Cafe Fresco: User Reviews

come for the food...stay for the backyard garden
By Stellla from Oak Park, April 10, 2009

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This is one of my favorite recent finds. It has a uniqueness about it that suits me. The quality of the food is consistently and surprisingly good - not what you would expect in a place that looks more like a bar than a restaurant from the outside. I have tried all the pastas, the tilapia (a lot) and a few of the sandwiches. All good. It's a cozy, friendly place and we can't wait for the weather to warm up for the backyard garden; last summer it was awesome. The service is excellent most of the time-but understandably-not when they are really busy. Stella (Oak Park)

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Nice Patio, Average Everything Else
By KB from East Village, June 20, 2008

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This place has a really nice patio thats quiet and comfortable. I went about 3 weeks ago & we ordered 2 pastas a burger & the tilapia. Tilapia was way under seasoned & a bit fishy. 1 pasta was bland & 1 pasta was ok. Burger was weak but the fries were good. I don't know- I guess if you just want an appetizer, a drink & some ambiance it is ok = Oh wait thats right..they ran out of their nightly special Sangria by 7pm & did not make more. Why bother.

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I love this place. Especially...
By River Westet from Chicago, IL, June 14, 2007

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I love this place. Especially in the summer. The beer garden is beautiful and covered in Ivy and I have never had bad service here, maybe a little slow when they are busy but that's it. This is a local hang out for people in this neighborhood - relaxing and grown up, good food and you can have a conversation. Civillized is the best way to describe it. I like it.

The owner of this place...
By Eric from Chicago, IL, June 6, 2007

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The owner of this place must be the cheapest owner in town. The bartenders use a measuring glass for wine and its out on the bar not even hidden from our view. Don't even think about getting a free drink, no matter how long you sit at the bar. That may be acceptable for a huge downtown joint, but this is a small neighborhood place. We were the only ones in there and they could not put up the sound for the game, c'mon were the customers. This place must just be a hobby for the owners and its too bad because the food is good and it's in a great neighborhood, but there so unfriendly and unaccommodating that we'll
never go back.

Delicious food. The Steak Au...
By Jeff from Chicago, IL, April 8, 2007

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Delicious food. The Steak Au Poivre is amazing. I get it every time and it is NEVER disappointing, actually its amazing! Friendly service, my girlfriend gets the sangria. They have a lot of menu options so everyone can get something they crave.

VERY disappointing. We were astonished at...
By Jill from Chicago, IL, February 25, 2007

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VERY disappointing.
We were astonished at just how unaccommodating a place could be.
Everyone there was watching the Oscars. When we asked if the cheesy music could be turned off to watch we were told no - the owner gave strict instructions. When there was only my crowd and one guy (who said he wanted to watch the Oscars) she still couldn't turn off the music. She said the owner was a "business man". There were 4 people in the place at 9:30pm. The icing on the cake was when we got our tab and it was all together. She said, I didn't think you guys would want separate tabs. Huh? We were 3 girls. When asked to split it, she couldn't do it. Keep in mind there was only one guy in there aside from us 3 girls. Shame on the owner for giving this bartender such rudimentary instructions. Customer service dude!

Went here on a date...great...
By Todd from Chicago, IL, November 23, 2006

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Went here on a date...great little cozy place. Wonderful service, great food (the pesto sauce was the best!). I highly recommend it.

Stopped in here on a...
By A.S. from chicago, il, November 19, 2006

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Stopped in here on a Saturday night. We've been here before, but had only eaten outside. FYI - they have live music, at least on Saturdays, and the band is cheesy at best, and extremely loud, since it is a tiny restaurant. Our service was horrible - just rude, and seemingly annoyed to have to wait on us. We were never told the specials; our appetizer was forgotten, and brought out only after repeated attempts to get ANY staff attention, and then our entrees were brought out right after the appetizer, even though we ordered it when we were inquiring about the app. The pastas we ordered were served in the same glue-y, velveeta-esque sauce, although they were supposed to have different sauces. The food, as well as the atmosphere, was just awful. I'll never go back.

GREAT FOOD!!! BEST CHILE...
By LRITA from CHICAGO, IL, April 13, 2006

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GREAT FOOD!!! BEST CHILE ANCHO CHICKEN SANDWICH. FRIENDLY STAFF, GREAT SERVICE.

I like this place. I...
By Jennifer from Wicker Park, December 3, 2005

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I like this place. I went back after being gone for the summer and they changed 1/2 price wine night. It now requires some purchase of food. FYI