I tend to like those places that are a little hidden away; maybe its so I can feel that I have a secret find, which makes posting to Yelp inherently self-defeating. It's also why I don't post a lot of my favorite places here; I don't want others coming along to muck it up. Call me selfish. Nyah nyah nyah.
I'm breaking that policy for Frango's Cafe, up on the 7th Floor of Macy's at State Street. Tucked between the hugely overrated Walnut Room and the somewhat overpriced Seven on State food court, it is an ordinary gem. Macy's boasts not only these restaurants on the 7th floor, but a fairly comprehensive cafeteria in the metro level, so understand that I have a choice as to where to eat. I choose here if I am in the Loop.
The prices are exceptionally good for what you are getting. Other reviewers have talked about the chicken chili, and I guess I can agree with that. I like my chili so spicy that it can reasonably be classified as an incendiary device, and Frango's chili is good, but suburban good, if you catch my drift. All of the food, from the salads to the sandwiches, is decent. It will not ruin your ability to appreciate, say, a Reuben elsewhere, but it also won't ruin your wallet. The pie is excellent, though, as is the world's smallest banana split (their name, not mine). The bottomless coffee, tea or soda while surfing the pretty stable free wifi is a good side benefit.
The best benefit? Let's say you were dying for some meatloaf and mashed potatoes from the metro level cafeteria or a Shoyu Ramen from the 7th floor food court. You can take it into the cafe and eat it there. That is pretty amazing to me. I've tested this out - sushi from the metro level, a salad from the food court and then coffee and pie from the cafe. Nobody batted an eye.
And that's another thing. I've seen some of the older reviews (some from 6 years ago, which is like a century in Restaurant Years) where they complained about the staff. I've only had one less than ideal experience over the many occasions I've eaten there, and that was because the guy was so new, he didn't know where the silverware was. Everyone else, including the manager is pleasant, professional and engaging.
Like a Cafe is supposed to be.
I have never been so angry with a restaurant. Â
I am from Indiana and for as long as I can remember, my Christmas tradition with my parents has been to go to Marshall Fields, shop, and then stop at the Crystal Palace (now Frango Cafe) to have lunch and ice cream. Â We have always gone on a Saturday, when the place is ridiciulously packed but this year we stopped in on a Thursday. Â
My father and I walked up and didn't see a hostess, so we walked to the counter and asked if it was okay for us to sit there and have lunch. Â A woman said the host has been busy, but that it was okay for us to sit. Â We sat and waited for someone to bring us menus while 3 different waitresses walked by and looked at us. Â We asked, twice, for a menu and got sneers. Â I asked a third time and the woman, rudely, told us we couldn't eat lunch at the counter. Â what? Â At that point we were hungry and fed up so we left. Â
I realize this probably doesn't seem like that flagrant of a violation, but it was really the straw that broke the camel's back. Â The last three years we have been here service has gotten worse and worse. Â The people have just been downright RUDE. Â
It was extra disappointing for me because this is something I look forward to doing with my family.
This is really somewhere between 3.5 and 4, but because of being able to sit and have a filling meal at a decent price -- including chocolate mint ice-cream pie -- I'll round up to 4. Â The full meals, with sandwich and soup or salad, or salad with soup, and a dessert, was really a deal and it was a substantial meal ... great for a late lunch after a long walk. The staff was so-so, but it was the end of the day for them so I'll cut them a break since they were better than I expected so close to closing. Â The Frango Cafe was a happy find for a couple of weary wanderers.
Review Source:Up on the 7th floor of Marshall Field's (which I begrudgingly have to acknowledge as "Macy's" now) is the under-appreciated Frango Cafe. Â Workerbees in the Loop tend to go to Macy's basement cafeteria or the fancy fast-food cafeteria on the 7th....which is across the floor from the Cafe. Â This place serves up burgers, wraps, desserts and THE BEST homemade chicken chili I have found thus far in the city. Â A bowl of chicken chili will set you back only $4.99 and illuminate your taste buds with crunchy tortilla chips, a hint of cilantro, tender white chicken meat, and hot peppers. Â With the original casement windows which soar about 10 feet high that tower over the Block 37 complex and Daley Plaza, you can cozy up in a booth, enjoy your meal, and have a view in the midst of sunshine. Â Service is friendly and quick, and the tab for two bowls of chili and Frango mint ice cream sundae for my friend and me set us back less than $20 -- a total treat in a rather expensive city. Â For those with families, you ought to treat your kids to the desserts - I've had just about everything on the menu and they're all delicious and pay homage to the Frango chocolate. Â
If your wallet does not allow for the Walnut Room (or if it's closed or uber busy around the holidays), ignore the splashy-looking fast food cafeterias and stop by the Cafe instead. Â You'll get a satisfying meal rest your tootsies, and be a more effective shopper afterwards. Â Bon appetite!
This is a welcomed place if you are looking or an excursion for lunch without being crammed into an overpriced restaurant. Â They actually do serve you and the cafe looks fairly new. Â It is on the 7th floor of Macy's (still usually say Marshall Field's). Â
They have a wonderful turkey sandwich with bacon and cranberry spread on raisin cinnamon bread which is delicious. Â Their soups are also tasty and if you have room the deserts are good too. Â
The service can be a little slow but its still good food at a reasonably priced sit-down restaurant in the loop.
I had a grilled turkey sandwich here that blew my socks off! Â I think it was the cinnamon bread they served it on that sent me over the edge... Â Try it!
As for the actual restaurant itself, it is just a typical lunch cafe for shoppers who don't want to wait to get into the Walnut Room. Â Nothing super fancy.
DELICIOUS pecan, chicken salad sandwich. Seriously, this chicken salad sandwich (around $8) here is amazing! A co-worker of mine introduced me to this sandwich and we've gone back several times (it's a bit of a walk from work too). The chicken salad has slices of apples, crumbled pecans mixed with tasty chicken in a creamy spread. My mouth is watering thinking about it. This is a little hidden gem between the Walnut Room and the hustle and bustle of the food court. Check it out!
Review Source:Food - 3.5
Service - 2
Ambience - 3
Came into Macy's/old Marshall Field's to escape the chill of the Windy City and sought nourishment from the food court, but decided to go a little upscale by going to the 7th floor where the specialty dining shops were. Being that the Frango Cafe was the only thing open, it made our decision that much easier.
Seating was immediate. Â The Hubby and I ordered the Soup & Half Sandwich combo (he ordered the special that came with Ice Cream Pie or Cheesecake). We both got the chicken salad sandwich, which was delicious. Crunchy enough with a nice flavoring. My chicken noodle soup was equally as flavorful and the Hubby enjoyed the Tortilla Soup (at least that's what I think he had). The crowning jewel of the meal was the Mint Ice Cream Pie. A great way to end a meal.
About the only thing that marred our experience was the poor service. Even though the cafe wasn't very busy or loud, the waitress seemed to have a hard time hearing our orders or when we requested silverware. We had to repeat nearly everything we told her. Then, she disappeared after dropping off our bill and we had to practically throw ourselves at another waiter as he passed by our table to get him to give our waitress the check. I never had to work so hard to give someone my money.
Christine - the reason it's "the biggest and swankiest" Macy's is that until very recently it was MARSHALL FIELD'S - one of the great prides of Chicago retail (and architecture) and known around the world for quality goods at decent prices, and customer service that actually served the customers!  I won't even begin to go into why "Messy's" is held in low regard by Chicagoans; for that you can check <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fieldsfanschicago.org&s=b1309b87186ea1b5436dba03eaa3468f87a8d6263ecf1756d6015157c37031da" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.fieldsfanschi…</a>.  But just as a broken clock tells the right time twice a day, the interlopers from New York did do a couple of things right by the locals; first and foremost, the continued marketing of Frango and the proposed relocation of the factory from PA to Chi, to its original place in the Field's building.  Nowadays the ONLY reason I will go to State & Washington or any other Messy's is to buy Frango products - with cash, not the Macy's credit card I "inherited" from Field's and quickly destroyed.
Review Source:No, really? Why is there only ONE other review of Frango Cafe that was written only 10 days ago? Maybe because it's inside Macy's no one though it deserved its' own Yelp page? I went here on Monday because I wanted to show my friend from Montreal the old Marshall Fields space and a co-worker suggested I take her to the Walnut Room or the Frango Cafe. The Walnut Room looked pricey, and at first it seemed to only have sweets. I am really glad we looked at the menu. I got an open-faced turkey sandwich here. It came with jalapenos, spicy mayo which I got on the side, and leafy greens on whole grain. This sandwich was so large it was difficult to eat. I cut it in half and tucked in. Then I got the World's Smallest Banana Split and was just as impressed as Christine K. So adorable. I love miniature desserts. I will definitely be back one day.
Review Source:This is a cute little ice cream counter/cafe on the 7th floor of the biggest and swankiest Macy's I've ever seen.
There is an actual counter and a bunch of little tables and booths. On this particular day there seemed to be only *one* person operating the whole thing. She wasn't really friendly either, even when I squealed with delight over the COMPLETE AND UTTER CUTENESS of my World's Smallest Banana Split (the actual name of the dish).
It was served in a tiny sundae glass, vanilla ice cream, sliced nanner, chocolate and caramel sauce, whipped cream, candied walnuts and a cherry. De-light-ful! and only $2.95
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