Really disappointed. My husband has been talking about this place for ages so we finally tried it. We wait about 20 minutes for a table then over an hour for our food. During that hour, no one came to check on us or apologize for the wait. We got the impossible burger, vegan breakfast burrito, blueberry pancakes and a cup of soup. The food wasn’t anything spectacular and the soup was so cold my husband couldn’t eat it. The dynamic between the staff was very uncomfortable. We were surprise that while everyone in the restaurant was waiting on food, they didn’t walk around at all and ask how people were doing or even refill coffee and water. Will not be returning.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Tessa Watanabe
TLDR: Don’t go here. This place is really weird. It’s like a liminal space.
I attempted to visit this place on FOUR separate occasions. The first three attempts, they were closed each time, with one of those times not being reflected on their website, Google Profile, voicemail, or anything. Just randomly closed. And their hours are so limited already. On the fourth attempt, I called ahead to see if they were open because of the last three strikes out.
Now according to many online reviews in many places, this is the place to get a good masala chai. Having been thoroughly - and I mean THOROUGHLY - disappointed in most options for a good spicy chai latte in Chicago, this place became a place I had to pilgrimage to for their legendary chai. Furthermore, being a place that catered to plant-based diets, I was excited to see if the food was also worth it as I have a lot of vegan friends.
When I finally was able to give them my business, the whole experience was just strange. Like, I just have so many gripes with this place I have to put it in a bullet list to even make sure I hit every grievance:
- The chai sucked, it came out lukewarm and then was basically steamed milk watered down a bit. Bland. The server was kind enough to remove it from my ticket. - There is a $10 minimum per person. This is advertised nowhere. I have never heard of this and it really took us by surprise; if I had known I would have not had brunch that morning. It’s such a strange rule. - They market themselves as vegetarian/vegan, but they do have meat items. Not that a place like this can’t have one or two meat items, and most choices are vegetarian (with many vegan options too!), but then why build a reputation as a totally vegetarian/vegan place and then offer meat items at all? Idk it just struck me as strange and almost a little false-advertising vibes. - Our food and chai took forever. I got the French Toast Flight (a sampler of their french toast flavors) and my friend got pancakes. While the texture of the french toast was good, only two had really distinct flavors and the portion was small. My friend’s pancakes hit her stomach like a rock they were so gummy and heavy. The prices were also quite high for the amount that you get (we ran out of syrup and would have to pay extra for more). - The decor is super tacky and really feels cheap. - Did I mention that they are almost always closed?
It was one of the biggest culinary letdowns of my life. The location is adorable but how the hell do they afford rent since they’re never open? I don’t understand any good reviews of this place, it was god-awful, the whole experience and I honestly want a full refund. The service was slow and all the rules made me feel so unwelcome. The server was yelling at his cook in such an aggressive way too. The chai was…disappointing is too high of praise. There is just something very sketchy about this place which isn’t surprising given it’s run by a cult…so…think of that when you spend yoru money here - or waste your money here, more like.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Danica McKenzie
Do not let the cute name ‘Lucy’s’ nor the charming corner location fool you - this was hands down, the WORST chai I have ever had! I am shocked they have the gall to sell their own mix! It was watery, flavorless, took forever to come & was lukewarm when it arrived. They are barely open (5 hours 5 per days week) but sometimes they will randomly close on a work day. We were leery to order food and decided to try their chai first before ordering, but were promptly told there was a $10 per minimum charge per customer! I have never had a restaurant tell me this. Despite feeling trapped, we finally managed to get here despite their ever changing, elusive business hours so I ordered Vegan buttermilk pancakes - seems simple enough right? I mean it is a brunch place after all & they claim to cater to vegans - wrong! The pancakes were gummy, floury, hard to swallow, wouldn’t cool down and the butter tasted like the inside of a freezer. The 2 tablespoons of maple syrup given wasn’t enough to cover the pancakes and we were told we would be charged to get more maple syrup. The atmosphere was also cheap and tasteless! The outside sign, corner location and website make you think you’re eating at some cute, charming place… Well, wrong again! I like rustic but they basically threw up the most inartistic, mass prints & tacky paintings they could find. Their website ironically claims they care - but the food, atmosphere & service are so obviously thoughtless! Save your money & tastebuds and go support a fully vegan business that cares & serves truly thoughtful food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
R Kay
Love this place - such a nice cozy and warm atmosphere. We have been going for a while and first review here. The food is so great and consistent and the owner and his sister are amazing. And in this climate they posted a sign that is actively supporting the community. I love them even more 😊
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stevie Hosler
I absolutely loved this little family owned cafe. The food was delicious. The owner and his family were lovely.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melody McArthur
We were in Chicago for the weekend and had just got off a plane from Denver. We googled places nearby the bookstores I wanted to visit and settled on Lucy’s due to the good amount of vegan options on the menu. As soon as we stepped inside someone greeted us enthusiastically and seated us. The place was packed-this was a Sunday just after noon and there was several families eating there (they have a pretty good kids menu). The person taking our order asked where we were traveling from or to since we had our luggage with us and was super friendly and welcoming. My partner had the Raspberry French toast and I had the Baja Chicken Salad with corn chowder soup and we also ordered a couple mimosas. This isn’t a 100% vegan place but most of the menu can be made vegan and everything is clearly labeled so it’s a great place to go to if your group has mixed dietary preferences. My partner devoured his French toast within minutes but not before I managed to steal a bite. I dare say it was the yummiest vegan French toast I’ve tried. The salad I had was amazing. As we were leaving the staff thanked us and told us we were welcome back anytime. Next time we’re in Chicago we’ll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zaan Mehta-Shah
good vegetarian food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jim Wallen
Traditional breakfast and lunch faire with vegan options on many items.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jaime Donato
I've come here several times and really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. This place is a gem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eileen
When i think of what kind of pancakes i like, this is what i think of. This place was so good i went back twice. I highly recommend getting the chocolate chip pancakes and over medium eggs!
Tasty food in a charming atmosphere. Lots of choices for omnivores but also vegan & gluten free if needed. Highly recommend this spot! I loved my chilaquiles but my family’s soup, salad and breakfast looked great too. Marty, Lucy and family really took care of us. ¡Es delicioso!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frank Karall
Vegan food is for everyone!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew Souther
Lots of good plant based breakfast options. Service was attentive, considerate of food allergies.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Xitlalic Jimenez
I love lucys cafe. They offer a lot of great options for vegans, vegetarians, and non vegans. I always come for breakfast when I have time and every time it's delicious. I really love the soy bacon they have. I wish I could buy a bulk of it. My favorite pancakes are the vegan banana walnut. Sooooo good! I tried their matcha today, and it was amazing. The service is always on point, too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessica Dean
Lucy’s Café is a Must-Visit!
I can’t say enough good things about Lucy’s Café and the incredible experience I’ve had there. As someone with dietary restrictions, dining out is often stressful and limiting—but not at Lucy’s. From the moment I walked in, Marty, the owner, made me feel seen, heard, and truly welcome. The food itself? Absolutely delicious. You can tell it’s made with fresh ingredients and a lot of care. The flavors, combinations, and cozy ambiance make it a standout. If you're looking to support a business that gets it right—ethically, personally, and deliciously—this is the place.
Really disappointed. My husband has been talking about this place for ages so we finally tried it. We wait about 20 minutes for a table then over an hour for our food. During that hour, no one came to check on us or apologize for the wait. We got the impossible burger, vegan breakfast burrito, blueberry pancakes and a cup of soup. The food wasn’t anything spectacular and the soup was so cold my husband couldn’t eat it. The dynamic between the staff was very uncomfortable. We were surprise that while everyone in the restaurant was waiting on food, they didn’t walk around at all and ask how people were doing or even refill coffee and water. Will not be returning.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
TLDR: Don’t go here. This place is really weird. It’s like a liminal space.
I attempted to visit this place on FOUR separate occasions. The first three attempts, they were closed each time, with one of those times not being reflected on their website, Google Profile, voicemail, or anything. Just randomly closed. And their hours are so limited already. On the fourth attempt, I called ahead to see if they were open because of the last three strikes out.
Now according to many online reviews in many places, this is the place to get a good masala chai. Having been thoroughly - and I mean THOROUGHLY - disappointed in most options for a good spicy chai latte in Chicago, this place became a place I had to pilgrimage to for their legendary chai. Furthermore, being a place that catered to plant-based diets, I was excited to see if the food was also worth it as I have a lot of vegan friends.
When I finally was able to give them my business, the whole experience was just strange. Like, I just have so many gripes with this place I have to put it in a bullet list to even make sure I hit every grievance:
- The chai sucked, it came out lukewarm and then was basically steamed milk watered down a bit. Bland. The server was kind enough to remove it from my ticket.
- There is a $10 minimum per person. This is advertised nowhere. I have never heard of this and it really took us by surprise; if I had known I would have not had brunch that morning. It’s such a strange rule.
- They market themselves as vegetarian/vegan, but they do have meat items. Not that a place like this can’t have one or two meat items, and most choices are vegetarian (with many vegan options too!), but then why build a reputation as a totally vegetarian/vegan place and then offer meat items at all? Idk it just struck me as strange and almost a little false-advertising vibes.
- Our food and chai took forever. I got the French Toast Flight (a sampler of their french toast flavors) and my friend got pancakes. While the texture of the french toast was good, only two had really distinct flavors and the portion was small. My friend’s pancakes hit her stomach like a rock they were so gummy and heavy. The prices were also quite high for the amount that you get (we ran out of syrup and would have to pay extra for more).
- The decor is super tacky and really feels cheap.
- Did I mention that they are almost always closed?
It was one of the biggest culinary letdowns of my life. The location is adorable but how the hell do they afford rent since they’re never open? I don’t understand any good reviews of this place, it was god-awful, the whole experience and I honestly want a full refund. The service was slow and all the rules made me feel so unwelcome. The server was yelling at his cook in such an aggressive way too. The chai was…disappointing is too high of praise. There is just something very sketchy about this place which isn’t surprising given it’s run by a cult…so…think of that when you spend yoru money here - or waste your money here, more like.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Do not let the cute name ‘Lucy’s’ nor the charming corner location fool you - this was hands down, the WORST chai I have ever had! I am shocked they have the gall to sell their own mix! It was watery, flavorless, took forever to come & was lukewarm when it arrived. They are barely open (5 hours 5 per days week) but sometimes they will randomly close on a work day. We were leery to order food and decided to try their chai first before ordering, but were promptly told there was a $10 per minimum charge per customer! I have never had a restaurant tell me this. Despite feeling trapped, we finally managed to get here despite their ever changing, elusive business hours so I ordered Vegan buttermilk pancakes - seems simple enough right? I mean it is a brunch place after all & they claim to cater to vegans - wrong! The pancakes were gummy, floury, hard to swallow, wouldn’t cool down and the butter tasted like the inside of a freezer. The 2 tablespoons of maple syrup given wasn’t enough to cover the pancakes and we were told we would be charged to get more maple syrup. The atmosphere was also cheap and tasteless! The outside sign, corner location and website make you think you’re eating at some cute, charming place… Well, wrong again! I like rustic but they basically threw up the most inartistic, mass prints & tacky paintings they could find. Their website ironically claims they care - but the food, atmosphere & service are so obviously thoughtless! Save your money & tastebuds and go support a fully vegan business that cares & serves truly thoughtful food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Love this place - such a nice cozy and warm atmosphere. We have been going for a while and first review here. The food is so great and consistent and the owner and his sister are amazing. And in this climate they posted a sign that is actively supporting the community. I love them even more 😊
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I absolutely loved this little family owned cafe. The food was delicious. The owner and his family were lovely.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were in Chicago for the weekend and had just got off a plane from Denver. We googled places nearby the bookstores I wanted to visit and settled on Lucy’s due to the good amount of vegan options on the menu. As soon as we stepped inside someone greeted us enthusiastically and seated us. The place was packed-this was a Sunday just after noon and there was several families eating there (they have a pretty good kids menu). The person taking our order asked where we were traveling from or to since we had our luggage with us and was super friendly and welcoming. My partner had the Raspberry French toast and I had the Baja Chicken Salad with corn chowder soup and we also ordered a couple mimosas. This isn’t a 100% vegan place but most of the menu can be made vegan and everything is clearly labeled so it’s a great place to go to if your group has mixed dietary preferences. My partner devoured his French toast within minutes but not before I managed to steal a bite. I dare say it was the yummiest vegan French toast I’ve tried. The salad I had was amazing. As we were leaving the staff thanked us and told us we were welcome back anytime. Next time we’re in Chicago we’ll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
good vegetarian food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Traditional breakfast and lunch faire with vegan options on many items.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
I've come here several times and really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. This place is a gem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
When i think of what kind of pancakes i like, this is what i think of. This place was so good i went back twice. I highly recommend getting the chocolate chip pancakes and over medium eggs!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Tasty food in a charming atmosphere. Lots of choices for omnivores but also vegan & gluten free if needed. Highly recommend this spot! I loved my chilaquiles but my family’s soup, salad and breakfast looked great too. Marty, Lucy and family really took care of us. ¡Es delicioso!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vegan food is for everyone!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lots of good plant based breakfast options. Service was attentive, considerate of food allergies.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love lucys cafe. They offer a lot of great options for vegans, vegetarians, and non vegans. I always come for breakfast when I have time and every time it's delicious. I really love the soy bacon they have. I wish I could buy a bulk of it. My favorite pancakes are the vegan banana walnut. Sooooo good! I tried their matcha today, and it was amazing. The service is always on point, too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lucy’s Café is a Must-Visit!
I can’t say enough good things about Lucy’s Café and the incredible experience I’ve had there. As someone with dietary restrictions, dining out is often stressful and limiting—but not at Lucy’s. From the moment I walked in, Marty, the owner, made me feel seen, heard, and truly welcome. The food itself? Absolutely delicious. You can tell it’s made with fresh ingredients and a lot of care. The flavors, combinations, and cozy ambiance make it a standout. If you're looking to support a business that gets it right—ethically, personally, and deliciously—this is the place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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