Okay. I normally don't leave reviews like this unless the experience was atrociously bad. And it saddens me to do this because I enjoyed stopping by this place for an omelette before going into the office. I'll start warning people about this place and here's why: I stop by to just order hash browns. When I approach this establishment, the only cook in this place is sitting down, I guess eating because I see he's literally using his finger to remove something out of his teeth. Honestly, that alone should've stopped me from placing my order but I figured he wasn't going to touch breakfast potatoes. So I said, "Excuse me" and he's looking surprised. And I made a face, revealing 'I saw him'. Does he wash his hands? Nope. So I place the order anyway (big mistake) I told him I wanted just the hash browns. He starts to prepare them. Still doesn't wash his hands. Thankfully, as I assumed, he didn't touch them. On the register, it looked like he charged me 4.99. But I used Apple Pay. Later, it shows up on my phone he charged me 11.99. But the omelette I usually order costs me about 13.00. What, seriously? With that being said, this is my last time visiting Vista Cafe for my breakfast needs. It disgusts and disturbs me to think he's been cooking his food with unwashed hands. I'd avoid eating here and his prices are all over the place. No thanks.
Jeremy G.
100% depends on what you order. Vista makes, no joke, the best bacon egg and cheese on a muffin I've ever had. It's consistent, too - had it three times and it's been amazing every time. Perfectly cooked, crispy bacon (lots of it), hot egg, American cheese. It's perfect. No notes. Other than that, hits and misses. Their chicken Caesar is fine. Their scrambled eggs are okay. Corned beef hash is corned beef hash (from a can). Their breakfast potatoes are terrible. The polar opposite of their breakfast sandwich, some of the worst I have ever had. Oily, soggy. Couldn't finish them. Get that breakfast sandwich though. You will not be disappointed.
Kim Davis
Is this place still open? Every time I’ve walked past for the past few weeks they’ve been closed. I did like their gyros.
O'Chanaci Mayers
I was recommended this spot by a hotel staff member! When in doubt, get a local to help you out! She was right on time with this suggestion! The pancakes were fluffy and cooked to perfection, the sausage wasn't overcooked. The Italian Beef was exactly what I needed. Tender beef and seasoned to perfection. The service was great.. the cooks (not sure if they're the owners) were helpful and like I states earlier, they gave great service! Prices are fair and food portions were more than enough. There were people calling in and stopping in to order as well. Stop in if you have time. Nice gem in the city!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason M.
So this is my first time posting on Yelp ever! I ordered a gyro sandwich. For some reason it was on the grill top before I even ordered it. So I figured it was sitting for a while. I thought ok, let's try it. Maybe it's not that bad. Anyway, most of the meat actually crunched in my mouth like a cracker! I even snapped one in half! Luckily, I was not too far away so I went back to complain. I never send back food but It was barely edible. When I went back to let them know (I rarely complain), the tall blonde woman asked if I wanted it softer. I said, uh, yes. It was hard as a cracker! So, what do they do? They carve off some more meat and just dumped it on top of what was in the box! Didn't give me any more sauce and the meat was sitting on top of my ketchup and the dried cracker meat! I was so furious! She ended this transaction with, "it's supposed be like that! It's supposed to be cooked. If you get it from somewhere else not like that, they are doing it wrong." I was in disbelief.
Darlene V.
This was the first time there and my last time there. I went with a co-worker and she placed an order. The tall blonde woman kept asking me rudely if I wanted to order and I told her no, my coworker ordered. She said rudely "you are looking around and I thought you wanted to order". I told her again I have never been here so I am looking around. She was very volatile and rude I have never felt so disgusted with an employee/owner. Her attitude is terrible and she acted like she wanted to fight. I will not recommend this place nor will I spend anymore money there.
Chris Wittkamp
Used to go for the breakfast, but the hash browns are just mush. I think they use the same batch all week. It has been like this for years now. Can't go back anymore.
Sonny Omega
They be serving old food and it looks unsanitary from what I see in the back and their so called fried rice was awful and the rice itself was old and tasted like it was reheated several times never again
Jon
Decent place, decent food, very friendly employees and a very fair price. Not a bad place to stop by and grab a quick bite if youre nearby or on break.
Chris W.
I would be going there for breakfast, but the cooks do not wear masks.
This place might not look like much when you walk up but it consistently turns out great greasy spoon type food for people who definitely need it. It's one of the only non chain eateries in the Illinois Center, too, which makes it extra rare - a place to get good quick diner type food downtown quickly before heading back to work. What's also extra impressive is that every time I've been back to the Illinois Center since the pandemic started, they've been one of the only places that's open every single time. So they're still there and working hard to make sure people have options and food. The grilled cheese and fries = my go to, but their gyros were really amazing too. Great burger also. They have pepsi, not coke, but there's other places for soda if you end up getting food from Vista then a drink from somewhere else.
Kim K
Absolutely love this place! This is one of my lunch "regulars" on Michigan Ave for sure! There is so much variety on the menu for breakfast and lunch. I love the Denver omelet in the morning, and my go-to for lunch is soup and grilled cheese. The soup specials change daily, and you can add extras like ham and tomato to your grilled cheese. My personal favorite is the potato soup! it's filling, delicious, and has that home-made touch. The grilled cheese and soup combo is less that $7--can't beat it! To top it off, all of the employees are incredibly kind. It is truly a hidden gem. Tip: it doesn't have a storefront on Michigan Avenue, you must go into the Michigan Plaza office buildings.
Olesya Malloy
I expected this place to have thousand five star reviews! They really nailed the concept of making good and fresh meals. They don't overcharge, they don't make you wait, and have much less packaging waste than other places in the building.
Ill Will
Good food! I work in the building with them and it’s my place to eat.
Okay. I normally don't leave reviews like this unless the experience was atrociously bad. And it saddens me to do this because I enjoyed stopping by this place for an omelette before going into the office. I'll start warning people about this place and here's why: I stop by to just order hash browns. When I approach this establishment, the only cook in this place is sitting down, I guess eating because I see he's literally using his finger to remove something out of his teeth. Honestly, that alone should've stopped me from placing my order but I figured he wasn't going to touch breakfast potatoes. So I said, "Excuse me" and he's looking surprised. And I made a face, revealing 'I saw him'. Does he wash his hands? Nope. So I place the order anyway (big mistake) I told him I wanted just the hash browns. He starts to prepare them. Still doesn't wash his hands. Thankfully, as I assumed, he didn't touch them. On the register, it looked like he charged me 4.99. But I used Apple Pay. Later, it shows up on my phone he charged me 11.99. But the omelette I usually order costs me about 13.00. What, seriously? With that being said, this is my last time visiting Vista Cafe for my breakfast needs. It disgusts and disturbs me to think he's been cooking his food with unwashed hands. I'd avoid eating here and his prices are all over the place. No thanks.
100% depends on what you order. Vista makes, no joke, the best bacon egg and cheese on a muffin I've ever had. It's consistent, too - had it three times and it's been amazing every time. Perfectly cooked, crispy bacon (lots of it), hot egg, American cheese. It's perfect. No notes. Other than that, hits and misses. Their chicken Caesar is fine. Their scrambled eggs are okay. Corned beef hash is corned beef hash (from a can). Their breakfast potatoes are terrible. The polar opposite of their breakfast sandwich, some of the worst I have ever had. Oily, soggy. Couldn't finish them. Get that breakfast sandwich though. You will not be disappointed.
Is this place still open? Every time I’ve walked past for the past few weeks they’ve been closed. I did like their gyros.
I was recommended this spot by a hotel staff member! When in doubt, get a local to help you out! She was right on time with this suggestion! The pancakes were fluffy and cooked to perfection, the sausage wasn't overcooked. The Italian Beef was exactly what I needed. Tender beef and seasoned to perfection. The service was great.. the cooks (not sure if they're the owners) were helpful and like I states earlier, they gave great service! Prices are fair and food portions were more than enough. There were people calling in and stopping in to order as well. Stop in if you have time. Nice gem in the city!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So this is my first time posting on Yelp ever! I ordered a gyro sandwich. For some reason it was on the grill top before I even ordered it. So I figured it was sitting for a while. I thought ok, let's try it. Maybe it's not that bad. Anyway, most of the meat actually crunched in my mouth like a cracker! I even snapped one in half! Luckily, I was not too far away so I went back to complain. I never send back food but It was barely edible. When I went back to let them know (I rarely complain), the tall blonde woman asked if I wanted it softer. I said, uh, yes. It was hard as a cracker! So, what do they do? They carve off some more meat and just dumped it on top of what was in the box! Didn't give me any more sauce and the meat was sitting on top of my ketchup and the dried cracker meat! I was so furious! She ended this transaction with, "it's supposed be like that! It's supposed to be cooked. If you get it from somewhere else not like that, they are doing it wrong." I was in disbelief.
This was the first time there and my last time there. I went with a co-worker and she placed an order. The tall blonde woman kept asking me rudely if I wanted to order and I told her no, my coworker ordered. She said rudely "you are looking around and I thought you wanted to order". I told her again I have never been here so I am looking around. She was very volatile and rude I have never felt so disgusted with an employee/owner. Her attitude is terrible and she acted like she wanted to fight. I will not recommend this place nor will I spend anymore money there.
Used to go for the breakfast, but the hash browns are just mush. I think they use the same batch all week. It has been like this for years now. Can't go back anymore.
They be serving old food and it looks unsanitary from what I see in the back and their so called fried rice was awful and the rice itself was old and tasted like it was reheated several times never again
Decent place, decent food, very friendly employees and a very fair price. Not a bad place to stop by and grab a quick bite if youre nearby or on break.
I would be going there for breakfast, but the cooks do not wear masks.
Restaurantji Recommends
This place might not look like much when you walk up but it consistently turns out great greasy spoon type food for people who definitely need it. It's one of the only non chain eateries in the Illinois Center, too, which makes it extra rare - a place to get good quick diner type food downtown quickly before heading back to work. What's also extra impressive is that every time I've been back to the Illinois Center since the pandemic started, they've been one of the only places that's open every single time. So they're still there and working hard to make sure people have options and food. The grilled cheese and fries = my go to, but their gyros were really amazing too. Great burger also. They have pepsi, not coke, but there's other places for soda if you end up getting food from Vista then a drink from somewhere else.
Absolutely love this place! This is one of my lunch "regulars" on Michigan Ave for sure! There is so much variety on the menu for breakfast and lunch. I love the Denver omelet in the morning, and my go-to for lunch is soup and grilled cheese. The soup specials change daily, and you can add extras like ham and tomato to your grilled cheese. My personal favorite is the potato soup! it's filling, delicious, and has that home-made touch. The grilled cheese and soup combo is less that $7--can't beat it! To top it off, all of the employees are incredibly kind. It is truly a hidden gem. Tip: it doesn't have a storefront on Michigan Avenue, you must go into the Michigan Plaza office buildings.
I expected this place to have thousand five star reviews! They really nailed the concept of making good and fresh meals. They don't overcharge, they don't make you wait, and have much less packaging waste than other places in the building.
Good food! I work in the building with them and it’s my place to eat.
Food was good service was eh