I've had their breakfast and coffee a few times, and in short, they suck. Â No flavor, over priced, and small quantity.
On the other hand, I think they rock for lunch! Â Overall, they are higher priced than your regular sandwich, soup, etc restaurant, but for the most part, they are delicious! Â I haven't tried their salad yet but I heard several great things. Â I tried their pizzas couple of times few years ago, and it was good, and it would have been better for another $3-5 cheaper. Â My crush with with them are the sandwiches which I totally enjoy, and I like it how you can order half instead of a whole sandwich. Â Their antipasti are also great
During the warmer months they set a few tables outside towards the lower level of the AON Center, which is nice.
Despite living in Chicago for 25 years, I had never felt compelled to visit Sopraffina until a friend insisted I try it with her. Â So I did. Â I learn quickly. Â Never again.
I ordered one of their panini and a cup of soup (cheddar broccoli). Â The soup managed to have no flavor whatsoever, despite lots of calories; truly a waste.
The real disappointment was the panino. Â A panino is essentially a GRILLED cheese sandwich, usually with other ingredients added in. Â What I was served had never seen a grill, and since it was tepid rather than cold, I'm guessing it was microwaved VERY briefly. Â ICK! Â
Wasted money, calories and time. Â How do they stay in business?
Never had a bad meal! I order catering from here all of the time for work, and I can't complain. Service is SO friendly, and the food comes the same way every time, which is a good thing. They always make do with our last minute requests and still manage to arrive early. My boss usually orders the sandwich builder and cookies...and one of my job perks is taking home the leftovers. My coworker and I finally went to eat inside of the restaurant, and I got the mushroom soup and BLT salad, both of which were too big of portions to finish in one meal, but good enough to polish off later that day. I highly recommend this location for catering and/or a solid lunch break.
Review Source:I only now discovered the calorie counts in the sandwiches I've been eating from Sopraffina. Oy. Half sandwiches from here on.
They are fairly tasty tho and the staff get you in and out fast. Americanized "Italian" deli and cafe type foods. Decent if you work in the building, but not worth seeking out otherwise. Not prohibitively expensive but not cheap either.
This place is great in terms of convenience and heart attacks. Â Let me explain...
Convenience: Â This particular one is located in the Aon Building so it makes it especially easy for people with busy schedules. Â Even though it draws a crowd at lunch time, the lines are not too bad. Â The food itself doesn't taste bad either. Â I'm not Italian, so I can't make claims about its authenticity, but it taste very American to me. Â The pizzas are pretty miserable though. The rest of the foods are okay.
Heart Attacks: Â If you really want to know more, check out their nutritional information (published on their website). Â It will make your heart stop before you even take a bite. Â I recently bought the Caprese thinking it was going to be healthy since it's vegetarian. Â WRONG! Â 1018 calories in this coma-inducing crapwich. Â In fact, all their sandwiches besides two are over 1000 calories. Â That's just nuts!! Â That's more than a DOUBLE Whopper with cheese! Â Just drink oil from a can if you're this eager to clog your arteries.
All-in-all, if you're in the vicinity, try Au Bon Pain, WildBerry, the Aon cafeteria, or even Jimmy Johns if you're desperate. Â Skip Sopraffina. Â You'll live longer.
Situated on the lower level of the Aon Center, Sopraffina is accessible from the plaza level itself on the south of the building (with outdoor seating), the building lobby, and/or the pedway. Everything I've tried here for lunch (mostly the sandwiches) has been delicious.
They aren't "light", so go for the half order if you're watching what you eat, or your wallet -- they're not cheap either, but you're get what you pay for: excellent sandwiches, served by a restaurant trying their hardest to be sustainable. They're leading the way among Chicago restaurants trying to "go green".
This places makes everyday I go into work, a better one!
My morning routine includes hopping in here and grabbing a sesame bagel and a glass of their hazelnut coffee. Both of these treats make me over the top happy! Their sesame bagel is pure perfection. I can tell it is baked freshly. Â (However, I think other people are on to this treat because it is often sold out! SAD!) Â And don't even get me started on their hazelnut coffee. It blows dunkin donuts out of the water. It is also perfection!
Breakfast is not the only thing this joint is good at. They also make a yummy little pizza that goes on sale for half off after 3pm. Â
So yes, some days there are 2 charges from Sopraffina on my credit card but it is money well spent!
This place was always one of my favorite spots to lunch when I worked downtown. And recently, I had the opportunity to return with the lovely Judy B. to re-visit what is essentially a refuge from the usual turmoil of the Loop. You walk a couple blocks east of Michigan Ave, and descend to this lovely sunken plaza at the Aon building. Besides the restaurant's seating, there is plaza seating, a waterfall, and today, live entertainment too. A host caught us as we walked in looking lost, I'm sure and directed us to everything we needed. A most charming and enthusiastic host was he. I asked if they still had the salad trio choice, and they do. I always liked that option of three different salads for $8-9.00, the thin crust pizzas (you can buy 1/2 for lunch) and the lasagna, which was not on today's menu.
As it turned out, we both chose the salad trio and a drink. Comes with a small tomato bread on the side. I have never had anything but the three aforementioned dishes, but there are also panini, salads, and daily pasta specials. Plenty of seating. Lines are not bad. We had no trouble finding seating outdoors at the prime lunch hour. It's always good to take your meal as takeout if you want to sit in the general plaza. Otherwise, you can get a tray and have real plates and silverware, which you can leave on your table when you finish. Staff is always helpful. Food has always been fresh and reliable, in my experience. Great spot for outdoor Loop dining and indoors, too, when it's not so nice outside. Prices perhaps a little higher, but portions are ample and satisfying.
Sopraffina is my usual lunch spot as it has decent portions for the price. Â I am not a big eater and hate to stuff myself at lunch so I appreciate the fact that Sopraffina offers half sandwiches or half pizzas.
This location also has comfortable outdoor seating by a waterfall outside the lower level of the Aon building and away from the cars and pedestrian at street level. There's also plenty of seating unlike the Dearborn location.
Tip: for those of you who can never escape your desk at lunch time - half price pizza and pasta after 3pm.
Breakfast is a total rip-off - $4.35 for dried out scrambled eggs and 2 (only 2!) pieces of scrawny, shriveled up bacon.
Lunch is beter if you go with the salads and soups. Service is average as are prices.
Not much else to say. It's not something to go out of the way for. Except for breakfast - go out of your way to go elsewhere.
This place is great for people with no taste who are looking to die of a heart attack. Â Sopraffina is as Italian as Andrew Dice Clay. Â If you can't boil pasta correctly, it's time to throw in the towel. Â My office had a lunch catered by this place today and the penne felt and tasted like rubber. Â It was inedible. Â The side salad had more shredded cheese than vegetables. Â All in all, the whole thing was a disaster and I needed to buy a post-lunch lunch. Â
If you really want to have your wig pushed back, take a look at the nutritional information for Sopraffina's food. Â In addition to tasting bland-to-awful, the fat content in these things is astounding. Â I have been to Capri (and drank Capri-Sun) and can say with some authority that Sopraffina's Caprese sandwich is neither authentic nor tasty. Â The real killer (literally) is that it tops out at over 1000 calories (?!) and 43 grams of fat. Â In comparison, a Big Mac has only 540 calories and 29 grams of fat. Â Their salads are just as bad. Â A farmstand salad with dressing clocks in at over 71 grams of fat-- more than the amount recommended for the whole day! Â It might be OK if this food tasted amazing, but it is totally forgettable.
I just got an email from my heart and it said that it would prefer that I eat a Harold's two-piece and an ice cream sandwich instead of Sopraffina's hilltop salad. Â Sounds good. Â Thanks, heart.
I ate here a couple of times when I didn't have time to leave the building to get my lunch. I ordered a vegetarian pasta. It sounded like it should be good, but it was bland. I forget what I tried the next time, but still not that great. Maybe some of the other dishes are good, but there are enough other places in Aon to eat lunch.
I stopped in for breakfast and that was fine... standard bagel and coffee.
Pluses: The food is really good. I usually get the Italian Chef Salad. I love that the salads are freshly tossed.
Minuses: The line is forever long during the lunch hour (the price you pay for freshly tossed salads) and the prices are pretty darn high.
A good place to go occasionally when I'm in the mood to treat myself.
I have been here a half dozen times for lunch. Â I really enjoy the vegetarian minestrone soup - big chunks of everything. Â I frequently get their salads too, and enjoy the Harvest Salad (the one with fruit and gorgonzola). Â The little breads that you can get near the salads are foccia with tomato on top, and remind me of pizza - yum! Â Overall, they lose a star for price, with everything a la carte - they should at least through the bread in with the salad, not charge extra.
Review Source:I've been here a couple times for lunch. I'm kind of a lasagna snob, and I really wasn't crazy about it. However, I do like the pizza. I tried the pepperoni, and it was quite delicious. I think the food is a bit overpriced for lunch, but it is the loop, so what can you expect. Also, I think the lines are a little jumbled and confusing when it's crowded. If you come at the noon hour, you might have a hard time finding a table.
All in all, I eat there because it's across the street and the pizza isn't bad.
I have eaten here twice and it is quiet a nice little spot. The first time I ordered some pasta dish, nothing really special about it. Plain, boring, not a lot of flavor and the price was outrageous. The second time, thankfully, the company was paying for lunch. I got the Assisi sand which and to my surprise, I was quiet impressed with it. They put on WAY too much chipolte mayo but otherwise it was very tasty.
I give it 3.5 stars
Came here for a super-late lunch after we finally found a place to park our car.
The cafeteria-style stations were nicely divided and the staff was very helpful. Â My dining partner and I sampled the Cortina and a Caesar salad. Â I would describe the sandwich as more of a melt than a Panini, but it was decent. Â I'm a fan of things that include basil aioli. Â The caesar salad we had was basically lettuce dressed in oil. Â It looked aesthetically pleasing, but in essence was a disappointment.
It sated my extreme hunger at the time but was nothing to write home about. Â I can see how it is convenient for the people who work in the building, but personally, I wouldn't actively seek this place out again.
This was my absolute favorite place for a somewhat splurge-y lunch (on my pay, anyways!) when I worked in the Loop. Â The pizzas were wonderful, the salads and Italian dishes were equally tasty. Â What I wouldn't do for their pizza for lunch instead of the mushy by-the-slice place by my current workplace. Â The tomato, spinach, and mushroom was my favorite.
As for the desserts, I didn't think their brownies were great, but I miss Sopraffina so much that it still deserves five stars!
They finally fixed the half sandwich/soup price on their menu: it now reads add $3.
I only ever really get sandwiches here.. sometimes i get two of the "sides" from the deli case next to the sandwiches. Â
their soups are always vegetarian.. and the salad and pasta lines go on for days here... Â
Half price pizzas after 3pm is a great deal if you're ever stuck with a late lunch!! though it's first come first serve to them (premade ones only), so some days the selection is better than others... and you pretty much have to show up within a few minutes of 3.
Moved into Illinois Center recently and really dislike the Sopraffina up there - it's terrrrible!!!
A friend who also works in Ill Center suggested trying this one in the Aon Center - we got a salad, which I actually enjoyed and a sandwich, which was as bad as the salad was good.
What added a few points is the outdoor seating, which was short lived.
3.5 stars.
Overall, good. Â The food is tasty , filling and come in large portions - especially for someone with a small appetite like I have. Â My only problem with this location is the size. Â Seating can get difficult - especially during the lunch hour.
All in all, I do recommend this location of Sopraffina Marketcaffe.
I try to go here as much as I can. The food is always fresh and it's great for a quick lunch. The staff all speak Spanish, which is unbelievable to hear them go at it. They love to converse if you speak the language. It's definitely a step up from corner bakery or panera.
They run daily specials which include sandwiches, pasta dishes and thin crust pizza.
I think I eat here every day. Â No really. Â The cannellini bean salad is my addiction du jour. Â I can't get enough of this stuff (had it today for lunch in fact.) Â My buddy behind the counter actually gave me the recipe.
Plus, they make one of the best fruit salads I've ever had. It's always crazy fresh and includes everything from kiwi, strawberries, pineapple, grapes and various melons that they chop up nice and bite sized so you can fit a few on your fork.
Oh, and they now have this side of rice/black beans/tomatoes/corn/onions they've cleverly named Insalata Mexicana....very good
Not to mention, the staff are so sweet and friendly.
Yay, Sopraffina!
Vegetarian lunch heaven! Mmmm hearty veggie minestrone. And the sides of $3/each, including cannelli beans/feta and quinoa, top the soup off well if you're still hungry. Or just the meal of 3 sides, which is super filling, and you may even have some leftovers for the next day (or later...).
Review Source:I went here for lunch the other day. My sandwish wasn't bad but it wasn't great. And the staff was nice and speedy. I've only been there once but my mom goes there a lot because she works in Prudential Plaza and she enjoys it, especially sitting outside she gets a nice breather, and I'll admit, it was really really nice to sit outside and have lunch with the flowers and tiny waterfalls.
Review Source:I was looking for something new and ordered lunch for a group of clients from here based on another Yelper's review. Â I was very, very pleased that I did!
Lovely  presentation for a boxed lunch, great selection of sandwiches, nice sides and everything was fresh and tasty.  It came out to be about the same as having lunch catered in from Potbelly's or something, so very affordable as well.  Most importantly, my clients really enjoyed it.
Highly recommended for catering a lunch meeting, I'll have to go in and actually eat there some day.
Very very good place for a tasty Loop lunch. I've tried to mix it up every time I go and order something new. Just some quick thoughts - I was not crazy about their stuffed pasta shells, but any noodles with their tomato & basil cream sauce will be delicious. They also have a great parmesan and garbanzo bean soup - unfortunately I think they only make it a few times a month, and I keep missing it. Sandwiches are good too. Lots of outdoor seating, so you can enjoy your meal in the sunshine!
Update 10/25 - they've got a Fall Harvest Salad right now that's DELICIOUS. LTO so try it while you can!
Sopraffina is a great option for lunch during the week. Â It attracts lots of workers on their lunch break and it's great food at reasonable prices. Â They have a large variety of things you can have and I love their paninis. Â So good. Â Plus it's fast and easy so it's perfect for a quick bite.
Review Source:Everything looks good when you are hungry. Â I ate here couple of times, every time my mouth waters for chicken alfredo with fettuccini noodles. Â Sauce and noodle are slippery on a plate and top heavy with sauteed chicken made it swooshing around, so I had to carefully hold on to the plate so food wouldn't slip off and hit the floor. Â That wouldn't been cool. laughing matter yes, but I would had to stay in line again.
This place has nice patio where you can sit outside and watch people. Â Nice view.
Great sandwich rolls and fresh veggies! I never feel full or unhealthy (like most lunch spots) after a lunch from Sopraffina.
A woman I work with had a lunch order mix-up for a meeting involving the CEO. She didn't find out that there was no food in the meeting until11:46 a.m. Â She called Sopraffina and not only did they have 20 boxed lunches delivered in 30 minutes, their presentation was awesome.
I love the food at Sopraffina! Â Whenever I'm in the mood to treat myself but still want to eat relatively healthy I go to Sopraffina. Â The salads are super yummy! Â The beef tenderloin cobb salad is to die!! Â I also enjoy the cold salmon and assorted side salads, which make a light healthy lunch. Â
This may just be me, but what I didn't like was that if your order is to-go they make you put your food containers in a bag yourself. Â I guess I figure that if I'm spending $10 on lunch, the least they could do is put it in a bag for me. Â Also, it does get a bit crowded at lunchtime, but I can't fault the restaurant for that.
Sopraffina is a picturesque Italian eatery next to the AON Center courtyard. It is very popular with office workers, so it may be tough to get a seat (indoors or outdoors) during the peak lunch hour. Breakfast and lunch are served here from several stations featuring pasta, pizza, sandwiches, coffee, and desserts. I ate a crispy thin crust pizza with exotic toppings like duck sausage, goat cheese and artichokes.
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