This place is awesome. If you want to feel like you are in a down-home diner while in the middle of Yupsterville, this is the spot. Being tended too sonically and culinarily by the expert taste of DJ/ hospitality-virtuoso Courtland Green is the real clincher here though. Great vibe all around read more

Dove's Luncheonette - Wide spectrum of expertly curated vinyl records play perpetually - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Another grand-slam from One Off Hospitality Group, as they slowly expand their compound to envelope all that is Wicker Park. Part Busy Bee, part Leo's Lunchroom, all delicious. read more

Dove's Luncheonette - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Who can mess up Ham and muenster? This place can. I was told the dish is just a bit spicy. Well they could have told me it would taste like mustard too. So gross. They were very kind and brought the bill excluding the charge for the horrible dish. read more

Dove's Luncheonette - So weird - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This review is long overdue, but this place is AMAZING... It has a super-hipster vibe, communal seating and delicious food. We came here for a late brunch on a Saturday afternoon, waited about 20 minutes by the door - not too bad! So many different options and everything looked amazing. read more

I came here as a fan of The Publican, and had a good meal. My girlfriend and I weren't too hungry, so we shared the Smoked Brisket Taco Norteño -- definitely a good share for two people. We also got the potato hash side, but something wasn't quite right about it. It was a little plain and I think we would have liked some egg or more cheese to go on it. Expect to pay $12-$15 for an entre. Some items on the menu struck me as odd (e.g. $7 avocado toast). Most of the seating here is on stools along the wall, and it only seemed like there were a few tables for big groups. We came around noon and had a short wait for a party of two, but lots of people who came after us seemed like they had a longer wait. I'd come back, but not on a whim -- only if I was in the mood for unusual Mexican. read more

This is a cute little place with a diner-like atmosphere. The music is upbeat and unique, including carlos santana and other unique rhythms. It is on the louder end in a happening way and is not disruptive. The staff take their time- it seemed there was only one waiter for the floor. But thats fine as the service was happy, helpful and funny. I don't eat redmeat, and was happy to see a bunch of different menu options including the enchiladas which are vegetarian. A great way to eat there is if you go with a group to order smaller dishes and share bites with the whole group. Everything has a unique and delicious flavor! read more

I love Dove's! Great classic diner set up with amazing elevated diner food. My new favorite breakfast place in town! Try the potato hash with smoke brisket...delicious! read more

Dove's Luncheonette - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and it did not disappoint! This mezcal Mecca made my day. The food was delicious, but very pricey for such small portions. However, it was delish. Overall great experience with knowledgeable and very friendly staff. read more

This is like Big Star's cooler younger brother. Came in for brunch and got to sample the enchiladas, brisket hash and the bloody mary, and all were delicious. I like that they kept it as an actual diner; other than one table, it's all counter seats (I didn't bother reading the other yelp reviews because I'm sure people complained about a diner setup at a restaurant that openly announces itself as one). Between the drinks, mains and dessert (can't go wrong with Hoosier Mama pie), expect a perpetual wait. My goal is to put my name in at Big Star, eat Brunch at Dove's and when I finish, have my table at Big Star be ready. That's what I dream about people. read more

Beware! The chef will personally attack you and send you nasty messages through yelp if you critique this place. Worst version of southern Tex-Mex I have ever tasted. Nothing about this place is authentic. The brisket is beyond flavorless, burnt, and fatty. The "tacos" are on greek pita bread. This place needs to just close up shop. Texas is ashamed this please even exists. Also there are hipsters cooking in the kitchen and pinups running the joint, you'd think you see the origin of the ethnicity cooking the food in the restaurant. read more

We tried this place for brunch. It was PACKED. And it's not a big space. There is counter seating, and then one big community table where they seat you right next to each other. I'm not a huge fan of this type of seating as it's tight and you inevitably will have to listen to the conversations on either side of you (or watch what you are talking about!) but it seems to be popular or trendy right now. Either way, deducting 1/2 star because of the community seating. All of the menu items we tried were fantastic and I can't wait to go back and try more. Service was fast and attentive, and our server and the host were very nice. I deducted another 1/2 star because the menu is slightly limited/on the small side, but I guess that makes sense since it's a small space. The decor is retro and works well in the space. I would definitely recommend trying it out but only go with a party of 2. I do not understand why people dine at a place like this with a group - there is just not space for it. read more

Our favorite breakfast spot in wicker park. This morning we stopped by and saw that their menu had a bunch of new items ! We got in without wait which was great for prime brunch time (10:30 am). The vibe here is amazing. It's set up as an old diner but the food is upscale - even their coffee taste like diner coffee but it's dark matter, so upscale. Seating: it's all counter top / bar setup except for one big table in the middle. So don't bother coming with a large group. Perfect place for solo, pairs or quads at max imo Drinks: coffee is dark matter, lots of breakfast cocktails including their house bloody Mary's are spicy and tasty. Food: - breakfast taco. Came with fluffy eggs in the inside, just enough Korean spice, and comes with a really nice portion of a chayote salad. It was yummy but the taco skin is quite thick/carby - potato hash with shishito. Order this with fried eggs. Can't go wrong with this dish. Tasty and crunchy. Make sure you use their jar of homemade spice. - arugula salad. Fresh and light. I felt like going healthy today. Lots of avocados and broccoli and some red onion. The vinaigrette was lemony and summery read more

Had the pepper and potato hash and the Doves breakfast. Great meal, great service. Would definitely come back. read more

Dove's Luncheonette - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I've been told I should go back & do scourge things differently. Though I am hard pressed to change my mind, I would probably give Dove's another run. The cocktails were good. The carne asada was not special. The chicken was moist & flavorful, but I still wouldn't order it if it were up to me. I was under a brunch understanding on arrival & super ready for it. I sat down to a Tex Mex menu with no desire for it & let the birthday girl pick all the food. She happened to order everything I wasn't interested in to begin with. Perhaps they deserve another shot. read more

See all

I dine here once in a few weeks when it's not too busy (I'm not a very patient person, haha). The staff is kind, and the overall vibe of the place is great. The type of food they serve here isn't completely something I love, but it's pretty good anyways. I understand why they get so many customers. It's a great restaurant. :) read more

It was a long day educating America's Youth, and my friend and I were looking for a place to grab a couple of drinks and some much needed food. We jumped on Yelp! and found this little gem of a place. I'm not going to lie, I'm glad that we did. We sat at the window, which was wonderful people watching. Our server Lillian came up and greeted us and let me sample some beer which was wonderful of her. I really loved Lillian and I will tell you why. I have a lot of crazy food allergies, and she took them seriously. And no, I'm not one of those people who just don't "like" things, I will seriously end up in the ER if I have things like lime, sulfites, seafood etc. I am a server's and a chef's nightmare, but Lillian was a dear and really worked with me, and I really can't thank her enough for that. The fried chicken was great, and the side of potatoes was AMAZING! My friend highly recommends the Back to Life cocktail. So, I hope you take my advice and try this place out....enjoy! read more

The only good thing about this restaurant is the chili sauce on every table. I put liberal amounts of the stuff on everything we ordered because otherwise, everything would have been bland in addition to being badly executed. We ordered the Smoked Brisket Taco Norteno, Tamal de Elote con Camarones, and Potato and Pepper Hash. There were some components that were cooked properly. For instance the potatoes were very crispy and deep golden brown, the scrambled eggs were soft and fluffy. However the tamale was dry and felt like it had been sitting out for a while, because the top half of the tamale was noticeably more rubbery and dry than the bottom half. The cornmeal itself was unpleasant and bland, the filling was skimpy and bland. The shrimp and peppers were pretty good at least, but still a touch underseasoned. The potatoes in the hash were cut very large, it did not eat like a hash at all, just a dish of potatoes. There weren't many peppers, and once again it seems Dove's is experiencing a shortage of salt. The taco norteno was a laughable mockery of a taco, there was not a single redeeming thing about this dish. The flatbread used as a tortilla is doughy and doesn't taste very good. The brisket is tough and flavorless -- they are right to give you a steak knife to cut your "taco" with since there's no other way to eat it. They are extremely skimpy with the pickled veggies and aioli. The trimmings only feature tart flavors, which may have worked if the meat had something to offset that, but it didn't. This was memorably bad meal. read more

I loved eating at Dove's! Great ambiance, nice smelling soaps in the bathroom and good food. I went a few months ago and had a white fish with olives, capers, shaved fennel on a tomato sauce and it tasted so good that I've tried to recreate it at home a few times. I don't think they serve that dish anymore, but I'm open to going again to try more of their food. Their cocktails are also really delicious, considering that a lot of places have fruity cocktails that just end up tasting like cough syrup, I'm all about getting a pitcher of cantarito. read more

Came on a Sunday around 11 AM. We had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated, which was fine. I had the tamal de hongos, and I think it was pretty mediocre. For $14, I got one tamale... And the mushrooms, peas, and squash, felt more decorative than anything. Flash Taco is across the street with $2 tamales? read more

The chicken fried chicken is to die for. Order this. You won't regret it. Even if you don't really like fried chicken. It's tender and soft and creamy and yum. read more

Dove's Luncheonette - Chicken Fried Chicken - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went on a Saturday morning and was happy to have only a 20 minute wait! The waitress gave us great recommendations and everything we ate was delicious! The enchiladas were Smokey and spicy and so Good, I could've eaten them all day! Coffee here is also really strong and very good and didn't need sugar at all! read more

I've been on a good run lately, trying places I've been meaning to try only to discover they were even better than anticipated. Dove's is a Tex-Mex Diner and the food is just delicious. Red chile enchiladas with an egg on top are robust and flavorful but not unpleasantly greasy; the carne asada huarache with nopales was vibrant and flavorful; and the salad of cucumber, pineapple, and hearts of palm was an inspired touch. The decision to outsource their pie-making to Hoosier Mama Pie Company is also pretty hard to fault. Definitely the best Tex-Mex food I've had outside of Texas, and possible the best chile sauce I've had outside of my own kitchen. I just hope it gets some bad reviews so the weekend lines die down. read more

The food is SO good. The service is wonderful. The interior is unique, the food is unique, and everything about the experience is great. I tell my friends about it, I try and convince my friends to go to that part of town to try it specifically, whenever I'm in that part of town I suggest it as a food option. Dove is excellent. HOWEVER, I give it 4 stars because I noticed a marked decrease in my experience the last few times I've been there. The food just hasn't felt as flavorful, hasn't wow'd me as much as it used to, and has just felt a little "less" than it used to be. I'm not sure if this is because I visited so many times this summer that I'm now too used to the food or if there has been a decrease in general. Next time I go back though, I'll definitely update this review if I need to! read more

This place has successfully changed the idea of what a great American luncheonette should be. I have been coming here for months. But each time I showed up there was a line out the door. So I realized, that I had to change my tactics, I will retry when their demand is lower (after 3pm on weekends). So I studied the menu online beforehand and realized that this was not going to be what most Americans conceptualize when they think of the average luncheonette (Mel's Diner). But I had very high expectations because of it's sister restaurant/bar next door (Big Star). They both share a kitchen which is great because Big Star is great at processing a large amounts of kitchen orders in a timely manner with high quality control standards. The place is small and it looks like a typical diner. The cocktail mixologist/DJ was spinning some very old school music on an old school turntable (Technics SL1200), which worked out great, because he chose some really cool retro music. The food was very good and each order was made fresh. The ceviche of tuna was good and made even better with their very good in house hot sauce and a squeeze of fresh lime. The ribeye steak was tender and flavorful, and perfectly cooked medium; I'm not so sure about the masa dumpling with this steak although I did want more of the delicious sauce. The mushroom enchiladas were very good with their mushroom and kale filling and spicy mole sauce. Cocktails were excellent and the bartender was very knowledgeable about the tequila selection with the optional sangrita drink. I did not see much Tex-Mex on the menu, which I typically am not fond of, but I did see some great Mexican dishes which were slightly redefined deliciously. It's new places like this that have transformed this cool Wicker Pk/Bucktown area into one of the best eating scenes in the city. This place is a great reflection of the cool people in this great hipster neighborhood. Now I do have to mention parking can be a challenge but I always seem to manage finding a spot. If you are not driving then take the OHare Blue line toward the airport and get off at the Damen Street stop. Before or after, walking around the shops on Milwaukee Avenue and North Avenue is also very nice. read more

We walked up to Dove's Luncheonette after the Bucktown 5k and checked on the wait time. We expected a long wait given the restaurant's popularity and it being prime brunch time. We were quoted a modest 10 minute wait and the restaurant texts you when your table is ready. We were contacted promptly and the three of us were seated at the bar. The menus aren't overwhelming and the selections looked great. I settled on the Violet Spring cocktail and the Machaca breakfast tacos. The cocktail was beautiful before and after mixing, and was very refreshing. I'm curious to try their other libations! The meat in the tacos was not very apparent as it was mixed with the eggs, but the flavors were delicious! The tacos were very well filled and I enjoyed the tortillas. I tried a bite of my friend's Burnt Ends Hash and it was so good!! Three breakfast plates, and two cocktails later, we walked out very happy and eager to return! read more

See all

Very tasty all day brunchish menu and friendly staff. It was fun to eat by the window and watch the action on the street!

Great unique food and really tasty drinks. One note, most of the site is set with counter seating so big groups might be challenged.

The fried chicken was delicious! I've also ordered this place for delivery once and it came hot and just as tasty. Cute spot inside and a good fallback if Big Star's wait is unbearable. read more

DELICIOSO. We had an amazing meal here. My husband and I went for lunch. We had to wait ~30 minutes to sit, but that's really NBD here--they text you when you're ready, and there's enough to do nearby that you can kill 30 minutes EASY. I suggest a quick hop, skip, or jump over to Asrai Gardens. Love it there. Anyway. The hostess was super cute and friendly. We sat at the bar. Our eyes were wide, and our stomachs empty. The bar is great for people and food watching. After seeing our neighbors order the 'Back to Life Cocktail'--an amazing concoction of fresh seafood (baby octopus, shrimp, crab), with tomato, orange, lime, avocado, peppers, and cilantro. It was UNREAL. I want one delivered to me in bed right now. I then had the Apple Celery salad which is like, my dream salad. It was so good. My husband had brisket hash, also delicious. OH, we also had some blood sausage which was incredibly good. Nothing was bad on this visit. At all. I definitely recommend Dove's for a tasty lunch. The food is unique and so yummy. You'll have a great time. read more

This restaurant has been on my list since it opened. I can't believe it took me this long to eat here. I'm still thinking about my delicious dish, the chicken fried chicken. It was the best fried chicken dish I've ever had. Everything about it was perfect, including a dash of some vinegar sauce they had on the counter. My husband ordered the burnt ends hash and he liked that, too. He liked it even more with their special salsa that was also on the counter. In addition, we ordered the grits and the blood sausage which were both very yummy. The grits had a red sauce on it which made the overall flavor unique and delish! Service was helpful and attentive! I plan on going back to try some other dishes, although it will be extremely difficult not to order the fried chicken every time! read more

See all

I'm actually really upset with myself for not having eaten here sooner. My husband and I had sort of put Dove's at the bottom of our list due to a not-so-stellar recommendation from a friend a couple of years back, but all of that is out the window now. We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon because we thought we'd missed the brunch hours at most places but heard they had breakfast-ish items available for most of the day. We were seated at the communal table closest to the kitchen so we were able to see ALL the drool worthy food as it came out. We decided to start with the sangria de otoño, a refreshing drink with mezcal, pear, and cinnamon, and the frijoles asados. Both were gone only a few seconds after arriving at our table. We also shared a side of blood sausage that tasted like it had more filler than blood but was still delicious. I had the tuna ceviche all to myself as my husband is allergic to fish, and this time I was glad not to have to share. He enjoyed his barbacoa enchiladas though! It started to pour the rain as we were finishing our food, so we got to stay a bit later and enjoyed some mezcal margaritas. Our bill was a bit pricey so will keep an eye on that next time--as there likely will be a next time! read more

Dove's Luncheonette - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Sweet baby jesus! This is a Wicker Park neighborhood gem. Unless you've seen it on Chicago's Best, you'd probably never know it exists, unless you walked these streets often. The atmosphere here is very rustic and post modern, it has a diner style feel just on a whole different level. Its Mexican style food with a southern twist, thats how the owner defines it as, and i couldn't agree more. The place just has this unique style and architectural feeling that is difficult for me to describe because i haven't experienced a place quite like it, but I'm a big fan! The staff along with all waiters / waitereses are absolutely wonderful, pleasant, and cheerful which put even the grumpy in a better mood. But lets get on with whats sooooo amazing about this place. If you come here in search of comfort food, then rest assured this is the right place to be. The best thing you can possibly order (in my opinion) is their EPIC, Chicken Fried Chicken! Yes it needs to be emphasized twice. This dish is the definition of comfort food at its finest form. Juicy, tender chicken breast is deep fried which has a perfect irresistible crispy/flaky crust, topped with green pees and caramelized onions, and smothered in their home, made from scratch chorizo gravy... oh my god, and add a sunny side up egg ontop of it and i assure you, youll be on cloud 9. Quite possibly the best chicken dinner I've ever had in my entire life. The combination of ingredients are just out of this world, everything just works so well with each other and compliments one another, it truly is a match made in heaven and a 5 star all day! Although i haven't tried anything else from here, you better believe i will be coming back to give the rest of the menu a shot as I'm sure its nothing short of amazing. read more

Dove's Luncheonette - A gorgeous close up of the famous CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN! - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had the fried fish on Monday March 19th, 2018 and got food poisoning. It's Friday and I'm still feeling it. Never going to come back again. Went through cold chills, throwing up and went through probably the worst feeling I've ever gone through. Not recommended. read more

Eaten here twice and both times loved the food and the layout and the wait staff. Not only is the food great it is unique and actually is presented well and you can see the staff cares.....oh and they have mezcal which is nice read more

Dove's is a delightfully quirky, original, and welcome addition to the neighborhood. In fact, I'd say I prefer it over it's more pretentious big brother next door, Big Star. The place is much smaller and also comes with the customary wait, but they put more effort and love into their menu and service! I'd suggest coming in here for a weeknight dinner, as rumor has it there are massive waits in this cramped space during brunch and lunch, especially on the weekends. We only waited 10 minutes to be seated and were immediately met by our serves. The palomaesque cocktail was a great way to start my meal (sub mezcal per my suggestion - you won't be disappointed). The enchiladas were some of the best I've had, even compared to those I've tried in Mexico! The red sauce has the perfect amount of kick and adding the egg for a dollar on top is totally worth it. Not sure I'd go for some of these other menu offerings (fried chicken, Mexican soup), but I'll definitely be back for some of their breakfast offerings! Only downside is the size of the place; a lot of the seating is communal and does not bode well for intimate conversation. The bar seems like the best place to sit, as you aren't sitting against a wall... One of those vestibules to keep out the cold on the sidewalk would do wonders for this establishment, as our table by the door kept uncomfortably blowing in the cold, winter air. read more

Great atmosphere, reminded me Of a modern more clean diner. I believe it is a tequila bar but their are other options of liquor of tequila isn't your cup of tea. Great speciality drinks, small but good selection of a menu. Grits: horchata pie where amazing, will come back again for lunch or dinner to try more on the menu. read more

Had the smoked brisket taco and it was great. The meat was a good portion and the avocado sauce was very flavorful. I had to get the other sauce on the side because it was extremely spicy. The only thing I would change is having the option of a milder sauce so you can still put it on your food. read more

Dove's Luncheonette - Smoked brisket taco - would get again! - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Cozy breakfast spot in Wicker Park. All of the menu items are delicious. I added an egg to the potato dish to make it more of a breakfast dish. They don't really have breakfast cocktails, but it was interesting having a tequila cocktail for breakfast. Seating is limited, which means you will need to wait. But at least they provide coffee while you wait. read more

Dove's Luncheonette - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the best brunches I've had. The bloody was excellent and the Latin vibe with the food makes for a great brunch. Tip: anything that you order can have an egg on it. Take them up on that! read more

See all

off the chain!! the chicken fried chicken was amazing ! the brisket burnt ends were delicious - but suuuuper heavy . the small plate squash was one of the tastiest things i've ever eaten . all of the staff were really friendly and the whole vibe of the place was great . would def come back read more