Blue Kale Cafe & Lounge

My friend and I visited this wonderful breakfast spot this past Monday, and we had such a positive experience. While the food was great, the highlight was definitely our server, Niko. Niko was exceptionally friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. He made navigating the menu and making dietary adjustments incredibly simple. When we asked about replacing an item in our dish, he handled it with ease, demonstrating a deep familiarity with the menu and ingredients. His constant smile and effortless, friendly demeanor truly elevated the meal. He made the entire process seem simple and efficient, proving what great service looks like. We highly recommend stopping by, and if you do, try to sit in Niko's section—you won't be disappointed!

Amazing spot, really great and kind service. Food and drinks were served in a timely manner as well. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. All our meals were high quality and delicious. Smoothie was great too. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for cozy breakfast or lunch in the area.

Tried Blue Kale Café for Friday brunch and loved it! The garlic mushroom scrambled eggs were flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the cheese omelette croissant sandwich was rich and satisfying. The croissant French toast was a deliciously sweet treat, and the cappuccino hit the spot. Friendly service, quick turnaround, and not crowded—great spot for brunch with kids. Only thing is that I wish there were more sweet items! But we will definitely be back!

Wow just wow... i have been eating breakfasts places. But this one is different. The way they fried their eggs... oh man... I had Avocado tartine with Fried Egg. Man this was good.oohh... the bread taste 👌 wow. Nice place to have your breakfast. 6stars to recommend.

My husband and I came here for breakfast and everything was delicious. The person who took our order was friendly. Reasonable priced menu. Recommend!

a new go-to spot in Downtown Skokie! everything about this place is lovely: the atmosphere, the decor, the food, all great. the salmon croissant sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had, straight up, it was so good. my friend got the turkey BLT and we also split a croissant French toast, both of which were good. I'll definitely be coming back for the salmon croissant sandwich, and also to try their drinks!

We had such a fun and wonderful experience! I came in with my friends for a quick glance cs they said the place looked pretty. The meals were top-notch and the staff were so caring towards your comfort and preferences! I got the Kids French Toast after meal as a treat for myself, and I almost ascended from the sweetness! It was just that good 😍👌 I wish I took a whole pic of my friends meals too cs theirs looked so presentable and delicious 🤤 Over all, the place was so aesthetically pleasing and the decorations were adorable! I wish we had arrived at a less busy time, but we will definitely come early next time for the best experience!

I visited Blue Kale for their lounge with my friend and got their pan seared salmon with White russian cocktail. My friend got the burger. The salmon skin was so crispy and so overall very delicious. Definitely will be coming back again and again. The cocktail tasted great also. Highly recommend!

love this place. salmon platter is perfect without a bagel. honey cream cheese. sitting outside. coffee in a glass cup

I have been wanting to try this place for while and had the opportunity to do so. It's a cute cafe with the nicest people and fresh tasty food. I ordered the salmon croissant sandwich and my friend had an egg one. We thought they were both delicious and filling. I'd love to try more options next time. I did notice they don't have a ton of meat options. Service was friendly and I like that you can pay on a portable machine while sitting. Plenty of free street parking.

Maybe it's better for breakfast or brunch, but for dinner, it was a little underwhelming. I looked up the menu online and thought they offered a breakfast menu for most of the day. Looks like they had some kind of avocado toast which looked great. Too bad that wasn't on the menu. Instead, I got the three cheese grilled cheese with ham. It was $15 so I thought it came with a side. Nope, just the sandwich on the plate. While this was extremely overpriced, it was good. I also went with an iced tea which was also good, but not $3 good. Pair that with very hands off and slow service, I have a feeling that I'll be skipping the place in the future. Again, the food was better than average, but it was not worth the price. I feel a little bad since this seems like a small business, but I was not wowed by this place at all.

With an interest in ordering from a restaurant I had not ordered from before in Skokie; I ordered from Blue Kale Cafe & Lounge online via Uber Eats pickup. At the time, it was one of the restaurants within a radius of me that gauged my interest. Also, its 5.0 star rating out of 38 was the assurance I needed that I would receive quality food. On the menu, I took an interest in the vitamin chia smoothie, cheese omelet sandwich, scrambled eggs, and the lemony white beans salad. However, I ended up ordering the berry smoothie, and scrambled eggs. Whether it be Grubhub or now Uber Eats, I love ordering online because it is convenient. Most of the time my orders are completed upon my arrival or near complete. By the time I arrived at Blue Kale Cafe & Lounge, the employees were finishing up with my order during this ordering experience. Picking up was just confirming that I was picking up an Uber Eats order and I was well on my way. Grateful to have had a smooth online ordering experience because the likelihood of me ordering online again at the location is very high. As for my order, the berry smoothie was not only fresh but satisfying! With each sip, I found myself savoring each moment to taste the fruits inside which I enjoyed. I felt sort of nauseous and weak prior to visiting, but after drinking the berry smoothie I felt a lot better. I almost regretted not ordering ginger tea to counter that feeling, but the berry smoothie ended up being all that I needed. Now as for the scrambled eggs, the one thing I wished for was that they would have given me either a fork or a spoon, so I could taste them upon getting inside of my vehicle. On that note, I had to wait until I was in for the evening at my residence to try them. I seasoned them with salt and pepper, but they could have dealt without the addition. The portion given makes the scrambled eggs a great add-on or side order as I made them with my berry smoothie. As one that bounces between a pescatarian and lacto ovo vegetarian diet, I enjoyed the scrambled eggs. I had a great experience as I have indicated in this review of Blue Kale Cafe & Lounge. I would surely order from again whenever in Skokie. And as it was introduced to me via Uber Eats, I share my endorsement of it as well with you all on yelp. Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 5 | Food: 4 ~ To live well is to eat well. ~ Thomas G

Ambiance is nice and chill, servers are super friendly and attentive, however, there could be more options on the menu. I ordered the salmon croissant and it was okkkk and my friends omelette was bland

About a 1-1.5: I hate to do this to you, Blue Kale, but our recent visits for brunch/lunch have just been super disappointing. Not sure if there's a lack of quality control or there are different individuals preparing the food at different shifts, but we have been receiving almost inedible plates. The Garlic Mushroom Scrambled Eggs had an off-putting smell and were scrambled hard - was not possible to enjoy these so these were pushed off to the side and tossed. The B.A.T. Tartine's arugula/mix was not fresh and had a slimy consistency, and they were also not dressed well. The lattes were served lukewarm, even though we requested them to be extra hot - they were also watered down. Staff are friendly, but the price point just does not justify the items you receive. No dice, Blue Kale. +avoid the scrambled eggs +slimy arugula +weak lattes

Service was great but the food, matcha, and coffee left much to be desired. The matcha was quite grainy and dull. It was quite expensive for what we were getting.

This cute spot in downtown Skokie has a California vibe and some very good options on their menu. I really enjoyed their Brie apple sandwich, matcha, and ginger tea. However, be prepared that service can be a bit slow. I had to ask for one of my drinks a few times, but everything was so delicious that I'd definitely come back.

Probably my favorite breakfast restaurant in Skokie. The food is fresh, the coffee is hot and the orange juice is freshly squeezed. The service is also great and the staff is very friendly. Highly recommended if you're in the area.

It wasn't bad but totally different taste then last year. Probably a different cook or something changed. Plus on the menu its says everything organic but nothing close to being organic ingredients. Since I always buy organic eggs and veggies I can tell the difference. Service is always nice and they make you comfortable and welcome.

Blue Kale is a very cute breakfast spot in downtown Skokie with a clean aesthetic. We were very excited to stop in on a Saturday for brunch to try and support a local business. There is plenty of street parking in the area, not an issue here! There appeared to be only one person working (with maybe, possibly one other in the kitchen? It was just my partner and I, and we waited at the counter to order for close to ten minutes. She was kind when finally taking our order. There is also a table with a pitcher of water near the register. We ordered one cup of coffee for my partner, I had water, the bacon croissant french toast, and the Brie and apple sandwich. The food took what felt like an entire lifetime to come out. It seemed as if the one woman working at the counter was also possibly preparing the food. Unsure if this was a staffing issue fluke while I was there or if that's the typical functioning of the store. I would not say this is a good stop if you're in a rush or looking for a quick in and out experience. I would also not recommend for large groups. The food was honestly just okay. The French toast we had very high hopes for and it sounded delicious, but it was unremarkable. It was fine! There was nothing wrong with it, but it was also just kind of boring. The sandwich was on sourdough - which we know and love to be a great crispy toasted bread - but it was almost inedible with how crunchy it was. The roof of my mouth was absolutely destroyed by the time I made it through just over half. The flavors were fresh and crisp and light, and I would have loved to enjoy this sandwich. We will likely not return to Blue Kale because it doesn't fit exactly our favorite food experiences, but they do have a great coffee menu and their food was fresh. If you're looking for a solo, laid back, sit and work or read type experience, this is likely a spot you'll enjoy.

This is a very elegant brunch lounge in downtown Skokie near the public library. Nice atmosphere, seating is comfortable and they have wifi. I got garlic mushroom scrambled eggs platter & iced espresso. They were good! Very fresh and fulfilling. Unfortunately the outlet under my seat was not working so I couldn't charge my laptop. Wish they could fix it.

We visited here on Saturday for a quick brunch. While it was pretty busy, the staff were friendly and accommodating. We ordered the garlic mushroom scramble eggs and the avocado sandwich with bacon for food and matcha latte and vitamin chia for drinks. The food took a little longer to come out, but it was definitely worth the wait. Both dishes were delicious and well-seasoned. The mushrooms in the scramble were flavorful, and the avocado sandwich was perfectly balanced with crispy bacon. The drinks were also enjoyable, though I personally preferred the vitamin chia over the matcha latte. The only downside was that the prices were a bit higher than I expected for a casual brunch spot, but overall, the food and service made it a great experience. Would definitely return again!

This is such a cute little cafe! Beautiful simple decorations inside with the modern look of white and black classy seating. Love the little records on the wall. Green plants on the counter. Real little flowers on each and every table. Service is so welcoming here. We did come on a Monday morning so it was really quiet but still there's people inside having brunch. I started with the cappuccino with vanilla syrup which was just lovely. They also have teas and non caffeine options. My brother got some kind of pink drink which was delicious! Definitely recommend getting that. I got the arugula ham sandwich and my brother got the salmon croissant. The portions were HUGE. I think the salmon croissant was better. The ham sandwich needed more sauce. The breads felt so fresh. Definitely coming back to try the other sandwiches

A couple of friends and I checked out Blue Kale recently and it's such a cute brunch place located in downtown Skokie. There's plenty of street parking. When you enter you go to the counter where it says order here to place your order. The employee taking our order was very friendly. If you check in on yelp they have an offer of free coffee going on right now. I ordered a decaf coffee and a omelette crossaint which came with arugula, chives, herb aioli, parmesan. Once you place your order they give you a table number and you choose a spot to sit and they will bring it to you. The service was quick and the food was delicious. I enjoyed my breakfast crossaint. It's a nice local spot to support.

Ordered the grilled avocado sandwitch and it tasted delicious. I also ordered a berry smoothie to go along with it, tasted great but when it melted it was too sweet for my liking. Not sure if they added sugar to my smoothie but if they did I would have preferred for them not to. Reason for my four stars is because my food took over 20 minutes to be served to me. Lady working the cashier was also serving food. She was friendly. I will be back for another try!

Small and locally owned Blue Kale is a nice brunch spot in the downtown Skokie area. Orders are placed at the bar area and not with a server while sitting at a table. I placed my order at the front kiosk (there's a wall that also says 'order here') and the staff member was very polite and friendly. If you check in via Yelp there is an offer of a free coffee with the purchase of an entree. Once I was done ordering I grabbed my order number and picked a seat. Myself and 2 friends were here on a Saturday. For food I tried the salmon croissant, 1 of my friends tried the egg breakfast croissant and my other friend had the French toast croissant platter. Everything came out quick and we all enjoyed our food and time here. Everything was flavor and delicious. I'll come back again to support this local biz.

We were randomly looking for a brunch place. This place looked interesting. The place is cute. Street parking. Service was great. I ordered a Bacon French Toast Croissant. It was the bomb! It was seriously really good. I would order it again but I also want to try different stuff in the menu. Definitely coming back! Happy Eating!

I went for the first time today (08/25) and had a lovely time! The staff and service were impeccable and my server was very great. I got the B.A.T Tartine and it was refreshing, light, yet filling! I also got the Berry smoothie and it was okay. I just think I'm not the biggest fan of almond milk in my smoothies, but if you don't mind almond milk you'll definitely enjoy it! Overall I would go back, but I'd probably get a sandwich next time cause the pictures of them looked really good!!

Cute little place in downtown Skokie. Staff was friendly and accommodating. We had a group and the counter service made the tab a breeze. Of note, tips are cash only. Food was delicious, very fresh and plated well. All entrees came out as ordered. Parking wasn't terrible, street parking and no meters. Bathrooms were clean and tidy as was the seating area.

Great breakfast/brunch spot. I'm a huge fan of supporting small business, especially good ones. We were so close to going to Alexander's, which is right down the street. Great place... if you want to read my review: https://www.yelp.com/biz/alexanders-breakfast-and-lunch-skokie-skokie?hrid=_YDxDf6fxjzdPcsmG01e6Q&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) Blue Kale no longer has the chalk board menu on the wall, but instead have paper menus at the front. Tell the cashier what you want, pay, and they will bring the order to you. I ordered a latte, Avocado Ricotta Tartine, which ricotta cheese, Chives, dill, parsely, olive oil, black pepper, honey, lemon, multigrain bread and some bacon. Also tried the Bacon crossiant French toast with added avocado. Both dishes came with ample amounts of arugula, which I liked. Momma would be so proud of me consuming my vegetables. All were really good. BATHROOM REVIEW: Decent bathroom that got the job done. Toilet, sink, and everything was fine. Sit or squat? Squat.

This place is such a hidden gem! We ordered different foods to share and taste and every single one of them tasted so good! The service was very friendly and welcoming. The vibe is unique and retro, I haven't seen anything like this in the area. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Ambiance: Trendy jazz-ish music, clean environment, a lot of green plants, some light chatter from customers enjoying themselves. Not my style in music, as a musician I think maybe infuse some other tracks in the playlist. Service: No line. Pay before you eat. No one greeted us so we just had to figure out that we needed to order first. I did say that it was our first time here, we ordered and paid with ease. I would say that for my daughter and I, a latte, 2 pieces of bacon, French toast and a sandwich, $40 seemed much. But we gave it a go. We wanted water and they said the water was in a pitcher on the side table however it was almost empty, and in 45 minutes we went over twice to check and no one bothered to fill it despite seeing us over there. Food: The food was fresh, timely. Apple Brie sandwich: I didn't realize it was literally just raw sliced food. I thought it would be simmered or cooked somehow but that wasn't the case. A lot of arugula, I didn't taste the Brie at first so I decided to eat a few slices of apple and then it evened out. Totally fresh ingredients, I enjoyed the bread. 4 stars. French toast: My daughter said it was 5 stars. She thought it had a lot to flavor, the fruit was fresh. She claims it was much better than another place nearby. The batter also had some kind of thing in the mix to elevate the taste, vanilla or puréed banana, something. I tried a bite and I concur. Bacon: We ordered a side of bacon. The mistake was they put it on my sandwich. They quickly redid it, and put it on the side. My daughter thought it needed to be crispier, I felt it was fine. 4 stars. Thin bacon. Latte: 5 stars. Nice foam. Just a nice hot latte. Enjoyed it. I'm not sure if I would come here again. It's a maybe for me. French toast and a latte isn't enough, while it was superb. The other factors weighing in, the service is needing improvement and the sandwich was... hmm. I might.

Food is not great, smoothie was sugary and gross. But the worst part. 20 min to get the bill with only one other customer in the whole place.

I came back here for the first time since basically a year ago and the name and menu are a little different. My boyfriend and I tried the salmon croissant sandwich and the tomato cheese eggs. Both were really good and I'll definitely order both again. Service is quick and friendly. :) Zero wait because I think people are sleeping on this brunch spot and that probably won't last.

an unexpectedly delicious coffee. I was a bit worried since this place was being ran by 1 person for what seemed to be the whole establishment. both my husband's and my coffee was great though! I hope she is able to get more assistance as it did get busier. It was primarily a brunch place but we were able to sit in for just coffee which was appreciated :)

This was a cute spot I came to early in the morning to get some work done. It was 8am and so there was very few people at the restaurant. I was able to park right outside the place as well. When I sat down, I tried connecting my computer to an outlet that was not working. I told the lady working the register and she quickly relocated me to a working one. I appreciate businesses that take an effort to help the customers feel comfortable. I ordered French toast with an Americano (total of $20). I really enjoyed the food and my overall experience. It was not heavy or overly sweet, but very tasty and satisfying. It's easy to be knit picky on a small business or comparing them to other establishments, but what really matters is how that business makes a customers feel. They made me feel welcomed and quickly helped me get adjusted to a spot where I can get work done with an outlet. The food was delivered right on time and the service was great. Because of all this, I can easily recommend this place to anyone. They provided a great experience.

Visited here recently. The ambiance was okay, nothing of concern. Service was amazing. There isn't asking of options to choose from but The plating of the food was great. However the food was terrible in terms of taste and I fell sick almost immediately after eating.

I really like the B.A.T Sandwich, I always ordered this here. Like the decorations and the setting of this place. Nomiko the cashier was nice to me and my friend.

Modern brunch location in the downtown area with a wonderful interior ambiance! Food portions are quite large and taste delicious. Service from the staff is excellent and they maintain the interior with fresh flowers on the tables and modern artwork on the walls. There was plenty of street parking when we came around noon for a bite to eat. I tried the smoked salmon sandwich with the rose latte and neither disappointed my expectations. Amazing location to hangout with friends, explore or study depending on your needs.

Came to Blue Kale for brunch with my best friends. Ate Lemony white bean salad, croissant French toast and ricotta avocado toast. Food was delicious. Very cute place. Would def recommend and come back again :)

New breakfast/brunch spot in the neighborhood. Came on a Sunday morning, and it was surprisely empty for the location and time. The entire menu is hand written on the wall. You would order at the counter and then wait at a table. So there is really no waiter, just a food runner(which is preferred for me, I dislike waiting to put in an order or waiting for the check) Got green tea. It's nice if you don't feel like drinking coffee in the morning. Avocado ricotta tartine was pleasant. Subtle notes of dill and honey. A little cold temperature wise with the ricotta. But if you are drinking a hot beverage, it should pair nicely. A nice relaxing spot on Oakton St.

This is one of my favorite places, and definitely my top choice for breakfast or lunch. The food is extremely delicious, the service is friendly (it's nice when people remember you and your favorite menu items) and the place is super cute. My personal favorite: the grilled avocado sandwich, with the BAT tartine a close second. Smoothies and matcha lattes are also great. Try the pink latte--it's made with beets and really good!

I was invited to the Blue Kale by a friend as a place to meet for late breakfast on a Friday. The food is fresh and the servers are very nice. The restaurant was not crowded around 11am but around 11:30am to noon people started coming in but it was still a good atmosphere for enjoying something to eat and to talk and be heard. I ordered an egg and cheese omelette with some rye toast. I also had hot kombucha tea. All was fresh and tasty. The portion for me was large enough that I was able to make two meals out of my breakfast. My friend had a French toast that had banana slices and fruit on top of it. It was fresh and tasty as she finished it. I think this is a great work (coworkers) breakfast place or even a breakfast date spot. I recommend!

Perfect food always! Great service. Enjoyable ambiance. I like walking over! I wish there was another one of these by my main neighbor hood!

This is a small brunch place in downtown Skokie. Looking at the menu as a pickier eater, there were only a few options. I decided on the Turkey BLT. The sandwich was great, but for $16, I would expect a side or something to go with it. There are no servers here. You go to the counter to order your meal and they give you a number and they bring your food to you. What I thought was strange is that the water cups were very small and the water was warm. I think it would be better to have larger cups and ice water. Also, the napkins were tiny! They were like the ones you'd get with a coffee. Food was good, but I wouldn't necessarily go back.

Fantastic place on Oakton street in Downtown Skokie!! I had the grilled avocado sandwich which was amazing, lots of cheese and great toasted bread! Highly recommend it or one of the salad offerings that my dining mates ordered. Didn't have a smoothly there but they looked really good, maybe next time,

The food was absolutely DELICIOUS! Some friends and I were there for a quick brunch, and we ordered the Smoked Salmon Platter, Brie Cheese Apple Sandwich, and Bacon Croissant French Toast. As for the drinks, we got an iced matcha and the pink latte, which were also so yummy! If anyone is looking for a place that's peaceful and also has amazing food/drinks, come to Blue Kale! I'm so excited to visit again.

First, upon entering, the feel is warm and inviting with soft jazz piping thru the air. I ordered the Smoked Salmon Platter and was blown away by the freshness of the salmon accompanied by fresh arugula, capers, cucumber, and red onion. Simply delicious clean food! I also ordered the pink Beet Latte. I forgot to tell the barista no sugar but to my delight, it was not too sweet....beautifully executed! I hear they also offer dinner. I will definitely be back. Finally a delicious cozy spot with clean delicious food!

I've been searching for a healthy brunch spot and this place is the best l've found! Their menu is delicious and they impress me every time.

Had an amazing experience at Blue Kale! The food was incredible--flavorful, beautifully presented, and perfectly cooked. The service was top-notch, and the ambiance was warm and inviting. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a memorable meal!

Such a cute spot. Amazing service. Very friendly. Food was delicious. One of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Very reasonably priced.

The food is fresh, interesting and 5 star delicious. Service is great!! We had a party of 8, it's counter service to order so everyone could pay for themselves which was perfect. Food delivered timely to the table with ZERO errors, and server was very attentive to our needs. Food portions were generous and food was DELICIOUS. LOVE that it is BYOB. Very clean. Fun decor. Highly recommend!!!

I agree with the other 5-star reviews of Blue Kale. I came with my mom on a weekday afternoon and we had a delightful time. The restaurant is so clean and peaceful, they play like an instrumental jazz station that gives a nice chill vibe and the owners/servers are so nice, friendly, and welcoming. Now to food - it's also amazing! My mom ordered the croissant french toast with bacon and she loved it. She's a picky eater but she ate almost all of it which says a lot. I ordered the mushroom scramble which comes with spinach and herbs in the eggs and toast on the side. They let me sub sourdough for a croissant and even lightly toasted the croissant! It was delicious. All the food is really fresh and nicely prepared. We will come back again and try other dishes. It's also a really nice environment to just relax with a cup of coffee.

This is a gem of a spot. The food is fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is laid back with great music and comfy seating. The perfect breakfast/lunch place in downtown Skokie.

Soooooo good and healthy with fresh ingredients. Inside is light and airy with calming music. Fantastic service - highly recommend Blue Kale for brunch on the lighter side

This was a lovely and quaint place where you check the menu, order at the counter and they bring the food to you. The space was clean and open and the staff were friendly and welcoming. I tried their smoked salmon avocado croissant and it was packed full of deliciousness. Croissant was buttery soft and crisp and the salmon was fresh with a hint of saltiness from the capers. Also, I love that they put a lot of onions! For my drink, I had the vitamin chia. It was fresh with just the right amount of tartness. We also got the avocado ricotta tartine and they didn't skimp on the ingredients! It was chock full of avocado and ricotta! This is perfect if you want something light and simple but robust in flavor! Will definitely come back here!

Cute little place! There's enough seating to sit down comfortably and eat. The food was pretty expensive for the portion but it tasted good. A few people ordered the ricotta avocado sandwich and said it was yummy but way too small, especially for the price. Both of them are still hungry after eating it. Then two of us ordered the apple and brie sandwich. They charge extra money, I think two dollars, to add white cheddar. The sandwich was really good! Too expensive for what it comes with though. Then they have tiny cups for self-serve water at the side. Could use bigger cups so people don't keep getting up to refill. The water was also super low and it was hard to refill. Another thing is they had a leak in the ceiling so I was sitting down and then realized water was dripping down on my head and my plate so we had to move. We waited a pretty long time to get the food as well from the time we ordered. We thought it would be quicker. Overall though it was a good experience. Free street parking or side parking lot are available.

I've been here few times whenever I need to get away from things. The ambiance and vibe is immaculate. My favorite dish is the smoked salmon croissant sandwich. They season the cream cheese spread with little bit of lemon, that slight lemony taste really makes the dish pop. staffs are friendly and attentive. Cannot recommend this place enough.