Fiddlehead Cafe Sucks
That’s the Fiddlehead Cafe in Chicago’s Lincoln Square Neighborhood. That’s the FIDDLEHEAD CAFE. Let me say it again so it’s sure to get picked up on search engines. Fiddlehead Cafe.
It’s awful. Here’s why:
- There were no vegan options on the menu. And while I don’t expect much, I think it’s sort of stupid not to have something when you run a restaurant in a yuppie neighborhood. I’m sure it’s come up a few times before.
- Anyhoo. So I ask for a veggie frittata without the eggs or cheese. And the waittress says, “Um, how’s that going to happen?”
- After Miss Snottypants walks off wiht my order, she returns 90 seconds later and says, “Um yeah, the chef won’t make anything not on the menu.” Chef, you are a dick. It wasn’t that busy in there and I wasn’t asking for anything you wouldn’t have done in making the whole frittata anyway.
- So then I ask for a fruit bowl. “I know it’s not on the menu,” I say, “But can you see if the chef will acquiesce? Otherwise, I’m not eating here.”
- And then it took 20 minutes to get the check.
- I still tipped a decent tip. But I will never go back to the Fiddlehead Cafe. It was way, way better when it was Square Kitchen. Dear Fiddlehead, Suck It. Love, Me.
9 comments9 Comments so far
Leave a reply
Totally agree. I have to say that Fiddlehead sucks even if you do eat meat (I had the fish – worst trout I’ve ever tasted). My carnivorous friends didn’t like it either.
Yeah, I’m with you too. When I went my food was alright, but the experience wasn’t that good.
I think they put too much emphasis and effort on the wine and cheese flights and not enough into the menu, which is sort of bland and heavy-handed and not very versatile. It feels like something that would work in a much smaller place with a more intimate setting and more attentive staff, not in the old Square Kitchen space. I mean, Square Kitchen’s food wasn’t mind-blowing, but there were plenty of options, it was bright and neighborhoody, and it was a perfect happy medium between all the pubby burger places and the classier bistros in the area. Now it’s dark and spendy and unimpressive. They kind of blew it.
Oh, and usually Chris’s nut allergies only limit his choices by one or two entrees, but here the waitress kept coming back to tell us that there were nuts in every other entree practically, and the chef couldn’t make changes. Seriously, for entrees that expensive they should be more versatile, but probably the place is too damn big for them to handle special needs. I wonder if they’ll last.
hi shylo, we met last night at mess hall. kudos for bitching out poor service and dumb ineptitude-ism. i have never been to the place you’re chatting about, but i can think of a billion places/items that i should complainblog (complog?) about as well. thanks!
Hey, all! (Btw, nice to meet you, Salem!) It makes me sad to know that Fiddlehead universally blows. I hoped it was just me and my finicky vegan self. But no. Again, i cry, F the Fiddlehead.
Thanks for the warning. I liked the Square Kitchen, so I was interested in trying the Fiddlehead. No more.
I’m not remotely vegan, but I have to agree that there is absolutely no reason why the kitchen can’t alter dishes to suit the customers. A good restaurant can and should be able to prepare you anything you want as long as they have the ingredients. If Charlie Trotter’s, Alinea, and Tru can accommodate the eating habits of their customers, then some mediocre cafe certainly can too.
But the place that preceded Square Kitchen in that spot (Branfield’s?) was delightful. And that was back when you could sit back with your breakfast burrito and play a good game of “Eastern European or New Wave?” as the lovely lasses strolled by.
Yeah, what Wendy said – this place was completely tardly. Only thing I could order on the menu that wasn’t swimming in one allergen or another – a half-pound burger. Which….you can get ANYWHERE. L-A-M-E, and that spells lame.
Wendy and I found a couple of good middle eastern places in our neighborhood – a quick falafel sandwich or something more substantive. Let us know if you wanna meet up for vegan eats!
I’ve been going to Fiddlehead since they opened and I’ve always enjoyed the experience. Granted, if you don’t eat meat, eggs, cheese, grains, then stay at home for your vegan treats. People that enjoy good cuisine enjoy Fiddlehead.
I also love Fiddlehead! I’ve found their food interesting and the overall upscale bistro atmosphere a delightful change from the other places I frequent. If you haven’t been there for brunch you are missing something. (Can I just say Capn Crunch french toast?!) I hear they are doing quite well and look forward to many great meals in the future!