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The Artist's Cafe

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412 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605

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(312) 939-7855
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Reviews
( 162 )
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( 3 )

Best

This is the place with a good taste of food. The ambiance is cool, the service is fast and the servers were friendly and overall all it was great.

Worst

All my friend and I wanted (we are both Chicago natives) was to do two things: enjoy the weather at a cefe we've seen but never been to, and have something to drink (after all it ...

Editorial review from Citysearch 2/1/2013

I love the variety of menu items!!!! They have wonderful salads and sandwiches. It is a great atmosphere for having lunch with the girls!!! The service is always great!!! more

Editorial review from Citysearch 1/14/2013

We came for breakfast and it was a beautiful day to look out at Grant Park. The waitress was nice and food arrived quickly more

Editorial review from Citysearch 12/26/2012

The twentysomething waitress serving the outdoor cafe at the Artists' Restaurant (or Artists' Cafe, as it is popularly known) wears an outfit suitable for a workout - shorts and a loose black t-shirt. And work out she does, moving fast between bar, kitchen counter and her outdoor domain, kicking the door open, schlepping plates and glasses, bending down to reach for some papers a guest dropped on the floor. About to pick up a platter laden with hamburger and french fries, she stops and addresses the guy in the kitchen: ""That's cold. I won't serve this."" A new platter is made while she rushes back out. It's a warm afternoon; almost all the outdoor tables are occupied. Owner Irene reigns behind the cash register, conversing with the customers (""Have you had a nice lunch?""), and allowing some of the waitresses, at one point, to gather around a guest who is a singer. The cafe sees its share of celebrities; one employee names Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jim Belushi as two who have graced the premises. more

Editorial review from Citysearch 12/18/2012

The food was pretty good. I saw the grilled cheese sandwich highly recommended, so I ordered that, despite the fact that normally I would never have ordered a grilled cheese at a restaurant. It didn't disappoint. more

Editorial review from Citysearch 12/10/2012

We had a pleasant lunch here. The inside is such a throwback to a 50s dining restaurant. Loved it. Food was good - I had a club called some British aristocratic name: Wellington? Huntington? Anyways...it was tasty. My bf had a similar sandwich on a croissant, which he said was also good. They have an impressive drink menu, and the dessert selection was pretty awesome. more

Editorial review from Citysearch 12/4/2012

Again, amazing great times at this Cafe back in the 90's ate here a LOT after school at the Art Institute. Updating review soon.... more

Editorial review from Citysearch 11/28/2012

I was in town for a Conference at the Hilton, just down the street, and a friend and I walked here for dinner. The menu is an interesting mix of ethnic and American foods. I had the Greek grilled cheese sandwich, which was feta cheese, tomatoes and red onions on pita bread. It was good and reasonably priced more

Editorial review from Citysearch 11/21/2012

I really like this place. The staff is friendly, the food is good, great coffee and the people watching can't be beat. It has a cozy diner feeling despite being a fairly large cafe. more

Editorial review from Citysearch 11/16/2012

Open since 1961, the Artists' Restaurant is a Fine Arts Building tradition. Makris and her sister (and co-owner) Angela have worked there the longest; their employees include students as well as waitresses who have been with them for decades. more

Good Place to Dine with 2/26/2012

This is the place with a good taste of food. The ambiance is cool, the service is fast and the servers were friendly and overall all it was great. more

Outdoor seating is very nice 8/9/2011

The outdoor seating is very nice, with a great view of Grant Park. Definitely a spot for some coffee and a muffin on a sunshiny morning. more

Great service 8/4/2011

Great service & good coffee. The owner spent time with me an recommended other restaurants and things to do. more

Amazing great times at this Cafe 8/2/2011

Again, amazing great times at this Cafe back in the 90's ate here a LOT after school. more

The place is immaculate 7/20/2011

My family and I are from the Western Suburbs. We were going to a concert at the Auditotrium. We stopped at the Artist Cafe and had a wondeful dinner. The place is immaculate the wait staff was friendly and neatly dressed. A lovely lady was at the cash restaurant and was extremely polite and very accomodating. We came with no reservations and a group of 10. They seated us within a reasonable time. The food was excellent. The pastries were divine! I suggest the special's of the day. They are clearverly nicknamed i.e. the Sopranos Special,etc. The view was lovely of Michigan Ave. The prices were unbelievably reasonable. Can't wait til we go to the theater again! This is a must restaurant tucked into the Fine Arts Building. Great place for ambiance. more

I LOVE there Tuna salad sandwiches 7/18/2011

I LOVE there Tuna salad sandwiches!! They are to die for. Me and my boyfriend live in Bloomington and crave these on a weekly basis. If anyone knows the recipe for this I would be sooooooooooo incredibly grateful! I have never had anything else there so I cant review anything else. more

Atmosphere is great 7/12/2011

After a year of passing by on Michigan and wanting to go, I finally ate here on a break from rehearsing upstairs. The atmosphere is great and it feels oh so old school. I had a lovely and perfectly toasted, grilled cheese! It's worth a visit to check off your list and a great non-chain option if you're lunching on Michigan avenue. more

BEST cheeseburger in Chicago 7/8/2011

I never wrote a ""review"" before but I have to say....I went to the Artist Cafe and was blown away by the BEST cheeseburger in Chicago. What A TREAT! It really made me feel great to experience this place. It reminded me how lucky I am to live in Chicago, where we boast the best food. The Artists' Cafe is on of the best examples of why we can make that claim. I'LL BE BACK! more

Must not miss outdoor cafe 7/6/2011

I work in the area and love the boxed salad. The Artist is an institution - in a historical building, family run for generations by restaurant people, not a corporation, and an unbeatable location. The perfect place to go before or after a visit to the Art Institute. Must not miss the outdoor cafe in the summer. more

Definately worth it 7/1/2011

I always wanted to try this place and so I finally did because I was craving chicken tenders and they were so delicious. They came with a plate full of fries and onion rings plus a good amount of tenders. It was a little expensive but definately worth it. I shared it with my boyfirend and we were both full. more

Conveniently located 6/27/2011

Conveniently located right on Michigan Avenue, this is a good place to go for a break from shopping or after taking in a music or theater show. more
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Menu for The Artist's Cafe


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Editorial
  • In Short
    Located in the historic Fine Arts Building, this cafe draws a mix of students from the nearby Art Institute and tourists visiting Grant Park. The Mediterranean menu features...

  • 9/30/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon. - Thu. 7am - 8pm;Fri. - Sun. 7am - 12pm
  • Payments: American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Central, Loop
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