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    Pick Me Up Cafe

    3.8 (1.1k reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Pick Me Up Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    PICK ME UP CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Milkshake
    Natasha A.

    More than a cafe, with table service and full meals this place appears to be more of a restaurant. 4 of us came her at 2:30 on a Sunday. I got a coffee, and a tofu buffalo wrap. My son got a milkshake and chocolate chip pancakes à la mode. He loved it all. My partner got the vegan sloppy Joe and fries and said it was "messy and good". It was good.

    Vegan Pizza Grinder with side salad and balsamic dressing
    Anne Marie H.

    Wow. I wish I had paid attention to our server's name, but she was outstanding! She was kind and friendly and gave us great service during our entire visit. My friend ordered the vegan banana nut French toast, and I got the vegan tostadas. They both came with a ton of food, all delicious!

    More table art
    Scott K.

    I got the Vegan Santa Fe Scram, with a vegan bagel. The pictured butter is vegan! Solid option, especially late at night. Each of the tables features unique, quirky art, and there are a ton of vegan and vegetable options. Severs were all super friendly, and they let me pay with Apple Pay when I realized I forgot my wallet. I don't think people *work* a ton here, but a few people had their laptops out while they were eating. But I don't think this is a place that's meant for working from home. There's Xfinity WiFi though, and I think they might have WiFi for customers, but I'm not sure.

    French Toast
    Elgin B.

    Rating: (3.5/5) Location: Pick Me Up Café - 4882 N Clark St, Chicago (Avondale) Finding a vegan-friendly brunch spot can be a challenge, but my friend and I had a great experience at Pick Me Up Café's new Avondale location. I'm cutting back on meat, and she's vegan, so we needed a place that worked for both of us. We hadn't been to Pick Me Up in years and decided to give it another try--glad we did! Right away, I appreciated that the artsy, 90s diner vibe from their old Belmont space is still alive here. The decor is fun and nostalgic, and the large tables make it feel just as inviting for a casual date as it does for a brunch with friends. We were helped by a few different staff members, all of whom were friendly and attentive. We started with drinks--I had a decaf coffee with honey and cream, and my friend ordered the spotted tea, which came as authentic loose-leaf. That detail made her really happy. For food, I went with two eggs and home fries (nicely seasoned with peppers and onions), turkey sausage patties as a meat alternative, and a side of apple cinnamon pancakes. I'm not usually a huge pancake person (shout out to Original House of Pancakes), but these were solid and the portion was huge--definitely meant to share. My friend ordered the vegan scrambler, which the kitchen kindly adjusted when she asked for the tofu to be scrambled a bit firmer. She was also happy with how accommodating they were. She tried the vegan French toast too--very tasty, but it came out in five massive slices that looked like half a loaf of bread! We both felt it would be nice if French toast or pancakes could be ordered as smaller side options. One small miss: even though she ordered vegan, the French toast was served with butter. Maybe it was vegan butter--but no one confirmed either way, and that kind of clarity really matters for vegan diners. Overall, our brunch was satisfying and relaxed. Most items are super shareable, so it's great for splitting with friends. We couldn't finish everything! While I wouldn't say the food blew us away flavor-wise, it was solid and hit the mark. I'd rate our experience a 3.5 out of 5. It's one of the more reliable, creative vegan-friendly brunch spots in the city, and I'd definitely go back.

    Carolyn E.

    The MOST delicious breakfast and coffee drinks. My bacon benny was absolutely perfect with crispy chunks of bacon, perfectly poached eggs, and savory creamy hollandaise. Served with tons of crispy, fresh potatoes. Yum! So many things sounded good, it was hard to choose. A lovely spot with vegetarian and vegan options. Friendly service, Where's Waldo tables, just a lovely breakfast.

    Spinach provolone omelette

    Love it when a new spot exceeds my expectations! The omelettes were perfect. The service friendly. It was quiet and comforting in a welcoming space. Good food in a local, smaller venue. Give it a go.

    Inlet with veggies, gluten free bread and side salad.
    Sharon B.

    This was my first visit to the café. It has a fun and funky vibe. My group of four were all happy with their meals. I opted for breakfast and selected veggies in an omelette, two slices of gluten-free bread and a side salad. It was a very good amount of food and I ended up bringing half of it home. It was tasty, the service was quick and the server was friendly. The other people in my group ordered soup and sandwiches. They were all very happy with their selections as well. I would recommend this place and would definitely go back again.

    Eric W.

    Cozy little cafe on the Northside near Uptown and Edgewater. I'm already a big fan of this cafe that has delicious vegan forward breakfast entrees that really hit the spot. (Please note that I am not a vegan and they have non-vegan options). I had this delish vegan scramble that really filled me up! Service is great and they keep the coffee flowing. My friend and I had a longer business meeting and got to stay as long as we needed.. #vegan #breakfast #cafe

    Fun table tops
    Darren S.

    This quaint cafe has great coffee and good food. I thought our waitress was gonna run her legs off - fast, courteous, and personable. My mocha royale was an indulgence I did not regret. Alongside my Clown Combo, a perfect carb overload. If you're expecting a bougie brunch spot, you'll be disappointed. But if you're expecting a want a cafe that's a notch above what you'd find on the corner, with great service and yummy food, this is your spot!

    cafe americano

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The food here is always top notch. Service is fast and friendly. Good place to sit outside and people watch.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Cute place with good food. Forgot what I had but it was a good sized portion and was delicious.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The staff is okay... but the food is soo good! There's so many options to pick from and never disappoint

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    3 years ago

    Buffalo chicken wrap is theeee best. Also the Garlicious breast. Thank you for being you, PMU!

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great service. Had a dog and they brought my coffee out to me. The coffee down the street basically didn't care about helping.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Delicious and creative food choices, friendly staff, fun and colorful decor and comfortable atmosphere! A Chicago "must visit" eatery!

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    3 years ago

    Such a cute little place with a nice menu and fun atmosphere. I enjoy coming here on the weekends.

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    8 years ago

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    Page 2 of 29

    Ask the Community - Pick Me Up Cafe

    Did they move from the original location?

    Yes......they are at 4882 N. Clark

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    The Good Wolf - Lemon Curd and Toffee Pudding

    The Good Wolf

    4.2(55 reviews)
    0.8 miAndersonville, Edgewater

    This is a very nice companion piece to the (also wonderful) Little Bad Wolf next door. The Good…read moreWolf allows reservations, the Bad one doesn't; the Good Wolf feels more relaxed and restaurant-y, while the Bad one is like a boisterous bar with great food. The place feels spacious, yet subdued, with very quick and responsive service. The food is quality, but not ostentatious - sandwiches, pasta, fish and chips, etc. I started with the delightful Charred Boulevardier (bourbon and orange), while my friend got a tasty THC drink. My friend said the pasta carbonara was amazing, and I went for the fish and chips (which is one of my favorite things to order and compare). The fish was done perfectly with an incredibly crispy batter, and the chips matched the amazing fries they have at Little Bad Wolf - crispy, slightly charred, and soft in the middle. Both the fish and chips were aggressively seasoned (which I like, but some may find it salty). The "tarter sauce" appeared to be a tarragon cream of some kind. Nice, but not really tarter sauce. And the small serving of cabbage/apple coleslaw was inoffensive and better than most places. I'll definitely be back.

    Stopped in to The Good Wolf during Happy Hour and surprisingly there weren't many people!…read more That being said our service was very quick and the staff were lovely. I ordered the But a Dream cocktail and Steak Tartare. The cocktail was very refreshing and had a good level of sweetness to it. You could definitely taste the citrus flavors in it which I enjoyed. The steak tartare was also delicious and had a tasty lemon kind of sauce or marinade to balance out the flavors. I would love to come back to try out their full menu!

    Photos
    The Good Wolf
    The Good Wolf - Chicken and Peppers - Lemon Herbed Jus and Fries

    Chicken and Peppers - Lemon Herbed Jus and Fries

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    Tala House - homemade focaccia baked daily - served with salsa macha, chili oil & manchego cheese

    Tala House

    4.7(117 reviews)
    0.1 miAndersonville, Ravenswood, Uptown

    Amazing hospitality and ambiance at this Andersonville gem! Each of the dishes are packed full of…read moreflavor and the menu is amazing for sharing with friends! Tuna tostada & watermelon salad are great starters to share and all of the mains are excellent. Pro Tip: patio does not take reservations but WORTH the wait!

    It wasn't until Ash said it that I realized it had been 20 years since our days at Children's…read moreMemorial and Zig Zag Kitchen! So when I needed someplace fabulous to celebrate my daughter's birthday, I immediately thought of Ash. Over the years, we worked together on parties, luncheons, and fundraisers. It was such a fun time in my life, although I had some very demanding people I had to answer to! No matter what I threw his way, Ash made me look good every single time. Twenty years later, he did it again. I made sure to take pictures because hopefully I can post them! I had the Halibut Scottato, and it was outstanding. My daughter had the Aleppo Chicken. I rarely eat chicken, but hers looked so good I had to have a bite. Excellent. Then there was the focaccia bread with this special oil. Oh. My. Goodness. It was so good that my daughter was hoping her entrée would hurry up and come because she wanted that bread all to herself! She kept talking about how good it was in her Oprah voice: "I LOVE BREAD!" And we can't forget the lavender lemonade--so good! Even the cheesecake at the end of the meal was superb. The food was phenomenal, but somehow, the service was even better. One piece of advice: make reservations. It may not look crowded when you first arrive, but that changes very quickly. You can tell Tala House already has its loyal customers--and after this experience, we're adding ourselves to that list. Walk in? No. We're not doing that. When you find a place with beautiful ambiance, great décor, phenomenal food, and exceptional service, you don't just visit once. You become a regular. Thank you so much to Tala House for making my daughter's birthday so special. She loved everything about the experience, and that made this mom very happy. And Ash--20 years later, you're still making me look good.

    Photos
    Tala House - Inside/entrance

    Inside/entrance

    Tala House - Filet Mignon with green beans

    Filet Mignon with green beans

    Tala House - Homemade labneh and shishito peppers.  BFF #1 left no crumbs behind

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    Homemade labneh and shishito peppers. BFF #1 left no crumbs behind

    Vincent Restaurant - Deviled eggs

    Vincent Restaurant

    4.2(595 reviews)
    0.6 miAndersonville, Edgewater
    $$$

    Last night my boyfriend and I came here for dinner. This was my first time here, my boyfriend had…read morebeen here before. I used to work with one of the owners (Luke) at Starbucks. Walking into the host was friendly and sat us at our table. When we got there people were there for happy hours (4 p.m.- 6 p.m.). We started with drinks. I had the Sparkling Rose which was fruity and smooth. My boyfriend had Hive Mind (vodka, honey, lavender, rhubarb, and lemon) which my boyfriend loved. Mitch was our server. He was friendly and nice and our wait time was perfect. We ordered 3 small plates: Cheese Plate, Grilled Shrimp, and Tuna Tartare. They were all good. Grilled Shrimp and Tuna Tartare had enough spice for my boyfriend and me. The cheese plate was yummy too. 3 different types of cheese, with honey, jam, candied beets, and peppers. And for dessert we had Crème Brûlée made with soy milk custard, chocolate, black sesame, and strawberry. It was different in a good way. The restaurant has paintings hanging up, which remind me of someone living/library. Our table was very cozy. A nice and cool restaurant in Andersonville, for sure I will come back for happy hour.

    I had better hopes for this place, but this is how our experience went:…read moreGot there and were the first ones ( so we actually had to wait about 7 min before the opened the doors which was fine and we sat at their patio waiting for it ) They opened, we come inside and the first impression is that this is a cute little place, so it was off to a good start. After we sit down, waitress comes with paper menus and one of them is all wrinkled ( no attention to details here) but ok not a biggie. She then gives us a smaller menu with the "Special of the day" which was Branzino BUT she said to us that they only have one so if we want it we should tell her right away ( so two things here; one, we are the only ones in the place but two, how is this a special and you only have 1????) so this isn't a special, this is a leftover ... obviously that's not the route we were to take. Ok so we take a look the menu, ordered some drinks that were good and when she gets back we ordered the tuna tartare, but she says: we are sold out ( at this point there's only one more couple in the place- and remember we were the first ones ... what do you mean you sold out, you mean you didn't even buy/prep this dish for the day ... so we decided no appetizers then and went straight to the main course. So I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and the sink is clogged ( I have phobia to clogged sinks, they are disgusting) but whatever. Food came after 40 minutes ( do I have to remind you we were the first ones and only one more table was filled at that point ?) Fries however were delicious and my husband and I said that would be the only reason for us to come back. Fries with truffle and mayo ..

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    Vincent Restaurant
    Vincent Restaurant - Deviled eggs

    Deviled eggs

    Vincent Restaurant - Bourbon oldie with happy hr menu

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    Bourbon oldie with happy hr menu

    Hopleaf Bar - Mustard cheese toast, Cheese Board and salad

    Hopleaf Bar

    4.1(2.4k reviews)
    0.3 miAndersonville, Ravenswood, Uptown
    $$

    Yeah, we loved Hopleaf! We had two hours to kill while Apple worked to fix a hardware issue on an…read moreiPhone, so we drove over to Hopleaf in Andersonville. So glad we did! We started with beer from an extensive list (updated daily, per our server). I had a Kwak red ale served in a creative glass with its own little supporting stand. Hubs got an IPA and I can't remember which one. Daughter ordered a ginger ale. All tasty! We started with the poutine fries. Very good!! We cleared the plate. Then I had a smash burger - it was good, but I forgot I am not a fan of American cheese which made the burger...I don't know, creamy? The burger itself was good. Hubs and daughter sampled it and loved it. Hubs had the brisket Reuben and loved it. Daughter had the sausage platter and loved the sausages -- 2 kinds -- and potatoes. No room for dessert. Server was friendly, helpful (on the beer menu especially) and efficient. Other staff made sure we had water, utensils, brought our food, etc. We were well cared for. The building itself is a multi-room plus patio affair, all in brick with hardwood floors and warm lighting. We ate in the dining room but there are two bar areas with large bars and tables, serving from the same menu. There was a pleasant doorman who explained the layout and checked our IDs (no kids allowed). Definitely on the favorite list for Chicago visits.

    Hopleaf Bar is hands down one of our favorite spots for dinner and drink in all of Chicago!…read more One key to a successful dinning experience at Hopleaf is knowing the three different spaces to engage. When you first walk in, you have to show your ID since this is an adults-only bar establishment. (1) You can then choose to sit in the front bar area, if you want a full menu, but use the bar for ordering service. (2) If you keep walking through the front bar area, you reach the host stand at the top of the ramp. This is where you can put your name in to sit in the main dining room, upstairs, or outside. (3) However, you can also walk through to the left of the host stand to another bar area that has full menus, but bar service for ordering. This is our preferred spot because we can often find a seat and order with the bar. Do note that, during busy times, part of this bar area is managed by the host stand and will be labeled as such. The extensive beer menu is our favorite. We have our favorite food items, so all our decision making revolves around which beer we will get. They always have a bit of everything style-wise, from all over the world, but with a local-brewery focus. Seasonal emphasis is also taken into consideration when they curate the beer list. It is always rotating and we love it! Beers are served in the recommended glasses from the breweries. It's a great drinking experience from start to finish! Our food orders are eternally set: I get the Nueske Ham sandwich with fries and aioli. My husband gets the Reuben sandwich with fries and aioli. This meal is so perfect we'll probably never get anything different, despite the menu being delicious across the board. The wildest we get is sometimes splitting the two sandwiches. No reason to mess with a good thing! Other notable great things about Hopleaf: (1) Kind, knowledgeable, and professional staff. (2) Reasonable prices for high quality and great variety products. (3) Clean Belgian Bar decor/vibe with lots of space for folks to enjoy their time. (4) They are open late and serve food late. Thank you for being an amazing local spot, Hopleaf! We'll see you soon!

    Photos
    Hopleaf Bar - New bar upstairs

    New bar upstairs

    Hopleaf Bar
    Hopleaf Bar - St St. Bernardus, Christmas Ale 2024, 10%

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    St St. Bernardus, Christmas Ale 2024, 10%

    Pick Me Up Cafe - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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