Donna’s Cafe

Excellent place! I happened upon this cute café while looking for a place to eat in the South loop on the way to O’hare. Donna served us herself, and was very helpful in explaining menu items. I will definitely be back! It’s like having mom make you a sandwich after school, very homey!

Says it’s open but it’s not. Boo.

I actually tried to go back to this place and give it another chance. I then find out that donnas café has been closed for a while and Donna has actually sent out info saying that they would be permanently closed on her twitter account. Yet, the website isn’t updated and the sign on the front door says they are temporarily closed. Lazy and unprofessional to people who may want to go there or to see if this place got any better. My guess is that this type of entitled behavior contributed to the demise of a good business model that had awful execution, quality, and effort.

I came in here with my friend on a whim because I really had to use the bathroom. What a surprise! I loved the interior and the bathroom was so neat, clean and very spacious… hey, that is a big deal!
Anyway, he got a hot chocolate and of course, I had to look at the pastries. If I hadn’t eaten a big brunch I’d have ordered a slice of the «mystery» pie. I love that they have pies that are a mystery so you have to try it before you find out what is in it.
Also the owner sits at the counter the whole time, she chatted us up and she was a fun, knowing woman. She wasn’t trying to make her café into anything other than what she wanted it to be. She told us about the type of jazz she allows in the place and that they have live jazz there, which both my friend and I are into. But not smooth jazz, bah! The real deal. Anyway, I definitely want to return. I loved speaking to the owner and my friend said the hot chocolate was great! Customer service was excellent and I didn’t even buy anything!

I love Donna’s Café its a great place to go for a freshly made sandwich. I know some people talk about the wait time but since they make everything to order which works for me that’s why I continue to go back. The Cool Bird and the Ruben are to die for I also like the Chicken Sadwich. I also like the fact that they have a PB&J sandwich… my grand daughter loves those. If you want a fresh sandwich with a friendly owner and staff then Donna’s Café is the place for you!

After dropping off my boyfriend at the hospital for some minor surgery, I had to grab some breakfast and decided to try out this spot. I love the jazzy theme to this café. It felt cozy and comfortable and the music was enjoyable while I was sipping on my hot dark roast coffee and waiting for my breakfast sandwich. This was a very tasty breakfast sandwich with peach lavendar jam. The salty taste of the bacon with the mix of the sweetness of the jam was a great combination. They don’t have other types of coffee options like lattes, mochas, cappuccinos, etc. though which is surprising for what I think cafes offer. The staff was nice and the prices were just right.

Sat night. Overflow, my original destination was closed and I wanted a coffee. On my way back to Roosevelt I spot Donna’s Café.
Well, I stopped in thinking even though I couldn’t get my speziato from Overflow I’d at least be able to get a latte from this café.
Wrong. This café doesn’t serve lattes, just regular coffee. Ok. Still ok. It’s more food centered. Coffee will be just fine. I’m usually just a coffee girl anyway who doesn’t get all the frou frou additions (unless it’s the speziato from Overflow!)
But wow. doesn’t seem the lady behind the counter wanted my business. The way she took my order told me I was a bother.
I just wanted coffee and had service been good (I mean, it’ s just a coffee!) I may have ordered a sandwich. But if I can’t get a coffee served nicely why would I order something more???
So I ordered my coffee and left. It looks warm and inviting from the outside but inside it’s COLD.

Donna’s Café is a very small spot that features live Jazz on Friday evenings. They have a healthy menu, — which consists of sandwiches, salads and soups. (BYOB)
If you like Jazz, you will love Friday nights at this spot!
Very nice and cozy!

Gone 3 times in 9 months, I guess that’s me trying to support local business. Well no more. I have to wonder where these 5 star-​ratings are coming from — the free wi-​fi? I’ll break it down for you Jazzy style:
Donna’s café does everything right, wait for it…
…except for the food and service. The décor pulls me in every time. It’s where I would want to study or have a conversation with a friend… just not over their food or beverage.
But let’s make this constructive shall we? Lest Donna’s Café becomes no more.
1. Donna: visit Potbelly, visit Jimmy John’s, oh please visit Hannah’s Bretzel. They make sandwiches that are pretty much trademarked. No one wants to pay $ 8 for a sandwich we can make at home (and better)! I can’t get a Potbelly/​JJ and sure as hell can’t get Hannah’s Bretzel out of my fridge, but you can recreate any one of yours easily (and better).
Salads: go to Sopraffina: you can’t get a better salad anywhere else, and you want to charge me $ 8+ when I get something 100x better IN THE LOOP.
Service: go anywhere but Chinatown. Got to Panera bread, see how quickly they get a sandwich turned around. Don’t make me wait 15 min+ for a sandwich. AND I am the only customer. Shame.
In the end, it is very clear nobody running this business has had experience in the food industry for starters, and I’m willing to bet none in a café.
I’m now out $ 60 for the year because of Donna’s. The sad thing is, if Donna ever reads the real reviews and turns things around, I won’t be there to give it another shot.

Overall review was 3.5 stars, but I’m rounding it up because I want this café to do well since its in the South Loop.
Prices: Their prices for sandwiches and salads were a bit high to me for the portions they give (approximately $ 8 – 9). I think the coffee and the fruit cup were more reasonably priced than anything else. Their baked goodies, cookies/​brownies were about $ 3 each!
Café: The café itself was very clean and welcoming. Whoever decorated the place did a great job. Patrons seemed to like it here because they hung around to eat their snacks/​lunch. Overall theme was jazz. They had great jazz music playing and have live jazz events on certain nights.
Food: Food was very delicious. I ordered the tuna sandwich on Ciabatta bread and was told it included tuna, miracle whip, grapes, and Jamaican radish (or maybe that was relish?). Whatever was in it, it was delicious. Food portions were small though and definitely not worth almost $ 8.
Service: It was only okay. Not really friendly.
FYI, credit card minimum is $ 5.

I really wanted to like this place, I really did.
Living in the South Loop, your dining options are a bit limited, especially if you’re looking for something quality, yet inexpensive. We don’t have the same density of restaurants as Lakeview, say.
So when I saw a new sandwich shop/​café was opening, I was very excited. And after seeing a live jazz combo playing after I walked by after work, I was sold.
So the fella and I toddled down there on Saturday and left completely disappointed.
First off, the service was lacking. Our food took AGES to get out. Second, the fella ordered an iced coffee — he had to fill his own cup with ice and they poured coffee in it. When he asked for milk, they gave him a small single-​serving size bottle near the end, which had clumpy bits in the bottom (yuck!)
The food was… mediocre at best. I could have made better at home. My sandwich was made of the same super soft (so soft it dissolves on your tongue) bread that you get at jewel. The cranberry mayo was too sweet. My salad was not good. Just some baby spinach, shredded carrots and grape tomatos — nothing special at all. The raspberry vinaigrette, however, ruined even the mediocrity of the salad. It was super sweet, syrupy and artificial. I felt like I pourd red punch syrup over my veggies. For such simple food, I really didn’t understand the 20+ minute wait. I can throw that together in 5 minutes, flat!
The music would play only intermittantly, which left the restaurant in silence for long stretches, staring at each other uncomfortably.
Not terribly, but definitely not anything I’d pay money for.

Overdue review, sorry Donna.
Met up here with a friend of mine that is also a colleague that wanted to buy me a thank you lunch for some advice. Not really expecting such a nice gesture I wanted to pick something that wasn’t a budget buster.
Friendly owner, staff and well prepared fresh sandwiches, what more can you ask for from a café. Okay a good cup of coffee, yes they have that.
I’ll definitely be back here, I wish I lived closer so I’d be able to just pop in, however it’s worth the effort.

I am SO excited that this place opened! Such an asset to the neighborhood. I’ve been here a number of times (each time ordering something different) and I haven’t been disappointed yet. Sandwiches made fresh and the soups are really good. According to the bf, their coffee drinks are a-​ok and I enjoy the smoothies. Donna and all of the other employees are so nice and quick to solve any potential problems (even when the customers *ahem table that was next to us a couple of weeks ago* aren’t so nice)
My favorite thing about Donna’s is the cordoned off patio area in front of the building. What a great place to sit and read the newspaper while eating a pastry or drinking coffee on a Sunday morning!
I do wish they stayed open past 2 PM on Sundays but can’t have everything I suppose.

I love the variety of life at Donna’s– the food, the people, the conversations. It’s an awesome little café with BIG attitude and great food.
I had a «create your own Jazzy sandwich» with ham and brie and it was so delicious. Everyone at my table was jealous of my sandwich and said they’d order it the next time.
The best thing about Donna’s café though, is Donna. She’s fiesty and friendly and loves her neighborhood and her customers!

My first visit — loved the décor and the outdoor patio! I had a cool bird — and it was delicious — my friends ordered the cobb salad — very nice presentation and a nice healthy portion for the price — chicken salad — which was very tasty — I would have taken another bite — and another friend had a ham and brie with spinach on a chiabatta — I may have to have that next time.
Love that the owner was right there running the place along with her family. Comfy spot and I will be back to try the outdoor patio — super place for people watching.
Don’t ask me about the coffee — it’s a step towards adulthood I am not willing to take yet

my kid and i went in on a sunday afternoon to have a mom and me pow wow (she’s 17. lord help me) anyway, its a very pleasant café.
the staff was a little young and not as smooth as i would have preferred but i enjoyed my sandwich.
i was a little taken aback by my hot chocolate, which came to me as a pack of hot chocolate and a cup of hot water.
i went again today and had the same sandwich, the veggie panini which while tasty seems a bit small for the price. hummus is not an expensive item but they barely put any on the sandwich.
my girlfriend had a vegan pita which actually wasn’t in/​on pita bread but in a tortilla? so it’s technically a wrap, which is kinda confusing and it was definitely too small for the price.
as much as i wanted to love it and hoped to start spending time here, this is the kind of place that i would only go to for say a cup of tea but not really for the food.

So i went to Donna’s café a week ago when visiting chicago. I was very impressed from the time that i walked through the door, to upon leaving. I just loved he atmosphere, with the jazz playing and how the furniture was set up. I just loved the artwork, and how it was placed throughout the café. It made it feel as if it was a actually home that you was visiting for the first time.
The owner and staff was very receptive, and made you feel at home. I enjoyed the food very much, especially the chicken gumbo, being that I am not a big soup person. It was very good, and it hit the spot along with the my sandwich. I am so looking forward to visiting again, and can’t wait to be able to sit outside when the weather gets better.

I know they are still learning and new, so maybe things will get better, but I’ve been to better places.
Wait time was somewhat long.
Proportions were unequal: huge servings of chili and gumbo, but the half sandwhiches were pretty small.
Why all the big to-​go containers? I felt like I was wasting so much plastic!
Peanut butter cake was just alright.
Bread as a side = good idea. Pumpernickle, rasin-​sunflower seeds and cranberry bread as the option = eh. not so much (had to toast it when I got home. Made it much better)
Friendly staff (I think they are still learning how to work with each other though)
Great décor and interior. Very welcoming appearance.
I hope things can get better for them. This kind of place is needed in the area.

It’s like I made a wish list of the things I needed in a place and created Donna’s.
— Decent selection of healthy, tasty sandwiches, salads, and soups.
— PASTRIES. really freaking good pastries. with free samples!
— free wi-​fi
— ample work space including tables and comfy chairs
— friendly owner and staff
— caffeine: coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, etc.
— reasonable prices
— my absolute favorite thing about this place: the location
I’m so happy.

When the signage for Donna’s Café «coming soon» was posted in their window on State Street in the South Loop, we waited with bated breath that this new eatery would bring a breath of fresh air to our area. To sum it up — yum! It is cute and inviting once you step through the door and the staff is friendly and helpful. They offer healthy-​type sandwiches, soups, and salads at reasonable prices, along with baked goods, etc.
Donna makes you feel right at home in her place. We are lucky to have another comfortable place to hang or to grab a quick bite.
Because they just opened, a little patience is required until they get their mojo going but it’s no biggie. We’re delighted to welcome Donna to the neighborhood!