Waterfront Cafe at Berger Park Rant

I hate this place!
It's a waste of potential! They have this amazing location with an unbeatable view but they're so half-ass about running it.
Their hours are annoying. They are closed at random times for no apparent reason. The main guy at the counter says they're open from 11:30am to sometime, but I've been there at 12:30 and they were closed, no note, no nothing.
The main guy has the personality of a shoe. He never smiles and lacks the character to be able to not smile at customers
They are always out of stuff. I realize it's a small kitchen but if you're out of bananas or yogurt by 2:00pm you're just lazy.
If you're located next to a playground you should probably open earlier that 11:30am if you want to make any money.

This place reminds me of Moody's Pub. A wonderful place with great potential that's ruined by the morons running it.

The Waterfront Cafe
6219 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60660-1729
(773) 761-3294
http://www.waterfrontcafechicago.com/TH ... FRONT.html

Thanks.
I forgot to put that up. I was a little hot under the collar.

it really is an amazing location with ton's of potential that has wallowed in mediocrity for several seasons.i wish that someone would take the initiatve to raise the standards and give the neighborhood a really great restaurant.
i understand there is a connection with the the people at waterfront cafe & the concession at the brand new comfort station on hollywood beach[kathy osterman beach].i hope for better quality and greater selections.

I was at the Waterfront cafe a couple of weeks ago because my band played there. I was, frankly, amazed at how amazing and unknown this place is.

Let me state at the outset that I had no food (even though the band gets a free meal) and, given the looks of the kitchen facilties, it could well be as poor as described above. But for god's sake, go have a beer and look at the lake and the Chicago skyline. Where is there any other place in Chicago where you can get a reasonbly priced bottle of beer, watch the lake and hear a few tunes? If you walk out near the stage, you can see the downtown skyline. Yet, on a Saturday night, while the place was mostly filled, I don't think there was a problem getting a table (all of which are outdoors).

I realize that this is a foodie board, so bad food will (rightly) bring on some criticism. But if you consider the place as somewhere to get a drink and sit outside by the lake on a nice summer night, what a treasure.

Jonah

I think the challenges of running a very limited seasonal food stand in the parks are well, daunting at best but that doesn't mean it has to be so bad. I am with you curry72. I love Berger Park but the current food vendor is just too dicey/unpredictable.

I have a related question & comment for those of us who like to eat (and even legally drink) near or on the lake.

Has anyone been to the new-ish place at Montrose Beach that serves what seems standard "beach grill" fare but the big +++ is that they serve booze in a nice setting where my kids are allowed. Just wondering. Can't recall the name & my expectations are low in terms of food, but just wanted to ask.

We were hanging out at Hartigan Beach this afternoon and when we hit Sheridan, I looked at the formerly vacant storefront next to Chipotle and saw a big sign that declared, "BOPNGRILL." I let out a whoop & a holler. I have not made it to the old (potentially former?) location but have wanted to very much. So now my favorite beach in the city is just a block or so from what I am hoping to be a promising Korean burger bi-bim-bop place.

If any of you know the opening date, do tell!

bjt

bjt-

It was mentioned on the Openings and Closings thread that BopNGrill was opening a second location near Loyola. An August opening was mentioned, but I couldn't find confirmation on the BopNGrill website.

The place at Montrose Beach is called the Dock. I haven't been, but friends report standard bar fare with a possibly long wait. (Really small kitchen.)

Thanks Mary! I haven't ever checked Openings & Closings before so it was off my radar completely, but now I know to look there. (How long have I been doing this?)

Can't wait for BopnGrill. Maybe I'll check out the dock on a weeknight & see how that goes. I'll report back if I do.

bjt

I had a beer and burger at the Dock on Montrose on a Wednesday night a few weeks ago.
The burger was average and the beer was refreshing on the beach.
It is certainly over priced but if you want to hit the beach and don't want to pack a picnic it's a nice resource.

Went to the Dock last month and it is what it is. A bit pricey as noted, but I was kind of amazed that given the massive expanse of tables and people, and the fact that it was quite dark, we did get excellent service. Have to watch out for the occasional live band, if you're interested in conversation. Don't know what the schedule is for that, but it surprised us. Fortunately they took 20 min. breaks. I think the guac. we had was actually pretty good. It's been a few weeks.