Earwax Cafe
Restaurant, Coffee/Tea/Juice, Other
$$ - average
Eclectic (Varied)
A good place to grab a casual meal or late-night snack.
The Earwax is a combination coffee shop and video store that also has a fairly extensive restaurant menu. There are a number of tasty vegan items, all of which are clearly marked on the menu. Earwax also carries various vegan desserts from the Chicago Diner.
Added by Jessica on Sep 20 03 (updated Apr 25)
Reviews
I've been hear a couple of times and have been pleased every time. If the weather is nice, sit out on the back patio.
I love their tempeh "burger". It's really good, and very simple. Avoid some of the ethnic offerings, I had a pita and falafel something, and barely touched it- same for the Mexican. I will eat all of their greasy spoon vegan offerings though, and I rarely eat all of anything.
I admit to being easily swayed to falling in love with a restaurant that offers vegan desserts. Earwax Cafe had the best vegan cake I have ever eaten. Not only did Earwax offer a vegan cake, they had at least three options -- I didn't listen to them all before I perked up at one description and said, 'I'll take that!" It is sadly too common to get a dry, crumbly vegan cake at some places, so I take cake seriously.
My dinner was also delicious. I had the jerk seitan sandwich, which was served on a very nice, flaky French roll with crispy, spicy shoestring fries. If I hadn't been saving room for dessert, I could have gladly eaten more of those fries.
The circus sideshow style atmosphere is definitely geared towards an artsy, typically younger crowd, although obviously anyone can enjoy the food. But your grandmother may not approve of some of the artwork on the walls. Just a caveat. Otherwise, I hope I can come back to Chicago and Earwax Cafe soon. The staff was friendly, ordering vegan food was very easy, and did I mention THE CAKE?