As for food, we ordered fajitas for the table, which personally excited me, as I love anything that comes out on a sizzling hot plate. The strawberry and raspberry drinks had a little bit too much sugar, but they refreshed us on a hot spring day. For weeks, I had been hearing about the restaurant’s famous margarita fishbowls, so I knew we had to order a few for the table. The next time I went to Mellow Yellow, it was with a large group in the middle of the afternoon. Not to mention, while we walked away completely stuffed, it was one of the cheapest meals we ever ordered in Chicago. Overall, we had an amazing experience, and I could not wait to go back and try something different. The dish arrived with a whopping portion of whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top, which when combined with the crisp and golden exterior of the waffle, filled my heart and stomach with joy. While the waffle did slightly resemble something that could have been made in a dining hall or complimentary hotel breakfast, it still tasted delicious, and a person can never truly go wrong with a light and fluffy waffle. My friend, who has a much bigger sweet tooth than me, went in a different direction with her meal and chose the breakfast for dinner option: the Belgian Waffle. The combination of the creamy black beans and the subtle spice of the jalapeño peppers bound together by a thick, red sauce allowed for a complex, rich flavor that combined heat, sweetness, and bitterness all together for a perfect balance. It came in a gigantic bowl filled to the brim and was packed with tender chunks of meat and crunchy chopped vegetables.

I was disappointed that they were out of bread bowls that night, but the taste of the chili immediately lifted my spirits. Our waiter checked on us a few times to collect our order, and finally, the third time he walked over, we were ready to send an order into the kitchen.įor me, I was a bit overwhelmed by the menu but decided to go with a dish that was claimed to be 'award-winning': the 1-way chili. Since the menu included a wide variety of options, it took us a long time to flip through the pages and decide what we wanted, but I was having a good time munching on the crispy chips and smooth guacamole with a hint of lime and chili pepper and listening to the live jazz music being played on the corner of the street.

The next weekend, I grabbed a friend of mine and we headed out to Mellow Yellow for a night of laughter, excitement, and, of course, good food.įrom the minute we arrived, the waitstaff greeted us with inviting smiles and took us to our large table outside, where in less than a minute, our waiter brought us ice water and complimentary chips and guacamole to welcome us to the restaurant. I was taking a leisurely stroll down 53rd street on a random day in the fall quarter, soaking up the warm weather, when I was drawn to the colorful signs in the restaurant's window and its massive stand in the walkway advertising champagne cocktails and frozen margaritas. I stumbled upon Mellow Yellow in my freshman year at the University. There were options for Mexican food with burritos and tacos American with steaks and burgers and Italian with creamy pasta and freshly baked garlic bread. Although the restaurant mainly specialized in ‘70s fare like quiches, crepes, and baked potatoes, it really touched every type of cuisine. It functioned similarly to a classic diner, with an enormous menu that had something for everyone. 'I keep it simple.Mellow Yellow opened its doors to Hyde Park residents in 1976, and since that day, it has been a popular place for brunch and dinner. 'A lot of the dishes my mum cooked at home, everything fresh and simple,' Almoznino says with pride. Described by Almoznino as a 'Moroccan kitchen with Mediterranean influence,' you'll find classic café treats like cappuccinos with evaporated milk sharing a space alongside the pita za'atar and tabouleh that Almoznino ate growing up. The warmth Almoznino treats his customers with-it's not unusual to find him playing with the kids that come into the café, or dancing along to the atmospheric music perpetually playing on Mellow Yellow's speakers as he prepares a shakshuka sandwich-translates to the actual cuisine. Mellow Yellow's proprietor, Raphael Almoznino E.R.

The only rule is serve the customer good coffee and good vibes.' 'When people come, they can go into my kitchen, they can stand with me and taste the food. It's not a restaurant or a coffee bar: this is like my apartment,' he tells Journiest. The vision behind the colorful, relaxed new space is owner Raphael Almoznino, who curated the entire space and encourages anyone who comes in to make themselves at home.

Mellow yellow menu