Greenhouse Inn at Misericordia

Mom and I were looking for something to do this afternoon, so I suggested lunch at the Greenhouse Inn. Neither of us had been there before, so we had no idea what to expect.
From the main entrance to Misericordia, there are plenty of signs for the Greenhouse Inn, so there’s no way you’re not going to find it. The entry to the restaurant takes you past the bakery, so there’s little chance of leaving without a brownie or two. (Fine with me!)
The restaurant itself is bright, large, and a bit noisy. The tables are covered in clear vinyl, nice and clean, with nice pastel tablecloths underneath. Napkins are rolled up in the water glasses, and they contain a full set of flatware — I can’t remember the last time I saw a soup spoon and a salad fork automatically at my place. (Sigh.) We were seated by a cheerful helper, and started to peruse the menu.
The menu is fairly large and varied, especially for a place that’s only open 3 hours a day. There’s a soup and salad bar, too, if that’s what you’re after. One of the helpers even brought over the white board listing the specials to make sure we didn’t miss that. (We had, so this was very nice.) The way you order is like this: The selections are printed on slips of paper, color-​coded to the headings on the menu. (Drinks are white, desserts are another color, sandwiches are another color… you get the idea.) You check off what you want, write your table number and your name, and check off whether you want one check for the table or separate checks. (We had to be taught this one, as we’d never been there, but it struck us as a good way to do things.)
Everything arrived quickly, and, boy, was it good. I got the chicken & Swiss panini; Mom got the BLT wrap. Both were judged to be better than just about anything out there — fresh, well-​prepared, served promptly. I was sure that given the prices, the sandwiches would be tiny, and we’d be stopping at White Castle on the way home. Not so — our sandwiches were so big, Mom took half of hers home. (I would have, too, but I had a ton of leftovers in the fridge, so I soldiered on and finished it.)
We couldn’t handle dessert, but we stopped at the bakery (of course) and bought a couple things to take home. I just finished my chocolate brownie (without nuts, but they also have with nuts) and it’s as good as anything I make.
Yummy all around. This won’t be my last stop at the Greenhouse Inn.

This is a pretty cool place that gives work opportunities to adults with learning disabilities. This gives them an environment to train and learn skills that are necessary in the work field. The warm and cold buffets are pretty consistent, and average in taste quality, but that’s not really what the restaurants about. The gift shop is where it’s at! They have artwork that’s made by residents in the art department that change with the seasons and can provide cute décor in your or a friends home. Great gifts that can be socially conscious and festive. The residents receive a cut for their sold artwork which is always reassuring to know. It’s always money worth spent.

Great, fresh food, wonderful service from the most beautiful people in Chicago. Go for Sunday brunch and you won’t be disappointed.

I always have been a fan of eating here due to the fact they support a good cause (Misercordia), and again I was reminded of that when I ate here this week. Surprising I never wrote a review, but better late than never I suppose.
I’ve never ordered the buffet here (a glance at it this week oddly enough made me think ehhh, and oddly made me think I was right to pass on that), but ordering off the menu has always been fine. Ordered fish and chips, and the fries felt totally average, but the fish was tasty. The other items I sampled (grilled chicken salad and Shrimp DeJonghe) were also tasty, as well.
I believe all the desserts and coffee beverages are made on site (and thankfully isn’t trucked in from say, Sysco), since I enjoyed my slice of coconut cake. Also sampled a friend’s brownie sundae which was tasty, and a caramel machiato (sp?) coffee drink that was excellent.
Bonus is if you come at this time of the year, the gift shop in the back has a lot of interesting Christmas decorations, and you can see the several Christmas trees inside both the dining room and gift shop. Parking is free, and while unfortunately public transit isn’t the best to get here, you can take the 155 Devon bus and get off at Devon/​Ridge (where you see a church and cemetery on one corner, and a gas station and McD’s on the other corner), then walk south to the Greenhouse Inn entrance. If you rely on the 22 Clark bus route and don’t mind a short walk west (the Rosemont/​Clark stop between Granville and Devon is technically the most direct bus stop on Clark to where Misercordia is), it’s only 2.5 blocks west.

What a wonderful cause and delicious food! I highly recommend!

I’ve been wanting to try this place for a while now. It’s a great cause, provides a good solid meal, and empowers special needs adults/​teens with a good opportunity to work.
They serve typical breakfast fare. The buffet itself is traditional stuff like crispy bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, prime rib and ham carving station, turkey with gravy, stuffing, and a whole variety of baked breakfast treats and desserts. Both OJ and grapefruit juice are included. You can also order breakfast items a la cart.
Only problem was my pepsi was flat.

The food here is phenomenal– everything tastes so good! The portions are very satisfying as well, and the service is amazing, thanks to all of the Misericordia residents and the parent volunteers working there! And every single dessert we ordered was fantastic as well. :)
There are bakery items being sold where you first enter, and I plan on buying a few (I say «a few» but I mean «the whole store») the next time I go back!

What a great place to have lunch
With my son Brian!
Glad we decided to come here!
My son Brian and I initially decided on another place for lunch
but then I had been wanting to try the Greenhouse Inn at Misericordia
for some time now and. I;m so glad we made this our choice for lunch.
There is so much to love here, starting with the staff who welcomes you
and seats you upon entering the restaurant.
Then they have the food of which there are several options to choose from,
they have color coded paper menus and you check off the menu items that
you want and sign your name at the bottom.
They offer you a great daily special for $ 10.00 which included soup/​salad bar,
a featured entrée of the day, vegetables, and homemade mashed potatoes.
They also have many sandwich /​burger type menu options if you would
prefer that.
Most drinks will cost you an additional $ 2.00.
Menu prices for sandwiches and such are very reasonable!
And. they have some great dessert menu items as well.
Also. before you leave you must check out the gift shop which has
some very lovely things, the merchandising is just beautiful!
Very visually appealing!
And. they have loaves of bread in assorted flavors and a case full
of sweets, cookies, cupcakes, lemon bars and other assorted items
to purchase.
We ate inside the restaurant today for it was a little chilly outside
but on my next visit I would love to come and sit on the patio next to the waterfall!
There is plenty of free parking available as well.
The thing that makes me feel good is that I know that the money we spent
on this meal today will be going right back into Misericordia.
And. that makes me feel really good!
For these people I met today are indeed very special.
And they worked very hard today from everything I saw.
So. will I be making return visits to the Greenhouse at Misericordia?
Absolutely. without a doubt.
Next time it will be for weekend brunch which I hear is phenominal!
And I am looking forward to it.

Having driven by this place several times I googled it to see what it was about. When I read Sunday brunch buffet I was intrigued to say the least.
$ 14 gets you all you can eat breakfast staples like sausages, bacon, english muffins, eggs, cheesy potatoes, french toast, a carving station with a ham and a turkey breast. Lots of in house made pastries, along with lunch options like tortelinis, salads, italian cheeses, meats and peppers and bottomless beverages.
Please give this place a try, it is a great place that benefits great people. The brunch is staffed by family members of the residents that volunteer on Sunday. A very mellow family friendly vibe here.

Drop by if you:
1. want a waitstaff who make sure you feel at home and ensure your glass is always full.
2. want to get the most bang for your buck! You can’t beat the breakfast menu specials, which give you HUGE plates of food for less than $ 7!
3. don’t like to wait in line for Sunday brunch!
4. like free parking, another rarity!
5. like contributing to a worthwhile cause. All proceeds benefit the residents here. It’s a positive feedback loop! :)
The –1 star is because they didn’t have Belgian waffles which I wanted for brunch! :(

The Greenhouse Inn was a busy place on a weekday afternoon in mid-​December. Lot’s of holiday events and Misericordia events making their parking lot look a bit like Woodfield Mall. I thought we might not get in for lunch. But we did, and it was a pleasant surprise.
First the room or the restaurant is much bigger than I thought. It is so well-​staffed with regulars and volunteers that the service was, I daresay, über-​attentive. It took me awhile to figure out the buffet vs, menu items routine, and they have you fill out cards on the table to order. While the menu is attractive, extensive and extremely reasonably priced, the daily buffet special we could not pass up. It was soup, salad bar and an entrée of beef, potato and vegetable for $ 10.00. Beverages and desserts extra. The choices are really very Ann Sather like with a lot of comfort food and baked goods. There is a bakery case near the front door. And it does attract an older crowd with its mauve and seafoam green café décor, smacking more of suburbia or Iowa than urban Chicago.
My friend had a silky and chunky Chicken Noodle Soup to start and I the Butternut Squash. Both were piping hot and brimming with flavor. The salad bar, which at $ 6.25 on its own I would return for in a New York minute, offered Cooked Shrimp, Salmon, greens, a very good pasta salad, and a surprising choice of charcuterie and olives. I skipped the fruit salads. One was just chopped fresh fruit, the other a concoction I refer to as «Terre Haute Cuisine,“with the whipped cream and marshmallows. Greens, red onions and sliced tomatoes, too. The main event of sliced beef in au jus, baked potato, and the familiar vegetable medley of carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, was a little on the institutional side, but for the price, still fresh and flavorful.
I found myself watching the other plates come out, and I have to say a lot of good-​looking sandwiches flew by my head. My nose almost collided with a very handsome spinach omelet, too. I confess I was in a sandwich mood when I came in, but I found it easier to echo my disabled companion’s buffet order for convenience sake. But I am coming back for a sandwich or for breakfast sometime. Just not Saturdays or Mondays. They are closed.
With the adjacent Misericorida gift shop, things were very festive for Advent, pre-​Christmas: nicely decked out trees and special baked goods and other gift items. So a good place to soak up the holiday vibe and not spend too much of your Christmas Club money on food. I love the good mission and good cause aspect, too. One of our servers has a daughter who lives and works here and who has reaped the benefits of the education, wellness and caring. It was great to hear her story, and see the resident staff helping out in the busy dining room.
So pop on down to the Greenhouse Inn on your own or when Uncle Fred and Aunt Elsie blow in from Iowa. They’d love it. Great for families and groups, too.

The Greenhouse Inn is a great place for brunch on Sunday, highly recommend the place for good service, fresh food and the price is good. Have gone here several times and have always found the service and food to be consistent.
Will be going to the Christmas Holiday Brunch and what a treat and enjoyable time to see that my money is helping a great organization,

Surprisingly, my mom was the one who introduced me to this place and I’m not quite sure how she found it but I’m glad that she did. The space really is like a greenhouse with a lot of plants and windows. I went with their special that day, which was a pork chop with tomato ragu which included soup and salad bar.
I got the pasta fagioli soup and which was tomato based with a lot of noodles and beans-​I typically don’t like beans but I liked this one because the consistency of it wasn’t too mealy like I usually found with beans.
The salad bar was standard salad bar fare and was all right-​it was restocked very frequently and their potato salad had eggs in it which added a protein kick and more well rounded flavor.
The main dish was delicious-​it was from the hot bar which took me a while to find out-​my mom ordered a sandwich which came out to her and I didn’t know that mine was there for the taking. The pork was surprisingly tender-​I thought it wouldn’t be since it was on a serving platter but it too must have been frequently refreshed. The sauce was a great compliment to the pork and there were sprigs of thyme added to it that made brought out a whole lemony, slightly spicy flavor

What Happened?
Short version. AVOID! Waste of time and Money, Brunch for my wife and I, plus our 5 year old cost me over 45 bucks!!! And we were HUNGRY when we left.
Longer review below.
Greenhouse INN must of changed something because I did not have a positive experience here.
After reading all of the reviews I was very excited to come here with my family for Sunday Brunch (4-​3-​2011) Greenhouse Inn, is easy to find. Easy to park, and is like all accounts say, very friendly. However, all similarities stop there.
The décor is reminicent of a nursing home, it is indeed cheery and bright, and the people (Volunteers and Residents of Misericordia are indeed happy and smiley. The Brunch with is $ 14.95 for adults, $ 7.95 for kids over 2 is EXTREMELY overpriced for the quality and choices offered.
Beverages, I have read reviews that said beverages are all included. They are NOT, you do get reconstituted OJ (decent) however, everything else costs extra.
The Food: I will share that I have been in the Armed Services, USMC and ARMY, that said here is my HONEST assessment of the food. I say this because this food is like Army Food, however the Geneva Convention has rules to protect soldiers from the likes of this garbage.
There were some Good, ok items, i list them below.
Bacon: Delicious, crisp well cooked. A+
English Muffins: One you find them they are literally hidden no sign etc. Hot, crispy and fresh, however they are pregreased (Shortening?) B+
Sausage: Warm, typical cased skinny sausage. B+
Chicken Breast Something: A little dry but OK. B–
Carved Ham and Roast Beef: Average., No horseradish, a jus or pineapple, B–
Eggs: They come only one way, Florentine, in little squares. These eggs are powdered, worse than that they have no flavor or egg like consistency, they are served like Jello, literally. Little squares of SMOOTH Jello like fake egg. One word. TERRIBLE. I asked about Scrambled eggs, I was told ALA-​Carte, HUH? I have never been to a Buffet without scrambled eggs, I mean most places have Omelets for cry-​eye. F
Potatoes, not fully cooked, big thick O’Brien potatoes, lazy mans hash browns. Inedible as they weren’t cooked. F
Assorted baked goods: Some coffee cakes, dry and flavorless. Donuts, mass produced store bought, yuck. F
Fresh fruit: Pineapple, was good, Cantaloupe not so much. B–
Salads, Fresh and tasty. I had the Seafood (fake crab) salad, it was a bit bland, but fresh. B
Pancake rolls, not fresh, perhaps they shouldn’t make these 200 at a time, so they keep cooking in the hot-​pan and taste like shoe leather. F
Desert Table, OK, when a 5 year old (who is hungry) walks over excitedly to the desert table, and Parent says, ok pick two things, and when he picks nothing and walks away, what does that tell you???
F–
No Toast, thats extra, no bagels, thats extra. They did have Knotts Berry farm preserves, which was nice, but no toast? Come on.
I think what the charity does here at Misercordia is great. I would also contribute to their cause, however the brunch was TERRIBLE and it doesn’t have to be, Get Gordon Ramsey over here and make over this kitchen.
By way of comparison the following Sunday Brunches are less money, and much better food. Stanleys, Mystic Celt, State Street Grill, and RJ Gruntz. These 4 are $ 3 to $ 7 each person less expensive, much better food quality and much more choices. Check em out.

I am always looking for a hidden gem especially for lunch. This place is great because it never gets packed like most brunch places. The atmosphere is light and airy. The proceeds also go to a worthy cause.
I opted for the buffet and the best things were the pastries, particularly the chocolate glazed donuts and the almond croissants. The rest of the items were so-​so but I think I would opt for some of the items on the menu. One nice feature they have if you are going with a few people is a separate checklist and individual bills so everyone gets what they pay for. The pancakes were huge and looked good as did the omelets but if there’s a Belgian waffle that’s what I plan to get next.

Why don’t more people know about this Chicago gem?
I’ll be honest. I didn’t know what to expect and was blown away by how amazing and tasty everything was! The desserts are especially incredible — my red velvet cake was moist and delicious. I’ve been here for Sunday brunch (ordered the buffet) and weekday lunch (ordered a la carte) and both experiences were terrific.
They also have an amazing bakery where all of the desserts are made on campus, a gift shop, there is a special large dollhouse at the end of the restaurant beyond the gift shop (and kids will want to peer into the little rooms), an outdoor patio with tables topped by umbrellas… it is a special place. Designed to be handicapped and stroller accessible, too.
So, take a great restaurant, where you could easily and happily take your friends, a business associate, OR your kids and then… layer on top of that getting to interact with the always cheerful and full-​tilt-​service-​to-​the-​hilt volunteers and residents who staff the restaurant. Service was attentive and the food came quickly, even during the lunch rush. The restaurant is filled with light from the greenhouse windows. The campus is gorgeous and the vibe is super positive, inspirational. It is a unique place not only in Chicago, but in the United States. All of the proceeds go to support the Misericordia residents. Many of these residents have few options for care (hospitals or institutional facilities if they don’t have the family to care for them), and none of their options are as beautiful, well-​appointed, and collegial as this one.

OmG! OmG! I am not liberal with my star ratings but… this place truly deserves all five.
My friend mentioned this place to me years ago and then we finally remembered and went there for a Sunday brunch.
We both had no idea what to expect. The place is set up like a church cafeteria with lots of love put into it and the décor is in a perpetual state of Easter. Nothing fancy but it’s very evident, by the mosaic of decorations, that lots of different people had a part in decorating it.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a friendly staff member and given a choice of seating. Then we were given paper menus that we mark off like at a sushi buffet or something. Staff was attentive and friendly. By the end of our meal, we must’ve had at least 5 people involved in taking our order, giving us our food and drinks, and checking up on us. The table set up was adorable, including my sterilized utensils coming in a little plastic coffin. :P Everything was clean and tidy with nothing fancy.
The prices were jaw dropping-​ly low. Everything cost less than 5 or 6 dollars. The breakfast buffet was $ 14.95 but we both knew neither of us could even eat $ 14.95 worth of food so we opted for a la carte.
IT WAS GOOD~~~! I looooove breakfast and many times when I pay for breakfast, I leave saying,” Eh~ I could’ve done better at home” but this place was first and foremost priced well and it made the meal all the better. I had the breakfast burrito, french toast, and five cups of coffee. My friend had egg whites, waffle, fruit, and orange juice. Our bill came out to $ 15 and we thought there was a mistake and tried to pay more but we were wrong.
I wanna take my whole family here!

Happy heart, happy tummy! That’s how I felt after leaving this place after a Sunday brunch.
It’s located at the edge of the Misericordia property, and all the proceeds from the restaurant, bakery and gift shop go directly to the good folks at Misericordia. The staff is made up of mostly volunteers. All this information right here is five stars in itself.
The place itself is nice; a large open space, with plenty of windows and natural light flowing in. The food is great, with that morning, having ham, English muffins, french toast casserole, bacon, a few assorted cold salads, bagels, and a few more offerings on their well stocked and immaculately clean buffet line. When you first walk in the door, you will be lulled toward the bakery cases off to the right. Some of the tastiest looking cupcakes, pound cakes, and other assorted goodies are offered for purchase (From what I have heard, they have some of the best Irish Soda Bread in town!)
So no matter what, you can’t go wrong by stopping in, even if it is just for some baked goods!

This place is one of the best kept secrets. The food is good with a good selection and you can either have the buffet or order a la carte. I think the desserts and the bakery stuff they sell are so yummy! The prices are fair and it’s ALL for a Great cause. Plenty of parking.
There is a Gift Shop right next to it and don’t think it’s your typical ‘artsy-​crafty-​crappy’ store. Its a very large shop, the selection is really, really good, with a variety of price tags from low to many upscale nice items.
**Do not let the Catholic denomination ‘scare’ you, just in case you are not Catholic, a Fallen Catholic (like me) or you just don’t like them. This is a great charitable organization that makes life special to 550 people born with, mild to severe, disability.****

Greenhouse Inn is one of my absolute favorite places in Chicago. I have been coming here for years and have never had a bad meal. I had the lunch buffet today, as I always do. You start with their salad bar. It is not extensive, but the quality is very high and includes crab salad and Hawaiian salad among other treats. It also includes soup. Today, it was a choice of chicken dumpling or bean soup. Then it is on to the hot entrée, which was corned beef, scalloped taters and mixed vegetables. The corned beef was carved very thin and was lean. The entire meal was great and the cost… $ 8.00.
There is also a menu to order off of and everything I have seen from it looks wonderful. I am just such a sucker for that darn buffet!!! The restaurant is clean, well lit and very cheerful and the staff is always pleasant and helpful.
The absolute best part about Greenhouse Inn is the work that is done there via Misericordia. The Inn is just part of the overall huge complex that houses and employs the developmentally disabled. They are supervised and aided by the most charming and dedicated group of volunteers, and just being there lifts the spirits.
I am not catholic, but this is one charitable organization that truly does what some might call «the work of god». If you have never been here, please give it a try. You will have a great meal in a pretty setting and contribute to a very worthy cause at the same time. While you are there, check out their gift shop and bakery as well. They are closed on Mondays.