The Spoke & Bird

Felt the need to update review. I took along time off and recently went back. The concept is better executed this time and the patio is very kid friendly to have a beer with your stroller. I’ve come to realize that the prices reflect creative food. Before the food didn’t live up to that. Now I get it since the food improved. Plus they have a small but really impressive and hard to find beer list.

My husband and I ate here again. It was a Sunday and soo many people. We appreciate the chef giving us COMPLIMENTARY French toast because food took a while since it was very busy. I’m writing this review because I appreciate all the efforts that the owners are putting into this charming café. And not just because we got something complimentary.
Food here can be very good. Yes price is a little above average, but It is not your average café. It’s not Dunkin Donuts, guys. No offense to DD, but I mean, it’s not fast food. I live in the neighborhood and I am very glad this place is here. If you come here on a Sunday for brunch, please be patient as it can clearly be quite overwhelming for the staff. Problem is the kitchen is quite small to accommodate large influx of orders for Sunday brunch.
Two suggestions I have:
1. Lines get really long on Sundays. We were in line for a while only to find out when about to order that place was out of lambeque. I suggest to have a blackboard where you can write menu. If food item is out of stock, it can be updated so people who are in line can decide on another food item and this will save time.
2. Need more tables for two people
As a South Loop homeowner. I truly Wish this place all the success!
Best,
Jessica

Rode past this place a few times and finally decided to stop in. Nice ambiance and wonderful patio.
Unfortunately, the food bombed pretty bad. I ordered a burger with some home fries. The burger was unexpectedly tiny for the steep price. The weird thing was that the patties were ridiculously salty — and this is coming from someone who loves salt. The rest of the toppings were alright. The home fries were barely salted at all and were also nothing special.
On a positive note — their ketchup is really good.
I wish I had read some of these reviews before I came by. Pretty expensive for meh food. I’d probably go back to have a drink on that patio, though.

Two stars because the guy behind the counter making the burger patties was very pleasant to have a conversation with before getting served. We got two coffees and a bowl of «cheesy grits». Two stars on the coffee — description said it had «Cramel» flavor — we laughed. Negative two stars on the grits.
I lived in South Carolina for 15 years and love grits. These grits were awful. There were purplish colored flecks in the grits, it was loaded with too much butter, and it had some unknown, not good cheese. Then the texture of the grits was weird — it was a cross between instant grits mixed with stone grounds grits and not in a good way at all. It was almost like they put the instant and stone ground grits in the microwave together at the same time and hit go. My wife and I deemed them the worst grits ever made! Grits are simple and you have to work to screw them up.
Revamp your recipe: Stone grounds grits, bring to boil, then simmer, add salt, a little pepper, a spat of butter, then add an ok amount of cheddar cheese — just enough to add flavor and bind the grits a bit but too much and you have lost it. Serve it with a buttermilk biscuit and you will have a home run! Please work on it and let me know when I can come back.
Owner’s comments:
Comment from Alicia B. of The Spoke & Bird
Business Owner
6÷4÷2016 Matthew,
That wacky «Cramel flavor» gets em every time. We thought we’d reach out before we share your review with the staff. Two stars — for an entire restaurant because you didn’t like the grits?
We’ll make sure to «work on it» and after we do… just wait for us to call, you know, so you know it’s safe to come back.
All the best
Response:
Alicia:
I gave Spoke & Bird a bad review for the awful grits. You then decide to post snide remarks, instead of owning up the shortcomings in making grits. When I took my dish back into the restaurant, I asked the staff where should I put my bowl. A kind staffer said she would take it and clearly saw that the bowl was still full. I got a weird look from her and thought normally someone would ask if I didn’t like the item. Instead she took it and walked away. I now presume that she is used to people returning the grits. She did not even offer to refund me the $ 5.00 that I paid for that abomination of a southern staple.
Now, I see that you are upset — as I can tell in your passive aggressive tone — that Spoke & Bid only got two stars. Actually, my written review gave you negative two stars for the grits, which is now updated for one star due to you. I have only visited your place once — in most instances you may have only one shot with a customer. I made an food ordered, which you represented as edible, and your establishment took my money. I was served something that was inedible and I will always believe that those were the worst grits ever served. That was, and will be, the basis of my experience with your place — nothing more, nothing less. I have zero desire — after my first experience coupled with your response — to really try anything else on your menu.
I noticed that in one of your reviews you thanked someone for their positive review and you said you were glad that everything was good. However, I notice that when the review is not so good, you go after the reviewer. It is not my fault that you cannot make proper grits or failed at making grits. So instead of me waiting on you to «work on it» or for you to «call me» when it is «safe to come back,» I’ll just take my money and go elsewhere, never to return to your business.
Matthew
06/​07/​2016:
So now it seems I am to blame because you «employee [sic] a lot of college student[s]» and haven’t trained them. That is somehow my fault and not yours as the business owner.
And you impugn my ethics and morals because you have made the worst grits ever served? I am pretty sure you cannot find worse grits than yours!
Matthew

Came to Spoke and Bird for the first time to check out the Pints of Science presentation going on that evening. First impressions were great. Ordering at the counter was easy, menu sounded appetizing, staff was pleasant, and the patio was huge and inviting. We ordered two beers, two jamburgers, a side of potatoes and mixed salad. The beer was reasonably priced, we got a seat out on the patio, and then the disappointment started. The food took over an hour to get out to our table, when it did come out the food was cold. I understand being busy, but why was the food delivered cold? That means the food had to be sitting out for at least 15 minutes before it got to us. The Jamburger was decent, but it sounds much better on the menu than it tastes. Five Guys is arguably a better burger. The potatoes were terrible, they were burnt, cold, and clearly had been sitting out for some time. The small side salad was good, but I think it takes a special type of person to really mess up a salad. So why am I giving this place 3 stars? Because the patio is awesome. The breakfast menu sounds good, so I’m going to come back and give it another shot. If breakfast sucks too, then I’m done with this place.

Recommend for a nice breakfast spot. Lovely outdoor patio where you can enjoy a morning up of coffee and eggs. The interior certainly has your «coffee bar» kind of vibe so wasn’t too sure how the food quality would be due to kitchen size, etc. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a nice «home cooked» style breakfast sandwich on a nice whole wheat English muffin, freshly cooked egg, and a good portion of ham plus some great tasting hashbrowns with homemade ketchup! Quality of the coffee is high and enjoyably flavorful.
One of the previous comments chimed in on price… that would be the only thing I would negatively critique on my breakfast as well. It was good, but at just north of $ 20 don’t feel it was the best value for money. Nevertheless, the chirping birds and lovely weather on the patio makes it easier to forget the price.

Food is disgusting, unfriendly service. But they have a nice patio space.
We ordered a carbonara and a rib. The carbonara is the worst I’ve ever had. The spaghetti was overcooked. The carbonara sauce is burnt. I asked the server and he said it was suppose to be like that because it was garlic, and didn’t do anything to fix the problem. The rib was a bit better. It was edible, but the rib is still overcooked.
The owner said the black burnt particles are «frico» (
). I admitted that I’m not familiar with that, but I still stand by my review that they tasted burnt.
The only good part of this restaurant is the outdoor patio space.

Neat spot with local selections of coffee, beer and food. My coffee snob friend enjoyed her cup. I had a cider… nothing special but one of my faves. We ate kale salad which was fantastic, the tomato salad which was bread, tomatoes and goat cheese, and home fries. Tasty but nothing spectacular. The staff was extremely nice and tried really hard… so much so, it was almost awkward. Can’t really explain it, you just had to be there. Great place to people watch too!

This place could be great. They’re missing a couple of key things:
Most importantly, they boast homemade (and expensive) pastries but completely ruin them by wrapping them in cellophane. You’re not a gas station or ⁷⁄₁₁. Sell your freshly made baked goods properly. The cellophane ruins the texture and consistency. I’m surprised these guys missed this in baking school. Their second location is where Beurrage in Pilsen was. That place made some of the finest baked goods in town, displayed them and sold them properly without cellophane. Not using it never killed the French, it won’t kill you guys either. And your items will taste better, too. I wish I knew what your fresh scone actually tastes like.
Also, give someone the option of having a small cup of coffee in a mug without charging them extra. It’s either small coffee in a paper cup or bottomless coffee in a mug for a buck extra. It’s not the extra dollar, it’s the peculiar choices these guys make that make no sense. Strangely, most cafes give you a discount for using a mug.
Other than that, it’s a nice place to sit outside and the other food is quite good. Get it together, guys. Do it right. You could be great.

It was a nice day out and we were out in South Loop. We went here to get dinner, but it’s more of a casual breakfast/​brunch/​lunch place. You order inside and then you can sit down outside at the tables. Food was okay. Like I said, more of a lunch place.
Nothing wrong with this place, but it doesn’t stand out in my opinion.

You know those beautiful, late (ish) Spring days you get every so often in Chicago? You know the one where you sit in the sun and have a beer at the perfect place? Well that was Saturday and the place was Spoke & Bird…
My wife and I had just finished helping out at the Anti-​Cruelty Society’s «Bark-​in-​the-​Park» fund raiser south of Soldier Field. We fired up Unilocal and found that Spoke & Bird was just about due west of our location and off we went…
First and foremost, their outside area is quite nice. There are sunny areas (when the weather cooperates) and shady areas and the whole space is quite large. So large in fact that the tables turn fairly quickly which is nice. (Note: The inside dining looked great too) We got in line, ordered our food, and got a number. Personally, I like this approach. I feel like it enables them to focus on the food. Also, were told, in advance, that the food may take some extra time which was also nice to know.
My wife ordered the Mac & Cheese and I had the BLT (s&blt?) I gave her meal a taste and it was quite good but I really focused on the BLT. The bacon was amazing and the tomatoes (I am not normally a sliced tomato fan) where perfect. Both came with homemade potato salad, which was quite good as well. The portions are big enough to want stop and take some home which we both did.
The overall value is quite good. Even their beer prices are decent. All in all I have to say 4 stars with an addition star for allowing me to dine with Al Fresco. I am glad Unilocal!led us to Spoke & Bird.

Spoke and Bird is a wonderful addition to the South Loop. Some notes:
1. Best damn home potatoes I’ve ever eaten. For reals. Disagree? I’ll refund your money. And never speak to you again
2. The care the kitchen puts into all its food. Take a few moments and watch how much time they spend preparing a humble beet. The eggs are always perfectly prepared. This is not your usual north side 10 pound omelet. This is fresh local ingredients, perfectly prepared each time.
3. The best damn patio in the city. Ok, outside of the lake or river. Big patio next to Woman’s Park, but far enough from Michigan Ave to enjoy a conversation.
Why only four stars? I’m obsessed with iced mochas, and they are still fine tuning the chocolate.

I came here a couple times while traveling on business and staying close by. I was there on a Mon and Tues and everything was great. The coffee was really good. It’s a strong flavor, nutty espresso like great ones I’ve had at many other independent coffee shops. The breakfast was really good. I tried the classic and the eggs and beans the other day. This is not a traditional place but a place for those wanting quality product with a unique taste. It’s not cheap but neither is Starbucks.

Literary cafè ,
I like the daisy, the Mac & Cheese
Everything here just right~
Comfortable and relax, especially the rainy day, even more poetic

Food was ok, nothing special. My iced mocha was well made, real chocolate.
Also had a black coffee, but it didn’t taste very good, very tart.
Too hot in the back room. There wasn’t any Wifi and they were blaring very bad jazz.

My wife and I just moved to the neighborhood after 10yrs in Lakeview, and were very excited to try a neighborhood place. We were very impressed.
On April 1, we stopped in for a lunch. The ordering is funky as you walk in and see the cashier off to the left, but the quirkiness is endearing. You figure it out pretty quick. I ordered a smoked hotdog sandwich, a Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin and my wife had a BLT.
Prices are above average, but so is the food quality. Everything was incredibly fresh– my smoked dog could have been plucked from a perfect July cookout, and the bacon on my wife’s dish was perfectly thick and crispy. We waited about 15mins for food to arrive and we devoured everything. It is worth the wait and pricing; they set an expectation and met it.
In fact, we were motivated to stop in on Sunday April 3^rd in the afternoon– their gorgeous, tree-​covered patio outback was open, so we ordered a PBR and enjoyed the 70 degree weather.
This was a well-​above average lunch with great beer selections to boot. The patio is a treasure. You are missing out if you’re a South Looper and don’t stop by.

The place/​ambience looks decent from outside. Decided to give it a try despite the rather low reviews since I live in the area any way. The setup is a little strange where you go order on one side of the building and then go find a seat in the hallway or in the room on the other side. Kinda like corner bakery system.
The food took about 40 minutes to come out. Portions were extremely small for the price tag. Not particular good either. We got the carbonara and bird burger. The pasta was about a 5 oz portion with sprinkles of bacon bits. The burger is a size of a white castle slider with bigger meat patties.
Coffees were ok, not great. If you’re here for the atmosphere, maybe itz ok. I would pass for the food.
We also noticed there were cases of milk just left out there in the hallway the entire time we were there. Not sure how long milk can stay good without being refridgerated.
With all that said, i would pass on this place and go visit a starbucks instead.

It’s a great little coffee shop to meet up at. The seating and the setting was cozy. The chai latte was pretty good but it was served slightly warm… it wasn’t hot enough. I was able to drink it quickly. The boy didn’t seen to care for the latte he had. We didn’t get to try the food but it looked good as we some plates pass by. We just ordered some scones and muffins which were pretty good.

Food was okay, nothing amazing. The latte was good, nice and strong. The homemade ketchup was delicious.
My friend got a sausage that was raw in the middle. Wouldn’t go back for food, but I would stop by for coffee.

I’m very happy I came across this place just a short walk from my hotel.
Spoke & Bird is very «cute» — very nicely decorated in a simplistic way. Outdoor seating is very quaint and relaxing. There is also plenty of indoor seating for those cooler days.
The first time I ate here, I was somewhat unimpressed with the food. I had the kids scrambled eggs and toast which were kind of bland and just plain forgettable. However, I gave Spoke & Bird a second try and ordered the egg sandwich with ham… YUM! It was full of flavor and downright delicious.
I also had hot chocolate which was very rich and delicious! It hit the spot just right.
This is a great place with a great vibe and for the most part, great food. Definitely worth giving a try!