St. Joseph’s Hospital – Lake Shore Cafe

Their food is excellent. By far the best that I have had any of the local hospitals. I love their hot meals with the vegetarian opinion and salad bar. Prices are very affordable.

Well, it’s hit or miss on quality. The atmosphere does have a view but the people eating there are mostly employees and they don’t seem happy. I think I learned a lot about the hospital just by stopping in the café. If they are so unhappy at lunch what could they possibly be like if you were their patient?

Yes, I am reviewing a hospital cafeteria. I spent many years in these places in my consultant days, as I visited many a hospital, in many a city, across the U.S. In fact, I thought I might just write a guide to hospital cafeterias. But older and wiser now, I think not. That said, I’ve eaten lunch here at Resurrection/​St. Joseph’s cafeteria about six times this year, and I have to say, it’s one of the better ones I’ve visited. And I would place it on my list of decent lunch spots in East Lakeview.
The cafeteria is clean, well-​organized and hardly ever crowded. I really like their salad bar offerings, although I’ve had a good burger here, and the fresh soup, as well as a hot meal or two. There are daily specials which range around $ 4.00−5.00. My salad bar meals always cost around $ 3.00−4.00. The room is (thankfully) above ground. So many hospital cafeterias are in the basement. So the seating area gives out to Lake Shore Drive and the park. It’s a relaxing place to eat and chat with a friend. So if you want a good deal for lunch in East Lakeview, consider the cafeteria here at St. Joe’s. If you eat too many fries and need an angioplasty, the cardiac lab is nearby, too.