Sweet Maple Cafe

I didn't see a dedicated thread for this place, although it's mentioned in several posts, so I guess I will start one.

Several years ago my husband let me pick where we would eat on New Year's Day for brunch. I chose Sweet Maple. One of the biggest arguments we ever had occurred because of the long wait we had there. I think it was after this place aired on "Check, Please". Fortunately, we are still married but my husband will never return here. His idea of breakfast is good coffee. He really doesn't need food as long as there is coffee.

I go to Sweet Maple as often as I can manage. I've already made it four times in about the last 6 weeks including twice this year.

Solid breakfast. I love the pancakes, but never get them because I can't say no to the biscuit. Yes, it reminds me of the biscuits my grandmother used to make, except hers were smaller. Sweet Maple's biscuits are sweet and tender. My grandmother served hers with hot spiced applesauce and butter. Thankfully, they have applesauce at Sweet Maple & they will heat it for me. The homefries are crisp and plentiful. There are nice bits of charred sweet onion mixed into the potatoes. The eggs are offered with quite a few fillings, including spicy black beans. Here's my plate.

The room is tiny. There were already waits, even on weekdays, before "Check Please". Surprisingly, today there was no wait when I arrived at 11:30 ish. I left just after noon and there was still no wait.

Good food, comfortable spot, friendly and no-nonsense service.

Sweet Maple Cafe
1339 W. Taylor Street (Taylor between Throop & Loomis)
Chicago, Il
312/243-8908

WOW - that is the biggest biscuit I've ever seen! And those potatoes look divine. I don't go out for breakfast very often, but Sweet Maple Cafe is now on the list. -Lynn

The room is tiny. There were already waits, even on weekdays, before "Check Please". Surprisingly, today there was no wait when I arrived at 11:30 ish. I left just after noon and there was still no wait.

I don't know if I'd call it tiny; there are probably fifteen or so tables many of which can open to seat parties of six to eight. I've been going there since they opened and find the wait times to be rather unpredictable (with the exception of the weekends which are always crowded), usually peaking around 11:30 am on weekdays. I almost always take an early lunch/late breakfast and get there at 10:00 am when there isn't as bad of a wait.

On occasion there have been problems with the quality of service (which the owner usually addresses right away), but fortunately the quality of the food hasn't changed over the last decade. I've had just about everything on their Breakfast and Lunch menus. I usually get an omelet, the Taylor Street or the Three Cheese with diced bone-in ham, a side of grits and a biscuit. The Peach Pancakes when they are in season are transcendent, especially with the high-quality maple syrup and butter.

I know Breakfast spots usually get short shrift here, but Sweet Maple is hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago.

I used to go back when I was a semi-student at UIC. This was almost 10 years ago! I have not gone in over 6 years. It was great back then. How are the prices now?

BiGGie Nick wrote:I used to go back when I was a semi-student at UIC. This was almost 10 years ago! I have not gone in over 6 years. It was great back then. How are the prices now?

My pictured plate + tea & sales tax was $14 ish.

I have tried to visit this place a few times over the last couple of years, but the wait times have always been one hour plus so we always went somewhere else. You pic of that delish looking biscuit is enough to inspire me to try and go back!!

One of the advantages of SMC is that they open at 7 am (and no wait when we arrived on Tuesday at 8:30, but perhaps UIC is not yet in session?), and the standard has remained high over the years. Had the corned beef hash for the first time, and it's a nice chunky version. Over easy eggs were perfect, and the biscuit continues to be big, soft, and fluffy. I'll choose my times carefully to avoid long waits (I assume they still have them at prime times), but I will be back.

I have shifted to weekdays b/w 11 am & closing. If it isn't a holiday I don't think I have ever waited.

I went last week. And that biscuit with applesauce!

I need to go more frequently so I can eat the muffin and get pancakes because the biscuit always stops me in my tracks from ordering anything else aside from eggs and potatoes.