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The Artist's Cafe

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412 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605

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(312) 939-7855
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Reviews
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( 3 )

Best

This is the place with a good taste of food. The ambiance is cool, the service is fast and the servers were friendly and overall all it was great.

Worst

All my friend and I wanted (we are both Chicago natives) was to do two things: enjoy the weather at a cefe we've seen but never been to, and have something to drink (after all it ...

very tasty and filling 2/11/2011

The food (mostly only ordered the burgers) is very tasty and filling. I have a saying, "This burger reminds me of what McDonald's was like when it first opened" and this place get that. more
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classic Diner 2/8/2011

Here's a classic Diner that has retained all the glory of the past. It's neon lights outside light up the outdoor patio, with a long counter and small booths wrapped around. The register and pies greet you walking in, and the old details of brass and leather are everywhere. more
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quite satisfied 2/2/2011

I had a perfectly satisfactory gyros; lots of meat and a pile of Greek seasoned roasted potato slices. My wife had some kind of a steak salad he she was quite satisfied and said it was fresh and tasty. more
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this place is great 1/27/2011

What! this place is great. the cooks wear paper hats and they have pourable mustard on every table. the sign out front can't be beat. try the irish coffee. more
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food was great 1/25/2011

The food was great and so was the ambiance. We went there twice for breakfast while visiting Chicago! It was so much more reasonable then the breakfast at the hotel we stayed at. The service was very good. more
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cafe is fantastic. 1/21/2011

The milkshakes are real they have great breakfasts. They are very child friendly. My daughter always looks forward to the spinach pie. The outdoor cafe is fantastic. more
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restaurant is still owned by the same people, 1/19/2011

I remember going to this restaurant for milkshakes when I was a kid and that was over 40 years ago when I took piano lessons in the Fine Arts Building. Now whenever we take our kids to the Art Institute, Auditorium for the Christmas show, the symphony or the Bears game we always go to this restaurant. This restaurant is still owned by the same people, something you do not see in the suburb I live in-only chain restaurants exists. more
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atmosphere to be cozy 1/10/2011

My husband, daughter, and I were visiting Chicago last week and happened upon this place. We found the atmosphere to be cozy and laid back and the food was excellent. Both my daughter and I got the New York omlette which was filled with corned beef and cream cheese and came with a bagel and hash browns. It was fantastic! I'd definately recommend this place to anyone who wants a relaxing, excellent breakfast. more
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staff really friendly 1/4/2011

I ate at this place for 3 evenings running whilst on a visit to Chicago from UK. I found it good value for money, the staff really friendly. Nice to sit outside and watch the world or be cosy inside. Anyway, I enjoyed it and was happy. more
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nice experience. 12/29/2010

We visited the Artist's Cafe for breakfast on a Saturday morning and had a nice experience. Wait staff was attentive and the food was adequate. I had the American Breakfast which was a fried egg on top of a huge slice of ham on top of two pancakes on top of a plate of hash browns. Needless to say I skipped lunch. The cafe is in a great location right on Michigan avenue across from the park. more
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Great food and ambiance 12/27/2010

Great food and ambiance: I had breakfast at this place and the omelet was great and so were the hashbrowns. The dinning room is really neat. It has 2 story ceiling with tables next to the windows on Michigan Ave.. They were really nice to my kids, the food was great and so was the people watching. more
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The outdoor cafe is popular 12/21/2010

The outdoor cafe is popular, and benefits from a lack of competition from other restaurants in the immediate vicinity. more
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The vegetarian omelet and potatoes were very good 12/21/2010

I was there today. The vegetarian omelet and potatoes were very good, the coffee was excellent, the service was very good and the price was reasonable. There were lots of students in there so the people watching was great! more
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The food here was excellent. 12/15/2010

What I love about Chicago....potatoes! I had the chicken vesuvio here and it came with yummy lemony/olive oil/salt fresh fried potatos. The food here was excellent. They're extensive connoisseur coffee menu was impressive. One day, when I move to chicago, I am going to go down the coffee menu and try each one (i wonder how jacked or drunk that would make me?) One of the coolest things about this place besides the the brooklyn dineresque feel is the sign outside. Like many chicago buildings it has an old original, and still very functional sign (unlike signs of the same era in Richmond). more
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atmosphere is great 12/14/2010

After a year of passing by on Michigan and wanting to go, I finally ate here on a break from rehearsing upstairs. The atmosphere is great and it feels oh so old school. I had a lovely and perfectly toasted, grilled cheese! It's worth a visit to check off your list and a great non-chain option if you're lunching on Michigan avenue. more
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amazing great times. 12/8/2010

Again, amazing great times at this Cafe back in the 90's ate here a LOT after school at the Art Institute. Updating review soon.... more
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the service was friendly. 12/7/2010

i remember being a kid, and begging my folks to take me here as we walked by. my daughter and i were in the area over the labor day weekend, and we were hungry. i had a ruben, and she had cheese ravioli. it may have been the best ruben i've ever had, and the ravioli was good too. the manager lady (female archie bunker?) was friendly. it was kinda late 8:30pm, but the service was friendly. we'll be back. as for the price, c'mon it's chicago! eating in any city is expensive! ps-super cake was fantastic!!! more
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everything moves fast. 12/7/2010

The service is fast, though, since you pay when you get your food instead of after so even if it looks like there's a wait, everything moves fast. Come here if you want a good quick bite. more
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Open since 1961 11/23/2010

Open since 1961, the Artists' Restaurant is a Fine Arts Building tradition. Makris and her sister (and co-owner) Angela have worked there the longest; their employees include students as well as waitresses who have been with them for decades. more
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A great selection. 11/16/2010

If you ever wanted service with a smile, Artists is the place to go. Whether you are sitting at the counter or enjoying a nice booth, the staff is friendly and outgoing. The food is delicious and keeps the patrons coming back for more. A great selection of Burgers and they always seem to tempt you with some sweets before you go. A great change of pace from the other over-crowded restaurants in the area. more
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Menu for The Artist's Cafe


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Located in the historic Fine Arts Building, this cafe draws a mix of students from the nearby Art Institute and tourists visiting Grant Park. The Mediterranean menu features...

  • 9/30/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon. - Thu. 7am - 8pm;Fri. - Sun. 7am - 12pm
  • Payments: American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Central, Loop
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