Icosium Kafé

Visiting Chicago on vacation, we happen to have our first meal here. I was extremely happy with the veggie and omelette crepes. They were loaded with delicious organic vegetables.
We will visit this place while we are here to try other items on the menu.

I was so excited to go because I always pass by it, but it was very underwhelming.
Cash only
Ran out of bananas
No ice cream even tho it’s on the menu
Hole in my pink umbrella
Waitresses just gave off a mean attitude.
Atmosphere was cool!
Crepes were alright.

I don’t know about any of the other food here, but the sweet crepes are simply delicious. After a somewhat disappointing meal at Hema’s down the street, this more than made up for it and reaffirmed by notion that Chicago has great food. They sat us in the little tent area that actually really interesting. The whole place has a real mix of décor. We ordered three crepes for a group of six– and all three were delicious. The LaBella was my favorite though– banana and Belgian chocolate. A perfect dessert!

Hugs and kisses, cute animals, sunrises, sunsets, the sun, long walks on the beach.
These are all things that are *pleasant.* This gem, like other pleasant things, is difficult to review because one risks sounding gushing or a being a sycophant.
It was by pure serendipity we dined here after a long walk. We ordered Turkish Coffee, the Crêpe de Roma (portabello mushroom, capers, tomatoes, basil, mozzerella, spinach, and we added chicken breast), and the Crêpe Amar (strawberries, Belgian Chocolate, and whipped cream on the side).
The Turkish Coffee came with the crepes. Maybe it takes longer to brew so I recommend ordering it a few minutes staggered before the food. It was strong and good. Both of the crepes were excellent, but we much preferred the dinner crêpe to the dessert one. My companion announced, «These are just like the ones where I’m from!» (Wicker Park) Ha, I keed! He’s from Europe. Evidently, the restaurant bills itself as Algerian, but crepes are served in many countries and regions. It’s a multicultural food, like chocolate or… bread. If you’ve never had a crêpe they’re similar to a burrito but made with a pancake that’s been put on a diet.
As we dined my companion noted it seemed like (with the whimsical décor and coffee service set on table) we were having a tea party in a playhouse. So cutely pleasant.
They have many diverse options for the fillings and also offer soups and salads so this place is vegetarian friendly. I do wish they’d offer whole wheat batter options for the crepes though. I don’t think the batter they have is vegan or gluten free, if that’s a concern.
Want a pleasant and good meal? Go here and it’s a wrap! The pun was total crêpe. Hugs and kisses. Bye!

We had an improptu lunch at Icosium yesterday. The whole experience was very pleasant. I had the Algerian coffee which was delightful. Our crepes were delish, my only suggestion to the chef is to possible soften the dry figs a bit before making the crêpe. I almost nearly got a sore jaw chewing them. The service is excellent and the atmosphere is very pleasant.
Will see you soon either at the lower Clark location or at the Andersonville locale.

I just don’t like the food at this location. ‘Nuff said. Just take your ass up to Andersonville where the gates of yummy goodness awaits.

I visited Icosium Kafe during the Andersonville Street Festival, so we could hear the cover band playing 90s hits while we dined. Despite the music (or because of it), we had a lovely experience.
The mint tea with honey was the nectar of the gods, and my savory crêpe, though too giant to finish, was delicious. My dining companion insisted I try one of the savory ones, but the breakfast crepes actually looked a great deal more tempting.
The chicken soup that they served beforehand was just mediocre, but the red spicy sauce that accompanied well made up for it.

Still my favorite place for crepes in the city. And I dig their new location (a few doors north of the old spot). Much more seating, more comfy and still cozy and nice.
+1 for having halal/​zabiha meat
+1 for the lamb sausages
+++++++ a lot of love

Dining at this place makes you feel like you’re somewhere rustic and old world. The décor and menu are both very simple, yet at the same time seem understated and well thought out.
I know, a bunch of contrasting comparisons. Only thing that matters though is how good these crepes really are.
We each had 3 savory crepes, and my only feat is that I should’ve split my savory crêpe so I could have room for any crêpe filled with nutella… there are many choices.
The bestie chose a Crêpe De Paris. Unbeknownst to him, there are actually 2 different Paris Crepes, and he got stuck with the apple and brie crêpe instead of the savory one filled with escargot, garlic and brie. Waitress brought him a side of request escargot, but it didn’t seem to have quite the same effect as if it were cooked inside. Other dinner mate had the carthage crêpe full of bell peppers, tomatoes, feta cheese, scallions and walnuts. Very great mix. It may seem like a lot of ingredients, but really, they are not overwhelming and blend well together. Same for my chosen crêpe, of the goat cheese, carmelized onions, roma tomatoes, pine nuts, spinach and brie (whew, that’s a mouthful). Simple fresh ingredients that make for such a tasty light, BUT filling meal.
Savory crepes are $ 10 with side of soup or salad. Dessert crepes run an average of $ 8. Service was quick. Dining area is nice and cozy. I will warn you… I’m quite sure that many diners have seen the giant sized Nutella jar on the windowsill, and have wanted to steal it. Hahah, I know I did.

What a gem in the city. Great vegetabel and sweet crepes. They have recently added the Chicken Tangine as an entrée which is incredible.
The service was fantastic. We met the owner who was so friendly.
I’m glad they moved into a larger location. Great place for relaxation and a good time.

Not sure if anyone knows this or not but Icosium Kafe, formerly located at 2433 N. Clark has moved and is now billing themselves as a north African creperie. As far as I can tell, the menu hasn’t changed — or, if it has, it hasn’t changed much. But if you go to the former location (tiny establishment with the cool, funky windows), you’ll find that they’re no longer there.
So where are they? They’ve taken up residence in the restaurant space formerly known as Mamacita’s. The space is quite a bit larger and lighter. There is a «tent room» in the back of the restaurant now. It’s not exactly a tent per se; however, hand-​woven blankets have been arranged to give it a bit of a cozy, tent-​like feel. The seating in the tent room is quaint with dainty metal benches and fluffy pillows. Dimly lit lamps complete the look.
As usual, the food is delicious, if crepes are your thing (I love them). The prices are reasonable and the turkish coffee is some of the best I’ve had locally. Icosium has become one of my neighborhood go-​to places with good reason. And that certainly hasn’t changed!

I think this is one of my top 5 restaurants in Chicago for many reasons!
FOOD: The crepes (especially the savory) are the best I’ve ever had. And I like crepes so I like to try them in different cities I visit. The Icosium crêpe is my FAVE. The soup and tea is also very good.
SERVICE: The staff is always soooo friendly. I don’t know why. They are just nice people and will even stay open if you are just coming in or still eating.
AMBIENCE: The place is small and very cute. It is a good date place or just a casual place where you can actually get a table and hear your friends voices. (The Icosium in Andersonville is always packed, which means waiting, being surrounded by lots of people, and it’s loud).

Starving like Marvin this early afternoon and we were looking for some place that might not be too crowded or had some sort of wait. Looked on Unilocal and this place came up. The menu looked great and seemed to have lots of good eating potential.
Walked on over and noticed the place was actually small. There were a couple of tables open so we got lucky. They sat us right by the kitchen and we saw another table in a better location. We asked if we could move to it and the waitress said sure and cleaned the table. I went with the 100% Pamagrante juice which was spectacular. She got the Egptian Mango juice which even better. For my meal I went with the Chicago Crêpe which includes cheese avocado, cilantro, bell peppers, sun flower seeds, scallions and sun dried tomatos. Very good and very big. The dish came along with two soup options: chicken or vegetable. I went with vegetable which was just okay. The plate came along with fresh melon and grapes. The grapes were big and juicy and I enjoyed the hell out of it.
The staff was really nice and pleasant. Glad we chose this place for brunch today! Will try the root beer float next time!

I stopped in here today with the 3-​year-​old I nanny for to have ourselves a mid-​day treat. It is small, but cute, and beautifully decorated. I do imagine, though, that tables could get cramped here if it fills up. The server was very friendly and she even gave a kid-​friendly water glass to the 3-​year-​old (taller glass, straw, filled with tiny umbrellas — which were a total hit!).
I opted for the Nutella crêpe, and a Butter & Sugar crêpe for the little one. The presentation was sooo cute. I hadn’t seen the Unilocal reviews/​photos prior to going, so the decorated plates were a fab surprise. Mine had Nutella flowers around the rim and the other had dollops of honey and drops of strawberry or cherry syrup all over — both with generous helpings of fresh whipped cream. Soooooo goooood! The picky little eater ate every single bite (and some of mine lol).
It was a fun experience and I look forward to going back. The simple dessert crepes we ate were very fairly priced at $ 4.75 each. The menu was impressive, and I can’t wait to try some of their gourmet savory crepes ($ 9.50 each and come with soup).

I love the menu options and the coffee is amazing. The place itself is pretty quiet. I went here to study actually and it was perfect.
The only problem… no outlets for a computer but its a great little spot to have some great coffee and food. I had soup and a salad and thought it was really good. Service is pretty good. I liked it because it was different. I will probably be back for a crêpe or something in the near future.

I’m so glad this was on Check Please, but the other location! I’ve walked by it a ton, and always thought about going in, but it always looked a little intimidating. I’ve certainly never been to an Algerian restaurant before, but watching it on Check Please calmed my fears.
We went in for lunch on a Saturday. Service was impeccable, and very homey. For example, when you order their specialty coffee, it takes a while because they boil the water and make it fresh for you, and they were very apologetic for the wait!
The food is crêpe based, but it’s a little different than the French/​American crepes I’m used to. It’s a lot like a sandwich, wrapped up in a crêpe. Lots of greens and very fresh veggies. We ordered the Icosium and the Chicago, and both were fantastic. Oh, and they come with soup! I had the veggie, which is actually more like a vegetable bisque, and it was honestly the best veggie soup I’ve ever had. Yum yum, we’ll be back for sure. And next time we’ll try the desert crepes too!

I’ve never really had Dulce de leche before. The closest thing was Vietnamese Coffee, thus when I saw it on the menu here, I was intrigued. If all Dulce de leche is this good, then I’m a fan of the product.
Walking into this place, it seemed out of place. I was visiting some friends, so I’m not that familiar with Lincoln Park, but my impression of it was a lot of bars, a lot of American style cafes, and a lot of American food. But walking into this place was a nice change of pace, especially on the blustery winter evening I was in.
It’s warm and serves warm drinks, what else would you want?
Their crepes were awesome. After a lot of walking around, it really hit the spot. This also seems like a great place to relax and study, if needed. The atmosphere is cozy and peaceful.
The service was also great. Our waitress was really friendly and answered all of my touristy questions. As an outsider with a fresh opinion, I’d say this place rocks.

That’s right, it takes Algerians to do a crêpe that rocks! Those French had a good idea but didn’t know how to take it to the next level.
The place was empty when I went here so I wasn’t so sure about it when I first sat down. After looking at the menu I was amazed at the ingredients that you can choose from to put in crepes. I’m a savory crêpe fan so seeing things like spicy sausage, feta, spinach and walnuts was a plus for me. They also have a great selection of sweet crepes as well if you’re looking for something to kill that sugar craving. Ended up ordering two crepes and a couple coffees that added up to $ 25 and for the size of the crepes this was a great deal. The service was extremely friendly and quick. We were in and out in under 30 minutes. I’ll be going back again soon, this is currently my favorite crêpe place in Chicago.

Ate here for lunch today… Loved it!
I will write more later…

Come for the food, not the service.
The food here remains solid, the sweet crepes are what keep me coming back. I love the Crêpe Aziz (strawberry, kiwi and Nutella) with dark chocolate instead of Nutella. The fruit is fresh, the crêpe perfectly done and the presentation artful.
The only major downer about coming here is that service is painfully slow. The staff is always extremely friendly, but very inattentive. I came in today at an off time so the place wasn’t crowded, but I still had to wait over 10 minutes for someone to come by and take my order. My food was ready quickly and perfect as always, but when I finished I sat with my finished plate in front of me for another 10 while servers and staff passed by regularly. I’ve grown accustomed to leaving the tip on the table and going up to the register to pay, rather that seeing how long it will take for someone to leave the check.
Bottom line: Awesome food (4.5 stars), inattentive, yet friendly service (2 stars). Don’t stop in if you’re in a hurry.
TIP: It’s BYOB, maybe a few drinks will help you forget the slow service.