Cafe Calbay
24 W Burlington Ave, La Grange, IL, 60525
Cafe Calbay Menu
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Address :
24 W Burlington Ave
La Grange, IL, 60525 - Phone (708) 352-2787
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
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 : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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S D.
This place has a good vibe with 20th century Americana with counter service and tables and booths. The quality of the food is a bit above average, especially compared to some of the other offerings in the area like Bakers' Square or Blueberry Hill. Looking forward to going back.
(4)Lori R.
Yummy breakfast in a cute old-style diner setting. Had vegetarian omelet with hash browns with nice golden brown finish and pancakes on the side. Want to pay attention to their specials next time and also go for lunch. Very friendly service.
(4)Rachel L.
LOVE Calbay! Its a cozy little 1950's feeling diner downtown LaGrange across from the train. I never had their Lunch items but their breakfast is DELICIOUS! It's simple and fast. Only con is that their coffee could be better. Also, it gets really crowed on the weekends. The earlier the better or else you'll be waiting a little bit.
(4)Paul R.
I always like to find the local places that are apart of the local fabric of the community, I would say Cafe Calbay fits that bill. As a newer resident of La Grange is was great to find a friendly, casual place that serves great homemade food. You certainly can order their breakfast items, they have never let me down, and I appriciate the fact that you can order a fresh fruit cup instead of hash browns, but it is the Chicken BLT Sandwich which always ring me back. I would put this sandwich up against any chicken sandwich So, great value, great staff and great food. I love this place.
(5)Pamela L.
Favorite breakfast place in western suburbs, food cooked to perfection, very friendly service, super cool place where regulars have their mugs. Love it.
(5)Mandy R.
Really great, cute diner. Went for the first time a few weeks ago. Prices were average and the breakfast we ordered was good. I loved that my skillet was well done without asking. Service was okay, but the food and the atmosphere stood out.
(4)Carm B.
Cute little diner like spot in LaGrange. Stopped for lunch with my family. Food was fine enough but nothing really spectacular. The booths were also a little cramped and that made me feel uncomfortable. It seems like others have had a good experience for breakfast, may give them another shot for that.
(3)Vanessa B.
My husband and I stopped here for breakfast early Sunday morning and really enjoyed it! We usually go to blueberry hill but wanted to try something new and I'm glad we did. It wasn't very crowded so we sat right down which was awesome. As much as we enjoy BH, the crowds get a little annoying at times. The coffee was great, my omelet very tasty and our server was very friendly. I'd definitely come back here!
(5)Ryan G.
Came here for the first time it was nice place for a good hearty breakfast I had the veggie skillet , which was good , potatoes were kinda of dry, no biggie The service by our waitress was superb, red hair girl with piercings. The bathroom, the plastic lens cover looks like it wants to fall, could hit a customer in the headline eye could cause a medical problem. The toilet paper dispenser should be moved over closer to the door frame to allow big guys more leg room to poop, I'm sorry, I tell it how it is with no hold backs I came here with some friends which was nice, bad thing about the outside of this restaurant is hard to find parking. The prices were fantastic and very reasonable for LaGrange yuppy type people to eat at!!! Great dive prices for non dive place
(4)Mary G.
I love this place. This is my breakfast spot on the weekends because it is good food, priced well and its not over crowded. It baffles me that people would rather jam themselves into Blueberry Hill and wait a half hour for an over-priced breakfast. Cafe Calbay has the old dinner feel and doesn't pretend to be anything that its not. Its family owned and run which is great. They make breakfast well with no frills. But they do have gluten free pancakes. Their skillets and omelets are great!
(4)Mary S.
Awesome service AWESOME food highly recommend going here instead if waiting at Bkueberry hill for breakfast although they are good too.
(5)Karma K.
This is just a great, little classic diner. Located in downtown La Grange across from the Metra station they are closed on Mondays. They have two soups each day. One is a cream based and the other is broth based. They have several lunch and breakfast specials each day too. I took my 89 year old father here for lunch. He had the clam chowder soup, grilled ham and cheese on rye bread and I updgraded him to sweet potato fries for $1 extra (see how much I love my dad?) He loved it but could only eat half of the sammie. I had the lunch special that was some super super deluxe grilled cheese. It was delish and worth every effin fat gram and calorie that baby contained! Cute decor, I love the Santa boot coming down from a hole in the middle of the ceilng and the vintage booths and counter stools. The acoustics make it a bit hard to hear when crowded but the low prices, good eats and cool vibe will keep me coming back. Oh, and as others have mentioned it's not as packed as Blueberry Hill and I hope it stays that way. The teenage girls that waited on us were nice, efficient and great addition to this little diner. And, despite being in downtown La Grange on a beautiful Friday August afternoon, we snagged a parking space right out front. Support this local, non-chain gem of a place!
(5)Jules H.
Fun 50's style dinner with great service and good food! I can be very particular when I order breakfast, and I got my corned beef hash burned to perfection. Eggs a perfect over medium, with tasty crispy hash browns. Love the décor here, lots of vintage posters and good art. The coffee, food, and pretty much everything else here makes this a great breakfast-brunch-lunch spot!
(5)Liz K.
More like 3.5 stars. The place is like a cute 50's diner...I felt like I was a teenager on a diner date. :-) Wish there was a jukebox and I had ordered a rootbeer float or something...:-) Went on a random Tuesday morning for breakfast. We ordered the steak skillet (the steak was in large pieces and was very good)...toast...and eggs. I actually really liked the eggs because they weren't greasy or watery like other diners. The coffee was pretty good and strong (which I like!). Prices were standard and service was good. It really is another good breakfast option for the area.
(3)Julia T.
I'm a big fan of this place. My husband and I go every weekend for breakfast. We used to go to Blueberry Hill, which we both like, but we decided to try Cafe Calbay because we thought more variety might be nice. I liked this place as soon as I walked in the door....I think it's got a really comfortable, welcoming vibe and you can tell the place has a lot of regulars. The food is really good too. I especially like their omelets and waffles. The thing that really impressed me though, was the fact that they get their hashbrowns nice and crispy. I usually won't eat hashbrowns because they generally seem to be flavorless piles of mush, but not here, they have a nice crunch. My husband usually gets a skillet, which he loves. I think the coffee is good too....old school good ol' cup o' joe. All in all, this is my favorite breakfast place in La Grange.
(4)Jeff W.
What a fantastic little cafe .....excellent food and atmosphere. Prices are very fair too. I normally eat here at least 2-3 times per week for breakfast. Can't be beat
(5)John B.
Hard to beat breakfast diner. Just don't get all gourmet on me. It's hearty, delicious, fresh, breakfast food served in a clean diner. If catching the Metra it's right across the street so come for your train a bit early.
(5)Brett C.
My new favorite place for breakfast. 1950's diner feel with a real counter to sit at. I love those. Fast friendly service. Really good food. I will be back and would recommend this place over BB Hill and Tony's. Cheers!
(4)Jacqueline S.
The atmosphere and service was really nice. I liked the food and would definitely come here for breakfast. We shared a skillet for lunch and I also had some pea soup which was very good. We will be back.
(3)Judy S.
I love Cafe Calbay. It's one of my favorite local go-to places for breakfast or lunch. It's not trendy or exciting or out-of-this-world unique; but the food is good and reasonably priced, the owner and staff are sweet and attentive, and the 50s decor is cute. As long as I can find a parking space within a reasonable distance, Cafe Calbay will be my choice for breakfast in LaGrange.
(4)Nichole M.
Adorable breakfast/lunch cafe in downtown La Grange. I've been going here since the new owners took over. They never disappoint. I'm also highly impressed with how much they can get done in such a small kitchen. The omelets and skillets are fantastic and I've heard good things about all of their fun kinds of french toast. It is family run and I always see the same servers when I'm here which is nice to see. Mom and Pop stuff always have a special place in my heart. The only reason I give it four stars is because I don't like their pancakes and they are not all that flexible with the menu. But hey, you can't win 'em all.
(4)Kevin S.
Its a diner and it is awesome! Better than BBhill- usually never a wait, unless you get the after church crowd on sunday morn. Omlettes-pow! Pancake Sandwich! BooYah! Biscuits and Gravy! Smack!
(5)David G.
Friendly, cash-only diner. This is a nice place for breakfast. Nothing fancy, but they do have healthy options for those avoiding the grease or carbs. The breakfast menu is full of traditional diner breakfast choices, eggs, skillets, french toast. I've had both the french toast and an egg white omelet. They were both pretty good. The coffee isn't bad. The decor is pretty cool, and the servers are very friendly, both of which set this place apart from similar diners in the area. I tend to forget about this place as a lunch option, though I'd like to come back for lunch. It is located right by the La Grange Metra stop on La Grange Rd. (45). Street and a public lot parking are both available nearby.
(4)Anthony W.
I've lived in La Grange almost all my life and Cafe Calbay has a special place in my heart. It used to be called "Jason's Place" and before that I'm told it was the "Knotty Pine" or something to that effect because of the pine wood paneling on some of the walls. Their "retro" decor is therefore not completely retro, a lot of the fixtures are original. These are the kind of hometown mom and pop operations that make America great unlike the cookie cutter franchises. My only gripe with the place is it's not open for dinner. I'd love to take some pictures of my classic car in front of it someday. The place was a restaurant in La Grange before there were any restaurants in La Grange. When I was a kid it was still nice to walk around in town but there was no places to eat and a few dying car dealerships were still in town before they moved down the road to countryside. Now there's plenty of places to eat and Cabay gets over-shadowed and passed by a lot of people who have suddenly "discovered" La Grange. Anyways. The food is good. I like the Monte Cristo they make and they used to always sprinkle some powdered sugar on it. The french fries are memorable and the milkshakes are brought to you with the whole metal can they mixed it in. Whether getting on the train or not this is a good breakfast spot and definitely a way to avoid the crowds at Blueberry Hill....which is not a bad place either but lacks the charm and character of Cafe Calbay.
(5)Tony G.
Cafe Calbay meets the 'old-time diner trifecta' - 1.) Greasy food; 2.) Classic decor that hasn't been updated in 20+ years; and 3.) Our waitress called us 'hon'. What you see is what you get- good food, reasonably priced with good service and friendly folks.
(4)Logan S.
Stopped in at Trader's and was looking for a bite to eat for lunch. Now, I am quite familiar with the La Grange area, but I never knew about this place. What the heck, may as well give it a try, something different then the usual mainstream places. It is a nice cozy place. Maybe 8 booths, several 4 tops, and plenty of counter seating. They have a very nice menu, with a nice selection. Basically, focused on breakfast and lunch. I think they are only open til 2:30. I opted for the half sandwich and soup. The soup was very good. It was a good old fashion pea soup, not too thin, not too thick, with very good seasoning- I hate salt. The sandwich was corned beef. It was good, but far from a traditional deli corned beef. The corned beef was served on rye with lettuce and tomato. A small side of coleslaw joins the party too. Although the food is good. The service seemed grumpy. I don't know, it just seemed they were pissed or bothered by something. They did not take it out on the customers, but there was no cheerfulness, none, na da. And just not our waitress, the other girl seemed grumpy too. All-in-all, it was good enough that I would go back, but this time for breakfast.
(3)Jon E.
Diners, like all Americana, are part of the colorful backdrop of historical artifacts found all over the country. Cafe Calbay sits well in this esteemed pantheon... aesthetically. The interior probably hasn't changed in a couple decades, the curved bar seating is low and very retro... think 50's modern here. Nevertheless, this serves the place well. Food wise however its hit or miss, with a few more misses than necessary. The fries rock : shoestring/curly, clearly homemade and fresh cut and piled high. The sandwiches, mmmm not so much. I tried a philly, an au jus and a burger and while all were OK, theres really little reason to recommend. I was expecting a crunchy piece of bread, and each time it was soggy and bland. The meat was def a cut above say an Arbys... but thats not esteemed company. The cheeses all seemed to be like American, even though one was swiss, another cheddar and yet another mozz. I'm not one for greasy breakfasts out usually, so I can't comment on those... but if the potatoes are anything to go by, they might be a cut above the lunch options. Thankfully the charming decor, the excellent service and the yummy fries keep this place from sinking below 3 for me.
(3)Phil B.
This is my favorite restaurant of all time! Been going here for years. Cafe Calbay is a diner, that's it, plain and simple. Good home-cookin! Breakfast is how you'd make it at home if you took the time. Except at Cafe Calbay the hash browns are crispy like they should be. The soups are great too! Try the soup and 1/2 sandwich. Oh and the curly fries are the best around! This place is a simple, no frills diner. A real down home spot with delicious food! FYI, breakfast and lunch only.
(5)Patrick O.
Sunday morning is a great time to combine a ride from our home in Oak Park with breakfast. Found this place riding by on our way to another breakfast place. Glad we stopped in. This family owned restaurant is tenderly taken care of and the retro counter, booths and tables have stayed true to the roots of the place while adding more personal decor. The food was good, the owner's daughter was our waitress and the whole ambience was warm and welcoming. We love diners for breakfast and this one is right up there with Louie's in Forest Park, Blondie's in River Grove and the Depot on the west side of Chicago (The Depot by far has the best coffee.) Since this is a lovely detour from the nearby Salt Creek bicycle trail we will be back frequently.
(4)Tio S.
I missed my train one day, and had 30 minutes to kill, so decided to try Cafe Calbay for breakfast. It was everything you'd expect from a traditional diner. Their menu is pretty basic, but has everything you'd want in a cheap diner for breakfast: eggs, bacon, french toast, pancakes, etc. I had oatmeal with strawberries and wheat toast with coffee. It was actually quite a filling breakfast, and only cost $6 - what a bargain! I would definitely go here again, and will probably bring my daughter. I think she would get a kick out of the old-fashioned diner feel, and eating at the counter. This place is a great alternative to Blueberry Hill (which is also great, but always seems to be busy) and is really good for quick, cheap breakfast.
(4)Peter C.
Ok tried this place for the first time since I live near by. Ordered a Bacon and egg sandwich egg over easy. to go. After paying 6.50 I opened up the Styrofoam calm shell to find a four inch long over toasted french bread roll with three strips of bacon and one egg over done till the yokes were dry. Un eddible, disappointing so I brought it back. Right a way the host/waitress agreed and offered my money back, not to redo the sandwich. I just walked out. Fine first impressions. will never go back or recommend this place. Should have seen the signs, for a Sunday morning the place was 1/2 full. I guess there is a reason. Shame on you Cafe Calby.. passing food through the window like that will be your end.
(1)Wedge D.
I'm a fan. Solid breakfast fare, friendly service and reasonable prices make it a winner for me.
(4)Dorothy S.
This is the classic old timey diner complete with old signs and ads and pics of famous people on the walls. It's the perfect spot to begin a lazy Sunday morning especially if you have plans to walk/shop around La Grange. The waitresses are very friendly and the cook was accommodating when I asked for green olives to be added to my egg salad sandwich (just like my g-ma used to make) which I highly recommend. They serve the delicious stringy fries and heap them on your plate and the coffee's pretty good. The best part is it's cheap cheap cheap. I only wish it was open late night.
(5)James C.
Awesome! Prices are reasonable and the food is excellent. Nice big portions. Cafe Calbay is La Grange's answer to Tony's Breakfast Cafe in Brookfield.
(5)Tony L.
Another one of the regular brunch places on our circuit. Their menu is not quite as big as some restaurants, but it's all tasty. The service is sometimes a little slow, especially on weekends. The style is pleasantly kitschy though I will agree with another reviewer the restroom (singular) is tight and could use an update. One major improvement is they finally started taking credit cards in 2014 - yay! When I commuted downtown for my previous job, I loved that this place is so close to the inbound Metra station (no danger of being on the wrong side of the tracks when your train pulls in).
(4)Anna W.
I have eaten omelettes at every breakfast joint in a 10 mile radius and these are hands down the best.
(5)Jason M.
We're new to the area and decided to try this place. We've been to Blueberry Hill a few times and wanted a change. We were disappointed. The service was very slow and they appeared to be understaffed. The menu was boring, coffee was bad/stale, and the food was just OK. I had a blueberry waffle and the rest of our table had omlettes. I doubt we'll go back. I think it'd be worth a little wait at Blueberry Hill for a better meal.
(2)Stacey K.
This is a great little place and I'm very happy to see that it averages 4 stars. It's true that it's nothing fancy, but the food is great and the service is 5 star awesome. It's retro-cool. I love any place that has good food, great service, they make you feel like a "regular" even if it's your first time, and has those Hamilton Beach stand milkshake mixer things! Awesome!
(4)Isabelle L.
Long line at blueberry hill on father's day so decided to give cafe Calbay a try. Well, not disappointed by the choice. Yes this is an old fashioned diner with all the experience that comes with it: cheap coffee, friendly smiley service, greasy food, formica tables. Yet, the food is good and the place offers heathy alternatives. I ordered a fruit plate and it was excellent. Other folks in my party ordered more traditional breakfast offerings: pancakes, eggs...We all left satisfied and happy and will return when craving a quick bite and not wanting to break the bank or wait for a table.
(3)Christian N.
LOOOVE this place. Went there a couple times with my wife for breakfast. It has a 50's style, hardwood floor and lots of posters on the walls. We always get the "lumberjack" breakfast cause it has a lot in it and it fills us up. It has two eggs, bacon/sausage and two giant pancakes! The servers are very friendly and helpful as well as patient. The coffee could use some help but I don't go for coffee, I go for the amazing food!
(5)