Lula Cafe

Came here for Restaurant Week and loved every single thing on the vegetarian menu. The cauliflower was incredible – I would go back for just that alone.

My friend took me here for a Sunday brunch. The chefs are creative, bold and know how to comfort customers’ belly. We had the grain bowl & clam and pork belly. Ingredients are as explained on the menu but so many layers of flavors beyond expectations. The grain bowl is light, yummy, creamy with the egg yolk and refreshed my buds with the grilled apple cubes! And the pork belly with calm– you have to dip the toasted bread into the sauce to enjoy the twist of melting egg white in the calm juice/​oil bath.

Ok so it’s Saturday noon and we’re here still waiting after an hour for a breakfast burrito and one turkey sandwich. Here they are! Hope they are worth the wait. All right the food is really good and all the plates around look awesome but this time waiting was not cool at all.

We came here Saturday morning at 9, surprised seeing a queue at the place as it opens at 9, the staff managed quickly to take us to our little table outside, the very friendly girl served us delicious Lula burrito and Lox plate — what a start in the day, thank you so much!

My sister and I were living in Logan Square for the past few days and Lula Café was one of those places I want to visit before I leave. It’s located in the hip town of Logan Square, which explains where the hipster/​trendy ambiance of this café comes from. When we went, it was packed, but since it was a Wednesday when we went, we were able to snag the last table for 2.
I got the cornbread french toast and my sister got the 2 eggs your style. The cornbread french toast looked amazing, but it tasted too much like cornbread and not like french toast. Halfway through eating it, I got tired of the taste and just couldn’t finish it. My sister enjoyed her meal with the different choices of bread, eggs over hard, home fries (my favorite by far because of their seasoning), and a side of quality maple bacon which tasted great!

Sent here upon the recommendation of our air bnb host, we went for a late lunch we did not regret it.
The restaurant is large and has two sides to it. One with more of a relaxed café feel and the left side a slightly more tailored restaurant area with a large bar. We sat at bars seats by the window overlooking the park, drank sparkling rose with an entrée of baked feta with a pesto oil with marinated olives and had a slight hint of spice to it also. Delicious. The highlight in fact.
We shared a harrisa based chick pea tagine, served with bread also. Surprisingly filling but tasty.
Perfect lunch spot, delicate well balanced food.

Went on Memorial Day just before noon and we were quoted a 90-​minute wait. «Must be amazing,» I wondered to myself. We killed time and eventually got our table.
I ordered the cornbread French toast and a side of bacon.
The cornbread French toast didn’t really taste like cornbread. And if they actually put it in eggs and milk and threw it on a griddle, it sure didn’t taste like that. The rhubarb concoction they put on top was nice, but this dish was mostly flavorless.
The bacon was fine, but nothing to wait 90 minutes for.
Lula Café isn’t bad, it’s just boring and definitely NOT worth any kind of wait.

Food was delicious, but two different employees attempted to clear our plates a total of 3 times while my wife was still eating (she eats slow, but still.)
Just let us enjoy our meals, please!

Brunch thoughts:
1. This is a comment on the food alone, since I got it as a take-​away, not eat-​in
2. LULA CAFE is bomb dot com. Nay, it’s: BRUNCH DOT COM
Go here for brunch. There’ll be lines unless you hit ‘brunch’ around ‘breakfast time’. Suck it up, it’s worth it. It’s a little pricier than your usual brunch price-​point? Ditto: suck it up, it’s worth it.
The breakfast sandwich here is amazing. Chunks of amazingly tender ham, a fried egg, raclette, on the softest, tenderest foccacia. Side of ever-​so-​spicy slaw. There was nothing, not one thing, off about this sammich.
My friend FLIPS for their grits. FLIPS. Like is all about those grits.
Omlettes, special pastries, large, interesting salads: Lula has it going on.
Unilocal note: menu changes with some regularity, but is updated online!

Dined here on Saturday for brunch. Started off waiting at the bar til our table was ready, which wasn’t that long of a wait at all. We had bloody Mary’s which were okay. They make their mix in house and I’d prefer it to be a little spicier and thicker. It had kind of a cucumber flavor to it and it could use a little less grit and grain in the mix.
For brunch I had their breakfast sandwich that was on special. It was called «the royale» and it was incredible. Made with lamb sausage, ramp relish, arugula, horseradish aioli, stracchino cheese and a sunny side egg on a brioche bun. It was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever had.
The coffee they serve is delicious too. Sometimes places serve coffee that is really bitter but they made a good selection.
Also, the service here is so friendly. Our brunch ran a little late and we were gonna order French toast for dessert but they stopped serving brunch and our server felt bad so he brought us some muffins and pastries no charge for us to enjoy. It was the sweetest gesture ever!

I came in on a Sunday around 1pm it was a bit crowded because it’s not a very big space.
I had the cornbread French toast. loved it! Everyone there was friendly from the host to the bartender (I ate at the bar). If you’re looking for some different breakfast I would suggest this place!

This is my favorite date night place in Chicago, and I’m certainly not the only one that thinks that way. Service is always impeccable, the wine list has something for everyone, and the food is creative and ever changing. In fact, during one visit, while asking the server what wine she recommended with our meal, she actually pulled a bottle from the cellar that wasn’t even listed on the menu. «We had this on the menu a few weeks ago, and I remember seeing two or three bottles left over, and well, I think it would be perfect for what you have ordered.» She was absolutely right! How great is that?!
I’ve never been for brunch (it can get pretty insane on the weekends) but I’ve heard great things. I can’t wait to find a time to sneak in on a quieter day to experience it for myself.
I just moved to Logan Square myself, so I know I’ll be here all the time… date night or not.

Love love love Lula!
I have been here twice now and Both times it was great! The first time I went it was about a year ago. I had a delish kimchee breakfast plate. I hope they bring that back one day.
Yesterday I got the breakfast burrito. YUM. it’s simple but just so delicious. My friend got the Spanish tortilla. I tried a bit of it and it was also very good. And presented beautifully.
I love the décor, the service, and the affordable prices. They have a seasonal menu too, so make sure to try something on that special menu because it may not be there the next time you go back.
This place gets busy on the weekends for brunch. There is quite a bit of meters parking but that also can get scarce when there are a lot of people waiting.

We did not eat here. This is a review based on our experience.
***Yelp gives this $$ but its at the VERY top of that. almost $$$ from the menu***
We checked the Unilocal reviews before coming. The unfortunate part of that is because the pictures and reviews looked so amazing it motivated us to come in… the date of the reviews were within the month.
None of what we saw was on the menu– it was very disappointing. We asked about the menu, the waitress said it changes all the time. Thats unfortunate because we came for the few items we saw on Unilocal and google.
Beautiful location but those ever changing menus are annoying.

After going to Lula many times for brunches, lunches and dinners, I do declare it one of my favorite restaurants in the city. It’s a little pricey and the wait can get crazy during weekend brunch, but the food is always incredibly fresh and downright delicious, as well as the service always being respectable.
Lula Café is known for it’s brunch but I tend to think their dinner is where they shine. Their brunch is great, don’t get me wrong. You just will end up waiting — sometimes a very long time. For example, on Sunday my friends and I were quoted a 20 – 25 minute wait and ended up waiting a full hour. As someone who used to host, I can’t imagine being so far off in my estimate of the wait as there is usually a good system to figure out the estimates to give customers.
Either way, the brunch menu is by no means expansive but you’ll surely find several things that suit your fancy. I’ve only had good dishes for brunch but for dinner — I’ve only had beyond delicious meals. Plus, you usually don’t have a wait in the evening. I’d love to give you some recommendations but because Lula uses seasonal ingredients and constantly is updating their menu, whatever I told you was fabulous this past weekend, you probably won’t find on their menu next week.
I do have to say that their pasta dishes are always phenomenal! Any dish that features vegetables as the main attraction is also always on point. You really can’t go wrong with anything if you go to Lula’s so get something that has ingredients you love and I’m sure you’ll be pleased. Because all their veggie dishes are so great, this carnivore always shocks herself by ordering a couple on each visit to share with the table. They are just TOO GOOD to pass up!
Aside from the fabulous food, service is usually stupendous at Lula. The staff is all very well versed in the menu — even with it constantly changing. They can easily give you recommendations and educate you on ingredients you aren’t familiar with. Every time I’ve gone to Lula, I’ve learned about some fun new food elements I’ve never heard of prior!
Lula Café is good for brunch if you’d like to wait quite awhile and don’t mind that there is no patio. But I highly recommend you hit them up for dinner and try as much as you possibly can! It’s a good date spot though it can get a bit loud and good with smaller sized groups of 6 and under. I love Lula and plan to continue patronizing this home ‘hood spot on the regular.

Pretty nice, and very busy hipster café. The brunch options are interesting and unexpected. Traditional options are available for those of us (like this guy) that aren’t as daring sometimes with their breakfast foods. While they have a great array of options for those willing to venture out into the unknown.
The one downside is the air tunnel created in the dining room that blasts you with frozen air

Love love love. I’d been wanting to come here for two and a half years, and never got around to it until until recently, and the long-​anticipated visit did not disappoint.
If you come for early afternoon Sunday brunch, the wait will be about an hour, but the bookstore a couple doors down is great for killing that time.
Once you’re in, Lula can do no wrong. The décor is interesting. The service is great — the staff is friendly and you would think the water glasses, tiny and adorable as they are, would be impractical, but no, because they are constantly refilled.
I tried the pozole on what was apparently the last day it was available. It was delicious and the leftovers were great to top on rice. The menu had a good mix of interesting dishes as well as brunch classics, and they did the classics well — the pancakes were the perfect fluffy consistency, and the sausage and potatoes were also delicious.
I’ll definitely be back for brunch round 2 (and 3, 4, etc…) and dinner! Maybe in another 2 ½ years.

Simply put: Lula café is amazing
I came here for Sunday brunch with a couple of friends and the wait was about an hour. Naturally, we migrated to the bar and found the cocktail menu. I ordered the Stay Woke in Willemstad — a deliciously strong combination of bourbon and coffee. After about 35 minutes or so of arriving, we were able to snag 4 bar stool spots.
To start I ordered the almond pear coffee cake, which I highly recommend (along with any other of their pastries for that matter). For my main course, I was deciding between The Royale and the Glazed pork shoulder until our waiter recommended the latter. I can not thank him enough for his recommendation– this dish was so flavorful and satisfying. The carrot-​pork broth was in a league of its own and the egg added a certain je né sais quoi to the dish.
Overall, I had an excellent experience: Ambiance, service, and food were all spectacular. I eagerly await my next visit to Lula’s.

Absolutely love Lula. My dog and I have enjoyed lots of Sunday mornings on their fabulous patio. Bro and I (my dog’s name is Bro…) love the lox platter. Our drinks (hot coffee, and his bowl of water) are always refilled quickly which is nice when you’re trying to perk up for a morning at the Farmers Market right around the corner.
I have also had Lula brought home for me when I was too hung over to want to leave the house. It traveled well, and was still stupid yummy!!!
Lula is awesome for date night dinner as well. I am a sucker for beef tartar– and theirs did not disappoint. Actually it is my favorite in Chicago!!! So much flavor and depth. Not the scary texture you think about when it comes to tartar. It is absolutely delectable!!! My very handsome date really enjoyed his squid ink risotto. They few bites he shared with me were so sophisticated and rich. So lovely!
Service is quick and friendly. This place is hot– so expect a crowd and amazing memories.

Seriously. I can’t even. This place is so awesome!!! Service was great. We had a 45 min wait for Sunday brunch at around 11 am for 2. We waited at the bar and got seats there instead.
Beet Bruschetta — delicious! Multigrain toast with goat cheese, beet and seasoned kale and walnut on top. Came with 4 toasts so it’s a good app to start. Very very good! Especially for all the beet lovers out there. #beetdontkalemyvibe
The Royal sandwich — chickpea patty with avo and slaw. The buns were too thick, but the chickpea patty was flavorful.

Heeeeeyy, nice one! Great spot for brunch with my kids and wifey of the month playa! Roomy space, tasty menu, someting for everybody, even my picky eater darling 10 year old daughter was happy with her banana bread pancacku. «MOTO PENEKEKU!» she would yell like Josh Brolin in Inherent Vice
Come through and enjoy your life, coffee is good, food is good, what else do you want? Great place to get a bite before a movie at the Logan.

Came here for late dinner. Nothing wowed me. Service was good, the waitress was very patient and attentive. Food was just ok. Quesadilla didn’t have a lot of flavor, pasta was ok, and honestly, I expected something more from Kohlrabi dish for 22 $. Didn’t know tiny portions of vegetables are so expensive these days.

I have been here for lunch more times than I can count, for good reason: tasty, diverse menu (french toast! spaghetti! sandwiches! bulgar bowl!) and friendly staff. Oh, and outside seating in summer. Major key. Major.
The specials menu changes often so even though I feel like I am here a lot, I am usually trying something new most of the time. Portion size is ok– not huge, but personally I find it just right for lunch.
The only ding I can give is that sometimes service is sloooow. It will feel like an interminable wait for a drink refill. But other than that, Lula is worth the hype.

Food was excellent. We had: quesadillas, the lux bagel, and pozole. Each was flavorful and delicious.
Ambiance was great, cool artwork, friendly staff.

Amazing. Had brunch at Lula on a Sunday with my husband, another couple, and their toddler twins. We showed up around 10am and our wait was in the 30minute range. Very busy and bustling, as usual. We found room to stand across from the bar and their quoted wait time was spot on. The staff was very friendly and accommodated us with a table that would allow for 2 high chairs as well as providing the kids with some crayons and paper to keep them occupied. Even though the restaurant was so busy, our server was attentive (but not too attentive, if you know what I mean).
I ordered the «Royale» breakfast sandwich, which was a special item and so freaking good. It was also on the larger side. I didn’t actually finish the whole thing even though I wanted to because the falafel and bread were so good. My husband ordered spaghetti from the larger plates section. Not exactly a brunch dish, but he was a big fan and, again, the portion was quite large.
One of the things I love about Lula is that they offer typical brunch food, but with their own spin on it. I think the price is right. The convenient location to the blue line is also a positive.

It was soooo busy here for Sunday brunch. Very popular place! Amazing service. Wait time for a table of 5 was initially 40 mins and then an additional 15.
Part of our party waited at the bar and ordered pastries and coffee for the rest of the group who couldn’t find seats while we waited for our table. The pastries are delicious! We tried one of each and they all hit the spot. That was probably the best part of the meal.
Once we were sat, we had the nicest waiter ever honestly. Such great service and so friendly! Cappuccino isn’t bad. I had the tofu scramble; it was good but I don’t think I would order it again. It wasn’t amazing. Others had the corned beef hash which they said was great but maybe a bit too greasy.
All in all, I would recommend this place but not for brunch. Even though I love the venue and the service is fantastic I just don’t think there is anything novel about the brunch specifically.

The goat cheese and beet bruschetta was tasty
The soup was excellent, butternut squash in a tomato broth
The turkey avocado was average but satisfying
We came before they switched to the dinner menu so may return in the future

Surprised I haven’t a reviewed this place yet…
I’ve been here a few times. Mostly for brunch, but also for dinner. There brunch is really good, and I enjoy the changing seasonal menus. Today I had the glazed pork shoulder with rice grits. It was really delicious and not too heavy. My friends had the breakfast burrito, bagel and lox and the soup of the day.
Love going here, but the wait can be a little long, but nothing out of the ordinary for a brunch spot in Logan (40 – 60 min. On a weekend).

Awesome spot for brunch. I happened to be in and around Logan Square looking for a brunch spot. I was lucky enough to snag a spot at the bar. I ordered The Royale, which is their take on a breakfast sandwich with turkey leg confit, gruyère, bacon, on sourdough topped with an egg. Incredibly rich and decandant. Tough to get in at a the wait can get ridiculously long. Next time I’m in town, I’ll definitely be stopping back in for brunch!

Gracious customer service, from a server who went out of his way to do something nice.
Visiting for the day before driving to Milwaukee, good friends and Chicago residents recommended Lula to us. We didn’t realize brunch was over, and we were so hungry that we got a table without consulting the menu. As we sat down to look at it, I began salivating over the Pasta ‘Yiayia’ and the tagine. Ultimately, we wanted to find some brunch, so we paid for our coffees, apologizing to the server. He brought over a large hazelnut pastry in a to-​go box for us. What?! A beautiful and completely unnecessary gesture. Thank you, & we’ll be back for a meal next time we’re in town.

We met some friends there last night, and I have to say that I’m quite impressed by the dinner menu. We started with the Brussels sprouts and pork belly. Both appetizers were really good, and we would get them again. Not terribly large portions, but between the four of us, it gave us a bite or two of each.
For entrees, we had the Roasted Chicken, Kholrabi, Chickpea Sweet Potato Tangine, and the Spaghetti. I had the Tangine and loved it — plenty of chickpeas in a sort of curry sauce. I just wish I had another piece of bread to get every last drop of curry. My husband had the Spaghetti with chili salsa and he loved it. I had a bit and it was very good — quite different than you would expect. Our friends had the other two dishes and enjoyed them… although one piece of the chicken was a bit dry.
For dessert, we split the gingerbread pudding cake — which was good. Not my favorite dessert out there, but still quite good.
Add a few drinks, and we were happy with our meal. I would definitely come back again and try different dishes. There are a lot of smaller dishes that you can definitely turn it into a shareable meal for several people.

We returned recently for dinner and to celebrate our 6-​month anniversary. We enjoyed our soup and the side of beets, but not a huge fan of the cauliflower or the quesadilla. These were gluten-​free and they had a vegetarian-​friendly menu, but the tastes were either bland (quesadilla) or overpowering (cauliflower).
Service was just okay too — it looked the entire time that our server was unhappy with us for not ordering more food & drinks, or for being vegetarian. We didn’t love our cocktails either, which judging by the price tag should’ve delivered more.

Stopped by for brunch and split an order of the breakfast sandwich as well as the trout scramble.
The breakfast sandwich was more of a decomposed sandwich resembling a pot pie with turkey leg confit. I loved the richness of the sauce as well as the yolk from the egg came together with the crunchiness of the sourdough to create a bite of heavenly deliciousness. The generous cuts of bacon also didn’t hurt; despite not being much of a bacon person, I loved how the smoky flavors complemented the dish.
The trout scramble didn’t look like much at first; however, the pieces of trout as well as the arugula created an interesting and complex flavor profile that I never would have imagined was possible for scrambled eggs. The potatoes that came with the scrambled eggs were also perfectly seasoned and extremely well done.
Overall, I loved the unique take on brunch as well as the interesting flavors and would love to stop by again to see what the dinner menu offers.

Went with 3 friends and I feel like I got the least delicious thing there, which was still about medium-​high on the delicious scale.
I got the trout scramble. It was nice! I mean, it was a scramble, with trout it in. And it came with breakfast potatoes and toast. So yeah. Nice just about covers that.
My companions, on the other hand, got way more real with their brunch. Someone got pumpkin pancakes, which were GREAT (I tried a bite), and someone else got the Royale, which is an open-​faced sandwich with I don’t even know what on top of it, but it was GREAT (tried a bite of that too, obviously). The 4^th dish was a sweet potato dish with a fried duck egg, which was great, but just lowercase great, not uppercase great.
GO EARLY. 11am is prime brunch hour in Chicago, and we were there at 10am and it was still packed with even a small wait. If you go any later than that, expect to wait an hour or two.

I’ve been here for brunch and dinner several times and have always had a great experience. For brunch, I highly recommend the tofu scramble, it is one of the best I have tried. It comes with a side of delicious crispy potatoes. The dish is so fresh and really delicious! My friend got the cornbread french toast, which was also delicious!
For dinner, I had the Tineka sandwich. It is really different and tasted amazing!
Service was wonderful each time I was there, even when they were really busy.
They had a lot of great seasonal items on the menu. Lots of vegetarian and GF options. I can’t wait to go back and try the vegetarian tasting menu!

We had dinner at Lula Café with friends and had an enjoyable meal.
Décor: It’s a cool little spot that has a bunch of tables and, while unassuming from the outside, is actually quite large inside. The lighting is set low, to set a very relaxed and chill mood, and the ambiance reflects the same. It certainly has a bit of a hipster vibe (not a bad thing), which I tend to like a lot.
Bathroom: clean and well kept
Staff: Keeping with the hipster vibe is the staff (again, not a bad thing). Everyone was very nice and our waitress was super laid-​back and helpful with any questions we had about the menu.
Drinks/​Food: We started with a few cocktails, names of which I cannot recall — but they were all house-​made and very tasty, and then moved onto some apps. We had the Steak Tartar (I have always been nervous to try this but it was fantastic!) and the Roasted Cauliflower (so so SO GOOD!) and then moved onto dinner. Again, I can’t remember exactly what we all had but I had the trout (which was decent, flavoring was a bit odd), someone had pasta (which they very much enjoyed), the stuffed cabbage (tasty), and… something else. Anyway, the food was overall tasty but I think everyone enjoyed the apps more than the entrees. We did not end up getting dessert.
Value: Given the menu and the place itself I expected the bill to be higher than it was — we paid about what I think we should have and I’m glad it wasn’t more.
Overall this place was decent. I wouldn’t advise friends, who themselves brought it up, against it but we’ll check out other spots before we return.

That’s the place to be in Logan Square ! Vous trouverez tous les hipsters du coin dans une déco où tout est pensé et de bon goût. Tout au long de la journée il y a de quoi convaincre vos papilles: du petit déj, au lunch ou bon dîner. Ce café a pensé à tout le monde et n’a pas oublié les végés ! Les serveurs/​euses sont tous/​tes sympas et dans le style de la maison ! Les prix sont par contre assez élevés.

Came here on the sweetest first date.
When I saw that there was a tea available for $ 10, I naturally explained my bewilderment at how this tea was worth $ 10.
He responded that he thought I was worth a $ 10 tea.
So romantic.
I also broke a glass of their least potent alcoholic beverage, while being sober. They kindly replaced it and didn’t look at me like I was a complete idiot.
So considerate.
Also, the bartenders/​mixologists whatever you want to call it, know their shit and will show off their skills in a variety of beautiful ways. Pretty, powerful potions.
So drunk.

First, let me admit that I have been living in Logan Square for 7 years and had not gone to Lula Café until some friends from out of state came to visit. I understand the allure. The hipster vibe is not as offensive as at other hipster-​run places. And the food is definitely a hit. You have to arrive early if you want to get a seat quickly. Other than that, be prepared to be filled.
And what did I have during my 2 visits: cocktails, scrambled eggs, malted crusted French toast, and sorbet with blueberries.

Finally made it to LC!
I planned our Sunday visit well enough so that we didn’t have to wait to be seated and we could visit the Logan Square Farmer’s Market just around the corner during the summer.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that there was already a line of folks waiting when we arrived, even though it was 10 minutes before opening. It wasn’t an unbearable line (see: Hot Doug’s, Kuma’s)…we were seated pretty promptly after they opened and were able to snag the last of the patio seating.
I wouldn’t say the place is kid friendly, but it was very nice that the server said I could get a smaller portion of pancakes for my sidekick, instead of having to get a full portion for him. They also offered me a plastic cup and lid for his milk – again perfect for little hands that still tend to spill. He loved the pancakes and loved the attention a duo of grandmas were giving him (not going to brag but my son is a real charmer)
I opted for the pistachio crusted brioche french toast (with Klug farm raspberries and white chocolate crème anglaise). This was amazing. It’s 4 triangle slices of perfectly cooked french toast. A bit nutty and a bit sweet. I would have loved more raspberries, but that’s just me, I love fresh raspberries. I also got a side of house breakfast sausage to split with my son and I am not exaggerating when I say it was the best breakfast sausage I have ever had. Locally sourced, made to order, super flavorful and well-​cooked. If my son wants the last piece of anything, I will always give it to him without a second thought. But this was the first time my heart sank when he asked for more and more of the breakfast sausage until it was down to the last bite. It was soooooo good.
The iced coffee was perfection, the service was wonderful. The space on the patio is close quarters but I’d still recommend it while the Chicago weather cooperates.

My kind of place! We’ve been there last Sunday and we fall in LOVE…
We tried coconut cappuccino and Bloody. Both taste GOOD. But those plates were fabulous. Specially mine: beet & kale bruschetta. VERY original and yummy. I never taste something like that.
We waited for a table over 45 min but it was totally worthed!!! COOL people. GREAT food with a healthy twist. We are gonna BE BACK!
Thanks for a NICE Sunday :)
P

For brunch, I give it a 5 stars.
Dinner, 4 stars.
My new favorite brunch place. Actually trumps Longman & Eagle for me