Tempo Cafe
(312) 943-4373
6 E Chestnut St
Chicago,
IL
60611
41.8985
-87.628
Neighborhoods: Central, Near North Side
What People Are Saying About Tempo Cafe
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
The room is clean and bright, with a tile floor, oak accents and a subtle nautical theme (model ships hang here and there from the ceiling). Several comfy booths, about 30 tables and an expansive patio accommodate Tempo's round-the-clock crowd--tipsy Rush Street revelers and night owls in the early a.m. followed by coffee-drinking blue collar folk later on.
The Food
It's hard to miss the tempting, wafting scent of Tempo's renowned omelets. These three-egg big boys are served over crispy fried potatoes right in the skillet with all the standard filling choices, plus out-there menu options like the Jamaican (bananas, walnuts and honey) and the Michigan (apples and cheddar). For lunch and dinner, there's a healthy selection of salads, soups and sandwiches, from clubs and hearty half-pound burgers to a tasty French dip. "Deluxe" sandwiches cost upward of 8 bucks but include fries, fruit, slaw and soup.
User Reviews
JonoLee
January 15, 2009
I moved into the neighborhood. On the day of the move, my wife went down for lunch and she brought me roast beef sandwich, which I discovered after the fact. The "roast beef sandwich" was completely covered with mashed potato. It's not even a small scoop of mashed potato, the sandwich was swimming in mashed potato. I will not touch any food prepared by someone who is so uncaring and undedicated to his/her work that the food is prepared in such a manner. My wife thought the food was pretty awful, too. Pathetic.
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Anonymous
October 16, 2008
Tempo is open 24hrs! And has everything and anything (well except for chicken strips). If your looking for a big booth and a mean milkshake then Tempo is your spot. Guaranteed there will be some interesting characters and your neighboring table will strike up a good conversation. But don't forget Tempo is oldschool and they only except cash!
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njs29
September 28, 2008
PROS: open late; large variety of food. CONS: tasteless food; doesn't take credit cards; This place is a diner, which means it has a wide selection of food & is open late; these are pretty much the only positives. The food unfortunately is NOT good. I had French Toast which was no more than bread coated in a fried egg; check the food network recipe by Alton Brown for a true French Toast recipe. My wife had a veggie burger which has no seasoning just tastes like mashed up lima beans. The service is OK, but not horrible like some of the other reviews state. Just keep in mind that this place is used to serving drunk college kids after a night of clubbing so they don't always treat customers as you would want to be treated. Ambiance is like a typical diner. I will NOT be going back here ever again. ALTERNATE breakfast/brunch RECOMMENDATIONS: Yolk; The Bongo Room
read full reviewThe Details on Tempo Cafe
Where to Sit:
Outdoor seating offers great Gold Coast people watching--but is only available until 10pm.
The Extras:
Be sure to check your table tent for unlisted specials like savory, scrumptious cream of potato soup.
Category:
Payment Methods:
Restaurant Special Features:
Breakfast, Late Night Dining, Brunch, Outdoor Dining, Hidden Find, People Watching, Lunch Spot
General Info:
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
No
