Cute cafe with lots of breakfast options. Nice hot chocolate with cinnamon added. Daughter got stack of plain pancakes that were fluffy and tasty. Husband had chicken corn chowder that was thin. I had the turkey club on toasted brioche bread which was good. I was looking for more lunch options. Fun place would return. read more

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A group from work comes here all the time and generally have had a great experience! Collectively, we have probably all had everything on the menu. My favorite dishes include the lavender lemon pancakes and the Spanish Harlem omelette. Their coffee is freshly brewed, and their lattes are smooth. Overall, they are comparatively priced to get a large, tasty breakfast/brunch in Chicago. It's always friendly service, albeit sometimes a little slow. We definitely will be coming back! read more

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My experience would have been great if it wasn't for the manager. I expressed to my waiter that I didnt care for my mimosa so he went and got the manager. Before I could say much of anything he began treating me as if I was irate and belligerent or causing a scene (which I wasn't AT ALL). Not once did I ASK for my mimosa flight to be comped but when a customer is dissatisfied you don't treat them as if they're a criminal for speaking up. Owner was brought out and he handled the situation much better (which was no longer about mimosas but his managers behavior). That ruined my our entire experience. read more

Many were served before we were - we had a member of our party have to ask for the toast that was supposed to come with her meal and the hostess was less than friendly - I wouldn't go back Matilda read more

Hey, you're searching around looking for a good breakfast spot huh? Go ahead and check out the menu because the food is really good. I typically order takeout breakfast from here once a month and it never disappoints. Most recently I tried the Brisket Hash. This one is a banger with a side of mini pancakes (they really aren't all that mini tbh). Portions are fairly large so I'll be eating Brinner later. read more

Stax Cafe - Brisket Hash w/ eggs over easy [to-go] - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is always spectacular! Fast and fresh. The staff is just as amazing. Took my Dad for a birthday brunch and the staff and patrons sang to him. It was an amazing experience. Thank you Staxx!! read more

Stax Cafe - My favorite dish is the steak and eggs!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

As we strolled through Chicago on a Friday morning we found this wonderful breakfast place! This place was amazing from the energy to the food! The breakfast potatoes are by far the best I have ever had!!! We will be coming back !!! read more

Stax Cafe - Monte Cristo Waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally got a chance to try Stax Cafe after my students had told me all about their pancakes being legit. I have to say- I definitely agree with them on that one. Some of the best pancakes I have had in Chicago definitely hail from this little brunch spot in Little Italy. My friend had just flown in from California on a red eye, so we decided to get some food in her belly. Stax Cafe was less than a mile away and I had been meaning to try it for the longest time. We arrived at around 8:00am to a fairly crowded restaurant and managed to snag one of the last tables for us. It was very cute inside and makes for a great morning spot. We decided to share the Chocolate Chip Bacon Pancakes ($10) and the Brisket Benedict ($12)... which turns out, they accidentally gave us the Classic instead. I am only now realizing that they probably charged us more for the brisket too... oh well. The pancakes were amazing. Absolutely fluffy, drizzled nicely with chocolate syrup, and the bacon bits added so much life to each bite. As for the benny, it was very basic to be honest. The English muffin was stale and the ham we got seemed chewy. Decent at best. So overall, the pancakes were phenomenal, but the benny and service was a bit lackluster overall at Stax. I'd come here again just for some pancakes. read more

Stax Cafe - Chocolate Chip Bacon Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was ok...kids loved the French toast and pancakes...too many pork products for me...would've like to have more/another meat option for brunch.... read more

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Searching for fucking breakfast in this area and found Stax but when I go to sit at the bar, the cook is wearing his mask below his chin. GET IT TOGETHER PEOPLE!!! Another LAME Chicago experience with food. read more

Service was awful!! Food had absolutely no seasoning!! They wouldn't let me substitute pepper jack cheese for cheddar even after i said I would pay extra, waiter said they don't do substitutes, I'll never go back!! read more

On a long weekend Chicago getaway, staying in Little Italy. Needed a good breakfast and walked just a block to this little gem. Delighted that it was open during the Festa, which junked up Taylor with portable stands everywhere. Crowded (good sign) when we arrived, but were seated right away, anyway. No shortage of staff here, as we were waited on hand and foot, pleasantly and efficiently. Everything in our order was homemade and fresh and delicious. The thick-sliced grain toast and the blueberry pancakes were extra special. Spinach-feta omelette and thick peppered bacon starred too. A little pricey, but who isn't these days..... read more

Ordered a +$100 carry out order the Saturday of Lollapalooza. Was rushed out the door with no opportunity to check the order and got home to multiple errors and missing items and well, food that just wasn't very good. Spent 2 hours trying to get someone to answer a phone and when they finally did I was put on hold for 30min before being hung up on. I waited until Monday to call again, thinking they would be slower. There was apparently no manager there that could speak to me so someone took my info and stated a manager would call. It's been 2 weeks now with nothing. Biggest waste of money I've ever spent on carry out. We threw over half of the food away. DO NOT RECOMMEND! read more

This place 100% nailed breakfast/brunch. Pretty nice coffee menu where iced coffee includes refills! The menu was HUGE; something for everyone! It was really hard to decide! Our waiter was cute as a button and so helpful with offering recommendations ! The food was tasty! And on top of that, it was super Instagram-worthy!!! read more

Stax Cafe - Ricotta French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great breakfast spot!! My family and I were looking for a nearby breakfast/brunch place and came across Stax. It was a Sunday early afternoon, so we were expecting a really long wait but surprisingly that was not the case! I would have taken pics of our delicious breakfast but it was too good to stop eating! I was visiting Chicago my boyfriend at that time and his mom has since gone back with some more of her friends! Great little find! read more

Stax Cafe - Strawberry & Orange Juice - Tall - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I enjoyed my meal for the most part. If you like cinnamon rolls, the cinnamon roll waffles were delicious! I got them as minis because larger portions would have been a bit much. The mimosa and Bellini that I had weren't great. The taste was off and I think it's the kind of champagne they used. I expected more from this place but overall, a decent place to visit if you're looking for a basic brunch spot. We parked on the street (paid parking). read more

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Stacks on stacks on stacks at Stax! Yum, pancakes! This cute little breakfast place located near UIC offers up some delicious breakfast options in their cozy building. I love that it's so clean inside and really modern like in design. The menu is on a single sheet and easy to read. From platters, to benedicts, to omelettes, pancakes and french toast, you're sure to find a breakfast treat for you. When I hear "stax" I immediately think of a stack of pancakes. So naturally, I decided that I wanted pancakes. I decided to go with the Healthy Start Pancakes because of the blueberry compote. I love blueberries and was drawn into the blueberry and greek yogurt with honey combination! I was so surprised by the portion size of these pancakes. There were 3 giant pancakes filled with blueberries and on top, a dollop of greek yogurt, blueberry compote, granola all drizzled in honey. The pancakes are made out of oat so it gave an interesting texture and flavor. I really liked it though, being an oat fan that I am. The blueberries bursted in the pancakes and the greek yogurt was tart and refreshing. I could have eaten it without maple syrup, but maple syrup never hurt anyone! I barely got through half of the stack before my stomach caved in. My friend got the Starving Student platter which comes with eggs, bacons, potatoes/veggies and either mini pancakes or waffles. It was a big meal, definitely fit for a hungry student. And trust me, after finishing that plate, you'll leave as a satisfied student! My other friend decided to go with the carnivore omelette. He is a huge meat lover and said that the omelette had so much meat that it was almost too much (can you ever have too much meat?!). I could see all the different pieces of meat throughout his giant omelette. It also came with potatoes and HUGE pieces of toast. I've never seen toast that big ever. This is a hefty portion so be prepared! The pricing is really fair for the big portion sizes. Each menu item is about $10-15 depending on what you are getting. Service here was pretty good. Our server was a little hard to understand but we made it by. She checked up on us here and there and our water was refilled promptly. Breakfast food is comfort food, and Stax embraces comfort. read more

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This was my first time to this restaurant. The sign for the restaurant is very visible and its on the corner of the street which helped. The waiter was very attentive. I ordered orange juice that seemed to be a little bland for me. I totally enjoyed my Denver Omelette. The pancakes were sooo yummy. I think I enjoyed my pancakes more than the omelette. Im a Southern girl so I wish they had Texas Pete hotsauce but you can always keep that in your purse. Lol. I would go back again. read more

Stax Cafe - Denver Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I enjoyed this place a lot! I got the steak and eggs and it was DA BOMB! I enjoyed it a lot. I thought it was a lot of food but I needed up clearing the plate. Maybe fat of me or just the damn good! It came with mini waffles or pancakes on the side. The restaurant is mad cute and inviting! Can't wait to come back to Chicago to indulge! There is street parking. I did not notice a parking lot. Don't sleep on this place! read more

Stax Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been to Stax a few times now and always have a good meal. Just know if you go at 11 am on a Saturday, you should expect to wait a little. There is enough in the area that it's pleasant to walk around if the weather is nice though! I've also been at 2 pm on a Saturday and met with no wait at all. They are also really good at getting food out fast, and the staff is always super friendly. The coffee is great - sourced from Intelligentsia and bottomless it is highly worth it. I also like the option to mix and match sweet and savory breakfast options and you seriously cannot go wrong. The mini waffles are perfectly portioned and not too sweet. The house potatoes are amazingly crispy and well seasoned. The benedicts are all great too - I'm especially a fan of the eggs sardou. Reasonably priced for solid food, and I can always have breakfast there. read more

Stax Cafe - Eggs Sardou! Delicious Benedict ($12) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time visit very pleasant experience. The service was good. There was no wait time, nice for a Friday at 11am. Party of two came in was seated promptly. The menu was nicely organized very straight forward. It was so many things on the menu that sounded so good I couldn't choose initially. I ordered the skirt steak with chimmichurri and eggs with potatoes and pancakes. My boyfriend ordered an omelette with potatoes and waffles. The turn around time for the food was pretty fast. Our waitress checked on us a few times she was patient and did not rush us in our ordering decisions. The food was good. I got my steak cooked medium eggs scrambled with cheese. The steak was good but it didn't have any flavor. The food overall didn't have any seasoning.. thank goodness they had salt and pepper at the tables. My boyfriend enjoyed his food the mini waffles were really good. Overall, I would go back and I would recommend. The ambiance is nice and the service is good. The cons is the lack of salt or flavoring of food and the noise level pretty loud. read more

Stax Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great. It is bustling like pre-pandemic! Food was good and hot and waitstaff were awesome.

I ordered the classic eggs benedict with a side of waffles. I especially liked the hollandaise sauce because it provided just the right savory and sour combination. The portions were decent and I still had some eggs benedict left when I started feeling full. The tables are kind of small and it was a struggle to fit everything without knocking something over. Overall, the food was good but not fantastic. read more

They have a good assortment of both savory and sweet food here. They decreased the size of the skillets in the last year, so not as good bang for the buck but the lumberjack skillet is still good. read more

Great service no complaints for was fresh and really good . I will be a returning customer.

We had our mouth set on the cinnamon roll pancakes at Sweet Maples Cafe. We were upset to learn that they were not serving them and decided to leave. Thank God we stumbled across this fine establishment, just a half of a block down. From the moment we stepped in we were greeted and the seated promptly. The waitress was very attentive. The menu was full of options to choose from and the prices were perfect! The food was served within 15 minutes and it even taste great! I could not be happier with the service me and my daughters received. read more

Stax Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a wonderful place for breakfast. Since I am not a native I chose it for its proximity to the place I was staying. It turns out I couldn't have found a better place to have a meal. The food was fresh and hot, inventive, and well prepared. The waitstaff and hostess were pleasant and efficient. The decor was welcoming and comfortable. I hope I am back to Chicago soon to be able to partake of their establishment again. read more

Brunch is something I don't usually do, but this place sounded good and has a lot of high reviews on Yelp. The place looks nice, it's like a rustic feel like your at home. The food is on the higher price of things, that maybe because only fancy people and divorce moms who are on a reality tv show go out for brunch. The waitress we had was really good and she knew what she was doing. That's always a good thing to have. All in all, this place was alright. read more

Stax Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food great drinks been here 3 times this month now it is my to go place for breakfast.

the food is absolutely amazing. the lotus pancakes are to die for. Service is good but a little slow. it's always packed and loud, so go early or order some take out. read more

This sunny spot in Little Italy is great for a weekend brunch! It's big enough where you won't be waiting long, but it still has a cozy, intimate feel. Plus the food is really good. I love brunch and this place definitely delivers. The only thing I think they could improve was to try not to burn their coffee. It wasn't the best. We had the chilaquiles and the ricotta french toast. Both were excellent. The staff is also very friendly and attentive. Definitely coming back! read more

Stax Cafe - Chilaquiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We weren't intending to come here, but the other place on Taylor closes on Mondays and Tuesday's during the winter season (sucks to be a Midwesterner; business operations are seasonal as well). We, of course, didn't want to settle on Starbucks (what a fool if we did). Stax was the next breakfast/brunch we saw. There were lots of patrons dining in; the lights were shining and bright; servers were working hard. Yeah, this was it! Look no further. We were warmly greeted by one of the servers, and then the hostess guided us to the table. The menu was pretty extensive, not to mention that the daily specials were written on one of the columns which I failed to notice after we placed our order (not a big deal). I ordered the Spanish Harlem (chorizo omelet with diced veggies on the side) with mini waffles. Hubby, on the other hand, ordered the oatmeal pancakes with bacons. The wait wasn't long at all. I barely had a couple sips of coffee. I took a bite of the mini waffle. Wow, that was the best waffle I've had for a long time. It was so soft, fluffy...anyways, everything was so lovely about this piece of angelic waffle. The actual Spanish Harlem entree was well-done. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. Hubby said the pancakes were delicious. The granola on top weren't overly sweet. The bacons were cooked right; they had a nice "bark" to it. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. They were fairly busy on a Tuesday mid-morning, but the service was attentive. All servers and the hostess were working together as a great team. The total came to $32 after tax. The prices were better than what you would have in the Chicago loop area, but it's literally one (1) bus ride away (CTA 157-Taylor/Streeterville) to get this place if you want to avoid some over-priced diners downtown. read more

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Stax offers a solid take on the Americana dining experience. There's tons to choose from on the menu. The coffee mugs are heavy, portions are filling (the toast! enormous!), and food is fresh. I ordered the Three Topping omelet ($13.50) and subbed the side of hash browns (which are cooked in canola oil) for a bowl of fruit (Whole30, paleo compliant!). It's one of the most expensive items on the menu in all sections, which was puzzling considering it's only has 4 ingredients. I don't think it was worth fourteen bucks, but on a strict diet, you do what you gotta do. My friends ordered a variety of plates that looked delectable. Try the Healthy Start Pancakes ($12.50- humongous!), the French Toast ($9.50- six slices), or the Taylor Street Frittata ($12.50). Stax is good for groups, kids, and solo diners. Call ahead to make a reservation. Open 7am-3pm! read more

Stax Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The waitress was amazing!! She was the sweetest!! The food was also sooo good and the price we paid for all the food we got...not bad at all!! Definitely give this place a try!! read more

Stax Cafe - Nutella French toast w/ strawberries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Breakfast and brunch can be a task in Chicago unless you get to the restaurant early. So, I opted to go to Stax Cafe early on Sunday morning. Fantastic! I ordered banana French toast with dulce de leche, eggs scrambled well with cream cheese, and house potatoes. The French toast made my day. The fact that they didn't require any syrup was all the better. I love the fact that they actually scrambled my eggs with cream cheese rather than sending out a plate of scrambled eggs with dollops of cream cheese. The home potatoes were also good, seasoned with onions, red peppers, and green peppers. Having gotten to the restaurant early, the service was good. Given the area, I imagine the restaurant gets crowded, so I recommend going early enough to enjoy your breakfast, brunch, or lunch without complaint. I'll definitely have to return to see what else is on the menu worthy of gobbling. read more

Stax Cafe - Banana French Toast. Scrambled Eggs. House Potatoes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sampled 8 dishes and it's the best brunch I've ever had, and was also pretty cheap. Service was quick even in a party of 10, and everyone was kind. Good breakfast ambiance. read more

So many brunch options to choose from!! The service is excellent and very family friendly.

Great place, got brunch here while working nearby. Pancakes were amazing, house fries were fantastic too. Loved the coffee. Normally not a big fan of large cut peppers and onions in my potatoes but, they seasoned them so well and cooked perfectly. Hot and tasty but with just enough *snap* left. Pancakes are giant and sooooooper fluffy, flavor was spot on and I liked the tiny bit of crisp on the edges . Not a huge abundance of powdered sugar on top, just right. I'd definitely go back if I'm in the area. read more

Stax Cafe - Buttermilk Pancakes are fantastic - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This was a good place for breakfast. Very clean, quick service, and pretty good food. Our server was very friendly and I food was served very quickly. The pancakes are delicious I would recommend over the waffles. Everything else was pretty average. read more

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Not very happy with my breakfast. I ordered the Taylor Street Frittata and what I received instead was what appeared to be a flat minimal ingredient omelette. The reason I ordered this dish was because it came with prosciutto. But, I didn't taste any prosciutto nor did I see any of it in my dish. The dish was bland and tasteless. It's like they skimmed out on the ingredients. The only reason why I am giving this place two stars is because I ordered their Pepper Bacon which was really good. If I go back I will definitely not order the frittata but am willing to try something else. read more