Cafe 53

The desserts are pretty mediocre; the mini macaroons are cute but not super delicious and the blueberry muffin top was average.
I rank 4 stars because of the abundant patio seating and huge sandwiches around me. I’ll come back to try one for my own and can update my thoughts then!

A small café off 53^rd street in Hyde park, a alternative to Starbucks .
The place has a very odd smell and both times I have gone the display for the pastries has water condensation on the inside of glass, so much so, that you can’t even make out the desserts .
I have only had their coffee hot and cold. The coffee is strong but the flavoring they use is not very good. Don’t get the iced coffee !!
They do have a large selection of teas with some unique flavors .
I don’t usually give low reviews but I don’t understand how this place has so many great reviews. Are they tasting the same coffee as me? Or am I not tasting the same coffee as them?

Staff is very friendly. We were first time customers and the guy that runs the register was patient and answered all of our questions, even making suggestions. I had the Sumac Chicken. Yummy! I will definitely go back. They also have a delicious selection of desserts (get the brownies).

A friend and I decided to get some gelato after lunch today and Café 53 was right there, looking like an adorable northside café. Neither of us had been there before and we went up to the gelato counter and the pastry counter… where we had plenty of time to admire the wares, since the three employees completely ignored us for several minutes. Finally my friend asked if we could get some gelato. The guy behind the counter turned to another man who was on the phone and then turned back to us and said «No, sorry.» No? Seriously?! Isn’t that their restaurant byline?! I asked why and was told because it wasn’t uncovered. By that, I guess they meant that the gelato had plastic covers over each of the tubs. They couldn’t take off the covers to serve us? O-​Kaaaay. Obviously they didn’t want our business… So, I guess we won’t be back!

The Hummus:
Decadent, creamy, sumac and oil sprinkled goodness.
The Turkish Coffee:
Sweet caffeinated elixir so hard to find but oh so delicious-​eat your heart out Starbucks!
The Vegan Chik’n Sumac Sandwich
A robust flavorful hearty departure from the standard vegan norm and OMG where has this creamy soy based sauce been my whole life!!!
Great food, great staff and great menu.
Can’t wait to try another of the dozen plus vegan sandwich offerings!

I’ve gone here for a while now. Their back patio is wonderful and open year round. The prices are reasonable. The tea selection is great, and I’m eating their carrot cake now and it’s delicious. And even though they use the Square service, the employees don’t ask for tips through it, which I find to be really honest.

Absolutely love this place. I tried the vegan Sumac sandwhich It was great! I dont typically eat vegan but decided to try it… its one of the best vegan sandwhichs I have tried. I will definately go back here!

Their tea selection is heaven. I really enjoyed my experience there and their food is excellent as well!!! I’d highly recommend Café 53

Recently discovered this place after going for a run. I wanted something healthy but tasty. I’ve been here twice so far and I really like the sandwiches! And I love the fact that they have lettuce wraps since I’m on a low carb diet. And if I ever feeling like treating myself they have great bakery items and gelato. The sandwiches are fresh made and oven baked so overall this is a great healthy eating place if you ask me. Next time I will try their vegan options.

I ordered a chai and had to remind the server of my order after waiting about 15 mins. My tea was overly sweet and generally not appetizing. The free wifi makes it a good workspace but they really need to work on the beverage quality and the service.

Great place for tea. You can also get your sandwiches wrapped in lettuce if you are low-​carb or gluten free.
If the weather is nice, be sure to check out the patio in the back.

So many tea options! The food menu looks pretty solid.

Ok so the ambience needs a little work, but this place has turned into one of my favorite spots. It’s part coffee shop, part gelateria, and part restaurant that delivers! They do everything. And for the most part they do it well. The food options vary from the boring (grilled chicken salad) to unique international (I had some middle eastern chicken sandwich that was AMAZING). The gelato is pretty good as well. So. if you need a place to chill AND eat something on 53^rd that’s not deep fried, smothered, or just plain unhealthy… this is a good option.

Smelled a little funky, but the girl working there was so nice, the iced coffee was great and the blueberry muffin was delicious as well. Sat in one of the soft chairs and sank two inches, and judging from the reviews I should have tried a sandwich, but the vibes here were really great and I give it two very enthusiastic thumbs up — fine holiday fun.

Tons of great vegan options for sandwiches that can be tricky in other places where you’d just walk away with lots of lettuce, tomatoes and maybe a cucumber with some dressing slathered on — this place gives you OPTIONS for goodness! I recommend eating there so you can get it delivered to you fresh after preparation as (especially the vegetarian/​vegan ones) some of the sandwiches get a bit sloppy quickly with the dressings and such soaking into the bread. I, personally, love their eggplant sandwiches. They are quite large and very filling. No real options for sides for those who want some fries or something with their order, but you can get some chips.
If you’re in the mood for gelato… oh man! They have some great, original flavor options. I tried a scoop of basil with a scoop of ricotta — which had a great cheesecake taste to it when combined. The server just kept providing me sample after sample with various combos to see what I might like. So many yummy options — I could hardly decide.

I cannot sing enough praises for Café 53!
Perhaps it’s the collegiate nostalgia, but really it’s a coffee shop with some great sandwiches and gelato and an incredibly kind owner.
With plenty of tables and a patio out in the back, it’s easily a go-​to for many Hyde Parkers and UChicagoans to head to for some casual studying. I’ve had a few of their sandwiches (I believe a Roast Beef, Sumac Chicken, and Garlic Chicken) and nothing has disappointed. I would definitely recommend getting your sandwich with the Crunch bread (I’m forgetting the exact name of it) but it’s delightful!
If you’re hard-​pressed to make a decision among the vast choices (many veggie and vegan options, too!), the owner will happily give his recommendations.
Out of all the development Hyde Park has been going through in the past few years, Café 53 is one of only three places that I believe is worth repeatedly visiting.
Go there. Now. Seriously.

Cute little café with various pastries, sandwiches and quiches. I tried the little desserts, veggie panini, and mint lemonade drink. The food was great and the desserts are even better. Definitely try this place in you’re in the area. They have an open patio in the summer so it’s perfect for a nice summer day or evening.

A bright cute place. It’s always low-​key here, most people are working and minding their own. A great place to meet with a friend. Pleasant atmosphere. The backyard porch is a beautiful, more intimate setting. But, don’t tell anyone because we have to keep it that way. It was also a setting in one episode of the reality show Chicagoland (on Netflix). The front seats offer a nice perspective of the café and passerby’s on the sidewalk.
Only drawback — I order drinks with soy milk because of a lactose intolerance and on several occasions I’ve gotten cow milk.
Some of the best vegan sandwiches ever. Fast delivery. The soy-​based cream sauce is THE shit.

Did I not write a review for this place? Shame on me! It’s a bit of a whole in the wall with chipped paint and tile and some worn, wobbly tables and chairs. But oh my sweet Baby Jesus is the food here good. The sumac chicken sandwich on Dutch crunch bread is my new habit. Good thing I have many reasons to get to Hyde Park all the way from Lakeview!
And the owner/​manage? Dude couldn’t be more friendly or helpful. Even though he wasn’t going to make as much money from my desired order, he convinced me not to get the hummus plate along with the sandwich, saying it was too big. «I’ll make it for you if you want. But it’ll be too much food. I want you to be happy.» I took his advice and he was so right. The sandwich, at $ 6.00, was as big as my head. I ate at 11:30 and had to force myself to think about what to make for dinner at 5pm.
Meet your new crack!

I was told that this café was one of the biggest ones in Hyde Park and that surprised me because it seem kinda of small to me but it wasn’t a problem.
I came here just for a meeting so I didn’t really have any food but I did have a Tea Latte’ which I had never had before it was okay and it was reasonable in price.
There was a steady stream of people that came through the door and many of them the man behind the counter seemed to know.
It had such a welcoming feel and even as my Pastor and I prayed after our meeting as we sat at the table no one in the Café seemed put off or as if they were surprised in fact they were smiling. That was the Cherry on the top of this visit.
I will be coming back to taste some of their food and pastries.
I will update my review when I do.
Enjoy!