University Market

I am completely traumatized that they are closing — but thankfully, the deli is moving to the med bakery… no veggie sandwich would be a travesty. I will miss the easy stop on the way for the metra station for milk and eggs and such… guess I will have to go to Harper Foods more.

I just learned that this place is going to close in a month or so. :(So when you still have time, just go ahead and eat some of the sandwiches they prepare fresh. I personally recommend the mozzarella one.

Terribly overpriced. I understand there’s a value to convenience, but these guys take it to another level. I’ll just walk my lazy ass to the supermarket.

Ah the UniMart. Nothing like a walk off campus to refresh you in the middle of the day. My chums and I usually try to roll in before noon to avoid the lunch crowd. The Boar’s Head sandwiches are fresh and highly customizable. The breads tend towards being too crusty/​hard for me, so I usually get things on the potato bun (I want to say this is from Medici), which lowers the serving size and price as well. I also occasionally pick up some fruit. Best thing they have here is the huge variety of boutique drinks. Protip: get the big container of Honest Tea. Better value by var.
Side note: They have this amusing mix of music consisting of guilty pleasures from the 80s. I think it’s to get put you in a good mood and buy lots of munchies, which are conveniently located next to you in the sandwich line. What clever Marketing student taught them that one?

The deli in back is fabulous and famous. It’s the closest place serving fresh lunches, in sandwich form, to campus, and this, combined with the high quality, keeps it hopping. There’s also seating outdoors that serves the Med Bakery, University Market, and Noodles Etc., which is great in the warm weather. I almost always eat the Fresh Mozzarella sandwich with a small bag of Pepperidge Farm goldfish, which puts me to sleep afterwards but still always puts me in a good mood on a bad day. Otherwise, they stopped selling cigarettes completely (possibly because of proximity to the Lab School?), which disappoints, as it was prior the closest place to campus to buy a pack, and their selection of fresh flowers and plants is great. Other groceries are overpriced. This is still the best mini-​grocery/​deli, though, in Hyde Park, by far.

I can’t get enough of the fresh mozzarella sandwich from the University Market. Seriously. If this sandwich were a person, I would totally marry it. Thank GOD I work out on a regular basis because at the rate I consume these sandwiches I would be 10,000 pounds if I didn’t! I always add roasted red peppers onto mine. They are a good sized portion and cost $ 5.25. Do your mouth a favor and eat one of these as soon as possible. :)

The classiest joint in all of Hyde Park. One of my girlfriends in college lived around the corner from this place, and negotiated a deal with the homeless man that stands in front of UMarket — he would stop hassling her for money daily if she gave him some cigarettes and a dollar every week.
Thus begins my recollections, fond and not-​so-​fond, of UMarket. As a true University of Chicago locale, this spot sells a myriad of Hyde Park restaurant foods, and makes deli sandwiches that can also be bought elsewhere on campus — though I personally believe the ones here are the best. Their mozzarella, basil and tomato in particular is delicious, and yes, they’re all a mite overpriced. But if you’re looking for Subway prices, head 4 blocks east instead. UMarket is about charm, local flavor, all that pizazz.
In addition to cigarettes and sandwiches, they also have some delicious baked goods and a decent array of flowers. I have stopped by here on short notice several times to pick up stems for a friend. Plus, they have flowered tissue paper and straw ties, which makes it a little more fancier than your grocery-​bought, cellophane-​wrapped bouquet. Hence, the classiness!
But wait. Then you walk outside and are confronted with the bum. Not so classy. That’s the reality of the world, and Hyde Park in particular. If you’d like to jazz it up a little, you can always spin it this way: Obama’s walked by here! Maybe he’s even donated some smokes to the bum, too.

I just had the 3 different kinds of salami sandwich and it was soo huge!!!
University is probably the best deli for Italian sandwich subs!
They had probably put around ¾’s of a pound of salami on my sub and it was really delicious if you are craving cold cut meat that is salty on a gourmet sandwich. I paid 6.99 for the sub which is the avg price of their sandwiches but it is worth it!!! LOVE their italian sandwiches!!!

What I come for is the sandwiches at the deli. Those are delicious, and the beverage selection is quality, but like almost every one else says…
This place is WAY overpriced.
As great as the sandwiches are… you can also get great sandwiches at the Hyde Park Produce deli AND they come with a bag of chips. This market needs to step up their game.
Another thing they do have though if you’re a student is cigarettes. I think it may be the closest place to campus to buy cigarettes.

I wouldn’t buy groceries here — too expensive. But their deli? Mmmmm… definitely try the mozzarella on baguette.

So i don’t really shop here, so can’t comment on the quality or variety of the groceries they stock (although, on first glance, products seem significantly marked up). Instead, I make my way to the back of the store, where their fantastic deli section whips up some huge, delicious sandwiches. My favorite is the tomato-​basil-​mozzarella combo, which is justifiably popular and usually lasts me two lunches in a row. May be a cliched choice, but they do it so well. They also seem to have some nice salads, and a small selection of boxed foods from other local restaurants.

Deli sandwiches so big, you can save half for lunch tomorrow. All my favorite, harder-​to-​find Vitamin Water flavors. No arbitrary minimum purchase required to use a credit card.
You had me at the credit card thing.

The fresh mozzerella sub from UM is one of the top 5 things I miss about Chicago. University students who fail to discover and take advantage of the deli counter at this place are missing out big time.

I dig the deli counter, Love the tomato basil mozzarella sandwich and all the bread is baked at Medici’s next door. Its great to grab a deli sandwich and head to the point to see the sunset and enjoy the nice weather with a cheap picnic from the University Market.

University Market has a wonderful deli in the back with very good sandwiches. They also carry food from Soul Veg, Nile Spice and Rajun Cajun. A good selection of premium ice cream pints and good chocolate, as well. It’s a good place to grab some lunch or a treat between classes.

This little grocery store reminds me of a small town market that could be in Anytown, USA. Some of the grocery items are on the pricey side, but the deli is awesome and the breads are always fresh. For the students that live on campus, this is a good place to pick up a couple things every now and then.

Just a little grocery store, but with an awesome deli. Their bread is from the next door Medici Bakery, and the croissants especially are great. I always get the veggie sub, which is huge and filled with great ingredients — best plain old sandwich I’ve had in Chicago.