Meli Cafe Reviews

The family and I were staying next door from the Meli Cafe so we popped in for breakfast.....all I can say is Holy Cow! We had the chocolate crepes, chocolate chip pancakes, and the pancake breakfast combo. The crepes were amazing, like, I don't know if I've had better crepes amazing, the chocolate chip pancakes were loved by the kids, you know, because chocolate, and everything on the pancake breakfast plate (pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs) was great. The only thing we didn't love was the apple juice my daughter ordered. It was fresh squeezed so it tasted like what you'd get from a juice bar and not what my daughter was expecting in a breakfast juice. All in all, this place is centrally located, reasonably priced, family friendly, and delicious.

We were looking for breakfast and discovered Meli Cafe. The eggs and omelettes were delicious. My daughter raved about the glutenfree toast - the best ever. Nice and helpful waitress. We plan to go back again when we're in Chicago.

As we were staying at the Hotel Blake next door, we stayed closeby for the first meal... and kept going back cause we enjoyed the delicious breakfasts so much! Lots to choose from and every dish was lavishly presented. The crepes were loaded with fresh fruits and I enjoyed the offer of different teas. Wait time was minimal, service with a smile and the price no different than other places.

Had the gluten-free french toast, which was delicious. I was pleased this was available as an option. Bustling place with lovely interiors.

The food here was excellent with great waffles and omelettes. Everything was fresh and delicious. Definitely a place to come back to.

Cafe was clean. We were greeted with smiling faces. Coffee was fast. Fruit was fresh. I had a omelette that I created. Delish. Husband had hervos rancheros just the right amount of spice. Our waitress was attentive we will be back the next time we visit Chicago.

My husband and I were in Chicago for a week vacation. We stayed at the Hotel Blake which was wonderful. Meli Cafe on Dearborn was connected to the hotel. After searching online for Sunday Brunch we decided on Meli. The waitress, Yianna, was just great. We had the Meli Sunrize champagne and that was just fantastic, then I was contemplating the Chicken omelet when I asked Yianna her recommendations. She recommended the Breakfast Quesadilla. My husband and I split that and an order of pancakes. The quesadilla was Great, so much flavor with the eggs, chicken, corn, black beans, beautifully flavored together. The pancakes were light and fluffy and the maple syrup very sweet and tasty. Would definitely recommend this restaurant and plan to visit again before leaving.

We ate breakfast here, five days in a row. I had eggs over easy, hash brown potatoes that were good. Pancakes with banana and nuts were very good. Syrup didn’t was average. Yogurt with granola and fruit was excellent. Prices very fair for amount of food. Service was excellent

This had been a very upscale restaurant when i lived in Printers Row, many years ago. Meli Cafe has surprisingly wonderful food, an inventive menu, and pleasant service. The value for the money is excellent. Many options, sure to please every taste. I highly recommend the Pear Salad - also has avocado, and more. Could almost be a meal on its own.

Coffee was cold Eggs Benedict poached eggs - yolks were hard like a hard boiled egg Just not good food Service was good tho

Staying at the Hotel Blake and needed a quick bite before touring the city. Resturant was clean and the service was exceptional. Had the breakfast sandwich with hash browns. Great way to start my day!!!

Every year my husband and I go to Chicago to celebrate ours898 wedding anniversary and this cafe is attached to the hotel we stay in so we usually eat there at least once each trip. We were on a tight schedule because we had to get to a concert so we ordered and when I realized there was no chicken in my chicken pot pie I didn't have time to ask the waitress to send it back. My husband checked too and he couldn't find any chicken either. I poked around in the vegetables and gravy while my husband ate his dinner which was fine. On the way out, I told the host who I believe ws also the manger about my situation on the way out and he apologized and asked us to come back after the concert for a desert on the house. We did .do that and not only did we each get a dessert but a drink on the house too. We were tired so we took the things back to our room and enjoyed them. We appreciate so much that our concern was taken seriously and handled graciously. We did go back for breakfast in the morning and all was well. We intend to be back for years to come- and continue our tradition of eating at Meli Cafe as well

I enjoyed my omelet and my husband's chicken from his chicken and waffles. The coffee was very good also.

We both drank (@ night) and ate here. The food is delicious, the staff friendly and quick. We had a great experience. If the weather permits - sit outside - it's worth it to people watch. Got some great pictures from this location also.

Great eggs. The pancakes looked good as well. Plenty of choice . Nice decor - so a relaxing place for a slow breakfast. Open all day, and I believe it can get very busy. Seemed to be plenty of choice.

This is a great restaurant! I absolutely love an American Breakfast Diner... this is somewhat a bit more upmarket than a loud and busy traditional diner though! But I loved it! Its not cheap, but the quality is great. The Corn Beef Hash (homemade apparently) was absolutely amazing! I'm going back just for that. I also had Bacon, Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs and Maple Syrup. Loved it all, despite the cost.

Absolutely lovely breakfast. So good, we went 2 out of our 3 days! Staff are very friendly. Pricing is similar to other restaurants of this type in the city.

I was staying at Hotel Blake and had breakfast and dinner in the Meli Cafe. I had a burger for dinner that was not particularly tasty. Breakfast the next day however was outstanding. Maybe I was just unlucky this the first evening, who knows. Staff is very friendly. Prices a bit on the high side.

Great breakfast and brunch! We stayed at the adjoining hotel, Hotel Blake, and ate at Meli in three different mornings. All our meals there were excellent. The restaurant is beautiful and spotlessly clean. Staff and patrons wore masks, and seating was staggered. Hubby had the pancake breakfast for two days, and the Down on the Farm bowl for his third day. He said they were all good, but the breakfast bowl was his fave. We need to try making these bowls at home! I had different things each day. First, I chose the Farmland Bowl. It was amazing and was my favorite thing I had, this with a size of bacon and some rye toast. The bread for the toast was awesome. The next best thing I had was the avocado toast. Sooo good and I also want to make this at home! I also had the shackshuka, and it was good too, and is served with pita, but would order an extra egg with this one. Overall, great experience and would go back next time we are in Chicago!

Very good breakfast bowl! Menu has a lot of choices. Prices are reasonable. Friendly staff. Only had breakfast. Lunch menu looked good.

Very nice and large place in the middle of Chicago's Financial District. The breakfast speciality's selection is very wide, and the quality of the food is great. Prices are above-average but still in line with what you'd expect. Very professional staff.

Great menu - lots of options. Not crowded at 7:30am on Sunday. Very friendly staff. Food is fresh and delicious. Gluten-free crepes were delicious.

We had breakfast here for the first time. My daughter and husband the chicken omelet and I had 2 eggs on a pita with chicken chorizo sausage, black beans and avocado. All of the portions were large and we all enjoyed our meals.

We enjoyed breakfast here early on a Sunday without a wait. It is good to know you can always swap the hash brown side for fresh fruit. I had a special Mexican egg dish and my husband had a bowl. Both were very good . The only negative is they were not real attentive to filling our coffee.

I’m not sure if they’re short staffed or if this is the way they normally operate but once you are given your order you won’t be checked on again, so if your order is wrong like mine was you’re stuck. After a few times of trying to get her attention I gave up. My steak was only cooked on one half and my eggs weren’t served the way I liked. If you care about those little things I’d skip it.

Brunch Food is average, we own several restaurants in Cancun Mexico, the reason people comes back mainly is because of the good service provided along with the culinary experience, we asked our waitress at least 3 times for syrup, coffee among other things she never cared about us, we also asked bus boys and other waitresses, no one cared, the family eating right behind us could not eat their breakfast, it got cold, my wife had to eat her “Fluffy Pancakes” dry and cold, we never got an offer for a second cup of coffe or perhaps buy another bloody Marry, it’s a miracle this place is still on business, mostly everywhere we’ve been going in Chicago has been amazing

great location, wide variety of classic and unique selection of breakfast favorites. excellent service. well prepared. expected prices for downtown location. recommend the spicey omlet, waffles and all eggs benedict dishes. see unique st. pats twists on regular menu items.

Enjoyed this cafe as part of our Blake Hotel stay. Lena was our waitress. Lena and all the staff were extremely attentive and courteous. The food was DELICIOUS! Definitely a small place not well known, but worth stopping at when in the area. Looking forward to going back for the chocolate chip pancakes :) Beautiful atmosphere and delightful modern decor.

This cafe is next door to Hotel Blake on Dearborn St. It can be entered from the hotel without going outside. The atmosphere is bright and cheery. Service is friendly. We appreciated Marina, our first server being very attentive. The coffee is amazing as are the sweets!! We also had breakfast there on another day. Very generous portions and nice presentation. The meals are reasonable for an upscale Chicago restaurant. Enjoyed eating there.

Staying at Hotel Blake, so easy access. Got right in for breakfast, no wait. Good food, okay service. Prices okay, not cheap, but acceptable. Would return.

Highly recommend this spot for Breakfast. I had the Mana Mou skillet and it was so filling and delicious. Great service and great prices as well.

This is a great place for brunch! The portions are huge, so do not over-order. I had the Farmland bowl and it was superb. The only downer was the service. Make sure you have enough time to linger, as the wait staff was not speedy.

We dropped in after a visit across town on our way to get our bag from the hotel. Good choice. This place offers the entire menu all day - which works since I wanted lunch, and my wife loves breakfast. She had their avocado toast, which had eggs on top and jalapenos to spice it up. That came with hash browns. The jalapenos were a bit too hot, so I took some of them and put them on my Caesar Wrap, which had grilled chicken. It was very tasty and more tasty when I dropped in a few jalapenos. My lunch came with jalapeno cole slaw, which was just good, but got a bit spicy on the bottom. Our waitress kept things moving. Good overall. This is connected to The Hotel Blake, which I'll cover in another review.

I've always loved brunch here, but was surprised how good dinner was! My 'simple' whitefish was deliciously seasoned, with wonderfully sauteed veggies and rice. Very friendly. Great to find something close by for a weekend convention.

My Daughter selected Meli Cafe for Brunch today. I was very surprised to see a good selection of gluten free breakfast items on the menu to include pancakes and french toast. I ordered the Eggs Benedict Classic substituting the muffin for GF toast. My wife and daughter went with omelettes. The portions were the right size and the food delicious. I’m not allergic just sensitive to gluten so did not ask about food prep. Service was good.

The pancakes I ordered were cold when served and appeared to have been pre-made (not fresh). Other food was just mediocre. Server seemed to have tables inside as well as on the outdoor patio, service was poor. Had to ask for coffee refills. Good service is not having to ask … server anticipates and provides what you may want or need. Located in the HotelBlake; however, there are better places nearby.

Stopped in for breakfast before heading to Union Station and so glad we did. They have a small menu but it's full of so many yummy things it's hard to chose. Ended up with the Bavarian cream French toast. OMG! so good. My daughter had normal French toast and my friend had the eggs benedict . Everything was so yummy.

From the Bloody Marys, the homemade juices to the omelets this place is a fabulous! Everything we have had on their menu is great!

The jalapeno egg white scramble was really good. It had hashbrowns in it which I enjoyed. The toast and marmalade were great too.

Amazing food and great service. Only downfall is bacon was slightly undercooked. Irish bene was delicious and a lot of corn beef hash! Eggs cooked perfect. Coffee was delicious and heavy pour for the mimosa! Server was timid but attentive

The waitress treated me like garbage. While I was waiting to order breakfast, I was finishing a couple pieces of small chicken wings that I had from the previous night. She rudely approached me and said I can’t eat that here. I assured her that I was about to order food for breakfast, but because of her rude approach, I decided I didn’t want to dine in there and walked out. There are no signs posted about outside food of any sort.

We stayed several blocks away but it was worth the walk!! The breakfast bowls were delicious. The Gluten free toast outstanding! The crepes incredible, the service,friendly, and on top of things. The prices , comparable for the area. We rotated and ate outside as well as inside.

This is a neighborhood restaurant which gets quite crowded on weekends. The food is reasonably priced and the portions are large. Chicken and waffles was a favorite with our group.

We had lunch here while waiting for our passports. The service was fast and professional. The food was outstanding. My son was nuts about the toasted pita. The chicken kabobs were delish.

Staying at Hotel Blake. Stopped in for brunch. Great decision. Make their own juice, jams etc. Darya K was a very attentive server. Light up beat atmosphere with plenty of window watching folks exploring the city. Well done Meli.

I was staying at the Hotel Blake and Meli's was nest door with an adjoining hall, very convenient. I ate breakfast and lunch here. Every meal was delicious and service was good. The bar closes at 3 or 4 so a late night drink was not going to be there.

A delightful restaurant where you can dine in for breakfast and lunch or just grab a drink and food to go! Inside and outside seating. Food and coffee were very good!

In the lobby of the Blake Hotel. Great hours. Staff are friendly and efficient. The food is good with daily specials,

A small group of us went to Meli. The server wasn’t friendly, didn’t understand how to ring in food sensitivities, and made it seem like we were inconvenient. The coffee took longer to arrive than the juice, more than ten minutes. The juice seemed to have been made and left to sit. It was warm and not as refreshing as it should be. One of the egg dishes had eggs that were over cooked. When we asked for new eggs, it very much seemed like we were asking for too much. The wraps didn’t have much flavor, neither did the sandwich or soup. The avocado Benedicts toast and Jalapeño breakfast bowl were well presented and full of flavor. Sadly this wasn’t the best brunch experience for us.

We enjoyed a lovely breakfast here Day 1 of our Chicago adventure - salmon eggs benny and an avocado toast with poached eggs, black beans and corn with cilantro and line.

Best breakfast place in Chicago! Great menu, lots of choices, not expensive. Nice atmosphere. Love this place! Definitely will come back

Great downtown location...very near the Mart. Always bustling...great food.. omelets are tops! Get the Greek yogurt!! Service was good but a bit slow... Coffee plentiful..medium strength, if you like your coffee that way...Would go back and just get the yogurt..portions are huge ..consider sharing...

Meli Cafe describes their establishment this way: It is "a neighborhood restaurant, cafe, and juice bar where locals meet in Greek Town, River North and Printers Row. Our menu is filled with farm-to-table dishes, hormone and antibiotic free meat, fresh squeezed juice, and legendary homemade marmalade." I have to agree that this is a very nice restaurant with great food, friendly service, large portions and reasonable prices. On the south side of the downtown loop, it was an easy 7 block walk from the hotel we were staying at to the Dearborn St. location (they have 3 locations in Chicago). I see from other reviews that patrons from the next door Blake Hotel also dine here. The decor is modern from architectural stone to wood panel, from framed art to glass chandeliers with nice window views to the street and comfortable booths. Since we were dining here for breakfast on March 14, 3 days from St. Patrick's Day, I thought I would try the Irish Benedict - corned beef hash, hollandaise sauce, english muffin, breakfast potatoes and eggs. Very ample portions, but the CBH was from a can and the sauce had a disagreeable taste for my palate. My wife had the Avocado Toast - multi grain toast, avocado, corn, black beans, jalapenos and chipotle aoli. This was a very unique breakfast and delicious --- I wish I would have ordered that. Yum! Overall, the service here is very good, though our server Anastasiia Y. had a very soft voice and a strong accent so was difficult to understand with my English tuned ears. Great place to have breakfast.

When we visit Chicago, and are staying at the Palmer House, we always take the ten minute walk to Meli and it is always very good. I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews about service. We always experience fast friendly service even when they are busy. I highly recommend Meli, especially if one is staying within reasonable walking distance.

Went for breakfast. Food was your typical breakfast fare. I would caution ALL eating here to review your bill. They LOVE to add gratuity and convenience charges etc.

We went to breakfast here on a whim because we had passed it several times on our way to and from the passport office. Oh my goodness, I'm so glad we stopped in! The food is beyond delicious and the service is wonderful. Our server, Samodurova, we helpful and attentive. We had the Pancake Breakfast and the Breakfast Tacos along with the Ginger Splash Juice, and Kiwi, Strawberry and Orange juice combo. Everything was fresh and very tasty. The hashbrowns were crispy, but not overcooked, the eggs were some of the fluffiest we've ever had, and the juice drinks were flavorful and fresh. We definitely plan on coming back, and the next time we do, we want to try to the crepes and one of the Eggs Benedicts.

Service really bad after 20minute in our table not a sigle person went to get us coffee and get our order or even greet us. I asked a server and her answer was we are behind it will be another 20 minutes before we help you not even an apology nothing

The people at The Blake said we have not lived until we ate brunch here, and they were not kidding! Wow. The tasteful combination of flavors offered was worth any wait time to get a table. The bright atmosphere and the gorgeous music added to the ambiance, and I would recommend anyone stopping by for the fresh ingredients and taking the recommendations of the knowledgeable wait staff.

On a recent visit to Chicago, we were looking for a nice restaurant to get breakfast. My hotel recommended Meli Cafe. What a treat. The food was excellent and the portions were huge. I enjoyed the Spicy Flamenco Omelet which included chicken chorizo and pepper jack cheese. It was huge with a side of hash browns that completely filled me up. The rest of my family had breakfast crepes, a fruit parfait and bacon and eggs. Everything was served piping hot and the wait staff was very attentive. The prices were reasonable for what we got. The next time I am in Chicago I will definitely stop back.

Good food, nice atmosphere, good service. More than your average coffee shop diner breakfast/lunch place with some interesting options on the menu.

Meli Cafe was great for breakfast. My wife had the Yuppie Breakfast Bowl and enjoyed it. I had the pancake breakfast which was quite substantial and tasted great. Service was excellent. We’ll come here again.

We had breakfast at this café located at 500 s dearborn in east downtown ch. Looked like a pretty busy place, but we were seated right away at a nice window seat. We ordered an omelet and a waffle/latte. The server lady was polite and nice. Another guy brought us water and filled the glasses later as needed. The latte came right away, and the rest of the stuff about 20 min. later. Waffle was a big large one, nice and fresh; the omelet was well done inside and out, but the pancakes (side) did not seem fresh and were like breaking into small pieces as I was cutting them. However, I must say that for the same money, we got larger portions at another similar place. The place was nice and cozy, not much noise, and a nice view of the busy street outside from our booth. It was relaxing to sit and savor the food leisurely at our own pace.

Has a lovely brunch here with the family. The food was okay, but the service was outstanding!! For food, potatoes and eggs were kind of cold, would go with a crepe next time.

We came here for brunch on a Saturday while in town for a wedding. Although we were a party of 7, we had less than a 15 minute wait. The drinks were delicious- we had mimosas and bloody Mary’s. The food was also tasty. The sausage used in the bowl had the perfect amount of spice. The French toast was crispy on the outside and a very generous portion. Lemon curd crepes were light and sweet. Definitely worth coming to!

The inside of the Meli Cafe in Dearborn is super cute! It's fancy without being too fancy. They have a good mix of choices from super healthy to down home cooking. Our server was attentive and friendly.

Ate here in the evening when they are not crowded as at breakfast. Great waitress, good food and great ambiance. Not noisy and a good restaurant to carry on a dinner conversation in the evening. Other than the Meli there are not many real dining restaurants around this area. They stay open in the evening because they are connected with the Blake Hotel next door.

Excellent service and good food with generous portions. Pleasant staff. Convenient location next to Blake hotel. Good every time I have dined there

I went here this morning, and I wish I wouldn't have. I went against the recommendation given to me, and decided to check this place out. I walked in, and was immediately ignored by whomever was supposed to be hosting. I let this slide and told him I was only there for carryout, and didn't need to be seated. I looked over the menu for a few minutes, as I've never been there before and the options all sounded really good. I finally placed my order for to go, paid, and tipped. I stood there waiting for some kind of sign that the transaction was good, or any kind of acknowledgement whatsoever, and after a few awkward minutes decided to just walk away. I sat at the bar to wait for my order, and was thinking I'll grab some coffee while I wait. I sat for about 20 minutes waiting for my food and the bartender never spoke a word to me, so I didn't bother getting anything to drink. So far, this is the least attentive service I've had in a long time, and I'm getting a little aggravated. Eventually my food was in the window in boxes sitting. Nobody bothered getting it to me, and it sat for around ten minutes before the kitchen staff had to get the attention of someone to bring it to me. To my surprise, even this server was rude and just plopped the bag down in front of me and walked away. The place wasn't at all busy, as it was 7 am, so I'm not sure what everyone's problem was. I paid $50 for breakfast for two, and have been regretting it all morning. By the time I got my food, the poached eggs were cooked through from sitting in a box. The Avacado toast has a bean and corn relish on top of it, and that was hard, like it was cooked to death and then left out for days. The fruit they gave me was mushy. The potatoes were burnt, and otherwise tasteless. The Irish Benedict was good, but not good enough to overlook everything else. I'm in the food and beverage industry, and my wife works at a local hotel. She won't be giving anybody recommendations to come to this place! Needless to say, I won't be back. It's unfortunate to have to leave such a poor review, and I don't generally do this, but when I have this bad an experience I feel obligated to say something. Womp womp.

We had breakfast here twice - the breakfast sandwich was lovely and poached eggs were done exactly as requested. Great service

We had to queue outside on the pavement for about 15 minutes before a table became available - we were a largish party - 4 adults and 2 young children . Once in , the service was very good , and friendly . Good food , if a little on the expensive side ( but it's Chicago ) . We had mostly wraps , with one spicy omelette .Limited range of beers . As we had walked in just on spec. , our conclusion was : we did ok !!

Meli Cafe was within walking distance of our hotel and was a great find. They had a great range of brunch options, and the coffee was tasty. The service was on top of everything even though it was fairly busy. I will definitely try to go back on my next Chicago visit.

My wife had beet toast with goat cheese, poached egg and creamed avocado. It was excellent. I had a breakfast bowl farm style that included two eggs with bacon, sausage, red potatoes, onion, and peppers. Also excellent. The restaurant is attached to the Blake hotel. It is top notch place with reasonable pricing for large portions.

I was mildly disappointed in this choice for breakfast. The service was good, but the food was just okay. I had an Irish Benedict...sounded interesting, but was somewhat bland. My friend had a special breakfast and said it was pretty good...breakfast tacos I think; however, the sauce used was too heavy. I would return to give it another go, but I would suggest improving on the food a bit.

This café is connected to the Hotel Blake. It is in the Chicago Civic Center area. All of the staff are very friendly and accommodating. It has a full menu and extensive bar. The decor is pleasing and it is a comfortable place for any mail of the day. The mussels were a meal all by itself.

I was visiting my daughter and her family in Chicago and we took her young children to the Children's library very close to this popular restaurant. The grandchildren got chocolate chip pancakes and cranberry juice and my daughter got salmon benedict and my son-in-law got a veggie omelette and both got cappuccinos, and they liked everything. I got a veggie omelette and corn beef hash on the side and fruit and it was excellent. The service was great. I recommend it highly.

We enjoyed a nice breakfast here at one of their outdoor tables on a Saturday morning. Unlike some of the other reviews, we received very good service. Food was on par with the typical diner/cafe breakfast places. A great choice if you are looking for breakfast with table service in the Central Loop area on the weekends.

Note: previous reviews I have read on TA have bemoaned the service! Based upon our latest four days in Chicago for a gymnastics meet I can ONLY rave about the service and menu choices for breakfast & dinner. Hostesses, wait staff and even the manager could not have been more attentive! Our choices were rather diverse and all selections served in a very timely, efficient and friendly manner! By the way the prices were right and the servings, temperature, quality and taste were outstanding. A nice accomplishment to the Blake Hotel.

Winter hours? 7:00 am to 3:00 pm ....... someone said prices were high but they’re actually no higher than any other restaurant in the area. Good food.

My girlfriend and I stumbled across this place while exploring the city, and decided to stop in. Very clean, upscale look, and even better food. Our server Anastasia was great as well. Definently an amazing spot.

Sometime I just want to have a cup of team with dessert but not in a coffee shop where the noise from the coffee grinder and the espresso machine is disturbing. I could get this fulfilled at Meli Cafe. I don’t mind the amateurish service. In fact, this is how it should be in such a place. The server just leaves you alone. The dessert is good. Try it.

Fantastic menu. Excellent quality. Accommodating staff. Ate every meal here during my stay. Breakfast menu available all day! Super fresh juice menu. Juiced on site.

We found this place in TA and it was a short walk from our hotel. We had brunch here and the food and service was fantastic. Highly recommend the chicken and waffles. Server was very friendly and attentive.

We stopped in for a breakfast/lunch about 11:00 am when our room at the Blake wasn’t ready. Our granddaughter was with us and we sat outside on a pleasant summer day. Our waitress was attentive but the food, when ordered, was slow arriving. The food was delicious.

They were very nice my food was the best it was so calm I loved the decoration and the bathrooms were clean the service was the best it became my favorite cafe

I had a lovely experience until I realized they charged me $2.00 for a tiny plastic container of syrup. By the time the waitress brought the syrup I was done with my meal and no longer needed the syrup. I would have appreciated being notified that extra syrup was going to cost $2.00 so I could have decided if I wanted it or not as opposed to seeing it on my bill when I went to pay

Service was extremely fast, but we never felt rushed. Tasty food and decent prices as well. They had lots of vegan and gluten free options to chose from. I got the gluten free pancakes and they were delicious. The staff was amazing as well, and the restaurant had a really pleasant atmosphere overall. Highly recommend

Enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at this chic, welcoming restaurant. Clean & friendly atmosphere with outstanding service. Wide selection of farm fresh dishes including fresh squeezed juices. We had the farmland breakfast bowl & cappuccino with a cute little biscotti to dunk!

The Meli Cafe was in the lobby of our hotel and we had a very satisfying brunch there. So many choices, it was hard to settle on our dishes. The space is bright and open and quite inviting. We were fortunate that it was right there!!

Great place for brunch. Wide choice for modest price. I had the basic scrumbled eggs, potatoes and toast, and this was already a delicious treat.

Well Meli gave up the dinner idea a few years back and do what they do best-breakfasts and brunch. I was amazed when I saw that it had been 5 long years since my last review, as we have been back here time and again when in the mood for a belly-busting start to our day. We live on the same street which makes it very handy and Meli's buys the food, cooks it and then washes up the dishes. It's usually a $50 spend including tip but so worth it. The menu is long and varied -vegetarians could be happy and those seeking to eat healthy (that's not me for sure) can be accommodated. My needs are simple-coffee, eggs, fried potatoes and some kind of meat. Coffee is a cappuccino with an extra shot and is pleasant enough, considering we live in one of the poorest coffee countries on earth (Italy it ain't) . As Starbucks proves we like our coffee to taste as little like real coffee (Buonjorno Roma!) as possible. Hazlenut anyone? Service, as they are always slammed, is not brisk or certainly not as brisk as many would like but we have time to eat and plan accordingly. Order drinks when your waitress comes and then wait a little. No big whoop. Chat or stare at your phone. When the heaping plates of food come-piping hot, dig in and enjoy. We have never asked for a doggy bag. We get our heads down and delight in every well-prepared morsel. Eggs, onions, potatoes, peppers.Chorizo, sausages, bacon. Chicken,pork, beef-have at it. Bite of toast smeared with some house-made jam or marmalade. Sprinkle of Tabasco, add some salt and pepper (on the table). Chow down. It's simple grub, done well and plenty of it. I haven't kept track of all the delights I have savored here over the years. I know there have been Ruebens with fries, scrambled eggs with Chorizo (a fave) a burger now and then, omelettes of course.Every dish has satisfied and is well described on the menu. So you know what you are getting. Toast helps fill you up. They have desserts too and until recently had a big cake display case which we often bought from-delicious crazy cakes by the slice. They even had bread to go, which was flavorful and crusty, but on this visit that case was empty. So they are cutting back on their offerings, sad to say. Even their delicious drinks were missing from the menu-but ask anyway. My partner 's face dropped when she saw no mention of her go-to Ginger Splash! was shown. But she asked and it was still available and still magnificent. They need to update the menu to show all the delights they have-that's retail 101. There's a nice view over Congress street and the fantastic Harold Washington Library as you dine. There are multiple TVs with the sound off showing sports games (but why?) and cosy booths. Busboys are on top of their game turning tables and filling your water. All the staff are hustling to get you fed and on your way( if you have places to be) It's a well-run, reliable cafe for good food at a decent price. Hearty portions with good service and lots of menu choices.Nice people work there. I can't say much negative about it.

Excellent, tasty well prepared breakfasts including sides of has browns and toast as well as endless pours of coffee. Our server was very pleasant. We had enough of a meal that we did not need to eat for the rest of the day!

My son and I were visiting college in Chicago and were staying at the Kimpton Grey. We needed to grab breakfast and the hotel recommended Meli Cafe. Upon entering it just felt very clean and luxurious. White linen tablecloths, great service and a big breakfast menu. We had great coffee taht was refilled often. I had the pancake breakfast and my son had the eggs benedict. Both were delicious, even the potatoes, which sometimes are a throwaway at other restaurants. Our waitress was very attentive. I recommend coming here for an excellent experience.

Meli Café offers a broad range of typical American breakfast meals. The servings are very generous and they also have various freshly pressed juices. So if you’re looking forward to enjoying a super delicious breakfast, meli Café is the place to go.

Great drink specials, delicious food with a large menu, nice ambiance and good service. Highly recommended! Very busy though, get there early or make a reservation if you can

Found this gem via TripAdvisor as I was in the area on business. Appreciated the service & food was excellent. Especially appreciated the quality of the silverware & cloth napkins! To me, nothing worse than eating with cheap utensils & they hit the mark with quality cutlery, cloth napkins, attentive staff & excellent food. I’d definitely come back

There were 7 of us for breakfast, the food came prompt and everyone enjoyed their dish! The crepes were delicious, also the chocolate crepes had banana and strawberries plus Nutella in them! The omelets were also delicious!

The food was good along with the service. We chose this due to it being veggie friendly. It was also convenient since it was next to our hotel. The service was also good.

Our young female waitress was horrible. No expression, not attentive, took forever to get her attention to get more ketchup. The food was okay but the coffee was bland. Skip this place.

The crab cakes were so good I had to have them again for breakfast (as a Benedict). Cream of celery soup was delicious, skirt steak is incredible, and spaghetti is uniquely tasty. Anna K was so sweet and Ari is a one of a kind. Can’t recommend this place enough for any meal. Thank you for your amazing hospitality.

We went here for breakfast because it was next door to our hotel. It was very good! We had breakfast sandwiches and hash browns. So good we went back the next morning. We had symphony crepes and lemon blueberry crepes. Both good but the symphony were really good!! Iced latte and side of bacon very good. Friendly service. Nice ambiance- bright and open inside.

Most road warriors shy away from their hotel restaurants unless time is short. I’ve eaten twice at Meli which is linked to the Blake hotel and was positively surprised. Simple but tasty fare with varied options. It’s like a really upscale diner. Service was not fast but that might have been because I ordered gluten free options. Now i’m concerned that i’ll be reluctant to venture out of my hotel to discover fine chicago dining.

Stayed in Chicago for four days and had breakfast here for three of them. The main reason we first went was because i read they served vegan breakfasts. I was not disappointed. They had a variety of sweet and savoury vegan breakfast dishes, although I only ever had the french toast and pancakes...they were amazing, hence why we kept going back. If your vegan and want a good place to go then I would certainly recommend Meli cafe. Service was very good with everyone very friendly and the cafe itself was a very nice place to eat.

After eating the expensive breakfast buffet in a nice hotel, we set out the next day to find a simple breakfast at a more reasonable price, and discovered the Meli Cafe. I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese croissant. Delish! It was accompanied by a generous portion of crispy hash browns, and about a third the price of the hotel breakfast. I highly recommend.

We came here for breakfast on Mother's Day. The inside was really nice and clean. The food was great. The fruit was perfect and the breakfasts were seasoned just right. The wait staff was super friendly. However, we were never checked on once we got our food. No one asked how it was or if we needed a refill. Other than that it was a great place to go for breakfast.

We visited late morning. I chose eggs with bacon, sausage, hash brown n toast. My husband had the spicy omelette. Our food was delicious, well presented and the service was ok. The waitress wasn’t particularly welcoming or over friendly but passable. Breakfast in America is always an expensive affair compared to the UK so we don’t often partake but overall we left full and happy.

This is a great place for breakfast or lunch. We were in town for a conference. Most places around the big hotels were pricey and packed with conference delegates. We found this place that was off the beaten track and provided us with a place that we could have a conversation and enjoy good food. There are all-day breakfast options but also lunch (wrap and kebab). They offer a great selection of fruit-juices and smoothies. The price was reasonable.

Superior food, and abundant also. Very pleasant atmosphere and good service. I had the veggie omelet and coffee. Both were excellent, just the right mix of veggies and feta. And plenty of it, too. It comes with hash browns that were also excellent. Coffee was likewise a delight. It is not a cheap breakfast but if you are hungry it is a good value.

I was not 100% taken with my breakfast at Meli Cafe but am giving it 5 stars partly because the cafe had, hands down, the best drip coffee I had in Chicago over my entire trip. Refills at no charge. I sat outside along the street, which is a great place to people watch and there is a bit of greenery (Millenium Park) across the way to add to the view. My fig omelet was filling but not quite to my taste. It was browned, whereas I prefer all-yellow. The eggs were mixed with something (milk?), making it airy, whereas I prefer the egg-only recipe. But the fig and bacon was tasty, and I enjoyed the fruit cup side. There were many options on the menu that I could have chosen.

I've actually been several times with girlfriends since July 2017. This time I took my husband over Christmas weekend. I haven't had a thing I ordered and didn't like yet. They always have specials and my husband tried a Christmas Special, Eggnog French Toast and loved it.They also make a great variety of Bloody Mary's and Mimosas. Meli is are go to breakfast spot now when ever we're in town!

Located in the same building as the Blake Hotel, this is a comfortable and quiet neighborhood cafe that served us an excellent breakfast - oatmeal, omelette, muffin, potatoes, coffee, fresh orange juice.

Good menu selection and great taste! Stayed in Hotel Blake right next door and was great close selection!

My husband, son and I went here for dinner after enjoying Hamilton. I had the skirt steak, my husband had the pork chop and my son had the lamb shoulder. We were all very satisfied with our food. The service and food presentation were excellent. We also treated ourselves to freshly-prepared Greek donuts for dessert. We thought the prices were very good considering the area. We would be happy to return in the future.

Went here for breakfast. Had an amazing omelet! Great portions for the price. Service was on spot and the place was shining.

I stayed at Hotel Blake for a few days and ate breakfast at Meli Cafe on two occasions. Both times, the meals were very good and the staff was helpful and delightful. I was adventurous the first time around and ordered Shakshouka, a Greek poached egg dish in a tomato sauce. It was fantastic. My second meal was less exciting but still very good. The sausage was really good. If I remember correctly, it is made in house. My waitresses were both very pleasant and did a great job. One day I asked for as big of a tomato juice as I could get. I had the biggest tomato juice ever delivered to me at a restaurant! It could have been a little colder but it was nice to have something more than just one gulp. Meli Cafe will deliver room service to Hotel Blake. We did this one night. I honestly do not remember what we ordered but it is a nice service after we had had a long day. My only issue was exchanging my potatoes at breakfast for a fruit cup. I did this both days. Both days, I got mainly grapes with a piece or two of pineapple. A little more variety would be nice. Still, Meli Cafe is a good option for any meal, especially if you are staying at Hotel Blake. Prices are "Chicago reasonable." Give them a try.

My wife and I had breakfast here three days straight. Each day, we both tried something different and all of our meals were great and plentiful. It's a bit pricey like everything is in Chicago, but worth the cost.

Fantastic breakfast spot in downtown Chicago. We went 3 times during our long weekend stay in Chicago. Enjoyed the Greek bagel and eggs, breakfast tacos, the Irish benedict, and the farmland. Delicious coffee and we enjoyed one morning outside! What a great find for breakfast and brunch! A hidden neighborhood jewel waiting to be discovered!

We’ve had breakfast twice, drinks and dessert after the game, and we plan to come back at least one more time for breakfast! The staff is friendly and helpful in all aspects. Food is AMAZING and there is quite a large variety! Lattes, teas, mimosas...GREAT drinks! Reasonably priced and has always been good!

We stopped in late in the evening and shared a large slice of carrot cake. It was rather odd, the waitress literally did not speak a word to us other than "thank you". The next morning we stopped in for breakfast on our way to a Trade Show. Portions were extremely generous. Pricing was in line with other Chicago restaurants we stopped at. Normally would not go to the hotel restaurant but in this case it worked out and was convenient.

Wait at this cafe was short so wife, daughter and I took a chance. Big mistake. I ordered the Pancake breakfast (Buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs, smoked Applewood bacon, and Meli breakfast potatoes). I requested for my order of eggs to be over easy. Came the order.... In other restaurants, for this type of order, the pancakes are typically served in a separate plate so as not to crowd just one plate. Here, they put everything in one, so half of the pancakes were on top of the hash browns (the "Meli breakfast potatoes") and half of the hash browns were on top of the eggs. Not a beautiful and appetizing start. On to the eggs.... How can a good restaurant get this wrong? Not only were the eggs not over easy, they were burnt at the bottom and over hard on top. Am including a picture here. For this experience, am giving Meli a poor rating and will not be coming back.

Stopped twice at Meli's in a weekend - it is that good! Bountiful omelets, good coffee, attentive staff, and a glass of prosecco to match!

Service was good, menu selections were varied. We had a variety of breakfasts from eggs to oatmeal to banana French toast- all good. Not cheap but what do you expect? Recommended, especially if you are staying in the area, conveniently located.

Very nice cafe, friendly and attentive waitress and great food. I wanted corn beef hash and ordered it as a breakfast bowl with hash browns at the bottom, Swiss cheese and scrambled eggs on top. It was a large portion, I could only eat half. The texture of the corned beef was different (a little fluffy) but had good flavor. The cheese grits were good. My hubby enjoyed his chicken and waffles and the OJ and pineapple juice were fresh. I recommend them.

Only kind and hard-worker is the busser! Server sucked and forgot orders, and food runners had extreme attitude for no reason! Absolutely despicable, never got refills or asked how our meal was. Unless you ask for your server, they will not come to your table! Get off your high horse and give people the experience they are paying for. I would fire food runners and server on the spot!!! Terrible for your business- never ever coming back. AND YOUR MENU IS MISLABELED!! THAT IS A HEALTH HAZARD.

Really enjoyed the breakfast bowls - but the menu is extensive with breakfast/brunch options. Quick service. Family friendly, a reasonable (15 min) wait mid morning Saturday.

I am toranto after some time and I found the usual great American breakfast with very nice service and pleasant, lively environment without being too noisy. Eggs benedict highly recommended

Arrived early and it was already busy which is a good sign. We had about a 10 minute wait to be seated, it’s a lovely large, light space (with great background music!). Quick service, a big menu to chose from, I went for eggs with bacon, potatoes and toast and my husband had the breakfast tacos. Couldn’t fault any of it! They even managed to make a decent latte which was a pleasant surprise. No English breakfast tea, but this seems to be the norm in Chicago! We weren’t rushed, took our time in the lovely atmosphere ...and we were full up until dinner time!

Our meal was good but not amazing. We had the egg scramblers and a side of gluten free crepes. The eggs were from the healthy portion of the menu and were very fluffy-this gave them almost an undercooked texture, but they were completely cooked. The service was slow considering we were not there at peak breakfast hours. It was not a bad meal, I just expected more.

Omelette was very good - light and fluffy. Limited bread selection, although english muffin was very good. Would go again. Pleasant wait staff.

If you're unable to take leftovers, we'd recommend you share, as they give you a LOT of food. We'd eaten here during our 2017 visit & were pleased to see their excellent quality remains. We ate at the bar to avoid waiting and Vanessa was sweet & efficient, despite being super busy. We did wish they were still open for Happy Hour, as previously we'd enjoyed that here.

Rude service. Bland food. Won’t split checks even for a party of 2. The waitress adds her own gratuity if you have any complaints. If you add food after initial order, you are charged extra. The restaurant charges a 3.5 percent “service fee” to help them cover rising costs. On the window it says it serves dinner - closes at 3:00! We will be going elsewhere for our meals.

We ate here as we were staying at the Hotel Blake. We arrived late, so the restaurant was mostly empty. Menu was OK. Somewhat limited in selection, but we were tired so the small meal we had was quite good and satisfying.

We've visited Chicago 3 times, always staying at Hotel Blake, conveniently next door. We've been to Meli for almost every meal, breakfast and dinner. Quality is always great, service is always friendly. Prices are a bit high for someone from Kentucky, but it's worth it, and it is Chicago. They have daily specials as well as eclectic regular offerings. We will continue to visit as long as they're open.

Great breakfast and good service. Cute Café ambiance. There was no wait, and the generous portion of food came quickly. My mom loved her omelet.

We were staying in the area and it was a very convenient breakfast location. Prices are inline with other a Chicago area breakfast locations. Was not as busy, so we were able to be seated immediately. Food was good. My son had the pancake breakfast. They have real maple syrup. I had the gluten free French toast, which was a nice option instead of the normal eggs. Eggs are organic and bacon is thick as advertised.

I stayed at the adjacent hotel and ate here twice for breakfast. I wasn't disappointed. The crepes were delicious! I recommend the oatmeal and latte as well.

While staying at The Blake next door we initially went here for convenience on day one, but ended up going 4x mornings in row. Great food and not to expensive a very convenient while staying in the adjacent hotel as access is via the hotel lobby. On a couple of occasions we had to chase the check having roeviosuly asked for it, but overall not a material issue. Staff just seemed slightly overwhelmed at the breakfast rush hour.

Sat down took about 5 minutes or so for our server to come to us, NBD. She proceeded to take our order, I ordered a mimosa and had my ID ready. I’ve been ID’d all over Chicago and was prepared. She rolled her eyes and said “If I had wanted to see your ID I would have asked for it.” Okay. Ordered the special Quarter Pounder, she put in the order. About a minute later came back and said they can’t do the special and can do the Prime burger instead...I said okay. She failed to mention it was double the price. Food came out and was good. Mimosa was fresh OJ. Just really lacking service.

We ate here several times and the food and service were very good. I thought the lamb shakshuka was delicious. We enjoyed the French toast, pancakes and crepes, as well. Attentive servers kept our coffee cups filled. Reasonable prices.

We had breakfast here. The service was good, and the food was good. Prices were also reasonable. Not a standout but no complaints either!

Some friends and I stopped in after just getting into town. Unique atmosphere of the restaurant enhances the food. I ordered the chicken and waffles with a bacon sauce, really good. They serve coke products in these little bottles that brought back fond memories of my youth.

We stayed at the Hotel Blake and ate in this restaurant for breakfast and for lunch. What a wonderful menu! The service is outstanding too!!!!

Very slow service. Food ok. Price ok. Atmosphere good. But slow speed for everything was really bad.

I came twice in two day, it is very good. Nice service, very cleane, very good food. If you are I Chicago and you are looking for a place for breakfast or lunch this is a perfect place. Definitely you will not regret it.

This makes our 5th trip to Chicago in the past year. Each day we’ve been here previously we have eaten breakfast at Meli. Have always been very happy with service and food. I usually get the create your own sandwich with ham and pepper jack cheese, asking to hold the eggs. NEVER had an issue until this morning when I was giving the server my order and as soon as I said no egg, she said “you can’t do that with create your own”. I responded that I’ve never had issues with any other time I’ve ordered this. She said “I can ask but I don’t think they will”. I ended up ordering toast and bacon. Very disappointed and wont be looking forward to returning but will because my hubby loves this place (he doesn’t make special requests.

Had breakfast twice. All great. Close to our airbnb. Highly recommend. Nice menu with lots of choices.

Meli was amazing. We were seated immediately even with six people. They have many options for kids and adults. We enjoyed the freshly prepared smoothies. I had the green smoothie with fruits and herbs and they somehow made it taste delicious! The kids love the fruit crepes (so fresh) and French toast. They had a special menu for the holidays which was very creative. The green whipped cream was delicious (green for the holidays ... no herbs). Overall next time we visit Chicago this will be one of our first stops!

I recently stayed at the Hotel Blake while in Chicago for a 3-day conference. After the first day of the conference, my fiancé, my colleague, and I were really tired, so when we realized that Meli Café was physically connected to our hotel, it seemed like the perfect, no-effort option. And it was! We had a couple of appetizers, pasta, drinks from the bar, and mini-cakes for dessert. Every dish was delicious -- so much so that we returned the next night, despite having a bit more energy that we could have put into a restaurant search. Our meals the second night were just as good as the first. I had a pasta special the first night; the second night I had the Berkshire pork chop from the regular menu, which was spectacularly good. Wait staff were attentive without being overbearing. Overall, we enjoyed two relaxing, delicious meals without having to leave the comfort of our hotel. I'd happily eat at Meli Café again.

After having a couple of disappointing visits here, today was much better and I will once again recommend them! The service was very good although slow but in their defense, they were very busy. Our server, Janelle, was very attentive. After I confused her with a question about an item on the menu, she came back a third time and apologized and said “I am so sorry but I want to make sure I get the answer you are looking for”. That impressed me greatly! We definitely will return (probably tomorrow as it’s in the building where we are staying so very convenient)..

The food is delicious and the cheesecake is to die for. I had a scrumptious pork chop that you could cut with a butter knife. Portions are large, and prices are typical downtown Chicago. Get the chocolate cheesecake. It’s worth it.

Service was very good. Eggs Benedict were good as were the Maple pancakes with bananas and pecans. The coffee was disappointing, especially at $3.95. Overall, a good experience.

We went in today for a quick lunch. The place was relatively empty, so we were seated quickly. The server was cold and did not speak good English and had difficulty telling my wife if the salmon salad is recommended. In any case, we ordered a salmon salad and a steak salad. Taste was ok. No bread on the table, so we had to ask for it to the surprise of the server. We both became ill in 2 hours. So, do not go.

Went to this cafe multiple times because it was so great we had to return to try more. Excellent ambience, great design, supreme food, great value, it is a perfect place to try!

We visited Meli Cafe for breakfast. This place is close to the Hotel Blake in downtown Chicago and use to have a good variety of choices in the menu. Interiors are modern and bright Unfortunately, this time my experience here wasn't great. I was not extremely impressed by the service as well as the quality of food which would just consider edible. Big portions, although, missing the attention in the way everything was positioned on the dish and pretty tasteless. Also, English muffins were damp and slightly burnt, plus coffee and orange juice quite watery. Not sure if on our next visit we will go there again.

This place was literally on the corner adjacent our apartment and we called for a snack before heading off to the airport yesterday. The restaurant is absolutely huge with plenty of booth and table seating and the staff are just amazing. I opted for Baked oats with Bananas and raisins and it was just delicious. The girls opted for a chocolate muffin and pain au chocolat and the server warmed these up too. I only wish we had discovered this place sooner. There’s also an extensive menu for breakfast and brunch alike.

Conveniently located on the ground floor of Hotel Blake. I had one of their specials of the day. I forget the name but it was an omelette with green sauce and came with potatoes and a slice of toast & an amazing butter and jam. Their green smoothies were also delicious!

Staff gave me an attitude from the beginning. Tried to charge me for a coffee that never came. Food was not even great, a bit fishy for the salmon egg Benedict. Not to mention that no staff was assigned to the table and no one cares about ordering that we waited for ages.

Great food and coffee drinks! Service was excellent; the kitchen was just a bit slow. The menu offered a variety of options, including lighter things, which is nice at breakfast time.

We stayed at Hotel Blake next door. On our first night arriving at 9:30 pm we wanted a quick bite. Had the hamburger and fries, which were excellent. Had breakfast the next day. The breakfast bowl was excellent. We came back for two late desserts. The chocolate bomb and chocolate cheesecake were “best ever.” Prices are reasonable. Service was excellent. Highly recommended.

A wonderful surprise of a cafe in the Blake Hotel! The breakfast was so delicious that we ate here two mornings in a row!! Service was fast and the food hot and tasty. Honestly one of the best omelets I have ever eaten!! Highly recommend. My only complaint is they are only open until 3 pm.

The food and service were very good. Portion size is generous. We ate there twice during our visit, and Meli Cafe did not disappoint.

Very good breakfast service was good food was great. Very clean and reasonably priced. No wait tone seared convenient to hotel . Service was quick and accurate

Racism at the Meli Café If you are Spanish and the waitress Karina Barragán has a shift, she may not even let you in. Their rudeness, lack of professionalism and xenophobic behavior towards Spaniards should not be allowed in a restaurant of the category of Meli Café. Racism at Meli Café If you are Spanish and the waitress Karina Barragan is on duty, she may not even let you in. Her rudeness, unprofessionalism and xenophobic behavior towards Spaniards should not be allowed in a restaurant of Meli Café's stature.

Delicious pancakes, good quality of the food, nice location and friendly staff. I can recommend this place. Just the orange juice seemed not to be freshly pressed.

This is a lovely spot where you will be made to feel welcome and at ease and take in the bright and comfortable surroundings whilst ordering Lovely food from the very extensive menu which caters for everyone.

Absolutely loved my experience at Meli Cafe! The ambiance was cozy and inviting. The baristas were friendly and knowledgeable, and the coffee was expertly brewed. Highly recommend trying their signature latte!