Guest Review | The Sweet Maple Cafe

The Sweet Maple Cafe

There are times when you want to go out for an elegant meal, but occasionally, you want comfort food served in a laid-back atmosphere, reminiscent of your mom’s kitchen. That is what you can find at Sweet Maple Cafe.

Everything at the Sweet Maple Cafe attests to its homey origins. The restaurant was opened in 1999 by a mother of two, Laurene Hynson, who wanted to be able to have afternoons to devote to her children, so she started a breakfast eatery. The menu eventually expanded into lunch offerings, which are offered on weekdays from 11:30 AM until 2 PM.

Screen shot 2012-10-10 at 10.24.44 PMInside the dining area, you will find family photographs and a cozy atmosphere. Peek inside the kitchen, and you will see the cooks preparing everything served from scratch and to order. The recipes used are those that were originally used at home by the founder. One of the most popular is Laurene Hynson’s mother’s recipe for an extra-rich French toast that you can order from the menu today.

Located near the University of Illinois, Chicago, this restaurant bustles at breakfast. You can find local neighborhood people, professionals, working class people and students all dining together throughout the morning. Some of the more popular options for breakfast include the French toast, pancakes and made-to-order omelets, but don’t leave without trying one of their sweet milk biscuits or some homemade applesauce.

Screen shot 2012-10-10 at 10.22.35 PMThis spot is not as well known for its lunches. Maybe it should be. Like the breakfast options, which are available all day, the lunch menu is all made from scratch, including the potato chips served with the sandwiches and the soups that have been simmering all day. The smoked turkey club is a BLT with turkey and cheese added, but it’s the house-made herb mayonnaise that enhances this basic sandwich into something special. You should also be sure to save room for the decadent carrot cake. It has a nice balance of sweetness from the raisins and carrots in the cake with the richness of the cream cheese frosting.

Perhaps one of the best parts of the Sweet Maple Cafe, besides its food, is the pricing. None of the items on the breakfast or lunch menus costs more than $11, which appeals to the students from UIC who frequent the restaurant while juggling the common college student problems like finding a self storage in Chicago unit, paying for textbooks and getting to class.

If you want a comforting atmosphere, good food and low prices, the Sweet Maple Cafe should be your breakfast and lunch spot of choice.

Sweet Maple Cafe 1339 West Taylor Street Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 243-8908

This post was written by R. Wilcox

Comments

  1. Elise says

    Those sandwiches look amazing! What a great cafe, makes me want to go to Chicago!

  2. Chelsey says

    That food looks delicious! Just one more reason I’d like to visit Chicago some day ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Oh how I wish we had a Sweet Maple Cafe here. Looks a little more elegant with the comfort food of Bob Evan’s.

  4. Oh what a tease I lived in Chicago for 12 yr.s their food is like no other. When I go to visit ill have to stop here

  5. Jennifer Mae Hiles says

    oh wow, when I saw the post title I thought it was a recipe for maple french toast of coffee. Look at those plates of food! I bet you don’t leave that place hungry ๐Ÿ™‚ Too bad it’s in Chicago. But if I ever make it there (I live in PA) I will have to make it a point to visit the Sweet Maple Cafe!

  6. Sandy V. says

    I will vist this establishment the next time I am in Chicago. Thanks for the advice. I even like the name of the place.

  7. It looks like a fabulous place to eat out with the family.

  8. Donna Lindner says

    WOW what a review! I want to hop on a plane and go to The Sweet Maple Cafe (with a name like that you can’t go wrong) for breakfast…lunch and dinner. YUM

  9. Wow! That looks so good! Sounds like a great place to eat and relax and unwind. Just too bad Chicago isn’t closer to us. What am I saying? I mean the restaurant. LOL! Thanks for sharing.

  10. Bekah Kuczenski says

    Yum! I love cozy little places to eat! The sandwichs look delicious!! I love that everything is homemade and made to order ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. marissa lee says

    those sandwiches look very good…

  12. Sylvia Jui says

    Chicago is the city to visit!!!

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