2008 Woodie Awards
Sweet Maple Cafe
1339 W. Taylor, (312) 243-8908
Monica Yvette Landeros
Issue date: 4/2/02 Section: Bar and Restaurant Guide
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"Everything is made from scratch," said Laurene Hynson, owner of Sweet Maple Café on Taylor Street.
It's not southern food, Hynson said, but the menu includes southern-inspired favorites like grits and homemade biscuits for breakfast or a fried chicken sandwich and homemade potato chips for lunch.
With fresh ingredients and its laid-back atmosphere, Sweet Maple Café is a popular place to grab some good food between classes or during lunch break from work.
Sweet Maple Café offers homemade soup made fresh daily, fresh salads, a variety of omelets, cooked cereals, pancakes, French toast, sandwiches and many of side dishes.
"It's all made from fresh ingredients," Hynson said.
The menu has some healthful options and vegetarian entrees, like the Be-Good omelet, made with a choice of egg whites or egg substitute, fruit and a choice of vegetables. Most of the menu focuses on quality ingredients and interesting flavor combinations.
"We use a lot of butter, too," Hynson said, suggesting flavor and fresh ingredients are what's important in the food. And you always can get what you want and how you want it, because everything is made to order.
Atmosphere is important, too.
"We play jazz all day, especially from the '40s," Hynson said. "People seem to like that."
Sweet Maple Café is "popular with faculty and staff," with more graduate students than undergraduates frequenting the eatery. But don't be mistaken: its success is not limited to convenient location or neighborhood restaurant status. Clientele varies from UIC students, faculty and staff to neighborhood residents and people who work in the area to patrons who come in from the suburbs.
"I pull from everywhere, all over the city," Hynson said.
Sweet Maple Café is regularly and well reviewed by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago magazine. "It is a well-thought-of establishment," she said.
Prices range from about $4, with most entrees around $6, to $11.95. "Most checks aren't over $8," Hynson said, and soon there will be added perks for being part of the UIC community.
"I'm going to start a special for UIC students, faculty and staff in a week or two," Hynson said of her plans to offer a special on muffins and coffee to go for those who present a university ID.
Sweet Maple Café opened in 1999 at 1339 W. Taylor St., neslted between the east and west campuses. It is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
It's not southern food, Hynson said, but the menu includes southern-inspired favorites like grits and homemade biscuits for breakfast or a fried chicken sandwich and homemade potato chips for lunch.
With fresh ingredients and its laid-back atmosphere, Sweet Maple Café is a popular place to grab some good food between classes or during lunch break from work.
Sweet Maple Café offers homemade soup made fresh daily, fresh salads, a variety of omelets, cooked cereals, pancakes, French toast, sandwiches and many of side dishes.
"It's all made from fresh ingredients," Hynson said.
The menu has some healthful options and vegetarian entrees, like the Be-Good omelet, made with a choice of egg whites or egg substitute, fruit and a choice of vegetables. Most of the menu focuses on quality ingredients and interesting flavor combinations.
"We use a lot of butter, too," Hynson said, suggesting flavor and fresh ingredients are what's important in the food. And you always can get what you want and how you want it, because everything is made to order.
Atmosphere is important, too.
"We play jazz all day, especially from the '40s," Hynson said. "People seem to like that."
Sweet Maple Café is "popular with faculty and staff," with more graduate students than undergraduates frequenting the eatery. But don't be mistaken: its success is not limited to convenient location or neighborhood restaurant status. Clientele varies from UIC students, faculty and staff to neighborhood residents and people who work in the area to patrons who come in from the suburbs.
"I pull from everywhere, all over the city," Hynson said.
Sweet Maple Café is regularly and well reviewed by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago magazine. "It is a well-thought-of establishment," she said.
Prices range from about $4, with most entrees around $6, to $11.95. "Most checks aren't over $8," Hynson said, and soon there will be added perks for being part of the UIC community.
"I'm going to start a special for UIC students, faculty and staff in a week or two," Hynson said of her plans to offer a special on muffins and coffee to go for those who present a university ID.
Sweet Maple Café opened in 1999 at 1339 W. Taylor St., neslted between the east and west campuses. It is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.