If I could give this place zero stars, I would. Â
The service was awful to non-existant. Â
The food was TERRIBLE and basically cold, but it took so long to get out to us we were discussing walking out before receiving our food. Â This was even though we were the only table that was ordering food - all the other tables in the place were trying to leave. Â I say "trying" as the only server was gone so long from the dining area that 4 other tables had their coats on, cards out to pay and were on the verge of walking into the kitchen to find the server. Â
The atmosphere was... well, there was no atmosphere
The prices were ridiculous for what we received
Do NOT go to this restaurant, you'll only end up disappointed.
If I could give this place zero stars, I would. It was so bad, it was almost cartoonish. The hostess, waitress, and cook were all the same person.I showed up 20 minutes late and the group still hadn't received their food. I sat for 15 minutes without receiving a menu and 2 personal pizzas and one hamburger still were not ready. I walked across street, ate and came back and my original group just got their food. Food was terrible and certain ingredients were not included on pizza because they were out and table was not informed. Burger was a hockey puck and side of mashed potatoes resembled lumpy grits. To top it off I watched at least 5 tables get up and walk out because they weren't acknowledged on arrival. Avoid this place at all costs.
Review Source:I wanted to take my family to pannazo's for a fantastic sandwich but they were closed. Unfortunately, someone i was with had to go to the bathroom. it was slightly after 12 and dead . bad sign. I decide fine it will be ok we'll try it. The waitress took awhile to get our order in. we got simple soups and salads it took an hour for the food to be prepared. when i asked the waitress what was on the sandwich she couldn't answer even though she said the sandwiches were her favorite. she didn't know the soup of the day. It was bad! I can't recommend this place at all don't go save your money. plus the decor is supper low rent  for the area.
The redeeming this was the the chedder beef with italian peppers one of my party members had was good other then that NOPE.
YIKES!!!!!! Â So ended up here when Panozzo's was jammed and we were on the way to the Shedd looking for a nonchain restaurant. Â Not many options in the South Loop.
So walked in on Sat and we were the only table in the place.
This place is by far the biggest nightmare I have ever come across. Â
I am not going to go rambling on about this place because I doubt it will be in business much longer and look at the rating for this place...need I say more.
Server-new, totally the worst server ever. Â Couldnt explain the difference between sandwiches and didnt offer to find out. Â Bought out pops in the can, no glasses, couldnt write down the right order, totally unattentive.
Cook-new (per the server when our order was completely messed up).
Food-DISGUSTING! Â I honestly didnt even take a bite of my shrimp salad.
1. Â Because they put the dressing on it when I asked for it on the side
2. Â Because the shrimp looked gray
Sandwiches-they didnt get one of them right.
1. Â Ordered turkey, mayo, lettuce, provolone, tomato on sourdough. Â It came toasted with half of the ingredients
2. Â Ordered Italian buttered and grilled with mayo, tomato, lettuce and pickles. Â Came not grilled or buttered, no mayo, no pickles.
The food all came out at different times. Â Basically we received the food to send it right back and left. Â We ended up at Potbellys which is a much better spot than this place.
To say the least, Â dont waste your time...although it seems like most people have gotten the memo on this place because it was EMPTY. Â Oh and while we were there, a table came in. Â No one even noticed, they ended up leaving like 5 minutes when the server didnt come out. Â Too funny. Â Close your doors. Â Or health inspection??? Â The food cannot be fresh...at all
I have never dined here, nor will I. But I am convinced that this "business" is some sort of money laundering operation. There is just no chance in hell that the owner would just sit on his hands and watch this place tank like it does every single day without some incentive to do so.
There is either illegal activity going on, or a new level of stupidity has been reached by management.
o stars is more appropriate. bad food, depressing atmosphere, horrible service, which is hard to believe, since we were the only 2 people in this dump! how does this place stay open? what a sad excuse for a bistro. perhaps the owner should contact gordon ramesy for an episode of kitchen nightmares! hope nobady from the nato summit eats here or it could cause an international incident.
Review Source:We walked into this place by mistake and it was horrible.  (It was windy and cold and we rushed into this place by accident when we were trying  to goto the place next door.)  The food was on the level of a midweek meal at someone's house who doesn't know how to cook.  The burgers were dry and overcooked, the bun was burnt and the vegetables were microwaved.  The chips were out of a bag...and the price was ridiculous.  Never have I regretted spending money this much.   The only reason we finished our meal was because I was absolutely ravenous--like blood sugar level was low.  Otherwise, I would have sent it back and walked out not having spent a dime.
Review Source:YOU MUST READ THIS BEFORE DINING HERE!!!!
We stopped in on a Saturday night around 6:30. Â This was our first time eating there and we were really hoping it would be good because it was so close to our home. Â Well....
We ordered pizza because the sign on the door say "voted best pizza". Â Who voted??? Â The pizza was horrible. Â We ordered 4 different toppings on a "deep dish" style pizza. Â The toppings were few and far between and looked like they came from a can. Â The pizza itself was litterly like a super sized cracker sandwich with cheese. Â There was almost no sauce whatsoever on the enitre pizza. Â FAIL!!!
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THEY RIPPED ME OFF FOR OVER $20. Â I paid with my debt card. Â When I looked at my account, they hit my account for over $24 more than what my receipt said. Â These crooks belong in jail!!
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND PASS THIS ONE BY!! Â JUST LOOK INSIDE THE WINDOW AND SEE AN EMPTY DINNING ROOM AND YOU'LL KNOW WHY!
We dined here quite accidentally for the first time -- we had intended to go to Little Branch Café prior to a Dance Center performance, but found that it closes at 6pm on Saturday. A'Cappella was the closest alternative likely to be conversation-friendly, so we tried it.
I usually go out for dinner before a play or concert, and am not at all likely to go to a place like this, but it was OK. In fact, we enjoyed our meal -- it was a change of pace. And I spent half of what I would have otherwise spent. Our salads were fresh & tasty. My stuffed meatloaf was OK, as was my companion's whitefish. The veggies and potatoes were passable. At our server's suggestion, we tried the chocolate cake; it was tolerable.
A'Cappella is what it is -- an expanded diner, BYOB, serving comfort food (some from the freezer, to be sure) all through the day and evening. There were only three staffers on a Saturday night (two in the kitchen and one server) so things were a little slow, even with just a handful of diners. The place seemed clean, and our server was quite cordial. After dining there, I looked online and saw quite a few unfavorable reviews. It sounds like some people have had bad experiences there, but ours was OK and we were satisfied.
How can this place stay open? How does it pass CIty Inspections? How is it empty every day when I pass on my way to and from work? Every. Day. There has to be a shady operation here. Â Its been open for several years and has never had a positive review. Â I really would love an investigation into this "restaurant". Â Avoid by all means.
Review Source:Ok, so we fell for the "voted best pizza" the first time, cute little bit of advertising. It was good, but not great. The place feels like you're eating in grandma's house, down to the plastic covering the table cloths and the fake flowers in vases on the tables. We liked our pizza and it was close so we decided to try this place again later.
The second time we ate there we ordered the salad and a pizza. After bringing it to our table the waiter asked if we wanted dressing. We said yes, and we got a dish of vinegar and NO oil. I wouldn't recommend eating a salad with only balsamic poured on it. I ordered iced tea, and they brought it out in a tupperware container (channeling grandma again) and it was way too strong, I had to water it down with my glass of water. There was no warning that it would be unsweetened tea either. They're also not too big on cleaning their tables. I moved the tray that was in the middle of the table to make room for the salad and there were rust spots on the plastic. The silverware is wrapped in napkins and closed with masking tape, and you have to tear the napkins to get to your fork and knife. Its in a good location, but with the meager quality of food, interesting service staff, and the restaurants lack of cleanliness I don't forsee it staying open very long.
We were really hoping that A'Capella would become one of the mainstays in our restaurant rounds in the South Loop but we were severely disappointed. The restaurant was completely empty but it took 15 minutes for them to greet our table. The food was dried out and the meatloaf I got was worse than tv dinner quality. The staff was also extremely unfriendly almost like us eating there was an inconvenience to them. A couple tried to come in and they were yelled at that the restaurant was closed and turned away. I would never come back again and judging from the constantly empty dining room, I guess no one else will either.
Review Source:Yelp won't let me submit this comment w/o at least 1 star, but I give it ZERO stars. Seriously? C'mon! A Capella has no business being a restaurant! This place is the saddest and most pathetic place I've ever eaten in my whole life. Wow, how do they stay in business!?! DO NOT GO THERE, PLEASE. They need to get their act together from the service to the food to the decor. They have a goldmine on their hands with a great location in the South Loop, but they are wasting it away. I can't even talk about the food...it's that BAD! Get a Swanson's Hungryman Jack or Lean Cuisine instead and you'll have a better meal for much less. If you don't believe me try it for yourself and I guarantee you won't go back....I'm never going back, unless they completely overhaul their menu including the chef/cook and for that matter how about the owner too. They should be ashamed of themselves!
Review Source:Service:
Went on a Tuesday night during a snowstorm. Â I guess the owners don't usually expect much of a crowd on weeknights because this night they were understaffed. Â There was one server for about 5 tables. Â Which in any normal restaurant wouldn't be a problem but for this server it was. Â Many customers came in and had to wait a long time before server even acknowledged they were there. Â So for service this place would get a 1/5.
Food:
My guest and I both ordered the soup of the day, cream of spinach, which was actually quite good. Â For my entree I ordered their whitefish talapia. Â It was decent and my girl ordered Grilled chicken. Â The chicken was so dry and burnt she couldnt eat it. Â Because of this I give 2/5 for quality of food.
Price:
The server took off the chicken because it was so badly cooked and brought her the same fish as I ordered and didn't charge us for that and only charged for one entree. Â So it ended up being really cheap. So I can't really comment on price because I am not sure what one normally could expect to pay.
Atmosphere:
Its a BYOB which is nice and we brought a bottle of wine to go with our dinner. Â Also it is quite small and cozy. Â
3/5
I am afraid I cannot give this restaurant any stars.
My fiance and I walked their due to the closeness to our home in the south loop. Â The place was dead. Â We walked in and took a seat. Â Ruby was our waitress (great gal). Â
For appetizers: Â He ordered mozzarella sticks and I got the soup & salad. Â The soup was extremely salty, the marinara sauce was to sweet (literally full of sugar); the salad was good.
For entree: He ordered a bun less burger with provolone and garlic potatoes. Â His burger was an undercooked frozen mess with melted cheese. Â I told him not to eat it due to him possibly getting sick. Â The garlic mashed were not really mashed but lumpy over powering with seasoning. Â I ordered the sweet & tangy BBQ with green beans and twice baked potato. Â The chicken looked like 2 chicken tenders from McDonald's. Â They were literally the size and width of a quarter covered in Kraft BBQ sauce. Â The twice baked was cold on the top and frozen on the inside the green beans were covered in pepper to look nice but tasted nasty.
We asked to speak to the cook. Â Out comes this child of 20something rolling up his sleeves and exclaiming, "what's up? Â Didn't like the food?" Â I explained to him the above and he just said with a shrug and a glance over the shoulder (like he didn't not care what we were talking about; just pay and leave me alone), "Well that's the way it is?" Â I was appalled! Here is this 20something telling me how it is. Â I am a paying customer that lives in the area and he just completely did not care but said, "Yep you have to pay". Â
I plan on calling the owner/manager tomorrow; James or Christen; whoever answers the phone at 9AM and  letting them know they lost 2 customers and now the Yelp national knows what kind of hands you leave your restaurant to on a Friday night, in the south loop on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  They need to teach their "chefs" to cook and manners.
Goodbye A'cappella Bistro! Â You will never get my business again.
Tried this restaurant with a group of friends for Sunday breakfast before the Bears game.
It should have been a clue that there was only one table with two people in the restaurant, but we tried it anyway. Â The chef was in the seating area and said the pumpkin pancakes were his special of the day and would be great. Â
We ordered coffee and waited a long time to get served. Â The waiter disappeared and did not return from the kitchen. Â We finally got the attention of another server, who brought out coffee pots for us. Â
After we ordered and waited through another cup of coffee, the food order started to arrive. Â Some of the side dishes, the toast, the pancakes, all came out sporadically and it took several trips before anyone had a complete order in front of them. Â Given the fact that there were only two other customers in the place, it is hard to figure out why this happened.
To summarize the food quality and taste, very marginal at best. Â The omelettes were okay, the toast was cold, the sausage had an interesting (not necessarily good) taste, the bacon was undercooked, and the pancakes were so dry that they had to be smothered in syrup to be edible.
Bottom line is that this place is not worth going to, especially for breakfast.
I went here for breakfast...I got eggs and french toast and was completely satisfied. Â Nothing too fancy just good food. Â The atmosphere was comfortable and we were able to kick back a bit as opposed to other south loop breakfast joints that push you out the door as soon as you finish. Â The service was friendly and attentive. Â My only complaint was the fruit but no big deal. Â I definitely recommend checking this place out for breakfast I'm sure I will be just as satisfied for lunch and dinner.
Review Source:What can I say, I wanted to like A'Cappella. Â We live across the street and have waited for literally years for this place to finally open it's doors. Â We went on the first weekend it was open, so maybe they've improved. Â But from my one experience, from beginning to end, I found myself shaking my head at their un-professionalism. Â
We were 2 of 6 diners at the restaurant, and we were consistently ignored. We had to get the attention of one of three waiters for every single need, from asking where to sit down, to getting water and utensils, to ordering. Â I think one of the waiters had his family there because he was sitting at their table talking to them at every chance he got. Â This was at our expense. Â I felt like I was interrupting him when I had to get his attention for our check. Â
We ordered the buffet. Â The eggs and sausage were dry and the juice was warm. Â I think they bought their bread and desserts at Jewel. Â It was seriously bad. Â The granola was the only thing I went back for.
I heard another diner, who did not get the buffet, order eggs benedict off the menu. Â The waitress proceeded to walk over to the buffet, scoop up some eggs benedict and some fruit, stick it on a plate, and walk it over to the customer, who looked dumbfounded. Â My wife and I could not believe what we just saw. Â
I doubt this place will last long.  I think word has gotten around because seldom do I see more than a couple people inside.  Again, this place is new and maybe they just  need to work out the kinks.  But unless you hear otherwise, consider yourselves warned.
I am embarrassed for them. Being in the South Loop, it's important to find convenient eats in the neighborhood. Sure its a bit pricier, but typically food is pretty good in the area. But man, this place has taken forever to open, and in my opinion they might as well close their doors now. Their menu is limited, so it would seem they are really good at the few items they offer. Each of the dishes averaged $10 or more, and mind you, we got it to go to enjoy the weather...but it was the saddest attempt to win new customers. The portions were ridiculously small...I ordered a Pesto linguine with meatballs. They microwaved the meatballs because they tasted like rubber and was overcooked in weird spots. The pesto was like paste on the three noodles they gave us. The dish was $13 and it was smaller than a lean cuisine meal. The soup tasted like it was from Costco. The marinera sauce over bow ties pasta tasted like chef boyardee...but worse.
We waited in the restaurant for the food, and they had one waitress, and no hostess...people just sat themselves. The decor reminded me of a flower shop gone bad...all this crazy plastic vines hanging just about everywhere. This place would be lucky to survive a year.
Stay away from this place...or order from Connie's or even Pompei. Their food at least tastes like it was cooked not nuked. And their prices match the portions. Or even go next door to the real italian deli...they know how to handle their food. C'mon ppl, you guys need to win over customers...you guys gotta make a big impression if you are gonna place yourselves in this area. I mean I should have taken my family to Jewel's frozen section instead of wasting my money on this place.
A'Cappella was the neighborhood mystery restaurant. Â For over two years it tantalized passersby by looking as if it were about to open. Â Tables complete with tablecloths, chairs perfetly placed--it looked as if any minute someone would turn on the lights and unlock the door. Â Two years is a very long time to stand so still.
I should really give this brand new restaurant 4 stars within its own category, but Yelp doesn't rank restaurants within categories.  The category I'd place it in is something unusual in a loop restaurant::  relatively cheap comfort food.  For less than $12 you can have a full old fashioned meal of stuffed meat loaf, pot roast in port wine, herbed pork chops, beef cabob, various pastas, and more.  The price of  the  entree includes soup or salad plus two sides (mashed potatoes, corn, brocolli in cheese sauce, etc).  Lunch sandwiches are also cheap, and one of the choices is bologna!!  You can't even get bologna at Subway!
The food is decent. Â Compared with Gioco, the next street over, it's mediocre. Â However, whereas dinner for two at A'Cappella will cost about $25 + tax & tip, at Gioco a similar meal will be more than double. Â and that's not counting the drinks! Â A'Cappella is BYOB, which is a huge savings for even moderate drinkers. Â So, within the category of cheap, decent diners I'll give A'Cappella 4 stars. Â It all depends on what you're looking for.
Oh....the decor is very pleasant. Â Lots of (fake but pretty) flowers and hanging baskets, colorful tablecloths. Â Service is also pleasant and good, though they haven't quite decided how many waitstaff they'll need, largely because business is sporadic so far. Â One night we visited and there were only a couple of other tables, and everything came very quickly. Â The next time the restaurant was 3/4 full but there was still only one waitress. Â Both of those visits were on a Wednesday, so attendance is still sporadic enough to make adequate staffing difficult to predict. Â
P.S. . Â A Jewel is half a block away, so stopping for a bottle of wine is extremely easy.
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