Review Cafe Selmarie - Chicago

This place has been a Lincoln Square institution for a very long time. Congratulations to the owners who will be retiring soon. They have operated not only a great bakery and cafe for decades, they have also been a good model on how to be good employers and neighbors. I, for one, will miss stopping by for salmon with glass of wine and then fabulous dessert.

We love Selmarie, we are going to miss you... Our experience is always so unique, the customer service was great and the food just went far and beyond, the pastryies always blew our minds with the delicious presentation and variety.

BIG THUMBS UP 👍🏻 Great service out on the patio with fantastic entrees. Staff bent over backwards for us, 7 persons.

My friend is a very picky eater but she ate the entire chicken salad sandwich and the chips plus mine. The Turkey Brie sandwich was ok and the mushroom soup was good but missing something. I ordered hot tea and it came with the cutest but simple tea pot. Tea bag was separate. (Pretty decent selection of tea) I think the real stars of the cafe are the wall art and the bakery. I am never disappointed with any of their baked goods. From pie, Swedish princess cake (many years ago), cookies, and my favorite the marbled cream cheese brownie.

Great food I love their cakes! Absolutely amazing. Don't let the price scare you away it's worth every penny. Nice people they hold orders and reserve cakes for events. Place was filled with people out the door. You can definitely tell business is booming for them. I'd definitely come back here.

Quality food. Quiche was excellent! Other guests at the table enjoyed the avocado toast and chicken pot pie. The menu has good variety - from classics to healthy options. Would return here.

Came here on a Sunday afternoon for brunch and was able to be seated very quickly. I ordered the corn beef hash with poached eggs. The corn beef was cooked perfectly and the poached eggs weren’t runny, bur a little more solid which I liked. My sister got the smoked salmon club and said it was very fresh and the salmon had a lot of flavor. This place is also known for their desserts but we did not get any!! I would def recommend this place for a quaint and delish brunch.

Great pastry selection. Prices/portions are very reasonable. Great, friendly customer service always!

Went there on Saturday and though they had a limited breakfast menu, my quiche lorraine did not disappoint. It was very flavorful and served alongside a tasty salad that complemented it well. Selmarie is my favorite place to get a mocha. I’ve had multiple desserts as well and all delicious. My favorites: vegetarian chili, now quiches, mochas, Black Forest cake, eclairs, brownies.

Everything from the food, drinks, service and atmosphere are above average. Our server, Hunter, was top notch. Only thing that can be difficult is parking. Heard that they will be closing soon, hope that’s not true. Will definitely be back as long as they are still open which I hope will be for years to come.

Sitting on the patio at Cafe Selmarie and taking in the life that is Lincoln Square is an experience. The area is a treat to enjoy, the food is both delicious and well portioned, and the staff is great. I love this place for the vibe, flavors, smells, and coffee. Have to get there crazy early to get any chocolate croissants 😉

Arrived around 10:30a on a Wednesday. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating available. All the staff were kind and attentive. Coffee was amazing! Food was really good and filling. Don't miss out on getting a treat at the dessert counter on your way out!!!

I had the best meal for dinner. I ordered the chicken schnitzel with mashed potatoes & arugula salad. I felt like I was eating a home cooked meal with clean ingridients!! My friend got the side of sweet potatoes and they were also very good. My waitress, Victoria was very kind and helpful with the menu! Will definitely be coming back here again.

I love this place. Service is very nice Coffee is good. Cake is amazing

Chicken salad was very tasty with fresh cranberries! Very nice presentation too! The egg and bacon on croissant was nicely peppered but we both preferred the chicken salad for taste, texture, plentifulness. The bakery items make it a nice complement too! Really like this place!

Cafe Selmarie is probably the best brunch spot in Lincoln Square. I go with the Pesto & Eggs 80% of the time but I've tried the smoked Salmon Breakfast, Selmarie Benedict, Corned Beef Hash and recently the Tomato Bisque, and I have always been very happy. First of all, Cafe Selmarie is a brunch restaurant that switches to a dinner restaurant midday, but it is also a walk-in cafe and a delicious confectionary bakery. They have a great breakfast/lunch and dinner menu, but if you just want a canoli, a slice of cake, a chocolate chip cookie or a cappucino - they got you covered, baby! Second, though Selmarie is a fantastic spot to visit any time of year, in the warmer months you can enjoy their large and beautiful patio which sits right on Lincoln Square's Giddings Plaza and has a great view of the fountain and all of the community activity that goes on here. The service is always spot on. I've been very annoying and sat at this restaurant for two and a half hours ordering mimosas one at a time and the servers were always very friendly about it, never trying to push my party to settle up and go so that they could flip the table. The prices are not cheap but the food is not cheap either, so you get what you pay for. The coffee tends to be a little bit on the sour side for my tastes but still among some of the better coffee in the neighborhood. They have an assortment of condoments, however only tabasco and cholula as hot sauce picks, and I wish they had a Frenk's type Louisiana style hot sauce as a third option. If you want a table, you have to go in, there are no phone reservations. If capacity is full, they will ask for your number, put you on a list, and you get a link texted to you where you can see your position on the waitlist. At this point you can walk around and check in. They'll text you when your table is ready and you will have ten minutes to return with your whole party and be seated. I've never waited longer than 30 minutes even though they have quoted me 45 at times. I can't say enough about this location. Inside or out, brunch or dinner, as a carry out bakery and coffee shop, summer or winter, I have always had a great experience here, and I think you will too.

I was in love with this place since I ate a chocolate cake some 21 yrs ago. Walking through the bakery to be seated , My hubby and I pick dessert before our dinner/breakfast/lunch. Food is great and service is awesome.👍👍

Amazing little bakery with great food. They have an elote spaetzl as a special right now, worth the trip by itself. While all the baked goods are amazing their standouts for me are the rustic almond cake and Spanish torte. Both are truly unique and amazing desserts

I'm difficult to impress when it comes to "French" cuisine. Their quiche lorraine, although not entirely traditional, is delightful and worth returning for. Also, the vegan chocolate chip cookie was the best vegan baked good I've ever eaten.