Ate breakfast here for my boyfriend's birthday. He had a vegetable eggs Benedict and I had some kind of steak/egg bowl. We both got coffee and Bloody Marys as well. The food was great and I'd definitely go back because there were so many menu options I wanted to try. read more

Food was absolutely delicious and our service was exquisite! I myself got the breakfast quesadilla, and it was out of this world delicious especially with a little hot sauce on top. My best friend had the breakfast tacos and they were truly delicious. Honestly was really hesitant after seeing some reviews but this place is definitely worth it! read more

I've had Meli bookmarked on Yelp since the beginning of time. When they opened a convenient location in the South Loop, naturally, I was super excited to finally try this place. Unfortunately, the service and food just left a bad taste in my mouth. Someone in my party and I ordered the cafe benedict and, for lack of better terms, it was disgusting.. The pork belly had a strong 'gamey' flavor and the smell of it made my stomach churn. The eggs were practically hard-boiled and the waitress disputed with us that the eggs are poached and not meant to be runny. After a short debate she agreed to ask the kitchen if it was properly cooked. Finally, she returned and offered us 4 poached and RUNNY eggs (2 per order) to 'correct' the issue. On a positive note, those that ordered the scramblers seemed to enjoy it. The bread pudding pancakes were so soft and delicious. read more

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Go to this place for breakfast and sit at the bar so that you can watch their very expensive looking machine make orange juice. You will not regret it. Most fascinating thing I saw on my entire trip to Chicago. Server was very knowledgeable about the orange juice machine and answered all of our burning questions. I'm so mad I didn't get a pic of it. Food was fine but the orange juice machine was fantastic. Breakfast and a show, what's not to like? Seriously you guys.. go! read more

Meli Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Friendly service and nice cafe. I ordered two eggs, potatoes, English muffin, and veggie patties. I also tried my friend's banana bread French toast and it was yummy. The food was great, but warm. I would have liked it hot. The fresh orange juice was served at room temperature, but makes sense since it was squeezed there. Their smoothie and juice selection looks good too. read more

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Excellent breakfast and great service. I got to the restaurant when they opened, and was immediately greeted and offered an extensive list of coffee's, although same list not listed on menu. I sat at the bar, where I was served by two very attentive ladies, who ensured the food & service was great, along with restaurant suggestions for the remainder of my day in Chicago. Added Plus++2 minute walk from the AirBNB read more

Meli Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

As far as I could tell everything was totally green (environmentally friendly). No plastic very little paper. They used linens instead of napkins and overall it's a great vibe. Food is great, a little bit on the pricey side but it is high quality and no trash so I'm okay with that. I'll be back soon read more

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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. read more

Decent portion food but I believe the corn beef had msg in it because shortly after I got sick. I have a sensitivity to MSG. OTHERWISE. It was good. read more

Meli Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had breakfast on a Sunday morning. I got the steak and eggs and my husband got the carnitas omelette. We split the coconut french toast. The food came out quickly and was excellent. Great coffee too!! read more

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Two words. Breakfast. Tacos. You deserve that tacos. They were delicious. The breakfast potatoes were also surprisingly delicious. This is coming from a person who doesn't like potatoes read more

I only give it four stars because the my dish was not the greatest. They said it was homemade hash and it did not seem any better then canned Hash. I will say that service was great. The Juice bar is AWESOME and you have a great selection of options to choose from. I think that if I ordered something different that fifth star would have appeared. Worth going for brunch. read more

Meli Cafe - Mmmm. All my favorite things forbreakfast - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gave this place a second try today, and unfortunately, continued to be less-than-impressed. I ordered the crab omelet (and people who know me well, know it's near impossible to go wrong with crab with me), but it had so much crab shell in it, that it I ate less than 1/4 of it, because every bite had that distinctive shell crunch. After telling the waitress how bad it was, I was surprised she didn't even take a couple of dollars off the check, or offer to comp my tea at least. Note to Meli...if your kitchen doesn't know how to get crab meat out of the shell, don't serve it. So...the one thing that Meli really has going for it is that they serve breakfast until 3PM...much later than most restaurants in the neighborhood. If I'm craving a late brunch, I'll possibly return, but otherwise, there are better options. Disappointing, as it's always nice to have more brunch restaurants in the neighborhood. read more

Another divine brunch this morning with a friend here. I ordered the salsa stacker today, which was delicious. It had an English muffin topped with tofu, zucchini, red peppers, salsa, and avocados. The serving was plentiful and filling, and it was decently priced. I highly recommend this restaurant, especially for brunch. read more

Meli Cafe - Salsa stacker - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I like this Meli's a lot better than the one in West Loop. 1. Bigger space 2. Less time waiting, even if you are on the wait list it won't be long till you get seated. 3. In a nicer location of the city corner, so you could get a good view of the city streets 4. Easy to find street parking Love their fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, they have so many different kinds. They also have lunch menu and they serve DINNER too! read more

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Gastronomic heaven in gigantic portions! My omelette with chicken, avocado, tomatoes, jalepenos, cheddar, and onions was so tasty! The Symphony crepes were luscious, with a hint of grand marnier, and were a dance on the tongue! We rolled out the door and promptly won the Santa look-alike contest! read more

Great ambiance. Love the lights, decor, and how you can view the city while eating breakfast. read more

Meli Cafe - Traditional egg Benedict with avocado spread. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been wanting to try this place for a while, so I got up early before work one day, and I am really glad I did. The vegetarian omelet was filling but not to heavy, and the service was friendly and fast. All I need to do is go back on a weekend and try a mimosa, I have heard nothing but great things. read more

Not a good experience ! The service was horrible I think I landed at this location by accident since I was supposed to go to the Wells location which has way better reviews . I couldn't believe the host not even introducing a server they seriously need a crash course on customer service . The waiter seemed to not know what the hell she was doing and just rushing . She served my bf the completely wrong meal and then didn't apologize or offer to take something off . Then after getting the food no one ever checked on us it just made me mad more than anything. The food was ok. Nothing amazing . I got the breakfast quesadilla which was filling and tasty . When the right meal came for the bf he got the breakfast tacos which were a bit bland . The French toast was HORRIBLE ! I took one bite and left it at that . I would say spend your money elsewhere with employees who care and cooks who prepare your food better . read more

Meli Cafe - Breakfast quesadilla - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Not a MAJOR KEY in the loop. But a great place to stop by for a quick drink, coffee, or snack. MAJOR KEY pastry and coffee selection. Decent beers. Good cocktails. read more

Meli Cafe - Beer. YUM - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had a wonderful outdoor dining experience with a great menu and service that actually cares about masks and keeping a clean environment. A great brunch spot. read more

Meli Cafe is good. They have good service and the food is good. They have street parking, but it was all gone. We ended up parking in a lot up the street. It wasn't too expensive on Sunday. The food was good. We wanted a brunch type of menu. It satisfied, but it wasn't extraordinary. If you want good food at a decent price, this is a good option. read more

Meli Cafe - Bar and quiet restaurant. The music is awesome and it has a great ambience. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been looking for new places to eat brunch and Meli Cafe may now be on my list of "go-tos." There was a nice variety of dishes to try on the menu. I ordered the Wrigleyville French Toast daily special and the Cafe Benedict to share with one other person. The portions were enormous so I was thankful that we had not ordered a third dish. Splitting two dishes between two people was plenty of food. The Cafe Benedict was definitely a standout for me. I have had a countless number of Eggs Benedicts at various brunch restaurants and I have found that they all taste pretty similar more or less. The abundant helping of spinach in the Cafe Benedict was a nice touch and I thought that the pork belly went nicely with the entire dish. The Wrigleyville French Toast was extremely fluffy and the actual toast was not overly sweet which I appreciated. This was definitely one of the better french toasts that I have had; however, I still think that I am more of a pancakes person so I will definitely be trying some of the pancake dishes on the menu next time I come. Meli Cafe was extremely busy on a Sunday afternoon and I can see why. I had a pleasant experience here and will definitely be returning to try some of the other menu items! read more

Meli Cafe - Cafe Benedict - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wahhhhh, how have I not reviewed this place yet? I guess it's easy to forget since I have reviewed their original location over in Greektown, but this location is my go-to spot now since it's much closer to home. For visitors to Printer's Row, it might be hard to find parking, but at least it's close to the 22 and Harrison Red Line. Much like the other location, it's all about the brunch specials here (never been here for lunch or dinner, though I should try it). Now I know it's kind of common knowledge that you should avoid specials on menus since that's how some places get rid of surplus ingredients. Here though, the specials change daily and really tend to stand out. And even if none of the specials stand out to you, you can't go wrong with one of their cheesy breakfast bowls. While the tables are a bit on the small side, you can't beat the decor or the large windows. It's weird that they've converted a former fancy hotel restaurant into a brunch spot, but it really works well. It seems like a super fancy place, but it's really just a great casual location of my still reigning champ of breakfast foods. read more

Not bad. Pricier than I expected, but I felt like I got my money's worth. The food was good, and there was just enough of it. I didn't end up saddled with a doggie box or feeling like I was leaving money on the table. The coffee was great, too, which is by no means assured at these trendy breakfast places. And not too far from the Congress Plaza Hotel, either. All in all, a good breakfast. read more

Meli Cafe - Ribeye hash and whole wheat toast. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Totally forgettable café. Nice outdoor seating area but other than that I wouldn't bother. Sad home fries, under-toasted toast, had to ask for real milk. Also felt there was a bit of bait and switch on the menu when my breakfast platter had an extra charge for bacon. read more

Meli Cafe: One of the WORST operated restaurant I ever visited. Visited this poorly operated establishment for breakfast on Nov 27, 2021. After being seated, NOT one member of the waitstaff ever approached table. One waitress passed table twice without saying a word. Departed this place after over 10 minutes wait. While passing the counter to leave, a Meli Cafe "employee" asked if everything was alright(!?!). (Apparently this business also has comedy entertainment not mentioned in its advertisements). Go anywhere else for better customer service. read more

It was a nice experience, the coffee bar is excellent and so is the juice bar. The food is mediocre but worth the prices charged.

Everything about this place screams average. The food was okay but really nothing special. I ordered a hot chocolate and it tasted like hot water. Barely any flavor to it. The service was also really bad after our waitress took our initial drink order. She didn't come back again until we chased her down for our check twenty minutes after we finished our food. There's way better breakfast places in the area so I doubt we return. read more

Meli Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Incredible bartender, polite, funny and hardworking, patiently answered all my questions during a busy weekend and made a great Bloody Mary

I arrived here around 1600. Although parking was limited, it was plenty of room for my vehicle. Coming into the establishment I was seated immediately. It wasn't crowded at all which made me wonder why it took 5 minutes to be served. I believe I was served by the Bartender. She didn't really introduce herself. I wasn't in a rush but it was awkward looking at the menu that long. What I wanted wasn't on the menu which was these egg tacos. I can't provide the ingredients but they were amazing! It was served on a corn tortilla, something I don't normally like but enjoyed with this combination. Make sure you wash your hands cause this will get messy. I might just be a sloppy eater now that I think about it...The place was really clean and the lighting was good. I enjoyed the food a lot. I'm now curious as to what else isn't on the menu. read more

Meli Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was cold, pancakes were tasteless and syrup was sugar water served in a plastic cup with a lid. Disappointed at 17.00 for a breakfast expected allot more. Staff was great, she filled coffee regularly, won't return though. read more

Met one of Sweetie's oldest friends here for brunch while we were in town. Parking is crazy, of course, but you can find it in lots or on the street nearby for reasonable rates. We came at 1pm on Sunday and there was no wait, though they were pretty full. The place is very nice and bright inside, and there is some outdoor seating. Service was great, start to finish. Prices are good for what you get. Sweetie had an egg white omelet and enjoyed it. Her friend had a jalapeno chorizo scramble; I tried it and it was excellent. I had one of the specials, short rib hash. The meat was incredible- tender, savory, perfectly done. The veggies and potatoes were very good, and everything meshed well. Toast on the side was good, and there is a little tray with butter and other toppings for bread. I would come back in a heartbeat. read more

Came here at 9am on a Tuesday morning. I heard lots of good things about Meli Cafe. I have to say it's a nice establishment clean and nice set up. I came in and I was seated right away. I sat at the bar. I have a problem the coffee was very good but the waitress only poured me one cup and did not really acknowledge that my cup was empty I guess she was too busy(it was not busy). The coffee was good I requested it with the vanilla syrup so I didn't need sugar. I ordered the French Toast with berries it was served with whipped cream and it was pretty good. The flavor of the French toast was very good however, it was not cooked consistently some of the pieces was soggy some were cooked through how you would want your French toast. In all I have to say this is not a five star place. The service was not all that good and the food wasn't either. I wouldn't say this place is nothing above average. I would come back here instead I would sit at a table instead of the bar in addition I would try some of the other items they offer on the menu. I would come back and I recommend this place. read more

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My go to when I'm in the city. Service is good, bathrooms are clean and food is delicious read more

Meli Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here on a Sunday, and was told there was a 30 minute wait. We waited 20 mins and saw spots open at the bar, so sat there as it is open seating. It took 10 minutes before they finally gave us menus. We sat there for another 10 minutes, and no one had taken our order or so much as brought a glass of water. Fortunately, we never took our name off the wait list, and they texted us to let us know our table was ready. So we got up to sit at the table. Water was delivered to the table fairly quickly, which was great because they don't run the AC in this place. They claim the hotel they are connected to won't let them. We waited at least another 5 minutes before our waitress came to the table. Probably took another 25 minutes before our food came out. The food was ok...it's fair to say that my experience up to this point could negatively impact how I thought the food tasted. read more

We had a pretty good breakfast here. The jalapeño bowl was good. I wish i'd asked for double the jalapeños, since it needed more hot to satisfy my mexican influenced palate. They do decent bacon. Cooked a bit much for me, but i like it extra floppy. I liked it well enough, but not so much that I wouldn't try something else next time in town. read more

So Meli Cafe...I really wanted this to work. The ambience and decor is amazing. Loved the view and the mimosas looked yummy but the food left much to be desired. While the service was pretty quick, I had the banana bread french toast and it was a bit disappointing. It wasn't bad but it wasn't the best either. When you say banana bread and French toast, I expected decadence, flavor, yumminess in every bite....but no, I got 3 slices with walnuts and whip cream.... The other thing I wasn't too fond of was the price. I know they are at a nice location but when you charge $14 for French toast for 3 slices they better be orgasmic. And they were not. I also ordered a side of eggs and bacon because most things are ala carte on the menu. I asked for cheese in the eggs and had to search for it. How do you mess up cheesy eggs? I have been to many brunch spots in varied price ranges and locations and most of them were able to deliver a very good comforting breakfast meal and Meli cafe did not. Very average meals with exorbitant prices. read more

wow i just drove 45 min to come eat i had called and they said if i got here before 230 i can dine in so i drive here and i get here at 225 5 min to spare on time and the girl woth glasses has the audacity to tell me i cant dine in i told her specifically that i had called in and asked and she didint care i brought my kids to eat and even then she turned us away the hostes with glasses was really rude i was really disapointed i felt cheated and lied too came here for no reason read more

Great spot. Outdoors seating is awesome on a beautiful weather. I usually get the chicken chorizo bowl. All their fresh fruit juices are pretty awesome as well. read more