Mary's is classic diner food and there are few things I enjoy more than a good diner. I always get some sort of omelette or egg dish and their hash browns are to die for.
I've met Mary a couple times; she's always working around the restaurant and I think her son works there as well. They're really nice people, so it's a pleasure to return there time after time.
Updating to say Mary messaged me accusing me of taking a picture of the gyro plate half eaten. Sadly they have taken the picture down which just goes to show that they do not want people to decide for themselves when seeing the picture. I have absolutely no reason to lie about my experience.
I even placed a fork there to show the size of the pieces of meat they give. It is so chopped up you can barely pick it up with a fork.
The fact is I placed an order for takeout.
I called them immediately when I got home to let them know this was not a gyro plate and was brushed off by the person answering the phone.
I then took a picture and posted a review to Yelp.
Needless to say I will not return to this establishment. I don't believe the value is there. I can pay $11 elsewhere and get twice the meat and not all chopped up too.
Sadly Mary misses the point of a bad review. Instead of messaging someone and accusing them of not telling the truth, they should take a look at the menu item in question and see how they can improve it.
When travelling I hate to go to a restaurant I can visit at home, so I look for something different. Â In comparison to other eateries in the area this was cheap, still $10 for an omelette is steep and my ham & cheese omelette tasted (and looked) like it was made with cheese whiz or at best velveeta. Still, portions were large, service was prompt and relatively friendly. Not the greatest place in the world, but certainly OK.
Review Source:Homemade soup ~ with everything lunch!!!
This place makes me feel like I'm at home in my Mom's kitchen.
Heavily meat laden sandwiches. Homemade coleslaw.
Delicious plates of food.
Great friendly service.
And I am pretty sure breakfast is always going on here too.
Delicious!
Delightful!
This is one of the first places I found to eat downtown and for me it is a sound standard. When I have a little bit of time and want a good feeling and great tasting experience, this is where I go ...
Swung in on a random Tuesday morning for breakfast with my sister and nephew. I'm a fan of diner types of locations so figured this would be a good bet. Upon entering, we were sat right in the front with a view of the construction going on outside the window. Not sure why they weren't seating in the back away from all that noise, but we decided to just deal with it.
Our server seemed perturbed from the get-go to have a child at her table. She was not very friendly or offer any suggestions in the slightest. We ordered our food - pancakes, eggs, bacon, juice and coffee for two (my nephew just ate off of our plates) and the total for our meal came to $38 before tip. Are you freaking kidding me? For two breakfast meals? It was absolutely insane. The decor was also a bit dingy and the food nothing to write home about.
Maybe they were having an "off" day, but as there are so many options in Chicago, we will not be back.
I have been walking past this cafe for years but I keep forgetting about this place when I'm looking to go out for lunch. Â The decor is a bit dated. Â Paneling walls and the tables are small and uneven.
The other day, I purposely went here for lunch. Â I really wanted to like it. Â
I went after 1pm so the restaurant was pretty empty so I was seated right away. Â The waitress was attentive and nice. Â
I had ordered the French Toast special  which included two full slices of french toast, side order of bacon and eggs.  The order was given to me in appropriate timing.  I was surprised that everything came on one plate instead of two plates.  I'm really not a fan of syrup mixing with my eggs.  Not the end of the world.
I was surprised on the mixture of silverware. Â The fork was so different from the knife and spoon. Â I hope the fork was clean since it looked like that dry soapy film.
The meal itself was okay - nothing memorable. Â Both the eggs and the french toast were missing something - just blah.
I may try this restaurant again but there are so many great restaurants in the Streeterville area.
When we first moved into the neighborhood, we were excited to go to Mary's because we thought it would make a good neighborhood diner.
We were wrong. The decor and the menu is right, but the pricing and service scream tourist trap.
If I want to pay $10 for a plate of eggs I'll go to a trendy brunch place where I can at least day drink.
Only came by because I was in the neighborhood. Â Should have gone to Potbelly's or something. Â This place has put me off ordering reubens in restaurants. Â While the corned beef was lean and plentiful, it was VERY salty. Â The kraut was charred. Â Not just hot, as it should be, but CHARRED. Â I think there was some Swiss cheese on it, but it had no flavor. Â And the dressing? Â Not on the sandwich, but on the side. Â In a packet. Â And it was Thousand Island. Â I had to open it up to see how bad it was. Â It was brown. Â BROWN. Â
The only reason this place gets 2 stars is because the fries and coffee were good, and the service was attentive. Â But no, I won't be back.
Yeah, it could be cheaper, but hell, they gotta pay the rent. I'm ok with paying a couple dollars extra to keep places like this alive.
Had the spinach-feta omelet for lunch and it hit the spot. Mostly breakfast items, but they also have sandwich specials and a respectable lunch menu.
The service was excellent. Coffee and water refills, attentive but not not too much. Good stuff.
What comes to mind when you mention downtown Chicago? Â The Mag Mile, Sears Tower, Macy's, State Street Shopping, theaters and fine dining. Â
Imagine my surprise when spending a few days in the Windy City and I found this small diner called Mary's Cafe. Â It is the exact place I look for in a breakfast establishment...a small family run business with old fashioned home cooking. Â
I was seated promptly and my coffee was a perfect blend to start the day.  The waiter was  a college kid, but nice, polite and taught a lesson or two in customer service and manners.   A trait I think is slowly dying off.   Â
I ordered the breakfast combo that included two scrambled eggs, sausage, english muffin, and American fries. Â Â The eggs came out scrambled and fluffy...the waiter shared their secret with me, but I had to swear not to tell. Â Â The sausage had great flavor, and American fries were true sliced potatoes. Â Â
After my meal, my waiter even offered to fill up my coffee mug I had walked from the hotel with for the trip back. Â Â He earned a double tip for the exceptional service he provided.
As I paid my bill, everyone working wished me a good day and hoped to see me back. Â Again, AAA+ on the customer service. Â Â I can't wait to go back again.
Finally! Every city has a tiny breakfast place tucked away on a side street with Formica table tops, tasty food, and run by a woman named Mary. They are genuinely good places to eat.
It's taken me 9 months of trudging through downtown's horde of manufactured breakfast franchises to find Mary's Cafe and I am quite pleased at the discovery. Here's what I really like about the place.
1) Raisin Toast - Real diners have raisin toast ... good raisin toast with lots of raisins.
2) Good Food Choices - You can get the "Stack" which adds biscuits and gravy on top of the normal skillet ... or you can choose an omelet with asparagus and cheddar. In this case, "Diner" does not mean narrow menu choices. Everything I had was quite tasty and generously portioned.
3) Diner Friendly - There really is a Mary. The crowd was light on the Thursday morning I first visited, and service was chipper and prompt.
It's a smallish place so you might want to be patient during a rush. If you're looking for that bright and shiny breakfast experience you might be better off somewhere else. However, if you're inclined toward real people and real food ... head on down the stairs from Michigan Avenue and join  the other regulars.
We made a short trip to Chicago for Easter weekend and found Mary's Cafe on our way back to the hotel. Â Breakfast Saturday was perfect, loved the service and the meal, not to mention the coffee. Â Breakfast Sunday was even better, we mentioned to George that we loved the coffee and he gave us a pack to take home. Â
When we return to Chicago we will pick a hotel in proximity of Mary's so that we can stroll over for breakfast each morning.
Just a perfect!
Over-priced, uninspired, diner food. Denny's or IHOP is better...
Go to Yolk or West Egg instead.
We had the skillets here, I specifically had the 'stack' which they forgot to add their sausage gravy to, so I had to ask. It was dry, and had what looked like Kraft singles or worse on it. The other skillet thing was just as mediocre. It was fine and filled us up but for the 2 skillets, oj and chocolate milk we paid $40 after tip.
This is why Yelp needs 1/2 star ratings. Â It's a little more than a 2, but definitely not a 3. Â However, the service was great, so that's why I bumped it up.
My friend and I ate lunch here on a blustery fall day. Â We were greeted with a smile and seated promptly. Â We were like the only ones here, so maybe they were happy that we stopped in. Â Anyway, I ordered the reuben and my friend ordered a ham-cheese. Â That was probably in my Top 3 Reuben sandwiches, I'm so glad I went with the recommendation from our waitress. Â My friend's ham-cheese, was barely average :- Â Oh well, but what was weird was that our friends, at first bite seemed good and seasoned until we realized that they had been cooked with practically everything else INCLUDING FISH!!! Â I don't have a fish allergy, but I have friends who do, that is a definite NO NO.
Our meal came with chicken soup and it was actually quite tasty. Â The chicken tasted like it was from a Rotisserie.
All in all quick decent food, (get the Reuben), skip the fries and bring cash.
THIS RESTAURANT IS CASH ONLY!! Â We had no warning since there was a lack of any kind of sign saying "CASH ONLY". Â I would have given this place 4 stars but cash only warrants 3 stars. Â Honestly, in downtown near the hotels, what restaurant doesn't take credit card these days??
It was our last morning in Chicago and we wanted something quick and filling. Â We had tried West Egg the previous day (what a disappointment) so we wanted to try something else. Â Luckily, this place was only a block away from our hotel. Â Since it was Monday, the place was pretty much dead. Â We were seated immediately and given menus. Â Not a very large menu but had some good options. Â I went for the french toast with two eggs and bacon, and bf had eggs/sausage/hash brown/toast.
The food came out really quickly which was a nice surprise. Â Maybe I was starving but the french toast was really really good. Â Bf agreed and kept stealing bites off my plate. Â The hash browns were good and the eggs were cooked perfectly (his were over easy, mine were over meadium). Â The prices are definitely what you'd expect for a small, unassuming place like Mary's. Â I loved our waitress.. she was soooo nice and happy and polite!
Overall, a good place to have our last breakfast on our way out of Chicago.
We live down the street and had never been here. Â We always walked right by and decided that today would be the day to try Mary's out. Please note that they are cash only, but do have a cash station inside.
It initially seemed like there were a lot of people and that the wait was going to be long. Â To our surprise we were seated right away near the front at a 2 top and we noticed that the restaurant went further back - ample seating in the long room beyond the front.
We sat down and ordered the fresh squeezed OJ and water which was fine. Their menu is simple - very much like Denny's. We both opted for breakfast. Â I had the Chicken Fajita Skillet and my BF had The stack.
They messed up my order so it took about 30 minutes to get our food. Â The food tasted fine - nothing to complain about or write home about. Our bill was 30.55 plus tip for breakfast.
The server was nice and the atmosphere friendly. Â There seemed to be a lot of tourists from nearby hotels or people on their way to Navy Pier.
Again - Â average. Â I prefer Nookies in Old Town or even West Egg, which is down the street.
Hard to imagine a place that has something to top the Tempo skillet, but Mary's has an entire list of their own skillets whose descriptions sound like heart attacks packaged on a circular platter.
I'd walked by here a few times before but dismissed it as a shack (seems to happen frequently with me). Â I opted to save my heart attack for a rainy day and ordered a French Dip, which was offered with fries and a soup of the day. Â I opted for the french onion soup, which looked diluted but tasted just fine. Â The sandwich itself probably could have used a better roll, but was good, and the fries tasted almost beer battered, definitely slightly breaded and deliciously unhealthy.
Mary's probably deserves 3 stars for food, but they get an extra 1 from me as the service from all of the staff from our waitress to the cooks in the kitchen area and the cashier was truly friendly and made me feel at home.
Wow, can't believe the mixed reviews I see here. Â I first have to say I've never had lunch here so can't comment on that. Â But for a downhome, no frills, breakfast? Love it. Â Their biscuits and gravy by the way are great.
And Mary. Â Oh Mary. How do I love thee? Â Let me count the ways.
1. Thy personality floweth over
2. My belly doest grumble when I think of thee
3. Perfection is the name of your eggs on the side of sunny
4. You care not for pretention and the snobbery it imbues
5. You hasheth the browns perfectly
6. The biscuits which home hath made, snuggle against the breast of yon gravy and provide comfort to weary travelers
7. The winches of which you employ have stolen mine heart from me
8. You doeth protest too much when that American called Express seeks to ply its wares
9. Scribes of the news flock to imbibe upon your goods so as to provide inspiration
10. You steal the toast from the french, and make of it more
Arise fair Mary, and kill these envious buffoons. Â It is breakfast, and you are the sun.
What Happened Mary!!??? Â This place was sooooo good. Â Three years ago. Â
I used to go to Mary's Cafe regularly with some friends for Breakfast on Sunday. Â After a while we decided to switch things up, and I hadn't been back since the Chicago smoking ban passed in 2005. Â
I thought of Mary's when a friend of mine was in town last month for the AWP. Â I know he likes French Toast, and I remembered that Mary's had the best French Toast (and breakfast for that matter) downtown for the price.
Boy did I make a big mistake. Â First, the place was so crowded that we were rushed in and out like cattle. Â Second, the service was spotty at best. Â My friend asked for an extra slice of French Toast and was told that wouldn't be a problem. Â The extra piece never materialized. Â When we asked the server why he said, "I guess the kitchen couldn't do it." Â Say what? Â I'm paying for this breakfast, I should get what I want. Â Within reason, of course. Â And I think that one extra piece of French Toast is pretty freakin' reasonable. Â Then, to add to this comedy of errors, he spilled my friend's OJ all over the table. Â I know you're rushed dude, but try a little harder to act like you care.
Third, and this is the unforgiveable part, the food was cold. Â I ordered pancakes and they were like icycles. Â Yum, cold syrup on pancycles. Â
And finally, the price. Â $37 for this tragicomic experience. Â I know inflation is a fact of life, but since when does a breakfast item jump up to two or three times what it cost three years ago. Â
One reviewer mentioned that it is still a good deal for downtown and with the loss of the Cambridge House it is one of the few breakfast joynts left in Streeterville. Â But that's no excuse for the travesty this place has become. Â
A final observation and I'll end my rant/review, the glasses and plates are hideous and old. Â They are the same ones I remember from three/four years ago. Â One actually cracked in half after our waiter poured coffee into it. Â Since they renovated the interior a few years ago, you think they'd spring for new dishes. Â Yeesh. Â
Oh well, at least I have the memories of what this place used to be like. Â If you're downtown, travel a little and go to Orange in the South Loop instead. Â
John
Located just east of Michigan Avenue, we stopped in after a couple hours of shopping to get a cheap meal and rest our feet for awhile.
The staff was very friendly. We sat and read the newspaper and relaxed for a good 45 minutes after we were done eating our meal and the waitress kept bringing back coffee refills. They had some of the best customer service that I have seen in a long time.
The food was cheap, but wasn't all that good. We split french toast, pancakes hash browns and an omelet. The french toast was the only thing that was good. But with that said, it isn't like the food was bad, just very ordinary.
Also, I though the coffee was overpriced at $3.25 for a cup, although I got about 4 refills, maybe they charge extra for the refills.
I'm used to overpriced breakfasts at Orange or the Bongo Room. Â You're supposed to pay 12 bucks for an omelette at a joint like that because they use free-range ham that was raised on only tofu or something else fancy.
Mary's wants 12 bucks because she's one of the only joints nearby, and can really target the morning crowds. Â Every lunch sandwich or entree costs less than breakfast skillets or egg dishes...and that don't make no sense to me.
One thing that is so good because it'll kill you is The Stack. Â It's a layered death trap of delicious breakfast eats that puts any Grand Slam to shame. Â Hash browns, biscuits, sausage patties, cheese, eggs, and then about a half-gallon of sausage gravy. Â At least I feel like I'm getting my money's worth with this monster.
THIS is the best someone could open up for the Streeterville neighborhood--a place that looks like a truck stop? Â This "cafe" (and they should use that word very carefully) isn't all that old, so why does it look and feel like a cheap diner? Â The waitresses were super friendly, but the cheap ceramic coffee mugs and tiny water glasses bring this place down...way down. Â As for the food: no better than IHOP on a bad day, and even IHOP's portions are larger for the same amount of money. Â I'm all about supporting neighborhood stores, but if Denny's or IHOP opened in this neighborhood, greasy spoons like this would be put out of their misery.
$11 for a "Hobo skillet"? Â That isn't a hobo price--more like a "let's rip off the tourists from nearby hotels" price. Â Since when did dives suddenly become so expensive? Â Breakfast at a restaurant like this shouldn't cost more than $7, but there's not one egg dish for less than $8. Â An average breakfast here, with drink, tax and tip, will run you at least $15. Â And they don't accept American Express.
Nice and cozy; kind of dive-y - just my style.
I went here with my parents during the day of the July 3rd fireworks. Â We originally wanted go to West Egg cafe - but they had a 45 min wait. Â So we ventured off to Plan B - Mary's Cafe. Â
We were seated within 2 minutes. Â The service is excellent, the food was awesome - big portions - decent pricing. Â I loaded up on the "The Stack" which is "a heap of hash browns on the bottom, (2) biscuits on top, sausage patties, american cheese on top of that, with (2) eggs, any style and on top of that, lots and lots or our sausage gravy". Â It was sensational! Â
I'm taking my friends here as a cheaper alternative to other breakfast places downtown. Â I believe they are cash only - but I could be wrong.
When you see a greasy spoon surviving in the midst of the tall buildings there is an assumption that it is because there is gloriously good basic food that is guaranteed to clog the arteries and cure an hangover.
Instead what I got was a crowded little dive that had minimal charm, an incompetent and frazzled staff (who was not very friendly) and shite food. Â The portions were small and the food was overpriced. Â This is not the place to go. Â It is sad when a hotel breakfast buffet looks like a good deal with great food.
I had high hopes for this little diner hidden in the middle of corporate chain restaurant Chicago.
Well, I had the corned beef hash ( I would rename that to Canned Beef hash) it was very greasy and not at all appetizing. Â Their Rye toast was great and our waitress was attentive and always on hand with the coffee.
Needless to say, I did not go back. Great service is not enough to overcome underwhelming food.
Arnab M and I came here for brunch after reading the relatively good reviews on Yelp. I must say, however, that I was very disappointed. The food was mediocre. I ordered the Belgian waffle, with strawberries and a side of bacon: the waffle was okay, but the strawberries weren't fresh, and the bacon was very greasy. Not terrible but really not great at all. Kudos, however, for serving freshly squeezed OJ. The atmosphere isn't particularly fun either: very basic diner, a little dingy and dark. The only thing that saves it is the service: our waitress, whose name I wish I could remember, was extremely friendly. But I probably won't be back.
Review Source:I'll have to agree with David S. on this one, because my egg-white omelet was sub-par, the lemonade was MinuteMaid and  it just didn't leave a lasting impression. The only saving grace was our sweetheart of our waitress but if I saw her at a party, her sugary sweet demeanor would have driven me nuts.
Review Source:We went into Mary's Cafe just to get a snack. We were only in Chicago for 36 hours. Our one main meal was going to be deep dish
pizza a couple of hours later. Period. I saw that they had biscuits and gravy on the menu. (If you have read my review of Snug Harbor you know that I love biscuits and gravy.) The waiter, who was very nice, boasted that they had the best. Normally I would order them with complete abonden, but I knew if I really liked them that I would forsake stomach space allotted for deepdish.I ended up leaving Chicago without trying deepdish. The biscuits were fluffy and fresh and the peppery, sausage gravy was flavorful and succulent. The reason I gave it a four is because the other items we had were good but nothing spectacular.Very good service.
We aksed a cabbie for a breakfast recommendation close by. Â "Mary's. Â A good greasy spoon".
I had lower expectations, but it was recommended, so we ventured in. Â Typical looking place -- counter seating, lots of seats. Â The service was so much more than I expected. Â The host was very friendly, our server was very gracious, and dare I say good looking as well. Â Heck, even the bus boy was super nice. Â I walked in expecting to get a "Kiss My Grits", and instead I got in a soothing voice, "Let me get you some more coffee. Â Are you enjoying everything so far?". Â Definitely a welcome surprise.
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