Stax Cafe

absolutely loved the food and ambiance here. everyone was super welcoming and friendly. waited about 10 minutes to be seated and got straight to ordering drinks. orange juice and coffee were very well made and the orange juice was super freshly squeezed. food- french toast 10/10 no complaints. right amount of sweetness and good choice of bread and just overall really good. breakfast burrito 10/10, was not expecting it to be this good. i loved it. the potatoes were also super seasoned. we will be back

While we were visiting Chicago over Easter weekend, we sought out a fun spot for Easter brunch. Stax Cafe seemed to get some solid reviews, so we gave it a shot. The host was super energetic and kind, and the whole spot was decked out in Easter decorations.The waitstaff started out super attentive and kind, but then just sort of disappeared. Every time we saw her, she was nice, but she was just gone for super long stretches of time. Not the worst by any means, but we likely would have ordered more drinks if she was around. And, there was really nobody there, which might be a telling sign for Easter Sunday brunch.In terms of food, the menu looked sooooo promising! I don't know if they were having an off day or what, but the food had virtually ZERO flavor. How do you serve up a Monte Cristo Waffle (buttermilk waffle sandwich with grilled ham & swiss, with raspberry preserves & over easy egg) and have no flavor? The preserves came through but the rest was just bland. Since we don't live in Chicago, there won't be an opportunity for redemption.

What a treat to find affordable diner style food in West Loop! We had a lovely visit from start to finish at this cute spot.The restaurant was packed and pleasantly chatty during brunch prime-time, but the wait moved quickly and we were seated within 20 minutes. The menu had a creative flair on the nostalgic diner breakfast we all know and love- we were all getting flustered trying to decide what to order!When game time for ordering came, I decided on the healthy start pancakes with a side of extra crispy bacon, while my friends ordered the avocado smashed breakfast sandwich and the veggie skillet. Everyone seemed to really like their dishes, but the pancakes were outstanding! Fluffy and moist, they were loaded with blueberries and perfectly complemented by the creamy yogurt and crunchy oat topping. The bacon was addictively crispy and everything came out piping hot. Cannot recommend Stax enough if you're in the mood for a good old-fashioned brunch with a twist!

We saw this place literally waking down the street and decided to grab some food. It was a Sunday morning and it was definitely packed inside. There's tons of indoor and outdoor seating so it's perfect for a sunny day! The service was super quick and we were in and out of the restaurant in less than an hour, which was amazing! I got the Stax chopped salad and my friend got the honey ricotta French toast. The salad was truly one of the best I've ever had. There was lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, pickled onions, garbanzo beans, feta, and the yummiest dressing. It was SO FRESH! I hate when my salads taste anything less than straight of out a garden, and this one was just perfect. I also added grilled chicken on top and it seriously made for such a filling and delicious salad!! The French toast had a bunch of berries, ricotta, honey, and pistachios. I'm not a big fan of French toast but this one was a game changer. It was just the right amount of sweet which was complimented perfectly by the berries on top. The pistachio was such an incredible touch. I was in LOVE! If you guys ever see this place, please go inside and you will not be disappointed! Some of the best brunch food in the city, for sure!

A pretty standard, quick, casual brunch spot in the River West area! I tried the honey ricotta French toast which was a unique item and something I enjoyed. There was a little too much mint for my liking but would def recommend if you're looking for a sweeter brunch item.

This place was a great breakfast spot and we got seated right away during a busy Sunday brunch time. Parking is fairly limited during the busy hours but luckily got a spot within walking distance. The server was awesome and super informative. We ordered raspberry Nutella French toast, lemon ricotta pancakes, and lumberjack skillet. All of the food ended up coming within 15 minutes - very impressive! We absolutely loved the raspberry Nutella French toast - highly recommend! The server handed us our bill and even gave us a handshake at the end, very nice touch of service!

Cute little spot in the corner. They have a lot of options for breakfast and lunch. The service is great and the food comes out fast. We got the chilaquiles and honey ricotta French toast. Both were delicious. They have regular coffee or lattes which is great because most breakfast spots only have basic coffee.

Fluffy waffles! Good variety on the menu. Kid friendly. It's gets very busy so be ready to get on the waitlist. The food came out fairly fast though for a party of 8 people. The Taylor street omelet tasted a bit odd and the portion seemed a tad small. They plated it so that roasted potatoes were surrounded the omelet so it looks big in the picture but it really wasn't. The side of sausages was a good - they give you 2 plump links. The side of fruit was good variety and good portion. Overall it was okay. I will admit I caught a cold from the place in the 1.5 hour I was there. I just felt myself getting sick from something there. Oddly my toddler and dad didn't get sick but just me.

In short: plentiful options, delicious food, friendly yet slow service. I've always enjoyed the food at Stax, something for every kind of brunch craving, from large portions of omelettes to delicious pancakes that are cooked just right. This time around, I tried to blend my savory with my sweet tooth, by getting a half stack of the "healthy" blueberry and yogurt oatmeal pancakes, and a side of the house potatoes. The pancakes were excellent, nice and fluffy with a textured exterior, with oats, honey, and greek yogurt the perfect topping. The potatoes, with a little help from some extra salt and pepper, were fresh and tasty, the peppers and onions a nice touch. I may have wanted my potatoes a bit crispier, but that's just preference. Both of these for $13 before tip? Where else are you going to get this fresh and well-executed a dish for that price, especially in the area. My server was super nice and friendly, and even offered the half portion of pancakes to kind of help me have it both ways. But, it was far from busy on a Friday morning, and from sitting down to getting my check, it was nearly 80 minutes. Now, I had nowhere to go on a relaxing day off, but that is a considerable amount of time for a solo brunch meal and payment. Overall, though, Stax remains in my rotation for delicious and varying brunch options.

I've been to the UIC location but first time to the one near Grand Ave. Let's just say my experience was phenomenal.This cafe is bright, modern and spacious. It offers booth, table and outdoor patio seating (facing west). Staff are quick and aplenty so you won't be sitting with much of a wait.They have considerably large menu that makes it difficult to choose a dish. But across omlettes, sandwiches, mains, etc you really can't go wrong.I loved their Spanish Omelette which came with toast and house potatoes. All very good and what impressed me is that the waiter brought out condiments without asking. They are attentive and friendly! Thanks for a great meal ツNote: Cafe closes @ 3pm.