Lake Side Cafe

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Voted best vegetarian restaurant Chicago in 3 consecutive Years 2006, 2007, 2008 - read more about us

Lake Side Cafe has closed it's doors
After 4 wonderful, challenging and eye-opening years serving Chicagoland’s vegetarian and vegan community, the Lake Side Cafe has stopped serving on October 19.

All of the events at the I.M.U. focus on 4 key areas: Meditation, Inspiration, Celebration, Transformation. Please visit the I.M.U. for their upcoming free Networking Breakfast on Wednesday December 9, 7:30a.m. to 9:00a.m., presented by the Rogers Park Business Alliance (former DevCorp North) hosted by the I.M.U.

We would like to recommend, former Lake Side Cafe Chef an Baker Dacia Lange with Farmacy Foods Earth Conscious Cuisine
Dacia will now be offering private cooking in the comfort of your own home using organic, whole and unrefined ingredients to create food that is unique, seasonally-inspired, and definitely delicious.

Her specialties include:
Vegetarian and Vegan Cuisine; Cooking with Food Allergies and Intolerances; Gluten Free Baking; Seasonal, Organic and Sustainable Foods
For more information contact Chef Lange at:

Furthermore Nirel Chico, who has worked with the Lake Side Cafe numerous times, will now offer raw foods, specializing on raw organic chocolate.

Chocolatl and Friends - Raw and Organic
Visualize a symphony of pure raw ingredients coming together with Chocolate to create a harmony of intoxicatingly delicious, revitalizing, and healthy food. We use only ingredients as mother nature meant for them to be, raw and organic. Known to be some of Chocolate’s best friends, these ingredients include agave nectar, coconut, sprouted almonds, pecans, and cashews, vanilla, avocado and other mouth watering offerings for your body’s temple.

Please specify which of the following contact lists you would like to be added to:

It has been a sincere pleasure serving our regular customers at both Lake Side Cafe over the past 4 years.

Customer comments about Lake Side Cafe closing
Following are some of the emails that we received from our customers. We are very grateful to have had the possibility to add some enjoyment in the form of good food and a welcoming place for so many people during the last four years. We are also extremely honored that we had an impact on people's lives and decision-making as many got to know about how delicious a wholesome vegetarian meal can be. Please have a look at these comments.

Dear Amona and all,
we are very sorry to hear that the lake side Cafe will be closing!
It has been our favorite restaurant ever! (- and so nice close by) Quite sorry.
I hope all is well with you! And we wish you all the best for the IMU's new future!

Shame on Chicago, we no longer live there, but when we did, we went to Lakeside Cafe ALL THE TIME. The vegan pizza was my favorite. It's terrible
that such a fantastic healthy restaurant run by GREAT PEOPLE should not get enough business to keep going!!!

Maybe some investor angel will show up at the last minute to save the restaurant. I wish I had the money to do that.

Wow - so sorry to hear you will be closing the cafe! We've enjoyed dining with you. I hope we can stop by before you stop serving.

So sorry that Lake Side Cafe is closing. I've been recommending it for the last three years and always heard good reports back.

Sure, please do include my note. As the Lakeside Cafe fades into legend, for years there will be stories of "that wonderful little vegetarian place," and folks who with wistul looks will recall your knockout vegan Polish sausage!
sent: Sun 10/4/2009 9:25 AM

That’s terrible news. I know it’s been hard to make money running a cafe like yours, but I wish that you would raise your prices instead of closing. Look at Blind Faith and how much they charge. And no one seems to object to their high prices – they are always busy. Your prices are much, much lower, but your food is much much better than theirs. Have you considered that possibility of raising your prices so that you make a profit? We will miss Lakeside Café tremendously – tremendously.

Of course you may share our e-mail. I do understand your decision, but am so saddened by it as Lake Side is clearly our favorite restaurant. And yes, it is true that many people do not want to come to the area – even Edward is always a little nervous when we come because it is an area with so many poor people. We will try to join you as often as possible in the next couple of weeks.

Dear Amona & Geffery,
A part of me is shocked and saddened to the news that Lakeside Café will be closing. I maintain that Lakeside Café is the best organic, vegetarian, affordable, walk able & comfortable cafe in all of Chicago land.

Lakeside Café is a place that defined this part of Rogers’ Park for the last four years. It brought community together and is what first attracted me to Roger’s Park. Lakeside Café solidified my appreciation for vegetarian food and was often the convincing component for others in adopting a peaceful diet. Lakeside Café provided honest and respectful employment to many. Lakeside Café was a canvas for many culinary artists and a stage for many performing artists.
Lakeside Café was a place where I came to relax, to be, to share with others, to nourish the body and to nourish the soul. Most of the silent sitting and meditation that happened at 1418 W. Howard St. was unquestionably done in front of a hot, loving bowl of vegetarian soup, Tao bowl and magic specials. The way to a man’s root chakra is through his well-nourished abdomen.
Lakeside Café is where I strengthened to move into this next chapter of my life. I offer my sincere well wishes for you in your next chapter. Thank you for all that you have been for me, for my guests, for this community and for all that shared a meal at Lakeside Café.

Please keep me on your email list for IMU. And make reservations for 2 for Saturday Oct. 17 Anniversary celebration. Sorry to see the restaurant go. I wish you lots of success with the mediation and workshops project.

Sure you can use my email words. If I knew you were going to reproduce the message I might have said something like (all true) – Fabulous food – and the fake chicken --- Wow! Ginger brew has become a winter drink for us. Lots of little muslin bags with grated ginger start appearing in our kitchen when it gets cold. It’s very nice….

I am sorry to hear that you are closing the restaurant. I had to leave for a wedding rehearsal dinner before you spoke. I am sorry, but I know that you will continue to be a cornerstone in the healthy living community and whatever comes next for you is the perfect thing.
Sondra Brigandi, Mindful Metropolis

I'm sorry to hear about Lake Side Cafe closing, and I'm sure you are too.
But keep me posted on the Green and other events you'll be having in the space, and I'll put them in the Yoga News section.

Sure I'll spread the word, but what I should say is I wish I had eaten there more often. Unfortunately often I forgot about it because I don't often drive in that direction, so it's not on my radar. Is there a chance of reopening in another neighborhood like Andersonville or Lakeview?

die Kommentare sind wirklich berührend , ich hatte direkt Tränen in den Augen - du vielleicht auch.
Es ist dir sicher nicht leicht gefallen aufzugeben, nach der unendlichen Mühe, die du hineingesteckt hast und nach dem Erfolg (nicht dem finanziellen) immer besser zu werden. Selbst ich, nicht Vegetarierin und anti Veganerin, habe bei meinem letzten Besuch euer Essen genossen, was ich bei meinem ersten Besuch so nicht gesagt hätte.
Wofür werdet ihr den Raum jetzt nutzen?
Du wirst nun deine Energie stärker auf euer Programm richten. Und dennoch ist es soo schade. Die Lage, das wird auch an einer Zuschrift deutlich, und die Größe des Gastraumes waren sicher ein Hinderniss.
Ich freue mich auf die Bilder von Sorbolongo. Franz hat mir gerade eine DVD geschickt von dem Event, schön mit Musik unterlegt und allem drum und dran. Habe mich wieder freudig erinnert.
Hast du meinen Din A 4 Brief erhalten?
Alles Liebe, alles Gute, deine Hanne (owner's mother, for whoever knows German)

From Cassie, server at Lake Side Cafe, currently in Thailand:

Lake Side Cafe - 1418 W. Howard St at Sheridan Rd, Rogers Park - Chicago, IL 60626