I usually do take out here because I do not work to far. The order was done very quickly and accomodated all my coworkers. Â I had ordered a cuban which by far was average. Â There was nothing exciting about it and the taste was pretty bland. Â My coworkers ordered salad which they stated was average as well.
Review Source:John's Place on Roscoe has become a new go-to place for weekend brunch / lunch. When I wake up in the morning I oftentimes find myself craving a breakfast burrito from here... they are so so good! Just a tad bit spicy, not greasy or too eggy. Paired with a side of a single pumpkin pie pancake and I'm very happy. This pancake is one of the best pancakes I have ever had - tastes just like pumpkin pie and the maple butter and syrup topping just puts it over the top.
I would highly recommend the burgers as well - the turkey burger and black jack especially.
For a laid back neighborhood spot with reliably good brunch / lunch food and no wait for a table, this is the place to go in Roscoe Village.
My boyfriend and I recently enjoyed a late Sunday afternoon lunch here, long after any sort of Sunday brunch rush they might have had. Overall, we like our lunches (and our cocktails) and we'll definitely be back, hopefully for dinner.
Service was wonderful. Attentive, informative, laidback, but never overbearing.
A couple of tips for improvement: While my veggie burger and my boyfriend's omelette were delicious, the fries were extremely lackluster. Maybe that's Karma's way of telling me I should lay off the papas fritas, but I was disappointed in the fries, especially because everything else was such good upscale pub grub. Lastly, the ketchup and mustard bottles were, to put it delicately, a bit gross-looking. There was excessive dried condiment caked around the bottle openings, and they could have used a nice cleaning before making their way to our table.
But really, the food and service were great, and if you're looking for some nice pub food in Roscoe Village, I'd recommend John's Place.
with a menu that is fairly unimaginative and a restaurant laden with children, i didn't expect to like this place so much.
it is very, very homey. Â like i mentioned, many families, but many well behaved families. the menu is comforting & provides options and best of all, the food is good. Â they were, unfortunately, out of the arancini [which i am lead to believe that if they are out of at 6pm must be frozen.. :o(], so we opted for the grilled cheese sticks instead. Â while the grilled cheese was nothing to write home about, it was perfectly grilled and paired with a DELICIOUS creamy tomato soup. Â
i had the vegetarian burger which was, though a little dry, very tasty. Â served with a side salad and delicious sesame dressing, i was left super full, and with not much out from my checkbook.
they had half-priced bottles of wine on the night we went which helped us forget about the sheer number of children and reminded me that when i do become a mother, I will still have the option of guzzling plenty of wine, like all the other families around us..
I had a downright lovely lunch today at John's Place!
My colleague Andrea R suggested we meet here for a Roscoe Village lunch, and to her surprise...I've never been. To be quite honest, I've avoided it because its a baby/family magnet and when presented with the opportunity to try it we always opt for elsewhere.
However, midweek/midday lunch? Perfect Quiet, but still comfortably buzzing with lunchers. Our server and service was actually quite exceptional (hat tip to the red bearded fellow behind the bar). Very friendly, accommodating, sweet. Truly, maybe he was just happy we didn't have any messy toddlers with us? Regardless, it was a very pleasant meal and he was super helpful.
I had the John's Chopped Chicken wrap with sweet potato fries (oh yes, get the sweet potato fries!). The goat cheese was the perfect complement (and all of their cheeses are pasteurized, in case you are eating for two...as Andrea is!) and it was just the right balance between filling and light. Get those sweet potato fries. Get 'em! I really enjoyed my lunch.
A really lovely place to lunch. It's a madhouse on the weekends, but this is prime for a relaxed lunch or brunch during the week. Super approved!
*Full bar available.
*Diet Coke is quite suitable with free refills!
*Crowded on the weekends.
If you are looking for a nice relaxed atmosphere for some breakfast or lunch, then I would recommend you stop in at Johns Place. Â They have good prices and nice portions. Â
Also, in the nicer weather, they have an outside seating area. Â Great place to hang outside with your doggie !!!
Love this place. My husband and I had a wonderful low-key dinner here last Saturday. The ambiance was laid-back and warm, and the staff was very friendly. We showed up around 7:30 with no reservations and were quickly seated at a back booth. The food (burgers for both) and drinks were excellent, and the music seemed to be stolen from our personal playlist. There were a few families with smaller kids up front, but they didn't bother us a bit. Can't wait to go back.
Review Source:I had the greek burger. ground lamb, cucumber tzatziki salad, with crumbled feta and more deliciousness than I could ever imagine.
service was great, however another waiter thought he had our table so we were a little confused.
down the star because there were a lot of kids here. not the restaurant's fault, but
i would be back definitely. i need that burger.
I had a great brunch at John's place. I tried and enjoyed my girlfriend's salmon scramble. Very tasty. I had the eggs benedict and it was fantastic. Complimenting that was the home fries, which are a great combination of salty and spiced. Just a really simple and tasty brunch place. Haven't come here for drinks so this is basically a brunch review. Fair warning though is this is roscoe village, which is basically like boot camp for suburban families so expect very young kids seated around you so if you can't handle that sort of thing this may not be for you. But the food and service is good and worth it. I will be back.
Review Source:John's place is a great neighborhood place and we frequent them very often for dinner and sometimes brunch. I have seen the mixed reviews and not sure how that is possible.
They have a large variety of drink options and carry my husband's favorite Little Sumpin Sumpin beer. Some of our top food choices are the BBQ pork nachos, chicken quesadilla, all burgers of course and the turkey meatloaf.
The entire staff here is excellent. We only went here because my bro in law with downs syndrome pointed it out MANY times and wore us down and we are so glad he did! After going once they remembered us and are always glad to see us come in (or out since we mostly sit outside).
If you live in the neighborhood this has got to be the next place you try.
Pretty good food (I had the croque madame which was a bit too cheesy) and the wait staff did a great job of managing our large group. Â We had a large party and sat in the back, so yes, they can accommodate more than four people. Â
It's probably a nice place to sit outside when the temperature is right.
Wow, it's been 2 years since my review, & I've been back to John's numerous times.
I guess I like it a little bit more than I thought!!
Had a cowboy burger the other day; omg so good it prompted me to review my review! And prompted my husband to drag me back the other day just after I ate at hom so he could have company while he got a burger.
The food has definitely gotten better and is more consistent.
The servers are fast without a tinge of attitude.
Case in point:Katie (server) was super cool the other day when just my husband was eating & we had our dogs with us. I could imagine how you could be bummed having only 1 person at your table. If she was she didn't show it; plus brought ice water for the pups without us asking=bonus points.
Good job John's,
Oh in case anyone is wondering, I still wear those track suit pants!
I've tried this place a handful of times only to be dissapointed again and again. Which really sucks because I live down the street. The service is fine its the food that blows.
The burgers are good but thats about it. Literally five different meals I've had here were inedible and Im really not a picky person.
Its also always packed with kids which is great for all the families in Roscoe Village but personally no thank you.
So go for the burgers or skip this place.
I really wanted to like this place...But I just couldn't!  We've walked past it a million times and finally went in a few weeks ago.  It  was a Saturday Morning and wasn't too crowded.  Most people were pushing to be outside but I like me some AC so we were seated right away inside.  And then we sat... and sat... and sat.  Just as we contemplated leaving our waitress arrived...  Two coffees and a Bloody Mary please (I had a rough night the night before!).  Then we sat... and sat... and sat...  "What is she, out picking the beans?  Where's my damn cof... Oh, thanks for the coffee!"
So We finally get our food. Â I ordered the Mexican Hash with two eggs over easy and a side of Bacon. Â It was tasty... it was good! Â The chicken was cut the same size as the potatoes so it was a surprise to your mouth which one you got. Â And the poblano peppers (one of my favorite things to cook with) gave it a nice spiciness. Â I loved the fact that they put the cheese on on the grill. Â Where were little grilled bits of cheese mixed in the all the gooeyness... however... Was was it like 5 bites and then gone! Â I wanted more. Â MORE! Â That portion size was so tiny. Â
My companion got the Chilequiles with chorizo added to it. Â It was a good sized portion... but it wasn't good! Â There was no spice to the chorizo. Â It was just sorta blah! Â I mean... Â blah!! Â The side of bacon, ok... I mean, it is bacon. Â The Bloody Mary... watery with a kick in the end. Â It had no flavor at all. Â I didn't even drink it. Â
So, done eating. Â Plates cleared by the attentive friendly bus men... and we sat... and sat... and sat... Â No waitress. Â Nothing. Â Finally one of the nice bus guys went to get her for us. Â Bad service and food that was not flavorful? Â I think I'll pass on John's Place next time.
Really like this place. Very kid-friendly which is important in Roscoe Village. Good food, nice service. Menu is a bit small, beer/wine somewhat limited but there are very good selections all around. Great place to go to for any meal, knowing that your kids aren't going to bother the other folks because they probably have kids too. If you don't have kids, I'm not sure why you would go here, unless it's aver 8 or so!
Brunch is a great thing, bottomless Mimosas but you have to ask sometimes, I'm not sure if they are on the menu anymore. Nice outdoor seating.
I really want to love this place. Â It's a block from my house, it's cute and you can sit outside. Â However, there's always some sort of issue when I stop in, which is disappointing. Â I'm kind of over it.
I'll do this by do's and don'ts recommendations for when visiting John's. Â
Do: Â Sit outside when it's nice out. Â This needs no explanation.
Don't: Come for an early dinner. Â There are a lot of kids and it's sort of noisy. Â Go later on if you are in a group of adults, so you can enjoy your dinner and have some drinks.
Do: Â Order the burgers. Â They are very tasty and well seasoned. Â Just remember to reiterate how you want it cooked. Â They tend to undercook them. Â Love the buns!
Don't: Â Order the grilled cheese sticks. Â It is a huge disappointment and not worth the money. Â It is literally a grilled cheese you could make at home cut into strips and then that itty bitty little sandwich is paired with a huge bowl of a tomato soup for dipping. Â It makes no sense, is only sort of okay tasting and is definitely not worth $7. Â They are making a killing off your unhappiness if you order this.
Do: Get the sides. Â They are all good. Â I've had the mac n' cheese, fries and salad.
Don't: Â Let the hostess get to you. Â She is lazy, unprofessional and has no idea how to properly seat people, but hey, thankfully you only have to encounter her once (at least the one I keep encountering). Â Just ignore her and sit down and enjoy your meal. Â The servers are great. Â
Do: Come here for brunch. Â I highly recommend the Chiliquiles with chorizo (chorizo is a must) and it was amazing. Â It sounds odd, but it really is so good.
Don't: Â Order take out, the order will almost always be wrong. Â No rice with your fish tacos or no fries with your burger are both possible happenings when you order take out. Â
In general the food is pretty good, aside from the ridiculous grilled cheese sticks, and sometimes undercooked burgers, the servers are good and it's a cute little intimate restaurant inside and nice place to dine outside in beautiful Chicago weather. Â I recommend it. Â Just follow these do's and don'ts and don't expect anything too amazing or you'll be disappointed.
tuff crowd...the food is pretty good, i mean my girlfriend with her vegetarianism is a bitch to satisfy and she swears by their tofu sandwich. Â I haven't exactly been like "God damn" but that never happens, most places have the same take on most other places menus...John's place isn't the exception, it isn't blazing culinary trails but it's worth a date night visit, especially if you have a vegetarian to feed.
Review Source:Comfortable, familiar looks are about the only thing this mediocre place has got going for it. I initially was going to write about how it's fine but boring and derivative, a fine place to just eat and start a day and pay a decent price, but then I remembered that the food was actually not good.
Burger was dry, the brioche bun was the best part, french fries were flavorless. Sweet potato fries were good but not $5 good. Croque madame was overladen and one-note, which is something I generally expect for the sandwich, but the John's chopped salad actually kind of blew. It was like a mush.
However, the place was pretty full, it's been around for almost 20 years, and it was highly recommended to me, so maybe they're just cruising, not feeling any pressure to change.
Whatever. Let people talk up the place, but the food is not good. Maybe I'd eat there again, because it is that comfortable, but I'd just get hummus and hope they didn't make it.
I was here on Sunday for the first time. Â Let me start off with the service - it is terrible. Â Our waiter, Tim, came by us for the first time after probably 10-15 minutes. Â By the time he came to introduce himself, etc., we both already knew what we wanted for our entree. Â We did not see Tim again for about 40-50 minutes, when he brought our bill. Â The bus boys are very good refilling water, but I have never been to a restaurant where the waiter does not come by ONCE to ask how the food is, if we need anything, do we want another mimosa, etc. Â We only saw him to place our order, and then to get our check. Â Needless to say, this did not warrant a normal sized tip in my opinion.
Other than the terrible service, the food was pretty good. Â The pancakes were great, but the mimosas are tiny and the orange juice is really pulp-y. Â There are lots of screaming children there so stay away if you have the slightest hangover. Â We were in the back of the restaurant, in these tables that are awkwardly close to each other so you can't help but overhear other conversations.
I've dined at John's other location (Webster & Racine) several times, but just tried out the Roscoe location over the weekend. Â
The Good:
+ drink specials. Â $4 Svedka drinks - yes please, keep 'em comin'. Â $3.50 beer specials - nice price. Â They always seem to have good drink specials.
+ attentive, friendly service.
+ decent/average prices. Â
$5 big bowl of their 'soup of the day' was a comforting chicken vegetable soup that took me back to my youngin' days when Mom would make huge pots of soup like this. Â
The Meh:
I've experienced a sense of 'blah' when ordering food at John's in the past. Â I've yet to get a dish that really impressed me (other than the soup mentioned above...)
Case in point: goat cheese quesadilla - sounded awesome, looked kind of sad, tasted okay-ish. Â (plain little tortilla folded over on a small plate topped with stale scallions - no sides, no garnish, nuthin'. Â There was a satisfactory amount of goat cheese, mushrooms and spinach inside...)
I'd go back to John's to try other menu items - particularly their breakfast. Â
I've seen a good number of other reviewers mention/complain about lots of kids in these restaurants. Â Yes, there were kids there even during our Friday night meal. Â The place has a 'family restaurant' vibe that must be appealing, and both locations have a lot of younger families living nearby. Â I'm okay with that, as long as parents respect other diners and take responsibility for their children.
The nachos with house made chicken chorizo are addictive. They will make you want them over and over and over again. The other food is good too, but nothing to sing about. The grilled chicken appetizer was alright but the yogurt sauce it came with was honestly bizarre. My husband adores the chili--the full meat one--and it's quite tasty with melty gooey cheese and some sour cream. Not diet food but will make you feel warm and fuzzy.
I've had their salads and several breakfast items and they've all be consistently good. For sure, it's worth a try!
$2 Tacos and $4 Margaritas!!
John's Place is a great little place located in cute little Roscoe Village. Â My friends and I frequent this place and usually have a great time. Â Just beware this place is VERY kid and baby friendly. Â So, you may have to gulp down your margarita's to the tune of screaming babies and a toddler's watchful eye.
Best vegetarian Chili around and love the fish tacos...
Great service, and atmosphere is family friendly, cool hangout Or quiet dining depending on the day. I have to say most of my experience is at brunch or lunch, but I have to assume the quality carries over to dinner hour. Great place in the hood to get a good meal and reasonably priced to boot...
While I still think 3 stars is fair for John's Place for dinner, I think they have a very lovely brunch, hence the 4 stars.
I came here after a nice 3-mile jog on the lake front path, as we wanted to try some place new, so John's Place it was!
They have a wide selection, that include your standard omelette, scrambled eggs, pancakes, etc. They also have some nice Mexican themed choices, such as Chiliquiles and Mexican Hash.
I ordered a bunch of sides, because they didn't have exactly what I wanted, but I was pleasantly satisfied! The chocolate chip pancake was, in a word, awesome. For some reason, I've had a craving lately for chocolate chip pancakes, and any place that has 'em is a winner for me. Also ordered the scrambled eggs, bacon, and multigrain toast. All yummy!
Lastly, the coffee here is super delicious and STRONG. It's intelligentsia coffee and so so good.
We were all really satisfied with our brunch, and I can't wait to come back!
Superdeliciousomgi'mcummingthinkingaboutJohn'ÂsPlace.
Errr...
*rewind*
.ecalPs'nhoJtuobagniknihtgnimmucm'igmosuoiciledrepÂuS
Stage 1: Excitement
"Hey let's go to Village Tap. Â
Oh fantastic! Â 312 is the special today!" Â
*doo doo doo lalala 4 hours pass* Â
Stage 2: Sophistication
"Well, my old chum, let us carouse the beverage aisle of our local grocer...
Alas, what doth my eyes behold? Â Tis true! Â The elixir of the Caribbean hath landed upon these Midwest shores!"
*Buys 1/2 gallon*
*bleee blah blooo 4 more hours pass*
Stage 3: Regret
"heeeeeey... let's fuckin' walk to Blue Stem and see wtf Leftko... Leftky?... Leftko is up tooo."
*Stumble through neighborhood Halloween decorations. Â Show up to Blue Stem wearing stolen Freddy mask and covered in fake cobwebs*
"Hey man, you don't come to my bar and order a pussy martini."
"Leftky,o?, you have no manly martinis on your menu..."
"Ha! Â I made these martinis. Â You will have Berry-martini. Â After two, it will bury you."
"Well, a bartender making the calls on what I drink never steared me wrong before..."
*unknown time elapses*
Stage 4: Next Morning
Surprisingly, or not, the bloody mary from John's Place was a sort of cure-all. Â Not only did my hangover subside, but I got a little bit taller, and I became a baller (oh, don't laugh). Â It had great spice. Â I had some chilaquiles... eggs (whites in my case) mixed with fried tortillas and chihuahua cheese and topped with a tomatillo sauce. Â Delicious. Â My friend has Steak and Eggers... basically a mock eggs benedict with Filet on a slice of brioche (I think...) and topped with poached eggs and covered in some delicious non-hollandaise sauce. Â He said it was quite possible the best breakfast he ever ate. Â I swear.
4 stars because they told my friend that they were out of filet and asked if they could substitute flank steak. Â Yea, he DID say it was quite possibly the best breakfast he ever ate, but the food portions could have been larger too =)
Great food, nonetheless!
Cheeers!
While I"ve enjoyed many plates of chilaquiles at their Lincoln Park location,* this was the first time I visited the Roscoe Village John's Place. We got there pretty late by brunch standards (around 2pm on a Saturday) so we were able to avoid the crowds and lots of small children that frequent John's Place.
The service was speedy and it turns out their chilaquiles are just as tasty as they are in LP. Â Everyone tells me this is the best spot for a family friendly brunch so I have a feeling we'll be there pretty often once our little one arrives.
---------
Lincoln Park location: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/johns-place-chicago">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a>
2.5: Â If only .5 meant round down!
I've been here twice and both times I've walked away fairly disappointed. The first was two years ago, but all I remember was that I told myself never again.
I broke that promise to myself about a month ago.
I had a better experience this second time, but nothing to come back for. I had a garlic chicken dish that was interesting, but lacked the strong flavor tones that make a dish pop. The lunch cost me 15 dollars for the dish and a drink which is definitely not a everyday meal cost I allow myself.
My friend and I agreed that this place is meant for the yuppie mothers that need their wine and "day time drinks" after dropping their kids off at day care or with their Latina nanny.
Like I said not my scene...
Well I have been here only once and that was enough for me to not return. The food was ok for lunch but it was over run by unruly kids with parents/nannies who could careless.
The other day we were looking for a lunch spot to discuss an upcoming trip, as we walked by my boss said...how about this place. My response was for him to feel free but I refused to go in there.
I know people have to make $$$ but I don't have to spend my $$$ and deal with a clientele I could careless for. Oh well.
I'm going to update my 2 to a 3 because I had a pretty good turkey burger there for lunch. Staff is friendly, service was quick, but I'm still not that thrilled about their prices. With tip, it was about $11 for a turkey burger and fries.
The turkey burger was good for a quick fix, but it's not the absolute best I've ever had, and I guess I have pretty high standards. The atmosphere is relaxed and it's an easy place to just pop in for a quick bite to eat. I was disappointed that their fish tacos are considered only a dinner item and are not available at lunch time. At least I know it's always around the corner if I don't want to drive anywhere.
I had lunch there for the first time today. Â I know most people don't give two shakes about vegetarians (which I am one). But this place does. They have plenty of options for meat-eaters. However, they have several options on their menu for us non meat-eaters.
I had a delicious three bean soup and tofu, veggie bowl. It was yummy. And I am grateful that John's Place works so hard to please customers with varying food tastes.
Another Bonus: Â It is located on a lovely street in the Roscoe Village area. They also have outdoor seating -- a PLUS!!
Really like this addition to the Roscoe corridor. Â I LOVE their Huevos Rancheros. Â Everything we've had in our three visits has been delicious, and the service has been consisitently spot on. Â
There are lots of kiddies, but many more of the cute variety, with relatively attentive parents. Â Nothing like the crazies at John's sister location in Lincoln Park.
I was hungry, I had a coupon, and this place is a 60 second walk from my place. Â I really expected this place to be pretty average, earning maybe a 2 or 3 star review. Â I was pleasantly surprised by my lunch! Â I ordered a cup of chili and a salad with apples, candied walnuts, and goat cheese.
The chili was surprisingly fantastic. Â You could tell it was made in house with fresh ingredients. Â It was also super spicy, which I love, and I am often disappointed with the spice level at restaurants like this. Â My salad was also fantastic. Â I was wary that it was goat cheese instead of blue cheese but really was amazingly delicious. Â
Overall I very much liked it. Â What I had was simple food done very well. Â I will be back!
John's is pretty pricey for what you get out of it. But it is in Roscoe Village, where nothing is cheap.
The Burger was quite good, and the service was prompt. Johns has a nice list of Beer and Wine's to try. But after Kuma's, I'm totally ruined for any other Burger joint.
I would walk through Hell in a Gasoline suit for a Kuma's burger.
I never even knew this place existed until last night! And I have ask myself, could it be due to the name of this joint? It certainly doesn't scream "I am a really good restaurant, eat here!"
I went with a large group of friends--this place is small, so you definitely want to make a reservation. Our table ordered a variety of different dishes: Chicken Parm, Chopped Cobb Salad, Teriyaki Salmon, Chicken Pot Pie... all seemed to be pleased with their meals. I especially enjoyed my salmon... and the mashed potatoes! Everything you've heard about the chipotle mashed potatoes is true! OH MY, it was like heaven in my mouth.
Overall, this place didn't WOW me like I've been wowed before, but it certainly has charm, some tasty dishes, and stiff cocktails!
It's time to put your foot down, Roscoe Villagers without children. Â If you do have kids, fine. Â If you take your kids to brunch and they're totally obnoxious and rowdy, fine. Â If you breastfeed your baby while sitting at the bar at John's Place like 2 feet away from my table while I'm eating??? NOT FINE, YUCK!!!!
Aside from the disturbing breastfeeding incident, John's place was great. Â Great service, great food (Breakfast Burrito & John's Burger) and good local diner-ish atmosphere. Â I would recommend it.
Things have picked up considerably... I haven't been back yet, but my weekend walks with Morgan down Roscoe show the bugaboo set and then some have found their way to John's Place!! It's been bustling and the buzz appears to be good... I also hear the service has tightened up after opening-week jitters.
Get over there, grab some grub and save a seat for me!
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