Pick Me Up Cafe
Restaurant · Ravenswood ·
Vegan-friendly spot with sandwiches, pizzas, full plates
Vegan-friendly spot with sandwiches, pizzas, full plates
"All the good stuff, much of said good stuff, in vegetarian or vegan form. In fact, when Pick Me Up Cafe opened in Lakeview in 1997, it was one of the few restaurants in the city to cater to vegans and vegetarians. They’ve since moved neighborhoods, but they still know a thing or two about being cheeseless and meatless. We’re talking things like mac and cheese, nachos, shakes, soups, sandwiches, wraps, French toast, scrambles, and all of it delicious." - adrian kane, courtney sprewer, veda kilaru, john ringor
"This venerable vegan- and vegetarian-friendly spot has fully settled into new digs after relocating to Uptown in April 2020. The neighborhood may have changed, but fans can rest assured that its popular meat-free chili is as heartwarming as ever." - Naomi Waxman, Ashok Selvam
"Pick Me Up Cafe has been a haven for vegetarians and vegans since 1997, moving from Wrigleyville to Uptown in 2020. Decorated with works from local artists, the Andersonville restaurant serves breakfast all day and night with options including a tofu scramble, huevos rancheros, and a bacon benedict for meat eaters. The focus on dietary restrictions also extends to a solid selection of gluten-free items." - Sam Nelson
"A vegan-friendly late-night cafe with a beloved jukebox that functioned as a neighborhood hangout and punk-era meeting spot; the original storefront has remained vacant since 2020 while the operation relocated to Andersonville, leaving behind visible signage and many fond memories from local musicians." - Ashok Selvam
"A colorful, counterculture neighborhood diner that has served vegan- and vegetarian-friendly fare since 1997, it spent 23 years just south of Wrigley Field as an all-ages, anti–sports-bar hangout with loud music, a passionate following, and a DIY vibe. Owners Joe and Lavinia Mann are relocating after citing disruptions from the CTA Red‑Purple Line modernization and broader redevelopment around the ballpark, and plan to keep the Lakeview spot open through March 22 before debuting an Uptown location in April. The new roughly 2,200-square-foot space should seat about 15–16 booths and tables, will retain corkboard walls for community art and fliers, and is being designed in-house so staff can express personality rather than conform to a cookie‑cutter look. The menu and drink program will remain the same — a mix of vegan, vegetarian and some meat items — highlighted by customer favorites such as “mac & cheeze,” a pizza grinder with garlic bread, seitan, mushrooms, peppers and marinara, the stir-fry “Stir Crazy After All These Years,” past items like the garlic-chicken “Garlicious Breast,” and boozy milkshakes plus mimosas and bloody marys. While the future of the Lakeview space is uncertain, the move is framed as an attempt to find a neighborhood where the business can remain an active, community-focused presence." - Naomi Waxman
