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Cafe Paris
Master Critic Review
Cafe Paris
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Cafe Paris is a compact French café near Wrigley that leans on croissants, baguette sandwiches, quiche, and espresso drinks for all-day traffic. It feels more like a Paris-style counter café than a sit-down bistro, with most guests keeping things casual and relatively inexpensive.
Must-Try Dishes:
Almond croissant, Quiche Lorraine, Chocolate croissant
Scores:
Value: 8.6
Service: 7.4
Consistency: 7.7
Food Quality: 8.2
Atmosphere: 6.4
Cultural Relevance: 7
What makes it special: A Wrigley-adjacent French café where croissants, quiche, and espresso can still come in under a tight budget.
Who should go: Solo diners and small parties wanting affordable French pastries and coffee.
When to visit: Morning to early afternoon for freshest pastries and lighter crowds.
What to order: Quiche Lorraine combo, almond croissant, cappuccino or espresso.
Insider tip: Keep your order to a pastry and drink if you want to stay comfortably in true budget territory.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only — metered spots nearby, can be tight during Cubs games and weekend mornings
Dress code: Casual — everyday wear, athleisure and jeans are common
Noise level: Low to moderate — easy for solo work or light conversation
Weekend wait: No real dinner rush — usually no wait since most traffic is daytime
Weekday lunch: Short line at peak hours, but seating turns over quickly
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — several pastries, quiche, and sandwich options are meat-free
Vegan options: Limited — a few items may qualify (black coffee, some breads), but pastries typically contain butter
Gluten-free options: Very limited — most items are pastry or baguette-based with no dedicated prep area
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Better for a casual coffee or low-pressure meetup than a full sit-down date — it’s counter-service and informal.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Yes — walk-in only. Seating is first-come and limited, but turnover is steady during the day.
Is it kid-friendly? Generally yes for quick visits with older kids; space is tight and there’s no kids’ menu or play area.
Best For
Better for: Affordable French pastries, quick coffee stops, and solo grab-and-go meals without the bistro-style markup
Skip if: You want a full-service French dinner, extensive savory menu, or roomy seating for longer lingering