I was at work one day and told a coworker that I really wanted to try something new in Hyde Park, she quickly suggested that I give Litehouse a try. I googled them and saw that the menu had an abundance of items to choose from and eagerly called to place a to go order. I ordered a salmon wrap and my coworker ordered a chicken ceasar wrap. I was told on the phone that it would take about twenty minutes for the order to be ready, I decided to give them an additional ten and arrived at the restaurant about 30 minutes later.
I got there and waited for a few minutes before I was told that I was standing in the wrong place and needed to come to another area to check out (there were maybe 2 patrons sitting down and about three employees behind the counter). I got to the register, told the woman that I was picking up a takeout order. She handed over ONE wrap and stated that they didn't have the salmon wrap. I told her that my lunch break was only 30 minutes and she proceeded to make my salmon wrap....no apology given, no reason behind why it wasn't made...nothing. I paid for my food and left annoyed. I got back to my job and the wrap was so delish that it made me forget how upset I was.
The very next week, I decided to give them another chance...called ahead yet again and placed my order. This time I was told it would be about twenty minutes, I again gave them an additional ten minutes and went to pick up my food. I got to the restaurant and waited five minutes before anyone came to ask me for help. I was then told that they had not started making my food and could start making it now. I was so pissed off that I walked out and didn't wait.
This place has the potential to be one of the best food spots in Hyde Park and serves as a healthy alternative for lunch. However, I refuse to sew money into businesses that can't provide good customer service. As much as I want to support black owned businesses in Chicago...this one has got to step their game up or it will definitely fail. If the management is reading this, I will gladly write a rebuttal to this statement if you all fix these issues. Other reviewers clearly feel the same way!
First try, ordered a burrito and tacos to go. 30 min into the wait (yep!), I was told they wanted to make the tuna fresh for the tacos, as what they had available was not, asked if I wanted a substitute or to wait another 5min? Should have left then.
After a 45min wait, I pay and pick up. I tell them (after knowing the person in front of me grumbled about the wait... Mind you, only 4 people in front of me...) "Are you aware I've been waiting for 45min?" Their response, "Sorry, we've been swamped and we have to make the orders as they come, so we had to do those in front of you first."
No free drink, no "have these fries on us (super cheap), no discount, no warning up front of, "We're running a little behind, just so you know..."
Tacos were dry, didn't seem to have any of the salsa I ordered, burrito was ok.
Okay. The food is fresh and quite delicious.
But no restaurant that primarily serves things like burritos and salads (from pre-prepared ingredients) is justified in making a very patient lady in front of me with a baby in her arms wait 45 mins as she paces around trying to keep herself and her baby comfortable when the restaurant is practically empty with nobody seated and a few scattered people waiting for takeouts.
As for my experience, it took me about 5 mins of standing around the counter before anyone addressed me. I ordered a salad, was told that there were only 2 orders in front of me and that my wait would be maximum 10 mins, and waited 25 mins as the staff apologized for the delay and kept on telling me just 3~5 mins more while going about their work in a extremely lax and indifferent attitude that took them 20 minutes manufacturing 2 burritos in my sight before they got to my order. How it's even possible for them to be so slow, I have no idea.
But the food is actually pretty decently good, and I am generally good at waiting without getting annoyed, so I'm giving the place 3 stars. if you don't like waiting, don't go to this place.
This restaurant is a complete let down. Â Maybe the worse food let down in my entire culinary experience. This is how it all started.
After months of waiting for this place to open, my first meal - The Santa Fe Bowl was without a doubt the worse meal I ever purchased! Hands down!!!!!
The anatomy of the Santa Fe Bowl:
1. The rice was mushy from being cooked to death.
2. A Medley of damp and leftover vegetables.
3. Swimming in a gross liquid that made this dish resemble a Mexican inspired stew.
4. The steak was hard as a ROCK- literally.
The All Natural Chicken Nuggets for my 4 year old.
1. Chicken nuggets ( actually a thickly breaded chicken strip ) was over cooked. Hard.
2. The waffle fries were so greasy they had to be dabbed with a paper towel.
3. The grease was obviously old, it tasted  like its NEVER been changed.
I called and beat around the bush and contemplated complaining - but it dawned on me that this in the DNA of the entire place and nothing could fix this - not even a refund. So I decide to warn you instead - and let them keep the $14.00 and the food. Â But you can bet that I will never return and I will tell everyone I know ( plus you) to beware.
The atmosphere:
Sort of nice with the exposed brick walls and pendulum lights in the window, however, at closer view it is very sparsely decorated. Â A few posters here and there. Â A lighted "LOVE" sign. A few tables.
The main thing that I missed was the fact that it was completely empty. A tell-tell sign of a problem. Â A few people came in while I waited almost 20 minutes for my take-out, but it remained mostly empty even at 8:00pm Tuesday. The restaurant next door was packed..... hum I wonder why?...
The staff:
---- Restaurant Owners: TRUST THEN VERIFY YOUR EMPLOYEES. Â
The three men gently berated each other. Â Mostly Bickering. The chef made sure the cashier knew that he "...was the CHEF!". I was thinking, "What did I walk in on." Â Every employee there was clearly overpaid slackers that were hired as a good will gesture and not because they want the job. Â
These guys did not feel like they cared about the food, organic culture, vegan food, or the business in general.
The music they were *blasting* was nice.
Overall:
My first visit was on a Saturday at 3:00pm and it was closed and a dance class had taking over the dining space. REALLY a dance class in a restaurant. Â I guess its a religious thing or something - but this is not typical. I decide to give them a second look and was disappointed.
So every aspect of this poorly run business needs help.  The vibe could be awesome and admittedly a  much needed addition to the neighborhood.
This place is a total disappointment and I fully hope that it changes or becomes what I believe it could be.
Â
Thank you Yelp for this powerful platform.
Litehouse is definitely my new favorite place in Hyde Park! The food is delicious, healthy, and well-priced. Everything I have ordered here has far exceeded my expectations.
As some other reviewers have mentioned, the ambience in Litehouse can leave something to be desired. However, Litehouse isn't trying to be a fancy sit-down type of place. What it attempts, it does well, and it nails the healthy fast-casual niche.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. They will go out of their way to help. For example, the restaurant usually stops delivering at 10PM. However, the staff was kind enough to make an exception and run over a quick delivery. I will definitely be returning soon and often!
I had the salmon tacos, the fish was cooked well, it was nice and moist, I like flour tortillas better than corn so i will have to ask next time if they have flour and they wrap the tacos in two of them which is not really needed, i ended up throwing three shells away other than the shell situation they were good, they have a good list of toppings but im a simple girl grilled veggies sour cream and cheese, they let me get the black beans on the side which i appreciate cause i wasnt sure how they would taste on the tacos. I would go back again and try other menu items
Review Source:Loved this place, I will be back over and over! I wanted something healthy with flavor! I created my own healthy salad, which was big enough to use as two meals. I walked in right when they opened, the workers were very helpful, went over the menu with me and gave me some suggestions! Can't wait to come back!!
Review Source:Great variety! I went here for the first time and didn't know what to order. I ended up getting the turkey and tacos and they were delicious. I was disappointed that it took over a half hour. If not for that, I would have rated it five stars. It wasn't even that crowded. I will definitely be back.
Review Source:Hyde Park really needed a place like this! I went for the first time today and it was so yummy! I was especially excited by the fact that they are reasonably priced and have fried green tomatoes. The decor is really nice as well. Can't wait to go back!
I found the staff to be extremely friendly, attentive and helpful. I thought the atmosphere was nice as well. There are not that many chairs, but this isn't supposed to be a sit down restaurant. It is more fast-casual (chipotle-ish).
The only thing that I would like to see from this restaurant is that they start to deliver. They would definitely get a lot more business if they did!
Wow. Â I must have gone to Litehouse on the wrong day. Â
As a recovering raw vegan, trust me when I tell you how I excited I was to finally have relatively inexpensive, made fresh, vegetarian and vegan options in Hyde Park. Â
Think about it: I had been fantasizing for weeks (months?) while walking along 53rd about what this restaurant would be like.
Free range? Â Check. Â
Organic produce? Check. Â
No more excursions to the Chicago Diner. Â No more quick bus rides to Native Foods. Â My life was about to change for the better. Â I was going to be able to *walk* to a fast food restaurant that served something worthy of the term "food."
Much to my dismay, I never even got to the food. Â What do you mean? you ask. Â Well, just what I said.
I walked in. Â The place was almost empty. Â (I can't recall if there were any customers already seated). There were three staff members--one at the cash register, two behind the counter working, presumably, with the food. Â I stood no more than 10 feet away from them.
Two customers, who were ordering together, were chatting with the gentleman at the cash register. Â And chatting. Â Â And chatting. Â And chatting.
And tasting sauces. Â And asking questions. Â And revising their order. Â
Not one of the three employees greeted me. Not one of the employees looked at me. Â Not one of the employees even asked me if I was placing an order, picking up an order, or dining in. Â I was ignored. Â
I waited and waited. Â I shifted my feet. I contemplated life, the Chicago Diner, and Native Foods. Â Suddenly a pre-prepared, grab-and-go sandwich (or other tasty concoction) from Bonne Sante didn't sound so bad.
And so I turned around and left. Â
This kind of customer service will not go over very well for those of us who *really* want to:
1. Â seek out and purchase organic/vegan produce/options
2. Â engage in the farm-to-table movement
and, perhaps most importantly, regarding Litehouse
3. Â support local establishments. Â
While there may, indeed, be a dearth of organic, fresh-made, fast-food options in Hyde Park, we will continue to survive in much the same way we did prior to Litehouse Whole Food's existence. Â Chicago's farm-to-table movement has acquired tremendous support recently, and those of us who align ourselves with this movement will simply have to continue biking, taking public transit, and carpooling to the local establishments whose values and customer service practices meet our expectations. Â
What is particularly disappointing is Litehouse's unfulfilled potential. Â This would have been the PERFECT place to introduce skeptics/newbies to the wonderful world of organic foods, all the while said skeptics/newbies could *walk* to the restaurant, thereby rendering them excuse-less when it comes to engaging in the farm-to-table movement and making proactive and progressive choices regarding their health, the system of food production and consumption, and the general welfare of the community and the farmers who feed us.
Love this spot. Â Especially for carryout. Â Try the steak fiesta bowl, or the salmon caesar salad, I also enjoy the tacos. Â So great to have organic, free-range, cage-free meats with gluten-free choices in Hyde Park. Â They even have soy cheese! Â If they'd only include a gluten-free pizza crust for their flatbreads I'd be in heaven. Â So excited to have this restaurant at my finger tips.
Review Source:This place serves really good food. Â Not the best food in the world, but really good, fresh food. Â And, if you carry it out, you'll probably really enjoy this place. Â Be warned about eating in the restaurant, though. Â This is not a pleasant experience. Â We have dined here twice (thinking the first time might have been a fluke.) Â There are only about 5 or 6 tables, and two of them are filled with children (presumably the owners'). Â These kids are bored and understandably so. Â The result is that they run around the fairly small establishment and squeal loudly, as kids are bound to do. Â This is fine, if you're home, or running a daycare center. Â But, when people are trying to enjoy a meal, it's not the ambiance you're looking for. Â Tonight, there were at least seven marginally supervised children. Â My husband couldn't even use the washroom, as the kids kept running in and out. Â The other reviewer who mentioned a kid listening to an iPad loudly? Â I'm assuming this was the same type of thing. Â These folks have a great idea for a restaurant that could do really well. Â But, they need to decide whether they are serious about it, or just want a place for their family to hang out together. Â We may order food to carry out in the future - as I say, the food is good. Â But, we will not dine in anymore. Â P.S. Â The mushroom bisque is exceptional.
Review Source:Oh my lord: tasty vegetarian dishes in Hyde Park. As in: no more lame side salads or the obligatory "look, we have one veggie option, so shut up and eat it." Calling all veggies and vegans: this place offers multiple fresh, healthy, tasty options. The jerk tofu had a nice subtle heat (disclaimer: I breathe fire, so it may not be subtle to others) with just enough veggies to balance the protein. The ground soy burrito was true to form and super-satisfying. Sure, the service is still working out the kinks, but everyone was extremely friendly, and we will definitely make this a go-to place. Plus, you can get all the toppings you want for free on your meals, and the pizzas are made with garlic naan? Consider me a major fan.
Review Source:The Staff was very welcoming , in fact we were greeted twice!! Very family centric atmosphere. My brother and i both ordered the fire blazed blackened salmon bowl (tasty), we both agreed we should have opt'd out of the spanish rice though and created our own bowl. My brother ordered Fish tacos and said they were just ok, the shell split as soon as he picked it up. I orderd fried green tomatoes and they looked delicious but lacked in seasoning..i ended up soaking them with hot sauce. I will try again though.
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