Yolk River North
747 N Wells, Chicago, IL, 60654
Yolk River North Menu
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Address :
747 N Wells
Chicago, IL, 60654 - Phone (312) 787-2277
- Website https://www.eatyolk.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
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Luke N.
Stay away from the salmon eggs Benedict. I had food poisoning from it. Not good...
(1)Dan R.
Yolk is a very popular place for brunch here in Chicago, we've been to 2 of their locations already and both were crazy packed every time. I never really know what to talk about brunch food. Generally, it is amazing, really good food. I've tried so many things on the menu and we always eat so fast because the food is always delicious. Definitely a place to go, but be prepared because with popularity comes endless lines and hours waiting for a table. If you go around 9-10ish you might be lucky enough to get seated in 25-30 minutes. I despise lines, so any type of wait is too long for me. Caprese eggs Benedict are the yummiest if you like that savory taste... ;)
(5)Samantha E.
I was expecting a lot out of Yolk after hearing people across the city rave about it. Granted, it was good and the portions were massive, but it was definitely nowhere near the best breakfast/brunch I have ever had. My omelet did not skimp on any of the ingredients but it was nothing special. What made me even more sad was that I could not order a mimosa! How sad.
(3)Rosie C.
Ate here and really didn't like how intrusive and lack of professionalism the staff was. Waitstaff didn't have a "I'm on it and on top of things" awareness and customer service. It seemed like I was in high school. Food wasn't great and mediocre I'd rather go to Tempo. The yolk in streeterville and southloop were better.
(2)Nish R.
Went there for brunch. Wait wasn't too bad. Ambiance is sort of okay but it get's pretty busy and can get noisy. Service was good. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. I had their classic egg Benedict, it was just ok. Wish they put the fruit in a different plate because I don't like my fruit with with poached egg sauce. :-\ Also the only decaf tea they had was Chamomile. A lday in our group had pancakes and they were yummy. Overall, an okay place.
(3)Amanda H.
Excellent breakfast spot! The pecan waffles are amazing! Our service was excellent, everyone loved their food, just a little warm inside from the lack of window shades.
(5)Jessica S.
I LOVE YOLK!!!!! They accommodate my gluten and dairy free intolerance with a smile on their face! They give you a decent portion size for a fair price. We have always had decent customer service. The wait is never too long and they have a good amount of booths which is nice:) thanks yolk!
(5)Joost G.
Superb breakfast with an enormous selection of egg dishes to choose from - there is not doubt where its name came from! Drawbacks: wait can be long (we were lucky with just 10 minutes) and we were seated right in front of the toilet area.Other drawback, which some would see as a "plus": enormous dishes. Next to my crepes with eggs I still got a full plate of large waffles - I wonder who can eat that much.
(4)Mark M.
1st time there this past weekend, and are a big fan. Great classic breakfast place. I always try the classic 1st time around and their's is great. The over easy eggs were cook PERFECTLY. I loved their link sausage, a nice thick link. I asked for the potatoes to be extra crispy and that was the trick! They were great. Good coffee blend for a breakfast spot. Easy walk from our hotel. We were a party of 2 and were seated right away at 10:30 or so. However, there was a wait for other with larger parties. Service was great! My wife had the Irish Benny and it was very good even though the hash was not housemade per server.
(5)Jacqueline N.
Brunch food is definitely one of my favorites :] I didn't know much coming to Yolk but considering the crowded waiting room... It must be good! On a Sunday around 11, we were seated within 30 minutes at the counter spots (which I don't mind). The restaurant was open and inviting, made me feel at home :]. Food we order: 1. Croque madame w potatoes ($9.50): This was very surprising! To break it down, it was a french toast ham sandwich with grilled ham & turkey with swiss cheese and dijon sauce between two slices of challah french toast. It also had one egg sunny-side up with red diced potatoes. The sweet french toast was great but there was too much ham (as in too salty!) so once I took out some of that, it was great! The yolk from the egg also neutralized the saltiness a bit. Wonderful combination - give it a try!! 2. Eggs Benedict ($10.50): Everything was standard and delicious with 2 poached eggs and canadian bacon on top of english muffin halves topped with hollandaise sauce. Nothing out of the ordinary but how can you go wrong with eggs benedict? Parking is difficult (what else is new?). But overall, Yolk was good! The Croque madame was an interesting twist on your classic french toast which was enjoyable. Definitely worth trying if you're at Yolk!
(4)Steph G.
Santa Fe Frittata all the way! Yes! First of all, I thought they would have a long wait since it seems to be a popular breakfast spot. Awesome enough, they had us only wait about 15 minutes for a table of 4. Woohoo! Love Yolk concept. Love the restaurant's paint colors and all! The inside is yellow just as an egg yolk should be. It's bright and cheery, and the food was delicioso. I ordered the forementioned egg dish. It did not disappoint my hungry belly at all. It had potatoes, bacon, jalapenos, peppers, and avocado. Topped with sour cream and a side of salsa, it was heaven on a plate. I highly recommend it. Everyone in my party thought I had the best dish, and I would have to agree. It came with a side of pancakes, which were light and fluffy. They weren't the showstopper, but a nice little bit of sweet to my savory main course. Service was friendly, quick, and all together pleasant. Would dine here again for sure!
(4)Claudia M.
The menu was great with tons of options. Decided to sit at the counter but did have to wait a bit for the waitress to notice I needed a menu. Finally ordered their south of the Benny. I was getting serious food envy as tons of delicious looking things were being carried out. After a solid 20 minutes my order finally arrived. Yummy. Delicious eggs Benedict. The chorizo had a nice kick to it and the fruit is just a solid addition. Would have given them a full five stars had it not been for the longer wait to get my food. The guy who sat at the counter next to me got his food a solid 10-15 before me and he ordered after I did. His omelette looked tasty. Definitely want to try some of their other stuff. I'll be back.
(4)Joelle G.
I didn't know this was a Chicago chain restaurant. I came here last December and had a great breakfast. I really liked my server. He was friendly and chatty. He gave me suggestions of places to go to for nightlife while visiting. I read my magazine while eating my breakfast. It was filling and delicious. I sat at the bar-like area where you can see them cooking and preparing the food. People actually engage strangers in conversation in Chicago. It really catches me off guard. I enjoy it. It's a nice change from the city. A mid-western friendliness I enjoy. Even if I was reading my magazine... Sorry, went off on a tangent. I just really enjoyed my breakfast and my visit.
(4)Mary B.
Okay, so I started the review in the restaurant with a simple "a really good breakfast", then I didn't finish it because I was so busy enjoying the food. I had the tour de force - OMG, it was delicious - just the right amount and no need for syrup on the french toast. We were lucky, no wait on a Monday morning, but I can't imagine how busy they are on the weekends. Yum, yum, yum - definitely a go to breakfast spot for future trips to the Windy City!
(4)Christina C.
The brewed coffee was delicious! The waitress was very nice and service was fast! The food was amazing! Highly recommend this place! Omelettes are massive!!
(5)Joyce C.
Came here on a random Wednesday for brunch. I love the space. It's clean, open, has a blue/yellow/silver modern-ish theme going on... and it's much bigger than you would think from the outside. I love that it has a bunch of booths flanked up against the walls that are pretty private, in which the walls of each booth goes to the ceiling so you can't see or hear the parties behind you. And even the bathrooms are cool too. The food was unfortunately just ok. I got the corned beef hash with fruit and scrambled eggs on top. And upgraded to the blueberry granola pancakes. My husband got the eggs/sausage/potato pancake combo. My corned beef hash was really soft- like ground up mush. Tasted ok, but the texture was kinda like wet dog food. I think I've been spoiled by places that actually use shredded corned beef and was expecting that from a place like this. The pancake was surprisingly dry and really crispy around the edges, like toast. Not burnt, just... crispy. My husband thought his eggs were well cooked (over-medium) and the potato pancakes were the standout of his dish. The meats were average. And the coffee. So average. I like that they offer the flavored creamers, but the amount of regular half and half compared to the flavored creamers were 1 in i think 15. So, be prepared to ask for some half and half if sugary creamers are not your thing. And, lastly. The chocolate mints they offer at the register are great! I would come back, maybe I just ordered the wrong things...
(3)Sarah Beth B.
Yolk is what all brunch should be. Noisy, crowded, lots of coffee, fun. the food is so great-- nothing has ever been disappointing, but especially the Hey Ricky (or whatever) omelet. It's basically the perfect omelet. Also, french toast, choc chip strawberry pancakes, the mediterranean omelet, and I swear I've had a breakfast burrito there, but maybe I dreamed it? It would basically just be a hey ricky. Hey yolk, you should make a breakfast burrito! That's all. eat at yolk. it's delicious.
(5)Andrew W.
It's a lot about the atmosphere here. It's hip, the employees are all hip and by being here you are hip too. The food is above par but not knock your socks off. If it were next door it would certainly replace our local joint.
(4)Crz C.
I like coming here and my wife loves seating at the bar. Only thing about siting at the bar is that you see and hear how bad the employee relationship is between the kitchen and the servers. The head cook started yelling at a girl over a ticket which made every one that works here stop and gossip over it. My question is, where is the manager? Oh wait he is in the office siting not doing his job.
(2)kean o.
eeek. their avocado is mushed up - it was awful with the skillet. was not a fan of the food. service was good
(2)Sara B.
The yogurt parfait was TASTY! I really enjoyed it. But nothing blew me away. I can see why this place is popular. Affordable, yummy and trendy breakfast place with lots of options. next time I would want to try some crepes or french toast.
(3)Andrew S.
As a visiting tourist with a yearning for brunch, this spot topped every list of best places to eat. The long line outside was a testament to the reviews and popularity. Luckily it was a warm day so it wasn't an issue to wait outside as the line overflowed well beyond the door. The menu is nothing short of impressive. After doing a quick walkthrough of the place, my initial thought was "Omelet, omelet, omelet". This place makes some seriously good looking omelets. On closer, less impulsive inspection, I picked The Farm House. I was rewarded with a plate filled with southern goodness in 4 biscuits completely covered in sausage gravy, 2 eggs, and potatoes. Put more simply it was enough food for a large animal. The whole meal was good, but I found myself wishing there was a little less gravy. By the end of the meal the last biscuit had lost the fluffiness that made it so good. The person I was with got one of the skillet dishes. It looked good and featured a wide variety of vegetables include squash and mushrooms. Overall I was happy with my meal. The food was good but nothing out of the ordinary. Yolk has a fairly sterile feel, which I later found out could be attributed to being a part of small chain. I normally prefer places with more personality for my favorite brunch spots, so while this was good, I wouldn't make it the only place I visit.
(3)Kari S.
Yolk serves a great brunch. Their eggs are delicious (my favorites include the veggie skillet and eggs florentine). It's worth the wait on the weekends!
(4)Najia Y.
Good, traditional breakfast but nothing out of the ordinary.
(4)Kimberly L.
Yum! Perfect spot for brunch. Came here early (before 10am) and got a spot at the counter. The menu was definitely overwhelming so many choices so little time. I asked our server what he suggested and he hovered over eggs benedict, a healthy omlet and some sort of breakfast combo with a little bit of everything. Eggs benedict...had a few interesting choices but I can't eat pesto at 9:30am in the morning : ) SO I decided to go with the regular eggs benedict and it was a solid choice! Really well presented and nice portion of home fries and fruit. The strawberry orange juice is amazing - you must try! When in Chicago...I will be back!
(4)Kristina K.
Food was pretty good but the coffee not so much! I would go back if coffee was better! Still a good breakfast joint... I'm a coffee snob :)
(4)Chuck K.
Holy Brunch Batman! Was here this morning for breakfast! They have so many menu options I didn't know where to begin. Service was great and food came quickly. The restaurant is clean and large, plan on waiting a bit for a spot during peak hours. Belly up to their bar if you like and enjoy a great breakfast experience. The portions here are crazy! So much food, you won't know what to do with yourself. There were five of us and we ordered a wide selection from skillets, to omelets to french toast, pan cakes and your standard bacon and eggs. Everything was delicious. This place is very reasonably priced for the amount of food you get! Start your day right here!
(4)Kimberly S.
Yolk is one of my regular places to go for an inexpensive, quality, quick breakfast. It is true you have to get there early or late. Any other time and you will be a bystander (for quite awhile) to the parade of plates filled with mouthwatering food, followed by the delicious aroma of all things sweet and savory. Service has always been decent and this location is more convenient for us. Yolk is one of those places that everyone can find something that they enjoy on the menu.
(4)Autumn S.
Supposedly this is a favorite local breakfast place in Chicago...so I dragged my husband before 10 am to avoid any long lines as a fellow yelper suggested and it worked! We were sat immediately with a very friendly, happy server taking care of us. The place reminded me a clean, bright IHOP with real food being cooked in the kitchen! I ordered eggs benedict with salmon which was executed perfectly. Eggs were just right and not drowned in hollandaise like many places do. Nice sized servings of fresh fruit garnished the plate. It was awesome they let you order half orders of the french toast because my husband and I really wanted to try the red velvet french toast, but knew better than to attempt to eat a full order. It was very good, with cream cheese frosting swirled through out the cake/bread and covered in fresh strawberries. I also tried the strawberry orange juice! I wish more places in ATL freshly squeezed juice like this-it was delish! If you are looking for fresh, cooked to order breakfast food at a great price point and with great service, this place is for you.
(3)Grace E.
Yolk, you've reaffirmed my love for brunch. With prompt and considerate servers, enhancing the foodsperience, Yolk leaves a great taste in my mouth -- literally. And this morning, I thoroughly enjoyed the banana-blue crunch cakes. Do yourself a favor and stray from your typical breakfast go-to-order (ladies, stay away from the egg-white veggie omelette or low-fat oatmeal options and treat yourself to some banana bread french toast or red velvet pancakes!) Don't get paralyzed by the number of menu options, but take a look at the speciality items and try something new :) Enjoy!
(4)Mahsa T.
I did not have great egg-spectations for Yolk because I didn't really like the other one I went to in the South Loop, but this one is much better. I met my friend (he's such an egghead) for a late brunch around 1'ish and there was still a 10-15 minute wait. The space is smaller than the Loop location so plan to wait a while during peak brunch times. Our server was a good egg, he made great suggestions and helped us navigate through the tome that is the menu. I ended up ordering the FRENCH TOAST COMBO--two pieces of French toast, two eggs any style, two slices of bacon, and two sausage links. Everything was actually pretty good, orange juice was fresh, coffee was strong and refilled often. I guess I have egg on my face. I can't remember what my friend ordered, but whatever it was, he liked it. Overall, we had a very pleasant brunch at Yolk and it reminded me of my favorite quote "A true friend is someone who thinks you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked."
(4)Kay M.
Why is it when dining alone the hostess shoves those in an unwanted corner?! It's happened again. Sitting here looking at the wall and kitchen, sipping on a tasty hot chocolate. It's a busy place. A bit of a walk from Michigan Ave - It's not bad; it's just I thought it was closer while under time constraints. My waitress is friendly. Food is greasy tasty, although nothing special - a typical french toast eggs and bacon breakfast. A lower rating weighted from seating me in a nothing corner!
(3)Rachael N.
Yolk was just....breakfast. Nothing too astounding. I've think I've been rather spoiled with brunch places in Cleveland. My friend and I woke up early, and ready to get a head start on our day of shopping, we went to Yolk on N. Wells. Surprisingly, we did not have to wait on a Saturday morning(note to visitors: get there around 10am- no line at all...by the time we left, there was a ton of people waiting). I started off with the coffee. The coffee was actually pretty good (provided by Metropolis). And off we looked at our menu. It wasn't too interesting, but I chose the Santa Fe Frittata with chocolate strawberry pancakes. My friend got the french toast. I don't know- I wasn't too impressed with my meal. The frittata came out...but there was nothing super special about it, nothing "bam, that's good!" and it wasn't really spicy. My pancakes....were just pancakes with chocolate syrup and strawberries on top. I was hoping for gushing chocolate when I bit into my pancake. haha. Don't get me wrong- if you want a hearty traditional breakfast place, this is good. I'm sure I can find these places elsewhere though, you know? I wasn't too impressed...but it's alright and a cool place to meet up with friends......
(3)Tony P.
Consistent food. Fabulous and attentive service (the wonderful Ashley again) . They never rush you to leave. They have a committed customer.
(5)Leah N.
I love breakfast so when we travel we try to find the local hang out spots for a great way to start the day. Yolk came up on my search and claims to have the BEST eggs Benedict which was echoed by many Yelpers. First, the wait around 11AM on a Sunday was 5 minutes, if that. That right there makes me love this place. The place is huge and very bright with a clean design. The service was fast and our waitress very nice so another good in their book. So, onto the benny. I love eggs benny and pretty much eat it everytime we do breakfast. With that said, I had to test this out as the best. We got it within 10 minutes of ordering and so far, so good. But overall, the best? I have had better. In fact, I just had better the day before at Oak Tree Restaurant. I don't want to knock it here but it's def. not the best. Also the potatoes, not a fan. Would I go back again? Yes, of course. The service was great, food came quick and we definitely left full. However, I give the best eggs benny to Oak Tree Rest. on Michigan Ave.
(4)Daniel C.
I love breakfast places. I went here yesterday and it was my second time at a Yolk but my first time at this location. Menus are the same but the location was much better designed. Our waiter, Elias, was super friendly and extremely attentive. I got the cinnamon bun french toast and it was awesome. My friend got the california omelet and it was GIGANTIC. I will definitely be coming back.
(5)Cora T.
Very jolly atmosphere! But that might have to do with all the people who had just finished the Chicago Marathon and were feasting at Yolk afterwards. Seriously, they had Olympic-looking medals and little thermal blanket capes. Anyway, back to Yolk. The good things: - Coffee comes quick, and it's delicious and bottomless. - I LOVED the fried red potatoes that come with the food. Otherwise, I had a pulled pork sandwich that had a fried egg, goat cheese, and some kind of mango chutney stuff on it. Pretty good, but not as tasty as I imagined when I ordered it. Overall, Yolk was satisfying, but not exceptional.
(4)Katharine T.
Pretty decent brunch/breakfast spot but not the best brunch I've ever had. Dined here with the BF, a dear friend, her sister and toddler. They don't take reservations on the weekend which was a bummer but I understand, first come, first served. This place is BUSY. We arrived at about 11:10 AM. We waited a good 30 to 40 minutes but that's what they estimated for us, so no problem. I wouldn't say this place is anything special or a stand out, must go here type of spot but it was still very tasty. The BF had The Works Omelet with essentially everything in it. His words "it was good, I definitely enjoyed it, but I am not raving about it." My friend had a basic ham and cheese omelet that she seemed to enjoy and her sister had sausage, scrambled eggs and cheese. Her dish looked good but to be honest, she ate nearly none of it. I think she was too distracted by her toddler who gobbled up her pancakes and fruit. I had the biscuits and gravy with sunny side eggs on top, potatoes on the side. This was decent. I have a nearby restaurant that serves up literally the BEST biscuits and gravy that I have ever had (Morseland in Rogers Park) and I wanted to compare their dishes. Yolk really doesn't compare. Their biscuits are not freshly made like Morseland's and their gravy lacks the dynamic, homemade sausage flavor of Morseland's. The only thing that saved Yolk's biscuits and gravy were the two eggs on top - the runny yolk covering the biscuits and gravy really made the dish 20 times better than it would have been without. Our waiter was great though - Casey Affleck look alike, super friendly, fast service, good with the toddler, which I appreciated. Overall a fine dining experience, good food but not great. I wouldn't make a special trip here (as I live in Roger's Park and their food wasn't spectacular enough for the 35-40 minute L ride) but I wouldn't discourage anyone from dining here. Prepare for a decent wait but keep your fingers crossed for the Casey Affleck waiter, he has crazy hair, you can't miss him.
(3)Meghan B.
This place is definitely just A-okay. After waiting over an hour for a table, I was hoping for a little more. Server was nice although a little shotty - he definitely had a lot of tables to take care, including a lot of big parties. I was excited to try the eggs benedict when I noticed on the menu that it was voted one of the best in the city. I subbed smoked salmon for the canadian bacon, but sadly I was not too impressed. The egg muffin was burnt and super chewy. Salmon was really dry. Could have used a little more hollandaise. On the positive side, the serving side was large and came with some yummy red potatoes AND fruit. I felt like for the location and the quality, the price was pretty fair. Also, the eggs were poached perfectly and the coffee that was delicious. I really enjoyed the different flavors of creamer that were available as well. Overall I think I would return to Yolk for brunch and try something else (their menu is HUGE!), but it wouldn't be my #1 choice.
(3)Lois C.
Definitely feel that there is more hype then anything for this breakfast joint. The food was good but it wasn't exceptional which is what I expected with all the reviews that were given. I got the Zamboni Crepe, would have been much better if the crepes weren't so sweet. I don't know how I feel about the sweet crepe and the savory eggs, spinach, and ham together. After really trying to like the first crepe, I ended up taking out the insides of the crepe and just eating it separately. I went with a group of about 10 girls and everyone did enjoy their food. I would come back, but I won't try to go out of my way to come back.
(3)Diane C.
Day 2 of my recent visit to Chicago, and I had a hankering for pancakes. The folks at the hotel we stayed yet recommended this place, so we walked the several blocks over to this location. Okay. How FUN is this place? Fairly big place, with nice, bright decor. The place was hopping, but we didn't have any trouble getting a booth. This being our first Yolk experience, we weren't sure what to expect. But our server Cruz was the best. He was friendly, prompt and answered any questions. When my friend asked about an option for her meal and he said, "Are you ready?" I was actually expecting the absolute opposite of what he said. YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH GET ANYTHING. (Seriously, my friend just wanted to put Cruz in her pocket and take him back to Ottawa with her!) I had the Yolk buttermilk pancakes (I was talked out of the multi-grain pancakes), sprinkled with icing sugar and topped with peaches. My friend opted for the Peach Cobbler crepes. And I'm pretty sure there was bacon involved. Neither of us were disappointed. What a fantastic meal. Overall, a fantastic experience. My pancake craving was sated, and I would gladly recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Ivy P.
Great Breakfast place I was surprised how quickly the food comes out They have amazing skillets & the red velvet french toast is the BEST ever :) Also the strawberry orange juice is a must have!
(4)Karen G.
Yoke is a great breakfast/brunch restaurant. I spent a weekend in the city for my daughter's 21st and she selected Yoke. The food was amazing - great selection of eggs Benedict, skillets, omelettes, french toast, etc. I will go back and I have already recommended this to others.
(4)Micaela S.
Huge upcharges for additions to plates. Bad customer service. The waiter didn't even refill our coffee. My pancakes were clearly from a mix. My frittata was more of an overlooked scramble and my husbands Benedict looked plastic the eggs were so hard. If you want large amounts of overpriced, unappetizing food this is your spot,
(1)Brandon T.
Been here a few times now, and after having he opportunity to try a few other places in the area, I have to reduce my number of stars. Here's why... So I brought my gf with me here, and to be honest she isn't much of a breakfast person. Luckily they have sandwich options! Unable to decide she asks for the servers opinion. She ended up with a sandwich that really had no flavor at all, and my usual (eggs benedict) was over cooked and the eggs were hard. Really unacceptable. All in all I have to drop a star for this place, as I don't want to mislead people into thinking it's the 2nd best breakfast option in the city.. I haven't tried them all, but my list should help in deciding between some popular places.
(3)Jennifer H.
Came here for Sunday brunch and barely had to wait. The place was bustling and lively, and the decor was so sunny! as one might expect from a place called Yolk. I ordered the benedict caprese, with fresh mozz, tomatoes, and pesto, and it was great! Nothing too special, but definitely a solid meal, and huge portions, especially with the roasted potatoes on the side.
(4)Mary T.
I guess you could say I'm a creature of habit. Case in point: * I eat the same thing for breakfast virtually every workday; have for years. * I always put my right contact in before my left and remove them the same way. * Unintentionally, I ordered the exact same meal the last time I dined here, almost a year ago to the day. (The notes on my bookmark were evidence) My running group planned a fun excursion to celebrate the end of our training. We ran the last 5 miles of the Chicago marathon course and then grabbed brunch at Yolk. I've been to Yolk a few times, this location and the River North one; in addition to the consistent decor, they always seem to be bustling. Fortunately at 7:45 it was easy for our group to get a table. I ordered the thin & lite crepes with fresh strawberries and a side of potatoes (same as last year). Last year I thought the crepes were "good, but not the best ever;" I've got to say I still feel the same way. The dish is similar to the Crepes Suzette minus the rich, buttery Grand Marnier sauce. The crepes were a bit thicker and heavier than I would have liked, I think they would have seemed lighter had the fruit been inside. Last year I thought the potatoes were bland, but this time 'round I found them quite good; the perfect way to balance out the sweetness of my crepes. Service was great; our cold, wet, hungry group of 15 was quickly shown to our table and plied with beverages. Our server was a rock star; coffees, waters and teas never ran dry and our food orders were efficiently taken and turned around in lightning speed. I'm not sure this will ever turn into a regular destination, but it is a solid brunch spot - generous portions, large menu, good service and reasonable prices.
(4)Keyona D.
My favorite go to weekend brunch spot. Cinnamon roll French toast is sooo good!
(4)Cody H.
The long wait is their only downfall, but their French toast is the prefect way to start your weekend. I have also tried their skillets, wasn't my style, but still tasty.
(4)Kyle B.
After so many lunch adventures to this adventurous brunch spot, I though it high time that I give it a firm review. Because, after all, is a restaurant really a restaurant without reviews? The short answer: yes. But I'll do it anyways. On many occasions (probably more than I can count), I have a yearning desire for brunch in the afternoon. But not just on lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoons. I'm talking brunch on weekdays. Brunch when I need it the most. Brunch when no other meal will make me happy and comforted all at the same time. Yolk fits the bill. While the menu isn't necessarily something to write home about, there are a TON of options that would make a table of completely different tastes 100% happy. You'll find omelets, combination plates with any kind of breakfast staple imaginable, skillets, luscious French toast and pancake plates (is luscious the right word?), and even standard lunch items (if you want to be "that guy" that orders lunch items at a place called "Yolk".) The service is generally ok, but I have had some experiences with a couple of waiters in particular that seemed genuinely uninterested in our table. However, after so many visits to the place, I've chalked it up as the exception and not the rule. The majority of occasions have been pleasant and, when prompted ahead of time that we have a limit on lunch, the servers have been very accommodating with speedy delivery and service. All in all, this place is very solid and more than lives up to expectations. The price points aren't absurd and the bright atmosphere makes for a very delightful midday experience. You won't go broke when you eat at Yolk. Well that wasn't very good...
(4)Michael O.
I gave 5 stars because I like Yolk. This place is good and that ain't no joke. The line can be long but its worth the wait. The lady called out, "Mike, table for 8." We all sat down and were greeted by waiters. I asked for a skillet, eggs over taters. The food came out hot and ready to eat. The veggies were delicious and so was the meat. My friends and I were quiet, as we dug in our food. I asked "how are your meals?" because I didnt want to be rude. We finished our feast and asked for the check. The waiter looked at us in horror, and said "whats the heck!" There on our table was a mean grizzly bear. He had long scary claws and was covered in hair. The bear started roaring as customers fled. I couldnt escape as the bear crushed my head. All of a sudden I couldnt stop screaming. Thats when I woke up and realized I was dreaming. But for real this place is good and stuff.
(5)christian C.
Wow, at 8:30 am on a Saturday morning, this place was fast! We were greeted as we walked in and seated immediately. The food must have arrived within five minutes of ordering. The Bacon quesadilla was fairly good, although the tortilla was a bit too tough. The accompanying potatoes were simple but good. The space is large and cheery. It was a good way to start the day.
(4)Leang E.
I've heard plenty about Yolk, but this is the first location I'd been to. It was the perfect start to a New Year's Day morning! This location is pretty spacious, and we got here before the rush. The prices are average, and the menu is huge. Our waiter was awesome - he kept my coffee mug full and gave great recommendations. I got the Ricky Omelette with an extra side of guacamole and pancakes, and my boyfriend got the corned beef and hash. The portions are huge, and you could easily split this and share with someone else. I had the leftovers the next day and it was still awesome!
(4)Kevin C.
In need of something different for lunch besides the regular dive bar grub, thai, or pizza. Breakfast for lunch turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. I had been to Yolk several months back and made the mistake of not ordering breakfast. Looks can be deceiving from the outside as there is plenty of room to accommodate larger groups. But this time there was two of us and we were seated right away. Very clean and spacious which went right along with their open line. The food came up very quickly - best thing about breakfast foods. The service was good despite being pretty busy around noon. No problems at all and no complaints. The menu had something on it to please anyone and most dishes were $9.99. A few plates included salmon and steak which were still reasonably priced. I was pleasantly surprised for the River North area. Eggs Benedict was the choice. Voted best in town, by who, I am not sure but they were damn good. Two poached eggs and canadian bacon atop english muffin halves. Topped with homemade hollandaise sauce accompanied by diced potatoes and fruit. In my book you can't go wrong soping up egg yolks with an english muffin. Its as if I was in a different world and didn't have to go back to work in a half hour. Hah, reality check. And that is worth every penny. Mixing it up with some breakfast was the best lunch choice I have made in a while. I've have a few blunderous choices recently but this definitely made up for it. If I'm not looking to take a gamble on a new place this is where I'm going to get my breakfast fill.
(4)George D.
I have been here 3 times Not the worse place for breakfast but then again not the best either although service is very slow ( most of the time).. I do consider the wild berry a better restaurant
(3)Sean H.
Go and get the cinnamon roll French toast, nuff said.
(4)Brian B.
Yolk is AWESOME! I usually only go there on weekdays because the line is soooo long on the weekends. Food and service is always great. I love their seasoned red potatoes that come with most dishes. I also love that they give you some fruit with each meal. Yum.
(5)Sarah K.
Everything is so good here! But be prepared to wait forty mins on a Sunday . Ouch
(5)Carrie E.
Can't get enough of this place! Speedy & friendly service and delicious food, what more could you want? I recommend the hot chocolate! I've only gotten breakfast foods here, but I have never been disappointed. Good prices too
(5)Joseph B.
My wife and I went in to yolk for an early breakfast last Saturday, around 7:30am, we ordered quickly and then waited a ridiculously long time while they served 6 yolk employees (all in their yolk shirts) their food first. seriously, the restaurant had only a few real customers in at that time. The food was not bad, I had the EL TORERO SCRAMBLER with Chorizo, avocado, tomatoes, sour cream and salsa. I am sure i will return and will avoid the early morning staff feeding.
(2)Jason V.
Yolk seems to fit a nice breakfast niche where you have a little extra time in your day (perhaps even while visiting the city on vacation) and you are looking for a filling breakfast that you do not have to think to hard about. My own visit actually strayed from this model with the Carnitas Egg Sandwich Special, which I would not particularly recommend. The carnitas and goat cheese did not combine well with the pretzel bread bun. The pork was a bit dry, and while the goat cheese is soft, it did not really add the right kind of moisture to the meat. Even the pretzel bread bun was a bit substandard. What did play out well, though, were the usual suspects for breakfast: The breakfast red potatoes that came as a side were good, served with skin on, not to small (think Bob Evans) nor too big (like maybe how a steakhouse would serve potatoes), lightly seasoned, and cooked just right. An additional side of pork sausage brought three fairly thick and juicy sausage links that definitely hit the spot. As for the restaurant environment, the space was very clean and brightly colored with yellow-orange walls and light hardwood floors that made the most of the natural light from the front of the diner. The counter seating facing the open kitchen looked like it could be very crowded when full, but otherwise the tables seemed generously spaced (though at 7am on Memorial Day I had only a small handful of fellow diners). There is a pretty ample waiting area where most places would probably try to pack in a few more tables. Also, given the noise from the kitchen, I could see how the place could get especially loud when full. As an appreciated little bonus, Yolk is the first place I have seen with Truvia sweetener available at the table without special request.
(3)Gabrielle C.
What a creative menu! Our food was delish! We enjoyed Red Velvet French toast and the Cinnabon Bun French toast. YUM. Lively atmosphere and fast, friendly service. I'm definitely going back sooner than later.
(4)R S.
Food and service was pretty good over all but when the waitress told me we would be charged a $2.00 sharing fee I was completely turned off by this place. Apparently if two people sit down and only one orders breakfast they add a $2.00 sharing fee to the check. They charge you for taking up real estate! I will not go back for that reason alone. Everyone at the table ordered so fortunately we did not incur the sharing fee.
(1)Elena E.
I went to Yolk for lunch with a colleague. The food was average and the flavor was unimpressive. For what it was, I found it to be overpriced. Overall, not a memorable experience, apart from the atmosphere (which I'd describe as confused modern/diner). There are so many better places within a few blocks, there is really no reason to go here, especially for non-breakfast.
(2)Sarah N.
Can't say anything bad about Yolk! I received the BEST customer service experience- through social media! Never underestimate the power of a tweet! Thanks again, George! The options satisfied everyone in my party and the food was fresh and delicious at great prices. I plan to return to Yolk soon!
(5)Neha M.
Great pancakes! Had the chocolate chip ones and they were the perfect combination of a slightly crispy layer with fluffy deliciousness underneath
(4)Liz K.
This is the kind of place that you could come to sometimes and it would be a 5, and other times a 4. Basically my review hinges on the wait time. Brunch is the worst meal to have to wait for, but really, at the end, my manfriend and I agreed that 20 minutes wasn't horrible and the food was well worth the wait. If I hadn't had an intense craving for my usual brunch order (smoked salmon eggs benedict), I would have had an incredibly hard time deciding. The combos seem like a great deal - the manfriend got 4 pieces of french toast, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of sausage, scrambled eggs, and a side of fruit all with his combo. The quantity of food is absurd, in the most fabbo way possible. Who doesn't want to be stuffed out of their mind with breakfast potatoes and other rich, creamy, and delicious bites? The service was quick and friendly, and for a restaurant of that size, I was really impressed that it wasn't overwhelmingly loud. I hate repeating restaurants but I might have to make an exception for this place.
(4)Gina S.
Went during the week at 9:30am, it was not busy at all. First impression of the menu and atmosphere was it's comparable to a First Watch Cafe. I went with the Blue Bayou Frittata; blue cheese, bacon, fresh spinach, and tomatoes scrambled together and baked. My order was made in part because Natalie S's picture made it look so delicious. I had it made without bacon and with egg whites, at NO extra charge. However, it came out looking nothing like Natalie's; it did not look beautifully baked and golden with cheesy goodness. It was a little watery from spinach juices, the cheese was hidden inside and the texture was just mushy and melted all together. While visually it wasn't nearly at appetizing it tasted just fine. My dining partners dishes looked much more visually appealing. One ordered a combo plate; two eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausage links, and he's choice was french toast. The other ordered the Banana Nut Bread French Toast; 3 slices of banana nut bread battered and grilled and topped with banana slices, powdered sugar and a side of peanut butter. I had to have a little bite of the banana french toast; it is the moistest french toast EVER. So good!
(3)Erin G.
My five stars are partially impacted by the fact that we went at 2pm, well after rush hour. There were only two other groups in the restaurant, so we had very attentive service. The food on it's own, however, also receives five stars. Very inventive twists on classic brunch dishes. Try the South of the Border Benny. The chorizo is not too greasy and the chipotle sauce adds the perfect punch. I'm new to this brunch thing, but I shall definitely return.
(5)Candace F.
I was a little disappointed in this place. I am from Denver where there are many breakfast and brunch places all which are amazing and I was hoping to find one equal to them in Chicago. The food was ok... Nothing special. And the service was horrible on a Monday when they weren't busy at all. I had to ask 3x for my juice and had to ask 3 different people to get some tabsco sauce. Over all a little saddened by the experience :/
(2)Nanny G.
We came in for late brunch (2:30pm) and didn't have to wait for a party of two. We were both craving corned beef hash. He got the potatoes and I got fruit. Fruit= big mistake. I was trying to be be healthy. Lesson learned. There's no being healthy when going for brunch after a night out in the city! The potatoes made all the difference.. I'll be getting those next time. I wasn't as pumped about the Strawberry Orange Juice as I thought I'd be. I also wasn't so impressed by the pancakes... What I liked the best about this place? Honestly? The coffee. The coffee was GREAT. this
(3)Kathy L.
Awesome food! Great fast, friendly service. We went on a Sunday morning and the place was packed but we didn't have to wait long as we said we would sit anywhere. Sat at the bar and had a wonderful breakfast. Generous portions and good coffee and juice. Will go back again!
(5)David K.
One of the best places for a diner style, casual breakfast in Chicago. Try the chicken and waffles. And get there a little early because there is usually a wait on weekends.
(5)Lisa N.
So glad we managed to have brunch here while visiting Chicago. There were so many great dishes to choose from and I really had a hard time, but I decided on the South of the Border benny. It was delicious alright. The eggs were poached to perfection with the right amount of yolk running down. The chorizo gave the eggs flavor like a party in my mouth! I wish I could have tried more dishes though! I hear from my friend who lives in Chicago that everything is pretty good!
(4)Jack B.
PROS -Excellent food - portion sizes are large! CONS -Due to popularity, this place consistently draws long wait lines. ADVICE TO MANAGEMENT -Expand?
(4)Keith A.
Awesome breakfast menu, great food, great prices, great service.
(4)scott b.
This is one of my favorite breakfast places in the country. That's probably all I have to say. The service has always been good, and servers were pretty friendly and attentive. I think the prices are very fair, especially for Chicago
(5)Nancy Y.
loved the smoked salmon egg scrambler omelets but its such a long wait in line on a Sunday.
(4)Patsy W.
In a great location, easy to find parking, really good service and good atmosphere. This is definitely my go-to breakfast spot. The room is big and let's in a lot of sunlight, just what you want in the morning on a beautiful, sunny day. My personal favorites: eggs Benedict florentine! Their breakfast burritos are also delicious and healthy.and Almost Everything is served with a side a fresh pineapple and grapes!
(4)Eddie D.
Very cool place. Packed Sunday before the bears game, got seated in about ten minutes. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. Ordered the cinnamon roll French toast and chorizo and cheese scrambler. Both were awesome. French toast was way too sweet to eat alone, and the eggs did a great job in cutting down on the sweetness. Coffee was nice and fresh and always topped off too. If you have the time to wait, it's worth it!!!
(4)Mark T.
After running the Rock & Roll Chicago half marathon this past Sunday, my sister and I needed a place to recover and refuel. She suggested this place on a whim and we quickly headed over. Saw the huge crowd outside as we approached (which is always a good sign); luckily it was only a 20 min wait for us to be seated. Several items on the menu piqued my interest for the amount of food that you were going to get for the dish at a very cheap price. Just to be different, I ended up getting the smoked salmon scrambler: eggs, cream cheese, onions & tomatoes, with a side of potatoes, pancakes & capers. This could have been the hunger talking but h*ly crap, that was tasty. Waiters were everywhere running back and forth between tables. It was a little bit of a wait for our food after we ordered but we were patient with Mark, our waiter, since he was probably waiting on several tables within our section. He was great and we left him a nice tip. My sister and I are running the race again next year; looks like we've found an after-race tradition.
(4)Judy L.
Go early before 10 am to prevent line bombardment. Coffee, strong. Portions, big. Corned beef hash - excellent.
(5)Chris K.
First off order the red velvet french toast. Its worth it just to taste one bite. Its noisy in here but fun. Service was good and the wait wasn't to long. Anything on the menu is good to go.
(5)Eileen K.
This was my first breakfast in Chicago, and I loved it!! Firstly, the name of the place and the sign is soo cute!! My friend who lives in Chicago suggested this place, and I'm so glad she did!! We got there around 9:30am on a saturday, and the place was packed!! But the wait for 4 girls was only about 15-20min, and the place is huge with lots of tables. The place is roomy, spacious, with wide windows so brightly lit with natural lighting. the walls are blue and yellow, which gives a friendly, cute vibe. We ordered an omelet (i forget which one), which was delicious! the other dishes were all breads and stuff, so the egg with ham and bacon in it was great to have! it was fluffy, stuffed with bacon, ham, tomatoes, topped with melted cheese. Came with a side of breakfast potatoes. yum! We also ordered "Tour de France", which consisted of 3 different breads: "Banana Nut topped with bananas, Sweet Orange topped with strawberries, and Lemon Poppy Seed topped with blueberries" (straight from their menu :P) this dish was sooo good!! the breads were moist and flavorful, and the fruit was fresh. also came with peanut butter and an orange sauce. SO YUM! this was definitely our favorite plate! We also got the fruit and nut pancakes, which were good, but a little dry, so it wasn't really our favorite. (well, they're multi-grain, so I guess thats to be expected :P) Came with bananas and strawberries. Also got the Eggs Benedict and added smoked salmon for an extra $2. soo worth it!!! the salmon was really delicious and the eggs were perfect!! Also, they were very quick and came often to refill my coffee, which is definitely a plus. The coaster/doily they had underneath my mug was adorable, and a nice touch. :) all in all, was a great breakfast: nice spacious brightly lit restaurant, great friendly service, great food with fresh fruit, hot coffee, and of course, great company. :) totally recommend!
(5)Nancy H.
I've been here a handful of times and gorge myself on the yummy eats! It's a stuff-your-face kind of meal... definitely a hearty, Chicago appetite would fair best here. I love that the menu is pages and pages long so you're bound to find something you like. Be sure to do the toast upgrade for a sinful pancake of some kind! Lastly, be ready for a 30-minute wait or longer on weekends.
(4)Ada Z.
Went with a friend who LOVES eggs..myself, I detest them. After having the 'Hey Ricky' dish and the 'Iron Man'..we shared ,I am an egg (white) Lover!!!!! So good!!!!!! We went just before the Easter Sunday rush and got seated right away. Coffee was hot, smiles were being dished out along with awesome service...j'ai ore YOLK. We'll be back!!!
(5)Kurt S.
Was looking for good breakfast places in Chicago and found Yolk. I like the bright yellow and blue decor and the setup of the place. The service was very fast and attentive. I got the strawberry orange juice which was freshly squeezed and excellent. For our meals I got the "South of the Border Benny" and my wife got the "Irish Benny". Mine had a bit too much chorizo that overpowered the rest of the dish. The egg wasn't as runny as I would have liked. My wife enjoyed the hash on her Irish benny. Not the best eggs benedict we ever had but definitely good and points for being creative. Next time I'll probably just stick to the regular eggs benedict or an omelet. Reasonably priced for Chicago, $10.49 for a huge plate of eggs benedict, hash browns and tons of fresh fruit.
(4)TJ H.
Im reviewing just the food. The service was great. I've been to Yolk many times, and this particular location the most times and have always enjoyed myself. Except today. Today my party of 6 agreed it was the worst brunch food we've had. The grapes were unwashed. The pancakes were dry. The sausage was cold. My friend said he could go on and on about the "mediocrity of the club sandwich" and we wondered what happened to yolk. Maybe it was just an off day, but for an hour wait it was definitely not worth the wait. Sorry, but I won't be recommending this place anymore.
(1)Melissa W.
Excellent good and spectacular service. I will make a point of coming here again the next time I visit chicago
(5)Courtney Z.
So impressed!! Highly recommend for brunch! Most organized friendly host made the front run smoother than I've ever seen one of these usually chaotic brunch spots. The food was phenomenal, would suggest the Banana Blue Crunch Cakes - were probably the best pancakes I've ever had. The server was excellent, never felt rushed great time for food and our coffee was always full :) The seating was spread apart and it was not loud at all! Amazing really how relaxed the setting is when you think of the incredible number of tables a morning they probably turn over!
(5)Juju J.
There is not much more Yolk can improve on than the wait on the weekends. Even that could be a lot worst. Came here on Sunday for brunch with two other dining partners. Had about a 35 minute wait but oh so worth it. We grabbed coffee from the take out area while we waited. The service was really attentive despite the pack house. The food was delicious and the portions are so HUGE! Two people really could--and should--share one meal. The omelets were great and really fluffy. They have some healthy choices as well. The yogurt/granola and fresh fruit was delicious as well. I love how they give you the choice of toast (if you're good), english muffin, freshly baked muffin (amazing), pancakes or specialty pancake (if you're bad and want to be a fatty). They were all so delicious. If you get pancakes as your "toast" be prepared to have a double entree. Did I mention these were only $10 each!!! I would definitely come back here again. They also had a nice looking diner-type menu for lunch. Also, very good coffee and loved how they had a variety of flavored creamers on the table.
(5)doug d.
Yelp was not very helpful in finding me breakfast as this was more like a Denny's than I wanted. Packaged creamer. No spoon with coffee (that's crazy). Pleasant servers. Fine food. Clean.
(3)Trina J.
I really enjoyed the food but would prefer the Breakfast Club. The service was really nice and the option to get eggs, bacon, sausage and two pancakes, crepes or waffles is the best option. You can upgrade to the specialty pancakes, french toast, crepes or waffles. I had this with the banana foster crepes. Being a nola girl, I had to see if they prepared it the right way. It was really good. My family ordered the fruit and nut pancakes and red velvet french toast. Everyone enjoyed their food. I would stay away from the strawberry orange beverage unless you like tang. It was far too tangy. I instead ordered the mint lemonade and it was VERY refereshing.
(3)Mark E.
Killer brunch!! Had an amazing late breakfast experience here. My server was Tara. She was super helpful. She recommended the Tour de France, three kinds of bread, French toasted. It was DELICIOUS!! This will be a Chicago must for me from now on! Quick service, friendly staff and fresh and unique look at a traditional menu.
(5)Amy F.
This place was recommended by our concierge at the Godfrey, and it did not disappoint! Truly awesome! The whole wheat pancakes with strawberry and banana filling had the perfect texture, with pecans on top creating an explosion of sweet yumminess! I also created a scrambler with turkey sausage, spinach and onion, good choice I must say. My friend got the margherita frittata and side of crepes. The frittata is a baked dish which was fluffy and filling. She described the crepes perfect consistency balanced with delicate sweetness. Definitely recommend!
(5)Alycia M.
Red Velvet French Toast for breakfast. Do I need to say more? I love sweets and you can probably figure that out from reading a few of my other reviews. But back to the important stuff....food. Red Velvet French Toast for breakfast is like a dream. If you like french toast and have a little bit of a sweet tooth, I recommend the french toast sampler, you will not be disappointed. This place is definitely on the top of my list for breakfast places. Yum!
(5)Wulfstan C.
This is a good, enjoyable, and fun place for breakfast. It has a large range of menu choices, with many standards plus many very different interpretations of standards. They have an unusual and thoughtful range of many dishes includes eggs benedict, french toast (red velvet, cinnamon roll, etc.), pancakes with bacon in the pancakes, and the like. They have many egg dishes and both lighter and heavier fare. The atmosphere is fun and pleasant, decor interesting. Service seems good. However, the execution of the food can be a bit dull and rough, making the end results somewhat more bland than the recipes should be and not quite as satisfying as a number of places. Still, this is always a great family favourite now for when we're in Chicago.
(4)Wei H.
I LOVE YOLK, not just the literal yolk. I don't care how long I need to wait (which at this location is not bad at all), I will go to Yolk if I am to have brunch. To this date, 3 months after my visit to Yolk, I still remember how good the crepes were. It was perfect. Perfect consistency, perfect amount of ingredients, perfect balance of savory and a hint of sweetness and perfect hash browns. My friends of course loved their Benedict. The coffee - OMG. As a religious Starbucks Pike drinker, I shamelessly downed half a dozen of those delightfulness. I cannot believe I haven't gone back since. It is purely not acceptable. They also have the cutest pens - yes, pens with which you sign your bills. I regret not taking one last time. Guess I have a solid reason to go back. But seriously, if you are in town and want to have brunch, and you don't mind waiting for half an hour to an hour in this beautiful gorgeous Chicago summertime, please go to Yolk. I should stop the review here otherwise it will sound like I got paid for saying how great they are. Ok, stopping now. Enjoy!!!
(5)Shereene M.
I have wanted to try this place for awhile. I finally checked out the Wells location. We stopped by around noon on 4th of July and expected a huge wait and wasn't surprise when we saw a crowd waiting outside. Surprisingly the 15 minute wait they told us was less than 10. I tried the special mint lemonade and it was tasty but a little odd and couldn't finish the drink. The California omelet was super tasty and so was the cinnamon roll French toast. The portions were huge and we didn't even finish everything. I would go again since there were some interesting looking specials.
(4)Just M.
The Best Breakfast in Chicago!!! Portion was huge everyone was friendly.
(5)John M.
Go Here. Eat. Receive Joy. While in town for a weekend birthday getaway, we stopped here for brunch on Saturday April 27 as part of a photo walk around the North Loop. The wait was about 15 minutes - but that's expected on a Saturday morning at 10:45am. As other reviewers have commented, the tables turn quickly and soon we were seated in the middle section, between the bar and the booths. We ordered a Scrambler breakfast (eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, and tomato - healthy food for walking the city - don't judge my simplicity) and upgraded the pancakes to the Chocolate Strawberry version; we also ordered the Tour de France selection of french toasts. The pancakes were incredible ... maybe the most delicious I've had. The strawberries and chocolate rendered syrup unnecessary; syrup would have ruined the taste, frankly (apologies to Vince Vaughan's "Wedding Crashers" character.) Even better, though, were the french toasts. I couldn't tell you which was best - the banana bread (fresh sliced banana topping), the orange (fresh sliced strawberry topping), and the lemon poppyseed (fresh blueberries topping) were each flavorful and light, and our forks kept going from one to the next as we tried to choose a favorite. The coffee was strong, which helped to offset the sweet carb overload we were devouring from the plates, and the orange juice was fresh. Those cups stayed full thanks to personal and attentive service from the waitstaff. The decor was simple but well-executed; bright whites and yellows (like an egg) offset by blue and light grey, to allow the attention to be on the food and not the walls. We will DEFINITELY return, the next time we're in Chicago.
(5)Dan E.
This place is a go-to breakfast/brunch spot. Not fancy, but consistently good food and coffee. A nice variety of food for your dining pleasure.
(4)Pam N.
Breakfast in Chicago. Very nice café with good service and delicious food all served in a timely and efficient manner. We were here on a week day, so we were spared the wait and enjoyed a relaxing breakfast. My husband was very impressed with his breakfast wrap and I was totally happy with my bacon and eggs. The fresh fruit was lovely and the coffee and tea were perfect!
(4)Jen K.
On the first morning of our trip, we planned to grab a quick bite to eat at the Streeterville location. Unfortunately everyone else had the same idea on a sunny weekend, so we delayed our visit until Monday and hit the less popular River North location. The interior is still light, bright and cheery, but the other location on E. Ohio is stunning. Explains why they have 2x the number of reviews. Even though this falls under casual dining, it was a very good experience. Or as my husband says when I try to take him to a more interesting location, "sometimes a meal should just be a meal." He just wasn't into the Purple Pig for breakfast. The menu, price and atmosphere were quite similar to our other breakfast in the area, Eggsperience, but everything here was better. They were operating on all cylinders in the service department and were very efficient without being pushy. Our coffee (quite good) and water glasses were refilled constantly and our food arrived quickly. They serve large portions and I chose the Classic French Toast ($5.99) and added some fresh berries for a little extra. Six slices of toast covered in berries. Mr. K ordered a french toast meal that also included choice of eggs and sausage. Visiting them at a less popular time and location, made this a really nice breakfast option in the area. Would I wait an hour in line on the weekend? No, thanks.
(4)Lindsay C.
medicore breakfast. It was quick but nothing extraordinary. The red velvet french toast was nothing to trip about.
(3)Ibrahim B.
The food was perfect my wife and I shared an egg pen edict, California egg and banana crunch pancakes it was excellent the hospitality was perfect "thanks Mark you did a good job" I would go there again that for sure
(5)Todd L.
Great breakfast spot and a great value. Try the Hey Ricky.
(4)Lydia R.
Yolk is the bomb dot com! There is a reason for the wait for weekend brunch. I try Eggs Benedict for breakfast and brunch whenever I visit a new city, and I loved their unique twists on the dish. My friend and I shared the Mexican Benedict, and it was too spicy for her, but was perfect for me. The coffee is free-flowing, so you're going to leave with a twitch (but in a good way!). If I didn't live so far away, this would be a great place to take out-of-towners for brunch every once in a while.
(5)Mike D.
Here is a simple review to keep you from going elsewhere: Exceptional breakfast spot with a fun and exciting menu. Go with the red velvet french toast with cream cheese frosting and pick of of the eggs benidict (preferably the ranchero) Great coffee and fresh orange juice will keep you going back for more. Service is fantastic and the wait staff is very attentive. If you are in Chicago looking for a good breakfast spot, STOP LOOKING! GO!
(4)Gabriela M.
One word: DELICIOUS! Very different from other breakfast places. I had the Skillet your way and it was outstanding. The Pumpkin French Toast is a must. Excellent service. Big thanks to our waiter Mark for the recos.
(5)Francis D.
There was a slight wait to be seated, but you could tell that it was moving fast from the constant calling of new names. It was a bit noisy inside, but it wasn't too loud, as we were easily able to hold a conversation at our booth. The food was amazing. I had a croque madame, and my friends split a Hey Ricky omelette. The service was good, and the food came out in a very timely manner. One of my favorite breakfast/brunch spots in Chicago.
(5)Rudra B.
Cute place. Took a coworker here for her Buddy Lunch. It was loud but we could still have a conversation. We were seated before the lunch rush which just took the place over. Had the biscuit gravy and eggs good, my coworker had the Ironman omelette which looked formidable. Would go again in a heartbeat. I'm only knocking the one star because of the loudness.
(4)Stephanie E.
When we arrived at Yolk, there must've been about 25+ people waiting to be seated. We figured it must be good and decided to wait the 25 minutes to be seated. Luckily we only waited about 15 minutes. YAY! We ordered pretty quickly and each had coffee. We thought the coffee was delish - the waiter noted it was Chicago-based Metropolish Coffee Company. We had the California Omelette, the Cheese Egg Sandwich and the Eggs Benedict. We also wanted to share the Banana Blue Crunch Cakes, and the waiter let us know that with the California Omelette dish, that we could upgrade the side to be any of the Specialty Pancakes for just $2.99. Winner! That was very nice we thought! All in all we really enjoyed our dishes and the service! Can't wait to come back!
(4)Debbie B.
Every once and awhile, the food pornography that is often swimming around in my head plays out in real life. And I sit and think "this is happening....this is happening...is this happening?" And it is. And it is glorious. It happened at Yolk. A weekend away in Chi-town with GM led to me getting to unexpectedly live out one of my secret food fantasies. Cheeseburger slider eggs benedict. Yup...you read that right. They start with the typical english muffin...and then shit gets real. Two fresh beef sliders then go on and get covered with american cheese. Then some caramelized onions go on top of that. Then two perfectly poached eggs layer on and get topped with hollandaise. It. was. amazing. The place is just great and the service was excellent. Go here. Eat this. It was WONDERFUL.
(5)Chrystal Anne M.
This place is incredible. Clean and spacious. Everyone is very friendly and accommodating. (Hostess put my luggage up front so I didn't have to shove it in the booth with me) This place has a bunch of different eggs Benedict options. I had the Irish Benny, one of the best Ive ever had. You must try this place, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Amelia B.
So I see why there is always at least a 30-min wait on weekends...these are some damn good eggs. My boyfriend and I thought we could escape the wait by heading over at 9:30am on a Sunday morning (isn't everyone still hungover and asleep at that time?!), but failed miserably. Granted, the weather was beautiful so a 35-minute wait wasn't that bad. I am a very indecisive person, and places like Yolk only compound that problem: there are options up the wazoo, and all of them look amazing. After much hemming and hawing, I went with the the Works and the man went with the Big Texas Fajita Omelette. Good choices all around, though he whined that his chicken was a bit dry. I told him to throw some more ketchup on there and man up. Kidding. Kind of. Service was where Yolk really shined. Our server was friendly and bubbly, but not to an annoying extent (and kudos for complimenting me on my new St. Patty's induced tan). And when the food took a bit longer than expected, she was quick to apologize and refill coffee and water. I'm typically not in the mood to wait for my breakfast, but when I am, Yolk's a solid choice.
(4)Rob G.
Damn that was a good breakfast! If you haven't tried red velvet French toast, I pity you. The skillets are tremendous both in quality and quantity. You cannot possibly leave hungry. The wait staff is super friendly, and the prices are very reasonable. Stop in for breakfast, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Colleen C.
The only thing holding me back from giving this place five stars is the wait. On weekends, you can be waiting an hour for a brunch table. They have to do something about the wait. Online reservation systems/keeping a sectioned reserved for patrons who use them, additional seating outside in good weather, even expanding and adding a loft to the place would make it better. Honestly, it's the best problem for them to have, but not good for a hungry customer. Also, it gets quite loud. I've been here a number of times, and their omelets are always fresh and tasty. The coffee is delicious, and the pricing is great. It's less expensive than what you would expect in the neighborhood.
(4)Michelle H.
One star for fresh squeezed juice and big glasses of soda...other than that...SKIP IT! The avocado, bacon, potato frittata was blah blah nasty. Too much sour cream on top and salsa was flavorless. No maple syrup to speak as they say they have online...no thanks. The atmosphere was left to be desired as I felt like I was stuck on an episode of Out of this World or Saved By the Bell. Was hoping to give Yoke a higher rating as most of the other reviews were good.
(1)Samira H.
Eh. This kind of reminded me of a higher-quality IHOP but with worse-tasting coffee. I think Yolk tries to be creative with its selection of crepes, pancakes, waffles, and french toast, but ultimately I was underwhelmed. I ordered the two egg breakfast which came with fruit and a choice of toast, pancakes, or english muffin, but upgraded to their award-winning potato pancakes for an additional $2.99. The potato pancakes were essentially fluffier versions of latkes, served with sour cream and apple sauce- good, but not amazing. My friend ordered the eggs/bacon/sausage/pancake special for $8.99. The sausage was perfectly juicy and probably the best part of the meal. The pancakes, however, were far too dense- a sign that the batter has been over-mixed. Would I come back the next time I'm in Chicago? Nope.
(3)Emma C.
EXTERIOR: 5/5 (this Yolk is in a nice part of town. All Yolks have a standardized but very appealing and "cheery" design. It's very recognizable from the outside and inside) INTERIOR: 5/5 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 5/5 (read below, waitstaff is wonderful. beats Walker Brother's and IHOP's waitstaff) CLEANLINESS: 3-3.5/5 (I wish they would wipe down each table after every customer with disinfectant) QUALITY OF FOOD: 3-3.5/5 TASTE OF FOOD: 3.5/5 ---------- (**note: I rate each eatery relative amongst its type/range in THAT city. So, no, I'm not rating this restaurant compared to Alinea or some Michelin-star restaurant. I rate it and analyze it's component qualities (above) from 1-5 compared to other eateries with similar food type, aura, and price range) For a breakfast place, this place is alright. Would I be a regular? No, I'd probably frequent Walker Brothers more often. But I don't have anything bad/terrible to say about Yolk, either. I would pick Yolk over IHOP any day. The atmosphere and variety wins out here over the other 2, but taste-wise Walker Brothers wins. Yolk has a very creative menu and have a large range of variants on every breakfast food. In that regard, they are creative, like IHOP's menu. For example, they have red velvet french toast here/etc. They taste far better than IHOP as well. There's a light and cheery atmosphere here. Unlike IHOP or Walker Brother's, the waitstaff seems happy to be here. IHOP waitstaff seems dead. Walker Brother's waitstaff seems like they're just doing a job. Yolk waitstaff seem cheery and like they love breakfast and Yolk. I also enjoy the "coloring sheet for kids" and pre-packaged crayons! My germ-freak self loves that they are individually packaged and have never been used, lol. But if you want a more quality or delicious "just the normal stuff" breakfast (like the basic breakfast food types, like no red velvet pancakes/french toast, etc), go to Walker Brother's. They make more delicious pancakes/etc. at Walker Brother's. I really like their 49-er pancakes, which are served in layers, each layer as thin as a crepe and oh-so-buttery. I even skip the syrup on the 49ers, because I enjoy the pancake so much. Of course, if you're looking for an ACTUAL quality lunch, I suggest the Grand Hyatt and Four Seasons. AMAZING LUNCHES!! I prefer the Hyatt but my best friend prefers the Four Seasons. Hyatt, then Four Seasons, then Walker Brothers or Bongo Room, Yolk, then IHOP ( an example scale of where Yolk lies in taste and quality relative to other eateries. of course, price is higher at Hyatt and Four Seasons )
(3)Sima F.
What a great breakfast/brunch spot. We love the banana bread french toast, omelets and the Benedicts. They really do eggs right here
(4)Jenn C.
My favorite breakfast/brunch place in Chicago! The pancakes are sooo good. Crepes are great. Steak salad is great. Love that fruit is served with almost every dish! Try to avoid going on a weekend as the wait can be pretty long.
(5)Matt K.
Just had to bump to 667. Love this place. Everything is good. Recommend the benedicts.
(4)Saran R.
Extensive menu for breakfast and brunch. You will find something you like or can't decide easily since there are so many options. I went for the Tuscan Frittata (chicken breast, sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese). They don't charge you extra for egg whites and this is a big plus for me. You can choose between toast, english muffins, fruits or pancakes (free with the meal). Big portion, reasonable price, great service, bottomless coffee. What else can you ask for?
(4)Jason S.
Great breakfast place near downtown Chicago. Spot-on eggs, excellent home fries, and great value. More details: we had fried eggs and a scramble. In both cases, the eggs were well cooked. I'm from DC. Not everyone can cook an egg. Not even every place that passes itself off as a breakfast joint can cook an egg (hello, Ted's Bulletin!). The vegetables were fresh and perfectly cooked. The home fries had a good crunch to them but were not burnt. I went with the pancake option and received two. While I wasn't a fan of the pancake (it was denser and sweeter than I like), it was certainly a respectable pancake! The service was also quite lovely. Great find and great value: my meal was about $10 and there was plenty left over; my companion's was just $6 for eggs, home fries and an english muffin.
(4)Derek P.
Fantastic food and even better coffee! Service was great especially since it was packed when we went. I would recommend getting here early in the morning around 8 or 9 to beat the rush. Otherwise you'll definitely be in for a wait time. However, the wait shouldn't be too long. Even though it was packed when we went, we still got our table within 30 minutes. But no one likes to wait so come before brunch.
(5)Eumi C.
Its a good place to eat brunch. It was yummy and popular. I like that it was busy, and that makes an impression on me. It's been a while since I've been there, so I can't remember what we ate.... But it wasn't bad. I would remember it if it were bad.
(4)Samantha F.
I went to Yolk with my old roommate while visiting Chi-town last weekend. I arrived to a pleasant greeting from the host. He seated me w/out my roommate, so I was pleased that my party didn't have to be "complete" before he would seat me. My server was great. He didn't pester me while I was waiting on my friend, but brought me water & left me to peruse the menu. My tardy roommate finally arrived & I was happy that the server wasn't grumpy for me holding up a table. I ordered a granola waffle with Greek yogurt and fresh berries on top. My roommate ordered an omelet with a side of the Banana bread french toast! Can I say YUM? The banana bread french toast was delish. So was my waffle and I cleared my plate! The service was quick, not pushy, and the food was good. I was happy that there were plenty of healthier options mixed in with the decadent choices. If you're a vegetarian you'll not be stuck here either; plenty of veg options. Overall the service and execution was good. If I have one complaint it is that I have to take my check to the front to pay. This was traffic clogging due to the quantity of people coming and going, and quite honestly, I think you'd have more walk-outs this way than if the server took the check. Yolk, you're a.ok!
(3)Travis A.
This place is pretty great. It's a good measure of a place if their coffee--especially if that's not part of their base business model--isn't low-shelf. Theirs is fantastic. Nothing was off. Their chicken and waffle special was ridiculously good. Solid service--decent timing, etc. Price isn't bad. Nothing fussy--setting was comfortable, casual, relaxed. All-around great.
(5)Randy L.
I'll get straight to the point. Here is what matters about the place: 1. ZAGAT RATED 2. GREAT PORTIONS & SERVICE 3. FLAVORFUL FOOD AND DECOR (Benedicts, Omelette's, Pancakes) 4. Clean as in sanitary as heck (but realistically i expect most people to be so) 5. You can bring your own champagne for mimosas and not be charged a corking fee 6. Did you read #1-5 yet? If any further doubt, please go eat at McDonald's up the street. I thank you on behalf of everyone else who is waiting for a table because your holding up the line you fence sitting fence-sitter! :P
(5)Gina S.
We have had quite a few breakfasts at Yolk on Wells. Our routine in Chicago is to stay up late and sleep in. Once were all awake we walk to Yolk and have breakfast somewhere between 11-12:30. It isn't as loud or busy during that time. Service is hit and miss. We have had happy servers and servers who couldn't seem more miserable. Most of the food had been a hit. We like the bright atmosphere and seeing the kitchen. We will go back when we are in the area.
(4)Torrie M.
Let's see, surf and turf eggs Benedict, Irish Benny, Mediterranean omelette's, strawberry orange juice, pancakes, waffles, toast, oatmeal- It's fair to say that this place has something for every palate!!! Plus, it's BYOB! So grab your favorite bubbly and enjoy some of their fresh orange and strawberry juice in the form of a mimosa. You get so much food that they may as well roll out the cots when you finish your meal because you'll only be able to waddle out. Love this place!!
(5)Kaity K.
I like it. Don't love it. Country side skillet - large portion and very filling and delicious. For $3 extra (i think it was 3...) you can replace your side of toast with a side of red velvet french toast. If you're curious about it then I suggest you do this option instead of ordering the red velvet french toast as a full meal (unless you reallllly love sweets/cake that much). I'm a huge sweets/cake lover and my bf and I still didn't finish the small stack of 3 small pancakes because battered cake slices grilled for breakfast is just a tad much. The cake is just okay....you're probably better off getting some better quality red velvet cake all on it's own later but that's just my opinion. I was deciding between the red velvet french toast meal and the Tour de France and ended up getting the Tour de France for the full meal. I had no regrets as it was delicious. The sweet orange bread was my favorite. So unique and sensational. I could have a whole french toast meal with just the sweet orange bread and strawberries. The lemon poppy seed bread was a second favorite with the banana bread coming in last but it was still great. Taste it first before dumping the syrups on as I love sweets but ate the meal without most of the syrups. The orange marmalade/syrup was a bit too tart for me. Other yelp reviews raving about the strawberry orange juice are on point. I was definitely happy I tried it.
(3)Ann R.
Love this place. I can easily take my parents here - who are usually overwhelmed with a breakfast that tries to be frilly/frou from/artistic, and they can get eggs, bacon and toast. And I can get my stuffed french toast made from a special quick bread and served with a side of fruit. My point? There's a little something for everyone. And you can't beat the price. For a place in River North the portions and prices are amazing. Great place to take out-of-towners concerned about price and food a little outside of their comfort zone.
(4)Lisa B.
I'm almost a little mad when I find an awesome place like this on vacation because I want it to be in my city. Boo. We had walked by a couple of Yolk locations during our week in Chicago and decided to try it out on our last morning. We immediately regretted that decision and wished we had gone there every morning. The decor was super cute, the service was fast and friendly, and most importantly, the food was amazing! The portions were big and the prices were reasonable. We started with some of their fresh-squeezed juices. Strawberry-banana = delicious. I had the Banana-Blue Crunch Cakes: "Our multigrain batter loaded with granola and fresh blueberries...topped with bananas and drizzled with HONEY" No need for me to come up with some fancy words to tell you how amazing it was. The description from the menu should pretty much cover it. I think the longest part of the whole meal was deciding what to eat. There were easily 10 options that I really wanted to try. Now if only they would move to Nashville....
(5)Kate M.
Yolk is growing on me. I guess I just had to give them a few more chances to impress. My last few Yolk experiences have been pretty good. I've had the banana bread french toast. OMGYUM. (I hate myself a little for typing that). Very good banana bread pan fried in a delicious french toast batter, topped with banana slices, and served with peanut butter on the side. Peanut butter is one of the quickest ways to my heart (if you give me peanut butter when I'm really tired I'll do that thing with my tongue trying to get it off the roof of my mouth like a dog. It's hilarious. Ok, not really, but if you give me peanut butter, I'll do pretty much anything you want me to). I've also tried their potato pancakes a few times. I love potato pancakes, and Yolk makes pretty good ones. The portions at Yolk are huge. I'm not a huge brunch fan, I prefer an early breakfast and a lunch, what? I like to eat. But, at Yolk you can easily eat just brunch around 9 and not be hungry again till mid afternoon. The servers are always friendly and smiley. I'm still not a huge fan of the bright dining room, can we turn down the blindingly white walls please? It's early, my eyes are still trying to open. But, I'm sure I'll be back at Yolk again soon. Possibly OD'ing on peanut butter and banana bread french toast.
(4)Brayden K.
We took our kids here for Saturday lunch and everyone left happy (that's not easy to do with my youngest son). I got a hamburger with bacon and egg. My daughter and wife got omelets, and my son got the french toast. The burger was pretty good but nothing special. The french toast were also pretty good, but they didn't blow me away. If you're visiting Yolk for the first time, and you want something memorable I recommend the omelets, especially the California omelet! Wow. They are smooth and fluffy and full of delicious fresh ingredients. The thing I don't like about omelets, in general, is that sometimes restaurants feel like they have to overload the cheese and they skimp on the other ingredients. These omelets did not have that problem. Perfect amount of cheese and lots and lots of other stuff. If you like avocado, you're going to love the Californian. The one item that we didn't really like that much was the pancakes. They were below average, not very chewy or unique in any way. But that's okay. This isn't meant to be a pancake house. If you're going to Yolk, get something with eggs!
(4)Ashley B.
My mom, sister, boyfriend and I were craving some pancakes and breakfast food one weekend and I stumbled upon this gem. We were definitely a little taken aback by the wait, but we assumed that would only mean that the food was amazing... and it was. My sister had the banana nutella crepes and they were suuuper tasty and rich. Her only complaint was that she went into a sugar coma too fast. My mom had the raspberry stuffed french toast and we all tried it and agreed it was phenomenal. My boyfriend and I both had pancakes and they were amazing. I also got sausage and I thought it was the best I'd had since I was little. Definitely worth the wait! UPDATE: This is now our favorite "Walk-to-brunch" spot. The wait is still ridiculously long, but on a nice day, who can really complain about waiting outside? I still cant help the fact that whenever I come here I just get the pancackes and sausage. So simple. So satisfying.
(4)Carmelo R.
The best breakfast spot in Chicago so many options. I try to have something different each time I go back.
(5)Christopher J.
As a diner, I like intimate, quiet places where conversation can be had with minimal interruption. This, as I found out, is not that place. My sister was in town and one of her favorite areas of the city is River North--which is understandable. It houses so many of her (and my) favorites. Chief among being Fox & Obel and D4 Irish Pub within a block's walk of each other--so we landed in Yolk by a friend's suggestion. It was busy (surprise) but the wait was short. Busy, I can manage. But the volume level in this restaurant is absurd. Loud clientele mixed with the kitchen being open and clambering away at its own breakneck speed made me instantly feel on edge. Souring over the top of all of this was some pseudo Eruotrash club beat that just seemed unreasonable for a restaurant slinging eggs. We were seated eventually and led to a second section of the restaurant featuring a monstrous wall of glass, atrium style. If you've ever wanted to know what it would be like to eat in a restaurant where the theme is "Discount IKEA College Cafeteria," this is your place. Garish yellow and blue geometric shapes and modern self-assemblies, IKEA silverware and booths that feel more like lego cubicles are the motif. Not a top-ten on aesthetics for me. The food, however, is the exact opposite story. The same goes for the service. Our server, Katie, was an absolute doll. Charming and attentive, sweet and very cheerful for how stressed she must've been given how crowded the joint was. She gave us all the time we needed to look over the ample menu and was quick on the draw with refills. My Tuscan Frittata--with basil, sun dried tomatoes, red potatoes, spinach and chunks of chicken--was completely without flaw. Resonably price, fluffy, perfectly seasoned and served with a healthy mound of creamy goat cheese to soften the acidity of the tomatoes... it was beautiful. I can't say I suggest Yolk for it's atmosphere, but I 100% recommend their food.
(3)Mike C.
I've been to both Yolk locations, and my review can apply to either one. The food is quite good. I especially enjoy the omelettes, but you can't really go wrong with anything you order. The prices are fairly reasonable, considering the quality of the dishes. The atmosphere is modern and trendy, and much less harsh than most breakfast joints. This place loses stars in two areas. First, the service is hit or miss. I've had excellent waiters, but also some who barely checked in with us or refilled our waters. The second thing that loses stars for Yolk is the wait. We've had to wait upwards of 45 minutes to be seated. It doesn't matter which location you go to, you shouldn't arrive too hungry because you will have to wait to eat. It's always crowded, so if you're claustrophobic, I'd recommend you try somewhere else. Yolk exceeds my expectations in some areas, but falls short in others. Go when you have a relaxed schedule and some good friends to talk to while you wait.
(3)Mary D.
This place is the bomb.com . Its definitely our go to brunch place. When you walk in, the wait seems overwhelming but they seat people pretty quickly. Their skillets and omelets are great and they serve large portions. They are opening a new location in my neighborhood in Lakeview soon and I am thrilled. Check out Yolk if you haven't already!
(5)Buortau L.
When people say that Chicago is known for going out to breakfast, they often think of the breakfast place, "yolk". It's pretty famous, and people from all over the US have heard of it. It's also well worth your time if you're ever in the area because it is absolutely the best breakfast place.
(5)Lisa M.
Worth the wait! On our trip to Chicago last year, we stopped at a different location of Yolk, so I knew what to expect - a long wait, pretty good food and forgetful service. So we get there around 11:40 on a Saturday AM. It's rainy outside, but we'll live. We put in the name and we're told 20 mins. Okay, not bad. We were seated and ordered coffee and a DC. The DC was really bubbly, cold and quite delicious. I'm confused as to why it was so good, but it was. I had the cheesy egg sandwich and dining companion had some mountain of meat, potatoes, veggies, and eggs with toast. The fried egg sandwich was to die for! A bagel, hard fried eggs. shredded cheese so it melts, and pesto. It came perfectly melted and cooked with some great fresh fruit. Overall the service was much better at this location, but maybe it was my low expectations, but I think Marcus was very attentive - checking on us, delivering the food quickly, and refilling my delicicous DC. Come here, listen for your name, and get seated. If you ain't paying attention, you ain't getting in!
(4)Alice K.
had an awesome BLT with avocado and swiss. Extensive breakfast and lunch menu. Place was hopping. Service could be a little more friendly hence the four and not five stars
(4)Chris G.
I'd just biked about 70 miles into my weekend and decided to give the Wells Street location a chance, since I found the food at the Michigan Avenue location a bit flaccid. The Californian omelette with avocado and egg whites, coffee and service was superb and the store was clean and swanky. However, unfortunately, the dried-out and unremarkable tasting pancakes--which were sent back TWICE--tasted like hotted discs of ShamWow. UPDATE: I've since returned and learnt that you're never to take their standard pancakes. Instead order any of the specialty pancakes for a much better eating experience.
(3)Mykie H.
It has taken a lot of courage build-up for me to write this review. I have been to Yolk a handful of times, mostly at this location but once at the Streeterville spot as well. I agree with most reviewers that the food here is wonderful and almost always worth the ridiculous wait. My beef is that to me, Yolk is "just another great breakfast place." They have good portions, fresh ingredients, a few unique menu items... but in a city like Chicago, I feel like it's nothing special (and trust me, I wince as I say that). There are so many good breakfast joints, and there's not enough differentiation at Yolk for me to really think it's a step above the others. I will return, but not before I visit some of my other favorites once or twice.
(3)Kari F.
Long wait.... Best breakfast I've ever had. Our waiter was really funny and apologized for the wait. The food came out quick, which kept that last star. You can't go here without trying their fresh squeezed orange juice. In fact I would probably go here just for the OJ. The decor is really fun and colorful... Brightened my day. Yep, the prices are up there, but in this case- you get what you pay for... And then some. :)
(5)Gia G.
This place is fantastic and worth the 20-30 min wait you'll most likely have to get a table. Get the diced red potatoes (ask for them crispy) and you will be delighted! Everything we had, huevos rancheros; pancakes; bacon; and eggs hit the spot. I will be back!
(5)A. M.
Food: We ordered the cheesy egg sandwich and the make your own egg scramble. Both were good. Not "oh my gosh I have to come back for THAT" but not "that was unbelievable horrid"! I added sausage on the egg sandwich and think it would've been better not chopped, but really wasn't a deal breaker. Only thing I didn't care for on it was the plain white bagel. Might have been better with a whole wheat or something with a little bit of flavor. As for the egg scramble, it had broccoli, cheese, sausage. Pretty solid. Potatoes on the side were a little bland but easily spiced up with salt and pepper or tabasco. I will say that the coffee was REALLY delicious!!!! Service: We arrived at 10 am on a Sunday. It was pretty busy but we said we would sit at the bar or a table. We were told a 20 minute wait but got bar seats in about 7. Totally awesome. Our waitress there was super attentive and friendly. Kept our coffee and water filled up. I will add that the kitchen was really pushing out a lot of plates and because we were sitting at the bar right in front of it, we had a front row seat. I was impressed by how efficient they were and how quickly the food went out after being ready to go. They did a really fantastic job. Really ensured that the food didn't sit and was still piping hot when it got to the tables. Plus! Crowd: Quite a mix of people. Kids, young adults, old adults, etc. Was a pretty casual vibe. Other: Bar seats were comfy!! Overall I would say I would probably come back but wouldn't wait for a table if it was more than 20 minutes. I've heard people rave about this place and it just didn't live up to that hype for me. Maybe the omelets or sweet stuff is where it is at. Nonetheless I will definitely give it another shot. Staff was friendly, coffee was awesome, and food was decent.
(3)Kathy D.
I have enjoyed lunch at this restaurant in the past but today, it was horrible. Ordered a cheese burger med well with fries to go. Got back upstairs to the office and the burger was very greasy and rare, not med well. I don't mind if a burger is still a little pink in the center but this thing didn't even hold it's shape it was so rare. The fries were greasy too and limp. Granted they were very busy when I placed my order but to me that's not an excuse for serving unacceptable food. I hope I dont' get sick...
(1)Adam M.
Yolk is one of my favorite breakfast joints in the city. I like tons of food for breakfast and Yolk does it right! The only knock I have on this place is the wait, but then again that just shows you how many other people think Yolk is this good. I had the Skillet Your Way with added Sausage, Bacon and Mushrooms. The skillet was Very good and it was Very big. I hate contemporary breakfast places that give you one egg and an orange slice and charge you $15 for it. Yolk is my type of place; they pile on the food at a reasonable price. Yolk is a great breakfast spot in Chicago. Make sure to come hungry!
(4)Shazia T.
O M G ! ! ! ! i'm so glad i came here. i had a late breakfast and loved everything here. also our server was really nice. i loved the atmosphere - cheery and bright. - strawberry orange juice - sooooooooooo good! you must order it! - eggs benedict - i didn't have bacon on mine. it was my first time having eggs benedict and i am addicted now. it was soooo good! - red velvet french toast - super rich, but delicious!! super warm, covered in strawberries, and probably a million calories. totally worth it. i have to eat here again when i go back to chi.
(5)Marisol P.
Yolk offers a variety of breakfast and brunch items. Omelets, pancakes, waffles galore! The options are endless and delectable. My only issue is their "fresh squeezed lemonade" as the menu states. Upon further inquiry the waitress told me they don't squeeze it in house and it's actually "from concentrate." Uhhhh. Might want to take the whole "fresh squeezed" thing off the menu. Otherwise, variety Of options and quick service are great.
(4)Angelica M.
YUMMY!
(5)Alice C.
4 words: red. velvet. french. toast. dessert for breakfast? yes please! i got the 2 eggs basic with fresh fruits, wheat toast, and subbed my pancakes for red velvet french toast :) i've had red velvet pancakes before, but red velvet french toast took dessert for breakfast to a whole new level. there were swirls of cream cheese between the toast and it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet and overbearing. i loved every bite of it especially with the fresh strawberries on top! sizable breakfast joint with great service and rotation. open kitchen with lots of prep action. a must eat in chi-town :)
(5)Paul H.
Actually ate here several months ago, but remembered it when catching up on year-end business, and it sticks out in my mind as a "Wow - THAT was a hip little restaurant!" kind of place. Just down Michigan Avenue from the Hilton Hotel, great 'Scandinavian' modern feel, and a clever breakfast-centric menu built on, you guess it, the egg theme. The food was great, (I think I had an omelet) - a nice atmosphere that feels more like northern California than big-city Midwest! You should eat there!
(4)Lisa K.
Had a great breakfast here. Got in before the 11:00 rush and got a table right away. Service was just ok but the good was really good and more than either of us could eat. And not too expensive. Will be back for red velvet French toast. UPDATE - have been back several times and the first time meh service was a fluke. Have had a bunch of great breakfasts - is kind of our go to spot right now.
(4)Julie W.
What an awesome place for breakfast. Very friendly and welcoming staff. Our waiter Mark was very nice and attentive. Coffee was hot and fresh. We ordered the Croque Madame (French toast with ham and turkey and Dijon mustard). It was a huge sandwich and only finished half. My husband got the two eggs and a meat with pancakes. They were fluffy and light. Go here if you are in Chicago!!
(5)John M.
Great brunch spot! Fresh ingredients. Tasty combinations. Beautiful decor. Fast and friendly service. Loses a star for coffee that didn't wow and OJ that comes out of a jug. In this day and age of quality brunch spots fresh squeezed OJ is a must.
(4)Rick K.
Yolk serves the best overall breakfast in river north. Good food, good coffee, great service and seemingly nice environment. We've tried all the others and always came back to this one. In fact it became a weekly family ritual for about six months. That is until today. I'm writing this after nursing my 2 year old son from food poisoning. A few months ago he suffered food poisoning to what I believe was eating from yolk. I had food poisoning about two weeks ago after eating the iron man omelet. Today we had waffles and oat meal purposefully avoiding their eggs thinking we'd be safe. This isn't isolated as a search for "poison" in these reviews yields three other instances. (Full disclosure- my wife has never gotten sick from yolk) In summary- if you're the gambling type with the reward being an excellent breakfast and the risk being puking your guts out, this is the place for you.
(1)Natalie S.
I set my expectations low after reading the reviews on here... ... and was pleasantly surprised! I loved the modern feel of the place. Very clean and bright. They sat our party in the front windows which I loved... perfect for people watching. Very cozy. One of my friends was running very late and our waitress was super nice about it. We ended up sipping coffee and tea for almost an hour before she showed (it was her first time taking her 4 week old baby out on her own so we cut her some slack). I had the blue bayou frittata. YUM. Heaven! Large chunks of blue cheese and bacon? How could you go wrong?! I went with pancakes instead of toast and they were moist and fluffy. We had a toddler with us (children's menu is really great!) and the staff were very understanding when we asked to put the little ones order in way before our own. When a kids gotta eat, a kids gotta eat! All in all, I would definitely go again. I don't make it into this area often so I don't anticipate that being soon. Open a location in Lincoln Square/Andersonville/Ravenswood!
(4)Gil T.
Taken here by a friend during a trip to Chicago. Atmosphere is airy and modern. Came in on a weekday morning, so we had virtually no wait. I'm a breakfast fiend and I will say that the portion was filling, but not diabetic coma inducing. I ordered the hash brown dish and I will say everything was seasoned to perfection. Didn't even have to pick up the salt shaker once. My friend ordered the eggs Benedict which looked stunning and tasted even better. Prices were perfect for the portion and quality. I think I walked out paying $15 with tax and tip.
(4)Diana C.
Food is good, portions are large, and the service is pretty good for being so busy! It's also a great place for people eating alone since they have a large breakfast bar. Extensive menus that can be overwhelming if you're not sure of what you want. I'd definitely be back when I'm in Chicago next.
(4)Robert Y.
Great food, and great service. Be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes on the weekends however. It's well worth it!
(4)Steve B.
On a chow mission, walking to Carson's or Meli's on Wells Sat. afternoon, I hadn't decided on where I would go, I noticed Yolk for the first time, as I turned south down Wells. As I got down the block, I'm thinking, "Do I want to go to Carson's and get stuck seated in the Bar section and waited on that bartender guy who provides the absolute worst service even when sitting right at the Bar, or do I want to go to Meli's where It's always been a good meal and and service? Hummm, love the ribs and it's been a while." Then I look over my shoulder and see the Yolk sign again and think, "You can't find good places if you don't try something new." I back-track and go in to Yolk passing three people with take-out bags in hand (Good sign no. 1). The place is packed (Good sign no. 2) and I'm lucky enough to get the last seat at the Bar. There's waitstaff galore and it's a chaotic yet organized buzz of activity of action in the open area food preparation area (Good sign no. 3). I get the scrambled egg-white thing with red peppers, onions and potatoes and some tea, with the pancake chaser. As I wait, I observe the Latino Mafia food preparers by the grill speaking homie and making what looks to be killer chow as plate after plate after plate of tasty looking stuff goes by. Sometimes the waitstaff loads up a 12-15 large plates on a platform and zooms off like a Bee leaving the Hive. Amazing dexterity. My meal comes and it's awesome. So good, I try the Eggs Benedict I saw fly by earlier even though the tank is 3/4 full from what I'd just eaten. The Benedict is awesome. $23 bucks, all-in including Rhams Vig., and $5/Tip, 'Cupeth runith ova....I'm out of there with a smile on my face, a new go to Brunch spot. Oh yeah the service was excellent. Highly recommended!!!
(4)Julie C.
Other than the long waits, seriously one of the best places to go for food. I can almost eat here all day long if I didn't care about the caloric intake. A place you definitely need to try.
(5)Abhay S.
Came to Yolk around 9am on a Saturday morning and did not have a wait. Our waiter came to our table nearly immediately and offered us coffee and drinks (we declined). He was very friendly and took great care of us during our breakfast. I had the 'Hey Ricky' omlet and my wife had the Huevos Rancheros. Both were excellent. The side of pancakes and toast were great as well. I almost wish I had ordered just the pancakes. My wife had plenty of food for left overs as well. Our total came to a little over $20 for two people without gratuity. Highly recommended - might visit again if I'm in the area.
(4)Silvia Z.
This is definitely one of my go-to brunch spots in Chicago. I always go for their South of Border Benny and their banana bread french toast is highly recommended! FYI- Sundays are always busy. Even around 12:30 it is still packed and plan on waiting for 25+ minutes. It's worth it though! I would go in a small group too so you won't have to wait as long.
(5)Josh V.
Here's a tip: go early. The bf & I arrived around 10am on Sunday (the fact that he was out & about that early on a weekend was a minor miracle in itself, but I digress) and were quoted a 10-15 minute wait. However, we were seated in about 5. When we left, it must more crowded and people were getting 30 minute quotes. So the early bird gets the eggs! Which is kind of weird, when you think about it... The service was good. Water and coffee were both refilled, the waitress was nice and checked on us a couple times. However, our food took quite awhile to come out. We even saw one pair who arrived after we ordered leave before us. But how's the FOOD?! you ask... I'm getting to it! The menu is impressively diverse for a brunch place. Not the biggest I've seen, but there is certainly something (most likely many somethings) for everyone. I went with a scramble called, IIRC, El Torero Scrambler. It was made with chorizo, avocado, tomato, cheese and maybe a couple other things. And it was very good! It was much more flavorful and balanced than a similar item I ordered from another brunch place a couple weeks ago. It came with a big pile of yummy potatoes and ... pancakes! Yes, you can choose between toast, English muffin and pancakes with your eggy breakfast, so savory brunch fans (like me) can get a little bit of sweet too. Everything tasted good, and there was plenty of it to satisfy my substantial appetite, with food left over. Alas, not everything is sunshine and rainbows. The atmosphere is not ideal. It's loud in there, and made worse by the fact that they call out the names of parties over a loudspeaker up front. We were seated near the front and heard them call every. single. party. After awhile I tuned it out, but it's still a mild nuisance. If I can manage to get here early enough again, I'll definitely be back for the tasty food. But at peak brunch hours I'm not sure it's worth the wait. And I wouldn't come here if I wanted a quiet, relaxing meal either, that's for sure. Oh, and I really want to try their red velvet French toast, but I just can't bring myself to order something that over-the-top decadent for a meal. Anyone want to split it with me?
(4)Miguel B.
For starters, if you are going here on Saturday or Sunday morning, it is going to be PACKED. This is not a complaint just a "heads up" if you are a first-timer. Our wait was about 25 minutes. Good thing it was only two of us. I overheard a party of six had a 40 minute wait! I went with a friend of mine that is a PERFECTIONIST and she was very impressed with the service. Our waitress was on top of everything. She made sure our glasses were always half full. Empty dishes were cleared away almost immediately and we didn't have to ask for anything. All this, while our waitress had a hundred other tables to serve. The food was good quality. The scrambled eggs were REAL eggs not those scrambled-eggs-in-a-bag that other restaurants serve. We were given a complimentary glass of orange juice (fresh-squeezed) and the coffee was HOT (as I like it). We will be back :-)
(4)Colleen C.
New Yolk, New Yollllllllllllllllk! Blink and you'll miss it, my dears. The branches of the trees make it nearly invisible to the egg-seeking, naked eye. Caution. It's JUST south of Chicago on Wells, east side of the street. Street parking (pay boxes) are generally easy to come by in the brunching hours... Is it me, or is Yolk just a bit...sterile? I feel as if I am eating in some sort of new-age brunching factory. Stainless steel + brunch just doesn't quite sit well with me...then again, neither does a mushy California omelette. Word to the wise, ask for the avocado on top/side, as when its baked into an egg creation, nastiness ensues. The fresh fruit that dated my omelette during its time on earth was fresh and void of filler fruit (oh how I detest green melon), and the "light 'n thin" crepes with blueberries and strawberries we ordered for the table were adequate. (not stellar, but is anything "light" ever REALLy stellar? No, methinks not). English muffin was standard, and fresh jam would've been delightful (packaged jelly is so...Big Boy circa childhood). All around, the consensus was A-OK, but not blown away. Otherwise? On point. Coffee was strong and fast, with appropriate fixings at the table (however, I do prefer fresh cream, not the little packets...just an added touch that is important in the morning "wake-the-hell-up" regimen). Service was friendly, if not a little "lackluster/unenthused," but hey...on Thursday morning at 9am, I'm usually the same, mmmmmmmk. Forgiven. ;) A good brunch option in the area...I'm sure it'll be packed to the egg-eatin' gills as soon as people realize the South Loop location has hatched a spawn...I recommend you try it NOW, and avoid it on the weekends. Brunch. It's what's for dinner. Or any meal, right?
(3)Erika D.
This is a pretty average breakfast place. When we walked in they told us it would be a few minutes but also asked how long until our third person arrived. Not surprisingly, the second our friend walked in we were seated. If you don't want to seat people until the entire party is there, say that! The food took forever. It had obviously been sitting under the heat lamps for a while. And our friend's mashed potatoes were cold.
(2)Erin K.
This place is pretty middle of the road. I've eaten at all their locations and often take clients to the River West location for lunch. I consider myself an Eggs Benedict enthusiast, so I was shocked to find Yolk voted best Eggs Benedict. It is incredibly bland and doesn't even rank in my top 20. The food is not terrible, but it's not above average either. I would surely pick Yolk over Denny's and above some of the bars... but it's tied with Nookies and well below other options. In summary... meh, okay
(3)Eric L.
Come on, people. It's just eggs. Have some standards. They make eggs and they don't screw it up terribly, but its nothing special. Why do Chicagoans consistently give every brunch place amazing reviews just because they serve omelettes?
(3)Rachel N.
I received a marriage proposal at Yolk -- let me back up, for my post-spin class protein power up, I went to brunch w/ my two favorite dining (read: enabling) companions, and after demolishing a massive avocado egg white omelette and a ridiculous number of pancakes in a matter of 15 minutes, my darling Nathan turned to me and popped the question. Food induced brain coma due to the massive "Midwestern sized" portions? I think so. Moral of the story -- the brunch at Yolk is stupidly delicious, and the portions are hearty enough to make your brain go off the reservation and take over your mouth -- large menu, ranging from all types of eggs benny to heavenly blueberry/granola/banana pancakes and all sorts of salads -- fit for eaters of all sizes and levels of fussiness. Brunch for 3 w/ four entrees, fresh juice, and coffee was $64ish w/ tip. Space is large and clean, the wait moves quickly (even at prime time Saturday brunch hours), and the food is glorious.
(4)CL S.
Love this place. Have been to the one on Michigan and the one on Wells. The food is lovely and the service has been great. Try the Benedicts: the Florentine is my favorite. And love the fresh OJ!
(5)Jennifer M.
Perfect brunch on Sunday mornings. But see, that's what everyone else thinks as well, so be prepared for a wait. Once you get through those doors though, be prepared for a huge menu - the kinds that give you anxiety and sweaty palms when faced with too many choices that all sound heavenly. Fluffy pancakes. Eggs cooked just the way I like 'em. Eggs benedict is what they're known for, but I opted to try their scramblers cause I'm a sucker for those. It's hard to recommend what's good since they have such a big menu and I've only been so many times. So I say ask the staff - that always works. Overall, good family warm atmosphere, friendly staff, and good, down-home quality breakfast!
(4)Lauren S.
We came for lunch which was great! My portabella cobb salad was wonderful, and my boyfriends chicken sandwich was good as well. He often goes for the breakfast which looks amazing so I can't wait to try it!! They loose a star for terrible dressing. While I usually don't use alot of dressing or any for a light lunch anyways, I got it on the side and it was definitely not homemade and didn't taste good at all!! Good thing I didn't need any but if you did you may be disappointed!!!
(4)Katie T.
We really like Yolk. Generally, this is the location we visit, but we have also been to the Yolk in Streeterville. It's solid brunch food, and it ranges from very healthy (oatmeal) to very sinful (stuffed french toast). I recommend the mediterranean omelet, the pecan waffle and the banana nut bread french toast. Portions are mostly huge so you can easily share if you're trying to stick to a new year's resolution. Prices are very reasonable though drinks are a bit expensive. Service is always fast and friendly! They have crayons and menus for kids, though you might not want to let your kid see that kids' menu if you don't want him to order a chocolate chip pancake;-) On the weekends, go before 10am if you don't want to wait!
(4)Anne M.
Yolk is probably my favorite breakfast place. . . (probably) Because: - huge, dependable menu (I always love that) - reasonable prices for large portions - lots of side options and every entree includes a few you can choose, i.e. fresh fruit, potatoes, toast, pancakes! (you can also upgrade your cakes to include special toppings) - food and service has always been good on my multiple visits (mostly River North, but also once in the South Loop) I've been to this location a handful of times in the past, because my office is nearby and it's a great brunch/lunch spot. I've enjoyed their fresh OJ, their california crepes (with avocado & egg - excellent), their pancakes (simple, big and scrumptious), their omelettes (big, stuffed and dang good) - all breakfast stuff. However, today I opted for a lunch option. I ordered the pecan chicken salad: tender mixed greens, big sliced tomato, 3/4 of a whole avocado! (quartered), topped with a large amount of diced chicken mixed with toasted pecans, honey mustard on the side, with a breadstick. This was a good looking salad [I'm somewhat of a salad lover & snob, and I hate nothing more than a sad, chintzy salad posing as an entree - this salad made the cut]. Everything was fresh, plentiful, and made a great combo with the dressing. * The only downside I'd say is that they get crazy busy and crazy super loud. Any very busy restaurant is going to get loud - no way around that. But today's visit, while surrounded by lunch-goers, babies & baby mamas and strollers everywhere - it was particularly loud and hard to hear conversation at our small table. Also, at the South Loop location, our party of 4 waited about an hour the last time in their loud, jam-packed front space. Not very pleasant. But I know that's typical for weekend brunch. As I've mentioned in a previous post, brunch in Chicago is a battle.
(5)Lan N.
Being tourists, I scoured yelp to find some breakfast. After our attempts to find some other joints failed, we decided on Yolk. I'm glad we ate here. Strawberry-orange juice - It's super tasty! Order it. I wanted to try the red velvet french toast, but i'm more of a savory than sweet person, so I opted for the corned beef hash and eggs. You get your choice of toast, english muffin, or pancakes. Maybe because I was on vacation or that I haven't had pancakes in a while, but these pancakes were delicious! I would come back just to eat a short stack and be perfectly happy. My wife had the classic benedict. She also had some of my pancakes and thought they were awesome too. Portions are large and food is good. Staff was uber friendly. Great place to start your day.
(4)Nancy T.
I can see why this place was rated the best breakfast restaurant in Chicago for the past several years. This place reminds me of Toast in LA, which is a more trendy, casual and modern breakfast place. The lighting, seating, and overall decor has a very sleek feel to it. I must say...the food is INCREDIBLE! :) My bf and I ordered the "best eggs benedict in town" with smoked salmon, which was beyond yummy and smothered in extra hollandaise! We also ordered the potato pancakes, which is apparently a secret recipe - this dish was a perfect complement. It was mostly salty, but had the texture of a pancake at the same time - probably the BEST potato pancakes I've ever had. The service here was exceptional. Our water never went unfilled and the waiter was extremely friendly, even offering to take pictures for us! The food was well-priced. I would definitely recommend coming here over Eggsperience or any one of those other supposedly popular breakfast joints. Had we known about this place sooner, we may have visited here more than once on our trip ;)
(5)Raji R.
I've been to Chicago twice - the first time for four days where we ate at Yolk every single morning & second where I regretfully only was able to stop by once. Delicious breakfast food - I've had their pancakes, french toast, eggs hollandaise, omelette's - and I like the taste, freshness, and overall cleanliness. Very trendy place to grab brunch, and it's right near Grant Park - the perfect location to walk off all of those ingested calorie's!
(4)Brigitte M.
Came here on a Friday almost before lunch time. My boyfriend, friends, and I were able to be seated right away. We ordered the strawberry orange juice which was delicious! My boyfriend ordered the pecan pancakes which were good too. The pancakes were supper fluffy and the pecans did not overpower them. My friend and I shared the red velvet french toast. It was delicious but it was super sweet. The inside is filled with cream cheese and topped with powdered sugar with the option to add whipped cream on top. I also shared a sausage and mushroom omelet with my friend and that was good too, but nothing special. Our server kindly suggested that me and my home girl shared food because the portions are huge and I am glad we did because we still had left over food. I will be back here the next time I go to Chicago!
(5)Crystal K.
LOVED Yolk! The food was delicious and I wanted to try everything I saw coming out of the kitchen. I wish we had found this place earlier in our trip because we would have been here every day. It is a little more expensive than other breakfast places, but the food is well worth it. Service was fast and good. My husband had the corned beef hash and liked it a lot (usually I am listening to complaints on this dish at other restaurants) and I had the Challah french toast with cinnamon apples. Portions were large. The fresh fruit was generous hunks and a good variety.
(5)Jackie H.
Great service and the food came out quickly. The omelets were huge! Left full and satisfied.
(5)Manda V.
Had a great experience here. Sunday morning Packed. Fast service, water refilled according, had a great skillet and wheat toast. Food was served fast. We were seated in a fashionable time. Prices are decently cheap. Very clean facility, with an open kitchen.
(4)april k.
Great coffee, service was good, immaculate place. Had the veggie skillet with asparagus, fresh tomatoes, summer squash. Huge portion. Husband had a chorizo omelet. It was enormous, the ingredients were mixed through with the eggs, but the cheese was somehow sealed inside, and the whole thing was rolled into a big 'cigar'. We'd never seen omelets prepared this way. Must be a Chicago thing? I think this may be the first time in history my husband hasn't finished his breakfast - he met his match in this monster! I would say could split this among 2-3 reasonably hungry people.
(4)Matt M.
The highlight is the unique menu. The assorted pancakes, waffles, and other breakfast goodness make it a great breakfast choice. The portions are generous, the ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are wonderful! The service and atmosphere are also both amazing. The one downside is that they really back you in here when they are busy, but business is business!
(4)Peter K.
One of my FAVORITE places in the city. Never have had a bad meal, and you always know the quality will be there. #greatbreakfastplace
(5)Sara B.
Yolk was a great place to grab breakfast after a night out in Chicago. We were lucky, we got there early enough that there was not wait for a table. But when we left, they had several groups waiting to be seated. I ordered the Banana's Foster crepes. They were good, but the portions were HUGE. Way too much food. I also got a glass of fresh squeezed OJ. Delicious! Initially, service was iffy. It took our server awhile to greet us. A table next to us had drinks and their server had been by to take their order before our server even came to take our drink order. Then, he gave me a dirty coffee mug. Thankfully, service improved after that and he came back to give refills and check on how we were doing.
(4)Kristian M.
Awful. Those other yelpers clearly have no concept of anything approaching good.
(1)Vy T.
My favorite breakfast place in Chicago. I absolutely love the restaurant's feel. It is very clean and nicely decorated. The waitress started us with coffee, and the table had a various selection of creamers. My boyfriend had the Countryside Skillet, which was extremely delicious. I have had the Zamboni Crepes, which are okay but I think the crepe + eggs combo tastes kind of weird. On another occasion, I had the Tour De France, SUPER yummy but it's like a sugar explosion. Next time I go, I will make sure to keep to more traditional breakfast items :)
(4)Matthew M.
I go here a lot because I live so close. It's nothing unique or amazing, but it is reliable, fast and gives you your food-fix. Above average preparations, stick-to-your-ribs and healthy options. The price is moderate and they serve a great cup of coffee. I gave them 3 stars because it is "just OK" as far as Chicago's culinary destinations go. I do however recommend for the occasional breakfast/brunch/lunch.
(3)Jason C.
Went to Yolk on a Sunday afternoon for brunch and like any other breakfast/brunch place in Chicago, it was busy. That aside, Yolk was very satisfying. The thing that first stuck out to me was the ambiance-the walls were brightly colored blue and yellow and just had a modern and cozy feel. South of the Boarder Benny was delicious. It was eggs benedict except instead of Canadian bacon, it was served with chorizo (sausage). Since Yolk makes their own hollandaise sauce, any item that it's served with is pretty good. Protip: Yolk is a BYOB establishment. Oh yeahhhh...can we say champers for mimosas? Only thing is you have to buy the OJ there. No worries, I'll take a whole carafe!
(4)Shakeia T.
I've been to both Yolk locations and I must say, I like this one the best. Mostly because it's not in the South Loop and it's not packed to the brim. The food was fabulous & the service was great. I'll definitely be going back, at least when my friends don't wanna meet at the South Loop location! :) The prices are reasonable and the fresh squeezed grapefruit juice is amazing! So is the strawberry orange juice! The omelettes are good portions, I always end up taking some of it home. It's a great place to on a Sunday afternoon with some girlfriends to dish on the weekend over some good eats.
(5)Annie N.
I was highly skeptical of Yolk since it seemed like another crowded and overrated brunch place, but we needed a brunch place in the area, and Yolk must do. We got there around 11am, and there was lots of people waiting outside. I was a bit apprehensive since the wait might be long, and the place was packed inside. I asked the hostess for the wait, and she said about 20 minutes. So we decided to wait. About fifteen minutes later, our names were called and we got seated. Luckily, we got a booth (hostess asked if we would take 2 seats at the bar and I said yes but hoping for no). Our waiter came out momentarily with water and coffee. Their coffee was delicious, and I loved the selections of creamers they had: white chocolate mocha, hazelnut, half&half, and caramel macchiato to name a few. Yolk's menu is pretty extensive and relatively cheap for the area. They have creative options such as various types of french toast (red velvet included), lots of omelet and sweet breakfast food, and various type of oatmeal too. For about $8-12 each, I thought it was decently priced. Still feeling greasy from the Chinese food I ate about 8 hours ago, I decided to go with the berry oatmeal (this is rare, since I never pass on a chance to load up on breakfast food). My dinning partner got the Mediterranean omelet, which came with 2 sides - fruits (or potatoes) and pancakes (or toast). The food didn't take long to come out, despite the fact that the restaurant was getting more and more crowded. I had a full plate of oatmeal that came with granola, fresh blue & blackberry, some milk and sugar on the side. It looked (and tasted) divine. The omelet look delicious as well, and seeing him enjoying it, I'm sure it tasted wonderfully. They didn't skimp on the fruits either, he got lots of fruits, and two large pancakes that can easily be someone else's breakfast - which it later became part of mine, since he couldn't finish it after the big omelet and fruit. Our server was nice. He was really busy but made sure to come back and check on us throughout our meal. Our coffee was refilled repeatedly. The only downside of this place is the noise level, but with great location, delicious food, huge portion, and good service, I'd come back to Yolk anytime.
(4)Jay L.
Usually a crowd waiting for tables outside indicates a good sign, but it was nothing to rave about. I ordered the countryside skillet which came with a side of pancakes. It was seasoned nicely with what tasted and smelled like lawrys, the gravy was a bit bland I should say. I was glad there was an abundance of ketchup though. The pancakes had the texture and taste of bisquick instant or in comparison to IHOP. My breakfast was as good as what I stir up for myself on Sunday mornings. Sorry yolk, but for the 45 minute wait, your foldgers special roast coffee, and bachelor style breakfast did not impress me, but nice try.
(2)Terence D.
I had time from breakfast before leaving and Yelp had some good reviews on Yolk which was a 10 min walk from my River North hotel. I didn't even look at the menu since I knew the classic warm mid-west service would be all I needed. I just asked "what's good here? I'm from out of town." Waiter, "The eggs benedict - seriously..." That plus a cup of coffee and some great conversation got my morning off to good start. The EB was delicious and their coffee was little switch of pace for me (a little like Dunkin Donuts coffee) which I felt was good for a change from the darker roasts I'm always getting. Another great Chicago food experience :)
(4)Jasmine P.
I experienced Yolk for the first time last week. I hear this place usually gets super crowded and I guess that is what kept me from visiting sooner. I fortunately was seated right away when I visited on a Monday late morning. Yolk is super cute. Bright, open space definitely gives off the breakfast/brunch feel. Yolk is clean and the service is great! Our waiter was very attentive -- he gave us extra time when we needed it and was there to take our order when we were ready. I love that they have nutella crepes here! Their menu features a lot of variety from your typical breakfast foods to salads and other lunch items. Though it was lunch-time I opted for breakfast. I ordered the West Coast crepe and it came with more than enough food. I didn't even finish it all! Yum. I would gladly return to Yolk. I hope I get lucky next time too and hopefully not have to wait.
(4)Scott M.
Went to Yolk for breakfast on a friday morning at about 10am. I was seated immediately and had an extremely attentive waiter. He gave me an overview of the huge menu and made some suggestions based on my being a vegetarian. This place is extremely flexible with their food; they are will to hold meat/other ingredients out of otherwise non-veggy dishes, etc. I ordered the West Coast Crepes. Let me start by saying, in my mind, crepes are the perfect food. Sweet or savory or both, stuffed with anything you can come up with. These absolutely did not disappoint. I'm a very habitual sort of eater -- I'll find something I like and stick with it. These fit the bill, and if/when I go back, I would definitely order again. Good food, good value, friendly and attentive staff.
(4)Josh G.
I love all of the options they have here. The service is always good, as is the food. I've been there for breakfast and lunch. Gluten Free : They have GF options for my GF friends. Parking: Can be hit and miss.
(4)Christina M.
Mimosa brunch... now THIS is my type of review! :) To begin, this place has an adorable atmosphere. Very homemade feel and great service. Second, it's BYOB, (which I actually found is standard in many places in Chicago--they definitely don't do that where I'm from!) AND less than 2 blocks from the closest liquor store (for your utmost convenience, of course). That said, I definitely brought in a bottle of bubbly to mix with their fabulous fresh-squeezed orange juice. And at only the cost of the OJ, I thought it couldn't get any better. Until, of course, I got my meal. I ordered the Egg's Benedict and as overwhelming as the plate was I couldn't help to leave any of it there. Top 5 brunches ever. THAT is a feat in my book. Must visit.
(5)v m.
definitely a fan. the wait time is ridiculous so i actually make sure my friends/wife/fam snacks before we head there. but the quantities and the quality of the food is basically mouthwatering. you will have a hard time deciding what you want to eat and you'll probably end up trying to grab a bite off of someone else's plate! highly recommend the croque madame, choco-strawberry pancakes, and the california omelette! oh - the hot chocolate is OK... (not the greatest - but everything else def compensates).
(4)Alice Y.
This is a really great place for brunch, mostly because they have a HUGE menu with lots of very tempting variations on your typical breakfast dishes. There will be something for everyone. I spent a long time deciding between a sweet dish (red velvet cake french toast, fruit crepes, etc) and a savory dish (bacon-batter waffles, homestyle skillet, etc). Ended up ordering potato pancakes, which came out looser than I expected, but still delicious. It was cheaper than some of my friends' meals, but also didn't have any protein. Mine was reasonably-sized, but most of my friends had enough to box almost half. I definitely need to come back and try some of the other choices I was debating. The wait was not long, so don't let that be a deterrent. Plus, the takeout menu is really good inspiration for breakfast ideas at home ;-).
(4)Barri S.
I love Yolk. I don't have much else to say besides it's amazing and I'm in love with it!! I brought a friend from out of town to brunch there last weekend. We shared the caprese eggs benedict and the tour de france french toast. Both dishes were delicious. The french toast was perfection and I highly recommend taking the tour (pun intended).
(5)Duna R.
Loved this place!! Food is amazing (red velvet cake was to die for) and the service is impeccable. Would definitely go back next time we're in Chicago.
(5)Carol J.
Holy mother of God! This is my new favorite place for casual lunch and yummy breakfast. Super friendly staff, very clean and chic, awesome people watching and fantastic food. My new favorite sammie is the Yacht Club. Giant and full of yum. Really big salads and a plethora of brekkie offerings. Sausage, bacon, ham, Yes please. Potent brewed coffee and plentiful ice tea. I won't even mention the parade of fantastic people that marched in and surrounded me. Wiorking the room breakfast style, Its how Carol got her groove back. Mark my words!
(5)julie t.
I stopped here early on Sunday morning, on a whim, by myself, when I was out biking and found myself starving. Good thing hunger hit at Wells & Chicago. I found that Yolk is a diner that is actually *worth* the prices. Almost $10 for a scrambler at some diners, and you get frozen veggies and tons of cheese. My zucchini, tomato, and cheddar scrambled eggs at Yolk was SO fresh it was like the grew the veggies in the kitchen. My waitress was accommodating, and b/c the oil they use to cook with is soy-based, she had the cooks make my eggs dry, and off to the side of the rest of the cooking. I don't know how they did it, but I had no problem, which was much appreciated. I did have to skip the potatoes though (sadly, they looked so good!), and went with a side of fruit-- but not just a little bowl of melon--a slice of watermelon, pineapple, two slices of oranges, and a big bunch of grapes. I didn't try the coffee (that was pricey (almost $3) which I always find a little annoying...it's just coffee...) but happily ordered I fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. I LOVE grapefruit juice, and Yolk did not disappoint. They also have fresh-squeezed OJ, which I'm sure is equally as good. I sat at the counter and watched all the plates get made and sent out to the tables...ALL of the pancakes and french toast plates looked amazing! They have a huge breakfast menu and, if I could, I would try everything on it. There's nothing too fancy on it (who really wants to eat fruishi anyways??); just standard breakfast foods with quality ingredients. All in all, I would have to say that Yolk ranks up there as my favorite breakfast spot...It's not as neighborhood-friendly as a place like Stella's, but I felt like you really got above-quality food-- and huge portions-- for the same price as anywhere else.
(5)Mark G.
Awesome breakfast with great service. Certainly the best breakfast in the River North Neighborhood.
(5)Jessica C.
This place is as good as it gets for brunch. The fact that you can order a savory dish with a side of pancakes at no extra charge is absolutely brilliant. Get to yolk early, because the place fills up. This is my favorite go to spot. Read more about it in my blog post at: youngfoodies.com/brunch-…
(5)Stacey L.
AWESOME!!! My husband and I was in Chicago for the weekend and his cousin (who lives there) recommended that we try Yolk and West Egg. Well we went on Saturday morning and didn't have to wait for a table in the patio area. From the first cup of coffee my husband was happy....lol. Breakfast came out fast, hot and good. He had the belgian waffle with strawberries and whip cream with a side of bacon and turkey sausage. I had a blue cheese frittata with two pancakes that melted in your mouth. Needless to say we will be returning again whenever we are back in town.
(5)Samantha L.
This place is interesting, with their intense versions of eggs benedict. I got an eggs benedict-esque dish that involved corned beef hash instead of canadian bacon, and my friend also got a dish of the like, but with chorizo instead of canadian bacon and some special chipotle sauce. I must say... both were pretty delicious, and I think I even preferred my friend's chorizo dish. Hella crowded, like many brunch places on a Saturday around noon, so go earlier or go on a weekday.
(5)Keyser S.
The English muffin was dry and clearly store-bought. The corn beef hash was incredibly salty. I was expecting better.
(2)TK K.
After hearing so many wonderful things about Yolk, I had to give it a try. I visited mid-week around noon, so it was not terribly crowded. I sat at the counter with my book as my companion. I had a Garden Delight Omelette and some Talbott Hot Tea. The omelette was huge-enough for an Iron Man competitor! My fresh fruit consisted of grapes and pineapple. I also had toast. Once I starting eating, I decided this would be my only meal for the day. It was so much food. The food was good and plentiful. Great for breakfast, as it is the most important meal of the day. Had the service been better, I would have given an extra star. Particularly, for me to be sitting at the counter, I was very visible to the employees. They did not have to go too far to see my dirty plates sitting in front of me. I actually wanted to see how long it would take for someone to remove them. Finally, after 18 minutes, someone removed my dishes. How nice of them. When I went to the cashier to pay, she asked how my breakfast was and I told her it would have been better if I did not have to wait 18 minutes for someone to remove my dirty dishes from the table. She proceeded to tell me,"They usually leave them there until the person leaves." Huh? My response was,"That is ridiculous and not how it should be." Needless to say, I shall not return.
(2)Chris G.
Yolk is a joke. Seriously. They have sugar in packets and creamers in solo containers. Awful. That = instant breakfast fail. The pancakes are so bad that KIDS will not eat them. They also don't use real maple syrup. If you're going to charge me $9 for pancakes and give me high fructose corn syrup instead of the real deal holyfield, well then you have lost all credibility as a "destination" breakfast joint. Service is great. The people who work at Yolk are friendly and upbeat. That said Yolk is the place hat tourists go to because they can't find their way to some place that is actually good. For good see Lou Mitchell's, Orange, Wishbone or 11 City Diner for character, charm, and choice dishes. Breakfast places have a simple barometer; if I could make a better dish at home then your place sucks. The end. Yolk, I can whip up a better anything than you can and that's just wrong. Did I mention that they have non-dairy creamer? Da fricks is dat??? Guys, I'm sure you're proud of your business. I'm sure the folks who schlepp in everyday to put this schlopp together are proud to be Yolk'ers. Why the fricks are you cool with these quality concerns? Simple fixes: 1. Give your guests good sugar 2. Give your guests real cream, in a ceramic server 3. Give your guests real maple syrup. It's "expensive" but honestly the fake stuff is low class. The servers are all great people and have always been nice. Treat the servers well but the owner / chef need to get it together.
(1)Shirese L.
I wish that I could give this place a higher rating because it seemed as if so many patrons were loving it, as well as the friend that I brunched with but I cannot. I am on a very restrictive diet and asked our waiter what type of fat the egg beaters were prepared with. He said he did not know. I then asked if he could asked, so he simply pulled olive oil off the top of his head without even walking away. I explained to him that there are certain things (like butter) that I just could not eat. He then explained to me how healthy he is. At that point I said can I just have some fruit. The fruit was as good as any fruit that you could get from Jewel. I am not a happy camper with my experience. How long and hard would it have taken to ask what the egg beaters were scrambled in?
(1)Hillary L.
So full. Those are the two words to take away from Yolk. Their portion sizes are massive - especially for the price. I had the eggs florentine (like eggs benedict but instead of Canadian bacon you get delicious spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes). Just know what you're getting into before you go and don't plan on eating for hours after- most entrees come with fruit, potatoes, and the carb of your choice. We sat at the counter which directly faces the kitchen so we could see all the servers prepping the food to go out to the floor (all of the dishes were gigantic). Don't really plan on talking too much if you're sitting there but you'll get seated faster. The decor reminded me of the game tetris - bright orange and blue everywhere. I would come here again because it's close to my house, reasonably priced, and satisfies that breakfast craving - albeit not as originally as some other brunch spots around town.
(3)Hilary P.
Yolk is yet another fine example of the awesome brunch scene in Chicago. You lucky Chi-Town bastards! The breakfast menu is well-rounded and everything seems to be a quality dish. The crepes here are so delicious (peach cobbler crepes get a big thumbs up from me particularly) and my friends thoroughly enjoyed their various egg and french toast dishes as well. You definitely have to try the fresh strawberry orange juice that makes me wish we actually used our juicer at home. Friendly service and a simple clean decor round out the experience. Yolk definitely will be added to my list of Chicago must-brunches!
(4)Akila C.
Great great food! Very sweet service. This place had such a "LA meets NY" ambience in my opinion. I split the Cajun "Shroom" Scrambler, that came with potatoes, with a friend. Another friend bought the California Omelette, which looked AMAZING. We also bought some berries, which came in perfect use for our bike ride to Lincoln Park (not the band) and the Lincoln Zoo. Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Jon H.
Highly recommend. Great prices. Awesome food. Good coffee. We visit here nearly every time we come to Chicago.
(5)Katherine R.
Theres one on Wells and MCCLurg. Then I seen one on Michigan Ave. it is a very exciting place for breakfast lovers! Its very open and busy and the pace is fast. Thats why its called break-fast. Ok sorry. The service is robotic but its fast and if you want you an make it slower and more personal but its really not that kind of place. Its hype and cool. My parents and I ate at the one parallel one block down on State and CHicago St. Very hip area where condos and lots of one way streets radiate. If you like busy, crowdy fun come here for the morning with friends.
(4)Paul V.
Walking into Yolk you would never expect the treat your taste buds were in for. The Ricky omelet is a wonderful mix of cheesy, meaty and spicy. The avocado offsets the heat from the chorizo perfectly. The potatoes on the side can be served with sauteed onions mixed in, highly recommend but you need to ask for it specifically. The pancakes...sorry Mom, they may be better than yours. Last but not least, Mark is a great waiter, on point with the service and does all the little things that make the whole experience.
(4)cassie r.
Sometimes, upgrades can be bad news (think "supersize me"). Other times, such as my recent experience at Yolk, upgrading to the speciality pancakes was a wise, wise choice. For a mere two extra dollars, you can indulge in the chocolate and strawberry version or enjoy the blueberry banana nut pancakes (my personal fave) - after eating one of these, you'll wonder how you ever thought plain old buttermilk was good enough. I'd pay a lot more to enjoy those edible wonders. Pancakes aside, this place has A LOT of great options - the omelette, crepe and fritatta options are copious and interesting (avocado + eggs = how did I ever live without this amazing combo). FYI - if you order the ironman, request cheese to be added - it's a bit plain without. The service was fast, the space is appealingly happy, and the prices aren't too ridiculously high. We arrived on a Saturday at about 9:30 a.m. and just got in before the rush started. There isn't much of a waiting room, so be prepared to stand and feel like you're in everyone's way if the place is full. Eh, small price to pay for a most scrumptious brunch.
(4)Tiff H.
So my brother suggested we come here with our little "family unit." A wait for 5 of us? Equaled an hour. I was guessing the hype was like that of the Bongo Room....the crowd waiting outside was pretty similar to that of my favorite brunch spot. However, unlike my Bongo Room, the food was pretty mediocre. So...our hour wait ended up only being 20 minutes, which was a great bonus. However, due to all the people outside, and the teeeeeeny speaker system, we missed our name being called. My friends are so lucky I'm anal bc I went inside to check...and they were kind enough to seat us in about 10 more minutes. Very spacious/colorful lay out...and terrible acoustics. My friend did mention that it looked a bit like a kindergarten. Pleasant service though not very smiley. Okay food. Total - $18.50 with me for french toast (fantastic side of syrup), sausage, bacon, two eggs over easy, a cup of coffee, and a fresh side of strawberries. Total for 5 entrees/coffees = $75 without tip. I tasted a side order of hash browns...more like 4 potatoes per side.They were ok...kind of greasy and have nothing on the Bongo Room's. Will I be back? Probably not.
(3)Adam A.
Great, great brunch. I had the country scramble and it was glorious. Potatoes, eggs, cheese, peppers, gravy on top. Awesome. Love the pancakes too!
(5)Van L.
meh. i don't know what the fuss is about yolk, i really don't. the wait is long, the food is okay, the service - all of it is nothing to write home about. there's not many other brunch spots in their locations, so maybe this is why people rave about it? maybe i'm a brunch snob, but there are many, much better spots in town. save yourself the wait and make the trek somewhere else.
(3)Kiara D.
The food was amazing! They give you large portions. I love the Red Velvet French Toast and the Skillets. The Strawberry orange juice was good but pricey. I've been twice and plan to stop back anytime I'm back in Chicago and want a tasty breakfast!
(5)Jimmy P.
First time I ever ordered a salmon benedict was here. It changed my life in more ways than one and for the better. I no longer discriminate against fresh water fish on my benedict. Coffee - Good. Omelet - Great. Service - Great. Benedict - Amazing.
(5)Amy X.
yo, so if breakfast places were people, yolk would be that neighbor guy downstairs that you eye-flirt with because he'll let you borrow an egg if you're out and help you replace a lightbulb when you're really desperate. but on friday nights, he is definitely not the one you are texting, if you know what i mean. what i mean to say is -- yolk does the whole bougie brunch thing just fine. the restaurant offers like 203948193049854 different options -- pancakes, omelettes, skillets, crepes, waffles, eggs benedicts, toast + egg + sausage combos. you name the breakfast/brunch/lunch category, yolk will show you five choices that all sound pretty good. basically, yolk is an upscale denny's where you can come and be loud and eat a ton of food for not a lot of money. in river north!!!! people, this is news. we walked in at 10:30 am on a saturday and were seated within 10 minutes. 6 of us. i suggest you try your luck either early, late, or with a small party -- the restaurant packed up quickly. as for the food -- everyone was satisfied. everyone was served an obscene amount of vittles, and we all shared an order of the red velvet french toast (i.e. fried cake). pretty good, i think of it as the guy from downstairs making that one last ditch effort to make you fall in love with him. 3.5 stars. i really do like you, guy from downstairs. you're not my favorite, but i'm not going to kick you out right away, especially when you make me eggs in the morning.
(4)Stacy T.
About standard for a place that specializes in the breakfast eats. The portions are large and the service is fairly attentive - though you might have to ask more than once for water and coffee refills. The meat and two eggs deal is middle of the road in terms of the $8 price tag, but you tack on $2 and change for a cup of joe and you are staring at the makings of a spendy breakfast for bland sausage, eggs, pale home fries, and two pancakes. Atmosphere is clean and cheery with bright shades of yellow and blue, but nothing to set this place apart from any other brunch spot. It was fun to try it out, but its not going to be added to the rotation.
(3)Jessie D.
I'm a breakfast food guy. I'll openly admit to that. I'm the type of person that will crave cereal and toast... at 11pm. I'll want a nice cinnamon roll and some bacon for dinner. And I refuse to believe that food should be segregated by time frame. So, I was stoked to see someplace like Yolk. The interior of the spot smacks of something Swedish (modular, yellow/blue color scheme, bright lights). I guess it's because I like IKEA a lot. Anyway, the food is AWESOME. The skillet breakfasts are NO JOKE. Definitely filling and creative for what's involved. Throw in a side of pancakes and you're set for the rest of the day. In fact, I think I was... didn't really eat anything until dinner that night. -1 on the wait time. It's a hella popular spot (can you blame them?), so waiting for a table can be an adventure. Expect 45 mins. + if you're stopping by for weekend breakfast. it's a tired phrase, but it's definitely worth the wait. Grab a menu, plan your attack and sip on some coffee.
(4)AShell M.
Best breakfast spot in the city. We went for 5 days straight, and I'm still a fan! The food is always hot, fresh, and delish - well worth the 30 min+ wait. Our picks: eggs benedict chocolate strawberry pancakes banana blue crunch cakes cinnamon roll french toast (for the sweet tooths out there) (in the winter) they have a KILLER pumpkin french toast Bottom line: get there early, and go often.
(4)Emily C.
Food: 3 stars Service 4 stars This place is pretty much identical to their South Michigan location. Conveniently located at Wells and Chicago, Yolk has good street parking and is not far from the Chicago Brown line stop. We went on a Monday morning so there was no wait but still fairly crowded. The food is slightly above average diner breakfast food. I had the same Big Texas omelet that I usually get at their other location which was good. The salsa on the side has good flavor but was like tomato soup. I love salsa with omelets so this left me disappointed. My friend had the Irish Egg Benedict which he thought was too salty but good. The service is great. Aside from our waitresses' weird habit of pouring coffee all over the table (it's like her aim was off and coffee went flying when she refilled our cups.)
(3)Sara P.
We come here a lot because it's right around the corner, and is a perfect breakfast place for either going the healthy route (boring!) or having a lovely Saturday morning decadence of a breakfast. Either way, the food is solid. Came here over the weekend and opted for the non-healthy version of 2 eggs, french toast, and turkey sausage. Wow, delish. Everytime I'm here, I have to ask if the turkey sausage is really turkey, because it always tastes so darn good. The french toast was amazing, and the eggs were cooked to perfection. So good. On a typical healthy day, I get the egg whites, turkey sausage, and fruit. I will say, when the fruit is not in season, it's not worth it because it's just not that good. I have also gotten the whole wheat pancakes, but eh...the regular pancakes are just so much better. I love how this place is so clean and white. The food always comes out amazingly fast, and the wait staff has always been awesome, with loads of them walking around, just waiting to fill your coffee cup. Perfect place for a weekend dining experience.
(4)Heather R.
Decisions, decisions....too many decisions. There's nothing worse to me than first thing in the morning being asked to make a decision...especially, about as something as trivial as what to have for breakfast? The menu is so over stimulating that there's no way I can choose just one without going back and forth, back and forth...With that said, read the menu on line and have it narrowed down to choices before you go. Anyway, on to the food...the meal I did end up selecting, I really enjoyed. I cannot remember the proper name of the dish, but it was some type of pancake with mixed berries on top, and it was heavenly. As were the eggs. They were probably the best scrambled eggs I've ever had. Second to my mom's, of course. The pancakes were fluffy, fresh, and incredibly filling. It was priced moderately and the service was fine. Nothing to write home about... I'd like to go back, but the wait is insane , and in my opinion, not really worth it.
(3)Ashley H.
Lovely place with nice omelette (iron man), pancakes and service!
(4)Meg E.
If you're looking for your standard touristy but not TOO touristy brunch, yolk is a decent option. If you're looking for originality with blow your mind options...definitely not it. Always a wait here and I'm unclear as to why- it's very mediocre.
(3)Diana R.
Company 5 stars. Yolk only 3. Waited 30 minutes for a table for a meal I thought would be out of this world. It was meh, okay. I ordered the eggs benedict which were proclaimed the best in town according to the menu. I should have known it was just a bunch of hoopla. I wasn't really that impressed. It was good but needed more flavor, the hollandaise sauce was a little too bland for me and the ham was there somewhere but it was hard to really taste. Plus the choice of fruit on the side had a little bit of everything but unfortunately everything I don't like. I ate all the egg benedicts cause I was starving! Also the coffee is nothing to write home about. In the end, just okay, I'd go back to order what my brunch crew had cause their meals looked so delicious. One had strawberry crepes that looked yummy while the other had banana nut bread french toast, mmm.
(3)Destiny C.
Woohooo!!! The reviews are right... Took a visit here on easter with my family & the only downside was the wait, but that's expected at a brunch restutant on A Sunday! The staff is ehhhh friendly I guess, BUT everyone LOVED there food. Strawberry Orange juice & lemonade were perfect & the banana-nut bread is to die for... Seriously!! One of my fave restutants now
(5)Sharon W.
Consistently tasty food and great service! This place gets a solid rating all around. I am now a frequenter to Yolk in the River North area (not a fan of the one in the South Loop). The eggs benedict is very good. The best bang for your buck? Order the omelets! The omelets are gigantic, yummy, and come with potatoes AND pancakes! Wow. Oh - and the banana's foster crepes - delish! The service is great - very attentive, nice, and helpful. I'm glad this place opened up in my hood!
(4)Aurelie N.
On a mini-vacay with my OG BFF (from 1st grade), we decided to have breakfast here based on Yelp reviews and proximity to our hotel. This place is colorful! Yellow is all around! Cute little setup when you walk in and seating options available are the counter, tables or the booths. I think it has the right atmosphere if you want to wake up! Our server was really nice and the food came out in a hot minute! I ordered the Crepes Thin "N" Lite with blackberries on top while my BFF ordered the Banana Nut Bread French Toast (apparently i had her at "peanutbutter" while reading it off the menu). I thought the crepes were good, but couldn't finish cuz it was such a large portion...at least for me it was. Same goes for my BFF - she thought the french toast was good, but since banana nut bread is so dense, she couldn't finish it either. Only one regret...shoulda tried their eggs bennie. I failed to notice on the menu that it was voted "best in town". Mental note for my next visit to Chi-town!
(3)Simone T.
Had brunch here today for the first time and I will definitely be back. Great Eggs Benedict. Very fresh, tasty ingredients. Everyone at our table loved their selections, which included a small vegetable omelette, salmon and eggs, minced lox and eggs & one kid's lunch (burger & fries). Our plates were piled high not only with our entrees, but with delicious potatoes, fresh fruit, toast, and English muffins. Our waitress was wonderful, and was very attentive. A $60 bill for 5 people - for the amount of food we got, you can't beat that!
(4)Danny N.
Great place for breakfast. We were staying nearby in a run down Howard Johnson that doesn't offer breakfast so we stopped by here to get the first meal of the day. The eggs benedict are suppose to be real good here but I don't have eggs benedict much so I can't compare it to other places. However I did order it and enjoyed it thoroughly. There's fresh fruit that comes with every plate which is awesome considering I never have fruit for breakfast and forgot how great it is to bite into a cold wedge of watermelon in the morning.
(4)Unity O.
This establishment is DANGEROUSLY close to my place of employment. All, I have to do is walk 1 block & boom I am there. It takes all the power I have to resist going there weekly, oh hell--let's just say daily. I loves me some brunch and this is a good place to grab some. As soon as you walk in the doors of Yolk, you are greeted by the bright colors of Yellow & Blue. They sort of scream "good morning" & kind of put you in a happy place (or else you just feel like you are at Ikea). You also see the bakery display, it is not large, but definitely has some tempting treats--why hello large gooey cinnamon roll--let's have a date later. Then you encounter the host--who happily seats you. I find entering the place has already merited it favor since I like happy colors, lovely baked goods, and nice hosts. Okay, lets talk grub; they have an extensive menu of breakfast delicacies (omelets, pancakes, crepes, eggs, and french toast), you simply have to decide if you want sweet or savory. You could go whole hog and do both--be sure to bring the $$ if you do that, Yolk is not cheap eats. Yolk also delivers on their portion sizes, they are very generous and you will not leave hungry. Yolk also does not scrimp on ingredients which this chica loves. I ordered the garden veggie omelet on one occasion and was ever so pleasantly surprised with how many vegetables they crammed in that bad boy--it was huge! Why 4 stars & not 5 you ask? Well, I do like them a ton, but they are some missteps as well. Their crepes for one are way too sweet for what they offer in them. On one visit I ordered a crepe with savory items in it & it was a very unpleasant experience. The crepe was way too sweet & ruined the other ingredients it contained. Also, their banana bread french toast tastes slightly off to me, but that is a matter of perspective. All in all, I like Yolk & will be coming here often.
(4)Jennifer B.
So close to 5 stars! My only gripe with this place is that they basically put the kitchen in the middle of the restaurant...so while you are trying to enjoy your brunch you are hearing slamming plates, the dishwasher motor, and cooks yelling at one another.... But other than that it's perfect! The menu here is incredible...basically 4 pages of almost every breakfast item you can dream up. Of course eggs are their specialty (omelettes, frittatas too), but they have some cute choices like banana french toast. Kind of like Orange, but more homestyle. The wait for us wasn't that long, and it was a Saturday morning at 9am. It helped that it was zero degrees out. It's always wise to get there earlier than later, but I feel like this location isn't quite as busy as the location on Michigan Ave.
(4)Hayden N.
I came in the morning when all breakfast locations are busy. But we only had to wait about 15 minutes before the table was cleared for my party of four. The Food: Was good, but not exceptional. I ordered Eggs Benedict and my friend ordered the Banana Bread French Toast. We shared. The Eggs Benedict was good, but bland. The Banana Bread French Toast was delicious, but a little too rich for breakfast, it felt more like a dessert. The Drinks: Fresh juices, absolutely yummy. The Place: Was freezing cold, with puddles on the floor, and it smelled terrible. My food probably would have tasted better if it wasn't for the awful smell that kept entering my nostrils as a ate. The Waitstaff: Was average. Not memorable. Overall, I feel like the food was good here, but the overall feel of the location was just off, and it hindered my opinion of Yolk. Maybe check it out for yourselves on a day or time where it isn't as busy.
(3)Jackie G.
I went to Yolk a few months ago and didn't think much of it. A few lady friends and I experienced a typical brunch type wait expected in Chicago, followed by pretty good food, but a loud dining room (due, I think, to the high, rafter/pipe exposed type ceilings). However, I keep thinking back to the bacon waffles I had there. Belgian, fluffy and tasty. I remember coffee and food I sampled from friends' places being good. I'd like to go again for those waffles and recommend going in a small group, so you can hear the conversation.
(4)D. B.
I went to Yolk one morning while my boyfriend was at a conference. I ordered the Eggs Florentine and a side of bacon -- both were delicious! You get diced potatoes and fresh fruit along with the meal. The fruit isn't just a gross slice of something, like it is at many restaurants; I received sliced pineapple, oranges, red grapes, and watermelon -- it was wonderful! Additionally, I love when potatoes are on the menu and they don't arrive full of onions (no onions in the 'tatos at Yolk!). I *hate* onions and many restaurants fail to mention that they're in the potatoes/home fries until they arrive at your table. I loved my breakfast so much that I brought my boyfriend there the next day and ordered the same breakfast again. It was just as good as day one, and my boyfriend's meal was also great. The first day the service at Yolk was okay, but not great. The second day I had a wonderfully attentive server. Perhaps the difference was between a woman dining alone on day one and a couple dining together on day two... Either way, I recommend Yolk!
(4)Rob J.
Yolk has it all, a trifecta of great food, good coffee and decent prices makes this an easy 5 star review. Get here before 10am to beat the long lines. The have so many great things on the menu (I'm working my way through them all!) but for some reason my wife only get the club, which she boasts is the best.
(5)Danni G.
I think these guys are fantastic. I tried the "Irish Benny" which is an eggs benedict with corned beef hash, and I loved it. Which is surprising, because I don't like light-colored sauces, and eggs benedict comes with that yellow egg sauce. (As you can tell, I'm no foodie. Sorry.) Since then I've ordered the Irish Benny a few times and it's pretty darn good each time. They give you generous portions...with the Irish Benny I could usually only eat one of the eggs, and a portion of the potatoes and fruit they give you. I had to box up the rest to take home with me. What I don't like are the potatoes...they let them fry a bit too long so they end up crunchy here and there. I'm not a fan of crunchy potatoes.
(4)Zaneta W.
I'd go back to this place if only for the strawberry orange juice. Sooo good and refreshing!! Craving it right now just writing this review. The decor is cool, minimal and modern, and I really like their 2 person booths that run along the walls. Now on to the most important part.. the food. I had a bacon quesedilla wrap (aka breakfast burrito) and it was pretty good - adding avocados makes it even better. I got it with a side of potatoes, which I really enjoyed. Potatoes at breakfast definitely make me happy. I will definitely be back to try some more stuff on their menu, like the pancakes and crepes..
(4)Kelly M.
If I could give this place 10 stars I would. I think it is absolutely delicious. Everytime I go I try to order something different, but it is hard, because I always love what I get. Recently I had a waffle with apples which were amazing, the waffle was cooked perfectly. The person I was with ordered red velvet french toast that was basically stuffed with cream cheese!! AMAZING!!!!! I have also had the pancakes with chocolate and strawberries, very sweet but what do you expect. Also the banana bread french toast, potatoes cooked and seasoned perfect. The omlets are huge. I really think this place is great, and the menu has everything! For those people who say nothing is special about it, are crazy!
(5)Kim C.
1 star for the cute, bright, cheery decor and spacious dining area. We got there around 1:30pm on a Saturday afternoon and only waited about 5 minutes for a table. 1 star for our awesome waitress, who offered to move me out of the sun without my requesting and checked on us just enough. Our coffee cups were never empty! 2 stars for the great food! We literally couldn't decide what to order for the longest time.. everything looked so good. I went with the french toast combo and the boyfriend got the "Trip to Venice" omlette with fruit and nut pancakes. I almost substituted for one of the specialty french toasts but I'm glad I went with the classic, per our waitress' suggestion. No frills but so delicious! I really really enjoyed the omlette as well and ended up eating probably 1/3 of it off of my boyfriend's plate :P Bonus 1 star for the River North location. Finally, I can get some great brunch food without going up to Lakeview or settling for West Egg Cafe!
(5)Nicole C.
It was a perfect afternoon (sunny and breezy) to pretend you had the day off and step into Yolk for some breakfast for lunch. I had the Cajun Shroom Scrambler, which was fine, but definitely pricey at 8.99. I asked the server if I could have the eggs poached instead of scrambled and was denied. Now, I get that for this dish the vegetable elements are supposed to be scrambled into the eggs (hence the name) but it seems like the cook *could have* made a couple poached eggs and then sauteed up the veggies separately. The place is called Yolk after all. I think the waitress should have at least made the request to the kitchen. The portabella mushroom was smaller than I had imagined it would be and a bit too oily, but the red potatoes were ample and refreshingly not fried to bits, so it all balanced out. The sauteed zucchini and cilantro worked well, giving a nice summer flavor to the dish.
(3)Michael G.
Working in the industry this has to be one of the best breakfast places downtown. I regularly send guest and refer them to one of the three Yolk locations downtown. I feel that it is very clean, and has a creative theme throughout. The portions are huge, the side of pancakes is like a meal in itself. Yolk gets an A in my book, and is a great choice for a wonderful breakfast weather you live in the city, or are visiting from afar. Staff is friendly, and reasonably quick service. Keep up the good work.
(5)Kimberly S.
Mmmmmm - breakfast at Yolk. Clearly the right way to start your day. Menu is extensive and creative, service is friendly and attentive (but not so cheerful that you want strangle them at 7 am), and the food is DELLLLLLLLLICIOUS. As far as I'm concerned - this place can do no wrong.
(4)Stephen F.
My wife and I were staying overnight in the city and wanted a great breakfast and found Yolk on Yelp. I saw the Red Velvet French Toast and that was my first thought, but then I saw the "Tour de France" French Toast. My wife had the Red Velvet French Toast and I was able to sample. We love a great breakfast place and we plan on returning.
(4)Chris and Tami T.
We walked a while in the cold-for-us-cold not knowing what to expect. The lady at the bank sent us here and she seemed trustworthy although she was visibly stunned at seeing four iPhones at once. The thing about this place is that it's good but I can't figure out if I feel cool being there. Not everything in life is about being cool (parties, friends) but a lot of things are (jackets, dance moves) and this place is confusing. It has that look like I know something and that's why I'm here but then again I feel weird saying this place is cool. My cool jacket? I have no problem saying it's cool. That's the difference. I guess I am a little bent out of shape because when I asked the waitress what the french fries were like she replied and said "french fries." And then I was like "well, are they crinkle cut or shoestring or waffle or what?" And she made me feel uncool. I don't like feeling uncool. So I guess I'd go here with some people who I already don't think are real cool but I wouldn't go here with anyone who considered my reputation to be on the line. My friends who don't think about these things, by the way, were really into this place. One of them had bacon and waffles and ate his food all up because he really liked it.
(3)Jen G.
I rode by on my bike Saturday at 8am and the place was dead. By the time I returned (around 10:30am) the place was packed. The good news is we didn't wait too long and my friends and I enjoyed quality time together coupled with quality service. The bad news is the food was just OK. Eggs are eggs are eggs, well, to some people, but we just didn't find the Eggs Benedict to be anything special. Also, my eggs whites were clearly scooped from a big vat (hate when you order 2 eggs and end up with at least 4) and were oozing in oil. Props for the multigrain toast. All in all, I'd drop in again sans line for a quick cup of joe and toast, but won't go out of my way. The best news for this new restaurant is that people in River North are starved for breakfast joints and I predict this place will succeed no matter what.
(3)Sumail B.
I went here on a random day with some friends to get into the city and grab a quick bite of brunch. I hadn't heard of the place before, but was recommended to go here several times, so I decided to give it a shot. Had the corned beef hash, served in a very generous portion. The corned beef was a little bit salty for my preference, but the egg was cooked perfectly to order and the potatoes were just about right. The food was warm when it hit the table, not sizzling hot (the way I like it). I kind of expected this given that we came in at a later part of their open hours, but definitely would have appreciated warmer food. Tried a bit of my friend's pot roast benedict (this place has some of the largest variety of eggs benedict variations around... very impressive!) and it was absolutely melt in my mouth delicious! OH, the coffee was good too! The waiter was a little bit too fast to serve us in sense that I felt as though we were a bit rushed... he also managed to never even get us the dessert crepes which we had ordered earlier. However, he adjusted the ticket afterwards when we informed him and he apologized. All in all, the food is pretty solid and the prices are most certainly reasonable. The atmosphere is cool because modern looking breakfast joint which serves some of the classics with a twist. The service was meh, but I guess I can write that one off as a fluke. I'd come here again.
(4)Lucy W.
This was the closest restaurant near our hotel that offered breakfast/brunch. The wait was not that long. About a 20 minute wait on a Sunday morning. We ordered Strawberry OJ , which couldve been chilled a bit longer. It was missing something. Perhaps a mint or so would give it a nice kick. My fiance and I wanted mimosas but they only offered juices... lame. We both ordered benedicts and they were pretty much plain. The red potatoes that came as a side could've had a little more seasoning/flavoring. The benedicts also came with fresh fruits (pineapple, watermelon, grapes, and oranges). OVERALL, the food was fresh but as far as taste goes, I couldve cooked something better.
(3)Kar M.
Sometimes this is the kind of breakfast I want. Sometimes I want to slather my eggs and potatoes in pepper and Tabasco, my pancakes in whipped butter and syrup. It's the Waffle House / Denny's / IHOP (do they have any of those places in the Midwest?) whatever, it's the Southerner 2am generic breakfast craving. This place nails it. Plus cooking eggs grosses me out, and sometimes I'm grateful just to have someone else do it for me. I of course ordered cheap & meatless: two eggs with baby reds and pancakes for $6. I tend to binge on brunch, but my meal divided perfectly in two, making some filling leftovers. Dining companion got the crunch berry oatmeal and a side of turkey links, for about $10. There was a hair on the plate under the turkey links, but as it wasn't incorporated INTO the food in any way, she ignored it and I did not judge. Crunch berry oatmeal came with cream and brown sugar, a handful of raisined granola between handfuls of black and blueberries. Coffee prices weren't on the menu, but given that a glass of orange juice ran you $3, we stuck with the water. 20 minute wait for a table for 2 on Saturday just before noon; the host was fantastic with crowd control and expediting. Server was a cute smile-and-wink type who gave us an appropriate amount of face time. And the food came out quickly. The Ikea look worked for me-- after all, get too cozy and I just might go back to sleep...
(3)Melissa R.
I felt a little taken aback when I first walked into Yolk. First, there aren't a ton of brunch places in River North (at least not that I'm aware of) so I was excited to try this place out. Secondly, as soon as we walked in we were asked by the melancholy hostess "Two?" and then before I could answer, the manager was there and almost yelled, "TWO?!?" I felt like I was at boot-camp. Thirdly, the space is huge and looks like you just stepped into IKEA; the decor is kind of cold and all yellow and blue. We were seated immediately (very rare for Sunday brunch) in a little booth for two...I think those are pretty darn cute. The menu is awesome and I had a tough time picking what I wanted to eat. I went with the Iron Man minus the mushrooms, I really don't like mushrooms. They brought us our food very quickly, and my omelette unfortunately had mushrooms. I'm not one of those bitchy customers who flips out when my order is wrong unless I am starving and need to be fed, luckily I was in no rush. The waitress was so cool and apologetic that even if I was pissed, she would have made it all better. It took them awhile to remake it but when it arrived it was massive and yummy. I got it with their potatoes, english muffin (like a real one, not the store bought kind), and coffee (they were more than happy to bring me skim milk on the side which I love) which were all delicious. Yolk is a place I would definitely try again. Huge pluses are the no wait, large space with diverse crowd (yuppies, families, tourists), and a fabulous menu. I also have to say that what really sold me on this place was our kick-ass waitress, when you have great service your chances of hooking me as a customer go way up.
(4)Sara F.
After waking up uncharacteristically early for a Sunday, the boy and I headed here around 8:30am hoping to beat the crowds. We walked in and got seated right away; literally 10 minutes later, there was a line to get in! The menu is quite large, which made it difficult to pick something. After picking, we had about two sips of our coffee until our meals came! If you are looking for a relaxing, laid-back breakfast experience, this probably isn't it. I ordered the California Omelet, which came with tons of fresh veggies, melted swiss cheese, and sour cream on top. The fruit I ordered (as opposed to potatoes) was great (slice of watermelon, grapes, and more). My boyfriend ordered the Countryside Skillet which had like 5 different types of meat (typical). His came with a really delicious (sausage?) gravy. He ordered pancakes as a side, and said they were very solid. The portions were GIGANTIC, which kinda sucks because reheated eggs are yucko.
(4)Brandon G.
I have been to Yolk many times since it opened. I always leave feeling very full and satisfied. For the price point of a casual brunch spot, it is the best in the city. Eggs Benedict are what I usually go with. Great atmosphere as well.
(5)Tiff W.
Places like Yolk are probably the reason Americans are so fat....no complaints here though. The menu is GIANT. Like there were so many options that my eyes couldn't even focus on specific items. I ended up pointing to one - the California omelette, which had lots of veggies in it and topped with a ton of cheese. It came with 2 pancakes and a side of fruit - pineapple, watermelon, oranges, & grapes. Holy crap. I don't think it was possible to finish everything in front of me. I could only finish half of the omelette, even though it was delicious and fluffy and went perfectly with tabasco. My friend got the surf & turf eggs benedict...which was also so delicious...especially the turf. Crunchy breaded shrimp. MMMmm. I kept on stealing the potatoes that came with his dish. I'll be back to try some of their other menu items...but if I keep on eating like this on a regular basis I'm going to be in BIG trouble.
(4)Marcel M.
I live in the South Loop and still can't believe people overflow outside the Yolk there for an hour plus wait. The food is good, but not mindblowin'. So, this River North location is a great addition to the lunch options near my office. Portions are great and my Denver Omelette was how I wanted it. The only thing is that I am only satified when I eat here. No tongue dancing. I think it's the hype (from the South Loop location) that affects my tastebuds. I give it four stars since it's never been busy (so far) when I decide to drop in. Hell, it'll fit the bill when I feel like eggs for lunch.
(4)james f.
My family and I had awesome experience at Yolk, easter weekend when we were in Chicago . The atmosphere , service and the FOOD was outstanding .Thank you to the Yolk team we will visit you again !! Sincerely, Jim
(4)Katie M.
Went here with a group of 18 for brunch on Sunday. We called a few days earlier to see if they would take reservations for such a large group and they said no. Ummm, okay-I get that you won't take reservations for 4 but 18? Come one people. When we arrived on Sunday, they told us it would be about a one hour wait. When someone from our group went up to check in on how much time was left, the very rude host said "Well, I told you an hour 20 minutes ago so that would mean you have 40 minutes left". Seriously? WTF. The service was slow, it took the waitress a long time to bring us drinks, take our food order, refill our drinks, and clear our plates. The food came out very quickly (but eggs always do!) and was delicious. I would recommend going on an off day rather than a busy Sunday.
(3)Candice R.
I was here earlier today, and the place was a zoo. We had about a forty minute wait, and had pretty good service. Except: my eggs. They burnt the crapola out of my eggs. And knew it. You really couldn't miss it. And they call themselves Yolk. Maybe they could re-name the place Pancakes, or French Toast. Not worth the wait. NEXT.
(2)Wesley R.
Hurrah! I've been waiting for this location to open up, and it quietly did on Tuesday. I've always been a fan of this restaurant, but not quite so of the location (South Loop). Not only is this close to home, but also close to work. It automatically makes it on my River North Runch locations of course! I had the Pot Roast sandwich which was excellent. I'll fill in more details once I get a chance to drag my co-workers over for breakfast.
(5)Matthew R.
I liked this place but it wasnt anything I couldnt find in many other places. The food was good but definately a little bland. The star was the huevos rancheros that were ver tasty but the omellette was pretty bland and I wouldnt order it again. The pancakes were also very bland. I would return and order the huevos
(3)Michael M.
It looks like the average (meh.) and negative (blech.) review of Yolk can be thrown into two categories: 1) People who don't like to wait 2) People who expect BYOB brunch food to change their lives If you're going to any decent brunch spot in Chicago and you don't arrive before 10am, you'll probably have to wait. And brunch is about your company and recounting stories from the night before, so if you don't like your company, the food can't make up for it. That said, Yolk does have a lot of good offerings, including the Monte Cristo - the perfect sweet/savory brunch item - Hits the emotional need for breakfast but the "I-don't-want-diabetes" desire for lunch. I actually can't think of one bad item on the menu. While some might be hit-or-miss (frittatas may be dried out on occasion), everything tastes great with good friends, mimosas, and big welcome from Taki
(3)Katrina M.
Yolk has variety. I like their busy, noisy atmosphere. Go early, especially on the weekends. I waited for a table of 3 for about 30-35 minutes. BUT, it was worth it, because we were STARVING, and Yolk gives great portions. I ordered breakfast items, because I rarely have breakfast anyways. haha. I ordered the El Torero Omelette, and a Belgian Waffle with strawberries. The food is very usual, but everything was cooked nicely, and very fresh. Didn't have too wait overly long for the food either. Our waitress was very nice too. I will bringing more people over to Yolk. Yolk is one of few breakfast places, but definitely one of the absolute best in the city! :)
(4)Ellie F.
It's really a 3.5, I just can't nudge it up to a 4. This place was EXTREMELY crowded, but that was to be expected on a Sunday brunch, during Blues Fest. They correctly approximated the wait (always a plus) and didn't rush us. I got the "When in Rome" omelet, and it was really fun! Italian sausage, spinach, tomato, and marinara sauce. An unusual omelet, that definitely satisfied. I also couldn't resist a dessert portion of banana & nutella crepes. My beefs are this: - While it was yummy, I don't think it's worth the wait. If there isn't a line, by all means, but I don't think it's far above other fun-brunch fare. - Portions were tooooo big. I hate wasting food, and I hate when I don't have room to taste a side dish at a place with fun things. Trim the main courses a bit, so I can taste more of the offerings! - Probably a function of portion size, but my tummy had a tough time. Bottom line: I wouldn't scream and tear out my hair if a friend wanted to go there, but I probably wouldn't recommend it either.
(3)Jennifer B.
I really want to like you, I REALLY DO! You have so much potential with your over sized sunny space and very little wait (relatively speaking for the neighborhood). But, finally after my 3rd try I have to say good bye. Breakfast is my most favorite meal of the day, with so many directions to go in-sweet, savory, spicy, hearty, light. I hoped you would be the Peaches to my Herb with your vast selection. The menu is enormous and offers every option under the sun, I've given a good sampling of a go around and all of it has left me feeling uninspired yet ridiculously stuffed. Now if you enjoy mediocrity and the allowance to over consume to start your day, then have at it. Otherwise steer clear and head for the Breakfast Club in West Town where you can experience a similar menu and your wallet will thank you later. Over our trips we have been tempted with pancakes which where limp and dry (dusted with powdered sugar-I suppose for the Wow factor.) Omelettes which had overcooked eggs and sauteed vegetables that were so undercooked they left me thinking were they just pulled from the ground and sprayed with Pam? and Corned Beef and Hash that was so bland and soft (even after I asked for the potatoes to be cooked EXTRA CRISPY.) The service is shoddy (unless you sit at the bar) and it is too loud to hear yourself think (warning-do not go with a hangover). But, I always left with my belly full and a button missing from my pants.
(2)Lindsay D.
After a week in Chicago for a "work trip," it's hard to even remember all of the places that I ate at, so I'll just provide feedback on a few of my faves. I came across this place thanks to Yelp in looking for a great breakfast/brunch place for my girlfriends and I since we were living off of the hotel's continental breakfast for the majority of the mornings. The menu has EVERYTHING you could ever want for breakfast from mediterranean omelettes, to halved-pineapples filled with yogurt, fruit and granola, to banana's foster crepes! It's places like this that made me wish I were a breakfast person and liked eggs b/c the frittata and omelette menu was incredible! Since we did technically go at lunch time, I opted for their tropical walnut chicken salad. It came with grilled chicken, papaya, avocado, strawberries and walnuts, along with their raspberry vinaigrette. Perhaps I'm spoiled b/c we live in Miami and our fruit (strawberries and papaya especially) this time of year are amazing, so I was a little disappointed with the "freshness" of theirs. However the restaurant quickly won me over after I convinced everyone to split the Red Velvet French Toast for dessert. (A sugar hangover was guaranteed had I ordered it as a meal after seeing). Three slices of Red Velvet cake with swirls of cream cheese were dipped in batter and grilled, then topped with strawberries and whipped cream. As soon as it came to the table, my girls and I thought we'd only eat a bite b/c we were so full. It's safe to say we only left a bite and converted one of the girls that doesn't even like Red Velvet cake into having her like the dessert better than her omelette! I can't wait to replicate this dish at home, it's a MUST if you visit and the perfect ending to your meal!
(4)Ben S.
There is nothing legitimately bad about this restaurant. They need to find some additional hot sauces besides Tabasco. The bathrooms were a bit unkept. Very nit picky. Really the only issue I can find is that the menu is not inspiring. Not sure of a better way to say it . . . just the most solid B one can give. Service was great. Nice happy people. Clean (besides the bathroom). Plenty of options on the menu. Its just really . . . good.
(3)Eman S.
Went here for breakfast at about 10am on Thursday and it was pretty empty and we (party of 6) got seated right away. We sat down and got coffee and tea right away. The menu had so much to choose from and everything looked so good. I ended up getting the iron-man omelette and their potato hash browns. The omelette was good, but it was too liquidy. I don't know if it was the oil or if it was coming from the veggies in the omelette, but it was all over my plate and made my potatoes soggy. It tasted good, but I feel like it ruined my potatoes. Others at the table got different flavored pancakes and they all said they were really good. The service was great!
(3)Stacy F.
We come here every weekend for brunch. Every. Weekend. Get here before 9 for no wait. Easy parking on the street on weekends (unlike the Michigan Ave. location). My faves: the crepes, the french toast (all varieties), the scrambled eggs, the turkey sausage. I don't care for the omelets, but I'm not much of an omelet person, so it doesn't detract. The menu is extensive, you will find your favorite breakfast food on one of the pages, I'm sure.
(5)Lauren M.
This isn't a place for people who like buffets and things like that, but someone who wants to be more than satisfactorally full (meaning you'll get normal-people servings). I've been here once before and it was practically empty, but weekends are a hot mess. It's pretty crowded and you have to actively check for your name on the list due to the announcement of your name being hard to hear. However the wait wasn't terrible. I do recommend a weekday where it's nice and casual, very pleasant. Also not at the counter so you aren't staring at food that isn't yours, oh the temptation. I have had a burger here which was pretty good, so not only is their breakfast stuff is good but so is their lunch. Their waffles aren't Walker's Pancake House but they're still pretty nice and fluffy with whipped butter without feeling "the itis" or sickeningly full when you finish. The portions are constrained in a way that is big but not crazy. It's a nice, simple place with pretty snazzy decor and even booths so you could be comfortable. It's super nice on a rainy day to come here.
(4)Chris L.
Avoid this place on weekends cause its a sh*t show. I enjoy Yolk soooo much more when its nice and quite during a late morning weekday. Seems like your order is prepared with a lot more TLC when the place is only half full too. The thing I really like is the option to get a decent side of fruit with your eggs instead of potatoes. Unlike a lot of places that give you an orange wedge and 2-3 grapes, Yolk actually dishes out a respectable helping of fresh fruit. Overall good food, good portions, fair prices. (Too bad they don't serve bloody mary's)
(4)Jonathan L.
Ill make this short and to the point...We were very excited when this place opened around the corner from us...we gave it a go for a first time this Sunday. There was no wait at 12 on a Sunday, not sure if this is a good or bad thing..but it was nice to sit right down..Service is great...and the food came out the kitchen really quickly...which is where the trouble for us started... Our omelet was runny and "wet" and had to be sent back for another tour of the kitchen...my recommendation would be if you are going to order an omelet ask for it well done...we also got their whole wheat pancakes...these were a total flop (pun intended) cold and dry...not to mention 1.99 per fruit item...making for $12 pancakes...skip them...I am no chef and can make better ones at home out of a box... Will I go back? maybe...tempo is only a couple more blocks east ...
(2)Michelle S.
Nothing to write home about, but pretty good food. Standard brunch items with lots to choose from. Our server was interesting, but did a fine job. It's packed on weekends, but they do move people through pretty fast. Hint: It's free BYOB so bring your champagne for yummy mimosas!
(3)Dana H.
This is a great lunch spot for those of you who work or live in River North. I happen to fall into both categories and just made my first visit today for lunch with co-workers. They have everything from eggs to hamburgers and all good things in-between. I had the West Coast Crepes and they were not only delicious, but enough food for my friend and I to share...we both walked away feeling stuffed. The only downside is the noise level...but, I got over it. I will definitely visit again.
(4)Jasmine L.
I'm really picky about having high opinions of places that charge $10 for an egg dish. My immigrant parents have conditioned me to be cheap. But when a place makes a $10 egg dish that you're thinking about way after you've had it, I think that's a score. My friend who's way into trendy and gentrified type places (sorry Bobby, you are) had me meet him here for Sunday brunch. I was hoping it'd live up to the hype. The wait was long, but not too bad and there's plenty of room inside. It was Mother's Day, so I think that might've made it busier than usual. No idea, but it wasn't too bad compared to other similar places I've been to. I had the South of the Border Benny and it was perfection. I'm Latin, so I'm critical when it comes to chorizo and the chorizo on my plate was great. The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is no alcohol.
(4)Adrian J.
This review goes for both locations. This is a great breakfast place that delivers on big portions and decent prices. Their omelettes are fantastic and everything can be customized down to what type of specialty pancakes you want with your order. I've only been here on Sunday mornings so if you're planning to go at the same time make sure you get there early or plan on waiting as it gets pretty busy.
(4)Juan R.
Great breakfast place!
(5)K. M.
I love breakfast like it's nobody's business, so when my friend and I made plans for brunch I immediately thought of Yolk's new location in Near North. I had never been to the South Loop location before, so I was a Yolk virgin. I was anticipating a cool, hip breakfast joint. Instead, I got a place that looks like it belongs in a strip mall. And it was busy. Super busy. But I guess that's any brunch spot on a Sunday morning. The place very crowded, so we agreed to sit at the counter. The service was great. My friend had the Green Eggs & Ham (egg & pesto omlette) and I had the French Toast Combo (french toast, eggs, bacon). The food was pretty good, but nothing out of the ordinary. I could've gone to a regular 'ole diner and saved a few bucks and some wait time.
(3)Billy B.
Yes, Yolk, I am a big fan. This place has a great ambiance. Yolk does what it does very well. I highly recommend getting an omlette with a side of red potatoes. Them taters are tasty. The omlette is fluffy and filled with the goodies you want. This has to be one of the top breakfast values in the neighborhood. Yolk, me likee.
(4)Carter G.
Been here twice---this morning was my second adventure here. I went with my good friendand my girlfriend. My good friend had the West Coast Crepes--- she said they were good and would order again/ I had the spicy Mexican eggs (i forgot the name, but its the only spicy egg dish under the the "regular" egg column at the bottom of the second page of the menu). It had Chorizo, avocado and a bunch of goodness in it. What was interesting is when the waitress asked me what I want on the side (she told me it's not on the menu), but they have fresh tortias. The tortias is what made the breakfast. They were fresh and very good. My girlfriend has an egg white fritata (make your own) with broccoli and feta which she enjoyed. The only reason I didn't give this place four stars is FLO (on Chicago ave just a half a mile down) still tops this place for better food and more ambiance. Yolk is a little "commercial" for me, but if your in the River North area it's good, but a little expensive for what it is.
(3)Yanni N.
I will say the food was very good. Once it arrived that is. There was an extremely long wait for the food. But it was pretty crowded so I have to give them a bit of a break there. There is always a crowd outside to get in- so I take that as a very good sign. The prices were pretty fair for a downtown loop location. You must have the fresh squeezed juice! Great MENU!
(4)Christine F.
You know, this place is pretty ok. I feel like this area is sort of short on good lunch options and I'm happy Yolk is around. I am a fan of the Eggs Florentine. Spongy english muffins, sauteed mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach with poached eggs and a lemony hollendaise on top. There's a nice, heaping side of potatoes that comes with it, as well. It's great if you're really hungry and you're in the mood for a monster lunch. I've also had the western crepes, which is 2 crepes stuffed with cheese, mushrooms, eggs and avocado. Pretty good, a little dry, though. The service is fast, the coffee is good, the fresh squeeze OJ is refreshing the decor is cute. I enjoy Yolk and I am becoming a regular.
(3)D F.
Service will disappear and bathroom situation is a tad sketchy with limited occupancies available, but after that this place is fantastic... Food is fresh and seemed to have all genres of people to be given sufficient options. Its no wonder I have seen more of this local breakfast/brunch place opening in our fair city. Its plain tasty...
(4)Robin W.
Still just a 3 star place for me... maybe 3 1/2 stars. The first time I went, I definitely ordered the wrong thing - the savory crepes... the flavors didn't mesh at all! The crepe was way too sweet and thick - like a regular pancake with eggs and cheese. Not my thing. Friends of mine really like this place, so despite my first experience, I returned. I got a pretty good and huge omelet and then ordered the extra pancake on the side for something like $2-3, which turned out to be 2 really huge pancakes. My friends and I all did that and had sooo many yummy pancakes to share. I was more then full when I left with pancakes to take home. The food is definitely good, just not worth the hype for me. It's BYOB... try bringing your own champagne to make a mimosa... great idea!
(3)Kevin S.
This place is just okay. They have a nice big menu so it's good for groups, everyone can find something they like. But for me it's in the "nice diner" league not "amazing breakfast" league. Not much to say about the food, it's all the breakfast items you expect.
(3)Becky S.
My husband and I went here Sunday morning around noon with another couple. None of us had been before but I had heard good things. The place is super cute -- I love the decor! Everything was very clean, and it had that shiny new feeling. There was a long wait (~40 mins) but nothing too different than your average popular brunch spot, so we did not mind waiting. The menu is huge for a brunch spot, and we all had a lot of trouble deciding what to order. I ordered the cheesy egg sandwich which was a fried egg, tomatoe slices, melted cheddar cheese, and homemade pesto on a toasted bagel. YUMMMMMMMMMMM. Oh my gosh, it was SO good! It came with fruit that was very juicy and fresh. The rest of my fellow diners enjoyed their meals, although I think I ordered the best dish. I definitely recommend -- especially the cheesy egg sandwich! :)
(4)Diana C.
I am a huge fan of the South Loop version of Yolk and was very excited to hear this one, closer to home, had finally opened. Went this morning and did not have the most stellar of experiences. Arriving right at 9am on 4th of July, the place was slightly busy but not packed at all, plenty of empties. We got seated right away, which was nice, but upon actually sitting down realized we were at a not-so-clean table: $5 tip was still on the table, along with dribbles of coffee and folded up sugar packet wrapper from the booth's previous occupant. Our waitress came over and we advised her we needed (at least) a wipe down, and she did so right away. Great. She poured our coffee, and then I turned to realize we were out of creamer. Also, out of any real sugar. She corrected this as well. We ordered our breakfast, and I chose to have egg-whites with mine, perhaps a mistake at a place called Yolk. The breakfast order arrived in 5 minutes, maybe even less. The egg whites can only be described as a small massacre on a plate. A mess of folds...it looked like about 4-5 egg whites...craziness. Pancakes were COLD, both mine and the hubby's. We sent the pancakes back and got replacements which were actually piping hot. Clearly they are pre-making pancakes for expected orders. I asked and was told they are not, but there is no other explanation for why my food which had only been ordered 5 minutes prior, came with cold cakes. I left the eggs behind and just had pancakes + breakfast meat, which was fine by me. Our waitress took our coffees off the bill for our multiple troubles, but if you ask me, those eggs should have been deleted as well. Ultimately, the food had promise (except for those awful eggs), but this place has a long way to go to match the breakfast perfection that is the original location.
(2)Ang R.
Solid three and a half stars. I didn't love my meal, but I did love the Irish Benny that my boyfriend got. (I had The Farmhouse.) I think that the menu is so large that it's probably hit or miss all over the place, and that's ok. It's nice that everyone can find something to their taste. It's a little pricey, but on Saturday at 9:30, there was practically no wait, which is nice. I'd come here again--I hope for lunch at some point, because some of their sandwiches and salads sound great. Anyway, it's a solid choice. Will you be wowed? Probably not. Will you leave satisfied? Probably.
(3)Patrick T.
Been to the one on S. Michigan and had good food and good service. This one is a literal twin of that: big open space with 4 seat tables, and a line of booths along the far wall. Also, the menu is the exact same. Usually I order the Tour de France: you get one of the lemon poppyseed (glad I wasn't taking a drug test!) with blueberries, banana nut topped with bananas, and sweet orange with strawberries. Serious fantastic non-soggy french toast three ways, how can you go wrong? However, this time I went with the Nutella crepes. Holy Nutella was it rich! Stuffed with gobs of Nutella and topped with bananas, strawberries, and walnuts, it was good for the first 5 bites then after that it was too rich for me. Those Italians that invented Nutella sure do know how to make a heck-uva spread. I know I know I went to a place called Yolk and didn't get anything egg. But both are dipped or use egg to make the batter so there you go!
(4)Rick W.
Yummy! The best breakfast in Chicago! worth the wait!
(5)Lindsay M.
So this weekend I was in Chicago and I had the pleasure of going to brunch with some college friends. Our destination was Yolk and when I saw the menu, I grew giddy with excitement. A comprehensive spread of omelettes, scramblers, frittatas, pancakes, oatmeals, sandwiches, salads, and pretty much everything you could ever dream up. The weather was pretty shitty, which is to say that this place was chock full of locals and tourists alike, trying to stay out of the cold and blowing snow. But their vast availability of tables made our wait no longer than 10 minutes. Service was speedy. Our order came out of the kitchen in about 15 minutes. Our waiter even agreed to refill my velvety hot chocolate for free. (A small measure of commiseration, I suppose). Being from San Francisco, where brunch will often set you back $20, it was a refreshing change of pace to get an enormous plate of food for $9.95. Actually, there were TWO plates. My frittata also came with a "side" of pancakes. How great is that? Not the most "boutique" feeling place ever, but I do think this place warrants a visit for all of you Chicagoans!
(4)Keri M.
DO NOT GET THE TUNA MELT. Blech!
(1)Gina H.
One of the best places for a wonderful breakfast in Downtown Chicago. The portions are ridiculous so bring your appetite. The skillets are so good, fresh ingredients and great flavors. The pancakes according to my 2 teenagers are THE BEST. The quality and price are true finds especially in the downtown area.
(5)Eric M.
Yolk has built a brand up, I guess for the cheery use of yellow, bright spaces and reasonably quick service. Personally, though, I don't think I'll be back, primarily because of the prices. I had the 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, 2 pancakes plate, what most other local diners call "dueces wild." I hadn't been to Yolk before despite only living a block away, so I thought I'd start with the basics to see how they were. The pancakes were decent pancakes, which was a good start. The eggs, which I ordered sunny side up, were still runny yolked, which is good. The sausages were typical breakfast sausages, which I think are boring, bland and not something I'd order on their own in general, and Yolk's version were pretty much no better. Then the bacon - I don't quite understand the obsession with thick-cut bacon. The pleasure of bacon should be that you get a nice crisp sensation followed by the salty, smoky bacon fat melting in your mouth with minimal (preferrably no) chewing required. Thick-cut bacon is like eating an overcooked pieces of ham. Anyway, nothing they cooked was bad relative to what I'd expect of any diner, but nothing surprised me, either. Fair enough. Service was quick and friendly, which is a diner requirement. I do have one real complaint, though: Price. I think it's excessive to have a glass of juice, a cup of coffee and "dueces wild" cost $16.50 with tip. I didn't think their food was $5 better than the same order at the Howard Johnson diner a block away, where you can get that same lineup for about $11.50, tax and tip included. If I ever go back, which is unlikely not only because of the prices, but also because I only eat breakfast out about twice a year, maybe I'll try something fancier - then again, which Orange opening up a location just two blocks over on Clark later this month, Yolk is going to have even more stiff competition soon. Actually, what this area lacks is a good late-night diner. The closest one I know of is Tempo, which is a 10 minute walk.
(3)Brandon D.
Went around 2 for brunch on our way out of town. Service and food were great. We sat right down, and even had our suitcases with us because we were going to the airport and the greeter offered to hold them for us. Everyone was really nice even though they were closing in less than an hour. The Chocolate strawberry pancakes were great. There is a similar place in Louisville that serves these type of pancakes with Peanut Butter syrup - it's a bit much and might send you into a diabetic coma. The maple tones it down just a little. I did ask for banana on them as well - they charged 2.50 to add it. Wasn't too happy with that, because it really didn't add much. But it was still great. The juice and coffee are also awesome and we got the red velvet french toast for dessert - It's unique and worth trying even if your're full. Really nothing negative to say, I recommend.
(5)Adrienne C.
This place is fantastic! I love it - the interior is colorful and exciting and our server Jonathan was awesome - not only was he a pleasure to chat with, but he also gave us the inside scoop on some other restaurants he thought we might enjoy. We had the Southwest-style Eggs Benny - though it was called something else - which came with Chorizo and Chipotle sauce in addition to poached egg and hollandaise sauce and boy was the chipotle zesty! After that we split a banana nut bread french toast. I am not making this up, people - and believe me - it is even better than it sounds. It comes with sides of peanut butter and syrup and is dressed up with banana slices on top and also garnished with banana halves. In short: phenomenal food. great service. good people.
(5)nicole h.
I had heard a lot of great things about Yolk. So, I must admit, I had high expectations and, ultimately, I was a bit disappointed. Nothing was different, creative, or particularly impressive. Just a standard breakfast with slightly inflated prices and a server to match. It's just alright... But here's the thing--you're going to have to wait in line for this run-of-the-mill breakfast. And you might be hungry for lunch by the time it's your turn...
(3)Dana L.
Awesome. We went before the lunch rush and after the breakfast rush. The service was fast and friendly and the food came out just as fast! My coffee and water remained full the entire time I was there, including a large cup to go! I had the Irish Benny and it was delicious. The eggs were poached to a perfect medium and the hollandaise sauce was perfection. The potatoes were very good, not too salty or over seasoned as some places do. The strawberry orange juice was amazing as well, very fresh. And the side of fruit you get with breakfast is no small fruit cup! Fresh orange slices, over a hand full of grapes, and a large slice of watermelon. Only thing I hated was that we weren't close to the apt. we were staying in so alas, was unable to take any leftovers home with me :(
(5)Tommy D.
I only had a few minutes to grab breakfast before I caught a plane back to LAX. I was greeted by very friendly staff and was immediately seated in a cool hip eatery. YUMMY Eggs Florentine done perfectly, balanced with awesome breakfast potatoes seasoned to perfection. I only wish I had a few more days there to order more from their menu! How can I give it 5 stars with only one dish? First impressions and an honest eye for how restaurants work!
(5)M. W.
I think someone below said "I like Yolk. I don't love Yolk." I totally agree. Though I used to love the place, now I just think it's ok. But, as far as River North goes, there aren't a ton of options, so this one is still the best.
(4)Braden W.
I would prefer to give this place 3.5 stars. It is a really solid brunch place but gets packed.
(4)Matt B.
This was the best meal I had on my recent trip to Chicago. I got the 2x2x2 meal - way too much food, of course. 2 pieces of bacon, sausage, 2 eggs, and 2 crepes. Of course, your choice of eggs and either crepes, pancakes or waffles. I got Nutella crepes with strawberries and blueberries - to die for! Everything looked clean in the restaurant. Wait staff seemed frazzled, but contained. Waitress kept bringing us cup after cup of coffee with a smile on her face. It was all very pleasant. I would go here again next time, for sure.
(5)Vincent B.
A great breakfast place if you're looking for a big portion of something traditional. There's not much subtlety to the food but sometimes you just have a huge plate or eggs or pancakes. The cooking is excellent, and I'm sure you'll be happy. A bright cheery place that's a great place for families especially.
(3)Amanda B.
First and most importantly, I must remark on the bacon. Ugh, I still wish that I had simply gone in and ordered 2 side orders of bacon because it was that good. This is not because my eggs, toast, and potatoes were lacking in quality, as they too were quite good. Unfortunately, I don't think any egg could stand up to this bacon. So good. Do yourself a favor...go and get some bacon...NOW! Secondly, lets talk about the service. Our server was super nice and very accommodating. He checked on us multiple times and his one error, forgetting about a request for another chocolate milk, he readily admitted to and immediately returned with. We weren't upset at all, but he still took it off of the bill as an act of good will. Nicely done sir. You get a bigger tip. Honestly, a solid breakfast, brunch place. I was also unaware of the BYOB status, and after seeing a large table crack open 4 bottles of champagne and order pitchers of orange juice, I felt like I had made a grave error. Next time, I'll bring champagne too. My only beef with this place is how ungodly loud it was. It was busy, as in all the tables were full, but people were not waiting for tables. We sat towards the back of the restaurant and it was still very difficult to hear each other. For example, my husband asked me to order him a "tall chocolate milk," while he went to the restroom but I misheard him and ordered a "small" instead. Close? Yes. A huge issue? No. But throughout the breakfast, I had to ask him to repeat himself multiple times. Enough to be annoying, and quite frankly enough to make us try another nearby brunch place next time in hopes of finding similar food quality but less noise level. Let you know how we fare.
(4)Jen S.
One of the most delicious brunches I've ever had & I'm from NYC, which is known for it's brunches. I had the veggie skillet and my boyfriend the 2x2x2x2 special. We also split hash browns. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was wonderful. Then, at the end of our meal, the waitress asked if I wanted another ice coffee to go. YES! A must eat brunch for your trip to Chicago. My only complaint is that we don't have them in New York!
(5)Mary S.
Delicious breakfast or lunch. Delicious dishes with gigantic portions. A bit pricey but worth it for a treat. Bacon waffles looked good. Grilled chicken sandwich with avocado and Swiss hit the spot today.
(4)Wes M.
This will be a regular stop in our next trip to Chicago. Very warm and friendly staff. We were seated near the window although there isn't a lot to see outside. The eggs Benedict was classic, and my wife loved her egg bagel. The fresh fruit addition went well with the meal and the hot day.
(4)Willie H.
Amazing breakfast with incredible service. What more could one ask for? How about a cheery light and clean environment! Perfect for breakfast. I had "The Works" with fruit and an English muffin. If you like too much good food for breakfast, order this. When I asked the incredibly friendly and efficient waitress (is that still the proper designation?) if "The Works" was a good omelette, she said it's "amazing". I beg to differ and told her so, she should have said "freaking amazing". What was more surprising was the fruit. Absolutely fresh! I live in SoCal and rarely get fruit this fresh anywhere I go. Next time in Chicago, go to Yolk!
(5)Liam A.
I prefer this location over the one in South Loop and it's been my go-to brunch place ever since I first visited a year ago. Overrated? A bit, but still worth a visit. They always get their eggs benedict exactly right, the atmosphere is lively, the decor is bright and cheerful, the staff is uber friendly, the prices are more than reasonable, and the food rarely disappoints. Lately if I have a sweet craving I've been going for their french toasts (try the Red Velvet or the Tour de France which is three different types of french toasts). If you're craving something savory go for the huevos rancheros or if all else fails the salmon benedict has yet to fail me. I like that the portions seem big but it's the side of fresh fruit that does it. Don't be turned off by the long line (assuming you're visiting in the weekend at peak hours). It goes quicker than estimated and the food is worth it. Also, opt for the outside seating (if you can and weather permitting)!
(5)Corey N.
Good food, big portions, fair prices. There's very little not to like about Yolk. A couple quibbles: the corned beef hash tasted like it came from a can and the waits can be pretty long on the weekend. Still, if you order right, there are few better places for traditional brunch food.
(4)Annie M.
I really thought Yolk was going to be the most overrated place in the city of Chicago...but man, it is worth every bit of breakfast hype! The lines on weekends are insane, but for good reason. That food is out of this world. And you get as much of it as you can possibly eat! I've been there twice now and both times ordered the California Omelet. If you like avocados, you have to get this! I think it's safe to say they use a whole avocado, along with really fresh veggies and eggs. It's massive, so definitely come hungry! Adding a little hot sauce never hurt either. I'm totally a savory breakfast person, but they also have an awesome selection of sweet breakfast items too...specifically, a red velvet french toast that I'm dying to try! I've been to both the River North and South Loop locations. River North had good customer service, but South Loop, not so much (although in all fairness, I went to the south loop one on a weekend when they're crazy busy). Unfortunately the estimated wait times are actually pretty accurate...it took months for me to be able to try this place because everytime I went, the wait was over an hour! So try to go during the week if you can. They're opening a new location in the West Loop at the citi bank building and I just read they're opening another one in Lincoln Park!
(5)Selena T.
Yolk has good atmosphere,staff,and food but... It is kind of pricey. The cheapest thing on the menu is around $7. My family went there (we a family of five) and we ordered on the cheap side and with out tip we spent $75. Also there portions are giant you need at least two people to finsh every thing. Even the things on the smaller side. Yolk is a good place if you want giant portions. And if you are willing to pay the price.
(4)Christina L.
I wanted to like this place more than I did - they had a lot of glowing reviews over the pancakes, french toast, and egg dishes and a lot of reviews. Maybe I chose the wrong dish to order. I'd certainly go back to try it one more time if I'm visiting Chicago and it's convenient, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back. I liked the decor of the place - with high ceilings, bright blue & yellow walls, and lots of natural sunlight. The menu is very expansive - omelettes, fritattas, pancakes, unique french toast, crepes. It was like the "Cheesecake Factory" of brunch - the menu had almost everything under the sun and it was a bit overwhelming to decide on a dish. I do have to say that the french toast selections looked good: red velvet french toast was essentially red velvet cake in french toast batter and then pan-fried. I didn't really want to eat cake for breakfast, but if I had a bigger group, I would have loved to try this. I ended up going with the West Coast Crepes ($10.49), which was avocado, mushrooms, cheese, and scrambled eggs in a sweet crepe. It got 2 pancakes for my side, and fruit. I can eat a lot, but this dish could have easily been shared between 2 people. I only ate 1 pancake, 1 crepe and a little bit of fruit. The crepe itself was good - not as thin as it could have been and it was a bit on the chewy side, but what was strange was the sweetness of the crepe mixed with the savory mushrooms and eggs. I think they would be better off trying a different type of crepe batter. The pancakes and fruit were decent, but nothing to write home about. You definitely get your money's worth in terms of quantity of food, but I would've preferred a more tailored and focused menu, with more quality dishes and less variety.
(3)Patrick L.
Great place with plenty of breakfast options. Our meal came fast, yet was definitely freshly made with good ingredients. The service in general was good as well. It's got a bright, colorful modern look & feel inside which doesn't hurt in helping to wake you up & improve your mood too! Overall a good place!
(4)G B.
Food was great! Service outstanding. Sarah was our waitress and she was Awesome. Don't be afraid of the crowds, the lines move fast. Highly recommend.
(5)Erika C.
our waitress was queen. by this I mean she was the real deal. she knew the menu, smiled, wasn't overbearing, and was there when ya needed her to be. this is very scarce in the breakfast world. egg white omlette was delish as well as my man's pancakes. friendly staff, groovy atmosphere, cool pens. thanks yolk, we will be back.
(5)Bethany W.
So fresh, so clean! Yes, you can taste the freshness at Yolk. I opted for the West Coast Crepes, which includes 2 massive crepes that feature fresh sliced avocado and mushrooms blended with scrambled eggs, melted jack & cheddar cheeses. A word of advice: Split this with one of your dining partners. I could only manage to eat one of the crepes, despite their tastiness! I added sides of diced red potatoes and an English muffin, which was perfectly done. The place was hopping on a Saturday morning, but we waited just 20 minutes. The service was attentive as well. A great value, and highly recommended!
(5)Connie H.
We came for brunch after a recommendation from a cab driver. This was a couple of months back so I don't remember everything we ordered (we also visited the South Loop location on a different day) but what I do remember is having the Yolk All-Star Breakfast with the Very Berry Fronch Toast, Santa Fe Frittata, Iron Man Omelet, and Banana Blueberry Crunch Cakes. The latter three items we had at the South Loop location, but I'm just going to clump both into this review, as I would say they both are a solid 4 stars anyway. The good: - The bacon, sausages, and eggs were cooked just the way I liked them. - The frittata was good but I have nothing to really compare it to because it was my first taste of a frittata.. which, btw, is just a glorified omelet. - The fronch toast tasted slightly healthier than one would expect from a fronch toast, thanks to the greek yogurt, almond granola, and honey.. personally, I like my fronch toast to make me feel like a fat piece of shit, drenched in syrup and hidden under a mountain of whipped cream. But, still good. - The pancakes were tasty, but again, a little too healthy for something that is essentially just dessert for breakfast. The bad: - The Iron Man Omelet (South Loop location). I found the omelet to be flavorless and too watery. Instead of being plated in a bowl, the fruit arrived side-by-side with the omelet, and the omelet juices/salsa got all over the fruit and made it all warm and unpleasant to eat. This is where my memory gets hazy because I know my boyfriend ordered a juice of some kind for us.. strawberry lemonade or something. I remember it being good, but apparently not good enough for me to remember what the hell it was after two months. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in Chicago, but I'm for sure skipping the healthy crap and going straight for the cinnamon roll fronch toast.
(4)Antaash U.
One of my favorite places for breakfast in the city. Their seasonal menu keeps you on your toes because there is always something new to try. They really know how to serve breakfast quickly, efficiently and with a smile. There is always plenty of street metered parking in the front which is always a bonus. No wonder why I keep coming back when there is no shortage of breakfast places in the city!
(4)Alex G.
Good sized loud place, very large portions for breakfast. Reasonable prices, good service. Recommend for breakfast. Very berry French toast was quite good, and so was veggie skillet.
(4)Linda O.
We have been here for brunch twice and LOVED it both times. I would have given it 5 stars if they had mimosas or Bloody Marys there. I have tried the salads, patty melt, skillets, banana pancakes and the chili. Loved it all. Service is great, but you might have to wait for a table. It goes fast. I think you can bring in your own champagne for mimosas. Wish we had one in Michigan.
(4)William R.
Food was excellent....had the Carnita Egg Sandwich and Banana Foster Crepes. Sat at the counter and service was great
(4)Kalila W.
Awesome breakfast experience here. First off, so many options to choose from...Something for everybody, from crepes to breakfast burritos and omelettes to frittatas. Keep it traditional like a breakfast sandwich or try something new i.e. a bacon quesadilla or a south beach yogurt (look it up). Cutting to the goods: Ordered the Tour de France, which was a trio of different french toast (banana nut with sliced bananas, sweet orange with fresh strawberries, and lemon poppy seed with blueberries) My fave was probably the sweet orange but alllll of them were winners. Got a side of hickory bacon, asked for it crispy and that's what I got, done perfectly. Mom ordered the waffle with bacon in it, and eggs. She was satisfied and it was tasty! To drink: the coffee, caramel mocha, and strawberry orange juice were all delicious. Almost took one star off because it seemed a bit pricey but honestly for the quantity and quality of what you get, it may be worth it. Next time I'm in Chicago, this will be a go-to breakfast spot! They need to open one in DC/MD area!
(5)Arthur L.
First timer, thus the 3 stars. I need to learn how to order my meal. The food overall, was good. Cornbeef hash could've been cooked a little long, potatoes needed a little butter, oil, something. Atmosphere hip, pleasant, and bright. Service was eggcellant, ha!! Sam our server set the mood right away, and made it enjoyable. Definitely will be back !!!
(3)Brittany D.
Came here solo looking for a good omelette and a minimal wait time. Yolk did not disappoint. I ordered the Iron Man omelette and some coffee. The omelette was HUGE and pretty delicious. Props to them for not charging extra for egg whites. Service was quick and polite and I would definitely return for a simple, healthful breakfast.
(4)Sarah Z.
Definitely a popular destination in Chicago on a Sunday morning. We didn't mind the wait but the staff seemed quite chaotic flipping over tables and delivering food. I didn't know about the BYOB option as that would have been fun. Our server messed up and missed a meal that never made it to the table and had a really hard time figuring out how to fix the mess up. She did apologize and we all left with full, happy bellies.
(4)Jeff M.
This place gives you the option to do breakfast the right way. I had three eggs scrambled mixed with meats and vegetables and upgraded to the red velvet French toast. It provided the perfect mix of yummy eggs and decadent dessert like breakfast. Would absolutely recommend this place.
(4)Jen T.
Been to another Yolk location on our last visit. Had to come back and this location is closer to our hotel. Arrived a little before 9am and got a booth right away without a wait. Ordered the Texan omelet for me and Eggs Benedict for BF. He asked for his red potatoes fried a little more crispy and the server said it was no problem. Liked that they offer a variety of flavored creamers for your coffee. Delicious food like we remembered. The only minor downside was the food took extra long than other breakfast places.
(4)Chrysa L.
I always notice the crowds of people hanging outside of Yolk on the weekends. I often wondered what the buzz was all about, so I decided to taste and see for myself. I like the setup of this place very much. However, it seemed quite loud - unusually so - for a restaurant that was not at capacity. After finally having a server come to our table, our waitress was very curt and to-the-point. I guess that is OK for a Saturday morning. The food was very tasty. I had the Croque Madame with a side of potatoes. It was a large enough portion that I got at least two meals out of it! My mom had the Spring/Summer special - Chicken and Waffles. It was a bacon waffle topped with fried chicken and sausage gravy. It was probably a heart attack on a plate, but it was certainly delicious. I will probably return to Yolk, considering the food was good and the prices were very reasonable. I would aim to come earlier on a weekend in order to be seated right away. I don't see the point of waiting amongst the throngs on the sidewalk for breakfast/brunch here.
(3)Raymond S.
Normally don't visit brunch places with multiple locations but Yolk didn't disappoint. Got pumpkin bread french toast and pork sausage. The pumpkin bread had good subtle flavor with a creamy cream cheese icing swirl. Very indulgent but unfortunately not very french toasty. The batter didn't saturate the interior, so I was pretty much eating griddled slices of pumpkin bread with fruit. It was good nontheless, but not what I was expecting. The pork sausage was one of the best I've had. Nice and savory. Everyone else got omelets which they loved. I wouldn't wait long for this place, but it's definitely a place to visit if the wait is under 30 minutes.
(3)Roisin O.
This was one of my favourite places to go when I was visiting Chicago !! The breakfasts are crazy delicious , whether your completely pigging out or working on the bikini bod there is options for everyone !! I particularly loved their Mexican omelette and their fresh fruit was mouth watering . My only criticisms would be that the restaurant is way too cold so id advise to bring a jumper as you'll need it .
(3)Manfred S.
Who is handling my huevos? Waiter Mark was on the mark. The pesto eggs benedict were perfect. No Blackhawks shirts around. A great Saturday brunch place! Almost as good a Bruins' land.
(4)D H.
A filling breakfast. Shame about the skin on the maple syrup. Regular coffee will fill but not satisfy that caffeine craving. Benny south of the border could do with cilantro
(3)Ollie E.
My go-to breakfast joint in Chicago. Yolk gets the job done. Big menu in a good way! Santa Fe Frititty-tata all the way. The only downs of this place is the long lines on weekends (wait approx 30 min) although they flip tables like gangbuster here. Waitstaff is excellent and ambiance is clean&simple!
(4)Michael M.
After coming here like 20x (we live down the street), I've decided this is just a glorified Denny's. The foods fine but nothing special. I would only recommend going on the weekends because the A-Team wait staff is working. During the week, it's very quiet and the service is pretty bad. Ironic I know but just letting you know.
(3)Mark C.
If you love eggs and breakfast dishes, this is the place to go. I definitely love the presentation of the food. They give you so much! However, the biggest foible is the long wait times.
(5)Win G.
Great breakfast stop. Had the chicken & waffles. They even offered unsweet tea. Bright atmosphere, large selection & friendly waitstaff.
(4)Holley B.
So I came to Chicago four days ago an have came here for breakfast 3 of those 4 days... Place is flipping delicious, red velvet French toast is bomb, and the el torero skillet is amazing!!! I'm not a fan of te coffee, it's different but I wouldn't say it's bad, just not to my liking... Staff is friendly and on top of their stuff, and the wait for food isn't long... They're only open till 3 which is kinda the only downside for me... Everything else IS AMAZING
(5)Gaurav B.
A friend of mine recommended this place to us ... The wait was long - but it is so worth it! Great Ambiance We had great waitress , very sweet and patient ... :) .. We ordered the red velvet french toast. an specialty omelette and skillet... Everythignn was so good.... The coffee was really good too ... Day started with perfect brunch !!
(5)Jo T.
The food is good and loads of it, everything seems to contain eggs (hence the name, we conclude!) but the place seems more for people who want to eat certain food irrelevant of the atmosphere they sit it to eat it. Looks like the cafeteria in a large hospital or a chique high school. The sign outside and waiting patrons being called out on the street over speaker system says it all. Somehow makes me feel like something connected to an assembly line with gymnastic breaks for the workers every two hours and a concluding motivational song with a dance routine. Borders Bookshop fake happiness. Not by cup of tea, sorry. If you want flair this is not the place to go to, if you just want to eat, OK, maybe. Having said that, if you have a bunch of kids that have been in a foul mood since a while maybe this would be place they enjoy, but I have not tried it, I only conclude from the bit I know about kids behaviors when it comes to going out to eat.
(3)Jory J.
The food was mediocre , the service was slow as a turtle and the waiter took my plate away well before I was finished . The highlight of the meal was the cute pants my server was wearing and the legs to go with it.
(2)Stephanie L.
I like Yolk. I dont love Yolk. Its jammed all of the time so be prepared for a bit of a wait most of the time. BUT, they do turn over tables super fast so its never that long. Its a standard breakfast, brunch, lunch place. They have a good selection of everything. The food is always consistently good. No surprises here. The prices are standard for the area. The service is usually pretty good. Overall, perfect place for a meal before 3PM.
(4)Jason F.
Came for brunch on a Friday and this place did not disappoint. I had a bagel sandwich and I have to say that it was one of the better breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. The service was good and did not have to wait. Would definitely would recommend to anybody staying near the Miracle Mile.
(5)Cassie V.
I think I have a new favorite. Yolk exceeded my expectations in almost every way. So it was a beautiful Saturday morning, and Mister and I were continuing the birthday celebration with my favorite meal out, breakfast. Yolk, is a longer walk than our normal breakfast places, but again it was beautiful and I was craving something different. Man, did Yolk deliver. First of all, on a Saturday morning, it was only a couple minute wait. Woah! Breakfast out usually incurs at least a 20 min wait. Secondly, the space was really cool. Everything is bright white, blue, and yellow. And above that Yolk is SMART! They have tables that have fold down flaps, so in the same table can fit either four or six people. It's just crazy to me that other places don't do this. Now the food. After previous night celebrations, I got the hearty pot roast eggs benedict and a cinnamon roll on the side. The cinnamon roll was okay, not chalk full of sugar like most and it was fresh. On that particular morning I was looking for it to satisfy my sweet tooth though, so it just didn't fit the bill then. The pot roast bennies did though. The plate comes full of potatoes, fruit and of course the bennies over lots of pot roast meat. The roast was some of the best seasoned roast I've had in a while. The potatoes needed a little more salt, but were good enough to eat. It was warm, filling and a delight to eat. The bf got the carnita egg sandwich, it was also very good. All of the components were plentiful. His only complaint was that in a few bites the goat cheese was too plentiful and overpowered the rest, but that was just a few bites. Our waitress was around when we needed her, even though we were in one of the back corners (out of the normal walk around). The meal was also not as expensive as some other breakfasts and we had mini meals to take home too. A very good morning started at Yolk. I can't wait to try some more of their creations my next visit.
(4)Ben N.
I came to this place after seeing the menu for oatmeal selections. When I got seated and looked at the menu I noticed it was made with milk (which I'm allergic to) I asked if they could make it with water and the kitchen refused saying its pre made. Oatmeal is practically the only thing of substance I could eat with being allergic to milk and wheat. Thanks Yolk for not making any exceptions to your menu. I won't be coming back
(1)Blake M.
Amazingly fresh ingredients, friendly service, and a fantastic blend of both unique and classic breakfast offerings. We went back two days in a row. The Ricky omelet, red velvet French toast, eggs Benedict and salmon platter were phenomenal!
(5)Vrati D.
Awful service. So many mistakes. The only saving grace was that it's a byob brunch place. I have been to other locations and it has never been this bad...
(2)Kristen W.
Great restaurant to grab some brunch! The portions are big too! We had the corned beef hash eggs Benedict and the red velvet French toast, both were really good! We will be back :)
(4)Stacey S.
Having tried countless breakfast places in the River North, Old Town, Gold Coast and surround area, my husband and I agree that this is in the top 2-3 for food quality, service, decent coffee and location. I'd give it 5 stars if the prices were a BIT less steep and if there was a little more flexibility on portion choices. The meals are very large for me (although they're perfect for my husband). Rather than waste so much food or pay full price for a half-portion, it would be nice to have some options for small plates or half-portions at even slightly less pricing. Paying $12+ for a breakfast that's double what I can possibly eat is the only reason we don't visit Yolk every week, rather than just occasionally. (For the two of us, it's $35+ after factoring in coffee, tax, tip....for breakfast!) It's doubtful they notice, though -- the place is always packed on the weekends which isn't surprising given all the things that are so good about it. In spite of the cost and the occasional wait for a table, we can easily recommend it and will definitely keep going there ourselves, at least when we're feeling 'flush.'
(4)Lena T.
I came for the name...and kept coming back for the food! I'm a sucker for brunch joints, and even more so when there's a cute logo/name involved. Naturally, when I saw Yolk, I was dying to try it. The food is wonderful and the menu is so extensive; there's something for everyone! I try to visit whenever I get a chance and I've yet to be disappointed. I personally love the french toast and my server was nice enough to bring me extra powdered sugar, every time! The portions are very generous and the service has always been quick, friendly and efficient. Nice, clean, bright atmosphere. I love the booths and the large windows that allow for natural lighting. The wait is kinda long, at least on weekend mornings. The staff does their best to keep things moving though. Definitely worth trying at least once!
(4)Jenna D.
Best chicken and waffles I've ever had!
(5)Tiffany H.
Great food :-) I have tried several dishes and I have to say the Santa Fe omelet combo is my fav. The staff are friendly. This hot spot is no secret. It can get crowded on a good day (when it's nice weather, regular Saturday, etc.) so if your hungry get there early.
(4)Lambert L.
Went during lunch for to get a southwest salad to go. The girl at the register was somewhat rude and I caught her staring at me really hard a couple times, but anyway the buffalo chicken on the salad was extremely salty, but the mango vinaigrette was really good.
(2)Keri B.
Breakfast here was fantastic. My brother said there's typically a wait but he and I were sat within 5 minutes. The service was great even though it was a super busy Sunday morning brunch and my Nut Crunch Granola pancakes were amazing. My brother got the West Coast crepes which were delicious as well. I'll definitely go back when I visit Chicago again :)
(5)Arla M.
First time here for Sunday brunch. I will definitely be back. Ordered Challah French toast and a side of scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and I was very satisfied. A lot of food and good price. My boyfriend ordered pancakes and the two eggs and meat plate and he was very satisfied. Orange juice was fresh.
(5)Christine R.
This was my go to breakfast spot everyday while staying in Chicago, it's also a plus because it's a short walk over from the hotel (The Dana) I was staying at. On the weekends this place gets pretty full and it can be a minimum wait of 30 minutes. You can either wait inside and watch the food network playing on the tv or wait outside and they say your name over the mic and there's a speaker outside so you won't miss out! Service here is always really great, as soon your seated someone shortly arrives to fill your water and offer coffee/tea and food always came out quick, hot, fresh, and tasty! The first day I ordered the TWO EGGS - served w/Two eggs any style, with red diced potatoes or fresh fruit and toast, pancakes, or english muffin. The whole wheat toast is huge and tasty, they give you a hefty portion of fresh fruit, and they make the most perfect poached eggs I've ever tasted! The second day I ordered MEAT AND TWO EGGS - served w/red diced potatoes or fresh fruit and toast, pancakes, or english muffin. Choices: applewood bacon, sausage links, low fat turkey sausage, canadian bacon, or ham I got my perfectly poached eggs again and the biggest side of thick cut juicy ham! My fiancee ordered CORNED BEEF HASH & EGGS - served w/ Two eggs any style over a mound of corned beef hash. He opted for the sunny side eggs, fresh fruit, and pancakes. The pancakes were soo fluffly, the hash tender and flavourful and perfectly cooked sunny side eggs. The second day he ordered PANCAKES, FRENCH TOAST, or CREPES COMBO - served w/Two eggs any style, two slices of applewood smoked bacon, two sausage links, and a CHOICE of Two Pancakes, French Toast, OR Crepes. This time he got scrambled eggs, red diced potatoes, and french toast. A hefty portion of deliciousness but he couldn't finish it all! I have to say overall this is a terrific breakfast joint! Portions are huge and affordable and service is top notch despite how busy they always are! One day a waiter brought my fiancee over a free side of turkey sausages because they cooked too many and just decided to give to him on the house instead of letting it go to waste! On my birthday the waiter asked me if I liked bananas or strawberries and came back with NUTELLA CREPES topped with strawberries! I was already stuffed after my breakfast but still managed to finish 3/4 quarters of it! Yum-o!
(5)J G.
My picky eater toddler loves the place. What else do I need to say????
(4)Jacky W.
This is a great place to brunch if you are in or around the Magnificent Mile area. Though it was packed on a Friday morning (but it was Good Friday, so I assume many people were off of work), the wait was totally worth it. I had a veggie omelet with a side of pancakes. The omelet was stuffed with delicious veggies, cheeses, and spices, all of which complimented each other very well. The pancakes needed but a mere smidgen of maple syrup but were otherwise struck the delicate balance between fluffy, sweet, and crisp edges. I dare say these were some of the best pancakes that I have tasted. The coffee, however, failed to impress. It tasted like something that should be used to scour dishpans - it was bitter and harsh. However, the waitress was very polite and kept refilling my mug and I kept drinking it - such is the life of a coffee enthusiast (and by enthusiast, I mean addict). Luckily my water glass was also frequently refilled as I was absolutely parched and, as an added bonus, Yolk uses crushed up ice reformed into mini-cubes, which are my favorite type of ice cubes (I'm a bit of an ice cube snob). The decor was light and airy and modern. The cooks were placed in the middle of the otherwise open space, so we could see the literal, yes LITERAL, blood, sweat and tears that went in to our dishes. That may not sound delicious, but it is. Trust me.
(4)Ann T.
A LOT of choices. Some things that stuck out for me - fruit sides that offered slices of watermelon, but small slivers of oranges. REALLY GOOD COFFEE, has Truvia (plant root, natural sweetener) but no splenda. Portions were manageable but I thought the steak was a bit on the small side. I am a Texan at heart, so that could just be my perspective. The sour cream, served with the "Hey Ricky" omelet, was AH-MAY-ZING. Our waiter was nice. The people working the register, NOT so nice. From asking to see a menu to paying, they were generally brusque and bit rude despite my desperate attempt to be nice and apologetic. Definitely be prepared for a wait on the weekends no matter what the time. We decided to go early on a Sunday to try to avoid the line. We were there around 10:15am, it was RAINING, and we were still standing around for 30 min+. The bathrooms, not exciting decoration wise (I somehow expected more from a place like yolk) and it was a small bathroom given the size of the place (3 stalls). However, it was clean despite the number of stalls to volume in restaurant ratio. All in all a really great place for breakfast. It's been hyped up, but definitely worth a visit.
(4)Mert D.
This place stays true to its title. The menu is full of eggs done every possible way in with every possible ingredient including some quite innovative combinations. They get two thumbs up for serving Metropolis coffee (local Chicago roaster) as well. The Yolks are a much needed refreshing addition to the breakfast scene of Chicago. Taste-wise they can improve. I found the dishes were kind of on the bland side. Maybe a little shy on the salt? Overall I'd give three stars because while I'm a fan of their menu, I am not the biggest fan of what actually made its way to the plate. The fourth star is for the excellent coffee. I''ll take bottomless Metropolis any day.
(4)Aleks M.
Yes, if you haven't been to Yolk yet, you have been missing out! I have been going to the Michigan Ave. location, and recently visited the one on Wells. The place is always packed on Sundays though. It has a cute interior with "egg" related accents. The place really has something to offer for everyone. I absolutely love their eggwhite omlettes and how could I not mention the yummy diced potatoes that come with it! Essentially, everything on the menu is great! It just really depends on what you like to eat for breakfast. During my last visit I ordered the veggie skillet, and I remember it having asparagus and zucinnis in it, which was a nice change of your typical veggies you'd get at a diner. They also have super delicious salads, my favorite is the chicken with blue cheese. I think they also have burgers and other lunch items on the menu. Just all over good comforting food :))
(5)Cat C.
AWESOME breakfast place! We stopped in on a Tuesday so there was no wait and the place wasn't packed. I was torn between ordering the Tour de France and the stuffed french toast, so I asked our waiter's opinion and he said to get the Tour de France without hesitation. I'm glad I got it. It's like dessert for breakfast. Husband got the pot roast eggs benedict and cleaned his plate. Tender, moist pieces of smothered meat is the way to his heart. How did they know? :) We topped off our meal with the fresh squeezed strawberry orange juice. That was a real winner. I'd order that by the pitcher! Overall, the place is great. Great food and excellent service.
(4)Liz S.
Delicious! Great menu selection, great ambiance, friendly service,
(4)Steven M.
Wife and I had brunch here on a Monday morning. Comments: - Great crepes - Outdoor seating is great - I appreciate the non-ass-kissing waiter who served us really well but didn't seem too thrilled with his waiting life, you know the kind I'm talking about - Eggs benedict were good, nothing special - Menu is massive - Coffee was skunky - Not as good as Eatt
(3)Amanda T.
I love breakfast. I love breakfast so much that I am willing to wait for an extended period of time on a hot day, during peak hours on Father's Day, waiting for the staff (I did find management to be a bit rude) to put together a table for our group of fifteen. But the food at Yolk is yummy enough to make an hour wait [almost] worth it. It doesn't quite hold the same accolades as Bongo Room, but I'll take it (I do like the South Loop location better though). After our group was seated, I found the rest of the staff to be very friendly. Our waiter was a trooper-dealing with our large group. He was organized and friendly and got everyone's order correct. The staff even graced our table with a few complementary plates of Nutella crepes. This time around I ordered the West Coast Crepes. It was good but not outstanding. What is great though is the Eggs Benedict (upgrade it to the salmon one, you'll be glad you did) which I've had on a few previous visits. The menu is extensive, but I am very conservative when it comes to breakfast food-I always order similar dishes. Maybe one day I'll be adventurous, but not today. Best part about Yolk is that it's BYOB. And that means mimosas and mimosas=happy Amanda time.
(4)Reni W.
Yum! Food is really good. The coffee creamer is those little fake cream packs and I really like the real stuff but that is the only negative. On a busy Saturday morning the wait was not bad and it is bright and airy.
(4)Emily B.
Came here on a Wed morning and it was packed, but sat at the bar and watched the lines of people move in and out, they certainly know how to move a crowd. I was in a hurry so only had time for the yogurt, but it was jam packed with fresh fruit and I was eased of my envy of others' plates coming by. Pleasant staff and strong coffee topped the experience right off!
(4)Emily R.
You know when you go to a restaurant and (a) the food is good (b) the atmosphere is cozy yet fun and (c) there was even parking close by but the thing that really makes you a happy camper is the person that served you? I had one of those experiences with a friend of mine on Friday morning. Everyone was friendly, our server, George, was helpful, fast, and oh so cute I just wanted to pinch his cheeks! My omelet was perfection, the coffee was wonderfully robust and they even have those little International Delight creamers, which of course, make everything right with the world. I am really looking forward to going back to Yolk on Wells, though I'm sure their other location is wonderful too. I think it's going to turn into one of those places you take people from out of town to show off how awesome your city is!
(5)Nicole A.
was walking around the city and found this place randomly. right when we walked in we were greeted by an extremely nice and welcoming hostess. it wasnt too busy so we were sat down very quickly and quickly ordered there after. i ordered the eggs Benedict. since its not the easiest thing to make at home. it came with fruit and home style potatoes. the overall plate was definitely big and tasted good. while waiting for our food the hostess came over to our table to make conversation with us, such a nice man he was! Food was good but service was great =)
(3)Kevin C.
This is an amazing breakfast place. The service is good. One can taste the freshness and deliciousness of the juice. (I personally went with the orange but the ) I have been here twice and I have tried the countryside skillet and the hey ricky! omelette. They to me were mediocre but the red velvet french toast that my girlfriend got was amazing. A must try.
(4)Olga L.
Great place for lunch. When I went it was completely empty, I was seated immediately, and my food came right away. I ordered the Bananas Foster Crepes, which were magnificent. Next time I think I'll do the Red Velvet French Toast. A little pricey but definitely worth it for the amount of food they give you and the quality of everything.
(4)K T Y.
What's the big deal about this place?! Really!! I absolutely agree with other reviewers that the food did not justify the 30 minute wait. We, as Chicagoans, have available to us a ton of great breakfast spots as long as you're in the "know". This place attracts tourists and people unfamiliar with the city e.g. suburbanites newly relocated to city life. Frankly they don't know any better and so they follow the crowd or look for a place with a nice paint scheme on the walls or the biggest place. Think about it...do any Chicagoans go to Excalibur when they want to go clubbing or a bar? Who does hit up Excalibur?..tourists, obnoxious morons from the suburbs with their gold stenciled t-shirts and over-gelled hair. Same crowd. I can't stress enough how unremarkeable the food was. IHOP-esque. It would be OK if you could walk right in and grab a bite. But waiting in line and having your name called over the intercom by some power-trippin host....don't insult my intelligence.
(1)Tony C.
Great place for food. Try their steak!
(5)David D.
I went there at 9:30AM on a Thursday morning, no line, no waiting. Had the corned beef hash with pancakes and potatoes, it rocked. If the coffee was a bit better and they turned down the music a notch or two, it would get 5 stars. Will be back someday.
(4)Nicole N.
Food here is great ... Service sucks! Our server was too busy flirting with his co-worker and joking around in the open kitchen to get anything that we asked for (Hey! I can SEE that you are not doing anything, but yet, I still have no coffee creamer)! Came to the table every 5 minutes, pointing at each of us "Everything ok with you, you, you? Ok good" then back to sexually harassing this poor girl! Spilled coffee all over our Crepe Suzette and just said "Oops!" and walked away!
(1)Sunka S.
This place may just as well be called heaven on earth. Words cant describe how happy I am here. All the food items, and we tried many by now, (come here every weekend), but my ultimate favorite are eggs benedict and coffee combination. I am a pretty good cook, but I may never master super amazing sauce like Yolk does. Owner is an excellent guy, always appearing at three of his locations. I always take all our guests here for a ultimate feast for taste buds and visitors from Arlington, Slovakia, Vegas, Kansas City and Lubbock were equally impressed with selection, amazing food and great prices.
(5)carolyn h.
I went here after swim practice on a friday morning. I understand that on weekend the wait is forever at this place. We walked in and sat down right away. I ordered an omelet and it was HUGE. It was a great deal. Our waitress was nice. She wasn't anything amazing but she was good enough. Our food didn't take to long. I loved the menu, you have the traditional breakfast stuff along side some exciting/innovative breakfast options. I tried some of the cinnamon bun french toast. AAAAWESOME. I will definately go back (on a week day).
(4)Chris F.
I've had the eggs benedict caprese and pumpkin cinnamon French toast. Absolutely awesome. The coffee is outstanding...I'll say the best I've ever had in Chicago, and it doesn't have a lot of competition. The service prompt and excellent and it was fun to watch them work behind the counter when they're in the weeds. Inexpensive. Breakfast for two, $25. Only problem - the wait and the lack of space.
(4)Asya E.
Loved this place! Great food! Great ambience.
(5)David S.
A modern breakfast location, a little pricy but great food, large portions too!
(3)Lupe B.
My favorite breakfast place in Chicago. They use to have on the menu popeyes frittata that was perfection but no longer on there. I tried to order it by telling the girl all the ingredients but its not the same since its more of a scramble than a frittata but it's ok the rest of the menu makes it up. Great service only downfall is the wait..get there early.
(5)Julie R.
This place. Is great. Omy! As I walked in everything looked so good. Lots of choices and favors. The place is busy on a Sunday morning. Was told a 40 min wait but really it was about 15min. Very pleased.
(5)Priya M.
Endless options!! Hard to choose what to order with SO many options! I had the Eggs Benedict, loved it but still nothing like the California Benny in AZ. My father in law had the nutella crepes, and everyone was envious of it. We all tried it and of course it was great, anything with nutella is great! Overall a very touristy spot, with great menu options, with good food.
(4)Kristin R.
After a 30 mile bike ride, brunch was definitely in order. We didn't want to venture too far from the finish line, as we were all exhausted and starving, so we directed our bikes to Yolk and I was very pleased. The brunch menu is huge. With a varied selection of "yolk" dishes, omelets, pancakes, frittatas, etc. you could find something for everyone. I ordered the Mediterranean omelet, which came with a side of house potatoes, or fruit, (I opted for the potatoes) and english muffin, toast or PANCAKES (I opted for the english muffin). It's not very often you find pancakes as a side, and while I'm not much of a pancake girl, it's nice to have the option for some sweetness. My english muffin was pretty bomb, and I like that they have lots of butter packets on the table. I'm big into butter so the more the better. And I definitely packed it on. I also LOVED my mediterannean omelet! It had feta, tomato, and spinach and it was so good. The tomato was very refreshing and I love any kind of cheese so I obviously was in heaven with the feta. The entire order was more than enough. The omelet was ginormous, there were mounds of potatoes, and then of course, the english muffins. And for all that it only cost $9.99. So, that's a pretty good deal. Also, loved their fresh squeeze orange juice and I thought their coffee was pretty good too. They had vanilla and hazelnut creamer packets on the table, as well as regular cream, so quite the variety. I don't believe they had a liquor license so no bloody marys or mimosas for me, but I'm sure that is the absolute last thing I needed the morning after bike the drive! Anyway, highly recommend Yolk. I hope to be back and will order, once again, the mediterannean omelet.
(4)Mitch G.
This place is great. There are so many great choices on the menu that it is hard to narrow it down. I love the eggs benedict with chorizo. And my lady likes the Red Velvet french toast. Old standbys like B&G and Pancakes are delicious too. The staff is nice and the portions were so big neither of us ever ate everything. The vibe is low key and perfect for a relaxed morning meal. Honestly, for breakfast food I can't think of a better place to go. The coffee, the choices, and the low prices make this place my pick for breakfast places.
(4)Eleni D.
We had such a great experience on our first visit, we came back for more brekkie the next day, instead of exploring what else Chicago had to offer in the brunch department. I blame it on the superior Greek hospitality we received - but then again, I'm biased. I ordered my usual: the classic eggs benedict and bottomless coffee. The Metropolis brand coffee Yolk serves is bold and flavourful, and the eggs benny was fantastic - love the homemade hollandaise, however I'm not entirely sure that was authentic Canadian bacon (nice try though). The waitstaff were super friendly and suggested things us tourists could do in Chicago. On our second visit, I ventured beyond my usual and went for French toast combo - that toast was out of this world. If Yolk served frappe, I'd never leave.
(4)Chris M.
I love the pot roast benedict..the only complaint is the wait on the weekends can be a little excessive..30 mins when you're starving kinda drags but I have never had a problem with the food.
(5)Jess P.
I waited 45 mins....for this? So here goes a step by step of my time at Yolk (chicago ave): 1.) Arrive on a Sunday at ...mmm say around 12:45...yes, I know this is a rush time BUT, howbout somewhere for us to wait for 45 mins? 2.) We wait, we wait, we wait for someone to call our name on the microphone... 3.) About 35 mins in, the host starts bs-ing with a couple he apparently knows....seated right away (cool, if you know someone fine...but right in front of everyone waiting...come on) 4.) Finally our name is called and were sat at a table in back next to the kitchen....restaurant is loud, we see our waitress maybe one or two times throughout the meal (really? is it that difficult for you to make sure I have a drink) 5.) We order-15mins later, I get a skillet with bacon, jalepenos, zucchini and poached eggs...it was good...but not worth waiting 45 mins when i could make this at my house. 6.) What is all the hype about? the menu is nothing special? belguim waffles are everywhere and who doesn't have skillets on their menu...and the food was less than amazing and the service was about 0 stars....do people just like the decor? 7.) Giant waste of 2 hours for what I could have made at home, better and WAY cheaper in about 20 mins....come on breakfast/brunch joints you gotttta start putting stuff on the menu that is BETTER than what everyone can make at home!
(2)Alyssa F.
Can you say delicious 5x fast, with eggs and pancakes stuffed in your mouth, of coarse you cant... but believe me, you gonna wanna! This place is awesome! Earlier in the summer, my friend and I had added yolk to our summer bucket list! We decided to jog the 4 miles from our apt to yolk, and believe me it was worth the jog. We were quickly seated (Friday morning 10am) sweat and all. Opened up the menu, and were delighted to see an array of options, including skillets, scramblers, french toast, pancakes, and an assortment of lunch menu items as well. I got a scrambler, called El Terreno (i think), probably the best thing I have ever had for breakfast! While My friend dined on the fluffy pancakes, and a cinnamon roll. The breakfast was a delight. No one rushed us out... we sat and talked for a while, and then walked up to the counter to pay our bill, where we were greeted with the friendly cashier. All in all, great experience, great food. I would totally recommend this place to anyone who is interested in breakfast, and brunch food. Probably not my late bloomers such as myself, as the kitchen does close at 3pm!
(5)Wayne B.
Both of our orders were wrong, but it was quickly corrected with an apology...the food was satisfactory and so was the service, but certainly no more than that...
(3)Hamster P.
Decent breakfast place. Nothing special. BIG portions though.
(3)Kerry M.
I'm embarassed to admit it, but I frequent this place almost once every two weeks or so. Food is awesome, portions are huge, and the price is right. Also, if youre planning to come on the weekend, the earlier the better. I'm usually always with a friend, and since there are usually only two of us, the wait is never ridiculous. Parking is pretty easy, albeit expensive, but the delicious food and great service more than make up for it.
(5)Tray I.
3 stars, food is good but not worth the wait. like most people that reviewed yolk, the wait is obnoxious. yes, it was sunday brunch but considering they said 20 minutes, it was over half an hour for a table for three. the worst was that we gave yolk an hour and a half to have brunch including the wait and they couldn't get that done. food: we ordered the french toast combo, the mexican eggs benny and the mexican omelet. first my friend order the french toast combo and asked to upgrade to one of the specialty french toasts and was told it was an extra three dollars charge. considering the meal was 10 dollars a 30% increase in order to have a different bread for the french toast seems obnoxious. she went for the normal french toast and was quite frankly underwhelmed considering the wait we just experienced. my other friend and i like spicy food so we both got the mexican versions of the benny and omelet. my food was good, but chorizo is so fatty and rich that i didn't finish it. my friend didn't finish her omelet either. we were both we aware that this is what we ordered and it was very good. the straw that broke the camel's back was that we were essentially shooed off our table. i understand that there is a line of people waiting for out table but it was almost to the point of rude. we were ready to wait to get seated but the surprising part was how long it took for our food to get to us. it was ultimately the issue that made our meal longer than an hour half. overall, the only saving grace for this place was the food. i love eggs and i love breakfast. yolk does both very well. go for the food but be prepared to wait to be seated, wait to get your food and then be pressured to leave once your food arrives.
(3)Gemma A.
Nice and clean and very efficient. As soon as we walked in, we were seated and asked what we wanted to drink. Prices were reasonable and the menu had good variety. Banana bread french toast was very good. The side of peanut butter was icing on the cake.
(4)Kate S.
So the guy who owned Egglectic in the 'burbs sold it and moved to the South Loop. Same menu as at Egglectic, with a new and improved line out the door. Yolk has the hip location and fun decor, but I've waited well over an hour for a table before, and there's really nowhere to sit. You just stand packed in with all the other suckers waiting for a table. The food is great - I rated Egglectic 5 stars - but really, we're talking breakfast here. Eggs and toast. It is not worth an hour wait, especially since you could drive out to the suburbs, be seated, order off the same menu, and actually have your food served in the same time.
(3)Jeff N.
A huge part of me wants to keep the NEW Wells Street location of Yolk (opened 6-9-09) a secret. We went there on Saturday and, sadly this new location is no longer our little secret. Damn! I had an amazing Pot Roast sandwich, tender and juicy, and better than my wife makes. The onion chips (really onion rings in chunks instead of ring shaped) were also addicting. Can't wait to go back. So, let me be shamefully selfish. All you YOLK lovers, go to the S. Michigan Street location and let me have my immediate seating at the Wells Street location into perpetuity.
(4)Carol M.
I have eaten at Yolks twice. First time, I was not overly impressed with the food. It seemed like cafeteria food. Corned Beef Hash was canned and not cooked thoroughly like it should and eggs were pre-cooked with cheese across the top not scrambled the way I would expect. Came back a second time with a friend and bad idea....I had the Hot Hey Ricky. Nuff said...food did not agree with me and I spent the rest of the day in a not so pleasant position shall we say. Worst part was I returned a couple of days after recovering just to let them know possible food poisoning. The cashier said the owner was out at the other store and the manager was off. She took my number and name but never heard from them again. It's okay cause they won't see me again, either. My friend was not overly impressed either...but that is his story.
(2)Holly H.
Brunch here is always delicious and everyone seems to know it so expect to wait 30-45 minutes, even if you come on Sunday during the Bears game. The breakfast is the real highlight for me. Banana bread french toast is my favorite though the cinnamon roll french toast is wonderful if you want to be really decadent. I've been here countless times with different friends and nobody has ever not liked their breakfast dish. I do think the lunch is more mediocre though. I had a chicken sandwich with avocado and bacon one visit and it was average. Stick with the breakfast and you'll do fine here.
(4)Jaison P.
This is a bare-bones review because I am huge, huge fan of Yolk. Its my go-to place for breakfast...its bigger than most breakfast joints, hip styling, and great food. The food is comparable to Nookies I think but the dine-in experience is much better here.
(4)Erin N.
Great atmosphere, friendly service, DELICIOUS breakfast, interesting omelette and sweet breakfast options.
(5)Jimi-Paige T.
You seriously can't live in Chicago, visit Chicago, even breath in Chicago unless you've eaten here. A great, clean modern environment but most importantly awesome food! So many options (I'm salivating thinking about them all) you can't order something bad. I bring family and friends here all the time. They all love it and ask to return before they leave. MONEY SAVING TIP: they serve you so. Much. Food. Although your mind will be saying "you can do it, go for the gold!" you could very well split most dishes to save some cash. Yolk is the place to get breakfast. Even you, all you non-breakfast eaters....sinners.
(5)Cathy L.
The food is decent and there is a huge selection (all the normal brunch stuff). The setting is a bit lacking though, and could be a bit warmer, less like a place where you grab something quickly. It's just not entirely comfortable.
(3)Brian K.
My wife and I went to Yolk for a 10am Sunday breakfast. Yolk was packed but we were seated within 2 minutes. The coffee was great with frequent refills. Food arrived very quickly and was delicious and plentiful. My wife had cinnimon roll french toast, which was good but maybe too sweet. My "Hey Ricky" spanish style omelette was huge and excellent. Yold makes good food, fast, at good prices, in a nice atmosphere. I will certainly go there again.
(4)Ben B.
Well-prepared breakfast with fresh ingredients in an informal setting. The Hey Ricky! omelette is easily the spiciest I've had. They must leave the seeds in the jalapeños. My wife had the Tour de France, which comes with three kinds of French toast and is sweet enough to be dessert. We will definitely be back.
(4)Neil S.
It is hard to ruin breakfast. Breakfast was good. We had our standard, two eggs, Canadian bacon, fruit and toast. We found the decor to be very nice. Contemporary look with hardwood floors. Crisp, cheery and fresh look. Service was prompt and friendly. You will not go wrong.
(4)Brook G.
I am automatically a fan of any breakfast joint that has some sort of a combo dish where you can mix and match eggs, pancakes, and french toast. You'd think every place would offer that option, but sadly that 's not the case. Yolk came through for me, though. Add to that big portions and reasonable prices and you've got yourself a deal. And it tastes good, too.
(4)Bryan C.
No, Yolk isn't the most eggciting place to eat, but they have a huge menu with plenty of options, good service, big portions and I must say, an eggcellent belgian waffle which I just couldn't resist getting topped with plenty of strawberries and whipped cream! Yum, Yolk. Yum. It is very crowded, but it's a brunch place in the city, so this should be eggspected. As the stars would suggest, A-OK! I would definitely go back.
(3)Celeste C.
My husband surprised me and took me here this morning. This place was so nice, clean and cheerful. Our waiter was very efficient and friendly. My husband ordered a red velvet French toast. That was tasty. They had a nice children's menu. I ordered Chocolate and Strawberry pancakes. I didn't realize that it was chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries and chocolate syrup and whip cream. It was still tasty. We ate some delicious diced, red potatoes. The orange juice perked me right up. I would happily come here and again. And you should happily come here too.
(4)Audre L.
Big open dining room, can get loud. Good if you are doing brunch with a group. Bright, fresh food.
(4)ben w.
the food , service and environment are all excellent. I eat at a lot of breakfast spots and can say this place stands up to the best. The coffee is very important to me and this stuff is great. Great job, I look forward to eating here again. Very baby friendly. Thanks!
(5)Matt P.
Just as good as their locale on Michigan Ave ... equally quick in service, and the staff is super nice. I thought I erred in getting the pot roast benedict, but I was wrong, because it was delicious the next day. Yolk at any location is pretty much one of my favorite breakfast places in the city.
(4)Nelson C.
yumm....love the tour de france here and the red velvet french toast....
(5)Debi S.
Awesome! So yummy!!!
(4)Niraj P.
My wife and I went there on a Friday morning not too long ago. I had heard good things but had never actually been to the other location, whereas my wife had and spoke very highly of it. The decor is very cute , the service is very friendly, and the menu is huge. I took a little bit for us to decide what we wanted; I decided on a bell pepper, sausage, and cheddar scramble while my wife got the banana french toast. The servings were huge and neither of us were able to finish our food! We walked out very happy (and full!) and are looking forward to returning sometime soon.
(4)Brad F.
This place was tits!!! The breakfast was awesome. The wait was ridiculously long but worth it. Some people in our group put our name in early thankfully. I had the pancakes eggs and meat for breakfast. The bacon was perfect not to hard, not too soft, but just right. The sausage was delicious, and they even had fresh squeezed orange juice. which hit the spot since I don't drink coffee. Everyone else loved their meal. BTW I found out about this place from Urban Spoon app on my blackberry. Never knew it existed.
(5)Rich K.
This place really lives up to the hype. If I am in the area, this is my go to spot for breakfast.
(4)Lucas P.
Has a great breakfast assortment and serves nothing else but it's breakfast. Whether you are into the sweet side or whether you have a taste for the savory, you can find both of them here. However the one downside to this place is the coffee. It is not as good as it could be. They brew metropolis coffee, and for some reason it does not taste good, maybe it is the Denny's style mugs or the gas station carafes, just not a big fan of the coffee and I love my coffee.
(4)Shana S.
We've eaten here once, since we aren't from Chicago. There were a TON of breakfast options that looked good. My husband got an omelette and I got the Tour de France which consists of 3 slices of French Toast. One slice from their orange bread, one slice from their lemon-poppyseed bread, and one slice from their banana bread. Very good. Husband liked his omelette too. It was a very satisfying breakfast.
(5)Jen T.
I have gone to Yolk twice on Saturday mornings (between 10 and 11am) and didn't have to wait either time, which was a huge surprise! I figured this place would be packed. I don't know if people just haven't realized that it has opened yet, or whether it's the location, but I hope it stays that way! The food is great and REALLY speedy. We went with a group of 4, and our food was on the table in about 7 to 8 minutes after ordering. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is that the wait staff is a little inattentive. Both times that I've been here, after receiving the food, the waitresses sort of disappear, and they also don't seem to walk around re-filling water glasses unless you can flag someone down to request some more. Other than that, the food is yummy, and I will certainly be going back!
(4)Catherine W.
I've been to Yolk a couple times, and if I could give it three and a half stars, I would. The first time I went was in the afternoon with a friend on a Tuesday. Needless to say, there was no line and my friend and I had a delicious brunch. I enjoyed the clean modern ambience and the eggy theme. I'm not normally in this neck of the woods as I dwell in Ravenswood, but we were shopping in the area and it was a nice change of pace from my usual scene. At the time, I was on something resembling a diet, so I went with Jenny's Berry Bliss, which was a bowl of yogurt, berries and granola. It really was a treat, however, and I remember making a mental note to come back. Skip to a few weeks ago, and my husband and I head down to Yolk in order for him to have the same lovely experience that I did. Our mistake? Going in at 12:30 on a Saturday. I put my name in and settled in to wait. And wait. Luckily I had eaten something little earlier in the day, but poor husband had not, so we managed to get into a bickering match while trying to decide what to do about the ever increasing hopelessness of our situation. Let me be clear. We come from timid folk. Neither one of us wants to "cause a fuss" or "ask to be treated like humans", so we waited considerably longer than anyone standing around us (or who came in after us). We, like neurotics from a Woody Allen film, concocted theories that others had phoned in their reservations, knew the manager, were secretly royalty and/or were just better people than us. Eventually (an hour and 20 minutes later), I mustered some pluck and golly gee marched right up there and demanded to be heard. "Um, excuse me," I bleated, "I hate to bother you, but the name is 'Catherine' and I'm just wondering where I am on the list. Please forgive me." The nice gentleman behind the counter told me that there were about three names in front of me, and then we were the VERY next name to be called (suspicious? a tiny bit). Anyway, we sat down and ate. By this time, even my blood sugar was a little low, so I decided I had to have the Nutella Crepes. My surly man friend ordered the Iron Works omelet. He enjoyed his omelet, but I thought my crepes were kind of gross. In retrospect, it might be hard to smother crepes with Nutella and chocolate sauce and have them retain any texture whatsoever, but they were spongy and chewy and I lost interest after a few bites. In short, don't go at peak hours on a Saturday unless you're Cher or phoned in your reservation to the reservation hotline (? could be imaginary). Decent brunch fare, but don't order the crepes.
(3)Zac C.
Awesome! Simply awesome! Delicious, huge portions, fun menu, friendly service. The only downside is the wait, but well worth it.
(5)Nyla C.
I experienced the SAME problem as Goody G with the fat guy "in charge." His name happens to be Peter for anyone reading. He is overweight, dark curly hair, and needs a major attitude adjustments. If you ever see him, tell him that he should try better to be a gentleman and more respectful to women. In fact, I love Yolk, but I would avoid this location just because of him. Just go over to Streeterville. MY experience (not too dissimilar just longer) is as follows: We had an awesome waiter who was super accommodating. Somehow we got our communication switched and we thought we could get separate checks. Whatever, no biggie. There was confusion at the register because my TWELVE year old nephew went to go pay for our portion while I waited on something at the table. This is when I first saw Peter causing trouble. So of course, I get up, and get there just in time to hear Peter snap on his register clerk, "NO! We can't do it, forget it! And storm off!" Not only is he rude with the customers, but he is rude TO HIS OWN STAFF, which must make for the WORST working environment in a place with such high potential. He yells at them to hurry, cut customers short, etc. So we are trying to work it out, and he proceeds to come back, literally RIP the receipt out of his staff's hand, and say, "It's not too difficult, it's simple math, I'll divide it out, geeze" To which I respond, "thank you sir we are not slow," and he says, "great, then act like it!" (seriously?!?!) I asked him not to speak to me in such a manner and told him that poor customer service was bad for business, to which he replies, "Do you see this line? Do you know how long you waited? A single problem will never ruin this business." Oh yeah, he also waved a finger so close to my face I thought he might actually hit me. I finally get away to my seat and start doing the math. Once we figure it out, I come back up to the register where he is hovering. I politely tell this rude man that "I no longer need his help and it is being taken care of," to which he replies, "if you don't leave now, I'm going to call the cops!" Of course, as I have not paid yet, I say, "yes of course, I'll just leave now without paying." To which he replies, "then I definitely will." (really, how slow are you?) Please Peter, I beg you to call the cops with your horrible attitude problems, and every other time you have an attitude problem. Then perhaps you will get fired as you should have been as part of Yolk's New Year's resolution. My favorite part was when I told him that he should have never been hired and that his horrible customer service skills were beyond rude and acceptable. To which he replied, "watch your mouth in my restaurant". Peter, you are not Taki (the owner), remember that. The worst part about this is that maybe 4 or 5 staff members came over to me to apologize for their manager. I told them that they were great but their manager is sooo rude. To this point, they all AGREED as if they were use to it! In fact, they were MORE THAN HAPPY to give me all the information I needed to contact the owner! (clearly they do not want this guy around either!) Peter, if you're reading this, you're an incredible jerk and I'm sorry for whatever makes your life so miserable. You do not yell at young females and young children in such a manner as you did. Especially in the role of customer service delivery. You probably take tips away from the waiters, that sucks. Additionally, I am clearly not the only person who has a problem with you so I suggest you have a MAJOR attitude check. The Conclusion: 1) Peter has a horrible attitude and shouldn't be in the customer service business much less in management 2) Peter will cause the River North local to get a bad rep 3) Peter is racist (as I am also African American) 4) Peter needs to be fired ASAP or Taki Kastanis (the owner) is just incredibly slow and/or racist as well DO NOT GO HERE ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE BLACK LOOP SOUTH IS AWWWWWEEEESOME TOO! (peach cobler crepe is amazing!)
(3)James R.
I can't say enough about how good the food and service is here. You must go and see for yourself. I've visited this location easily over 100 times in 3 years, always perfect.
(5)Mrs. Z.
I'm a huge fan of Yolk, walking in is such a delight. Yolk definitely puts a super fun twist on brunch. With all the yellow you can not help but to feel happy! You will find every thing you love but made in a way that is creative & delicious. A great start to your day...begin with the "Bacon Waffle," eggs benedict and grilled salmon & eggs will put a big smile on your face. No yawning will be happening at this table.
(5)D J.
Hurrah for a reason to get out to River North before sun down and come away without feeling depleted. I love Yolk @ the new location - SO much that a Yelp was due right after I walked back home in an attempt to burn up at least a smidgen of a heavy but healthy brunch on a snowy Sat. The nasty weather didn't keep too many people away - not unexpectedly, I had to wait for a while to get a table, but the staff did a great job of keeping things moving. Maybe it was the maple and the Yellow"ness" of Yolk, a glass of OJ just seemed like a natural choice to blend in and buy some time to scan the extensive menu. The folk at Yolk entertain substitutions without a fuss, so one doesn't have to try too hard to order healthy. Maybe my hostess saw a need for me to go healthier - she brought me a side of fruit with my amazing veggie-laden omelet, instead of the red diced potatoes I asked for. It was all good! Other than being disappointed that I was too stuffed to try my friends' multigrain pancakes, and wondering why it took me as long as it did to try the best neighborhood brunch spot, I thoroughly enjoyed my first trip to Yolk. Needless to say, I will be going back to make amends!
(4)S J.
Arrived at this breakfast/brunch gem around 10:30, 11a. and had no trouble being immediately seated on a Saturday morning. My daughter had the Works breakfast which was great, portion size was actually enough for two people. I had the reuben with fries. Both dishes were delicious, table service was professional. My only criticism is when we left to pay the bill at the register, the young lady ringing up my bill and tossing my credit card on the counter rather than placing the card back in my hand was a sore spot. I guess that simple and courteous gesture goes a long way in my eyes. But in all, I'll return for the food.....and perhaps simply stand there with my hand out to receive my change/card next time. (:
(4)Britt R.
Highly recommend the pancakes with fresh berries on top!
(4)Swarup B.
after an interesting cab ride, we made it to yolk to meet w/ our friends. the dining room is vibrant and has a very modern look to it. the kitchen is open to the dining room so you get to hear all the goodness being made. they freshly squeeze their juices so i tried out the strawberry orange and really thought it tasted it nice! for my dish, i got the bacon batter waffles w/ 2 eggs over medium. the waffle was well made and the pieces of bacon were a nice surprise whenever i found a bit w/ them. i loved drizzling syrup on all of this to get a great combo of flavors. my wife got the stuffed french toast which she really liked too. i don't remember exactly what our friends got but everyone enjoyed their dish. overall, a solid brunch joint!
(4)Brad C.
Ok so I didn't go for the breakfast. Just because it's a breakfast spot doesn't mean you can't hit them up for lunch and that's what I did. I went here for lunch the other day and the place was pretty empty. Yolk has an incredibly large menu, I could of ordered one of the many breakfast items but instead I went with the tuna melt. It was lunch time and I was in the mood for a sandwich not hash browns and eggs. The tuna melt I got was really tasty and the portion size was pretty hefty too. Good service and good prices. This is a place I can see myself having lunch at again and maybe next time I'll even try the breakfast.
(4)Carrie Z.
Good, relatively quick food at a good price. Typical breakfast stuff and great service.
(4)Liz G.
Came here for breakfast after getting off the train. The kids ordered the "s'mores" pancakes -not kidding- and were quickly high on the sugar. Hubby had the California omelette and I had the Benedict Caprese. Sadly, we ate it ALL, and it was huge. The waitress was very cheerful and the service was quick and great, even when my sugar high kids made a mess. She also gave us great advice about the Lincoln Park (free!) Zoo to take the kids to run around after the sugar high. So happy we found this amazing breakfast place.
(5)Vanessa P.
As Lauren H can attest to, I am a rather big fan of breakfast (especially after a night of drinking, as I tend to do), so when she suggested Yolk, it was perfect. The splitting of both savory and sweet options suited us both, as portions were quite large and we wanted to try different things. I enjoyed the Eggs Florentine and the side of red potatoes quite a bit. The Sweet Orange French Toast was good, but almost too sweet for this hungover one. Our server was on top of things, always filling up my coffee just as i needed it and the food came out quickly as well.
(4)Melissa M.
Three stars for creativity and a very impressive menu. I was not obsessed with my entree but it was tasty. I got the french toast sampler and I got three little portions of french toast (well not that little, I barely ate half). I liked the decor and it was a BIG restaurant. You got a lot of food for your money. Pretty good stuff.
(3)Victoria F.
We came here this afternoon for brunch after having great experiences at the south loop location. First, our waitress was awful! I rarely get upset or tip less than 20%- I could barely justify giving this girl any tip. I have no idea if the trixie was out too late the night before or just had an IQ that was lower than average- whatever the case she was one of the worst waitresses I have ever had. Then some of the food was wrong (not such a big surprise given the waitress put the order in...). In all none of us will be going back... maybe to the south loop location in a few months when I have forgotten about this awful experience.
(2)Brule L.
A short walk from our place is well worth it regardless of where you live. Huge selection, big portions, great service, decent prices and excellent food . . . what else do you need?
(5)Sally P.
finally had brunch here. been wanting to try this place out for quite a while now. for a sunday morning, our wait wasn't bad at all. 15 mins tops. fyi: parties of 3 and below got seated faster per my observation. the menu is amazingly broad and the portions are hearty! i only had to eat a quarter of my California omelette to get stuffed. it was pretty descent. "The Works" omelette however, that my friend ordered, was a carnivore's dream! you'll get a taste of the bacon, sausage and ham in every forkful. and then there's the stuffed raspberry french toast..yum-o. our server was extremely nice and attentive, which is something i appreciate when eating out. the service was exceptionally fast even if the place was kinda packed. oh and yes, the bathroom was clean.
(4)Nicole C.
I went to the new Yolk on Wells over the weekend with a friend. The wait was pretty long. We arrived at about 11:30am and waited 45 minutes. It looks very much like IKEA -- just like the South Loop location. :) The staff was really friendly and the breakfast was very good -- although it's so hard to decide with so many choices on the menu! I went with the french toast, two eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast - a HUGE breakfast. My friend really enjoyed her South of the Border Benny. I'll definitely be back, but am hoping that the newness of the place dies down and the wait isn't so long.
(4)Amy H.
I'm in love - I don't know how I'll go anywhere else for breakfast next time I'm in Chicago. Yolk is a big, open, sunny space that serves a diverse crowd. Saturday morning at 9am it was about half full and we were greeted and seated immediately. Service was fast and attentive, everything looked clean (bonus!) and the food was great. Be warned, the portions are HUGE - we easily could have split one thing and had more than enough. I had the Santa Fe Fritatta - fabulous but a deep love and appreciation for jalapenos is required - this is one HOT mama with more peppers in it than you can shake a stick at! It came in a skillet-like form with toast and an orange slice on the side. I was only able to eat about 1/3 of this. My fiance had the Hey Ricky omlet - again a huge portion size and great taste. We were both really happy with the quality of the food and the price - this is a good deal for downtown Chicago, especially considering the amount of food you get - figure $10 per person per entree. It's a steal.
(4)Jaime T.
I love this breakfast place... the staff is pretty cool... the dishes are huge and i don't drink coffee but i love their coffee... a definite must go!!
(4)Robert W.
Great breakfast, totally obnoxious wait, enormous portions, expensive
(4)Dan G.
Great food, every single time. Great service, and GREAT coffee! They make every attempt to please their customers, and still provide quick service with great food. Every time. Lots and lots of street parking around there for easy access. I love walking here on any given morning and getting a great start to the day. It's a great reason to get up early because you can expect BIG lines on the weekends. So either get up early or bring a newspaper to distract you from all the good food you'll watch while you wait.
(4)Greer C.
The staff and the food is consistantly delish! Thanks for making the most important meal of the day happy to my taste buds!
(5)Stephanie M.
I brought my cousin here to kick off our girls' day with some delicious food and that it exactly what we got! I loved the red velvet french toast and my cousin enjoyed her regular french toast. The service was also really good.
(5)David A. I.
Sooooo, I happen to enjoy breakfast A LOT. I'm happy to inform all those concerned, this place rocks! I was surprised at the amount of food I was rapidly served. Everything was delish & the service was smiley. It was a Sunday by the way, I find it's hard to find a smile that early on any day. I have been back since then and recieved the same across the board. Happy belly makes for happy David.
(5)Amy S.
We knew that our group of 10 would be difficult to seat in most brunch locations in the city. We tried to be responsible by calling various places and asking if we could be accommodated. The person we talk to OVER A MONTH AGO assured us that there would be no problem and we would likely be seated after a 20-30 minute wait. Things couldn't be farther from the truth. We waited over 1 hour and 20 minutes AFTER WE ALL HAD ARRIVED! The hostess was rude and repeatedly told us that we would be seated in another 20 minutes or so. Members of our party were very hungry and went in to get coffees (half full, and incorrect) and danishes (dry and bland). At the 80 minute mark, a party of 8 was seated and we were told (with attitude) that it would be another 45-50 minutes for us. We bailed. We went to a different restaurant, were treated nicely, and spent $400 enjoying ourselves. Clearly, they couldn't actually organize themselves well enough to deal with our party. Decent communication and a smile could have solved this problem.
(1)Southside C.
Excellent food with a reasonable price, and good size portions. Most importantly, the fruit was excellent, and the coffee is perfect.
(5)Graham T.
Atmosphere was good. Service was excellent. Prices were solid and the food was very tasty. I loved the choices on the menu and all the guests in my group were very satisfied with the quantity of food. Will go back again!
(4)Selina H.
went on a sunday noon brunch, so kind of expected and had a long wait. i came from a yoga class so i was hungry! it took a while for them to come out with the food too, and the waitress explained it's likely because of two big parties in the back. but, delicious savory crepe with spinach, eggs, and ham really made up for it. orange and strawberry juice was pretty different and cool too. the blueberry granola pancake was good, but not as exciting as it sounded on the menu. portions are big, i could've split my plate with someone.
(4)John M.
Needed to stop for a quick lunch on a Wednesday and thought Yolk would be a good choice and it did not disappoint. Note that even on weekday lunches, this place is popular and you might have a short wait around the 12:00-12:15 rush period.- but it is worth it!! We had salads for a change and they were both delicious and well put together. I had the citrus blast and it was outstanding. The service was great and the food was high quality. I already know this place from Breakfast and it is one of my favorites for that. So if you need lunch, consider Yolk as well as you cannot go wrong on anything on their menu - they really do everything right. Just go and enjoy yourself.
(4)Zack C.
In 2010, Yolk handily won my award for best breakfast joint in the River North area.
(4)Sara M.
It was good, but not up to the hype. Large portions. I got the crepes filled with guac and then a side of pancakes with chocolate on it. I also made the mistake of thinking I could just sidle up to the bar, but you have to ask if you can sit there as a lot of people like to sit there. I was by myself so my mistake to think that. I should have asked first. I just would say this place is ok.
(3)Natalie G.
i actually hate egg yolks.. that taste yucky. but despite this riv north brunch spot's namesake, it a fabulous place for brunch. when you do the brunch thing right after nye, you should expect to wait. let's be serious. you still have last nights hair, and maybe even last nights make up as you piece together.. and that's what we did. we waited. good thing? they had a nice old plasma to keep you entertained, and you could order coffee while waiting. after about a 25 min wait or so, we finally were seated. the booths are the best. seats 4 comfortably, and were intimate and you felt you were in your own little world. we were all a little out of it, and so was our waitress, based on her giving us the specials twice, and trying to remember what teas they had.. but no real complaints.. it was after nye. menu is quite expansive, and they do a good mixture of savory and sweet, along with sandwiches and salads. we ordered an assortment: green eggs and ham: yay! they don't charge extra if you only want egg whites, and that was me! pesto flavor was nicely seasoned, and the potatoes were yummy and crisp! banana bread french toast: my friend clapped when it came, so i'm guessing it hit the spot. good banana flavor, and served with peanut butter side. definitely sweet, but not different and quite tasty. west coast crepes: nice fresh ingredients, and loved the avo. ordered it minus the eggs, but it still held up. BEWARE: huge order, and you could definitely split it. tropical walnut chicken salad: fresh, nice, and refreshing. not the best hangover food, but a great way to kick off 2010's healthy challenge i suppose! overall.. yolk is a hopping brunch place, filled with river north's finest. it's a pretty large joint, but fills up quickly. rumor has caught on that it is good, so weekend brunch wait will be long, but after 1 or so, the line definitely died down.
(4)Cherish S.
Probably my favorite breakfast spot in Chicago!! I love the breakfast potatoes and the portions are huge! My "usual" is the 2 eggs, with potatoes, bacon (thick cut - yummy) and either wheat toast or banana-berry crunch pancakes. Sometimes I branch out for an omelette (they are huge, fluffy and very tasty), Huevos Rancheros, Berry Crunch Oatmeal or the Eggs Florentine. Either way, the food is always good! There is usually a line but I never have problems finding a meter in this area (versus the one in South Loop where the meters are scarce, but there is validated parking).
(4)dottie m.
Great variety, but no one could finish their meal...and we were starving! Fresh-squeezed juice, super-friendly staff, and fantastic variety. My advice? Share a meal. If I'm wrong and you're still hungry, you can order the mind-numbingly good nutella crepes.
(3)Remy D.
always fun to go her the portions are big and the food is good. its a trendy breakfast place. the service can be off and on. we go every time we go to chi town
(4)Heather E.
Go for the food, but don't bother to wait for a take-out order. I stopped before work this AM for a take-out order. They stated that it would be about 10 minutes, which I think is totally acceptable. I received my boxed-up order in about 21 minutes, after I went to the counter and asked how much longer it would be (there were many open tables and booths, so they were not slammed, either).There was no feel-good customer service, "gosh, I'm sorry, we're a little behind today, let me give you another refill on that decaf" or even just "I'm really sorry this is taking so long, let me see where the order is". I guess in River North, there are so many well-heeled customers, with plenty of time on their hands, that they don't have to try too hard on the customer service side. I'd rather patronize a place that really takes care of you to make sure you'll return.
(2)Norman H.
Tomato bisque was superb for lunch along with an enormous salad.
(4)Allan F.
Really good, but loud and crowded. Possiblydue to it being Saturday afternoon. Not sure. Really good food, but small venue for the demand.
(4)Akiba B.
Sooooo, this is the famous Yolk? They do have a billion options, which I think is awesome, especially when that includes the hard-to-find griddle 'n eggs combos (pancakes and eggs, waffles and eggs, crepes(!) and eggs, etc.) that are so hard to find at bistro-y brunch places. And MY GOD do they feed you. While waiting 20 minutes for a table for two, I can confidently say that 90% of parties walked out with doggie bags. But after being seated, it was...meh, ok. Every detail was meticulously pined over at this restaurant. The decor resembles the color palatte of dawn with bright yellows and deep blues and the twinkling of stars above. The service ware was nice too (note: I'm a culinary student, so I'll ramble for hours about mood, concept, and inane BS). But when it came down to the food, I was disappointedly overwhelmed. I ordered a California omelet which was a godzilla-sized portion with sauteed veggies, avocado, and THREE cheeses (what's so California about this?) served with roasted red potatoes and multi-grain pancakes. The omelette was tasty enough, but it would have been better to - you know - taste a vegetable once in a while; the cheese viciously coated everything. The potatoes were too salty and most of the bites were undercooked. The pancakes were too chewy for me, but that's forgivable since they were multi-grain (insert food science explanation here). I will also say that on a packed Sunday morning, service was quick and attentive, and the coffee was good and hot. Our bill came out to be around $10 per person excluding tax and tip, so for what they give us, the price was right. Overall, this place is a fancy Golden Nugget to me. It's a good place to keep in the brunch options stable, but I would never go out of my way to go here or beg a dear friend to accompany me.
(3)PJ T.
Good brunch place. We went here super early - 6:30 AM, so we had great service and we're glad we did. By the time we finished, the place was packed and a chaos. Overall, food was good and the decor light and fun.
(4)Sonya X.
I arrived at yolk at 11:30 on a Saturday morning and the line was out the door. My group of five was seated in about 15 min, not bad. I had the fresh sqeezed orange juice, and my friend had the strawberry orange juice- it was delish and I totally recommend it. I had the south of the border benny to eat- chorizo, eggs, and a spicy hollandase sause. The food came out really fast, and was really good. The restaurant is pretty big and loud, but it's not annoying loud we were still able to have a good conversation at our table and hear each other. It's a good place to do brunch, but I prefer the Wicker Park spots.. sorry
(3)Angela K.
I tried the Tour de France french toast, which was absolutely wonderful. I got to try the different types of bread and fruits with various dipping options. The pecan roll was also so soft, sweet, and warm =) However, the service was not so great.
(4)Altaf R.
My best breakfast ever.
(5)Melissa R.
Went with my daughter who had been here before and loved it. We were seated promptly, not surprising for a Monday. I really liked the surroundings. My daughter's iron man omelet was very good and the french toast combo I ordered was awesome as was the service. We never ran out of coffee or water. Would highly recommend!
(4)Samantha H.
Don't get me wrong with the 3 rating, I LOVE Yolk. Although the wait is annoying (but a sign of a great brunch spot!) they are good at moving the line right along and you usually don't have to wait too long for your food. I wish that they were open later! So many nights I crave Yolk eggs for dinner or their tasty fries and they aren't open. Steve's down the street is ok...but it is no Yolk! Also, one bummer that I have noticed is that sometimes I food comes out luke warm. Other than that I LOVE Yolk, just wish it would be open later!
(3)Kathy L.
Nothing to brag about. The service was quick but the food wasn't anything I would go back for. If I lived in the area I'd probably go back, but since I don't I doubt I'll be making the trek out there for Yolk again.
(3)Tim L.
This is one of the better breakfast places in Chicago. There is almost always a line but it usually looks worse than it is. I would suggest trying one of their skillets. Their juices are freshly squeezed and excellent.
(4)Cat A.
Good food but pretty pricey for eggs.
(4)Rebecca Huicha K.
whats so great about yolk??? it's just another same old same old brunch place. absolutely NOTHING special about it. Went there for lunch recently and got the garden veggie omelete with wheat toast and fruit. The food was good but nothing great. Not a bad experience, not a great experience just A-OOOOOOK. would i visit again? maybe if i have to...
(3)Covert W.
The decor says "trendy", but the food says "typical diner fare". Put another way, Yolk is more Tempo than Orange. Too many other breakfast places to try, I won't be back.
(2)Heather S.
We needed another restaurant in our neighborhood and Yolk is a welcome addition. Great menu with a fun diner-y atmosphere. The service is great and the food is excellent. I've had breakfast (the omelets are HUGE) and lunch (the salads are HUGE) - and never been disappointed.
(4)hsueh y.
I went to Yolk twice. Once with a group of 6 on a Sunday or Saturday. It was packed but we got seated very fast. I had omlette and it was okay. Everyone liked their food and the service was good. Second time there, I was by myself. I got seated right away at the bar and that's great. I ordered egg benedict because it had a little mark "voted the best in the city" next to it on the menu. I was excited to try the best egg benedict in Chicago. It must be a bad day for the cooks or for me. The potato was undercooked and the eggs were overcooked. The Canadian bacon would taste better if it was on the grille for a little. It was too thick to not be browned. The English muffins looked toasted but it had the sitting-there-for-awhile chewy texture. The whole thing was yuck except the fruit on the plate--well taste like fruit.
(2)Marti G.
The BEST Breakfast place in the city! Took my husband here for the first time and he was blown away, even mentioned they may have topped Tempo Cafe sheesh! ;) AWESOME service, AMAZING food, and sitting at the cafe bar to eat was so much fun. We watched the owner hustle and bustle with the service and cooking staff and I have to admit we were so impressed he really knows how to run a successful business. I am so glad they are in River North now, and don't worry there is always a line but it's so worth the wait.
(5)Marco H.
great food. always crowded on weekends after 10:30am. get the french toast combo that comes with 2 eggs, bacon AND sausage. OJ is great tasting too. my only dislike about this place is that the coffee kinda sucks.
(4)Marko M.
I LOVE breakfasts. Considering my order was ready in 24 seconds, the food was actually pretty decent. Not a fan of the character though; feels more like a diner-slash-soulless-yuppie-lunch-place. Just moved to Chicago so still searching for the homey ma&pa breakfast places we used to curl up in around San Francisco - I know they're out there somewhere...
(3)Nick J.
Been here twice, once by myself and another when a friend was visiting. The service is great, and I've actually had the same waitress twice. Wish I could actually remember her name (I'm terrible with names), because I would ask for her next time I go in. She's friendly, always making sure your coffee cup isn't empty. The food, there is so much of it. I've only gotten the same thing both times, the orange bread french toast. So good, I don't know if I wana branch out and try new things there. My friend who was with me the 2nd time had so much food, he couldn't finish it. One thing I like about Yolk is the selection. Oddly enough, I don't enjoy eggs (but I do like soft-boiled eggs), so their selection is great still. The place itself is nice, and as someone in another review said, the decor makes me think of IKEA. One thing I really enjoy is sitting up at the counter and watching the kitchen. The two times I've been there have been on the weekends and I want to go there sometime during a weekday, which I hear is kinda slow. I just have to get myself up before classes start, but it is less than a block away from me. Maybe Tuesday I'll get up early enough and wander on over for some breakfast...
(4)Jean R.
MMmMmMmmMMmmmm!!!! My mouth i watering just thinking about this place! Their breakfast is amazing! I've had their banana nut bread french toast, pecan roll french toast, sausages, potatoes and everything is amazing and your coffee cup never goes dry.
(5)Gfiddy F.
Yolk is on the march...
(5)Brenda V.
Bright, modern, comfortable vibe -- good service but most importantly a vast menu of breakfast (of course) but also yummy and healthy salads... loved it!
(5)Krissy A.
Yum! What a filling and tasty breakfast at Yolk! The wait outside in the cold was worth it just to have the chorizo skillet. THe service was friendly despite how busy the restaurant was on a Sunday morning. The portions are large and the side of fruit is a nice way to "balance out" the potatoes. The atmosphere is noisy and a bit of a tight squeeze, but all the great reviews are totally accurate.
(4)Pavnit K.
These guys can definitely handle their huevos (eggs)! I brought my friend who was visiting on a whim and Yolk did not disappoint. First of all, for a Sunday mid morning, the wait for 2 people was only 15 minutes. A miracle for Sunday brunch! For our wait, we purchased coffee which was not only tasty but piping hot. Always a plus! For breakfast, we both ordered skillets. I ordered a country skillet with scrambled eggs and a side of waffles. My friend created her own skillet and topped it with sunny side up eggs. Both types of eggs were cooked to perfection. The scrambled eggs were extremely fluffy. The sausage gravy that accompanied the skillet was delicious and definitely did not have the chalky taste that some places tend to have. The waffles were light, fluffy and delicious. I will definitely be back here since there are so many more things I want to try here!
(5)Angela M.
The food here was actually really good. I got the chorizo eggs benedict and my husband got the pancakes. This place loses it's stars in the awful waitress we had that day. The place wasn't too busy and we noticed that all the other tables were being attended to by their waitresses but ours was too busy flirting with someone at the bar area and talking to the other waitresses. We ran out of water and waited 20 minutes before she even came by to see if we needed anything. I always feel bad about not leaving a tip, because I understand that sometimes you have a bad day, you have a lot of customers, you are missing limbs but with her, I didn't feel bad at all. A bad waitress is just that, and doesn't deserve anything "extra"
(3)Darian J.
I try to stay far away from chain restaurants when it comes to Chicago food. According to locals, most chain restaurants are overpriced and touristy and the food is better in tucked away corners down unknown streets. I was coerced into trying Yolk for the first time with a few coworkers. Upon entering we were greeted with a sunny smile and a warm welcome and that was great first thing in the morning. There is ample seating at this location. so there was no wait. The menu is quite extensive and sometimes this frustrates me because it always takes me long to make a decision. It was between the red velvet French toast or chicken and waffles. I chose the latter because it was cheaper. The waffle was delicious. Fluffy, savory because there was bacon in the batter, and buttery. Paired with the decent yet generic chicken tenders, it made for a great breakfast. My two coworkers both ordered skillets. All together the bill came to just under $50. So it was relatively inexpensive for the portion sizes.
(4)Canny F.
Great for breakfast! The portions are huge for the price! It was a struggle to finish my dish, keep in mind, I have a huge appetite. I ordered the Iron man omelette that came with fresh fruits (1 slice of pineapple, a hand full of grapes, 1 slice of watermelon, 2 slices of orange) AND 2 pancakes! Say what?!?! I didn't finish my plate..The pancakes were fluffy and the fresh were ultra fresh and sweet. BUT the omelette; it's egg whites!! I don't have to be concerned about eating the whole omelette! It was so filling, flavorful and perfect. Hands down the best omelette I ever had. Now I request all my omelettes to be made out of egg whites. Thanks yolk river north! The staff are ridiculously nice. They were so welcoming and friendly that I could ignore the grumpy cat across the table. He ordered the benedict and of course I had to rob some and all his fruits. The benedict was good? I was never huge on benedicts; I can only say when it's bad. Overall, if you're starving, this is a great place to hit up.
(5)Carolyn I.
My friend wanted to go out for brunch in River North and since this place has good reviews, I suggested Yolk. I went on a weekday so there was no wait. I ordered El Torero Scrambler which consisted of chorizo, avocado, tomatoes, jack and cheddar cheeses, topped with sour cream and served with a side of salsa. I thought it was delicious! The chorizo had a nice kick to it, but not too spicy. The portion size was big so I only ate half, but I could have easily finished it if I was hungrier. I picked a side of toast and fruit to go with my scrambler. The toast was a little burnt, but I didn't mind it too much. I also got a cup of bottomless coffee which the servers kept filling. This place has solid breakfast/brunch food options with good service. Definitely come here!
(4)Kelly F.
Highly recommend!!! This place is pretty busy, which makes sense since it's a great place for brunch. The estimated wait time was 25 minutes, and our group of 5 was seated within 5-10 minutes. The service was fast, friendly, and attentive. Our waters and coffees were never empty; staff was by regularly refilling drinks. Everything on the menu sounds amazing. Everyone in my group got something different and everyone was raving about how much they enjoyed their dishes, so no matter what you order, you can't go wrong. The side of pancakes is enough for a meal itself. The pancakes were some of the best I've ever had---so light and fluffy with great flavor. I had eggs florentine which was delicious. The poached eggs were cooked perfectly, and they put a nice spin on traditional eggs florentine which usually just has spinach by adding mushrooms and diced tomatoes. Others is my group thoroughly enjoyed the West Coast Crepes, a scrambler, an omelet, and a frittata. The food was delicious and a great value for the price. The atmosphere was casual. The place is a lot bigger than it seems when you first walk in. It feels very open with high industrial ceilings. Everything appeared clean. There were lots of groups and families.
(5)Aly M.
Awesome breakfast spot! The portions are huge and I love that the place has plenty of seating. My sister got the French toast with the berries and it was delicious. I opted for the works omelette with a side of fruit- also great. The omelette was perfectly cooked but given the large portion, I could only finish half of it (thankfully I had help finishing it so it didn't go to waste). I wished I lived locally so I could come back more often but I'm from California. Awesome breakfast spot and if you get the chance, definitely check it out!
(5)Joanna N.
This was my favorite brunch meal during my short 4 days in Chicago! The plan was to come here before heading to Art Institute. I'd heard about the long waits and had wanted to come earlier but got off schedule waiting on a long line for doughnuts at Doughnut Vault. Don't worry, we didn't eat all 5 we got until hours after brunch, heheh. We arrived around 11 to an estimated 25 min wait but were seated in 10 at the counter, yay. The open kitchen is an absolute madhouse with dozens of orders in queue to go out every minute. Despite the bustle, it was all so orderly! Very interesting to watch. Anyway, I ordered the egg white California omelette which came with fruit or potatoes and a choice of carb soo pancakes, obviously. This 5 egg omelette was an absolute beast and loaded with cheddar, swiss, jack, avocado, peppers, green onions, tomatoes and mushrooms. Each bite was oozy, delicious and very satisfying. The side of fruit was fresh and plentiful. The pancakes were also very good. Fluffy and light. I enjoyed these pancakes more than the ones I had at the super popular Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe. I ate everything. The value for this supercharged meal was baffling -- $12! What. I'd definitely come back if I make my way to the Windy City again.
(4)Desi M.
How is it that I have never written a review for my #1 breakfast spot in Chicago!!??? This is always my first stop when I come to town, I take the train from Ohare airport and come straight to Yolk. This is the only location I've been to and I love it. Service is always on point and food always comes quick. I was especially pleased this visit because I was pressed for time but didn't mention it and my good came in enough time for me to make my next appointment. My absolute favorite dish is the red velvet French toast. It's really the greatest thing I've ever had and wish I could eat every day. Portion sizes are healthy and I think prices are fair. They do tend to get busy but they handle it well.
(5)Rosa S.
Our blonde waitress seemed to be in a bad mood. When I sat down I noticed my mug had lipstick on it, so I discreetly gave it to her. She brought back a clean one and slammed it on the table. She filled my mug with coffee even though I did t ask for it. When I told her I didn't want any, she gave me a dirty look and walked away. My daughter asked for a small oj, and she brought a large one. When I asked for the eggs Benedict with salmon, I asked her if I could get the fruit earlier, or on the side. By the time they arrived, my grapes had hollandaise sauce all over them. We didn't complain because she seemed not to listen anyway. Our eggs Benedict and omelet were fabulous, and the portions are huge. The potatoes were not so crunchy and could have been cooked slightly longer. They were also a little in the greasy side. The pancakes were good. Our waitress never checked on is, and I had to ask a busboy to have her come so I could order a tea. I will come back, definitely for the food.
(3)Marceline V.
I visited this location for breakfast and lunch while in Chicago. Solid customer service and great food. I had the cheesy egg sandwich for breakfast with a side of fruit. For lunch I had the baby kale salad and added 8 oz salmon on the side. Both meals were filling and delicious. I would recommend Yolk and look forward to visiting again.
(4)Danny K.
So glad we chose to grab breakfast at yolk during a recent trip to Chicago. The menu is massive and has anything you could ever want for breakfast. I ended up going with the Build Your Own scrambler. The bacon and onions I opted for were well done. Our waiter was super attentive and very friendly.
(5)Andrea M.
Spent my last morning in Chicago at this place and I'm so glad I did. We came on a Friday morning and were seated right away. The place is spacious and has a really trendy and modern decor to it. The menu offers a large variety so I guarantee everyone can find a little something here. I ordered my favorite, pancakes. They give you three and I was only able to finish two. They were light and fluffy and dusted with powdered sugar. My sister ordered the omelette which I so kindly finished for her. It was delicious and honestly one of the best I think I've ever had. My sister ordered French toast covered in berries. They do not skimp on the berries and I love that. Everyone was really happy with what they got and everything tasted perfect. This place is affordable and they give generous portions. If you're in Chicago looking for a great breakfast at a reasonable price then I would highly suggest this spot!
(5)Michelle W.
The red velvet French toast. OMG. seriously. I dream about this. So good. The staff is also super polite and friendly. The coffee was very good as well. Go. Eat. Here.
(5)Candice S.
When we booked another trip to Chicago I couldn't help but dream of another amazing breakfast here. So delicious, and a lot of locals which means it's a favorite among them. Will always come back
(5)Lauren K.
For a Tuesday morning at around 9:30, there was no wait and we got seated in a nice spacious booth. Ordered: South of the Border Benny ($12.49) + added avocado- Toasted english muffin, chorizo (sausage), cilantro and chipotle sauce topped with two poached eggs and housemade hollandaise. This has a bit of a kick to it so if you're sensitive to spicy (like me), be prepared to sweat a little. This also comes with a side of fruit (pineapple, grapes, and orange) and potatoes. There was so much food I could not finish (but wish I could). I think for the price, service, quality, and quantity of food, this is a MUST EAT place. I love the decor and fresh feeling of the restaurant and already wishing I could go back and try more things on the menu. EVERYTHING looks SO GOOD.
(5)Victoria C.
I came here on a Sunday morning around 11:00 with 6 other friends. It was of course packed. What good brunch place wouldn't be packed on a Sunday morning? Luckily our wait time for a party of 7 was only about 15-20 minutes. With a 20 minute wait and this being a BYOB place, Yolk is golden in my book. They seated us within 25 minutes. We had brought our own bottle of champagne for the birthday girl, unfortunately they didn't sell carafes of orange juice. They do bring you small glasses, and we made do by just getting a large glass of orange juice to share. I was starving and ordered the Yolk All-Star Breakfast and upgraded to a sweet specialty for $2.99. It seemed like the best deal to get to try one of their special french toasts and get some sides. I opted to get the cinnamon roll french toast. Presentation wise, the cinnamon roll french toast looked okay, but it tasted amazing. They put cream cheese icing on top of the french toast in place of syrup. It came with two pieces, but I was STUFFED after eating them. It was extremely heavy and a tad too sweet, but I enjoyed it. They forgot to bring my friend his side of pancakes, but he was so full from his meal that he didn't care too much. Bonus points to our extremely strong waitress who consistently filled up our cups of coffee and managed to make one trip and carry out our 7 dishes of food on one massive tray.
(4)Peter U.
Immediate reaction after eating: been here a few times with small and large groups and they are always outstanding, I recommend any Benedict (tip get the hollandaise sauce on the side)monster size ham steak, yacht club sandwich plus bottomless coffee and I always want to order crepes at breakfast places but I need protein in the morning so this place lets you get a dessert size one (which means only one crepe which is awesome!!!!) .... Bottom line: amazing breakfast, you will be happy with anything u order, lovely staff and great portions - adding to one of my favs
(5)Teddy K.
Yolk was a great unplanned stop for a late breakfast, and was conveniently located close to the Godfrey Hotel where we stayed. Yolk has the feel of a diner, but with a modern twist. We walked in around 10 am on a Friday morning and although most tables were full we were seated immediately. It turned out that right before we placed our order there was a catering order for 80 people, so our food took a bit longer than expected to come out. Otherwise our service was great and our waitress was friendly and attentive. I decided to order the Irish Benny (fried tomato and corned beef hash with a poached egg & sauce), while my wife ordered 2 eggs scrambled with a side of fruit. It was a good thing I was hungry, because my plate was jam packed with my Eggs Benedict, sliced red potatoes, and a full stack of fresh fruit. The fruit tasted extremely fresh and was a yummy mix of grapes, pineapple, and honeydew. The Eggs Benedict itself was delicious, and the corned beef hash on top dealt the salty and savory flavor I was craving. The diced red potatoes on the side were also great and I would have eaten more if I wasn't so full. Overall Yolk was a great stop for a tasty breakfast to kickstart our day, stop by if you are hungry!
(4)Stacey L.
I have an unhealthy obsession with Yolk's Tour de France - it's the first thing I ever ordered there and it's the only thing I've ever ordered to this day (it routinely wins the unspoken 'who ordered the best thing' contest). I came down to Chicago to celebrate a friend's birthday and was happy to find the next morning that I was within walking distance of two Yolk locations. I opted for the River North option and had a surprisingly speedy experience considering it was prime Sunday brunch hours. Since I was solo, I was able to get a seat at the bar and was greeted and able to place my order within a minute of being seated. It took maybe five minutes for my food to be delivered, and my server had my drink refilled and my check ready to go just as I was finishing. As for the food, my Tour de France was as perfect as ever. The tour consists of banana bread with sliced bananas and peanut butter, lemon poppyseed bread with blueberries and orange sauce, and orange bread with sliced strawberries. Each slice was incredibly moist and flavorful, and perfectly portioned from mini loaves. The strawberries were a little bland, but since it's late December in the Midwest I had no expectations of them being at their peak. The Red Velvet french toast always sounds amazing, but the Tour de France is a guaranteed knock-out; next time I'll have to bring a friend who will let me talk them into ordering the former so I can give it a try.
(5)J J.
This place was recommended by several friends so we gave it a try. Arrived at 11am on Sunday morning for brunch. Was told it was going to be a 20-25 minute wait, but they called us after just 10 minutes, which was perfect because it gave us just enough time to look over their menu and decide what we wanted, which was hard to do because everything looked so delicious!! I ordered the country skillet with pancakes. It was so savory and flavorful. Ingredients are high quality and the value is exceptional. Service was very prompt and friendly. She never made us feel rushed, despite how busy the restaurant was. Definitely an excellent brunch spot that I would love to visit again!
(5)Selena C.
We went in Jan around 10am and there was no wait. The food itself was ok. Tip: if you ordered coffee, you can take one to go. I thought this was really cool service. Also, this is a great plate to have some fruits. We ordered kale scramble egg white only and Tour de France. The scramble was good, but not a lot of flavor. It goes better with some bacon. Tour de France is a great dish to try all the different flavors of French toast. My favorite is the lemon poppy seed one. My husband thought the bread was a bit too light and crumbles easily.
(3)Sarah S.
Did you know there are five Yolks now in Chicago? I sure didn't! There has to be a reason they keep expanding...people love Yolk! I went Sunday morning for brunch and we had a short wait of just about 10 minutes. I was super happy we ended up getting a nice little booth table but if you are a party of 1 or 2, you'll definitely be seated more quickly if you're okay sitting at the counter. I had the Harvest Breakfast Quinoa Bowl for $7.79 which was warm quinoa with cranberries, apples, peaches & pecans. It came with a little plate that had an orange, cinnamon, and milk. We thought it was a bit strange there was a milk option because I've never heard of pouring milk on quinoa, but maybe that's a thing. This dish was just about exactly how you'd expect a bowl of quinoa, fruit & nuts to taste! Not the most amazing dish I've ever had but it was exactly as expected and helped me feel a little more healthy than alternative options I could have ordered. I was also able to try my dining companion's Irish Benny ($11.49). Their Irish Benny comes on an english muffin smothered with corned beef hash, topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. The strangest part of this dish for me was the giant tomato everything sat on top of on the english muffin. Aside from the tomato, I enjoyed the dish. It was a giant mess of gooey hash soaked in the hollandaise but that's what it should be! Our server was very friendly but seemed extremely busy! She would check in on us here & there while placing various random items on our table and forgot our carry out box at the end of our meal. Overall though, no big issues on service. I liked Yolk and wouldn't mind going again if I'm in the area. I'd absolutely try something less healthy next time! Perhaps their french toast everyone raves about. Based on my experience and what I tried though, I'm in no huge rush to go back!
(3)Gail M.
Amazing Quinoa bowl!!! Simply the most delicious breakfast! You'll likely have to wait for 30-40 minutes on a weekend but it's worth the wait.
(5)Sarah V.
I was not happy with this place at all. I got the Santa Fe frittata and it was super disappointing. It said it had bacon and I found no bacon in it. It was lacking in spices too. It even said it was spicy and I got none of that. I got the pancakes as the side and the pancakes were a major let down. They were yellowish in color and then thick and not fluffy at all. Overall, I'm not happy. The service was great and the cup if coffee was acceptable.
(2)Bri H.
Love this place. Been here twice and I got the eggs Benedict. Very delicious. My server was nice and the prices were okay. The potatoes could have been cooked a little longer as they were still kind of hard... Other than that they were great and love the fruit that comes with my meals.
(4)Reina S.
Service was great. Food great Fresh made strawberry orange juice is awesome. Super busy on a Sunday morning but the 3 of us were able to be seated quickly at the bar.
(5)Michelle C.
The location is convenient. We came on weekdays, but there were still lots of people. We ordered Florentine eggs, which is egg benedict with spinach and mushrooms, and a build-your-own omelette. The portion was soooooo huge and all tasted good. We will definitely come again if we go to Chicago.
(4)Denise L.
Solid brunch place. The interior is cute and is designed in a way that reminds me of an Ikea setup with all the brightly colored furniture. Their menu was cute as well and had literally everything a brunch-lover could possibly want to eat. I came here already knowing I wanted the Pumpkin French Toast after reading another review. For some reason I couldn't find it on the menu but the waitress told us that the chefs can make it for me anyway. Yes please! I loved it. The dish consisted of three thick slices of pumpkin bread, and was topped with cinnamon apples and cranberries. It came with a cream cheese icing swirl which was sweet but (dare I say?) too sweet towards the end. The portion was huge, enough to feed two starving children for sure. It was good nonetheless, but not what I had expected. I went halfsies with my friend's Egg's Benedict as well which came with red potatoes and fruits. Pretty standard dish, no complaints there. Overall, everything was fresh and priced reasonably. Next time I'm back, I def want to try the Banana-blueberry Crunch Cakes and the Tour De France :)
(4)Tori K.
I am confused how this place got so many amazing reviews. I have driven past yolk numerous times and always had wanted to try it out. After one of my friends moved to Chicago a few weeks ago she said she stopped in and it was one of the best breakfast places she had been too. That was it, I had to go! I love the branding of the company, but that didn't make my food taste any better. We went around 1pm on a Monday so that could have been the issue? But it shouldn't be the problem. I was very excited to order, the entire menu SOUNDED amazing. It states on the menu that it was voted best breakfast place in Chicago. The potatoes were not cooked all the way, extremely mushy. They don't offer hash browns, which I would choose any day over what I was served. I ordered the eggs Benedict caprese I believe it was called. The pesto sauce was brown with a slight dark green tint. I understand that pesto sauce can turn brown from being oxidized, however it made it difficult to think of how long not only my potatoes had been sitting out but how long the pesto had. My whole plate wasn't "hot" at all. The English muffin was so soggy. I honestly think that they had my entire plate pre-made and it was just sitting waiting for someone to grab it. Our waiter wasn't overly friendly at all, I think I heard him say 3 things. After he spilled water on the table I felt bad, because he was so shy... he didn't say anything, just walked away. We just cleaned it up with our napkin, not a big deal. He didn't thank us for coming in or to have a nice day, he just dropped the check off and walked away. When my friend asked me how it was I was disappointed to say it was awful. I would like to think that I would try it again, but not anytime soon.
(2)Olivia S.
Came here to brunch on a Sunday morning. Saw a crowd & thought, ouch, is this going to be a long wait?! But no, a quick 15-20 mins. Surprised but relieved, my friends & I decided to wait. I saw why the wait wasn't too long though - I hand it to the staff at Yolk for their fast service. Yolk has the feel of a diner-style atmosphere but don't think service slips here - the wait staff pays attention to your needs & has pretty good recommendations. The must get: the Tour de France. 3 different types of yummy french toast: banana nut bread, lemon poppy seed bread & sweet orange bread. Lightly fried on the outside, yet each bread type is still moist in the center. & to be topped w/ blueberries, bananas & strawberries and to be accompanied by a small scoop of peanut butter & whipped butter, boo yah! I also got the citrus blast salad, which was delicious & very filling. So many different types of fruits, veggies & nuts along w/ grilled chicken and crumbled bleu cheese. Sweet & savory in every bite plus the right balance of crunch & creaminess. And did I mention reasonable prices for brunch as well?!
(5)Josh K.
Yolk was the back up to a back up plan that we weren't overly sold on when we settled on going to. However, the place threw us in our seats and knocked our god damn socks straight off. The service was amazing. Our waiter was there for everything possible and wasn't intrusive, all the while tending to a few large parties. I ordered up a custom omelet with a side of red velvet french toast, and the woman opted for a cajun scramble. Very minimal wait for the food, maybe 8-10 minutes with a nearly full house. When it arrived, everything looked beyond picture perfect. My omelet was perfect, the cheeses were at that perfect melted gooey stage, the veggies were snappy yet cooked thru, and the french toast... well, it might have been one of the best breakfast items I've ever looked at, or wrecked. The Cajun skillet from my girlfriend's side of the table was incredible. Andoullie sausage, some peppers, onions, cajun spice with perfectly scrambled in, fluffy eggs over crispy yet not overdone American Fries style cut potats. Couldn't have asked for a better skillet really. Even the rye bread we got with it was toasted to perfection with just the right marks from the toaster and a perfect toast. Back to that french toast though... there are few things I'd describe as decadent and divine, but, this creation heads to those uncharted territories. Not to mention, but I will, the cream you're served with that goes with it, and the ridiculous sweetness and saltiness of the cream cheese inside. This is a home run dish. Come to Yolk and order this, actually, go to Chicago and order this.
(5)Kevin E.
Service was slow. I asked for no mushrooms in my omelet and the waitress didn't check on us until I was almost done. The food was good but hard to enjoy it. The manager only took off $3.00 for the error when she said she would comp it for me. Probably never going back.
(1)Gabrielle H.
Good good. Good portions. Good prices. And super quick! If you need a good breakfast spot and to get in and out; this is a great option!!!
(4)Michelle R.
Great place for a casual city breakfast place. Went on a weekday with my hubby. He had a make your own omelet which he loved and I had the phenomenal eggs Benedict. Service was fantastic. The place is cute. I would highly recommend!!!
(5)Ben W.
If IKEA decided to open up a brunch restaurant... I don't think I've ever been this stuffed from brunch before in my life. Yolk not only impressed me with their portions, but flavor didn't suffer with the volume and I so wish they'd open one in NYC (but who am I kidding, the wait will probably grow to two hours within a week and ruin it for everyone). We arrived around 12PM on a Saturday, and our party of 3 was seated almost immediately. The interior reminded me of an IKEA catalog: everything was blue and gold themed. The booths and tables and chairs all looked the same. We couldn't believe Yolk only had 5 locations; the look and feel made it seem like 100+ locations, corporate style. Their extensive menu has anything brunch-y related, and some interesting styles on the classics (including a whole menu of eggs benedict). I opted for the Countryside Skillet with egg white and instead of pancakes, a side of red velvet french toast. The skillet was HUGE. Think personal 8 inch skillet that is two inches deep full of sausage, mushrooms, peppers, and cheese on a bed of potatoes. My egg whites covered the top of the skillet like a pizza and my french toast was served separately, complete with a whipped cream and strawberries garnish. There were no outstanding flavors, but everything was cooked perfectly. The potatoes weren't dry, the sausage moist, the peppers and onions caramelized. They weren't over seasoned either, which is a common brunch pitfall. The french toast was a little too much, and I struggled to get through even that one slice. It's literally a slice of cake, coated in cinnamon and eggs, and fried up. I'm surprised my stomach didn't explode by the end of the meal. The other items at the table were the South of the Border Benny and the West Coast Crepe. The benedict's strong point was the spice of the meat. It gave a nice kick before the egg yolk crept in to smooth things over. The crepe was strange because the batter was sweet. In combination with the avocado and eggs, it was a little hard to swallow. Service was pretty on par. I didn't order coffee, but the others' cups were never empty. By the time we left, there were at least 10 parties waiting, but I wouldn't be surprised if they got them seated in under 20 minutes. I would highly recommend Yolk to anyone in town, residents and tourists alike. You won't be disappointed, although you might need to siesta afterwards.
(4)Heather B.
I'm loving this place. The optional side of fruit is actually delicious (not just a pile of melon). The greek omelette is overflowing with olives. The red velvet french toast is out of this world. Yum.
(5)Jalissa T.
The best breakfast spot of all time ! Very relaxed environment with diversity . This has always been my favorite breakfast place to eat while visiting Chicago . The food is affordable and full of flavor
(5)Anu C.
Service is fast and the waiters are polite and attentive. Ambience can be a little loud and it's a family place as well. The food is a little bit on the salty side but isn't all of chicagos food? I've visited twice in the past week and I can't complete. The menu has a lot of vegetarian choices and fresh ingredients. Hands down a go to breakfast spot.
(5)Shannon S.
Yolk is always a pretty solid bet but this location is by far the best I've been to. The service is awesome, it's always super clean, and you can get in and out in under an hour if you're pressed for time. A couple of my favorite Yolk menu items: Corned Beef Hash - Comes with 2 eggs (any style). It's obviously super salty but I love it and Yolk does it right. Smoked Salmon Scrambler - Filled with all the deliciously stinky things dreams are made of. Smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onion, tomato, fennel, and capers with scrambled eggs. Just don't eat this if you're planning a makeout session in the near future. Another really awesome thing about Yolk is that for your fruit side you can request "all berries". Instead of getting grapes, orange slices, and melons you get strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. I've brought lots of people to eat at Yolk and there's definitely something for everyone. It's vegan, vegetarian, low-carb friendly so people with diet restrictions need not be wary. It's a staple in my life for sure and could easily become that for anyone else.
(5)Jake C.
Love love love this place. Everything I've ever had has not disappointed. The French toast is amazing and the chicken and waffles is bomb too. Ask for mark as your server.
(5)Hannah H.
Amazing Breakfast! Got the Big Breakfast with Red Velvet French Toast. Friend got eggs Benedict. Everything was so good! Strawberry orange juice worth the $4. Only staying in Chicago for 3 days but will go there every morning for breakfast! Would definitely recommend if you are looking for a great breakfast place!
(5)Jennifer H.
Big portions, solid breakfast staples. Good service. Decent coffee. Def worth going if you need a big, American breakfast.
(5)Cynthia L.
I am quite disappointed by the place. As rated 4 stars on Yelp I thought I'd give it a try. They have quite a big menu. Not much on the low-fat, diet, type of menu though. My husband had the combo eggs with meat and I had Ricky's omelette. The food was average and did not have a lot of flavor. My omelette was suppose to have onions, avocado, jalapeños and chorizo so I thought for sure I'd be a winner. It was pretty bland. The toast wasn't toasted, it was soggy and cold. My coffee was cold and asked for a new coffee which took 10 minutes. Everything was cold. Here's a tip: Maybe the food would taste better if it was served hot.
(2)Robert G.
I figured a good birthday brunch was in order on a snowy late November day, so I decided to join a group of coworkers for a run to Yolk. I decided to go simple, with a California omelet, fresh fruit and a side of pancakes. The fruit--grapes, pineapples and melons--was very fresh, which is nice when some breakfast places could throw on canned fruit with better results. The omelette itself had similarly fresh ingredients. The sour cream on top was nice, and the avocado made it creamy. It would've been nice for the vegetables to have been in bigger chunks, but I still liked it. The pancakes are excellent. Lots of buttermilk tang and a reasonably light texture. The real maple syrup goes perfectly with it, too. Yolk is a good option for brunch. I'm looking forward to trying the hash browns.
(4)Evelyn Z.
I thought the food was ok. I didn't see the big deal about this place. I had a frittata which was good but not memorable. Pancakes were great. Probably would go back if I was near by and not a long wait but not on my definitely return list.
(3)Jenny B.
This place is highly overrated. I'm giving it 2 stars only because my food arrived promptly- as did the check. It would have been nice if the waitress asked if I needed anything else! I had to ask someone else for a takeaway container. Very impersonal service. When I went up to pay the bill I was presented was for $16.97 but when I went to sign it was for 18.97. Apparently there's a up charge for real maple syrup. I should have been told this was extra and then put on the bill. Lastly the food is mediocre and overpriced. Makes me realize what a waste eating out is. Complete waste of $20!
(2)Daniel P.
The Irish style eggs Benedict is the best thing on the menu. The countryside skillet is also phenomenal. Great prices and super amazing food. Definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a Sunday brunch
(5)Brittiney J.
Not my favorite breakfast here in chicago but its known and all my friends and family that come out of town love it!... I like their french toast, typically im a pancake gal. However HERE! its the french toast thats terrific. :)
(3)Michael N.
Nice place, solid service and the food ain't bad either :) Stopped in before a long meeting on a weekday. It was not very packed so I was able to spread out and pull the laptop out and get some work done. Feels like they might be a bit more packed on weekends though. Will be back!
(4)Rick R.
Potatoes weren't all fully cooked and eggs as well. Overpriced for the quality. Service was good.
(3)Melanie B.
"What are you ordering?" he asks. "Probably the corn beef hash with the potatoes" I reply. There it is. I knew I would see it as soon as I said it. --The slight eyebrow raise. Mr. "I drink protein shakes every day for breakfast" is nearly appalled by my choice. ;) I won't be shamed; I want salty food. And hash is a throwback to my Midwestern childhood. I stood my ground. The Corned Beef was exactly what I needed it to be. Maybe slightly more than I needed it to be. --It was indeed SALTY. Although,the eggs on top helped balance the salt out, along with the (more than adequate but still forgettable) potatoes on the side. I was content with my choice. I needed salty comfort food and that's exactly what I got. After all the looks I got for ordering Corned Beef Hash, he decides he's going to cut loose and order Cinnamon Roll French Toast. (biting my tongue) Really?!! I wasn't in the mood for overly sweet food, but I still tried his. It was good. Three small'ish sliced rolls, the top one with a thick slathering of icing on top. They were okay. Good flavors and as sweet as you'd expect from something called Cinnamon Roll French Toast. Fairly small portion to be honest though. It's exactly what is says it is. One roll, sliced up. --He was still hungry after he finished. He regretted that he did not ask for potatoes on the side to offset the sweetness. I regretted it too, as he ate half of my potatoes off of my plate. ;) Pancakes.... ugh. I feel like such a broken record about this. They weren't good. Dry, flavorless, very flat, no air and..... not worth a single calorie. Where did they go wrong? They didn't use buttermilk and they over mixed their batter. A small science lesson....Buttermilk has magical powers. For one, it contains more acid than regular milk and it creates carbon dioxide when mixed with baking soda. When you add it to baked goods (or in this case pancakes), you get fluffier, lighter, tangier product. Why? Because the acid cuts through the long strands of gluten and the carbon dioxide provides extra lift. A stack of buttermilk pancakes will always stand taller than a stack of regular. They will be lighter, fluffier, spongier and the slight tang will go perfectly with the mild saltiness of butter and the sweetness of syrup. This is exactly what a pancake should taste like. It shouldn't taste like.... flat nothings and flat nothings are what you get here. Don't order pancakes if you expect them to taste like mine. If Bisquick is your go-to pancake, by all means order up. If you want great pancakes to beat all other pancakes, you'd better head to my house. They're from scratch. You can come in your PJs; I won't judge. ;) I also won't charge you, nor will you have to wait outside for me to call your name. Plus, many will agree, I'm pretty cute in the morning with my apron on. :) If there is one thing you cannot come here without ordering it's the Strawberry Orange Juice. I could down that all. day. long. For real. Very fresh. Strawberry seeds floating in your glass. This is not the fake juice from the cartons at Jewel-Osco. Service was good. Friendly, pleasant, welcoming. The line looks long but they move people out pretty quickly. Lots of large, sun filled windows. It was clean and very modern. --I could have easily mistaken it for a restaurant in Sweden because of its sleek decor with nice clean lines. Non-fussy. Happy space. :) Good, but best breakfast hunt continues.....
(3)Bruce Z.
Awesome breakfast ! We were in Chicago for 3 days and ended up going here for breakfast every day. They have a ton of choices on the menu. Quality of the food is outstanding. And the service is extremely quick. We leave today and I will miss this place the most :(
(5)Esther Y.
I used to come here either before or after my spin class at Flywheel, and I was addicted to the combination of spinning and brunch. Very convenient location with easy parking (especially on a Sunday). With a wide variety of food, I look forward to coming back and trying more menu items. The hostess has always been welcoming and accommodating. I've eaten here twice alone and once with a friend, and eating alone here has been quite an experience. I sat at the bar both times, and the servers were very nice to me and initiated fun and interesting conversations. The environment is warm and absolutely adorable; with the yellow theme and servers to match, I felt like I was eating in an egg! The first time I ate here, I did the "Build-a-skillet," where I asked for avocados, jalapenos, onions, and cilantro. It was interesting and appetizing, but I wasn't satisfied. The second time I ate here, I asked for the "Santa Fe Frittata" made as a skillet without dairy, and the server happily obliged. I was hooked and have been hooked since. I absolutely recommend asking for this (whether the Yolk location you go to will do this, I do not know). Overall, great staff, welcoming environment, and very accommodating. I look forward to coming back and trying something new.
(4)Nicole G.
Delicious. What a great brunch spot. I stumbled across Yolk when we were in town visiting family. Of course I looked to Yelp to help me find the best local spot. I will be back to Yolk 100%.
(5)Candra G.
Yolk was a good memory during a recent trip to Chicago. Great and friendly service and yummy food. We decided to go to Yolk after our Plan A option had a 90 minute wait. NEGATIVE - so, we did what any sane couple would do, checked Yelp for Plan B. 10 Minutes later (no wait, it just took us 10 minutes to get there) we were seated and ordering drinks. By the way, order the Strawberry Orange juice - AMAZING. I ordered an Ricky omelette w/ fruit. Don't expect to get one of those nasty pre-made fruit cups. There was a large helping of grapes (still on the vine) and pineapple. The omelette was good, I just couldn't finish it (apparently, there are five eggs in there). The prices were reasonable and the portions were not so healthy (meaning, massive). The menu is pretty diverse, so there's something for everyone. I will definitely make a return trip the next time I'm in the city.
(4)Nadia T.
I went to check out the place , since everybody I know was raving about it. We went there very early in the morning and were the first customers there. I dont know if that was that we were first or what it was , the food was not good. It was sooo greasy and tasteless. The only good thing was an excellent service. Maybe I had a bad luck, but I will not be coming back there.
(3)George K.
Went for brunch on Sunday, August 2nd after BRUNCH on Orleans lost our reservation for 12 and wouldn't accommodate us for 2 hours. Got in at Yolk on short notice only 45 minutes later. The food was excellent. I had the All-Star with French toast. Undoubtedly the BEST French toast I ever had!
(5)Anna R.
Extensive menu made it hard to make a decision, lots of great options. I had a mediterranean 5-egg omelet made with only 3 eggs (because 5 is too many and I couldn't take my leftovers with me!). The waiter was friendly and attentive, he even gave us a fresh to-go cup of coffee for our walk.
(5)Braden K.
What a TRIP! the inside looks like an IKEA! the menu and furniture look like a chain restaurant with generic food. what a surprise! Had the Pot roast Benedict, tasted like it was sitting in grandmas le cruset all day and she had seasoned it with the magical touches of love and care. also had the Hey Ricky w/ substituted red velvet pancakes.. it was a bit more $ but OH SO WORTH IT. **protip: those red velvet pancakes are GODLY. HEAVENLY. ORDER THEM REGARDLESS, thank me later. #worth7stars
(5)Emily J.
I frequent Yolk much more than I would actually like to admit. When friends and family are in town it's our go to brunch spot and I always have a great meal. I love sitting at the breakfast bar and watch everything going on in the kitchen-and it's a great way to cut down on your wait time as well. I usually get a 3 egg omelette (if you are really hungry get the 5 egg one!) and douse whatever I order in Cholula, the nectar of the breakfast gods. The coffee here is really good too and they have the fancy flavored creamers, a huge plus in my book. If you haven't been to Yolk yet, make it your next brunch spot, pronto!
(5)Julie B.
This place is always great! I've been surprised the times I've gone that the wait time is shorter than I expect walking up and seeing lots of people. Today at 11 for 3 people, only 15 minutes! There's plenty of options for food -- the red velvet French roast, crepes, and oatmeal have all been delish! My friends both order egg dishes of some sort (lots of variety so saying "an omelette" just doesn't do much to clarify at this place) and the portions were big and fillings yummy. They both said the guac wasn't the best they'd had, but a breakfast place probably isn't aiming for the best guac in Chicago :) The only thing kind of holding me back from a flawless review is their BYOB situation. It's allowed...but I wouldn't say encouraged. Our waitress didn't offer to open our bottle (not that we aren't capable but more so for others safety in a crowded place I could see that being a good idea!) and definitely didn't offer to keep the bottles chilled for us or anything like that. I just got a vibe like they almost don't like when people bring in bottles.... Maybe it slows the table turnover? Or decreases drink sales? Only sell one glass of (delicious) strawberry orange juice instead of the two someone might order if it's not mixed with champagne?? I don't know. I just didn't get a "welcome, to you and your booze!" when we sat down. But hey, as long as I can have my mimosa, I'll handle the judgement!
(4)Taos D.
Come hungry and leave stuffed and comatose- this is one of the most amazing breakfasts I've had in a while! Every little detail is amazing - from the fresh squeezed orange juice to the juicy bacon strips to the crepes to the perfectly orange yolks in the sunny side up eggs to the chicken waffles to... Ok I'll stop now!
(5)Daniel H.
This place has the comfortable but sterilized and globally inoffensive atmosphere of a Denny's, but they're actually serving pretty legit brunch. You should be able to tell by the name, this is pretty much a breakfast only joint. You get a good all american plateful of food here for $10-12. It seems like its always really packed, but they're used to that and very efficient at getting people seated and eating fast. No bar here, so you'll have to get your bloody mary and mimosa fix somewhere else.
(3)Robert K.
Yolk is a wonderful local breakfast purveyor in Chicago. They have been "handling your huevos" since 2006. The space is bright and inviting with a dining room full of top to bottom windows. Natural light fills the room and bounces playfully off of the bright blues and yellows adorning the walls. The open air kitchen is always a welcome site as diners don't have to guess at the quality behind the curtain. Hearing the bustling kitchen is cathartic in spaces like this. Once I walked in I was immediately greeted and shown to my seat at the counter. The minute I say I had a menu, a greet and a water. This is better service than I get at most fine dining establishments. The server then directed me through the menu identifying her favorites. I chose the chorizo eggs with fruit and pancakes. No sooner had I started the review, the food was coming. Piping hot, extremely fresh and tasting amazing. The mix of avocados, chorizo, scrambled eggs and salsa was a perfect #Paleo combination. Great food and great service, I think that is all you can ask. I can easily say this is one of the better breakfasts I have ever had. I completely recommend Yolk. Until the next time someone handles my huevos, dine fine.
(4)Todd P.
Fast seating on a Sunday morning, amazing portions, tasty omelette. Couldn't ask for much more.
(5)Sung Y.
Yolk is always a great place to come for breakfast! My server was attentive and quick and refilled my coffee and water frequently. I ordered the combo meal with eggs, bacon, sausage, and half a waffle. The bacon was crisp and the waffle and eggs cooked perfectly! Definitely one of my favorite breakfast spots when I am in the River North area.
(5)Julia T.
Our server was not friendly and the food was just okay. The chicken tortilla soup was terrible.
(1)Whit W.
Solid food and quick friendly service. This is a great spot for a work meeting or a quick delicious breakfast. But, if you are seeking a more Chicago like experience in an interesting atmosphere, there are a lot better options in the Windy City.
(4)K L.
This place rocks! Highly recommend. Pro : -serving size is fit for 2 people and great value -Lots of selection of food and breakfast items - Con: -food is alright, kinda fatty and greasy. Definitely unhealthy -closes in the afternoon, long wait
(4)Anthony S.
Yolk, one of my weaknesses in Chicago....I never knew about you when I lived here but I sure make time to eat here on every return trip, their Benedict is just blissful along with pretty much the entire menu. I've lost recollection of all the menu items I've tried, but never once have I left unhappy.
(4)Frances T.
Forgot I never reviewed this place! Gosh, how could I forget:/ We went here last year for our stay in Chicago from Cali. This place was was so memorable! We're still trying to find a similar place here in Los Angeles. I think we Went here three times because it was so darn good. The Tour de France was amazing. Love it here. Highly recommend.
(4)Sue K.
Food was egg-celant! I had the west coast crepe, potato and pancake! Hard to choose from all the different choices. The only "con" I could mention is the noise level. Suggest getting a booth to help with that. But being from suburbs I'm not used to the cafe style seating.
(4)Kenneth T.
Been coming here for years the staff is always friendly and attentive even though it's always so busy which is great. They keep my coffee full and they always have such good things on the menu. I love this place and will always go for many more years to come.
(5)John C.
BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!!! Service - Johnny let us take our time and was very helpful about offering recommendations. He was happy to meet my demands of how I liked my food. -Food tasted flavorful -Portions were healthy -Quality was high -Cleanliness was high
(4)Tony H.
The Red Velvet French toast lives up to the hype! I have to say that it was one of the best things I've ever eaten in recent memory. The cream cheese middle filling was a sublime surprise as you cut into the beautifully made velvet cake french toast batter. Seriously, this thing is off the charts great! The eggs Benedict was also good too, the hollandaise is tasty and the poached egg was perfect. I also liked that the muffin it was remained crispy despite absorbing some of the yolk and sauce. Overall, a great place to eat breakfast. The decor is bright and very roomy. The wait was only 5 mins at 1030 on a Saturday morning.
(5)Cecilia B.
I enjoyed Yolk, I was there about a week ago with some friends for brunch. I had the Huevos Rancheros and I wasn't that impressed. It just seems like a normal brunch place, nothing special. My friends order omlets, waffles with granola and I think the two eggs and pancakes, a lot of different things and they we all good. It gets so crowded though so its always good to go early.
(3)Jennifer N.
My first stop in Chicago was at Yolk River North to grab some breakfast. The place was packed, but my friend & I were seated immediately. (When we left the place was even more packed and people were waiting outside - around 11AM) The menu looked great and there were soo many options. I seriously wanted to order everything, but I knew I had to narrow it down to one dish or else I'd be showing off a food baby all day :( I ordered the South of the Border Benny (eggs benedict w/ chorizo) and my friend had a made to order skillet. The food came out pretty fast and initially I thought it was really good. While the eggs were cooked perfectly and the potatoes that came on the side were tasty - the chorizo..after taking a few bites..was definitely way too salty. It kind of ruined the dish for me and I couldn't finish all of it. I could feel the sodium running through my pores. My friend absoltely loved his dish though. He raved about it basically the entire trip. The service was pretty good - the waitress did seem a little rushed. She came by the table about 4 times asking if we were ready to order yet - maybe gave us 3 minutes in between each visit. I'd definitely come here again during my next visit to Chicago, but will just avoid the chorizo. I really wish Yelp offered half stars because this place deserves a solid 3.5 stars.
(3)Barby M.
A pretty decent breakfast experience. We went to Yolk on a cold, rainy day. I had the south of the border Benny and the honey had the french toast. We always depend on each other to make sure we have the perfect balance of sweet and salty foods! The benny was decent, and the french toast was very good. The food didn't blow me away, but the service was great (and quick); I could see this being a regular breakfast spot for some.
(3)Karla W.
Yolk was hopping (and loud) on a Saturday late morning! The tight space could have used some additional waiting room: Parties in line for tables spilled out of the lobby and well into the surrounding sidewalks. All those people must be a sign this place is solid, right? Despite approaching a line of about 50 others, our wait was only about 25 minutes. Our server was super-busy yet still managed to be friendly and attentive. The portions are large, so it might be wise to order two dishes to split between three people or so if you can! The Iron Man Omelette (egg whites with mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, peppers, avocado and salsa) was a non-greasy but stick-to-your-ribs way to start the day, especially with a side of fruit and multigrain toast. Breakfast potatoes could be swapped in for the fruit and pancakes or an english muffin were also options instead of the toast. Bonus points to Yolk for no upcharge for egg whites! The menu was packed with decadent and lighter options, making this a good choice for groups with diverse tastes.
(4)J C.
Awesome service from Marta, we were a large group from NY and she was fast and accommodating. Food was excellent. ...
(5)Kelly B.
I ordered a build your own skillet with at least 5 ingredients... The size of the skillet was ridiculously small for the fact that I paid an up charge for each additional ingredient. I did get a side of fruit which was delicious. I however was so underwhelmed with my food I didn't actually eat breakfast.
(2)Jessi G.
The food is good, but only if you order the right things. My fiancé ordered the south of the border benny with avocado added and it was amazing. The chipotle sauce on top really sealed it, and they gave you half of an avocado (a lot!) for adding it for $1.25. I, on the other hand, didn't order quite so well. I got the corn beef hash with sunny side up eggs and pancakes. I was craving comfort food since its New Years and I needed to cure a mild hangover from last night. The potatoes were undercooked, and the corn beef hash was from a can and soft/greasy (not crispy and home made like I expected). My pancakes were soft, fluffy, and deliciously sweet though, which saved the meal. Also, the hostess was kind of rude when we walked in the door...presumably because she was also hungover from NYE. But our server was super nice, and he gave us our coffee in a to-go cup after our meal which makes him a saint. Our food came out fast, and overall I was pretty happy. I didn't realize it was BYOB or we might have brought champagne for mimosas! Guess we'll have to remember that for next time.
(4)Chris B.
Pretty good! Great food and the menu is solid with a few exceptions: no hash browns? A bit odd for a breakfast place. Wish we had known that they don't serve alcohol so we could bring our own. Would give 3.5 stars if I could, because service was just OK. I had the Santa Fe frittata and it was hearty and delicious. Good options for the sides. Wait was about 15 minutes for a party of four on a Sunday afternoon.
(3)Brian S.
Kind of surprised this place has 4 stars with so much love for it...To begin with, I'm weary of any place that uses canned corn beef and hash for their dish, especially when it's the majority of the dish...Even if you don't make your own corned beef, at least go buy some, chop it up, and make a hash with it.....I also ordered the south of the border benny...The chorizo seemed to have way too much cumin in it and it over powered the dish. To top it all off, I ended up getting pretty sick afterwards for a few hours. Not sure if it was something from there or not, but it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)Ann S.
I've had this place bookmarked a while and was glad to get a chance to give it a try. I got the challah French toast with a side of sausage. The hubby got the nutty monkey pancakes and those were delicious! So was his bacon so I made a trade for one piece of his bacon for one of my sausage links (which were huge!). We were both happy with the trade. I really liked the French toast too and it kept me full until dinner time so we were happy to get extra value out of it! Staff were friendly, prices comparable to all of our other sit down breakfasts, nice bathrooms, snappy interior though I could've done without the rave-like music for brunch. We'll be back!
(4)Trevor M.
I love this place, this was my third time here and they never disappoint. They are always crazy busy but as long as you don't have too big of a group the tables seem to flip fairly quick. This time I tried the special, Chicken and bacon batter waffle with a sausage gravy and it was awesome, My girlfriend had the cinimmon roll french toast which is litterally a cinimmon roll cut in half grilled and served to yummy perfection. We needed a nap after this meal. They have a lot of other great options as well that aren't on the heavy side, but you won't be dissapointed with this place.
(5)Sean J.
Came in on a Sunday late morning in between rushes. Got seated to a spacious booth in a quick 15 min. Took a look at the menus and wow! What great selections for breakfast/brunch! I had the West Coast Crepes and my gf had the Tour de France. Both were fabulously tasty, very well portioned, and easy on the eyes. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal, though we couldn't eat every bite. Watch out for the side of toast, pancakes, or english muffin--I chose pancakes and with the main plate it was wayyyyy more food than my appetite could handle! Won't make that mistake next time, and there will absolutely be a next time. Yum.
(5)Mary A.
We got to the restaurant and it was so packed. There were lots of people waiting but the wait was still only about 15 minutes. The waiter was accommodating in trying to find us a table however we had to sit at the counter because it was so packed. It was not an issue at all though. The waiter was very responsive and attentive to us. She helped us immediately. She continued to come back and check on us to make sure everything was great. We ordered chicken and waffles and eggs on the side. The food was amazing. The gravy was seasoned so well. The waffles were made with bacon in them. The chicken was perfectly crispy and moist. Everything went together so we'll. the pricing is descent as well. I would recommend this place for breakfast!
(5)Jai F.
We came for brunch after looking on Google Maps near the hotel we were staying (Godfrey Hotel) which was around the corner. Hotel has an expensive and awful breakfast offering as most hotels do. This was a godsend - 5 min walk and very good. Was watching saturated fat intake so they made omelette with olive oil instead of butter and customized other parts of our meal which was helpful because i really felt like they were doing it and just saying they were accommodating me. (Had that happen before). Went here 2 days in a row and had the South Beach (pineapple thing) which was DELICIOUS! Love it...will return.
(4)Hans L.
generally very nice place, i usually get their egg benedicts and red velvet French toast, love them. this location is also less crowded than the streetervile one so you don't have to wait for like an hour when you come on Saturday 1pm. I tried waffle and chicken the other time, the waffle was good but the fried chicken was totally bar food style, wouldn't recommend it
(4)Melissa R.
I went there with a friend on a Saturday morning for brunch and it was amazing! When we got there they said it would be about 15 minute wait, but then they offered us seats at the counter top a few minutes later so we took those. The server came by as soon as we sat down to take our drink orders- she was very friendly and helpful. The coffee and strawberry lemonade we ordered were both pretty good. We ordered our food shortly after, and I got the Build-a-Skillet with turkey sausage, chorizo, and green peppers. My friend had an omelet. The food came out very quickly and everything tasted great! Neither of us could finish our meals though, it was a LOT of food. The only reason I am giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because the bacon my friend ordered never came out. Even though they were really busy, it was cool to see how fast-paced the kitchen was and how organized everything was since we were sitting at the counter top and could see everything going on. I was very impressed by the food and by the service. I will definitely be going back!
(4)Nari H.
I always have a good experience every time I go, so I gotta give it some props. Food: Their selection is just like any other good breakfast joint. They've got combos, omelettes, scramblers, french toast, pancakes and more. They even have Chicken & Waffles (though I haven't tried theirs). Plus a lunch menu. Their Eggs Benedict is good. Atmosphere: The modern decor with urban blue tile and yellow highlights all throughout are great touches. It's a pretty decent sized River North breakfast place with booths and regular tables. Service: Pretty nice and friendly. Our server did a great job with our table, though we had to flag her down once or twice, and she gave us four full steaming hot to-go cups of coffee. Fantastic for me! Not-so-mind-blowing-but-potentially-helpful-tips: Parking is metered. Weekeneds are busy. During the holiday season, if you donate a warm clothing item you get 10% off your check. Portion sizes are BIG - and most plates come with a heaping serving of fruit. While I am a little person, I consider myself a pretty big eater, and I still took food home. Wished I had shared!!
(4)Lisa G.
Casual atmosphere, large seating area, very fast service.. Hot chocolate was ok. The Tour de France i think is a must... 3 different French toast flavors in one plate... Yum!
(4)Marcia S.
This is a favorite spot for weekend brunch. It's often crowded and noisy, but it has an open feeling with lots of natural light. There's something for everyone on the menu. We usually order something different each visit. Last time I had the pecan waffle with bananas and caramel sauce, and it was decadent. My friend had the corned beef hash with poached eggs, and since he cleaned his plate, I'd say he liked it. Our waitress was having an off day, and we had to ask three times for a coffee refill. We keep coming back because the food is fresh and the price is right.
(4)Linor V.
Overpriced. Underwhelming. I have lived in Chicago for 8 years and people have always talked about Yolk, but I always wound up going to other places for brunch (which I now realize is for the better.) Don't get me wrong, it's decent enough. When I walked in I thought it was counter service and almost made a 180 and left. When my friend arrived 10 min later I said, "this isn't what I was expecting. I almost walked out." And he said, "Why? Because is feels like a cafeteria in here?" Enough said. It's just that the prices are a little high for the atmosphere and quality. I almost ordered the oatmeal but it would have come plain for $5, and each topping even cruising was a $1.75 notch, not what I was looking for. Then I almost ordered the 3 pancakes for $6.99 but in order to get fruit with it another couple bucks would have been added on. So, I went with the breakfast sandwich for $8.99. It was on a lame fluffy excuse for a (plain) bagel. It was alright, but not special. The potatoes were lacking which was disappointing since I asked the server if they were good, seasoned, popular? She claimed they are seasoned but that's a lie if I ever heard one. I should have gotten the fruit. It is convenient to the Chicago Brownline. Again, it's alright. Just not newsworthy. I'd rather go to a real diner for inexpensive food like the Howard Johnson on Lasalle and Superior or to a place w local ingredients.
(3)Jaci Y.
There's nothing bad you can say about walking and eating at Yolk. Their Chef Duke of Yolk is friendly and nice. He has great talent as he can make amazing french toast and the staff is very bright and friendly. I want to return to try their full on brunch menu.
(4)Catherine W.
The short: Decent breakfast food with a long wait. I love having egg's benedict for breakfast, but I was just okay with this one. Yes, it was very filling, but I wasn't satisfied with the corned beef addition in the Irish Benny. Perhaps they were missing a flavor/spice, the hash was clashing with the subtle flavors of the hollandaise and egg, or even the long wait. I'm not sure. If I do again (I'm from out-of-state), I will try ordering something else. Possibly the carnita egg sandwich or one of the skillets. Our waitress was awesome and very accommodating and showed up at all the right times. The space was cute, welcoming, and a bit tight. I loved having a chance to sit at the bar and seeing all the madness in the kitchen.
(3)Jackie M.
Strawberry orange juice is delicious. Big glass, very filling. The benedicts come with both potatoes and fruit. Most eggs come out runny which is a good or a bad thing if you are somewhat adverse to it. Food portions are good size with the omelette probably giving you a bang for your belly after a side pancakes. Good brunch option, quite busy and loud.
(3)Dan C.
Everytime we are in Chicago, Yolk is a mornig stop before heading back home. The food is simply delicious, staff is courteous and attentive and the experience is quite predictable. Great place for kids and small groups, but can get a little loud. If there is a wait, ask for first available at the walk up counter. Good option if there are two of you. Keep in mind most of the opposite side of the street is a tow zone and public parking on the street can be hard to find. Good walk from the Miracle Mile. The nice thing is that it is not a regular for tourists (like us!).
(4)Jessica P.
I came here on a Saturday afternoon for brunch with a friend..unfortunately they do not take reservations and it gets packed pretty fast...I'm sure it's harder to find seating when you come with a group vs. 2 ppl....the wait isn't too bad though.. my friend and I got there around 12:15PM and we waiting about 10-15 minutes.. we didn't get a booth/table, but that's ok.. Drinks: Strawberry-Orange Juice ($3.49 for sm/$3.99 for lg): tastes good, definitely worth a try 2 eggs, bacon, sausage, and a choice of french toast, crepes, waffles, or pancakes ($8.99): yes that's more than enough food or very filling for one person and everything is delicious!! french toast is perfect for this meal.. :) Customer Service: a ok...it's decent for a busy restaurant...the waiter was attentive in the midst of his busyness.. Costs: expect pay at least $15+ depending on what you order.... I would come here again for brunch.. I definitely want to try some of their other menu items! soo many options to choose from!!
(4)Sheryle I.
The portions are ridiculously large and on average $10 a plate. I suggest sharing as I have never been able to finish my meal. I'm a big fan of eggs Benedict and opted to get the Irish Benny. It was a little salty, but was very satisfied with my choice. Coffee is pretty good too.
(4)John D.
I had the Tour de France, and was up there with my favorite french toast to date. It's a trio of french toast, and really great stuff. There was a 20 minute wait on Saturday morning at 10am, and they won't seat you until your whole party is there. Glad to go back next time I'm in Chicago.
(5)Jim P.
Not their fault i picked the wrong meal. Chicken and waffle special is sodium rich chicken strips, with thick gravy that a truck driver might appreciate, but not me. Still, clean place with friendly service at good prices. Choose wisely.
(4)Cheryl T.
Fantastic breakfast! I got the cheesy egg sandwich, and it was so much more than that (see pic). What was most surprising, though, was the fruit. Typically when you order a meal and have fruit as the side, it's a very small portion and not the good stuff (blah melon - I'm talking to you). Here you receive a generous portion of grapes, orange slices, watermelon and pineapple. Ground breaking!!! Would highly recommend and will definitely visit again next time I'm in the city.
(4)Alex T.
If you go during a peak time, expect a long wait. Also portions are pretty large so you could split if you aren't feeling super hungry! But be warned. They charge a fee if you want to split your meal.. Kinda annoying when you don't wanna eat a ton.
(4)Errick P.
Excellent Red Velvet french toast. Phenomenal Nutella crepes. Eggs with cheddar cheese and onions were deeeeeelicious. Great atmosphere will definitely be back.
(5)Jenny P.
Yolk was the first to introduce us to the magic of Chicago in how the lines move quite fast. As someone who has spent many mornings in San Diego waiting an hour just to have brunch, this was quite impressive. Despite the "long" line on Saturday morning, we were seated in 5 minutes. My friend and I split the California and Garden Delight omelets. I thought it was interesting and great the way Yolk used various vegetables atypical to the breakfast scene - asparagus, green onions, and zucchini. The omelet was accompanied by a fruit platter and toast. The sheer size of the plate made it impossible to even touch the toast but I was still full until dinner time. If you order the veggie omelet, you get your veggies, protein, and fruits for the day (and carbs if you have enough stomach room left over for the toast).
(4)Lindsay D.
My go to brunch spot! The weekend wait can be brutal but they get people through pretty quickly. There are so many options for all types of breakfast food and none have let me down. Among my favorites are the skillets, orange French toast and specialty French toast. The coffee they serve is also fantastic. Considering the size of the restaurant and the wait time you also engage in quality people watching.
(5)Erica F.
We were looking for a fast, affordable but good brunch place before we left the city on a Sunday morning. Yolk was a quick walk in River North, and it was crowded but we got a table right away. Our waitress Christine was the nicest and most upbeat waitress ever, and the almond granola and wheat pancakes were awesome. Their menu had a huge selection and a lot of healthy choices for brunch and lunch. The iced coffee was great too. Highly recommend trying for a fun but not too fancy brunch place in Chicago!
(5)Elleen P.
A cute little breakfast/brunch spot in Chicago, Yolk is the epitome of a happy morning. :) My friends & I (tourists from LA) came here after seeing some great reviews on Yelp. It was a weekday morning, so it wasn't packed. We were seated quickly, and our server was prompt in letting us order, getting us waters, etc. I ordered the belgian waffle with strawberries... and it was an amazing choice, I must say. :) It tasted amazing. Don't forget to grab a Yolk silly band when you walk out! Definitely recommend. Not too heavy of a breakfast if you get a waffle or something.. but if you're a heavy-breakfast fan, there are omelettes and other combos you can choose from.
(5)Sally Y.
Yolk is such a clutch place to go for that perfect breakfast. The two downsides to this placee: 1) the menu has too many delicious options. 2) Because of it's popularity, you can find yourself waiting awhile to eat. Overall though, the food is great! I got the skillet and my boyfriend got the eggs benedict, and the eggs were cooked perfectly, the potatoes were seasoned well, and the veggies were the perfect complement to the plate. While we were there, we sat at the bar top area and were able to see the kitchen in action. It really is an incredible operation. They're so efficient, everyone know exactly what needs to be done to get things plated, and the guy in charge was a total bada$$. Great atmosphere, great food! Extra bonus: their tshirts are hilarious.
(4)Pri B.
Wonderful brunch place! I loved every single dish that we ordered and the service was great too. Especially the three different types of French toast combo is amazing!
(5)Robert J.
Top notch breakfast & brunch. If you're here on a Sunday... expect a long wait! I've been twice now when I've been in Chicago for conferences. It's the best food to nurse a not-too-terrible hangover, and it's a great place to stop if you're out walking around Downtown. Portions, Prices are decent. Selection is large (RED VELVET French Toast?!). Bacon is crispy. Service was fine. I went with groups and no one had complaints about the food. It's just all-around good. I'm sure I'll be back! :)
(4)Katie F.
Thank you, Yolk. Crazy Sunday mornings with kids solved. At least we get a good start to the day with a real meal. And one that I do not have to clean up. We are always sure to get here before 9am on the weekend before the line is out the door. But it is clearly the place to be in the art district over by Wells. We run into somebody from work or the kids' school nearly every week. For the record, the eggs really are good. They are eggs though so how do you screw that up? Bacon is excellent and somehow year-round, they manage to have fresh grapes. I really wish I knew where they buy those! Personally, I have a sweet tooth so the blitzes and the french toast options sway me nearly every week. That is what Sundays are for. I can run off the calories later in the week.
(4)Margaret Z.
I've had this on my bookmarks list for several years now and was happy to finally stop by during my trip to Chicago. This location has a great seating arrangement with a lot of booths, tables for bigger groups, and bar seating. The menu has a HUGE variety of selections ranging from specialty Benedicts, French toast, omelettes, etc. Everything is fairly reasonably priced (under $10) and the service is prompt and friendly. I ordered a breakfast platter that included bacon, sausage links, eggs any way, and a choice of pancakes/French toast/English muffins for about $8. There was a ton of food and everything was delicious, but because I ordered a very basic meal, I didn't think it was anything mind-blowing. However, everyone else's orders looked amazing. The wait wasn't too bad around 10 AM on a Saturday but there was already a wait by the time we left closer to noon.
(4)Tiffany H.
This place is soo delicious! My boyfriend and I went on a Saturday around 1:00 and got seated right away. The cinnamon roll was really good. It was warm and flaky. I had the pot roast Benedict and it was really decandant and filling. I was so full but I finished it because it was so good! It came with fruit as well and all the fruits were sweet and fresh. My boyfriend had an omelette, he said it was good. He also got a side of sausage which I think he enjoyed more than the omelette. Our server was really nice and helpful as well. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Suzanne V.
I read rave reviews of this place and decided to visit the River North location. Not too far of a walk from the Chicago red line stop. There were crowds outside waiting for tables, but my party of 2 was seated in less than 10 minutes. I love the modern decor--our booth felt so intimate and cool! Our waitress immediately came around with coffee (thank goodness!) and I ordered the country skillet with pancakes as the side. The food didn't take long, and was pretty flavorful. The portions are mammoth--you will get 2 or 3 meals out of this entree for sure. It was good but nothing special, and the pancakes had a strange tough texture. Not a fan. My friend liked her Irish eggs benedict, and for around $14 including tip, I thought it was a good value.
(3)Margaret H.
The Tour de France is worth every calorie. I was visiting from California and wanted something special. Found it! I use to live in Chicago for 5 years so I am not the average tourist either. My colleague commented that he only likes savory breakfasts but he was sorely tempted to taste each of the three different french toasts with three different toppings. This made my visit here completely memorable. The waitress was very sweet and responsive. The only thing that did not impress me was the turkey sausage. It was boring and dry. But, next time I visit, I am NOT going to order it.
(4)Sam N.
probably one of the most popular spots in the city for a meal with whoever you woke up with on Sunday morning, or you were too lazy to find anywhere else because you keep on hearing a voice in your head " hey go to yolk" They have helpful management and staff. The wait staff has a excellent knowledge and understanding of the menu should you be to bleary eyed at 10:30 AM to know which french toast you want and how to have them make it. The omelette is huge and probably is large enough to invade Honduras. I am not a brunch expert but this is a good place for that. Also for Sunday Eye candy if watching the people around you and what they are ordering or wearing really does it for you :) They also have a streeterville location that is not as crowded at 11AM on Sunday. I have yet to check that out :)
(5)Jana B.
I went for brunch here with a friend and we sat at the bar. At 10:30 am on a Friday morning we were surprised how busy and loud it was, but the energy was good. The coffee was very good (I got it black) and our server was prompt, friendly and enthusiastic which kicked the experience up a notch. I got the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. It came with a healthy portion of fresh fruit, delicious potatoes and was perfectly cooked. There were many other things on the menu that I would have liked to try. It was very hard to choose! Make sure to grab a mint on the way out.
(5)Pha M.
So this was the first time we tried this place and the food was yummy! Great choices for breakfast and reasonable prices . I got the Tour de France and it was good if you like sweets! If you're in town , you must try this place .
(4)Ahmad A.
Late breakfast? Don't worry you are covered until 3 pm! There eggs and omelets are perfect. The pancakes, however, are less than average.
(4)Ed F.
Really good quality breakfast food... Price is the same as most places around.. Recommend highly! We like Sunday mornings for breakfast but the lines are ridiculous. So we usually walk some where else.
(4)Benjamin A.
This is the best brunch place I've ever been to (and I am from New York, home of the $18 dollar egg and $20 mimosa)! I am in Chicago for two days and came here twice already! It is affordable, the food is AMAZING (esp the French toast), the atmosphere is cheery and pleasant, the service is great, and the coffee is genuine coffee shop coffee. What else is there to say? Specific recs: very berry French toast, Tour de France, and the margarita frittata
(5)Carl S.
Visited Yolk on a Friday around 10:30. No wait and an extremely pleasant waitress. My wife had the Huervos Rancheros and she loved it but thought it had too much cherizo. I had the 2x2x2x2 and it was pretty good. The service was really fast and our waitress was constantly checking on us and topping off our coffee. Great experience and will visit again next time I am in Chi-town.
(4)Jenny Y.
I came here for brunch and ended up waiting longer for my food to come out than waiting in line to get seated. Our waitress didn't really check up on us that often. It is a very busy environment with chefs yelling out things to each other. But with their service aside, I loved their florentine eggs Benedict. Delicious! I tried some of the country styled skillet and that was pretty good but a little bit on the saltier side. If you want a hearty brunch, I suggest the skillets. Also, for a side I got one of their specialty pancakes that was a blueberry/banana whole wheat pancake. It was a little bit on the dry side but I'm guessing it was because it was made from whole wheat flour. Overall, The Yolk's food was full of flavor.
(4)Foodie S.
-Since the day I moved from Chicago, I've been missing this place a lot. -I love me some Red Velvet French Toast. -Amazing place for breakfast but the long wait in the winter seems painful. -Try their eggs no matter what.
(5)Alysia B.
Perfect for me - I'm super picky and like to pick exactly what's in my food - can't beat this place for a great brunch exactly how you like it!
(5)Tony W.
COME TO THIS PLACE! I love breakfast foods and this place has amazing stuff! Everything on the menu sounded good and I finally settled on the Irish Benny (eggs Benedict and corn beef hash). My girlfriend got the Hey Ricky omelette (avocado and chorizo). The portions are very large too! My plate came with side potatoes and fresh fruit. My girlfriend's had an option of potatoes or fresh fruit AND an option of toast, pancakes or an English muffin! The waiter was kind enough to ask how I wanted my potatoes, regular or crispy. GET THEM CRISPY!!! OMG BEST POTATOES I'VE EVER HAD! Seriously! These were so good and had such good taste that I didn't season them with anything! No ketchup, no salt, nothing! Because they were absolutely the best side of potatoes I've ever eaten! My girlfriend got annoyed because I wouldn't shut up about how good they were! SO GOOD! I'm from LA so I'm most sad that I won't be able to eat here again for awhile!
(5)Manny S.
I was staying at the Godfrey Hotel not far from Yolk recently. Their breakfast consisted of overpriced muffins and coffee and a friend recommended Yolk. I'm glad he did; I wound up coming here every morning. The restaurant is large with booths, tables and counter seating. The service was quick and friendly with good recommendations from the server. My favorite dishes were the five egg omelette that comes with potatoes or fruit and pancakes, toast or English muffin. Huge portion - I didn't finish it. My favorite dish was the Tour de France French Toast. It comes with banana nut bread with bananas, sweet orange bread with strawberries, and Lemon poppyseed bread with blueberries. Delicious!
(5)Joann G.
This place is really good. We went with a big group around 13 people,arrived at 10 we only waited about 10 minutes. I.had the blitzes with apples and cinnamon..Delish...Everybody loved there food. Nice waitstaff quick service Loved it....
(5)Karen E.
An equation for mathematic gastronomes: Comfort food + healthy options + indulgences + wacky combination possibilities = fortifying breakfast. That salmon scrambler tho... how cool to see 3 salmon options on an upscale diner menu, with those crispy hashbrowns and a very fragrant jasmine tea. The good doctor ritualistically stuck with the Canadian bacon, eggs and fruit each morning (insert manly paleo grunting here). Since he has a pathological aversion to watermelon, they worked out a fruit option for him that included a giant portion of pineapple and an abundance of grapes - no problems. When we left last Saturday, there were probably 20 people waiting outside for tables indoors. That says a lot, considering there are many other breakfast options in this particular area. The wait, due to their excellent service however, goes by quickly ... once you're seated, let the flavors begin! We had breakfast at Yolk every day of our conference - there simply was no need to go anywhere else.
(4)Cat S.
After getting a BLT with no bacon on it about a year ago, I stopped eating at Yolk. How do you forget bacon on a BLT? Did the chef seriously think someone ordered just lettuce and tomato on bread? Today my coworkers were ordering so I decided to give it another shot. What a waste of my time. When I got back to the office it became clear that one of the orders was wrong - it had the wrong sides. Me and my coworker had ordered the crepes with eggs, avocado, cheese and mushrooms. The meal consists of two crepes stuffed with these ingredients. Now, maybe I'm crazy, but I expected a mix of these ingredients in each crepe. What I got was one crepe with egg, cheese and mushroom and a second crepe wrapped around some avocado. What a joke! Is the chef lazy or does he just not g.a.f? Bottom line - the food is bland and they don't know how to make it properly. Go to Flamingo's down the street; it's better food at a lower cost.
(2)Josh W.
I have been going to Yolk every so often for about two years now. I've enjoyed their food and boasted quite a bit about their delicious french toast. This review is more about their service. I took two friends this morning who have never been to yolk before. We received horrible service. The waitress was decent. She did not refill or even offer to refill our drinks once the whole time we were there. But what really bothered us is when we went to pay. Since you pay up at the counter we just went up there and told them what we each ordered. The cashier could not have been more rude. She acted as if we were criminals when we tried to split the bill. Then one of us tried to put the whole bill on his card but it was declined which almost caused her to have an aneurism. We tried to ask why we couldn't each pay for what we each got and she actually glared at us. Shouldn't customers be told the specific rules of payment before they run into an angry woman at the counter.
(2)Jason C.
This was such a hidden gem. We weren't very sure were we wanted to go for breakfast and the cabbie took us here. We both really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. My GF got the pot roast Benedict and we both fell in love with it. The wait staff was amazingly friendly and helpful and other than a little wait to sit (which isn't a negative at all...proves it's an amazing place) the experience was perfect.
(5)Lori J.
My favorite Yolk location. The food is predictable and simple.
(4)Cathy B.
Honest to God, simply the best eggs florentine I have had in my life. And when I think about that sentence, I realize just how many plates of eggs florentine I have had. Excellent preparation and presentation - top notch. Why only 4 stars? All my serving wear was chipped, especially the coffee mugs. And, I found two hairs in my dish. The first one, I was willing to say might have been mine, but, the second not so much. But you know, hair = whatever. More points of for keeping chipped servingwear in rotation. That's a no-no.
(4)Giovanni O.
Ate here twice during my trip to Chicago. Both times the breakfast was great. The menu was big enough that I could have eaten there twice more and not been tired of it.
(5)Barry K.
Sooooo Good .. Can't find food like this anywhere especially in Hawaii. All the food we ordered looks Great. Way too much to eat. But so happy.
(4)Gregory B.
Okay, maybe I am the only person in the universe who feels this way, but cheese should be inside an omelette, not on top. The swiss cheese omelette was a thick, gelatinous mass of egg, with a little cheese lying on top. Her Iron Man omelette was supposed to include cheese, but didn't. It did have the harshest onions, however. The pancakes and French toast were excellent, as were the American fries. Not many other breakfast choices available around there, so I guess it'll do?
(3)Michael W.
Found this place through Chicago yelpers blogs. I came here for brunch. Service: We had 10 min wait for a super busy packed place. And there were a line of 8 parties ahead of us. The server was quick and attentive. I can tell he was running a lot of tables. But he was able to refilled coffee and water without us asking. 4/5 Food: Ordered huevos ranchero. It came out to be good with a very fast service. However, I did not like the spicy sauce that they put on the dish. It had a bitter taste to it. If they can change that sauce to something else. It would be a better dish. The butternut squash soup was good. No complains. 4/5 Atmosphere - big big big diner place. super busy. Great modern looking decorated place. very open and sociable. 4/5 Overall, I will come back again to have brunch to try other dishes and to see their consistency.
(4)Alison B.
I really like eating here (big breakfast fan) but recently had a bad experience. My boyfriend got sick after eating here and after calling them to let them know about possible food poisoning, never got a call back. I'd really like to go back but not sure my boyfriend will agree!
(3)Michael B.
This place has a phenomenal breakfast menu! We were here on the 4th of July so there was a bit of a wait, but well worth it! I recommend their banana nut bread French toast! Delicious! The wait staff were very nice and very accomodating.
(5)Katherine A.
Best breakfast in the city but go on the weekday! Weekends are crazy busy but worth the wait. Eggs Benedict, the scrambler and oatmeal are my favorites.
(5)Maryann M.
I was ready to give it 2 stars, if I could give it 2.5 I would. Today was my first time visiting, and I am on the fence about whether or not I would go back. I had the cheesy egg sandwich with pesto and tomato and it was just ok. Tiny slices of tomato and an over abundance of pesto on a bagel that tasted like a freezer brand bagel. Coffee cups are tiny and the cream are creamer cups - not my favorite. The place is very noisy and crowded, not cozy at all. If I had to wait more than 10 minutes I would definitely not eat here again. But overall so-so food at reasonable prices. And I have no other ideas of where to get GREAT breakfast in the neighborhood.
(3)Kevin B.
Tourist trap? Not worth the 45 min wait!! I made it very simple for them by not ordering one of their gimmicky meals. If you can't get a French toast combo right why bother with something more complex? They allege to make the French toast with Sour Dough bread, vanilla, and cinnamon. None of those flavors were evident! I could not even taste eggs in the mixture. The artificial maple syrup topped off this disaster. My wife was more adventurous than I ordering the Zamboni Crepes. She offered me a taste and again no taste of eggs in a crepe! And they call this place Yolk! Plus the Hollandaise was positively wretched overwhelmed by the taste of what seemed like lemon. She could not finish them. Even the coffee was poor! Please don't waste you time or money at this place. On the positive side the sausage was good and so was the bacon despite being cold and soggy.
(1)C K.
I went on a Sunday at noon, so I expected a wait...about 20 min so not a big deal. Try to sit at the counter so you can see how the magic works and still people watch. I got the eggs benedict which turned out to be pretty good. I also tried the pancakes which were excellent. If you're going to consume their potatoes, take an aspirin or high blood pressure medicine before as they are loaded with salt. The flavor, sans salt, would still be good. Service was great , the serving sizes were large and the prices very reasonable. Their menu has many choices, so I'll definitely go back.
(4)Katherine H.
OH my 5 stars.. YOLK is amazing to me.. Taki you are the bomb and you also DINO ... but the super start is the pork sausage..is it wrong to dream about it??? The food is so good and warm and total comfort food friendly .... YOu just have to go get YOLKIFIED NOW
(5)Kathleen O.
Welcome Yolk!!! So excited you are here! There are not a TON of lunch places in our area, so it is great to have another option. Very much in love with the tomato bisque soup. soooo yummy! I am also a huge fan of the buffalo chicken wrap and the Southwestern Salad. I also enjoyed the Balsamic Chicken wrap. Every time we come here, everyone loves their meal. Service is really great and a wonderful new addition to our area! Hooray!
(4)Rachel Y.
I come to Yolk once a month for a work committee meeting, and the service is always great dealing with a table of eight with all split checks so we can get them all individually expensed for our work reports. The food is good, but I have to say it's not as great as the hype I think. It's very good but it's almost as if you're waiting for that extra oomph of 'wow'. Their strawberry orange juice is great, they're great at refilling coffee, and their oatmeal is always very popular among those at our table (I'm not personally a fan but I'm very weird on how I like my oatmeal so I'm not a fair judge). It's also a very big place so you don't usually have to wait for a table.
(3)Jef J.
I like this place. The helpings are generous, the wait-staff attentive and the variety is good. I only wish there was a little more "oomph" to the food. It is good, it is tasty, it is what a person could get at just about any other place of this sort. I have eaten here several times, always trying something different, but have yet to stumble on the dish that says "I want this again". I guess I am looking for the wow factor.
(4)Marty S.
definitely not disappointed!
(5)Stephanie W.
I wish I could give this place more than 5 stars! I got the veggie skillet both times, and I love it! It's about $10 for one of their skillet meals, but it comes with pancakes (basically an extra meal), toast, or an english muffin, and there's enough of the skillet to have leftovers, so I'd say it's definitely a good deal. Go on a weekday around 9 and there won't be a line, either. Yolk is my new favorite breakfast place :)
(5)Brian S.
Holler! The California Omelet was awesome and the service was great. The flavored coffee creamers were a nice touch too. I'm excited to have found a good place for eggs and will be back soon.
(5)Kathy H.
Not impressed. The wait was not bad for a Sunday morning at 10:30am, but they do not call people in the order of arrival. They squeezed another couple in before us and they got the booth, leaving us in the middle of the room at the first table in the row so virtually every diner had to walk past our table. The place is very noisy. Made worse by a kitchen staff that yells out the orders, they probably have to, to be heard. I ordered eggs over medium, so obviously I like them not too runny. No luck, the eggs were definitely over easy. The wheat toast was warmed bread and when I asked for it to be toasted a bit more I got, you guessed it, burnt black toast. The potatoes were cooked nicely, but lacked any flavor other than that of a boiled potato. No onion, no peppers, no herbs. I tried the place because of a promotion with my bank, hope I get what they promised because I didn't from Yolk.
(1)Jonathan H.
This place is great for brunch, but the crowds and morning waits can be a drag...just be patient. Portions are great and there is just SO much stuff to choose from that I had to come back twice. The first time was at the S. Michigan location and the wait there was longer. About 1 hr wait starting at 12:30 vs 20 min wait at 10:30 am at this Wells location. The fritattas were delicious and my friend got the crepes. Be warned though.. the west coast crepes are large and they'll give you two PLUS red diced potatoes/fresh fruit and toast/pancakes/english muffin. You may want to take some of it home or just leave so full that you'll want to stick to a liquid diet the rest of the day. The second time I visited, I ordered the eggs benedict and they were great. Again, large portions but I can't exactly take eggs benedict home, so I was full for the whole day. Service was great too - very attentive and friendly.
(4)Terri B.
Nice atmosphere and lots of people but canned corn beef!? REALLY?
(2)Darlene L.
It is great to welcome a serious breakfast spot to River North. The décor is contemporary with a slick counter for a quick eat and run move. The scramblers are cooked beautifully with your choice of three adds including plenty of veg, meat, and cheese options. Fresh fruit or potatoes as well as toast, pancakes, Eng muffin make for a plentiful and delicious breakfast. The crepes are thin, light, and sweet with just the right amount of sauteed peaches inside. Could have used a coffee refill which detracts from a five star breakfast. Open only a few weeks, they are doing admirably.
(4)Jenni L.
I loved Yolk! We just visited Chicago over the weekend and actually went twice because we were so impressed with the first breakfast. The first visit I got the "create your own scrambler" which was yummy! The portions are huge, almost too big but definitely worth the money. The second visit I got the french toast combo. The french toast was to die for! By far my favorite! The second visit was on Sunday which was very crowded compared to the no wait seating on Friday morning. Although the waiters were busy at both visits I gave yolk a 4 out of 5 due to service and the waiters not always coming back to check on you in a timely manner.
(4)ryan h.
I was really excited to try Yolk and we had been in Chicago for the weekend and decided to skip my standard spot of the Bongo Room and head for something different. Right away I noticed that size does matter, we arrived early but considering it was 9:30 am, we walked right in, but got a table right next to the kitchen which was probably the loudest table in the resturant. Once we settled in, our party of six noticed that the coffee quality was not the best, ideally I am not expecting a french press standard, but this was just slightly above diner style. Our party of six ordered everything; a variety of things off the menu, and in the end it was all OK....I would say that usually when I go out for breakfast in the city, there is always one dish that is a must have. This trip to Yolk did not have it. On a plus side, since this establishment does not serve adult beverages, the family forward approach is everywhere. I felt very comfortable as my two kids had there moments of screaming, because I was surounded by an army of shorties at most table in the back. Overall, with all the amazing places to try in Chicago I would probably not hit this one up for a second round.
(3)Rachel S.
Simply delicious. Enough stated! I am loving that the Wells st location opened, I can frequent much more often now :)
(4)Cam S.
Nice location - not too far from Mag Mile (Wells & Chicago). Get there before 8:30 Sunday morning or you wait. Large number of tables. Very good service, Good Selection of Food, Good Kids menu. Nice portions and good quality food . Modern decor. Will be repeat visitor. Worth the visit!
(4)Arjun C.
Good place- it's spacious with a modern diner meets swedish meatball counter at Ikea. Very nice menu options, with a decent lunch menu as well. I had a very nice Chorizo omlette with a very nice portion of fruit on the side. Like some others have mentioned, I was perfectly satisfied, but the flavors can be somewhat lacking. I had recently had a chorizo omlette at Pauline's which was greasier, but tasted out of this world. We also had the cinnamon roll french toast, which was excellent. Overall we'll definitely go back.
(4)Kathleen K.
I love this place. I have tried about every egg item on the menu. Everyone very tasty. Service is great too.
(5)Jessica W.
The food here is amazing. I will admit I had pretty high expectations because I've been to many breakfast places, and let me tell you, Yolk exceeded them! They have innovative breakfast items, like "Red velvet cake French toast" (i'm trying that next time) and Blueberry crunch pancakes (the granola made it yummy with a crunch). Definitely must try, but a word to the wise- GET THERE EARLY! We arrived at about noon (yeah, I slept in) and waited about an hour.
(5)Michael B.
wait not bad at all, huge space with plenty of seating, amazing food and cool wait staff. will go back as often as possible.
(4)Kimberly B.
One of the better casual brunch places in Chicago. Super cute place to meet up with some girlfriends. I went here a while ago with a friend and we only waited 10 minutes on a busy Saturday at noon. They have a good variety on the menu - really there is something for everyone. It's easy to be healthy when you can get the choice of fruit or potatoes. I like their fruit and potatoes! It's also very easy to be really bad with they're amazing french toast or waffles. BONUS: all the food is super fresh. My favorite thing on the menu has to be their West Coast crepes. It really is the best of both worlds - crepes and eggs:).
(4)Steven N.
Went to Yolk today for brunch. I love this place so much. Everyone's meal was so good, we all started sharing each other's food. I also indulged in an amazing cup of Talbott Teas' green tea. Tea and pancakes are my favorite combo!
(5)Jessica W.
This is a great place for a classic breakfast. The food is consistently delicious, the portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable. Expect to wait for a table if you come late in the morning on a Sunday.
(4)Stacey P.
The FOOD here was excellent. I got a california omlette and strawberry/orange juice. EVERYTHING was fresh, so good, and sooo tasty. My gripe is the service. We waited 35 minutes for our food to come out, and yes, our neighbors who arrived after us got their food before us. We were convinced our waitress forgot to put in our order. When our food FINALLY came, my friend said "Wow, we thought you'd forgotten about us" and instead of saying sorry, the waitress laughed as if my friend was making a super funny joke. Yeah, she wasn't. She was being passive aggressive. Catch on much? We then asked as soon as the food came if we could have the check, as we had to be somewhere soon after breakfast (and thought we had allowed PLENTY of time, but suddenly we were cutting it close). She did not bring the check right away. In fact, we had to ask her again, and even THAT time, she did not bring it right away. When we told her we were running late and really have to go, she still giggled and said OK! much like a cheerleader. We do not want your cheers, we want to get on with our day. Honestly, a sorry or an explanation (your food took longer because of xyxyxyx) would have made us happy. But her oblivion was annoying. It might have even made my omlette a little less delicious. Anyway I will give yolk another try because of the yummy food.
(3)Elle M.
I never have time for leisurely breakfast, so when I have a day off, we like going out for breakfast. Yolk was great! They have such a large menu that the choices can get overwhelming. I tend to order the same thing from different places just so I make a comparison, and know whether the place is worth going back to. Yolk is one of those. The omelette that I had was really good. We went around 10am on a weekday and it wasn't crowded at all. The service was fast, and friendly. The only downside is having to find parking close enough. But then again, it's probably a good idea to walk off the calories I consumed at Yolk.
(4)Libby R.
Sunday brunch was great here, but couldn't believe how busy! Table for two at 11:30am was about a 15-minute wait, but the atmosphere was lively, and I got to enjoy some great conversation with my girlfriend, so didn't mind at all. Sat down to the Veggie Omelette (egg whites, jack cheese, tons of veggies, hold the sour cream), multigrain toast, and a few cups of coffee. Meal was great, albeit the omelette, which was huge, was a little on the soupy side on the bottom - but nonetheless, very good. Looking forward to trying other dishes on this lengthy menu in the future.
(4)Jilliann S.
Decent breakfast food, clean diner-like ambiance, reasonable prices ($7-$10/person for breakfast). If you are craving a classic breakfast - this is good choice and they have a lot of options to appease everyone's breakfast palate. I wouldn't wait in line for it (and we didn't) and I wouldn't go out of your way to come here, but if you are in the area and craving eggs or pancakes, it fits the bill. Nothing special - well, except for the fresh squeezed strawberry orange juice. That was a tad different and tasty!
(3)Andrew H.
i first went to yolk on Mich. ave when it opened. I can tell you one thing.... as more yolks started to pop up in chicago, the consistency of their food got worse.
(3)F. G.
The California omelet was delicious! The eggs were cooked perfectly, the avocado was fresh, and the dollop of sour cream balanced the flavors beautifully. I polished off the entire thing, leaving my two gorgeous pancakes untouched (thank goodness for to-go boxes)! The fresh fruit included orange, honeydew, pineapple and grapes, all tastefully ripe and nicely presented. The coffee tasted burnt, but I suppose that is standard for "diner coffee." There were a variety of flavored creamers on the table to mask that problem. The service was speedy and friendly enough, given how busy they were during the lunch hour. Yolk is close to my workplace, so I am sure I'll be back.
(4)Leigh R.
A friend and I went to Yolk on a Sunday early afternoon for brunch. We don't live near each other so we wanted to meet somewhere in the middle. Yolk popped up on my searches and the reviews were good! Despite a Bears game going on and the normal rush we got seated right away. The place is HUGE and a little noisy but we went in the far back and had a lovely experience. The waiter was very attentive, always ready to either fill our coffee mugs or take our order. He gave us some great recommendations and we placed our order. I took a decent amount of time to get our food but well worth the wait and we were in NO rush. I think if you wanted a quicker meal you could have ate at the counter. I had an egg-white veggie omelet with fruit - HUGE and delicious. My friend had the banana-nut bread option with peanut butter and butter. It looked amazing and she loved it but I didn't taste. The portions were very generous. The price is a high but it is in a great location and you're in the city! It was $20 each for coffee and an meal. I would love to go back when I can combine breakfast and lunch into one meal!
(4)Nicki M.
The only thing keeping me from giving more stars is the issue I had with my debit card. We went to pay and my card was swiped twice (both times I was told it "didn't go through"). So i paid in cash. Come to find out I was charged once for the full amount and again for half the amount, both on my debit. Luckily the bank flagged it and did not authorize the charges. I know they're busy but that's about $50.00 of an over charge! Left me sad! Food is awesome though!!!! Love me some Yolk!
(4)Marfa B.
Cool, fun place to go for a breakfast. The food was very good. Friendly staff.
(5)Barbara M.
I was very happy to see that Yolk opened a River North location, an area sadly in need of restaurant options outside of traditional chain restaurants. It does get a little busy for breakfast and lunch so plan ahead. My favorite menu item is the Corned Beef Hash, a must try. Also, for a little afternoon snack, make sure to pick up one of their giant Pecan Rolls!
(5)Yannick F.
One of my favorite brunch spots by far. Went here for nice omelette - The Works w/ some tabasco and it was on point! Fresh fruit and coffee were amazing. The wait time here is much better than the one on Michigan Ave. Only waited 15 mins on a table and it was an early Saturday afternoon. Server was very cool and down to earth. Hot blond cashier with tat on her arm...sexy voice too, ijs. The only thing I was disappointed in was the pancakes and stopped me from giving 5 stars. Way too fluffy for my tastes, but I was hungry. Go here though! Price is decent since you typically have food to take home with you.
(4)Rad B.
Have you ever been so tired and so hungry that you didn't know what to do with yourself? Thanks to a friend, we found this lovely place after a 7 am flight from NY to Chicago. Having skipped breakfast you can't imagine how happy I was to get here at 11 am (and I'm so glad I picked the hungry option over the tired). After a nice full tummy I crashed for six hours. Best Feeling Ever. Well anyway on to more important things like Food: -Countryside skillet - YUM YUM YUM minus the gravy that I didn't really care for with eggs, this was so good! The veggies were nicely cooked (charred..in a good way) and for $10, this plate was a steal! -Huevos Rancheros - really good although I found it a tad salty. Again, decent flavor on the whole. -Coffee - well typically I wouldn't care about this at a diner but given how great the food was, I expected half decent coffee. Wrong! The coffee was worse than what you'd get off of a cart in nyc and that made me a little sad :( In any case, I came back to Yolk the next day and passed on coffee. Bottomline: great breakfast food, big portions, decent service all at a decent price.
(4)Jordan L.
So so good. Try any of the French toasts. I'm not even a French toast fan and I loved it. The only bad thing is the bathroom...a little nasty.
(4)Karen L.
Yay! I am still a fan of Yolk, even at this new River North location. It looks pretty much the same as the one in the South Loop and has the same menu. Be prepared to wait, as with any hot brunch place, it gets super crowded. I love how they have such a huge menu, although it was a little difficult making up my mind... especially, after waiting about an hour while starving! I finally opted for a lunch dish rather than a brunch one. I really do like lunch more anyhow. I got a potroast sandwich with fries. The meat was SO tender and tasty. I would definitely get it again! I also tried my friend's tuna melt. We both agreed there was too much tuna on the sandwich... it was a little overwhelming. My other friends got some brunch options that they seemed to enjoy. This is a great place to bring a group for brunch as there is something for everyone. But be prepared to wait if you go during prime brunch time... or go earlier (9 am) or later (12 pm) on the weekend.
(4)Eric B.
Delicous. So many choices. There are healthy options, too, if you don't understand the point of breakfast and hate good times.
(4)Tabitha G.
Yolk has become one of my go to breakfast places in the city and I'm ecstatic that they've finally opened a River North location. If only they had opened before I moved out of the neighborhood. My husband absolutely LOVES their pancakes and will always get a short stack on the side of whatever he orders. When he wants to indulge he'll get the cinnamon roll french toast, which is to die for, but I'm not much of a sweets person in the morning so I opt for eggs instead. My staple is the portabello scramble, but I've tried their veggie skillet and corn beef hash, which are equally as good. The portions are huge and the price is even better. We've never spent more than $30 (2 meals, juice, coffee and tip) between my husband and I, and always leave with plenty of food left to take home.
(4)Carri A.
Delicious! I ate here today with friends - all of us were super hungry and left extremely full. The portions are huge and the food is spot on, way tasty. I had the California Omelet with fruit and english muffin; phenomenal. And my friends all enjoyed their skillets and crepes and eggs. Service was less than excellent (we waited 10 minutes after waitress picked up our dishes to bring us the bill) but was good otherwise. I liked the decor of the restaurant as well, though it did remind me of IKEA. And if they could get some kind of sound-absorbing contraption, that would be great - it was so loud in there! Regardless, it was a solid brunch.
(4)Adam M.
I love Yolk, plain and simple. I've had both the crepes and stuffed french toast on numerous trips, and have never been disappointed. The food tastes great and for the portions you get, the price seems almost dirt cheap. I try and come here whenever I can afford it. I think my only complaint is with the Bacon. I don't think I've ever had fantastic bacon from Yolk.
(5)Jazz V.
Came for brunch one wintry Saturday morning and got the breakfast featured in the front of their menu: eggs benedict and strawberry orange juice! `Yolk claims to have the best eggs benedict in the city--since I typically don't order eggs benedict I really have no basis for comparison. Is it good? Yes, I enjoyed it very much, particularly the seasoned home potatoes and large portion of fruit that accompanied the dish. Was it good enough to convince me to order eggs benedict more often? Honestly...probably not, because I think I liked what my brunch mates ordered more. .. My sister dish was deeelish! She ordered the green eggs and ham, which is scrambled eggs, pesto, ham, and swiss cheese. I may be biased, though, because pesto on anything excites me more than the first warm day after a long winter or finding a fry in the bottom of your onion rings. But even better was the dish my brother-in-law ordered, the cinnamon roll french toast! yes indeed, it is as good as you can imagine. Warm, sweet, and savory. Flavorful eggy crust. Oozing with creamy white icing. Need I say more? So yes. I will be back again. And i'll be bringing my appetite.
(4)Patty S.
I haven't visited the Yolk in South Loop, but was excited when I heard they were opening a spot in River North. We decided to take the short walk over and found it easily as there was a small crowd waiting outside for their table. The interior is very clean, modern, and bright. At first glance, the place didn't look very big, but as you walk towards the back, it opened up to another seating area behind the bar. There are 2 - 4 people booths along the wall, tables in the middle, as well as counter seating. We were there on a Sun around 10:45AM and were excited to hear that the wait was only 10-15 mins. After being seated at the counter, we opened the menu, without any expectations, and were surprised to find the amount of items on the menu. There was everything from breakfast to sandwiches, burgers, and salads. I ordered a Veggie Skillet with turkey sausage and my companion had the Irish Benny. The Veggie Skillet was delicious with the veggies being very fresh and crisp. Nothing was over cooked and enough food to be full for a whole day! The Irish Benny was delicious as well with corned beef hash instead of the canadian bacon on a regular eggs benedict. It holladise sauce had a slight kick to it which made it all that much better. All in all, I'm glad that this place opened in the neighborhood and is a short walk from home. At the same time, I'm not sure if it's worth the trip for those in other neighborhoods. We're definitely working our way down the menu and provide an update on anything extraordinary that a trip out of the way is a must.
(4)Tu'ens N.
The food is not very inventive, nor is it very flavorful. The menu is pretty much your typical brunch spot stuff - huevos rancheros, eggs, bacon, eggs benedict. I've been twice now, and both times, its very abundant food with nothing special about it except the quantity. I would avoid all the dishes with chorizo (which are many) since the chorizo is especially surprisingly flavorless. Given the waits, you might be disappointed when you eat there. Just keep in mind that the food is nothing special but it is nothing bad and you will be satisfied. If there were more brunch places in the area the lines would probably dry up. Also the decor is terrible. Its like a yellow and blue tetris game without the awesome soundtrack. Also, why do so many people need to tell us how they got to the restaurants, why they were on that road, etc? It makes it very hard to find the thing we are looking for -- your opinion of the restaurant and your experience.
(2)Erika T.
Decent food, but not a new favorite by any means. The wait was typical for 11am at a popular brunch spot. We grabbed a seat and waited 25minutes. My favorite part of the wait was watching the folks who decided to stand ridiculously close to the people trying to eat breakfast instead of in the waiting area, as though they were going to pounce on the first open table and claim it as their own. My fritatta was good but not great, and I think that was how most of our party felt about their meals as well. The Strawberry-Orange juice was the best part of the meal and would have brought the review to a 5, but the dirty look I got for asking the waitress for a refill on my coffee was a 1, so Yolk remains at a 3.
(3)Kristin C.
Love this place for brunch because unlike so many brunch spots in the city it is not so tiny that 8 people inside feels like maximum capacity. Also the food is wonderful. The Hey Ricky omelet is wonderful and service was top notch.
(4)amanda y.
good things come to those who wait.... in line at yolk for 45 minutes on a saturday morning. yolk is one of the only breakfast places that i will wait inside or outside to eat at in the morning. it has everything that i DON'T like: tourists, long waits, babies....BUT the food is so good, you have to enjoy it. it's definitely worth the wait. the coffee here is delicious. plus, my go to dish here is the hey ricky omelet. it's all of my favorite things: jalepenos, bell pepper, chorizo, and CHEEEEEEEEEEEESE
(4)Jeff P.
Yum! Definitely worth the wait. My sausage gravy & biscuits were not the least bit run of the mill and were seriously delicious as are the red potatoes that most breakfast dishes come with.
(4)Megan T.
Absolutely terrible. I was expecting a lot considering all the reviews but everything we got tasted awful. Giant portions that looked like everything was just mushed together.
(1)JJ J.
This was my first meal for my weekend visit to Chicago. Pretty decent breakfast place. I knew i'd be walking around the city a bit, so decided to go with the Iron Man Omelet. This basically has egg whites with some veggies. I got some fruit as well and chose to go with the pancakes. Nothing special, but not bad. Hence the A-OK.
(3)Julie M.
So I have to say I didn't think finding good breakfast in the windy city would be difficult but alas it was this last visit. By a complete fluke we found ourselves at yolk. I had oatmeal which was more like my mothers oatmeal than mine. Really gooey and barely warm. Almost like it was yesterdays. Only to find out that it is made with milk. I should have known after asking for a side of soy rather than milk and being told they didn't carry soy ... Toast was good. But not a vegan friendly place at all.
(3)Tipay C.
All worth noting is the FOOD was great but the wait wasn't. I went on a solo trip to chicago and asked around for great breakfast foods and yolk was one of them. for someone eating alone, i waited an hour to sit at the bar alone and the man announcing tables felt the need to still yell out "TIPAY PARTY OF 1" seriously? who has a party of one? Great now everyone knows i'm alone. I always get my eggs benedict and was very impressed. I even witnessed the line guy get tipped 20 bucks to get seated first. I wouldn't go back and wait in line.
(3)Arnold P.
Talk about a place that is busy. But anything that is good is worth the wait and this was one of the best breakfast spots Ive ever ate at. Banana crepes is a must here!
(4)Lyn B.
Like many brunch places in this neighborhood, Yolk is good, not great. The food is fine, as is the service, but it's not someplace I'm rushing to go to all the time. It's just not THAT good. It's "fine" though...
(3)Es K.
Stopped by while checking out the city. Trendy design, very clean restrooms, good solid breakfast food. Especially good diced potatoes, perfectly seasoned! Turkey sausage links were peppery and delightful! Hostess and waitstaff were accommodating and kind while we had to borrow an outlet to administer meds to my sick son, something I wasn't sure could happen while traveling. Would come again!
(4)Vipin K.
I have been here on multiple occasions, generally on the weekends, and it is quite crowded. Waiting for 30 min to an hour was generally how long I had to wait. The reason I go back is because the food is incredible. I've tried to try new things as the menu has a ton of different options. Whether you are a fan of sweet or savory breakfast options, they are all there. Its definitely a place that I would recommend and would suggest everyone try at least once.
(5)Wendy B.
My niece was excited about trying this restaurant on our recent visit to Chicago. Although we had been told it was a chain and comparable to Le Peep in Houston. We were seated promptly and our food came out quickly. Although the food was good (huge portions) and pretty tasty, I would have to say it was just A-OK.
(3)Steven T.
Amazing place, great service and the food...oh the food! French toast, Amazing muffins, great coffee...I am lost for words!
(5)Alice S.
We had breakfast AND lunch there today. Got there at 6 a.m. just as they opened. Waitress must have grabbed a pot of coffee from previous evening by accident. It was cold. No worries. She promptly brought the steaming hot stuff, which was great. Husband had scrambled eggs, turkey sausage and red-skin potatoes, which were overcooked and had lost all semblance of their rosy exteriors. I got the Scrambler with turkey sausage, spinach and jack cheese. It comes with fruit or potatoes. I wisely got the fruit- watermelon slice, pineapple and red grapes. My breakfast was perfect. Waitress was delightful, greeted us as we entered and was attentive. Enough about breakfast. Despite the coffee incident and the weird potatoes, we like the place. Went back for lunch and split the huge, 8oz patty melt. We ordered cole slaw (it's the vinegar kind...yuck) and fries ( they were good). Great iced tea, and the waitress made sure the refills kept coming. Overall, good experience. Fun place. Nice people working there. Great value for downtown Chicago. Well worth a try, but you may want to skip the breakfast potatoes.
(4)Brooke W.
Not even a breakfast girl but I must say yolk is delish! Took the family here a few days ago when they came out to visit. Loved it. Big portions, lots of options, and tasty food. Definitely go if you're in the windy city. They have 3 lovely locations which are always packed. Definitely a MUST (and I am not a breakfast girl-so you know it's good)!
(5)T C.
Yolk is a great place for a casual breakfast or lunch. Service is so-so but the food is tasty and priced well. I would describe it as a nice diner. Lots of options too.
(4)Jims L.
Surprising that no Yolk location has better than 3.5 stars, and yet still always has a large line on the weekends. The creators made a good choice with the name - an easy pick for someone to suggest for brunch/breakfast... I don't otherwise see how the food would lead to the crowd.
(2)Vaishali S.
Red velvet french toast!! Amazing. I ordered the cheesy egg sandwich and it was good. I prefer the bagel a little more toasted but it wasn't bad at all. I quickly learned that most places in Chicago are BYOB. We went across the street and bought champagne and ordered some OJ and were good to go. Good place!
(4)Eli S.
This place is great! Brightly lit with natural sunlight. Elegantly cheerful decor inside. I got the country skillet which was incredible and for a very reasonable price for the amount of food you get. Service was also pretty fast. I'm definitely coming here again.
(5)Jen F.
This restaurant has delicious food-- I would recommend the crepes suzette (orange creme sauce) and the fresh strawberry grapefruit juice. The service can be a bit slow.
(4)Gracie B.
Last visit to Chicago, I went to Yolk while Mama Marie was at her dentist's office. This looks like a hip-happening breakfast spot, but it's just ok. I had an irish benny (eggs benedict with corned beef) - it was good. Nothing spectacular....which is why all that really stands out 2 months later is that after I finished my plate, no one refilled my coffee (or even allowed eyecontact to be made). Very frustrating cause I had planned to chill for a while, but ended up leaving because I felt rushed.
(3)Brian L.
I didn't know what I was missing until Yolk showed up in my neighborhood. For 5 years, my rotation of breakfast spots included the Pancake House off Rush, Tempo (across the street), and the occasional haul down to Lou Mitchell's. Well, I'll to you, Yolk puts all these Chicago standards to shame. I've been here a few times and returned to Pancake House once only to be mightily disappointed at the sad-looking eggs and miniature pancakes sitting on my plate. First of all, I like the space, especially if you can get one of the booths. The waitstaff is very good - friendly and attentive (how good do you have to be - it's breakfast!). Now to the food: I've tried the eggs benedict, which is excellent (Almost as good as the CBOT's eggs benny), a veggie omelette - I could not believe how fresh the vegetables were, and Popeye's fritatta, also very good. The portions are large, which you always want for breakfast and everything is tasty. I love that you have a choice of pancakes as a side instead of toast. You get two huge pancakes which are three times the size of Pancake House's and taste better. Yeah, I said it. And that place is called the Pancake House. I'm looking forward to trying lunch, or just going back to try some of the other interesting-looking breakfast dishes. Oh yeah, I don't know what kind of coffee they serve, but that was good too. I don't really understand some of the negative reviews (did we go to the same restaurant?) because Yolk is terrific and makes me wish I had lived in the South Loop the past few years. Instead, I have to look out my window and see the lines of vultures form at the always-mediocre Tempo Cafe.
(5)Claudia R.
We stopped by Yolk after a an unusally "rough" night and the eggs benedict nursed us back to health (I use the term loosely). The wait was pretty brutal but so worth it - and I'm really impatient.
(4)Aja M.
Good, clean. Traditional options are descent, creative options are good.
(4)Trisha C.
This place is AWESOME!! The decor is bright, the service is friendly & the portions are mre food than any reasonable person should ever eat. Everything we ordered was delicious... If I lived locally, this would be my weekend breakfast spot.
(5)Mark Y.
Listen - This is a good breakfast BUT it's expensive and the ridiculous amount of people and wait time is very annoying.
(3)Lia K.
Yolk is one of my favorite brunch joints in Chicago. I've been here several times and enjoyed each meal. The place is packed on the weekends, but it is a large space, so the line does move at a decent pace. There is a parking lot next door, and I think parking was about $12 for a few hours. My most recent visit, I had the Works omelette- sausage, bacon, ham, mushrooms, onions with hashbrowns and pancakes....drool. My boyfriend got the corned beef hash AND the eggs benedict. The portions are huge, the place is always packed and loud and it can take large groups. Enjoy!
(4)Blake H.
yolk was AWESOME. the inside of the place is super fun & funky. we got there around 1ish on saturday...they said there was going to be a 30 minute wait (I WAS DYING OF HUNGER) but, the table right by the 'breezy doorway' opened so my friend and i sat there. like immediately. it was awesome. she made me get the orange/strawberry juice and it was delicious. i had the south of the border eggs benedict which were AMAZING. the chorizo was just spicy enough and those potatoes were ridic. i don't even know if i want to try anything else there. unfortunately i also ate half of my friends scrambled egg wrap/burrito thing. so i ended up leaving sick. but it was definitely worth it. my friend doesnt live too far away from there and we have decided to go back OFTEN. so good. oh and it was a ton of food for the $$$
(4)Lizzie D.
corned beef hash = dog food from a can. 3 stars cuz my companions had good meals.
(3)Michelle J.
My sister and I unexpectedly came across Yolk when we were in the area, hungry, and undecided about what to eat. The cute logo drew us in, then when we saw the modern decor, funny merchandise, and many menu options once we walked in; we decided to stay. She chose a gigantic fruit dish, though I can't remember the name-the carved out pineapple will draw your attention. She thought it was great along with the fresh-squeezed OJ. There was so much in the portion, she had to bring some home. After one of my fav suburban stops closed (with the bananas foster french toast), I never thought I would find a replacement until I found Yolk's bananas foster crepes! They tasted wonderful and were huge! I could not finish all three and had to bring some home for later. I would recommend a try of Yolk. (By the way, we came right at the closing and instead of pushing us out the door they just recommended we order right away. We had absolutely no wait and VERY quick service!)
(4)Danelle S.
In one word this place SUCKS. You have to be out of your mind if you think this place deserves more than 1 star. It is a step up from IHOP in food quality, customer service and ambiance. Today was my first time at Yolk. When I walked in, there were 3 waitresses talking to 2 guys sitting at the counter. I sat down at the counter a few seats away from them. Not one of the 3 waitresses acknowledged me. Another waitress came by and looked at me like she was confused by me sitting at the counter. She paused before offering me a menu. I asked for recommendations and she seemed put off. I ordered the Crepe Combo which included 2 crepes, 2 eggs, 2 slices of applewood smoked bacon and 2 sausage links. I upgraded to the Nutella crepes. The crepes arrived first. They were actually good, but really, what isn't good with Nutella on it? The eggs and meat arrived second. I specifically asked for my eggs scrambled and not to be browned. What did I get? The grossest looking scrambled eggs I have ever seen. They were browned in certain spots but runny in other spots - how the hell do you even do that??? I asked for the eggs to be redone. They came back yellow but unfortunately they were still bad. The texture wasn't right at all. Seems petty and trust me I regret not taking a photo of what they gave me because if I posted it , you would know I'm not being petty. The bacon and the sausage were VERY low quality. The applewood bacon from Trader Joe's and Wholefoods is waaaay better than this crap. I also made the mistake of ordering a caramel latte for about $4.50 which is about $1 more than most restaurants and it was much smaller and low quality (surprise). If you are going to call your restaurant YOLK you better get the eggs right! It would behoove the owner to hire cooks that can scramble eggs!!! And what did I pay you ask? $16.79 for one person!!!! NEVER AGAIN
(1)Ann Y.
I am not sure if I went on a bad day, but I don't get this place. The menu is extensive, which is a plus. I wanted the california omlette done as a scramble. Our waiter acted as is this was the hardest thing in the world. I have it done all the time at other breakfast places. Either say it can't be done, or do it, but don't act like I am inconveniencing you. Also, my husband and I ordered coffee. After drinking cup one, it was a good 20 minutes before I could find someone to refill it. I also asked for sweet n' low since I was out and it was NEVER brought to me. As for my food, it was just ok. The avacodo was mushy (yuck) and my toast was a bit soggy. My husband said his was ok, but his crepes that came with his eggs were boring and nothing special. The potatoes were good as was my pecan roll so that redeemed them a bit. We did go on New Years day, so maybe it was an off day, but the food was just eh and the service was non existant. I doubt I will return.
(2)Sean S.
My only sadness is that this place isn't open 24 hours a day. I might actually find religion if I knew I could come to Yolk after a night of clubbing and find a warm plate of their brag worthy Eggs Benedict sitting in front of me. With a name like Yolk, you damn well better be able to cook an egg and they live up to the promise. Despite the fact that they cause me to break out, (sorry), I can't come to this place without getting an egg added to whatever I'm having. The Banana Fosters Creme is so tasty I'm sure it's terrible for you. I'm not a big coffee drinker but it's always so damn fresh here and that cup stays filled. The potatoes are often looked over here as their main attractions often take more credit but the freshness, seasoning, and their ability to not overcook them as so many other places do deserves a mention. If you're going to drop 10-12 bux on your breakfast go here. Might be just a tad more expensive than IHOP but if you really want to enjoy your meal, make the sacrifice. Also, just a cool note, I'm not sure if a lot of places do it, but I watched a group of women bring in a couple bottles of champagne to add to their strawberry orange juices and was pleased that the wait staff saw no problem with it whatsoever.
(4)Susan H.
Yesterday was my friend Casey's 35th birthday. I told I would treat her to lunch anywhere she wanted to go and she chose Yolk. I've been before (to the other locale) but she hadn't but was sold when she saw the menu and read that they were voted best Egg Benedict. She is a HUGE fan of Egg Ben edicts, it's her favorite go-to when we hit up a restaurant for brunch. I was able to get to the restaurant a few minutes before Casey and told our very lovely, competent waitress Steph that it was Casey's birthday and could she please stick a candle in whatever Casey ordered. Steph had a better idea and said that she could bring out a dessert crepe for Casey after her meal. Thanks Steph for thinking of that!!! Anyway, Casey arrived and chose to order the the South of the Border Benny. It had chorizo and chipotle sauce topped with two poached eggs and Yolk's homemade hollandaise sauce. Her meal also came with their delicious, lightly seasoned potatoes and fresh fruit. And when I see fresh fruit I mean large slices of oranges, pineapple, strawberries and melon. All the good stuff in large chunky portions. Casey, being the Benny expert said it was indeed the best she's ever had and can't wait to go back and try all the others on the menu. In honor of Casey's birthday I decided to forgo my usual egg white veggie omelet and instead ordered the "Cajun shroom scrambler". It consisted of a grilled portabella mushroom topped with eggs (or egg whites in my case) and seasoned veggies. Instead of potatoes I got a side of multi-grain pancakes. Two huge pancakes I might add! Everything was amazing and we both cleaned our plates. After our meal was over Steph brought out the nutella, strawberry crepe as promised. The funny thing was, although she stuck a candle in it, she didn't light it. Casey and I still haven't figured out why but none the less Casey was surprised and touched and it was an excellent birthday brunch!
(5)justin d.
Amazing french toast and meat combo! Very light and flavorful eggs scrambled to prefection with a side of bacon and sausage that are seasoned and served perfectly with a orange slice. One of the good brunch spots in chicago. Go on a weekday, the weekends are an hour wait unless you go early. . Amazing coffee! great service at this Near North location. So glad they are in my neighborhood!
(5)Greg N.
Who doesnt LOVE a good breakfast after perhaps enjoying yourself a bit too much the night before? I certainly have a soft spot for an opulent culinary start to my day...and my girlfriend and I were looking forward to the opportunity at this River North hotspot. We went at about 1 pm on a Saturday...and sat down within 5 minutes. I ordered the "Hey Rickey" omlette (mexi- with jalapenos, chorizo, chihuahua, etc) and my lovely lass decided on the veggie (spinach). She got a side of blueberry banana crunch pancakes that were the HIGHLIGHT of the menu. I couldnt stop eating them...because my omlette was a bit shy on the eggs (funny, I do like a bit of EGG in my omlette...and this one was overflowing with ingredients...but painfully light on the egg). The coffee was good...smooth with some character...and the potatoes were solid...but i couldnt help but think..."if you dont get the omlette right, I dont care how good your pancakes are...you have fallen short on your promise...since you call yourself YOLK...not CAKE...;)" My better half was beaming about hers...and i am a salesperson that LOVES to give everyone a big hug (when deserved)...but I just couldnt do it this time. Her omlette looked the same as mine...like a pile of skillet stuff fashioned into the shape of an omlette. Sorry Yolk...you could be great...but not until you tackle the basics.
(3)Sarah P.
Yoik is delicious -- well worth a trip for the cinnamon roll french toast, which is exactly what it sounds like (a whole cinnamon roll, with icing, sliced and made into french toast).
(5)Lisa A.
I had brunch there and loved it. My sister and I decided to split the cinnamon roll french toast and an omelette. They both were delicious. The cinnamon roll french toast was the best french toast of this kind that I have ever had. The icing didn't overpower the french toast or make it too sweet. The omelette was equally delicious. Be forewarned, if you go there on a Sunday, you will have to wait. However, it is worth it. I will definitely be back.
(5)Tommy M.
best breakfast in the city... maybe equal to Ann Sathers
(5)blogger n.
pretty good but not sure if the food is that special. i know that i wouldn't wait in line for this place.
(3)Jennifer S.
This place is hit or miss regarding service. I have been and received ok/good service and been and received horrible/rude service. However, the food is amazing. The Green Eggs and Ham and the Eggs Benedict are so yummy!
(3)Lezah G.
I love the ambience of this place and would give that 5 stars. I like the clean lines of the place, the wide aisles and how light and airy it is. Some people may be totally put off by the stainless steel feel of the place but I liked it. Service was good. They have a large very interesting menu but I was disappointed in what I ordered which was the Iron Man omelette which has avocado, onions,tomato, etc. It was just too mushy. I think that making an egg dish that contains ingredients usually eaten cold takes a special skill because the veggies either make the eggs cold or make them mushy. The places that seem most likely to get it right are the greasy spoon Mexican restaurants which have wonderful huevos mexicanos. Since it now costs $2 /hr to park in the area and no more free Sunday parking, I'd recommend the restaurant if you can walk to it or want a very pleasant destination in which to meet friends. The food is average.
(3)Tom T.
Mmm, Yolk. I've never been to their other location, but since this spot opened I've ordered take-out several times and eaten in once. The food is fantastic *and* served in abundance; the only downside is the price, but even that isn't so bad when you realize you'll have enough for leftovers. If you live or (like me) work nearby, you're in danger of rapidly becoming addicted.
(4)Carla S.
I LOVEEEE Yolk. The menu is enormous, as are the dishes, and I have liked everything I have had there. I've has the huevos rancheros a couple times and they are REALLY good (just beware of the jalapeno pieces in the salsa). I've also had frittatas, omelets and eggs benedict with chorizo. All good. Even the coffee is unlike any other. It's really good and apparently (because we asked) it's a special blend made just for them. The only thing I wish was different is the wait. Unless you wake up early on the weekend, expect a crazy wait. It's worth it though! P.S. If you are trying to choose between fruit and potatoes, just suck it up and get the potatoes. They're delicious.
(5)Andy O.
Def a solid breakfast/lunch joint. The food isn't memorable or inventive but it's well prepared and tasty. It also happens to be cheap.
(4)Elizabeth H.
This really wasn't what I was hoping for after reading all the great reviews. The food wasn't horrible, but it wasn't anything special or interesting. The only thing I could say that was good about this place was the service, but unfortunately that isn't going to make me return.
(2)Richard Y.
Even with lines of tables and fast pace service, expect a long wait on weekends. I tried one week day morning and saw big improvement in food and service quality. My plate of eggs sunny side up and bacon strips almost looked too good to be eaten.
(3)Aly R.
I wont lie about it.... I signed up for yelp partially to write a review for this restaurant. Honestly, I hated it. The reason I gave it one star is for the location, parking avaliability, and decor which are all good. I have heard RAVE reviews about Yolk from a friend who lives in the south loop. I dont eat breakfast food but the 3 friends I was with definitely do, so I figured I would go with and try it. I ordered a veggie wrap and it was literally shredded lettuce and tomatoes with small pieces of mushrooms and no sauce. It was terrible, I asked for ranch to save it, and the ranch that came out was NASTY, it smelled old. Instead I had the waitress bring out honey mustard, I thought it would be my saving grace. It was only okay, and she seemed ultra annoyed that i asked again and complained like 3 times. 2 of my friends shared a skillet which looked gross, and my other friend got cinnamon roll french toast i believe. She is a tiny girl and usually only eats about half of her meal and she at the entire thing, the portion size pretty darn small.The funny part about it was that the waitress said it was a huge portion. Maybe they just gave her the short end of the straw. I dont know. Be all end all, this restaurant is not worth the hype, for better options try Orange with a Peel, at least their lunch food is good!
(1)Penney K.
Skip it if you are going for tasty and interesting, but head over if you just want simple things like bacon and eggs or pancakes. It reminds me of the Pancake House (yet I would eat at the PH anyday over this place). We just went this morning and it was as bleh as it comes. The atmosphere makes me think I am dining inside an Ikea store (and that would be ok if the Crepes Suzette we ordered tasted like they were from Sweden--but they didn't). I got the Eggs Benedict (the one with the chorizo sausage). The hollandaise tasted like it came from a can, the english muffin was soggy and the potatoes were over-seasoned, which is ironic because everything else was incredibly bland. Lastly, my husband got the Huevos Rancheros (and even he, a man with limited taste buds complained that it was flavorless). The plus, our waitress was awesome and our food came out within 10-15 minutes of ordering. So if you want something family friendly, quick and have simple taste buds check it out....but if you are a person who looks forward to a new Sunday brunch spot every week that is fabulous, skip it.
(2)Ralph C.
found it via yelp...great decor...super clean...great waiter...huge breakfast portions with great variety...very good quality
(4)Mir E.
First time in Chicago and wanted to try a really good breakfast place and from the reviews I said why not. Glad I did!! I love this place so much and portions are amazing! The food is amazing! The atmosphere is amazing! The wait for a table, not so amazing lol. But it's to be expected because its such a great place. So overall I would recommend this place to anyone who loves breakfast. Oh also street parking, I parked in a lot that was down the street for about $11.
(5)Tiffany D.
1. Drive to Chicago for the weekend. 2. Have a little bit too much fun 3. Wake up Sunday morning-afternoonish craving breakfast foods 4. Ask a local where to go 5. End up at Yolk 6. Fall in Love with Breakfast all over again. The menu is impressive. In fact if you're like me, you might be tempted to bring a dry-erase marker to cross off what you don't want. 1 page into the menu and I already wanted 5 different breakfasts. The strawberry-orange juice is rightfully legendary. The coffee was a notch above typical restaurant coffee. Most skillet breakfasts can come with a side of pancakes (answering the oft dilemna of sweet or savory?!) I ended up with the surf and turf eggs Benedict because I felt like being indulgent. They were good (the shrimp was a little more than "lightly breaded") but my friend got the South of the Boarder Benny and I secretly wished I had gotten that instead. Also the Irish Benny. And then the steak skillet. Or the Sante Fe Frittata. The restaurant is BYOB as mentioned (although I didn't know this at the time, now I will never forget it. Can you imagine strawberry-orange mimosas? I can. And they are spectacular.) And another quick mention for the service. We arrived at 2pm (and they close at 3) and there was a 15 minute wait. We were seated in 10, had ordered within 20 and were eating by 2:30. They were fast, efficient, friendly. I'll be back for you, Yolk.
(4)S B.
We love everything about this place except the hostess stand. The waiters bust their butts as this place is always packed. Food is always amazing. One of our favorite breakfast places in Chicago
(5)Jelena Z.
Here, here, yelpers: Yolk doesn't just do breakfast right, but lunch too. Especially salads! Usually when ordering salad, I expect a fresh bed of greens topped with some type of protein, some crunchy veggies and a flavorful dressing. Pretty basic, right? Well the salads at Yolk are truly spectacular. They're big, beautiful and would even make a native Californian jealous. I had the Citrus Blast salad with chicken. The mixed greens were crisp, the grilled chicken breast was juicy, and these salad staples danced among plenty of other goodies. I'm talking a generous amount of avocado, pecans, green apples, golden raisins, dried cranberries, mandarin oranges, blue cheese and citrus vinaigrette. I actually subbed the goat cheese for the blue and was in salad heaven. Who knew there was such a thing? So much salad that I happily munched, worked then munched some more for a good hour. The bread stick was good, too. Yolk may still be a 4, but the salads are a 5. Trust me.
(4)David K.
We visited Yolk for breakfast before heading to Lincoln Park Zoo and were blown away. This place has the best breakfast ever!!
(5)Megan S.
This place is close to my office so we order from here pretty often. Their menu has such a variety of foods and all of it is so good. I love when we choose to eat here!
(4)Natalie N.
We went for a late Sunday Brunch and we waited less than a 1/2 hour which surprised me because I have read a lot of gripes about the wait. My fiance and I split a couple of plates. One we ordered was the tour de france and the other was a waffle. Waffle was definitely good but I think the french toast is the way to go. Especially the orange french toast! It was to die for. Service was not good. While she was pleasant, she was absent the majority of the time leaving me thirsty. Definitely a place I will revisit but the service keeps it from being a 5 star breakfast establishment. One minor detail, a lot of strollers. A LOT.
(4)J M.
Disappointed for sure. The reviews looked great for Yolk so we made the extra walk to go. One of us had a skillet and toast and I had a fritatta with pancakes. After waiting 20+ mins for our food...The skillet was good, but the toast was cold. My fritatta was warm at best. The mozz cheese on top was barely melted and the marinara on the side wasnt warm at all. My pancakes arrived cold so we asked for new ones. The replacement was the same temp. Our waitress didnt bother to ask how they were. We also saw the manager? repeatedly run into his servers behind the counter as if they shouldnt have been there in the first place. Needless to say I wouldnt go back to this place on a return visit.
(2)Josh B.
Very pleased, very good breakfast. Excellent potato pancakes.
(4)Brian F.
Gargantuan portions for a humongous price. Breakfast for 2 cost me $50 but we brought home more food than we ate. I probably would have rated the restaurant 4 stars as it was all delicious and the hollandaise sauce on my salmon Benedict was freshly made, but all our food was received cold. Normally I would send it back but I was in a hurry.
(3)Johnny T.
I'd discounted Yolk for a while. So many people seemed so blasé about the South Loop location, I just kept it moving. After all, I had plenty of great brunch spots to keep me occupied. Well, those blasé attitudes are wrong wrong wrong. I'm a big fan of Yolk for 6 reasons. 1.) Design: The layout is very cool. Large window doors open up into a wide open space that reveals the kitchen, counter service, booths and a dining room. As soon as you walk in, a wall mounted flat-screen welcomes you in with choice tv of the day. While I was there I found out that NeNe's cousin's boyfriend was NOT the daddy. Who knew? Even with a lot of people, the noise levels are manageable, the light yellows and whites are pleasing to the eye and the modern, clean lines compel exploration. 2.) Service. My party's waitress was attentive, funny, patient, and a PRO at figuring out what each person should order. She didn't lead any of us wrong and, in fact, helped steer me to some new loves. 3.) Strawberry Orange Juice. Fresh squeezed. Sweet. Full of seeds and pulp. Blood-orange in color. De.licious. 4.) Hey Ricky omelet. Avocado, peppers, cheese, salsa, chorizo, amd tomatoes. HUGE portion. Each bite was full of flavor and ingredients. The omelet was served on an over-sized plate and it took up half of it. Not only was the omelet filling but it came with two sides. I chose the fruit (honey dew, cantaloupe, pineapple, grapes, strawberries) and... 5.) CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY PANCAKES!!!! A 'side' order came on a regular-sized plate, two pancakes, filled with chocolate chips & strawberries, topped with whipped cream, powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, and fresh strawberries. You all know my love-life. Its non-existent. Food is my friend (I am crying out for help, here!!). After these pancakes, I smoked a cigarette, scratched JT + CSP onto my Mead notebook and drunk-dialed the number several times. Turned.me .OUT! 6.) Derrek Lee. So, my best bro just happened to be at Yolk, chillin' with his family. I stopped by, shot the sh!t and got invited to dinner. Well, actually, I walked by his table a few times, craned my head to see what he was doing and dropped a tracking device into his bag. And, I'm a Sox fan! Did I say that out loud? Point being: Yolk is teh aw-sum.
(4)Kara K.
Hands down, Yolk is my all-time favorite breakfast restaurant. I used to frequent the South Loop location a couple of years ago but when I heard they opened a River North spot, I was in there like swim wear. Yolk is one of those places which garners a long, well-deserved yet annoying weekend wait, so I went on a weekday morning. I was seated immediately and took great delight in reading the descriptions of all the different dishes listed on the menu....even though I knew what I wanted already. I ordered a cup of coffee and the BLUE BAYOU FRITTATA. This frittata made with blue cheese, bacon, spinach and tomatoes is so scrumptiously perfect, I'm getting hungry now just thinking about it. Everything I've tried at Yolk over the years is great --the California Omelette, the Garden Delight Omelette, the steak skillet and the salmon salad. It seems like the servers at both locations are college kids and everyone who works there are very friendly and accommodating. Both restaurants are modern and spacious and there's also a bar for those who are dining solo. I'm planning a return trip soon.
(5)Lena L.
Trendy and fun fast service. The food options are pretty cool. I got the red velvet french toast. OMG that was diabetes in my mouth! Wooh! I couldn't finish it because my sugar high surpassed that of delirium and I got a head ache. The other options looked delicious though and if I get back there I will definitely try the eggs Benedict.
(3)Ty C.
Awesome breakfast. Everyone enjoyed their meal.
(5)Dax R.
This is one of the best breakfast/lunch/brunch places in Chicago. The only thing is that you have to wait to get in as it is very popular!
(4)Allison V.
This place is great. Service is good. You can opt for fruit instead of potatoes. Their omelettes are giant. A lot of business breakfasts seem to go on here. Bike parking on street.
(4)Greg D.
very good food but here is the problem - living nearby i have eaten here about 20 times but never on the busy weekends. the service is usually ok, but i still leave a 30% tip. this friday morning the waitress tries to clear my half eaten plate (about 25 minutes into my meal). figuring i'm getting the bum's rush i leave my open newspaper on the table and my other paper on the seat, go to cashier and pay the bill. i return with the tip to find my papers gone. i still leave a tip and ask the bus if my papers were around. he reaches into the bus cart and pulls out my now soggy papers, no oops, no sorry. it's Hash Browns on wells and division for me from now on.
(2)Tina P.
Came here for brunch with my hunnie on a Saturday afternoon around 11 am and only had to wait about 15 minutes before we were seated at the counter. I was definitely expecting a longer wait with the crazy number of people packed in the place! I tried the large strawberry orange juice and it is just so yummy that I have to recommend splurging the $4 to get it! Their menu is super extensive and prices here are cheap (most below $10) and the portions are Texas sized large!!! I tried the pot roast benedict which could not be any more delicious. God bless the soul who thought of this dish. The meat was fall apart tender and the egg cooked perfectly with some runny yolk. The potatoes were good (def not dry as some others had mentioned) and my plate also came with a good portion of fresh fruit. My boyfriend tried their Sante Fe skillet and he loved the salsa that came with it. We also shared some pancakes which were also really, really good. Service was quick and friendly. You pay at the cash register when you're done. We were in and out in about an hour during prime weekend brunch hours. I'd say that's a winner in my book!
(4)Amar S.
If you want amazing French toast, go here immediately! They have a dish called "Tour De France"...wow. The service is excellent, the food is excellent, but the wait can be long. Head here knowing that you may wait awhile to get seated, but you quickly forget about after your first bite of food.
(5)Jeff D.
Great portions, really good brunch, tons of space...but get there early if you want a seat!
(4)Caroline M.
My brunch obsession continues. This time at Yolk. While I like their menu, I feel that there are almost too many options. They seriously have the whole nine yards. Eggs benedict? Like 6 versions. French toast? You got it. Frittata, you ask? Yep. I settled on the first thing that sounded amazing: cinnamon roll french toast. Portion-wise it was nice to see it within reason, and not piled up to the ceiling like at most places. My friend liked her eggs benedict but the accompanying potatoes were a bit undercooked. I bit into a cube and it was a little too firm. The melon served with it was severely under ripe. If it's not in season, don't put it on the plate, please. We both really liked the space--it was much bigger than we expected. Plenty of seating around 11am on a weekday. Service was very sweet and attentive.
(4)chad w.
Today I was responsible for breakfast at work, and totally forgot. I called up Yolk at 9am to see if they could put a catering platter together for me. The manager said it usually takes 24 hours for catering orders, but he would make it happen. He went out of his way to help me out. The breakfast arrived 45 minutes later and was delicious. Thanks Yolk!
(5)Daniel L.
Looks nice inside, service is good, but my corned beef hash was unfortunately really salty!
(2)Ann W.
The carrot cake French toast on the list of specials was out of this world complete with carrot cake frosting in the middle and a mango salsa on top. Yummy!
(5)Fred H.
I was pleasently surprised by Yolk. The food was fresh, visually appealing, and delicious. There were a wide variety of choices and even personal customization for the extremely picky eater. The wait wasn't very long either, although first available was at the bar. Yes, they have a bar, breakfast bar if you will. I had the Mediterranean omelet, with potatoes(red) and pancakes. Food was prepared in reasonable time and it was an overall joyous eating experience. Although the "breakfast bar" was a cool idea, it was kind of tight.....Depending on what you ordered you and your neighbor may have more than one plate......Also, it's kind of a new and trendy place so it was packed. Get in early...
(4)Angela R.
Great menu with creative combinations. Service was attentive and efficient. Our server took a lot of pride in her work. My daughter had a mint lemonade which was a special and was very good. Crêpe were light, bacon quesadillas and the fritatta were great.
(4)Matt E.
BOMB. Very goood, Probably will be packed but worth the wait. Fast and friendly service
(5)Amy L.
This is my second time to Yolk. Other times I have had the eggs benedict, although the menu claims they are award winning I feel they are just okay in comparison to others I think are much better like at Bongo Room for one, skillet filled with meats and country gravy which was decent and filling. This time though, I ordered an omelette with avocado, ham (don't like that they use thin deli ham for this- no flavor), and some onions and mushrooms, cheese and sour cream. I liked that you can have egg whites for no additional charge, and potatoes are pretty good. Otherwise, not much flavor to the omelette aside from that of the cheese. Plus the omelette on a pool of grease on the plate. Boyfriend got a chicken sandwich with a fruit side. His chicken breast was the thinnest, driest tiniest breast I had ever seen... served at a restaurant. I encouraged him to say something to the waiter, but he decided to just suffer in silence. Fruit side was pretty weak as well. I ordered a side salad, very boring for $5- just lettuce, tomato and a couple slices of peppers with a heavy balsamic dressing. Waiter was pretty busy so service was just fine not amazing, wait to be seated at around 2pm was 10 minutes. Food = major disappointment
(1)Mengjie Z.
This is one of the most delicious food I've ever had for brunch!! I ordered a "the works omelet" adding some broccoli. And it came with two french toasts, and fresh fruits (pineapples, grapes, watermelon and oranges). Really a lot of stuff for only about $12. It always worth waiting 30 min.
(5)Mike T.
What better way to recover from a night of debauchery? Brunch at Yolk is amazing. Tons of delicious/decadent food. I think there are at least 9 unique types of Eggs Benedict, countless types of omlettes & frittatas, and just about anything else you could want. I went Lady GaGa over the Blue Bayou Frittata (read bleu cheese) and made the mistake of choosing the pancakes (2 decent sized ones) over toast or a muffin. So.......much food. The talent in that place is amazing too. Can't wait to go back. Oh, I would have given this place 5 stars but we saw the manager bitch out some of the servers right in front of us (we were sitting at the counter). Not cool man, not cool.
(4)Lisa G.
Best breakfast I have ever I had! My sisters, mom and I were visiting Chicago for a couple days and thank goodness for Yelp or I would have never heard of this place. We went on a Tuesday morning around 9am and were seated promptly. The decor was very nice. I love the blue and yellow color scheme and how they used the egg yolk theme subtly. The light fixtures over the table were perfect. Between the four of us, we ordered the el torero scrambler (so good!!), the tour de france french toast and an order of the red velvet french toast. Both french toast orders were sweet, rich, and filling. Easting here was a great start to the long day ahead of us. Next time I visit Chicago, I will be coming back to Yolk at least 2 more times, once to have the french toast again and another time to try the lunch items. FYI The scrambler came with pancakes but our waitress let us know that instead of pancakes we could have a red velvet french toast. We were going all out this day so we went with the order of three but if you just want a taster or to share, I would definitely ask for the french toast. It's going to be a filling breakfast either way!
(5)Mike Y.
I really enjoy their Bennys. The chorizo one the most. Food is always awesome. Comfortable seating. Don't Miss
(5)Kris L.
thank God Yolk is expanding! PROS: 1. huge variety on their menu-u can satisfy everyone in your group 2. bang for your buck - it's not cheap but they give you TONS of food...most savory dishes come with a side of pancakes/toast/english muffin 3. great atmosphere, good for big groups 4. great service CONS: 1. pricier than other brunch places but portions are HUGE 2. can't make reservations Strawberry orange juice is amazing! LOVE IT!
(5)Seth W.
Wherever you live, you need a go-to brunch place. There are an endless number of scenarios in a man's life in which he has to go somewhere between 10 AM and 2 PM quick, reliable, and always all-around solid. I just moved into the Near North Side area and Yolk has quickly become that place for me. I always get "The Works", a twelve dollar omelette that is way more food than I can ever eat in one sitting (and I'm a big eater). This has become my go-to. Make it yours.
(5)Lalita A.
Had a take out order and trust me I was hungry after a night out with the girls. Portions are extremely large in my opinion and worth the price. It would be nice to dine in one day. Maybe I'll do that once summer school is over.
(5)Paul J.
Food is fair. You better like noisy.
(3)Tony T.
Had breakfast here before leaving Chicago. Felt a little guilty after my meals the previous day so I got the oatmeal, which was creamy, and had no lumps. The bananas that came on it were not sweet, and the raisins were a little sour. Definitely add some brown sugar, which came on the side as oatmeal was not sweetened. It was hearty and good but not great. Also ordered a side of fresh fruit, which was a small plate with orange slices, a lot of grapes, and one slice each of watermelon and pineapple. For the meat portion of breakfast, I ordered the bacon, which was crispy and salty just like I like it. It was a good place for breakfast and I enjoyed the meal there. They certainly give plenty of food. There is an open kitchen and if you sit at the bar, you are able to watch the kitchen staff prepare the food. There is also a yellow and blue motif for the decor, which must mean that the decorator loves Sweden or Ikea.
(3)Linda M.
From looking at it's impressively long brunch menu online, Yolk reminded me of Cora's. Despite my general avoidance of chain restaurants, I will admit that I enjoy Cora's. When we arrived at Yolk, the layout of the restaurant was also reminiscent. Bright colours contrasted on the walls and the tables. It definitely woke us up! This was the first time this trip that chorizo was on the menu and I didn't order it. My SO did though, he got the South of the Border benny that I had considered. I ended up choosing the Santa Fe Frittata. It was good, but it was nothing compared to the taste I had of his benny. I had a serious case of dish envy. One thing I loved about this restaurant that I haven't seen anywhere in Canada, including Cora's, was that they offered more than the traditional toast on the side. You could have your choice of toast, pancakes, or English muffin! Of course, I had to choose the pancakes, and they were quite good. Nothing extraordinary, but it's pretty hard to mess up pancakes. The prices were good, especially in comparison with the portions. Neither of us finished our giant breakfasts and they were both only $9.99. Very reasonable. All in all, good breakfast in all three ways - portion, price, and taste.
(4)Marissa G.
Hey Ricky! Yes, you! That tasty sounding but, in the end, strange looking and bland omelet. I'm talking to you! One question: Why? Why is your chorizo a dull grey and not a vibrant red? Why are you overloaded with onions? Why are your avocados mixed into your eggs so that you have this odd putrid color? Why don't you taste as good as I want you to? Why did you cost $10? Okay, so what is good? The service, the fresh fruit, the pancakes. But for that, I'll pay less and go somewhere else. I've had enough yolk in the face. The "Yolk" is on me.
(2)Elizabeth D.
Service excellent, food excellent. Corn beef hash best I ever had. Line to get in moved very fast. Worth the visit!!
(5)Alex I.
Extremely busy on weekends as you would expect. Unfortunately, they are easily overwhelmed. Food was okay but cooks are not able to keep up. I will look for another place next time.
(2)Janette W.
In my mind, very few places are worth a wait. Sorry, but that's just my thoughts. However, Yolk was worth it. We all got a lot to share so I got to taste: The works omelette- I ordered this and refused to share it with anyone. It came with everything bacon, sausage, ham, mushrooms, onions, and two types of cheeses.. Plus, you get pancakes on the side! That is a dream come true for people like me often torn between eggs and pancakes. And the strawberry-orange juice was amazing! But there was no alcohol, which initially I was sad about. But once everything else turned about to be so great, I wasn't even thinking about that Bloody Mary... well almost.
(4)Neha K.
I've been here 3 times with my boyfriend for breakfast and here's my overall review. Every time we've gong we've enjoyed the food for the most part. The pancakes were the only things that were consistently bad but our food was always delicious! Unfortunately, I don't think I'd go back here because the servers are awful. All three times I've been here I've felt neglected and rushed by our server. Also, the last time I went the coffee was horrible, due to the spoiled creamers they had on the table. I went through 2 cups before I realized it was the creamer and had to ask for milk to put in my coffee. The server was not at all apologetic and still charged us for the coffee. Food was good but I won't be coming here again :( Pros: Diverse menu Delicious food Cons: Horrible coffee Horrible service
(2)Melba B.
Went on a Sunday... Early afternoon... The restaurant is bright with lots of windows and very cute decor... Food was great... and this is why I am giving it 4 stars. On the down side... The wait for the table was way tooooo long... I honestly have never waited that long to be seated... So, get there Early.... Also, I am so used to eating brunch in NYC, where Mimosas or Bloody Marys are included... Yolk does not have mimosas nor any other alcoholic beverage for that matter. Over all the food was great and I would go again but I would definitely wake up earlier next time to beat the Brunch crowd...
(4)Heidi R.
I LOVE YOLK! This place is amazing and that's probably why there are always lines out the door!! They have the best menu and the biggest breakfast portions ever. You can sub out different things and get fruit instead of hashbrowns which is recently unheard of (Orange!). The omelets are amazing and the skillets are awesome too. The juice combos are great too. Plus, its BYOB! Bring in some champagne and have a brunch party. Yah waiting in line is annoying but the service is fast and tables are turned quickly. You won't be sorry if you go to Yolk... it is well worth the wait and the price isn't bad either.
(5)Jack M.
Huge menu with some very creative options: red velvet french toast, croque madame (tasted just like the ones I ate in Paris), blueberry-banana granola pancakes, etc. They also have the standard pancakes, waffles, omelettes, and skillets if you're a traditional breakfast eater. Good coffee. The juices are awesome too. Strawberry-orange juice? Yes please. Hash browns are very good also. Extremely affordable considering the river north location. Aside from the long wait on weekends, I have no complaints. My servers have always been quick and attentive. It's a staple breakfast place for my girlfriend and I.
(5)Sharon B.
Definitely in my top 3 places to brunch in the US. Pecan roll is to die for!!!! I've been dreaming about it since my first taste 2 months ago... Perfect spot to have a sweet and savory brunch. I created my own skillet and substituted for the gourmet type pancake- chose the strawberry chocolate. YUM YUM YUM. LOOOVE the substitute option! I also got the strawberry orange juice. Yummy. Service was great. We got there just before closing and our server didn't rush us at all. Decor is cute. I like the open kitchen to the bar. I've never been to the one on Mich ave.
(5)O K.
Solid, fresh, reasonably priced food. Lines get really long during the weekends, though, so get there early or late!
(4)Elaine G.
I love brunch and few places does it better than Yolk. Unfortunately, the wait here can be absolutely ridiculous (especially in the warm summer months). Once I had to wait for an hour. So come early, or try to come on a weekday (as far as I know, they don't take reservations). The clientele here is a mix of tourists and the River North crowd (fratty bros and girls brunching in full Juicy sweatsuits). Now for the food, it's your typical standard American brunch fare (but with a very wide selection), and somehow, better. The omelets, skillets, and pancakes appear on the menu like you would expect, but it all just tastes better. And prices are very reasonable. The environment is very open, sunny and just makes you feel happy. The service is nothing exceptional because the place is so busy, all the servers are running around, but I've never encountered any bad service. If you want to avoid the wait, you can get take out by calling ahead of time (I know this works for the South Loop location at least). P.S. their website is adorable.
(4)M G.
I am in love with the abundance of choices on their menu! It's seriously overwhelming. Pretty much everything you can think of for breakfast. I think I would definitely come here all the time if I lived close by. The first time I ordered eggs, potato, turkey sausage, and pancakes. It was more food than anyone should eat for a relatively good price. I mean that in a good way. My tummy was very happy! :) The second time I got the popular red velvet french toast which is absolutely delicious. Yum, yum, yum! and I don't usually like french toast! Another huge pro that I must mention is that you can substitute any of the eggs for egg whites or beaters, which I think is a fantastic idea for healthier options. This location seemed a bit better than the Michigan one. I went to each on a Sunday (different weeks). This one had a 30 min wait and the other had 1hr. I might be wrong, but I think this one is also easier to reach by public transport than the other. It was like a 1 minute walk from the L, brown line.
(5)Pablo C.
Great friendly service, a lot of options in the menu and really cool atmosphere. It is a must go place to eat some delicious breakfast food. Don't forget to order the strawberry-orange juice.
(5)KuangYou C.
This is my second time to eat in Yolk, again...a long waiting line. I had a countryside skillet. It tasted so good with the seasoning. It is like some cream blending with some mushrooms. It went well with potatoes and scrambled eggs. I think overall it is a good restaurant and waiter/waitress are kind most of time. The downside is the crowd!!!!
(4)Patty T.
5 stars for food. 5 stars for price. 5 stars for service. Overall, amazing. I consistently receive phenomenal service at this spot, and my in-town guests absolutely love it. The prices are VERY reasonable for such great food and large portions (around $9.99 for omelets and frittatas and $7.00 for pancakes and french toast). The menu also has flexible great options (your omelets come with pancakes, egg whites substitution is free, etc.). They even have stevia and flavored coffee creamer (instead of the cheap sweet & low stuff). You won't be disappointed!
(5)Amanda F.
The strawberry orange juice was delicious! Coffee was good and bold and the food was terrific. Great food after a nite out in Chicago. Service was great and very personable. Huge portions and cute atmosphere.
(5)Heather K.
I'm surprised by all the great reviews of this place. The menu is giant, I mean giant. I generally don't enjoy a big menu and prefer a place that does a few things really well. Secondly, the space is giant, I mean giant. It's not necessarily a negative except we still had to wait nearly an hour and a half. The atmosphere is bustling, almost too much. Everyone calm down, it's going to be okay. The portions are giant, I mean giant. Who the heck needs that much food. I honestly don't even remember what I got because that's how unimpressed I was. I just remember thinking to myself, "while this side of fruit is nice, it's completely wasted because the egg shit is on my watermelon and where the heck am I going to put my ketchup.". That being said, where the heck are the bloody marys? Sure, this place is fine. How hard is it to screw up eggs? But there are much better brunch places in the city. Skip the wait, skip the choices, and go some place where everything is spectacular and not just thrown together because American's need variety and enormous portions.
(3)Aaron T.
I am not sure how many times I have been here. It used to be one of my favorite weekend brunch places. The last two times I have been the service has been really slow and poor. The food still seems the same, about 4 stars for food and coffee. Not sure if this place has a new manager or stopped hiring wait staff, but there are too many other options to suffer through the poor service they are currently offering. I will not be returning until I find out it is back up to the old standards.
(2)Autumn H.
Went back a second time. Food was salty and pancakes and other things were burnt. It was very bad. Maybe they had a bad day but I am so not ready to come back. Maybe one of the worst breakfasts I had. Changed my mind. Consistency at this place needs a lot of work.
(3)Regina S.
My favorite part of Yolk: portions. I had to take half my meal home and still managed to leave Yolk with a full stomach. I got the El Torero scrambler (avocado and chorizo for the win!) with their tasty potatoes AND two pancakes for only $9 - great deal, amazing food. Our server was very personable and I was shocked at how quickly the food came out. Usually on vacation I try not to hit a place more than once, but we are seriously considering ending our trip with another Yolk visit. My only qualm is that the scrambler could have been seasoned a bit more, but it wasn't a designated spicy' menu item, and I tend to go a little heavy on the salt and pepper.
(4)Alex H.
Yolk has the best breakfast in all of Chicago! Amazing food - BYOB - delicious!! They don't take reservations so be ready to wait, but it's so worth it! Eggs Benedict are the best in Chicago!
(5)Kari H.
So delicious! I had the salmon eggs benedict and it was wonderful! The restaurant was pretty busy but the we got seated promptly and the service was excellent. We will definitely be back!
(5)Christina B.
Came for a late breakfast meeting on a weekday and that's about the only time you can seem to get a table without a horrible wait!n However, the wait will be worth it! I got the South Beach and it was gorgeous! (I added a picture). It's a half a pineapple carved out with the pineapple slices, yogurt (substitute greek yogurt for extra) granola, walnuts, strawberries and oranges with a muffin on the side. They gave me 3 choices of muffins and I chose Cranberry. It was still hot when it came out BUT the bottom was totally burned. I let them know at checkout and they were happy I told them. Good breakfast spot but....no wifi so our meeting was cut short. I long for the South Beach again so I will be back!
(4)Mickey A.
Now, don't judge me: I ate here for lunch three times in a week. Thankfully (maybe?), none of the employees recognized me. Day 1: I browsed the menu for about 10 minutes before choosing the "Make Your Own Scrambler" which is choosing three ingredients from a list (i.e. bacon, ham, turkey sausage, various veggies, etc.) to go along with scrambled eggs and potatoes (or pancakes (2) or fruit if you don't like potatoes). Also, you get a choice of bread for toast. All this was $7.99. I ordered turkey sausage, onions and zucchini with wheat toast. My scrambler combo was good. Eggs were a little more runny than I'd prefer, and there were more potatoes than my scrambler mix. I didn't finish my meal, but our lovely server offered me a small container for leftovers. Service was surprisingly fast. I think we were there no more 45 minutes (sit, order, chat, eat, pay) Day 2: I ordered the French Toast combo: 4 slices of french toast, eggs made to order, 2 slices of bacon and 2 slices of sausage. I love french toast, but I wasn't feeling the ones here. It was just okay and plain, even after dousing it in maple syrup. The sausage? Again, just okay. I thought the turkey sausage from my previous visit was much better. Day 3: See Day 1. Yolk's still growing on me, even after 3 times. I have to give it credit for being a speedy lunch option, at least during weekdays, in the area. I hope I didn't just jinx myself. Oh yeah, you pay at the cashier up front. I noticed a family sitting waiting to pay (or perhaps they were just relaxing after a meal?).
(3)Marcy B.
Great breakfast/brunch/lunch. Can't go wrong with egg or pancake options. Quinoa salad great healthy option for lunch. Blt with avocado, great sandwich. Go during the week to avoid huge weekend crowds.
(4)Felicia M.
Taking a lunch break after class with a friend and we both decided Yolk would be a great place to go. The good thing was the fact that it was rather close to our school, where I needed to return to after. We were greeted by the cashiers with a friendly smile and a "Good Afternoon". We then we seated by our waiter whose names was Ashley. She was nice and friendly in the beginning. The start of the bad feeling was when a busboy decided to push me out of his way so that he could put our glasses of water on the table as we were seated. After we received our meals and Ashley never returned to check how everything was with us. Instead, she proceeded to eat her lunch for the day at a table directly in our line of sight. We felt like we were being rushed because one of the busboys decided that it was a great idea to start putting the chairs on the tables for closing time. I'm sorry but I attend a Hospitality school and you NEVER start closing until all customers are finished and have left. While I understand it was closing time, you should never do something like that. This should go for all places not just fine dining restaurants!! While the food was very delicious, the service was horrible. It makes me not want to go back because I fear of service like this again.
(2)Philly G.
Wouldn't go back here. Long wait, cramped and full of loud kids.
(2)Ryan C.
We ate breakfast here out first day in Chicago! That wasn't good for every other place cause we compared everybody else to them based on the red velvet French toast. You must try it! Sharing meals will cost you an extra $2 but they have big portions so if you're trying to be frugal, this is a must. They give you way more than one person can eat. I would definitely go back again.
(4)Lauren H.
My bus passes by here every day, so I was so excited when the empty old space had the sign that a Yolk was coming, and it was finally here. I went on a Sunday with Vanessa M and we didn't have too bad a wait, about 20 minutes around noon. We sat down, and this Finicky Fannie was so excited that she had so many options that sounded delicious to her, that doesn't happen often. We decided to share the Eggs Benedict Florentine (which was good, but I didn't like the mushrooms in it), and Sweet Orange Bread French Toast (served with strawberries and an orange juice drizzle) that was so delicious. Service was friendly and our booth was comfortable. I like the counter set up too. I am sure I will be back, I have my eye on trying a bunch more items :)
(4)Albert H.
If you decided to come here, expect a wait of at least 10 minutes. I've gotta say it's worth the wait. I came here and got the eggs Benedict with pot roast and it was absolutely divine. They have a large selection and everything on the menu sounded delicious. You should definitely come here at least once to enjoy breakfast or brunch
(5)Andrea R.
Nothing makes me happier than a new breakfast spot in the neighborhood. Well, besides a new boutique in the neighborhood. I've been to the original Yolk in the South Loop several times and while it's not quite like Bongo Room or Toast...I'll gladly take it for the neighborhood. The new Yolk is similar to the other Yolk- very large, cheerful looking, and insanely busy. I walked by last weekend and by the amount of people waiting outside you'd think they were giving away breakfast for free! So if you happen to go here on a Saturday or Sunday morning you can expect to wait...and wait. I first tried Yolk on a random Thursday morning at 9am (the joy of working from home) and the place was pretty much empty. My breakfast companions soon arrived and we started to tackle the very large menu. We decided to all get our own thing and then maybe something a bit more fattening for the table to share. Oatmeal for me and the thin crepes topped with blueberries and strawberries for the table. I've read many good reviews on Yelp for Yolk's oatmeal...and the yelpers don't lie. This is some very tasty oatmeal- especially after dumping a bowl of brown sugar in it. And I think I not only ate my share of the thin crepes, but my friend's share as well...mmmm. I may need to get those for just myself next time. A nice addition to River North. Welcome to the neighborhood, Yolk!
(4)Morgan A.
I came, I ate, I forgot... so I thought I didn't need to go back. After months of persistence from my boyfriend, I returned to be pleasantly surprised! In all fairness, the first time I ate at yolk I was incredibly hungover at 1pm on a Sunday - my fault. I will now put it back on my go-to list of brunch places. The potatoes were crispy, the breakfast burrito was tasty, we were served quickly by a very friendly dude... can't complain! We even indulged and got a cinnamon roll to start. Not the best I've ever had, but certainly did the trick. Bonus that they have a HUGE menu to choose from! I'll certainly be back!
(4)Amanda W.
I had interviews this morning and needed to be in the office at 7:30am. Fortunately for me, Yolk opens at 6am! Hell yeah! I rocked a protein-heavy breakfast (scrambler w/ ham, broccoli, and spinach) with a bit of fruit on the side. I was full of energy for my interviews AND already found out I got the job. Yolk, I'm officially a fan for life.
(5)Teddy B.
It's eggs, done generally well, in dishes of large quantities. Nothing great that will make you go out of your way. But nothing so bad as to avoid the place. There's the well-heeled patrons of Near North mingling with the wannabe slackers and the confused tourists. It's a mix just this side of Alcoholics Anonymous. The menu is Chicago-style massive, with multiple variations of eggs, omelets, Benedicts, skillets, oatmeals, crepes, French toasts, salads, sandwiches, and burgers. Which all is a bit overwhelming any a tiny bit disappointing, as any place gets great by doing one or only a few things and doing them extremely well. Their menu needs an editor, and it shows in the quality. Maybe if they focused more, things might get pretty good. But they are a long way away from focus, trying to be all things to all people.
(3)Chloe Z.
hip spot. a modern yet friendly place. ordered a crepe suzette. I was not blown away by the crepes, but they are the better ones I've had. The place can pay more attention to customer experience though. you see ppl pushing a cart collecting leftovers just 2 feet from you. How'd you feel about that?
(4)Carolyn L.
This place is always SOOO busy. It's great to have a brunch place in the loop and in River North. Prices are very affordable and portions are huge. There is a great selection of breakfast and lunch items. I've been here for both meals and always walked away happy. The only thing that sucks is the wait but it's to be expected from a popular brunch place!
(4)Cat M.
Food: higher quality diner menu. Decor: IKEA. Not like, "they bought all their tables and utensils there because that's clearly a Poang", but like "everything is painted blue and yellow like the Swedish flag and I feel like I'm eating 99-cent meatballs and shopping for lamps".
(3)Scott C.
Your standard breakfast place that's fairly priced while tasting better than all your usual breakfast franchise options. The portions are very sizable. Do expect a wait on the weekends. I had their strawberry orange juice which was pretty tasty. I had one of their version of a vegetarian skillet which came in a pretty big portion that I ended up sharing. Best part was it wasn't overly greasy or rich compared to Denny's or other breakfast places. I recommend this place if you're really craving breakfast or brunch options in Chicago.
(3)Jackie H.
It was tempting to throw them 4 stars, here is a short list of what stopped me: -the wait can be an hour plus if you go at peak brunch times -the wait is a mess, people everywhere, no pagers, seems disorganized -the place is loud and bright, there are lots of children, what I'm really getting at is this is not a spot I would recommend after a long night out. Also no mimosas or bloodys.... so really if you are looking to recover go elsewhere.... Now for the good: Food, prices and service! The food is great, the pancakes, crepes, and french toast are all delicious and filling. You might not want to eat for the rest of the day. The menu is not overly creative but there are plenty of choices. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get and how delicious it is. While it is a pain to be seated, once you are the service is great. They keep the coffee full and the food comes quickly. The five star is tempting but I can't do it with the mess you encounter coming in the door.... really should be a 4.5.
(4)Nate L.
Hot dog it, Where do I start? Oh I know, their awesome omelette? I ordered the Works which included bacon, sausage, ham, mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes. Ordered fresh fruits (grapes, orange slices and piece of pineapple, and english muffin as a side. Pretty big portion I should add, filled this 230lbs of pure steel sex machine to the fullest! Although their omelette really isn't a omelette, it's more like scrambled but it was fluffy, tons of meat and veggies! This might just be my other favorite breakfast spots (I can't ever give up Mac's Restaurant) And the the lovely people at the restaurant gave me a 3 dollar police (they didn't have a military discount) discount so my total was just over $8. Thank you! They have plenty of items on the menu so it might be a while for me to go through them. If you are around the area, hit them up. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Matt A.
Wow! Coming here on a Saturday morning to start the weekend off right with a cup of coffee is just splendid! Don't be alarmed by the long wait for lines----people are coming to this place for a reason. I often hear about celebrities saying they have to visit this place when they come to town. I am a huge fan of the Santa Fe Fritata---delicious with all the bacon, avocado and jalapenos packed into it. This place is also a BYOB but please be courteous and don't bring your own orange juice if your going to make screw drivers---they expect you to pay for that which doesn't bother me.
(5)Kevin H.
Amazing! I had the Tour de France. Imagine banana nut bread french toast served with peanut butter..and Lemon poppyseed french toast served with fresh blueberries and warm maple syrup...and Orange swirl cake french toast topped with orange marmalade. Thick cut bacon and a stolen slice of Red Velet french toast stuffed with mascapone cheese. I probably should have tried something eggnificent but, the heart wants what the heart wants
(5)Phil V.
We were hunting for a great breakfast place for our last breakfast in Chicago. We found Yolk. It was a great choice. We had a difficult time trying to decide what to order, so we ordered three dished between the two of us. Bad decision. We ordered the "best" eggs benedict in the city, corned beef hash with potato pancakes, and banana nut french toast. All were great and tasted really good. The only problem was there was simply too much food. (Is that really a problem?) Would I go back? Definitely.
(4)Valerie R.
I've been going here on and off for lunch since they opened, and am just not a huge fan anymore. I NEVER send food back and have sent eggs back there 2 or 3 times now because they came out totally raw. Today we had a check split and it was split incorrectly. When I asked the hostess to fix it, she told me they'd already split the check and she couldn't do anything about it. Our server was super nice though... that was a plus.
(2)Nik A.
I ordered the vegetarian skillet and it was absolutely filling. The portions are large and the food was cooked and seasoned well. I would definitely recommend this place and can't wait to visit again soon.
(4)Lakshmi R.
I like Yolk a lot. Big servings, a willingness to substitute meat for something else if you're vegetarian, lots of seating and an expansive menu. The downside of the expansive menu is, as is so often the case with breakfast/brunch places like this, that the restaurant doesn't specialize in anything. So the food isn't noteworthy. But if what you're looking for is regular breakfast food in this part of town, your cash will go the furthest here.
(3)KB C.
At first, I liked this breakfast joint- but after my 3rd & 4th try, the omelettes just taste bad and well, I don't come here any longer. I really wish the food was better...I really want to like the place.
(2)Angie S.
I love me some breakfast- and this place did not under deliver. Talk about a chaotic diner that is worth the wait. We got there and there was a line for a table so we sat at the bar. The bar was filled with people but we took the last two spots to sit. The service was great! They constantly were checking our coffee and very attentive. The food - rediculous! It was amazing! So much food and so delicious. When you think you know what you want you look to the side and you want what your neighbor has!! I believe I just kept eating because I didn't want anything thrown away. Hands down the best breakfast place I have yet been to. The location is just south of Michigan Ave- after breakfast take a walk so you don't feel so bad about how much you consumed!
(5)Jessica S.
I have nothing else to say except DELICIOUS. Seriously, don't know what else I can say about Yolk except for the fact that it's my favorite breakfast place in the city. A huge menu with huge portions and quick, efficient service. Even when it's packed I feel like I've never waited long. My favorite thing this far are the West Coast Crepes - sweet and savory, mmmm. Also - if you order pancakes as your 'side', be prepared for two HUGE fluffy flapjacks. Probably could be your whole meal alone. Love me some Yolk and so does everyone else I've ever gone there with.
(5)L T.
I know everybody thinks this place is the shiz-nits, but that's probably b-cuz it's one of few decent & reasonably-priced breakfast spot in the city-center. Ok, maybe there is something entertaining about all the quirky varieties of egg dishes, but they also do a decent job of basic breakfast. And if you're used to eating out for breakfast in Chicago, you won't gag when you get the check
(3)Ashley P.
Yolk is not effing around when they say they have the best eggs Benedict in town. For real. I'm not an eggs B connoisseur by any means, but I've tried my fair share and these were the best I've ever had. Fluffy, beautiful eggs and the hollandaise -- lemony and buttery and just a little bit tart and not too rich. The rest of the brunch options the table ordered looked equally delicious and HUGE. Seriously, who has leftovers from brunch? Me- when I can't stand to leave the other half of my eggs B on the table when I get up to leave.
(4)Jenn G.
The food was awesome until... I started getting nauseous an hour after I paid. I don't even think I should have paid $20+ for a meal I completely barfed up slowly but surely. Just sayin' I don't think it counts as a meal since I barfed everything I ate that seemed delicious a few hours beforehand! Funny thing is this place was very nice and clean. The service was great as was the ambiance but... I am positive I got sick from the turkey sausage. Because it was the first meal I had that day and the first thing I threw up. Maybe it was undercooked or something. I went to a smaller place later on that night and I didn't even get sick with fried puerto rican rice from the other place. You'd think the place that looked small, less clean & not as fancy would make me sick but no it was the nice looking place. Yeah I was not a happy camper. I was severely nauseous from eating at yolk.
(1)Angela S.
This is a basic brunchy kinda place. I've ordered carry-out a few times and they've yet to get my order straight.
(3)Taryn T.
Most important piece of info: if you're eating here on a weekend, make sure you get your butt seated before 10:30 a.m. if you don't want to be stuck waiting in a massive crowd of people! This place looks pretty small from the outside, but the seating actually goes way back into the restaurant, accommodating everything from brunch dates to huge families to groups of college kids with their laptops. The color scheme is a bit odd (blue and yellow - Ikea colors) and the booths are a lot less comfortable than they look, but this places serves up some solid breakfast food. The menu is large but pretty straightforward - I ordered fresh-squeezed strawberry orange juice (definitely my favorite part of the meal - I highly recommend it) and a platter of french toast, sausage, bacon and eggs. It was HUGE! Everything was tasty, but I could only finish half. Our server was ridiculously friendly and talked about how iced coffee was his version of crack. Overall, this is a nice place to go for predictable and inexpensive breakfast food (my meal + juice was $13) - just don't expect a gourmet experience or a particularly creative menu. But that's okay, because when it comes to breakfast, I think that simple is often the best way to go.
(4)Samantha B.
First time in Chicago and this place was recommended to me. MUST EATS: Eggs Benedict. They are known for that! Also the Red Velvet French toast! its soo good!
(5)Sebastian Y.
The food at Yolk is good. The portions are generous, and the service is friendly. Can't really ask for more from a breakfast/lunch place! If you are feeling adventurous and like sweets try the banana bread french toast. It was like epic meal time minus the jack daniels!
(4)Dave H.
Enjoying breakfast with my family on our last day in the Windy City. This is our 2nd time here. We really like this place for breakfast.
(4)Kim R.
A delicious brunch/ breakfast spot for a bunch of hungry tourists! Traveling with lots of people it's hard to agree on what to eat. Everyone loved it here! Something for everyone!
(5)Nirmal G.
Met a friend here today for brunch. I had decided on it based on the various options available since a lot of other highly rated brunch places have limited options. Considering that my options are already usually pretty limited, it's not helpful to me when there's only a few options available to begin with. For that, Yolk seemed great. I did recall going to the Michigan Ave location and there being some sort of peanut issue, but I wasn't sure what the exact issue was and since I didn't see anything show up on the menu when I perused it online, I figured it was worth a chance. We were seated right away but then again, it's Wednesday, so that was expected. I came in really wanting some pancakes but I really like potatoes so wasn't sure what I was going to do. Fortunately for me, they have a veggie skillet which has the option of pancakes as a side dish=perfect option! I informed the waiter that I have a peanut allergy. He said something about fry oil which I didn't really understand but whatever it was gave me the impression that it would be ok. When the food came out, he told me that they decided not to use oil on my skillet to be on the safe side and just used water. I don't know why they did that and why they didn't tell me that before they actually went through with it. Maybe they use peanut oil? I feel like if they do, that should definitely be written on the menu. Who uses peanut oil anymore anyway? Makes no sense to me. That makes them lose a star. Fortunately for all involved, the food was fantastic. The pancakes were light and fluffy and the skillet was deliciously seasoned. Didn't even need any ketchup (and I love ketchup!). The skillet tasted healthy and I'm wondering if it would have ended up being greasy if they had used oil to cook it. They may have done me a favor but without knowing what the actual skillet is like, I can't say for sure. I definitely ate too much and still ended up bringing home some of the skillet (breakfast for tomorrow!). Overall, good food, good value. I know that I will be back again although I may call them beforehand to really find out what is going on with the peanut oil.
(4)Nicole S.
Great breakfast/brunch place! Loved all the options that came with each meal. Also loved that there was no additional cost for egg whites. It makes you want to eat healthy.
(5)Michael C.
Awesome place! Made my own omelete with bacon, asparagus, and mushrooms. It was ridiculous. Y'all should try making your own creation here!
(4)Sarah W.
I love breakfast food, and the reviews of Yolk on Yelp really intrigued me. I went at 1pm, so I had no wait, even though the place was busy. I sat at the bar and got served really promptly. The waiter provided recommendations when asked (crepes). I got the Yolk crepes with blackberries...the biggest blackberries I have ever seen! It came faster than I expected and tasted great...I was just the right amount of full after the plate. The decor was cool. My only complaints were the noise (probably exacerbated by the open ceiling and narrow space) and the lack of knee room at the bar (I like to sit close, as I'm a bit of a klutz, and to do that, I had to sit on an angle). I'll definitely come back...a little over a block from The brown line makes it easy to get to on a train layover.
(4)Michelle I.
I came here with a few girlfriends after a late night of bachelorette debauchery. You can only imagine the state we were in! Nothing cures a hangover and a sore head like a good, hearty breakfast. You can just say breakfast to me and I start drooling, the hangover fog starts to lift and my brain begins to function in a semi-normal l way. We started off having to wait for a while. No biggie, this place is hopping on a Sunday morning. After we seated, coffees, juices and waters were ordered. The menu looked fantastic and I know I wasn't the only one at the table that had a hard time deciding. It seems like the group of girls really enjoyed their omelets, french toast and other accompaniments. I actually feel like I was the odd (wo)man out, because I totally did not love my breakfast. First, my turkey sausage arrived cold, not freezing cold, but like it did sit for a minute or five after cooking. Second, my California omelet first arrived with tomatoes when I asked for it without. A slight oversight that can be forgiven. But then the corrected dish came out, it was bland, boring and mushy. I'm not sure what made it mushy; undercooked eggs? over-ripe avocado? Whatever it was, it was not appealing and I barely touched it. I have had omelets with avocado before and they didn't turn into the baby-food mush pile that I had put before me. A total shame seeing that I did want to like this place. Stars retained because of decent coffee and decent service. Not sure if I'll return when I'm next in Chicago. Seems like there tons of other brunch spots to try before I return here.
(3)Don H.
My friend and I came here before our morning shift. I was immediately worried: the Yolk on Michigan and Roosevelt routinely has one to two hour waits. We certainly didn't have that amount of time. But at 915a on Sunday, we were sat immediately despite the milleu of tourists with their strollers waiting for a table of 4 or more. After sitting, we quickly, efficiently received our black coffees and set about choosing breakfast from a VAST menu. I remarked how large the restaurant was and that the service was friendly, but... efficient shall we say. I chose the zamboni crepe with the side of pancakes. When it all came to the table, it was less than 10 minutes later and it barely fit on our two top. But with space-saving techniques, we managed. At the end, with two coffees and two meal, it was $27 with tip. We also managed rockstar parking this time, but could be a challenge in the future. Be early and be patient.
(3)Michelle L.
I love this place! I first went for breakfast and I got the Hey Ricki which was everything I could have wanted! I got it again and wasn't feeling too hungry so I just wanted a salad and surprisingly they have a HUGE selection of salads. I got the buffalo chicken salad and it was delicious!
(5)Leily P.
Needed a place to eat at before my flight out to CA, and this one was perfect! The wait was about half an hour at around 11am on a Sunday. See my uploaded pics.. the food was delicious and filling, just like brunch food should be.
(4)Rob L.
Being a five minute walk away from here can be a blessing and a curse... When I have a break in work, my stomach is a rumbling and a bit of work ahead of me, a quick call and in about 12 minutes or so I am walking back to work with a ton of food that will power me through the day. The Tuscan Fritatta is my go to here. Eggs baked with pieces of chicken, potatoes, spinach and then when it is all backed through, topped with a small smattering of goat cheese. With the fruit and toast it comes with, I have enough for two meals, which I have to do most times because other wise I would be wobbling around in a dazed food coma. Plus the menu is huge! Choices galore! So even the pickiest of eaters might even find a fight in their mind trying to decide between creating their own scrambles and pancakes. I do also appreciate that they have healthy alternatives to many of their dishes. Want a scramble with egg whites or egg beaters? No problem and no extra charge. Want waffles? Go for the healthier version of a whole wheat waffle with yogurt, granola and fruit on top. The staff is always friendly, smiling and up beat, even in the slightly early morning, which always helps to get my day going in a good direction. Prices are norm for the area, but really with the amount of food I get for what I pay, I am not complaining. What I do complain about is resisting the urge to get it more than once in a while... addicting to say the least.
(4)Tiffany S.
If you are planning on coming at peak brunch hours with a group of 10, forget it. It's not worth it, and you'll just leave feeling annoyed. BUT! If you're a party of two that may be willing to sit at the counter, I recommend. There are a million people here, and waiting around for hours on some eggs is just not my bag. The menu has a TON of options, literally something for everyone. I'm actually confronted with a moderate amount of stress when trying to choose something, and end up getting something weird that I knew I wouldn't like anyways. I really think my food experience has been because of poor ordering decisions, but so far, the food is just 2 stars. Overall, it's a great place to try in Chicago, but its not the best.
(3)Michelle V.
1 star less for no power outlets. Great service: a little too in our business, but fast. Food: DELICIOUS!!!! and that wipes out any other imaginable "issue". Potions are too generous. The atmosphere is upbeat. The people: varied. There was not a table that I saw with an unhappy diner. I wished I lived there so I can just try a new thing each time I went.
(4)Matthew H.
Was staying in Chicago for 4 mornings and we decided to try a different Yelp restaurant every morning! This was the second breakfast joint we went to and so glad we did! Short walk away from the James Hotel and fortunately we got there before the HUGE rush! This place gets packed! We were able to get a seat quickly. Ordered the omelette and partner ordered the oatmeal. Both were amazing! The potatoes were grreeeaattt! haha If we are ever back, you know where we'll be! Definitely recommend giving this place a try, it's amazing and you won't regret it!
(5)Diana F.
Like my passion for photoshopping my girlfriend's faces on Donald Trump's body, my passion for brunch is undeniable. As my favorite meal, I take it very seriously when choosing a location that fits all of my criteria for that special brunch experience. By brunch experience, I mean...when even in the winter time you feel the sun is shining, the orange juice is flowing, beach boys is playing in your head and the smell of maple syrup and fresh brewed coffee is lingering in the air. Good conversation is prompted by the stellar service from the waiter/waitress whom seems to have a knack form making a typical piece of toast sound like you've never tasted something so magnificient. And at the meal, you sit back and smile with a bright outlook on the day, maybe even the future...it may even prompt the thought that today of all days..things may start to go your way. Yolk wasn't a bad experience. But it wasn't MY brunch experience. It was really normal...like going to Ihop but with a wider variety. I got the Eggs benedict and it was a typical eggs benedict. No lemon twist in the hollandaise, no added anything...pretty straight forward. The Tour de France was really decadent and yummy. It has peanut butter to spread on the banana bread french toast, lemon syrup for the poppy seed french toast and maple syrup for the strawberry french toast. The potatoes were yummy over all and the coffee was ok. Service was less than great...although it was pretty busy. I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a pretty safe place to grab a typical brunch meal. It's affordable, not too long of await and a huge menu.
(3)Rae D.
This place is right by my work, so I stop in frequently during lunch time. I always get breakfast food there, and the "Hey Ricki" omelet is my go to. You get a lot of food and it comes out fast.
(4)Richard M.
I just cannot say enough good things about the Streeterville "Yolk." My wife and I have been going there 1-3 times per week for over a year. The service and quality of the food is great and the prices are incredibly reasonable. We often order take-out food which I pick-up. Last week, for the first time ever, Yolk made a mistake in our order. When we called to explain the situation, Yolk offered to re-do the order immediately or mail us a gift certificate. That is the way such situations should be handled!! If you are looking for a place for a delicous meal that is reasonably priced, look no further. Yolk is it!
(5)Laura C.
Great brunch spot. Well worth the long wait! Friend and I split the red velvet French toast and the pumpkin French toast. Both were so delicious and different. Very sweet and rich, we were full all day.
(4)Tiffany K.
i LOVE yolk! I've been here a handful of times and every time i order the mediterranean omlette. i especially love the fact that they don't charge you extra for all whites! fruits that come with my omlette are always fresh. my first time visit to yolk, i waited about 2 hours for a table. it was during brunch peak hours and when yolk first opened. i've been back around the same time and the wait isn't as long. maybe because it wasn't on a sunday.. but do expect a wait cus there always is one whenever i go. =) the restaurant itself is very clean and very bright. nothing to complain about service and prices are decent.
(4)Goody G.
The food is always decent at either Yolk location and I have never had a problem with staff at either until today. Oh course with it being New Years Day the place is slammed pack. Apparently this is not something that the fat dude who felt a need to say that he is "in charge" can handle. He is rude and ridiculous. There was a huge throng of people waiting to get seats and I heard him at one point say in a harsh manner that they need to clear the cashier area and to "move over that way or outside", mind you its wicked cold out today. But that was just the first sign that he needs a new prescription. I step into line to pay and there are a couple of ladies standing in front of me but because they have it set up in such a ridiculous way that the register is right off the area where the bussers have to bring their carts, etc we all had to step back to let the bussers do their thang. In the process of doing so, this other couple came up and stepped in front of us and we proceeded to tell them that we are in line. All was cool until Mr "In Charge" decided that we needed his sage input and goes "No need to fight to pay, everybody will get a chance" and I was like "what?" First of all after we informed the couple of the line situation, they were apologizing and moving. So I told him that no one was talking to him and he says something to the effect about how there was no reason to be rude that they made a mistake and i told him that he was the rude one and that he should mind his own business and do his job. So, since I have been going to Yolk for years, I would hate to think that because three black women were talking to a white couple that we got "special treatment", so I will just assume that he was hungover from the night before BUT they don't have to worry about me adding my dough to their coffers anymore. I don't pay to be treated rudely, you can get this ish for free on the streets.
(2)Jonathan L.
I lived right around the corner from Yolk for 2 years and unfortunately only had the privilege to eat there once. I ordered the Tour De France which is basically a sampler platter with 3 kinds of french toast - banana nut topped with bananas, sweet orange topped with strawberries, and lemon poppy seed topped with blueberries. WOW, just amazing. To wash it all down, I had the fresh squeezed strawberry-orange juice. Extremely addictive! My friend and I went here on a Tuesday, but I imagine that on the weekends this place gets super busy.
(5)Patrick H.
Ummmmmmmm yeahhhh.. This place is the best breakfast place in Chicago. I've tried the other top rated places like The Bongo Room and M. Henreatas and they just aren't as good. The down side is that the wait is super long, but it's deffinitely worth it. Ummmmmmm yeahhh... love it, like it, want some more of it.
(5)bj f.
Yes, it's big and industrial and noisy and bustling, but that spaciousness means there always seems to be space available for us when we oversleep and can't make the 8 a.m. breakfast window that allows us entry to some of our other more intimate go-tos. It is especially helpful when my whole family, which includes one ovo/lacto vegetarian, one bacon inhaler, and one sweet freak, descends at the holidays. There is something on their tome of a menu to suit every taste. The wait staff has always been cheerful and efficient, the coffee strong and plentiful. If you're nursing a hangover, or are seeking a quiet tete a tete, keep driving; otherwise, check them out!
(4)Haley W.
Every time my family or friends come from out of town, we make sure to take them to Yolk during their stay. Super busy on Sunday for brunch time, however any place that is as delicious as this deserves every bit of wait they have. The wait isn't usually too bad, and if you get there with family and have patience it's a nice place to catch up while you wait. Everything that I have tried there has been fantastic. I've had the southwestern omelet, the french toast, and, my personal favorite, the blue bayou frittata. SO GOOD! I never thought bleu cheese on eggs would be good, but hot damn! It is delightful!! I recommend this to anyone who loves breakfast foods in a nice atmosphere. Simply wonderful.
(5)Julie C.
The fresh strawberry orange juice is heavenly and the Eggs Benedict was the best I've ever had! Great atmosphere and surprisingly large portions for a great value. Highly recommend!
(5)Leslie P.
The overall experience is that of a typical Chicago brunch spot. Cafeteria tables, jam packed with people waiting, kids running everywhere...a little bit of chaos. The place is pretty big, so the wait was about 45 minutes for 5 of us on a late Saturday morning. Not bad. The menu is huge. Dare I say there were too many choices? I opted for a make-your-own skillet. It was delicious. All in all, it's a solid brunch place. I'm curious why they don't serve drinks, though. If given a choice, I'm probably going to choose a place where I can have a mimosa with my skillet. But that's just me.
(3)Alex B.
Fantastic! I had the veggie skillet, and it was the perfect ratio of veggies to roasted potatoes (so I could feel good about eating it, but it was still amazingly potato-y!). My friends had the cheesy egg sandwich and a create your own skillet, and they both loved their food, too.
(5)Arun L.
Cool vibe and interesting menu. But disappointing meal. - don't sit at the counter. It's awkward because there's not enough room for your legs - the Irish Eggs Benedict was not good. Canned hash and a lack-luster hollandaise - good coffee If I return I'm going to stay away from the "award winning" eggs benedict.
(3)Thom W.
At yolk and getting that city kinda I am too busy to wait on you kinda service from Jessica. She knows her menu well but zero personality :'( food is awesome
(1)M M.
the red velvet french toast is something that everyone should try at least once. i will be back for it multiple times. my waiter was great and was very helpful as to what i should try the next time I am at Yolk. he also informed me that Yolk was BYOB and I think that sounds really great and fun a brunch celebration with a group of friends. More Yolk please.
(5)Samir P.
Went there for a quick breakfast. It's a nice clean place and friendly wait staff. I ordered the Breakfast bacon quesadilla. It was just okay. It was a tortilla with eggs and bacon, with salsa on the side. The tortilla was rolled up like a burrito, but the ends were not folded in. Plus it was cut in half. So it was a mess to eat because the filling kept falling out. The bacon was soggy...not crispy, which is always a disappointment and once slice had so much fat that i couldn't even chew it. I ended up taking all of it out. The majority of the flavor was due to the salsa they serve on the side. I doused the burrito/quesadilla with salsa. But since the ends were open, it made even more of a mess. The good thing was that I ordered fruit on the side, and they had grapes, watermelon, orange slices, and pineapple...a really good mix of fresh fruit. Would I come back? Maybe. It was a pretty middle-of-the-road experience.
(3)Nora W.
Delicious food. Fast and friendly service. We went late on a Thursday morning so I can't speak to busier times, but our experience was lovely. The Tour de France French toast was delectable and eagerly await my next trip back!
(5)PJ M.
Cons: -45-60 minute wait on Sunday and we arrived there before 10am. -For whatever reason, they gave our table to someone else in the minute-and-a-half time it took us to walk to the counter. Guess we got ROBBED! BUT after 3 minutes, they promptly gave us another table. -Eggs Benedict - 3.0-3.5 stars (egg was over-cooked, I'm not sure if this is the way they normally cook it or if it was because they were too busy to do it right) -Wife ordered California Scramble ( $0.75 extra for adding sausage) - 2.5 stars (a bit bland, lots of it though, hefty portions) -Orange Bread French Toast - Not that amazing. Interesting though. Could've lived without it. -Red Potatoes aren't bad but nothing to write home about. Pros: -On a separate outing (during a weekday) around 9:30am, was promptly seated -Lemon-Poppy Seed French Toast - Awesome! Best thing I tasted here. -Banana Nut French Toast - Pretty good. Make sure you're not allergic to peanut buttah though! -Freshly-squeezed Strawberry-Orange juice is awesome here. It's better than "Orange's" (cheaper too) -Big portions. Go hungry! Decent breakfast. Is it worth the brunch-rush wait on Sunday? Probably not. If you're going to go to only one brunch place in Chicago for a culinary experience, I'd recommend "Orange" over "Yolk" even though it's a little pricier.
(3)B L.
Excellent food both at this location and the Michigan Ave. location. What can I recommend? Crepes! Strawberry orange juice! Eggs Benedict! The sausage links! This location is superior to the Michigan Ave. location (which I gave 4 stars) only because the temperature is the best at this place. Check this place out!
(5)Lauren B.
Yum! Super extensive menu, it was hard to pick, but everyone was happy with what they had. I especially like that you can get pancakes as a side to an egg dish for indecisive people who can't choose! We came for a friend's birthday brunch. Since it wasn't dinner, I didn't even think to mention it to the waiter. Someone in our party must have though, since the waiter brought over a nutella birthday crepe. So nice! I wiill definitely be back.
(4)