time I was there we waited an hour and then we had the worst service, not a good way to start your day. Sometimes they are not very accommodating if you want to change something on the menu. I feel like people are always staring at you to eat faster so they can sit down

    (3)

  • Jacob K.

    A great place for breakfast.. one of my 3 favorites but its the only on in the city I go to excluding dim sum at Chinatown. The corn beef hash is wonderful as are the buttermilk pancakes. However there is usually a long wait (at least 45 minutes, its only open until 2PM and worst of all they don't use real maple syrup =X.

    (4)

  • Arlene M.

    this place is my first love for breakfast!!!! at the time i was in a relationship with someone who loved to go out and get drunk on Friday Saturday nights (who doesn't?) anyway saturday and sunday mornings he wakes up around noon. i'm an early bird so i would go to sweet maple's which is most definitely the cure to a hang over! i LOVE their pancakes and their apple sauce and the country sausage is good too. their grits MUST be eaten with Louisiana hot sauce- Tabasco? yuck! it doesnt cut it.

    (5)

  • Cali M.

    Quaint and almost hidden from the eye this small little gem is unexpecting. A little hole in the wall we got there early and the venue quickly started to fill. At first I was unimpressed with the tiny little menu but then I took a chance and ordered a few things to share with my sugarbutt Jeff L. We got a omelet (DIY!) with bone-IN ham, lots of cheese and other things. It was flavorful and done right. The french toast was some of the best fluffy delicious egg soaked toast I've had to date. The home made apple sauce is a great side. It is warm and so fresh. I was almost sad I wasn't more hungry!

    (5)

  • Joey F.

    I can't think of a 5 star breakfast place in Chicago, but this one comes close. The fried chicken on a biscuit with eggs, cheese, and homemade apple sauce really feels like the dirty south, and I love it with hot sauce. Cheese grits are excellent. Huge crowd. Be prepared for a wait or take it out and eat it in your freezing car.

    (4)

  • Cristina G.

    Ok so you may have to wait for 45 minutes for a table for two, so if you have a bigger group don't hold your breath. However, the food there is very tasty. I like their grits and their eggs.. I forget what the name of the dish was but it was latin inspired and yummy! My husband likes the french toast. Their coffee was good too and the home fries mmmmmmmm yummmmm!

    (3)

  • Tanya L.

    I recently went to Sweet Maple Cafe at the recommendation of a few friends. When we got there, we put our name on the list and were told that the wait was about 40 minutes. An hour and 15 minutes later, we were seated. Apparently they really want to make you feel at home when you go there, because our waitress waited for me to turn over our coffee cups before pouring for us. The coffee was fresh and hot, which was a plus. Since we had waited so long, we were able to put our order in right a way and didn't have to wait long for our meals. I order the corned beef hash with a biscuit and side of the spicy sausage gravy. It was good, not great and definitely not worth the wait. The same could be said for the Sweet Maple Special that my husband order. To be quiet honest, I am not sure why people wait as long as they do (apparently the more than hour wait for a table is common) when there are a number of great brunch places in the city. I'm convinced that people who praise this place have simply waited so long to eat that once they do themselves that the food is beyond common, which I would argue it isn't. One positive that should be mentioned is I did notice that the buspersons were working hard to get the tables turned over quickly.

    (2)

  • Jen C.

    This is one of my favorite breakfast places in the city! And definitely best breakfast place in the entire area! It's a cute little cafe on Taylor St. near UIC. It's always busy - line out the door! It's pretty small on the inside...and since they're so busy, sometimes they will ask you if it's okay if you sit with other people at the same table. (i.e. if you go with two people, they might sit you with two strangers at a table of 4, but only if you're okay with it). Since there's usually a line, I'd suggest getting it to go if you live nearby and just bringing it back home. I have always gotten the Sweet Maple Special breakfast - it includes eggs any style, their super delicious home fries, bacon or sausage, and toast or biscuit. I LOVE it! It's always delicious! And it's a LARGE breakfast...maybe just right for two people, and pretty hefty for one person. Every bite is delicious! Their chocolate chip pancakes are good too...and supposedly their french toast is awesome too although I have yet to try it. They also have lunch items like sandwiches, but I've also never tried any of those things b/c I love their breakfast too much to try anything else! I have gone here again and again and will continue to do so!

    (5)

  • Tony G.

    I can't believe I'm just now getting around to reviewing Sweet Maple. It's a great breakfast/brunch spot. Great food, always friendly service, pretty easy parking, and GREAT food. Worth the wait on a weekend morning.

    (5)

  • abs t.

    this place is ok, but don't understand all the hype. Yeah, there's a long wait - which is fine since I expected it - but once we were seated and received the food I was not really blown away. I had heard such great reviews about it and was really expecting some great food. Ehh.... just ok. Not bad, not great, just ok. Everything was a bit bland to me - the omelet was bland, the biscuit was a tad dry for my liking, but the pancakes were good. Not great, not anything out of the ordinary when it comes to pancakes, just good.

    (3)

  • Bridget L.

    Absolutely delicious. When you walk in, you feel like you're in Grandma's kitchen. The breakfasts have that home-cooked feel too, and the bisquits are some of the best I've ever had. We went on a weekday for brunch, and had about a 25 minute wait. I've heard the wait on the weekends can get pretty long. However, it's worth it for the delicious food and friendly service. This place is a gem.

    (4)

  • shelly p.

    Best Southern Style Breakfast in Chicago. This small cozy brunch place located near the UIC campus serves some of the best pancake and biscuit dishes in Chicago. This place is worth the 1 hour wait that you will undoubtedly have. Just make sure you come during the summer months b/c there is no space to wait inside!

    (5)

  • Erin C.

    I really like this place. It's very low-key and neighborhoody AND they have fish and eggs on fridays! The biscuits are seriously amazing and the wait is never too long (at least on the weekdays). The crowd seems to be a mix between hospital types (near UIC and rush), policemen, and aldermen types. It's very chicago and very good!

    (4)

  • amber p.

    Maybe I'm strange, but I don't like the old look of this place, even though it was done on purpose. The air conditioners they have are the ones that hang off the window and on that hot humid day that I went, it was not enough to cool the room...anyhow, the food made up for it!!! I ordered the taylor omlet which consists of sausage, cheese, and onions (i think), MMMM! To accompany that were the yummy biscuits and hash browns. It was quite obvious how fresh everything was. My friend had the chicken liver, which she loved, and my other friend had french toast with a side of biscuit and gravy. The gravy is spectacular! I'm not a gravy person but when he offered me a bite, I just wanted to scarf the whole thing ( I'll get my own next time). I went on a week day, so I did not experience the wait in line...the food and service was very prompt.

    (4)

  • Deb W.

    Have been going to Sweet Maple for a few years and it's my go to place for great breakfast and even lunch. Favorites are creative omelet with extra spinach- potatoes and a their multi grain bread with ham and cheddar. Nice service as well.

    (4)

  • Renee M.

    This restaurant is a true GEM!!! The food is spectacular the manager is GREAT!!! The owner is always friendly when she is in the restaurant. I have been frequenting this spot for a few years and they still have the same waitstaff and they are GREAT!!!! Not So Plain Pancakes, Home fries and Sweet Milk Biscuits are HEAVENLY!!!

    (5)

  • Marie G.

    I had a egg and sausage biscuit and some coffee. The biscuit was delicious and the egg and sausage were pretty good too. The portion size was big, and I was very full by the end. The side of potatoes were very good too.

    (4)

  • Tom B.

    Mmmmm biscuits....... You don't need to say anything else about this place to justify 4 or more stars. The biscuits is damn good. If you end up leaving here without having eaten a biscuit you're a fool, plain and simple. I haven't ordered a bad thing off this menu yet. Obviously, the biscuits and gravy are top notch, the french toast is heavenly, and I have not been disappointed with any of the egg scrambles either. Make sure to look back above the counter and see what the specials are. I always forget until I notice it as I'm putting on my coat to leave.

    (4)

  • Markus T.

    I have to say when I was very excited when I met with a constituent of mines there, the place is small on the outside, and bigger on the inside, but not as big as it could be, however in spite the issue of space, it makes up for it with a great menu, a wonderful staff, owner, servers, and busers. Parking across the street is a huge lot, if your there early enough you can get a great seat, the breakfast is half wonderful and half amazing, this place is definitely a diamond in the rough, because if more people knew about it, they would definitely have to expand.

    (5)

  • Janna J.

    Delicious. I've never been disappointed, even when getting my breakfast to go. Took my parents here while they were in town and they loved it also. However, if you are going on a Saturday or Sunday, be prepared to wait. They don't take reservations and there are only about 10 or so tables inside. I always make sure to get a homemade biscuit. The pancakes are pretty good, too.

    (5)

  • Jelly C.

    So I absolutely LOVE this place. It's so homey and inviting. There's usually a line when I get there but good food is worth waiting for! Sweet Maple is a no-frills breakfast place. Their biscuits are warm, buttery, and huge! The portions here are generous and everything is just delicious! Try the the corn beef hash, breakfast sandwich, omelets or everything else on the menu!

    (5)

  • Julia H.

    Yay! This place is so good! It takes forever to get a seat on the weekends but it's worth it. Try the egg and cheeser with sausage, it comes with homemade apple sauce. It's a little pricey for breakfast, but I'm poor and I think anything over 5 dollars is expensive. *While your waiting go next door to Scafuri's and get their doughnuts. 4 for a dollar!*

    (5)

  • Annie L.

    This is my fav breakfast place! The pancakes are so HEAVENLY! Corn beef hash is absolutely delisious! You can get a few sides to make your own breakfast combo. The price is reasonable for the quality and amount of food that they serve you. I have been there a few times and brought a few friends with me each time. Everyone seem to like it.

    (5)

  • M J.

    Pretty much a (clean) cute little hole in the wall with a down home feel --- the breakfast is quite tasty! But as others have said be prepared to get there early or wait in line on a weekend/Sunday especially since the dining room is so small.

    (4)

  • Julie W.

    Brunch on 11/2/08: Arrived at 9:50AM, knowing there would be a wait...OK. Clipboard-guy notes a 45 minute wait...we were seated at 11:13, clearly beyond the wait time. Food arrived promptly, but service was lacking - actually, our waitress looked hung-over, tired, and the only word she spoke was "Coffee?" We ordered blueberry pancakes with a side of crispy bacon. The pancakes lacked flavor and the bacon was curled and soggy. The corn beef hash was cubed, not "hashed" and flavorless. For a "soul food" southern inspired cafe, the pedestrian nature of the biscuits (read Pillsbury is better) was disheartening. Not even a hint of seasoning. It was the third such unfortunate experience we have had there, which is what prompted this review. We will not return again and regret the $30 spent on a breakfast for two where 2/3 of the food was left...not even worth taking to go.

    (1)

  • Kristen D.

    Not too bad for lunch. kinda pricey, but the food is decent. I've heard it's great for breakfast, but I've never been. Pretty small inside, so you may have to wait.

    (4)

  • Maxxy C.

    The food is great, worth the wait with ample serving size. This is a nice snuggly cafe and there is always a lot of people there, so you know the food is good. They are well organized and the workers are very very pleasant. You really need to try it one morning. They close early so, get there with an empty stomach!! I love their coffee!

    (5)

  • Marie B.

    Well, I finally made the trek to Sweet Maple. Waited 30 minutes for a table in this sorta shack -like place. I know, the "quaint" rustic feel is intentional, but I could handle the bear floors and lack of ambiance if the food had been good. But, it wasn't. At all. It was bland and dry (biscuit) and just plain. Like your mother-in-law who can't cook. The only thing worth eating were the grits and bacon. My companion ordered the peaches and cream pancakes and they were flavored with way, way too much cinnamon. Although, they were better than my scrambled eggs which were a hard mound -- tasteless. And, their authenticity was questionable. Everyone raves about the biscuit, but it was the most disappointing of all! It was dry and bland and...well, for y'all northerners -- this is not a good biscuit. Believe me. It may be good compared to some of the biscuits served "up north", but it is not really a good example of a biscuit. But do me a favor...take a trip down south. Anywhere. Then, order a biscuit. You'll see the difference. Biscuits should be flavorful, soft and crumbly. Not whatever. Oh, and the fried potatoes were...weird. The onion was still raw. The potatoes tasted like they were frozen and reheated. ...just all around, a less than pleasant dining experience. I definitely will not go back!

    (1)

  • irfan m.

    very homyyyy!! very crowded but you feel sense of community!! food is peeerfeeectttt!!

    (5)

  • Amy A.

    Hmmm...pancakes. You may look at them and think "I can't - they're too big!" But you can. Oh yes you can. and you can get a half order. with REAL maple syrup. happiness in a big floppy, fluffy, biodegradable Frisbee. Decor- kinda cheesy but it's no TGI Fridays. There will probably be a wait. but if you like pancakes....others at the table had pork chops, salmon cakes, and biscuits and gravy. Everyone enjoyed theirs but not as much as I enjoyed my pancakes.

    (4)

  • Natalie B.

    When I first moved here, I craved southern breakfast foods, especially cheese grits. Lo and behold, Sweet Maple Cafe. There is always a line but it is well worth the wait if you want some good old fashion Southern breakfast. The cheese grits were great!

    (4)

  • Ji K.

    Good . . . but not great. Actually, eating at this place has been a long time coming-- well before the dawn of 75+ Yelp reviews-- so a part of me was looking forward to a party in my mouth. Instead, it was more like a . . . children's piano recital. I went with three of my relatives-- and while there were a few good things about our brunch, there were also a few not so good things. The coffee of the day (almond joy latte) was quite good, the corned beef hash was pretty good, the home fries were so flavorful, and the service was great. But . . . the Taylor Sweet omelet was a bit dry and not as flavorful as I had hoped and the Sweet Breakfast Special tasted like something you could make at home. The worst part, though, was the Way South Eggs. It is the saddest, measliest plate of real food I have ever seen-- with half the plate covered in black beans and sour cream and one small, soaked tortilla filled with a tablespoon and a half of scrambled eggs with some cheddar and salsa mixed in. For $9+, that is really ridiculous. So . . . I don't know if we made bad choices or what . . . but, sadly, Sweet Maple Cafe was decent but not worth the wait (through the years or to be seated). :\

    (3)

  • Mike F.

    This place is WAY overrated. It is always PACKED. The servers and hostess are inconsiderate and often times downright rude. My wife and I went over the summer and that wasn't so bad, but in the winter.... steer clear. During our last visit, in February, we got seated at table right next to the door. It was awful. People hovered over us the entire meal. It was one of the worst dining experiences of my life. The place is small and I realize they pack people in, but this table shouldn't even exist. The food took forever to get to us, and when it did, we weren't impressed. We won't be going back.

    (1)

  • Lisa T.

    It may be the most important meal of the day, though we all know this is the kind of food you can eat any time of day. This place is great. Quick service, absolutely yummy food. You may have to wait as it can get crowded, though I promise, it's worth waiting for!

    (5)

  • iheart c.

    5 star breakfast joint no doubt. Very tasty banana pancakes, scrambler, home fries, biscuits and they brew quality Seattle's Best coffee. The menu consists of traditional breakfast fare - no crazy Bongo Room like items here - but so well done and flavorful that it's a real treat. If you want pancakes, you will get really good pancakes. If you want an omelet you will get a really good omelet. If you want a biscuit, you will get a really good biscuit. It's rare to find a place that make every item so well. I will definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Liza O.

    Why are there not more breakfast/brunch places near the medical district? We night shift and post call people need sustenance! I was psyched when some residents and students told me about this place. I went one day after a night shift and was very happy with the experience. Save for some shenanigans with paying from the table at the end, but I was too tired to care. It's way too small given how many people want to eat there, but it's adorable. And the food is good quality stuff. Nice coffee. The omelet I ordered was huge. I highly recommend this place. Good quality food that won't make your stomach hurt when you go home to crash after call.

    (4)

  • Sara P.

    ok, so i live literally a few hundred feet from sweet maple, so obviously it is very convenient for me, location wise. beyond that, their food is always excellent. things to try: the chocolate chip pancakes, applesauce, oatmeal, and the way south eggs. all delicious. however, this places gets crazy packed on sunday, and sometimes during the week, so be prepared to possibly wait for a table. service is ok. small interior. if it's too busy, head to demitasse down the street. the food is just as good, the service is friendlier, and more importantly it is always nice and quiet at demitasse, in a good way.

    (3)

  • Ed J.

    absolutely love this place.i love breakfast places n sweet maple is one of my favorites.good portion.i hate it wen they give too much,its so wasteful. but sweet maple gives just the right portion.their biscuit is the best!.service is good.they're open til 2pm tho.im always wakin up late n eat breakfast all day.so i wish they were open later.luv it!

    (4)

  • Daisyville C.

    My hubby and I went to Sweet Maple Cafe this AM. I followed the advice of other Yelpers and got there early enough that there was no wait, besides, I was hungry and was not going to tolerate a wait. I've been wanting to try this place after the recommendation of a foodie friend of ours. Well, he was on point wth this place. The food is down home fresh and the service was very friendly. I got the corned beef hash (real corned beef cut into small cubes) mixed with their homefries along with eggs overeasy and it came with their cornmeal biscuit - oh sooo good with butter and jam! My hubby got Laurene's Little Tacos, which were also good. He also tried their special lemonade with strawberry puree and coconut juice - wow, that was so refreshing and the coconut elevated the flavor really well. Next time, I plan to try the chocolate pancakes and french toast! The decor is very quaint with old photos and plywood floors. Love that this place is just minutes away from me by car and they have a free parking lot across the street!

    (4)

  • Livia C.

    Its breakfast worth waiting for! I have been there a several times and never had a bad meal. Its simple well prepared food thats always fresh. I'm not the only one that thinks so cause i wouldn't recommend it on the weekends, there is almost always a wait, during the week is the way to go. They do dine in and carry out, whether you have the french toast or eggs or their homemade muffins you will not be disappointed! Love it, its like eating with a big family!

    (5)

  • Simone G.

    I think its funny coming down to this area these days, with all the trendy spots lining Taylor and what not. For the longest time this areas was one of those places only a confident city dweller was comfortable coming. Generally it was to visit friends that lived in the area or were going to school at UIC. I've passed by this place several times in the last couple years, always noticing the maple leafs but never realizing what it was. I got the country-fried steak... meh, in all honesty it was way to tough and the quality seemed to be lacking- I've had better. But the spicy gravy, biscuit and eggs that came as sides to the steak were awesome. I also got a side order of grits which had the perfect consistency i was looking for. I would come back again but would not take them up on their brunch specials, I would probably stick to the breakfast items as everybody elses food items looked amazing.

    (3)

  • S. M.

    a most incredible bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit. plus, they have grits. they're expensive, but at least they're on the menu.

    (5)

  • Ren H.

    I work down the street at UIC and breakfast here is such a great treat on slow days! They are one of the few places that has a classic biscuit and gravy dish which is awesome!

    (5)

  • Zenia R.

    a favorite... amazing food, the best cheddar grits and biscuits, good coffee, and a warm environment... downside is the hour long wait on sat and sun mornings, unless you arrive before 8.30am... very much worth the wait...

    (5)

  • Hannah C.

    Please put the cinnamon roll pancakes on the regular menu! They were SOOO GOOD and I want to come back and eat them again! They use a real buttermilk recipe that has a great acidity to match the sugary topping. Holiday French toast was also delicious, as were the home fries and biscuits (biscuits are a denser, more northern style baking powder biscuit). Portions here are big - an average person probably just wants an order of pancakes or French toast without the sides. We went around 10 on a weekday and only had a brief wait. You could probably do an early lunch around 11:30 here and do just fine if you work in the area.

    (5)

  • Joy L.

    This neighbourhood-favorite boasts the kind of breakfast your Southern aunt would serve - and their menu definitely matches up! We came early at 9:30 am and snagged one of the last free tables. By the time we finished, there was a line out the door - so come early! I ordered the chicken liver with grits, scrambled eggs, and a biscuit (this all comes with!). Surprisingly, the chicken liver was breaded and fried, which isn't my preferred way of eating it, but tasted good (as fried food does). My fiancé ordered the French toast which comes with toast and options for meat - he got the bone-in ham, which inexplicably does not come on a bone. The French toast was good, but the ham your standard fare (unusual, since they tout it as one of their specials on the menu). The prices were a good value for how much food we got, and we were tempted to linger in the welcoming warmth. We turned over the table after seeing the long line, and it was a lovely breakfast before our flight out of Chicago!

    (3)

  • Suzanne Z.

    SO flippin' good!!! Be prepared for a wait, as the place is a little small and very popular. If you get there by 10, the wait should be no longer than 20 min, and there are chairs outside. *** It's a 15 min walk from the Racine stop on the blue line OR there is a FREE gravel lot across the street *** Choosing something to eat here is tough, as there is so many perfect choices. I ended up ordering the Carmen G scramble- eggs w your choice of cheese, bacon, spinach, mushrooms, home fries and a biscuit and was sooooooooo happy with my choice. The portion size was big, but not huge to where I couldn't finish it. The home fries were nice and crispy, not overly greasy, and the biscuit was a huge square of carby heaven! YUM. I could go for the same meal again right now. Two of our other companions ordered a half order of pancakes- aka one pancake. It was the size of the entire plate! They had to quarter it to eat it and could barely finish it. I was impressed! They stayed on top of coffee refills the entire meal too. With tax, our meal/drinks was about $15 per person, which I didn't think was too exorbitant. I will be back!!

    (5)

  • Karthik D.

    This is very good brunch place. It's so busy on weekend we have to wait at least for 25 minutes. a Apart from waiting time this is great brunch place

    (5)

  • Evie H.

    Early morning breakfast right around opening on Saturday - no wait! We were seated right away. Delightful and quick service. Taylor street omelet - I enjoyed it! It's a pretty basic omelet but tasty nonetheless. The home fries were killer and even better with the hot sauce. The biscuit was the only thing I was unimpressed with - it's big but doesn't have the buttery, flaky goodness that you want to taste in a biscuit. Lemon raspberry pancake - I like that you can get a 1/2 order (1 big pancake) instead of the full (2 big pancakes) just for a little taste. 1 pancake was enough to share between 3 people who wanted a little bit of sweet next to our main savory dishes. Cute little cafe and a rewarding brunch after a long week!

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    This place is one of the most authentic restaurants in this Italian town. No fancy tables or flashy TVs. They just stick to what they good at Food and Service! Best place for brunch! Feels like I'm having brunch at my grand ma's (in a good home way) And they hit my stomach G-spot every time!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey C.

    On the hunt for biscuits and gravy, we ended up at Sweet Maple Cafe. It's a small, totes adorbs, type family joint that's also super small. We had tried to stop by once before, only to be met with the indeterminate bull rush that is the Chicago brunch bunch. So, this is possibly the grossest looking biscuits & gravy you'll ever see in your life. It looks like a brown mush that most resembles the blended, oxidized, browned banana we feed the baby. I miss southern white gravy like a fat kid misses cake. The gravy is just meh, but the homemade biscuit is admittedly dang tasty. If I were to return, I'd recommend just going with a biscuit, sans gravy. I have a general non-omelet policy when I dine out, since it's so easy to make at home, but the wife's "Sweet Maple-Opolis" omelet was fairly fantastic, thanks to a nice feta/sundried tomato kick. Coffee is Seattle's Best and forgettable. If you can stand it, wait until after the meal, go to Scafuri Bakery next door, and get a drip using Passion House beans instead. And pick up a lemon ricotta pound cake while you're at it.

    (3)

  • Susie C.

    My friends and I came here for brunch on Saturday. We made reservations weeks in advance for party of 6. Sweet Maple only takes reservations for 6+ people. If you have less than this amount then it's first come first serve. They're also strict that if your parties are 10 minutes later than the reserved time, you will lose your reservations. They're pretty busy! When we got there, we were seated pretty shortly. Table was ready for us. They close at 2pm, and there were still people lining up at 1:30pm. The wait staff was nice - nothing bad about it. This is more southern food...the interior even look like a house from the South. I had the Laurenne's little tacos - it came with two tacos with chicken, spicy beans, and other stuff. It tasted pretty good. It came with side of potatoes and fruits. My husband and I also shared a banana pancake - it was a bit too bland for my liking and I barely taste any banana. More mush. My other friends who ordered their food seem to like it. My husband felt this was an average brunch place for him. Nothing spectacular, but still decent. Parking is easy. We like that a lot - lots of street parking. The lines are pretty long so I recommend making reservations if you have a big party.

    (3)

  • David O.

    This place was pretty good but mainly for the cinnamon roll pancakes. It was a specialty item not on the menu. As of the last time I was there(2mts ago), said pancakes are no longer being served. Dont know if I'll be back.

    (3)

  • Jeana C.

    Went here for breakfast and thought my overall experience was just alright. We got the cinnamon roll pancake which was amazing, sweet maple special (sausage was dry) and chicken liver and onions special. Besides that pancake, everything else was just mediocre. I'm not sure if the 30 minute wait was worth it.

    (3)

  • Megan L.

    Solid brunch spot on Taylor street. Got there around 11am and had to wait around 45 minutes for a table. The space is pretty small and we had arrived shortly after a number of parties had been recently seated unfortunately. There was an unfortunate mixup with two parties having the same number of guests and being under "Megan" where the hostess wasn't sure who had arrived first. Our party ceded the table and ended up getting a table not too long after. There wasn't much space for waiting inside, but they do have chairs lined up outside for when it's warmer and nearby Scarfuri Bakery (next door) is a cute Italian bakery that I highly recommend for a cup of coffee and preliminary breakfast pastry or donut! The food was diner-style and came out pretty quickly. I ordered an omelet with sausage, cheddar and onions. They went overboard with the onions and I ended up picking out half of them so that the cheddar and sausage weren't overwhelmed by the onions. The omelet came with a side of fried potatoes and onions that were solid fare, but nothing out of the ordinary. The coffee was Seattle's Best & if I had known, I would have waited until after my meal to go next door where better coffee awaits you! The real stars of this brunch were the biscuits! A cornmeal biscuit came with my meal and I ordered a sweet milk biscuit to go. I preferred the more traditional sweet milk biscuit - it was light, buttery and delicious. The cornmeal one was a little more dense and felt less "brunchy" and more like it should be accompanying some barbecue. Overall, I'd go back for more biscuits and to try the cinnamon roll pancakes. They looked delicious on other yelpers' reviews, but I was in a savory kind of mood.

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    Sweet Maple was a fantastic experience. We came on a busy Sunday and rather than having us wait in the small waiting space, the hostess suggested we go next door to Scafuri Bakery (equally awesome). When our name came up on the list, the hostess actually came over to get us and other guests. The small things like that really had an impact. The service was friendly, timely, and exceptional and the food matched the customer service. I had a "toss-up" where I picked 4 ingredients for my omelette (jalapeños, cheddar, green peppers, and ham) and had a biscuit in instead of toast. GET THE BISCUIT!! Delicious!! It is hard to beat expectations on something so basic as an omelette, but this certainly did. I also had a piece of their french toast and couldn't decide which I liked better. The dining area is small but the staff does a great job quickly clearing tables and promptly serving food to get you seated quickly without making customers feel rushed. We waited 20 minutes. The ambience definitely felt more like I was having dinner in a casual dining room as opposed to a restaurant. Bottom line: This was one of the best overall dining experiences I've had in the city. High quality people, service, and delicious food. I would recommend to anyone looking for breakfast.

    (5)

  • Tavi J.

    3.5 stars What I really enjoy is the small old school diner feel when you walk in. It's a little funny cause your sort of on display. The hostess/cashier stand is in the back but all the tables face the door when you walk in. I went with a group of friends yesterday for lunch. My boy got the fish special that he's got before and always enjoyed. My girl got the egg and cheese sandwich which she said was good and filling. I opted for the 18th street omelette. The omelette itself I didn't care for that much (I've had better chorizo omelets) but I did enjoy the potatoes and of course the biscuit (melts in your mouth) you get on the side. Great place to meet up for brunch and conversation.

    (3)

  • Sheri M.

    The breakfast here is always fresh and good, but it's the seating set up that I can not appreciate. Since there is no waiting area, those who are waiting to be called stand along the wall of the tiny restaurant and peer at those dining - creating an uncomfortable and almost rushed feeling. I wish they would or could add on some type of waiting area and I would be more likely to frequent this place more often. I definitely miss those banana pancakes.

    (4)

  • Yessie S.

    I think this place is pretty good. Their breakfast is not as outstanding as I would expect but they are good. The have a good variety of menu and their service is great. But not the best brunch/breakfast I have had. The waiting sometimes is pretty long, is it worth the wait? Only if you are super hungry. :)

    (3)

  • Ronald Y.

    My experience at sweet maple was absolutely great! The space is vintage and intimate, the service was friendly and punctual, and the food was prepared to near perfection. It's like a taste of southern hospitality. Very fitting and chill music played while a friend and I enjoyed our well portioned, decently priced meal. The only word I found to effectively describe the applesauce and none other than "Awesome-sauce."

    (5)

  • Tonette P.

    Wowzer! The food here is amazing. Service is fast and the staff is pleasant. I had grits, eggs, pancakes, and turkey sausages. Delicious, and the portions were bountiful. Rated four stars due to the size of the establishment. Patrons, waiters, bus people, and cooks are literally crammed into this restaurant. From the time you're seated, they're kindly preparing you for departure.

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    Although there are several tasty brunch options on Taylor Street, Sweet maple is one of my favorites. It's a bit small, but very cozy inside, and the staff were all incredible friendly and helpful. I had the cinnamon roll pancakes, which were decadent and delicious--I highly recommend it, if it's on the menu when you stop by... Which you should, if you're debating it!

    (5)

  • Claudia D.

    Excellent service. Very good Seattle's Best coffee, but not as deep a flavor as I prefer. Next time I'll have a shot of espresso added. The husband and I shared a regular size light and fluffy blueberry muffin to start. Our waitress told me that blueberry is available daily. The other offering that day was banana chocolate chip. It was a traditional white flour muffin, with fresh blueberries added, but I prefer more blueberries in the batter to get a heightened blueberry flavor. The husband had the That's Italian country scramble which was eggs scrambled with red bell peppers, green bell peppers, romano and Mozzarella cheese sided with plain grits and a cornmeal biscuit. He liked it. It was soft just the way he ordered it! I had the Be Good egg white omelet with mushrooms, spinach, onions, jalapeño peppers, and low-fat Cheddar cheese. sided by a small fruit medley and a cornmeal biscuit instead of toast. It was very good. The sweet milk cornmeal biscuits are the size of 3 normal biscuits and have cornmeal in them. They were fluffy and tasty, but I discerned no cornmeal flavor. The portions are large and satisfying with a commensurate price. The coffee kept coming, just as we like it and our waitress was smiling. This was a Thursday at lunchtime and Sweet Maple stayed full of people the entire time we were there. The husband liked his eggs and he's extremely picky about his eggs. The price point was lower than he expected, so I have a suspicion that we may return when there isn't a line out the door. He refuses to wait in long lines for anything, ever! Paid street parking along Taylor St. Residentially zoned parking to the north and south of Taylir. I highly recommend Sweet Maple for a good high quality Southern style breakfast!!!

    (4)

  • Leonard Yelp M.

    What a place to have birthday post Breakfast Birthday meal. The food is very good. The winter special pancakes were available. The lemon poppy seed pancakes were very very good. The potatoes; onions; red and yellow bell peepers; and feta cheese on top were great eating. Now the liver, sweet onions with two over easy eggs went down without issue. The cup of hot chocolate will bring you back. Shalom

    (5)

  • Robyn C.

    I love breakfast and I am willing to wait ... just as long as it's worth it. Unfortunately I don't think the breakfast is worth an hour + wait. I am happy to have gone to experience it, but I don't think I will be going back. Seating is very cramped, it's a small restaurant and I understand that they are trying to pack as many people in as possible, but there is pretty much no waiting space as well, so you will have people standing up looking down at you and your food if you are sitting by the door/waiting area... it just makes it kind of uncomfortable. I can't imagine winter months when it's freezing outside where does everyone wait? Staff is friendly though, even under the pressure of having a lot of people waiting. The biscuit was yummy, flaky and delicious. My friend ordered the pumpkin pancake and didn't taste any pancake, neither did I for that matter, so not sure how it can be called a pumpkin pancake. Maybe if it was a nice summer day would I be willing to wait to eat here!

    (3)

  • Yu L.

    My favorite restaurant on Taylor. Ever since I tried it, never went back to Stax cafe. The biscuits r the world best, great balance.

    (5)

  • Jessie Elizabeth J.

    A great little gem on Taylor Street with friendly, quick service and accommodations. The menu here is simple and delicious-everything really tastes homemade and after an egg n cheeser ( sweet bscuit egg sandwhich), homemade applesauce, an order of apple spice pancakes with REAL maple syrup, ham cut off the bone, and unlimited quality coffee, my friend and I were very satisfied! The atmosphere is very warm and this place doesn't need breakfast food gimmicks to shine!

    (5)

  • Jennifer F.

    You can't go wrong with what you order at Sweet Maple cause everything is delicious! Some of my favorites are: the biscuit, home fries, buttermilk pancakes, blueberry muffin, banana chocolate chip muffin, and the chicken egg and cheese sandwich. When I have a friend in from out of town, this is where we go for breakfast.

    (5)

  • J W.

    True home-style breakfast. The food here was amazing. I've had the sunrise omelette (sausage, sweet onions, and cheddar cheese) here, and it was great. The home fries were also really good, and I kid you not, the biscuit is the best biscuit I've had in my life. I literally ate every last crumb of my meal. I definitely plan on checking out more of the menu when I'm able to make it back to sweet maple.

    (5)

  • Mel S.

    I'll make this update short bc this place is already amazing per my previous review. 1.You have to get the cinnamon roll pancake, it's new and seems temporary (it's only on the chalk board) but I'm hoping by some miracle of miracles it gets on the menu permanently. 2.get the biscuit, it's soft, fluffy and full of carbohydrate goodness Avoid the grits, save room for #1

    (5)

  • Aditi G.

    I was really excited to finally try Sweet Maple Cafe, but I was less than thrilled with my experience. When I came inside it was very crowded and I got a seat within a few minutes, which was great. Didn't have to wait long. When I was finally ready to order, I told the waitress that I wanted a fresh squeezed orange juice, and she replied with, "It comes from a box, actually. It's definitely not fresh squeezed." Wow. That's really great marketing right there. 1) If you're going to list fresh squeezed juice on your menu, make sure it's fresh squeezed. 2) If it's NOT fresh squeezed juice, don't tell your customers its not. Strike one. Then I got two eggs over easy with toast and a single pumpkin pancake. Nothing stood out about the food, and the bread probably had the same nutritional value as toilet paper. I will not be back here.

    (1)

  • Lani C.

    A nice quaint little place. Food was decent, a bit over priced for the portions. Mostly everything is considered homemade. Not a huge eating area, so your wait can be a while when they start to get busy. Their chicken breakfast sandwich is pretty tasty, however not very big. Comes with a small side of homemade applesauce. They fill you up with two pieces of toast if you get it, home fries and or a biscuit. Which is really good. Omelets are small, options are fancy. Definitely overpriced with those. Overall, not a bad place to try for two. Any more and you'll feel it in the pocket of your picking up the tab. Decor is nice, rustic and homey. Music was enjoyable.

    (3)

  • Keaunis G.

    I had never heard of this place before, but when my friends and I arrived, there was about a 30-45 minute wait. While waiting, I was thinking to myself, "Oh my, I think we have hit the jackpot on the greatest food in town once again!". The hostess was very friendly, and I am not talking about a "fake" friendly. I could tell that she was genuinely happy to be at work and very happy to see us! Once we were seated, our waitress was very mice as well and she kept our coffee coming. We did not have to wait till our cups were completely full before she came back to check on us. While looking at the menu and trying to decide what to eat for breakfast, we could not decide because everything on the menu sounded delicious! But, when our food came out, we were very happy with our decision! The food tasted phenomenal and was seasoned just right! We talked about how delicious the food was that entire day! I ordered Dr. Glen's Scramble which had red and green peppers, spinach, onions, mushrooms, and cheese. The eggs tasted very fresh, the cheese tasted cheesy and sharp, the vegetables had a slight crunch, but weren't soggy, and the spinach was fresh spinach and not the kind that you get frozen. The scrambler comes with your choice of toast/biscuits, and fries/grits. I chose the fries, which were diced potatoes that were either fried or baked ( I could not tell which one because they weren't greasy), but they were cooked with onions and had a very nice flavor. So delicious! And last but not least, the coffee was pretty tasty as well. I could tell that it was quality coffee and instant or cheap coffee. Overall, I had a great experience with the food and the service!

    (5)

  • Jaime G.

    Good place for breakfast with fast and friendly service. Pancakes, eggs, meat, are good but the rest of the menu is a little bland. Biscuit for example is very floury and bland...no amount of butter, gravy, or even syrup can help this. Their "spicy" sausage gravy is also very bland with no sign of spice or sausage. Cheddar grits were also very bland...could not taste the cheddar here at all. Come here for an old fashioned breakfast but stick to that. Their southern offerings aren't worth the try.

    (3)

  • Joni R.

    I can't believe I've never written a review for Sweet Maples! I've been eating breakfast here for over 5 years! I've been a very bad girl! Ok so here is the low low. You gotta try the Monterey home fries. Red skinned potatoes, crumbled bacon, onion, herbs and Monterey jack cheese all piled together on a plate. Great French toast and the best blueberry pancakes ever are must tries. I love the Taylor street omelette( I eat this one with 3 egg whites/ 1 yolk) and the breakfadt sandwiches are awesome! Everyone loves her biscuits but I'm not really a biscuit fan. Great staff but be prepared to wait on the weekends...heck some weekdays too S.M. is right in the middle of the medical district and the UIC campus( go Flames!) Get in there and eat good!

    (5)

  • Tiffany C.

    I went for breakfast sometime back. For the hype and the wait I really thought I was going to get more. It was just ok. I had the biscuits and gravy and my boyfriend had the oatmeal and home fries. It was nothing to sing about, but it did taste like I made them at home. The meal was a good portion and filling. The restaurant looked like a diner in a small town. Again, nothing to sing about and it really did not create a charm for me. It just looked outdated. The service was fast and they were moving people to get the line down so I appreciated that. It gets crowded on the weekends, so be ready to wait. There is street parking and pay for parking. The Price is reasonably cheap. Probably spend on average $20 - $30 for two people. We did not get drinks. Ill go back and try them again but for a first time I was not impressed.

    (3)

  • Rose P.

    I was expecting good food but was terribly disappointed. We had a party of four that order different plates and it was all subpar. The three cheese omelette was bland and the cheese were not good. The fries were gross dripping with oil. The grits was ok. And the bread was alright. My friend's toasts were semi burnt. No one could finish their plates. It was disappointing and will not return.

    (2)

  • Diva H.

    Great service. The staff was super friendly. Very small space but the food was amazing. I ordered a scrambler and had the potatoes and biscuit with it. YUM! My friend ordered the cinnamon pancakes and they were heavenly. I wish I could have ordered both.

    (5)

  • Christopher V.

    I just walked a mile in the snow hoping this place was good. I am comfortable saying it was Great, and worth that walk. I got Carmen G scramble, came out super fast while I enjoyed the tasty coffee. All the good stuff is present here. They make their own muffins! Kudos.

    (5)

  • Martin P.

    Always a positive dining experience each time I have eaten here. The atmosphere is pleasant with a southern feel and a rustic decor. The service is always friendly and cheerful, the food arrives promptly, and is hot and delicious on each and every occasion. On the weekends you can expect a long line of patrons, so the wait might be a hindrance, as the restaurant is quite small compared to it's large clientele. I have never been disappointed with the food or service. If you want some down home flavor, this is the place.

    (4)

  • Allison J.

    Went for a weekday brunch last week and was delighted by the food and character of this small place. We ordered the French toast and the Carmen G's scrambler with house fries (which are a must have)! The French toast was so fluffy and the maple syrup was delicious (makes sense). The scrambler was also great paired with the house fries. It's definitely a small, unassuming place and the food is worth coming back for!

    (4)

  • Jackie M.

    It's comfort traditional breakfast food. The French Toast was just okay and food doesn't stand out as amazing. I ordered a peach ice tea and was charged $6 . It was nothing special.

    (3)

  • Caitlin B.

    I would actually give this place 2.5 stars if I could. I came here last Saturday for brunch. Originally, I wanted to go to Nightwood, but discovered that they only do brunch on Sundays. We were able to walk right in, but the place was crowded. As soon as we sat down, a line formed that was out the door by the time we were finished. The decor hasn't been updated (ever), and there's no ambiance at all. First- any good brunch place has to have good coffee. Why would any restaurant serve Seattle's Best, especially in Chicago, where there are so many better options?! Gross. I didn't have an issue with the cup, but I'm a small woman. My fiance and his cousin both had issues holding the coffee cup, as it's shaped like a tea cup, and the handle is quite small! Since the place has a variety of southern foods, I decided to try the biscuits and gravy and a side of breakfast potatoes with cheese, jalapenos, and bacon. The biscuit itself was good, but it was so sweet, it tasted strange with the sausage gravy (which was also pretty tepid). The potatoes were much better, but almost anything tastes delicious with melted cheese and bacon. My fiance got a sausage breakfast sandwich, and he liked it. However, the only side option was applesauce- it would be nice to have the option to get potatoes or anything else. His cousin got a sampler plate, which I think is the way to go here. He liked his biscuit, but everything else was pretty mediocre. Overall, I think the biscuits are good, but not good enough to warrant a return visit.

    (2)

  • Jewel L.

    Excellent breakfast

    (4)

  • Ed M.

    So fantastic. I am a pancake junkie and I found the pancakes from heaven! Manna from God! Go sweet maple go!

    (5)

  • Susan C.

    This place came on check please and so I went there. This place is not that big but u might have to wait a little like a half an hour to forty minutes but it's worth the wait. I love there coffee and their breakfast food is really good. The service and waitstaff was great. I would definitely come back here anytime for breakfast since it's one of the go to places I like. I would recommend this place to my family and friends.

    (4)

  • Dennis S.

    Sorry, but I can't give four stars just for great grits and biscuits. Small busy place with good service and good coffee. My three cheese omelet was quite disappointing. It had a thin layer of egg on each side of a thick section of three types of cheese. It was like eating a cheese on white bread sandwich - all cheese. Good bacon, and in generous portions. The grits were as good as they can be, and the biscuit was excellent (and huge). But I doubt I'll make the effort to get back just for good grits, when the rest of the meal was so ordinary and the wait can be long.

    (3)

  • Cher Z.

    This place is as good as it gets and very much worth the wait on a weekend morning. The coffee was excellent, as well the food and service. It is small and can be a little warm in the summer. I highly suggest it!

    (5)

  • XTreats X.

    Giving Sweet Maple 4 stars mostly for character. It has a great old time diner vibe. The food is nothing outrageous but that is what makes it so great. Classic simple dishes. Great corn meal biscuit and the grits are straight forward and super tasty.

    (4)

  • Donald D.

    For a place that looks like a storm ran through it and left a bunch of maple leaves stuck to the wall, this is pretty good. Yes, they got that "shabby chic" thing going but the food is good. The biscuits are good. The eggs are eggy and good. The french toast is apparently good, per my wife, but I've never had it. I like the pancakes and the corned beef and potatoes were really good. If only they could transplant this place to Dallas, it would be really cool. Instead, this place just reminds us of how not great our breakfast joint choices are here. I would say A+! Good job, sir!

    (5)

  • Mercy F.

    It'd delicious, tiny and always has a long line to get in. The staff is friendly, the seats are super crazy tight, on weekends it can get very noisy but the food is the only reason I keep going back.

    (4)

  • Ting L.

    This was our first stop in Chicago. We were yelping and found this spot and decided why not? The food was okay. We ordered the french toast and BLT sandwich to share. The french toast was actually pretty good! The BLT sandwich on the other hand... the bacon has been sitting out for quite some time before it was placed on our sandwich. You can tell the minute you bite into it. The fries were good but the sandwich was not. Our server was really sweet though, so plus points for the great customer service but not crazy about the food.

    (3)

  • Julia S.

    Sweet Maple is one of my favorite brunch places in the city. The food has a very homemade feel to it. Service is good. Wait times can get pretty long during peak hours! My favorite dishes include the diaz y noches scramble, the 18th street scramble, and the french toast. One of the best parts of the menu is that you can get their scramble dishes as half portions and order something else as well to make a full meal. The biscuits are also very fluffy and delicious. We have brought many out of town guests here, and I highly recommend it!

    (4)

  • Lindsay T.

    One of the best breakfast places I've ever been to. There was a long line to get a table but it moved quickly. The service was great and the food was amazing. I got the fried chicken egg and cheese biscuit... The chicken was moist and very flavorful. Then we wanted to try the cinnamon bun pancakes which were unreal!!! Great breakfast spot really so glad we went

    (5)

  • Katya S.

    An easy to miss little breakfast/brunch spot on Taylor Street--not as updated as Stax down the street, but the wait staff is really friendly and the menu is solid. The breakfast tacos are really good, and the breakfast potatoes are delicious as well. Prices are about $8-12 a plate. It gets crowded on weekends and there isn't much seating inside so get there early if you don't want to wait.

    (4)

  • DiAndriana D.

    The cinnamon roll pancakes are amazing and the service is perfect! The coffee is fantastic and I'm never with an empty cup. Wish they were open later!!!

    (5)

  • Alzetta H.

    Returned today in search of redemption and redemption I found! The Monterey Home Fries were amazing, better than I remember and my chicken and egg cheezer was delicious. Service was great as usual. My husband ordered the special soup which was chicken corn chowder and he loved it. He said it taste like the inside of an incredible chicken pot pie. Thanks for a remarkable dining experience.

    (4)

  • Anne K.

    There was a hair on my plate and small hair in my cream for the coffee... The food was just mediocre and they didn't have the cinnamon roll pancake. We had the lemon poppy seed pancake instead and it was really dry. Bacon was too crispy... Not my favorite place at all. I don't know what the hype is about. I'll stick to my usual brunch place the bongo room. It was my fault to seek out a new brunch place. I'd spend my money else where. Oh, and they could update the decor a bit.. Very unimpressed.

    (1)

  • Robin H.

    ABSOLUTELY DIVINE! My husband and I love this place, its our favorite place to get breakfast in Chi. The owners are so sweet.

    (5)

  • Lupe A.

    Great service, great food. Andrea was on the ball, she noticed I needed a coffee reload before I did. We were seated before the rush and enjoyed a homie environment.

    (5)

  • Suzanne S.

    Great place to go for breakfast! Wait times on weekends can be a bit long, but I would definitely recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Sophia Y.

    Not anything fancy.

    (3)

  • Leon H.

    Not awful but not very good. Food was cold. Long wait times. Service was blah... Not worth it...

    (2)

  • Mayank P.

    As with anything worth waiting for so is this brunch place. I had the Maple-opolis omelet (greek style) and a cafe mocha. I think the place has it's charm; and food tasted fresh. However you don't have to go out of your way to come to this place, I'm sure Chicago has plenty of brunch places in it's many diverse neighborhoods; i'm just thankful there is one in mine as well. Enjoy, worth a try!

    (4)

  • Raquel R.

    Completely forgot to write my review on this place, came here about six weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised by the neighborhood, small town feel of this place. It's almost as if this is a "regular" meeting spot for some folks and I don't blame them one bit for choosing this joint to do so. The one downside is that it's rather cozy in here so not much room for more than four to a table and even that could prove a little too close for comfort, depending on where you're seated. I had the daybreak sandwich which SUPER scrumptious, I finished that bad boy like a champ. The biscuit that is comes on is melt in your mouth; not sure if they're made in house but YUMMO. Uncertain of how crowded this place is on the weekends as I came here on a weekday but this place is worth a short wait for sure. Could also prove to be a nice, quaint little brunch date spot too. I would DEF come back to this home-feel joint in a heartbeat.

    (4)

  • Giedre K.

    Adore this restaurant! My fiancee and I go pretty often for brunch and I love the wide range of options on the menu. The biscuits, especially, are delicious!

    (5)

  • Nathaniel C.

    Best breakfast spot so far, food was delicious, staff was very friendly, the decor was very outdated and kinda dirty looking but I think that's what they are going for, place is always busy so I'm sure things are clean in the back where it matter most. Better than Stax (which is down the street) very flavorful and fun place. :))) mmmm biscuits!

    (5)

  • Nik L.

    Meh! Nothing to brag about.....but sufficient, food wasn't bad or anything, just not that good.

    (3)

  • Rhonda B.

    I had been to Sweet Maple years ago, not long after the restaurant had opened and had a very nice experience. A friend was coming into the city and I recommended this as a good place to meet. From the moment we sat down, it was obvious that they were trying to rush us out. We did order breakfast and ate. We were not offered refills on our coffee, the moment we finished, our table was cleared and we were asked to leave, all in less than an hour. I was so embarrassed, especially since we were there on my recommendation. The food was fine, but not good enough for the treatment that we received. I will not return.

    (2)

  • Cheyenne C.

    My Lord. Dat biscuit tho. Stopped in while waiting for a nearby appointment to split the 2 eggs, biscuit, and bacon with an orange juice and coffee. The eggs and bacon were standard, the juice fresh squeezed and coffee fresh, but let's be honest: we came for their sweet milk biscuit, which did not disappoint. Will be back to try it with gravy! Service was sweet and unobtrusively accommodating; total came to $16 for 2 drinks and 1 meal. Perfect for a weekday pit stop: we were in and out in less than 30 minutes.

    (5)

  • Ariel H.

    Sweet maple special!!!! I always get this... With a side of cheese grits!!! Has anyone ever wondered why grits are so delicious? They also have amazing pancakes!!! On Fridays they have fish!!! Gloriously fried catfish nugget!! YES DO IT PLEASE!! Everyone I bring here falls in love...

    (4)

  • Zaneta S.

    I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at this establishment. Although I'm not a fan of waiting for a table to open up when it's not Mother's Day, I'm glad I did. My sister and I went on a Thursday late morning/early afternoon for breakfast and we were treated well. We were told the wait was approximately 20-30 minutes. So, we walked around the area and stretched our legs rather than return to the car or perch outside the restaurant on the sidewalk in plastic chairs. Although it is a "cozy" place (code word for small and potentially cramped) the service was excellent! I also like that they don't make you feel like you have to rush to order and eat (although there are obviously others waiting outside for you to finish and get up lol). From the ladies that greeted us and took our name, to the ones that seated and served us...to the gentleman that lifted my son (and daughter) into their high chairs...they were wonderful! All very friendly, professional, and efficient. Now on to the food. It was, for the most part part, a delightful experience. I did not have much expectation regarding their food since I'd never been there before, but hoped it would satisfy my taste for good breakfast. We ordered the Carmen G's Scramble, Not-So-Plain Buttermilk Pancakes, and A Couple of Eggs. The reason I'm only giving it 4 stars, instead of 5, is because the only blip on my culinary radar was the pancakes...and the lack of a children's menu. The pancakes...in my honest opinion, were not to my liking. The order of [only] two pancakes came without any sides, etc. The was not the issue, since they were nice sized. However, they were a bit "eggy" for my taste". I am a proponent that pancakes should be light, fluffy and tastefully simple (especially if they're buttermilk)! These...not so much. If the "egginess" weren't enough, they had some spices in the batter which threw me off a bit. (Perhaps reminiscent of an allspace, or cinnamon/nutmeg?) The syrup was fine, as was the butter and whipped cream (yum). The biscuits were "good" but I'm sure would have been even better if my butter would've melted and they'd been a little more moist. But I set it under my eggs and it melted a bit...added some jam and it was tasty. :) Their prices weren't terribly expensive, but I felt their menu would benefit from smaller meal options for children (or light eaters lol). They did offer to do a half-order of pancakes and something else, but I didn't want them to have a meal of 1 pancake...so we ordered several things and shared. The eggs...scrambles...wonderful! Coffee...fine. Bacon...fine (but who can mess that up, anyway?). All in all, I am glad I went and I'd go again.

    (4)

  • Judie G.

    Consistently great quality. I like my eggs poached medium. They get them right every time. My friend likes bacon "not too crispy" - again, right every time. Among my favorite Sweet Maple items: Lemon Raspberry pancakes, ham (cut off the bone), and the BISCUITS! Love the people. Love the food. So worth waiting in line....

    (5)

  • Chhavi S.

    We used to go here for brunch every weekend for the past year, until I finally realized that their potatoes are fried in bacon. I could tell by the smell for a while, and I ignored it since it always tasted so damn good! But the last time we ordered it, I had giant pieces of bacon in my potatoes which absolutely disgusted me. I don't eat bacon, and it would be nice of them to at least say that the potatoes are fried in bacon and give an alternative. Unfortunately, we will not be returning. But if you don't mind bacon, this place is the BEST. It's not very expensive and the portions are decent. The food is absolutely delicious if you're not a vegetarian!

    (3)

  • JRchicago R.

    It was ok, this place sounds good, maybe I just have bad luck. A breakfast rule I have is that the potato amount should not take the majority of the plate space. I ordered the 18th st scrambler and received a very small portion of scrambler (quarter of plate). The scrambler itself was ok . It doesn't have true 18th st chorizo, however. My wife was not impressed with her dish either.

    (2)

  • Ria S.

    My hubby really likes this place. I think the food is just okay. It's not good enough to justify the long wait & the tiny eating space.

    (3)

  • Katie R.

    so yummy. so fattening. the food here is VERY good (notable are the biscuits, pancakes, and cheesy grits - also had the fish n eggs - the breading on the fish is no joke). however, due to the mentioned items above, it is very easy to have a carb-heavy, fat-heavy breakfast because you can't order just one thing! the food tastes like it came straight from the south and is very comforting. coffee is good. our waitress was great. she split all of our checks up without us even asking - nice!

    (4)

  • Clare S.

    Hands down the best place we ate while visiting Chicago. I am pregnant and very particular about what I will eat and I wanted everything I saw here. The biscuits and omelets are divine.

    (5)

  • Anne W.

    The biscuits here are SO GOOD!!!! I've gotten their corned beef hash here and you can definitely tell that it's not from a can. Also, huge portions! The pancakes are also pretty fantastic. These pancakes are pretty large however and are basically as big as the entire plate. Therefore I recommend that if you aren't all that hungry you should probably just go with a half order of pancakes so you get one platter sized pancake rather than two! Kind of disappointed however that their orange juice isn't freshly squeezed.

    (4)

  • Mike M.

    Tremendous hole in the wall breakfast diner on Taylor Street. I had an omelet that was really good. The long line indicates that this place is really good, and just like waiting in line for a roller coaster, this was definitely worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Molly S.

    I've been here multiple times and it never disappoints! The scrambles are amazing and their sweet stuff is too! My only complaint is that sometimes my coffee never gets refilled!

    (4)

  • Oscar S.

    Phenomenal pancakes!!!!!! Had a really good breakfast.I made sure to try their bisquits alot of you Yelpers recommended.They were good.But the side of pancakes stole the show in my opinion!!!!! Theres a few items on the menu that I definetely will have to come back for.Totally recommending Sweet Maple Cafe.Pleasant experience!!!!

    (5)

  • Johanna R.

    Cozy place with great service . I had the french toast and ham, food was good but nothing to rave about. I would go again because of the service and atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Katherine D.

    Sweet Maple is one of the must go to brunch places in Chicago! There is no place like sweet maple, the biscuits are delicious and the service is excellent. They normally close at 3 but totally worth the awkward wait along the wall.

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    The only reason I am giving this place a three-star rating instead of 4 was because it was SO DAMN HOT. It was 90 degrees out, we had to wait an hour or so on a Friday around lunchtime to get a bite, and there were two window air conditioning units that just weren't cutting it. If I'm indoors and not at the gym, I don't expect to be sweating. That said, the food was spot on. Good, southern, comfort food with a few options of dessert for breakfast. They had interesting drinks too--non-alcoholic--but interesting nevertheless. Worth the wait.

    (3)

  • Michael D.

    The Sweet Maple Café is located on Taylor St. in the Little Italy community area. It is open for breakfast and lunch every day and serves a very good selection of diner food that includes daily specials in a medium-sized utilitarian dining room. This diner opened in 1999 by its owner/manager Laurene Hynson, and my wife and I started to heavily patronize it a couple of years later. The food was always exceptional and the service friendly and attentive. We also became fairly well acquainted with Ms. Hynson who was on-site most of the time and who we found to be extremely personable and friendly. After a while, however, this eatery became so popular that long waiting lines extending out the front door became the norm. This was no doubt due to Ms. Hynson's business acumen, her prioritizing customer satisfaction, and her endearing personality. But as a consequence of me not liking to wait in long lines, our visits fell off. I still go there on occasion but only if I drive by and observe no (or very short) lines, which is still infrequent. Using my screening procedure, I recently stopped in for breakfast with my wife and another couple. After about a 10-minute wait we were seated. Shortly thereafter Ms. Hynson warmly greeted us and we chatted for a bit. We all ordered egg dishes that included a couple of Scrambles. I had eggs over easy accompanied by sausage patties, a biscuit, and a fruit cup substituted for the home fries or grits. My egg dish was very well prepared, and everyone commented that their food was delicious. Later during the end of our meal, Ms. Hynson stopped by again to check on our breakfasts, and we all told her everything was excellent. All the food I ever had at the Sweet Maple Café has been first-rate. One of my favorite breakfast dishes are the pancakes accompanied by pure Vermont maple syrup that I contend are the best in town. But don't pass up the biscuits, which are huge and marvelous. In my opinion the Sweet Maple Café offers exceptional diner food. If waiting bothers you, try to go at off-peak hours. You surely will be glad you tried it.

    (5)

  • Dawn D.

    My cousins and I use to meet here every other Saturday morning a few years ago. So, it had been a while and I totally forgotten about how fab and tasty the food is. One thing I didn't forget-arrive at 6:55am! I'm an early bird, its a curse having the name Dawn.. Anywho, I made a recent visit and I'm happy to know nothing has changed. It's still that- eat with no conversation type of food. Allowing it to savor. I had the Fish N Eggs. I went to undergrad in the Atl so catfish and grits are a normal staple. I have no words, just a lot of hmmm, hmmm. To go I got Pick A Pepper fries, 'cause I'm greedy like that. ;)

    (5)

  • Betty H.

    Definitely something different when you see fried chicken livers for breakfast, but opted for a veggie omelette, was really happy with it

    (4)

  • Adrienne W.

    Although it isn't the prettiest or the most trendy looking place, the food is wonderful. I have never been disappointed and I make a point to bring out of town guests here and they always thank me for it. I wish it were larger because the weekend wait can be crazy, especially Sundays.

    (5)

  • Natalie M.

    Sweet Maple Cafe reminds you of your grandmother's kitchen. The food simple, yet tasty, and the decor is unpretentious. The wait on a Sunday at 9:20am for two people was 20minutes, because it is a TINY restaurant. There is no waiting area to speak of, and as you stand against the wall you get the feeling that you are spying on the parties sitting close to you. It is often hard to find fluffy pancakes, with the proper texture and flavor, but I have to say my pumpkin spice pancakes did not disappoint in the slightest. The home fries were southern goodness, onions, pepper and salt rounded out the heaven that is a potato. The coffee is delicious, although the cups are tinier than I would prefer. The staff is hardworking, and they do leave you be in order to enjoy your breakfast, most likely that is because there are many other tables that need their attention. I only gave Sweet Maple Cafe three stars, because when I head out to brunch, I long for something a bit more sophisticated and unusual. Thanks to Ginger D. i can get homefries and fluffy pancakes any time she sees fit to grace me with her cooking fairy magic, I head to restaurants to enjoy dishes I cannot make at home, or do not get to enjoy very often. Sweet Maple's menu provides nothing out of the ordinary. More likely than not I will be back, but because of this it will never be on the top of my list of places to dine for brunch.

    (3)

  • Anthony A.

    Went and tried several things from here. They had a special lemon poppy seed pancake with lemon glaze. So good. Regular pancakes were good, the red potatoes with onions and eggs were delicious. And the biscuits were awesome of course!

    (5)

  • Paul G.

    The price, the service, and the food. Egg and cheeser on a biscuit with cheddar. Get it. 5$

    (5)

  • Meera T.

    This place is plenty different from Stax down the street. Stax is more modern and up to date, whereas Sweet Maple is more rustic and homey for breakfast. Both have their own strengths. I liked the classic breakfasts I could get at Sweet Maple, especially since they included their to-die-for biscuits! Their omelets were perfectly seasoned and delicious. Service is standard, but the place can get a bit crowded. Make sure you come early! I'm also not a fan of the decor on their walls. It's meant to be artsy, but it just makes it look as if the paint is peeling off. It doesn't affect their food though, so they can keep whatever design they please.

    (4)

  • todd s.

    Good Sevice and atmosphere. Food was tasty. We had egg dishes. My Serving was average size. However it might have been because I had a healthy omelet. I'd go again if I was in the neighborhood and hungry for breakfast.

    (3)

  • Cheree M.

    My husband first brought me to Sweet Maple when we first began dating and I must admit, I was a bit skeptical. The place is small and the line was long. However, it was well worth it. I love Lauren's Little tacos but I have never had anything I didn't like here. I'm not a biscuit kinda girl but their biscuits are so good. The pancakes and the home fries....*getting hungry *. Everyone is super friendly and you just feel so welcomed whenever you go. If only they could open several more locations???!!!! Great food, service, location and of course the price.

    (5)

  • Chrissy W.

    Ok, so it's been a while since I've made the trek into the city for breakfast at this little gem, but I still have dreams about those home fries. Oh gawd. I want them now and it's a Friday night. And they're closed. *Tear* This place was unbelievable quaint and perfect for a nice breakfast in between a friend's classes. The staff was super friendly. The food was fantastic. The biscuits were delightful and obviously, the home fries were memorable to say the least. The place was pretty crowded, but it's not hard to see why. Everything about this place screams breakfast for foodies. If I make it back into that neighborhood any time soon, I may just have to stop in for a meal. Or maybe a special trip in just for that sweet treat.

    (4)

  • S M.

    Went to this cafe last week and loved it! Hot chocolate was good, coffee was respectable and food was all delicious! The biscuit was off the hook! We are coming back!!!

    (5)

  • Karen N.

    5 stars for their biscuits. I really love them and am willing to wait about 45 mins on a Saturday for a table.

    (5)

  • Roseanne S.

    YUMMY! Great breakfast place. It's a little small and I'm usually waiting for a bit before I can actually get a table. Big gripe with the people who hog an entire table and they're just drinking coffee. I see the waitresses' frustration at times when this happens, because there are paying customers like me waiting for some breakfast and these table hoarders won't move. Anyway, the food is superb. The potatoes are cooked in onions that are glazed or something. I don't typically like onions but they really make the potatoes taste really good. OMG the biscuits. I believe heaven is lined with these biscuits. Try the egg and cheeser. Comes on this heaven-sent biscuit. Sweet Maple Cafe takes the standard breakfast up a notch. Well done.

    (4)

  • Gina S.

    Ever feel like your invisible? For a moment we did, it was a little awkward when we arrived we stood just inside the entrance unsure if it was a seat yourself kind of place. There is no host, so we waited until a wait staffer saw us a nodded to an open table for us to sit at. The floors are unfinished, at best. The tables and chairs and plastic tablecloth reminded me of my grandma's kitchen. The art on the walls were small and few. The walls were painted to look worn, either that or they really were worn. It's a no frills decor kind of place. Our server was really sweet. She must have been working half of the tables in the restaurant but she was managing very well. Nothing really jumped out at me about the menu. I contemplated the french toast but really wanted eggs too. The hubby went with a That's Italian scramble: eggs, red & green peppers, with Romano and mozzarella cheese. I had an omelet, something Maple-Opolis: spinach, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, with feta & mozzarella cheese. Basic side options, toast or a biscuit with grits or home fries...we both went with toast and the home fries. The home fries were really good, pan fried skin-on potato cubes with peppers and onion. The food was okay. But I actually liked my Stax Cafe experience better...it had to have been the mini side waffles.

    (3)

  • Samuel M.

    Breakfasts at restaurants often suffer from being excessively gussied up, with florid and whimsical concoctions crafted to hide poorly cooked eggs and pancakes. Rare is it the case to find a breakfast joint with a nonsense coefficient of zero, that is also excellent. Sweet Maple is one of these rare gems, serving up Southern-influenced breakfast fare. Omelettes ($7.60-$11.25) are served french-style and custardy, with normal but impeccably well-executed flavor combinations. Pancakes and french toast are decadent, and coffee is fresh and hot (and sub-$2). The best element of the experience, however, is probably the enormous sweet biscuit that comes with any entree, if you so choose. It's like a cloud, except with more carbs and fat, but dadgum if it ain't worth it. Pricing is fair, and service is friendly but quick (to hasten the moving of the perpetually out-the-door-and-around-the-corner line). All in all, Sweet Maple earns five stars because they get that, just because I'm out for breakfast, it doesn't mean that I need passion fruit hollandaise on my omelet, or lavender in my pancakes. They keep it simple, and the result is an absolute home run.

    (5)

  • Candace W.

    Pros: Cute, quaint place that is very welcoming. We were seated promptly and the waitress was nice and attentive. Cons: The food was ok. It wasn't bad, just not spectacular and a little pricey. This, however did not lead me to take off stars. The issue I had is getting kicked out. I went with two colleagues for a business meeting. We strategically planned to come after the breakfast crowd trying to get to work, and before the lunch crowd on a Monday morning. After approximately 45 minutes (from the time we were seated), it was clear they wanted us to leave. First the busboy started clearing our plates. Then, he returned to start cleaning the table to the point where my colleague asked "would you like us to leave." He did not respond. Five minutes later, the hostess asked if we needed anything and made sure we knew the check was on the table by picking it up and showing it to us! I was livid considering we were having a meeting. Of course we did not plan to stay all day but to be rushed out after 45 minutes is ridiculous. I would fully expect that on a weekend when they have a two hour wait, but I should not have to go down the street to the Starbucks to finish my conversation. Unacceptable! If I wanted to be rushed I'd eat at McDonald's drive-thru.

    (3)

  • Denise W.

    I went here yesterday for breakfast to catch up with my friend. Where the food was phenomenal, the front door service left a lot to be desired. I waited in line for about ten minutes before there was a table open for two people. My friend was not too far away and I asked if I could be sat and order for her. I was told that when she got there she would have to stand in line as an individual table and by no means could she join me when she arrived. To me, this is not a sign of a restaurant that puts the customer service experience first. Why was she not allowed to join me if I were in fact ordering for her?! I was so ticked off but I had invested time and energy standing in line so I decided to go ahead and wait. I had a Mexican dish she had the banana pancakes. We both enjoyed our food but the entire service experience with the greeter definitely left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I would not recommend this small restaurant (only 15 tables) if the focus on customer service is not there from the minute you walk in. Get it together! 2 stars for food alone. Kuddos to the cooks!!

    (2)

  • Lupe D.

    I have been a Sweet Maple fan for many many years. I have never had a bad meal here and can say honestly that I literally dream about those biscuits. Today I had their special pancakes of the day - Lemon Raspberry and they rocked my world. However, I was so so sad at the same time because I had probably one of the worst experiences in terms of service that I've had in a while anywhere....and that says a lot because when it comes to the service industry I try my best to be forgiving because I know what a hard job it is., but when it is blatant in your face I feel almost hurt, especially when it's unprovoked. We were treated like second hand citizens, never checked on, had to chase our server down for everything, the check was literally thrown on our table - I couldn't wait to get out of there. All the while the table next to us - served by the same person, was constantly checked on, getting all smiles, waited on hand and foot. Why??? No reason at all. Now I could be a petty bitch and give Sweet Maple zero, (well, one) stars based on this experience because I was really upset about this, but I have been here many times before and know 1 - that this person is not representative of their staff and 2 - that their food is stellar and this establishment shouldn't be judged on 1 bad experience - but wow... if it weren't for how good those damn lemon pancakes were, I was ready to walk out in a hissy fit. Seriously though, I hope this never happens again to anyone, especially new customers, I can guarantee they will NOT come back no matter how good the food is. UPDATE: Since posting my review, management has reached out to me and apologized for my experience, for that I am grateful. =)

    (4)

  • Cassie S.

    This place is definitely A-OK. Nothing to rave about but nothing to complain about either. We came at 1ish on a Saturday afternoon and were lucky to get seated within about 10 minutes. I was pretty excited for this - I've heard people pumping Sweet Maple Cafe up for a few years now and was looking forward to experiencing it for myself. I knew when I looked at the menu that I was likely going to be disappointed. I found it odd how much of it was dedicated to egg dishes, given the name of the place. You'd think there would be more sweet options. Or a side order of pancakes. In fact, had there been a side order of pancakes, it probably would have pushed this to a 4 star review, because I could have ordered what I actually wanted. Instead, I had the banana pancakes. They were good. When you first get them, you don't see any bananas, which is concerning, but not to worry - they are inside the pancakes. They were served with butter and a little plastic container of maple syrup. Kinda stingy. And you had to pay extra if you wanted a second one. No thanks, I made do with the one. And my food was really good, as was the food of my brunch companions. But I don't know - the weirdness about the maple syrup combined with the menu... I probably won't be hurrying back. There are too many better places to brunch.

    (3)

  • Liz J.

    This is my absolute favorite local breakfast spot located in the heart of little Italy. The place is small so very limited seating. This places reminds me of breakfast at grandmas. If you like southern breakfast you'll love this place. They have delicious grits, specialty pancakes, and omelettes.. really everything is amazing!!! Everything is fresh made to order. Overall great place. Expect a wait, I recommend the earlier the better.

    (5)

  • Dana D.

    Lets start off but saying the place was quite cute and I enjoyed the small little setting. The staff was fantastic, very warm and pleasant. One waitress handle a pretty rude customer very professional and handled herself very well. I would be a proud manager. Well lets start with the food. The selection was pretty good from omelettes to pancakes to soup. Also they had their seasonal chalkboard menu as well which added to the atmosphere. My boyfriend had the apple cinnamon pancakes, TO DIE FOR! Fantastic. I had a vegetable scrambler of some sort, which was fairly good. The potatoes were amazing and had to replicate them as a breakfast as well as dinner side at home. Portion sizes for the could of bigger for the drinks. Also its a bummer that it closes at 2pm but that's most great breakfast joints. I will be back for sure and cant wait to bring some other friends along to enjoy the experience. :)

    (4)

  • Maggie R.

    I typically don't like breakfast food but oh lord their food is scrumptious! I had their "chorizo eggs w/ a biscuit and potatoes" and I finished the whole meal (a first)! They have very generous portions and their service was top-notch. The only drawback is the wait for a table (30minutes) and the seating area is very small. Hopefully expansion is in this rest. owner's future plans.

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    Boy oh boy do i miss sweet maple cafe..Traditional breakfast with a southern twist. I used to live on Fillmore street right behind it for 4 years so my roommate and I used to get "to-go" alll the time!! What a great feeling to walk in , get our bags of delicious food and make everyone in line drool as we walked out the door! I moved to Albuquerque, NM and have yet to have a biscuit (sweet milk ..yumm) and sausage gravy even half as good as the ones here... just to DIE FOR. Their corned beef hash is SO good and made with FRESH corned beef not the canned stuff... actual thick chunks of corned beef with a lot of fresh onions/parsley. I also love the hot cheddar grits! Even their warm vermont maple syrup is way above average. It goes great with the holiday french toast when I have a sweet tooth. The wait here can get pretty crazy on weekends so taking it to-go is a great option. They are pretty quick and they take such care in packaging everything wrapping in plastic wrap so things don't spill etc...They have this down to a science!

    (5)

  • Kristen L.

    I went on two separate occasions and each time, the bf and I had to wait about 20-30 minutes. The first time we went, we thought it was awesome...we wiped our plates clean and were satisfied customers. The second time we went, we were equally satisfied but decided that it was definitely not as special as we thought. I ordered the Sweet Maple Special which came with eggs, homefries (potatoes cut into cubes then cooked with onions and green peppers), sausage and a biscuit and I also ordered a side of cheddar grits. The biscuit and cheddar grits definitely made the meal. The biscuit is GINORMOUS and is nice and fluffy on the inside. As soon as you cut it open and slather it with butter or jam, it instantly melts. Delish. Now, most people I've talked to don't really like grits, but I LOVE them! The texture is what gets me and though it is very bland without any salt, sugar or whatever you prefer to mix in, the cheddar incorporated into it was the icing on the cake. It gave the grits a more smooth and creamy consistency and the taste was phenomenal. I only gave it three stars because I felt as though this was something I could have done myself and for the price, it isn't worth it. The service is good and the people are always friendly, but always in a rush. The only bad thing is the wait and how crammed it is inside because people are always coming in and out. Overall, Sweet Maple is okay, but being on Taylor, there's a whole lot of other places to try out if this is not your cup of tea.

    (3)

  • Jeff W.

    What a great place! Stopped in for lunch, ended up eating breakfast. We timed it just right and sat right down at the last open table, then watched a good sized line form at the door. It would have been worth the 20-30 minute wait. Between my friend and I, we had an egg/chicken/jalapeño scramble, one of their dressed up home fries dishes (three different kinds of peppers and cheddar cheese!), french toast, a side of scrambled eggs with cheese, and cheddar cheese grits. I tried all of it except the french toast. The eggs were delicious, and the home fries are nothing short of a miracle...seriously tasty! The grits were kinda bland (I was hoping for more cheese), but they were still the best of my limited experience with grits. The service was fast and friendly. Our waitress gave us some good natured ribbing about the quantity of food we ordered, and she kept the coffee cups full. The space itself is small and unpretentious, it's comfortable and clean. I'm definitely going back!

    (5)

  • Shradha A.

    I judge my breakfast haunts by the french toast and the french toast here was quite disappointing, The description on the menu states it's thick slices of challah bread when in reality it's regular modern white bread! It also came out absolutely cold. The muffin was okay too but the orange juice, while not freshly squeezed on-site, was good.

    (2)

  • Diana F.

    I don't know what say other than this place is simply a gem. Been coming here since college and I'll continue to come here for breakfast. It's a bit pricey. I only come here to get the Taylor Street omelette and home fries. Sometimes they'll have a bad day and service will suck, but I don't care for that. I feel like I know the girls that work there so I give them a break. On the weekends, If you want to get a seat right away come early in the morning before 9 a.m. I know it's early, but trust me the lines get long after 9 a.m. My husband and I have been going to Maples for some time now and we always get there between 8:15 to 8:30 a.m. The best part of waking up early on the weekend is eating my Taylor Street omelet, home fries, and a homemade biscuit.

    (5)

  • Jen C.

    Get there early or you will wait, but definitely go. My family unfortunately does not venture to Taylor St often; however I have a feeling we will doing so more frequently after our visit to Sweet Maple Cafe. The scrambles are a steal of a deal without potatoes or toast in addition to the muffins. Superb service - low key but attentive. Everyone loved their meals and an order of pancakes will fill up 2 adults in my opinion. And they have high hairs and it is kid friendly in addition to the free parking in the lot across the street. Major win!

    (5)

  • Chanel W.

    I really wanted to like this place and hoped that the thirty minute wait would be worth every minute, but I left disappointed. I ordered blueberry pancakes and the brunch special which was salmon patties. First, I asked the waitress if fresh blueberries are used and she told me yes. My pancakes had berries that had been frozen or canned or something. I cook fresh blueberry pancakes at home so i know how the berries look and taste cooked. Just be truthful about it. Next, my salmon patties looked and tasted like tuna patties. Absolutely awful. I make these from scratch at home too so I know these were no where near up to snuff. Maybe they mix a little salmon with a lot of tuna and hope we don't know the difference? I was really hoping the food would be good enough to inspire better cooking in my kitchen, but that didn't happen. On a positive note, the cheese grits and biscuits were good. But please don't order the " salmon".

    (2)

  • Kristin M.

    Cute, little place for breakfast! We enjoyed our food. Free parking across the street. I ordered French Toast and my fiance ordered the home fries, scrambled eggs, sausage and a biscuit. O and their home fries and biscuits are DELICIOUS! Definitely worth trying! :) We went on a Sunday morning around 10AM and our wait was around 20 minutes. Next time, we will call ahead and make reservations.

    (5)

  • alexandra k.

    I heard about this place when I moved to Chicago about 18 months ago, but the wait is always long on weekends, so when I had a morning off from work, I gathered a few friends to join in this long-awaited experience. From reviews, I walked in the door ready to order me some french toast, but then the waitress mentioned their special as we were preparing to order -- pumpkin spice pancakes -- and since I've been on the hunt to try as many pumpkin offerings as possible this fall, I made the last minute decision to swap. My fellow breakfasters ordered the french toast and the other heralded choice of biscuits and gravy. Let me preface my review with a description of how I love pumpkin. I don't love a lot of pumpkin spices because they tend to overpower the mild flavor of pumpkin in things like store-bought pies, but want enough that they enhance the pumpkin. And I'm sad to say that -- with the reputation that sweet maple has and with my love for pumpkin -- that my pancakes were a unfortunate disappointment. The pancakes weren't fluffy (they weren't flat, they just weren't fluffy), and even with my preference for a milder pumpkin flavor than most, there was barely a taste of pumpkin. Sadness. I didn't get to try the french toast or the biscuits and gravy, but my friend CLEANED UP that B&G serving dish, so I'm pretty sure it was tasty. And service was good and got seated right away on a Friday morning. Maybe I will come back to try your french toast someday, but for your pancakes I will not.

    (3)

  • Maria G.

    The food is phenomenal, I have tried the French toast, chorizo tacos, and pancakes (not all in one sitting!) and loved all of them. The only thing tricky about this place is that it's always jam packed! There maybe a long wait! But even so the staff is kind and does not rush you.

    (5)

  • Haley F.

    This is one of my favorite breakfast places in Chicago. My friends and I come here every summer when we are all home from school for brunch and are never disappointed. It is the perfect place to get yourself some southern comfort food. The pancakes are fantastic as are a lot of the egg dishes. Since I am a vegetarian, I have not personally tasted the corned beef and hash but I have heard nothing but wonderful things about it. Several of my friends have ordered it and loved it. The interior is warm and inviting and not too loud so that you can still enjoy a conversation with friends even if the place is crowded. The only complaint I would have is that there are five of us so we always have at least a twenty minute wait for a table and then another wait for food. The staff is very friendly and accommodating for us every year, but I would still put out the warning for bigger groups that you will have to wait. The nice thing is it is located on a fantastic little street that is great to walk around on to check out other restaurants or dessert places. Even though this cafe isn't located in one of the "hippest" neighborhoods in the city, it is well worth a trip on the blue line (Racine stop) for some morning or afternoon grub.

    (5)

  • Eden S.

    Biscuits...where it's at! Fo sho! I am a hardcore visitor of this place and feel guilty walking in since I'm a regular, but they do breakfast food so well! I keep it simple and order a couple of eggs, two sausage patties, and the BISCUIT. Seriously, I have dreams about this. This is my go to place when I am near UIC/Little Italy. Sure the pancakes are great, and the home fries are too, but there is something about that damn biscuit that makes me coming back time and time again. Wonderful waitstaff and owner. No complaints.

    (5)

  • D S.

    Best Pancakes Ever!!!! You will love the Biscuits and Muffins as well.

    (5)

  • Alex E.

    Great breakfast place! Girlfriend and I went on a Saturday morning. We had to wait about 20 mins which kind of sucked but well worth it. Girlfriend got the custom home fries with mushrooms, green peppers, American cheese, and cheddar cheese (home fries come with onion). Plus she got sunny side up and a biscuit on the side. It was more than enough food for her so she divided the potatoes in half to sage half for later and put the eggs on top of the other half to make her own skillet. It was delicious! We loved the crispy red potatoes and the subtle flavors. We always put a ton if tabasco on so it always tastes great! I got the protein scramble which came with home fries and a biscuit. I loved it and also ended up having leftovers. Overall, food is great. Wait kind of sucks but well worth it. Price wasn't bad - about $10 a dish. The place overall is kind of weird. The paint on the walls looks like its coming off but I think that's what they're going for... It has a very old southern feel to it but not in a nice classy way. Def go check it out for yourself!

    (4)

  • Vishnu V.

    Decent breakfast !! Need more choice of eggs ...cramped up place !!

    (2)

  • Why W.

    Charming place. We got there early on a Sunday morning, about 8. On a Sunday you cannot complain about a line if you go to restaurants as church gets out - I get so tired of people complaining about a line. Duh! Anyway, I really liked the options and the menu. The food was very good, and great coffee. Service was great too and offering to make substitutions on something I couldn't eat - that was refreshing. I liked it. I'd go back. I think it would be my go-to cafe if I lived in the neighborhood. I wouldn't mind if they doubled the space, I think they could fill it up with the line that formed as we were leaving.

    (4)

  • Dennis J.

    We were intrigued by the long lines that formed at the door every weekend and decided to check it out for breakfast. I have no idea why this place is so popular. We ordered standard breakfast dishes, including french toast, and were expecting something amazing given all the positive reviews. There was nothing spectacular about this place, nothing extraordinary at all. The food was nothing to write home about. I would much rather pay less and go to White Palace Grill, or go down the street to Stax.

    (2)

  • Colleen C.

    Tried and true! A solid brunch option, though it ain't a secret....folks. Despite my inability to be patient at breakfast time (coffeeeeeeeeeeee, nowwwwww!), we gave Sweet Maple Cafe a "go" because we have a source in the village that could go put our name in post haste. Thus, a mere 2 minute wait upon arrival as opposed to about 45 minutes (weekend). You'll notice a legion of people waiting outdoors in plastic chairs. Sweet Maple Cafe is an institution and people come from far and wide to dine here for breakfast/brunch on the weekends. Prepare thyselves. It's not a yuppie brunch spot....but we do coexist peacefully there with the regulars. All are welcome, it would seem. Once in...it was noted that the propensity to shoehorn people in was avoided. Excellent. Plenty of elbow room, comfortable tables, and did not feel like a sardine can. I realize this makes the inevitable wait longer, but they do turn the tables fast and breakfast is actually enjoyable. Bonus! The decor looks as if it hasn't changed in approximately 20 years, but it does have a nice homey feel and the buzz is light and airy. Service was stellar. Coffee refills abound, cute waitress, lots of bus boys, food arrived swiftly and at the correct temperature. They've been doing this awhile, and they've got this meal down to a science. Taylor Street Omelette Fontina Cheese, tomato, basil w/ sausage: WONDERFUL. fluffy, fresh and flavorful. $10 for an omelette? Hmmph. Apparently they do realize peeps will continue to come at any price, but I do find this to be a bit exorbitant for this neighborhood and offerings. There you have it. A solid option, midweek recommended...weekends are going to be awhile, but if you come prepared (drink coffee first) you'll survive. Or, you could make friends with me and I could run a side business getting people into here with minimal wait times...but I doubt my compadre in Little Italy is going to be down, so ya know...patience is a virtue ;) Starbucks is a short walk (for the wait period) and parking (street) is very easy. If you can't bear it, Stax is about a 1 minute walk west...and should be a viable brunch option for those in dire need.

    (4)

  • Peter D.

    Not so bad. I think it is not worth the long wait that many suffer through before being seated at the restaurant. I honestly think that their french toast and pancakes are very well priced considering the portions you are getting (massive!) but there is nothing that is super exclusive or amazingly tasty for me to come back here. Helpful staff and decent little decor. I think there has to be some better brunch joints (Ann Sather's!) in the city.

    (3)

  • Janice G.

    I love Sweet Maple Cafe. I particularly love their biscuits and often stop to get one to go. My only wish is that they opened at 6 instead of 7.

    (4)

  • Kim L.

    I've been enjoying, homey, comfort food brunches here for the past 10 years every time I visit my sis..and I love Sweet Maple!! Although you'll likely have to wait on a Saturday or Sunday morning it will be worth every minute. The dishes are tasty, country style served in traditional midwest portions that are huge! It's a great place to eat at with family and friends and the cute country atmosphere and kind service always bring a smile to my face, and belly.

    (5)

  • Martha Z.

    My favorite breakfast place and well worth the wait. And trust me, I'm not big on waiting...for anything. I've tried to plan and research and graph the best time to get here to avoid having to endure the wait and standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers and hovering over people eating. It's not foolproof, but every time we've been rather lucky and seated within 15 minutes. Enough of that, let's move on to grub. I have been fixated on the corned beef hash and have yet to order anything else. Reminder to self: remember to add onions to hash for extra flavor boost. So you are asking, what's the big deal, I can get corned beef hash out of can or from any greasy spoon. But here's the thing, this corned beef is the real deal. Like chopped up bits of corned beef, not something that has been processed up x a 1,000,000. It's sooo good and paired with that ridiculously dense and flaky biscuit and sweet butter, what could be better? There ain't no way, I am getting anything else accomplished after this meal. Coffee is tasty and service is usually efficient. And they take plastic, woohoo!

    (5)

  • Marian H.

    loved it! my only complaint after visiting the Cafe several years ago, was the line waiting inches from the tables where patrons are eating. Love the food, the feeling of being at Mama's table and the cheery wait staff. Sincerely Yeye Lynvonne WCSU iHeart radio...

    (5)

  • Darren F.

    woke up early and decided i want breakfast food so i came here with couple of early bird friends. had to wait 25 mins before we get seated.. service was nice and friendly.. i ordered the bacon,eggs, and biscuit with a side of pancakes.. the bacon was cooked just right, eggs was kind of bland, the biscuit was eh.. kind of dry.. the pancake was gooooood.. very soft and fluffy... it sure hit the spot! the food I've tried so far was just average besides their pancakes.. don't know was it worth the 25 min wait but.. if i was to crave for pancakes early in the morning.. i would come back haha

    (3)

  • Kristina F.

    Oh man, we just went back for a second time and following the advice of a yelp reviewer tried the home fries, specifically the Monterrey fries. Wow, they were *ridiculous* and probably the best of the things we ordered. I also followed the advice of another review and got the french toast. It's soft, not too sweet, light, fluffy and creamy. Delicious. I took the waiter's advice and ordered the sausage links over the patties (turned out to be good advice) and tried the fried chicken biscuit sandwich. The breading and fry were very light and the chicken was salty. Perfect on a buttery biscuit. Mmm. I also want to stress again how nice it is that the wait-staff here is friendly. I've gone to breakfast places a couple times recently with somewhat grumpy service and it's just not the way you want to start your day. This group is happy to serve you breakfast and probably because they're well aware of how delicious it is!

    (5)

  • Carrie S.

    During our week of fun with friends, we met our friend's friend here for a late lunch/brunch. For us, this was an excuse for a weekday brunch. We got there a touch earlier than we were expected and still waited about 30 minutes for a table. I will say that the wait was worth especially as we drooled over someone's amazing buttermilk biscuits! Once we got sat, coffee was doled out all around while I drank some Diet Coke. From this alone, it had a Southern feel for me. For brunch, I ordered the sunrise omelet with sausage, onions, and cheese. I also had cheddar grits and a buttermilk biscuit. Talk about a starch overload! Again, it was worth it. The omelet was light, fluffy, and full of sausage. I was happy to see an omelet where the fillings dominated not the eggs themselves. The cheddar grits were out of this world delicious. They're nowhere near as good as the ones that my mother-in-law makes, but pretty darn close. The buttermilk biscuit was divine. It would have been better if there was some honey around to drizzle it up, but still delicious. It certainly wasn't a cheap brunch, but a delicious one with lots of Southern breakfast food.

    (4)

  • Raquel D.

    Again, kickin myself in the pants for living in the area for so long and now JUST eating here. W.T.F. And the messed up thing is, the recommendation came from someone in da burbs. (bows head down in shame). Anyway, better late than never. But if you're comin here, better earlier than later - cuz I hear the wait gets craaaaaazaaaay on the wkends. And I know why - it's cuz This place is damn good. Like fresh, bed and breakfast type of good - old country home style cookin' good. The get your arse up and outta bed to eat here early kinda good. Well, you get the point. I had Carmen G's skillet - holy heaven. Pretty much veggie and bacon skillet and potatoes. Fire. And their biscuits melt in your mouth. It's kinda crumbly so be gentle with it when slathering up da butter and jelly. Then quickly devour it before anyone in your group snatches it. For real. Hubs got the corned beef hash and was a little disappointed - not b/c it wasn't good, but more so b/c it wasn't what he expected. And what he expected was what he was craving. Tot his bad, not theirs. Hahah j/k. I think he just liked my meal better as he was guilty of stealing my food everytime I blinked or took a sip of my coffee. I let him slide since it was a sunny Sunday in October and I was smug with knowing I had ordered the better meal. :) We walked over here so that's plus points for being close. We also had the enjoyment of cheering on the runners of the BofA Marathon. Woo-Hoo! It's just a wee bit pricey here, but not so offensively so that I would never come back. Cuz I will be back...oh yes, I will be back... Just gotta explore the neighborhood a bit more before making my second rounds.

    (4)

  • Kisha J.

    I heard about Sweet Maple Cafe through an ad on WVON 1690, so my boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. We came today around 1pm and there was about a 25 minute wait. Our waitress, Kiko (sp), was awesome! She was very polite, had a great attitude and was just an overall sweet person. I haven't had service like that in a looooong time. Now the food was just okay; I've definitely had better. I had the Sweet Maple Special, which was 2 eggs scrambled, with side of bacon, home fries and a biscuit. Like I previously stated, the food was just okay. Nothing spectacular. My family is from the South, so I know a thing or two about what "Southern" cooking should taste like. My meal just wasn't it. I will say that the prices are reasonable. I'll probably come back to try something else on the menu. Maybe then I could give Sweet Maple 4 or 5 stars.

    (3)

  • Nicole H.

    I have been wanting to go here for at least 5 or 6 years, ever since I saw this place on Check Please. I have it written down in an old fraying journal. Well, after numerous empty visits to this place , I finally had a respectable wait time yesterday and actually sat down to eat here. I was chomping at the bit to get some of this grub. I just knew it was going to be absolutely orgasmic. It wasn't! It really pains me to do this but I did not like my food at all. I mean it didn't taste bad but it didn't taste like anything. This was such a huge disappointment. Biscuit: Dry and bland-HUGE though Pancakes: No flavor but somewhat fluffy Bacon: Corn King perhaps? Scrambled eggs: No flavor at all. I never season my food but found myself seasoning the eggs. Home Fries: Bland even in the presence of onions. Seattle's Best coffee was fine. I do wish that this and other restaurants would offer non-dairy creamer options. Portions: To me the portion to price ratio was a bit skewed. I mean, I consider myself fair but the portions were a bit small for the prices. Service: Okay. My waitress was was nice and even though it was crowded, I didn't feel rushed at all. In fact, she told me to feel free to sit longer even though I wanted my take out containers. It took about 10 minutes for me to be seated and another 20-30 minutes for my food to arrive. I took several bites of everything and was ready to leave. With everything I ordered, my check was still less than $20. SO, the food wasn't very good to me but the prices are okay for the most part. I have no desire to return but I wish them continued success.

    (2)

  • Aaron Jae M.

    Expect a very long line. The place is pretty small on the inside but has a very home-y feel to it. Matter of fact it probably was an actual home that was converted into a restaurant. The food is good and all made from scratch. They have good specials too like their pumpkin pancakes which were tasty and had just the right amount of pumpkin in them.

    (4)

  • Tamika A.

    I've been here several times and love the food. When my best friend visited me from North Carolina, I told her she had to come here because the breakfast is so good. She loved it. One day a friend and I went here for breakfast and was treated horribly by the hostess. She was an African-American woman with natural hair. Anyway, my friend and I were finishing eating and drinking coffee. We'd been at the table maybe 30min. The hostess asked us if we needed anything else. We told her no and thank you. She then told us we "needed to leave because they needed the table". 1. I realize this is a small place and often a long wait. My friend and I waited before we were seated. However, we should not be asked to leave before completing our meal. 2. We weren't even done with our breakfast. 3. We'd been there for maybe 35 min and it wasn't like we were loitering. 4. She had this unprofessional behavior with other patrons. 5. Most importantly, when I asked to speak to the manager she stormed over where we were talking, rolled her eyes, and raised her voice to me. The manager apologized, but should have reprimanded her behavior. I will NEVER return to this restaurant due to the tremendous disrespect I received this day. I will tell everyone I know about it as well. There are several places in the vicinity that serve breakfast. I used to choose Sweet Maple because of the great food and service. This hostess' behavior was unacceptable and the fact that the manager stood by and allowed her to be antagonistic and rude says a lot about the character of this establishment.

    (1)

  • Tera D.

    Going to school at UIC, I've walked by this place many times and noticed the line out the door, even on weekday mornings. I finally had a chance to check it out, and I can see now why it has loyal customers. If you live in the area and haven't tried it out, it's certainly worth the wait. The menu has lots of great sounding options, from home fries topped with all sorts of goodies, to omelettes, to flavored pancakes and french toast. Prices are on the higher side, but pretty in line with most nicer breakfast places in the city. And the portions are certainly huge. Despite the plethora of choices, I actually picked something listed as a side, and I was not disappointed. For $4.50 the biscuits and gravy side dish is a steal! It's a HUGE biscuit topped with TONS of spicy gravy. And I ordered a single egg over easy to top off my pile of goodness...mmmmmmmm...animal fat heaven. The only weird thing is that the biscuits are a little sweeter than most, which was kind of odd in savory dishes. I wouldn't consider Sweet Maple a destination breakfast place, but if you're in the area it's a great choice.

    (3)

  • matt m.

    Not sure what to say. Every single thing on Sweet Maple's menu is a 5...except the pancakes, they are somewhere near a 27.

    (5)

  • Alee G.

    I adore this place. I make it a point to come here every time I visit Chicago. I am a French Toast lover, and this place makes some seriously delicious French Toast. It's small and quaint, which I like. I'm a huge fan of "mom and pop" type of restaurants and stores. Something about them that gives a me homey, welcoming, nostalgic feeling. The first time I ate here, Common walked in. That was pretty cool. It was just overall a great experience. This place has a lot of charm, I definitely recommend that you check it out if you haven't already.

    (5)

  • Arlene G.

    this place was freakjin awesum! ive never been here but tried it this weekend. there was a 15/20 min wait cuz they were pretty busy & its a small restaurant. but we didnt mind the wait. i had an omelette with basil, cheese, italian sausage & other stuff in it & it was sooooooo yummy! the homes fries & biscuits that came with it were also delish! i LOVE me some yummy biscuits! i wanted 2 try the pancakes 2 but i had no more room 4 them. my friend enjoyed her food as well. our waitress was really nice & kept checkin in on us! i wish i remembered her name cuz she was very friendly. i would definitely come back 2 this place again!

    (5)

  • Dee C.

    Came here with a couple friend because of all the great reviews. I ordered the: Holiday French Toast: Thick slices of challah bread, dipped in rich vanilla custard, scented with nutmeg and dusted with powdered sugar. Served with grade AA butter and pure maple syrup. The pure maple syrup was the best part of the french toast...and for me that is just too bad because I love brunch and I wanted to love this place....but I just did not enjoy it that much. I also ordered the strawberry hot chocolate....not chocolatey enough to be hot chocolate so also not too impressed. Maybe sometime I will retry this place...but for now onto a new brunch place.

    (3)

  • Tony U.

    Cute little place. Not worth the wait. After seated and ordering we probably waited about 25 minutes for bland pancakes and an average egg plate. The sausage links were tasteless also. No real negatives , everything was just average.

    (3)

  • Monica G.

    Awesome! Reminds me a little hole-in-the-wall southern place I went to in Savannah, Georgia. Very nice feel and atmosphere. The food was really good. I wont say its the best I have ever had in terms of southern breakfast food but its enough to really be the closest thing to it I have ever had in chicago. And grits lovers know what I mean when I say its hard to find good grits anywhere but in the south and honestly the grits here are quite good. Grits will tell you a lot about a restaurant claiming to serve southern breakfast cuisine. I had the breakfast special with runny scrambled eggs, a biscuit, turkey sausage, regular grits. My fiance got a scrambler with lots of meat, home fries, and a biscuit. We also got a side of a half stack of pancakes (it came with one huge pancake). Plate are huge! Everything was really good! I wish the biscuit was a little warmer but I was really impressed. I tried everything we ordered. The home fries and onions in it were very tasty, the scrambler was great, my eggs were actually runny which is a rare occurrence at breakfast places, the pancake was pretty good. The grits were above average and reminded me of the south. Next time I want to try the french toast! It looked so good and so did the cheese grits! The service was ok, if you are nice and patient and have a cheery disposition they warm up (because they are only human). So in the end I would say the service is pretty good. They are just soooo busy because its a mad house with a HUGE line (today it was even outside the door-went on a saturday around 12:40). If you are one of those people that thinks you deserve amazing service for just being you and are not patient you may not think they have good service. I'm a pretty positive person but I'm def not afraid to call a manager over so this was not bad. The prices were not ridiculously cheap like some people are saying (its chicago you can always find cheaper hole-in-the-wall places). However, the price is definitely below average (meaning cheaper side) and quite right. Ok the worst part of it-the wait time. About 30-40 minutes sometimes and there is not much space to actually wait. No place to sit while waiting. They do not take reservations and are only open until 2 pm. However, with that being said, I think it was worth it. I feel like no reservations keeps the feel to a hole-in-the-wall kind of place. I had time that day and they even allowed me to leave our number while we went to get coffee somewhere on the same block. I still had to wait when we came back but only like 10 minutes. Overall great experience and a must do if you live in the area. I would do it with a small group on a day when you have plenty of time to kill for your first time. I will come again and take my family along!

    (4)

  • Sara M.

    My sister took me here when I came into town for a great breakfast. We did have to wait for awhile but I was promised that it was worth it. I have to agree! We were seated and a friendly server helped us. Great service all around actually. I ordered the corned beef hash and a side a home fries, to which the server gave me a weird look. Well, the reason is because this is not your ordinary mash of corned beef and potatoes. It is actual chunks of salty, yummy corned beef and their home fries mixed together - no need for an extra side! We stuffed our faces and were completely satisfied. The price was reasonable and if I lived in the area, I would be here too much!

    (4)

  • Greg M.

    The French Toast is fantastic and the biscuits are great also. Thanks to Britney our waitress she gave us good suggestions.

    (5)

  • Will C.

    I was back in Chicago for a week after having moved away two years ago and two of my friends talked up this spot. Boy-oh-boy it did not disappoint. Inexpensive, delicious, with good service and a great little dining area that is as unpretentious as it is homie. I loved it so much I went three times in 7 days. The biscuits are delicious, the coffee keeps flowing and the salsa on my eggs was spicy and the taters were crunchy and delicious. Also, the waitress was super cute and called me "hon" with a hint of a Southern accent. Sold.

    (4)

  • Natalie L.

    Sweet Maple has its dedicated patrons. I am not one of them. We went here once a couple of years ago and weren't blown away. We tried coming back on various occasions only to be confronted with a long wait. During Christmas week, it was still busy but we got a table for our second try. The service was very efficient and very friendly. I had pancakes, eggs and sausage links. I thought that the pancakes were a little dense and the scrambled eggs a little overcooked. The sausage links were tasty, especially compared to hubby's sausage patties. He had eggs, a biscuit and cheddar grits. He really liked the grits and the homemade biscuit was nice. But I just can't say that I would wait 20-30 min for a table here on the weekends when I can go down to Stax and sit right down and probably have a more flavorful breakfast. I will say, however, that the prices at Sweet Maple are very reasonable ... safe to say you'll spend less money than at Stax.

    (3)

  • Bree M.

    My husband went here this morning after wanting to try it for a while. We waited about 25 minutes to get a table around noon, not too shabby. Let me say this: you must MUST try the biscuits. I don't care if that is the only thing you order there. get the biscuits! They are like biting into a buttery cloud made of magic. Truly the best biscuit I have ever eaten. I have no idea how they get them so light and fluffy. Our waitress was friendly and helpful; the rest of the staff was super upbeat as well. The atmosphere is like your grandma's kitchen and I mean that in the best way possible. There was a diverse group of people there which made it even more enjoyable. I had the 18th Street Scramble with home fries and, of course, a biscuit. The scramble was not as flavorful as I had anticipated but the chorizo was yummy and peppers gave it the perfect amount of heat. The home fries were crispy and tender in all the right places with some perfectly caramelized onions. My husband had the corn and bacon pancakes and sausage links. Both awesome. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Natrina C.

    This review is based SOLELY on the biscuits. What amazing biscuits you have, Sweet Maple! I'm from the south, so I know great biscuits. And this restaurant, my friends, serves great biscuits! They're pretty large for a side item; but for a breakfast sandwich, it's a great size. I spent two weeks in the Chicago area for work and found myself enjoying the biscuit dishes at Sweet Maple several times. Bacon, egg and cheese biscuit as well as biscuits and gravy ... both very delicious meals. The sausage gravy is a little on the heavy side, but still a tasty dish.

    (4)

  • Jacob G.

    Sweet Maple Cafe is one of the best places to get breakfast in Chicago. Their food is really good. I love their pancakes, French toast, and biscuits. The muffins at Sweet Maple Cafe are delicious as well.

    (4)

  • Cristina T.

    I live 5 steps away from here and finally placed an order for carry out today. My order was ready in 15 minutes and as soon as we got there and paid, we were on our merry way. Thank God I didn't have to wait in the long line streaming out the door. I ordered the banana pancakes that were fluffy and filling. They tasted like clouds of deliciousness. My brother ordered a biscuit sandwich with fried chicken. He could not stop raving about it. Although I would like to sit down and eat at Sweet Maple, take out is a great option for those with less patience. Yummy!

    (5)

  • Susie L.

    My team of 20 and I were traveling to Chicago and needed a place for a team breakfast. Sweet Maple was extremely accommodating, and even did separate checks for us. It turned out that only 10 of us could make it and they didn't bat an eye at the large adjustment in table size. Aside from all of that, the food was great and service was prompt but not pushy even with a line out the door. Our group tried an array of foods from grits, to omelets to the peaches and cream pancakes. The biggest complaint was that we couldn't finish it! We couldn't have asked for a better breakfast!

    (5)

  • Akeisha W.

    Love this LITTLE breakfast place:) The food is always good, the service is ok, but the wait is usually loooooooooong:( Once you actually sit down to eat, the wait is worth it, but you never know just how long you have to wait. We went for breafast on Sunday for Mother's Day and thought we were beating the church crowd by going early. We got there at 8:45a they told us it would be 20 mins, ok no problem. It ended up being 1 hour and 15 mins. Glad I wasn't starving, but my breakfast was delicous and everyone we were with enjoyed it:) Eberything is good, they do offer catfish on Fridays only, but you can't go wrong with any of the food! Enjoy!!!

    (4)

  • RICK L.

    Always reliable, always tasty, great service, very crowded on Sunday mornings--try to get there before 8 am.

    (5)

  • Martine F.

    This place is hands down the BEST breakfast in the whole world. I love it! I love this place because everything is delicious, EVERYTHING!!! They make everything perfect, I love the way they make their eggs and toast and all I can say is YUMMMMMIE! One of my favorite things to do is eat breakfast for any other meal than breakfast, it makes breakfast fancy or something and fun, real fun!! They also make to die for bacon and serve perfect coffie. I also truly appreciate that they keep the restaurant small, quaint and not overly decorated. I LOVE IT HERE and wish I had one of those star treck thingies that zaps you places while you stand in a bright light beam....

    (5)

  • Shawn K.

    Stopped in for breakfast and I have to say the service was amazing as well as the food. I had Rich as my server and he was extremely friendly and very well versed on the menu. The food came out hot and fresh and Rich did a fantastic job of keeping my coffee cup full. Never saw the bottom. I strongly recommend the fruit bowel (very fresh) and the pancakes.

    (5)

  • amanda g.

    this place is worth the wait. and believe me you will wait. the selection is great. the biscuits and gravy are fantastic. and the pancakes are delish. cute atmosphere and nice people make it just a great little place.

    (4)

  • mildred v.

    This is my second favorite brunch spot (Over Easy being my first). They have THE BEST corned beef hash I have ever had!!!!!! (And I am filipino - so we KNOW about corned beef; I also enjoy cabbage and corned beef). It is REAL corned beef (not the canned kind), it comes in tiny cut squares with their delicious potatoes. I swear it is the perfect combination in my mouth when you add the egg (egg white for me) and their famous savory BISCUITS. Once the waitress came to our table before even giving us the menus and said "We're out of biscuits" with a scared/sad look on her face. We said "Oh, it's okay " when truly, we were the saddest people on the planet at that moment. The waitress however was nice enough to bring us some in the middle of our meal when they decided to make a fresh batch. That - made our breakfast. On Fridays they have Fish-n-Eggs (southern catfish nuggets with some sort of white sauce - assumingly tartar sauce) i wish they had this every day!!!!! I would alternate between the corned beef hash and the fish-n-eggs. I've also had their french toast which wasn't memorable but definetly wasn't bad. And I've had their pancakes - which was awesome (though tasted kinda like a sweet version of their biscuit - which in not at all a bad statement). There is always a line out the door ( or almost), it's kinda a hit or miss concerning the wait. It's either no ones there and you just missed the rush and get seated right away or you wait a guaranteed like 20 minutes at least (no matter how small or big your party is). It's a small place though so what can you say. Once you get a table though the service is good, all the servers have been very nice and attentive. One time, my friend didn't order coffee but someone just came by and kept pouring her coffee (I thought maybe it was complimentary but we got charged for it, but it was no big deal). I will always keep a special place in my heart (the breakfast area of it) for this place :)

    (5)

  • Richa A.

    A great brunch option in the UIC area. I got laurene's little tacos, which was pretty good, and my friend enjoyed his omelette. If you don't have to wait too long, it's worth a try.

    (3)

  • Claudia P.

    The biscuits alone are an awe inspiring culinary experience. I had one of the omelets, which was tasty and filling. With the gargantuan biscuit, I didn't need or eat the home fries, but I am sure they were great. Regular have recommended the French toast, which I will try when I go back. I understand this place is crowded on the weekends, but weekday mornings are pretty accommodating for those of us who toil on the weekend.

    (5)

  • Laura L.

    Try this place. Don't let the wait scare you. The food is simply really good. I don't even care for biscuits, but I eat the one that comes with my breakfast. Yum. And for as busy as it can get, the table turnover is impressive. For example, we arrived at 9:20am on a Sun. There were 4-5 parties ahead of us. We were seated, served and out of there in 50 minutes. And we didn't rush. We've enjoyed: anything that can soak up their maple syrup, esp the French toast. I love their scrambled eggs.

    (4)

  • Mel F.

    Hands down, one of my favorite breakfast spots in the city. And it's obvious from the lines that I'm not the only one that feels this way. It's definitely not a greasy spoon breakfast. So, if that's what your looking for you will be disappointed. It's just really good, well prepared food. It's a tad pricier than most breakfast spots so expect that. But, expect to be yummified. The pancakes are outstanding and this is coming from the girl that hates pancakes. Yes, I really don't like pancakes but these are great. I once had pumpkin pancakes that were out of this world. Just check out the pictures. They often have seasonal food and I would go for whatever that is. It's always a treat. They also give you the option of biscuits instead of toast. Go with the biscuits! The lines are always long ,yes, and it doesn't really matter what time you go but they don't rush you. I've always found the service to be great and the food to be excellent and served piping hot. I used to live really close so this used to be my weekend treat after a long am run. It's definitely a place worth checking out,even if you are in the area or not ,just to check out the awesome pancakes and soft, moist, delicious biscuits.

    (4)

  • Harpreet K.

    Places like this make me marvel at the fact that I'm not already 457 lbs, wearing a muumuu, and appearing on the local news as I'm airlifted from my California king bed to the hospital. For food this good, i welcome that fate. The hour and half wait sucked (my friend was getting understandably hangry), but everything else did not. this includes, but is not limited to... 1) blueberry pancakes 2) challah french toast 3) cheese grits 4) ham 5) bacon 6) be bad omelet 7) rasberry mocha 8) fried potatoes w/ sauteed onions 9) biscuits p.s. - for all my bay area peeps, this place is the closest thing i've found to dottie's true blue. not exactly (NO SHIT!! that place is 100% inspired genius), but kinda sorta.

    (4)

  • Jonathan F.

    Upside: Great food, good service. Did I mention that the oatmeal with raisins is fantastic? Downside: Cramped seating. Often a long wait, and the closest backup plan is Starbucks or ...gasp...Demitasse.

    (4)

  • Jim K.

    My son and grand kids went there for breakfast. The service was fantastic and they were very accommodating with the kids and sharing food. I only give them two stars as the food was all over done. The yokes on my eggs were not very runny at all as they were well over cooked. The corned beef hash was also overcooked. The corned beef pieces were very tough from being overcooked. The kids scrambled eggs were also way over done. I heard a lot of this place from my son, and from a friendly and service point of view, I can understand why he likes it. I doubt that I will ever return - if you can't make eggs, it's not worth the trip for breakfast.

    (2)

  • Casandra G.

    Filling the breakfast/brunch need in Lil Italy. A tasty and uh, snug spot. Expect a sizeable wait on weekend mornings, even in the dead of winter. Pancakes are nice, got that kind of chewy feel. I don't know about everyone else but I prefer my pancakes a bit lighter and chewier, not thick and cake like. And those fruit salads are adorable - berries and melon balls. And a nice, robust cup of coffee. Decor is a little run down, I think someone else called it "rustic", which may be cute for some folks but really just made us imagine that the place was draftier than it really was. Overall a solid brunch hit.

    (4)

  • J. N.

    Sweet Maple Cafe is outstanding, a great southern breakfast place on Taylor. In the past year, I have eaten quite a bit of brunch/late breakfast. Wishbone, Yolk, Bongo Room, Lou Mitchell's, etc... We always avoided Sweet Maple Cafe because the lines frequently extend into Taylor Street. Yesterday we had a 1pm lunch, with only a 15 minute wait, and it was amazing .One of the best I have had in this city. My boyfriend had the Blueberry Pancakes with a side of bone-in-ham and home-fries. The ham was excellent, just like Easter at the Jen N. household, and the home-fries were the perfect amount of oniony and no ketchup was required. The Blueberry pancakes? I have no words... I think the best pancakes, ever. I went healthy and had the egg white omelet with green pepper, red pepper, low fat cheese, black beans, and tomatoes with fruit and whole grain toast. The whole thing was excellent. The coffee was a little disappointing, but with such good food I can totally look past that. They don't appear to buy into that fresh squeezed stuff, so I didn't have any juice. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and southern-style. There is no finish on the ceiling or floors while a dilapidated faux finish on the walls makes you feel like you are at a side of the road breakfast spot in the south. The servers were all competent and friendly and the clientele was a really diverse and friendly group - probably because of UIC.

    (4)

  • Derek S.

    This quaint restaurant was a pleasure and loved every bit of the food and the service. If you have some time on the weekend please make this a must!

    (4)

  • Paul S.

    My favorite breakfast place in the city.............out of the way but worth it. I usually go during the week to avoid crowds. Biscuits & gravy to die for........... Eggs & sausage are the best. a nice quaint place you must try.

    (5)

  • Esther Y.

    Seet Maple is one of the best breakfast places in the city. Too bad I've had to resort to take out only b/c of the long lines and growing crowds. The sweet milk biscuits are amazing. I always end up with an extra 3, 4 or 5 to take home and have for breakfast. I usually opt for the breakfast sandwiches or the pancakes. They have turkey sausage, which is great, and they have a great corned beef hash that doesn't come from a can. Seriously, there are chunks of corned beef in it, and it is sooooo good! The staff there is always friendly, the ppl waiting in line are not so much. Apparently people are ok with crowding the door and being completely oblivious to people coming in to put their name on the list or get take out. If you go and want to dine in, prepare to wait, unless you go at an off hour.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    I was really excited to try this place and when we finally went it wasn't totally impressed. The biscuits were really good and the sausage was said to be the best by my girlfriend. They were soft and didn't really have a bite with the casing which she likes. My country fried steak was not what I expected and was tough to cut and dry. Also the orange juice tasted like too much rind was squeezed into it. The eggs however were really good and so was the homestyle fries. The pancakes were good, but I don't think were as good as others tout it. I will go again but probably to go for their breakfast sandiwches.

    (3)

  • Megan T.

    I can't say LOVE enough to describe their menu.... everything from their mocha to biscuits and gravy and corned beef hash (real corned beef) the atmosphere, food and waitresses are great! When my husband and I are going into the city for the day we always leave early to eat breakfast here! My husband loves the pancakes! If you haven't been you must try! The weekend wait can get very long, but if you can make it here during the week there is usually not a wait and the food is worth you time. It is not you usual breakfast food served by most breakfast restaurants straight from the food distributors, theirs is homemade and you can taste it!

    (5)

  • Nam D.

    I came in today for the first time and enjoy this small breakfast spot. I had the Protein Power Scramble: Eggs scrambled with bacon, sausage, ham, and your choice of cheese and a side of cheddar grits. Very good sized portions with my meal (couldn't even finish all my food which I'm known for!) Lucky I came in early cause the SMC usually has long waiting lines especially during the warmer months. I definitely suggest coming here but come early or plan for a wait cause this is a popular place.

    (4)

  • Andrew C.

    Sweet Maple Cafe has probably the best French toast I've ever had. Sure, the area is a little shady, but it's definitely getting better. Prices are reasonable and the ambiance is nice and quaint.

    (5)

  • Mallory B.

    Just went on sunday. the wait wasn't too bad. My friend and I sampled everything. The biscuits and gravy were amazing. Our waitor, (white guy, looked like a student) was great and made amazing suggestions.

    (4)

  • LaTasha G.

    Not sure what all the hype is about...I went on a Saturday around 12 noon and it was jammed packed. We waited over an hour for a table and normally I don't do waiting, but you figure BIG CROWDS = GREAT FOOD. Not the case at Sweet Maple. I love me some french toast , so I ordered the "thick slices of challah bread french toast" and what I got was soagy Wonder bread...BIG disappointment...I also had the Carmen G scrambler with homefries and a biscuit...the scrambler and homefries were decent but the biscuit was tough, dense, and chewy...won't be going back anytime soon

    (2)

  • Jessica D.

    The french toast is really good, and the pancakes are huge.

    (4)

  • R K.

    It's been awhile since I've felt so strongly about a place that I'm compelled to write a review immediately upon returning. I'll sum it up: not worth the 2 + hour wait (especially when you're expecting a 45 min wait). The food to complete the experience? I'm trying to figure out what to clean my mouth out with to purge the taste of that awfulness. yuck.

    (1)

  • Jen S.

    Waits are long but food is sooo good! Best scrambled eggs I've had from a restaurant in long time and also really scrumptious biscuits. I thought the country style sausage was a little too oily but still really tasty. I really liked the atmosphere of the place -- really gives it a home-y type feel. But since it's small, the wait to sit down can be long. I think they should put more two seater tables but that's just me.

    (4)

  • Vanessa D.

    Best breakfast in Chicago. The food is always delicious. The portions are big and the prices are reasonable. I'd give it 5 stars if I didn't have to wait 15-30 minutes every time I go there. :)

    (4)

  • Sabrina D.

    So my friend totally raved about this place! so this morning I was actually running "early" to work and had a taste for pancakes so figured I grab pancakes to go. They didnt have a pancake special on Fridays so the cashier offered to ring everyting up separately. so ok fine... 2 pancakes 2 eggs and 4 pieces of bacon and 1 small coffee= $15- and that was to go!! I feel like if you're gonna be a really good "hole in the wall" cafe then have really good cheap food not overpriced and mediocre- the pancakes taste like they're heavily sour cream based which I didnt care for, Bacon and eggs were super standard- I just cant understand why I couldnt have paid $7-9!! bottom line- the hospital cafeteria has better pancakes for much cheaper.

    (2)

  • Drews G.

    Yeah this place is as good as advertised. Good service - there are lines so be ready for that. Food is spot on and really is great value for wonderful breakfast food. Get the egg and cheesier or banana pancakes and you are going home happy.

    (5)

  • Ina J.

    My friends and I strolled over to Sweet Maple... today for brunch. Our wait was 45 minutes. The staff was friendly and the food was served quickly. I had the three cheese omelet, hash browns, and a massive biscuit. The meal was mediocre and the hash browns were rather salty. I won't be returning anytime soon.

    (2)

  • S Y.

    I'm not a huge fan of breakfast food. I'm one of those people that can eat anything right after they wake up and pancakes/eggs are just not on the top of my life of things to eat. However, Sweet Maple Cafe (after getting through the constant long line and squeezing into a small, but cozy table) is must go place to try. Their biscuits are very yummy and I do love their home-style fries. The woman that owns the place has been there everytime I went and visits every table. She is very sweet and friendly and really does make you feel at home! I am a fan :)

    (4)

  • Lisa D.

    I finally went here for brunch a couple weeks ago after hearing about it for several years. A girlfriend and I came here on a Sunday and waited about 20-25 minutes (no big deal). My friend had an omelet--very good--and I had french toast with sausage on the side--excellent. They serve just the right amount for you to be pleasantly full without feeling disgusting afterward. It's pretty crowded and bustling in there, but the servers keep up with the pace. I'd definitely recommend it as a casual brunch place, but make sure you budget some wait time on the front end--it will be worth it!

    (4)

  • Beth L.

    I love trying new places and this was one on my list. We paid for parking and did not know the lot across the street was free. Don't make the same mistake! The wait was very long (about 40 minutes) however we knew it would be so at least it wasn't a surprise. The place is super small so everyone is waiting right in front of the tables which is a bit awkward but whatever. While I was waiting I was noting things, like what people were ordering and how the service was. Pretty much everyone was getting eggs and there were a couple of slow servers, particularly a younger guy. I noticed him laughing in the back and not paying as much attention to his tables. Service is pretty slow which is kind of annoying. We were lucky enough to get a good waitress and all in all, our experience was pleasant. The food was good. We both got eggs and the biscuit. I got bacon, my BF got sausage. The bacon was delicious but the best thing there are the BISCUITS! Don't waste your time getting toast! And if your meal does not come with a biscuit then order one! In fact, we ordered one to go. They even gave us a container of their sweet butter. Would definitely go back but would try to go earlier or on a weekday if I'm off from work due to the long wait.

    (4)

  • Ebonie D.

    I really love the ambiance of this place. the servers are really friendly and upfront about wait times. yes, there is a wait on the weekends. but to be honest the food wasn't that great. it was ok. i think i will return though because it is so hard to get good service and they really know how to treat their customers. a smile can go a long way even if the biscuits ain't all that.

    (4)

  • Lady L.

    Wow weeeee, yummylicious. I had the french toast and I couldn't get enough. The name of this joint doesn't lie, they have, hands down, the best REAL maple syrup I have ever tasted. Nothing hocus pocus about this place, just damn good breakfast. If your southern grams made her kitchen into a restaurant, that would be Sweet Maple Cafe. Enough said.

    (4)

  • Miss M.

    Their French toast and sausage patties are DA BOMB! :)

    (5)

  • Saverio T.

    The best place for breakfast south of Roosevelt. Charming country kitchen feel with minimal decor and distressed walls. It's like the family restaurant you'd find in DeKalb, just much better coffee.

    (4)

  • Suz M.

    The only reason I'm not totally for this place is because of two things. The usual LONNNNNGG WAIIITTT (which happens what can you do with such a tiny space) and the dick (sorry for the language but it's necessary) who seats people. Let's start with the food. This is honestly my favorite breakfast place. Amazing flaky biscuits, fluffy pancakes and eggs, custardy french toast (try the challah one never had any better), crunchy potatoes, and mouth watering liver and onions (if you like that sort of thing). The french toast is sweet and soft in the middle and doesn't need syrup. The serving is huge too. The liver and onions is crunchy where it needs to be and soft and succulent where it doesn't. Just amazing. And no matter what breakfast I choose I always get a biscuit on the side. They're huge and soft with a sweet buttery flavor that melts in your mouth. I've never had a bad food experience there and I've been going for a couple of years now. Now onto the service. The waitstaff is usually pretty cool. Sometimes they are really busy and it takes them a bit to get back to you but they are almost always nice about it. The guy who takes names down for seating however is not pleasant. Always looking like your mere existence offends him he grudgingly takes down your name and looks pained when you ask how long it will be. He is slightly rude whenever you speak to him and always seems to mess up the order people go in (honestly people who have come after us with the same number of diners have gone before us. TWICE) which is rough when the wait is already so long. I've actually started just ordering take out to not deal with the wait or this guy. The food is worth it though and the prices are good so definitely take a chance on this place.

    (4)

  • Unknown K.

    I finally made it here with an out of town friend after threatening to come for so long. We waited about 25 minutes under an awning because of the pouring rain. I was trying to be optimistic, so I didn't complain. I also lowered my expectations for the food and service because it was so busy. Also, the menu had ok stuff on it, but nothing fancy. When we were seated, this place pushed all my breakfast buttons in the best way. The blueberry muffin was juicy and moist and the orange juice was fresh. Our server was quick and didn't seem irritated like so often happens on a busy Saturday morning at these kind of places. When the food came, it was actually steaming hot - so unusual these days in Chicago. And when they claim "fresh veggies" and "home made biscuits," they mean it. Also, they pile on the potatoes, which is the way it should be. What's with these brunch places that give you a handful of potatoes with your eggs? Sheesh, they cost about 25 cents a pound. Everything was tasty. Such a nice surprise that a place measures up to what they claim. Only one complaint, and that's the waiting area. I really hate it when people lean over you when you are seated. Even if the chair is empty, don't be crowding my eating space. It's rude. The host tried to shoo people away from crowding tables as much as possible, but they really don't have an indoor waiting area. It is a pretty tiny space and almost all the tables are for 4-5 people. Some sort of notification system where they could send people across the street to Starbucks to wait would be perfect. So go, but go early, or on a weekday, or on a sweet sunny weekend when you don't mind waiting outside.

    (5)

  • trieu n.

    after hearing all of the rave reviews, i finally made it over to sweet maple cafe. i went on a weekday, so i only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table. after i was seated, i was promptly greeted by the waitress and a coffee carafe. the coffee was amazing. it was strong but not at all bitter. it was a really great way to start the meal. i ordered the carmen g scramble, which was good, but nothing to write home about. it was a pretty standard egg scramble with veggies and cheese....good, hearty, and satisfying. it came with a biscuit and grits, which i ordered with cheese. the biscuit deserves all of the raves that other reviews have given. it was huge, buttery and delicious. it was perfect with a little more butter and strawberry preserves. the cheese grits were also really amazing...creamy and smooth. the service was impeccable; my coffee and water were promptly filled, and the waitress was really attentive and sweet. however, since i did come on a weekday, service may have been friendlier than if i came on a weekend. i'll take that into consideration when i go back to try the pancakes.

    (5)

  • Sara B.

    I've never actually eaten at the restaurant, but if the catering we had yesterday morning is any indication of dining-in, it must be fabulous! i had a egg and cheese biscuit that was out of this world. the biscuit was fluffy, sweet and buttery, the eggs were pretty fluffy and the cheese all melty. there were lots of meat options, too, which, if you go for that kind of thing, and i don't, seemed to make the carnivores happy (i used a lot of commas in that sentence)! i would definitely check out the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Ami M.

    One of my favorite breakfast spots in the city. The service is always fast and the food is always delicious. The Holiday French Toast is always perfectly cooked. Never too soggy or too "eggy". On the weekends I suggest you go early if you don't like a long wait. The restaurant is small and seating is limited. But if you do have time to wait, it will be well worth it.

    (4)

  • Sean B.

    This may be my favorite breakfast in Chicago - it's a toss up between this and Tweet - so I'll just say it's my favorite breakfast south of the Eisenhower. Great biscuits and gravy, Challa bread French toast, and a wonderful array of baked goods. Definitely worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Heather M.

    I have found the solution to avoiding the wait/rude-ish host man-- Go EARLY, like 7am. A co-worker and I decided to come here before a meeting and we got there about 7:05. No wait, we chose our table and the food was out in about 10 minutes. It was GREAT. Definitely going to do that in the future!

    (5)

  • kay b.

    i'll wait in line for a good biscuit. i will. buttery, larger than my fist, soft and sweet, these culinary prizes are worth a wait even in the wintery mornings of chicago. expect a crowd come weekends and a mix of people who all have one thing in common: the need to be satiated by a hearty breakfast that will make calorie-counting an abstract monotonous task. always the breakfast. did you even consider lunch--- no only breakfast. pancakes, biscuits, any starch on the menu is a sweet sweet keeper. forget eggs, they get in the way of the starch.

    (4)

  • Jennifer S.

    I was a little worried about the potential Saturday morning wait at the very popular Sweet Maple Cafe, but I was pleasantly surprised when my companion and I practically walked right in and sat down! There was a line forming, but it seemed like those waiting had parties of three or more. The host who sat us was a little flaky, but our waitress was cute and prompt. I was pretty excited when I saw that they had both corn beef hash and stone ground oatmeal on the menu (my favorites!). It was a struggle, but I went with the hash. It was very beefy and yummy. It was served with a big square biscuit, which was really good. I'm a hearty eater, but I was too full to even finish my whole breakfast! The atmosphere is another story. It's a small and homey place, but the companion and I were pondering how much of the decor was authentically old and how much was faux. For instance, the unevenly finished floors seem believable, but the maple leaves glued to the wall are a bit much. I could definitely look past that aspect and return here for more tasty breakfasts. My advice is to come hungry, come early, and bring a date to skip the wait!

    (4)

  • bridget l.

    I really did like the food. the service was meh. but the wait was a disaster. Sorry sweet maple.

    (3)

  • Amy T.

    I found this little cafe from the "Check Please!" show. The restaurant is very small but cozy. The pancake and biscuits are so delicious and huge! The maple syrup they serve is the best I've ever had at any breakfast restaurant. We had: pancakes, biscuits, sausage gravy, 18th Street Omelete, ham, home potatos and coffee. Everything we ordered were well cooked, seasoned, not too salty or sweet and beautifully presented. The sausage gravy is made from scratch and the best I've ever had. It is not WHITE and creamy like the normal gravy. If you are a breakfast person like I am, you should give it a try. PS: They serve Seattle Coffee there, so that's a plus!

    (4)

  • Jean C.

    Black Friday and when everyone is shopping, the hubby and I are brunching. After discussing what the hubs wanted, I selected Sweet Maple Cafe since I knew it would satisfy both our wants. We walked in and waited about five minutes before we sat down. The coffee was delicious and we ordered the holiday french toast and the chicken livers with eggs and grits. I was exactly in the mood for the chicken livers and it was divine. The livers were not overly breaded and the onions were nice and sweet. The bowl of grits was hot and plentiful. The biscuit was the biggest I had ever seen. Obviously this was too much and I took food home. The french toast was inhaled and I am pretty sure he loved it. I absolutely love Southern cooking and this will satisfy any need. The service was great and very friendly. This is definitely going to make our brunch round.

    (5)

  • Daniel K.

    Great breakfast. Very much enjoyed my trip there. They made fantastic muffins. Good to see NYC isn't the only place keeping bakeries alive.

    (4)

  • Brad F.

    This place was awesomeeee. I went there for lunch cause I was craving an omlette. I had a great experience here. I had the chicken soup which was amazing too. I recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Lauren D.

    I read about it in all of the travel guides, and even saw it on Rachael Ray -Sweet Maple Cafe definitely lives up to the hype and reviews. Delicious breakfast, great service, and endless coffee. Prices are reasonable, too. I am not sure why the place is so small since the wait is typically 24-45 minutes on weekends, but people are always waiting (so it must be good!) There is a Starbucks right up the block, so a lot of people get coffee while they're waiting, but you can also get coffee inside SMC near the counter to bring outside! They are only open 7-2, but if there's a line they will usually seat you right up until 2. Even if you go during the week there's a slight wait. I've had everything from the pancakes, to the grits, scramblers, hash browns, to egg sandwiches (and even some of the lunch items). Sweet Maple will not disappoint!

    (4)

  • D R.

    Sweet Maple Cafe, is a small, charming, home cooking eatery. I love this place. It is not fancy but has super food and great service. The food is expertly prepared and served with love and care. I am not a big fan of eggs but their eggs are great and super fresh. Pancakes are awesome. They have many choices of breakfast meats including pork and turkey. One thing that I really love that is rare in the city, is the free parking lot across the street. If you come in Sunday morning expect to wait but the wait is worth it. During the week you can get in and out fast if you show up early. A true gem of a find.

    (5)

  • Sam M.

    Amazing service and food. Best home fries I've ever had. Got the "That's Italian" with home fries and a biscuit. Coffee was good, too. Brewing Seattle's Best.

    (5)

  • Evelyn B.

    The cinnamon rolls are amazing!!! I wish more restaurants would serve great coffee like these folks do. The cheesy grits are definitely a must. I highly recommend this place but timing is key. During the week come at 7am to avoid the rush or at 1pm for lunch. On the weekends come by 9am or 1pm, chances are your wait will be a few minutes.

    (5)

  • Jean M.

    I stopped here with the family over Mother's Day weekend. My food was really good (special: lemon raspberry pancakes) but the rest of the group didn't feel it was anything overly impressive. I tasted the Monterrey fries and they seemed to need some type of sauce or something. Aside from that, I really enjoyed the slower paced atmosphere of this place verses a lot of the restaurants downtown. I've been living in the downtown area temporarily and it seems that there are so many places that are loud enough that it's hard to carry on a conversation. This was a nice switch!

    (4)

  • Sean D.

    I love good breakfast food and this is GOOD food. Only waited 15 minutes on a gorgeous day at about 11:15. The decorations and ambience were simple but relaxing. My only complaint would have been our seat because we were in the table pushed At the back counter, but not every seat can be great! The Taylor street omelet was great and I loved that it was two egg omelette instead of three so I could actually attempt to finish it. A great place to relax on a Sunday.

    (4)

  • Aja G.

    Now I remember why I stopped coming here. 4 star food with 2 start pricing and service. Yes the biscuits and other southern breakfast favorites (grits) are out of this world but: their pricing is way the fuck off. It is cheaper to get an omelet pack full of meat and cheese than their 2 eggs combo. 10.95 for 2 eggs/meat/biscuit or home fries? That is way too much and 19 minutes is way too long to wait for such a simple order. After enduring the wait in which you stand nearly on top of people eating i waited another 19 minutes for my simple scrambled eggs and for my ghost of a waitress to appear. You get more attentive service at Ihop. So go for the charm of feeling like your eating in Mabel Sue's living room, but once you sleep off the food coma remember you waited forever, paid 2 dollars too much and got shit service

    (2)

  • Vic C.

    Cinnamon Swirl pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes and the Sweet Maple-Opolis were absolutely delicious. If you are looking for an eccentric place for breakfast then don't bother coming here. If you are looking for a classic breakfast, this is the place for you. Basic options with unbelievable flavor and GREAT service. Will absolutely return. Keep in mind, expect a bit of a wait as this is a popular spot with limited seating.

    (5)

  • Tania D.

    Meh....not crazy at all about this place. I came here with coworkers for breakfast. I had the Peaches and Cream Pancakes. They had peaches inside the pancakes & on top. I thought it would taste good but it wasn't all that. The restaurant is small & decor has a Southern feel to it which I liked. I tasted the biscuit and that was good. My 1star goes for the biscuit and because we have to give a rate.

    (1)

  • Rachel R.

    I had high expectations for this place. The grits, mixed scramble eggs ok. The food needed some favor and seasoning like no other. The biscuit was great and enjoyable. Thanks for that! The size of the portions where enough to share a great perk for being on a budget. Everyone left with to-go bags.

    (2)

  • Lauren G.

    My boyfriend lived next door to Sweet Maple a few years ago, so we definitely had breakfast there a number of times. I loved every bit of this place! we keep meaning to go back, but haven't quite made it. Portions are huge, and I remember there being a special pumpkin latte one day that I went, and it was delicious. Plus, there is a HUGE parking lot across the street!

    (4)

  • Careese H.

    The breakfast was good and the service was decent.

    (3)

  • Theo D.

    Been coming here for over 10 years it's the only brunch spot that really fills me up. Worth every penny. Those biscuits can fill you up so fast, pace yourself.

    (5)

  • Mich S.

    Was it the awesome biscuits? Maybe... Was it the perfectly cooked omelette? Perhaps... The cheddar grits? Sort of... The service? Yep! The Sweet Maple crew is just about as warm and friendly as they get. They made our breakfast even better than I thought it could be. The biscuits do live up the hype, but the tomato and fontina omelette I had was perfect. The right mix of tomato and cheese, wrapped inside perfectly cooked eggs. Please make this a stop when in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Nick L.

    Best biscuit I've ever had! The pancakes were great also. Very filling! And great prices. I recommend this to anyone looking for a good breakfast

    (5)

  • George G.

    The food here is good and consistent. There was a really bad hostess for a while but she is a server now. The staff other than the one former hostess are all very nice and tend to be on top of everything. They could keep the coffee topped off a little more often but they do refill it eventually. They usually have a line out the door so be prepared to wait or go somewhere else if the line is long. Over all the menu is very good and envy one is very nice.

    (4)

  • Rhonda G.

    You know that girl who goes out of her way to make people like her? She tries to change her appearance, is always extra nice, but not quite "top 5" material? Well, Sweet Maple Cafe is THAT GIRL. It has this rustic look that just screams we're really trying hard to be rustic. The staff is super friendly but I think they are short staffed so they are buzzing about without really giving the customer much time. The "Holiday french toast" as it is called is pretty darn sad and I felt as though it could have had a bit more flavor and moistness. I was also disappointed in the little mini prepackaged cup of syrup with lid. If I wanted a tub of syrup I would have gone to McDonald's. On a brighter note, the eggs are fluffy and good and the coffee is strong and guaranteed to wake you up. This place doesn't really have a waiting area but when it's nice you can wait in the patio chairs out front.

    (3)

  • Chad C.

    Delicious moist biscuits, good pancakes, decent eggs. Long wait.

    (4)

  • Taylor M.

    This is the place to go when you want a hearty filling breakfast. The menu is very diverse. The service is extremely friendly. My only complaint about Sweet Maple is its size. It is too small for its popularity. Every time I go to Sweet Maple there is a wait for a table- often going out the door. However, Sweet Maple never makes you feel rushed to eat you meal. They do quickly clear and clean the table off for the next diners though! They are always very good with bringing refills on the coffee and water. Also, keep an eye out for seasonal specials. Once I had hot raspberry apple cider and it was phenomenal!

    (4)

  • Bea K.

    The biscuit is amazing - I dream about it! Great prompt service!

    (4)

  • Leanne A.

    looooooooove Sweet Maple!! How I wish it were closer :( It might actually be my fave breakfast spot. GASP! Breakfast sandwiches/biscuits are one of my truest pleasures in life, and the breakfast biscuit here might be the best I've ever had. The biscuit is beautiful. Everything filling up that baby is beautiful, too. And it's huge, so I get to eat the rest at lunch. (kind of distracting when I'm at work, and it's sitting there in the fridge, calling my name) I never cook potatoes at home, and don't always order them. But do NOT skip the potatoes at this joint. You can get them with cheese and hot sauce and onions....droooooooool. I get a side of those, and it's huge, too. Even the waitresses are all nice, on top of all this goodness! Sweet Maple is just really different, in that it's super casual, like a cabin in the old south. The food is super casual, too. But it's flawlessly cooked, and results in the most perfect breakfast. I wish I could try some of the other things on the menu, but my stomach sees that breakfast sammie, and won't let go of it! I want one NOW!!!!

    (5)

  • Erica W.

    I've been ordering my food from Sweet Maple to-go- I'll call in advance, and then go to pick up the order. This is the best solution to getting their food quickly without standing in a long line. The biscuits are still unmatched. Best biscuits in Chicago.

    (4)

  • Guadalupe L.

    I'm starting this thing with my sisters where every weekend we go out for breakfast. This was the place we chose to begin our sisterly bonding... amazing! Biscuits were delightful, fries were delish, and their pancakes are tasty! The only thing that bothered me was that it was really small... you have to get there early or go on a day that isn't so busy. Although i went with my sisters last Saturday morning and there was a 30 minute wait.... Will go again for sure!

    (4)

  • Jaci Y.

    We went there today for brunch with the family and a friend from out of town, and we found it to be a very popular place for brunch, even on a Monday. There was a line out the door to get in and get a table, and it was worth the wait because the food was very delicious. I had their french toast, and it was good, it wasn't out-of-this-world. However, I did like their pancakes, and their homefries. They make great hot chocolate and I would love to have brunch there again and try other item on the menu.

    (4)

  • LePra G.

    My girlfriend and I never have to debate over where we will go for breakfast - either I cook it, or we go to Sweet Maple. We have been loyal customers for a few years now, so the 5 star rating is quite accurate. We know to expect a nice wait (20-30 minutes max) if we go on a Sat or Sun morning, but we prefer to stand outside, or sit in the car (if we park in front) and await to hear our named called - as opposed to standing in line staring at others while they eat. The wait staff is consistently friendly, and you will often see the owner working along side the waitresses (there is rarely a male waiting tables for some reason, but that is fine by me). So I guess I should talk about the food now, huh? Being that we have been there a million times, we have literally had everything on the menu, so we know what we like. However, the food is quite delicious and if there is ever anything that is not to your liking, they will replace it, offer something different, or just remove it from the bill altogether. The pancakes are the size of the plate, and I would dare you to try and finish more than one. They often have seasonal specials, such as the pumpkin pancakes that are surprisingly delicious. The biscuits go well with any gravy-influenced item, or with a simple scoop of butter ( i like butter). One of my favorite brunch items are the chicken tacos - very flavorful, and even perfect for the health conscious because they are made with some type of low-fat cheese or something. I care not about that, they are just good. They also have great grits, if you are into that, countless home-fry combinations, all types of omelette's (i don't eat eggs, but my girlfriends says they are quite yummy) and coffee and teas that should satisfy most. All in all, I think this is the perfect breakfast/brunch spot. The prices might be considered a bit on the higher side, but I think you truly get what you pay for.

    (5)

  • Dolly K.

    Great coffee offerings, I'm not huge on typical breakfast food so I do the soup on Wed, tomato bisque, done perfectly, a salad loaded with baby gems, homemade Blue Cheese dressing and the biscuits. Let me say it again...biscuits, buscits..must have the biscuits. It is the foundation of Sweet Maple cafe and owner Lauren's grand momma's recipe.

    (5)

  • carolyn h.

    It has taken me a little while to write this review but it's worth writing it. I loves this place, the pancakes were to die for. Everyone was really sweet and my food came out pretty quickly. I went on a weekday when I had a day off from work so I'm not sure how it is on the weekends. It's pretty small so I could see it getting crowded.

    (5)

  • Jonathan P.

    If you knock off a star for the long wait, then that's on you... get up early and get there for the best breakfast sandwich you've ever had. It all starts with this amazing biscuit, they could serve me just about anything on that. Coffee is good, and strong. Parking is easy, and I don't care about ambiance in restaurants. I've been fortunate enough to try some of the seasonal items like the raspberry lemon pancakes, and pumpkin pancakes and they will change your life... for at least the time being. To sum it up, if you go out for breakfast after 8:30am and you are annoyed by having to wait, no one cares.

    (5)

  • A F.

    I had such high expectations for this place. When I arrived, I was surprised that the place was so small. I walked in and looked for where I should stand in order to be seated. I figured I would stand near the door in hopes that someone would seat me. However, I stood and stood and stood until finally what looked like the hostess yelled across the room, "How many?" I yelled back, "TWO!" She pointed in the direction of an empty table, so I figured I had better sit where she pointed. Anyway, the waitress came over and asked what we'd like to order? She didn't go over the specials, so I decided I'd order "The Special" on the menu. I ordered sausage patties, home fries, scrambled eggs, and the infamous biscuit that everyone raves about. My neice ordered pancakes. A few minutes passed and our food was on the table. OK, as much as I would love to give a great review of this place...I can't. The sausage patties tasted like Brown and Serve sausages. The eggs...meh. The biscuit tasted like baking powder. It must have been loaded with shortening because it completely fell apart. I had trouble putting jelly on it. The home fries, my Lord, the home fries. HORRIBLE. The home fries were somewhere between charred and completely hollow inside. They almost tasted reheated. The butter must have come out of the freezer because it was rock hard. I felt completely cheated and confused because there are so many positive reviews of this place. Maybe I came on a bad day. I just can't figure out how this place can have "lines down the street." It seems like the patrons in that line should do an about face and try another breakfast spot.

    (1)

  • Irene S.

    Ate here for the first time and it was to die for! My son had been here several years ago and recommended it. Service was fantastic, coffee was always flowing and the food was yummy. Highly recommend the pumpkin spice pancakes. Will definitely be back! Irene

    (5)

  • Jennie T.

    I don't particularly like American breakfast or brunch food, but I do like the Sweet Maple Cafe. I'm actually starting to wonder if perhaps I'm a fan of Southern American breakfast? The only other place I enjoy eating breakfast at is in Atlanta... I like their chicken and egg sandwich. It's very delicious. I was actually surprised that I liked it because I don't really like oyako-don (Japanese chicken and egg over rice) which I thought would taste similar. There's usually a long line whenever I come here. But the wait is well worth it.

    (4)

  • Fred H.

    I was very pleased with my experience. Service was friendly. The food was excellent and reasonable priced. I've heard and seen the lines to get into this small cafe on the weekend, so I went during a week day. Was seated immediately, no problem. Although, I didn't wait.....It's worth the wait. Will be going back... These type of small businesses are shrinking in America and I would much rather eat at this small cafe than a Denny's or an IHOP....

    (5)

  • Adam F.

    Sweet Maple Cafe is my favorite breakfast place anywhere. This is like grandma's cooking. It can get busy and the wait can get long, but if you arrive early (before brunch) it's usually quick to get in. Everything is wonderful. Order your favorite comfort food.

    (5)

  • Jade L.

    Went for the 2nd time this morning for a Friday morning brunch, and loved it even better than our first visit! The first time we went, there happened to be a race that Saturday morning, and so my fiance and I waited for over an hour! I had to work hard to tame the hungry beast (he's not quite as patient of a diner as I am), but we really enjoyed our scramble, homefries, and brewed coffees in the end. Today we waited for hardly 2 minutes before our names were called, and we joyfully made our way into the cafe and leisurely perused the menu. We always like sharing one savory and one sweet menu item, so today we opted for the Taylor Street Omelet (with home fries and a biscuit - ask for honey!) and the Holiday French Toast. We like our coffee strong, so theirs is always to our liking, and our entree choices were superb as well. Our overall meal was soo pleasant and satisfying. We had good food and were waited on by a friendly helpful waitress, so much that we left our meal with the sweetest thoughts and taste in our mouths! We're big fans!

    (4)

  • Brooke B.

    Waited for at least 30 minutes, which was fine since there's chairs outside to wait in and it was a beautiful day. As far as decor, it's a struggle between a cheap diner and a bad paint job. But we weren't there for the ambiance, we were there for breakfast! First place I've been in Chicago that served cheese grits! But...they were cold and so were my eggs. =( Our server was a delightful girl and the prices were decent. Homemade biscuits looked heavenly, but I couldn't bring myself to carb load.

    (3)

  • Sheena P.

    Underwhelmed. The french toast was three slices of wonder bread with powdered sugar and a side of pancake syrup, not the decadent slices of challah I was expecting. The country sausage had a weird gamey flavor, but smothering it in syrup helped. The wait staff was great, there wasn't a wait on an early Sunday morning (around 8:30), and the prices were pretty cheap. I really don't understand the hype though. If you're looking for a fantastic brunch experience, head over to Bongo Room or M. Henry, you won't regret it!

    (2)

  • Maria B.

    Pretty awful. Boyfriend ordered the pork chops which were deep fried and oily. Went there because the reviews were good. The decor is run down, and depressing. Underwhelmed. At least the coffee was good.

    (1)

  • Meghan O.

    Go here. Be early. Like when they open, early. Or else you'll be in line waiting (which it is worth). You will love: their coffee, potatoes and sweet biscuits. No matter who you are. Everything else is so freaking good I can't help but eat eveything in front of me, ALWAYS. I dig the 3 cheese omlette w/ham/tomatoes/spinich, and the blueberry pancakes. Both dishes are out of this world - good. Their prices seem a little much but they really aren't for the quality as well as quantity you get here. PLEASE GO HERE.

    (5)

  • Matt P.

    Amazing breakfast. It's popular but is so worth the wait. I highly recommend the 18th Street. I don't know what they do to their potatoes but they are amazing. Don't let the odd interior fool you, this place has fantastic food!

    (5)

  • Katherine M.

    Sweet Maple has been an eating place for us for near a decade. I think they are too crowded on a Sunday after 930, but hey that's the reason why they are popular--good food. The pancakes taste really homemade and not out of a mix. Love the grits. Like the coffee drinks Waitstaff is nice and while it is a more expensive breakfast place, nowhere near as costly as Ina's or Meli. We are very fond of the grub since we have many Louisiana relatives.

    (5)

  • Samantha S.

    The chef must have been out when I went. I got the 18th street with the grits and biscuit. The biscuit, while large, was dry. The grits were bland. The meal itself was also dry and the chorizo was not that spicy. My boyfrends corned beef hash was dry and was more like chopped up ham and potatoes than the finer texture of normal corn beef hash. Coffee was the best part. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Char Y.

    We came on a week day and still had to wait about 15 minutes for a seat. The place was bustling with people eating breakfast of champions. We ordered hot chooclate - VERY good, very sweet sweet maple special - lots of food! sunrise omelet - very good omelet! The biscuits are HUGE, the size of my hand. I thought the food was good, but just too heavy. I couldn't move or think afterward, and I only ate 1/2 of the portion.

    (3)

  • Tim H.

    Solid breakfast/brunch choice. Very good corned beef hash that comes with a huge biscuit. Their pancake special of lemon raspberry was also very good.

    (4)

  • Ericka J.

    I love Chicago. And great FOOD! Listen... this place has cornered the market on "up south" grits. Just heavenly delightful. I had the special - a Greek omelet packed full yet not sloppy, a great biscuit and those cheese grits. PERFECT! They only missed the mark with the waitress that served us. In a place like this you want a bit of down home service... southern hospitality. That's the only thing that was missing. Our server was so busy that she did not have time to really personalize the experience. That is what would have pushed it over to a 5 star rating. I am a fan and I will return again and again for those GRITS!!

    (4)

  • Samra M.

    Banana Pancakes... YUM! They make them perfect, not burnt, not too soft, just right! And their chocolate milk is mm mm deliciouso as Dora would say. I'm coming back when I have time. The place is always full and always has a line, so you have to wait unless you go there at the right times. The waiters and waitresses are very helpful and kind. Ask for Rich, he's a really good server and makes sure that your food comes out perfectly! Props to you!

    (4)

  • Angelina B.

    The food is some good ole home cooking. I had an omelet, biscuit, and home fries. They dont skimp you on the portion sizes and I had to take some in a to-go box. I couldnt even wait till I got home to continue eating the rest of my food! I downgraded it to 4 stars instead of 5 due to the lack of great service. But still a phenomenal breakfast place.

    (4)

  • Sara L.

    At the suggest of a friend who is pretty good about making food suggestions, we went to Sweet Maple for breakfast and enjoyed it immensely! We were warned that it's small and gets crowded fast, so we anticipated a wait when we got there. Found a parking spot right out front and had no wait when we got there at 8.30! We were shocked and amazed because the place was clearly hopping, but I suppose we lucked out when I looked up to find the size of the line had doubled since being seated. Didn't get any rude impression from the gentleman that seated us, in fact, everyone who worked there had a smile on their face and was clearly attentive to us and everyone around us. The only person that was rude was the woman who barged past me to get into line before me (not knowing that my boyfriend was already inside) and proceeded to let the door shut in my face. I guess I got some sweet justice, because we were almost finished with our DELICIOUS meals as she was just getting seated. Fuckin' bitch, serves her right! We decided to split a raspberry hot chocolate while we waited (not long at ALL) for our meal and it was incredible. I ordered a the Carmen G with Fontina cheese and my boyfriend got the Dr. G. It was to die for and he agreed. There must have been 4 slices worth of bacon in my scramble and there was a nice blend of button and portabello mushrooms (a nice touch, as all button mushrooms in a dish can be a little boring). The roasted red potato home fries were crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and very flavorful. And the biscuits, my GOD, the biscuits!! I have Celiac disease and I'm not supposed to eat them...but God DAMNIT, I had to try one. I only ate half - not too bad. Best biscuit I've ever had and I'm originally from the South. I like mine to be a little firm and crumbly as opposed to overly fluffy and these had the perfect balance and were very moist. For the two of us, the bill came to be about $26 bucks and change. Not bad at all for all of the food we had. Pros: Everything I've talked about, see commentary. Cons: The only thing I can think of is there's a wait (not for us, again, we were lucky) and the only have diet Coke in a can - no refills. I've complained about this before in other reviews, I love me some diet Coke, sue me. If we go back for lunch, I might have to add another star. P.S. Some of you Yelper's need to take those sticks out of your asses and cool your jets with your criticisms on this site (not just this review, all of them). If a place is truly terrible, then that's one thing, but most reviewers live to find every negative detail that they can and go on and on about it. It's ridiculous what people complain about.

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    I had a brunch date and we decided on going to Sweet Maple cafe. We waited for about 20min for a table. Seems like a lot of people come for brunch and lunch make sure you come early. I ordered the Holiday French Toast and the house potatoes. Cafe and food was good. If in the area check this place out. Service is great.

    (4)

  • Vanessa G.

    My fiancee and I really enjoy this place. We like the biscuits, but not the wait. There is parking across the street and the staff is nice. The place is small, but their pancakes are my favorite!! We keep coming back. Worth a visit and maybe more and more visits.

    (4)

  • MyChau N.

    My husband and I live in the neighborhood, but have only been here 4-5 times since we hate the wait on the weekend. The last time we came was on a Tuesday morning and it was great since we were seated right away! We had: Corned beef hash meal: Came with 2 eggs (I got it done over easy); also came with a biscuit. It wasn't the best corned beef hash I've had (just basically potatoes fried with corned beef, I felt it was missing onions). However, the biscuit was amazing!!! Nice and fluffy! The eggs were just eggs, could have made it at home. Taylor street omelet: Came with home fries (pretty yummy) and a biscuit. The omelet was okay, nothing special in my opinion. Pumpkin spice pancakes: OMG! The best pancakes ever! Too bad this flavor is only seasonal. You can't go wrong with Sweet Maple's pancakes, whatever the flavor. Cranberry apple cider: very yummy and hot! Perfect for a cold morning. Chai tea latte: perfect blend of spice and creaminess. Our waitress was friendly and the setting was quaint. Overall, would recommend the awesome beverages and pancakes/biscuits. The eggs were not spectacular but a nice complement to the meal. Wished they had Egg Benedict choices on the menu, all the egg choices available are pretty uninspired.

    (4)

  • Tracey H.

    Seriously the best biscuit I've ever had. Seriously. The cheddar cheese they use in the potato hash brown scrambles or whatever they're called = awesome. The white gravy: Ewwwwwwww. Truly disgusting and unsightly. It was actually grey. Ugh. We told our server & she kindly offered to take it off the bill (we declined), but she seemed extremely annoyed, ala "don't you know there is a 2 hour wait here everyday so you must be wrong"...yeah, that look. Both my partner & I have culinary backgrounds....this was not good. Also a duo that definitely came in after us were seated before us. No they weren't waiting somewhere else and then came in after us and were seated accordingly, as the host (kind of) rudely attested. I heard them talking when they came in about what the wait could be potentially, etc. Wish I could give 2.5 stars, because truly that biscuit is something I'm still dreaming about. But overall? Overrated & not worth the wait.

    (2)

  • Johnnie G.

    Great food great staff, the French toast are amazing!!! Whenever I'm in the city I'm there!!

    (5)

  • Courtney D.

    If you have to wait for a table.. it is sooooo worth it! The owner is very warm and inviting, and greeted everyone while they waited to order or as they were finishing their meal. The coffee is great, and the food is AMAZING! My grandmother was from New Orleans and made the best grits.. this place definitely reminded me of her style of cooking. The waitstaff is very nice here as well. I love the ambiance and the "old school" touches. LOVE this place!!

    (5)

  • Michele B.

    I will use any excuse to go to "Little Italy" but it really sounds funny when I say I am going for southern food! The biscuit and gravy and their corned beef hash make me think of sittin on a porch with a sweat tea on a warm summer day. Don't get me wrong their hot cider will warm your bones on these cold Chicago days. Worth the wait, but parking can be tricky.

    (4)

  • Alicia M.

    I absolutely love eating here, can't beat the free parking lot across the street either. Perfect place for brunch with a couple of friends!

    (5)

  • B C.

    I recently started working at the UIC campus and checked the google map online for a nearby lunch break option. This place jumped out to me as a quality, low-key, local diner with a cult following. The place was busy when I arrived, but they move the tables quickly and I was able to get in and out within 45 minutes. What I liked most about this place was was the fantastic service. My coffee was always quickly refilled and the waitress was incredibly nice. She was happy to give plenty of menu recommendations and I went with Laurene's Little Tacos. They had a fresh and slightly spicy taste, a good chicken and spinach combination, and fortunately weren't too heavy - always good to avoid post-lunch grogginess. Next time I'm going to try their breakfast options, since that appears to be their specialty.

    (4)

  • Linda H.

    I was trying to think of somewhere different to go for breakfast on Sunday morning and remembered seeing this place on Check Please, so we decided to give it a go. I jumped out of the car to put our name in while BF parked the car (and paid the meter for 2+ hours...before I saw the sign that there is a large free parking lot across the street). There was a 55 minute wait, but we were expecting to wait, so no biggie. It was cold and rainy out, and people were standing in the small entranceway with the inside door open, resulting in a rush of cold air into the restaurant every time someone opened the door. I was wishing there was some kind of sign on the door telling people to keep it closed (as there was a sign instructing patrons what to wear/not to wear i.e. "no exposed undergarments"). Once we were seated, service was prompt and friendly. Since I was *starving* I asked for a muffin asap, but they were out of all muffins, so I opted for a biscuit instead. The coffee was excellent, and filled promptly, and the biscuit was huge and delicious. I got the 3 cheese omelet with home fries, and BF got the Taylor St. omelet with grits. Servings were large, and the food was all very nicely done and tasty...a quality breakfast, for sure. The decor was a bit curious...in an attempt to be "rustic", I suppose, the faux finish on the walls looked like someone just ripped off all the wallpaper and left it like that...is wasn't working for me, but whatever. I would go back for the great service and food...but I would be prepared to wait.

    (4)

  • Sara L.

    I'm from the south......& this is as good as it gets: southern hospitality & true southern cooking.

    (4)

  • Jane T.

    It may not be fancy, but it's one of the best brunches I've had in Chicago. The biscuits alone are some of the best I've had, and the french toast was so custardy and rich. I drool just thinking about sweet maple.

    (5)

  • daynia S.

    Yummy spot for breakfast. The food is always good but the service could use a little work but its been that way for years. On Saturday and Sundays the wait is extremely long, so you might want to bring a snack while you wait. It would be nice if they served coffee or a little something while you wait. I understand its a small place but it would add to the charm of feeling like you're eating at home. You quickly forget about the long wait in line once you actually sit down to eat. However, you feel like you can't quite enjoy your meal because the people in line continuously stare as they hope a table becomes free. Sometimes people hover right over your shoulder if you are seated near the entrance. Did I mention the food is really good?!!

    (4)

  • Pierre W.

    A GREAT place for Breakfast,or Brunch. I'd give it 5 stars but it's too small for it's greatness!!(smile).. I like the differnet twists they add/offer to traditional breakfast items,like Oatmeal with Brown Sugar,and rasins on the side..with Vanilla Cream. It's cream like you put in your coffee,but with a hint of Vanilla flavor...WONDERFUL!!! Actually,I DO put some in my coffee.I appreciate the corned beef hash....the corned beef isn't what you find in restaurants...it's sliced,chopped,corned beef. Not the processed stuff you usually find in restaurants. Cheddar grits!!!!! YES!!...when I've had pancakes there,the syurp is always warm. You can tell the orange juice is freshly made. When you go on Saturday...you WILL wait,but you expect that at a place with GREAT food. Sweet Maple Cafe serves that indeed. I highly recomend it..

    (4)

  • Jen W.

    Second visit and Sweet Maple did not impress on either occasion. Ms Biscuit does a much better job with brunch.

    (2)

  • KM M.

    I love going out to breakfast and this isn't too far from our house and came recommended, so I gave it a shot. Short wait, but that's to be expected on a Saturday. The thing is, there's really nowhere to wait b/c their entrance is big enough to have 2 people stand in, but then you can't open the door to get all the way. Once inside, you're basically standing at people's tables waiting for them to finish. The decor leaves a lot to be desired. Might be part of their "thing" but the peeling walls, the pictures literally crooked and falling off the wall, the floor looked dirty, doesn't give me a lot of confidence about what the kitchen is like. I'll start with the good... the hot chocolate was delicious. I also really enjoyed the homemade applesauce. The "ehhh" - Biscuits & Gravy, it was okay. Nothing too good. The other items we tried were also, just okay (protein scramble, eggs, bacon, toast). You're inevitably going to wait, no matter where you go in Chicago for brunch, I just don't think this place is worth waiting for.

    (3)

  • Johnny T.

    This place is slap-yo-mama good. Well, I wouldn't actually SLAP my mother (because I enjoy living). But I would slap someone's mama - because the food is so good! The minus star is because of the wait. Yes, I know the whole "ooh, the food is so good it shouldn't matter if you wait for it" argument. Thing is, when the wait gets so long the people in line start side-eying tables and figuring out which grannie would be the easiest to take out...that's a problem. Either extend the hours, add on or get rid of the small tables and seat everybody country-style (long table, shoulder to shoulder with friends and strangers). The food: get the pancakes, any beverage with strawberries, biscuits, ham, eggs and bacon. I don't eat bacon and I eat bacon at this place. Get plenty of food or plan on never leaving the table to go to the bathroom. Your table partner WILL steal your food. You'll notice. You'll argue. Your good mood will evaporate. You won't speak to each other for the rest of the day. You'll start to talk about one another. Someone will get his car keyed. Someone's house will get egged. Ex'es will be slept with. Someone will go to jail. Was it worth all that? Order the extra chocolate chip pancakes and save your friendship.

    (4)

  • Ricky N.

    Okay, so now that I don't work here anymore, I can write a fair review! Sweet Maple gets five stars- five stars for the breakfast daypart. Of which I like to consider myself a champion, having eaten at damn near every brunch joint in the city. The owner, Laurene, has been in business for over ten years, and Sweet Maple is still rocking and rolling for a reason: the food is dead-on, as is the service. When you want brunch, when you want to eat too much good food, when you want to get up, eat, and go back to bed, Sweet Maple is PERFECT. Not to say there are not lighter options, there certainly are. Sheldon's healthy start, for example, is a really great way to start your day on the healthy side: black beans, sauteed spinach, tomato slices, and multigrain toast. Add a couple poached eggs and you're good to go. Lets start with the eggs. There is no other restaurant in Chicagoland that does eggs as well as Sweet Maple. The vast range of ways an egg can be cooked is overwhelming. Soft, medium, hard, from scrambled to over to poached. And the guys in the kitchen are so good, they are sure to cook your egg just the way you like. And if you're an over-medium person like I am, you know. A perfect over medium is hard to get. You want some runny yolk for your toast but enough hard yolk to eat! Too many fail. At Sweet Maple, you'll get over medium. Heck if you want over medium-hard they'll even do that for you. So Sweet Maple earns five stars just for their egg expertise. Onto the carbs. The pancakes are wicked. Until I tried a sweet maple pancake, I was not a fan of the breakfast staple. But here, you'll get a flavorful, thick, doughy pancake cooked golden brown. And the French Toast! The best French Toast of my life. I've had french toast north, south, east, and west. Many restaurants serve lack-luster french toast and some ruin it with fruit toppings, cream, and other fancy nonsense. Made with thick pieces of Challah bread, the toast is lightly dipped in a sweet batter, giving the toast a sweet, crispy crust leaving the inside soft and warm. And to top off either indulgence- real maple syrup. This stuff is literally shipped from vermont. It's the real deal, people. Like liquid GOLD. And the biscuits HOLY COW. Baked everyday, throughout the day, you'll never have a biscuit like a sweet maple biscuit. Sometimes they'll come out a little more brown than you may care for. Throw some butter and honey on it and you're in business. Or gravy! Oh, the gravy. The sausage gravy, with the perfect hint of spice, turns a simple biscuit into a filling breakfast making you wish you had two stomachs to keep eating! And the rest? Well its all really fantastic. The scrambles, omelets, homefries, and lunch entrees are all super good. Having tried near everything on the menu, I can attest: there is not a single thing Sweet Maple makes that isn't amazingly awesome. Oh, and a final food detail: I don't know how she does it, but Laurene always finds the best fruit, no matter in season or not. Sweet maple has the best fruit bowl around, particularly in the summer. Even today, each piece of fruit was fresh, and perfectly ripened, full of flavor. The only downside like all will attest is the wait. But its well worth it. It is almost part of brunch culture. During the summer you can wait outside and sit on the provided chairs. Winter time is not so easy, being herded into a crowd waiting at the door. And I am sure each guest (including myself) asks him or herself about expansion. But sweet maple - and all 14 tables, is perfect just the way it is. Simple, small, intimate, and consistent. Even the servers will not let you down. Sweet Maple servers have a reputation of being the nicest, warmest, most welcoming servers in the brunch industry. And its true! When you walk into Sweet Maple, from the servers to the managers, the owner, and the kitchen, you feel like you're at home. And the home-cooking will prove just that. Go, wait. Its worth it. Whether you're from the neighborhood or from Indiana, Sweet Maple should be your regular breakfast joint.

    (5)

  • R W.

    I hate to dump on everyones beloved feelings for this place, but my experience was beyond awful. After much hype and several "You must eat here's" I finally went. I ordered blueberry pancakes, simple enough, right? WRONG! They came fairly quickly; however, when I went to take my first bite the inside was gooey and undercooked. Quite revolting. So I called the waitress back over she agreed it was undercooked. I was no longer in the mood for pancakes after that and agreed to some french toast. So I wait patiently, the new food is delivered and it is AGAIN undercooked in the middle. At this point I am throughly disgusted. The manager is called over, she agrees again that it is undercooked and I am done with it all at this point. She says I don't have to pay for either item. So, I leave hungry and grossed out. I will not be coming back. Stax is a block away and way better quality. Walk the extra block, trust me!

    (1)

  • phil m.

    Yaaaayyyyyy...!! My absolute favorite place for a good fulfilling breakfast. The service is great and love the biscuits!!! The wait is always long! Even during the week.... It's well worth the wait....

    (5)

  • Jon B.

    This is the best breakfest I've ever had. The pancakes are fluffy, warm, and sweet as can be! The homestyle fries are the best potaters you'll have this side of the Mississippi. And the hot chocolate, man, don't even get me started on the hot chocolate. I want to recommend that you go, but the line up is already so long, I'm considering changing this review to 1 star... hmm.....

    (5)

  • Mike G.

    Came in to SMC today, still amazed by this food and service. These waitresses are fast and by far the best than any other place I know of. I still can't find any place better than it. Still wondering why people can't wait for fantastic food and get all upset; its not the waitresses fault people, come on to eat. Thanks SWEET MAPLE CAFE you made my day once again!

    (5)

  • Sandra S.

    This is me and my family top breakfast spot.The blueberry pancakes are the best.The biscuits are to die for. It has the feel of my grand ma mary's kitchen in alabama.And you feel so at home.The wait is usually 30 min.Yes it's a little pricey .But its worth it.No alfresco dining last i checked.

    (4)

  • Christina G.

    Long line, waited about 45 minutes close to noon on Saturday, but worth the wait for sure. You can't go wrong with the Sweet Maple special. The biscuits are amaze. And the coffee is pretty good too. No alcohol though, and no BYOB, what's up with that? That's ok, the grease more than takes care of the hangover.

    (4)

  • Stephen S.

    The breakfast here is very, very good. I had the porch chop breakfast and it was fabulous. The rest of the party had the lemon/something pancakes, the chicken livers, and the salmon patty breakfasts. The biscuits were ok and large. Coffee was good. Did not like waiting 25 minutes, but see why the place is so popular. I would definitely stop here again.

    (4)

  • James T.

    The best thing about this place are the eggs, but I feel like you cannot really mess up eggs The wait was long, and I was there fairly early. People hyped this place up so I had to check it out. The service was mediocre, but their lax attitude was kind of annoying. The portions are big yes, but the waffles and french toast, they had this bland taste that the syrup could not cover up. Maybe I went on a bad day, but after waiting for 30 minutes for breakfast food, it was not worth for how much we paid. If you have a group of 4 or more expect to wait long. Expect good eggs, big portions, a long wait, so so service, and average breakfast food. I would pass on it. There are tons of other breakfast places to try in Chicago.

    (2)

  • Q C.

    Waiting for a table sucks here because it's such a small place you're practically sitting at the other people's tables while waiting. A couple walked in straight to the desk in the back and put their name on the list after we waited for 10 minutes by the door for the host to put us on the list . . . NOT COOL! But after being seated the food was great! Although the biscuits weren't as good as everyone hyped them up to be. Our waitress seemed a little mad at us at first- like we punched her mother, but after ordering our food she was cool and we tipped her well. The catfish was awesome! I would go here again and next time walk straight to the back to put my name on the list!

    (4)

  • caroline k.

    Sweet and cozy cafe for a lazy weekend brunch, the way it should be. Sleepy location on Taylor street in U-village is bright inside and inviting, with a friendly staff to match. Showed up with a friend on a Saturday afternoon and had: - a custom ordered egg white omlette (grilled chicken, mushrooms, potatoes, and green peppers) - huge portions and yum. - both the sweet and corn meal biscuits - big, golden, and fluffy, but not quite as buttery as I would have liked. - grits - plain, so we added butter and salt. - chocolate banana pancakes - huge, low on banana and topped with little chocolate morsels, but good A good mix of ages, ethnicities, adults and students looking to ease into the weekend. Comfort food in a comfortable setting - would definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Phyllis R.

    The Catfish on Fridays is crazy good. I love the pork chops on the weekend. I am always wishing I could get there every week. Very High Quality. Very crowded. A long wait. Small diner. All homemade.

    (5)

  • Marki L.

    The food is good but I'm not a fan. They simply give you too much food but they are consistent and the wait staff is friendly. Expect to wait because there is generally a line out of the front door. Fried fish on Fridays is my favorite.

    (4)

  • Jon K.

    By far the best breakfast location in the UIC/Little Italy area. Food is moderately priced, but perfectly prepared. Menu is very simple, yet it ensures that your food is fresh. The maple syrup is amazing. It's not a cheap generic sugar sauce like many breakfast joints, it is true high quality maple syrup. The hash is to die for! Especially when it's loaded with cheese and ham. The only down sides are the hours and the wait times. Although, the wait times are not at the fault of the establishment, they are limited on seating space, but rather the community loves the place so much it's common to see a line on the street in the morning rush. My solution is simple... I order carryout and eat at work

    (5)

  • Maria Z.

    Simply delicious! I went in today for my birthday, and had the best birthday brunch ever! I had been wanting to go here ever since I've been seeing that huge biscuit in my hungry face on my way to school and work on the train ads....(good tactic, btw) My wish finally came true today! I had the omelette that was good for you, BUT with a biscuit and "home-fries" and a raspberry hot chocolate. DELICIOUS. The service was super fast and friendly. I really enjoyed myself and will most definitely be here again. I wish they were open later, though... but its worth it sacrificing to get here early!

    (5)

  • Anita V.

    I order eggs and turkey sausage and my boyfriend loves the Way South eggs. Then we split a pancake. We've been ordering the same thing for years. The food is quality and tastes good, they also have a good selection of unique and down home breakfast and lunch. I would give it more stars but one huge problem is the wait. If you don't make it there by 8:30am especially on the weekends, you have to wait outside or in the awkward waiting area. There really isn't much hope of getting a table because there are no more than 15 tables. The place is really small. The price is also an issue. Last time we went we spent almost $40 dollars including tip for two people. I think the prices slightly raised or something. I honestly don't think Sweet Maple is worth the wait because you can go to Wishbone and get almost the same thing cheaper and faster. I know I'm not supposed to hate on this place, but the wait sucks and there is better breakfast out there without the fuss. I saw a couple next to me get seated after waiting for a table and left angrily as they waited for a waitress and never got help. Anyway, if you are an early bird and get there before 8am it is definitely worth trying out.

    (3)

  • Duncan B.

    Amazing Coffee! Amazing Service! Have to have the "Cheezer"! Very inexpensive, very Chicago neighborhood feel. Will be heading to Chicago in a week and will definitely be eating there while I'm in town.

    (5)

  • John G.

    Very solid. If the interior were nicer and the prices were a little lower I would have given it 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Jane T.

    After seeing this place on Check, Please! well over a year ago, I've been wanting to try it. But every time I drove past on weekends, the line was crazy long. So on my day off, I met up with a friend here for breakfast. I had the Fall special - pumpkin spice pancakes. It was very fluffy/tasty and you can really taste the pumpkin in it but it seemed to be lacking the "spice" it had proclaimed in its name. And for that, I will have to subtract a star. The service was super friendly, and they really make you feel like you're being served your favorite breakfast by your grandma/mom/aunt. And their amicable attitudes seemed truly genuine - it's a real treat to be in this sort of environment. The walls are decorated with a few frames of old family photos, which I found to be a great addition to the "home-like" atmosphere of the place.

    (4)

  • Jenny S.

    Coffee, homefries and biscuit were great! everything else was OK. over priced....

    (3)

  • Tracey W.

    First place I discovered when I moved here. Cute and little. Amazing pancakes. great bacon - and the host I had was the sweetest girl I ever met. Seriously, she went over the top. I definitely think it's one of my top picks for breakfast.

    (4)

  • M. N.

    The only reason I can't give this 5 stars is because of an almost hour wait, with really nothing to do but wait, no seats, heck we waited while standing a few feet from all of the tables, no drinks to have or snacks to keep us going...So that part was less than ideal. BUT the food, oh lord it's great. I had pancakes and I know it's hard to believe but it was totally worth the wait. The three others that were with me also felt like the food was worth the wait. So go early, be prepared for a wait, and be starving so you can devour every last thing on your plate.

    (4)

  • Valoria R.

    Cozy down-home eating. Fresh eggs. Good quality crispy bacon. Tasty pancakes. Salmon croquette tasty but a little fishy. Pan sausages are just awful like brown & serve- yuck! If u like bisquick-type biscuits, you'll like theirs. Coffee little strong 4 non-diehard drinkers. Small dining room. Advice 2 go early spot-on. See where u could feel rushed if crowded. Waitress Dana is syruppy sweet! Would give 4 stars just 4 having salmon croquettes on menu & Dana but 3 is most honest overall.

    (3)

  • E R.

    Best breakfast in Chicago! That's all that needs to be said!

    (5)

  • Tam H.

    Yummy, yummy! This place is to die-for! You can't beat the great food here! It's wonderful and I love just going! I've been on two occasions. Now if you don't have a lot of time, be forewarned that this may not be the place for you to get a quick order. If you are okay with waiting, you won't be disappointed. Walk down the street to get a cup of coffee from you-know-who and make friends with the people standing in line with you. It's called networking. We are in a recession people and SMC may be the place that helps you land your next gig. By the time you finish waiting in line, you should have met at least 3 new people. Every time that I've gone, I never leave disappointed. Being from the south, I love to indulge in their grits. Now I eat grits but I never had cheddar grits until I showed up to SMC's. You know how it happens. You sit next to someone and you see their plate. Your eyes get big and you are like "Fine, okay, I want what they are eating". That's exactly what happened to me. A guy was sitting next to me with his boo and I peered over and my eyes landed on the G-R-I-T-S. I looked up and proudly placed my order. There are so many things to eat here. The freshly homemade biscuits are great. The pancakes are made just right. I can't ever seem to make pancakes right at home. But I know, I will just fake it next time. I'll purchase them from SMC and have people believing that I cook breakfast just that good. :) Their pancakes are light and fluffy. They are huge! No such thing as a Swedish pancake here. People don't try to bust me out here just roll with the program. They always say if you aren't great at something, go find people that are and work with them. Also, don't feel embarrassed if you are eating off a friend's plate because their food is just as good as your own. This place has huge helping so either come with an empty stomach or share with someone that doesn't eat a lot. You will leave there full.

    (4)

  • Diana R.

    CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS PLACE! It's a great place for a weekend breakfast/brunch. The wait is longer on the weekends, but well worth it! The staff is very accommodating and friendly. The food is delicious and the portion sizes are a great value! Would not recommend for big groups (good if you have up to 5 people, maybe 6) since the space is just not that big! Would recommend again and again. Two stars for the great food. Two for the AWESOME staff. And one for portion size. If you don't want to deal with parking, it's just a short walk from the Racine blue line. Definitely worth the walk!

    (5)

  • kevin c.

    Meh. I've experienced better. lol, but honestly - sweet maple didn't impress me much. the place was cramped ... service was pretty typical. there really wasn't anything extraordinary about this breakfast/brunch joint. In case anyone was wondering, I had the eggs, turkey sausage and some biscuits with gravy. I did not orgasm ... not even a little.

    (2)

  • Stephanie C.

    Very good, but not efficient in their use of tables. They have a line out the door and will seat a 2 person group at a 4 top moments before a 2 top opens...

    (4)

  • Clara P.

    I miss the ex-boyfriend for one reason only and that is: he used to bring me to this place on a weekly basis. Now, I come here maybe every other month or so with friends but this place is by far my favorite omelet place, and biscuit place, and potatoe place, and cappucino place... ah whatever, everything I've had at this place is SO DELISH! Some may think it's not hard to mess up an omelet, well I like my omelets FLUFFY and not all places make them fluffy, these here my dear are so fluffy you can bounce your head off them. And don't you dare leave this place without trying them biscuits. They will warm your soul. Oh, btw, this place can have wait sometime and it is soooooooooo worth it. There have been time we've waited over an hour during winter. So worth the wait though.

    (5)

  • Kevin W.

    My favorite breakfast spot in Southside Chicago! I normally order their homemade corned beef, which comes with eggs and a biscuit. The corned beef is made with real corned beef, not that canned stuff, the biscuit is not too dry or fluffy, it melts in your mouth. I also really like their coffee here too. The service has always been good to me even when they are busy, which is often the case. The setting is definitely casual, but because the place is on the small side, there is usually a line out the door. Be aware that should expect to wait at least 15-30 mins on a weekend.

    (5)

  • Catherine X.

    "When did I step south of the Mason-Dixon line?" my friend uttered as he observed his surroundings. Well, it is quaint. I almost feel like I should buy a ticket to enter this Underground Railroad-looking establishment. I guess I had higher expectations going in after seeing this place on "Check, Please!" Then again, which restaurant hasn't gotten its 25 minutes of fame on that show? The biscuits were good, but nothing to rave about. I would've liked them to be fluffier. The corned beef was ok, and the coffee good, but I found the eggs and bacon to be a little sad and lackluster. We had a smaller party so the wait wasn't actually too bad. Overall, my impression of this place was just meh.

    (3)

  • Grace L.

    The best biscuits are not found south of Mason-Dixon. They are found in Chicago, kitty corner to UIC. Soft, square-shaped, slightly sweet and buttery-beyond-belief. These biscuits are good.

    (4)

  • Lorna S.

    SWEEEEET.....Maple Cafe is just that, SWEET! Like the nicest, most kind people you'd ever want to be around. I just ate there this morning with my mother, who it quite picky. She enjoyed everything she tried, as did I. The biscuits are light and fall apart easily, and oh so tasty! Loved the coffee; strong, but not bitter. Cheesy grits, YUMMY, eggs, made exactly how I ordered them, turkey sausage, great! I tried my mom's off the bone ham, and it was also great!!! The only negative, is that they didn't come around with coffee often enough. I know they're busy, and they probably don't want you hanging out there all day drinking coffee, but I would like more than a cup during my breakfast. There were only two people ahead of us when we got there, but when we left, there were about 15-20 people waiting outside. Oh yeah, one of the most important things about eating out (for me), is the service...everyone was very nice and accommodating. No rudeness whatsoever! The atmosphere was distressed looking; like a tiny country diner. I loved it!

    (4)

  • Ngoc H.

    Came here for a good friends birthday brunch, this place is so cute! I felt so welcomed when I walked in, the staff was very friendly and quick. We told her we were meeting a friend for her bday and she bought out an AMAZING carrot cake with a candle, such sweetheart! The prices are very reasonable and parking wasn't too bad. The cheddar grits were delicious and so were the omlettes. the menu was overflowing with too many different choices which I did not mind. It makes me believe that they're darn good at what they make, and they are!

    (5)

  • Robyn T.

    Solid breakfast and lunch treats that are easy on the wallet. Think thick slices of French toast, a variety of fluffy pancake options, eggs, grits, biscuits, lunch sandwiches and soups. The restaurant has the rustic charm of a true Southern cafe from the wood floors to the walls (made to look like something a bit older than they really are) and the friendly staff. Biscuits are large and fluffy and butter melts on them easily. Grits are decently good, but here I have to say I'm no grits expert. The egg options were basic. Food was good and I'll go back, but I don't think I'd wait in one of the long weekend lines.

    (3)

  • Janis W.

    The food is pretty good. Everything on the menu looked good, I had to make a choice though, so I had the porkchop and egg breakfast. The home fries were very good. The service was not good. All six of the people who worked there stood behind the counter and fooled around. I've worked in restaurants so I know how fun that can be. But I really needed coffee.

    (3)

  • Diana H.

    I have been eating at Sweet Maple for about 8 years now. It is one of my favorite weekend breakfast places. They have the best Holiday French Toast, their omlettes are great, pancakes are superb, and they have good coffee. I love the hashbrown potatoes too. The wait is generally worth it in the warm season, as there is not a waiting area. Your best bet is to go early...like 8AM. Since I live close by I sometimes just order take-out from here.

    (4)

  • Jean Z.

    I'd eat this any time of day ...but i wont wait in line for it. I've been coming here occasionally for a year now. I have thought about it every weekend since my first visit. How I would love to spend an hour here muching down instead of getting my Easy Scrambled Egg & Cheeser to go. The biscuits & gravy have a style of their own. The biscuits are the sweetest most lovely square nuggets of heaven next to my mom's. This place rules my world, and their sausage is fabulous!!!! Place looks like granny's kitchen got a paint job start and never finished. Raw wood floors lend to that old house feel. Spacious tables(even the deuces!) and that's always a plus when you know you'll have at least two dishes per person. I give this place five stars because they actually ask if you want your scrambled eggs "Soft, Medium or Hard?" All the terrible pictures of the sign on the place dont do any justice to the food, so when you stop in , bring your camera and share with the class...i put my to-go order photo in here. Yum.

    (5)

  • Liz J.

    It was my birthday, and I wanted to go to brunch. My roommate said "I went to this little place one time that was really good," so we piled into her car and headed south ... forgetting for a moment that it was not only Sunday, but also Mother's Day. Still, our wait was only 30 minutes (about my upper limit for brunch waiting.) Perhaps because it was Mother's Day, but there were a lot of families, which is a nice change from the usual hipster crowd I usually encounter at brunch places. My pancakes were amazing amazing amazing. If I lived closer, I'd go back more often.

    (4)

  • Da J.

    Long wait. Grody atmosphere (paint, are you peeling off the walls?). Service is kinda slow and atrocious because I can SEE MY WAITER CHATTING UP A GIRL when I have waited 45 minutes to sit and I... AM... HUNGRY!!! They need a manager to keep these peeps in line.

    (2)

  • Aj M.

    This place has the pest corn beef hash I have ever had. Had a slight wait at the door but it was well worth every minute. This a must try breakfast joint in little Italy.

    (4)

  • Tida M.

    Try this place for a nice homestyle breakfast. Their sweet milk biscuits are the best, and I always order the breakfast sandwich. The only thing about this place is the wait on weekends.

    (4)

  • Peter F.

    I love breakfast, and this is my favorite breakfast place! I've eaten here many times, and every time the food has been great. Often I get the egg and cheeser sandwich on a biscuit (I think it also comes on toast - but, trust me, get the biscuit)... it is delicious, and it comes with a side of applesauce...love applesauce in the morning. I've also had the oatmeal - with a dash of brown sugar and cream - it is a hearty, delicious choice for a cold winter day. I really like the coffee... however, sometimes when the place is really busy, it can be difficult to get a refill. I think it would be better if they gave the table a small pot - so we could refill ourselves. I brought an out-of-town friend to Sweet Maple. He had an omelet and said it was the best omelet he ever had. The only negative is that this place is not that big, and on the weekends the wait is usually very long. Some ways to avoid the wait: go during the week, go insanely early on the weekends, get your food to go.

    (5)

  • Nicole C.

    A delicious way to violate my dietary principles of late on a blustery Sunday morning. Considering the temperature was about 0 degrees, I figured the notorious wait would be less than usual...which perhaps it was...we arrived about 9 am and waited just shy of 30 minutes, making small talk with a friendly crowd of fellow oglers. Much of what I like about this restaurant is the little things...fresh squeezed orange juice offered at a fair price (about $2), real maple syrup and whipped butter, the availability of half orders. I ordered a plain buttermilk pancake (half order--fluffy and delicious) and the "Italian" scrambled egg concoction which had sauteed red and green peppers, mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese (since I ordered it as a side it did not come with hashbrowns and toast). My dining companion had a half order of a scramble with bacon and spinach, which I was compelled to sample and concluded was tastier than mine. (Damn you, you tasty but moraly questionable bacon!) He also got an order of biscuits and gravy which I thought were ok...I tried just the biscuit part which I found dry...he was lukewarm on them, but he's from the south, and picky on top of that. I have to gripe that the eggs were a little cool...not *cold*, but just not piping hot the way I like them (and can never seem to find at restaurants). But for the price everything else made up for that. Would love to go back on a weekday and linger.

    (4)

  • WindyCityGrl T.

    I am typically very happy with the food at Sweet Maple. But my last visit was so disappointing. I struggled with writing a review or not, but I felt compelled and hope that the owner is reading the reviews and making improvements. I ordered the Sweet Maple Special. My 2 favorites (the biscuit and potatoes) were horrible. I must've gotten the last scraping of that batch of potatoes because several bites were just crunchy skin and no potato. Frustrating, especially for me, because I usually can't wait to eat their potatoes and onions. So, as I'm putting butter on the inside of the biscuit, I notice it isn't melting. Well that's because it was cold as hell. So I asked the waitress for a warm biscuit. I sensed a little irritation from her which made me feel like i shouldve just kept the cold biscuit. So, she brings back a biscuit that is STEAMING! It was obvious that she nuked it before she brought it to me. Thanks, but no thanks. Placing a biscuit in the microwave for that long takes away from the integrity of the biscuit (not that I'm an expert). But it was super chewy and gross...but at least it was hot, right? I was so annoyed. I just wanted to leave at that point. Maybe someone needs to do a quick QA of the plates before they go out. I am paying for a quality meal so please give me that.

    (3)

  • laela l.

    unique features: amazing cheese grits and their biscuits. Their eggs are good too. Great sized portions. I'll be back to try the french toast or pancakes as well. On the weekends, get there before 9ish or expect to wait. We left at 10, and people were waiting outside (in the cold!!). Cute little spot (it is actually a little restaurant. it might not be the best if you have a huge baby stroller or if you sit near the door, then you'll have people waiting in line who watch you eat, ha ha). Good food. Nice waitstaff. Get your money's worth. Go.

    (4)

  • Cristina A.

    I died and went to French Toast heaven that Sunday morning! This place was amazing. As was everything else. The cheesy grits, the omelettes. OH the biscuits! Homemade warm fluffy biscuits! My mouth is watering just writing this review. Woke up hungover and was dying for a nice hot breakfast. This was the best choice I couldve made. The staff- attentive and sweet. Good service... Only downside? The wait is insane. I waited about 35 minutes. My patience usually runs low.. But for Sweet Maple Cafe, I have all the patience needed. Its totally worth it. YOU MUST TRY!

    (5)

  • Christopher R.

    We used to live in the neighborhood, so by default this sort of became our breakfast place. I was a lot more in love with it then I suppose, because it wasn't so over-hyped. You could still get a table without a 2-hour wait, and you didn't feel rushed out the door. I went back recently, on an off-peak time and brought my newspaper. Ordered my egg and cheeser, hoped for a decent cup o' joe. It took approximately ten minutes for the coffee, then breakfast came a scant few minutes later. So much for a relaxing morning. Pros: Food is decent. Portions are nice. Cons: Menu is unimaginative, but good. You feel a bit rushed out the door. The prices really aren't as fair as they used to be. Summary: If you live in or near the neighborhood, this is a nice brunch option, but nothing to write home about. Try Meli on Halsted first, and if that's full up, Sweet Maple is a solid backup plan.

    (3)

  • Diana D.

    Maybe a little expensive, or maybe I think it's expensive because I over-order. Forget toast, the homemade biscuits are where it's at! Also great pancakes, but you will probably wait for a table and service is so-so.

    (4)

  • Fionn M.

    In 2007, I went to Sweet Maple Cafe no less than 4 times for brunch with family and out of towner's. Each time I would make the same blessed mistake. Each time i had to get an omelet, scramble or even a pork chop with a side of biscuits and gravy. No, I don't share the biscuit with gravy, and the toast, well that gets slathered with butter and jam. In the heat of a Chicago summer, I don't recommend this. However, it was a bone-chilling less than zero day on the last visit and I swear if it weren't for that gravy with a biscuit the thickness of a small paperback, all would have been lost. I appreciate the gravy, homemade, with few chunks of pork sausage and just the right amount of cayenne pepper flakes. It makes me happy to see that gravy isn't an after thought. What does take second stage sometimes are the potatoes(Boil them, mash them, stick'em in a stew!). Sometimes heavy with grease, sometimes not but, I digress. The establishment does right in area of quality and quantity. Never substituting one for another. The wait is always manageable and the parking across the street is convenient. On a side note, I've had the same cute waitress for each visit. She once confessed to having gained ten pounds working there. I have to say, those look great on you!

    (4)

  • Kori M.

    The hostess was very friendly. The server was cute but way too slow. free parking int he lot across the street. I went during an off hour so there wasn't a wait. The place is small and as the line started to build I felt a little weird because people were literally staring at me waiting for me to get up. The food was pretty good. A little overpriced but definitely yummy. I'll be back. :-)

    (4)

  • Nona Gayle D.

    biscuits, BISCUITS, biscuits! Slap some butter, jam, maple syrup or nothing at all ... because the biscuits served in this place are fine on their own. I recently went to this establishment after a hefty weekend of studying and hardly getting any sleep and it hit the spot. Located on Taylor street between loomis and racine (those are the main streets), the locale is pretty small maybe an average of 40 people at most can be seated at the same time. There is always a line at the door, but the service is great. The servers are always really nice and helpful. The pancakes they serve are on par and the corn beef hash is something to be experienced. The pricing is also not that bad, I would say that if you went here to eat expect to drop like 10-15 plus tip. That's not so bad for a delish breakfast or brunch. The biscuits are what make this place! Go try them out!

    (5)

  • Rahul S.

    Ohhhhh I am soooo glad I found this place!! Hands down one of the best breakfast/brunch places in the city, and def my new favorite!! Everyone owes it to check out this area near Little Italy, it's super quaint and littered w/ awesome eateries and shops. I felt right at home right when I walked in, as if I were stepping into the dining room of a cabin! The crowd was super diverse, including everyone from couples to families w/ kids, even some who appeared to come straight out of bed and in their PJ's, hah!! Our wait was about 30 min at noon on Sat, so I would def suggest getting there early since the place is quite small. After a nice cup of hot coffee, I ordered the Diaz y Noches scrambler, which included grilled chicken and cheddar along w/ a side of fresh salsa. The scrambler was out of this world, so yummy on a cold day!! On the side was toast and your choice of homestyle potatoes or grits. Having never tried grits, I decided to give it a shot... a bit bland for my taste, perhaps I should have tried the cheesey grits or added some brown sugar to make it more like oatmeal. You'll love the variety on the menu, w/ everything from fresh omelettes, sandwiches, pancakes, and more! Service was spectacular too, w/ the server filling coffee pretty frequently. I'll be back here in a flash w/ my appetite and some friends!

    (5)

  • Linda T.

    Went in a couple of weeks ago on a weekday morning and had my usual, delicious pancakes and bacon - maple syrup, yum! Met the new hostess. Very sweet young woman. Sweet Maple has the nicest young people serving. Very friendly and attentive. Next time I'll switch it up and get the ham. It's more a slab than a slice and goes great with the maple syrup.

    (4)

  • maurice s.

    I don't get the positive reviews and especially don't understand the lines. There are 100 better places to eat breakfast in Chicago. Even the review that says "mediocre attempts at southern cooking" is too positive, IMO. Mediocre southern breakfasts are much better than this. And yes, it's completely inexcusable to eat an entire breakfast and only have your coffee refilled one time.

    (1)

  • Gabe S.

    I had the pleasure of eating at Sweet Maple twice this weekend. Sweet Maple is a small, independent, breakfast and brunch spot, with a slight down-home / country feel. The ambiance really works, and it grows on you the more you sit in it. You feel like you can relax and take it easy. What helps with letting you relax are their excellent beverages - I had the Vanilla-Nut Mocha one day, and regular coffee the next. Both are notably good. Specificially, you know how sometimes you order something like a Vanilla Nut Mocha and all it tastes like is a gigantic amount of sugar to the point where you want to puke? Well this is not the case, the Sweet Maple Vanilla Nut Mocha was like, the right amount of sweetness, vanilla flavor, nut flavor, and coffee. They are currently also serving Hot Apple Cider, which was a little too sweet for my own taste, but i understand it's appeal and a friend of mine loves it. Now comes the actual food. Over my two back-to-back breakfasts, I tried the pumpkin-spice pancakes, the buttermlk pancakes, a veggie omellette, a veggie egg scramble, the biscuits, the multigrain toast, and two bites of the Sasauge Gravy with biscuits. All were good. All were satisfying. I thought the syrup for the pancakes was also damn good (with a name like Sweet Maple, who woulda thunk, right?). The Biscuits were delicious - buttery, a little flaky, definitely a fan. A few friends who are not biscuit fans opted for the multi-grain toast, which is fine, but if you like biscuits, you should opt for them. Also, when it comes to brunch spots, I figure there are two areas in which to assert your dominance. 1) Pancakes 2) Eggs. There's also a bonus category: Potatoes. on these scales, Sweet Maple definitely performs admirably in both the Pancakes and Eggs Category, with Pancakes taking a small lead. Also, it definitely owns in the Potatoes category - GREAT Home Fries, you just want to keep on eating them. Portion sizes are damn near perfect - i definiltey left satisfied eating the equivalent of one meal. Service was responsive and friendly, and they even took care of a special request, which was appreciated. All in all, sweet maple lives up to it's name - it is a casual stress free breakfast that will leave you (just like the syrup) feeling all warm and gooey inside.

    (4)

  • Emily C.

    I miss this place. Living in Chicago, it's always nice to see these little mom & pop breakfast places. I only went a hand full of times (I worked full time and wasn't usually around during breakfast hours without waking up super early), bu they were the greatest experiences ever! My hubbie loves the biscuits & gravy and I'm a huge fan of... um... EVERYTHING. Super awesome french toast.

    (5)

  • Paris S.

    I have waited in line with friends and co workers who've never been to this place. I tell them it's so worth it. It's a small place but one of my favorites to come to for breakfast. There's a lot across the street, with free parking. Free parking in Chicago imagine that. I could eat those biscuits forever.

    (5)

  • Lucien H.

    The biscuits are very flaky and buttery. The corned beef hash here is really good. Most diners/cafe serves out of the can crap, but it seems like they make their own here. Mmm. I wasn't too crazy about the plate I got, which was just a plate full of black beans, eggs, and tortillas. It sounded better on the menu. But overall everything was delish. I highly recommend. If you hate waiting in the morning try going here early. The place fills up by 10am.

    (4)

  • Tameka H.

    How could I 4get 2 write a review about this restaurant. I rate this place 5 stars for their breakfeast. This has to be the best breakfeast in the U.S.A (even though I have only been to 10 states out of the 50 but still... I don't think any1 can surpass them in that area). * fresh squeezed orange juice * home-made syrup * eggs come scrambled with cheese (I didn't even have 2 ask) * home-made apple sauce My banana pancakes was off the freakin' chain. Every other breakfeast spot just throws the nana's on top but Maples put it in there some kind of perfect way i just can't explain. I tasted my friends french toast - da bomb. I tasted my other friends grits - on point. I mean U just can't go wrong here. Sausage, Biscuits, Home Fries...NEED I SAY MO Oh but yes we can't 4get about the CONS nothing serious besides - very small inside which i was surprised cuz it was extremely crowded - no sitting waiting area -about an hour wait @ the most but worth every minute and second

    (5)

  • Jose D.

    Best pancakes I have ever had! I'm not a big fan of biscuits but here I have to get them. The eggs and hash are super and the waiting staff are always nice. The ONLY downside is that there is usually a wait so be prepared. It is worth it, trust me.

    (5)

  • Diana Z.

    If I were reviewing on the merit of their food alone, I'm pretty sure I would give the Sweet Maple Cafe a 5. Or at least a high 4. Their Taylor St. omelet is beyond delicious. However, every time I go there I am confronted with large crowds and a host with a negative attitude. I live just down the road and often think of it first for a weekend brunch with friends. Unfortunately when I arrive, I notice the long line of people waiting outside (which was doable in the summer, but is now simply unbearable) and immediately regret my decision. Even more, I squeeze my way through the masses of people waiting for a table and put my name in with a cranky host. To avoid long waits and morning frustration, I usually get my food to go or simply walk out and hit up the (admittedly lesser quality, but much more spacious joint) White Palace Grill a few blocks away.

    (3)

  • Patty F.

    Sweet Maple Cafe has scrumptious food! You feel like you're on vacation at the best cafe in town every time you visit. Freshly squeezed orange juice, fluffy pancakes, real maple syrup, creative omelets, fresh veggies, quality meats & create your own Bliss Potatoes! Good coffee, an excellent assortment of tea's & hot chocolate to enhance the experience. Laurene Hynson, thank you for such a pleasant experience once again. Richard was a fabulous waiter with the patience of a saint. I started coming in after I had a stroke & needed to visit Rush Hospital weekly. I try to visit every time I can because of the wonderful feeling you get when you walk in. There is always a warm greeting from start to finish, with a wonderful meal in the middle. Kudo's to the whole staff!

    (5)

  • Anne Marie J.

    MMMMMMM I looooooooove the biscuits! Yum yum yum!!! We live nearby so we almost always order take-out because the line at anytime during a weekend is minimum 30 min long. Sometimes we'll wait because we enjoy the decor that was made to look old and "country," but why wait when take-out takes 15 min? Great banana pancakes (which I normally don't like) - smooth subtle banana flavor in each bite. I love their corned beef because it's not the smashed variety: it's cubed corned beef. You rarely find that...even at other quality b-fast eateries.

    (5)

  • David W.

    Friends raved about this place. So the wife and I decided to step out of our normal lakeview brunch routine and head down by the medical district where the wife is completing her transplant pharm residency. The wife ordered the eggs, mushroom spinach and bacon scrambled, I ordered the 2 eggs over easy breakfast with an order of the ham and pepper home fries, and we shared a plate of their holiday french toast. Everything was decent, but nothing stood out enough for me to want to go back. Maybe the biscuit that came with my eggs. The prices seem high for what you get. And you do have to wait. We made it there by 9am and still waited 20 minutes. And make sure that when you get there, find the person with the clipboard and put your name in. Don't stand around in line thinking that it's the line to get seated. You will get skipped.

    (3)

  • Riz A.

    I mean, I don't know people. I've been here a handful of times, excited at each visit because of the amount of hype surrounding the pancakes, the biscuits, or the homefries..But honest, i've always been underwhelmed. The biscuits to me , were good, but also not moist enough. The pancakes and homefries were good, but again, nothing out of the ordinary. Given the ridiculous wait time and cramped space, there are much better options in the neighborhood, let alone the city.

    (3)

  • Evan H.

    Visited today with my Mom. Arrived around 9:15am. We were seated promptly and the server was friendly. They have a fairly sizable menu. I settled on the fried pork chops with eggs, grits and applesauce. The pork chops were topped with grilled onions that were very sweet. They tasted as if sugar had been added to them. My Mom ordered home fries, eggs, a biscuit and bacon. First off, I had heard such good things about this place, I just knew it would be fantastic! I was soooo wrong. The biscuits were like huge rocks! Ice cold and way to doughly. I wish I could say the pork chops were good, but they weren't - tough and chewy. The grits were warm, not hot. The eggs were fine. My Mom's food was ok except for the biscuit. The chef should be ashamed of this food and I don't know what restaurant the other reviewers went to, but I wish that would tell me. I would never ever go back to this place. It was terrible.

    (1)

  • Rahshonda K.

    I want Sweet Butter Biscuits Now!!!! Super Small but quaint! Although we were seated immediately we went through the week TWICE to try this gem! I am sure on the weekends it can get insanely packed. If you have not eaten here once you do you will know why! The food is insanely fresh and yummy! Staff was very nice however I did feel a little rushed especially since while people are waiting they are staring you down because the place is really THAT SMALL! I definitely have this on my list of breakfast places to creep to again through the week while everyone is working. :) Cant wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Alicia B.

    This place was OKAY. Not somewhere I would fight to get back into again. The wait is long but that's because it's small inside. We had a pretty good breakfast, but would go to the place down the street first...

    (3)

  • Noriko B.

    This place looks like my late great grandmothers dining room. Thus, it is a very tight space. Don't even think about eating at this restuarant if you are starving because most likely you will have to wait approximately 30 to 45 mins. before you are seated. BUT, it is all worth it. The staff is very attentive and the food is great. Everytime someone comes to visit me in Chicago, I make it my business to take them there. Try the homemade maple syrup. Yummy in my tummy!

    (4)

  • Christopher M.

    I've heard a lot of good reviews and thought - time to check it out for myself. I ordered the french toast and a side of sausages (2?!). My girlfriend ordered an omelet. We both ordered orange juice. The OJ was the highlight of our visit. The food wasn't bad. The food wasn't great. It was..... average. Overpriced. Nothing special. Certainly not worth going out of my way for breakfast. I don't understand the lure of this place And as one reviewer put it - and it can't be stressed enough: "make sure that when you get there, find the person with the clipboard".

    (2)

  • Lawrence Y.

    Just came to this place this past weekend, at my roommate's behest. We had a wait of about twenty minutes, which seemed reasonable for an early brunch. Waiting lounge, you ask? White lawn chairs right on the curb, so you can have scenic views of the abandoned apartment building just a stone's throw away. We were seated inside and had a decent server. I created my own homefries dish, since I was really craving a skillet-type of meal, along with some peach iced tea, and it was ok. Can't say it was the best I've ever had... but maybe I was just being too biased about the aesthetics of the place... Like I said I had much better meals at other breakfast places, but I'm open to giving this place another chance. Maybe next time Laura Ingalls will make a cameo!

    (2)

  • H l.

    I was so excited and hopeful when this quant little cafe was quietly bustling on a wednesday afternoon. but as I stood near the door without a greeting for well over 3 minutes, I decided that it must be a seat-yourself establishment?? silk not sure since the two parties that arrived after me had the same issue and puzzled look. so, the service was terrible, maybe the food will be it's saving grace... I ordered the soup of the day, roasted garlic & tomato. I'm glad I only got a cup, it was gross and apparently the guy at a table next to me agreed. his large bowl of the same soup was left untouched after two spoonfuls. the slacker fries that I ordered was equally unimpressive. it also had one random piece of jalapeno that wasn't supposed to be there. ajalapeno can make a great flavor but an unexpected jalapeno in your potatoes is not a pleasant find. overall, the place is cute, the food came out quick, the busboy was really quick and nice. but those are really the only good qualities here. I'll frequent a better brunch cafe next time.

    (2)

  • Andy S.

    While this is a small place and the decoration didn't seem all that glamorous, i still felt cozy. Small, but not where to the point of being uncomfortable. It felt like eating at someone's under-decorated dining room. The food was above average. Much better than any IHOP or Denny's. While not sporting huge portions, they had gigantic sized biscuits. Always a plus. For a Monday morning, it was rather packed. Though, only had to wait 5 minutes for a table. I hear its far worse on the weekends.

    (4)

  • Mark J.

    I tend to compare every breakfast place to Walker Brothers out in the burbs. I really don't think this place lives up to the hype and the reviews I've seen on here. We waited for 50 minutes on Sunday morning and ended up getting Hash/ham, an omelet, side of bacon, OJ and coffee. The Hash was incredibly salty with minimal potatoes. Everything else we had was average. The total bill + tax ended up being $27.00. For $27 + $5 tip, I was just expecting better.

    (2)

  • Ramya P.

    Be advised that if you go there for brunch on weekends, you have to wait! We had to wait for an hour to get in on a Sunday morning and I didn't mind that one bit when I got a taste of the home fries and the biscuit. We were a party of 7 and so I got a taste of many things on the menu. The lemon raspberry pancakes and the Mediterranean omelet which were the specials of that day, indeed did make my day special.

    (4)

  • Tim J.

    I love their take on huevos rancheros- they call it something novel, but what they serve is very traditional. Their omelets also look pretty good. Service was excellent, however the ambiance is less so. Being understated is one thing, but people like nice walls and floors in a restaurant.

    (4)

  • Not J B.

    We got there at about 1:45 and weren't turned away which is great customer service but after eating here I don't understand what the draw for this place is. First of all, with a name like Sweet Maple Cafe, what do you picture? Well, forget it. What you'll mostly find here is mediocre attempts at southern cooking in a room with paint purposefully scraped off the wall to give it a down home feel. I had no complaints with my breakfast sandwich but one member of our party couldn't finish the oatmeal and sausage gravy. Another person got the peaches n' cream pancakes and they were smothered in nutmeg. The place also felt the need to use little disposable plastic cups for sides such as maple syrup which is ridiculous considering that the person's butter was in a regular small plastic side dish.

    (2)

  • Eric S.

    "Breakfast Served All Day Every Day," are the sweetest words to ever reach mine eyes. OK, maybe not, but they come in third to "Yankees Sweep Red Sox," and "Tanqueray Ten." I work at UIC and at least twice a week I am tempted to stop here for an Egg And Cheeser with a side of grits. The coffee is good and they are on the spot with refills. The biscuits are warm, fluffy and full of yummy goodness. The only drawback is the wait. There is no food that I know of that will have me stand outside during a Chicago winter -- except a Maxwell Street polish.

    (4)

  • Mary I.

    I love breakfast and this is one of the best breakfast places I've ever been too. The BISCUITS are the DIE for!! The pancakes are good, the monterray fries are good. I use to come here 1x every 2 weeks but I'll be a big fat pig if I continue that so I go 1x every 3-4 months now. Drooling just thinking about it!!! $10 per person! GO! NOW!

    (5)

  • Tina B.

    You know how an experience can be so bad that it transcends just that one day and lives on forever in story and lore? So goes it with Sweet Maple Cafe, or as we often call it "That Sweet Milk Biscuit or Whatever Place." We were drawn by the legend of the sweet milk biscuit and some screaming Southern inspired breakfasty fare, and knew standing in line would be a part of the experience, but... Apparently telling them that we'd be cool with sharing a communal table was our biggest mistake. Over and over again people from behind us in the long, long, long ass line were seated before us because "they don't want to share a table." We thought we were going to be seated faster because we were sharing and instead we were penalized. We even told them never mind, we don't want to share either, but apparently we were locked in by then and kept being told it would be just a "few more minutes".. "Ten more minutes"... "a couple more minutes.." "The table is almost ready..." We were in the line that day for almost two fucking hours - 30 minutes of which was just watching people from behind us in line get seated ahead of us - a party of two! You get shanked for that shit where I'm from... It was worse than when I had to wait in an all day line to get into see the Empire Strikes Back at Mann's Chinese in Hollywood when I was a kid - with an even lamer pay off... So then we sit down and I become convinced they have straight given us the scrapings of earlier diner's plates. I ordered hash and received a bowl of ham cubes - no you don't understand, I'm not exaggerating - there were ONLY ham cubes in the bowl, no potatoes and nothing hashy. The cubes were good, hell anything would have been good by that point, but the cubes weren't hash, unless hash is Latin for "somebody else's ham cubed up and thrown in a bowl. because I think you're dumb enough to deal with that." And the sweet milk biscuits we'd heard so much about - yeah, they were out of those - the other people - at our same table were eating the last ones - in front of us. No comping and generally no concern at all was shown by the staff - the host straight smiled when we complained. This was like getting mugged and paying for the pleasure.

    (1)

  • Mo R.

    The food is amazing, every thing I ever tried has been soooooooooo good!!! I love the oatmeal, I actually go through oatmeal cravings. The Strawberry Breeze is my favorite non-alcholic drink. Pros: Wonderful food, worth the wait Cons: Long wait, small place.

    (5)

  • Linda C.

    I've been to Sweet Maple many times, and at varying times throughout their work day. I find it best to get their really early, if you want to get a table, without waiting. I have mixed feelings about this place. Because while their food is delicious, if I go there alone, I feel like I'm being chased out of there. I barely get my meal down, before I'm getting clear signals they want me to leave. Unless I get there very early I can't linger over a cup of coffee. In fact, they often stop serving coffee after the 2nd cup, in an effort to be rid of you. That's never happened when I've had company for breakfast. If I'm in the mood for breakfast, I either go here early, or not at all. And, I find service is better if I have company....not so good if I go alone.

    (3)

  • Christiana C.

    Are you into Southern style cooking? I'm not and even I love Sweet Maple! Great service and amazing food! Since returning home, I've wanted the chicken cheeser but I'm afraid to make it because it can't possibly be as amazing as the one from Sweet Maple. Additionally: you need the cheddar grits. Seriously. You need them.

    (5)

  • Mel G.

    I am so glad I found this gem of a brunch spot during my trip to Chicago. It is an extremely cute spot with lots of southern and non-southern delicacies. I ordered a scrambled with potatoes and a sweet milk biscuit, and it was all delicious and served with a smile. A really diverse crowd, down-to-earth, and all around just lovely. One of the bright highlights during my trip!

    (5)

  • kelly a.

    The food at Sweet Maple is five-star worthy; the waffles are rich and fluffy, the biscuits are delicious and filling, and the bacon is thick and salty. Nutrition aside, this place hits the spot no matter what you are in the mood for. Unfortunately, there are major logistical issues that take it back to the three-star level. While studying for GMATs two winters ago, I started off most Saturday mornings at this place. Without fail, there was always a 45 minute wait. Even though the bakery next door is open, you can't justify a pastry before Sweet Maple. So you are left looking onto a bleak parking lot ..... just waiting. And there is not particular system to the host's seating plan, flirting got me nowhere. Once seated, there is always tons of congestion around the door. I mean, I ate my last breakfast there on the day we were sat next essentially in the doorway and a little girl sat staring at me, mouth opened, breathing on my food for the duration of the meal. Sorry to hate on such a local spot, I'm just sayin....

    (3)

  • Julie A.

    The Scramblers ate fantastic! The potatoes and biscuit that comes with the dish are fresh and so tasty. Lemon raspberry pancakeswere on special so 3 of us split one as our breakfast sweet. The Salmon cakes cakes were also on special..I don't like salmon, but my friend who ordered them does and loved them. I will be back! I would have given them 5 stars, but the bathroom needs quite some improvement...yes, I am reviewing the bathroom.

    (4)

  • Colin L.

    I cannot explain how amazing this little, southern-styled restaurant is. It has the most amazing food ever. It is decorated well and homey. I had the scrambler with jalepenos and bacon, and it tasted like god had put my tastebuds into a pile of jelly. (Complete ecstasy) If you get an opportunity, GO! You will not regret it.

    (5)

  • Sarah B.

    When I was in grad school at UIC, we used to go here often. Then there was a 4 year gap, until this weekend. So my boyfriend and I made the drive from the north side and waited in line to have all the yummy, comfort food that Sweet Maple Cafe has to offer. And you know what? The fond memories I had of this place stood up to the time that had passed. I'm usually not a huge fan of biscuits, but the Sweet Maple Cafe biscuits are delectable: buttery, moist and amazing with the whipped, soft butter they serve alongside. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the bone-in ham fantastic, with just a hint of sugar. We also tried the Monterrey home fries, which is a mixture of potatoes, cheese, bacon and jalapenos. Yummers. Just be prepared to wait a while and in a very small area or outside. While the waitstaff is attentive, the way that other patrons line up inside can be claustrophobic to customers who are already seated (one lady this morning, literally put her purse on the table, while a couple was being seated at that same table). So my only criticism is that they have either a bigger space, or a more organized, better place for customers to wait.

    (4)

  • Claire Y.

    As many others have already noted, the wait here can be quite ridiculous - esp. during weekend brunch hours. Even during the week, during lunch time where many famished employees from nearby hospitals, offices, etc trek down Taylor for some good Southern lunch fare, the wait can be uninviting. Nevertheless, should you make it a mission to experience the oh-so-sweetness of Sweet Maple Cafe, you won't regret the 15min - 1 hr wait. Why? Because this 12-somewhat table space offers truly delicious and fresh Southern breakfast/brunch/lunch that will keep you wanting more even after 1.5 hrs of Challah French toast, strawberry glazed buttermilk pancakes, biscuits and gravy, omelettes, and Seattle's Best bottomless coffee. My seating preference is (although usually one does not have any say in this as only one table is available at a time) way in the dining room by the wall/windows, away from the death-staring waiting patrons, as I prefer to take my time and enjoy the good food and good companions without rushing through the meal. Great food, friendly service, and unbeatable prices. I couldn't be happier that I live just a 3-minute stroll away from it. Time check --- 9:23 am. [Throwing on some flips to scurry to Sweet Maple]

    (4)

  • Derek M.

    Yummy!! During a long week of camping the Chicago breakfast conversation came up with a good friend and he couldn't stop talking about Sweet Maple Cafe, so today I made it happen. The waitress was so sweet; she had the face of an angel and was excellent. There was no line at 10:20 a.m. on a Monday morning but I would imagine that on weekend mornings there could be a bit of a wait. I read plenty of reviews that raved about the pancakes and omelets, but I chose some loaded scrambled eggs "The Toss Up." The food was fresh and fabulous. The interior feels a bit like a southern restaurant. I felt like I was in Georgia or Tennessee. The table space is great so when you're eating you're not too cramped. Very charming, and different from most places in Chicago. Just like most places in Chicago, the servings are huge and that does make me lose a bit of my appetite, but what I did eat was fabulous. I'm going back there soon.

    (4)

  • Nilda L.

    Party of six, waited for an hour, and never got a seat. The staff was incredibly rude and really didn't care that we were waiting so long.I asked the hostess how much longer, she said we were next. Then some guy host started calling every party that arrived after we did. Huh? I ask the host what the problem was, he response was that we were six and didn't have a table. My friend suggested putting two tables together. Good idea right? He couldn't do that. Really bad service. Won't be giving this place another try. I'll be heading over to Meli's cafe instead.

    (1)

  • Darcy P.

    Small place but good food. I never had to wait a crazy amount of time, thankfully. I ordered the banana pancakes and a side of home fries. We had a bit of a wait to get our food, but it was well worth it. My pancakes were huge and covered in powdered sugar. I could barely eat the home fries.. barely. My boyfriend stole about half of them because he "didn't know they were going to be so good." All is well, I don't think I could eat that much anyway. Really, really good food in a cramped space.

    (5)

  • SoxSide Mike R.

    Well, there are plenty of good and bad reviews for (oh so) Sweet Maple Cafe, so here is mine. As you can tell I'm a fan of Sweet Maple's fare and have been enjoying it for the past 4 years. Being a native Chicagoan (South Side!) you try to find the best eats in every corner of our great city and this is definitely one of them. Today I was finally able to convince my mom to accompany me and try out some of the best breakfast eats I've had, so I was counting on SMC to come thru for me. I had the Holiday French Toast w/ bacon and a side of homefries. The french toast was melt-in-your-mouth soft and delicious, the bacon was (as always) crisp and not fatty at all, and the homefries were crisp, not greasy and salted just right. My mom (the skeptic) opted for the Pancake Special (eggs, bacon, and pancakes); and she couldn't stop raving... 'these scrambled eggs are perfect, not runny, simply the best I've had in I don't know how long...' 'the pancakes taste homemade, not like anything from a restaurant....' and so on. Don't forget about the great Seattle's Best coffee they serve which always hits the spot with any meal from SMC. Our tab was a bit of a shock to my mom, $30 for the two of us; but as I pointed out to her for about $20 at a similar neighborhood sit-down restaurant we would not have had such a great breakfast, and she of course agreed. Our wait was not long (about 10 mins), being a Tuesday morning, and therefore metered street parking was also abundant. ***BEWARE*** as many previous Yelpers have noted, the weekends are a zoo as far as parking and your wait time so plan to hit SMC during off peak times for the best possible experience. DON'T FORGET TO PAY THE METER BOX!!!! THEY WILL TICKET YOU VERY QUICKLY AT CERTAIN TIMES!!! The ambiance is great, very homestyle feel; the staff is great and very attentive; and don't feel bad if they give you your check as you are finishing your last bite, they are just trying to keep things moving so that the next customers aren't standing around waiting too long. This is a fast paced cafe, so if you are looking for a place to wander into and linger for a few hours, this is not the place. Otherwise you have to check out Sweet Maple Cafe if you are a native Chicagoan or just visiting us for a bit, don' t miss out, you will regret it!

    (4)

  • Trish S.

    I really like this place especially on Catfish Fridays. The food is always good, its decently priced, and the servers are nice. The annoying thing however is that the place seems to be too small for the amount of patrons it gets and with little to no waiting room it can be a little uncomfortable standing over people's tables while they are eating because there is no real waiting space. Other than that it's a great place for breakfast/brunch.

    (4)

  • Robin W.

    HUGE BISCUITS!! The biscuits are excellent and huge! Also they don't butter the biscuit beforehand so it can be as buttery delicious as you want (or don't want) it to be! As my friend said, "Biscuits so good make you wanna slap your mama!" The rest of the food was really good too. I had a scramble with home fries. Scramble wasn't anything special, but the home fries were perfect! The cheese grits are also yum. Can't have a southern place without grits! Sweet Maple loses a star for service though. While the wait wasn't terribly bad, about 30 minutes, it took forever to get our food! Also the place is tiny without barely any decor, and the hostess wasn't really friendly. She was yelling at everyone to step inside, though we were already standing on top of each other waiting, to keep the cold out. (True, it was freezing!) I will definitely come back here though. The food is great! I wish I lived a bit closer!

    (4)

  • Eric F.

    A breakfast must. If you plan to go to Sweet Maple on the weekend, come early because after 8:30 a.m. you'll have a wait, which might be outside considering the small waiting area. The breakfasts at Sweet Maple, while a bit pricey, are gigantic and have the best quality ingredients. Of course, hot pure maple syrup is included with pancakes, which are plate sized. The coffee is also excellent and the service has always been friendly and fast. Although the decor is a bare minimum, the floors are unfinished wood, the 30s through 50s jazz music adds to the ambience. Sweet Maple is also a minority owned business and the clientele is diverse and upscale. Overall, I've probably eaten at Sweet Maple at least 50 times since moving to the West Loop and highly recommend it. The only downside, as stated above, is that it is a little bit on the pricey side. Expect to spend $14-17 per person.

    (4)

  • Doug R.

    I loved this place. Ambiance: 3. Definitely a "Home"-like feeling. We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. There is no significant waiting area which does suck slightly. The tables are definitely crammed in there, but I found it acceptable Food: 5. I had the 3-cheese omelet w/ ham. It was fantastic. . They served it with home fries (including sauteed onions in them). I went with the cornmeal biscuit as my bread. It was incredible. The portion sizes are large. Price/Value: 4. Not cheap, but very reasonable given what you get for your money. We got out of there for about $27 for 2 people with tip. Staff: 5. I found the hostess and waitress very accommodating, friendly, and attentive. Whenever I wanted something, someone was there.

    (5)

  • NeeraJamie K.

    My hangover was miraculously cured. So, we waited for an hour to get a seat, but it was very worth it. We just put our name on the list & went to bar louie to drink bloody mary's in which I lost last night's cantonese dinner. I got the sweet maple special: cheddar grits, biscuits & gravy, poached eggs & bacon. OHHHHHHHH my. I will be here again when I can stomach more food : ) It would do them well to have a bigger space though. It was packed to the brim & very claustrophobic. It looked like an old southern lady's dining room. I want to eat these grits again. I put my bacon in it. uuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh gimme

    (4)

  • Kris A.

    HOLY MOSES. Go to breakfast here. Yes, you'll wait forever. Go early, get your name down, and grab a coffee at Starbucks down the street. The ambiance is nonexistent. The walls have a few things on them, the tables and chairs remind of me some of the diners I've been to down south. Kind of cafeteria-esque. It doesn't matter. The food will knock you on your rear. Order the french toast. It is seriously the most amazing french toast I've had in my entire life. They dip the bread in a custard instead of just an egg mixture. It's incredible. The biscuits and gravy were awesome, too, though I'll note that they come with corn biscuits instead of buttermilk, so you have to specifically ask for buttermilk if you want 'em (I did). The biscuits are completely buttery and flaky and delish, and the gravy is spicy and thick, though not super meaty (for those who like really meaty gravy). Wow, it was such a good breakfast. All basic foods, with the taste somehow amplified. Also, I thought the service was pretty good once I was seated.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    Um, YUM! For years I hated breakfast food. Then I realized the significant error of my ways and have been rapidly making up for lost time. My companion and I ordered several dishes with all sorts of extra sides. I had the breakfast sandwich on a buttermilk biscuit, with turkey sausage and a blueberry muffin, and I got to taste an omelet with all sorts of fixins. Pancakes, fruit salad, and iced tea were also thrown into this delightful mix. My meal was truly tasty and fresh, and I am still thinking about that blueberry muffin and how quickly I can get another one, or eight. The layout is a bit cramped, and I would have liked another iced tea, but the waitress was a bit too harried with the breakfast crowd to attend to that detail. Minor stuff, indeed.. Who wants to go on a Sweet Maple blueberry muffin mission with me?!?

    (4)

  • Heidi C.

    This place is definitely a favorite! Brunch never tasted better than this. Usually it's super packed, but I guess we got lucky - my cousin (a fellow yelper) and I waited no more than ten minutes for a table. It is a bit cramped seating-wise, but it didn't bother me so much. Kinda cozy actually, complements the warm atmosphere. Hostess and servers were very helpful and nice. and of course, the food was incredible. yummilicious indeed. super fresh. i recommend their bacon, sausage, pancakes, eggs. and please, don't forget the biscuits. Prices are reasonable for food this good. I'm definitely going back for more sometime very soon. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • C H.

    Although the French toast was delicious I was very disappointed at receiving only 2 normal pieces of bread's worth of food for the 8$ or so I paid. The sausage addition was $1.75 and that was only two links but less outrageous price-wise. For $12 (including a small cafe o'le) I was barely full and kind of irritated about the portion size. I tried my bf's biscuit and thought it tasted awfully baking-powdery. On the whole, it didn't live up to the hype for me.

    (3)

  • Joe P.

    Expand into a larger and properly decorated dining room with a separate waiting area for the thronging crowd and you'll earn the 5th star. Everything else one would want in a marvelously tasty breakfast is here (good service too). Although I do feel compelled to note that my curse of laughably cut-rate cutlery at breakfast joints followed me 400 miles to the Windy City. Get some decent silverware, breakfast pedlars of the Midwest!

    (4)

  • Diona R.

    I have to say I've eaten here at least 10 times sinceIi found it six months ago. The food for the most part is pretty good but my favorite are the french toast and the apple spice pancakes. The wait is extremely long and the service is just ok with exception of one male waiter who is always to pleasant. As much as I like this place I will not be eating here again. The last time I was here which was a little before they closed my plate and food looked and tasted like it was scrapped off the bottom of the barrel. Very sad.

    (3)

  • Franklin W.

    I ate here a few years ago when it had originally opened, and I swear it was really good. This time, however, I found it to be quite average. Average isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is when you have to wait 30 minutes to be seated. With so many good breakfast spots in the city, I don't think I'd waste my time going here.

    (2)

  • Lindsay S.

    After all the ranting and raving my coworkers finally got me over here. And I'm sorry to say I wasn't entirely impressed. The wait was fine and seems like it's part of the 'experience', but the wait staff themselves was not up to par. I needed COFFEE and they took forever to deliver. And then took awhile to give me a second cup...I should have had about five cup in the whole time we were there. The girl seemed a bit 'off', so maybe it was just a bad day. And then the food - I was unimpressed. I had their special, which was Pumpkin Spice Pancakes. Sounds yummy right? There was no pumpkin flavor and a little spice. I liked my scrambled eggs better than my special pancakes. And they were just eggs. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals. They had the banana pancakes, the apple spice ones, the breakfast sandwiches and then the home fries. Those they were really raving about! So perhaps their seasonal special was just not the best of things to order. All that said, I'd be back with lower service expectations (although it's sad one has to do that in the first place!) and ordering some home fries with some cheesy, veggie deliciousness on them! Yum!

    (3)

  • Gerri H.

    I haven't been here in a while, but writing this review makes me realize what I've been missing. This is a great restaurant, serving southern style breakfast dishes in a cozy environment. I enjoy all of their items (french toast, cheese grits, pancakes, etc.), but I am deducting a star because (1) their biscuits are not up to par for a southern restaurant, and (2) I don't want to wait just to step INTO the restaurant, nevermind be seated. I refuse to wait like this, so I usually go early in the morning (before 8 am). I would advise you to do the same.

    (4)

  • Allison V.

    This place is one of the top choices among nurses that work in the area. Their eggie sandwiches, chocolate chip pancakes, and even their omelets are super. I like the Taylor Street omelet which has fontina, italian sausage, and spinach. Red diced potatoes and onions accompany your meal. Coffee is fresh and refilled promptly. Weekends are busier then weekdays. Also, the earlier you arrive, the better. It is a great place to sit down with a friend and enjoy a good meal. Don't forget to get the biscuit instead of regular toast.

    (4)

  • Tony R.

    Amazing food. Great atmosphere. Service was ok. Had the Protein skillet with the biscuit. Good stuff.

    (4)

  • Alexandra A.

    We were looking for a good brunch location and just wanted hangover food. We got there thanks to my best friend Anthony (Bourdain) directed us here in his 48 hours in Chicago The Layover episode. travelchannel.com/tv-sho… We treked out there after a much needed sleep in to nurse our hangovers - and it was a trek. I did feel like I was back at school when I was there, it's clearly a university area. We got there at 1pm and had to wait but only for about 10 minutes. Once we got a seat we had our waitress take our order right away. She was friendly and helpful with suggestions but very busy and seemed rushed (not her fault at all). I got the Maple Special: I just needed some eggs and home fries, I opted for the turkey sausage thinking it would be somewhat of a healthier option. The food came quite fast and the home fries were delish but that turkey sausage was hilarious. I don't know what it was, it looked like a mini patty. There was way too much food, which is great if you can handle it, but I think I had about 1/4 of the plate. The couple beside us had the pancakes and french toast. The pancakes looked like fluffy heaven!!! I wanted to take a nap on it, it looks so good. Too bad I couldn't have it (gluten free) but if I could I'm sure it would have been a 10! All in all I think you have to order the right thing which is why I gave it a 3 - but definitely avoid those turkey sausages...

    (3)

  • Sach M.

    Sweet Maple Cafe is a gem of a place. The eggs were cooked really well. And the blueberry pancakes.. yum! Loved the decor and the douthern style comfort the place has. Only wish the place had less waiting time.

    (4)

  • Allison R.

    Enjoyed Easter brunch yesterday! The food was delicious & our server, Andrea, was on top of things. There were 12 of us, which was a bit much for them to accommodate just because the place is small. (We'd never been there before.) Probably not great for a group, but we'll definitely be back without the rest of our family. The food was delicious & very reasonably priced. The decor leaves a lot to be desired, but the food makes up for it.

    (4)

  • Russell S.

    I had heard of Sweet Maple Cafe for years but have never been here. I had heard the food was very good, but that it was not cheap. First, let me tell you, the place is small. I imagine there is seating for about 60 diners, so when you arrive it may take a while to be seated. As fortune had it we arrived at 10:30 am on a Thursday and were seated promptly at one table that had just opened up. The service throughout our meal was friendly and efficient - no time for lingering with a full house - but not "rushed". Our meal started with Intelligencia coffee which was spot on. My meal was a omelette with cheddar, onions, and Italian sausage - cooked to perfection. Appropriate size omelette - not a giant football size. The breakfast potatoes were wonderfully browned with more yummy onions. Instead of toast I opted for a fresh biscuit which was as significant in size as it was tasty. Fresh and crumbly, perfect with the butter and some jelly. The meal was delicious. My co-diner came for, and had, the fried chicken liver and onions with scrambled eggs. He LOVES them. They looked tempting and I will order that on my next visit. As for the cost of the meal - not expensive or outrageous as I had heard rumored. My meal was under $15 with tax and tip. Less even than the well-regarded Stax on the next block west. I highly recommend a trip to Sweet Maple Cafe, but if they are crowded and the wait is long, Stax on the corner of the next block IS a highly recommended option.

    (4)

  • Robert A.

    If biscuits were crack this spot would rival Nino Brown's operation in New Jack City. With a touch of butter and sweet maple syrup, it makes you wonder why anyone would want to undermine these biscuits with gravy and sausage. Like steak, ice cream, or threesomes, not everything is better with sausage and gravy. [Though I suppose if the biscuits were into it I'd try anything once.] I'd liken the home fries to the painkillers you find from your wisdom tooth removal two years ago. Really good, but not quite good enough to have your teeth pulled again just to get more. Almost though. As for the rest of the fair, I thought they executed as described and overall did pretty well. Eggs with peppers were provided as described. I didn't like some of the ingredient variations as much as I thought I would like the parmesan cheese on the italian scramble, but other ingredient combos worked really well together like the 18th street scramble. The main criticisms of this place concern service, atmosphere, waiting in line, and the prices. I have one minor critique, but address those raised by others first. Service: The place is often busy and the layout does not make it easy for staff to maneuver, especially when the entrance is clogged with waiting patrons. I would have liked to have my coffee refreshed a bit more, but overall they were quick to take orders and serve quickly when ready. The staff was friendly and even provided me a sign-up to get a free birthday meal. Free birthday meal? That's some serious customer service in my book. Atmosphere: The place is not big and they have good food so it is often crowded. But unlike someone you have to date for 3 months to uncover why they are still single in their 30's - it's not like you can't tell right away how the atmosphere here is from the moment you walk in... Wait: Lines suck but are fairly predictable. And most things of value are worth waiting for. [Baby take me back please!! I'm right here waiting for you outside your house just like yesterday - Let's not throw away what we built over the last 3 months!] Prices: Wanna cheap breakfast? - Go buy a dozen eggs and a pound of bacon and a loaf of bread. Combine ingredients to taste. Cook. Top with cheese. It's that simple. SMC is a unique spot in a competitive industry that operates in an increasingly high rent area. Their meals are priced similarly to most brunch places in hip hoods. My only gripe concerns table justice. Some tables have much better room than others, so you may wait 30 minutes and get a less desirable table while someone who comes in 25 minutes after you and only waits 10ends up with a better table because it became available after you were seated. [Injustice!] The less desirable tables also allow fellow diners to hear your conversation. However, if your own table conversation is so boring you find yourself listening to others' conversations in close proximity, or notice others listening to you, then you may simply need more interesting conversation topics/partners. [Likewise, if your dining party is so boring that you are staring at the walls and judging the decor, you may just need a more interesting dining party.]

    (4)

  • Kimberly D.

    A small, quaint restaurant with wonderful food. I ordered their special with 2 pancakes, eggs and a meat of choice. They were serving cinnamon roll pancakes, which were amazing!!! Tasted just like a cinnamon bun. The eggs were certainly cooked to my liking and they offered turkey sausage, which is a plus in my eyes. The service was great, food was tasty, and I left full. I would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • E P.

    I've given this place a few chances and nothings changed so here's my review. I have heard all the ranting and raving about this place but I don't get it. 1st, the service here is bad!, not only do you wait to be seated -which is good for the business but if you lack the customer service, all the good food doesn't mean you have to put up with the incompetent staff server and mgr. here,s why: party of 3 , we sat down and as always, doesn't seem like the server ( her name is And___ ) has no clue how to attend to her section or has a clue about checking on who to attend to in a orderly fashion, this place is not that big so we don't understand how we can't get service every few minutes( we waited several minutes to be acknowledged). We order a simple order : one buttermilk pancake ( buttermilk pancakes are really good here ) scrambled eggs with bacon ,although the person in our party mistakenly ordered for the 88 year old who wanted scrambled eggs and ham, and coffee and a blueberry muffin ( blueberry muffins are one of the best I've had) So the order comes up after a long wait and the 88 year old stated again he wanted ham not bacon, so this is where the ratings go south and we'll never go there again and will pass this along as well::: A good host/restaurant/server would have gladly exchanged out the bacon for ham, NO PROBLEM Right? But this incompetent server gets confrontational and says that's what was ordered, to which it was replied that the 88 year old didn't want bacon but rather ham, and quickly the server states well the MANAGER says we already placed the order on the receipt and if you'd like I can get you a side order of ham. I said why can't you just take the bacon and switch it out for the bacon ( food had just been placed on the table) and the waiteress -( AND- - - ) said we cant change the receipt. Well guess what, because they obviously have no clue how to void out the order or to simply switch out the bacon for the ham to make the CUSTOMER HAPPY ( in this case the Customer who happened to be an elderly senior citizen )Then they just lost alot of customers and the word will spread. These people have given the same type of customer service before and have no idea whatsoever how to please a customer or know that the customer is always right, and even if the customer is wrong which in this incident was not , They clearly have no concept of customer servicing. Heck the last time we tried it out again, I had dropped a spoon and requested a new one to mix my sugar for my coffee , waited 5 minutes and finally got up and got a new one myself from the servers station. how F'd up is that? In closing, they never took care of it, the 88 yer old was not happy and was disappointed to where he didn't eat hardly and when we got the bill, WE DID NOT LEAVE A TIP !! and we will surely never go back and will definitely spread the word of places to not go to , no matter how good the food is. If you don't have customer service skills or know how to appease a customer because you show incompetence at the register ( unable to void out or make a simple change) Then you don't need these customers or our business let alone anyone who appreciates customer service, WHICH THIS PLACE LACKS !!!

    (1)

  • Crz C.

    Good coffee love the grits and egg sandwich. The staff is friendly but it can get a bit crazy on the weekends.

    (4)

  • Breakfast C.

    breakfastrules.blogspot.… Worth the drive? Yes. Worth the wait? Sure, why not. Frank thought Sweet Maple was a bit pricey but really enjoyed his meal. Brent said that if we had gotten seated quicker it would have gotten a solid four of his faces. Ash-tre really enjoyed her biscuits and spicy sausage gravy. (We all ended up enjoying her home fries.) As for me, I had a very delicious omelet in which the fats from the sausage mingled with the juices from the sweet onions to create a wonderful mélange of salty-sweet innards that turned my typical rapid-fire omelet eating into a more meandering, dream-like process that made the experience saunter on and on but maintained its exquisite poignance just like a run-on sentence in a William Faulkner novel. That's it! Sweet Maple Cafe is the William Faulkner of Chicago breakfast places. It may take a while to get to the point, but it is rewarding nonetheless and therefore earns 3.85 Brent faces.

    (4)

  • Eric T.

    Solid breakfast spot. I came with a buddy on a Sunday morning. The wait wasn't too bad, 15-20 minutes. The service can be a little slow, but they were friendly. I ordered the Sweet Maple Special with grits with cheese and a biscuit (I was trying to get my Souf on). Eggs, meat, and grits were good, nothing crazy. The biscuit was delcious, though. Crazy fat kid goodness inside them biscuits. Great spot for a casual breakfast, for a reasonable price.

    (4)

  • Thomas H.

    It's breakfast. It's busy, and it's breakfast. That's kind of it...? Not blown away but wasn't expecting to be...

    (3)

  • Cory P.

    Been wanting to try this place and glad I finally did. I had an omelette which was filled with meat and cheese all the way through. The cheese grits were made perfectly and the quality and quantity of food matched the price. We will definitely be back. Only downside is it is a small place

    (4)

  • Len W.

    Excellent breakfast. Best biscuits I've had. Grits could be better, but all in all I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Patti G.

    It was pretty good. Hole in wall typr breakfast place but I would go again. Had a carrot cake pancake and enjoyed it. Service was good as well.

    (4)

  • Malena R.

    This place was beyond delicious! Great service and the food was out of this world!

    (5)

  • Patrick T.

    Was surprised to get seated so quickly, but I guess it was a random Thursday morning. I chose to order 3 sides -- cheddar grits, bone in ham, and corned beef hash. The side of corned beef was enormous. Bone in ham was just okay -- dry and would not order again. Cheddar grits were pretty nummy. FYI there's free parking in the lot across the street. If Sweet Maple Cafe is on your right, make a U turn, R at the first intersection, R into the shady alley and go through to park. If the first shady alley is blocked by a car, take the next right and it should take you into the same place.

    (4)

  • Julia C.

    My favorite brunch spot. The biscuits melt in your mouth.

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    Went in in a Wednesday Morning & I would've given them 5 stars except for the fact that there was a small wait & there were 3 parties waiting to be seated. 1 was us & 2 were behind us. Hostess approached us & the Couple behind us & offered to seat us next if we were okay with sitting together at a round table that had 5 chairs. Ummmm no.....couple behind us said no also. So the table sat unused for 10 Mins before a party of 4 came & got seated there BEFORE us. SMH. Seating policies really need to be rethought. However, the Food was DELICIOUS! I ordered the Carmen G scramble but replaced the spinach with red peppers. I also got a blueberry muffin & let me tell you that it was THE BEST blueberry muffin I've EVER had & I have had A LOT of blueberry muffins in my lifetime. The scramble was very tasty, but the potatoes were the winners. Sautéed with onions & seasoned perfectly my sister-in-law had cheese & bacon added to hers & man was I jealous that I didn't follow suit. AMAZING! Now for the biscuit...the biggest biscuit ever & oh so good! I left mine 'til the end thinking I may just take it home but decided to take a bite & couldn't stop. It's not your everyday round biscuit, oh no; it's about a 2" square & fluffy & crumbly & just enough crispiness. I topped it with some jelly & my coffee & then had to ROLL my way outta there because the next thing I realized I had eaten EVERYTHING on my plates! (Not just 1 plate but ALL my plates). I will definitely make the trip into the city & introduce my hubby to this place.

    (4)

  • Rachael W.

    This is my favorite breakfast place in Chicago, and that's saying a lot! I have no idea what they put in their banana pancakes--it must be something more than traditional buttermilk batter and bananas--because they taste phenomenal! Bananirvana. Their egg dishes are also tasty. This place is tiny, really just one small room. Prepare to wait if you're coming on a weekend--and this may mean waiting outside, which is no fun on a cold day. But midweek midday, we walked right in. Great southern food!

    (5)

  • Anthony H.

    Get there early for weekend brunch to avoid the hour+ wait times. Delicious scrambles!

    (4)

  • Peter Y.

    Man, what do y'all put in your biscuits cause they are some soft, buttery, breaded balls of deliciousness. Anyways, this place definitely is right up there with Wildberry as my favorite brunch location in Chicago. Came here with a few hungry friends, and we each tried something different from their breakfast menu. While everything was delicious, I must recommend the banana pancakes (which had pieces of bananas inside, and not just lazily thrown on top) and the Taylor Street Omelet (I didn't even know what Fontina cheese was, but if it tastes like that, I don't need to know). Oh and also, as I previously alluded, their biscuits are like God's gift for mankind.

    (5)

  • Bridgette H.

    I went to this spot for brunch with my girls. The wait was about 30 mins, typical for a brunch spot on a Saturday. It's a small place that seats maybe 40 people and has a quaint down home decor. The food was good. I ordered omelet, biscuit and gravy, and home fries. Now I have lived down south and i will have to say this not your traditional white sauce biscuits and gravy but it was still tastey. The omelet was cooked to perfection and the home fries were nice and crispy. Yumm

    (4)

  • Delia V.

    I brunched with my hubby & two year old son on a Monday afternoon. Our wait was about twenty minutes, a bit uncomfortable while we stood by the door, but we were eager to try the biscuits & gravy. I had two sunny side eggs, home fries, & biscuits. My eggs were a bit on the small side and toasty on the edges but oozed nicely as I cut into them so I was content. The home fries were great ( cooked with onion so hold the onion if you're like me), I shared them with the little guy, along with my sausage. He thoroughly enjoyed that combo, along with a hearty pancake. I felt the pancake was a bit thick but homemade syrup was delicious. As for the biscuit with gravy I enjoyed more the biscuit with jam. The biscuit was missing a bit of heart, perhaps more butter in the recipe, but was nice & soft. The gravy just didn't cut it for me, needed heart as well. I added salt but that didn't help. The hubby had a chorizo omelette & home fries. The omelette came with a kick so beware if you can't handle spicy. Overall, the home fries were winners on the menu, very yummy.

    (3)

  • Marshall P.

    On my first trip, we waited 40 minutes for a table. Everything was delicious. From the coffee to the eggs to the home fries and of course, the biscuits. I couldn't get enough of any of it. I ordered the Sweet Maple Special (I think that's the name). They don't have kids meals, which would be nice. I had to piece things together for her but thankfully she loves eggs and grits and it was a decent price. The second time I visited the wait was shorter. We were aware of the free parking lot across the street this time around. I had the pancake special, which included two pancakes, sausage, and eggs. The pancakes are as big as the plate they are served on. I'll definitely be returning soon!

    (4)

  • Go B.

    i had an omelette and it was horrible. it looked and tasted like something i made. to put it into perspective, i suck at cooking and therefore eat out at restaurants a lot. when i walked into the restaurant, it looked dirty and unwelcoming. I only stayed because someone who lived in the neighborhood said it wasn't bad. I will never go back again!

    (2)

  • Daniel R.

    By far my favorite breakfast/Lunch place in Chicago. I've nearly tried everything on the menu and I have yet to be disappointed. A must try is their blue berry muffin "warmed-with butter".

    (5)

  • M H.

    Called ahead because we had a group of 10- they were able to accommodate us and were awesome! The food was so good....everything we tried was better than the next. The place is so cute, adorable, and friendly. We will all be returning!!!

    (5)

  • Osiris V.

    I walked into this place expecting to wait for at least an hour but lucky for us we only waited for 5 minutes and got seated right away. The wall decor made the place look very dirty, but as soon as I sipped on that Seattle Best coffee, nothing else mattered. I ordered the Taylor Street Omelet my sister got the Dr. Glenn's Scramble, we also shared lemon strawberry pancakes. My omelet was DELICIOUS!! We were also pleasantly surprised when our omelets came with a homemade biscuit. YUMMO! The Raspberry Lemon pancake was just ok. It did start getting busier around 10, there was probably a 45 minute wait by then. So go early if you're planning to check this pace out. I'm glad that it's just a hop skip and a jump away, that way we can go more often.

    (4)

  • Bradley H.

    Made a quick run to Chicago for a convention, but never forget to hit up some of the recommended spots to eat. We were headed to another place in Little Italy, but this place caught our eye, and, unfortunately, sort of under delivered =(. We all shared the brunch dishes which included the "...... y Noches" scramble, the French toast, and one of their grilled cheese sandwiches, as well as an assortment of drinks including a cappuccino and a Peruvian mocha. The Scramble was noticeably skimpy (even by my significant other who always says portion sizes are too large these days) and though tasty, there just wasn't enough. The home fries (fried potatoes) were small and that caused the potatoes to be mostly overcooked. The French toast was very much...French toast. It wasn't anything significantly better than other places that serve French toast, so I was confused how some people recommended the French toast so highly :-/. The Peruvian mocha was pretty good, but for a cold Chicago day, it was not as hot as I would have liked...the temperature for the drink was more luke warm than anything else. In the end, I don't doubt the place would have been better than where we had planned to eat, but nothing close to what we expected after reading many of the highly regarded reviews on this place. Overall, it probably deserves somewhere between 3-4 stars, so 4 stars was a little high. Happy Eating!

    (3)

  • Saúl F.

    WOW! These people know how to cook a mean breakfast. This place is definitely worth the wait. I guess if its -20 degrees outside, then it's probably not worth getting frostbite, otherwise, in any other weather, WAIT!!! It'll be worth it. The good old fashion pancakes are awesome! yum, yum ,yum...

    (5)

  • Haleema M.

    This is a great breakfast spot. They have incredible pancakes and omelettes. Waiting time could be a lot if you go during the weekends so come early!

    (4)

  • Gerald M.

    A Hint of Banana, Banana Pancakes... I ordered a banana pancakes but I didn't taste or see any banana. However they insisted that it was there so I let it go. Despite my disappointment the pancakes are really good. The food gets four stars. But the service was bad our waitress was curt and seemed very frustrated. I'm a fan of good service so I most likely will not be back. I don't pay people to treat me bad.

    (2)

  • Tiffany G.

    The wait is long, but totally worth it. I'm not big on breakfast foods but I will eat the hell out of this food. Amazing.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Breakfast
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Sweet Maple Cafe

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