It's so cute and the food was great. It was a 3 story mansion and we sat on the 3rd floor. Although we were fine, the couple behind us was in crunches and the hostess flew up the stairs and they were right behind us. I didn't realize until we were at the top, but the hostess didn't even notice! They have an elevator, after all. Besides that, the food was was and so was the service, just took a little long for breakfast. If you have time on your hands, stop and have some breakfast! Hopefully it will be a little cold outside and they can open the window. Very cute place! read more

The food was great and the staff was amazing. I love the marmalade and my omelet was great. The homemade salsa was great too. Definitely a good place to go in Chicago and it's in a nice neighborhood too! read more

Solid breakfast fare anytime you want it. I had been there once when it was in the old digs across the street, that was an experience in American diners.... This cafe is bright, cherry, and clean. Food is served quickly with a minimal amount of fuss. Simple and straight-forward. I enjoy the omelettes being served in the pan. Best part of the meal for me is the fresh orange marmalade. What a delightful touch of home. Scrumptious on toast. Now, if they could get a better selection of teas I would be in heaven. Reasonably priced, particularly in light of the neighborhood. Outdoor cafe is nice, not unusually good, in the warmer months. Service is attentive, friendly, and unobtrusive. read more

My visit to this restaurant was ok. I usually don't like to be negative. But the service was really slow. There was a lot of empty dirty tables in lobby and we had to wait for them to get cleaned to be seated. And then once seated, another 15 minutes until our order was taken. Now as far as food, my corned beef hash with eggs was ok. Not what I was expecting for the price or reputation this place has. My first visit was not too tempting for a second! read more

Tempo Cafe - my brother - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's not fine dining, for godsakes, it's a diner. If you want lightning-fast food go get an egg mcmuffin. But if you want the best omelette ever, go to Tempo. I don't live in Chicago anymore but this place is always on my list when I visit. It's the veggie scramble that gets me every time: A skillet of hash browns covered in a zucchini, broccoli, and spinach omelet. It's big enough to take half (or more) of it away for the next day's hangover breakfast. And I probably shouldn't say this to keep the expectations in check, but when I was there for a late lunch during a week last month, I had my veggie omelet about six minutes after I ordered it. Mmmmm. One more thing: I'm pretty sure Tempo is cash only. read more

What is all the rave about Tempo's. The wait is ridiculous for the service they offer. Not to mention, the food was not horrible. I rather drove the the nearest IHOP. I agree with Leslie S, who the heck doesn't take credit cards, and the menu was very limited and OLD. More coffee stains on the menu than the number of menu options. Can I re-iterate, the wait for this establishment is definitely over-rated. Never would I recommend this restaurant, but I would recommend Egg Harbor in Yorktown Mall. The best breakfast ever. Chef Tempo's please take sometime to meet Chef Egg Harbor. I'm sure you can learn a thing or two. read more

Tempo Cafe is like the sight of a trainwreck - it's brutally ugly, but you are drawn to it. Except in the case of Tempo, the trainwreck smashed into the middle of the Viagra Triangle; the cabin tore open like a blossoming flower; and the crash ruptured a pipeline of alcohol, geysering up and showering down on the passengers, who remained misty, hot and hammered in their seats, where they were promptly served mediocre diner food. But it goes further. Like a fractal, this pattern was mirrored on smaller scales: many of the people in attendance are individually train wrecks. Take the women seating at the table near you, fresh from a club. Each of their bosoms and bootys is a stop-action scene of a collision of great impact and superabundant pressure. Together, they represent a mid-scale trainwreck. Like a column of whiplash-inducing, onlooking SUVs, customers line up to witness the event and linger a bit longer than you would like, since you are trying to get a look, despite the concerted efforts of the authorities to rush everyone through. Ogling everyone, you may wonder which of them are famous. It's a worthy pastime. One night, Vanilla Ice tripped over my boots as he chose his booth and I was ignorantly and insouciantly reclining. Then a girl sat next to him and mack attacked him in front of her boyfriend. I was like, Whatever, girl! You can't handle this booth so don't even come near here. I'm fresh from the club and this vicinity is COLD. read more

Super breakfast place. Order absolutely anything traditional and it will be satisfying. Expect a wait because word is out about this gem, with the locals leading the pack to a communal table here. Nice touch: prune + orange slice, gratis for each diner. read more

Tempo Cafe - waffles and fresh fruit - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Every time I visit Chicago, I visit Tempo. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and at Tempo it's even more so! Everything on their menu is HUGE. Really. Bring a friend and share. The omelets fill up an entire skillet... I think they're made with a dozen eggs. At least it feels that way. They're always made with the crispest, freshest ingredients... And I had no idea I'd enjoy fruit in my omelet until I came here. They make it work. Their banana waffles are amazing. But maybe that's just because I'm a huge fan of bananas- I eat one everyday of my life... It's nice to have it sprinkled in belgian waffle mix at least one day a year! Their pancakes are pretty great too. There really isn't anything on their menu that isn't good, as far as I'm concerned. If you love breakfast food and you're in the Windy City, make time for a meal here. You won't regret it. read more

Your classic diner in a finer location. Has been a staple for late night drunk people in the area for years. The food is very good regardless of the time you go, but for some reason it just seems to taste better late at night. Always have liked this place and the quality continues to be top notch regardless of the crazy hours it operates. read more

Is hard to beat this breakfast place in downtown Chicago, you have to be patience but the way they cook it and serve it is completely WORTH it... Open 24 Hrs with the same menu!!! read more

Tempo Cafe - Is hard to beat this breakfast place in downtown Chicago, you have to be patience but is completely WORTH it... - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fast service! We were 7th in line for a table and it took only 10 minutes to seat us. Food came so quickly. Attentive waitress. For downtown, this place offers simple and easy comfort food when that's all you're looking for. read more

They have decent food, but I do not think it is anything to warrant the ridiculously long wait to get in even yet, be served. The slow service is reminiscent of its sibling, Santorini. The eggs benedict was above average. It seems to be the kind of place where 20-somethings like to meet up with their sorority sisters and drag the boyfriend along for a boring three hour brunch... I will reserve some judgement as I have never been there for dinner. ***I suggest staying home and either sleeping in on a weekend or watching the Bears game and a making a home cooked omelette. read more

This is hands-down one of the best casual diners in Chicago. I can't speak for their dinner or lunch, but their breakfast is absolutely amazing! My favorite items are their omelettes and their pancakes. In fact, writing this review is making me hungry! I used to live a couple of blocks from Tempo and would study here during law school at the wee hours of the morning (they're open 24/7). One thing to keep in mind though is that they do not have wifi or computer outlets. Didn't bother me, that just meant I spent more time studying and less time on Facebook! I now live out in the suburbs but my wife and I keep coming back to Tempo for their delicious breakfast. The owner/manager recognizes us every time we stop by. Is the decor fancy? No, but the food is definitely worth it. PAYMENT METHOD UPDATE: The review below me is inaccurate. Tempo now accepts VISA/MasterCard! They have been for several months now. read more

We eat lunch quite frequently every month. Food is good, service is friendly.It is 24 Hr open. We walk to Rest. , Off Michigan Ave Chicago. Reasonable price food. Prabha Gupta , MD. , Mrs. read more

This is a great breakfast place that I would highly recommend going to. All of the food I ate here was great. The omelets are very big so you can definitely share them. I was staying nearby at the Sofitel hotel so I can say that if you're in the area its worth the trip! read more

This place was just around the corner from my hotel, and my husband and I were craving breakfast food, so we gave it a try. BAD DECISON. Things started out okay- our waitress seemed civil. Hubby ordered the famous omelette in a pan and I ordered some type of scrambled eggs and toast. The ONLY thing that was decent was the toast. My husband's omelette was dry, flavorless, and mostly filled with one of the worst hashbrowns I've ever had- soggy and absolutely lacking in any type of flavor whatsoever. The decaf there was also one of the worst I've had- incredibly acidic and gross. As for the service? BAD. Like Emily B. mentioned in her review, the servers here seem to hate their jobs and make sure the customers know it. I tried to flag down my waitress to get the check at least three times (she was standing by the cashier, talking to another worker), and despite locking eyes with me two times, ignored me and actually walked behind some huge kitchen equipment so she could continue to ignore me. Probably thought I wanted her to get something besides the check and didn't want to do her job. After waiting in vain for her to address our needs, my husband had to actually walk to the counter to get our check. My soft-hearted hubs left a 15% tip- I would have left them none. NEVER GOING BACK again. read more

Food was fresh, delicious, and made to order. The waffle was hot, crispy, and made to perfection. Food was great portion and good customer service, and best thing if you're there early on Sunday morning you can find parking easily and it's free. read more

Tempo Cafe - Eggs Benedict w/ Hash Brown and Slice Fresh Honeydew. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The concierge at our hotel recommend this place...... I wont be asking him any additional culinary advice!!! This place is like a less favorable Denny's.... NOT what i was looking for when i asked for one of the best places for breakfast. Over priced and definitely not worth the $$$$. I think they paid the guy or he is related to the owners, because know one with a sense of taste would recommend this place for the food. The potatoes were undercooked and the the eggs had no seasoning. The staff was decent, but hurried.it wasn't the worst and definitely NOT the best. read more

Tempo is really a place everyone should experience at least once. When you enter, you are greeted with a wall of Polaroids, featuring a multitude of mid-'90s celebrities eating at Tempo. Also there is the last ATM machine in Chicago that runs on dial-up. Tempo is cash only, so be prepared to use this historical piece of equipment. The food is incredibly good, and if you order anything with eggs, you will get plenty of them. The Michigan Omelet (eggs, apples, cheese) is surprisingly great, but the Hobo Skillet is what makes this place one of my absolute favorites at four in the morning. There are no free refills though. read more

I've eaten here for the past 4 years and 4 years ago it was amazing but just yesterday the Omni egg white omelette was mediocre I also added a slice of strawberry cheese cake to my order which was overpriced for a slice of cheese cake $7.26, and it was a small piece I would rather go to Whole Foods and pay that much. read more

They now have a veggie burger on the menu, which ain't so bad for its-midnight-and-im-starving food!

Location, location, location. But nothing else. I LOVE huevos rancheros. I got started on them in a little Mexican diner in Pasadena CA long ago. They're always good, and, assuming there are any Mexicans working in the kitchen, they always have a bit of personality to them. The cooked salsa and garnishes vary from place to place, some good, some great. Except at Tempo. Their salsa I can only describe as watered-down used motor oil. It was terrible, inedible. That was the final straw for me. Other breakfast dishes I've ordered at Tempo have been boring, unexciting, not worth finishing. But waiting with the crowds outside Tempo for this food is now off my list. North is the Original Pancake House, southeast is West Egg, get in a cab or car and go to Ina's or Lou Mitchell's. There is NO reason to eat at Tempo, other than it's convenient location for many condo dwellers and unsuspecting hotel guests. Go east three blocks to Chestnut Street Cafe in the Seneca Hotel - at least you get a square meal (but no yuppies). read more

Old school café, where you can get just about any kind of omelette you want, and those are 5 egg omelets, so you'd better be hungry!

I use to frequent Tempo Cafe for my breakfast needs. There are quite a few selections for light breakfast choices. I usually came here when I felt the need to start watching my weight because many of the items on their breakfast menu come with cottage cheese, tuna, and/or fresh fruits. I once ordered the French Dip. Not such a good idea at a cafe. This is a good place for healthy choices. Also, just a tip Tempo Cafe does not accept credit cards so bring cash. read more

The food here is always good. The service is fast and courteous. The prices are good for area. The poached eggs are always perfect; not watery and not runny not hard. Nice and medium. read more

I'm always full every time I leave here. This used to be a favorite late night/ early EARLY morning breakfast eating spot for me and my friends after a night out. Because we're getting older and can't stay up as late as we could, it's harder to make it here as often as we used to. A couple of my friends & I decided to come here yesterday for brunch. It's still crowded on the weekends for brunch, and the wait time can vary 10-20 minutes or sometimes longer. Food is still good, and my favorite used to be the french toast. Actually it still is, but I have since ventured to other items like the omelettes. I tried the waffles and they pretty much shut up my growling stomach which was craving for some golden waffles. My advice: come here on an empty stomach, and leave a full happy (hopefully) customer. read more

Everything works about this place....minus the food. Seriously, I love the small cafe setting, the waitresses who seemingly hate their jobs, and the outdoor seating. Do not love the food. Do not love the no-refills (Really? Really?). But if you're in the area and it's that weird after breakfast but before lunch time, pop a squat here. Otherwise, just give yourself 20 minutes and head over to Bistro 110. read more

Had a meeting downtown that lasted a little longer than I had anticipated and wanted brunch (versus lunch) somewhere close to where I was (Rush and Peterson area) that wasn't too pricey. Came upon this place thanks to Foursquare and decided to check it out. I saw the place and wanted to see if they had a menu outside...woman comes up and asked if she could help me. Said I was looking for a table for one. Even though the place was crowded there were still a few tables here and there so got seated right away. Ordered what they call a scrambler which in actuality was a skillet with scrambled eggs....was tasty and not too many potatoes. Also got my choice of ingredients in the scrambler so I opted for Canadian Bacon, mushrooms, and American Cheese. Oh yea got an English Muffin with it (no extra charge...yay!) All in all a good place....will definitely go here again as the food is good and plentiful. read more

My friend and I visited Chicago for the first time (from Ottawa and Toronto, respectively) a couple of weekends ago. And what better way to start off our mini-adventure in the Windy City than with a good hearty breakfast? When we arrived around 10 a.m., the place was already busy and bustling. But we had no problems getting seated, and service was pretty good. We both ordered Scramblers - the sizes of which, I'm not sure either of us were prepared for - and hash browns. But the food was fantastic! Despite being so full that we actually skipped lunch, I have absolutely no complaints. Excellent restaurant. read more

They have GF Waffles and GF French Toast. Unique yet classic breakfast place. I adore it. I always can't wait to come here when in town.

Food was like there, you know. Nothing special. The hash browns looked half assed. But, what was more half assed was the sliced cantaloupe which was poorly cut. The coffee was subpar. The waitress looked lost most of the time and tried to square up with my girlfriend .... 2.5/5 read more

One star for food that did not make me sick the next day and another for being a place where I seem to run into old friends (unfortunately I am always looking a mess). For cheaper better diner food I recommend Hollywood Grill in WP. I really don't go out in the Gold Coast too much and really don't think I would venture out here for a sober post 5 am breakfast. Nothing I have had here draws me back. read more

I love this hot little breakfast place. Every time I have been there has been fairly good service, great food, good portion size and at a typical diner price. I cant rave enough about their skillets and omelets. As a vegetarian I appreciate the good produce. Their coffee is also good. read more

I went to Tempo today for brunch with a friend post- workout. Luckily, we got there late enough (around 130p) that our wait was only 10 minutes, if even that. The food here is okay. I did love that I could get an egg white omelet with Pam spray instead of butter. The potatoes on the bottom of the skillet were quite a bit burned though :( Wait staff was pretty lousy- I asked for a straw 3 seperate times, and the waitress kept forgetting- she even put a bunch in her apron and still forgot to give it to me. I live around the corner, but for the money, would rather go to 3rd Coast on a weekend morning. read more

Tempo, home of the worlds best chocolate chip pancakes. Every once in a while I get a real jones for stuff and it rocks. Not too much chocolate, not too little. PMS Heaven. I have always had pretty good experiences with the food, never a bad meal. The place is usually packed for breakfast, so late morning is a good time to go. Of course, they are 24 hours- which is great. You have the drunk party kids some nights, but since there aren't many alternatives...you deal with it. Here is the breakdown: * Wait staff: Busy and informal, but never rude * Drink Menu: I don't think they have booze, good coffee * Menu: American and Breakfast 24/7 * Parking: Good luck. I'm sure it is do-able, but not worth it. The 36 runs past it and its not far from the Red Line (Chicago). read more

The two times I have been here, I have been highly intoxicated. And, as most things are when I'm in that condition, it was great! After clubbing downtown at Funk and/or Level all night, this is a good establishment to obtain greasy food in order to soak up the liquor in your stomach. Two of my friends and I came here in the wee hours of the morning, probably 5 or 6AM, in an incomprehensible state. Fortunately, the staff seems to be experienced in dealing with drunken debauchery, so were were seated quickly and without incident. The food was good as hell! I had some eggs, hash browns and sausage--yummy. I also had a bite of my friend's eggs benedict and it was THE BOMB!!!!!! I wanted to max her meal and mine. Sadly, she wouldn't let me. I was too drunk to notice how fast or slow the service was. However, considering how packed it was in there, we seemed to get our food pretty fast. Good drunk eatery. Maybe sometime I'll try it during the day! read more

When I am in town, I only eat breakfast here. Greek toast is so good I love all the scrambles Bacon is just ok but i dont mind because I usually ordering an omelet and lots of coffee to fight the hangover of the night before :) read more

This was my go to spot in college, after a long night at the bars (or library)... Price point is right and the service is friendly and quick. Serving sizes are large, quality is MEH... typical cafe food. I'm not sure if I would ever go sober or during the day since I feel like there are much better options out there, but Tempo has always been there for me... So I will continue to be a patron. Even if it's only at night. Oh and they take cash only, if you haven't already gathered that from the other reviews. read more

I used to live a few blocks over and would visit here for breakfast once in a while. Pros: *Good food! Nice quality. *Big portions. I always took some of my meal home. Cons: *They used to take cash only. Do they still do that? I couldn't believe that in 2008 I was scrambling to find an ATM to pay this place. *It's crowded on the weekends. I believe we always waited around 1 hour for a table. *Sometimes the service had that "you're one in eleventy billion" feeling. You know, like they just wish you would order in as few words as possible so that they could move on. I know it's busy, but still, c'mon now. If you're in the neighborhood, this would be my place for breakfast. read more